Wow, what's this? An actual serious journal entry? Yes. That's right. See, I was going to talk about my school's choir and orchestra trip to Hershey Park yesterday, where we competed in a national music competition. I was planning to give the details of who I was with, how we won first place in choir, jazz choir, and full orchestra divisions, as well as best overall choir and best overall orchestra, Superior rating each and every single time (for the record, we couldn't have done any better if we tried). I was going to discuss roller coasters and chocolate and trophies and music, but today I saw something that makes all that stuff seem a bit trivial.

Today I saw twins being born.

Yeah, yeah, make your faces, but here's the deal. My dad is an OB/GYN. Obstetrician Gynecologist. He delivers babies, and you know. All that other fun stuff that gynos do. Laugh if you want, I don't care.

But today my sister and my mom went to NYC to see Hairspray with my sister's youth group, so I spent the day with my daddy. We went to see Iron Man, which was really freaking awesome, and then we had to go to the hospital where my dad works for a few hours. Four of them to be exact. On the way over, we picked up Chinese food. It was good.

Moving on. When we got there, my dad had to scrub in on a C-section, which as you should know means making an incision in the uterus and pulling the baby out. There are various reasons for a woman to have a C-section. But anyway, I kind of wanted to watch, because I was bored and curious. But I was told no, maybe later if there's another surgery.

The baby was a boy named James. He was very cute, of course.

My dad let me wear hospital scrubs while I was there, and so one doctor thought I was a nurse and asked me to get him the blood sample and I was like "Uhh, you might wanna look in there..." >.>

After the baby went to the Nursery, my dad and I went there and the nurses were like "Oh! You're Doctor Jay's daughter!? Come on in!" And so I got to go into the baby nursery, and it was awesome. The nurses were very nice.

A few hours of sitting around ensued, and then my dad was told there would be a C-section of a mom having twins at about 8 PM. So we stayed to watch that.

I scrubbed in, with my scrubs and my mask and my hair net thing. And a lot of soap. Not like the soap you use after you go to the bathroom, but you have to scrub your arms up to your elbows, use a special pick under your nails, and you have to rub really hard. It must be for at least two minutes.

Then you put on rubber gloves (WTF?) and if you're a doctor, you put on a special kind of smock.

So I'm in the corner of the room, my dad's next to me telling me what's happening.

Now keep in mind, I did not know this woman. I've never met her and probably won't again. So, to be respectful, regardless of who reads this, I will not go into any gory details. Even if she doesn't find out (she probably won't), I will not talk about anything nasty.)

Skipping over needles and iodine and prep...

The first incision in a C-section is made through several layers of skin, then this thick layer, and then the uterus. The first baby, a boy, was pulled out carefully by the doctor. The umbilical cord was unwrapped from his neck and then cut, and given to a nurse to clean him and make sure he was healthy and functional.

A few seconds after, the second baby boy was pulled out, cord was cut, given to another nurse to clean and regulate.

People always say that childbirth is the most beautiful thing in the world. This is a horrible and terrible lie. It is NOT beautiful. However, it IS very amazing and incredible. It is a miracle and a gift. It is a stunning thing to see. But it is rather bloody, so no, not beautiful.

Both babies were very tiny, but they were strong, crying their little heads off. And even if you think it's gross... I saw two little lives take their first breaths. I saw them make their first sounds (heard it, too xD) and saw them curl their tiny little fingers and for the first time, inhale and exhale.

That was a little bit beautiful. Kind of creepy, but oddly wonderful.

So that's what I did. I saw life. Both baby boys are strong, healthy, and probably asleep, as are the brand new first time mommy and daddy. He'd better get her something awesome for her first Mother's Day.

So yeah. That's my story.

I think that beats a theme park. Even if there was no chocolate.

People make fun of my dad's job a lot, but you know what? He gets to see lots of babies breathe for the first time. Each time is a small gift. Whether through surgery or natural birth, that's something truly unequal to anything else.

My dad sees a miracle every couple of hours.

I'd say that's nothing to laugh at.

I love you, Daddy.