Christmas 2008

Our family Christmas traditions begin the Friday after Thanksgiving every year as we attend the city of Bloomington's Canopy of Lights Ceremony. This year we began the evening dining, according to tradition, at Cafe Pizzeria. Uncle Nick and our friends, Julie and the Chasteen family, joined us, and we made quite a crowd. Elissa and Emma serenaded the table with their rendition of "Jingle Bells," and Charlotte and Eliot fought over fruit puffs (just kidding).

After dinner we made our way to the square in the bitter cold to wait for the lights. The Bloomington City Band plays Christmas carols, Polka Dot the clown leads us in singing, and Santa rides into town. Santa counts down the crowd: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...swoosh...the entire downtown area is lit up with thousands of lights. A canopy of lights is created by stringing lights from the courthouse to the buildings that create the town square. It truly is a sight!

After the square was lit, we made our way into Fountain Square Mall to see Santa. Julie went ahead of us to save us a good spot in line because the girls were already pretty tired. Charlotte was not immediately taken with Santa but did stop crying long enough for a picture. The entire mall is decorated with different winter scenes, so we spent a few minutes getting some pics with the woodland creatures and snow.

The next day is the Holiday Farmer's Market, which has also become a part of our family tradition. The girls can see and pet real reindeer, decorate Christmas cookies, and enjoy the world famous Harvey Phillips Tuba Santas. Emma had to take her coat off to dance to the Tuba Santas' music because it was obvious that she couldn't dance properly with her coat on. Charlotte slept through much of the singing but woke to catch a few carols.

Another family tradition is buying and decorating the Christmas tree. This year we have a beautiful scotch pine that we decorated together with ornaments from past and present: some Chris and I collected before the girls joined our family and now a few that Emma has made at school. We put the tree upstairs in our sitting area this year, so the girls enjoyed reading Christmas stories, singing carols, and hearing advent devotionals sitting beneath the tree each night before bed.

This year we attended Candles and Carols at Anderson University. The girls had a great time listening to the beautiful music and dancing in the lobby. I'm sure if Chris gets the job at Anderson, this will become a family tradition to cherish.

On Christmas Eve we each opened one present before attending the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was a lesson in patience for Emma who, of course, did not want to stop with just one present. We almost didn't make it to the service because the Volvo was dead in the driveway when we got ready to leave. Chris was able to push it out into the street so he could get the Honda out of the garage. I steered as he pushed it as far as he could back up the drive. We managed to arrive at church only about 20 minutes late, but I'm so glad we decided to go despite the car fiasco. It is important to remember why we're celebrating Christmas at all--to remind us of our Savior coming to Earth as a little tiny baby. After the service, our friend, David, came over to help Chris push the car the rest of the way into the garage. I guess we'll be battery shopping on the 26th. I wonder if they'll be on sale!

We completed our Christmas Eve traditions with hot cocoa, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and mama and daddy staying up till the wee hours wrapping gifts. Chris put Emma's new princess bike together and completed the arduous task of removing the girls' babies from their packaging so we could place them in strollers. I wrapped most of the gifts until I was worn out and Chris took over. Here's how I wrap: carefully measure how much the package will need, cut it just so, and meticulously tape it closed. Here's how Chris wraps: cut the paper hoping it will be enough for the package, when it appears there is too much paper, fold it up rather than cut it away and tape it down with more tape than would ever be necessary. Okay. So, I'm exaggerating a tad, but it was pretty funny to see him wrestling with paper, tape, and bows. It was also so nice to know that he loves me enough to try and the girls enough to care. After the wrapping was complete, we needed a little Santa magic to get the presents under the tree without waking Emma and spoiling the surprise. Wonder of wonders, the child who has not stayed in her own bed through the entire night in weeks slept through the noise of our setting out the gjfts. She even slept through Charlotte waking up at 7am. She finally scampered to our bed around 7:30am but wasn't interested in checking out the tree even after I assured her it was morning and it was Christmas. She finally decided to get up around 8:30am.

Both girls were excited to see the spread of gifts beneath the tree. Emma got a bike and helmet, a camera, and play food. Charlotte got a shopping basket with food, a laptop, and a phone. Both girls got babies, strollers, tiaras, and tutus. Chris got sweaters, Scene It Seinfeld edition, and a dresser valet. I got a locket, books, sweaters, and a coat. Oh, for my Facebook status I mentioned that all I wanted for Christmas was for Emma to be healthy. Well, after being diagnosed with a double ear infection and getting a shot, our five days of high fevers finally ended, and Emma is feeling healthy again.

So far, it's been a wonderful day. Chris made a delicious lunch of pork tenderloin and roasted vegetables, balsamic asparagus, and salad with chocolate pie for dessert. Yumm!! He cooked AND cleaned the kitchen so I can rest. He's the best husband! Charlotte fell asleep in her high chair, so we're off to nap now and then later we're going to the Lehrs to celebrate with them.

Merry Christmas!

First ultrasound

Around 6 weeks, I called my midwife's office to cancel my annual exam and to schedule my first prenatal appointment. I was planning on waiting until after January 1 for the appointment, so I wouldn't have to pay towards my deductible in 2008 and then have to start over in 2009. Liz likes to wait until 10-12 weeks gestation anyway because the odds of hearing the heartbeat are better that way. I was surprised, then, when Kim, the scheduler, said, "We like to schedule an early ultrasound around 8 weeks." I'd had both girls with this practice and they'd never offered an early U/S before, but, hey, I'd love to see my baby. Let's do it. I decided I better make the appointment when Chris could go because, God forbid, I would be devastated to get bad news and be alone. We were set for December 11, one month past the day I discovered I was expecting.

During the next few weeks, I began feeling more and more nauseous. My belly seemed to pop out overnight. I even had to start wearing maternity pants because my regular ones were too uncomfortable. I also started feeling ligament pain, which usually occurs late in pregnancy as the uterus is really stretched to its limits. When I mentioned the ligament pain to a friend, she joked, "Maybe it's twins." Oh, sure. Twins. Ha Ha! But the idea slowly began to grow on me. If I have twins I won't have to worry about deciding VBAC or another c-section. It'll be a no-brainer to have another c-section with no guilt or grief. And, I'll get two babies for one surgery. I've been worrying how I would ever get to four or five children having surgeries each time. Twins? It'll never happen. No way. No how.

A few nights before my appointment, Chris, the girls and I were laying in bed discussing baby names. Emma contributed Lion King and Emma as options. We asked her whether she wanted a girl or a boy to which she replied we were getting a girl and a boy. "Nooo," Chris laughed, "there better not be."

We arrived at the appointment on time with both girls in tow. We were going to get to see our baby. The tech reminded me this would be a vaginal scan--yuck--but yes, I knew what to expect. I got undressed and she returned. The first words out of her mouth when she began the exam were, "Oh, my." Chris: "Is that what I think it is?" Tech: "Two babies." Me: "No way. It can't be. Are you serious? Two babies. There are two babies! Praise God! Two babies. Are they okay?" Chris: silence. Emma: silence. Me: disbelief and giddiness. Two babies. Two heartbeats. Two sacs. Wow!




The tech printed some pictures for us and left to tell Liz. I had to call Mom. She was stunned to say the least. Chris left with the girls so they wouldn't have to sit through the rest of my appointment. I called Anna Chasteen while waiting. She was the first one to jokingly suggest the possibility. She couldn't believe it.

Liz came in and was pretty sober, warning me of all the dangers of a multiple pregnancy: steroid injection at 28 weeks to ensure mature lungs, bed rest likely by the end of April, and no chance of traveling to Derek and Mariel's wedding or Justin and Jordan's graduation in May. I left feeling deflated and anxious. I called Barbara next who joined in my giddiness. She was very encouraging and made me feel tons better. Chris called his dad at work and got, "You're kidding." "No," Chris said, "that's not something I'd joke about." His mom was subbing that day, but he called her cell anyway and got the exact same response that his dad had given. Later in the day I called Anna Talcott who is due the day before me and has with every pregnancy thought two babies for one pregnancy would be great. She couldn't believe it had actually happened to us. I then updated my Facebook status to "Michelle is overjoyed to be expecting Baby #3...and Baby #4!" and the word was out. We're having twins!

Many have asked if twins run in my family, and the answer is yes. My maternal grandma was a twin, though her brother didn't make it. She also delivered twins, a boy and girl, who both died at birth or soon after. My mom's oldest sister has twins, a cousin has twin girls, and my sister has twin boys. I wonder if Emma's prediction of a girl and a boy is true. As she aptly told someone the other day, "We'll take whatever God gives us!"

Yes, we feel very overwhelmed but are so excited by God's providence. I really do get two babies for the price of one surgery. These babies are such a blessing. We can't wait to meet them and discover what joys they will bring to our family.

Seven tests...

Monday, November 10: Mom had just left the day before after being here for a week to help us through Emma's surgery. Julie came by around 8:45am to pick up Charlotte and take her to school for me because I didn't think Emma could handle taking Charlotte and not being able to stay herself. Test #1: Sometime around 9:30am, I decide to go ahead and take a pregnancy test because I'm a little late and when it's negative I'll know that I can expect my dear friend to arrive any day. Months ago Barbara had given me a gag gift that consisted of several Dollar Store pregnancy tests, which only cost, you guessed it, $1. The reason they're $1 is because you have to pee in a cup and then use a dropper (provided of course) to carefully place four drops of urine on the test. I'd used them to discover Charlotte was on the way, so I was confident (or so I thought) in their reliability. I couldn't believe my eyes--one dark line (that means the test is working) and one really faint line (that means I need to take another test).

Test #2: another really, really faint 2nd line. No way! Ok, be calm, they're Dollar Store tests. How reliable can they be? Oh, here's a Clear Blue Easy digital test deep under the sink left over from when Charlotte was discovered and we didn't really quite trust the tests that only cost $1.

Test #3: Pregnant. In clear English. Pregnant. How am I going to tell Chris? We were supposed to wait until he had a full-time, real income job. I'm excited but also really nervous about telling Chris. Not because he's going to be mad or unhappy but because I know the burden another child will be on him. He's trying desperately to finish his PhD and looking for work and providing for his family with one or sometimes two part-time jobs. He's driving 2 hours, one-way, three days a week. How am I going to tell him?

Julie brings lunch and Charlotte home. I want to tell somebody but don't dare tell her before telling my husband. Emma's feeling pretty good so we make a Target run. I need to buy another test. The Clear Blue Easy test had expired in October so maybe it's not as reliable as it was a month ago. Charlotte chews on the box in the basket. Nice. Later that evening, Chris comes home and I realize the test is not in the Target bag. He sees me rummaging for something in the bag. "What are you looking for?" "Oh, nothing. Just something didn't make it into my bag." "What?" "Just something." "What?" "A pregnancy test." "A what?" I quickly explain the events of the morning. Chris clings to my theory that two of the tests only cost $1 and one of them was expired. We have to get another test. Wait--I think I have a couple more Dollar Store tests. Let me try those. Tests #4 and #5: only 1 line = negative. Disappointment. I do really want this baby. I can't not be pregnant. Load up the girls, drive to Target, buy a box with 2 tests.

Test #6: No. Now I'm really disappointed. And Chris is too. What does this mean? Am I or am I not? I decide to wait until morning to take the final test. The instructions say the best time to take them is first thing in the morning when HCG levels are the highest. I hardly sleep a wink. I really want this baby that I've only known about a few hours.

Test #7: 6:30am: Yes! Yay!! Surely, this means that I am really pregnant with baby #3. It took 7 tests but a majority of them were positive. My sweet husband sees the positive test on the counter and joins me with the girls in bed. "I love you, new mama." Everything is going to be okay. We've always been taken care of. We're having another baby!