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Double Takes by Cathy Gillis
November 6th, 2009
The Lush LifeOur kids life the high life; I mean, seriously. They have lux Britax car seats that any grown person would envy. Plush, padded seats, high backs for quick naps or just relaxing, adjustable seatbelts for comfort and padded arm rests and snacks on the side should they become peckish. I think all they need are magic fingers — the 21st century version that is, not the cheapy quarter-fed hotel cliché.
October 13th, 2009
Seeing TripleI flipped the television on with the remote control and as the picture came to life, I thought I was seeing double -- triple, actually. Sitting prettily with crossed legs on directors’ chairs were three identical, long-haired, blond women. The show was The Doctors and on this particular episode, it turned out that these triplet sisters were simultaneously pregnant. “How is that even possible?” I wondered.
October 12th, 2009
Seeing TripleI flipped the television with the remote control and as the picture came to life, I thought I was seeing double -- triple, actually. Sitting prettily with crossed legs on directors’ chairs were three identical, long-haired, blond women. The show was The Doctors and on this particular episode, it turned out that these triplet sisters were simultaneously pregnant. “How is that even possible?” I wondered.
September 24th, 2009
The Smiling Face of Chris McCarthyI had gone through all the preliminary interviews and demos and I was nervous. Would I get a call back, or was this the end of the road in the competitive tenure-track world of college faculty?
September 8th, 2009
Let me in, my kids are in thereOn a day much like any other day in April, the 20th to be exact, I dropped off the kids at the preschool, swung the car around to the faculty parking lot and hiked up the stairway to my office to prepare for my first class. I taught my classes, ate a quick lunch, and headed out to my 1 p.m. physical therapy appointment.
August 31st, 2009
Are They Identical Twins?I remember the day when my husband and I first found out we were going to have twins. The doctor had so rudely used his instrument, but it allowed us to see, fairly early, the growing baby (we thought) in me. My husband was over my right shoulder as I lay down on the examination table. We both leaned forward and strained to make sense of the black and white snow screen. It looked like some moonscape with caves. As the doctor moved the instrument around, he nonchalantly started to voice his travels in inner space. “So here is the placenta. See that? Now look closer. See that small blinking right there?”
August 28th, 2009
Are They Identical Twins?I remember the day when my husband and I first found out we were going to have twins. The doctor had so rudely used his instrument, but it allowed us to see, fairly early, the growing baby (we thought) in me. My husband was over my right shoulder as I lay down on the examination table. We both leaned forward and strained to make sense of the black and white snow screen. It looked like some moonscape with caves. As the doctor moved the instrument around, he nonchalantly started to voice his travels in inner space. “So here is the placenta. See that? Now look closer. See that small blinking right there?”
August 21st, 2009
When is the Right Time For Kindergarten?So here's the deal. Our twins came kicking and crying into the world (and in my son's case urinating) on Nov. 7, 2005 at the Queen. I have a dim memory of the recovery room, the kids tucked into a portable, clear and rolling bassinet, and my oh so aching body.
August 20th, 2009
When is the Right Time For Kindergarten?So here's the deal. Our twins came kicking and crying into the world (and in my son's case urinating) on Nov. 7, 2005 at the Queen. I have a dim memory of the recovery room, the kids tucked into a portable, clear and rolling bassinet, and my oh so aching body.
August 11th, 2009
Parenting in painIt all started with my desire to shed baby weight.
July 28th, 2009
Just Blowing Bubbles“Blow me a bubble that you never did saw!” my son asked me with his shining and joyful eyes. The kids were taking a bath after sand adventures at summer school. I had been perfecting my bubble technique by slowly blowing through the pink, plastic ring to create a giant-sized bubble for one of my kid’s outstretched hands. Oh, I know they have those super bubble implements and once we saw a kind of bubble sword at a park party, but I was gonna do this old school: cheap plastic wand and basic bubbles.
July 14th, 2009
The Work PartyIt was my husband’s work party — a birthday party in Sacramento for three colleagues. My husband and I were looking for some well-earned time out to ourselves, but the babysitter had cancelled at the last minute.
June 30th, 2009
And I thought the dentist trip was bad ...My son was so anxious to get into the preschool this morning that he skipped the front door and went to try to get into the playground gate. After I signed the kids in, I made my exit, but not before the requisite number of kisses and hugs. The kids knew that Momma was going to the tooth doctor.
June 15th, 2009
Pat-a Cake Pat-a-Cake“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!” The sound of my husband’s deep-voiced yell of shock and surprise pulled me out of my reading reverie. And then he did it again, even longer and louder, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I jumped up from my dining room chair and headed to where my husband was standing in shock staring into the kids’ play area (what for most people is their den).
June 5th, 2009
Photo op“I NEED cheese and crackers!”
June 3rd, 2009
Typing about twin toddlers“How do I get to Napa?” I asked my friend.
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