Geoffrey & Genevieve

It was September of 1995. We were scheduled for our first ultrasound. After
two nearly devastating miscarriages, we were cautiously optimistic, and
closely guarded that optimism for a while. My husband speculated that we
would be expecting twins, based on both a gut feeling, and the fact that
after only 7 weeks, I was beginning to show! From the doctor, the
ultrasound technician and others involved, we heard "No, no, no," "Not
likely," "You're not having twins," "It's really rare" ...well, you get the
point. In fact, our ultrasound tech was beginning to attempt to assure us
again during that first ultrasound, when she suddenly burst out laughing.
"You're having twins!" she exclaimed. We were thrilled. Horrified? Well,
yes... but thrilled nonetheless. And of course, my husband was not
surprised.

During the first trimester, I was placed on 3 weeks of bedrest, due to
early complications (not to mention our recent history). We think that this
was probably due to an allergic reaction to the progesterone which was
regularly administered (joy!) during that period. Then - with the exception
of a close call at the ER that was all too similar to the end of our
previous two pregnancies, the babies miraculously held on - we enjoyed
relatively smooth sailing until 26 weeks. It was Christmas time, and I
appeared to be 6-7 months pregnant (though the due date was June 3). The
"you're almost due" comments got a bit tiring. The doctor decided to pull
me out of work for the pregnancy's duration at this point. 

I started home uterine monitoring at 28 weeks. The first time that I
monitored, I had 3 contractions and didn't even realize it. At 32 weeks, I
spent 6 days in the hospital for pre-term labor. I entered the hospital
experiencing contractions every 8 minutes, and was 1 1/2 centimeters
dialated. They then put me on magneseum sulfide (via drip) to stop the
labor, though the nurses told me that they were all but sure that delivery
was going to take place that night! The babies were still holding on. In
the meantime, I was weened toward a terbutaline infusion pump, which was
inserted into my leg. The pump, which my husband changed every 5 days (I
couldn't bear sticking a needle in my own leg!), remained until the
delivery. In addition to site changes, my husband cooked, cleaned and
generally kept the household in motion (though he says "just barely").

During what was supposed to be a somewhat routine biophysical ultrasound
appointment at 36 weeks, "Twin A" concerned us all. She wasn't moving. We
were immediately sent to the hospital. Once at the hospital, some movement
was measured (though not much), and it was determined that she was probably
sleeping. (Anyone familiar with her current laid-back ways would likely
agree with the assessment.) Though we didn't quite have the emergency on
our hands that was feared, the babies were evidently preparing their grand
entrance. However, this posed a bit of a hurdle, since our doctor was out
of the state at a convention (with another, with whom we'd also become
rather involved and attached). Luckily, the good doctors would be on their
way back to town that evening, and called from the airport once they
arrived. The pump finally was taken out of my leg, and we began the final
journey toward labor late that night...

....and what a long night it was! An epidural (successful on the 2nd
attempt) was applied around 3:00 A.M. - just one of countless pokes and
prods that I endured. The pressure finally became so intense that the
doctor (who actually got a decent night's rest at home, the night before)
decided to break Twin A's water around 10:00 A.M. Twin B followed suit on
his own around 12 P.M. Suddenly, the pace picked up dramatically. I was
packed up, and taken to the OR. The OR somewhat resembled a passenger
terminal, with both of my doctors, 4 nurses, 2 student nurses, a
neonatalogist, and an anesthesiologist - all fighting for space with my
husband. Throughout the pregnancy, I was told that a C-Section was
inevitable, because of "Twin B's" position. Surprising us all, he turned
during the 35th and 36th weeks, and the babies came naturally (accompanied
by some amazing forceps-skills exhibited by our chief doctor), on May 8,
1996. Twin A, Genevieve Adele, was born at 1:11 P.M.; Twin B, Geoffrey
Alexander, who followed for the final time in his so-far brief existence,
came along at 1:17 P.M. Daddy took them to the regular nursery (no NICU!),
where Genevieve weighed-in at 6 lbs. (18 1/2 in.), and Geoffrey: 5 lbs. (17
1/2 in.). Geoffrey soon became taller and weightier. Our pregnancy of many
difficulties produced a couple babies without many difficulties.

Geoffrey & Genevieve are now 9 months old (as of mid Feb. '97). We've all
been sleeping through the night (except for my night-owl husband) since
around 6 weeks. Since about 4 to 5 weeks, they've gone with us to the
library, book stores, record stores, computer stores, the mall,
restaurants, parties - pretty much every place we've always frequented in
the past. Actually, they haven't yet made it to a symphony concert, though
that can't be too far off! (They're already vocalising-along to Richard
Strauss's "Tod und Verklarung!") They're now sitting, standing, crawling
and generally covering an impressive number of square feet! Of course, they
usually head in opposite directions, though recently, they've really begun
to interact with each other. As they progress in age, they increasingly
solidify their position of the two brightly-shining beacons in our lives -
a true blessing.  

Feb. 16, 1997

Cynthia Davis