continued...

to catch up on the 1st part read here

I should back up just a tad...

Life was lovely. After the rough road we had just passed we felt for sure things were going to be smooth for a while. A great job, a rejuvenated marriage, 4 amazing sons & a BABY on the way. Little did we know what God had in store for us...

We didn't consider the possibility of twins a reality. And only slightly thought about it after Gavin, then 3 1/2 years old, told us that "mom has 2 babies in her belly". On the 25 minute drive to my 1st ob appointment, the one to tell me I'm already 4 months pregnant, I had this feeling. What if it is twins?! Since my first pregnancy we had joked about having twin girls. It was a great joke at my big preggo belly and extraordinary capabilities of having boys. But it was just a joke, a 7 year joke, one that wasn't likely to come true. Right!?! I remember my ob turning on the ultrasound and saying "let's see how many babies are in there". Moments later, she stammered out the words "oh my, there are two in there"... there were indeed 2 babies in my belly. I was elated and completely overwhelmed with joy. Then she said "but this is very concerning". My heart sank. Our babies were likely sharing the same amniotic sac with no separating membrane which would lead to a very high risk & possibly fatal pregnancy. She handed me a pamphlet and told me we'll just have to wait and see what happens. sigh.

I left that her office that day in tears, tears of joy, tears of fear & tears of faith. This was the beginning of a journey of faith & complete surrender of my fears. What happened over the next few weeks was nothing short of amazing. I spent hours researching and hours praying. God filled me with an amazing peace and extreme confidence that our babies were fine, that they would survive and that they were girls. It was like nothing I had experienced before and one I can hardly put into words. I was so sure that our babies were going to be okay, I only shared the saddening news with a few friends and family.

Weeks later I left my doctors office in tears again. Our babies were developing perfectly with a one-cell thick membrane separating the amniotic sac that they shared. The next few weeks were wonderful, I felt great, the babies were developing perfectly, my husbands job was going great... with the slight exception that they were having a horrible time getting our insurance up and going.

Besides the usual worrisome news doctors talk about with high risk pregnancy, mine was going great, and then I hit the magic mark. My cervix was thinning a bit too quick and around 24 weeks I was put on "modified" bedrest. I wasn't too upset, my doctors had warned me this would likely happen & we had kind of planned on it. What we hadn't planned on was my husband losing his job. Within days of being put on bedrest my husband walked into our home, in the middle of the day, with a complete look of despair on his face. This seemly wonderful, secure & honest company had done the unthinkable. There was lying, cheating & scandal and my husband had become the scape-goat for his boss who was waist deep in trouble. We were angry, hurt & in complete shock. My first thought was "insurance!" and then, as I usually do, I looked at the bright side... he was home, I was on bedrest, we needed him and now he was here. God can use this hardship and bring blessing.

Within weeks my husband had found another job, working from home, it was truly a blessing. We sailed through the next couple months. There was insurance trouble, a messy house, a slightly stressed dad trying to work from home & a few little worries about the babies but we were going to be okay. I kept saying "just wait until I have the babies, I'm going to be up and going, you're going to be able to find a full time job outside of the house" It's going to be awesome!

and then one day in August, my whole world was shaken...

20 comments:

  1. Oh no...this is when I started reading your blog so I know what happens next. But I do like the way you tell the whole story...and I also like the fact the girls are about to enter the story :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. On the edge of my seat for the next chapter.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

    ReplyDelete
  3. MORE!!! more more!!! Can't wait for the next installment!

    ReplyDelete
  4. www.4frozendreams.blogspot.com2/11/11, 5:46 PM

    Seriously!? I was reading this on my phone scrolling, scrolling then BAM! To be continued.... Can't wait! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ugh. I know what's coming up next...
    BUT, I love life stories where you can look back on the not so good times and see how God has brought you through it all.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I told you, snow ice cream is GOOD!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. brittanyclaire2/12/11, 5:14 PM

    I remember you! It's good to hear from you again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. brittanyclaire2/12/11, 5:16 PM

    UGG! Sorry you had to go through that, it's so disheartening to know there is so much of that going on. Glad to hear something positive came of it. God can always bring the good out from the bad. {grin}

    ReplyDelete
  9. brittanyclaire2/12/11, 5:18 PM

    you did? {grin}

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brittany,
    some people just hate what they dont understand and i think the negativity comes from a place of jealousy/envy. Both are ridiculous! You are a wonderful Mama, who OBVIOUSLY loves all your kids with all your heart and soul and i am glad to see comment like these dont hinder you from sharing your amazing story with us alL! It takes a lot to open your family to the public like you have and I am thankful that you do so! I read your blog everyday and you inspire me to make even the smallest changes!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So I have never commented on your blog...but I found it about a year and a half ago? I have no idea how either... I just thought I would write to say how adorable your kids are! ALL of them of coarse but those twins of your are just so cute. They are about half a year older than my daughter so it's neat to see what kids a little older than her are up to! I really like that you are sharing your story..it takes a lot of courage and no matter what negativity you get I know that you feel you are doing the right thing for your family. That's all that matters, no one else can tell you how to be a mother, they are not your children's mother. You are. And as for hardships..everyone goes through them and the ones that do not understand that, hopefully they never have to figure out what it's like to have everything and than suddenly have it disappear

    ReplyDelete
  12. brittanyclaire2/13/11, 9:20 AM

    Good thing I don't live my life to please you! And a good thing you aren't living my life, because you have it all wrong.

    maybe you can't handle the painful truth that you're obsessed and spiteful. I'll pray for you. And Like I said before, if you want to comment with kindness and respect you are welcome to, but if not, I'm just going to delete your comments or block you completely. Don't get that confused with all the people commenting in Indiana. Just you or anyone else sharing your computer. Saying only negative things. What are the odds of that? {grin}

    ReplyDelete
  13. brittanyclaire2/13/11, 9:23 AM

    So glad you said Hi! And thank you for your kind words.

    ReplyDelete
  14. LOL! Brit, it wouldn't come as a surprise for you to delete any and all comments that aren't head-nodding praise for you, but are instead, the factual truth of what has transpired on your previous blog entries written by you.

    Since you attribute many comments made here to "one person", (which is far from the truth), is warning you against Pedophiles lurking while you intentionally post up-skirt shots of your baby girl’s bottoms considered “rude”, OR, is it just common sense for most people? Is posting informative links about burning your Christmas tree considered “rude”, OR, is it just an informative link, caring whether a ‘family’ suffers from chemical ingestion as the article stated? BTW, those are the 2 and only 2 that can be attributed to me. :) You have a twisted sense of righteousness that everything you post, including pictures purposely taken of your baby girls butts is “wholesome” and right. It isn’t, but you wouldn’t know that, nor where those pictures could end up being posted and salivated over, - information I would think you would appreciate the education on rather than take offense to.

    FYI, many more posters than I remember when you begged for money from your readers on your blog, but it’s your story so by all means, keep telling it YOUR way. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are insane, this is a blog about her babies and family, and maybe you are the one who is "wrong" by obsessing over her girls bottoms so much. Maybe you are the sick one who is concentrating on the pedophilia aspect of her pictures when all anyone else sees are cute little ruffle butts and memories that she will cherish as the girls get older! I say delete her Britt...you dont need this negative wierdo commenting on YOUR blog!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Did I ever tell you how I "knew" I was having twins almost from the time I found out I was pregnant again? It was really strange...I just knew it. The night before the ultrasound to see exactly how far along I was, I remember sitting straight up in bed, saying, "Oh my goodness. I AM having twins!" Now, I realize that God was preparing me for everything that was to come....the TTTS, bedrest, the heart defect/Downs Syndrome scares, and everything else. Thank you for sharing your story. Parts of it are so familiar....but God was leading through all of it. Looking back, I have no doubt that I wouldn't have made it through without Him.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just can't imagine what that felt like when your husband walked in the door from losing his job while you were on bed rest with twins. You are a strong woman. I'm glad you are bringing all of us along with telling your story. I've been reading your blog for the past year but I don't know the whole story. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Although I know most of your story, I'm so excited for its continuation! Can you tell that I'm getting caught up on your posts!? ;) Sorry for the trillion comments!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm totally waiting to read the rest of your story! What an amazing journey you've been on.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi there, I just started following your blog a few weeks ago and it is lovely. I found out I was pregnant with quadruplets, major shock, and my husband around my 20th week was laid off from his job along with his department. It too was one of those moments, why is my husband coming home in the middle of the day? He is such a hard worker, incredible father, loving provider, it was so hard for us, but we again turned to our faith. Now the reason is clear as crystal. We have 5 year old, who was 4 at the time, and I had never been away from him for a day. We had and still have such a special relationship. About 3 weeks after my husband was laid off I went into the city (we live about 1 1/2 hours out) to stay for 51 days on bedrest until I delivered our 4 boys. I would have never made it through that knowing my oldest was bouncing around. He was home with Dad and it all worked out. We have had our difficulties, our older son is a cancer survivor, quad pregnancy and all the complications, another lay off, and more, but through it all He is always there for us as he is for your family. God Bless you all, your beautiful children, and your faith.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for blessing me with your words!

Brittany