knowing magnificent charles was taking another passage to india at 4pm today, i escaped from the flat this afternoon for a few hours.
being that charles is in human resources, i justified my actions in HR terms:
might as well make use of the manpower while it is available. i thought.
then i went to benevolent:
he will appreciate this bonding time with sebastian. i reasoned.
i ran into a lady and we got to chatting. she seemed nice, is from australia and these days anyone who hails from wonderful lucy’s native land i am prejudiced towards anyway. she asked me about kids, and i mentioned that i had four.
how old? she inquired.
well, sebastian is almost three, and jasper, sela and carys are about eight months old.
by this time i am used to comments, “do triplets run in your family” and instead of giving the safe comment, “well, i think they usually walk first”, i just gallop to the chase and say, “no they were IVF, just like sebastian.”
but today, we got a new swing on a old question. diet coke, new! with lemon.
were they natural. my nice new friend asked.
trying to figure out the question, i said, “well, they were delivered by caesarean, if that is what you mean.”
no, were they natural, like did you do it yourself.
i nearly said yes. because in some ways, yes, i did it myself. i injected myself every day for two weeks with ovarian stimulation drugs. after that, i charmingly applied progesterone suppositories. all on my own.
it was my stomach they drained litres of fluid from after i was hospitalized with OHSS.
but to be fair, magnificent charles was there for lots of the other stuff. rubbing my feet. tucking pillows behind my knees, making me eat when i swore i wouldn’t eat another mouthful. holding my hand, praying over my swollen body. leaving me magazines to read so i wouldn’t get bored while on bedrest. making charts that he put on the kitchen cupboards of the babies probable head circumference, buying me new books, listening to in-depth reports of just exactly how the positioning of jasper’s head was affecting my lower bowel area.
so i responded,
“no, my husband helped me.”
i miss you charles, come home soon!!!
Reader interactions
6 Replies to “old dog, new trick question and response.”
Tess ~
I was asked a similar question recently at a family dinner party. The asker was a woman whom I’ve known since I was about 5 yrs old, but we haven’t been in close touch for, oh, the last 25 years. Anyway, during dinner, my friend asks, in front of a bunch of people: “So, did you get pregnant easily, or did you go through fertility treatments?” Being an intensely private person, I tried to hide my shock at being asked such a personal question in a non-intimate setting. I blatantly lied and said, “No, I conceived the regular way.” I felt bad for lying, but my friend should not have been so forward and insensitive w/ her inquiry.
I tell people about my IVF experience on a need-to-know basis, like if my experience could help them if they’re struggling. Otherwise, it’s none of anyone’s business.
I agree with you about “natural,” though. Very poor word choice on that woman’s part. Good, snappy answer on yours!
Tess, what a lovely post, we love Charles.
And perhaps your triplets are unnatural? have checked whether they dont glow in the dark and have pointy ears?
apparently that’s what happens after too many ultrasounds…worried ????
See, this was the very same woman that I mentioned in my previous comment in your post about facelifts! How did she make it to HK so quickly, I wonder? Did she also ask about your beautiful hair color? Good answer, though! Maybe she will mull it over a while and think about a more appropriate question to pose to a new mom out for some “quality time.”
Hope your Charles is back before you know it.
You two are such a good team, Tess 🙂
Love you and magnificent Charles –
M xox
I miss you, too, Tess and soon will be at home in your wonderful and loving arms!
You have a great blog!