Big Change in 1999 Part 2

On December 30, 1999, we would have our first ultrasound of our baby. This was an exciting time. The Dr. said that the normal ultrasound person would be out during the holidays, but she wanted me to go to the hospital for the ultrasound so we could get that exact 21 week time snapshot. This was the time when we could learn if we would have a girl or boy, though we were still undecided about whether we wanted this knowledge or not.

I arrived early for the appointment (which my friends know may be my last time I was early). They called me back even before John arrived, and I begged for the technician to call someone else so we could wait for John to arrive. She said that we would have plenty of pictures to take, so he would not miss a thing...

We started the ultrasound and my heart was racing. I was tempted to sneak a peek at the sex and not tell John that I knew. Just as my thoughts are racing, the technician tells me that she sees ... TWO HEADS!... As in 2 babies??? As in Twins??? She said it so casually, because she had no idea that we did not know we were having twins.

This would go down as the most surprising day of my life! I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. Where was John? Was I dreaming? Was it a mistake? Surely, it had to be? Then John enters. I couldn't speak, but I pointed to him, and said something like... "Uhhhh... tell him... show him!" She showed him, and he responded as calm and casual as he always is... "wow - cool". That's it? He seemed like he had always known this would be the case. We then decided that the sex at this point was a minor detail, so we had enough surprise and were ready to know. It looked like a boy and a girl... wow.

I couldn't speak for days. When I returned to work, people would ask me about the baby, and I would just giggle uncontrollably. I didn't know what to do!

Of course, with this big change, came a shift in our plans. I had always planned to work after the baby (singular), but this would be more difficult with twins. We had not planned for me to leave my career from a financial standpoint, having just left law school, and I really wasn't ready to give up my career because I kind of liked it.

Thankfully, I had a co-worker next door to me, who 1) has twin boys that were turning 2 right before my due date, and 2) she worked part time and wanted a job share partner. My boss was very supportive, and it seemed perfect that I would be able to work part time after the babies were born.

As change happens, this co-worker was somehow persuaded by her husband to quit working and stay home with her boys. I couldn't fault her for the decision, but my plans would change a bit.

Still, I had a very understanding boss, and she allowed me to work part time in a different role after the twins. I would be able to have my career, and would hire someone to help me at home, which I really felt like I needed, since John was working so much and I really felt like I might not be capable of caring for 2 babies -- not that it would be too hard, but really, that I couldn't do it. It all seemed so overwhelming. It was nice to have an option to work part time. I will always be grateful to Debbie for her understanding and flexibility at that time.