Bringing home BABIES!

And then there were....Six!

Ask any parent of twins and you get the same answer: the first year was a blur! That is pretty much true! When the twins came home from the hospital, we were in feeding mode. Who ate what, when, how much: who pooped or peed and when....you get the picture. I created a worksheet (that's the type A personality in me..thanks dad!). I did this for two reasons: 1) they lost a lot of weight in the hospital. William was down to 4 lbs 15 oz and Austin was down to 5 lbs 1 oz. 2) they had really bad jaundice and the more they ate, the more they peed it out. We had multiple doctor visits and lab visits the first week of their life due to the jaundice. The doctor ordered ultraviolet lights be put on them at home for a few days to see if that would help. If that didn't work, they would have to be placed in the hospital under their lights and closer watch.
When the lights were delivered, they had to be naked and wrapped in an awkward pad of light that glowed. I called them my alien babies. Thank goodness it was only for a few days. During that time, my hormones kicked in and I was so upset over the jaundice. I just cried when I thought of how bad I just wanted them to come out and wondered if I could have held them in a little longer they wouldn't have to be in these alien lights. Things like that. But looking back I really couldn't have held two babies in any longer than what they did! And they were healthy otherwise. Thankfully, their jaundice blood test came down, and we didn't need those lights anymore!

Sleeping was not a luxury that I had. Of course I had a plan on how we were going to take turns sleeping and feeding before I had them. However, as moms all around the world know, nothing can prepare you for the reality of one baby...let alone two! For the first two weeks, Mike and I did try taking shifts like I had originally planned. I also had a very helpful mother in law and my step mom came over to help take some shifts so I could sleep. However, I am a light sleeper and a mom with instincts I can't put on sleep mode. So, needless to say I took charge of the feedings during the middle of night.

The twins were sharing a pack'n play with a bassinet on the top (LOVED it so much I bought two..one for the living room and one for my room). In the middle of the night I would wait for one to wake up (they were finally eating better and not waiting for me to tell them they were hungry)and eat, then burp him and change him (if needed) then wake the other one up and do the same. The boys began creating their own sleeping pattern and got the hang of it! Every three hours they would eat. Many times I was so exhausted I tried not waking the other one up to see if he would sleep through the night, but that never worked and there were many times I was up every other hour with them. PS: I planned on formula feeding them from the moment I conceived them. I wasn't a breastfeeding kind of mom with the other two, let alone with twins. It ended up being a blessing because I could see how much they ate and they had to eat so much it was nice to just make the milk and feed them. They did have tummy issues so I ended up having to buy Similac Sensitive Formula and it seemed to help with the gas. It was amazing how much formula they could go through! They went through a mega can of formula every other day! They were my hungry hippos now!

They were two months old when I had to go back to work. I was still teaching 6th grade. The whole month before I had to return, I was so distraught. I had never been a working mom with little ones, and I knew I would have to put them in daycare before they were born, but it was reality now. I could not imagine not being there to take care of them. Several nights I just sat and cried while I was holding them at the thought of them not being with me. My mom had said "Every mom has a hard time leaving their baby." I felt it was harder with twins. It was double the worry, double the care, and double the cost. I put in my head that I was going to finish out the school year and then be an at home mom. We would find a way to survive after that. My mother in law said she would watch them as it was only 3 months left in the school year. I felt relieved that she was watching them, as she is an awesome grandma. It was still very difficult to leave them, even if it was for a short amount of time. My heart belonged at home with my children.


Create Your Own

Time went on and I literally had to cut off my emotions in order to deal with being a working mom. That is the only way I can explain it. It was difficult, but it did get easier with time. The idea that I was going to be an at home mom soon kept me going. The school year ended and it was time for me to decide to give up my job that I had worked so hard for (I forgot to mention that I was in the middle of my Master's degree program as well as clearing my teaching credential in my second year of a state mandated teacher induction program through all of this). I had spent the last 8 years trying to become a permanent teacher and that would all go away. It was hard getting a job as a teacher and I didn't want to give up a good spot in education. We were also having a hard time financially making it as it was WITH me working. How would we survive if I didn't work? I had to think about ALL of my children, not just on what I wanted. All of my children needed me, financially and emotionally. It was a difficult decision, but my mother in law said she would watch them, and my sister in law (also a teacher) said she would take turns when she was off track watching them with her. I would pay them both for watching them, at a lower rate than daycare centers, but it was still a very expensive monthly expense for our big family. I felt better knowing they would be in good hands. I also got three months off throughout the school year to spend with them. So, with all of that, I decided to keep working and got a great position teaching 4th grade at my school site.


Create Your Own

Time went on, and sleep still did not exist for me. They were in their own cribs at this time, as they were becoming more and more mobile! It was amazing at this age to see them notice each other and interact with each other. They were like real babies! They began eating solid foods, which added a new expense to our food costs. I found diapers.com site where I could order not only bulk boxes of diapers and wipes, but baby food. I would spend $250 dollars every other week in expenses just for the twins eating and changings! I thought for sure they would not need to wake up and eat, even the doctor told me to just let them cry. However, I couldn't stand to hear them cry! Plus that would wake the other baby up! Our nights continue to include feedings every 3 hours. I also was selfish and continued to do this as it made them quiet so I could at least get a few hours at night. Like I said, the first year was a blur, but amazing to see them grow and change into little chubby babies! They were the best blessings that I never knew I wanted!

Create Your Own