I just realized...

that exactly 3 years ago today, we got the call. Our donor was ready and we had to fly to NYC from Texas the next day for retrieval and Evan's 'offering'...it was a Thursday, we left Friday and the meeting of DE & Evan's sperm took place that Saturday - my 47th birthday! We took a car service at 6am out to NJ to the clinic. The waiting room of RMANJ was packed. That evening we went to a cocktail party and when we got back to the apt, Evan had to start giving me the progesterone shots - he was so nervous he almost puked! Of course, I was busy numbing the injection site with a bag of frozen peas. Then 3 days later, we went back out to the clinic for the transfer and the rest is history. (I remember drinking so much FIJI water and feeling so bloated and miserable because I had to pee so very badly right before hand. An Enya CD was playing and I kept thinking "Save the whales, save the whales, save the whales". When they finally finished the procedure, I just let it all out - all over the floor. TMI.) We spent 10 days in NYC in a friend's 5th floor walk-up and I remember visiting the art galleries in Chelsea the day after transfer. The Basquiat show was in Brooklyn. We ate steak-frites at Schiller's. I bought a skirt at Comme des Garcons. Talk about not laying low...
But they put back 4 and we came out with 2.
Whew - now the twins are 2 1/2 and we're looking at pre-schools.
With so many thanks to our anonymous donor...
What a long strange trip it's been and promises to be:)

My little monster...

Oh my oh my, I just had to add this story. Evan, Manu, the twins and I had to run an errand at Best Buy this weekend. It's a fairly heinous store but it has big open spaces and Zelda loves to stroll through wide aisles in places with very high ceilings. She loves Home Depot and Target (FYI, I absolutely refuse to go to WalMart).

Anyway, Zelda was strolling around with her arms outstretched in front of her. We are trying to get her to hold her hands together with her outstretched arms to cue her on approaching obstacles. As always, she was walking around fearlessly, like a superstar - head down, chin fairly tucked, arms out stretched - when this guy starts laughing and pointing. "Look at that little girl walking like a monster, she's walking like Frankenstein!" "Isn't she cute?" I tend to just smile when people comment on how "she's SO interested in her feet!" or "she looks sleepy" - because her eyes are usually closed. Well, this time the guy just wouldn't shut up so I just had to lay the zinger on him "No, she's not pretending to be a monster, she's blind." Hit by this ton of bricks, he proceeds to apologize profusely but then throws in Jesus! He touches her on the head and starts talking the whole "God Bless" thing, etc...you know the rest...

Frankly, I don't know what was scarier: the part about the monster or the Jesus trip.

Mano à mano...

So, Manu is visiting from Paris for a few weeks along with Cécile. We just figured out that we've been friends for more than 20 years - yikes! It's SXSW and the crowds are rolling in. Creed loves to drag "Mano" - as he calls him - around by the hand and show him puppies. And Zelda has taken to saying "Oui" when asked a yes or no question. Now if only we'd find out if they've made it into the French Montessori pre-school for the fall. Otherwise, they're off to live with "Mon Oncle Mano" in Paris.

Mary Freakin' Poppins...

So, the twins don't eat candy. It wasn't a conscious plan, we have just avoided it thus far and I guess it's been a good idea. They don't even know what it is. I am sure they will know soon enough but for now at age 2 1/2, we're in the safety zone. The other day, we took a stroll through the lovely "Big Top" candy store down here on South Congress and the twins just thought every little thing was a toy. Creed liked organizing the jawbreakers and lollipops and Zelda liked running her hands through the cellophane-covered hard candies. AND, they didn't ask for a thing - because they have yet to know the evils of "candy". However, they DO know and love our nanny who is also named "Candi".

The other day at Central Market, the Easter display of chocolate eggs and candy-like stuff was displayed in full-festive mode. Creed likes to see what he can grab within reach from his strap-down position in the cart. Well, as he reached for some of the sugary delights, I was about to say "No Candy!' but I can't. Candi is good, the kids ask for her, they kiss her hello and watch her out the window when she leaves. "No Candy" whether ending in "y" or "i" is not an option. So instead, out of my mouth came "No bonbons, sorry Creed, no sweets!". A man standing nearby looked at me like I was crazy...no bonbons, who is this woman?...Mary Freakin' Poppins?...

Did you hear the one about....

So a few weekends ago, Evan and I attended a seminar called "Through your child's eyes". It was about raising a blind or visually impaired kid. There was a lecture by a 100 yr old doctor, some new technological info, a simulation experience and a chance to meet other parents. The most informative segment was the panel discussion: 2 VI kids, 2 parents and a woman who is visually impaired. The kids were amazing! The moderater proposed questions to the panel and each person would respond.

When asked about their biggest personal challenge...A soft spoken middle schooler - whom I assumed was from India (not that it makes any difference but it's important to emulate the cadence and lilt in his speech) - responded that kids at his age can be very cruel. He said that he has chosen his friends on the basis of their 'disabilites'. They all sit together at lunch. "I have one friend who is very skinny - but he isn't anorexic. My other friend is very short - but he's not...(a dwarf, someone piped in). Another friend has leukemia." He then added quietly, "Do you know the story of the blind man who has a friend with no feet? The blind man has feet and his friend can see."

I think this kid is related to Gandhi.

O'Puppy...Obama...

Creed's favorite word at the moment is "Puppy". Sure, he says lots of other stuff, but the first word out of his mouth in the morning is "Puppy". When I walk in the house, he points to the outside and says "Puppy". When he goes to bed at night, he says "Puppy." We try to let him see puppies as much as possible. This past weekend in the glorious weather at Town Lake, it was a veritable puppy fest...

So then, the other day he heard someone say "Obama". (Disclaimer: Personally, my heart belongs to Hillary, but I will support whoever gets the Democratic nomination.) Creed then would say "Obama" both randomly and on command with a big smile on his face. The true test came when I asked him who he wanted for president. He hesitated and smiled and replied "O'Puppy".

Most people are just afraid...

of offering help to strangers. I don't think it's because they don't want to...it's more that they just don't know how.

I was in my shop this weekend when I looked outside and saw a blind man in the street. Not on the sidewalk, but actually on the street walking along the bumpers of parked cars. Traffic was slowing down, carefully avoiding him but no one was stopping. As I turned and saw him and headed out the door to ask him if he needed help, a car slowed and rolled down their window. Finally! I approached, asked where he was going, and offered my arm. He was looking for the Continental Club...2 blocks from my shop but on the opposite side of the street. As we walked to the corner, we chatted about the area and I described the direction he would need to take as we waited for the light to change. Luckily the crosswalk has a beeping green light, when it's safe for pedestrians to cross. I asked if he had any sight, he said he was totally blind. He was from the UK. I told him about Zelda. I imagined her someday navigating the streets of a European country trying to find her way. I wanted to chat more but the light started to change. At that moment, there were 2 other gentlemen readying to cross - very "euro-chic" in their expensive jeans and slicked-back hair. I was trying to explain to the blind man that he needed to cross the street and then, turn right and immediately cross again when I suddenly blurted out "Here are two gentlemen that will help you across and point you in the right direction". The "Euros" looked shocked and then nodded. I said good-bye, went back into my shop and then looked out the window to see the "Euros" actually helping the blind man cross the second intersection and then direct him up the street to go and hear some afternoon music at the Continental. Sometimes you just have to ask if someone needs a hand.

And frankly, I don't know how often I would help a stranger in need before Zelda came into our lives. I am sure it wasn't as often as I could have...