Read Our Redemption Story (Part 1 of 2) here.

The years following the accident were marked by silence and slowing. We had gone from parenting a toddler with another on the way to no children at all. The house was so quiet. The pace of life fell dramatically. No more diaper changing. No more bath time. No more bedtime routine. No more car seats. No more cartoons. No more playtime. We were parents, but no longer parenting.

We eventually decided to move into a new home. A fresh start was needed and a new home was a first step. We moved less than five miles down the street in the same town. We found a beautiful spec home in a new development. It had room for us to grow. Interestingly enough the house was on Moses Drive. We bought our home on a snowy day in February 2016. The white snow was falling in thick sheets on our new property. It was a new chapter. We watched the snow fall and wondered what God was up to next.

We waited about a year and a half before we started trying to have children again. We knew we wanted to have more children, but our hearts needed time. Every once in a while we’d lean in and discuss it. Eventually “not yet” became “soon” which prayerfully led to “let’s try”. We took another step forward. A big step. Hadley became pregnant again. We were delighted, if understandably nervous.

The morning of Hadley’s ultrasound I was in my office reading my Bible. I had been reading through the Psalms day by day. That days reading was, I kid you not, Psalm 127.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Psalm 127:3-5a

Hadley came in my office as I was reflecting on these words. She could tell I was sad and asked why. I told her that my quiver should be full, but it is not. My children have been taken from me. It’s not right. She looked at me calm and warmly. She gave me understanding words, but then ended upbeat with “I think we’ll find out we’re having twins today.” Her words didn’t even register with me in that moment, but she remembers them well.

At the doctor we waited anxiously for our turn. What if they don’t find a heartbeat? What if something else goes terribly wrong? What if something happens to Hadley and I lose everyone? The waiting is the hardest part. We eventually were called back. The nurse began the ultrasound and made a surprised sound. Hadley said, “Are there two?” She knew it before she knew it. The nurse said yes. I was in shock, because I did not have her intuition. She had two healthy identical twin boys inside of her.

These type of twins are a miracle. There are two types: fraternal and identical. Our twin boys are identical. To form identical or monozygotic twins, one fertilized egg splits and develops into two babies with exactly the same genetic information. To form fraternal or dizygotic twins, two eggs are fertilized by two sperm and produce two genetically unique children. Doctors might say identical twins are a medical anomaly, but we know it as a miracle.

Telling our family was a real treat. We told my family first. It was Christmas 2016. My mom sat down in the center of the couch with my dad, sisters, nieces, and nephew surrounding. We first announced Hadley’s pregnancy to much celebration. Then we gave my mom the ultrasound picture but didn’t tell her the news about the twins. We waited for her to figure it out. I can’t describe to you the emotional burst of noise my mom made when she got it. Everyone else–especially my dad–was so confused as my mom cried out the most joyous, soul-deep “No!” I’ve ever heard. Then, everyone’s confusion turned to tears and smiles of celebration as they caught on.

Hadley’s family was the same delight. We played the same game with them. Her mom and sister studied the ultrasound picture with smiles. Then, her sister Katie shouted “Twins!” Hadley’s mom broke out into a happy dance. We celebrated so big. God’s goodness and redeeming love on full display. Grief was swallowed by laughter.

On July 10, 2017 Hadley delivered two healthy baby boys: Isaiah Dobbs Eddings and Amos Reed Eddings. They will carry their big brothers names as their middle names. Then, once again life quickly picked up pace and noise. The pace and noise hasn’t let up to this day. Praise the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

In loving memory of Gentry Dobbs Eddings III and Reed Michael Eddings — Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God