“Enjoy every minute. Before you know it, they’ll be here and your life will have changed forever.” I wasn’t enjoying these minutes though. Not even just a little. During my first trimester of my twin pregnancy, vomiting became my new way of life. One odd texture, one off smell or hard cough is all it took. Every morning and especially every night. It felt like it was taking forever to get through. I didn’t have energy for anything; my poor husband did everything. I’d get some encouragement from others when they’d tell me it only lasts through the first trimester but then you’d always have that one person that said, “oh I threw up every day until I had him/her.” No!
My loving church family had given us a meal train during this time which was a huge blessing! I still couldn’t eat most nights but at least Weldon would get something more at dinner time than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Not being able to cook was hard for me. I loved being in the kitchen. Making dinner after a long day of work was always a stress relief for me. Even scrolling through Pinterest looking at recipes would make me queasy. I had just started a new job too; teaching Culinary! We thoroughly studied kitchen safety for several weeks until I could handle the sight and smell of food again. I remember a night that I sat crying to Weldon saying, “I’m so tired of being sick and tired”. It was getting old but he was so patient and supportive. He handled my hormonal, tender emotions with so much grace.
But like many things in life: this too shall pass and it did, eventually. I was able to get some anti-nausea medicine from my doctor to help. Having somewhere to be every day helped too. It was a struggle most mornings but once I got up and going, I’d always feel better than if I would’ve stayed laying on the couch wallowing in my misery -even though that’s what I really felt like doing. By week 14, my nausea had pretty much gone away with only an occasional moment if I forgot my medicine. I was having trouble gaining weight from being so sick, which caused some concern from my doctors in the beginning. Never had this been a problem for me – no one had ever instructed me to gain more weight. One of my doctors literally told me to eat more ice cream! What?! I’m pretty sure that might have been the best day of my life.
Speaking of doctors, if you ever have a pregnancy that’s the slightest bit unusual (like having two at one time) make sure you really love them. Every other week, we were there to see them. Towards the end it was 3 times per week. They really did become our family!Week 18 came and it was time for the anatomy scan ultrasound. We hadn’t had an ultrasound since the day we found out there were twins. We were so excited to see our babies and how they had grown! We decided to have a gender reveal party, so we asked the tech not to tell us the sexes at the appointment. I remember the first thing we saw on that screen were feet and hands bouncing everywhere! Twenty fingers, twenty toes; they all were there and very active. I couldn’t feel any movements still at this point, but those days would soon be coming. Baby A was the lowest positioned and seemed to be a little more reserved in utero than our wild Baby B, who was uncooperative and sitting on the other’s face. Everything checked out perfect, they were growing well and healthily. They each had a separate placenta which they told us was the best possible scenario for growing twins as it usually resulted in less complications. The tech placed the pictures in a sealed envelope that Weldon had to hold since I have zero self-restraint.
We delivered the envelope right away to my brother and sister-in-law who’d be planning our reveal. This was a Tuesday and we wouldn’t be having the reveal party until Saturday. Longest. Week. Ever. In true redneck fashion, we were going to reveal with tannerite and colored chalk for each baby. I had a strong feeling that we’d end up with one of each or two boys. I just knew it wouldn’t be two girls. Sure enough, Weldon fired the first shot and a pink cloud came up. Then the second, another cloud of pink! Two bow wearing, chicken farming beauties! I couldn’t believe it!
Now the real work and preparation could begin. Furniture shopping, nursery decorating, shower planning, baby registries -so much needed to be done before these babies came. It was around this time that my nesting energy kicked in. This was definitely the glory days of my pregnancy. Glowing skin, great energy and always wearing comfy, stretchable pants. If they could sell that all in a bottle, I’d buy stock in it! Never had my house been so organized and clean! I had lots of help from my family which was another huge blessing.
As the days progressed, my belly kept stretching and my feet kept swelling. I was determined to finish out the school year though. Middle school students have such a way with words. At about 24-25 weeks as I was starting to look pretty large they would say, “Mrs. Campbell, we heard that you were pregnant with twins.” I would answer, “Yes, I am.” “Well we thought you might be but didn’t want to say anything just in case you were getting fat.” Thanks. Or my favorite compliments to hear on a Monday morning, “Wow Mrs. Campbell, you look really big today!” Thanks again. There were also the questions: “So are they going to be born on the same day?” Or another favorite, “how big are you really going to get?” Tweenagers -gotta love them!
By the time I reached my third trimester, I could tell my body was really changing. The glory phase was quickly fizzling out. Bring on the tired, uncomfortable and ready for this all to be over already phase. Summer was here and I realized I picked a great time to be pregnant – 90 degrees and 1000% humidity, thank you Florida!
Even though it would have been easy to complain and grumble, I remember back to these days of placing my hands on my belly, just dreaming and being thankful. Every little pitter-patter and bump I felt reminded me of the crazy, abundant blessings God had gifted me with. I was ready to see them, hold them, kiss them and know them. At the end of the day, I’d sit back amazed and humbled at the fact that these two precious little souls were mine. I was excited for the bond we’d have as mother and daughters but then for the amazing bond they’d always have as two best friends for life. You experience so many emotions during pregnancy. And it’s hard to understand them all until you’re in hindsight.
A mother’s body, whether during a singleton or multiple pregnancy, goes through so much that it’s almost hard to comprehend. Ligaments start stretching and expanding; nutrients that were once all for you now are given to your baby as priority. As their little organs form and grow, so does your uterus along with them. I don’t know how anyone could endure a pregnancy without realizing that the human life is all an ordained miracle performed by God. Every life is. He knits us together in our mother’s womb, forming us into a work of His art (Psalm 139:13). He designs a female body with all the elements she needs to grow more life. When He formed me 26 years ago, He knew that these two eggs of the two million I’d be born with would become my little girls one day. He made my body so that it could support two growing humans at once. I am still absolutely awestruck.
Was I ready for this? From now until forever, I’d always be a mom. I’d always be responsible for guiding, teaching and loving them. They would depend on me for so much, everything. Inside the womb, it’d be easiest to care for them. But once outside, it all would fall on me. Dreaming, praying and hoping – I could only imagine what was on the road ahead of us. Weldon and I knew that our lives were about to change forever.
These minutes that I was told to enjoy from the very beginning were coming to an end, all too soon. I tried to soak it all up: the anticipation, the joy and the waiting as our two little girls were growing inside.
Stay tuned for more on our journey of When God Gave us Two! If you missed last week, you can catch up here.
I am beyond proud of you. Every time I read your stories I cry! I love the beautiful woman, wife, and mother you have become. Keep writing… you are so good at it!
Thanks mama, I love you!