AN INTRODUCTION

Something happened Monday that completely changed our game. We already knew we were pregnant. The basic blood-work and pee tests were normal.  But, we were getting an early ultrasound at nine weeks instead of the usual twelve because of a persistent pain near one of my ovaries. As soon as the technician put the trasnducer on my lubed, still flat belly, we knew something was awry.

They were like googly-eyes, two shiny globes with dense white balls at the bottom. She moved the transducer around, claiming that she was looking for the ovaries, but clearly stalling. I know what ovaries look like and this wasn't it. The same image kept coming back on the screen: two watery bulbs containing fuzzy nuts. I thought, this must be a difficult part of her job, delivering news like this. Finally, she found a tactful way to break it to us, "So, who has a history of twins in their family?"

It's Thursday. I'm at home painting the living room, preparing to sell our tiny house a lot sooner than we had planned. Someone else probably ought to be doing the painting. But, there is no one else. I feel the pressure of accelerating time, a coil of days and weeks that constricts my chest and makes my breaths short. Officially, we are due September 23, seven months from now. But, twins alter the time line. I could be put on bed rest for months. They could come very early. Everything has to be done right now.

This blog is about what really happens to two self-interested urbanites when they discover that they are having two babies instead of one. It's about a pair of thirty-somethings used to having a lot of personal space as they prepare to share their 950 square foot home with a Lab, an active cat, and two infants.

There will be no sentimental waxing about the beauty of creating life. I won't be referring to my fetuses as "little miracles" or "double blessings".  If you are put off by the graphic details of a pregnant woman's anatomy, find another blog. If you are looking for reassurance as you try to cope with your own surprise, find another blog. If this all sounds extremely entertaining, read on...