The Birth of Our Twins

This article earned first place in a writer's competition sponsored by our local newspaper.

Roses and Rubies Are Not Necessary

Despite my Valentine Days filled with lush red roses, tasty chocolates, and lavish dinners, the Valentine's Day that is most vivid in my memory contained none of these elements. There was no available time to devote to shopping or to the preparation of a delicious dinner. My husband and I didn't even make it to the card shop to select a Valentine's card for each other. Yet, each of us treasure the memories of Valentine's Day 1984 better than any other that we have shared together.

In early 1984, I gave birth to our first children, premature twin daughters. Their prognosis was not favorable and their long-term hospitalization dominated most of our thoughts. As January faded into February, one of our daughters improved and eventually was able to come home with us. However, the smaller of our twins, continued her struggle to grow and improve. Leaving her in the neonatal unit without her twin sister was a difficult event for my husband and me.

Valentine's Day drew closer. Our days were filled with caring for a tiny baby at home while maintaining twelve hour shifts at the hospital with our other daughter. Hardly any thought or consideration was given to Valentine's Day. Suddenly, February 14th was upon us. A holiday focused on love and caring suddening seemed depressing and gloomy when we realized that one of our daughters would be spending the day in her incubator.

Deciding to make the most of our situation, I contacted the hospital staff to inquire if they would allow us to bring our daughter with us to visit her twin sister who was still hospitalized. After a long discussion and a tearful plea from a mother's heart, our request was approved. We rushed to dress our daughter in her Valentine's Day dress, replete with red ruffles and flowers. We were on a mission to go wish our daughter who remained in the hospital a "Happy Valentine's Day!" We stopped and bought her a Valentine's Day card and hurried on our way. It was a trip made with mixed emotions since we realized that she remained in intensive care and was still so tiny and fighting for her life. Upon our entrance into the neonatal intensive care unit, our happiest Valentine's Day ever began to evolve.

Gone was the drab hospital gown from our tiny daughter's frame. All four pounds of her had been dresses in her red Valentine's Day dress that matched what her twin was wearing as well. Despite her tiny feeding tube and frame and IV's, she looked perfectly healthy. Tiny red and white booties dwarfed her little feet. The nurses knew that this visit was going to be difficult for my husband and me. They had dressed up our littlest Valentine, taken her photograph and made us a Valentine with her picture on it. It simply read: "To Mom, Dad, and Sister. I love you." No flowery, eloquent greeting card could have made us any happier.

Seven years have passed since that memorable Valentine's Day, yet it remains vivid in our scrapbook of mental memories. Today, when I nonchalantly asked my husband what was his most memorable Valentine's Day, he smiled and replied, "the one when our daughter was still in in the hospital and we went to visit her."

It was unanimous, no matter the special gifts or Valentine's celebrations that my husband and I have shared, they cannot compare to Valentine's Day 1984. What had once been a day that we devoted to purchasing material gifts for one another, became a true celebration of life and love shared with our children ....... and isn't love what Valentine's Day is all about?