In a heartwarming twist straight out of a reality TV fairytale, Big Brother Season 18 alums Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo are thrilled to announce they’re expecting twins! The couple, who have been open about their journey to expand their family, shared the joyous news with PEOPLE, revealing that their dream of a bigger family is coming true in double measure.
Nicole and Victor, who tied the knot after meeting on Big Brother, have been trying to conceive their second child for years. The news of twins came as a delightful shock. “We were and are ecstatic,” Nicole shared. “What a beautiful gift from God!”
Nicole’s intuition hinted at the possibility early on. “I felt so sick during the first trimester and started showing around the 8-week mark, unlike my first pregnancy when I didn’t show until 20 weeks,” she explained. “I joked there must be two babies in there, and when we found out there really were, I was happy-shocked. I’ve always wanted twins, and they run in my family!”
Victor, equally stunned and overjoyed, added, “We’ve been trying for some time, so this felt like a long-awaited gift.” The couple hasn’t yet discovered the sexes of their babies-to-be, but Nicole has a hunch it could be one boy and one girl. “The twins have different sacs and placentas, so the chance of them being identical is only about 1%,” the Big Brother champion noted. “If it’s two boys, I’ll really be outnumbered!”
The couple’s 4-year-old son, Arrow, is already embracing his upcoming role as a big brother. “Arrow is so, so excited!” Nicole beamed. “He’s handling it well and knows mama’s stomach has babies in it. He talks about doing sleepovers with them at his Mia’s (grandma’s).” Remarkably, Arrow seemed to predict the twins before the ultrasound confirmed it. “He said he wanted one of each—a sister and a brother—and now there really are two! He knew it before we did,” Victor shared with a laugh.
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Nicole’s first pregnancy with Arrow was smooth sailing, but carrying twins has brought new challenges. “My last pregnancy was a cakewalk. This one is completely opposite,” she admitted. “I’m already having sciatica pain and symptoms that feel like I’m 30 weeks pregnant. Having two in there is a lot different than one. I need to be more careful with my workload this time.”
Despite the physical demands, Nicole and Victor are savoring every moment of this special journey, leaning on their faith and excitement for what lies ahead.
After sharing the news with family and friends, the couple has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. “My loved ones know it’s been three years of trying to conceive, so I think they’re thrilled for me to have two at once,” Nicole said. “After our ultrasound appointment, I speed-dialed them to share the good news. It was the biggest high!”
“We are so lucky to be loved by such amazing people,” she added, her voice brimming with gratitude.
As Nicole and Victor prepare to welcome their twins, their home is buzzing with anticipation. With Arrow ready to step into his big brother role and a community of supporters cheering them on, this Big Brother family is poised for their biggest adventure yet. Here’s to the chaos, joy, and love that twins will bring to the Franzel-Arroyo household!