Holidays

Steve doesn't believe in Mother's Day in much the same way that I do not believe in sex before ten o'clock in the morning. Although we could both justify our positions with sound reasoning (Steve arguing against commercialism, no doubt, while I would point to the well-known dangers of exposing oneself to the unhealthful effects of morning air, particularly after exertion) I think the fact of the matter is we really just don't want to be bothered.

And it is fine, usually. The lack of a well-financed (Patrick made me a card at school) Mother's Day, I mean. You would have to ask Steve how he feels about the moratorium on morning intimacy, although do wait until noon, won't you? He's strangely grumpy before then... . Anyway, I do not need Steve to buy me something for Mother's Day. It's enough to have Patrick insist that I hold his hand at Lands End so that *I* don't get lost. What else does any mother need, really?

I say "usually", though, because this year I really wanted Steve to get me something. Not because I was feeling especially in need of a big "Thanks for being the greatest mother in the world to our precious child, my darling" but because there was a watch I particularly wanted. The three of us had been in a store the week before and there was a watch made out of Scrabble tiles that I wanted more than I have ever wanted anything since Barbie's Dream House (which I never got, by the way). I drew Steve's attention to the watch. I tried it on for him to admire. I mentioned what a thoughtful gift it could make, especially with Mother's Day just around the corner. I rhapsodized on the importance of supporting local artists. He merely looked noncommittal.

I was hopeful that he would surprise me with it after all but that Sunday passed. No watch. Alas.

This past Tuesday I came home from running errands and found a neatly wrapped box on my desk. Inside was my Scrabble watch.

"Happy Feast of Maximum Occupancy!" yelled Steve. He is stubborn in his adherence to his beliefs, but sweet nonetheless.    

++

I am feeling really weird about the ultrasound tomorrow. I admit that my uncharacteristic confidence from the past week has faded, daily. I am no longer expecting to breeze into that dark little room tomorrow and start naming the twins. In fact I have no idea why I thought this was such a certainty in the first place. TWO? Do I look like the sort of person who is suddenly going to have TWO healthy embryos? Of course not. And don't I usually get morning sickness by now? Where's the morning sickness? Why do I feel so spectacularly unpregnant?

I am getting nervous again and I hate it.

Ultrasound tomorrow afternoon. Update posted at REDBOOK.

PS I just saw my reflection in the window and I have only now realized EXACTLY who I look like when the humidity gets this high. Remember the hairy little neanderthal kid in Land of the Lost? What was his name, do you recall? Whatever it was I look like his sister.

Comments

[lunac718]

And because there was no good segue from my last comment to this one: CONGRATULATIONS, Julia. I have been hoping and praying and wishing and crying and mourning and rejoicing with you through every pregnancy since Patrick. I can't tell you how thrilled I am for you. Sending good vibes your way for those two little miracles.

[tgsdmom]

I just read REDBOOK. Congratulations! Here's for good surprises.

[kimberly/tippytoes]

Yippee on the u/s news!

I was pregnant with quadruplets for awhile and I never had a moment of morning sickness. I had bleeding, but that's another issue...

[Beth]

I am so happy for you! And crossing everything I can that these wee thirteens are the blessings you've waited so long and worked so hard for.

[terri c]

Omigod!!! O.My.God!!!!!!!!!!!! Running around house jumping up and down screaming out loud with delight!!! (with brief pause to type comment)

May things go well, Julia. You and Steve have waited so very long. Every warm thought in the book headed your way.

[LB]

Tears of joy in my eyes for you!

[throwingutah]

Sweeeeet. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

[Leah]

Just read your Redbook (italicized! because it's a magazine!)--HUGE congratulations!

[silene]

Yippee!!! 13 has always been a lucky number for me - I so hope that it is for you, too!! NBHHY...

[Diane]

I knew it! I knew it! You three (or five, rather) are going to do well through this whole thing. I don't even know you and I am estatic.

What the heck does NBHHY mean, anyway?

[Diane]

I knew it! I knew it! You three (or five, rather) are going to do well through this whole thing. I don't even know you and I am ecstatic.

What the heck does NBHHY mean, anyway?

[Alli]

It was definitely Chaka, I loved that show! I know this is going to go well for you because two of my closest friends are pregnant and now (surprise) so am I. Two of my co-workers are pregant and now so am I. There will be at least two blog world babies - I'm pretty sure I only have one!
This is it... this is the one!

[Jana]

Just read your Redbook post...hooray for twins!

[winecat]

OMG just visited REDBOOK and there is much dancing in the streets here is Healdsburg! Still keeping everything crossed because I know there is still a long way to go but HOORAH for twins!

[kathleen999]

Conngratulations! Yay twin mommy!

NBHHY means Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet. Someone coined the phrase as a way of saying things were going well without jinxing anything. I think. Who was it that started that phrase? I forget.

[Kim]

NBHHY = Nothing Bad Has Happened Yet.

Congratulations! That is incredible, awesome news. I have been praying for you, and while I know you have a long few weeks ahead of you, I am glad you got a good report today! What is next?

[Amy]

I am SO happy for you! Been refreshing here for awhile before I figured out to check REDBOOK. I hope everything keeps going smoothly. Congratulations!

[KarenT]

Just saw the REDBOOK post. This is so, so lovely. So happy for you!

[L]

Congratulations on PERFECT u/s. 2 babies there! 2 babies with perfect measurements. WTG.

As for the morning sickness, I didn't have any with my boys as a matter of fact I had hardly any pg symptoms with both of them. It drove me absolutely nuts with my older one. I think I must have spent half of my working hours poking my breasts to see if they hurt or not. Anyway I am sure after posting about the luck of m/s you will end up with one pretty soon.

Thumb to the watch.

[Rebekah]

Holy crap! I just went over to Redbook, and was just tickled pink to read your news. After all that you've been through, THIS is something new, isn't it?! I know it's early, but I am very hopeful for you. Very, very hopeful. And happy! =)

[Audrey]

Just saw REDBOOK....Congrats! *proceeding with the happy dance*

[shannon]

It's good to know that Patrick comes by his letter fetish honestly. He must love your watch. Would have been a perfect gift "from" him.

[Sheridan]

NBHHY was from getupgrrl. Doesn't that seem like such a long time ago?

So thrilled for you, Julia, that you have passed this stage with flying colours!

[lagiulia]

Congrats on a twin pregnancy! I have 18 mo. twin boys, and it's wonderful. You're right, there's a long way to go... but what great news. My maternal-fetal doc told me that after 9 weeks your chance of the whole twin vanishing thing goes way down. I wish you all the best.

[Sarah]

NBHHY! I just checked at Redbook and wanted to let you know I have you in mind.
Sarah

[Minnesota Momma]

Congratulations! It's exciting and overwhelming at the same time, eh? When you let yourself think about it that is.

I'm so happy for you!

[Anja]

That is so unbelievably good. Congratulations! I'll be cheering for all of you from overseas. Such great news.

[Tonya]

That is absolutely fabulous news! My RI firmly believed that twin pgs were much less prone to difficulties, and that is my wish for you. Wishing your two fetal poles with flickers grow to be full-size babies you get to bring HOME!

[Samantha]

I'm so, so happy for you, Julia! Wishing you nothing but the best of luck in the weeks and months ahead.

[cat, galloping]

i am way too lazy to register over at RB but wanted to share my congratulations.

everything is crossed for lucky 13s!

[Linda]

I am aching with hope and happiness for you, Julia.

[Angela]

The happiest news I've heard in a long time. Lucky 13s, indeed! Congratulations.

[Toni]

I still can't post at REDBOOK. But I wanted to say that I'm hopeful for the 13s...very hopeful!

[CariP]

Just read RedBook and I am SO happy and so hopeful for you.

[SheilaC]

Congratulations and more congratulations on the great ultrasound! I'm hoping and praying that all continues to be very well with you and the little ones. If curiosity and anxiety overwhelm you, there is a lot of good info on parenting twins at twinslist.org and at expectingtwins.tripod.com, and at NOMOTC.org. Best of luck!

[dawn in ky]

Oh Julia I so hope that this is your time. You and Steve had been thru so much crap!! As GRRRRL said NBHHY!!!
Dawn in ky

[Kylie]

Congratulations Julia, on the best news you could possibly have for now (and given that they've been PGD'ed, and surely that process couldn't have been screwed up again, you'd have to give them great odds). And as one commenter also recalled, you did confess previously that you 'intuited twins', so clearly, this was just meant to be. Will cross fingers, nevertheless.

[Genevieve]

Everything's crossed for the Lucky Thirteens! Thinking very good thoughts for you.

(and I love the Scrabble watch, and the Feast of the Maximum Occupancy)

[Rhonda]

I can't read other comments or post at REDBOOK but I read your post there this morning and I am thinking of you and crossing every dang digit I have.

[Beth]

Just read the update at Redbook -- oh, Julia, be well and take care. So sorry you had some bleeding -- so happy it stopped; am thrilled that you're throwing up!

[Natalee]

Hey Hon' (since you're currently in the South, I get to address you as such)-

Just read the REDBOOK update, and I hope all is well. The universe knows you need a fucking break.

[silene]

Just read the latest at REDBOOK - thinking of you lying on the couch and hoping this is just a passing phase on the way to success.

[Reese]

Just saw REDBOOK. Crossing my fingers on the bleeding and thinking of you.

[caro]

Aaah, shit. I hate bleeding. Hope it all gets better soon.

[Libby]

I just read the Redbook (sick of the caps...) post. I hope you are feeling better and that all is well. Best to you.

[wealhtheow]

Oh Julia--I'm thinking of you. I hope everything is okay.

[Elaine]

Seem unable to post on REDBOOK.

Have postposed the last 3 years due to all that stuff, so understand where you are coming from. Am also doing PGD at the moment too. You are giving me hope.

Truly wishing you all the best and hoping this bleeding passes without trouble and you can go on to enjoy your trip.

[Lisa V]

I can't say fuck at RB, so hear I am.

Fuck.

And Jesus H Christ.

I hope all of that swearing is unneeded. I hope it all turns out fine. But sorry you are having to go through this.

I once miscarried at a wedding. On a big boat like thing. Ferry. Whatever. One minute I was dancing to the shitty band's version of James Brown's I Feel Good, the next I was in the bathroom bleeding like no tomorrow. It was my last miscarriage.

I went precisely for the reason you mentioned, I was tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop and lived. In retrospect, home would have been so much better than listening to a trampy bridesmaid snort coke while I tried to keep it toghether emotionally and physically in the bathroom stall.

[Matthew M. F. Miller]

I hope all is well and that this isn't a sign of anything bad. You're in my thoughts.

[ali]

Julia - I hope all is well. If you have the time/energy, post and let us know how you're doing. Thinking of you lots...