14 years ago today marked the start of a new life.

My daughter would say that 14 years ago today, her life ended.  I would say that 14 years ago, my life changed – in the most fantastic and dramatic of ways.

I learned I was pregnant with twins, when I was at the doctor’s office, bleeding and waiting to be told I was miscarrying.  I was, but I was also pregnant with two more.  I remember sobbing.  I was scared, excited and very shocked.  A million things were running through my head:  How would I carry them to term?  How would I work with three kids under three? Yikes, we needed a new car!

The pregnancy was beautifully simple, other than my size!  On the 4th of July 1999, I took my daughter to the park.  I was 3 1/2 weeks from my due date. Then, I felt something.  Intuition.  I brought her home and went to the ER.  One of them had pushed the other’s cord so far down that if my water broke, one would not survive.  I would not leave the hospital without giving birth.  There was no choice and the 4th would be the day – two healthy boys … 6.2 and 6.11.

However, their birth was followed with great sadness.  My mom was diagnosed the day I came home with the boys and died 6 weeks later.  In that period, I had surgery, one of the boys had surgery, I was trying to work and we were trying to manage two infants, a 2-year-old, a home construction project and taking care of my mother. Life.

Now, here we are.  I have two amazing and oh-so-different boys! They don’t like when I write about them but I forewarned them.  One asked me to write about the birth of the US today.  The other ignored me.  Story of my life.

My blonde son looks much like his father.  He’s an extrovert.  He is a very deep thinker.  He wonders about his purpose in the world and how he will make a difference.  He’s funny and a sports statistics savant.  We love him!

My brown-haired one is an introvert.  He’s quick at solving problems, he can fix anything, he’s Italian and one of the most sensitive boys I know.  It makes life difficult now but it will serve him well later in life. We’ll keep this one too!

Here’s how I lucked out: deep down, as tough as it is to be a non-identical twin, they really do love one other.  And, even better, they’ve got the moral compass that I long for with my children.  I could go tomorrow, if that was the plan, and they would know to follow the direction set for them.  Sure, they’ll make mistakes.  But they unquestionably know about how to be in the world. Thanks, boys, for making that a priority in your lives.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY guys!!!  I’m so lucky that you came into my life and I’m thankful for every (almost – 🙂 ) minute we’re together.  I really could not have asked for a better set of sons!

Love you!!!  XOXO