From the Twin-Daddy:
Dominic and Alexander are two little boys made from the same life-stuff. One egg magically divided to bring two matching lives into being where previously only one had existed. For 34 weeks and 3 days, they were always together and held close by their mother.
August 1st changed that, and Dominic’s wail at being born represented not only his struggle to live in a new world but also the pain of separation from his twin and mother. Alone, in the bright lights and the cold, his cry expressed a fear that everything was not okay. Our careful plans to lay him on his mother’s chest and then his brother shortly thereafter were all dashed away by the necessity of the moment.
Taken to the NICU, each boy lay alone and separate from his brother unable to feel him or hear his cries. That changed when both boys were upgraded to Room D, and they lay in adjacent cribs. Yesterday, before Mary came home, she slowly made the painful walk to the NICU so that she could sit with the boys, and our entire family was reunited again for the first time since August 1st.
Mom and Dad with Alexander (left) and Dominic (right):
Reunited for our first family photo.
Our family
Two little boys together again.
Look what we did!
Time to cuddle and sleep
A happy little family
Mary is home and recovering, and while they are in the NICU, the boys will not share a crib, but when Alexander cries, Dominic reacts. When Dominic cries, Alex hears him as well. Every day takes them a little closer to being home with us.
August 6th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Whah! So wonderful. Makes me wanna rub a dog’s belly.
August 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
My goodness there is a lot of hair in that family photo!!
You guys have definitely passed on your hippy genes!
Sigh. Being isolated from them must be very hard. Hopefully you’ll all be together soon.
Hope Mary is healing up nicely. C-sections, nothing to sneeze at.
Noticed that the NYT had a science article on Breast Milk today. –That’s all your doing. Reading your blog for the last several days has made me notice the words “breast” and “milk,” whenever I see them.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Congrats again! Before you know it, they’ll have their secret language- that’s how twins are. My brother and I only lost ours when we went to different colleges.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Thinking of you now and always!!! What a beautiful family.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
What a beautiful family!! And I can’t wait to see the boys lying next to each other!!
August 6th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
What a wonderful group of pictures with the four of you looking please with yourselves and those boys, 0 my, how special they are. Get as much rest as you can so when Dominic and Alexander arrive at home, you’ll be ready at the sound of their cries. I am thrilled that they are doing so well and getting better each day. Billie
August 7th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Mary and Puck,
I am Juanita’s friend you met in San Francisco for dinner. Congrats! I have been reading your blog faithfully and holding my breath that the boys got as much “in-tummy” time as possible. As my grandson was born a year ago at 28 weeks also due to eclampsia, I know how stressful a c-section is and how daunting having babies in NICU is. There may be a support group at your NICU. Many hospitals have them. They are other parents who have been down your path and not only know how you feel but also help with what questions to ask and when to stomp your feet and get your way:) James had to spend 3 months in NICU so my daughter, Rachel and her husband got quite good at getting what they felt he needed. Congratulations and cuddle the boys for me.
Shanda
August 7th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I love the “Look what we did” shot. You both have plenty of reason to be proud!
By the by, I’ve made you a casserole I’d like to bring by sometime tomorrow. I’ll be calling in the morning to set up a delivery time.
August 9th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Congratulations on your boys! (This is Rachel, Shanda’s daughter) I have been praying for your boys for weeks and weeks now since my mom first told me about them. I am SO glad they are getting stronger, and healthier. NICU is a hard place to be, I hope you don’t have to be there long. As my mom said my little guy was born at 28 weeks and is now a chubby happy 14 month old with no health issues
If you ever have any questions please feel free to ask me. I did not have twins but understand the NICU experience. Also there is a really good online group at inspire.com called “preemie”. Lots of members, active discussions and lots of other moms with twins. Good luck and I’ll be praying for your little ones!!
August 14th, 2010 at 3:15 am
Thanks, everyone, for the continued encouragement and prayers! They are much appreciated.
Shanda and Rachel, thanks for sharing some of your own experiences. We haven’t felt a need to stomp our feet in the NICU, but it is good to know about the support groups both in the hospital and online. There are sooo many miraculous and tear-jerking stories in the NICU. It is very humbling to be there and to hear the stories around us.