Dear Journal,
We're sitting in the doctor's office. Speid's got Katie and Zach in his lap. Today we're going to find out the sex of the baby.
Speid can tell I'm distracted. He keeps asking what's wrong with me. I can't exactly tell him that Tommy's been stuck in my mind since the moment I woke up this morning. I keep shrugging his questions off like they don't matter at all. I think he's becoming slightly offended, since he's not saying anything else.
Katie and Zach are amazed by all of the strange equipment in this room. The ultrasound technician comes in and patiently answers all of their questions. She turns to me and pulls up my shirt, revealing my huge belly.
She puts the clear gel on the doppler and then puts the doppler on my stomach and starts moving it around. The ultrasound technician stops for a second and looks at me.
"Have you seen a doctor since you got pregnant?" she asks me, frowning.
"Yes," I say, indignantly. "I've been two of three times."
"How many ultrasounds have you had?" she asks me, frowning in disapproval.
"One," I say, not understanding what she wants to know.
"Did they tell you that you're having twins?" she asked me.
"What?" I ask, floored. She can't be serious. One baby is plenty enough. I don't need two. If I had two, then I'd be completely lost... No, I can't be having twins. It's impossible. I look over at Speid, to see his jaw sweeping the floor in shock.
"I take that as a no, then. It's not extremely common, but it does happen. One baby can be behind the other or in a different position to where it makes it difficult to see them both. Besides, your babies are on the small side, so it's easier for them to have gotten "lost" if you had your first ultrasound early in the pregnancy. Do you want to know the sexes?"
I nod silently. That was, after all, what we had originally come here for.
She moves the doppler around a little bit and smiles.
"What?" I ask her.
"Well, it looks like you're having twin girls," she says, smiling.
I close my eyes. This cannot be happening. How come I can't just have a normal pregnancy like a NORMAL person? How come things have to be so complicated?
"Are they identical or fraternal?" Speid asks, looking at the moniter. He seems so calm. How can he be so calm?
"They're fraternal," the nurse says, smiling. "You two are so lucky! Now, there are extra risks associated with multiple pregnancies, including but not limited to low birth weight and pre-term labor. You went into early labor with your last child, so I would take things very carefully, okay?"
I nod, still shocked and disoriented. Twins!
I guess that explained why the baby had been moving around so much and had been so active. There were TWO of them. And, I guess it also explained why my stomach was so large. I mean, I wasn't showing until seven months with Zach... all of a sudden at the beginning of my seventh month, my belly just expanded. With this one, it's been a gradual growth... no wonder I feel as big as a house.
She set me up another appointment and Speid, Zach, Katie, and I all went out to the check-out desk to confirm our next appointment.
When we get out to the car, Speid leans over and kisses me.
"Twins! Can you believe it?" he asks.
I look down at my belly, placing one hand on it in disbelief.
"We're having twins. Twin girls. No, I can't believe it. I can't believe it at all. This is unreal," I say, still shocked.
"Mommy, are you having two babies?" Katie asks.
"Yes, sweetie," I answer. "You're going to have two little sisters!" I say, looking at Zach.
"But Mommy, I want a little brother!" Zach says indignantly.
Speid and I laugh. Poor Zach, he's going to have three sisters.
Speid and I are looking at baby names.
"What about Veronica and Vaeda," he asks, pointing at the V section in the baby book.
"Ummn... no," I say. "My kids are not going to have stripper names."
"They aren't stripper names," Speid says. "They're the names of the girls in The Spill Canvas song, The Tide."
"I don't care if it was the Virgin Mary's name," I say, "It still sounds awful!"
Speid sets the book down and picks up another one. "I still like Gabriella Rose," he says.
"That's cute. I like it, too. But what about the other one?" I ask.
"Hmmn... what about Gabriella and Isabella?" he suggests.
I look at him like he just scored a touchdown or ran a home run.
"Perfect," I say. "Absolutely perfect."
"We still need middle names," he says.
"Gabriella Rose and Isabella Grace," I say.
"Okay, then," Speid says. "Are we going to change them again?" he laughs.
"Who knows?" I ask, laughing.
There's a ring at the door and Speid gets up to answer it. He opens the door and gasps in shock.
"Hey you guys," Karma says. "I came back for Katie."
Sorry this chapter is a bit short. I'm planning on doing something else for the next chapter, but I need to cut it off here. Please review!!
Leanne