Twins

11 years ago today my life changed! Completely. Being a mom to two little boys, and the wife of a Music/Youth Pastor kept me busy. Then on that fateful day. . . I gave birth to twins. Girls even. And life has never been the same.

The Labor & delivery was a whirlwind. It was in the middle of the night. And since I was a high risk pregnancy, the room was teaming with people. I had a team of people, then each baby had their own entire team as well. (I hoped I put on a good enough show for them, but since it was my first delivery with an epidural, it probably wasn't that exciting. Though I sure did enjoy it more than my other two!) ; )

Erica Starr was born first, weighing 6 lbs even. She was beautiful! They showed her to me, gave her right to her team of doctors and away she went. I said, "Do I now have to start labor all over again for the second one?" Thankfully the answer was no. A couple of pushes, and four minutes later Alexia Jewell was born. Cute as can be, weighing 5 lb.'s, 9 oz.

Except for low blood sugar, due to my having gestational Diabetes, they were very healthy. I am forever grateful to everyone who prayed for my girls during my pregnancy. As soon as you find out you are expecting twins, you are inundated with information telling you all the risks. And you really start to believe that no twins are ever born healthy. And that they all have to stay in the hospital for months. But, thankfully, Erica was able to leave the hospital with me, and Lexi had to stay just one extra day.

The first year with twins is so hard. No one sleeps! My husband was always great about helping with all our kids. And with one baby he would say, "you stay in bed, I'll get up." But, with two babies, you're both pretty much up all the time. And trust me, it's not a pretty sight when I don't have enough sleep! But we made it through. We all survived it!

Then once they can feed themselves, it gets much easier. And having twins isn't just twice the work, but, it's twice the Love, twice the Fun, and twice the Joy. (Most of the time anyway! I'll save having two in the Terrible Two's for some other post!) It's always been one of my favorite things in this world to just sit and listen to the two of them playing and talking with each other when they don't know I'm listening. It's fascinating!

A book I loved that was written by twins for twins and their parents is called: Dancing Naked in front of the Fridge (and other lessons from twins) by: Nancy & Janna Sipes. It explains the twin bond better than any other I've read. They say to think about your best friend in the whole world. One that knows you so well that the two of you can, and do, finish each others sentences. Then imagine if that person had been in your life for your entire life. That your first day of school, was their first day of school. Your first trip to the Dr. was theirs. You shared everything. Everyone you knew, every place you went. Everything. And you can start to imagine what it's like to be a twin.

So, on this 11th Birthday of my twin girls, who are now in the throws of pre-teenage dome, I am so grateful, and thankful to be their mom. It has been so much fun (all the hard work aside, for today!) to watch them grow and learn together, as they relate to each other, and to the world around them. Happy Birthday Erica & Lexi. I love you.