Who would have ever thought we would be looking at yet another birthday?
When we were born 53 years ago today, things did not look very hopeful for our survival. You see, Mom, who was six months pregnant with us, fell after our two oldest sisters (who were nearly six and four at the time) were fooling around in the bathtub. Things got quiet: too quiet. That's when Mom went to check on them, to make sure that they"didn't drown each other".
Mom's feet went out from underneath her and she fell. When she fell, her water broke, and labor pains commenced. Back then, in 1959, they couldn't just "stop things", so Mom had to be rushed to the hospital. We were born that night (it was on a Friday): Karla came first, at 10:53 p.m.; I came 11 minutes later, at 11:04 p.m.
The doctors (and even Mom and Daddy) didn't know that Mom was carrying twins! The x-rays showed just one baby and heard only one heartbeat! Doctors kept telling Mom and Daddy that it was one big baby; after all, her last baby, a boy, our brother, came into the world, weighing over 10 pounds at birth!
Mom told the doctors, "The pains are getting worse". The doctors told her, "Ah, that's just the afterbirth!" LOL
Some "after birth"! LOL
Karla weighed 2 pounds even; I weighed a skimpy 1 1/2 pounds. We were not expected to survive, me, especially. The doctors did not hold much hope, especially for me.
Yet we fought with every strength of our being. We still continue to fight, even today, fifty three years later. We both still have reminders of our earlier-than-planned birth (learning disabilities, physical issues, etc.), but compared to where we had been at birth, we have come a long way (although, as we get older, more and more physical problems are appearing).
Karla and I do have our moments where we want to kill each other (NOT really!), but compared to the relationship with our two oldest sisters, we have a bond that cannot be broken. We are extremely close and loyal to each other. Chances are, if you see one twin, the other one is usually lagging behind (namely me!). We love each other like no two people can. We would die for one another; that's how much we care for each other.
We have been together for all but 17 years when Karla was in the Air Force (and also lived in Louisiana and Utah for a time). Then Karla brought me to Texas from Ohio; she couldn't stand our being apart any longer, and we've been "two peas in a pod" since then! I sometimes question her WHY she moved me to Texas (I don't like the weather here!), but I wouldn't want it any other way. I would choose Karla over our other sisters (or even our brother, who we also get along well with) any day!
So, Karla: thank you for the laughter, the tears, and all the fun (and not so fun) times! You have certainly made my world that much brighter, and I consider you the best birthday present that God could have ever given me! I love you with all my heart and soul!
Happy birthday!!
~Love, your twin sister, Karen Lynn. :D X0X0X0X0
