Skip to main content

The News

On the Monday following the ultrasound, the reality of Brandi carrying twins, the thoughts of having twin daughters, and having to get two of everything began to weigh on my mind.  I talked with DC's nurse who told me how she carried twins and gave me some good encouragement.  She said that DC was not in, but would have him call me.

The next day I received a call.  DC explained to me that they had not seen the dividing membrane between the two babies on their ultrasound.  They could have missed it and they wanted to schedule us for an appointment with a perinatologist for further examination.  It was at this time that I learned there were actually more types of twins that fraternal and identical.  I also learned about mono-mono twins.  DC did not confirm which type of twins Brandi was carrying, but gave me the "worst case scenario" so that I would prepare myself if this were the case.  After we finished the call I did the worst thing I could have done and knew better as I was doing it.  I googled Monochorionic and Monoamnionic twins.

Google really should re-brand itself as the Pandora's Box of Information.  They say that ignorance is bliss and I believe that to be true.  The Bible says that with much knowledge comes much sorrow.  I fully believe this.  From what I was reading, the prognosis of my little girls did not look good.  Brandi learned some and found that the chances of having mono-mono twins is 1 in 10,000.  She said that she felt blessed that she could be carrying such an unlikely pregnancy.  I, on the other hand, began to freak out inside.  My mood fell drastically.  I tried to keep a good perspective for Brandi, but I kept asking myself why DC had prepared me for the worst.  Our appointment with the perinatologist was not until 2 and a half weeks out.  I called and arranged for an earlier appointment.


Popular posts from this blog

The Smile

In my practice of psychotherapy I'm learning the power of positive psychology.  I've had a notion that many times people forget to smile, especially when they are plagued with depression and/or anxiety.  A few years ago I went through a very painful event that changed my life.  The grief of loss was so profuse that I found myself forgetting to smile.  In response, I decided to take daily pictures of myself smiling.  I was leaning on the old adage of "fake it till you make it."  I certainly did not feel like smiling, but I would make the biggest, cheesiest smile and take a selfie.  It helped me remember that life is only dominated by sadness and grief if we allow it that power.  That statement is a relatively sound Christian thought, too.  God gives us joy in Him if we are born again.  Like Peter stepping out of the boat, we can sometimes lose sight of the joy of Christ when the tempests of life seems overwhelming.  Don't forget to...
Read more

The Blessing

I've always wanted Brandi to be able to stay home and work as she pleases with sign language interpreting.  She interprets for the Deaf that attend our church and it has been a dream of hers to be able to do so as a vocation instead of volunteer.  I can't say that I was quite prepared for the suddenness of her leaving work, but per doctor's suggestion Brandi filed for FMLA and ceased working.  She has stayed at home taking it easy, resting, and trying to eat 3,500 calories a day.  She said that she never thought she would ever come to a place in her life where she would be tired of eating, but she's arrived.  And feeling tired of eating, she's decreased the goal to 3,200 calories.  She's doing pretty good at it.  The thought of having twins, hospital bills, doctor bills, specialist bills, etc was daunting enough with two incomes, but now having just one was a bit overwhelming.  Amid the many prayers that we send to God about the girls, Brandi ha...
Read more

The Chest Pain

Monday was a big day.  We had our second appointment with the perinatologist.  While the initial visit took about 2 and 1/2 hours, this one too about 40 minutes.  They checked on both girls, took measurements, listened to heartbeats, and listened to the umbilical cords.  Both girls checked out just fine.  The doctor pronounced both to be in good health and growing at a good rate.  Brandi also checked out just fine.  We were elated.  To celebrate, we went about a five minute drive up the road to one of our favorite Indian restaurants, Bombay Palace.  Brandi said the girls really liked the Indian food because they were dancing around in her belly.  We had a good time.  About an hour later I was in the E.R. (No, not because of the yummy Indian food). Let me back-track just about 14 hours.... 3:00 am I woke up with a really bad pain behind my left shoulder blade.  I felt as though I had been impaled.  Brandi had to push me t...
Read more