Dear Twinkies, Part II--The Beginning

Dear Luke and Dear Sam,

So this is how your story begins...in a lab. Without getting too technical, I'll just say that the doctors took a little bit of me and a little bit of Dad and mixed them both together and hoped you would grow.

As you get older, you will realize that this whole procedure involves a lot of money, drugs, needles, and pain. (And a little embarassment, since I was the only patient at the fertility clinic chasing around a wild 4-year-old and his hyper little 2-year-old sis!) You will also learn someday that most babies don't actually start in a lab. (Wait'll you hear that one, you won't believe it!)

Trust me, however, when I say that all this hassle and heartache was worth it once I got the phone call telling me I was expecting you! Remember--I had NEVER been pregnant before and had almost given up hope...and when they told me a few weeks later that there were two of you inside, I almost fell off the table. (You guys have always been full of surprises!)

The pregnancy went smoothly...for the most part. In the beginning, you two were a little particular about foods and smells and I spent a lot of extra mornings (and evenings) in the bathroom. One of you REALLY liked barbecue potato chips, so I ate a lot of those.

As you got bigger and more ready to make your appearance, I felt big and uncomfortable. With your four legs and four arms wiggling around all day I felt like I had an octopus inside me! It seemed like there just wasn't enough room for you two and the air I needed to breathe. My biggest fear was that I would pass out while driving. And though I was supposed to be eating for three, one of you seemed to be squishing my stomach. I never wanted to eat. There was just no room for food. The doctors begged me to gain weight and told me to stop exercising. (This was a first!)


I remember the day I found out you two were both boys. I came home and told Jake he was going to have two little brothers and did he have any good ideas for names? Yes! He did...Batman & Superman. When I suggested maybe we could choose names from the scriptures, he had two more good ones...Laman & Lemuel!

You two were very sweet and cooperative even before you were born. I was very worried that I'd have to go on bedrest...since twins are notorious for arriving early. With no family close by to watch your brother and sister, and your daddy's traveling schedule, I didn't know how I would be able to do it all alone. You must've heard my prayers, though, because you stayed all bundled up tight inside and didn't cause me a moment's trouble.

I was able to stay up and moving throughout the entire pregnancy. And Dad kept up his business traveling right up until the end. In fact, he almost didn't make it to the hospital in time for your arrival.

But that's another letter...

Love, Mom