Plot, Twist...

I knew something was up around week 15 because my flat tummy was beginning to get a bump. From previous experience, I knew that this was not an ordinary pregnancy. When I went in for my 1st prenatal at 15 weeks and measured at 22 weeks, my thoughts were confirmed. So, we had a very short ultrasound and discovered, much to our surprise it is TWINS!!

To simply say the pregnancy, let alone TWINS is a miracle, would be an understatement, so let me back up a bit.

Let me take you back to almost 5 years ago when I laid in a hospital in Ecuador. I was told by a very well known doctor, that “medically, all of my reproductive organs were not functioning”, which I had hoped might be a different diagnosis outside of the US. I was told the “ONLY way” was to remove them all, INCLUDING the lymph nodes surrounding.

We’ll have to save that story for another time, but I will tell you this. Even though I was more than content with the 9 children I had already birthed, and was not pursuing more whatsoever, that solution just did NOT sit well with my spirit.

Whether or not they could ever be used for childbearing was not really an issue in my head, but I knew that I wanted to keep all my organs. After all, I was designed this way for a reason, right? And I just thought they probably served more functions than simply, to make babies.

Fast forward 4 years of MASSIVE change and healing on many fronts. Not just physical, but emotional and spiritual too (it’s amazing how connected Mind, Body, and Soul really are). Then I meet Travis... Taking on 9 step-children was already way out of what he had ever previously considered doing, so having a child together was not really at the top of our list, initially. Everyone that knew him told me that he wouldn’t even date anyone with ONE child, so our relationship was a “God thing” to say the least. He, of course, has fallen in love with them and is the best step-dad they could ask for, but it is definitely not a cake walk, even though, amazingly, every one of them is not only accepting of him, but they adore him. So before we got married, we had discussed having maybe one more together, but we thought it would be best to establish our relationship and adjust to it all for a few years before trying.

I had been using the basal body temperature method of birth control, which I had success with in the past. The only problem with this was that, during the extraordinarily busy season I had prior to the wedding, I had not gotten into a good pattern of determining exactly when my "fertile day" would be. That meant I really needed to rely on my daily temperature.

We ended up taking our honeymoon several weeks after we got married and on the way to the destination, I forgot to bring my thermometer, but decided when I got there, I would just need to go purchase another one. As a result, I missed one day of taking my temperature. Turns out that was the special day!

A month later, when the pregnancy was confirmed, we were both pretty shocked... I can honesty say I didn't see that coming. I mean, just a few years earlier I was told that it wouldn't even be possible... I was also nervous to tell anyone because, well let’s face it, it’s already pretty abnormal to have nine children.

I was a teen mom and felt forced into a “situation” as a result. And even though my other 7 children, for the most part, were intentional, every time I had told anyone about another pregnancy, there were always nervous glances and questions as to why, etc. In hindsight, I understand why all of these people who loved me so much responded this way, but, because that’s all I had ever known, I guess I expected that same response this time around as well... So I was very nervous to announce.

I am so incredibly thankful to report that truly, God can make all things new. All of the people that had given nervous glances of “oh boy” in the past, have completely changed. Those same people are so filled with excitement and pure joy that it has often resulted in tears 😭. This is exactly how I envision and believe that every pregnancy should be welcomed, and I am overjoyed to be able to experience this for the first time!!!!

These babies have had soo many incredible things spoken over their lives. Numerous prophetic words, blessing and just plain excitement has been pored out on these two miracles.

Never in a million years did I think I would be pregnant with twins at age 40. Never did I think I would get a fresh start at life, and that it would be SO GOOD. If it’s possible for me, it’s possible for anyone. I pray that through my story, you find a renewed hope for change, and a new beginning in whatever area of your life that you may feel is lost. It just takes faith the size of a mustard seed 💛