A Birth Day To Remember

I'm going to try fill in some space to hopefully give you some warning before the pictures start up. Grandmas especially, you've been warned.

On this day three years ago, at 10:45 pm, Ben and I were blessed with our twin boys. When you're pregnant with your first child no one can possibly even try to explain to you and prepare you for what you will feel when you finally meet your new person (or persons, in this case). It was especially true for us - No one could have possibly prepared us for the trial that gave us our baby boys.

I don't know if anyone reading this is something other than family. So most of you will already know this story and have seen these pictures. But for anyone reading this that doesn't know our family, here is a little back story.

I was diagnosed with early preeclampsia when I was 6 months pregnant. My exciting, joyful pregnancy turned very scary, very quickly. I was blessed with a doctor that knew how to handle the situation, and we were able to catch it early enough. I spent 2 weeks on bedrest with medication and a low sodium diet before becoming very ill, rushed to the hospital, and being told that I was dieing - the babies would have to be taken and there was no guarentee that them, or I would survive

They were 27 weeks. It was the most terrifying thing Ben and I have ever been through. I have never prayed that hard in my life.

God is good, and He gave us an amazing NICU staff, the support of a truck load of friends and family, and two very strong fighter babies.

It was a very long three months and 5 days, but in what I can only explain as a miracle, our baby boys finally came home with no problems other than being small (they still wear 18 month clothing.)

No one can explain to you what you feel when you go through something like that. And no amount of hugs from people who love you can make it better. There were many nights of pain and crying, but so many more of pride and excitement with each ounce they gained or each wire and tube that wasn't needed anymore.

(Goofy still makes that face.)

I love my baby boys. We don't really talk much about that very short yet incredibly long time in our lives. We don't often look at the pictures of them strapped up to machines, with barely any skin. It reminds us too much of the fear and pain. But I remember every minute and to be honest... I wouldn't trade it. That experience brought me closer to my husband as we stood by each other through it all. It was very stressful, but it made me stronger.

 And it gave me the most gorgeous, dorkiest, hilarious, mischievous children I could  every possibly want. Happy Birthday Munchkins!


Our story is a rare one. Very often the mother, the baby(ies), or neither survive preeclampsia and eclampsia. If you would like more information about this very real and dangerous disease, or would like to find out how you can help find a prevention/cure, please visit the Preeclampsia Foundation.