"How Do You Do It With Two!?"

Now that the girls are older, there are things that have gotten easier and things that have gotten harder. During parenthood you are constantly changing, you're always adapting to a new way of living as your children get older. I'm always asked "How do you do it with two?" I always answer "I make it happen", a motto my past supervisor, Dana, taught me. But I've learned that there are definitely things that are harder, even impossible, to do on my own with twins. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Going to the park: It is impossible for me to go to the park alone with the girls. I must have someone with me. Akira is walking now so she wants to be every where. She is super curious about her surroundings and wants to join the big kids. She has no fear. Sakura cannot walk yet, but that doesn't mean she isn't interested. She is just as curious as Akira and wants to have just as much fun with the same big kids. Both girls need to be constantly supervised, but they don't stay together. They want to do their own thing. I'm totally down for that, but I can't be in two places at once, hence the reason for a second person. For now the park is a rarity until the girls get bigger and can understand what I'm saying to them.

Keeping them on the same schedule: So far I have been able to keep the girls on the same feeding and sleeping schedule, but it doesn't come without its challenges. Akira is a beast when it comes to eating. I mean the girl can eat! She is always asking for food. Sakura isn't as big an eater. She eats well, but she doesn't continue to ask for more food right after she has eaten. So Akira is definitely up in her high chair more often than Sakura and I feel like I'm always feeding a child. Right when I want to just sit and chill or get a bite to eat myself, here comes the blog ready to consume whatever is in her path. The great thing is she's almost at her average weight for her age, yay! When it comes to sleeping they are also different. Akira doesn't need as much sleep as Sakura does. There are many times when one wakes up before the other (usually Akira and always screaming). So my time to get anything done in the house is cut short because I have to tend to the one that's awake and keep her quite so the other sleeps (which is very short lived since she's woken up anyway. Think it's that twin connection thing). It's also hard when we go out since Akira can stay up enjoying herself and Sakura gets cranky because she wants to sleep. For now I just deal with it day-by-day and thank God for a nice long nap.


Getting the girls to and from the car: We live in a condo on the third floor, no elevator. We didn't think we would have children in this condo, let alone twins. To get the girls from the house, to the the car, and back I use a baby carrier. I can't carry both at the same time and I don't trust myself to carry one down three flights without the carrier. I have the amazing ERGOBaby and use it every day. I strap one in, grab the diaper bag, walk down, strap her in her seat, lock the doors, and repeat with baby #2. I always make sure I have everything ready to go before we start to leave so that baby #1 isn't waiting too long in the car. I’m not a baby-wearer, but a baby carrier is essential to my life. I bet if I just had one baby I would be a babywearing mama. With one baby it's cake, but then again I'm burning some extra calories.

It's normal to have to change and adapt to things as your children get older. It gets more complicated when you have twins, or more, at different levels of physical abilities, and not enough money in the bank to hire some help. So how do I do it with two? I just go with the flow.

Wow A New Year Already!!!

Let me catch you up while the girls are (finally) asleep. It's never a dull moment in this house lol! The holidays are a blur to me, but it was great to see family that I haven't seen in years and for everyone to see the girls. I guess the biggest news would be that Sakura came off her oxygen!!!! She came off in typical Sakura fashion, she ripped her canula off her face, on December 31st and rung in the New Year breathing on her own. Praise God!!! It is awesome being able to walk around with her without being bound to a tank or monitors. I was so nervous that she wouldn't be ok, so I was watching her like a hawk. Her monitor went off a lot, but her lung doctor said that it was normal, not that it made me feel better. She's still doing great! Hopefully, now she will gain some weight, she's only 7 lbs. and that's pushing it. Thankfully, her dependency on oxygen hasn't kept her from hitting her milestones. She is cooing, smiling, laughing, playing with toys, and rolling over,if you can believe it!! Thank you, Lord for keeping my babies healthy!

Akira has been blossoming!!!! Shes is probably 2 lbs. heavier than Sakura. She can do so many things now! She smiles, laughs, plays with toys that are in front of her. And the best yet, she's not colicky anymore lol! She is trying hard to roll over, I know she's going to do it pretty soon. It's amazing to watch her grow and develop. I remember when she was a 4lb. 11oz. blob when we brought her home. I just watch her in amazement sometimes when she's "talking" to her "friends" lol. It's the cutest thing ever! I think it's weird, but I can't imagine them older. I can't imagine them talking or crawling yet. I guess that's what it means to "live int he moment". Who said my girls were going to be delayed?

When we first got home it was crazy. I was having a really hard time assuming my new role as Mother-of-Preemie-Twins. I couldn't makes my girls happy if my life depended on it. I hated asking for help because I wanted to do it by myself. I cried and screamed a lot. I felt like a complete failure. Postpartum depression? Not sure, but I know I wasn't happy. I kept telling myself that I was not cut out for this and I'm not a good mother. I was angry at God for giving me twins. I only wanted one baby, not two. After my temporary moments of insanity, I prayed for God to help me, and He did. He helped me by showing me that I don't have to be Super Mom. I learned it's ok to accept help from others and with time I will get into the groove of things. I used to think of myself as a mom who has two children and I didn't want "special treatment" because I have twins. I'm over that now! Having two babies is definitely hard and I greatly appreciate all the help I can get.

It's been 2 months since the whole family has been together and what an adventure it has been. It feels like we have been home a lot longer then that. With the craziness of last year behind me, I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead. I continuously pray for the health of my daughters and thank God for all the guidance and provision He has blessed my family with.

Happy New Year!!!!