At the end of the day

Another mom made a broad comment awhile back that has been ruminating in my mind for some time. She mentioned that she's frequented a number of mommy blogs that present as a picture perfect picture of parenthood, or mommy-hood specifically. What she was reading was Mary Poppins perfect mothers who never have struggles or problems as mothers and love expanding the family numbers quickly.

I assured her that these people weren't being completely forthcoming. I cannot speak on each person's behalf. But, I can certainly share from my life.

For those of you out there in the world, in cyber space, where ever you are, checking in here, on my blog, my confession is this: my life is anything but perfect. Especially as a mother. I am the mother of a brood of four children, five years old and under. Brood or not, parenthood is no easy breeze.

That's not to say I am not grateful I am a mother. Wouldn't take it back, not for a moment. Wouldn't redo any one of my children.

***

But take today for instance. This day was set a few months ago for my eldest, my five year old, to get a cavity taken care of. She's my ultra-sensitive child. I've know for many months that she has had this cavity, and it has only gotten worse with passing time.

A combination of factors prevented us from getting this tooth taken care of sooner. Couldn't even get past a well-check without a total freak-out melt-down. She responded as if the world were ending. As if we were pulling her hair out one strand at a time. Without a well check, we couldn't get any problems fixed. This particular pediatric dental center booked months in advance.

Anyways, I spent the better part of the day getting this dental stuff taken care of. We were on the road at 8:15 this morning. Didn't get back until 1:30 this afternoon. Loads of dramatic, emotional stuff in between. My daughter freaked out at the dentist checking her heart and lungs with the stethoscope. My daughter pleaded and got crazy scared getting her blood pressure checked. But, all these prayers my friends have been lifting up were answered, because patience prevailed on my part; I stood or sat by my daughter's side and supported her through her anxiety and fear, even with the twins in tow.

I was warned by the pediatric dentist that at any step of the way, if things didn't work out - the partial sedation of choice or the actual dental work itself - the next step would be to use general anesthesia. The sedation method of choice wouldn't knock her out, just calm her down. There was a chance that she could still freak out as they worked on her.

I could only stay with her until the sedation kicked in at a level where they could work on her tooth. The dentist wasn't sure what needed to be done - a filling or a crown - because my five year old couldn't cooperate on getting bite-wing x-rays taken.

***

While waiting in the waiting room and pacing the parking lot with the twins, I hoped that passing time meant that the procedure was going well. There was a happy ending to this story. That little tooth was fixed, and my five year old survived that event.

Had to have a root canal and a crown. My five year old.

For being courageous, I promised her frozen yogurt from Yogurtland. I made sure she knew how proud of her I am. Loads of words of praise, lots of special time with me, and a treat.

***

I am utterly physically and emotionally exhausted. I still remember my bad pediatric dental experience, even though it wasn't exactly yesterday. I can imagine adding a sensitive personality to the mix only complicates matters exponentially. So, as a mother, I've been very much on edge.

But, I've been one hungry bear, eating, eating, and eating. No, not comfort eating. Ravenously hungry. Now that I've temporarily satisfied that voracious hunger, I shall nurse the twins and pass out. Peace out.

A mere mirror reflection

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Both twins have been enjoying their reflections and getting a huge kick out of seeing themselves in the mirror. I doubt they have the ability to tell that they're looking at their own reflections, but the important note is that they're entertained.

Rodeo days

The older two children have their own horses. Isabella made hers, on the left, last year in preschool. Victoria made hers this year, also in preschool. Christine and Annie are the horses' names. I believe Christine was chosen well before I was pregnant or knew names for the twins. Isabella knew that one of best friends is Christine. As for Victoria, she chose to name her horse after her best friend.

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Though the horses aren't wild and nothing is being done to them to react wildly, but the horses are no longer lone horses. And, they have enthusiastic riders.

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Giddey-up horseys!

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Taking 3 to beat a 3 yr old at completing a puzzle

Three ladies heard about a three year old who completes puzzles. Puzzles that aren't rectangular or easy to do. Puzzles that are less than obvious.

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And these ladies set out to beat this three year old.

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Worked fast and furiously, they did.

Just as the three year old does, they took on the challenge of not turning to the box (or the photograph on the box) for help.

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Here is their opponent, the three year old.

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Here is the three year old with her favorite puzzle.

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Who ended up winning?

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At 3 months

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On January 1st, my twins turned 3 months old. My intent was to take photographs of both of them. But that didn't happen. That they were both not crying or wanting something or other didn't seem to happen at the same time.

Happy 3 months babies.

Nursing twins and eating like two growing teenagers

A few hundred calories per nursing babe, on top of what a person's supposed to consume on a daily basis, is what a nursing mom needs to take in.

Of course I knew what those words meant. I've been speaking English since, well, since language started departing from my lips. I have even spent a majority of my life in school, well beyond undergraduate schooling. But those words carried new, very personal meaning once I became a mom nursing two babies.

Imagine two growing teenagers in a household. Heck, imagine two growing teenage BOYS eating ravenously. That's me. No, I am not a boy. And no, I am not a teenager. Just trying to eat enough for two twins and me.

I out-ate everyone at the Thanksgiving meal, including an ex-marine. Not joking. Not exaggerating. At Christmas, I could compete with a guy in the navy. He's much taller than I am.

I add heavy whipping cream to my tea.

I need full meals, not just snacks, every two to three (though I'm suffering if I wait until three) hours. My body needs 32 oz of water every two hours.

The results? Twins that were born at 7 lbs 9 oz and 6 lbs 14 oz are now (3 months later) 8 lbs 14 oz and 11 lbs, respectively.

Make no mistake. Nursing is not for those who are stingy or forgetful with food, caloric intake, and water consumption. It's a job, requiring deliberate, consistent, frequent attention and activity (eating, drinking, and resting).

Too busy? Nah. Not for something as beneficial as nursing, for all parties involved. Too busy and too much of a bother?

Come on. I'm a mother of four children, five years old and under. I am the day-time nanny, I am the night time nanny, I am the house keeper, I am the laundromat, I am the chauffeur, I am the cook. You get the idea, right? Cry me a river. No, I get it. I feel overwhelmed sometimes. All the time. But, I am here to say nursing is doable. One can nurse, even if super busy. Nursing twins takes work, hard work.

That being said, I'm off to eat, eat, eat. Where is my heavy whipping cream?

***

P.S. I should clarify that nursing isn't somehow an excuse to eat everything without exercising discretion. I don't gorge myself on junk food and "bad foods." Though there is permission to eat much more, making wise choices can still be very important.

I was within one pound of my pre-pregnancy weight 2 weeks post-partum. Might have been due to a variety of factors, but I chalk part of the weight-loss influence to nursing.

Monkeying around

We had an engagement with another mother of twins. She also has B/G twins, but hers are 3 yrs old, while mine are not yet 3 months old.

This place was sensory overload for me. But, apparently my two older children and her kids were having a blast.

2011-12-30

Loads of jumping, laughing, running. One moment here, one moment there. Where have they disappeared?

Oh, and here's one of Jen's twins: Ada.

And her brother, Logan.

I'm beginning to realize that once the twins are no longer sitting in infant car seats, sharing a stroller, not so many people will stop dead in their tracks asking whether I have twins. Perhaps, at some point, people will think I have one set of twins instead of two?

When I snapped a couple of pictures of Logan, I heard a little voice of my oldest, but I couldn't locate her. She said she was hiding.

Where are you?

Ohhhhh. There you are, silly.

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Didn't seem to wear them out much. Came home longing for rest not to be had. But, we had wonderful friends who lent helping hands. Christian with Christian.

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Francesca with Christine.