I have written before about my various talks and conversations with GM concerning assisted reproduction and how I am all up in it. I haven’t spoken to her about it really since the unpregnancy in the winter. But lately I have been bringing it up. Some days she is incredibly geeked out to hear about the science aspect and some days she really wants to hear about the sperm donor (the perk have having no in-laws is always her favorite thing). Most days she just wants to know if I will have a girl. Those are sweet, sweet days.
Since I will be leaving again in a month or so for several days I am bumping up the frequency of the talks. It is actually probably more for my own mental state than hers. It’s not like I am all, “baby this” or “embryo that”, but if there is a way to gently weave it into a conversation I do. She seldom retains anything in her colander of a short term memory. But sometimes she does retain and if I begin a conversation, usually with something as simple as, “When I go up north in a few weeks”, she will finish it with, “you will see the baby doctor.”
It was with the spirit of keeping the concept at the front of her mind that I recorded the Discovery Health’s special Quads with 2 Moms. Obviously I was really interested to see how the hell that happened and what sort of crazy ladies could endure it. But I was really hoping that there would be some good scenes talking about IVF and assisted reproduction.
So this morning I loaded GM up with some good coffee and a bowl of chocolate cereal (something she gets if her hands are working well) and we began the show. She was, for the most part, totally into it. First of all the two women, a very sweet married couple named Karen and Martha, weren’t portrayed as multiple seeking crazies. Not to say that women with multiples are crazy. Hell no, I am not saying that. But you have to know the women I am talking about- you know the “I’ve got 30 follicles on clomid & I am totally going to have that IUI!” or the “I’m putting back 10 embryos and if they all stay then that is what Jesus wants!” Those women.
I found both Karen and Martha very likable and above all else, relateable. Here was a couple that had tried and tried and tried and endured failures and miscarriages. They knew they had one more shot of having a child together and then that would be the end of their journey. I think many of us know that anxiety, that hope.
I hope I am not spoiling it for anyone when I say that they used Martha’s eggs, the same sperm donor, and had two five day blasts transferred on the same day. Meaning Martha got two embryos and Karen got two embryos. They were gambling, but based on their reproductive history they were not too hopeful. So when they both got pregnant it was something they had not prepared for. Then they discovered that they were both carrying twins. Insane!
I think the hardest part of the show was watching Martha go in for her delivery at one hospital and two days later Karen went into delivery at another hospital twenty minutes away. That’s right, because they are not covered by the same insurance, they could not be together for the birth of the 2nd set of twins. I can’t imagine going through that.
GM and I talked throughout the show. I was able to explain what things I would be going through and what things were unique to Karen and Martha. At one point there was a bit of confusion as GM thought that I would have the same sperm donor. As if there was only one donor for everyone to use.
Overall I found the show to be a really good glimpse into a healthy marriage with some crazy sauce (4 babies!!) thrown in. I think even younger kids would benefit from watching some parts of it.
Did any of you guys check it out? What did you think?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I only caught the very end of it, I’m hoping to catch it on a re-run. I’m glad to hear it wasn’t too sensational.
I missed it. We don’t get fancy channels but I am DYING for a peek, hoping someone taped it. Thanks for the review. I love that you are sharing your life with your GM, even if she’s not remembering it all. Your relationship is beautiful.
i also did not see it, as we do not have that channel. if anyone out there can tape it or has it taped, i would love to get a copy and would gladly pay shipping. glad you enjoyed it, cali, and glad you and gma are getting back to the “operation: get knocked up” talking! she is so, so lucky to have you as a granddaughter and as a caregiver!
I didn’t see it, but will try to now that you perked my interest! Great review, as always. Wish I could have been there for coffee and chocolate cereal too.
ox
shit, damn. i intended to watch it but forgot to DVR it. now i must find out when it will be on again or if it’s “on demand”. i definitely want to go check it out. that’s super cute about GM thinking there may be one sperm donor for everyone. can you imagine if that were the case?
I got us all set up in front of the TV a half hour before it was supposed to start and flipped over a couple minutes before to find out we don’t get discovery health! we have a lot of channels so I assumed that was one of them but it wasn’t. I was so sad. I’m a sucker for baby shows and then adding in two moms?!
I enjoyed it as well. The seperate hospital thing was sad though!
I saw and loved it! I cannot imagine 4 babies at once. Too funny about one universal sperm donor! Good Luck! NCLM
That makes me wish we had cable!!
I saw a promo for this show and thought it looked really interesting. I’ll have to add it to my TiVo list.
Interesting! I hadn’t heard about it, but now I will have to see if they replay it sometime!
The uber sperm donor…now that’s an interesting and Margaret Atwood-like proposal. Your GM sounds a lot like mine was…she always got a portion of the conversation but never quite got the specifics down. You are so, so sweet to be so patient and caring with her. A natural nurturer … that’s what you are!
Haven’t seen it is this part of the planet…..but going slightly pale at the thought of four simultaneous newborns.
J
Being on the other side of the planet to you, I never saw it, but it sounds really interesting… Cannot believe that after all that they both ended up pg with twins – crazy stuff! Craaaazzzyyyy!
I too haven’t seen anything like this on my side of the ocean, but I heard about it on Mombian. Great story, although 4 babies! Yikes!
I love to hear GM’s take on things. I am a secret fan of hers and especially her pleasure in the little things.
Your conversations with GM mirror mine with my Mom except that Mom often brings it up. The Mexican Clomid has her in a tizzy right now. I think she’s hoping to have a Jon & Kate situation, and I’ve been very clear that this is HIGHLY unlikely!
Sounds fascinating!
I just watched it tonite (thank God for tivo!). I thought it was pretty interesting. I also watched the show with double identical twins. I thought that was good also. I’m slowly getting through baby week on discovery health with the help of the almighty tivo.