Sleepless in Michigan- it's TWINS

by Erika Kowalewski
(Gwinn, MI, USA)

We're having twins! Erika's story -

My husband and I were married in August 2003. I found out in October after nearly fainting and having some menstrual problems that I had been pregnant and miscarried at home. At the time, kids were definately not on our "to do" list just yet. But knowing that I had been pregnant started to weigh on my mind and soon we wanted to have one. Just one!

After trying for a full year with no luck, my doctor decided to give me a small amount of fertility drug called Clomid. I took it the first week of January and got a positive pregnancy test the last week of January 2005. Ironically, the night before taking the test, we had decided to give up because we didn't think I would be able to conceive.

The next few weeks were a blur. I remember telling people at a family gathering and referring my pregnancy to "I'm having A BABY!" Little did I know!

I went to my first OB appointment and my doctor decided to send me in for an early ultrasound since I had taken the fertility treatment - he just wanted to do some checking up since there can be complications.

At 14 weeks, we went in for the ultrasound and found out we were having twins! My mom and mother in law were in the waiting room so my husband brought them in so they could see - of course everyone cried!

After that, I was watched more closely at doctor's appointments - going once every two weeks until about 6 weeks before my due date. At that point my blood pressure skyrocketed and I was forced to go on maternity leave early.

At my final appointment on September 12th, my doctor informed me that I could pick when I wanted to have them. My mom's 40th birthday was Sept 18th so I picked that day - her first grandkids and her 40th birthday!

I woke up at 5:30am on 9/18, cleaned like crazy, finished laundry and dishes, and got my husband in the car. When we arrived at the hospital I was hooked up to an IV, which pumped me full of pitocin. After roughly 24 hours, On 9/19/05 I finally started dilating and having contractions.

Kallystah Taylor (Kally) was born naturally at 8:36pm @ 5lbs 14oz. I didn't get to hold her immediately because I had one more yet to come. My son, after an hour of pushing (and me no longer being able to feel contractions) was taken via emergency c-section.

He was born at 9:06pm @ 5lbs 8oz. He peed on the nurse and was whisked away to be cleansed. Due to the fact that I had one natural and one c-section, I had been pumped full of drugs and left to sleep in a very dark and quiet room - the last time I would ever see one!

Around 1am I was wheeled into a room where the twins were along with my husband, my mom, grandparents, my husband's parents, and our good friends. It was the first time I was able to see both of my kids. Christopher was born with severe eczema and had cuts and scratches on his face. He has healed now and they will actually be starting preschool in a month!

There were many sleepless nights, frustrations, and financial hurdles to leap over since their birth but everything was worth their company.