Introducing

We woke up yesterday before dawn, lit a fire, and turned on the Christmas tree lights, on the day that all parents know is THE turning point in the rest of their lives. It was as quiet as the lower Westside ever is, and as I walked out to the dryer to get some pants the sliver moon was rising in the east along side Venus and over a palm tree and a run down garage. Today I will meet my sons. Today I am a father. Today our questions will be answered, our fears realized or relieved.

Three hours later behind a blue surgical curtain and surrounded by 13 doctors and nurses we huddled and tried to act like we weren't nervous. We weren't, regarding the surgery anyway. The template was already set for that back in September. What we feared was silence. The silence of a baby being pulled out without being able to breath on his own. The ensuing silence of the Neo-Natologist, respiratory therapist,and nurse working to help him breath without scaring the parents. The silence of our babies being whisked away to NICU for an unknown reason.

3 Minutes later the room was filled with the best sound I have ever heard. Better than a waterfall. Better than Handel's Messiah and every bit as God-Breathed. The sound of suction, and the healthy wail of my son Ian. He is breathing. 30 seconds later, and slightly masked by the sound of "cute baby" comments the doubly anticipated sound repeated as Jeremy breathed his first, and doubled the volume in the room. Then the sound of Megan gasping through the happiest cry I have heard as it hits us both, they are both fine. We have never been more relieved. Ever. A deeply grateful relief that keeps resurfacing every time I hold one of our little healthy boys.

Names:
It is fortunate that we are not Native Americans. If we were, our boys would be named, Standing Nurse and Beeping Machine. Instead they are named things that should garner little criticism or cruel rhymes from thoughtless school children. Did we name Ian after the famous cricket player Ian McCarter and Jeremy after the not so famous conservative journalist? Would we have ever known about either if we did not Google all of our prospective names? Did we name them to sound like Jeremy McGrath (Moto-x) and Ian McKay (Fugazi)? We wish we were so hip. Heres the real story.

Ian: The one name we expected to use back when we thought we would only need one boy name.
Bradden- My name
Jeremy and Benjamin: How fitting that our Donor twin who pumped blood to his brother to his own harm, would share names with My friend Jeremy and Megan's brother Ben who both would selflessly give even if to their own harm. And who happen to make their good names look better.

Here are The Pics:
Ian
Jeremy
Brad and Jeremy
Megan with both