Beautiful

I feel like I am as heavy as a whale. I waddle like a duck. I am about as quick as a turtle and roll over as easily as one too. My clothes don't fit well and my ankles have morphed into large sausage-like rolls that extend from my calves to my toes. The stretch marks across my belly are deep red and purple and my belly button is inverted halfway, oddly visible through the front of my clothes. I breathe heavy doing, well...nearly anything, and feel exhausted most of the time. Some days I don't even feel human, let alone pretty.

And yet every day--every single day--I am reminded of this reality, of how I look:
Adorable. Cute. Pretty. Flickin' Hot. Sexy. Beautiful.
He says it with words, he shows me with gestures. I may complain about this or that ("My hips are so wide!" or "How ugly are my cankles?!" or "I look incredibly large in this shirt."), however his response is the same, and I am reminded of how beautiful I am--even now--when I often feel anything but.

Now THAT is beautiful. And so am I.

Thank you, it's true. :)

TRUST.

2013.  It's a new year.  With new possibilities, new life, new love.  A chance to begin again and a chance to continue on.

Whether we like it or not, it will be everything we create it to be.  I've learned that's just how life works, and have embraced this idea (somewhat reluctantly at times) to help me adjust my attitude accordingly.  Do I want things to be difficult or easy?  Do I want to focus on all the beautiful and good I have before and around me, or just the pain and hardships?  (Give this one a shot, and you'll find you'll experience more of what you focus on, whether it's something you want or not.)  Do I want more of the same, or something completely different?  It's largely my choice, and how I choose to perceive and respond to any given situation.

So in thinking about this upcoming year, what do I want it to look like?  Lord knows we have a lot on our plate and in many ways, I'm downright terrified.  There are so many questions we don't have answers to, and so many "plans" that--since they remain in the future--remain unfulfilled.  And we know better than anyone that plans don't always work out as originally intended, and have therefore transformed our expectations into hopes--wishes for the future with great prayers backing each thought of how I'd like it to be.

2013.  What do I want to experience?  How do I want to feel?  How do I want to be?

Inspired by a friend's blog (http://www.inwardboundco.com/?p=1478) I decided to choose a word for this year, something that I could intentionally practice, that if I was more of, could/would support me in experiencing more of what I want to experience this year.  I thought of a word right away, yet chewed on it for awhile before making it official.  My word, for 2013: TRUST.

Trust God, that He truly knows what's best for me and my family this year (because it's His plan that's underway!), and will lead us in the right direction all the way around.  That He will provide for us, and remind us how much we are loved regardless of what may lie ahead.

Trust myself, that I will make good choices and do all that I need to for the well-being of myself and my family.

Trust Raleigh, that he will do the same on his end and that even when I cannot control certain pieces, he will manage what he can and things will be taken care of as needed.

Trust the doctors, that they support me in keeping our babies healthy through a full term pregnancy, and assist us in a smooth delivery of two healthy and strong baby boys.  And that if any situation presents itself that needs their expertise and knowledge to support us in making a decision about our care, that they will be able to guide us well, with great compassion and love.

Trust that we'll find adequate caregivers at the right time, to care not only for Blake, but his two brothers as well.  (Suggestions welcome!)

Trust that we'll financially be able to pull this off, and not only provide for our family of five with ease, but continue to share our blessings with others less fortunate.

Trust that others mean what they say, when they say it; believing offers of help and support from others are genuine and coming from the heart, versus being said out of obligation or because "that's just what you do".  And trust that when I accept these offers, I am not damaging the relationship with these folks and/or perpetuating any feelings of resentment or ingratitude.

TRUST . . . it is a daily challenge to live this word, and yet when I have done so wholeheartedly, have already seen great results.  Here's to more of it in the days, weeks, and months to come!

I Remember . . .

Once I stepped through the doors, I smelled it almost immediately . . . the NICU.  One glance at Raleigh and it was clear he was right there with me: "Do you feel those tingles?" he asked.  I nodded and continued on silently.  Slowly, the NICU doors came into view and a chill swept through my body as my heart began to race; we've been here before.

It's amazing how much sensory memory we have, and how something as simple as a light smell can transport us back in time to (at least in this case) a place that in some ways, I'd rather forget.  However I cannot forget, and last night, I most definitely--and vividly--remember . . .

I remember the sounds of the automatic doors opening, the deep rattle of the buzzer that unlocks the doors to the land of babies who need lots of love and attention (only those that need to enter do!), and the sounds of the monitors attached to every child to watch for oxygen and heart rate levels.  I remember the quietness of the floor as we trekked through still and empty hallways while other patients were sleeping, headed towards the chaos of the always-bustling NICU--wishing that I, too, could find some time and space to rest.  I remember kissing Blake before leaving his bedside, praying that he'd be in a better condition when I came back, and we'd be closer to going home as a family.  I remember climbing into my cold and sterile hospital bed at night, wishing I could cuddle with my baby on my chest like moms in other rooms were doing and/or have my husband hold me tight, just so I could feel his physical presence as I drifted off for a few minutes of restless sleep.  I remember digging through my suitcase looking for clean clothes to wear, realizing that 3 days' worth of postpartum outfits was not going to suffice for a 2+ week stay.  I remember looking out the window onto the city streets below, and wondering how in the world everyone could just carry on with their lives--walking their dog, laughing with a friend at lunch, casually chatting it up at a bus stop--all while our world seemed to stand still as we held our breath waiting for news that our baby boy was indeed getting better and would one day, come home with us.

In some ways, it looked so familiar last night.  And in others, so very different.  Familiar in that we knew where we were and what life can look like inside those walls.  Different, primarily because we weren't living there; we were just visitors, passing through.  This time, I didn't have to stay.  And Blake was in my arms.

The group of folks we were with (mainly first time parents) were all enamored with the details . . . the ipod docking stations in the private labor/delivery rooms, the dimable lights on the walls, the fireplace in the family waiting area, full wi-fi access, the jacuzzi tubs, the cute decorations with baby hand prints and footprints adorning walls and walkways, the kitchenettes for late night snacks and treats, etc. . . . all the little things that although cool at first, in our experience, didn't play much of a role at all when it came to welcoming our kiddo into this world and getting him healthy enough to come home.  We barely spent 4 hours enjoying those details (if at all) before my life turned upside down and Raleigh was scrambling to get into hospital scrubs and follow me down the hallway to the operating room.  My oh my, how quickly things can change.

Last night as we took another maternity tour at the hospital (just to be sure nothing had changed since we were there earlier this year for Blake's birth), my heart swelled with joy and ached with memory at the same time.  I had no idea how walking those halls again, seeing the rooms, hearing the hustle and bustle of a busy maternity ward would stir my heart . . . yet it did.  Last time we were here, I was too overwhelmed to take much in, and once things became "routine" amongst our time in the Mother/Baby Unit (where I was without my baby) and the NICU (our home away from home, essentially), we were more on survival mode than anything.  Boy, a place sure does look different when you're looking through those lenses.

So, I remember . . . and choose to look back at that time in our lives as one that shaped our family for the better.  It wasn't easy by any means, however one look at my beautiful baby boy and I realize it was all worth it and together, we grew so much.  And if we find ourselves in a similar situation again (hoping not, but being prepared for the possibility), I know that we will pull through and one day, will again pass by the doors that don't hold our current life, but rather, just a memory.  One that I choose to hold onto.

Club Member

So over the past few months it's become very clear, very fast--being parents to twins (and identical twins at that!) is not something many can say.  It appears we are indeed members of quite an exclusive club.

That being said, I've been asked the following questions quite a few times and realize that unless I was not in the middle of experiencing this adventure (and trust me, learning TONS as we go!), would probably be wondering the same.  So, here's a quick recap of my experience with regards to carrying twins, knowing full well that next month may look different that this one, and/or that other moms of twins might answer the questions very differently for themselves:

Q: Does it feel different having two squirming bodies play/roll/kick inside versus just one?
A: Not really--to me, it feels nearly the same to have these two boys moving inside as it felt when Blake was still swimming and growing.  Perhaps that's because I hardly ever feel both babies move at the same time (they'd BETTER get on the same schedule before arrival, that's for sure!) and so in general the movements feel the same, they just alter between my left and right front abdominal sides (which was how Blake felt as he turned around in my belly).

Q: If it really doesn't feel different to have two babies inside, does this pregnancy as a whole feel the same as it did when you had a singleton?
A: Most definitely NOT!  I feel like this pregnancy is moving along at a much faster clip than Blake's did, and I think Raleigh would agree.  Now, that could partially be because we found out we were pregnant ten weeks in so the first trimester was nearly complete before we learned we were expecting (talk about starting a race one-third of the way through!).  However having two babies inside means that I feel like I'm twice as far along at each step than I did with Blake.  My back hurts likes the dickens ALL THE TIME (not an issue for me with Blake until nearly the end).  And I'm bigger than I was at 26 weeks with Blake too (for obvious reasons).  I get winded much more quickly, have to pee far more often, my belly button is nearly inside out (a new experience for me), and am growing out of my clothes at a much faster pace.  As long as these babies stay in as long as they're supposed to, though (at least to 37 weeks, we pray), then I know the discomfort I feel now and in the weeks to come will all be worth it.

Q: How do you keep the babies straight?  (In other words, how can I tell who is who while in utero?)
A: From our first appointment with the specialist (called a perinatologist, for those who want to know), the doctors labeled the baby closest to my cervix as "Baby A" and the other one as "Baby B".  They can each flip/turn around in their own sacs, but their sacs cannot change places within my uterus (since they are attached/secured by the placenta, which they share).  Therefore Baby A is the one always on my right side and Baby is the one on my left.  Kicks on the right are therefore from Baby A and kicks on the left are from Baby B.  Depending on their vertical position (head up or head down), I can sometimes be unsure of who is kicking me near the lungs, and who is pushing my belly from below ("Was that Baby A or Baby B?").  However, they are starting to each have their own pattern of movement and I think I can usually tell them apart.  Baby B is my feisty one, always kicking HARD and forcefully pushing and rolling against my abdominal wall; he's fairly quick with his movements too, giving me fast jabs to the gut (and bladder!) when he feels the need.  Baby A is much more gentle and slow going, making soft roll-over movements here and light pressure kicks there.  I'm excited to see if this is just how they are moving at this stage in the pregnancy and/or if these traits will follow them to the outside world . . .
**On a side note, after Baby A appeared to be flipping us the bird during the last ultrasound, the doctor hypothesized that maybe Baby A was the feisty one, and that his movements seem lighter than Baby B's only because he's kicking and pushing against his brother instead of me!  I guess time will tell on this one!  :)

Q: Since the boys are twins (and identical at that), you're going to dress them in matching outfits, right?
A: Believe it or not, but identical clothing is not a requirement for identical twins.  (I checked, and there is no manual!)  And Raleigh and I have talked about it a lot, and very quickly came to the agreement that we don't want our boys to feel like they're only a person of value when they're part of the eye-catching twin duo (face it--folks are FASCINATED by twins!).  Instead, we want them to feel special as they are, all the time, simply because they are each uniquely wonderful and amazing.  We are therefore doing what we can to celebrate their differences (whatever they may be) and encourage them to be their own person, regardless of what their brothers (Blake included) might be/do.  Of course if they look and do the same things as their brothers simply because they are brothers and close in age (and/or because they want to), that's ok--we just don't want them to feel forced to be like this and/or make anything negative up about their individual worth since they were conceived and born as a pair.  Nothing against parents of twins who found matching outfits cutesy and/or entertaining, however we will purposefully be making a different choice for our boys--at least for now.

I think that's it for now, but am sure other questions will continue to pop up.  And as I receive them, I'll ponder them and answer them honestly.  We are still learning what being members of this exclusive club is all about, and what the benefits of membership are.  The cost is high, however I believe the rewards will be even higher.  Here's to a lifetime membership!

What a difference two weeks can make!

So . . . two weeks ago we left the doctor's office feeling quite nervous and very helpless.  The boys weighed one ounce from a pound (Baby A, one under and Baby B, one over) and that 2 oz. discrepancy placed them at a 13-15% weight difference.  The "worry" benchmark for Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) would be at 20%, and even upon calm prompting, the doctor refused to tell us what our next steps would be should we hit that not-so-great number, citing the fact that all I would do was worry, and that wouldn't help any of the three of us in any positive way.  (He also forbade us to do any research on our own, since what is online doesn't give the whole picture and as he put it, "It's pretty scary stuff.")

And so we left, knowing full well there is nothing either one of us can do to change the blood flow within the placenta and/or the way the babies are sharing their source of food and nutrients.  All we could do was pray.

And so we did.  And just one day shy of two weeks later, we returned to the doctor's office . . .

Dr. Stark let us listen to their heartbeats first and foremost, so that we could have some audio confirmation as to how they're doing.  155 and 153 beats per minute . . . good.  We still held our breath.  First came Baby A . . . in the breech position (he turned again!), and measurements were taken--head circumference and femur length.  The ultrasound tech quickly typed notes into the computer system.  Dr. Stark sat near my feet, one hand on my leg, watching the screen in silence.  Then came Baby B . . . head down (he must have flipped too!), and again, measurements.  More typing.

Dr. Stark turns towards both Raleigh and I, and said, "Well, just eyeballing it here . . . I don't see any evidence of twin-to-twin."  I think we both let out a sigh of relief and I'm pretty sure, a tear of gratitude ran down my cheek just as I looked heavenward to thank the Lord and all of our family's angels.

By the time the appointment was over, we learned that Baby B had grown 5 more ounces (weighing a total of 1 lb, 6 oz.) and Baby A had closed the gap by growing 6 more ounces (weighing a total of 1 lb., 5 oz.)  Not only are they measuring where they should on the singleton weight chart for 24 weekers, but now that they're bigger, the 1 ounce difference between the two means less, and their weight discrepancy is a mere 4.5%--less than half the ideal maximum of 10%.  Hooray!  We are SO happy!

THANK YOU to all who prayed along with us for the past two weeks, and who continue to keep all 5 of us in thoughts and prayers during the coming weeks, months, and years ahead.  TTTS can develop at any time, however with each passing week of good growth on behalf of both boys, our chances of developing the condition decrease dramatically.  We still have to see the perinatologist every 2 weeks to monitor the condition of the babies (as well as occasional visits with my regular OB/GYN to ensure my well being), so although we aren't out of the woods yet, we are standing at a decent clearing and are going to continue to be watched carefully by experts for the remainder of the pregnancy.

I think just how far both boys have come since just two weeks ago . . . and I am excited to see where they'll be in another two!  Hooray for healthy babies!

Please, spare me the obvious.

• "Three boys?!  Wow--you're going to have your hands full!"
• (Looking at Blake): "He's how old?  And you're expecting twins by March?" (Big eye roll followed by a very sarcastic tone): "Good luck with that!"
• "Three kids under a year . . . wow, that's going to be tough!"

Yes, folks . . . we know.  Our situation isn't exactly typical and may not fit your vision of a perfect family.  But please, spare us the obvious.  We are well aware having three young children will likely challenge us in ways we would not have been should Blake have been an only child for some time longer.  We have already felt many emotional, physical, and financial effects of our status (Can you say, BLESSED?! We do!), and we are not shirking down from the responsibility of being the best parents we can be, to all of our children.  If you cannot say something encouraging, then please do not say anything at all.  Preparing for twins is stressful enough (if you have never done so, that just leaves less room for you to assume you know what it's like!); throw in the fact that we already have an amazing young one at home, and you might start to understand how constant reminders about how difficult life could be come spring is not helpful.  You may not realize how your comments come across, but verbalizing such things only contribute to stress and feelings of overwhelm, which are not supportive; please filter.

Instead, we relish and very much appreciate the comments that are supportive, and encourage us in our upcoming adventure . . .

• "Two more boys?  You certainly are blessed!"
• "You guys are such wonderful parents to Blake . . . these next two are lucky to have you!"
• "I can only imagine how you must be feeling . . . I'd love to help out in any way that I can, if needed.  Call me!"
• "You'll do great!  I just know it!"
• "I'm sure you are both still a bit overwhelmed, but I am so confident that you will continue to be amazing parents."

And, just for those who have wondered (whether or not you were bold enough to ask), here are a few other things we'd like folks to know (so you don't have to ask):

1. (After an obvious head-to-toe inspection of my body, catching my growing belly and an eight month old on my hip): Yes, we know what causes this.  And no, we don't want to hear your thoughts on family planning.

2. Yes, we are Catholic; and proud of it!

3. Yes, we're glad it's us and not you, too!

4. We are not prepared (nor willing) to discuss the future family planning of our family with anyone at this time; thank you for voicing your opinion, though.  (Although I will admit, I'm tempted to answer the "You're done after this, right?" question with "No we plan to keep going until we get an ugly one!")

5. Only God knows why He's given us three children so close together, yet we will always be grateful to Him for so many blessings.

And the comments about us having Irish twins (or triplets)?  Well, they're getting pretty old too.  Before you use that phrase to describe our family, please look up the origin of the phrase and be sure that's exactly the message you mean to convey.  Thank you.

One tooth, Two teeth, One poo, Two potty?!

Could it be true?  Really?!

Our little boy is growing up so fast!

Without any sign of serious teething (he's been drooling for months, as most babies do), I was surprised to find a sharp, white ridge of a tooth along Blake's bottom gum line, on October 24.  His first tooth!

Just a little more than two weeks later, on November 9th, I was surprised to feel another sharp ridge, right next to the first.  Tooth number two!  And much like the first time, we had very few signs anything was happening in that cute mouth of his.  (Now if only he'd show them off so I can upload a photo!  They're SO cute!)

And that same day . . . (this is where it gets really crazy) . . . Blake pooped in the potty!  He'd started going in his diaper in the early evening (he doesn't hide it well) and Raleigh and I thought he'd finished by about an hour later when we were getting ready for a bath.  Two seconds after hitting the water it was obvious he was still working on something, so I quickly pulled him out and sat him over the potty.  Raleigh and I encouraged him to keep going, and after a few minutes of giving us a rather perplexed look ("You want me to do what, where?!"), he began concentrating and a couple grunts later, he pushed out 3 fairly massive little man poops!  And he peed too!  Raleigh and I praised Blake in celebration, and I urged Raleigh to get the camera.  (Who could let a milestone like this go undocumented?)

Blake smiled SO big . . . you could tell he was very proud of himself, as were we!  I'll keep the "evidence" shot in our private family albums, but here's one of our proud and big little man!

Both Raleigh and I reveled in the success of the day, and have talked about it numerous times afterwards.  (Who would have thought our 8 month old would have pooped on the potty, without any "real" training?!) However, the story doesn't end there . . . last night after I returned home from a baby class at the hospital (turns out there is a lot to breastfeeding twins!), I kissed a sleeping Blake and Raleigh pointed me to the bathroom, where a diaper was folded up on the back of the toilet.

"Is it clean?" I asked, noticing that it appeared to be empty and unused.

"No, I think it was wet," Raleigh responded.  "But it's there because that's where I took it off . . . and where Blake went poop again."

"What?!  Really?!"  I was floored.  He went poop in the potty again!  Hooray!

Now before we get lots of folks telling us this is nothing special . . . it is!  And for those who say that this doesn't "mean" anything . . . it does!  We understand that Blake isn't likely to trade in diapers for little briefs any time soon, however, we think this is a good start!  And at least he's getting the idea of where to go and more so, isn't afraid to.  So . . . we'll keep at it and see if something more consistent develops!  Heck, if we can have only two kids in diapers sooner rather than later (versus three), I'll take it!