Akens Family: Double the Blessings

So...Kris and I found out at the end of April that we were expecting a baby again.

Even though we weren't really expecting to be expecting so soon we knew we

wanted at least one more baby ( I wanted two more...eventually) we were both

excited about becoming parents again. I took a test about a week before Mandi and

Blake got married and it was positive. We were a little shocked but we decided to keep

it to ourselves for a while...at least until we went to the Dr. and confirmed it.I have
always been a little nervous about announcing pregnancies too early. There is always
that small chance that something could go wrong and I really don't like a lot of attention

when it comes  to that sort of thing so it was going to stay our little secret
for a while. A week after the wedding we spent a week in Tennessee. Surprisingly
we were able to keep it quiet. Even with a few  "Jill...you think you and Kris will have
any more?" questions. Honestly it is always pretty easy for me to keep things to
myself..I think it was actually harder for Kris. After returning from  Tennessee I
had a Dr. appointment scheduled for two weeks later. At that appointment
I was confirmed 8 weeks pregnant. They were able to get me in for a
sonogram the very next day...that's were the fun really begins! :)

Kris has always had this fear that I would have twins. My younger sisters are twins (they were a surprise..my mom was unaware she was having twins until Jana was born 2 months early and then there was Jenny...hiding behind her) My Dad's sister also has twin boys that are the same age as my sisters. There are also other twins on both sides of my family from older generations that I never really knew. And then there is the overwhelming amount of twins in and from my little hometown. I graduated high school with about 250 students. I counted 15 sets of twins that were in my high school the same time I was that I can remember off the top of my head. Two girls I played basketball with in high school have a set of twins.Two other girls I was also friends with that were a couple years older than me have a set of twins. A few days ago my Mom called to tell me that she ran in to the mother of another girl I graduated with and she was informed that she was also expecting twins due in March. Something in the water perhaps?? I don't know, but the fact that I have twin sisters and I have introduced Kris to several other twins since he has known me has always given him this fear that we too will be the proud parents of multiples.
For whatever reason the moment I found out I was pregnant Kris automatically started saying "what if it's twins?" " I have a feeling it's twins" "I just know its twins". Why he had this feeling so strongly when I didn't is beyond me. I never for a second thought it was twins. A couple weeks before I went in to confirm the pregnancy I was overcome with this tremendous level of fatigue. All day, every day. I would come home from work at 2 o'clock and sleep for 2-3 hours. I literally had zero energy. I remember with Scout I was more tired than usual, but never at this level. I was still able to power through and get things done when I was pregnant with her even though I was more tired. This time was definitely more debilitating. I didn't have energy to do the smallest tasks. I was totally and completely drained, even with a full nights sleep. I would fall asleep in the floor playing with Scout :) It was crazy. When I went in for my initial appointment I explained this to Dr. Stevenson and she assured me it was totally normal for her moms of toddlers to feel this way. She said it's not like your first pregnancy when you could simply just lay down when you needed to. You have a very busy little person to keep up with. She said the beginning was rough but it would get better as before...it was just going to be a little harder with a toddler in the process. I told her that Kris thought it was twins and she said she would be surprised if it were because I was not in that age bracket that puts me at high risk for twins.She also said that spontaneous twins were just not terribly common. I agreed with
her. "Yep...it's definitely not twins" The next day we arrived back at the Dr. office excited to see our little peanut for the first time. This is all I remember....

Ultrasound Tech: "Oh wow guys!"
Kris: "It's twins isn't it? I knew it! It's twins right?"
Ultrasound Tech: "Yep! It sure is"
Me: "What? No it isn't! What? Are you serious!"
(Kris is giggling nervously in the corner and I am completely froze)
Kris: "I knew it...I just knew it"
Ultrasound Tech : "Are you ok Mom?"
Me: "I don't know. I think so. I just can't believe it"
(Kris is still laughing in the corner)

I asked her to go get Dr. Stevenson if she was available and luckily she was. She walked in and said "It is twins!!! Dad was right! Ok well that explains part of why you have been so tired...double the hormones. Well..this changes things just a bit..you'll get more ultra sounds...I will go over everything at your next appointment. Congrats guys!!! So exciting!!"

And that was that. I don't think I blinked for a solid five minutes.I had a constant deer in headlights look for what felt like forever. I wanted to be excited and I wanted to be happy. I knew that I would be happy...eventually...but at the moment I was shocked and completely overwhelmed with this feeling of how in the world am I going to be able to handle this. I have spent the better part of the last four months feeling that way. Can I do this? I feel guilty about this now but honestly I had a hard time being happy about the news at first. My feelings were clouded with thoughts of money, childcare, time, juggling work, ~~not getting to see my family as much.,~~ not getting to go to Tennessee as much. It all sounds very selfish now. They say God only gives you as much as you can handle. Well....I sure hope that saying is true :) Kris has seemed to be excited about the twins the whole time. I think I just needed some time to let it sink in and truly appreciate what a great blessing this is. I felt blessed from the very moment I heard two healthy heartbeats, but I would be lying if I said it hasn't been a bit overwhelming at times.

We decided to go ahead and tell siblings and parents about the twins and then wait a while to tell everyone else. It was just too big to not tell anyone. So we made them promise to keep it secret for a little while, at least until I got another sonogram and some blood tests.

Where I am now...

I feel much better (most days) and I am very excited! I am still scared and nervous and all that other stuff that overwhelmed me when we first found out...but each and every time I get to see those little, wonderful creatures wiggling around my heart overflows. It really is amazing! I still can't believe there are two in there!! Kris and I both feel very blessed. We know it's going to be crazy at times, but it's going to be an awesome experience that we get to do together. The twins are already very much loved! Sometimes you just have to let go of your worries and fears and have a little faith.

We found out the genders really early. I was only about 14 and a half weeks but our awesome ultra sound tech has always gotten us the best pictures. I was really hoping for at least one boy. Of all the twins I know almost all of them are twin girls or twin boys. I thought having a girl and a boy would be fun. I also thought it would be nice for Kamden to have a brother, and I just really wanted a boy just because. I have had a boy name picked out for so many years and I wanted to be able to use it. So...baby A is a boy, and baby B is a girl.

Sucking his thumb :)

Hello World!

Boy Parts

Foot :)

Baby Girl

It's a Girl! :)

So far the babies are about 9 ounces each and are doing great!!!
They each have their own little compartments and their own placentas
which is a very good thing.I only gained 2 pounds the first 12 weeks but
I am starting to make up for it. I have gained about 12 pounds now and I
definitely have a pregnancy belly.

(not the greatest pictures but it's the best I could do by myself)

I went through some old albums recently and found a few pictures of my sisters
after they were born. I thought I would share. They were SO tiny! Jenny weighed
2 pounds and 10 ounces and Jana weighed 2 pounds and 14 ounces. ( I think that's right).
They were in the NICU for a while and finally got to come home when they were
6 weeks old. I don't know how my parents did it...but I guess I am about to find out :)
Hopefully we won't have to see the NICU.