What a Year

Whelp, here we are.  12 months ago Joy and I would never have believed we would see two positive pregnancy tests.  Things were not looking good in the ole baby department.  Then on January 3, 2011 Joy humored me with a pregnancy test.  Sure it was an old one that was 2 months out of date, but she tried it anyway and boom positive.  Next thing we knew we were making a late night trip to the Walgreen's.  By about 9:53pm we had two positive tests.  What we didn't know was how symbolic those two positive tests would be.

By February we could finally tell the whole family we were expecting one!  Just one baby.  Two days later we could break the news that we were expecting two babies!  Sadly that was followed with loads of negative statistics because of the precarious nature of Monoamniotic twins.  By the beginning of April we could finally find out what gender was on the way.  Despite the crazy schedule and a week long vacation on the way we still managed to throw a sec party and reveal the fact that we were having two little girls. By the end of April we were finally becoming very confident that things would work out and the girls would make it.  We even made a last minute trip to get cribs, changing tables and dressers for the girls. We even tore apart one of the bedrooms to get a nursery ready.

All of this positive thinking and excitement lead to, two big baby showers.  I don't think we can ever express the gratitude we had for all of our friends, family, and co-workers.  They did a tremendous job helping to plan and organize these parties to help celebrate the little ones on the way.  Joy was so elated to be able to experience a baby shower.  I think it was a great relief and wonderful thing to draw her mind away from the long 6 week stay at Duke.

Memorial day weekend was Joy's last weekend of freedom for 6 weeks.  I drove to Duke everyday she was there.  I was doing my best to keep up with the dogs, the yard, work, and visiting with Joy.  I must admit I enjoyed my trips to see here.  I wish the rooms were a little more comfy, but overall it wasn't so bad.  Joy had other opinions of the whole experience.  The last 7-10 days was the worst with false alarms on labor, IVs and me having to help bath her because of the IV block in her hand.

Then finally, the little ones arrived.  We could not have asked for the girls to be any more cute or cuddly.  I think the worst part was how we couldn't do much more than look at them in their isollettes and rest a hang or finger on them.  It would be a few weeks before we could hold them for long periods of time.  It seemed they wanted out fast and to be held asap, because they were growing like crazy with no health issues at all.

Those days leading up to the hospital stay, during the hospital stay and even the 3am feedings, seem to have already flown by.  The girls have been home for over four months now. and quadrupled in weight.  We still look at each other and say we can't believe we have these two little girls.  You spend several years trying, a few clinics, failed procedures and wham you are now parent's to identical twins, how special is that?  It's incredible, and we couldn't have asked for better girls.

They love bath time, they don't cry for hours on end, they love getting changed into new clothes and diapers.  I swear they act like they have a dirty diaper just so they can play on the changing table.  They like their car seats, travel well, and their grins make you melt.

One of the coolest things is that I now know how much my father loved me.  I never understood when he would say "I love you and you just don't understand how much I love you."  He was right.  I loved him a ton, but I never really knew how much he loved me.   Since these little girls entered my life I have started to understand what he was saying.  I simply don't believe a parent can put a number, value, or quantity on how much they love their children.  I heard my dad tell me time and time again on a daily basis how much he loved me, but it still wasn't enough for me to truly know.   Now I do....

I love my wonderful wife, Joy, and my two gorgeous little girls, Kira and Alana.  I couldn't ask for anything more, feel free to keep your christmas gifts I really do have all I want.

Joy and Alana (3mo.)

Kira (5mo.)

Alana (5mo.)

Guess who? (2mo.)

Merry Christmas,
The Schneiders