In recovery, the onslaught continued.  Vitals checks, chaplain visits, and still waiting for hubby, who upon hearing the news had to get from the venue back to the hotel and pack up before embarking on the mind-numbing, four hour drive to us.  
Baby B was busy fighting for her life with a whole team of nurses, who during her three month stay would filter through and tell me that they remembered the day she came in and how far she'd come.  One day, I would finally ask how bad it really was and a nervous neonatologist said they were very concerned the first 72 hours.  I had to state which funeral home I wanted to use and with all we had been through over the past year, I was all too familiar with our wonderfully helpful local director.
When there is this kind of loss, everyone wants to help, however, they can.  To my dismay, most of them wanted to talk.  They would push and prod and I was busy trying to hold it together for everyone around me.  That and I still had school work to do all the while.  The staff dressed Baby A and wrapped her in a blanket and brought her to me in a comfort cot.  It was a bassinet with a cooling system under it, so I could keep her with me and hold her for as long as I wanted.  I kept her in my room til the day I checked out.  The bereavement specialist offered to do hand and foot castings, have a special volunteer photographer come, and even make special arrangements to allow big sister to come visit.  I took her up on all of them.  Anything I could do for my little girl, who was already gone.
The other thing people would keep doing throughout was implying I needed to be medicated.  This is a sad experience and I am allowed to be sad about it.  I am allowed to cry.  I am allowed to be disappointed and angry and hurt.  It will never go away, but I will never give up.
As you've read, Multifacet Mom is many, varied things.  This is just one more unique part.  After my time in the hospital, I would add "mom who has a child waiting for them in heaven" and "NICU mom" to my never-ending list.
Tonight, say an extra prayer for every mom who came home without their baby and see #prayersforbabyb for her miraculous struggle.

What do you say to people when you have to break news?  How do you do it?  Who do you tell?   Especially, when it is something so personal and makes you feel that you have let everyone down.  How do you hold it all together to do all that needs to be done at a time like this?  You take a deep breathe, put your head down, and just do it.
As we drove, I quickly contacted people I needed to tell.  A quick note to work, "They sent me to the hospital. Lost at least one. Don't know when I will be in next.  Will keep you updated."  Not sure what passed through my supervisor's head.  Hopefully, he hugged his own twin daughters a little harder that night.
Then my best friend, who was expecting me for quiz bowl practice just two days later: "Won't be in Wednesday. Headed to the hospital. Pray for me."
Next, I had to tell the most difficult people, my mom, grandmother, and husband something.  I knew hubby was still working so just sent, "Call me as soon as you are free."  I didn't want anyone to worry.  My grandmother, who was watching my then three year old, got, "Heading to the hospital.  Be home late."  Finally, my mother, who had been most excited about this and maybe the biggest disappointment she would ever get, "Going to hospital.  Will be home late. Bad, just bad."
We arrived at the hospital and my dad asked if it was ok for him to come in with me.  The security guard had to escort us up to maternity and said, "Oh, exciting day, huh?"... Like, read the room, dude. As we reach the desk upstairs, they had decided to skip the triage room and send me directly to a labor and delivery room.  I got into a gown and situated in bed still waiting to hear from my husband.
The specialist arrived with his equipment and scanned and searched.  Then, I'll never forget, he said, "We need to have an adult conversation."  In a multiples pregnancy, the babies are labeled by how close they are to the exit.  They could't find a heartbeat on Baby A and Baby B was not doing well.  I had a choice to make: do nothing or have an emergency c-section.  (The nurses in NICU would later tell me that they were under the impression that the staff was pressuring me to let the babies go.). I asked how much time I had, said I just wanted to talk to my husband, and asked what Baby B's chances were.
One hour.  They needed to start the process and perform the section within the hour and maybe Baby B would have a 50/50 shot.  I, finally, was able to talk to my husband who also spoke with the doctor, but really, I had made my decision.  If we had a shot, we needed to take it.  
The whirlwind began.  IVs, a shot to help surfactant production, and a fetal monitor that a nurse had to sit with me and hold in place to try to watch the baby's vitals.  They asked if I wanted my dad in the operating room.
"Yes. He's a pastor.  He needs to baptize them.  Does he need to be in the room to do that?  I need to make sure they are baptized."  The consensus was that yes, he would need to be in the room.  The nurses brought him operating room gear to change into.  One kind nurse noticed my phone and asked if I would like her to take pictures.  I wouldn't realize til later how grateful I would be for those shots.
We headed to the operating room, and the anesthesiologist did her thing. They laid me down and got me situated, but all the medication made me so sick, I felt like I had tunnel vision as I projectile vomited over my left should.  I told them frantically, I felt like I couldn't breathe and it was in my nose.  They must have given me something else because then, I calmly stared at the wall as I felt all the pressure and pulling of the procedure.  They had asked me if I wanted to see the babies as soon as they were delivered.  I said that I would rather they get all the medical attention they needed first.
Later, my dad noted how busy the room was and I would think about how much I had traumatized my father.  There was the doctor, anesthesiologist, dad, me, and fifteen nurses.  Five busily attended to me, five to Baby B(who he rushed over to baptize), and five who just stood around...there was nothing they could do.  A cleaned up Baby A was brought to my dad on my right side and I watched, trying to keep it together, as he baptized her.
From the drive over to the hospital to when I was sitting in recovery, less than two hours had passed.  Less than two hours and everything had changed.  So much had happened in those two hours, and there was so much more to come.

"I can't believe I am telling you this."

Hubby had made it safely to Chicago for a week of work which in January is a feat in itself and I had enlisted my father to drive me to my afternoon appointment.  It was the first day back to school after Christmas break, but I had written my supervisor to be sure it was ok that I do some grading from home that morning.  We were hoping the appointment would hold some answers to help resolve my discomfort.  Who knew? Maybe they would put me on bedrest.
I hadn't felt great, so I had a blueberry muffin first thing in the morning, no coffee (because I was being super careful and not allowing myself any caffeine), and submitted the last assignment I had to complete for my second Master's.  I made sure I was ready to go and grabbed an apple just in case I got hungry.  Grandma arrived to watch big sister, dad texted that I was in the driveway, and big sister came to give me a hug.  "I won't be long, just a couple hours for the babies appointments, and I will be home with you," I told her.
I grabbed my purse.  After all, all I needed for the appointment was my ID and insurance card.  The drive to the doctor was only about 30 minutes.  I wasn't too uncomfortable, but I was glad that I didn't have to drive.  Dad needed a couple directions to make sure he knew where we were headed, but my "Vehicle Operator" father (No, really. He literally, actually wrote books (textbooks) on the subject) didn't let me down and we were at the office door in no time.  "Be back soon.  It usually doesn't take long."  He headed to the neighboring Kroger to look for deals and wait out the exam time.
Things were normal.  Check in and present ID.  "Do you have any changes to your address or insurance?" they asked and I sat to wait to be called.  They called me, weighed me, and sent me to the ultrasound room.  All normal.  I explained the past week to my tech as she slathered on gel and started her scans.  
I was having a lot of difficulty laying for the exam.  As most pregnant women know, you really can't lay on your back after a certain point because all the pressure of what ya got going on up front, will cut off circulation to your extremities.  All the weight and pressure made it hard for me to breathe and I had to set up every often to catch my breath.  The kind staff offered me a Sprite and kindly let me remove my mask to try to alleviate my discomfort.
Another thing most pregnant women can attest too, is how excitedly ultrasound techs like to point our features and print out pictures.  Not only was this not the case, but the tech stopped out to get the doctor, who usually doesn't appear until you are move to the next room.  The tech kept focusing on the same area and didn't chat.  I have dealt with many nurses and techs recently...How many do you know that don't chat?
The tech left and the doctor came in.  "I can't believe I am telling you this," she said.
I stopped her.  "Twin transfusion (that I had been asking and asking about) happened.  Something's wrong," I said.
"We can't find Baby A's heartbeat," she said.  My mind flashed to the times I had complained that they shouldn't be able to kick me in the ribs and the hip at the same time, at least not so early.  "I called a specialist (who I was familiar with because we had been referred to him for a scan for my first child after mentioning the same concerns that we stated with these...when there was only one and I was five years younger) and he will meet you at the hospital with his equipment."
I texted my dad, held it together til I got to the car, and dad drove.  Luckily, all the main hospitals were in the same direction from the doctor's office.  It took me a while to get it together enough to tell him which one.

I spent several years considering my options to become a teacher.  Some things that concerned me were making sure I still had time for my family, being sure we were in a good place financially (since you cannot hold a full-time position while student teaching), getting the knowledge and experience that would make me a great educator, and making sure I would be able to pay for this new adventure.  
Western Governor's University was something that I had researched as a licensure path for a long time.  Their courses are self-paced and when you pay for a term, you can complete as many classes as you want in that six month period.  Their pricing is also very reasonable and there are no textbooks to buy.  I was even able to apply for a TEACH Grant for my course of study.  They also make sure that graduates of their program will be eligible for a teaching license in their state.  This can be a little tricky because WGU is based in Utah, but the make absolutely sure that you will able to get a license.  Due to this fact, they only offer certain licensures for each state, so do your research.
I earned two Master's with WGU.  The first earned me an initial license in teaching Life Science for grades seven through twelve.  With observation and student teaching requirement, this took me three terms.  The second, let me add Integrated Mathematics for the same grade band.  Student teaching experience is greatly abbreviated for already licensed teachers and I was able to complete my second degree in only six months, or one term.
Is WGU right for everyone?  Absolutely not.  WGU wants you to succeed and assigns a mentor to help keep you accountable.  There are also course instructors that reach out to help.  Student success resources have a wide range, but if you are not self-motivated, it is easy to not answer calls and emails and let that six months that you are paying for tick away with no progress.  You have to want it and be willing to put in the work.  This could mean asking for help watching a little one so you can get a test completed, working late after work, or sneaking studies in during breaks.  It is doable, but you have to make the commitment to yourself that you will get it done.  Again, you are not alone.  Your mentor will help you come up with short and long term goals and instructors will support you academically, but you must do the work.
To get through your courses, there are two types of evaluations, or tasks, you may have to complete: objective assessments, performance assessments, or a combination of the two.  Objective assessments are like a traditional multiple choice test.  Something I love about these assessments is that each has a pretest that you can take and it will help you find what specific areas you need to study.  I always liked to take this once, go over questions and areas I missed, then retake the practice test before taking on the real thing.  Don't forget, this is a virtual program, so when you are ready to take your assessment, just schedule with the online proctor service, set up your webcam, and complete your assessment in the comfort of your own home.  Another great aspect of this program is that these "tests" are graded immediately, no waiting to find out if you passed.
Performance assessments, on the other hand, can encompass a wide variety of written work.  You could be submitting observation hours, writing reflection essays, creating lesson plans, or answering a variety of questions.  These are completely open book, just be sure to properly cite any sources you use.  These do take a little longer to receive feedback because an evaluator will go over the rubric that you are provided when you read the assignment and they will give personalized feedback on the task.  Currently, WGU's goal is to get these back to you in 72 hours.  If there are any parts that you did not pass right away, you can just fix that area and resubmit the assignment.  Questions on why you missed something?  This is a great time to reach out to your course instructor for assistance.
This is just a brief synopsis about some of WGU's benefits and how completing a course really works.  If you are interested in furthering your education in a variety of subjects (information technology, nursing, business, education, or more), check out wgu.edu.  Make sure you get the $65 off application voucher, so you can apply for free.  Have your questions ready, because they will contact you ASAP to try to get you all the info you need to find the program that fits your needs.  Happy learning!

What is better that traveling?  Getting an amazing discount!  
My husband and I had the opportunity to go to Sandals for our honeymoon.  It was something that I had been wishing for since I first saw an advertisement for them many years ago.  There are many different Sandals resorts on several different islands and things are always changing.  At the time, my sister-in-law recommended Sandals Whitehouse(now Sandals South Coast) in Jamaica.  We had an amazing time and booked an anniversary trip a few years later.  We thought that this resort was a little large for us and decided that next time we would test out Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios.  It was also exciting that this boutique hotel(only about 73 rooms) was an all Butler resort.  Since this class of room is the most expensive, we thought this might be our only chance to try it out, but as I would learn there are plenty of options for savings.

Sandals Select
This is Sandals' loyalty program.  Signing up comes with a ton of savings and perks.  One great thing is that you accrue points for every dollar spent that go toward discounting future stays.  You can also get bonuses for things like booking a stay during your birthday month for travel anytime. You will receive special gifts at certain milestones as well.  After 70 paid nights, you will earn the ultimate travel discount, a voucher for a free one week stay.  To see all the awesome perks check out sandalsselect.com/benefits.

Loyalty Discount
When you are on resort and book a return trip within the Sandals' family of resorts, you get a special discount based on the room level that you book.  This discount is 10% off a luxury room, 11% off club level, or 12% off a butler room.  There are some special rules with this type of booking, so be sure to read the fine print.

Anniversary Night
If you book a seven night stay in a club or butler level room within 30 days of your anniversary and register it here(https://www.sandals.com/anniversaries/free/) within 14 days of booking, you will get one night free!  That is 14% off!  You will have to submit a copy of your marriage certificate for this one and there are some special rules.  If you are already getting a free night through a booking offer, you cannot use this deal.  You can also not use this deal in conjunction with the Loyalty Discount.

777 Deals
This is one to keep an eye on.  Every week starting on Wednesday at midnight Sandals releases a special extra 7% off of seven different rooms across seven different resorts.  If you have your eye on a special room or particular resort, it is worth checking out every week.  This great offer can but used with just about any other discount.  You do have to watch for blackout dates. 
www.sandals.com/specials/best-value-suites

Last Minute Deals
This option is best for people that have flexible travel dates and want a short vacation.  You have to check back often to see which dates and which resorts are available, but if you book 3 or 4 nights during these deals, you get one of the nights free!  Beware that since these are last minute bookings, you may have very limited room choices, but if you are staying at a beautiful beach resort, how much time will you really spend in the room anyway?
sandals.com/specials/last-minute-travel-deals

Service Personnel Discount
Finally, if you or your travel companion are military, a fire fighter, FEMA worker, or police officer, make sure to register your booking right away for an extra 10% off!  This discount is compatible with all other discounts, which we love!  Again, make sure to register your booking (https://www.sandals.com/specials/firefighter-military-police-savings/) right away.  You should get a confirmation email.  Make sure that when you get to the resort you have your ID or discharge papers.  They will be checked and it you don't have it, your discount will be revoked. 

There are a few other special options.  Sandals does offer a rewards credit card.  I have never found it to be particularly helpful since I have other cards with better rewards, but it is an option.  Also often Sandals will promote special gifts at time of booking.  Be sure to follow all directions to register for them right away.  I also find it helpful to mention things like free candlelight experiences or massage credit when you arrive on resort to make sure you can get these things scheduled.

We love these resorts and hope you will too.  If this post has been helpful, when you make your first booking and enroll in Sandals Select, contact me for a special referral code to help you start earning benefits fast!  Happy traveling and even happier saving!!!

As you can see, I've had a little experience in many different fields.  There are reasons that I have not continued in many.  Sometimes the position was no longer a viable option because I chose to have a family. This was the case with touring for both theatrical and promotional purposes.  There were times that I loved my positions, but the contracts ended.  Again this is a problem with working long term promotions, theatrical work, and even some educational positions.  If the position is discontinued, you will just have to find another.  Other times I moved on for other reasons.  I left banking to pursue my education in education as well as spend more time at home with my then nursing baby.  The position I had working at Target ended because I returned to college for my senior year.
There is one position that I walked away from and never looked back.  What was it?  Telemarketing.
That's right for one and one-half days I trained and worked making calls for a charity to businesses.  It was for a good cause and it was kind of like acting.  I mean there was a script, right?  It just was not for me.  To be perfectly frank, during my calls on my second morning, a gentlemen started yelling at me for calling and asking how I had gotten his number and I had to be rescued by the floor supervisor.  I was in tears.  They asked if I wanted to take the rest of the day off and I did.
The next day, I called and formally quit the position.  I don't like to give up on things and I definitely don't recommend quitting anything, but I knew no amount of money was worth continuing in a position that would make me miserable.  You know what?  It all worked out.  A few days later, I was offered a completely different position.  It was one that had some benefits, I excelled in, learned a lot doing, and, most importantly, I enjoyed.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is know when your happiness and your sanity is worth more than a position.  Know what you are worth.  Happy job hunting!

Direct sales opportunities get personified as the worst of all pyramid schemes.  They were designed to distract unsuspecting homemakers from their honorable duties.  They must be stealing time and money from all the vulnerable people out there... But what are they really?  There are so many out there. It would be hard for someone to not name a few friends that are involved with one company or another.  As always, I have had experiences with several of these companies, but I cannot speak for all companies or all people that work with them.
So when I say several companies....  Let me start by saying I like things that I like and if I like them, of course, I want to share them with others.  There are things about every company that I have worked with that I truly enjoyed.  That being said, I have been a representative for Pure Romance, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, It Works, Damsels in Defense, Java Mammas, and RevitalU.  I still am a rep and still utilize products from RevitalU at this time (revival.com/rayna).
While there were opportunities for the people who recruited me to make extra money because they recruited me, I never thought it took away from what I was doing and I never thought it was undue.  If you can sell a sales gig, you deserve a percentage.  That is kind of what sales is about.
I was very lucky to appreciate all of the products that I worked with.  Very important: Don't sell something that you don't believe in.  I can attest to this because I still have my Damsel in Defense stun gun, a few It Works wraps, some Java Mamma coffee, and some...special souvenirs from Pure Romance ;).  I love the companies I have worked with and no one should be bullied out of this lifestyle.
Some people don't realize that these "party" platforms are a lifestyle.  They give representatives a drive to go out and spend time building connections and making new friends. In this TikTok world, real-life connections are desperately needed.  These positions also encourage presentation and communication skills that can be used in any avenue of life.  Finally, this opportunity is built on teamwork.  I have gained some great friendships by joining a company and working with a team to learn about product and how best to present services.
And never underestimate the importance of...FUN!!!
Most of these companies offer great opportunities for rewards trips, meetups, leadership seminars, and more!  Who doesn't need a reason to get up and go somewhere and listen to a few empowering speeches?  Even better, who doesn't have time to get some free swag?!?!  I mean really!  What is a conference without a free sample here, a prize there, a complementary drink, even a nice dinner out?
Most importantly, can the average person make money with any of these companies?  Absolutely!  I can't say that I have gotten rich off of any single company and I will say that I am currently not working with several that I had a relationship with.  I have, however, made money, bought Christmas presents, and gotten through my year because of these opportunities.  I do enjoy all these products and if sales, parties, and chatting with new friends is your forte, then, this may be for you.
Go out and explore.  If you find something great, why not introduce your friends and family to it?  Experience the lifestyle.  Don't forget to support your friends doing the same.  Join a group, like a post, purchase a stocking stuffer, and feel great that you are supporting a friend!

Have you ever heard of working banker's hours?  What does that mean anyway?  Let's take a look at available positions that you may find at your local banking branch and some pros and cons that come with the work.  Each financial institution is a little different, but they follow government established guidelines.  I speak to my experience working in this industry.
When you think of banking, the most common position that comes to mind is usually teller, but there are a multitude of positions.  These opportunities have an enormous range and could require no previous training or advanced degrees in finance.  More common positions include teller, banker, branch manager, wealth consultant, or loan officer.  Other positions within the corporation could include Human Resources experts, call center representative, web design or app developer, marketing and promotional workers, loss prevention, and even training and education specialists.  Some of these positions do require you to move to a city where the bank you are working with has a hub, which is something to consider depending on the career pathway that you choose.
I found one of the most difficult parts of banking was that most consumers do not understand how banks work.  For instance, banks keep limited amounts of cash on hand to help mitigate losses in the event of a robbery.  If you ever want to withdraw a large amount, you should call ahead so the bank can order it in for you.  
​Another issue was that people don't understand why all bank accounts aren't free.  They forget that banks are businesses and they make money based on their services.  There are opportunities to waive most bank fees if you have a certain amount on deposit or if you have monthly direct deposits.  Banks make money on offering different services, however, since they are able to use funds on deposit to earn interest they are often able to reimburse certain monthly charges.  They base their models on making this money on the backend not necessarily on small fees that occur, this is why if you ever have an overdraw charge or a late fee if you call and ask for a customer courtesy waiver, they will often (Not, always, so don't "bank" on it.) refund your charge if the issue was immediately addressed.  It never hurts to ask.

Does finance sound like fun?  Check out your local banks for openings.

Are you thinking of teaching full-time?  Many individuals find this to be a rewarding position and spend their entire working lives in this field.  Schools are everywhere, even online, so there are an abundance of opportunities. There are several key points to consider, however, before pursuing this career path.  For the best information, check out your state's Department of Education website.  I will discuss my experience which may not be the same for all individuals.

Who do you want to teach?
Depending on the licensure that you are seeking, most are divided by grade level, content, or both.  There is a huge range of licenses available and each has a different preparation process and a different amount of available opportunities.  It is especially important to consider which positions are in high demand if you are committed to a certain geographical region.  For instance, I qualify for a supplemental licensure in teaching drama, but, sadly, there are no positions that require that license in my area.

Are you ready to put in the hours?
Many take one look at teaching and only see the "summers off." Rarely do people account for all the hours that teachers actually put in.  Day to day hours also include lesson planning, grading, and administrative duties in addition to actual teaching time.  Educators are also asked to take on tasks like after-school detention, lunch duties, or other supervisory assignments.  They could also be supporting students through extracurricular activities; including, sports, arts, class advisors, or any number of other clubs.  Finally, just because you have your teaching license doesn't mean that you are done learning.  Teachers must constantly be taking classes and earning continuing education credits to be able to keep their license current.

What is the best way to earn your license?
In my state, there are several options to earn your teaching license depending on if you are approaching the field as a first career or changing fields.  If you are just starting out, most four year colleges offer an education degree.  You do need to check to see which specific licenses they support.  This can change over time.  When I was in college getting my bachelor's, my school offered a program for those who were pursuing a license to teach drama or theatre.  Now, that university no longer supports that licensure path, though they still help students get licenses in early education or those who hope to teach certain subjects in high school.  This is another reason that it is important to decide what and who you want to teach.  Not every school offers every license.
There are a few different opportunities for those changing careers to earn a teaching license.  Going back to get an education bachelors is always an option.  If you already have a B.A. or B.S. or B.F.A, you may be able to apply for alternative licensure or gain licensure through a post-bachelor or masters program.  
The alternative program is offered through the state and is a relatively low cost option to learn the educational theories needed to teach specific subjects.  These may include, but are not limited to: high school math, social studies, language arts, or science.  All of this is based on what credits you have earned with your initial degree.  Post-bach and master's programs are also excellent options and can help you start out at an increased salary, depending on your school district's contract.  
Remember, no matter what path you take there will be a student teaching component.  This is several weeks of full-time teaching.  It is time-consuming and includes having your teaching evaluated and often a large written component submitted.  Know that if you are working another job, you will probably not be able to continue it at this time.
Be sure to explore all your options before deciding the best route for you.  Certain grants or loan forgiveness opportunities are also available for those who are licensed in a field of high need and work in a low income district.  Beware, the schools on this list fluctuate from year to year (https://studentaid.gov/tcli/). Do your research.

My path, as you may have noticed, is a little different from most. I had B.A.s in Theatre and Interdepartmental Science and a decade of varied work experience when I decided to pursue teaching.  At that time, I thought the best option was to go through Western Governors University's M.A. Teaching, Science Education (Secondary) program. (Check out my graduation speech!)  This allowed me an initial licensure in Life Science for grades 7-12.  I, then, took a few classes with the University of Findlay to add Integrated Science to my license.  Finally, when the pandemic hit, I took the time to make myself as marketable as possible by completing a second masters with WGU.  This time I added Integrated Mathematics to my credentials.
​
There are a multitude of opportunities out there!  Good luck learners!

As we approached the time to make the announcement, the world seemed in need of a little good news.  On Christmas Eve, we lost my great-aunt, who was the sister to my grandfather who we had lost in January 2020.  It was this grandfather whose birthday was the twins' due date.  Upon hearing the news, I texted my cousin, my great-aunt's daughter, and let here know I was expecting.  I was hoping maybe the joy of two new souls as we lost two would be comforting.
Christmas morning, however, still wasn't quite as joyful as I hoped.  Getting up with big sister and discovering overflowing stockings and gifts from Santa was thrilling for all, but when we were getting ready to head to my mom's for festivities, I went to set down some gifts that we were taking and...Ouch!  I pulled something in my back.  Now, I had had back issues before and I know it's a matter of time, Tylenol, heat, and Bengay, it was just a disappointing event.  Luckily, mom picked up big sister and brought back Christmas dinner.
A few days later, I was still having pain and on top of the exhaustion of this pregnancy I wasn't sure what to do.  I attended the viewing for my great-aunt and felt like I could barely breathe sitting through it. The next morning, New Year's Eve, as we were prepping lunch before the funeral, I decided to call the doctor.
I called in and explained what had happened.  I added that the pain had seemed to extend to my left side.  I also noted that I had been tracking my weight gain and wrist circumference and both had increase dramatically in the last week.  The nurse on the phone just laughed and said that most people didn't keep track of things so well.  I informed the nurse that I was at 24 weeks with twins and wasn't sure if all this was a normal growth spurt or if I should come in to get checked out.  She asked when my next appointment was (four days later) and how I would rate my pain (Who knows?  What is just before tears? Maybe a 7.).  She said oh well we close at noon today, so if your pain reaches an 8 go to the emergency room...
I though, perhaps I am just being a wimp, but I am not sure how the next four months are going to go.  Needing some cheering, I posted my pregnancy announcement for the world to see, or at least my Facebook friends, I hunkered down, tried to relax, and asked my boss if I could work from home the morning of the appointment until I could get some answers.  Thankfully, he was agreeable.  Part of me wondered if the doctor would put me on bedrest.
Meanwhile, my husband, who pre-pandemic had traveled extensively for work, was preparing to leave for a meeting in Chicago the day before the appointment.  We have had lots of experience being apart and usually it is not a concern, but this time with both expressed unease  as his absence.  It was a little disappointing because this would be the first baby appointment that he had missed.  Not to skip work unnecessarily, I arranged for my father to take me to my appointment, told my husband not to worry, and asked my grandmother to come watch big sister.