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Doubly Blessed on Christmas

A Mother's Story of Delivering Twins

By Kendeyl Johansen

Just then, I heard a small cry and had a quick peek at adorable, doll-like Tommy before the NICU team whisked him away. A few seconds later, I briefly glimpsed my second precious baby, Jake. As far as I could tell, both newborns appeared small but normal, and I sighed with relief.

Reality took a while to sink in. Was I really the mom of twins? Despite the many kicks in-utero, I could hardly believe that Lars and I had created two new people. The miracle of it stunned me, and I grinned at a surge of pure joy.

As the doctor stitched me up, I was told that both babies were doing well. It helped that they were bigger than many full-term babies at 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

Later that evening, Lars wheeled me to the NICU, and I held my tiny babies, finally able to kiss their miniature foreheads and count their perfect fingers and toes. Jake and Tommy looked like giants compared to their 2 1/2-pound roommates, and I counted us very, very lucky to have made it to week 35.

My newborns would need to stay in the hospital for a week as "feeders and growers," but otherwise they were fine. I snuggled a baby in each arm and slowly rocked them in the NICU as stars filled the clear winter sky. Christmas was almost over, but I didn't care about any of my unopened packages. My Christmas twins were the greatest present ever.

Want to see more?

• Just in Case: Making a Plan for Cesarean Birth
• Read more multiple birth stories here!
• Joy Times Four: One Mom's Story of Delivering Quadruplets
• Talk about it!