Catching Up With You All, On Life With Twins….3 Months Later!

 

Catching Up With You All, On Life With Twins….3 Months Later!

6-13-2010

 

 

Ok, so it’s been over 3 months, since I had my girls, and I figured, now is a good time to re-cap, and re-vive, some of the twin conversation, about my girls, and life with the twins in general. My last several posts were about things that weren’t as personal as usual. Important,  just not really personal.

 

 

Anyhow, things have been going pretty well. Remember how scared I was, back when my husband was going back to work in the evenings, until the mornings? I was so scared I would never survive it, or sleep again?  Well, he’s been well back at work, and here I am, so YES, I have survived it, and they have been doing extremely well in the sleeping department, and hence, so have I. 

 

 

Moose, my husband’s term of endearment, that won’t go beyond this newborn phase, most commonly known as (Allie pop, or Allie-gator), has been ‘stocking up’ for the night, with her formula, since week 9 now, and almost always sleeping through the night, I’d say 9.5 times out of 10, which is beyond amazing.

 

 

Skin bone (My husband’s term of endearment as well,…more commonly known as, Annie bug, or piglet), has been doing amazing in this dept. now also. She was the one that was the hardest, because she seemed to be the one to wake and get the other twin going. Actually we have since separated them for the evenings, and they sleep far better apart. Go figure, though they do enjoy hanging out, during the day, they aren’t looking for each other at night,  they actually seem to enjoy their space and private quarters. 

 

 

I often wonder if that is because they spent the 1st two days, of their lives apart, while Annie was in the NICU, because of my Gestaional Diabetes, but in all honesty, all twins are different, you got to find out what works best for you, and your particular twins, but I’d say as far as Annie, 8 out of 10 nights, she is now sleeping through, since around 12 weeks.  We are at 14 and change now, so I am sleeping. When she does wake, it’s just for one feeding, then back to bed.  Making night time, as boring as humanly possible for them, is the absolute key, which explains why my others were not as good sleepers. I think I (we), totally over stimulated them.  Live & Learn.

 

 

Anyhow, we are still doing feedings together for the most part. Sometimes someone will slip up, but suprisngly, we get right back on track.  The tricky part is planned napping. It’s really impossibly hard, because they don’t just pass out, after feedings like they did as tiny newborns. A lot of times, one will wake and the other will pass out, during the day, which is hard. Hopefully a rhythm will emerge for us soon, in that respect. They do seem to nap together for the 5 or 6 pm nap, (I sort of help the second twin along with some rocking, but usually both are quite tired by then), which the dinner-nap, is  good for trying to eat dinner in peace, when it works out, anyway *smile*.   I sware children know when dinner time is, no matter what time you make it. Even at this tender age. 

 

 

We had a glowing Dr. appt. last week. Both girls are growing like weeds, and the Dr. couldn’t be happier. Annie, our small little princess, weighed 5.23 lbs at birth, and now is a whopping, 9 lbs 12 oz, and our chunky monkey Allie, is now up to 10 lbs, and 10 oz, from 5 lbs 13 oz, which is no surprise the way that she eats. We were actually thinking, heavier.     So, almost a pound still between them.  14 oz to be exact. The Dr. asked if we were feeding them Lasagna, which I guess means he’s happy. They are gaining nicely. Almost 2.5 lbs. each, from 6 wks. prior. I’m so thrilled they are growing so well, but sad to watch the newborn phase quickly passing us by, knowing, I’ll never be going there again.  It’s quite sad.

 

 

I do SO enjoy these morning smiles, and babbling little voices all day, it’s adorable!  The changes become more and more evident to me, by the day!  I try and savor every moment of it.  Anyhow, the girls got their DPT and HIB shots. The DPT is the nasty one, so they told us to stand guard, they might be super cranky for two days, so i braced myself for a rough night or two, but luckily all was fine, and temperaments, remained normal. 

 

 

Allie is always my sweet, laid back girl.  She honestly can do no wrong. Annie, is my inquisitive, and boisterous, spit fire, who is more cranky then her sister, but is still a really good baby.  Her little legs and arms are always flailing, and she likes to be held and entertained, just a bit more then her other half.  She is definately, full of energy, and will probably be walking before the average baby crawls he, he.   I will admit, I am in ZERO rush for any of that. They can stay little for as long as they would like. I’ll carry them. (I know, I know..I say that now).

 

 

The thing about twins that boggles my brain, when you are at that point of them walking is…how do you do it?  Especially when you are all alone. I take my daughter out for a play date at Mc Donald’s every week, and one woman, has a 1 yr. old, and is constantly chasing her around, saying to me, ‘I don’t know how you’ll do it. It’s hard chasing just this 1′. That is a VERY good point, I have begun to think about it. I do still only have one set of eyes, and surely they won’t always be traveling in the same direction. EEK, .  I guess I should stop worrying about things before they happen, I usually freak myself out for nothing. Sure it’ll all work out.

 

 

I mean, i REALLY was scared of having twins before I even got pregnant, just like always was afraid of that, despite how cute I always found them to be, and admit that i suffered with singleton envy a nice chunk of my  pregnancy, and really had a harder time then ever bonding, (how hard is it with two..seriously. It’s so bizarre), and an even tougher time, enjoying, I was always worried, and that is my BIGGEST regret, so all I can say is if you are in my place, don’t be afraid. It’s so much more wonderful and manageable, then you could ever imagine.

 

 

I mean, I would joke with my husband, and say I’m gonna need a part time nanny or baby nurse, SOMETHING…ok, maybe i wasn’t always joking, but see that was when I was still pregnant, & afterwards, with only little help, no huge family waiting in the wings to assist.  I have survived these 3+ months, and will tell you with total confidence, if I could change things, I never, ever, ever, ever, would.  I love life with my girls, nothing I feared so badly,  ever happened….going broke, getting divorced from the strain, just trying to get myself through the day, because I was half dead by the end of it, granted YES it’s not simple, and there are many challenges, and I do get tired sometimes, but it isn’t what i was reading about online, and visualizing for myself AT ALL.  Have faith!

 

 

Oh, and at the Dr’s we had discussed having the girl’s ears pierced.  I have a 4 almost 5 yr. old daughter, who has been wanting hers pierced as well. She was my 1st girl, and I was really afraid of having it done on her when she was tiny, despite other people’s positive experiences. I thought it would get ripped out, something would happen, i don’t know, but now, I know she’s going to remember this, so It’s like in hindsight, better to have gotten it done when she didn’t remember. I was 4, and I remember VERY well. I got one ear pierced and ran out of the store in the mall. It closed up, and my mother re-pierced me, the following year.

 

 

I would say, oh well, forget about it for now &  let the child be old enough to decide for themselves, like I did for my daughter, but I have yet to meet a little girl, or adult woman, who didn’t have or want to have their ears pierced, so I have been conflicted by this, get it over with early, or go through the pain later on x’s two?  The Dr. said they do it there, in office,  and two Dr’s at a time, so it’s a more short-lived pain, but here you are talking about a woman, who can’t even hold her own child for a shot.  Since my first child, I have had to have someone go with me, and hold my baby, as I either went out of the room for a moment, or turned around, and closed my eyes and ears, until it was over. I HATE my baby(ies), or children in any pain, so this is a hard choice, because I know it’s going to hurt, but long run, there will be no memory. This I also know.  What do you all think? Everyone I talk to says go for it, and the Dr. told us, 4 weeks from then would be a perfect time to do it, so like 3.5 wks from now, and then have the shots a couple weeks later, because that would be too much.

 

 

At the time it all sounded great, made an appt. for all 3 of my divas, and now I’m scared to think about my girls hurting.  Any input or thoughts?  They say young, it’s like it’s part of them that always existed, so it’s not foreign to them, they don’t mess with their earrings, and it’s not a teenager at the mall, it’s a real Doctor x’s two, so I don’t know. I want to do it for them, but I’m really such a wuss. We’ll see what happens.

 

 

Also, we learned that both girls are teething. I had a thought that they may have been, but thought at 2 and 3/4 months, it was too early. Guess not. They both were showing typical teething behavior in the office, and since have been drooling a bit more, and mouthing a lot.  I just can’t remember with my other 3 how it was, meaning when they started teething, and how they were about it, I remember my 4 yr old, not getting a tooth until 7 months, but that doesn’t mean, when they START teething, but she was fairly good about it.  Would look pretty funny if these tiny babies, sprouted a front tooth right now.  Talk about a weird look

 

 

Anyhow, so all has been working out well. Me and my husband have been working as a team, which truly is the key here. We had more trouble adjusting, and managing life after out 1st baby together, Mikayla, then we have with two, which sounds crazy, but that is seriously no lie.  He didn’t even want any more children, and felt too old, and so imagine when it was twins…holy smokes, wish i had a picture of that, or a picture of his face at any time, during those almost 9 months  ha ha, but he’s so wonderful with them, and adores them with all of his heart, and really, quite honestly, I got to say, I’m proud of him, and I love you if you are reading this honey.  See my dad was WRONG. He said, go through with having two babies, and you will be divorced within the 1st 3 months, he’ll be GONE. Guess daddy (encouraging huh?) was WRONG!   He also said we would be devestating, young Mikayla’s life, instead of enriching it, yet even as i type,  the jealousy between our almost 5 yr old, and the twins, is disenegrating by the day. That by FAR, has been the hardest part of the whole twin experience, and so as that gets better, it ALL gets easier.  She will be so blessed to have sisters down the line, and will see that for herself before we know it. Sure wish I had some myself, but too late for that!

 

 

Anyhow, the Dr. also said we can start solids already, at only 3 months. A lot of online reading material says 6+, so I’m a bit worried to do this so early. Sure they drink a lot of formula and we go through a case every 4 days or so, which isn’t cheap, BUT are they truly ready at this point?  What is your experience if you wanna chime in, I’d be most appreciative, of your input.

 

 

He said rice cereal, alternating with barley, and some fruit, in the am & pm, so twice daily. Should I wait on it?  He said this may help a lot with the amount of bottles and formula they drink throughout the day. I got to do more research, I’m certainly not rushing to follow that, nothing bad will happen by waiting a couple weeks or even more, if we decide to.

 

 

Anyhow, I know I am chewing your ears off, just wanted to share what’s been going on with me, the girls, and our little family here.  I’ll be back soon, and remember, the WubbaNub giveaway is ending soon, and a new giveaway will be starting, for a Baba Buddy (An amazing invention for any moms with multiples, or moms who need an occasional helping hand during feedings, so if you want in on these events, please go and follow twinpossible on twitter, if you are on facebook, you can become a fan, and have a chance of winning yourself!  Soon, I will have an email sign up, for a newsletter from Twinpossible, but don’t worry, I’m not one to ever bombard people with tons of mail and annoy them. Don’t you just hate that?)

 

 

Whelp,  my morning time is over. Love to you all.  Shelly.

 

 

My Baby girls, at the Dr.’s office . Before the shots, they were still so happy

 

 

(PS- If the sweet lady I met yesterday, pregnnat with twin boys, and due at any time, is reading this, I hope it has helped calm your fears a bit. I have been there…believe me!  Bless you & your babies to be!)