First Month- What Did I Learn

So we have one month under our belts as parents of twins, I can't say it has been easy but it's not as hard as I expected.  Now, give me a few more months when they're mobile and I may retract the above statement.

I thought I would share a few things I have had the opportunity to learn over the past month:

• A scheduled C-section is way better than laboring for hours before you get wheeled into the operating room.

• If you think you have enough diapers & wipes stocked up... you don't!

• Don't assume your babies will be on the same formula. 

• Boys are a whole diffrent adventure when it comes to getting peed and pooped on. Cover that thing up and quickly!

• Washing & sanitizing bottles for two babies is a full time job.

• You may be so tired at night that you think you're feeding one baby only to later realize it's the other baby...and wrong bottle. Oops!!

• Don't assume they will wear the same size clothes or diapers at the same time. This hasn't happened to us yet but only occured to me that it could a few days ago. 

• Your 4 year old will love them so much that she will want to smoother them with hugs and kisses...even at 4:00am. 

• You will plan ahead to make sure your 4 year old will get plenty of alone time only to find she will become hysterical if you attempt to make her leave her brothers.

• Eating lunch or anything before 6:00pm  will likely not happen often the first month. On the other hand, you will drink a pot of coffee every day!

• If you expect our entire family to be someplace tell us to be there 30 minutes before the actual arrival time. Otherwise, expect us to be 30 minutes late. (This is a huge pet peeve of both Adam and I, you can bet we will get better)

• Newborn pictures are a whole new level of stressful with two babies, especially when they both decide to be awake. A few drinks may be required!

• Our twins have an agreement to never sleep at the same time during the day. 

• They come out with their own language, or in our case their own grunting. They literally lay and grunt back and forth to each other.

I am sure there is more but that's all this tired brain can think of right now.  Here is to the beginning of month two!!

Hospital Pictures

Carter David with daddy

Colten Stephen with daddy

Big Sister Madelyn meeting the babies

All bathed and bundled up

Mommy & daddy comparing their looks

McCord siblings

Twin cuddles

Going home!!!

So far so good at home, I hope to update  again soon as I find time.  Will I ever have time again????

They're Here!! 38 Weeks!

38 weeks pregnant with fraternal twin boys!!  The morning of their birthday, July 2nd 2013.

Carter David is on the left, weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz. and 19.5 inches long!

Colten Stephen is on the right, weighing 6 lbs. 5 oz. and 18.75 inches long!

They are PERFECT and we are in LOVE!!

P.S. Big sister Madelyn is doing great also and seems to be smitten with them as well!!

Big Sister...Almost

Tomorrow morning my "baby" will become a big sister to two baby brothers.  It seems surreal and exciting, I feel like we have done our best to prepare Madelyn for the changes about to happen with our family.  I know we can't prepare for everything and we will have some bumps in the road but I am ready for those as well.

We spent the past weekend doing our best to make her feel special and spoiled. It may not be what some people recommend but frankly, "I don't care". I wanted to be 100% focused on Maddy, as much as you can being 38 weeks pregnant with twins.  

We started the weekend by having dinner at C. R. Heroes, the girl loves their soft pretzels. I must admit they are extremely good!  Plus, it's a fun environment for kids.  

Saturday morning we got up and went to see Monsters University at the movie theatre, if you get a chance to hear the girl say the word "theatre" you won't be disappointed.  The movie was really cute and she did the best she ever has sitting through a movie.  On a side note, why in the world do they make you sit through 20 previews these days, especially at a kids movie? So annoying!! 

Later that evening we went to Broad Ripple and had dinner at Bazbeauxs Pizza, we sat outside along the canal. After dinner she and Adam went on a walk along the canal where she could watch the ducks, geese and turtles.  I enjoyed sitting and watching them, nothing quite like a daddy and his daughter. I especially loved when a band began playing and Maddy broke out in dance. It was the cutest thing ever!!

On Sunday we slept in and cuddled together, she is a great little cuddle bug. Adam took her on a long bike ride, she is getting more comfortable and fast on her bike.  

We headed to the Fishers Freedom Festival Parade that afternoon, it was fun and wet.  It began a steady rain about 10 minutes after the parade started but we toughed it out and stayed for the whole thing. Madelyn was just excited to use an  umbrella, why do kids love those so much?   

We headed to dinner after the parade at Scotty's Brewhouse, kids eat free on Sundays!  We drove home after dinner for a little rest before heading back to the festival to watch fireworks.  We made a pit stop before fireworks though for some frozen yogurt at Zogurts. So yummy!!  

We found a quiet little parking lot in Fishers, popped the back hatch, ate our yogurt and watched fireworks.  I bought a few glow necklaces the day before, fireworks aren't complete without a glow necklace.

We hope she had a fun weekend, she slept until almost 10:00am on Monday so  we were at least successful in wearing her out!!

We are excited to introduce Madelyn to her brothers tomorrow, I have no doubt she will be an awesome big sister.

Mommy and Daddy love you very much, Madelyn! 

37 Weeks with Twins

37 weeks and still going strong...wait, strong may be an over statement.  I am whipped!! 

Since my last update I have hit my limit, I have had many breakdowns thinking I just cannot do this anymore. Yet, I have managed to make it another week.  In my last post I wrote about having some pain near my c-section scar, I believed it was scar tissue.  Last Tuesday that pain got much worse and I could barely walk, after a visit with my doctor we learned that I have a hernia.  It's fairly common for pregnant women to get a hernia during pregnancy.  I have trudged along, thanks to Tylenol! I will have the hernia repaired during my c-section with the twins.

That wasn't the end of week 36 surprises though, I had been dealing with very itchy belly and stretch marks as I also mentioned in my last post.  Well I noticed that itchiness started to spread to my legs, chest and arms. PUPPPS rash! It's the most horrid thing ever! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I find myself awake numerous times at night just itching and scratching.  I guess it's a good way to prepare for night feedings with the boys. I am basically sucking it up and using an antihistamine and Sarna Lotion to cope. From what I have read it should go away about a week after delivery. Fingers crossed!

I have read that it's smart to keep the babies in the same infant carrier, mainly to cut down on any illness if one were to come down with something.  It obviously won't stop it from happening but it can help.  I saw lots of people using ribbons tied on the carrier, pink for the girl and blue for the boy. Uh, doesn't help when you are having same sex twins.  So I decided to use the same concept but paint their names on the ribbon.  Picture below!  It should also help if they end up looking a lot alike.

I had an ultrasound this morning, it was pretty much impossible to see much at this point. They are both head down and quite cramped.  According to the u/s Baby A is measuring 6lbs. 6 oz. and Baby B is measuring 6lbs. 10 oz.  I can't believe it and I don't think my doctors can either, of course these are only estimates of very crowded babies so we will see.  

No signs of delivery at this point so we are planning to have them on Tuesday morning, July 2nd at 7:30am. That has been my scheduled date for a month now. 

FIVE days until we become a party of 5!!

36 Weeks with Twins

I really can't believe I am still pregnant with these guys. They just continue to plug along all comfy in there, I thought with my height (5'2") they would've arrived by now but I guess they are content!

My stomach has dropped and it's getting harder and harder with each day to carry them. My c-section is scheduled for July 2nd if I don't have them before that.  I went out and bought little 4th of July onesies for them! Next week we have a growth ultrasound scheduled on the 27th, I am so anxious to know how big they are. We are estimating around 6 lbs each. Whooaaahhh!!!

It's clear that my doctors primary concern is for the babies to stay put as long as possible.  Because they took me off work I have been able to rest and take things easy, I am positive this is why I have been able to carry them this long. 

My blood pressure continues to do well since being off work and the babies are doing so well with the non-stress tests. My biggest complaints are the heartburn and the stretchmarks which actually feel like burns at this point.  I am also experiencing quite a bit of pain around my original c-section scar, I guess it's scar tissue that is being pulled and causes a burning sensation.

Here is a picture Adam took the other night while I was sitting on the couch. The babies move around so much and it looked like one of them actually sat up, my stomach was so deformed looking. 

Here is to 36 weeks, working on 37!!

34 & 35 Weeks

I wish I had some fantastic news to share but not a lot has changed in two weeks other than becoming very uncomfortable.

We are estimating the babies to be between 10-11 pounds together at this point. I can still feel and see a lot of movement but can no longer tell who is who.  I love watching Madelyn's face when she watches the babies move, her giggle is priceless! I always ask her which baby she thinks it is and she always says Carter.  Carter is either already her favorite or he better be prepared for his big sister to show him who's boss.

I am continuing my twice weekly non-stress tests, so far they have all gone well. I keep thinking one of these visits they won't let me leave.  My blood sugar is being controlled pretty well with diet and a small pill dose of insulin. I am finding it more and more difficult to sleep and walk.  I can barely turn over in bed anymore, I really feel bad for Adam, I know he hasn't slept well either for a few months now.  As for walking I feel pretty good until mid-day and then the weight begins to take it's toll and I slow way down.  My newest issue is the itchiness of my stomach, it's unreal how much it itches from the stretching.  I slather it with cocoa butter numerous times a day but it's not helping much.  I have even made myself bleed a few times from scratching, maybe that's TMI but I am trying to document all of the details.

During this whole experience I have found it difficult to find a lot of "real" information on being pregnant with multiples.  Because of that I decided to document the good, bad and ugly.  I don't intend to sound negative because overall I have had a good pregnancy. Just trying to keep it real!!!!

Hope to meet these two boys soon!!