Mom Welcomes Twin Babies Early and Gets Her Ph.D. [Video]

A woman who gave birth to twins and then got her Ph.D. is feeling on top of the world!

Last month, Sarah Tov, 37, was a pregnant University of Washington student wrapping up her seven-year work toward her degree in special education and disability studies. She then experienced health complications and was admitted to Seattle’s Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Birth Center, and a few days later she gave birth to identical twin babies, who then spent four weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Today, Sarah and her partner iea tov (who uses the “zem” and “zey” pronouns and spells zeir name in lowercase) are back in their Seattle home with their babies after they were recently discharged.

“They’re doing great,” Sarah tells PEOPLE about the newborns. “They’re gaining weight, they’re starting to open their eyes more. They’re doing really well considering everything that they’ve been through.”

Married since …