Welcoming Ty and Erin

After two home pregnancy tests that returned a result I can only surmise meant "maybe", I was officially confirmed pregnant at 8 weeks. At 11 weeks I had my first ultrasound and the very first thing I saw were two heads. It was a good thing I was already lying down. The technician took a few measurements before inviting my husband, Erik in. I watched Erik's face while the technician showed him the first image I saw. In a moment, I saw his excitement turn to terror as the colour drained from his head. I looked at the technician and said, "That man needs to sit down!"

Being pregnant with twins was great - every month I had to have an ultrasound so I have pictures of my babies in my belly every four weeks since I was 4 months pregnant. Watching them grow was like witnessing a miracle taking place right before my eyes.

I was told by my doctor that I would be getting an epidural. I had heard more than enough accounts of epidurals gone bad - (being frozen from the waist up, being frozen on one side, severe headaches). My doctor assured me that if anything did go wrong, I was in a hospital - the best place possible. She then booked our delivery date around the schedule of the chief of anesthesiology.  I was nervous, but I felt a little better.

Erik drove me to the hospital to be induced on Feb 28, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. I was induced at 8 a.m. and contractions started shortly after. The epidural arrived two hours later. Erik and I distracted ourselves with conversation and games until he went home for lunch and I had a nap.

I was finally fully dilated at 8 p.m. and 45 minutes later, I met my son, Ty Joshua. He was covered in goop and blood and I couldn't wait to hold him. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The nurses almost had to pry him from my arms to clean him up.

Four minutes later, another beautiful baby covered in goop and blood arrived on my belly - my daughter, Erin Dawn.

Erin didn't get to stay with me for long. Her breathing was irregular and rapid so she spent some time with the neonatal specialist. Erik stayed with her until her breathing settled down and she turned pink. Erin spent the night in the NICU and Ty slept beside my bed. I can't really think of an emotion to describe what I felt that night, staring at Ty in awe of what had just happened.

I was a mom.

I had just doubled the size of our family.

Erin joined us the next morning. The nurse who brought her to my room picked her up and handed her to me.  She looked right at me and threw up all over both of us. This was my official christening into the new and unfamiliar world of motherhood.