Reflecting on the Day Our Twins Arrived
9 years ago today, our twins arrived at 32 weeks
gestation. The barometric pressure change caused by Hurricane Ivan caused my water
to break the night before. At 2 months early, naturally we were worried and scared.
As the doctors watched closely while I labored, it was
suggested that a cesarean section might be the best course of delivery. Current sonograms suggested that our son, who was head
down and would come first, was smaller than his sister, who sat transverse atop
him.
Due to being in a head down
position throughout almost the entire pregnancy, getting accurate measurements on him, specifically his head, wasn't the easiest of tasks. The doctor’s fear was that he was smaller than his sister and he wouldn't ‘pave the way’ for her to come easily since he would arrive
first in a natural birth scenario.
I KNEW this precious boy was
bigger than his sister. His head measurements had been bigger than hers during earlier scans. I KNEW his head was bigger than hers. I just KNEW it. I KNEW his leg
measurements, which were shorter than his sister’s, were not indicative of his
size…he was just built like his wonderful Daddy. He wasn't smaller, he was just built differently. He like his father, she like me.
I KNEW the best way for these preemies to get here would be
naturally. They needed the fluid to be squeezed
from their tiny, little lungs during a trip down the birth canal...as nature intended it to be. Otherwise, they held a greater risk of
breathing difficulties when they arrived.
I prayed. I prayed
HARD. REALLY HARD! God spoke to me in His still,
small voice and a wave of calmness that I cannot even begin to describe swept
over me. I don't have the words to make others understand completely how and what I felt in that moment and the time afterwards. I KNEW giving birth to them
naturally was the correct decision. I
KNEW that God wouldn't lead me to a decision that would bring our babies or us
to harm. I TRUSTED Him with complete
FAITH and BELIEF that His knowledge was greater than my understanding or anyone else's.
Against doctor’s suggestions and the worried faces and words
of my family, the decision to give birth naturally was relayed to the doctors. My husband stood beside my decision, which
meant more to me than he will ever begin to possibly know. (Thank you - the other half of my heart - for standing strong beside me, even when others weren't so trusting and sure of my decision.)
Surrounded by my husband, a staff of doctors, NICU workers, nurses, and other hospital staff, our precious son and daughter
came into this world.
Our son arrived looking around and checking out this world before he even got completely into
it. His gorgeous blue eyes were wide and open. (Those gorgeous blue eyes are still wide open to the world, curious and ever wondering about everything!) His welcoming wail was a beautiful
sound! Our firstborn son. His father's namesake. Built just like his Daddy. Oh, our precious boy!!! The pride, joy and happiness on my husband's face will forever be burned into my memory!
Our daughter, who was transverse,
didn't want to turn head down after her brother came. Even though he paved the way for her, she stretched out, enjoying her newly found
extra space in my womb. Feet first and
stunned, she was pulled into the world. (Still today, she likes to pave her own way; stubborn and ready to go at things in her own way. It gets her into trouble sometimes, but when she's older and knows how to channel it, she will be a mighty force!) She was so quiet when she arrived that her father and I have never experienced such a
moment of fright in all of our lives.
When her piercing cry finally broke the silence of the room, it was the most beautiful sound we had ever heard! Her Daddy and I locked eyes in relief and happiness as our second daughter, another sweet little girl who was already wrapped around his little finger, made her presence known to us all.
Both of their lungs were great and they never had to have any
assistance breathing. They spent a short
stint in the NICU learning to suck and getting over some jaundice. A little over a couple of weeks later, our
perfect little miracles came home to join our family of 3 now turned to a
family of 5.
Our eldest daughter, who was 3 at the time and is now 12, adored them from the moment she saw them. Now our family is a family of 6, as two years after the twins arrived, our youngest son came. Our family is complete and I can't imagine life without them!
Happy birthday to our twins who are 2 of our 4 pride and joys! You make our lives worth living and bring joy to our lives every day! We are truly and amazingly blessed!
Dear
Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to me on that stormy September day and leading me to the
right decision for our precious twins. Thank You for the wonderful husband You have given me who stood by me and that decision which You placed in my heart. Thank You
for the immeasurable faith You provided me with then. Thank You for the immeasurable faith that You
continue to provide to me now, which has grown even greater than it was that
day.
Thank You for continuing to give me guidance where sometimes there appears to be no light or when the storms are raging. Thank You for constantly reminding me that it is Your Will, not ours, that directs our paths in this life. Thank You for reminding me to follow You, not myself or the flesh of this world. For only You know what is best for all of us.
I trust You, Lord. I trust You and know that just as You did 9
years ago on the day our twins arrived, You still speak to me and lead me the
way You want me to go. I know if I ask You for your guidance in my decisions, You are quick to assist me.
You are
constantly working on me and molding me into the Godly woman, wife, mother,
daughter, and child of God that You desire me to be and I thank and praise You
for that. You are constantly working on
our lives, our family, our home and our hearts…thank you for that! I pray and thank You that You continue to work on us all and bond us with an unbreakable and immeasurable bond.
I pray and thank You that you guide us in raising these precious children You have given us to be the Godly men and women you desire them to be. I ask and thank You for the guidance You provide us with in being Godly role models and examples for our children. For just as we look to You, our Heavenly Father, for guidance on who and what we are to be, our children look to us, their earthly mother and father, for guidance and examples on who and what they are to be and become.
Thank You for reminding me constantly to listen to Your voice, not my own will and desires, in my life. Thank You for forgiving me when I fail, picking me up when I fall, and putting me back on the course You have for me. I thank You now for doing the same in the future, for I know I will fail and fall again...many times. Thank You for always being there for me and not forgetting me, even when I have forgotten you. Thank You for 'jerking a knot in my tail' when I've needed it and knowing that you will do it again and again when needed. You correct me when I need correction, just as we correct our children, as I am your child.
Thank
you for blessing us more than we have ever deserved. Thank You for all that You have done, are
doing now, and plan to do for us in our lives – myself, my husband, our
children and our family. I pray You keep my faith strong and my ears open, always waiting for Your voice and guidance.
I
thank You for your peace which transcends all understanding. I thank You for restoration of things that
are broken. I thank You for rebuilding
me and not ever giving up on me, on us, or our family. I
thank you for giving us Your love, even when it is not deserved. I thank you for Your forgiveness. I thank You for our salvation. I thank You for everything!
Thank
You, thank You, thank You! In
Jesus’ precious name, I thank and praise you, Amen.
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