Eighteen years ago the weather was very much like this. Rainy, cold, as my dad drove me to Emerson Hospital, stopping on the way at Sally Ann's bakery in Concord so I could pick up a loaf of their cinnamon bread. This was our Wednesday habit as I went in for my weekly check-up on my pregnancy. Stop in at the bakery, waddle in with my dad to get my favorite bread, and head on over to a the hospital for a few hours to be hooked up to machines for monitoring. As I was on bed rest for months, this little outing was heavenly. However, April 19, 2000, something different happened at Sally Ann's.
I ordered a latte.
The first sign of my pregnancy had been the fact that when visiting The Coffee Mill in downtown Lowell I though the half and half was sour. The wonderful owner, Sandy, insisted the cream had just been delivered. OK, I thought. My dog, Coco, was in the car, and I jumped in, heading home to just load up on Diet Dr. Pepper. The next day? Same result. "Maybe you're coming down with something?" Sandy suggested. The idea hit me - I might be pregnant. Coffee stopped, as just the smell of it made me retch. But back on April 19, 2000, I was craving that java. And that was the day Kidlet A and Kidlet B came into the world at 4:25 and 4:26pm.
I haven't been blogging much because I've been living life - spending time with my sons. I was warned that senior year would fly by, and I did listen closely. I have been trying to embrace every spare moment these kids have with dinners together (even at 8:30 at night), humorous moments with Reddit links, and playing with our dogs and cats together. I will be standing in the kitchen making cookies, or letting the dogs out, or even driving to school, and it will hit me -
Next year they won't be here.
We have been a trio for longer than I can remember. There seems to be no start time to when there was Kidlet A, Kidlet B, and me. It seems as if they were always there, just waiting to enter my life at a certain time. In interviews I have been asked who is the most influential person in my life, and I most certainly have to say my sons. Before the eye rolling begins, I always qualify the answer with astounding backup. What makes my sons unique? I have helped them become thoughtful, sincere, and questioning individuals. Both of them challenge me to be a better person. What is awesome about being a mom of twins is that I can see all facets of my personality in the both of them.
So, eighteen it is. I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments, the lessons they've learned from mistakes, and the young men they've become. I want you always and forever to remember that you have made me what I am today in so many ways. It sounds so cliche, but I will always be there for you - for the good, the bad, the fun and the ugly.
So bring on eighteen! You are off to continue discovering fantastic things - about the world, about people, and above all - about yourselves.
I love you!
