Jamie and I were up in Madison celebrating our two-year wedding anniversary. After eating at Red Lobster (I remember our server asked when the "baby was due," it was always so fun to say, "Well the babIES are due October 5th"), we stopped by at the Burlington Coat Factory to pick up some things from their large baby department. While considering purchasing foam letters to spell out their names on the nursery wall, it was there and then that we decided on their names. "Twin A" (called that because she was always in position to be born first) and "Twin B" now were Jordan Lee and Joelle Ann respectively.
About a week later, my obstetrician called me at work (I was employed as a Facilities Designer/CAD Specialist at the WI Dept. of Transportation in Madison) to tell me that the ultrasound results looked "suspiously like an early onset of TTTS, or Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome." Dr. Munns then informed me that she set up an appointment for me to see a neonatal specialist in Madison the next day.
"Oh, okay," I causually replied. In a concerned tone, Dr. Munns slowly said that I was taking the news very well. It was obvious to her that I didn't understand the implications of such a diagnosis. I was oblivious to the fact that I could likely lose both babies. I told her that the ultrasound tech said that she and her twin sister also had TTTS, but besides a slight difference in height, they were both okay. After a slight awkward pause, the doctor wished me luck and we hung up. I was still clueless.
I tried to return to my work, but that acronym kept nagging at me. "What exactly is TTTS anyway?" I couldn't concentrate on my work anymore so I got on the Internet and did a word search. TTTS...there is was, message boards giving testimony to the lethal condition we were probably facing. I tried to keep my composure, but I felt sick to my stomach and I struggled to fight back tears.
I enjoyed my job and my co-workers immensily. My co-workers, many who I consider my friends, were very involved with my pregnancy. Many would give me their sympathy when my head was in the toliet, while others would help me find the humor in it. They would ask for daily updates on the twins' progress and light-heartedly tease me about my growing belly and pregnant woddle. (I can still hear Windy asking me in his booming voice, "So how are my girls doing today?" He is an older gentleman who is a twin himself.) Little did I know as I left work that day that it would be my last day on the job. (NEXT PAGE)
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