After leaving the hospital we all went our separate ways. Chris and I were reunited at home with our girls as the new family settled in at their hotel 40 minutes away. This time was bitter sweet, I was glad to be recovering in my own bed, but I speak for my entire family when I say we missed long visits with the guys and baby girls.
No worries though, we were only apart for 2 days. Then we were back together again. They were here for 3 weeks after the birth of the babies...in that 3 weeks we hardly spent a night apart. We ate dinner at our house, their hotel and out at restaurants together, went swimming together, spent time enjoying outside together and when we weren't with eachother as a family of 8 we were writing emails and text as well as sending pictures. This time will be cherished forever, we all bonded and grew into one unit!
To show our love, and appreciation for this once in a life time unique opportunity we thought we would do something the people of France don't do...we threw a good ol baby shower, Indiana style of course. The guys thought we were just having a cook out ( which they came to enjoy during their stay) but soon realized it was much more as gifts, balloons, and a cake that featured two babies girls on it were carried in.
They were so thankful and again overwhelmed with joy, they couldn't believe the generosity of complete strangers. They shared many hugs, and plenty of "thank yous" but as the gift opening came to an end there was one gift left...the gift from us to them. 1st we had to get them Purdue shirts to go with the awful IU hats they got from my brother and sister in law...they got a real kick out of that and so did the group of 45 people who came to the shower. Then came the Tiffanys Co. Charms which were monogramed with the girls initials, then came the tears as they open the recordable book, read by Chris and I, dedicated to the twins...they listened to the entire book as they cried imagining our voices helping put the girls we all love to sleep as they listen to their bedtime story. Judging by the sniffles and "awes" the 4 of us weren't the only ones crying. Last was a gift I had worked on for months...a scrap book, which caused more tears. This book explained who we are, it showed pictures of my belly week by week, maternity pictures taken by Autumn Smith and Kaila Harkins, it also had a letter written to the twins from me and a letter to the dads from my husband (also a father of two girls), we included pictures of the shower, the hospital stay, likes and dislikes during pregnancy and all the ultrasound CD's and hospital bands. Are hope is that this scrapbook will keep us close to a family so far away and provide clarity for the girls as they get older.
They day came to an end, but not before passing the babies around for everyone to see. Like we imagined, everyone left with a lasting impression of this family. Some people I'm sure were surprised at what wonderful fathers these two men are to two princesses but Chris and I never had a doubt, they are strong, loving, caring guys and I must say, coming from someone who has a strained/no relationship with her father these little ladies are very very lucky!
Be prepared, the next blog will come soon and it will relive our parting which is a rough day to write about...stay tuned!
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