responses

Yesterday I could not keep in a single iota of liquid or solid. It's like there was an 'emergency eject' button at the pit of my stomach, and as soon as something even tickled it, out. it. went. I got so dehydrated it was necessary to have an IV. One of those dark pregnancy days. It was my own fault for not asking someone else to pick up Trevor from the airport. My body can't handle exhaustion. Anyway, I thought about halfway through that no good, terrible, rotten day that this will not last; I can't be this sick forever, and I am still so happy to be pregnant.

This brought to mind all the outside responses to our 'double news' from family, friends, neighbors, even strangers over the past two weeks since we discovered Millie & Jo. I can safely say these reactions can be classified into two groups. Group A is positively thrilled for Trev & I. They say things like: "How wonderful! I can't imagine a greater blessing!" or "Two girls! Hooray!" I love this group of people. I feel like they share in our enthusiasm and excitement for our impending parenthood.
Group B, however, says things like: "I can't imagine how hard that will be." Or "You won't have another chaos-free moment for the next eighteen years." Or "Be careful what you wish for." These are all verbatim reactions. I don't respond well to these warnings.
Reflecting on Group B's comments and the people who make them, I realized they are the same group of people who tried to scare me out of life's other great changes. They are the same people who warned me against 'the real world' after high school, saying: "You are not equipped to deal with the real world" or "You have no idea how difficult college is." They are the same people who did not understand why I wanted to go on Semester at Sea, saying things like: "Why don't you just go with a BYU study abroad to London?" They are also the same people who tried to warn me against getting married. "You will sink and no one will be there to help you." "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." Yep, everything I just quoted was actually said to me.

Group B's comments used to cast a shadow in my mind, leading me to believe that somehow they might be true. But these people have been absolutely dead wrong about all of it. Moving from high school to college was like leaving a dank dungeon into sunlight. SAS was one of the most profoundly life changing experiences I've ever had. Marrying Trevor has been the best decision I've made. And having twins will be as wonderful as I think it will be.

I've decided never to listen to Group B again. They've been wrong about everything else, and clearly don't know who I really am. We are going to have fun.