March 27, 1973. Five days past my due date.
I was fixing supper the night before, when I excused myself from the stove and visited the bathroom. There were some signs that we needed to head out for the hospital, although I remember trying to talk myself and Daddy out of it for some reason. I said maybe it's a false alarm. It's funny that it wouldn't have been totally evident to us, but although this was the seventh child, we never got the hang of this part of the process.
When I called the doctor, he told me to come in immediately and I said I will, right after I finish cooking supper. That's the first thing he said to me when I came in -- well, did you finish cooking supper? My doctor wasn't on call; I saw one of his partners for the first time.
Labor didn't start till around 4 a.m. and it was brief -- they were born at 6:05 and 6:15. I was put under right before the birth so I missed out on the surprise, but they woke me up while we were still in the delivery room so I could look at my two precious little girls. Since they weren't expecting twins, there was only one isolette. Christina was just plopped on top of Angela, and that was my first glimpse of them, both facing me, one atop the other.
Since I was going to sleep off the anesthetic for awhile, Daddy went home to make sure everyone had gotten off to school okay. He had called home with the news before they had to leave to catch the bus, and the neighbors still talk about the Ferrara children racing up and down the street at 6:30 in the morning, in and out of houses, to tell all their friends about the new babies. Sue was on a platoon schedule at her high school where classes started really early and she had to leave to catch the bus before the births. Daddy called the school secretary and asked her to get a message to Sue. For some reason, the news passed through the school like wildfire. During one class, the teacher said at the beginning, "Okay, let's have a hand for Mrs. Ferrara and her twins." I believe Sue will correct me on this if I'm wrong, but I think that's the gist of it. He was just tired of hearing about it.
When Daddy came back to the hospital at 10 a.m., he came blasting into the room and sort of shouted at me, "Ginnie, you know we have to name them!!" I was sound asleep, but I answered him nicely. "I know it, Sam."
And now, here they are. All grown up and then some.
I was telling my barber today about our birthdays this weekend. He latched on to the part about twins because he has twins in his family. When he asked me if they were identical, I said we thought they probably were but that you didn't have the test they performed back in 1973 to determine that. There probably is a compelling medical reason to have that knowledge. Ultrasound would have determined that.
No, I think then it would have involved the placenta, but today if they needed a kidney transplant they could determine it through DNA. The kidney transplant is what the doctor told me would be the only reason they would need to know if they were identical; maybe there would be other reasons today since 32 years has brought some advances in medical knowledge. There was an article in the newspaper a few weeks ago about transplants and the fact that identical twins don't need to take the medication that prevents rejection of the transplanted kidney.
There was an obituary for a 49-year old DLS grad named Gregory Jude Carallero-Manzella. I thought you would probably know him. I cut it out if you're interested.
Also, would you send me your work number and your cell number again? I accidentally erased them on my white board. Thank you.
Mama, I love the birth story. I just got finished telling my people and Scott how Uncle Robbie got the phone call from Daddy. He got off the phone and in a very blase' monotone voice said to the rest of us (who were all sitting around the kitchen table eating cereal), "Mama had twins." We just sat there for a second, slack-jawed, while we tried to comprehend what he had said. Then, we all started screaming and racing around telling people. I called Sylvia Mumphrey who then told everyone in my class. Evidently, my bus was one of the last to arrive at school; when I arrived, a group of screaming girls greeted me. They were all excited for me to be the big sister of twin babies.
Don't remember a Manzella and there are none in my yearbooks or alumni directory. I know some Manzellas but that name doesn't jar any memories. Check your email for phone numbers.
I wish I could remember more about the phone call from Dad but it just isn't there. I can't imagine how that morning went at all for us. I suppose Ms Denise was driving me to school? I suppose Sue had to take the bus to Grace King or was it still Riverdale then? I didn't remember Sue platooning. I thought just East Jefferson was doing that. I envied the platooners. They had one hour less school. Janine, Katie, David, & Elizabeth were still at OLPH.
I was at Grace King in my first period class - gymnastics (on the 2nd floor of the gym) with Mrs. Blevins on March 27th. The office buzzed into the gymnastics room for me to come down to the office which was on the opposite end of the school. I ran all the way there in my lovely blue gymsuit. I remember being completely shocked when the secretary told me that my mother had just given birth to twins.
I ran from the office and went down the halls searching for all of my friends' classes. I stood out in the hall jumping up and down in front of the 4" x 18" window of each of their classes to try and get their attention. I was giving the 2 finger signal to indicate twins and then started pointing to myself to indicate girls. The classes all responded with shouts of happiness. It was a fun day!
I can remember not being allowed to go to the hospital to see them because it wouldn't be fair to my siblings who weren't old enough to be on the maternity floor. I understood, but couldn't wait to see them. In the beginning we had to take turns holding, feeding and changing them. We kept a list on the refrigerator about who was fed when so we didn't mistakenly feed one baby twice and skip the other. We wondered how we would have managed having to share just one baby! I remember that we all loved and doted on them and referred to them as "the babies" until they were probably entering high school. They will always be special and considered "our babies".
I was three weeks away from being 15 when the Dootsies were born. I thought at the time how I would be 30 years old when they were 15 and HOW OLD that seemed. It just didn't seem possible to be that old. And then 15 years to the day, David was born at 2:07 p.m. in Atlanta, GA. I find it pretty remarkable that he was born on their birthday AND when they were 15. Happy birthday my precious Doots and my darling Bunk Bunk!
Happy Birthday Doots and David. Now come here boy and take your spankin like a man (17) to be exact. Doots I'll get you two next week. I won't mention how many!!!!
How I remember that day at Grace King when the Dootcies were born! I remember walking out of class and Sue was there waiting for me yelling "its twins, its twins!!!"
Ms. Ginnie, I don't know if you remember this, but one day when you were getting out of your car, and your belly was "kinda" big, I yelled from across the street, "ya gonna have twins", just joking at the time. Then, it really happened! Thats what ran across my mind when Sue was jumping up and down in front of my classroom, which I quickly joined in, screaming and hugging like crazy people!
Happy Birthday Dootcies!!
I love all of the stories! Happy Birthday David!
What a day that was! I agree that a single child would not have made it through the first year, having been pulled apart by competitors. It is true we still had plenty of fights over who would tend to you. Then the fighting began to avoid that. We were still selfish teenagers, most of us. Sue took control early on. One of you used logic on her when she dressed you alike, you pointed out that she didn't dress like her sister.
This is a happy belated wish to you sisters and David, and Scott S. from the 26th. There is 365/6 days a year and yet we clump them together for some reason.
Well, I haven't had time to read the blog lateley but thought I would see what has been going on. Ms. Ginnie, I love your posting. Like Donna, that is a day that I will never forget. I too met Sue in the hall screaming and jumping yelling that you had had twins and that they were girls. Except for the birth of her own children, I don't think I have ever seen Sue that excited. Happy Belated Birthday Angela and Christina - I think about that day and you two each year on your birthdays and it's very hard for me to believe that you two now have your own children. I still see those beautiful little girls in both of you every time I see you.
Barbara -- every time you comment, and Donna if you're reading this, I mean you too, I think I should let you know how glad I am that you read this and then make a comment. It's fun to see others enjoying our silly stories and putting in their two cents worth. So please continue and know that I read and enjoy every word you write.
Ms. Ginnie,
I'm so glad that you like that I comment. I sometimes feel like I might be intruding but I grew up with your family and they are like an extension of my family so I of course love seeing all of the pictures and comments. Sue is the one who suggested that I check the blog for things that she wants me to know and I love it. I am so impressed with all of the time that everyone takes to post pictures and comments. I don't get to check it very often because I don't have a computer at home - I know one of these days I'm going to have to move into the twenty-first century. Thanks for letting me share.
Me too, me too!! I will always feel connected to you and yours, Ms. Ginnie. I check the blog often and love keeping up with your wonderful family. I can't wait till I can find some time to join in on one of the family gatherings. I keep thinking we really need a Moisant reunion! I miss my ole neighborhood and all the friends and memories we all share. I'd like us to pick a date for that,if everyone else is interested.