I have seen the light!

When you have a newborn baby or two, people always talk about the 3 month time or "the light at the end of the tunnel." When everything is supposed to get easier and your life will begin to feel normal again. Let me tell you, I have seen the light!

The twinados are 3 months old now. 3 months 4 days to be exact. We are getting longer stretches of sleep and starting to feel like we can survive this multiples business. The babies are rewarding us for our lack of sleep and crazy lives with smiles and occasional baby laughs. Life is good.

A lot has changed since I promised to starting blogging again over a month ago. Our once tiny, slightly under cooked preemies are now huge babies. Kinlee is over 12 lbs now and our Jett is over 11. Jett talks more than Oprah and our Miss K is more dramatic than anyone in Hollywood. She is bananas. I videoed her crying the other day (because that's what good moms do) and let her watch it. She seriously made her self cry watching her self cry. Wrap your head around that. My mom want a video of K watching herself on video. I'll get right on that. Eventually.

We have kinda figured out how to take these babies in public. For the longest time we would leave the house one at a time because braving the great outdoors can be overwhelming and exhausting. Just loading the car can be work. Now we just each strap on a baby and go. The babies love being in the Bjorn. They can look around and we can get some shopping done.

The biggest change is that I am back at work. I feel like I should be working here at home helping grow the minds of a future doctor and a future technology genius but, for our family a stay at home dad works best for now. Luckily, I picked a great dad for my kids and they are very happy with our decision.

That's all the time I have for now. Miss Kinlee is fighting sleep and I need to get things ready for tomorrow. Here's recent pictures of our twinados. Enjoy.

Time Flies When You're Sleep Deprived

I look at my last post and it was when I had week old twinados. 5 weeks ago. It feels just like yesterday though. I have 6 week old babies now and they are getting so big. So much has changed since my last post.

At the time of my last post, I was only 1 week into motherhood and had a lot of help and was just getting to know my babies. I was blissfully unaware of what was to come. I was certain at that point that I would win awards for Mother of the Year and that I should start writing my parenting book on the Joys of Multiples. Umm...lets just say that soon after that post I got my reality check.

Nothing can prepare you for motherhood and then multiply that by two. I had no idea how tired I would be. How emotional I would be. And how frustrated at myself I would be. They don't tell you that info in all the books that I downloaded into the Kindle I purchased before the babies arrived because I was sure I would have so much time to read. Or maybe I just skipped those chapters because I was sure they didn't apply to me.

This Mommy business is the hardest job I've ever done. It's the most important thing I have ever taken on so that's why it's so hard. I worked so hard at the perfect schedule, being prepared with bottles, packing the perfect diaper bag. Let's just say I've relaxed a little. I actually took both babies to the pediatrician today and forgot wipes. I prayed the entire time for no dirty diapers.

Now at 6 weeks I am starting to feel normal again. You get used not sleeping. You get used to the crying and start to figure out which ones are the real deal and which ones are from our future Oscar winning drama queen. You get used to taking life 3 hrs at a time between feedings. And it's all worth it.

I love my new job. Nothing feels better than having a newborn on your shoulder. It amazes me how they can go from crying like crazy and I can put them close to me and it calms them, because I'm their Mommy. She makes me laugh all day because she is so dramatic. He makes me smile because his smile is so big it moves his ears.

So, now that I am kinda getting more used to my new role I will try to post more. I need to because one day I wont have newborn babies. They grow so fast and I want to have some thing to look back on and remember this time. But for now, I'm going to try to catch a couple hours sleep while I can.

Happy 1 week Twinados

It's hard to believe but, my babies are 1 week old (or they were yesterday). It has been the the most intense, difficult, happy, nerve wrecking week of my life. I will blog about they day they decided to arrive a different time. I just had a few minutes of blissful nap time and decided to share a picture.

They are so beautiful. I'm sure every mother says this but, I can't stop looking at them and I'm so lucky that I'm their mommy. They are completely different in every way. They don't look alike or act anything alike. Kinlee has become the most patient baby I have ever known. She started out bossy and demanding and has settled in and become sweet and tolerant and patient. I love her little face and her sweet, sweet eyes. Jett is my grouchy old man. He only weighs 4.11 and is officially above his birth weight. He has a thin face that is wrinkly and soft. He makes so many faces and is so full of expression. I see him to be my funny kid that will probably keep me on my toes.

I am sleep deprived, food deprived and the happiest that I have been in my entire life. I get so much joy from them. I feel overwhelmed outnumbered by the two babies but I'm so happy they came together and we all get to experience this together. I love my new, crazy life and I love being a mommy. So, Happy 1 Week Kinlee and Jett!

Ultrasound Update

So, today I took the twinados for their 36 wk growth ultrasound. And grow they did. She is weighing in at a whopping 5.6 lbs and he is 5.5 lbs. That's about 11 lbs of babies, people! And we still have 2 weeks to go. I just hope that I don't end up like this Mom.

The babies look great and are measuring fine, except their heads. The tech that was scanning them said that they both have small heads, in the tenth percentile. I think she could tell this was freaking me out a little which prompted her to say "It's probably fine, you have a small head too." What the heck does that mean? I didn't know whether or not to be insulted or relieved.

I came home and told my husband the news of the day and I could see the fear in his eyes. His response? "So, what does that mean? Our kids look like Beetlejuice?" Wow babe, thanks for the sensitivity.

I have spent the majority of the evening doing internet research on tiny baby heads and what that could possibly mean. Apparently it's fine and tiny heads do not equal tiny brains. So, now it's just back to the waiting game. I'll keep you posted.

Tricky babies

I just knew I was having babies today. I really did. I went as far as telling my mom and sister to go ahead and come this way because I was having 8-9-10 babies. As with most everything else in this pregnancy, I was wrong.

Most twins come between 34-36 weeks. Today is 35.4 weeks and it would have be a great day to have a couple kids. I was fully prepared to waddle into my OB's office for her to announce that this was the day and lets do this. I mean, just three weeks ago I was in the hospital for preeclampsia and they were planning on taking them that night. I guess I'm too successful with the house arrest. My blood pressure was better than it has been the entire pregnancy and there is no medical reason to take them.

I was just being selfish. 35.4 is too early. 36-37 is way better but 38 weeks freaks me out! These two probably weigh close to 6lbs each now. That is a lot of baby. I have actually lost weight because lil man is so high up in my abdomen that there is no room in my stomach and I can't eat too much!

I am planning (here I go again with my brilliant plans) to have my big kidney surgery just a few weeks after I have my babies. That's why I need them out! My FMLA is for 12 weeks and that's how I have my insurance (which is at 100%) so I am getting kinda panicky as I chill here at home waiting for these two to make their grand entrance.

My major life lesson throughout this pregnancy is "it's not about me" and being the stubborn girl that I am, this has been a difficult pill to swallow. So, I am going to sit back and be thankful for a little bit more time to prepare for them. I'm sure I will be missing this relaxing time in a few short weeks.

It's almost time!?!

It is Saturday, August 7th and I am 35 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I am currently on "bedrest" which I have redefined as house arrest to accommodate my desire to "nest". I was admitted to the hospital a couple weeks ago for preeclampsia and that's why I have been ordered to take it easy.

So, I have been off work and here at the house organizing, cleaning, and starting to really freak out. My blood pressure has dropped a ton since I quit working but, I miss seeing everyone at my office. I miss solving problems, working with patients, and getting out of the house. It's hard to be a stay at home mom when your kids aren't here yet.

I also have a huge fear that my life is about to change and that I may not be ready for it. I have wanted to be a mom more than anything else for as long as I can remember but, now I'm nervous. I'm scared because I know that my life will never be the same and I hope I can adjust accordingly.

L and I have had a pretty great life so far. We have Jace twice a week and every other weekend so, we have had the joy of parenting but also got to enjoy newlywed life. Now, there will always be kids here. Will this change our relationship? Can we still make time for each other with newborn twins and a crazy 3.5 yr old?

I guess as with everything else, I will adjust and it will work out. I think (hope) these fears are normal and that they will pass once I see what I'm up against. It's the fear of the unknown.

Will I ever sleep again?

I'm officially terrified. These babies are going to be here really soon and I don't know if I'm ready. I'm almost finished with all the to do's to welcome them here (finishing their room, washing their clothes, accepting amazing gifts from family and friends) but, the mom stuff I'm worried about.

I just finished reading a blog of a friend of a friend. She is two weeks out with her darling little girl and she was writing about feeding and lack of sleep. I have been trying to research sleep schedules with twins but, I don't really think I know what I'm in for.

These two are supposed to eat every 2-3 hrs and it takes about an hr at a time!?! HOLY HECK! That's a lot of feeding and a little sleeping. I have a plan to feed and sleep them at the same time to get them on the same schedule but, that sounds terrifying.

L's mom will be helping me at first but, I need to figure this out on my own. I realize that I'm not the first mother to have twins and won't be the last so it can be done. I'm a notorious multi-tasker so I can do this. Just don't expect to see much of me during the first few months.

I need an intervention

Through out this pregnancy, I have become addicted to several different things. Here's a quick list

1. Cheesecake Snow cones


2. Water with tons of lemons (or lemon juice with a splash of water)


3. Icing-so gross (I kept a little container in the fridge and will eat it with a spoon)


4. Marshmallow creme stuff-so so gross (again with the spoon. I can't believe I just admitted that)


5. Grapes (sometimes with icing or marshmallow creme stuff)


6. Burger King chicken sandwiches (sometimes I wonder if I love The King more than I love L)


7. Maxi dresses-really long ones that cover my ankles
8. Flip Flops-because you don't have to bend over to tie them
9. My Old Navy workout shorts circa 1994 (They have become my maternity go to piece, not attractive but so so comfortable).
10. Etsy.com

I saved the best for last. I need help. I am constantly searching for things the babies might need on Etsy. I love love love the site. I love the handwritten thank you notes I get when my purchases come in. I love the prices. I love the reasonable shipping. I just love it.

Etsy makes me feel like I should be making something though. I just don't know what my creative, crafty, skill is. I keep trying new things but, if something doesn't come easy to me immediately, I give up. Not a good trait for a chick expecting twins very soon.

Let's just keep this a secret though. L is getting suspicious of all the little packages showing up. I just tell him it's for the babies without mention that it was purchased using a paypal account in my name. I can't wait to take pictures of the babies wearing all their handmade purchases.

Oh, in for the record, I just got the results of my gestational diabetes test and I PASSED! Yay! I was a little nervous with all of my addictions.

Still Growing

Hi Everyone! Member me? I have been the worst pregnant blogger ever. These babies are causing a weird form of writer's block. It's not that I don't have something to say or want to write, it's that there's so much that I get overwhelmed and don't do it.

We are 28.5 weeks along and doing very well. The babies weigh about 3lbs each and are kicking me like crazy! I remember wondering if I would ever feel them. Now, it's Dance Dance Revolution. They are doing the long pushy movements, not just kicking. It feels like they are running out of room (we all are).

I'm so excited to meet them. They make me really happy. I have wanted for so long to be a mom and was very happy being an Emmy. I didn't know if babies were in the plan for me but, I have been overwhelmingly surprised and blessed.

I remember feeling so scared and honestly a little sad when I found out two people sharing one birthday would be entering my life. Now, I can't imagine only having one to plan for.

The nursery is almost finished (pictures soon), the welcome home clothes have been purchased, and a c-section date has been set. They will be arriving at the latest 8/26/10 at 11:30 am. That seems like a reasonable time to have a baby or two. But, like most things in this pregnancy and my life so far, we might have a surprise in store and they might decide to move out early as many twinados do.

I'm really going to try to start posting again more. I will try not to get overwhelmed and put it off. I want to be able to share this huge experience with my family and my friends so I will try harder. At least I can blog with my feet up!

Our Family is Growing

A few weeks ago, we got a new table to accommodate the new additions to our family. I explained to Jace it was because our family was growing. At dinner this weekend I asked him if he liked the new table. He said that he did and that the reason we got the table was because he was getting bigger, Emmy was getting bigger and Daddy was getting bigger. Our family is growing.

I love the way he took what I said so literally and the bigger table was for bigger bodies, not for more people.

Guess who's in my belly!?!

On Wednesday, me and my babies had a little photo session with our favorite perinatolgist. Let me tell you that I had been a ball of nerves for a week. I am not one to sit back and let things happen. I NEED to know EVERYTHING. I really could not of cared on Wednesday what kinds of parts they had. I just needed a complete kidney count, a good look at their little noggins, and peace of mind that my kids are ok.

The technologist (who was amazing) could tell that I was anxious and agreed to let me see their kidneys first. I was born with 3 kidneys (none of which worked very well) and am down two one somewhat lazy one so, I wanted to make sure that they got L's fabulous pee parts and not mine. Hooray!! They did! Once I saw this, I was able to lay back and look at our babies.

L was working and could not be there for most of the scan. The tech saved the surprise for both of us until the end. She first look at my lower right side and announced It's a Girl! Visions of pink bows and tutu's danced in my head! We have a girl! Then as L stood anxiously, she scanned my upper left and announced It's a Boy! Can you believe it! We have another boy! I have never felt so fulfilled and blessed.

This whole time I have felt all of it is too good to be true. I don't know why I do this to myself but I kept waiting for something to go wrong or be wrong. Maybe it's the fact that I scan patients everyday and there are things wrong. Maybe it's that I have always had something medically to deal with and it is a normal thought for me to assume that there will always be something medically wrong. However, after this last scan, I have vowed to myself and my husband to RELAX. Sure there might be things be wrong but, there is nothing I can do except deal with it when or if it happens.

So here's to the rest of my pregnancy! I am 19 weeks along and starting to feel someone kicking my bladder. My belly is really starting to expand and I can no longer sleep in the superman position (face down arms up). We are tossing names around and trying to come up with a nursery suitable for both a boy and a girl. I like this part! Before we know it they will be here my new excuse for not being a faithful blogger won't be work it will be babies!

When he grows up...

All little boys have hopes and dreams of what they want when they grow up. Our little man is has big dreams too. Big dreams to be able to say bad words.

After dinner tonight, Jace had an interesting question for me. "Emmy, when I turn 21 can I say bad words?" I had to think about this one for a second. "Well Jace, when you turn 21 you will be an adult so I guess you can say bad words if you really need to."

His response, "I will need to say bad words because sometimes grown ups get angry and need to say bad words."

What could I say to that? He is absolutely right. Sometimes grown ups do need to say bad words. And with his obsession with everything grown up (tie, pocket shirt, dress shoes, coffee cup) I guess cussing is just a natural extension of that.

I just hope that along with his desire to say bad words when he grows up will be a desire to maybe attend med school or save the planet too.

Our Tough Weekend

We had a hard weekend. We spent Saturday afternoon until yesterday afternoon in the hospital. We're so glad to be home and sleeping in our own beds again.

As I have written about before, I have a kidney problem. I only have one and it doesn't always perform the way it should. We have known that at some point during the pregnancy I might have to have a procedure to take the pressure and work load off my kidney. I was hoping it would happen a little further along but, it was this weekend.

I went into the hospital on Saturday because I had a fever that I just couldn't seem to break. I was admitted because of the babies and my history. It was decided on Monday to put a Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube in my kidney to help it drain and clear up the infection I had in it. It was a very painful procedure because it was done without any sedation and very little pain relief (basically it was numbed up and a tube put directly though my back into my kidney). I felt immediate relief from the tube placement.

The plan at this point is for me to wear the tube (with a drainage bag) until the babies are born and possibly have a reconstructive surgery as soon as I can. It is scary for all of us but, I will pull through this like I have a million times before.

The best part about it all is I got to check in with my kids a couple times. It's scary carrying them around doing big procedures and not knowing what the heck is going on in there. They did an Ultrasound on Saturday and the technologist is pretty sure of what we've got growing. I am very excited about this news but don't want to jinx it until my next Ultrasound and they can be certain of their parts. I will share the news as soon as I can.

I can tell you that my precious cargo is fine and growing very quickly. I was so happy to see those strong heartbeats and impressive karate moves. I can't wait to meet these two. I am so curious to know them. I hope they look and laugh like their daddy. I hope they think like me. I hope they are strong babies with no kidney or other issues.

Keep us in your prayers. I will keep you posted.

Big Big News

We have big, big news. It's actually news squared but I don't know how to make that symbol.

We are having TWINS. Yep, two kids at once. I have known this for about 6 weeks and I still can't fully wrap my head around it. I was shocked to find out that I was pregnant and then when she said two I think I blacked out. I nearly did. She was doing the ultrasound and all I could think was "please don't find three."

I was waiting to tell everyone until I got the ok from my perinatologist. That's the doctor you see when you have more kids in you than kidneys. Everything looks great for all of us. (That's weird to type). My kidney is in better shape now than before I started growing babies. I feel fantastic.

I have an app on my phone that tells me how big they are and what's going on in there. Every week it tells me the approximate size of my babies by comparing them to fruits. So, now I call Fridays "Fruit Salad Fridays." It's become my new favorite day of the week. This week I have peaches.

I will add some pictures soon. I just wanted to drop a quick note to say all is well and two more Pinas will be joining us on or around 9/9/10.