Quads Redux
If you missed Quads with Two Moms, the Discovery Health show I mentioned yesterday, you can catch it again June 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern and July 6 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Here’s my quick take: It’s a good documentary, although the whizzy graphics and zippy scene cuts at the beginning struck me as a little silly. Fortunately, they don’t continue through the whole film. The filmmaker, Shannon O’Rourke, gets high marks, too, for not dwelling on overdone points like the search for sperm, though she does touch on it. Instead, her focus is on the women’s preparations for having their babies, their dual c-sections (in separate hospitals because of separate insurance), and the struggle of one of their preemie babies to breathe on his own. She has the women speak a little about the difficulties they and their children will face as a lesbian-headed family. What’s striking about the film, however, is that it is the fact of four babies that stands out more than the fact of the mothers’ gender.
Again, here is the Discovery Viewer Relations page so you can send them a note of support for airing the show.
Filed under: Entertainment, Family Creation, Parenting
I want to congratulate the ladies on the birth of their children. They both seem like level headed ladies. I do believe they will give all their children an excellent life. I believe we all have the right to find love. The gender a partner should have no bearing on the validity of their love. I have been married to my husband for 18 years and have 3 kids. Congratulations again.
[...] filmmaker about single moms by choice, including one lesbian mom. (This is a recap of my previous post on the same.) We then share some of the more than 170 entries from Blogging for LGBT Families Day, [...]
I am one of the 2 moms of the quads. I thank you for you for the nice comments. I googled ‘Quads with 2 Moms’ just to see what people had thought of the show and came across this website. What a great website where people with a common interest can find resources, get information and talk to others!! Thank you! I will be visiting as often as one can while taking care of 4 babies!!
Karen–My partner and I watched the show and thought you two were an amazing couple. After 10 years together we decided to have our first child….I noticed a similarity between our donor and yours….If you haven’t checked it out, you may want to look into the donor sibling registry. Our group also communicates via a yahoo group. We haven’t decided how involved we want to be (meeting other families, etc.) but we think its important for our children to have the option in the future.
Wishing you and your family the best!
Rachel, Thank you very much… and thanks for the information on the donor sibling registry. I just looked at the site tonight. You don’t really think about how many 1/2 brothers and sisters may exist. It’s amazing…our donor had quite a few people registered. I think we are going to join as well. What is your group through yahoo?
I noticed the boys names begin with an A and the girls names begin with an S. Was that intentional? I recorded the program and keep watching over and over. I love babies - they are just beautiful. You looked like you fighting back tears when talking on the phone with Martha after you delivered. I felt bad for you that you couldn’t be with the one you love and such a wonderful time. Congrats on the babies and for telling your story.
Pat, so it takes so long to reply. Once we named one of the boys and one of the girls, we decided to name the others with a similar name. We came up with Andrew and Sienna first…then the names Alex and Sofia followed. So yes we stuck with the first letter. And yes it was difficult to be apart and I was near tears on the phone…and many other times :). Thank you for the very nice comments. The babies are all crawling and trying to get into everything!!! We are just so happy that they are all doing well
I wanted to thank you for sharing your story. My partner and I have been together for 18 years and we just had our third girl on St. Patrick’s Day of this year. We have a 10 year old, a 6 year old and now a 5 month old. We also live in the Midwest and are optimistic that our children will not encounter the hatred that exists in other parts of the country and the world for that matter. I’m sure that you are very busy with the little ones with full-time jobs and then another full-time job waiting when you get home. I know that it can be very hectic. My partner and I also work opposite shifts so the kids are not in daycare, I am also working on my PhD so it sometimes becomes very difficult to fit it into one day. I can not imagine having multiples and commend you both. Just remember to take time for yourselves and each other.
Thanks Michelle…Martha is also working on her RN as she is currently an LVN. It is really difficult to juggle it all, but somehow it gets done. It’s hard to believe we are coming up on their first birthday in September. Sometimes I’m not sure how we’ve survived this year. Nights are particularly hard. They all wake up many time throughout the night!! Thank goodness for the support of our family and friends. Sounds like you have a wonderful family…. 18 years and 3 kids!!! Good luck on finishing your PhD.
Hi Karen, it is just me again. Wondering how the kids are doing. Teething, drooling, crawling, trying to stand, pulling on their ears and all that goes with 11-month olds. How is Andrew’s health specifically? Is he also still “so hairy”? I bet your families are having a ball with them. I sure would. Is Martha finished with school? I am a CMA, not sure what kind of nurse an LVN is. I live on the East Coast and don’t recognize that speciality. I’ll have to ask my nurse friends. Aside of next month, this month is also a very special month for you and Martha. Hope you had a chance to celebrate it. Take care.
Hi Pat,
Kids are becoming very active. They crawl all over the place, pull to stand, and cruise along the furniture. It gets crazy sometimes. At times they play well together…other times they bite, hit and pull on each other. Andrew is doing well. A teacher comes out 2 times a week to work with him. He keeps up with all the others!! Alex has a head full of hair, but has lost his facial and body hair. :) You can see current pictures of them in an article in the “Daily Mail Online”. It’s a UK publication. “People” Magazine is also doing an interview next weekend. It will come out in the beginning of next month. It’s hard to believe that they are almost 1 year old. Time has gone so fast!!
Karen, thank you { : - )
Hi Karen! I was hoping to find some way of contacting you. We were friends about 10 years ago. A couple months ago, I got back in contact with Rose and was hoping to contact you. Then a week later, I saw the documentary on Discovery. Congratulations! I am so glad to see you so happy. I am the mother of twin boys and know how busy you must be. Hope that maybe someday we all can get together. Take care!
Do you know the People issue date? Is it the one with Ellen & Portia? I missed buying that one because I was on vacation in Canada. Saw the UK article. Those kids are just as adorable as when they were born. You and Martha are very blessed. Sorry to be so annoying, but this is such a great story and I am just fascinated by the extreme rarity of it all: and that Martha didn’t think twice about doing this for you makes this a great love story, as well.
Hi Pat,
The People issue was postponed… it will probably come out in the beginning of October. I’ll keep you posted. I think Nicole Richie will be on the cover with her baby. It might be an issue with a lot of baby stories. My e-mail address is KwSki527@aol.com. Feel free to email me anytime. Martha is an amazing woman. Already having a child of her own…she thought she was done. She didn’t think twice when I brought up having a child together and was even encouraging. Thanks for you interest in the story.
Monique,
Incredible!!! I would love to get together with you all. My email as I wrote above is KwSki527@aol.com. We are crazy busy!! The babies were in swimming lessons in the summer at the YMCA. I drove past your parents house each time and thought of you often. Congratulations on your twins. Tell me more!