THE CUTEST CHRISTMAS CRASHERS!
Wedding crashers
There it was, the familiar dull ache.
‘I’ve got my period again,’ I sighed to my fiance Sean Ryder, then 29.
‘There’s always next month,’ he smiled, trying to reassure me.
It was August 2011. We’d been together two years, after meeting through a dating app on Facebook.
At first, we’d spent our weekends clubbing, then cuddling up to sleep off hangovers after. But, six months earlier, we’d decided we were ready to have babies.
A hospital operating practitioner, I was in theatre for Caesarean deliveries.
‘You see how happy the parents are,’ I’d told Sean. ‘I’d really like that.’ ‘That’d be amazing,’ he’d said. So we’d started trying. I hadn’t been expecting anything to happen overnight, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed whenever my period arrived.
We carried on having fun but, suddenly, a year of trying for a baby was creeping up on us.
‘I’m tired of this,’ I admitted to Sean, a welder. ‘I want to focus on something else – like a wedding!’ We’d talked about getting married, so it didn't come as too much of a shock to Sean!
Getting engaged in December 2011, we started planning for our wedding for a couple of years on.
I’d always loved Christmas, and knew the hotels were usually decked out with festive trees and lights.
‘We wouldn’t have to worry about decorations and things,’ I pointed out.
Researching it all, I was in a bubble of excitement. But there was still a little backdrop of sadness…
‘I really thought we’d have had a baby by now,’ I sighed to Sean, as we compiled our guest list for the wedding.
But I refused to get down. I was going to marry the love of my life. Nothing could dampen my spirits.
We booked a local hotel for 21 December 2013. There’d be fairy lights twinkling, carols playing… It’d be a Christmas to remember.
But, a week later, I woke and something didn’t feel right. My boobs felt really sore… Could I be..? I thought. So I bought a testing kit. That night, the pair of us sat watching the little white stick together…
‘Oh, my God!’ I squealed, as two blue lines appeared. ‘I’m pregnant!’
‘Looks like we’ll have to add another name to the guest list,’ Sean replied, laughing.
At our 12-week scan, we held hands excitedly as the sonographer scanned me.
‘There are two nice, strong heartbeats,’ she smiled. ‘What?’ I screeched. ‘Twins?’ The colour had drained from Sean’s face. ‘Congratulations!’ she smiled. We shouldn’t have been overly surprised. My maternal
Suddenly, a year of trying was creeping up on us…
nan had two sets of twins, and so did two of my cousins. Although shocked, we were thrilled. But I was also nervy. ‘We’ve waited a long time for this,’ I told Sean. ‘And I’ve seen it when things don’t go right. I don’t want to tempt fate.’ So I didn’t make a big thing of announcing it on Facebook, and told Sean I didn’t want a baby shower. When we found out at the 20-week scan that we were expecting non-identical boys, I didn’t rush out and buy cute, matching anything. ‘Once they’re safe in my arms, we’ll celebrate,’ I smiled. Thankfully, with a wedding to organise, it took my mind off worrying. The twins were due on 23 July 2013, five months before the big day. Time to get into the swing of things, I thought. But, on 18 June, at 35 weeks, I suddenly went into labour. At Derriford Hospital, I was monitored, and the second twin’s heart rate dropped. I was told they’d need help to get them out. So I was taken to the operating theatre where I normally worked, surrounded by my lovely colleagues. ‘I’m in good hands,’ I smiled. Connor arrived first, weighing 5lb, followed by Callum, at 4lb 15oz.
‘Double trouble,’ Sean grinned.
I needed a blood transfusion, but all three of us thrived. And, after 10 days, we went home.
‘I can’t believe you’re mine,’ I smiled at our boys.
Finally, the day of our wedding arrived. Everyone fussed over me, but the real stars of the day were Connor and Callum. The guests were all queuing up to have a cuddle with them!
But, typically, just as the turkey roasts were being served, the boys decided they were hungry, too.
‘You eat,’ I told everyone while I fed them.
We’d hired a childminder, though, so before the reception kicked off, we were able to put the boys to bed.
Then Sean and I had our first dance to a slow version of Rihanna’s We Found Love.
We never had a honeymoon – in fact, I’m still waiting! But I really don’t mind.
The boys are 4 now, and have started school. And they’re so excited about Christmas this year.
But I’ve got everything I want – two precious little boys who came along when I least expected it!
I’ve got everything I want – two precious little boys