Its Summer Time!

To say it has been a crazy, busy summer is an understatement!  Wow, and to think I thought I was busy last summer!?  One year olds have a mind of their own.  So do 2 1/2 year olds.

We really have had a great summer- going to the pool.  I think it is fair to say that Theo, Mayzie and Georgia are little fish, while Tillie is usually happier sitting on the edge of the pool.  Although more recently (like in the past 2 days)  she has become a little more confident in the water.

We go to the pool a lot...which means a few things...my kids are TAN and BLONDE...holy cow!  I was at the apple store waiting and Michael parked the car and brought the kids in.  When I watched them all make their way to the front of the store I finally realized that they have some yellow hair and crazy tan skin, especially that little Mr. Theodore!  And of course, Michael's skin is red and his hair is brown.  It also means tired kids.  Lots of times we skip naps to swim.  I always think this will make them go to bed earlier, but it usually backfires on me.  And lastly, baby rescues.  I have to rescue Georgia or Tillie from the water least once but more like 5 or 6 times because they got a little to daring in the water.  They think its fun, because they always get pulled out!  It gives me a heart attack!

One Year Comparison Pictures!

Georgia Kate

Mayzie Emm

Tillie Chandler

Theodore Everett

I cant believe its been a year

Dear Girls ( and the rest of the family),

We did it! We made it a full year with not only twins, but 4 kids that span the ages of just over three years between number one and four.

It has been nothing short of a whirlwind.  I think I have experienced every emotion in the book.   However hard it is to raise one baby during the first year...two is well, twice as hard if not more...and add in a couple of toddlers- you get the idea, very challenging!

Sometimes I wonder exactly how we survived (especially on that amount of sleep, this part refers only to me)  Lots of days, I have forgotten to eat, sacrificed my shower, never had a minute to myself because the girls were on opposite napping schedule.  Planning ahead to leave the house has taken on a new art form for me...you need it, my diaper bag probably has it in there.

But as twice as hard of a year as it was learning how to take care of twins and trying to meet the needs of two other children, it was three times as amazing.  Watching our 4 kids grow together over the past year has been so rewarding.    It is so fun to see their personalities interacting with one another.  Lately, I feel like we live with a litter of puppies, always wrestling around on the floor, bickering with eachother, and lots of times somebody is giving me a slobbery kiss.  Actually just yesterday, Georgia was crawling around with a part of Duke's bone in her mouth.

I know it sounds crazy, but I am proud of our family for making it through this first year...our family changed a lot  and we overcame quite a few challenges and every one had to do their part to adjust.

Theo and Mayzie have done wonderfully!  (Other than Mayzie's occasional attempt to "see what happens if I....you fill in the blank and she has done it.)  It really is a true miracle that those girls survived Mayzie.   But, she is the middle child so I will give it to her.  Theo has become the best big brother to three little sisters, although I am sure that will get more difficult as the estrogen in this house builds up in the years to come.

Georgia and Tillie have been the best babies a busy mom could ask for.  They are laid back and go with the flow, they can take a little pestering from Theo and Mayzie and they can be flexible with their nap schedules.   They are both sweeter than sweet!

I know our struggles aren't over, and things are going to be busy for a while, but they do say that if you can make it through the first year with multiples you are going to be fine.  Well, we made it!  And it has been the best year yet!  We are so lucky to have Georgia and Tillie!

Love,

Mommy

one day old, 20 months, 3 years

1 year old, 2 1/2, 4 years

Now we have 6ish months to prepare for the terrible two's (2x)...but hey, at least I am sleeping through the night :)

Happy 1st Birthday Georgia andTillie!!!

This video is REALLY long...may want to fast forward.

Georgia and Tillie:  

Where has this year gone?  I'm sure it has been a long year for you just sitting around waiting to eat, sleep,  and get your pants changed but to mommy and me it feels like just yesterday we were holding you at the hospital for the first time.  One year ago today you guys were born and that will always be one of the best days of my life.  Even though the year has flown by there are so many fun and memorable things that you have done.  It has been awesome watching you grow and learn so much over the past year but the best part has been seeing you interact together.  Most of your interactions have been acts of love towards each other but there has also been the occasional fight over who gets the open juice box or who has the best toy (at least you aren't fighting over clothes or boys ... hopefully those days are a long time away).  Anyway, I hope you guys have a great 1st birthday and I want you to know that you are very special to me and we are blessed to have you as part of our family.

Love always,

Daddy

It has been a crazy, busy end of May! 

Mayzie had her very first dance recital- so adorable, and she loved it!   She really was too cute for words.  We let her keep her costume on for the rest of the night (out to eat and everything.)  She was very proud and felt very pretty!

Theo officially finished 3 year old preschool and we are so very proud of him.  Although, he was writing his name just fine we have recently found that he has started writing it from right to left and making the "e" backwards...I am told its no big deal and to just keep correcting it.  He had a great year, and I am sure with miss school this summer.

Theo also did soccer and flag football.  Its so cute to watch little kids play sports.  I coached 3 to 7 year old soccer in college, and it is a little weird to have my own 4 year old playing now!

We have been running around to graduation parties, birthday parties, and you name it- it all seems to happen at the end of May!  The Twins have been along for the ride like the troopers they are...missing naps every couple of days and not even having melt downs.  Its amazing what you do with number 3 and 4 that you would never think of with number 1.

We had a wonderful three day Memorial Weekend...lots of family time and it finally got warm enough for our first trip to the pool of the season.  It went well, every one had fun and we didn't have any near drowning experiences!  Although, we are going to have to keep an eye on Georgia...that girl is loving the water!!!  Tillie, not so much.  I am excited for summer with my kids!  Just lots of time to play and I don't have to be parked under the shady tree so I can nurse every 45 minutes!

Hooray for summer!!

Last Year

With the big first birthday just a couple of weeks away, lately I have found myself having a hard time not looking back on where we were a year ago.

One of my greatest accomplishments in life so far (and I really had nothing to do with it) was carrying twins for 38 weeks.  I am dead serious. I know you know what I mean if you have twins, and if you don't...lets just say the phrase "Enjoy being pregnant, because it is a lot harder once that baby comes out" DOES NOT APPLY! 

Now, I am not complaining at all.  I feel very blessed to have twins and have had a very easy pregnancy in terms of multiples.  I am just writing this blog entry for nostalgic reasons as I look back on some of the things I wrote down in my journal.   I can't wrap my head around how fast time has flown.  It all just feels like it was yesterday!

Here is one thing I wrote:

 "You know how you feel about week 38 to 40 with one baby?  Well, thats about how you feel with twins starting at about week 26!  By 32 weeks you feel overdue and at 37 weeks and 5 days, I just can't even explain it.  I am thrilled I made it this long and pray we have healthy girls that come home with us, but I need them out now.  I need to be able to be a mom to Theo and Mayzie again."

Anyway, like I said, I had a great, non-eventful twin pregnancy.  Though I was very sick in the beginning and  I did spend a couple nights in the hospital getting hydrated around week 9...I was better by 16 weeks.  Which is a shorter period of time than what lasted with Mayzie.  Both babies grew appropriately so there was no concern there, I never had to be on bed rest.  I stayed active and enjoyed it for the most part...until the end.

BUT HOLY CRAP, I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE AT THE END!!!

There are a few memories that I have of the end of my pregnancy that are as clear as day and I will never forget.

May 13th, 2010:  It was a rainy day, I had gone to lunch with my friend at Panchero's and my mom had the big kids.  I had the afternoon to myself but for some reason I just didn't feel right.   I finally started throwing up and having contractions at about 3 :00 pm.   I felt very dizzy, hungr and thirsty but couldn't seem to bring myself to drink anything or eat anything.  So I tried to take a nap.  I woke up to a very sharp pain and decided to call Michael to take me to the hospital.  We got there and got hooked up and they told me contractions were coming about every 4 minutes.  They decided to give me drugs to stop the labor and it worked.  We came to find out that Baby B (Tillie)  actually rotated from butt down to head down at 34 weeks 5 days, which is what was causing the terrible pain and nausea.  They couldn't believe that a twin flipped that late.  I felt terrible the next few days!





Preterm labor

 -May 26, 2010: On the last day of Theo's 2 year old preschool I felt like it was crazy for that school year to be ending because I literally was pregnant for the entire year and all of the other moms in the class just watched my belly grow every Monday and Wednesday.  The end of that year meant two things A) I had made my goal to make it to the end and B)  I was about to be the Mother of two more little girls.

Theo's last day of 2 year old preschool

-Walking down the street at the Valley Junction farmer's market and the downtown farmer's market trying to put myself in labor while already pushing a double stroller with a 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old, people would ask me when I was due all the while looking concerned.   I would say "2 weeks, with twins"...I saw their smiles fade in an instant and turn to panic for us.  We would alwas laugh about it and then ask each other "Do we really know what we are in for?"  Turns out they were right it was a little crazy in hindsight, but it was fun at the same time.

A whale

-Memorial day weekend:  I look back and try to ask myself why?  Why did I go to Des Moines Golf and Country Club 36 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins and wear a bikini???  Looking at pictures, I am not so sure I knew how big I really was, but I can remember  floating in water felt heavenly!
 

-Eating a Dairy Queen strawberry cheesequake blizzard every night.  I CRAVED cheesecake, funny because I didn't really like it until then.  I wish I could get pregnant again just to do that.  No matter how much I ate, I wouldn't gain.  It was AWESOME!

37 weeks

- My 37 week appointment:  Tuesday, June 1, 2010 I knew there was a chance that the c-section could be that day if Baby A (Georgia) was in the 10th percentile.  I PRAYED that this was the case...I wanted them out!!!  They did the ultrasound and we met with the doctor after...Baby A averaged 11th percentile.  I had a breakdown and begged for the doctor to do it just ONE week early but he just couldn't do a c-section that early for no reason.  I told him this "The reason is the mom can't breath or walk because there is a head coming out of her vagina."  He didn't seem to care.  Michael told me I could hang in there for one more week.  That one week..8 days actually, felt like 8 years.  NO JOKE!

-June 5th, 2010:  (37.5 weeks)  A bunch of friends from Michael's work met at a park for a pot luck and games.  I did not feel like standing or sitting on a picnic bench and my legs needed elevated so I made Michael stop at Walgreens and buy a reclining lounge chair.  I parked that thing under the pavillion by the food and put my feet up for the night. 

-The night before the scheduled c-section:  I made waffles and watched the Glee season finale.  I remember telling Theo and Mayzie they were going to meet their sisters tomrrow, and I remember being so incredibly excited and anxious and amazed that I had made it this far.  So much for a last good night's sleep.  Theo woke up at 12:45 am burning up and threw up for a good part of the night.  I never got back to sleep that night and I never would sleep again at night for a very long time!

Dear Georgia Cakes and Tillie Bell, 

I have 3 weeks from today until you are one-year-olds!  I thought this picture was kind of funny because it reminded me that even though you have both changed and grown so much in a year, that actually not that much has changed.  This is exactly what I would have seen at an ultrasound.  Tillie hogged up all the space in the womb and Georgia was scrunched all up! 

In the shopping cart at 11 months...Tillie using Georgia as a back-rest

Tillie all sprawled out and Georgia all cuddle up at 2 weeks