I ended up being gone from the
blog a little bit longer than I meant to be. Call it a mental health
holiday. When I wrote last, I had just started a couple of courses of
treatment for some of the heaviness and depression that I'd been going
through, and I'm happy to say that I'm really feeling much, much
better. I'm grateful to my many friends who have written and called in
the last few months to check in on me.
Also, I got glasses.
And now I
want to tell you about something that's really brought me joy.
Something wonderful. If you've been reading the blog for a while,
you've seen mentions in my other posts about Courtney carrying a
surrogate pregnancy. She's been carrying twins, one boy and one girl.
Last Sunday, June 10th, she was 30 weeks pregnant, which meant there
were about 10 weeks left before the due date. I'd gone out to see a
movie with a friend of mine that afternoon, and when I got home, she
called to me from the bathroom. Labor had started. This was not
supposed to happen so early.
We went to the
hospital to see if there was anything to be done, and they kept Courtney
for observation. By the time night fell, it was clear that there was
no going back. The babies were coming. It was a very emotional night.
I was worried for Courtney. We both were worried for the babies. But
when Courtney's doctor, whom we love and who delivered Ava and Jack,
showed up, we felt we were in good hands. The babies came by c-section
at about two o'clock in the morning, and the first sound we heard
was a loud, clear cry from a strong set of lungs.
I'm
not going to draw this out - the babies have been amazingly healthy and
strong so far. They are both in the NICU still, so that they can grow a
little more, but the progress they've made has been remarkable.
They're receiving great care, and we've been up there as much as we can
to hold them and be with them. Courtney is doing great, too. She took a
few days to recover, but is up and feeling wonderful.
The
parents came in last week, and they are euphoric about the new members
of their family. They're going to have to travel back and forth until
the babies are ready to go home with them - they thought there was still
more time, and have things to get ready at home! This has been one of
the best parts of all, this experience that we're sharing with them,
this fruition of the great trust that they placed in us, and
especially in Courtney. They are so happy, and it's a joy that we
share with them.
In the months since my dad died, I’ve had so many dreams about him. Sometimes
the details are strange, or the face isn’t his, but his voice is always exactly
pitch perfect. That got me to thinking about our first experiences of the world,
before we even leave our mother’s womb. Before we see or hear anything else, we hear the voices of our
parents. Those voices reach such a deep, instinctual part of our brain
that they are always with us, for the rest of our lives. I like to think that someday thirty years from
now, these twins will have dreams where they hear a baritone voice with a Texas
accent. They won’t know why, but it will be something comforting and happy for
them. It will be something wonderful.
9 comments:
The Holwerdas are amazing! Blessings to all members of the family!
Also, is it just me, or is there something Clark Kent going on in that pic?
Awesome! You and Courtney rock!
Awesome! You and Courtney rock!
What an amazing blessing! You guys are amazing! Courtney is a saint! I didn't want to carry my own twins :-). God Bless all of you! And Danny, I truly believe your Dad is looking out for you. Being a Father yourself, how could he not? Much love to all of you! Praying Courtney has a speedy recovery from c section, and that the twins have a quick, uneventful NICU stay!
That is incredible!!! It is such an amazing thing you and Courtney have done, reading this made me choke up. We're glad to hear everyone is doing well. Let us know if you need anything!
That IS something wonderful. I am so happy to hear that Courtney and the babies are doing well.
I must say, that I was very opposed at first to this whole idea. Not because of the surrogacy thing, but for the well being of Courtney physically and the mental stress for Danny and kiddos. This can be extremely stressful for even the more extended family, too. God has had his hand in this one and allowed a family to be born - TWINS! You guys have had some wonderful friends throughout this miracle.... and I am very proud of you. I can't help but believe you are right, Danny, those children will probably be drawn to good ole fashioned Texas baritone voices. Praise God.
I bet they'll be adorable
AWE-FREAKIN'-SOME! AWESOME!
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