SixMothers

between one of them kicking and moving around, and theother one?'

Indulgently, she told me 'I think so. Sometimes, it seems like one of them is a little more 'enthusiastic' than the otherone – but I don't know that that's the case. I just know that they havea disturbing tendency to do something at the most inconvenient times.

The other day, I was in the store, and they apparently decided to taketurns kicking my bladder!', laughing. I laughed, too, and movedbehind her so that I could hug her to my chest.

As it got closer and closer to Kelly's due date, we made arrangementswith Jan and the others in case we weren't able to get home for a coupleof days – making sure the mail and newspaper were put inside, that Cathad food amp; water, and so on. We really didn't have any idea of what toexpect, despite Doctor Williams' explanations and assurances that everythinggoing to be fine.

It was a couple of days past Kelly's expected due date, and I have toadmit that both of us were getting a bit 'antsy' – we'd known that itcould happen Any Time Now for the last couple of weeks. Kelly and I werewatching TV from opposite ends of the couch (so she could lean back andrest her feet on my lap) when I looked over at her and saw that she lookeda bit distracted. I asked what was wrong, and she just shook her headin reply. I'd gotten that response from her enough times before thatI didn't think anything of it – until, an hour later, she told me 'Dan?

I think it's time.'

'Time for what, dear?' I asked, still watching the TV.

I heard her laugh, and say 'Time for the baby.'

I looked over at her (!!), and she went on to tell me 'I've beenhaving pains the last couple of hours, but they're starting to come closer together, and getting worse. I think we'd better go.'

That got me moving.

I quickly called Dr. Williams, then left messages for Jan (she wasn'thome) and Paul (ditto). Then I got the bag that we'd packed for Kelly, and carried it as the two of us went out to my car. Once she was seatedand buckled in, I tossed the bag in the back seat, and we were off.

We got to the hospital before Doctor Williams did (okay, I was speedinga little – so shoot me), and the staff there worked wonders in gettingme calmed down. Kelly seemed to have hit her stride, now that it wasall happening – other than grimacing every so often, she was as calmas the emergency room people were.

They had her checked in and on the way to the delivery room in shortorder, with me close on their heels.

I was changing into surgical scrubs when Dr. Williams stuck her headin and let me know she was there – and that she'd be with us as soonas she scrubbed and changed.

By the time I got into the delivery room, they'd gotten Kelly ready-she was on the table and visibly in distress. I quickly took my positionat her head and took her hands in mine. Looking up at me, she smiled, grimaced, then smiled again before telling me 'I'm glad it's twins-I don't think I'd want to go through this a second time ifI didn't have to!' – something that the nurses and doctors laughedat.

A couple minutes later, Dr. Williams appeared and asked how everythingwas going. One of the nurses told her how far Kelly had dilated, andthat Kelly's water had broken (apparently before I got there, thankfully).

Dr. Williams nodded and told Kelly 'Okay, you've been through thebirthing classes. You know what to expect, so there shouldn't be anyproblems. If it helps any, I'm really just here to play 'catcher', andin case there are any problems – which there won't be, since everythinghas checked out just fine up to this point.'

Kelly grimaced, then laughed and said 'I'm glad one of us thinksthis is going easy!' – getting a smile from the doctor that we couldsee around her mask.

Doctor Williams took her place at Kelly's feet, and indicated to methat I should start doing my coaching bit, which I did.

Over the course of the next hour, Kelly's contractions came more andmore frequently, and steadily became stronger. As I'd been taught, Italked to her and helped her keep control of her breathing; and if theway she was gripping my hands was any indication, helping her keep fromcrying out at the pain that she was experiencing. Finally, though, Iheard the doctor say 'Okay, we've got a crown – another couple ofpushes, Kelly, and you'll be halfway there!'

It couldn't have been a minute later before we heard the doctor say 'Okay, folks – we've got a girl!' – followed by the joyous sound of ourdaughter's first cries.

The delivery room staff quickly got her cleaned up and wrapped in ablanket, then hurried her off to the side – a few moments later, I heardsomeone say 'Nineteen inches and seven pounds seven. Heart and lungsboth fine.', and knew that she'd just been measured, weighed, andprovisionally pronounced healthy.

About that time, Doctor Williams announced 'Number two crowning!', followed by 'You're almost done, Kelly – just give me one more push!'

I could hear Kelly strain as she brought our second child into the world; even as she was falling back and gasping, I heard Doctor Williams telleveryone 'Well, Mister Marshall, you've got a son!', followeda second later by a baby's cries.

Kelly looked up at me, and the joy and happiness – and even relief were plain on her face as she told me 'We did it!'

I kissed her and told her 'Yes, we did – even if you did most ofthe work. I love you, Kelly Marshall.'

That got her crying (in happiness), and I was soon displaced by thedelivery room staff as they made sure everything was okay, and tendedto the aftermath of twin deliveries. Off to the side, I heard the announcement 'Twentyi nches, eight pounds three. Heart and lungs good.' Both of our childrenwere healthy.

Doctor Williams went over to have a look at them, and came back to tellus 'Kelly, Dan – both of them are fine. They've got all the rightparts in the right places, they're breathing fine, and their hearts soundlike a pair of Swiss watches. Everything went just like it's supposedto – all I had to do was catch!', the last part with a crinklingof her eyes that let us know she was smiling behind her mask.

Kelly and I both thanked her, profusely, before she told us 'Youdon't have to thank me -*that*' – gesturing towardwhere both infants were letting everyone know that they were NOT amused- 'is why I became a doctor. I'll check on you again in a littlewhile, Kelly.' The nurses were getting Kelly ready to move her toa room, and the doctor took that opportunity to leave.

I went out in the waiting room, and wasn't surprised to see Paul, Jan, and all the rest of the anxiously waiting for news. When they say me, all of them stood up and rushed over to me, demanding to know how ithad gone.

I had to wave at them to get them to quiet down so I could tell them 'Kelly'sfine. She had one of each – a girl and a boy – and they're doing great, too.'

On hearing that, all the girls started crying and hugging me; I managedto get one hand free so Paul and I could shake as he told me 'Congratulations, Dan', a big grin on his face. A few moments later, Sandra pulledback a little ways and demanded 'So what are their names , Dan?'

'Daniel Paul and Janet Kelly' I answered. It hadn't takenlong at all for Kelly and I to come up with names. Paul and Jan bothlooked stunned for a few moments, then pleased – the rest clearly thoughtthe names were entirely appropriate.

It was another hour before they would let us into Kelly's room – andeven then, we were cautioned that she was pretty worn out. Entering herroom, I could see that she WAS tired – but that she was happier thanI'd ever seen her before as she held our children in her arms. Jan andthe others immediately swarmed over to start exclaiming over how cutethe babies were, and congratulating Kelly. Even Paul was moved enoughto tell me 'Dan, you're a lucky, lucky man to have a wife like that.' – and nodded in reply when I told him 'Don't I know it!'

Paul looked over at the babies and I heard him mutter 'I don't thinkthere is such a thing as an 'ugly' baby!' before going over to congratulateKelly and talk to her.

After a bit, Jan told Kelly and me 'And just so you know, the restof us have already worked things out so that one of us willbe with you all the time for the next month. There'sno reason on earth that you two should have to try and take care of twonewborns all by yourselves.'

Kelly started to protest, and Jan just gave her the Goober look (asif saying 'You are such a Goober!'), and toldher 'Forget it. It's already been decided. As much as we love youand Dan, do you think we're going to let you get away with being theonly ones to take care of these two?'

Realizing the futility of arguing, Kelly just smiled in acceptance then looked at me lovingly as I went over and sat next to her, gettingmy first good look at our daughter and son. I suddenly knew what theparent-child bond was all about when each of them grabbed the fingerI held out to them; at that moment, I'd have gladly killed anyone