I've Been Blogging!

...just not here.

This week I'm so thankful to be part of a series at How Do You Do It?, in honor of March of Dimes' Prematurity Awareness Month.

Our girls were born at 34 weeks.  They spent 10 days in the NICU with only minor interventions.  We were very lucky.

Still, that experience had a profound effect on our family.  We are very humbled, and very grateful to have two healthy babies, now almost FIVE YEARS OLD!

If you haven't already done so, I invite you to check out the many inspiring posts that are being shared this week.

In sharing, we raise awareness.  And in raising awareness, we hope to lower the incidence of prematurity.

I'm Over Here...

I'm guest posting today at MaMe Musings.  My sweet friend Melissa is hosting her holiday series called "Unwrapping Our Gifts", and I am very thankful to be a part of it again this year.  

It often feels uncomfortable to step out and say, "These are my gifts." I think it is a great reminder, though -- particularly during this often-hectic season -- to step back and remember that we all have so much to offer...much of which can't be wrapped with a sparkly bow.

I'm very thankful for the opportunity to share a project I've been involved in over the past couple of years, one that has become a great passion.

And I'm also very thankful for the prompt to step back and remember how quickly we've gone from this...

...to this...

We are so thankful for our sweetest baby girls! 

Wishing you and yours many blessings this holiday season! 

Fab Friday

What was it that made our week so fabulous???

1)      On Sunday we attended the annual NICU reunion at the hospital.  The girls were so excited to go, and they enjoyed seeing themselves on the slide show, eating cake, and taking a peek at the well-baby nursery.  When we got home, they started asking, “Mommy, why didn’t we get to see the room where the babies were getting born?”  Hmmm…I don’t think that’s part of the tour. 

2)      One morning I was listening to the girls pretend play.  A said, “I’m in Yugoslavia.”  B jumped in right away…”No, Sissy, you’re in former Yugoslavia.  That’s old.”  Their Daddy was so proud.

3)      On Tuesday I was feeling industrious, and I had a real hankering to make some cookies.  I’d pinned this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Kiss Cookies, and when I happened upon that candy at Target on Monday, I decided it was meant to be.  Baby B was not-napping upstairs, so I let Baby A help me in the kitchen.  She’s the master at lowering and raising the bowl on the stand mixer, and she was a true help in unwrapping 20 Kisses!  It was actually a great exercise…it seemed to take quite a bit of coordination to unwrap the Kisses without squishing them (there were two or three that didn’t make the cut)…and it was a great counting exercise for her, too.

4)      Since I’d had the one-on-one time with A on Tuesday afternoon, I took B with me for a quick errand late Tuesday afternoon when Daddy got home.  She was so excited to accompany me to the bead store, and she chatted like a pro with Miss Emily, the owner. 

5)      On Wednesday morning we met our sweet friends M&C, who will turn three next month, at our local orchard.  It was the perfect morning…low 70’s, overcast, and we had the place almost to ourselves.  I love-love-love seeing our girls playing with their friends.  After we played and snacked and played some more, we went to buy some apples.  Walking back from the playground, B and C held hands the entire way…so sweet!!!  And all the kiddos – who just happened to be in matching sets (which is rare for our foursome) – willingly sat on a bench for a picture.

6)      The petting zoo is up at the orchard in preparation for their fall festival days.  The girls were so excited to see their “friends” (goats, sheep, and an alpaca) from last fall.  I was so surprised they wanted to feed the animals!  I bought a handful of feed…Baby B changed her mind, but A let a couple of nice goats nibble from her palm.

7)      Baby B wasn’t feeling very well on Wednesday afternoon.  I was afraid she was coming down with a cold, but all she was worried about was whether she’d be able to go to school on Thursday.  I told her she could go if she felt well.  And she repeated that several times, “Mommy, I can go to school tomorrow if I feel well, right?”  The very first thing she said when she woke up on Thursday morning – still groggy from sleep – was, “Mommy, I feel well!  I’m going to school!” 

8)      When I came to pick the girls up from school on Thursday, Ms. E told me, “They are so polite.  They have the best manners.  I can tell you really work with them on that at home.”  SCORE!!!  I do my best to encourage the girls to be polite and respectful, but it makes me beam to know they carry those habits with them.  YESSSS!!!

9)      One morning, while I was making breakfast, Baby A apparently wanted to tell me something.  She excitedly said to her sister, “Sissy, go hide!”  B ran off to find a good hiding spot.  Baby A told me something (inconsequential), and then just hung around.  I finally asked, “Do you need to go find your sister?”  “Um, no…”  HA!!!  That sneaky little girl of mine!

10)    “Mommy, when will we go to Antarctica to see the penguins?”  And later, “Mommy, when are we going to San Diego?”  It always cracks me up when the girls ask such random questions.  At least I know we’ve been reading in our penguin book about Antarctica…not sure where the San Diego question came from, though!

So thankful for a week full of fabulous!

Revisiting the NICU

This Sunday we attended our fourth NICU reunion at the hospital where the girls were born. 

The first year, when the girls were 8 months old, I remember being so proud to show off my growing babes. 

To the nurses who taught me how to feed them, and burp them, and bathe them...who answered my every question with incredible patience and lack of judgment...who answered the phone at all hours of the night when I called to check on my babies...I wanted to say thank you.  And I wanted to show them I listened to their instructions, followed the "rules", and I had two healthy baby girls to prove it!

The subsequent reunions have been less emotional, but no less-anticipated.  It's always such a blessing to see the many amazing nurses who played such a vital part in the story of the girls' first couple of weeks.  We are truly forever grateful.

Every year I dress the girls and pile up on the couch for a milestone picture.  And of course I love to look back every year at how my sweet baby girls have grown.  (You know I'm a sucker for a good comparison picture!)

2009, 8 months old

2010, 20 months old

2011, 2 1/2 years old

2012, 3 1/2 years old

D'oh!  I just realized I got the girls out of order this year!  Of course I take what I can get...both girlies were smiling and looking in the general direction of the camera. 

I'm linking up with Cheryl at Twinfatuation for "Way Back When-esday"...I know she appreciates a good comparison picture as well as anyone!  :)

The Notebook

The girls had their three-year checkup on Monday. As I was getting my bag ready…making sure I had our insurance cards and wipes and a couple of books to entertain the girls, I also had to make sure I had The Notebook.


The Notebook was born out of the girls’ time in the NICU, when every last detail was logged. I automatically continued to document their every move when they came home…

…what time they woke up, how much they ate, their wet and dirty diapers, any significant spit-ups…

And then I expanded it to note such details as when we bathed the girls. And then we bought an infant scale, and I was able to record their weights, to the half-ounce (much to the chagrin of our pediatrician, I might add).

Having this record was actually really handy, particularly when the girls were infants. In my sleep-deprived state, it kept me straight on what we’d done and when…and, if I’m honest, it helped me put one foot in front of the other during some trying times.

It was very useful in keeping track of dirty diapers. Since early on, our girls have pretty different habits, and I was always afraid I’d miss someone being constipated since I’d changed so many dirty diapers from the other baby in the course of a day.

Once the girls started eating baby food, I made notes at each meal. At first it was to help me identify any potential allergic reactions, but then it was more to make sure they were getting a variety of fruits and veggies.

Once the girls got a little older, I knew I didn’t have to keep up my journal…but I couldn’t stop!

I loved seeing our days in black and white…and – the little voice in the back of my head said – what if there were an issue? At least I’d be armed with information!

I finally made a deal with myself: I’d continue my journal through the girls’ first birthday, and then I’d retire my pen.

I actually recorded notes through the girls’ one-year checkup, a few days after their birthday…just in case.

I still use my trusty notebook, though -- thank goodness it’s nice and thick! I jot down any questions I have for our pediatrician and what his answers are. I make a note of the girls’ illnesses and medications. And I have a running tally of their weights and heights from every doctor visit.

And it’s fun to take a little trip down memory lane from time to time.

Hmmm…how many dirty diapers did I change on May 17, 2009?

Why, I’ve just been waiting for someone to ask!

***

If you haven't already, please check out my GIVEAWAY...a beautiful personalized children's book!

Fab 5 Friday...and ME!!!

So thankful for another fabulous week!

1) We had an awesome family day on Saturday. We kicked off the day with a mid-morning snack at a new tea shop downtown (seriously, the perfect cup of tea!). Then we meandered around the square, where there was a small street festival. The girls enjoyed a puffet [puppet] show, and they danced for literally an hour to a little band playing 60’s and 70’s rock and roll. We hadn’t intended to stay so long…but the girls were having a blast. We ate an impromptu lunch downtown before coming home for a great nap. Win-win-win!

2) On Sunday we attended the annual NICU reunion at the hospital where the girls were born. It’s so wonderful every year to reconnect with the nurses that took such good care of our sweet babies. We are forever grateful.

3) Baby B has been trying to work the word “unfortunately” into conversation. She’s usually unsuccessful. For example, she said, “Unfortunately, this breakfast is very good.” HA! Maybe she gets an “A” for effort?

4) The girls both asked for focaccia bread by name one night for supper. I love it!

5) For whatever reason, I always say, “Num-num-num,” when I scratch our kitty under her chin. A few times this week, Baby A has come up to me, tickled under my chin, and said, “Num-num-num,” in the most loving way. Kinda crazy…but so sweet.

And what did I do for ME this week???

I can’t cite any real indulgences, but it’s still been a really good week...

• I baked pumpkin spice muffins one night, a new recipe I’d been wanting to try. I love to bake…it just makes me feel like “me”.

• I cleaned out my files (I have a ton of stuff for Hubby to shred [he volunteered!]), which also feels great.

• And I organized all my materials from our MoMs group from the past two years. It had been residing in a briefcase bag, and it feels much better to have it in a binder (with tabs!).

• Oh, and one small “indulgence”…although it’s probably better classified as a SCORE…I happened upon a pair of Capri pants at Target…on clearance…the perfect fit…for $5.48! Woo hoo!

Happy Friday! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Prematurity Awareness Day

When I was in graduate school, a friend of mine gave birth to a baby with a minor birth defect. She casually mentioned that her doctor told her that if she'd been taking folic acid when she got pregnant, she probably could have avoided the complication.

I was shocked.

I thought everyone knew that women who were of child-bearing age should be taking folic acid to help prevent birth defects. How could my friend, an intelligent, educated woman, not have known this?

From that time, I've always supported the March of Dimes in "working together for stronger, healthier babies."

November 17 is National Prematurity Awareness Day. In honor of our baby girls, born at 34 1/2 weeks, I'm re-posting a portion of our NICU story, told in light of the NICU reunion we attended in September.

I praise God every day that we have two happy, healthy babies. I pray for the families that are fighting for their babies...for the medical professionals who are caring for them...and for the scientists who research ways to help and prevent issues such as prematurity.

Revisiting the NICU, written September 12, 2010

...and if you'll excuse me, I'm going to give my two sweet girlies an extra big hug.

Revisiting the NICU

If I do say so myself, I was very even-keeled throughout my pregnancy. I wasn’t overly emotional, unless you count walking around with what was probably a big goofy grin on my face, giddy with excitement.

I only had a couple of breakdowns…one when I was trying to figure out the car seats (thinking, if I can’t do this, how will I ever be a fit mother?!)…and the other when we toured the NICU as part of the prenatal twin class at the hospital.

I came home and just lost it, thinking about those tiny babies I’d seen there in what seemed like such a cold, sterile environment. The experience strengthened my “resolve” (as I foolishly thought I had some real control in the matter!) over carrying the girls to term.

Given my “resolve”, I was in a great state of shock when I went into labor. Our girls were born at 34 ½ weeks. They were basically healthy, and they only spent 10 days in the NICU as “feeders and growers” as they called them. We had a couple of small scares, but overall we were very lucky.

I don’t know if this is a common feeling, but in a lot of ways I felt like I was floating through those first couple of weeks, just putting one foot in front of the other. I almost equate it to being in a state of denial, kind of like I expected to wake up any minute and still be pregnant.

We attended the annual NICU reunion today. It was so great to see a couple of the nurses that worked particularly closely with us.

Those nurses are amazing people, and they will always hold such a special place in our hearts. They maintained such a delicate balance…of showing respect to us as the girls’ parents, while taking the utmost care of them, and at the same time teaching us to care for our babies.

I had a conversation with one of my twin mom friends a few months ago. She talked about how uncertain she was as a first-time mom, about how she cried and cried when she brought her babies home, feeling like she didn’t know what to do.

While I certainly did my share of crying, it wasn’t because I felt like I didn’t know what to do. It dawned on me several days later that I have the NICU nurses to thank for that.

Those nurses were there for us, not just punching the clock and doing their job, but wrapping their arms around us figuratively, and at times, literally, during those first critical days as the size of our family abruptly doubled.

They cheered as I changed my first two diapers…they showed me all sorts of tricks for coaxing a premature baby to take a bottle…they affirmed my every “was that a burp?” question…they stood by my side as I gave the girls a bath for the first time.

The environment may have been cold and sterile, but that’s not how I remember our time in the NICU. The nurses were always so reassuring, letting us know the babies would be fine, and so would we. For that, and for so many more things, I will be eternally grateful.