Female couple greets ‘winking’ sons 12 days apart
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Valerie Thourin, 45, and her wife Renee, 41, welcomed their ‘twiblings’ in December 2021, just 12 days apart, after having embryos implanted in them at the same time.
“We weren’t planning on getting pregnant at the same time, but our cycles were in sync and our doctor suggested a twin transfer – that’s what it was meant to be,” Valerie said SWNS.
Levi Theodore Thourin weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces and was born on December 7th while his younger brother Lenny Rrll Thourin was born on December 19th at 8 pounds and 10 ounces.
“Our pregnancies were reflected in the morning sickness and we were able to have ultrasounds at the same time during the Covid restrictions, which was very special,” Valerie continued.
Prior to Levi and Lenny’s arrival, the Canadian couple were struggling with heartbreaking fertility issues.
Before she began dating Valerie in 2016, Renee began exploring the possibility of single parenting through artificial insemination (IUI).
After several failed pregnancy attempts and Renee miscarried, the couple decided to give it a try mutual IVF in October 2019.
Renee’s egg was fertilized with a stranger’s sperm and implanted in Valerie’s uterus.
But in February 2020, Valerie suffered a “soul-shattering” miscarriage — her first, having given birth to two children in her previous marriage.
“I was by Renee’s side during her miscarriages and of course I was devastated, but it wasn’t until that point that I really understood what she had been going through,” Valerie explained.
The couple began looking for alternative options. One recommendation was that Renee and Valerie should each have an embryo implanted from a donor pair on the same day in April 2021.
Two weeks later, doctors confirmed they were both pregnant — just three years after their April 2018 wedding.
“It was the happiest day of our lives – everyone in the clinic was excited too.” Valerie gushed.
“From then on we had the best pregnancy together. As Covid was still ongoing not many couples were able to attend the appointments so Renee and I were very fortunate to be able to do so.”
The couple’s pregnancies were even similar to each other’s as they both suffered from morning sickness at the same time.
“Pregnancy after a loss can be very traumatic because there’s always the question, ‘What if something happens?’ but it was great to have each other,” Valerie explained.
The happy, healthy babies are now around 20 months old – and, according to their parents, are “complete opposites”.
Lenny is “laid back” and likes to sleep and eat, while Levi doesn’t like to sleep as much, being “exuberant” and “incredibly curious”.
“They are our miracles, and as they grow older, Renee and I will be totally open about how we got them,” cooed Valerie. “Our story, while turbulent, is special and we wouldn’t change it for the world.”
