I ran across some of my old webpages on an old disk and found the twins’ birth story, written in 1998, so I thought I’d share. It’s long…

I remember vividly when it was confirmed that I was having twins. I do think I really did *know* before having my sono but my jests to my family about twins were always followed by a resounding, “No way!” from the family member teasing me over my girth or extreme exhaustion. I was attending the Baltimore Birth Center because I had wanted a natural birth for my new baby. The CNW’s were great and I was in my 6th month and doing fine except for one small problem–each time I went I would measure about a month or so bigger than I actually was. No one was really concerned but they did suggest that I have an ultrasound to rule out any problems. My husband went with me–the birthing center did not have a sono machine so I had to go to an imaging center to have it done. I was lying on the table, my husband was seated in a chair at the foot of the table and the technician put the transducer against my tummy moving it back and forth. “How do you want to be told?” she asked. Michael thinking she was asking about the baby’s sex said that we wanted to know if it was a girl or boy. “Well,” the technician said, “there’s baby A and there’s baby B.” Michael grabbed my foot in a death grip and didn’t let go of it until I got up from the table. He was in a state of shock. I was elated and secretly vindicated! We could distinctly (because I was so far along and they were cooperative little stinkers) see that they were little boys. There was one problem though–their kidneys were dilated. I had gone through the same thing with Sean, our eldest son. He was born with hydronephrosis of his left kidney due to a stricture in his ureter. He had surgery at 2 weeks of age and was proclaimed well when he was four years old. I was to find out later that renal problems (reflux) runs in families and all siblings should be checked for it. Michael, still in shock, did not speak in the car. I was chattering a mile a minute, I was so excited! By the time we got to my parents house he was starting to come around and actually starting to like the idea (we had wanted a little girl).

My mom was at home alone. We walked in and the first thing she asked, “Is it a girl?” “No,” we answered. “Nooooo!” wailed my mom. “It’s actually 2 boys.” “NOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOO!” wailed my mom louder. I immediately called my sister, Colleen, because our eldest, Sean, was staying with her for a few days. We told her our good news. “NOOOOOOOO!” she cried. At least Sean was happy about it. My sister, Honey, was the only one who verbally expressed joy over it. Everyone in the family was hoping for a girl. And that’s the story of the day I found out I was having twins…….

Some times you hope that if you don’t acknowledge something (or someone) that it will go away. I think I did this with the boys’ kidney problems. They were born at 34 weeks. I had complications due to high blood pressure but I was able to deliver my boys naturally, without an epidural or pain medications–which is what I wanted. My gyn/ob, Dr. Elizabeth Bayusik, was absolutely wonderful. I am very grateful to her. I think that I knew that something was very wrong physically with the boys even though they seemed to be fine. I asked their pediatrician repeatedly if their kidneys felt okay, mentioning the dilation seen on the sonos. I guess when you’re dealing with 4 and 5 pound babies you really can’t tell anything by a physical examination. I knew I should have insisted that Cade and Connor received a sono–hindsight. At six weeks of age, Connor became extremely sick. We spent a week in the hospital, having test after test as they tried to determine what was wrong. Every day, it seemed, a new doctor would walk into the room with a new diagnosis. Because of Cade and Connor being identical–it was decided that Cade needed to have an ultrasound also. Not good news there either though he was not exhibiting any symptoms at this time. Extremely frustrated, aching to go home to be with my other children, wanting to protect my baby from all the needles, catheters, and continuous exams; we were finally transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital (or the “Big Hop” as one of the nurses called it). It was determined that the boys had Vesicoureteral Reflux level 5–the highest. No one could tell me why though. I remember sitting in those *wonderful sleep chairs* (any parent who has spent time in a hospital will know what I’m talking about), holding Connor, when in trooped Dr. Steven Docimo, followed by his entourage of resident doctors. I guess I had had enough of just about everything at this point in time. He looked extremely young, too young and handsome (another point against him). *smile* I looked at him and said, “I don’t like doctors.” “I don’t either,” he assured me without batting an eyelash. The horror, uncertainty, and anxiety of the past week started to recede as he explained once and then explained again what he thought was wrong with my babies and why surgery was needed immediately. Knowing that it takes a parent some time to process bad news, he explained again showing me the boys’ sonos and their grossly dilated and almost indistinguishable ureters, bladder and kidneys. He listened to my concerns and questions. He set my mind at rest, and gave me much more to think about but at least here was someone who was telling me he knew what was wrong with my sons and that he could do the surgery with his eyes closed–well not quite. *smile* He is a parents’ dream of a doctor. I can’t articulate the amount of gratitude I feel for this man, his knowledge and God-given talent as a surgeon. I guess I’m starting to sound mushy–I don’t mean too. It’s just that when your child(ren)’s life is literally in someone’s hands, you want someone that listens to you, talks to you and someone that instills great confidence and trust. Dr. Docimo is all these things and more–after my boys’ surgeries, he was always there if I needed a question answered or just some reassurance.

The future is not ours to see. I pray to the Dear Lord regarding my boys health but try to leave those worries to Him. One day at a time…

Ran across an old directory of some email sig tags that I had created and thought I’d share. These are shown at 50%. They come in PSD format so you can add your name and resize it as you want. You will need a graphics program such as Paint Shop Pro or PhotoShop to open and customize.

Just click on the image to save the file to your computer.

Family Trees
by Christine M. Tozzo, Rhymes for Reasons 941-966-7668

We‘re born into a family tree
Whose roots extend through you and me

Our family‘s large, the seeds are sown
Each year our family tree has grown

But sometimes branches go astray
From hurtful words of yesterday

And even though the roots go on
The foundation of the family‘s gone

As we all get on in years
We long to cast aside our fears

And put away our foolish pride
And gather family to our side

Those who‘ve gone before us all
Will smile in Heaven and heed the call

For us to gather at Heaven‘s door
The scattered branches rejoined once more!!

It’s a gorgeous Monday morning though I did have some doubts about that as I went downstairs at about 4:00 am and discovered that one of the dogs had diarrhea and both had danced in it. After scrubbing both the bathroom floor and the dogs I have regained my first impression…it’s going to be a wonderful day. *smile*

Choosing Home…just found this website but haven’t had time to really read much and today the boys have ortho appointments, I have to run errands with my Momma and hopefully Dawn will be back at the park for our afternoon walk and talk. Of course, school will fit in there somewhere too!

Ran across this article and it brought back so many memories of times spent around various kitchen tables with my own family. I love the women in my family, my Momma, my sisters, aunts and cousins. We’re as dysfunctional and wacky as the next family but each of them have very special traits and I’m so very blessed to be so close to them.

Wind chime sounds…aren’t they pretty? *smile*
One
Two
Three

I’ve been trying to locate and bookmark blogs that interest me; homeschooling, boys, Down syndrome, twins, art, healthy eating and lifestyles. I’ve run across quite a few of everything except twins. Now I know there are a lot of MOT’s out there so I guess I’m not looking in the right places.

Picture is of three of my boys, (my identical twins Cade &, Connor and Quinn) and my sister’s two sets of fraternal twins (Hanna & Ellie, Hans & Erich). Aren’t they cuties!

Clubmom.com has a nice article on multiples.

or as Quinn calls him, “Daddy, Daddy.”

“Grandads hold our tiny hands
for just a little while…
but our hearts forever.”

GRANDPA’S TOOL SHED

Grandpa’s tool shed is a special place,
Full of mystery and delight,
Where little kids can come and watch
While Grandpa builds a kite.

Each day before the sunset,
Grandpa is always there,
The sound of his saw and hammer
Filling the evening air.

Grandpa can fix anything
And make it look brand-new-
He fixes toy cars and airplanes,
Trucks and trailers, too.

There are many happy moments
Pleasant to recall,
But Grandpa in his tool shed
Is the nicest one of all.
~Marie Dostan~

GRANDMA’S HUGS ARE MADE OF LOVE!

Everything my grandma does
is something special made with love.
She takes time to add the extra touch
that says, “I love you very much.”

She fixes hurts with a kiss and smile
and tells good stories grandma-style.
It’s warm and cozy on her lap
for secret telling or a nap.

And when I say my prayers at night,
I ask God to bless and hold her tight.
Cause when it comes to giving hugs
my grandma’s arms are filled with love!

~Author Unknown~

WALKING WITH GRANDMA

I like to walk with grandma,
Her steps are short like mine.
She doesn’t say “Now hurry up!”
She always takes her time.

I like to walk with grandma,
Her eyes see things like mine do -
Wee pebbles bright, a funny cloud,
Half hidden drops of dew.

Most people have to hurry,
They don’t stop and see
I’m glad that God made Grandma.
Unrushed, and young like me.

~Thena Smith~

…Teach your children to honor, love and cherish their grandparents. They’ll thank you for it one day.

My Momma is feeling a little melancholy these days. Please keep her in your prayers.

Surprise

Close your eyes, and do not peek,
And I’ll rub Spring across your cheek,
Soft as velvet, smooth and sleek,
Close your eyes, and do not peek.
~Mother Goose Rhyme

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator From Go-Quiz.com

Originally posted: 17 May 2006

I got it here.

Originally posted: 17 May 2006

Another chilly spring morning; birds singing; more rain; blessings abound.

Spring Grass

Spring grass, there is a dance to be danced for you.
Come up, spring grass, if only for young feet.
Come up, spring grass, young feet ask you.

Smell of the young spring grass,
You’re a mascot riding on the wind horses.
You came to my nose and spiffed me. This is your lucky year.

Young spring grass just after the winter,
Shoots of the big green whisper of the year,
Come up, if only for young feet.
Come up, young feet ask you.
~Carl Sandburg

~~ .. ~~

Out-of-Doors

The finest garden that I know
Is one where little children grow,
Where cheeks turn brown and eyes are bright,
And all is laughter and delight.

Oh, you may brag of gardens fine,
But let the children race in mine;
And let the roses, white and red,
Make gay the ground whereon they tread.

And who for bloom perfection seeks,
Should mark the color on their cheeks;
No music that the robin spouts
Is equal to their merry shouts;

There is no foliage to compare
With youngsters’ sun-kissed, tousled hair:
Spring’s greatest joy beyond a doubt
Is when it brings the children out.
~Edgar Guest

~~ .. ~~

A Prayer in Spring

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
~Robert Frost

Originally posted: 16 May 2006