Mother’s Day

A Very Special Mother’s Day
What a sweet, sweet Mother’s Day this is going to be. I can recall many hopeful mother’s days in the past… one even, filled with loss and grief. But not this year!!!! We are so happy to be mamas-to-be and have been humbled by the amount of well wishes and mother’s day cards we’ve received. It all helps to heal the hurts of the past and remind us how loved and blessed we are.

I was born on Mother’s Day and this year my mom, who obviously not only gave me the gift of life, but helped gift us these babies, too, came to town. She just arrived yesterday from Boulder, CO and it’s clear it’s destined to be an especially sweet visit.

Our Visit So Far…
We’ve been out to Hidden Lake where we had a family healing session with Judith. It was deeply transformative and such a gift that my mom and I got to do it together (with the babies present too).

Today we went to a brunch for new mom’s of multiples- Gina, my mom and I went. It was fun to see lots of twins and talk to other women. We are now fully OVER THE MOON that we are having two babies. I can hardly believe our blessing. I am just SO, SO ridiculously happy!!!! In other news, however, these two are kicking my tush with all the hormones they are stirring up. Most all the women at the brunch encouraged us that the sickness I’m feeling will eventually fade. They all agreed it’s worse and goes longer with twins (many of them already have a singleton) but by 15 weeks (another 4.5 weeks for me…ugh!) it’s mostly gone. For a few unlucky women, it lasts the whole term. Oy. I can’t even imagine. I just keep praying for it to end it’s so freaking miserable. The last three days in particular have been bad. I’m about ready to crack down and use the drug ORM called in for me, Zofran– but I’m not quite there).

After the brunch we went to The Lan Su Chinese Gardens downtown with our friend Sonja and her mama. It was sort of an early Mother’s Day celebration. Some STRONG ginger tea after the brisk air and gorgeous scenery actually made me feel a bit better. My mom loved the gardens as did I and we really had a great time visiting with our friends. It made me happy to have my mom see all the loving, good people in our lives here. She commented on what lovely people we have as friends and what a happy life we seem to have here in Portland. Me likee.

Gina and I have our OB, mid-wife and Doula all set. Next week I’ll have loads of appointments with the all three and then some (acupuncturist, chiro, etc.). My mom is going to get to come to all of them! She’ll get to share any useful info to be passed on (about her labors, etc.) but also she’ll just get to glimpse into my world here and know what’s going on for the next few months as I begin to engage even more deeply in this journey.

We’re OUT!
In the last week, we’ve been “out” about being pregnant with twins; telling people when we see them around town, calling friends out of state who we don’t see all the time but didn’t want to find out on fb, and letting clients know. It’s been so, so fun! It feels like a HUGE relief to not only be in this phase (OMG, we are finally here!) but such a relief to no longer be keeping the secret or asking y’all to do the same. And did I mention how fun it is to share the I’m preggers? 🙂

Girlfriend Love
On May 5th, the Poker Girls got together for a little Cinco De Mayo celebration. Those of you who have heard of this close-girlfriend-group of mine know how they feed me. Though we don’t get together nearly as often these days, the laughter and love that is present when we do is like taking drugs. Better, it just feeds my soul. So, when I was ready to toss my cookies and fall in bed flat-out last week, wild horses still couldn’t keep me away. And I’m so glad. Those girls loved me up! Rubbed my belly, talked all about the pregnancy, listened to me moan about being sick, rubbed and oohed and awed at my belly some more, stole me a chair inside a crowded restaurant and when I needed to exit quickly (pukey moment), they were on it to make it happen. I came home exhausted but so well loved and filled.

Baby Bump City
Lastly, given there are two in there, I’m definitely “showing”. No mistaking it. Thank goodness my friend Rhona showed up just at the right time with boxes full of cute maternity clothes for me. Now, I’m walking around sportin’ this baby bump loud and proud. Amen, sisters!

My Blessing to You
Happy Mother’s Day, to my very special mama, my make-me-laugh and smile-big Mother-in-Law, my sisters and all my mama-friends who I love so dearly and who are so happy for us they just beam or tear up every time we greet (and probably even when we don’t!). I hope it’s a special day for you and that you are honored in the ways that you so deserve and want and need. Here’s to us all!

Love, love, love.
regina marie
xo