Fri Feb 03 2012
by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Nordonia Hills -- Those meeting Jeffrey and Delaney Ellis for the first time could be forgiven if they think the toddlers are twins.
"I just watch that look on their faces, then I go into an explanation," said their father, Tim Ellis.
"Whenever we go someplace, people think they're twins because they look so much alike," said Kris Ellis, the children's mother.
But, the Ellises say, the confusion goes beyond looks. For one thing, Jeffrey celebrated his first birthday on Nov. 20 while his sister celebrated hers on Jan. 20. For another, Tim and Kris are the biological parents of both children.
"People hear they're only two months apart and they go, 'whaaat?'" said Kris.
Although the couple says they are a happy family now, the story began with a tragedy. In 2005, Kris became pregnant with twins girls, Kaitlin Joy and Reagan Marie. But in January 2006, about 24 weeks into the pregnancy, it became evident that Kaitlin's vital signs had ceased and that she would be stillborn. Kris then went into labor and Reagan was born.
Tim said she weighed only about a pound, the doctors said her chances for survival were slim and she would suffer in the meantime.
"I said, 'don't put her through that,'" said Tim, who held her in his arms until she died.
Over the next year, the couple continued trying to conceive with several embryo transplants, all of which failed. By January 2007, it was clear that this avenue was unlikely to succeed.
"I just decided my body couldn't do it," said Kris.
It was then that they decided to take up an offer made by Susan Foth, Kris' sister-in-law. Tim said that during that year after the twins died, Foth had mentioned acting as a surrogate mother for Kris.
"We didn't take her seriously. We thought she was just being polite," he said. "But finally we sat down with her and realized she was serious."
In March 2007, two of Kris' embryos were transplanted into Foth, one survived and within a couple of weeks, it was determined that Foth was pregnant with Jeffrey.
Then the unexpected happened.
"Two months later, I was pregnant," said Kris. "I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe it. And it was a normal pregnancy."
Tim said he still remembers when he found out Kris was pregnant.
"My wife and her friend were acting mysteriously one night and finally she told me she had used about five pregnancy tests and they were all positive," he said.
He said Kris seemed nervous about telling him, given that they were already expecting a child, but he was thrilled.
"I wanted kids for so long," he said. "I always thought that when I had kids, I would have more than one."
Kris said that when Jeffrey was born, she found herself in an odd position.
"Being pregnant and taking care of a newborn was a strange thing," she said.
She said the children are healthy and happy.
"They're both walking now and getting into things," she said. "I feel very lucky to have them both. They're both amazing. I always wanted to be a mom."
Tim said Jeffrey was named in honor of a friend, Jeff Boskovitch, a Marine Reservist who was killed in Iraq in 2005.
Tim said the experience has been the "thrill of my lifetime."
"It's great walking in and having two kids pulling at my pant legs because they both want to be picked up and held," he said. "This is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. With all the accomplishments I've had in my life, this tops them all."
"I feel I'm where I'm supposed to be," he added.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
The-News-Leader.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications