Thursday, May 17, 2007

Born, born and reborn

It's now 10:45 p.m., and Day One of my daughter's lives is only a few hours old.
My new life is as well.
The streets are nearly empty of cars, the street lights flood even the darkest parts of Greeley, and the traffic signals turn green even before I stop as I approach. Most sleep in preparation for Friday, the best day of the week, to be sure, but still another workday.
It's peaceful.
It's exactly how I feel inside.
It's also exactly the opposite of how I felt just a few hours ago.
• • •

We went into the doc's on edge and, I'm sorry to say now, ready for battle. Kate had had enough, after yet another sleepless night (I barely got a few myself). One of the twins was in her ribs, she could barely breathe, and she was tired of lugging around two babies.
But our doctor, after checking Kate and finding out that she was essentially halfway there, agreed with our pleas and checked Kate into the hospital.
It was time, she agreed.
Two hours later, after dropping off softball equipment for our team at a friend's house (priorities, of course) and posting (priorities again), we were in the hospital, and doc broke Kate's water. We hung around for another two hours after a nice little ole thing we call an epidural (I prefer to call it heaven). Suddenly Kate was ready to go, and that's when the shortest half hour of my life, coupled with the longest two minutes of my life, happened.
"She's at 10."
"Dan, put these scrubs on. We're headed to the OR."
"Uh, OK."
"Go, go go."
It was another 10 minutes when Kate was prepared to deliever and our doc suddenly sent me away.
"Baby B is deaccelerating. I have to do a C-section. Dan you have to step outside."
• • •
So I sat outside the doors, calm as can be on the outside, while my stomach did the Tango.
The clock slowed to a crawl.
All I knew was one of my daughters was having trouble and they were preparing to carve up Kate like she was the roast beast at Christmas. And so I waited.
And waited.
It was only two mintues, but when a nurse came back for me, I sprinted to the OR and found two squaling girls on the side.
Oh.
Wow.
OK.
"Which one is the boy?"
Um...
"No, wait, they're both girls."
Heh. I almost fainted.
• • •
So there they were, and I really thought that this time wouldn't be nearly as weird, now that I've had a baby under my belt, but seeing two of them there was...um....I still dont' know how to describe it.
It didn't hit me until I carried both of them back to Kate in the recovery room. It would be the second time she would see them.
Holy shit, I thought. My arms are full.
(We've already heard "You've got your hands full" at least 15 times, and we haven't even left the damn hospital. Oh and once I looked up and saw, literally, 25 people crowded around the window staring at my babies. Yes, there are two. Now please go away).
My arms are full, my hands are full, and my life is full now. It will almost be too much.
Almost.
Jayden seemed really excited about his sisters, and while I know it won't always be that way, it was really nice to see him smile at his two girls.
Kate was so relieved despite just being carved open a few hours ago. She feels good. It's her last labor. I can tell she's really happy.
As for me, I am at peace, and I'm not sure I expected that feeling. Maybe this was hanging over my head more than I realized.
Or maybe I'm ready for it. Maybe I'm ready for the chaos and the joy and the exhaustation I'll surely feel these next few months.
Maybe I'm ready for my new life.
Day one of their lives is only a few hours old.
Day two of my own starts tommorow.





Kate moments after they were born:







And say hello to Andie and Allie. Allie was 6 pds., 1 oz. Andie was 5 pds., 13 ozs. They look good, they just ate well, they are breathing even better and the doctor does not think they will need any time in the NICU.
Allie is the one on the left. I think.







P.S. They look identical, don't they? Even trained baby nurses have a hard time telling them apart. Maybe I'm being ghey, but I have to admit this excites me to no end.

35 comments:

mtnrider81 said...

Congratulations man. You have two beautiful little girls there. Good luck with everything.

Mr Subliminal said...

Hearty congratulations!!!!

AnguilA said...

Congrats on having the twins and best of luck bringing them up!

Katitude said...

Congrats to you both!!! and ::hugs:: to Kate!

April said...

Yay!!! Congratulations!!!!

BadBlood said...

Here's to a lifetime of health and happyness. Congrats, sir.

peacecorn said...

I'm so happy for you and Kate. Congratulations!

Kris said...

Congratulations! They are adorable. I am thrilled to hear that Kate is doing well, and that both babies are thriving. (and Matt says hi too!)

SirFWALGMan said...

Good job you donkey! Always good to get more fish into the world.

F-Train said...

Congrats - the waiting is over and the poopy diapers begin!

Dave said...

Wow! Grats big daddy on your new little girls! I'm surprised they asked you to step outside during the c-section because my 1st son was born c-section and they let me watch the whole thing (in the same hospital as you I might add).

Give your wife a big hug. She's going to be in some pain for a while so you'll need to carry them both for a bit.

Looks like you've got two nice additions to your family.

Stacie said...

Congratulations. They are just gorgeous.

Bwah hah hah. Welcome to instant celebrity. You've got your hands full. Double trouble. Don't make eye contact; that helps.

Please tell Kate that, as a recipient of an unplanned section, I would be happy to offer any long distance support she needs. Society tends to dismiss sections as trivial, but it is major abdominal surgery with the requisite recovery (that would be a hint to you to not announce on the phone that "she's fine, totally recovered" as she hobbles, sobbing, towards the couch. not that I am speaking from experience on that one. *cough*). The best advice I got was not to be brave about the pain but just take the meds.

mookie99 said...

Congrats!!

Brooker Douglas said...

Can't wait to meet our beautiful little nieces and cousins!
-The Castle Rock Englands

If anyone is having trouble seeing the pictures they're available here.

Swistle said...

Congratulations! I sorry to say the "You've got your hands full" NEVER STOPS. Practice your patient smile and your "We sure do!"

Fuel55 said...

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!

WillWonka said...

Congrats!!! Easily the best news of the week...

As a dad with two young daughters, you will love it..

I just hope they look like the mom... DOH!!!

Enjoy your peaceful nights..... in 20 years...

StB said...

Big congrats!

David Westbay said...

Congratulations on two beautiful daughters! Best of luck to you and your family in your new adventure!

change100 said...

Awww! They're so cute! Congrats.

Janice said...

Thats so Awesome!! i loved having twins, you were like a mini celebrity! i would do it all over again! Good Luck!

heather@it'stwinsanity said...

Congratulations!

And yes, I think they do look alike!

Gnome said...

Congrats! You'll be a great dad.

Bad Egg said...

Congratulations on your beautiful little girls! Hope the next few weeks/months fly by with a miniumum of complications and stress. Enjoy those tiny peanuts!

Unknown said...

Congrats and congrats.

Biggestron

Love_elf said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We knew you could do it, Peaker!
All the apprehension gone now that those little angles have arrived?
It truly is a miracle.
You will be a fantastic daddy to those little ones!
So glad to hear Kate is doing well too.
All the Best,
Elf

Dara Lee said...

Congratulations! Twins are awesome, if not terrifying! Get used to "you've got your hands full!" and "are they ALL yours?"

Pann said...

beautiful babies, beautiful mom! Congrats!!!

surflexus said...

Very Nice!!!!! Congrats!!!

CarmenSinCity said...

Wow!!!!! How exciting! They are sooooooo adorable! I am really happy for you. :)

insanemommy said...

Oh-yeah. Get use to the "freak" show! Whenever and (rare occasion) we take the "twinkies" out we get lots and lots of questions... I won't even go there with the "hands full". You will clearly see soon enough (when they start walking!) what your life is about.

Congrats!! You will love being a twin daddy. Soo much fun.

Rony

kate said...

Huge congratulations! What wonderful pictures! Such big and beautiful babies, you are so blessed!!

PokahDave said...

Congrats man.....

TripJax said...

sorry i'm late to the game, but i've not been online for a while. Congats to you and yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hammer Player a.k.a Hoyazo said...

Your girls are beautiful even at this young age, Dan. Congratulations.