Thursday, April 12, 2012

Today is a birthday

Five years and two days ago, I waddled into my last MFM appointment. I was 35 weeks and 4 days pregnant and a c-section had been scheduled for April 16th, which would also mark Marathon Monday and the end of tax season. I was extremely uncomfortable and had been so for months but I never complained. I couldn't sleep for more than three hours at a time and in the middle of the night, I would find myself sitting on the glider in the nursery. I would rock back and forth while rubbing tiny limb bumps and kicks. In those moments, it almost seemed impossible that I would some day have three little babies to hold in my empty arms.

During that last appointment, my doctor announced that my c-section date was changing and in a moment of panic and confusion, I thought that the date was going to be later. And then I discovered that we would be meeting our babies within three days. We went home to wrap up loose ends and wait for the phone call telling us when the c-section would happen.

I had wanted to finish our tax returns before the babies arrived and the last item (a late K-1) had been delivered that week. In order for me to sit in a chair, the bottom of my belly (or Allie) had to be resting on the seat because my midsection was enormous. I could only stay that way for 10-15 minutes before the discomfort became unbearable and forced me to recline. I did manage to finish those tax returns though.

The next day, Wednesday, I received the call telling me to report to L&D the next morning, which made my brother, John, happy because he didn't want the girls to be born on Friday the 13th. Relief was slowly trickling into my system. I didn't know how much longer I could physically carry three babies inside of me.

By 6:10 this morning, all three girls had climbed up into our bed to snuggle with us. When we wished them a happy birthday, Allie said, "I still a baby," in a baby voice. Yes, Allie. You will always be my teeny, tiny little baby. And then Anna asked if I was going to be the momma to her babies. I told her no, that I would be the grammy. "NO! The babies will be in your tummy." Um, okay. Not sure how that's going to work out. And then Em said that she only wanted one baby because one baby was enough. Otherwise, there would just be too much crying.

Happy birthday, Baby Girls! You bring so much joy and light into my life. I love you.

(Okay, so I'm the photographer and Rich is the videographer. There's a clip right here of the girls when they were only 9 days old and we brought Allie and Em to visit Anna in the NICU. They're so little but big enough that I'm in awe of how the world works.)

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to your girls!

Anonymous said...

Happy 5th Birthday, Allie, Anna, and Emily! I love watching you grow from your parents' blogs!
-lily

Jessica White said...

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Girls!

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

Happy birthday, Allie!
Happy birthday, Emily!
Happy birthday, Anna!

And congrats, Mommy and Daddy, on five awesome years!

Viola Margaret said...

Awwww...
Happy Birthday Alicenne Hope!
Happy Birthday Emily Blessing!
Happy Birthday Anna Abigail!

All the best wishes! :)

Cassidy said...

I absolutely adore your blog, I've read it for a long time now and I just realized last year that your girls have the same birthday as my daughter, except she turned 6 today. Five is an incredible age, you will be blown away by how much and how fast they learn once they start kindergarten! Happy Birthday to your girls, I hope they had a fabulous day!!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday girls! Hope you had a wonderful day. It's an honor to get to know your family through this blog. -JD

Marcia (123 blog) said...

Happy birthday Anna, Ally and Em :)

Kayla said...

Happy birthday, Emily!
Happy birthday, Allie!
Happy birthday, Anna!

5 years old and getting so big :)

Tina said...

Happy 5th Birthday to your beautiful, lively little sprites. Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Deanna said...

Happy Birthday, Anna, Allie, & Emily! I hope five is the best year yet!

Rachel W. said...

Happy Birthday, beautiful girls!

Becky said...

Happy birthday to your sweet girls:) and what a cute video to have of them together!

Bree at Clarity Defined said...

Happy (belated) birthday Allie!
Happy (belated) birthday Emily!
Happy (belated) birthday Anna!

Michele said...

Happy Birthday!

Sarah said...

THANK YOU!

mommytocutiepie said...

Happy birthday to the girls!!!

Hope's Mama said...

Sorry I'm late! Happy birthday to three of the prettiest girls I know (well know through my laptop!)
xo

Jennifer said...

Happy, Happy Birthday Emily!
Happy, Happy Birthday Allie!
Happy, Happy Birthday Anna!