And then there were four

Gail, Nita and I each set at low walled assistant cubes on the third floor of Pharmacia. They were long time employees. I was a temp on a special assignment. I enjoyed the work there. The people were fun and friendly. My boss was one of the best. Even though I was a contractor, I was never excluded.

Three of us worked hard, but we also talked quite a bit about life. We talked about Nita's husband who worked at a food processor and Gail's grandkids. One topic, though, dominated our interactions. Shelly and I had been almost a year and we were expecting twins.

They would ask me about preparations at the house and warn me about sleeplessness. They would ask about Shelly's cravings and remind me it was my duty to go out, now matter how inconvenient. At every call, they got real quiet. Is it time?

My wife had a test scheduled checking on the babies. I had gone to some ultrasounds and I really needed to work. I believe her mother came in for it. I was waiting to hear how it went.

The phone rang and as usual, Gail and Nita got quiet. Over the phone I hear my wife tell me that if I would like to see these children born, I need to get to the hospital, immediately. They were going to be born by emergency C section, today. I hang up the phone, a little bit stunned. The ladies know. They tell me to get moving, and I do.

I don't remember the drive, but I remember the cascade of feelings. This was it, the moment. I was excited. I was also nervous. Nervous about going into the operating room, nervous about the welfare of Shelly and the girls, nervous about the rest of my life.

The hospital was perfect, I didn't have time to think. It was a series of orders I needed to take to get into the ER. No thinking really worked for me in that moment. Here's your wife. Put these scrubs on. You'll need to cover your hair. Put on these booties. Go into the OR. Stand here, this side of the half curtain.

The room is full of people. A team for my wife and people here for babies A and B. It was buzzing with activity. My wife was prepped and once they started it was fascinating and stunningly fast.

Savannah, they baby they were worried about, was born first. She had froggy legs and a loud cry. She was healthy and they presented her to Shelly. Just as the joy of her arrival was bursting, Sierra was born.

Sierra was handled differently. Her cry was not as quick to come. They did not immediately present her to us. I think Shelly asked me if she was OK. I don't know what I said, because I wasn't sure. She looked OK, but it was clear the medical people weren't immediately happy. The room had narrowed down to just one sound, the absent cry of a baby.

It came in a couple waves and our anxiety burst. It was OK to celebrate. I was a father. We were a family. In fantastic, beautiful ways, my life had changed,.