9 years ago this week was a BIG week for me. I myself was really BIG being 40 weeks pregnant with twin girls. I have been doing a lot of reflecting this week about the 9 years I have been blessed with Rudy and Clare. So here is the story, the story every mother loves to tell, the story of how these amazing girls got here.
The day I discovered I was pregnant, Justin was helping my brother Bart put a new roof on his house. Emily and I traveled to his lake house and I whispered in Justin's ear that I was pregnant. He replied out loud, "You are? You are pregnant?" And that's how we told the family. :)
2 weeks later, Justin, Annie and I went to my first sonogram at 8 weeks pregnant. The doctor did the sonogram with no sound and then excused himself from the room and said he was going to get the nurse. My heart sank, I believed that I must have miscarried the pregnancy and he was getting support to tell me. The doctor and the nurse looked at the sonogram for a time together and then the nurse starting giggling and said, "yep, I think you are right..............it's twins!" Justin cheered with excitement and pride that we were having twins. I laid back in fear of how will I take care of two babies and 2 1/2 year old! On the car ride home my sister, Annie called my mom, Justin called his mom and I called my Papa. My Papa was excited and claimed that he assumed it was his fault since he was a twin. After that appointment our families moved into to full support mode in preparation for bringing two babies into the family. We were in the middle of remodeling our first home and brand new jobs, so we were very thankful for the support. Our parents and siblings put in construction labor, shopping, cleaning, cooking hours most weekends. My Papa called and emailed often to check on how I was feeling and to tell me funny stories. He often ended emails by telling me that my grandma and himself were praying for me. My pregnancy was enjoyable with all the support I received. The last weeks of my pregnancy were physically difficult, but not unbearable until the day before the gals were born. I was 40+ weeks pregnant and the weight of twins was very difficult to carry around. I barely fit in a car to drive as my stomach almost reached my knees. After a phone call from my Papa one day where I complained of aches and pains and the fear of delivering two babies, he sent me the following email:
Callie Sorrry your so uncomfortable, remember my mother
had twins without the benifits of modern medicine,and then deliviry at
home. I think about you every day,.Rita and I are praying for you. Love
Grandpa
On February 10, 2003 I went into for my regular check up with my doctor at 10am and I begged him to "get these babies out" I had been very outspoken about wanting to deliver them naturally, but I told him that day that I didn't care......I just want them out. He smiled at me and said, "I think you must be in labor if you are talking like that" He did a quick sonogram to check the position of the babies and thankfully they had both turned head down and I WAS IN LABOR! FINALLY!
Justin had went to work that morning so I called him and told him that he should go home and help Emily get a nap and then head over to the hospital. I explained that I wasn't really in pain yet, so it was going to be awhile. I planned to take a nap myself.
20 minutes later, there stood Justin and Emily with big smiles on their faces. He was too excited to sleep! And 9 years later, he is still too excited to sleep.
All of our family trickled in. Within a few hours we had a room packed with people and soon after most of them arrived I was wheeled away to the operating room. It was a good thing just decided to skip the nap!
Hospital policy was that multiple births must be delivered in the operating room in case they need to do surgery. (I was a little sad because I wanted to share the experience with my family and only one person could be with me in the OR)
Baby A (Rudy Anna Benton) was born at 4:39pm I requested a break and then 7 minutes later Baby B (Clare Gene Benton was born at 4:46pm.
We quickly requested to go back to the regular room to introduce Emily to her new little sisters. The room quickly filled back up with family excited to finally meet our new baby girls. After one night in the hospital we were ready to take our babies home and loaded them up. We were greeted at home with a house full of family ready to help us.
The early years of their lives were difficult to meet all their needs alone, so our family members were always close by to offer support. If one kid was sick, all three were sick. We had hospital stays for flu and chronic ear infections that are all a blur now. We got through them all because we have such an amazing family that supported us.
We moved to Paola the fall that Rudy and Clare were 3. We moved into house behind my Papa and just minutes away from both of our parents. I am very grateful for all the memories my girls have with my Papa. Shortly before we moved back to Paola my Papa sent me this email:
Thanks for the pictures, I to am happy that Clare is well,
They are growing into very nice looking gals Grandpa
I am missing him a lot this week as I think of all the memories we shared with him and all the advice and support he gave us.
This Friday my baby girls will turn 9 and while it is hard for me to not be sad that they are growing up too fast, I am thrilled to think of what amazing young women they are. And I take comfort in knowing "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"
