Crazy Toddler AND Twins?! It’s About To Get Real Up in Here

Oh friends. Oh dear sweet friends.

I’ve missed you all so much. I can’t believe it’s been so long. I’ve just been a little preoccupied. Cooking a couple little chick-a-dees. Side effects include extreme nausea and some vomiting. Not condusive to blog composition or generally living like a human being. So there’s that.

But let me back it up.

March 2.

I woke up and figured I’d take a pregnancy test.
Just on a whim. No hunch. No special premonition. In fact, I felt a positive result was highly unlikely. But I’d taken one each month for the past 3 or 4 months, so I thought I might as well.

And immediately. I mean, really.

Immediately. The test said “Pregnant.”

“That was REALLY fast,” I thought.

The first suspicion that their might be twins. Cuz that’s a lot of hormones, ya’ll. To make that test scream PREGNANT in my face faster than the speed of light?!

I had to wake up my amazing hubby. We hugged, laughed, cried a little (me). Decided when and how to tell family & friends. Stared at our Crazy Toddler with excitement and gratitude and fear. I mentioned to him, off hand, “Weird, I’m a little afraid we’re having twins?!”

That weekend, we began telling immediate family and close friends. The fourth member of our little family would be arriving in November. The fourth baby in our extended family to arrive in 2013. Just like the four that came in 2011. Happiness and excitement and joy all around. And again I mentioned, “Weird, I kinda think we’re having twins…”

Then we waited for the first appointment where we would see the little nugget(s) for the first time. The nausea had begun. Like, for real, no joke nausea. And since everyone in the world is an expert, everyone in the world told me I was having a girl. Because apparently mothers and daughters are hard on one another even from the womb.

My hubby and I eagerly gazed at the ultrasound screen and saw that tiny little form. One. One little Osborne cookin’ away. And I quickly decided all the experts were right, and I was just crazy. No twins. Just a silly little ONE waiting to join our Crazy Toddler sometime in November.

We gathered our pictures and went on our merry way.

Except not so merry.

Oh the nausea. Oh and vomiting. Oh and Crazy Toddler with energy and curiosity and so, so, so many words. Another 4 weeks of languishing on the couch with rare spurts of personhood. A full 2 weeks where I couldn’t even open the fridge without turning green.

And my glorious, heroic, handsome husband. Who deserves a cape and a medal and a statue in his honor for doing everything for everyone every minute while the mere shadow of his wife slowly melted into the living room furniture, smelling faintly of vurp and play dough. Often crying with no reason or warning.

One day, when I finally had the strength and stomach to stand at the pantry and select my own snacks, I just stared, and stared, and stared. Because the hormones were too thick and no synapses were firing.

I felt a choking in my throat and tears working their way to the surface.

Calmly I asked, “Babe, I need help.”

“With what?” He gently replied.

Here come the flood gates….

“I just don’t know what to eat!”

Sobbing tears mixed with hiccuping laughter. Because seriously. Seriously?! I’m weeping. Weeping. In the Pantry.

The fog had lifted (slightly) as I drove to the week 12 appointment. We were supposed to listen to the heart beat with the Doppler, make another appointment around week 16. Done and done.

But the heart beat was a little hard to find, so she gave me an ultrasound. She looked intently at the screen. Back and forth. Back and forth.

She grabbed my arm.

“I have a surprise for you… there are two.”

And more tears streaming mixed with laughter.

Because really? Really?!

Yes, really. We are having twins.

Game changed.

Now, there were two more ultrasounds, plus extra folic acid, plus 2 appointments this month, plus an extra blood test and more reading and paper work and a change in my due date.

The list maker in me awoke from her great sleep of the last few nausea stricken months. Stock needs to be taken of all baby items. More items need to be purchase and priced. Deals found and acquired, and boxes checked on the multitude of lists that apparently come with multiples.

Marie, wait.

You are having twins.

The tears mixed with laughter. That’s kinda where we’re living. Excited, shocked, grateful, terrified.

I wake up and get ready and go about my day, but somewhere it hits me again.

Marie, wait.

You are having twins.

The great list maker, mover and shaker, has risen. She is active and living in me. Along with these two little people. And the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Moment by moment, I feel all these forces vying for control. The nausea from and worry for my little family. The fierceness of my inner control freak. The peace that surpasses understanding.

It’s the same struggle as the first time around. Only more potent and primal.

Because… how? How am I going to do this? It feels too, too, too daunting and lonely.

As much as I know, know, know I will love these lil’ twinners of mine, the extra stuff seems impossible. All the laundry and breastfeeding and cooking and cleaning and Crazy Toddler. Wait, what about Crazy Toddler?

How? Just… How??

Daunting and lonely.

Excited and grateful.

Tears and laughter.

This is it. Our whole family. Two for the price of one. One big batch, cookin’ in the oven all at once. Approximate arrival: November 2013.

Buckle up friends. Here. We. Go.