Life has a way of sneeking up on you when you least expect. You make plans until you are blue in the face; sitting at the kitchen table with a pen and paper, anticipating every detail, calculating every variable. And then, life happens. A hurrycane; a tsunami; a flat tire at an inopportune moment; or ... the mysterious splitting of a microscopic zygote. Your plans go out the window, and you head back to the drawing board to think things all over again.
Some of you know this already. For those who don't: Natalie and I are adding to our family. After our son, Johannes, was born we thought we had done our part in the propagation of the species, and as he and his big sister grew increasingly raucous and more imaginative in their ways of exhausting and exasperating their parents, our conviction grew: this was it! No more rumbunctious little rascals for us, thank you. But, then there are times when they really are absolutely delightful, and when these occasions last for more than five minutes you start to think that, maybe one more wouldn't be so bad. Just ONE more, and that's it! Last summer we decided that one more would be just right.
So, ... Natalie is pregnant, approximately 15 weeks, and, yes, it was intentional. Until this Friday we thought we were expecting our third child. Then Natalie had her first ultrasound, and here is what we saw:
If you are wondering what the "AA" and "BB" mean, they refer to baby A and baby B. Yes, there are two of them! The radiologist wasn't entirely sure, but he thinks they are identical girls. At first, the news felt kind of like being hit by an eighteen wheeler, ... not that I have ever tried, but I can imagine the blow. Then the initial shock quickly gave way to absolute joy and excitement: What is better than an adorable little baby girl? Of course, TWO adorable little baby girls! (although, of course, with more than two, the
law of diminishing returns might kick in).
The due date is May 22, but apparently twins are often slightly premature, so we'll be ready by the beginning of May. May 15th would be ideal; that's my father's birthday. The 14th would be okay to; that's my parent's wedding anniversary.
And now, back to the drawing table ...
"Freedom 55" suddenly seems a little less realistic. Also, a sedan won't do; we need a minivan. A lucky thing we bought a five bedroom house, ... but where do I put my home office? Etc.