On Thursday, January 28 my day began as a typical work day. Routine as usual, same old day at the cafeteria. But I really had this deep feeling about the afternoon. Mindy had an appointment with Dr. Frank to check on her pregnancy. They feared that she had the symptoms of preeclampsia, a decease that only happens to women during pregnancy. When I got home that afternoon I had such a strong feeling that I told Mindy ” make sure that you bring your bag with”, she said ” you think I’ll need it today?”. I said ” well, if the doctor wants to keep you there, he will not let you go home”. And of course I grabbed my camera just in case. So Mindy, her mother and I headed to the hospital.
We are finally sitting in Dr. Franks office waiting for the results. He steps into the room and tells us that the results came back negative and that Mindy was going home. That’s when one of the nurses comes in and tells the Dr. that Mindy’s Protein levels where way to high and her blood pressure was higher than normal. He quickly took back his decision to to send her home and decided to do a few more test for Preeclampsia. The results came back positive. Mindy and I looked at each other and realized what the evening had in store for us. Boy did I become nervous! They send us to a room to in the labor area of the hospital. Doctors kept coming in during the evening to give us information. They scheduled a Caesarean for 8 pm. The waiting was nerve wreaking. I called all of my immediate family members to tell the good news. They all came to wait for the moment and to give us support.
Then the moment came. The doctors came in the room and got us all prepared with gowns, hairnets and surgical mask. They rolled Mindy in the surgery room and told me to wait in a separate room until they gave Mindy anesthesia and got everything set up. Waiting in that room for them to get me seemed like time slowed down. My breathing was heavy and my heart was beating faster than ever before. In my mind I played a recap of my short little life and how it was about to change forever. I was so worried about Mindy hoping that she was calm. Then it happened, I heard the footsteps from one of the nurses and she came to me and told me to join my wife. The surgery was about to begin. Now, I’m no rookie at witnessing birth. I have photographed two births before, but never the birth of my own children. Wow! It was weird walking in and seeing all the doctors and nurses hovering over Mindy. They sat me next to her. I held her hand, kissed her on the forehead and told her how much I loved her. One of the nurses was standing next to me and I told her ” please let me know when I cam start taking pictures!”. We waited a little bit and then she said, “Now”. I stood up and saw one of my babies foot, boy what a moment, my camera would not stop clicking. I wanted to capture every moment of it. Then my baby boy was out. Armand Ray Morales was 5 pounds 5 ounces and was born at 8:45pm. Two minutes at 8:47pm, Tabatha Carol Morales was born at 5 pounds 3 ounces. Tears covered my eyes. I was so overwhelm by everything. The moment I saw my two babies and looked in their eyes, and their cute little hands, and their angelic cry I was instantly in love!! I went towards Mindy and told her, ” We did it babe, they are beautiful!!”
This is by far the most meaningful day of my life. Many time I wondered what the meaning of life is. Well, my search for answers is over. My children and my wife is my meaning of life. Armand and Tabatha, please know that the two of you are everything to mommy and daddy. We will never let anything bad happen to you. I might not be able to offer a life full of luxury and riches. But I will offer you something way more richer, my heart. I Love You. Thank you for being part of my lfe:)
by Edric Morales
Deborah - That is so wonderful! Congrats!!
Amanda Basteen - Congrats! They are beautiful!! Enjoy fatherhood, it goes by quickly! 🙂
Alen Abdula - My little girl was just born two months ago and I had a fever, they kicked me out of the operating room as my wife was having c-section. I wish I was there to capture such a special event, but health comes first! Pictures are amazing, wish you your wife and your twins happy long healthy life… congratulation!
Edric Morales - Thanks for the nice comments everyone!! I’m still in the clouds:)
Alamarie Morales - Congrats Edric and Mindi!!! I am sure you guys will make great parent!!! Te amo Edric..y gracias por hacerme tía. Laura y DJ están locos por ver los bebes!!!! Un abrazo.
Edric Morales - Yo y los bebes aman a titi Ari mucho!! Hope you get better soon sis:)
Daniel Dunlap - Wow Eric that post was great to read and the photos are outstanding of course. I must confess I actually teared up a little. It brought back memories of my own daughter’s birth and how happy I was on that day. You said it so perfect when you wrote, “Many times I wondered what the meanig of life is. Well, my search for answers is over. My children and my wife is my meaning of life”.
Congratulations and best of luck to you and your beautiful family!
Kari Siwik - Mindy and Edric, your angels are absolutely gorgeous! You guys are such a beautiful family, inside and out. Matt and I wish you all the happiness in the world! Edric, fabulous pictures, as always!
Edric Morales - I’m glad you understand the feeling I went thru Daniel. Thanks for reading:)
Edric Morales - Thanks for sending your love Kari!! I’ll pass the message along to Mindy. Tell Matt we said hello:)
Amanda Weppelman - omg, edric! those babies are SO beautiful! congratulations a million times over! you and your wife are so blessed. it’s amazing what children do to one’s life. stay strong and always support mindy.
🙂
Edric Morales - You bet!!
Diane Hobson - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO BEAUTIFUL BLESSED BABIES. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.
LOVE DIANE & BABY CHEVY. 🙂 LOVE YA ALWAYS!!!
Ellen Hargis-Miller - Edric and Mindy,
Wow, great job! They are so cute and really healthy looking. I’m so happy for both of you. Your twins are blessed to have such wonderful parents. Who cares about material things, you are rich! Raising my children was one of the very best times of my life. Edric, I’m glad you were able to witness the birth and actually share in it. They didn’t use to allow Fathers that much access. My husband wasn’t allowed in the deliverly room for the first four children but by the fifth child the rules changed and it was an experience he never forgot. It was meant to be shared.
Congratulations. Art and I truly enjoyed your blog as well as the pictures.
Edric Morales - Diane, Mindy says hello and sends a kiss to baby chevy:)
Edric Morales - Ellen, I am so happy you and Art appreciate my blog. Keep coming back for more:)
christin - there beautiful congrats!
Ned - Wow, adorable little ones. Great capturing and documenting the entire birth. I hope you are getting some sleep if at all. 🙂
Alicia Kennison - Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Birth photography is one of my most favourite things in the whole world… and as a twin mum myself (and a photographer), I know how special it is to have those moments recorded.
Congratulations on your beautiful babies 🙂
Jack Othokian - Beautiful Pictures as always Edrick. Congratulations again. Call me if there is anything I can do for you two… you Four!!!
Monica Jones - Amazing!!! I could’nt stop crying. They are beautiful in every single way!!! Love You Guys !!!—Monica—a.k.a.Aunt Poookie
GAIL AND STEVE - WOW – they are beautiful babies – you both should be proud of them. Loved the pictures – no surprise there, haha. We look forward to seeing some of them all dressed up with “Mom and Dad”.
Congratulations to you both and your growing family.
Love Steve and Gail (Kari’s Mom & Dad)
Shari - Oh MY GOD! First congratulations and wow, wow, wow! What a great series of images and… can I just say… Prepare for no sleep for the next 6 months to 18 years! :-))
They’re absolutely perfect!
Tawana - Awww that is so sweet. Edric they are so beautiful and sitting here reading this you actually made me cry…my husband just asked me what the heck is wrong with me.. any way that is so sweet and I hope you two have a wonderful time being parents and don’t take nothing for granted because they will not be that small forever. I am so happy for you!!!
Edric Morales - Don’t say that!! They will stay babies forever:)
Sharon Gentile - Edric, your babies are beautiful. They are so lucky to have a daddy as a photographer–you will be able to catch them growing up on film like no one else can. Enjoy every minute–in a blink of an eye they’re all grown up!!
Noelle - Wow! Great photos of a beautiful event. Congratulations!