We learned that I was pregnant early in January of 2003 and had an early ultrasound to verify how far along I was. We learned at this 7 week ultrasound that we were expecting twins! We cried the whole way home and worried about how we would manage to handle a toddler and 2 infants. My pregnancy was immediately categorized as high-risk and I routinely saw my obstetrician as well as a perinatologist (an OB who specializes in high-risk pregnancies and deliveries). I received ultrasounds on a regular basis to chart the twins growth, and we found out at 11 weeks that we were expecting girls!

At one of my ultrasounds at about 20 weeks, brain abnormalities were noticed on "twin B" (Rachel) and excess fluid was building up within her ventricles, causing them to be enlarged. This was cause for immediate concern and I received an amniocentisis to rule out any genetic causes. My amnio came out clean and we elected to continue measuring the fluid and monitoring her growth.

After being on bedrest since 21 weeks, I went to the hospital on the evening of August 8th. I was dilated to 4cm and was monitored overnight. The next morning, my OB decided to help me along and induce. My bloodwork was completed, IV inserted, epidural given, and then my water broke on its own. I was given pitocin when labor did not progress and then, upon examination, we found more water bags...my OB broke them and then things moved very fast. I dilated quickly to 10cm and, at 6pm that evening, I was wheeled into the surgery room in case of C-section.

My OB looked at the girls on ultrasound and discovered that Riley was engaged at +1, and that Rachel had gone breech. Concerned, yet undaunted, I began pushing at 6:25pm and Riley arrived quickly with a few pushes at 6:27pm. She let out a few cries and Daddy actually got to cut the REAL cord! My OB checked on ultrasound to see if Rachel had changed position and she was immediately engaged and coming down. She came four minutes after her sister, with minimal pushing, at 6:31pm.

Both girls were doing fine and were eventually breathing on their own and crying. Riley spent 6 hours in the NICU getting stabilized and spent her first night snuggled with me in the hospital bed. Rachel remained in the NICU and was taken off of IV fluid on her second day and began taking a bottle, working on getting her suction motion down. She was eventually able to stabilize her body temperature and drink a bottle well, and was discharged from the NICU at 3 pounds 13 ounces, on August 16th, a week after she was born.

While in the NICU, Rachel was observed to have Microcephaly, meaning "small head/small brain", and had an immediate MRI. Her MRI showed severe brain damage and a virus called CMV was suspected as the cause. Labwork was performed on Rachel and the following Tuesday, we learned that Rachel tested positive for CMV exposure in utero, which meant she was born with congenital CMV and that I had contracted the virus early in my pregnancy. We were told by the Neonatologist that there was a 90 percent chance that Rachel would be severely retarded or die. We were destroyed and came to learn that we knew NOTHING about this new word that was about to rule our life. We were told that we would have to keep Rachel separate from Riley and Garrett, that Rachel and Riley couldn't share towels, burp rags, pacifiers, etc. After further consultation with an Infectious Disease specialist, this advice was deemed unfounded and we were excited to learn that our girls could interact together safely, and with the rest of our family.

On the day of Rachel's discharge from the NICU, we were excited and went in to have our transition meetings. When we arrived, we were told that Riley's earlier test results showed that she, too, had been exposed to CMV in utero and they ordered an immediate CAT scan. Again, we were terrified because we had hoped to have at least one healthy twin. Riley's scans showed calcifications/scar tissues in her brain that were charateristic of the CMV virus. We were told that Riley would most likely have a more positive outcome than Rachel but would also be at risk for the same problems, namely deafness, blindness, physical and mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and even death. Needless to say, that was the worst week of our life. Our family decided THAT DAY that our main concern was to give the twins (and our son, of course) everything that we could for however long we may have them and to love them for whatever and whoever they are, not what they aren't.

Riley and Rachel have been and will continue to be observed by their pediatrician, NICU staff, perinatologists, neonatologists, pediatric neurologists and specialists. Their pediatrician will oversee various therapies (physical, occupational, speech, etc) over the years, to make sure that they each meet their milestones and have happy, healthy childhoods and full, productive lives.