10th Anniversary of 9/11

9/11/2001 was a horrible, scary day. I remember that day very well, and I'm never going to forget the 10 year anniversary.

I woke abruptly that morning at 2 a.m. with a strong contraction. "No, not today," I whined. Not because it was the anniversary of 9/11, but because Larry the Cable Guy was coming to the casino where Adam works.

Lesson 131: not being able to be in labor because of Larry the Cable Guy = white trash

Adam's boss had told him that I was absolutely NOT allowed to have the babies that day. With that one comment, he sealed his fate. You NEVER tell a Johnston baby when they aren't allowed to be born. The first boss Adam had when we moved to Pittsburgh told me I could have Jet anytime but Valentine's Day weekend. Jet was born on that Saturday of Valentine's Day weekend. Adam's boss from the other casino he worked at, told him I couldn't have Jovie on Derby Day. Guess what? Derby Day. So, when I was told what Adam's current boss had said, I knew what was coming. I didn't just have one Johnston in my belly, I had two!!

I laid in bed for four pain filled hours, wishing labor would stop. Jovie came into my room at 6 and asked if she could have some cereal. I thought maybe the contractions would go away if I moved around. Duh, of course they got worse!

It was early Sunday morning, so I had to call the doctor on call. It wasn't a doctor I had ever met before. Our conversation went like this. (By the way, I thought he said his name was Dr. Sparkle. When I finally met him, he told me Dr. Sparkle would do.)

Dr. Sparkle: "So, what's going on this morning?"
Me: "I woke up at 2 with contractions and they are getting worse."
Dr. Sparkle: "How many weeks are you?"
Me: "I'm 36, but I'm having twins. The babies are breech and transverse, so I know I'm supposed to have a c-section. That's why I don't know what to do."
Dr. Sparkle: "Well, you don't sound like you're in too much pain."
Me: "This is what I always sound like. My doctor will tell you this is how I am."
Dr. Sparkle: "Ok, well then why don't you go ahead and come in."
Me: "I do know what contractions feel like. This is my 7th pregnancy."
Dr. Sparkle: "Get your butt in here NOW!"

Ok, so I guess things were a little more urgent than I thought. I went upstairs and woke Adam. "Are you serious?!" he asked. He knew breaking the news to his boss wouldn't go well. We got ready as we tried to get a hold of anyone in my family. No one answered, so I had to call my friend, who had to wake her small children to come watch my crazy bunch.

Lesson 132: not being able to find a sitter, because my brother had a party the night before and ALL my family was hungover and not answering their phones, making my poor friend drag her babies out of bed, just to have her car break down, which resulted in her having to hitch hike with a complete stranger the rest of the way here = white trash

(Thank you Kortney for being such a good friend that day.)

Anyway, I finally got to the hospital, and met Dr. Sparkle for the first time. "Well, you look like you're in a little bit of pain, but you're still cracking jokes," he said to me. I let out a laugh twinged with pain, "I'm telling you, this is how I am."

"Ok, well, let's see what's going on here," he said as he checked me. His eyes widened, "You weren't kidding! Call the anesthesiologist stat," he yelled at the nurse, "She's 9 centimeters, and I have a foot in my hand!"

Lesson 133: babies being so tired of me, they try and stomp their way out = white trash

Before I knew it, I was in the operating room. C-sections suck. I don't know why women love them. I had horrible pains in my shoulders and I felt like I was going to puke the whole time. At one point I said, "I think I'm going to be sick." The doctor's response? "You'll feel better after I put your uterus back in." Blaaaaaaaah! Thanks Dr. Sparkle.

The c-section experience was awful, but I got two beautiful baby boys out of the deal. Rex Anthony weighed in at 6lbs 5oz, and my little Fox Joseph weighed 4lbs 12oz. What little peanuts! (Of course, they were a month early.)

Let me tell you, people love babies, but everyone LOVES twins. I felt like a sideshow everytime we went through the hospital. Everywhere we went, we were greeted by squeals, "Twins!" Adam even got the same reaction when he walked out with two empty car seats.

The one thing I found depressing, was how every nurse or housekeeper that came into my room that day had to comment on how sad it was they were born the day they were. The one nurse even said, "It's so sad that your babies will have to grow up being overshadowed by something so horrible." Wow, thanks for the well wishes lady.

Personally, I find it kind of poetic. Ten years later, and almost at the same time the twin towers fell, I gave birth to twins. They don't have to be overshadowed by something bad. Why can't they be a symbol of how life goes on? Ten years ago, a set of twins were taken down by prejudice and hatred, and now Adam and I have the privilege to raise a new set of twins with tolerance and love.

Welcome Rex and Fox, may you always be a symbol of God's healing and unending love.