'Tis the season!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

No crying, no fussing, they all did pretty good!!

A Poem Written For Me By My Mother.....

With Love To My Daughter Who's Been Doubly Blessed

(and to all Mother's who have been blessed with twins)

Two Times Blessed

Two little hands

Two little feet

As a new Mother she will greet

Hugs and kisses she will have galore

For now her heart will greet one more

Two little hands

Two little feet

Two little hearts make a joyous beat

As you can see, she's been doubly blessed

For she will have two babies to hold close to her chest

To those who may say, you got your hands full

She will reply so calm and so cool....

Four little hands

Four little feet

Two little hearts make my life complete!

LMC

Thank you Mom!

Something New!

We decided to submit Ally and Baily to local talent agents a few weeks back. We sent their photos and a cover letter to about 6 of them. We got calls right away from two of them and we are starting to get responses from the others. The two that called right away were very interested and the others that we heard from sent their pictures back with letters stating either they don't handle babies or they are not taking on new talent at this time, but please resubmit after 6 months.

We met with on that is closer to home and she asked for their information and a copy of their work permits. The other one is in San Francisco which is about 40 miles from us. We were basically happy with the local agent and then we had a meeting with the one in San Francisco last week. We have decided to go with the agent in San Francisco. We signed contracts last Friday and now we have an agent for the girls. I'm not sure where it will go from here, but I'm willing to give it a try. Since I don't work I will be able to devote the needed time for auditions, etc.

I went to an orientation Friday and learned what is expected of us. In a couple of weeks we go back for a photo shoot. These will be the photos that the agent will use to promote the girls. She told me I will have to buy them new clothes for that day and she will be picking them out. Oh boy.....I have a feeling it's going to get costly before it starts to pay off. At least I'm hoping it will pay off. Of course I know my babies are beautiful, but as we all know....."beauty is in the eye of the beholder". And it all depends on what the client is looking for.

The day we met with the agent she took pictures of the girls for her files. The girls were in a real good mood at the time, but for some reason Baily would hardly smile, she almost cried a couple of times. I was really happy that Ally was all smiles, usually it's the other way around.

More Pictures!!

The kids can't wait for Halloween!!

Ahhhh......Autumn!

How wonderful is this time of year. Oh such beautiful colors all around us. The air is smelling like fall here. The kids had a great time at the Pumpkin Farm. They love picking out their pumpkins by themselves. It's such a fun place to take the kids, they can run and play until they wear themselves out!!

Just have to share.....

Our first trip to get family photos done all the kids were in a bad mood or something. The pictures reflected their attitudes that day, needless to say, I didn't buy the pictures. We went a few weeks later and tried it again. Everyone was in a good mood and had smiles, smiles, smiles! I was so happy and the pictures reflected their attitude for that day. We spend a lot of money on pictures that day and we are pleased with our purchase.

Are They Really Identical?

Ally and Baily

(they really look different in this picture)

I was told by the Pathology Department where I gave birth to my twin daughters that they shared a placenta, therefore they are identical. As they age they seem to look different. Is it that I can easily tell them apart? Or is it because they aren't identical? Maybe they are fraternal. I'm beginning to wonder sometime. Their eyes are the same color, their hair is the same color, they both have a cow lick in the same place, their mouths are shaped the same, their noses look the same, but they look different from one another. Is it just me? Or are they fraternal after all? I still believe they are identical, but there are days when I wonder about it. I'm thinking it's just their weight difference that makes them look so different from one another. Ally weighs almost 2 pounds less than Baily. One would think that two pounds wouldn't make a big difference, but when your total weight is no more than twenty pounds, I guess it would be a big difference. I'm thinking when they start to get bigger and gain more weight they will appear to be more identical. I'm not complaining about this because after all, they are two separate individuals.

It's obvious that others can tell them apart because there are some who have said, "Baily's my favorite, she's so beautiful". It breaks my heart to hear that. I tell them, "Ally is just as beautiful, I don't know how you can pick favorites, I can't and I won't". I've told these people I don't want to hear them say such things in front of my children, but there are times when I still hear it. I know it's because Baily is the chunkier one and a lot of people say they love chunky babies, but please keep it to yourself when you're with my babies and if you're going to give attention to one, you need to give attention to the other also.

I feel so blessed to be a Mom of Twins! It's just so different when there are two babies. Sure it's tough at times, but it's wonderful most of the time. I had a woman say "wow, twins, double trouble!" and I responded with, "no twice the enjoyment!", she looked at me and said, "you're right". I know I was and I'm loving every minute of it. I know there will be times when they will give me trouble, but hopefully that won't be for some time, if at all. I'm looking ahead at the pre-teen and the teen years......there's where I may have some of that "double trouble" every refers to. I'm just afraid "double" will come from a "double" barrel shotgun and the "trouble" will come from "Daddy". That puts a whole new meaning to "double trouble"!! Our twins are four years younger than our oldest daughter, so it's going to feel like the teen years will go on forever!! Then again, maybe we will sail right through without any problems.....wishful thinking, I know!!

Being Ridiculed About Twin Pregnancy Symptoms

I'm sorry, I just have to post this. I hope I don't offend anyone by it. I apologize if I do.

I recently have been the subject of ridicule on a twin forum site, I no longer am a member of this site needless to say. The ridicule had to do with a blog I had on how to conceive twins, I have since deleted this blog because of the ridicule. I started the blog mainly for those women whom have been pregnant with multiples but only delivered one baby or no babies at all. From reading the many twin/multiple forums I realized that some of these women that suffered such lose were and are still hoping and praying to become pregnant with multiples again. I have the utmost compassion for these woman, especially since I know how special it is to carry, deliver and raise twins myself. I would not suggest to anyone to try anything that would put them or their babies lives in jeopardy, I was only suggesting natural ways to conceive twins. I researched the many ways that are believed to contribute to conceiving twins and I relayed these ideas and/or suggestions on the blog.

It's one thing to ridicule or belittle someone for supplying a blog of sort, but to ridicule someone about the symptoms that they had while pregnant with twins is another story. I have never belittled any woman for sharing her twin pregnancy symptoms and I honestly didn't think that I would be treated this way for sharing my symptoms with others. My symptoms were real and true, at least for me. What these woman must have forgotten is that every pregnancy is different, even for the same woman.

Here are some of the responses by these women to some of my symptoms and my response to them:

1. Morning sickness at five weeks was very severe and intense (intense migraines, multiple times daily for 3 weeks straight)

Their responses..........

1. I HAD SEVERE MORNING SICKNESS W/ MY SINGLETON SON STARTING AT 5 WEEKS

2. Okay my m/s sucked ass but so did my friend's who was having one baby.

3. Nope, in fact my m/s is a lot better this time around. I'm queasy but have only run to the bathroom 1x and then it was dry-heaving (sorry if TMI); with DD I was throwing up before I was 5 wks pg.

My response to them:

That's great, those were your symptoms during your twin/multiple pregnancies. Mine were severe earlier in the pregnancy, that being totally different from my singleton pregnancies.

2. Migraines starting at 5 weeks and lasting 3 weeks straight (1-2 times per day)

One of these women is a nurse and she made light of the migraines I suffer while being pregnant saying "TRUE MIGRAINES DO NOT COME AND GO 1-2 TIMES A DAY"!!!

To this I respond....I have suffered migraines since I was 6 years old (and don't tell me you can't have them that young, as I was diagnosed by my doctor), so I do know what a true migraine is and I know what a true migraine feels like! While pregnant (all three of my pregnancies), I suffered migraines. They were different with every pregnancy that I had. The migraines started in my 3rd trimester while pregnant with my son and with my daughter the migraines started at the end of my 2nd trimester. The migraines continued in these pregnancies until I gave birth. Medication worked during my pregnancy with my son, but not so much when I was pregnant with my daughter. With my twin pregnancy the migraines began at 5 weeks and continued during the whole pregnancy. I know what it feels like when a migraine is coming on and I did have 1-2 migraines on some days. When I get the signs before the migraine (numbness, tingling, aura), I know a migraine is coming. This did happen more than once a day, and it wiped me out for days on end! Explain that nurse! Oh since you aren't a neurologist I don't really think you have the answers, so I'll stick to the specialist on that subject, thank you. During pregnancy all rhyme and reason goes out the window concerning the frequency and triggers for migraines.

Their responses........

1. TRUE MIGRAINE A DOESN'T COME AND GO 1-2 TIMES A DAY...TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD MIGRAINES SINCE THE AGE OF 8...THEY TYPICALLY LAST FOR HOURS ON END...AND IF IT TRULY WAS 3 WEEKS LONG OF A REAL MIGRAINE I SUSPECT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE DR.

2. Nope, no migraines at all

3. Nope, no migraines at all

My response:

I didn't say my migraine lasted for 3 weeks straight, I said I had migraines for 3 weeks straight. And yes I did see a doctor, lots of visits to the emergency room and to my neurologist. And they all confirmed I was suffering from migraines! I have suffered from migraines from 6 years old and they are more severe and frequent during pregnancy for me. I do know what a true migraine is and I have been diagnosed at a very young age. Unlike you, I feel for anyone who may suffer from a migraine. You are probably like the nurse I met in the emergency room that called my migraine "just a headache"! Apparently, SHE doesn't know what a "true" migraine is. I do!

For those of you who don't or haven't suffered from migraines, you are fortunate.

3. Extremely tender breasts.

Their responses..........

1. Not a sign of twins....just a sign of pregnancy

2. Nope

3. Yes, but so did my friends and family who had one baby.

My response:

My tender breasts early on was totally different from my singleton pregnancies.

3. Extremely Tired

Their responses..........

1. NOT A SIGN OF TWINS....JUST A SIGN OF PREGNANCY

2. What does this mean anyway? Is this just subjective?

3. Yes in the first tri. Feel better now that I'm in the second tri.

My response.....

I've read of many women who were pregnant with multiples say how much more tired they felt with their multiple pregnancy vs. their singleton pregnancy. I sure was.

5. Exhausted

Their responses..........

1. SAME THING AS YOUR "EXTREMELY TIRED"

2. How is this different than being tired? And yes this is true for me.

3. Hmmmm isn't this the same as tired?

My response.....

Here are dictionary definitions of tired and exhausted.

Tired: drainded of strength and energy: fatigued often to the point of exhaustion

Exhausted: to tire extremely or completely

Exhausted is taking tired to the maximum. So, yes there is a difference between being tired and being exhausted.

6. Constantly hungry

Their responses..........

1. NOT A SIGN OF TWINS....JUST A SIGN OF PREGNANCY

2. I actually have no appetite: same that happened w/DD (dear daughter)

3. I am always hungry, that explains my fat a$$

My response.....

Again, this was a symptom for myself and many women pregnant with mulitples that was more intense than with a singleton pregnancy. And again, every pregnancy varies.

As for #3's response, I wonder why she felt the need to leave such a comment.

7. Last but not least....I had a strong gut feeling I was carrying two babies

Their responses..........

1. SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT HAVING A STRONG GUT FEELING MEANS YOU HAD MORE THAN ONE IN THERE? HOLY CRAP- THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO...BECAUSE I DIDNT BELEIVE I WAS HAVING TWINS...SHOULD I GIVE ONE BACK?

2. Nope, I thought I wasn't even pregnant.

My response......

I did have these feelings from the day I found out I was pregnant. As a matter of fact I kept thinking I was going to have twins at least 6 months prior to becoming pregnant with my twins.

I have read of many women who had strong feelings that they were carrying more than one baby and they found out that they were. These are unexplained feelings, but real nonetheless.

How can these women responding here take those feelings that we had and make fun or light of them?!!! Just because they didn't experience these feelings doesn't mean they weren't real for those of us who had them. I'm sure they must have had some strong feelings about their pregnancies one way or another. I wouldn't suggest that their feelings were meaningless.

And few more symptoms that may indicate twins/multiples:

1. Weight gain earlier in pregnancy

Their responses..........

1. Nope

2. Nope

3. No, I am not even sure I've gained enough yet.

My response....

Again every pregnancy is different. This was different with my twin pregnancy vs. my singleton pregnancies.

This symptom was reported as being different with their twin/multiple pregnancy.

2. Feeling movement earlier than expected

Their responses..........

1. NOT A SIGN OF TWINS! FEELING MOVEMENT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED JUST MEANS YOU ARE IMAGINING THINGS- FETAL MOVEMENT ISNT FOUND UNTIL THE SECOND TRI- SOMETIMES IN THE 12TH WEEK

2. Nope

3. I've felt nothing yet (about 16 weeks)

My response....

I felt fluttering early with my twin pregnancy vs. my singleton pregnancies. Many women pregnant with twins/multiples have reported feeling movement early on. I don't believe these women were imagining things. Just because you (#1) didn't feel movement earlier doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

3. Family history of twins

Their responses..........

1. Yes, but I was on Gonal-F as well.

2. Yes and I also took clomid. OB never suspected twins!

3. You are correct on this ONE thing.

My responses.....

To #1....I can't believe twins or multiples didn't cross your mind since you were taking a "follicle stimulating hormone".

Here's a link for more information on "Follicle Stimulating Hormone"

To #2....As well, you were taking a drug to stimulate ovulation. I can't believe you or your OB didn't even suspect a multiple pregnancy could be a possibility.

Here's a link for more on "Clomid type drugs"

To #3...And once again, every pregnancy is different for each woman. These symptoms are mine! My twin pregnancy symptoms were very different from my singleton pregnancies.

I just don't understand why some people feel the need to leave such rude comments about symptoms someone else may be experiencing.

And here is a response by someone that is just plain ridiculous (the part about "or maybe mine just aren't real twins?"

"The only thing I really had was fatigue. But I had been pg before and it wasn't any different than those times (with singletons). ALL of these symptoms are for PREGNANCY and aren't an indicator of multiples.

Or maybe mine just aren't real twins?"

I realize that every woman has different symptoms with each pregnancy. I just wanted to share the symptoms that were different with my twin pregnancy vs. my singleton pregnancy. I'm in no way trying to say that these symptoms indicate that you or anyone IS/ARE pregnant with twins/multiples.

5 Months Old Already!!

Photo 1........Ally

Photo 2.......Baily

Photo 3.......Daddy, Ally, Moe, Emi and Baily

Photo 4.......Ally and Baily (hmmm reminds me of when I was carrying them, except Baily was on the top)

Photo 5......Ally and Baily talking to Grandpa on the phone (talking on the phone already, what am I in for?!!)

I can't believe they are getting so big already. They both are rolling over, they both jabber up a storm (that's where the phone comes into play), they kind of sit up, they are eating cereal at least once a day and they sleep more hours at night.

Now with summer here we are spending a lot of time at the pool, so hopefully the babies will be real comfortable in the water. My son took to the water really well, it only took him two days at the pool before he was jumping in and putting his head under water, now less than two weeks he's already swimming under water. My older daughter does well, but she is afraid to put her head under the water yet. She'll get there though.

We already bought them walkers since they like to stand, while being held of course. The only problem is, they are way too short to touch the floor and the walkers can't be lowered any more. They will probably be walking by the time they can reach the floor in the walkers. Oh well, they do like to sit in them anyway and we can feed them in there also if we want to.

Soon we will have to shop for gates since we have stairs! It won't be long before they will be mobile.

Ally (top)

Baily (bottom)

First Swim!!!

Today was such a nice day, we decided to take the kids to the pool. It was warm and then breezy but it was still nice. The older kids had lots of fun. The babies seemed to enjoy the pool, but they got hungry and tired soon after they went in. I put lots of sun screen on everyone, I'm

hoping it was enough. We didn't keep the babies out in the sun for very long though. We forgot about swim diapers for the babies this time, we will make sure we have them for the next time. I've never used them before, so we'll see how they do.

We are hoping to take the kids to the pool at least twice a week so they can all get used to

being in the water. The two older kids actually did fairly well. There is a large area of the pool that only goes up to 3 1/2 feet, so that's good for them since they can stand in it with their heads above water.

Twins at Disneyland!

My parents took us all to Disneyland for a family vacation. It was great. We all went except for my sisters husband and their 2 teen aged boys (we missed them). All together nine of their eleven grandchildren were there, seven of them under 7 years old and the other two are 11 and 13. It was so hard keeping our eyes on all of them. At least 3 of them were young enough to keep in strollers, the other four kept trying to wonder off, but we managed to leave with the same amount of children we went with! It was a wonderful vacation all in all. One of my nieces is 7 weeks older than our twins so we dressed them all alike and of course we got the "are they triplets" question asked a few times. Thank Goodness for Grandparents otherwise we may not have been able to ride on any of the rides or see some of the exhibits. If I wouldn't have been so far from home or gone for as many days as we were, I would have left the babies with relatives. I just couldn't bring myself to be away from them for that long. It really wasn't that bad having them there, everyone helped watch each others children, even my brother and sister-in-law who don't have nor do they want children. They love their nieces and nephews and they love them!

I don't believe it....Already!!

I can't believe my babies are cutting teeth already. No wonder they haven't been feeling well. Cutting teeth on top of having a cold, poor babies. I felt inside their mouths last week and thought maybe they may be cutting teeth but I didn't feel anything trying to come through, at least nothing very noticeable. I felt small lumps in their gums, but they are the eye teeth. I just did a quick study on the subject and it seems these teeth aren't suppose to come in until they are over a year old. Hmmm...I wonder why they are getting those teeth first. Here is a link to baby teeth development...
http://www.craigentinny.co.uk/Children/tooth_development.htm
So far Baily has had a break through on the left side. But it seems like the tooth is coming in at an angle. I'll have to watch it and see what it does. It looks like my baby girls are going to have fangs! Ally just has little lumps so far. She doesn't have anything breaking through the gums yet. Now I see why they've been drooling all over the place and not feeling too well lately.