The Hypochondriac and the Twins

Most people who knew me before I was pregnant knew I had a mild case of hypochondria.  It wasn't completely unwarranted hypochondria: I was constantly on antibiotics for sinus infections, couldn't breathe without allergy meds and, for quite a few years, couldn't leave the house without my inhaler.  That being said, I had an addiction to WebMD for a while, and if I had a pain or felt ill I would find out from WebMD that it could be a rare genetic mutation, or my kidney was failing, or it was cancer.  (Seriously WebMD, is it ALWAYS cancer?)

I never let my hypochondria go completely rampant, I never went in to the doctor's office and claimed that I was dying of some rare disease, or that a mild case of stomach cramps was in fact the beginnings of Chrone's or something.  I did, however, correctly diagnose the basal cell carcinoma on my temple last year, and now I have a free pass to be overly vigilant about anything "iffy" on my skin.

Anyways, anyone who has ever had those feelings, those worries, knows that it's exhausting to care that much about nothing.  It takes a lot of effort to worry.  Part of the problem is my need to know/control things.  I like being in control, or at least the illusion of control.  So with all health issues, if I can figure out what's causing me to feel bad on my own then I'm obviously in control, and therefore happy.  I think it also has to do with fear of the unknown.  When I had the area on my temple biopsied I did a ton of Wikipedia research (because WebMD would obviously tell me it's cancer) and I actually felt better when I realized it was, in all likelihood, basal cell carcinoma.  From reading, I learned that this specific type of cancer is the type of you want to get (if you have to get skin cancer) because it doesn't spread and is easily removed.  It calmed my nerves knowing that I was 99% sure I had the most benign form of cancer, and once removed, it would be gone completely.

In January of this year, when I found out I was pregnant, I let my hypochondria slip.  I had mentioned to the doctor that I had just tested positive for two clotting disorders, Factor V Leiden mutation and a Protein S Deficiency.  The important thing to note at this point is that I have never had a clot, I was tested because of my mother's history of clotting.  Once the words "clotting disorder" was out of my mouth, I immediately had a prescription for Lovenox in my hand.  Daily injections into my abdomen to prevent blood clots.  I think in the first week it made me feel good, that I was preventing something that could negatively effect my pregnancy, but by week two I was OVER it.

Kevin and I found out at 5 and a half weeks that we were having twins.  It was that day, the moment we saw two sacs, that something short circuited in my brain.  We were trying for one baby, I peed on enough sticks to know we had achieved that, and now this German guy is telling we're having TWO at ONCE.  My need to control was spinning out of control and somehow the hypochondriac gene fell off my radar.  If I couldn't control the number of babies I was having, I obviously had no control over the entire pregnancy.  I mean, the amount of babies a woman has is not usually something you even have to think about!!

So for the remainder of the pregnancy I was amazingly worry-free.  Somehow I no longer worried about having a miscarriage, I didn't worry that my babies were going to be misshapen or disfigured, I didn't even have any genetic testing done because I knew there's nothing I can do about it anyways.  I think the best phrase to describe what happened during the pregnancy is "Let go, and let God".  I had to give up control and just let things happen the way they were meant to happen.  If I had one, or two babies that had Downs Syndrome then that was my lot in life, to take care of two special needs babies. If I were to go into labor extremely early then I was meant to be a NICU mommy.  I managed to change my hypochondria into destiny.

Now that the girls are here I am thankful they cured me of hypochondria.  It would be far too tiring to always worry about if they're breathing, if they're growing, if they're upset about something.  Somehow deep down I know that they will let me know if something is wrong.  We've had a few scares where one of the girls will inhale some spit up, and it's a sound that is nothing like a hunger-cry.  It's a bone chilling scream and forces you up to help.  But a quick suction with the bulb syringe and a few minutes of burping and everything is fine once again.  I think those moments are also necessary for the parents, once I see that she's OK, I have this amazing feeling of, "I can do this"!  These two little girls depend on Kevin and I for everything, it's an immense amount of trust, and every day I feel a little more in control of providing everything they're ever going to need.

Now on to pictures... I took some "professional" newborn pictures of the girls. :)  Here are the ones I have edited, I have a few more that still need editing, but I'm so tired that you'll all just have to wait!

Little Miss Avery 

My Sweet Reese

 Avery on the left, Reese on the right

Avery didn't want her head propped on her hands, but Reese didn't mind 

Models in the making...

12 Days Old

Reese and Avery are almost two weeks old!  My mom left yesterday, so we've been on our own for 24 hours now.  On his way home from taking my mom to the airport Kevin picked up some furniture from Ikea, and we now have a complete bedroom.  Before yesterday our mattress was sitting on the floor, in addition to a broken box spring that sagged in the middle because of our move (Kevin was gracious enough to take that side of the bed).  So we've finally moved in to our own bedroom, and since we moved the co-sleeper in, too, it was the first night the whole family slept together since leaving the hospital.

I have to start out by saying how thankful I am to our friends and family who have helped out.  My mom was a lifesaver, running to the grocery store, cooking dinner and getting the house organized.  After a 3-day stay in the hospital plus more than a day of labor, everything fresh in our kitchen had spoiled.  Had my mom not arrived, I hate to say we would have survived with Kevin making frequent trips to the local fast food joints, which obviously isn't ideal.  We also had great friends, Lindsay and Chris, stop by with a hot meal and two frozen meals that just need to be reheated.  Now that I'm the post-partum phase, I cannot stress enough how amazing a cooked meal is that doesn't require any more work than turning on an oven.  In addition to that, we were mailed a care package from the wonderful Aunt Sharona which consisted of a Honey Baked Ham, roasted turkey, green bean casserole and potatoes augratin.  It's wonderful that at least for another week I don't have to worry about grocery shopping or planning out dinner.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The girls have been doing exactly what newborns do: they sleep, then they cry and eat, then they make a mess of a diaper and go right back to sleep.  For the time being, they're making a messy diaper just about every time they eat, which is every 3 hours.  For a few days Reese would trick me, she'd have a messy diaper, which I would change, and within 60 seconds of putting on a new diaper she'd mess up the new one.  Luckily we haven't had one of those in a few days.  I'm happy to report that I've been nursing them without having to supplement with formula for over a week.  They're having plenty of wet and dirty diapers, and I wouldn't be surprised if they more than gain back their birthweight by the next pediatrician's appointment.  Right now is tough with their feeding schedule, but I'm patiently waiting for the longer stretches between feedings at night... Two four-hour stretches of sleep would be perfect!

I know you're not supposed to count your chickens before they hatch, but we were successful in flipping their cluster feeds to the daytime.  Reese and Avery would wake up about 2am-5am every hour on the hour wanting to nurse for a week straight.  We kept them awake and were actually able to shift it up so now their cluster feeding happens between 5pm-8pm.  Basically anytime they show signs of being hungry in between those hours, they nurse.  No if, ands, buts or binkies.

The girls really are as cute as can possibly be.  I know every parent thinks their children are the most beautiful things, it's natural, and who would say the person they created isn't precious?!  But I honestly can't get over how gorgeous these little girls are!  We've been hearing from family that everyone thinks they're identical, but Kevin and I can tell them apart, easily.  The only problem is keeping it straight in your brain which name you're saying in relation to which child.  I'll be holding Reese, knowing full well that I'm holding Reese, and I'll ask Kevin if he can change Reese's diaper while I'm intending to say Avery.  Everyone with multiple kids has this problem... sometimes you just blurt out whatever name is on the tip of your tongue.  As they get a little older I'm convinced that more people will see the differences that Kevin and I see, but for the meantime, I guess they do look pretty similar (they are twins, after all).

Gracie has been doing very well adjusting to the new members of the family.  She's a little attention deprived, but Kevin's been trying extra hard to make up for it.  She is staying true to her breed, and has already become protective of the girls.  One little wimper, a hiccup, or sneeze and Gracie has to find out what the issue is.  She's very gentle around them and while I'm nursing them will come up and stiff the tops of their heads.  Eventually, when the girls are older, she'll have two playmates that are going to drive her nuts!

I've been doing really well since leaving the hospital, I actually forget at times that I had "major surgery".  While in the hospital I will admit that I was a little depressed how large my tummy still was, I probably looked like I did at the 7-month pregnant mark.  Delivering almost 11 pounds of baby, I was expecting a more prominent difference than what I was seeing in the mirror.  I had some issues with swelling in my ankles, too, which is totally normal post-partum.  My toes were plump little Vienna Sausages, I actually had creases on my ankles, and it was very uncomfortable.  The top of my foot would jiggle when I walked and I joked that my cankles had cankles.  Now almost two weeks post-partum I'm really impressed with the results.  I probably look about 5-months pregnant now (I'll take any improvement I can) and my feet are completely back to normal.  I'll take a picture eventually, but for now we'll just stick with pictures of the girls...

Avery with her eyes open and sleepy Reese behind her 

Grandma holding her "Twincess" granddaughters

Once again, wide eyed Avery and sleepy Reese 

 Reese doesn't know why she's awake, but Avery is asleep and happy

 Avery's not so sure about bathtime

 Reese wasn't too happy about it, either

They both fell asleep quickly once their bath was over!

Momma-bear Gracie gently checkin in on the girls

The Birth Story

It all started on Saturday afternoon... I was 35 weeks and 2 days pregnant and Kevin and I were out running around getting the last few things for the nursery.  After a waddle around Hobby Lobby and Lowe's Kevin quickly realized my back was hurting and I needed to get home, so off we went.  On our way home we decided to get some food, which of course started the biggest battle in any relationship, "I don't know, what do you want to eat? No, I don't want that."  Well, after about 15 suggestions I finally told Kevin that he needed to go wherever he wanted, because I wasn't very hungry and I was getting tired.  He ended up stopping at KFC, and while in the drive through asked what I wanted.  The strangest request left my lips, "Ice".  That's all I wanted, just a big 'ole cup of ice.  I was so content the whole way home just chomping down big chunks of ice, not thinking twice of all the stories I had read about women in labor craving ice.

Once home I had one last load of laundry for the girls to complete, so I got up so I could unload the dryer and start folding and putting away their clothes (nesting was in FULL swing at this point).  Once I had the laundry basket full of clothes I stood up and felt what I never thought I'd actually feel, my water broke.  It took a few minutes to register, but sure enough, this was it!  I called out to Kevin that my water broke and he went into Daddy-mode.  Immediately, he started putting our go-bags in the car, grabbing pillows and getting things together; his mental checklist was screaming!  I, however, was weirdly calm, possibly in denial.  A few days earlier I thought my water had broken, which resulted in an embarrassing trip to the L&D unit in which I was told I had just peed myself... oh the joys of pregnancy!  I decided I wanted to take a shower before we left for the hospital, I had read enough to know I had some time before I was in active labor and also knew it might be a few days before I got a chance to shower again.  Boy, am I thankful I took those few extra minutes to shower!  Showered and ready, we headed to Evans Army Hospital around 8:30 pm.

Kevin was so excited that the second we got to the gate he blurted out to the guard that I was in labor, and he was about to be a dad!  We parked in the ER section and Kevin rushed in to get a wheel chair while I slowly waddled in.  

Up in L&D they were already prepared for me because Kevin had called ahead to let them know we were coming.  It's amazing how prepared everyone was, within 5 minutes of being wheeled into L&D I was hooked up to an IV, meds were ordered and an ambulance had been called (Evans doesn't have a NICU so anyone in labor under 36 weeks is automatically transferred to Memorial Hospital).  Not the most flattering picture, but it's so wonderful that we have just about everything documented!  This is me getting monitored at Evans while waiting for all the paperwork for my transfer to Memorial.

My first ambulance ride (lights AND sirens!) was because of something good, not something scary.  I actually had pretty funny conversations with the medics on the way.  I started feeling contractions while in the ambulance, so I had to alert everyone from then on whenever I felt a contraction start and end.  Once at Memorial I was hooked up to monitors and the waiting began.  The first nurse at Memorial was such a sweet woman, Joy, who made my initial experience really pleasant.  Contractions started increasing in intensity and frequency, just like they should.  Contractions were unpleasant, Kevin would always make comments based on the faces I was making, whether it was a good one or a bad one.  About 3am I started to get the shakes.  I was handling the contractions pretty well, but once the shakes started I was really uncomfortable.  The nurse informed me that they wanted to start Pitocin, the medication that basically forces my body to more active labor.  At this point I was only 2 cm dilated and there wasn't much progress from hour to hour.  Between the shakes and starting Pitocin, I decided I wanted the epidural.

Once the epidural was placed, I was able to get some sleep and wait for the medications to do their jobs.  We slept, we called family, I ate chicken broth.  Waiting for active labor to start was agonizing, every few hours the nurses would check, and I would be disappointed to find out that I had only progressed maybe 1cm.  Hours passed, we moved on to the 26th, and kept on waiting.  The OB on call that weekend was Dr Alanis (I still remember a conversation while in the OR about how to spell his last name, he replied "like Alanis Morrisette", to which the tech responded that he absent-mindedly wrote "Morrisette" instead of "Alanis").  He was a wonderful Doctor, really tried to do everything in his power to make a vaginal delivery possible.  Both girls had been head down since 21-weeks and everything appeared to be in the perfect situation for a vaginal delivery.  Unfortunately, my body just wasn't responding to the Pitocin and I couldn't get past 6cm.  After 31 hours of labor, through some tears and coaxing, I finally decided to go ahead with the C-section.  We had literally done everything we could to progress the labor, and it was time to call it quits.

At some point I would love to have Kevin write his own version of what happened in the OR, because I was pretty out of it.  This is how I remember things happening...  They wheeled my into the OR within 10 minutes of making the decision to do the C-sec.  I was tired, I had dry mouth, and the shakes had returned.  They had to give me more medications to fully numb my lower half, which dropped my blood pressure a little and caused a lot of nausea.  I actually threw up on the table, which was TONS of fun to do while shaking uncontrollably and in front of the 12 people in the OR.

Kevin finally was allowed into the OR, and it was very calming to see him.  He stayed by my head and kept trying to relax me.  Between the hormones, anxiety, fear and medications, I was probably the worst C-sec patient this poor Dr had ever dealt with.  I was fighting the restraints because of the shakes, I had dry mouth and demanded a wet washcloth to at least wet my mouth, and I continued to dry heave (which has to be tough while they were performing major surgery on my abdomen).  There was so much going on, but it only took a few minutes before I heard the most wonderful sound I had ever heard.  All the shakes, all the fear, all discomfort disappeared when I heard my daughter crying for the first time and I immediately started sobbing.  Kevin left my side to cut the cord and take pictures, and then it was on to the second baby... again, her crying was the most amazing sound I'd ever heard.

Because they were preemies, the nurses took their time to check their APGAR scores, which were 8 and 9!  Kevin brought Baby A over to show me, and we both knew instantaneously, this was Reese.  I remember thinking to myself that Kevin was showing me a doll, not a real baby, she was just so beautiful.  I kissed her head, cried some more and waited for Baby B to be brought over.  We had a few names picked out for Baby B, and Kev and I were on very different pages about what her name should be.  When he brought her over, I asked what he thought she looked like, and he said ever-so-gently, "She just looks like an Avery".  And there we had it, our daughters, Reese and Avery, born healthy and screaming at 1:28am and 1:29am on August 27th.

 Reese McCarty Landers, 5 lbs 6 oz, 17 inches long

 Avery Hart Landers, 5 lbs 4 oz, 17 inches long

 Meeting my beautiful little Reese

Meeting my beautiful little Avery

The girls were taken to the NICU, which was standard for a 35 week preemie.  We were told it was precautionary, not emergent.  The doctors told Kevin they were headed up so he could follow along, and this is one of the biggest reasons I love my husband, he told the doctors that since the babies were healthy and fine he wanted to stay with me until he knew I would be ok.  Like I said, I was the worst C-sec patient ever.  I was crying, throwing up, shaking and miserable and Kevin was worried about me.  He followed me to the recovery room and stayed with me until they were able to get me stable.  Once I passed out from the medications Kevin went up to the NICU to see the girls.  This will forever be the one thing I hated about the delivery, I had to wait an excruciating 8 hours until I could hold them.

 Reese

 Avery

A very proud daddy holding his two little girls

I was wheeled up to the Mother&Baby unit at about 4am where they gave me some pain meds and Kevin was finally able to get some sleep.  I had to wait until 9am to try and get out of bed, and you'd better believe at 9am sharp I called the nurses in to help me stand up!  I had TWO driving reasons to get out of bed, and I was in the NICU as early as the doctors would let me.  I was able to hold Reese first, she was just finished getting bathed, and they still had to check up on Avery.  Holding her was amazing, she was so fragile, so pretty, and all mine.  I actually got to feed Avery (we opted for donated breast milk until I attempted breastfeeding) and it made my heart melt!

Holding Reese for the first time!

I'm proud to say that I only made one trip to the NICU, not because I'm a horrible mom who didn't want to visit her babies, but because her babies were so amazing that they were released from NICU after only 12 hours.  The next time I saw my girls was when they wheeled them into my room!  

The next few days in the hospital literally flew by.  The girls had to eat every 3 hours, doctor's orders because of their size, so more often than not they were wheeled into my room so I could breastfeed.  A few nights we just let the nursery feed them so I could get a few extra hours of sleep, but for the most part they stayed with us.  Kevin and I took laps around the Mother&Baby unit, to help my recovery and swelling.  It never got old to see the other new parents, overwhelmed already by their own babies, react to seeing Kevin and I wheel around one baby a piece!  The nurses in the Mother&Baby unit were so in love with our girls, and they were so excited because they rarely get twins, usually they stay in the NICU.  Everyone at Memorial was wonderful, all the nurses who helped us and cared for our girls were sweet and caring.  

 My sweet little girls in the nursery.  The blankets and hats are donated, and so cute!

 Reese

 Avery

 Holding the whole world...

Daddy got some snuggle time while we were in the hospital

On the day we were getting discharged we had one minor hiccup.  As required for their size, both girls had to have a carseat fit test.  They put both babies in their carseats (ours are rated for 4 lbs and up) and monitor their oxygen for 1 hour.  Unfortunately, their little bodies just couldn't hold them up straight enough to keep them getting enough oxygen.  I never got the feeling it was a life or death situation (after all, they were still releasing us) so I didn't get too worried.  We left the hospital with some oxygen tanks and the little cannula's in their noses.

I have to admit, leaving the hospital was terrifying.  I started crying as we pulled out of the parking lot, knowing full and well that now Kevin and I were responsible, on our own, for these two little babies.  My whole perception of the world shifted the moment they were born and now the sun was too bright, the other cars were too close, and the speed limit on the interstate was way too fast.

Once home, the fun began.  Kevin and I keep track of everything in a notebook, feedings and diaper changes.  The tricky thing with twins, is that we have to keep track of who's doing what and when.  Sure, we had a poopy diaper after the 2am feeding, but who's was it?  And because I'm breastfeeding I have to keep track of which side each of them feeds on, and for how long!  I knew to expect lots of diapers and bottles and spit up, but I never anticipated that my notebook would be such a vital tool.

Right now the girls are doing amazing.  They're still feeding every three hours, sometimes more often if they let us know they're hungry.  They're having wet and poopy diapers at almost every feeding (which is important because it lets me know they're eating enough).  We're using disposable diapers for the time being, they're just not big enough for the cloth diapers yet, so until they gain a pound or two we'll be using preemie disposables.  I will say, these first few days makes me realize just how pricey diapering with disposables can be... Reese can go through 3 diapers in one feeding!

I'm currently breastfeeding both of them, and since we got home from the hospital, have only had to supplement them with formula a few times.  I am really proud of myself, because the first day home, when they were 4 days old I attempted to tandem feed for the first time.  Not only did they both latch, they both ate for 20 minutes and fell asleep soundly afterwards.  It's a very satisfying feeling knowing that I'm providing enough milk to fill their little bellies and help them grown.  I joked with Kevin that I'm good at growin' babies and feedin' babies, it's the birthin' part I'm not so good at.

Right now the girls are officially one week old.  My mother came out to visit and help, and she has been an absolute life saver!  For any of my friends that are too proud to accept help as a new parent, my best advice is to SUCK IT UP!  Not only will you actually need the help, you'll want it, and a mother is a great help because she's a sounding board (and she gives out compliments freely).  Hearing that you're a "natural" only makes you feel more confident in your own abilities.  The other benefit is that other people will love your babies, too... so let them!  It warms my heart every time I see my mother fawning over my little girls.  I makes me realize that she loved me the same way I love them, and the cycle will only continue... someday I'll love the children that my little girls have.

 My wonderful family

 Grandma holding her granddaughters

Avery on the right and Reese on the left

Cloth Diapering

Going from a double income family of 2 to a single income family of 4 is going to be tough.  So, in addition to my "Stay At Home Mom" title I have officially taken on the title of "Penny Pincher" as well.  While a lot people choose to cloth diaper because of environmental reasons I will openly admit that my reasons are entirely monetary.  Sure, it happens to be awesome that I'll end up helping the environment by keeping a few thousand diapers out of landfills, but the "greenness" of my choice is not my driving force.

A quick google search tells me that diapering an infant can cost around $80 per month.  Considering I'm having twins, that amount would obviously double, totaling $160 per month.  Then you take into account how long it will take your children to potty train, usually they say 3 years is the average.  Now we're talking nearly $6,000 to diaper twins until potty training.  My purse strings are recoiling!

I started researching cloth diapering about 3 months ago, and so far everything I know is only theoretical because the girls aren't here, yet!  There are a LOT of options these days in terms of cloth diapering.  I'm still learning most of them, but I can explain the three major types that I've figured out; flats, pre-folds and hybrids.  I will preface by saying that in no way am I an expert, this is just what I have found from my research!

Flats:  The most traditional form of cloth diapering, it's a large piece of absorbent material (usually cotton or hemp) that has to be folded properly and then secured on the baby.  This type of diapering requires the flats, fasteners (safety pins or Snappi's), and diaper covers.  Flats tend to run about $1 per flat and covers can range from $9 to $15 per cover.

Pre-folds:  Absorbent materials (like hemp or cotton) that are pre-folded and sewn so there are several layers of absorbent material in the middle.  This type of diapering also requires fasteners and diaper covers.  Pre-folds range in price, depending on the material, from $1.50 to $3 per pre-fold.  Covers can be used over and over as long as it's not dirty.

Hybrid: These are the most convenient forms of cloth diapering.  There are several options with hybrid diapers; All-in-Ones, All-in-Twos and pocket diapers.  Hybrid diapers combine the absorbent layers with the cover so there are no extra pieces required.  As babies get older a soaker (an additional absorbent layer) can be added for heavy wetters or for overnight use.  Hybrid diapers are the most expensive option ranging from $17 to $26 per diaper.

Now that you have a little background on cloth diapering I'm going to share my plan of action for cloth diapering the twins.  I have chosen to start out using pre-folds and covers.  Not only is it a nice compromise between the most expensive and the least expensive options, I feel it's going to give me the most bang for my buck in the long run.  I have found a lot of reviewers of hybrid diapers claim they had to use disposables until their babies were big enough to fit into the hybrids; one reviewer actually said she spend $150 on disposables until her baby was big enough!  I have spent $200 on pre-folds and covers which will enable me to diaper them from the day they come home until their little butts are too big for the pre-folds.  Now here's how my pre-fold plan will help me in the long run: As the girls get bigger and I transition into hybrid diapers I'll be able to put my already-purchased-and-used pre-folds to use again as a soaker!

Now on to the pictures, I decided to take a few pictures showing exactly how prefolds/covers will work, just to clarify for anyone who was curious.

 This is my "stash" The pre-folds are a newborn size, I only got 12 because I know they'll be outgrown quickly ($1.50 ea).  I'm waiting on the 4-dozen pre-folds I bought from another company in a small size that will last longer than the newborn size.  The white covers with pink trim are Econobum OS (one size) covers ($9 ea), the pink covers with white trim are Thirsties size 1 ($13 ea), and the all pink covers are Flips ($14 ea, but on sale, buy two get one free).  Right above the Econobum covers are three packs of Snappi's, which are the fasteners ($15 for 6)

 This is what is needed per diaper change: one pre-fold, one Snappi and one cover (which can be re-used if it's not soiled).

 There are LOTS of different ways to put on a pre-fold, so far this is the easiest.  The bottom portion gets folded into thirds while the top stays fanned out, the "baby" is placed in the center of the diaper.

 Then, just like any other diaper, the center portion comes up through the legs and the flaps on the backside are brought around to the front.

 The Snappi fastens everything in to place, and keeps it there with little teeth (like the metal clamps on an Ace bandage).

 The last step is to cover with the water-proof diaper cover, which just snaps on over the diaper.

Viola, a perfectly diapered "baby"!

Once I get some hybrid diapers in the mail I'll update again to show how those work.  For the time being, though, I'm going to be sticking to pre-folds and covers.  A lot of moms LOVE pre-folds and rarely complain about blow-outs because the diaper is custom folded to the baby.

A few other notes,

Prep: All cloth diapers need to be "prepped" before using.  For pre-folds this means 4-5 cycles in the laundry on the hot setting.  Prepping the diapers does a few things, makes sure they're clean for the baby (everything is supposed to be washed before you put it on a baby, though) and strips the fabric of natural oils that are still in the cotton.  A few cycles in hot water ensures the diapers are the most absorbent they can be.

Washing: Obviously cloth diapers have to be washed.  With the stash I have, I'm hoping to only have to do a cycle of diapers every other day.  This tends to be the only place where people have problems, trying to get the right wash routine which results in clean, stain-free and stink-free diapers every time.  There are a lot of variables here, which is why it's really important to stay flexible and not get frustrated.  My plan for laundry is rinsing poopy diapers before they go in the laundry bag, washing a hot cycle with Tide and then an extra rinse cycle to make sure nothing is left behind.  I'm planning to hang-dry the covers (which helps them last longer) and dry the pre-folds in the dryer.

Rash creams/ointments:  Most rash creams and ointments, like Desitin and Butt Paste, are made with really thick and heavy ingredients designed to create a barrier between the wetness in the diaper and the baby's skin.  These types of creams and ointments can NOT be used to cloth diapering because they reduce the absorbency of the cloth (and a non-absorbent diaper is NOT good!).  There are all sorts of DIY creams that are safe to use with cloth diapers, so more research will be done if and when a rash rears it's ugly head.

Wipes:  Initially I was going to use disposable wipes, however, I've realized if I'm already doing the work for the diapers, wipes aren't much of a stretch.  I'm going to be using some baby washcloths from Walmart and a spray bottle with a homemade wipe solution.  Wipe solutions vary and seem to be based on personal preference.  When it's time to clean up a mess, spray the solution on to the wipe, clean it up and then toss the wipe into the laundry bag.

I understand how crazy this sounds to some people, but it's the route I've chosen for numerous reasons. Yes, I know it's going to be a lot of work (on top of having newborn twins which is already going to be a lot of work).  The thing is, I have no idea what it means to have a newborn, let alone two... which means I have no idea what it means to diaper a newborn, let alone two.  Just like any other new parents (one baby or otherwise) I'm going to have to change my expectations and struggle until I get my routine down.  I've just chosen a routine that differs from a lot of people.

Third Tri... The Home Stretch!

It's been a VERY long time since I updated the blog, but most of you know it's because I was travelling from Germany to Florida, and then to Colorado.  We're finally in Colorado, and loving it!  Now that I have my Mac back I'm going to resume the blog mainly to keep a lot of the baby-related items off Facebook.

The pregnancy: I am 34 weeks 3 days today!  There are times I really can't believe I've made it this far, and other times where it feels like I've been pregnant forever.  I'm happy to say that at the last ultrasound the girls (Oh yeah, we're team PINK) are measuring large and healthy.  They are still just an ounce off of each other, Baby A was 4lbs 3oz and Baby B was 4lbs 2oz at our 32 weeks appointment (that's about a half a pound heavier than a regular singleton).  Both girls have been head down at every appointment since 25 weeks which makes me really happy as we're hoping for a vaginal delivery.  I will admit the one downside of both girls being head down is that I can actually feel their heads slowly pushing my hips apart, which is uncomfortable to say the least.

My belly is huge, I can't go anywhere without being asked how far along I am.  Kevin and I both enjoy the reactions we get from complete strangers when we say we're having twins, though.  For people who will probably never even see the babies, everyone is always very excited to hear twins.  I'm having a belly identity crisis: I feel like I'm carrying the two largest babies in the entire world, but I know that I look relatively small for being this far along with twins.  I'm happy to report that I still don't have any stretch marks on my tummy, although I do have some on the front side of my thighs.  Kevin is constantly amazed at how translucent my tummy is starting to look, the blue veins are quite visible and look like a road map on my belly.

I've had a few minor episodes of swelling, mainly in my hands and feet, but luckily it goes away with rest and fluids.  I have been pleasantly surprised with how few complications I've had considering the risks involved in this pregnancy.  The specialist at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic said I no longer need to take Lovenox unless I have a C-section or bedrest.  The OB at Evans said I was the poster child for twin pregnancy, which makes me feel like Superwoman.

The girls: Baby A, on my left side, has become the mover.  She's lower down, so I can feel her feet move at the top of my belly.  I found out at one of my appointments in Florida that I feel Baby A more because her placenta is closer to my back, whereas Baby B's placenta is on top near my belly button.  Nonetheless, I have noticed a few things about their movements.  Baby A does not like to be on the bottom when I'm laying down.  All the pregnancy books I've read says to try and sleep on your left side because it puts less stress on internal organs.  Obviously, this recommendation is for a singleton pregnancy, because when I lay on my left side Baby A will not let me fall asleep.  Baby B tends to get woken up by Baby A, she's not the mover anymore (though has been more photogenic for all ultrasounds compared to Baby A).  Baby B is a bit higher up and lately her kicks have been in my ribs which is just as uncomfortable as it sounds.

From the ultrasounds we've had Kevin and I both agree that they have my nose.  We were also told at our last appointment that there is still a 15-20% chance that they are identical twins vs. fraternal.  At my last OB appointment I asked if there was any testing they could do at birth to let us know, but the OB didn't know off the top of his head.  Here are two pictures from our last 4D ultrasound: Baby A on the left and Baby B on the right.

According to BabyCenter.com at 34 weeks the girls are measuring 4 3/4 lbs (which we all know they're bigger than that!).  At this point if I were to go into labor they would more than likely be fine, with a stay in the NICU.  The only thing that requires a few more weeks of development are their lungs, so I'm hoping they cook just a little bit longer!

This was a huge update, but I missed out on most of the pregnancy, so I'll just leave it at this for the time being.  Now that I'm all set up in our new home updates will be more regular, I promise!

Bring on the Second Trimester!

Today marks the beginning of the second trimester and at long last the end of the first.  Now if only the morning sickness would take the hint and hit the road!  Our last ultrasound was at 12 weeks, and though I already posted the ultrasound pictures on Facebook, you'll see them again here.

We saw another Dr at the practice, and he was a pretty funny guy.  The ultrasound was a bit more in depth than previous ones and we really felt excited to see our little babies.  At first glace we were really blown away at how baby-ish they were already looking.  Baby A, which was on the left hand side, was face first and apparently asleep in a zen-like pose.  The little baby arms were by its side and legs were crossed up underneath.  The Dr kept saying that it looked like an alien, which we both found a little odd (we're proud people, don't call my baby an alien!).  Measurements of Baby A showed a length of 6.33cm, almost 2 inches long!  As you can see in the picture Baby A is measuring at 13w0d, which puts it 4 days ahead of my official count.  The second picture shows Baby A's heartbeat, which the Dr said was strong.

Now on to Baby B.... if this ultrasound was any indication of their personality types, they couldn't be more different.  While Baby A was calm and still, Baby B was moving all around.  Legs were kicking, arms were moving, body was squirming.  It was just about the coolest thing to see that little person moving around, knowing that it's growing inside of me.  Baby B measured just a day behind Baby A, at 6.2 cm. Unfortunately the Dr forgot to take extra pictures of Baby B, so we only got one shot while he was listening to the heartbeat.

After seeing Baby B moving around so much, Kevin made a comment that Baby A was so still, so the Dr took it upon himself to change that.  While the ultrasound machine was focused on Baby A the Dr began poking my belly, and sure enough Baby A was woken up and started jumping around.  We have video that Kevin took with his iPhone, so as soon as we upload it to YouTube we'll add it to the blog!

Kevin and I were on cloud nine as we left the Dr's office.  Kevin's theory is that Baby A is a boy, and like him, Baby A is calm and mild mannered.  He thinks that Baby B is a girl, and like me, she's a bit wild and crazy.  While we are definitely hoping for one of each (I mean, who wouldn't?) we are going to be thrilled whatever they are.

As of today, the babies are the size of lemons!  Our books tell us that this week they're developing their voices and their spines are starting to straighten out.  They might even begin growing hair this week!

 Almost forgot the belly picture!  This is the 13-week bump!

Our next appointment is in two weeks and the Dr said they will attempt to determine gender (obviously if the babies cooperate).  If and when we find out, we're going to share the news with our family first before revealing the genders online.  But I think it would be great to see what everyone's opinion on genders are... so leave a comment and let me know if you think Team Blue (two boys), Team Pink (two girls) or Team Purple (one of each).

Better Late Than Never

I have been a completely lousy blogger!  We had our last ultrasound at 8w5d and I haven't uploaded the pictures yet.  As most of you know, I've had awful morning sickness, so I'm just going to blame my lack of updates on that.  No one can blame me!  :)

Ok, on to the pictures... 8 weeks, 5 days:

In this picture you can see Baby A, and the sac of Baby B.  They measured almost 19 mm, 4 times what they were 2 weeks previously!!

And here is Baby B.  The good news this early in a twin pregnancy is that they're growing at the same rate.  

At 8 weeks they were the size of kidney beans, just 1/2 an inch long.

Our next appointment is tomorrow (seriously I realize how awful it is to post this today).  I'm really excited because tomorrow they're actually going to look like little babies!!

I promise I won't wait until the day before the next appointment to update.  I'm now 12 weeks and the babies are the size of limes!  They're a little over 2 inches long and they're starting to move their arms and legs!  I'm really hoping to watch them move on the ultrasound tomorrow.  So far our ultrasounds have been pretty quick, find the babies and the heartbeats and done.  Kev and I are both hoping for a more in depth scan this time around.

We also wanted to update everyone on our moving status.  We're still waiting for the Army to give us official orders, but for the moment we're hoping to move around June.  Kev and I are tentatively talking about sending me home (to Orlando) a few weeks early just to be on the safe side.  Then Kev will take a week to visit and we'll be off to Ft. Carson!  I'm really excited that we're going to be back in the states for all the exciting parts, we're so happy that we'll have family close by.

Stay tuned for the next update... it should be coming soon! (Or pester me until I do)

I also need to take a belly picture, but trust me... that's not going to happen today!  :)