It was about 9:00 when Nick and AJ showed up at our house.
"Is D ready yet?" AJ asked.
"Ready for what?" Howie responded.
"Um...we got to meet with Wayne for the new video...remember?" Nick asked.
"No – the only thing that has been on my mind the last week is how to make a bottle and how to change a diaper," he answered. Howie looked at me concerned. "Are you going to be okay by yourself for a couple of hours?"

"I'll manage. I'll have to figure out how to do this by myself at one point or another."
"Well Mrs. D, we promise not to keep him out too long," AJ winked as he pulled Howie out the door.
"Okay," I thought to myself, "I can do this. It's only going to be for a couple of hours."

Amber picked up the phone and laughed hysterically. "You're the one who decided to have twins!"
"Like I had a choice in the matter!!" I yelled to her. "Are you coming over here or what?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm on my way. But I got to bring Arrianna," she said.
"Fine – she can learn how to change a diaper."

Amber's View

"Rhon? Rhon honey where are you?" I called as I opened the door of her house with my key and let myself in. All I heard in return were the cries of two babies. "Well," I thought, "I guess if I follow the sounds I'll find her." I grabbed Arrianna's hand stopping her from pulling the dog's tail and headed off in the direction of the sound.

I finally found Rhonda sitting in the middle of the living room floor with the twins laying one on each side of her, all three were crying. She was slightly rocking back and forth and looked as if she hadn't slept in days. "Rhonda, are you ok honey?" I said walking over and picking up one of the twins and putting my other arm around her. It did nothing to stop the crying. "Talk to me Rhon."

" I just don't know what to do, they won't shut up, Howie's gone, I think AJ and Nick kidnapped him, I'm all alone and I haven't had a full three hours of sleep in the past couple of days. I just, I just..."

"You just need some sleep that's all," I said walking over and laying the still crying baby in its bassinet. "Come on, up you go." I pulled Rhonda up to a standing position and pointed her towards the stairs. "Go sleep, I'll watch the kids till Howie gets back, and trust me he'll be back. Nick and AJ did not kidnap him." Rhonda just wearily shook her head yes and headed upstairs to bed.

As soon as she had gone upstairs I turned around and looked at the situation I had gotten myself into; two screaming babies, and one little girl who was bound and determined to get into trouble sometime today. I hoped to god that Howie and the guys would get back here soon. I didn't know where to start but I figured trying to stop the crying was a good place to begin. I walked over and picked Jacob off of the floor, his face scrunched up and red with tears, and started to walk around with him, rocking him gently in my arms. I wasn't working he just wouldn't stop crying. "Come on guys, give me a break," I whispered about to cry myself when after a half an hour they both were still crying. "Arrianna I told you not to mess with that!" Arrianna jumped back away from the bassinet she had been tipping trying to look into it. I walked over to the t.v. and turned it on to Blue's Clues knowing that that would solve at least one of my problems for awhile.

I don't know what he does to you to make you cry,
But I'll be there to make you smile.

I started to sing softly remembering it used to help when Arrianna was a baby. Jacob's sobs died down a little bit and I continued.

But my love is all I have you give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you...but
Love is all I have to give

It was working Jacob cries died down to occasional hiccups. I laughed softly to myself as I went to lay him down, "He is truly a Backstreet baby." As soon as I laid him in his bassinet he started to cry again, which made Nikki sob even louder. These kids were driving me nuts, I was about to scream myself. I scooped Jacob up into one arm and Nikki into the other and started singing to both of them.

After another half an hour they were both down to hiccups. I was stuck holding them though because as soon as I put them down the tears would start right back up again. I sat down on the couch next to Arrianna with the twins in my arms. Both were starting to close their eyes and fall asleep. Arrianna scooted next to me and began rubbing her eyes too. Good that meant she was ready for her nap too. I sat and watched as all three began to drift off to sleep. My eyes grew continually heavier as I watched the sleeping children. "A nap doesn't sound too bad right now," I said adjusting myself so Arrianna could lie against me more comfortably and I began to doze off too.