now that i can form a (semi) coherent thought...

seriously. for the past 36 hours? shock i think.

when we came home from the ultrasound tuesday night, i couldn't get warm or stop shaking.i just kept looking at the ultrasound pictures and kind of zoning out. :)

first, before i tell the story, i want to say THANK YOU to you all. for each and every comment. i read them all. every single one. several times. thank you for the love, the encouragement, the prayers, the excitement...well, just thank you for being YOU. you guys are the best.

okay. so i had my very first ultrasound tuesday afternoon (evening, thanks army..after waiting for hours. HA!). jimmy was there, he left work to be there.

i was worried there would be something wrong...no heartbeat, and i wanted him with me.

all along i've been praying for a healthy baby, a strong heartbeat, and well, those prayers were answered weren't they? but i'm getting ahead of myself...

our doctor was a precious young captain. she spread the jelly on my stomach and said...

"okay, let's see here....there the baby is! yes, this looks like a healthy single intrauterine pregnancy!"

and there was the baby, clear as day, and i said something like
WHEW! I THOUGHT IT WAS TWINS!!!

she started recording the heartbeat and then kind of started to get flustered.

"UH...WHOA...HOLD ON...YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE TWO IN THERE!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!!"

she kind of ran out of the room to get another machine...and at this point i'm crying/ laughing/freaking out...total hysteria. and j has the biggest grin on his face and won't stop kissing me.

(background: he has a family history of twins in every generation. his brother was a twin, aunts are twins, etc etc)

the doctor comes back with the other machine...and there they are clear as day.

numero uno:

 

and numero dos:

 

and i'm shaking.

my legs are shaking so hard that the ENTIRE table is shaking.

i don't know what i said.

may or may not have been something requiring a BEEP.

and we were laughing.

and the doctor was laughing...her first twins.

she congratulated us, we congratulated her.

and the girls? were confused. well they know there are two babies, but they don't "get" it. how could they? i'm not sure I get it. HEE~!

harper said " WHAT? THAT'S AMAZING!!!". but i still don't think she gets it.

so there you have it.

i have been referred to a new OB and next week will have a special ultrasound to determine more.

will we find out the genders? yes. i'm only 3 months pregnant, so we have a bit...but yes.

will jimmy be home for the birth? yes...with plenty of time to spare.

due date? dec. 17.

what does j think? he's over the moon . hasn't stop grinning i don't think.

now i'm focusing on a healthy pregnancy. staying pregnant as LONG as possible and getting those babies as BIG as possible.

i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

lots of things going through my (our) head(s).

if it's two girls? FOUR WEDDINGS!

think of the diapers! the wipes...the burp cloths!

new minivan is now a must!

am i going to go crazy? i can't wait...but i'm scared!

we are THRILLED. and still processing.

and crying with joy and disbelief.

thank you for your love and encouragement!

s

Comments

[Beth Moore]

I am SO SO SO EXCITED for you and your beautiful family! Yee Haw! Now you need to craft some special "Thing One and Thing Two" shirts for the new little Howell's! LOL :-)... still I feel sorry for you too... I mean... it's hard enough figuring out a name for ONE baby at a time... isn't it??!!!... ah, you'll do fine!! Now... go rest... you're gonna need it girlie!! :-) and all kidding aside...you are all in my heart and prayers!

[Kim S]

Congrats....We have been so busy getting ready for PCS I just saw this.....twins....WOW.....congrats.

[Shannon Lowe]

I can't believe it, but I just got a little teary reading your post! I am so excited for you and your family! What an adventure! Thanks for sharing with us and Congratulations!!! :)

[Randi]

Stephanie, I have been enjoying your blog for awhile now and love the way you write, share your layouts, your stories, your pictures. I can feel your energy and enjoyment in life come through your words.

Wanted to say congratulations on the twins... how very exciting. Wishing you much rest and health while they grow. just perfect!

[Christina Ocampo]

Prayers said for you & your family Steph. Thank you for sharing your story. Hugs to you and God Bless.

[Julie O.]

I am so very, very thrilled for you guys! And yes, you can do all things through Christ and He won't give you more than you can handle! Comforting isn't it? SO excited for you! HUGE CONGRATS! xoxo

[DeeDee]

Congratulations! I love reading and following your blog. So happy for you and J and the girls! Just like that....you are on your way to 6 instead of 5! What a blessing!

[Maria Elena]

Congratulation and I will pray for you

[cannycrafter]

I am so delighted for you! Congratulations!

[Anne M]

I am really happy for you and your family! We don't know each other and I don't know you really well, but I was strangely very relieved to hear that J will be there for the birth.
I'm trying to imagine what your crazy happy life will be like with those additionnal 2 little beings and I'm wondering whether it will be crazier with 4 girls or 2 little boys?! You're going to have your hands full but God knows there will be buckets of love and fun (a nice change to barf buckets!) in your house ;)
But for the time being, enjoy your sweet girls and take it as easy as you can!
Anne from France

[Amy]

That is absolutely wonderful! Celebrating with you, J, and your girls. Thank you for letting us come along on this exciting journey with you.
Blessings...

[Danette Munn]

I knew it !!!!! I just simply knew it!!! Congrats and God bless you and your family. I look foward to hearing that they are boys............

[MichelleG]

I just wanted to come out of blog stalkerdom to congratulation you on this wonderful blessing! May your pregnancy go smoothly and the babies be healthy. Thanks for bringing everyone one along with you on this adventure!

[Katie Burnett]

Congrats Stephanie! You & your family are in my prayers.

[Claudia]

Stephanie,
I love how you tell a story. I always laugh and CRY. I'm so happy for you and your family... so it's a happy cry.
Don't be scared you can do this and hopefully you'll have lots of help. Take care of yourself and know that all your readers are keeping you in their thoughts and prayers!

[Ann]

Thanks for your word picture of an amazing experience. I love your story telling ability and I love your husband's love for you and your kids!

[Ally White]

Okay, the "four weddings" part had me cracking up!!

[Kim]

That's Fabulous! Congrats. I'm really happy for you that Jimmy will be at the birth. That'd be a lot to handle on your own. You're in it now with both feet. I have no doubt you'll embrace it.

Best wishes to you.

[Tinka]

Thanks for sharing the details...I am laughing and crying. My brother and sister-in-law have boy/girl twins who are now 14 months old. They have brought so much joy to our entire family just as I know yours will to you! Looking forward to reading more stories about this amazing journey you are on! And, of course, sending prayers for an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.

[Jessica Turner]

over the moon excited for you!

[tanyawebster]

as the mama of four little girls (born one at a time LOL) let me tell you this.....*IF* you happen to have four girls to bless your life you will only feel happy and blessed....because that is how i feel EVERY day of my life....

and if you happen to have any boys in there....they will be the luckiest little boy(s) alive to have such amazing big sisters ;)

Congratulations girl!!! :)

[Jen Whtie]

so happy for you, j and your girls! How exciting, so glad I checked in on your blog--take care of yourself. XO --Jen

[Jen White]

had to come back to say one more thing....can't wait to see your blog header change names!! and you had me so excited I spelled my last name wrong...lol

[Jessica Hess]

Oh, my goodness. God bless you. I am crying and laughing too. It happened just like that for my husband and I when we saw our twins on the ultrasound. I'm sure it will all be OK. I'm not gonna lie, you will be tired, but twins are so special, it is worth it. God is sending you the most wonderful adventure. The fact that you can laugh at your current two little monkeys is probably why he chose you for this. Don't forget, they are two different people, who just happen to share a birthday. You will be amazed at how different they are. Mine are running up and down the stairs right now, I have to go. Blessings!

[Wendi K]

Gotta love those military doctors..they certainly make you wait. Congrats to yall! Go never gives you anything that you cant handle. Praying for a smooth and easy pregnancy and birth : )

[amylucimar]

love the story stephanie and thanks for answering my email in the midst of this exciting time for your family. God is with you and i'm especially happy that your husband will be there for the birth. God is good.

[jasmine schwartz]

Many many congrats and blessings. I have twins also. Both girls. And just like someone else said. It hits you like a rocket fell on you, right on that ultrasound table. The guys are usually happy and u are so excited, afraid, shocked, scared. But it will all work out. I carried mine to 33 and 1/2 weeks. I was 19 and they are my first. I was newly married and knew NOTHING. They were 5.3 and 5.4 pounds, one of them was in an incubator for one night only and we went home after 5 days (c section). They did have tests for hearing and vision the first year. After that all was okay. You have to think that women are so strong, amazing and beautiful we always rise to a challenge no matter what for our children. Yeah God made us awesome like that. Also you have to think of all of the modern medicine and technology we have, they are also instruments in Gods hands. I agree with the post of take lots of pictures of those first days. It takes about 3 months to get your head straight. But it passes in a flash even though it may not seem like it at the time. And the advice to take help even though it may be hard is right. Don't be shy or pridefull, these women are sharing thier love and support this way. BTW my twins are 15 this week, and I miss the baby years so much, wish I would have stopped to enjoy them more and clean a little less. God bless.

[Stacy Cohen]

Congrats!!! I'm so happy for you (x2)!! I'll definitely be following your pregnancy adventure.

[Donna]

hi stephanie! I've been visiting your blog for ages and just love how it's allways jam-packed with ideas, scraps and most of all, authentic-you! You inspire me to continue to find my voice and my style and walk my own unique path! And now I just have to write you a message to say a huge congratulations to you and your hubby - this really is fabulous news! God bless you all!
x donna

[Jamie]

Amazing!

[Steph]

Congratulations, Stephanie, I am so excited for you and your family. Your girls are so beautiful, I can't wait to see theses little bundles. I am selfishly hoping for boys so I can see boy pages from you (being the mother of two boys, I love your pages but have to be pretty creative to scraplift them). Enjoy your amazing journey and every moment of this!

[Heather M.]

Oh my gosh, Stephanie! That is crazy awesome news! Huge congrats!

[angi aka jinxi~]

awww, what a great story.. I admit, I cried.. ehhee. I will pray for the best pregnancy and many wonderful experiences with a house full of kiddies! Congrats.
ps: My husband is even loving this story of you and your family.. and we dont even know you. :)

[Nancy L.]

Congratulations! Double the JOY!!

[Bree]

Since I only check in on your blog over the weekends now, it looks like I missed a pretty big moment... and I know my response to the news would have been exactly like yours. I can't imagine a more loving family for two babies to enter together :-) Congratulations!

[joanne smith (spagirl)]

oh wow stephanie! i have to tell you, one of my clients, early 30's, very emotional when she told me: twins! (i was actually worried she was going to tell me something else, she was so... well, emotional! so you can imagine my relief when she told me she was preggers!) she carried full-term!! each weighing over 6.5 lbs!! (she was a little uncomfortable, and, well, big... lol!) but her babies are just beautiful... and they share a birthday with moi! they turned a year old... and they are just precious!! fraternal twins too! so happy for you and j... thanks for sharing your good news!! please keep us posted!

[Heather H]

Congrats!!! I was thinking I was going to have twins when I first got pregnant, because they run in my family too, but it turns out there's only one in there. I hope everything goes great throughout the pregnancy and both babies come out healthy. :)

[Agnes]

Congrats again!! So happy for you. Loving the giveaways!!! My favorite..hmmm. if I had to choose...the hair band, the mini, then elle's studio but that tie...I know a young one that would look amazing in it!! So really I be happy with anything. Thanks again!

[Latisha]

As a wife of a Naval Officer, all I can think is that your husband must be thinking he is the MAN!! (that is how mine would be lol, and something about type "a" personalities) You are so very, very blessed. Enjoy your pregnancy, your babies will be here before you know it.

[Bridget Larsen]

Congratulations to the 6 of you, how exciting, I had twin brothers, man was my mum glad to have me, I was 10 years old and I remember feeding, burping, making milk, changing nappies at that tender age, and they were delightful boys. Double the work but double the fun.., my mum didnt know she was having twins so that was a huge shock when they were born.

[Sar W]

Just so happy for you, have LOVED reading this very exciting news!!! xoxox

Cheers,
Sar in Australia

[Svala, Iceland]

How fantastic Steph! Congratulations. I have no advice to offer you as I have no experience in the twins department but I'm sure you will be the most fantastic mother of four EVER!!!!

[Susan C.]

Congratulations to you and your adorable fam!! I've been reading your blog for a long time now and if anyone can handle twins along with 2 lil girls... it's you. You will do great; don't you worry about that! Can't wait to read about this new chapter in your lives!! =D

[Susan]

I have been reading your blog for over a year now. I just love it! I don't think I've ever commented. But I just had to today. :) I am so happy for you!! What a wonderful blessing!! You are such a great Momma and these two little souls are so lucky to be joining your family. Many prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

[Denise]

I just started following your blog recently and had twins in December. We found out at the first ultrasound and were thrilled and gobsmacked at the same time. It is a wild adventure and really so much easier to handle than you would ever imagine. Esp. if you have older kiddos to help out! Enjoy and welcome to the twin club!!

Denise

[Jo]

Wow Stephanie, double congratulations to you and your family!

[leslie Mccarroll]

Well CONGRATS!!! crazy I don't know if I can fit just one in my tummy, I am getting huge at 32 weeks... I can't imagine fitting 2 in there..

But, now you need to start collecting 6's for you numbers instead of 5 :)

I am guessing boys for you :)

Ha maybe that is why you are so barfy

[kate riley]

congrats!! I am confused. Now, i thought it would come from your side of the family or just from you and not your husband. Identical comes from your eggs splitting and fraternal twins from your side of the family cause you would have the gene to release two eggs. Cause my husband side has twins, but the dr. said it would not count because it does not matter what the father of babies would be.

What have you found out?? Tell us.

[Tammy Graves]

Wow! go on vacation and come back to catch up on bloggy reading and voila! This really cool gal and her hubby are expecting twins!! A big, hearty congratulations!!! Couldn't happen to a sweeter or more deserving couple! What a wonderful holiday package coming your way! Who needs presents under the tree when you will recieve the greatest gift of all...the blessings of two new lives added to your already sweet family!!! I am so happy for you guys! Pray that the rest of your pregnancy goes well and you enjoy it with good health...for you and the babies!!!
Talk about your hands full of blessings!!! Congrats again!!!!

[Malia]

what beautiful news-- congrats!

[Amy Kline]

I am obviously VERY behind on your blog but I jsut caught up and all I can say is how truly blessed you are! I have four kids and my middle two are twins. Such an amazing blessing to be given the gift of TWO babies is how I felt having been told I would never have any. Drink lots of water and rest and grow them big and start stocking up on diapers now!!

[deedee]

4 weddings made me tear up and laugh at the same time. Maybe your twins will have a double wedding. :)