Doubleplus good

by Matt Stratton on July 1, 2009

Scout has a big announcement Regular readers of this blog know that my wife and I have been struggling with infertility issues for a while now. Over the past 18 plus months we’ve played games with having “relations” on a specific schedule (whether we wanted to or not), injected more needles than Sammy Sosa, and moved genetic material around in all kinds of random ways.

And it’s finally paid off.

Yes. For reals.

We are going to be parents.

But wait, there’s more…

We are having TWINS.

As I told my friend Marcelo last night – it’s not so much a matter of “slipping one past the goalie” as much as “body checking the goalie and whipping two pucks into the net at once”. But it worked.

The Stratton twins will be joining this world circa January 2010.

As you might expect, we are super excited about this. It’s quite a shock to have two for the price of one, although really it’s like double the cost of what we had planned. In the same conversation referenced above, Marcelo told me that we should have our own reality show. I said “Yes. It will be called Matt and Carrie Plus Two Minus Money.” We’re doing research on all things we DO need two of…and what we don’t. Fortunately, Carrie’s cousin has twins, so we’re getting a lot of great knowledge from her. And the internets…bless the internets…

But yeah. We’re jumping ahead and having two at once. They are fraternal, but we won’t know their gender for a few months. But feel free to start the pool – I just ask that you give the house a 5% cut on all bets. We have names in mind as well, but only for a boy and a girl – if we have double-up gender, we need to do more thinking. And I’m not telling you what the names are yet. You can try to guess if you want though.

We want to thank all of you for your love and support through all of this. It’s been a rough road, and our friends and family are all too aware of this. But now, the good news is, you can stop hearing us talk endlessly about infertility.

Now you get to hear us talk endlessly about multiples.

usound

  • heatherleigh
    Congrats!!!!!!!! Super news! You should totally name one after the dog.
  • Scout's going to be confused enough as it is!
  • Congrats!!!

    My step sister has identical twin boys, currently 5 years old. Blond haired, blue eyed darlings. Last week I got to be part of taking them to their first zoo. They are really amazing to be around and it never ceases to amaze me how utterly different their personalities are and have been from the beginning.
    .-= Daethian´s last blog ..Montana! =-.
  • I'm really curious to meet these little twerps. I'm fascinated, but also a little unsure. Twins are weird, man! But I would never tell THEM that. Crap. I'm going to have to delete this comment once they learn how to read. And use the internet.
  • Dude awesome news. Congrats!
    .-= Trapper´s last blog ..Another night, another mix =-.
  • Thanks, man. We had to do something to get caught up to you...we're so far behind, we had to double-up.
  • Wow, that is incredibly good news - congrats to all 3 (err, 5 of you)!
    .-= Michael´s last blog ..A little somethin’ for the Producers….mass review and approval made simple. =-.
  • Thanks Michael. We're all five of us excited. Well, except the twins, as I don't think the excitement center of the brain has developed yet.
  • Amanda
    Although I met you once when Carrie was still teaching at Nicholson with me, I am very happy for you both and wish you all the best in the world. Make sure to let everyone know where you are registered!!

    Congrats!
  • Omg Matty I am so excited for you both! What fabulous news... and twins! I LOVE twins! Sorry, but I always seem to have had a weird fascination with them.

    Eeek, you can chatter away about multiples all you want, I will be eager to hear all about it! Congrats!
    .-= Ari´s last blog ..Job search frustration and monthly mosaic =-.
  • Well, I'm sure that you'll see a lot of them on my Flickr once they come out and join the rest of society. I'm glad we could help fuel your twin-fascination!
  • Julie
    That is fantastic news. I am so so happy for you both...er, four? Congratulations!
  • Thanks, Julie! I'm nothing if not efficient - we figured might as well get both done now ;)
  • Ashley
    Wow, that is amazing news! I am so excited for the two (five!) of you!
  • Ashley
    Five including Scout, of course. For clarification's sake.
  • YYYYAAAAYYYYY! I am so excited for ALL of you. I'm hoping it's a lead and a follow - I'm already filling the performance team positions for 2025.
  • In that case, Mertz, here's hoping dance skill skips a generation.

    Oh wait. I've seen my parents dance. Let's hope it skips two :)
  • Juan Rhodes
    Please name one of them Flozell.

    That is all.
  • Congrats to you both! And both of them!

    Gotta tell ya, I started just a little when I read "Stratton Twins" as there ain't never been none o' them in our Stratton family...
    .-= Mark Stratton´s last blog ..3WW CXLIV =-.
  • *fingers crossed* [please let the babies have wonder powers....please let the babies have wonder powers] *fingers crossed*
  • What great and sweet news for an otherwise crappy day. Congrats to you and your wife.
    .-= Erica´s last blog ..Really Bad Series That I Can’t Stop Reading =-.
  • I am so happy for you!I'm not going to tell you not to worry, but I will let you know once they arrive the worries simplify. You just get through it and you find ways to make things happen and it just stops feeling like work.

    Congrats to you all!
    .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Obi Wan Kenobi you’re my only hope =-.
  • AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SOOOOOO excited for you two!!!!!!!!!

    OMG, text can not contain my excitement! I have been really hoping for you two that you'd get to have a baby! Now TWO! Wow!!

    Congrats again! Can't wait to hear your pregnancy stories and see preggie pics. Not to mention pictures of your little babies when they come into the world!!
    .-= Talia´s last blog ..Photos and Projects… =-.
  • Mel
    Way to go! (:
  • Congratulations Mugs! I've been pulling for you, hoping that we'd be hearing good news soon.
    .-= Ricki´s last blog ..Hollywood Hairdress - "The Boys From Syracuse" =-.
  • Yay-Yay-Yay! Congratulations!

    And cute T-Shirt on Scout :)
    .-= Cherie´s last blog ..Garrett Popcorn Shops to Re-Open Michigan Avenue Store =-.
  • Michael Sundell
    Matt,
    That's super awesome news. We're both so happy for you and Carrie and think you'll be fantastic parents.
    Michael and Adrianne
  • Meredith
    Congratulations! I'm looking forward to reading all about them, until, you know, you're too busy to type ;)
  • Evin
    SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!

    Conga-rats and woohoo! So happy for you all!
  • Congrats!
    I do not have twins, but my girls are 6 and almost 3, and I can tell you sleep all you can NOW! Because you will lose sleep forever after they come, and unfortunately she will lose sleep in only a few more months! I am very happy for you and I do not know your wife, but I am sure she is as awesome as you and you both deserve it!!!!
    .-= Meredith Nault´s last blog ..Randomness =-.
  • Congrats!

    I can safely say that parenthood is the "toughest job you will ever love." That is worth remembering when you are losing your mind from sleep deprivation and wishing that your children didn't run in different directions constantly, but somehow manage to get it together to poop together or be hungry together.

    Good luck with everything!
    .-= Dana´s last blog ..Trip to SE Asia: Prelude (delayed transmission!) =-.
  • Lisa Marie
    That is amazing news - thank you for keeping me in the loop! I wish for Carrie a happy, easy pregnancy. Mugsy, I have every confidence that you will be a wonderful parent to two very cool kids. Congrats to you both!
  • omg!!! congrats!!!!
    .-= rachel´s last blog ..True Story: I flew to Chicago for 20 hours. PART TWO =-.
  • Devon
    Congratulations to you both! I'm so happy for you two and know that this has been a long road!! :) I love Scout's t-shirt! Hope he is ready to be a big brother.
  • Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    from your twitter friend @CrazyCatLadie
    .-= Sarah´s last blog ..Slap Chop =-.
  • Twins!!! That's so awesome!!
    My bet is on two girls.
    .-= Ashley´s last blog ..Crappy Daytrip, Sick Kitty, Catchy Song =-.
  • While I don't have twins, my wife and I do have two boys. I'm sure you've heard it before, but it really changes your life. For the better :) Enjoy and congratulations!
  • Oh Matt!! How WONDERFUL!!! I am thrilled for you both!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
    .-= Grandy´s last blog ..What now? =-.
  • Congratulations! Just stumbled over her via your review from AAYSR. Your blog is great. Oh, and if your wife doesn't already have her own blog, you should encourage her to start one. I read her guest post, and she seems like a good writer with a lot to say, too! It probably also helps that I'm in a similar situation as Carrie: I'm about to marry an uber-geek. Granted, I'm sort of geeky too, but nowhere NEAR the level of my fiance. Anyway, congrats on the little ones on the way!

    -Tabitha
  • Thanks, Tabitha! I know that Carrie is planning to update our family blog a lot more often once the kiddos come. She doesn't want her OWN blog though, for some reason. And I added your blog to my reader...interested to read more as your "adventures" continue!
  • rsuddeth
    Okay, apparently I was really busy when this came out... saw hints of it in your comments and finally had time to search it out.

    Woo-hoo! Congratulations! (poor Carrie...)

    I've never been so excited about the pregnancy of someone I never met. Who'd have thought?

    Question -- was this not a direct result of in vitro? You seems surprised about it being twins, but I thought in vitro came with a known increase in the probability for multiples? Just curious -- if it's none of my business don't answer.

    But I get the shock. Or I should say, I remember it... well.

    In my experience, the up-front cost isn't much different. Twins are way cute, and people give lots & lots of presents. The itty bitty ones don't eat that much anyway. And as they get older, well... you were eventually planning on more than one, right?

    I want to immediately give tons of advice but you don't really know me (and Carrie doesn't at all) and it sounds she does know people with twins. Other twin moms have told me that the "mothers of multiples" groups are really helpful (something I didn't have when my girls were small -- I knew not ONE other mom with twins, none in our family or anything.) I'll stop at that. Really.
  • Okay, apparently I was really busy when this came out... saw hints of it in your comments and finally had time to search it out.

    Woo-hoo! Congratulations! (poor Carrie...)

    I've never been so excited about the pregnancy of someone I never met. Who'd have thought?

    Question -- was this not a direct result of in vitro? You seems surprised about it being twins, but I thought in vitro came with a known increase in the probability for multiples? Just curious -- if it's none of my business don't answer.

    But I get the shock. Or I should say, I remember it... well.

    In my experience, the up-front cost isn't much different. Twins are way cute, and people give lots & lots of presents. The itty bitty ones don't eat that much anyway. And as they get older, well... you were eventually planning on more than one, right?

    I want to immediately give tons of advice but you don't really know me (and Carrie doesn't at all) and it sounds she does know people with twins. Other twin moms have told me that the "mothers of multiples" groups are really helpful (something I didn't have when my girls were small -- I knew not ONE other mom with twins, none in our family or anything.) I'll stop at that. Really.
  • Yes, we knew there was a greater change of twins with IVF - but along the lines that there was a 20% chance, or something like that. Not a certainty, so it was still a bit of a surprise. Especially since after her first ultrasound, they only saw one (and a smudge that might have been a second baby, or it might have been just a smudge, heh).
  • Yes, we knew there was a greater change of twins with IVF - but along the lines that there was a 20% chance, or something like that. Not a certainty, so it was still a bit of a surprise. Especially since after her first ultrasound, they only saw one (and a smudge that might have been a second baby, or it might have been just a smudge, heh).
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