Four years ago today, I was in week three of my doctor-imposed hospital bedrest, hoping against hope that I could get the two little rugrats occupying my uterus just a few weeks closer to full term before they burst into the world. June 9, 2005, was the last day I could entertain those hopes; around 9:00 that night, the contractions kicked into high gear.As they were wheeling me from my hospital room to a labor and delivery room (just in case!), a nurse asked me how far along I was. "Twenty-eight weeks," I said. She gave me some breathing advice that she said would help me get through the contractions until the C-section to come. "Oh, no," I said. "We're not having these kids yet. It's too early." She gave me a pitying look. She'd seen enough women in labor to know that those kids were coming, whether I liked it or not.
"I think you need to brace yourself for the possibility that you'll be giving birth tonight." She said it kindly, but firmly.And she was mostly right. About twelve hours later, at 9:10 am and 9:14 am on June 10, 2005, Sophia and Evelyn said hello to the world. We didn't even get to see Sophie in the delivery room -- she was whisked away by the nurses and neonatologists, and I didn't lay eyes on her until hours later. They gave us a quick photo op with tiny, tiny Evie before she was also carried off by the specialists.
And so began the lives of Evelyn and Sophia, with more struggle than most babies have to deal with. I think their challenging beginnings gave them an extra fire, a fighting spirit, and a flair for life, but maybe that's what every mother says. Regardless, they are two vibrant, brilliant, exuberant girls, and while I can't quite believe it's been four years already, I'm so glad they're mine.
Happy birthday to my beautiful girls!
