I had been told by 4 doctors I would never have children.

So, at the age of 32, after a second round of Lupron/pergonal, I was pregnant. At 5 weeks, my doctor saw the two pulsing blips, that meant only one thing.

I waited patiently until I was out of my first trimester to tell everyone it was twins. I was afraid of "vanishing twin syndrome". My Mom's eldest sister had lost a pair of twins.

The question became, "boys, girls or both"? Everyone had an idea, and name suggestions. My Auntie said they would be Oliver and Olivia. My Dad said they would be boys, "Pat and Mike".

My initial instinct was that they would be two girls. Sara, after the song by Starship. The second girl would be named after a character on a soap opera we watched, "Lucinda". This was also the name of a song by the Knack.

At seven months, the ultrasound clearly showed two wee-wees. So much for Sara and Luci.

I wanted to name one child for my Dad. He was named for a child-hating uncle he did not like, so he refused. I altered the name John to Jonathan. His middle name was Erik, for my favorite male singer at the time, Eric Carmen.

So, what about #2? I just made a list.

Top of the rock music chart was Nelson, with "After the Rain" and "Love and Affection". The twin sons of Ricky Nelson were Matthew and Gunnar. It was tempting.

I was borderline toxemic, so the boys came 3 weeks early. I was kicking around Matthew and Gunnar...then, when I saw the boys, I just could not name my younger child Gunnar...so, he was Jonathan Erik. I called my eldest by each name on my list. He smiled when I called him "Matthew". So, he was Matthew Gerard. St Gerard is the patron saint of mothers, and he certainly had to be interceding for me, given how rough my pregnancy was.

The twins are 26.