A Marriage of Inconvenience

Shocking News

"Congratulations, Miss Vanderbilt, according to this ultrasound you are about seven weeks along." The doctor says after only a brief appointment.

The doctor is a taller woman that has a motherly look about her. I cannot help but like her at this point. I am happy that she ended up being my doctor and not one of the male doctors here. After living with my ex-husband for so long I could not stand the thought of another male seeing any part of me after so long.

When she first started the ultra, I found myself terrified to learn the truth of this pregnancy. Everything that could possibly go wrong went through my head. I could not picture myself being a mother let alone a single mother. As soon as the little blob showed up on the monitor I was a goner though. There is no way that I could ever let something happen to the baby now.

"Wait, there is something else here. The heartbeat looks great but it looks like there is actually a second baby. You are going to be the lucky mother of twins." The doctor says with her face lighting up.

My whole world stops. One baby was a lot to take on considering everything that happened recently, but two? That is an entirely different story. My hands flutter to my stomach as I think of everything that this could mean.

After a few moments of processing, I find a smile slowly gracing my face. It is a little ironic after all. I was stuck in the marriage until I either had 2 children with the monster or else 5 years were up. Whichever were to come first. Who would have guessed that both would happen at the exact same time? As much as I never wanted to be forced to have his children and co--parent with him, I have always wanted my own children and now that I am free from him I can raise these children the way that I always wanted to.

"Ma'am, I understand that that is a lot to process. Are you okay?" She asks me as my smile grows slightly.

I turn to her and say, "Yes, I can honestly say that I think I am okay. For the first time in a long time."

I begin to laugh at the situation and she stares at me flabbergasted for the moment. It has to seem strange on her end. I am sure that she is used to having women that have been trying with their signifcant others and are thrilled to be pregnant. There also have to be those that do not want to be pregnant. To find somebody come in the same day as they get a divorce and end up laughing hysterically after being told that she is having twins, has to be a once in a lifetime thing.

"I am sure that some of these mood swings are caused by your pregnancy hormones. If you do not mind I would like to take a blood sample to send to the lab and make sure that everything is going smoothly." She says calmly to me.

I nod my head in acceptance at her request as she walks out of the room to get a nurse to handle the blood draw. My head is spinning with all of the paperwork she handed me as soon as she got the positive pregnancy test not to mention all of the information that she has told me since. I am going to have a lot of changes coming that will take quite a while for me to get used to.

When she comes back with a nurse, I am happy to have calmed down from my hysterical laughing and am sitting calmly in the chair waiting for them. The nurse gives me a small smile before beginning to clean my arm to take the blood sample.

"You will feel a slight poke. If you begin to feel dizzy at all then please let us know and we can grab you a snack. Are you ready?" The nurse asks.

As soon as I nod my head I feel the needle enter my vein. I have never had a problem with needles and I begin to watch interestedly as my blood flows into the vials. Just before she finishes, I feel a wave of dizziness pass over me. I hope that it will pass on its own but as she pulls the needle out I feel as if I am going to slump over.

"Woah, are you okay ma'am? We will get you a snack just lay back on the exam table and relax until I return." The nurse says.

The doctor stays in the room and begins to talk to me while we are waiting. I only register bits and pieces of what she has to say. She says something about not skipping meals while pregnant, how being pregnant can change the way that the body behaves and gives me more warnings that I do not fully comprehend at the moment.

Even though it feels like hours I am sure that it is only minutes later that the nurse returns with a banana and a small thing of orange juice. They help me up as I begin to devour everything in front of me. As soon as I finish the banana I can feel my strength returning. Immediately, I feel as if I am ready to get up and meet my sister again.

"Feeling better?" The doctor asks me worriedly.

"Yes, much. Does that happen often?" I ask her curiously.

"Sometimes it does. It all depends on the person. When is the last time that you ate?" She asks me.

Thinking back I realize that I have not eaten all day today. She must have noticed the guilty look on my face as she smiles at me and hands me a pack of peanut butter filled crackers as well with strict instructions to eat a real meal soon. Thanking her, I grab my stack of papers and a small pack of prenatal vitamins and head out to the waiting room to meet my sister.