Tuesday, May 19, 2009
May 19th Is A Great Day!
Happy Birthday, My Babies!

12 years ago, I got on the scale at the doctor’s office. I was nearly 38 weeks pregnant and all of the ultrasound technicians told me you were each approximately 5 1/2 pounds a piece. I hadn’t seen my feet in months and many claimed that an elephant had sexier legs than I did. That’s right, you could not visibly see any of my joints. The two of you were just so comfy in HOTEL MOM that you cut off any decent circulation that my legs once enjoyed.

I asked the doc how much the scale read as I couldn’t read it if my life depended on it. 199 pounds. Oh HECK NO! There was absolutely NO FREAKING WAY hitting the dreaded 2-0-0! You were coming out today, no “if’s, and’s or but’s about it!” Everybody was either out of town or at work, so I drove myself from the doctor’s office to the hospital. How I managed to reach the pedals of my TransAm I will never know! As soon as we were settled in our room, I looked forward to meeting you two little terrors who were waging a war in my belly. I mean, ENOUGH is ENOUGH of that constant wrestling going on in there. If you want to fight that badly… you can just come out of there and do it outside of my body! I’ll give you something to fight about…

You know, I had been having contractions already for over 4 months, so they were certainly nothing shocking in the hospital. I just couldn’t wait for those great drugs that I heard about so that I wouldn’t feel them anymore. But, OH-NO… you two just decided that I deserved MANY MANY MANY hours filled with cramping and labor before I was dilated enough to get my happy medicine. I remember, about 8 hours into it, I just wanted them to let me just go into the closet and give birth to my “litter.” I thought that sounded easier than calling for a nurse every time that I had to roll over. Yes, my little angels, it took two people to move me from one side to the other!

- DeeDee
Meanwhile, while Dee Dee was just scootin’ her way on down… poor little Colie Bear was just being kicked so much that you decided you’d had enough. You flipped and you turned so that you wouldn’t get it in the tummy from your twin any longer. Well, thanks a lot! Now we get to have surgery because the doctors didn’t think we could get you out that way. Plus, your heart wasn’t very happy after all of that arguing and fighting with your sissie. SEE! I told you guys that nothing good ever comes of fighting!

- Colie Coo
Amidst the drama, this absolutely INSANE neighbor of ours showed up at the hospital. We hardly knew her and she wouldn’t leave my room. When your daddy and I finally had the nerve to ask her to leave, she decided that it would be just as easy to call once every hour for an update on my labor. Then, she sent balloons. Who was this woman?

But, that night we invited 12 doctors and nurses into the operating room. I was so afraid and yet so excited. I just wanted to meet you both so much. Would you have my dark hair and dark eyes? My nose? I told the anesthesiologist that I would love him forever and ever if he got us through safely. The good news is that he did! (I sent him a thank you note… always send a thank you note!)

Daddy decided that it was more interesting to check out the surgery than calm my nerves. So, as he stood up to examine the surgery he found joy in describing that all of my internal organs were laying on the table beside me. Oh, LOVELY! Just what I wanted to hear… so, I start begging the anesthesiologist to help me calm down. Daddy announced, “I can now officially say that I love you inside and out!” Very funny!

Before my eyes you appeared and disappeared. It was like a blur! I saw some cheeks and little round mouths. But, where did you go? I could hear you crying. Daddy left with you two while I made friends with the rest of the operating staff. Little did I know that I would suffer complications and be trapped in rooms for HOURS!
When I finally made it to my room, everybody had met you two little tykes but me! I wanted to meet you so bad. I hadn’t slept in nearly 2 days and I just kept telling your daddy… “if I can just keep my eyes open a few minutes longer!” So, they went to bring you in. Just as you arrived, I fell asleep… crying… where were you?

When I awoke the next day, I couldn’t wait to meet you. I had a terrible allergic reaction to the “happy medicine” and my eyes were burning and nearly swollen shut. But, I just had to see you. Daddy was there, too. They rolled in the two carts with you guys in them. I asked the nurse, “Are you sure that those are mine? I mean, how do you really know they’re mine?” I guess it helped that you were the only girl twins born at the time! But, where was your dark hair and what was with those blue eyes? Huh? Were they positive that you were ours? Yes, you were mine!

Guess what? You two stopped fighting! In the hospital and when you came home, you two were always the happiest when you were very close to the other. Sometimes, one would reach out her arm to touch the other. You just were so used to cuddling that you didn’t like to be separated at all.

The first year with you was a joy unlike anything I’ve ever known. I’ve never IN MY LIFE fallen so completely, unconditionally in love with TWO PEOPLE at THE SAME TIME! It was such an amazing, overwhelming feeling. You two were in cahoots with one another every step of the way, including forming a secret “twin language” that only the two of you could understand. Everything was in 2′s and nearly everything took twice as long. You were beautiful babies and I could hardly go anywhere without being stopped with that completely STUPID question: “Are those twins?” I mean, are they crazy… how could I have gotten pregnant and delivered another baby so fast? EEK!

DeeDee and ColieBear, my life without you would be meaningless. You are my everything and all that I live for and dream for. You are my joy and my little “pains in the PA-TWO-KAH!”
Love,
Mom
P.S. Just remember that I still have rights to squeeze those tooshies ANY TIME that I want to. I don’t even have to ask first! They are mine for the grabbing! And, yes… that includes your wedding day if I see fit!

26 Responses
Trin
May 19th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Happy Birthday, DeeDee and Colie! I hope you have a great one!
Trin´s last blog post..Love’s First Light
Lenore
May 19th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Aww! How sweet! Happy birthday.
Sandy
May 19th, 2009 at 4:42 am
That just about brought a tear to my eye! Your daughters are beautiful! As it would most moms, I’m reading this and traveling back to when my kids were born (20 months apart, not at the same time!). My husband and I relive it all the time, even 11 and 9 years later! We are so blessed with our miracles!
Anna
May 19th, 2009 at 4:44 am
What a beautiful birthday letter to your beautiful girls. Happy Birthday!
Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog
May 19th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Congratulations to you and happy birthday to your beautiful girls!
I love what you say there at the end—I’m pretty sure my mom squeezed my tush during our dance together at my wedding. The mother-daughter dance. Highly recommended.
Molly
May 19th, 2009 at 5:56 am
What a lovely way to celebrate their birthday. I am sure the girls will want to read and re-read this tribute for years to come.
rhapsodyinbooks
May 19th, 2009 at 6:07 am
What a great story! And the pictures are wonderful. And good going on that sneaky threat to get your daughters to elope!!! :–)
Indigo
May 19th, 2009 at 6:23 am
Happy Birthday to your gorgeous daughters! The love they have for each other and you is evident in these pictures. (Hugs) Indigo
Kathy
May 19th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Happy Birthday to your precious girls!
Kristina
May 19th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Happy Birthday Girls!!!! What a great tribute Sheri!! You made me want to go home and hug my little man =)
Bobbie Crawford-McCoy
May 19th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Happy Birthday Girls!!!!
I hope you both have lots and lots of fun!
Thank you for sharing so many beautiful pictures and fond memories with us, Sheri!
((((hugs))))
Bobbie Crawford-McCoy´s last blog post..Book Review – The Flavor Bible
Alyce
May 19th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Happy Birthday! I loved reading about their birth story Sheri. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Alyce´s last blog post..Visit to Mount Hood
Jo-Jo
May 19th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Happy birthday to these beautiful girls Sheri! Thank you so much for sharing this post with us today!
Jo-Jo´s last blog post..Teaser Tuesday-May 19
Robin of My Two Blessings
May 19th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Happy Birthday DeeDee and Colie. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Good going Mom. Congrats to you too!
Ti
May 19th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Happy Birthday girls!
Sheri.. as I was reading through your post and checking out all the pics I actually teared up! I’m a big, sentimental goofball when ti comes to stuff like this.
Ti´s last blog post..Review: Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe
Florinda
May 19th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Such beautiful babies
. Happy 12th birthday to your twins! (And fasten your seat belt for the fast-approaching teen years, says this mom of a 14-year-old!)
Florinda´s last blog post..Flashback: 1979 (Weekend Assignment #267)
Yasmin
May 19th, 2009 at 10:55 am
ooo aaa…what a great post…nothing like a mother’s love…Happy Birthday girls!
xoxo
Yasmin´s last blog post..A Heart’s Journey by Janice N. Adams
Abby Carter
May 19th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Such a lovely tribute to two beauties!
Abby Carter´s last blog post..Life with a set of Vietnamese Instructions
Marie Burton
May 19th, 2009 at 11:08 am
OMG That was awesome! I loved the image of the TransAm..
and loving you inside and out.. All I remember of my c-sections was PAIN PAIN PAIN. But this is YOUR Story, and I thank you for sharing it.. did you actually hit the 200 pound mark? Thanks for sharing, Happy Birthday!
Marie Burton´s last blog post..Review: "Burnt Shadows" by Kamila Shamsie
Darlene
May 19th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Happy Birthday Girls! What a beautiful tribute to your girls Sheri-it had me teary eyed. They are such beautiful girls! Thanks so much for sharing theirs and your story with us.
Darlene´s last blog post..GIVEAWAY: 3 copies of The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly (Audio Book)
Nely
May 19th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
That was beautiful Sheri. Happy Birthday to DeeDee and Colie!
♥ Nely
Nely´s last blog post..The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
bethany (Dreadlock Girl)
May 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Twins!!! So sweet. Yours are adorable. Happy Birthday!!!!
bethany (Dreadlock Girl)´s last blog post..Friday Night, Movie Night.
Shelly
May 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Happy Birthday girls! What a beautiful post and pics.
Shelly´s last blog post..Teaser Tuesdays – 20 Boy Summer
Literate Housewife
May 20th, 2009 at 9:18 am
How beautiful you all are! May 19 is a great day, Sheri! I had no idea that your daughters looked so alike. Congratulations!
Literate Housewife´s last blog post..#165 ~ The Blue Notebook
Lisamm
May 21st, 2009 at 10:20 am
So sweet! Beautiful pics too. I almost didn’t recognize you as a blond!
Lisamm´s last blog post..Read Me
Sheri
May 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Lisa… yes, I tried to look like them!
Actually, I’ve been a redhead, brunette and blonde. It’s all a part of my mysterious sexy side. Hee Hee.
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