First Year Mommies ~~ How are you doing??

This is for all FY mommies! Even the lurkers!

I'm curious as to how all of you are doing? How is the first year going for you so far?

 

This is for all FY mommies! Even the lurkers!

I'm curious as to how all of you are doing? How is the first year going for you so far?

 

Ummm lets see...we are right in the middle of a hectic week of appts. M is screaming, B is trying to take a nap, S is finally taking a nap after a week of refusing to nap and all I want to do is crawl into bed for a few hours but dont think I can do it with all of Ms screaming

 

I can tell you these 5 months have been an adventure. I am so fortunate to have awesome in-laws who are tremendous help. I also have enjoyed TS, getting lots of support and ideas from others in my own shoes. I keep saying God has more faith in me than I do right now. Five kids 5 and under scared me to death, but it's really not so bad. The whole family is in on this baby thing, so it's actually been fun (except for those sleepless nights).

 

So far, so good! 2006 was hard on us, non-babywise, so our family is looking forward to this being a new year.

Both babies have 2 bottom teeth. Currently have colds & coughs, but doesn't look too serious. Since being sick, Johnny's been refusing to sleep anywhere except the swing.

Johnny is crawling, climbing, pulling himself up to standing & we all think it won't be long till he's walking. Zoe isn't crawling yet, but she's sitting w/o assistance now & her PT was really, really happy with her progress. She gets stronger every day!

As for myself, I still don't think I've "caught up" on sleep. I doubt that'll ever happen. PPD issues are much better now & the Wellbutrin is really helping. Still have panic attacks every once in awhile & worry about the babies all the time, but I think that goes along with being a mom.


All in all, I'm LOVING, LOVING being a Mommy!!!!!!

 

I would be ripping my hair out right now if it were not for TS! I have no immediate family in the state, my Dh works full time and the past 5 months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me.

I know I can do this and it is such a blessing to be the mommy of two beautiful little boys... whew! but sometimes I wonder how so many others have survived!

 

I'm hanging in there! I'm just amazed at how busy I am with the boys and my 4 year old. I barely have enough time to eat lunch or go to the bathroom. In fact, I better go because one of the boys are getting fussy..

 

I guess we are pretty much like everyone else. L & M are snotty and dh just called and said L fell at daycare I can't imagine how this happened. She had her sitting up, (she can't sit up on her own) and she fell and hit her head on a box or something. DH said that her face is scraped
It's times like this I wish I was able to be at home fulltime. Anyway, no teeth here, eating baby food at least 1x a day. Just wish my girls wouuld pick tonight to sleep through. Mommy needs it.

 

We are doing pretty good - the girls will be 3 weeks old tomorrow -
the boys have been pretty helpful and we have only had one disipline
related phone call from the school since the babies were born!!!
which is great for us!!
My c-section inscion is doing better - I go tomorrow to have it checked again (it had been infected) other than a total lack of sleep,
I am ok!!

 

Wow, Jenny...what a topic for me to find today...I'm really about to lose it. I have not slept in 2 days, my dh had taken a new position at work that has had him working long hours and having to go in on the weekend, and my older girls (deservedly---it's not their responsibility) get off the bus and immediately go to homework then play, leaving me alone even though they are home. I'm at my wits end this week. I am hiding at the computer right now while the boys are relatively happy in their jumpies and feel so guilty for doing so. In reality, things are going well. I have two beautiful, healthy 9 mo. old boys, 2 smart, cute and well-behaved-outside-of-the-house daughters. I have been able to handle most of our life adjustment to having 4 kids without any outside help (my laundry is another matter... )but this week has just killed me. and it's only tuesday.
Thank you, Jenny, and thank you TS for being the one outlet that truly lets me know I'm not alone in this journey. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a black hole where no one else even knows one exists...
Hopefully this isn't all just a bunch of ramble...I'm sure with a few hours of sleep I'll be back to feeling normal again.

Thanks for "listening".
Nicole

 

Our whole family is in the middle of nasty colds--lots and lots of tissue

Well, our first year is almost over! Its been a tough year for us with colic and reflux, not sleeping well, food intolerances, etc. I'm still exclusively BFing. I hope to make it a few more months now.

Our DD starting sleeping through the night around 9 months and our DS just a few weeks ago. Hopefully this will mean more zzzz's for me and my hubby.

Thanks for asking!

 

I couldn't ask for anything better With the way things could have turned out for us, I just feel so lucky that we got here!

 

my life is ground hog day, the same pattern repeats every 3 hours...but all things being equal - we are managing.

Getting help a few times a week has been great - the main issue we are dealing with right now is the kids seem to get painful gas from my Breast Milk. Here I am killing myself to pump for them and after eating, they scream for like an hour!

But they are healthy and we are so grateful for that.

Miriam

 

Things have been going pretty good. The babies started sleeping through the night for a month now and I am slowly getting the hang of things. For being premature they are doing really well. Emily still needs to up her weight, but overall they are healthy. Hyrum has adjusted really well to the twins and loves to help out. Now if I can find somewhat a balance between time with the kids, house work, dh, church, and social life then I will be even better.

 

So far, so good! Don't know how I'm ever going to work again, though!

 

Well, we're only on week 2 so the jury's still out but so far, so good. I'm scared of what will happen when DH goes back to work fulltime on Monday, though. I'll have to learn how to balance the needs of my almost 2 year old with the twins needs very, very quickly. We're still adapting to our "new normal".

So far the twins are doing great -- they've gained back their birth weights and nursing is going well although my son's latch is slacking off for some reason.

I'm battling a nasty cough but I'm able to get at least some sleep at night which is great, all things considered!

 

Thanks for making me lol akameme. When you said "my life is ground hog day, the same pattern repeats every 3 hours." I laughed so hard. When people ask how we are doing my husband and I tell them that our life revolves around 4 hour blocks, over and over and over again. We laugh, it's the only thing that keeps up sain.

 

So far so good. I am not going to lie the first month and a half was h*ll. Hannah spent the first ten days of her life in the NICU. Five weeks after the twins were born I had to have my gall bladder removed and spent five days in the hospital. Well, after all the medication I was giving my milk supply was gone and I could no longer breastfeed the twins. I was so disappointed and was hard on myself about it. I still regret not being able to nurse them and I miss it so much. Once we got past all that drama the last two and half months have been amazing. The twins have been sleeping through the night for about a month now. We make sure we stick with our schedule because it makes things less stressful. I am even surviving the week without my dh! I am starting to feel like I can really do this, Lol.

 

First of all Jenny, I want to say thank you for caring so much and even taking the time to ask with all you have going on in your very busy life. You are not just an awesome moderator but you are truly a very kind and sincere person. I can only imagine what a fantastic mommy you must be to your kids. They are truly lucky to have you!!

I can honestly say it's going really great right now. The first few months were really trying and my dh says he wasn't sure I was going to make it. He thought he may end up having to come visit me in an asylum. After the first month, I was on my own with these tiny babies and completely clueless on what the heck I was doing. Then I hurt my back and could barely walk let alone having to walk up and down the stairs twice to bring the girls downstairs every morning. It took us 5 years to get our bundles of joy so I felt guilty whenever I complained but I did nothing but complain and couldn't stop myself. Well, like everyone says, it does get easier and it has become so much fun watching them change and grow and do all sorts of new and funny (and sometimes scary) stuff. The good deffinately outweighs the bad and it's so hard to convey this to any new mom. You just have to kind of go through it. But by getting through it, it somehow makes the love and bond with your babies that much stronger. I look forward to everyday with them and seeing what new feat they will conquer and what new task they will achieve.

If it wasn't for the amazing support of my dh and everyone on this site, I don't know how I would have made it through. God bless us all. Each and everyone!

 

My life is very full! I have two beautiful, healthy boys who amaze me on a daily basis. I am trying my best to soak up every single second because I know someday I will want these days back. I have a great job with a great company and I was just promoted. I can work from home a few days a week or as needed to maximize time with my babies. I found a fabulous nanny who loves our babies like her own. Our new house was completed and we moved in when the boys were 6 weeks old and I'm loving having all the additional space. I fall a little more in love every day with my husband and best friend as I watch him become the most amazing father. I feel very lucky to be in such a great place in life right now. I have the rough days and the sleepless nights like everyone else, but they are overshadowed by my many blessings.

 

Life is wonderful! I wake up everyday and thank the Lord above for my two precious and healthy babies. This year has been a roller coaster for sure! I was in NO WAY, SHAPE or FORM prepared for the first year of twins (and I am "a-type" researcher woman!) I read book after book and read posts here...I remember thinking, "how hard can it really be?" HA!!!! I am thankful I found twinstuff and that I was able to see when I needed help (day and night) and seek it throughout these last 9 months. Just a few weeks ago, I started feeling as though I was finally on top of it all. We don't have the night nanny anymore (since month 5) and I have day help half-days 3x week. Yes, DD's reflux is still horrible and they JUST started really sleeping through the night in the last weeks, but they are wonderful.

I am encouraged with my parenting! Which, this in fact, is a big deal for me because for so long I second guessed everything I did, and for some reason felt extreme guilt about everything (NICU, reflux, not being able to breastfeed/not wanting to pump anymore etc.) for the first few months...I had a hard time feeling as though I had to hold both ALL the time or I wasn't a "good" Mommy...I found myself irritated and tired of being touched...Poor DH!) Anyway, although I am weepy about year 1 coming to a close, I love the memories of all the milestones that have passed and am excited about those that are to come! We have 6 and 4 teeth, we are both crawling, saying mama and dada, we are pulling ourselves up to a stand and have officially got a schedule down (including doing great on solids - I just wear them sometimes with the reflux)!

I started CIO last week and had a really hard time with it. I think I cried more than they did. For those of you debating, here is my conclusion: every child is different and as a Mother, you need to have a gut feeling about how they are reacting to it. DD cried for 2-3 days each time (never longer than 5 minutes) NOW she goes down for EVERY SLEEP (day&night) with out a PEEP, not even a fuss. She just puts her head down, pops in that paci and it's off to dream land for her. DS on the other hand did not do so well. He is my snuggle bug and it killed me to hear him scream. I have modified CIO for him where I walk and sing for a couple minutes, then I lay him down and pat him (he has now stopped becoming hysterical, which began the first day after CIO, when getting close to the crib - again, gut feeling about your kids) he will put his head down, I pat his back for about 2 minutes and then I just stand next to his crib. He lifts his head up a couple times to check if I am still there and then goes to sleep. All in all it takes about 10 minutes to get him down this way, but I am willing to take baby steps with him, I can't let him cry, I just don't have it in me. Yes, I can't just walk in and put him in his crib and walk away BUT I am no longer WALKING AND ROCKING for 45 minutes either. I am hoping eventually he will get used to it and over the next weeks cut 10 to 8 minutes and so on. Like I said, I am encouraged!

Also, we have separated them in to two bedrooms. It was the best thing and I wish I had done it 6 months ago!

Sorry this ended up so long. I change my mind every week, but this week I've decided I'm done. So, these babies are it, and it is bittersweet to watch them grow and change everyday. I enjoy every little moment! I am content and it's been a very long time since I have been able to say that!

 

quote:
First of all Jenny, I want to say thank you for caring so much and even taking the time to ask with all you have going on in your very busy life. You are not just an awesome moderator but you are truly a very kind and sincere person. I can only imagine what a fantastic mommy you must be to your kids. They are truly lucky to have you!!

Thanks, your the second person today who's said I'm a good mother.

I just wanted to know how we're all doing, so I had to ask en masse. Thanks for touching base with me, it's good to know what's going on.

Oh, I guess I'll update you guys too. Sean and James are almost able to crawl and they are eating solids with mucho gusto. They are on a nearly religeous 4 hour schedule of their own making. Of course when they are asleep I do some moderating stuff and clean, clean, clean! I didn't think I was going to make it through those first 4 months, but now it really is fun!

 

Hi Jenny,

Thanks so much for asking!

2006 had a lot of ups and downs for us, but I feel very happy right now. I miss the days when they were so tiny and wish I could have enjoyed them more. But they were preemies, in the NICU for 6 weeks and when they came home I worried so much about their health, then soon after they came home, we moved to a new city and then my husband's mother passed away. But life goes on, and the babies kept everyone distracted from their sorrow. They have been such a joy and they kept us going. We wanted to provide a good home for them and so we bought a house we want to raise them in. So then we were busy settling into our new home. Life has finally stabilized a little and I am trying to enjoy them as much as I can because they are growing up SO FAST. They are no longer these cute little babies that sleep on my chest or next to me in bed. I can see them becoming more and more independent everyday. sniff sniff.. I am proud of them yet sad at the same time. I love them so much and feel blessed. AND I'm glad they are sleeping better because when I get more sleep I can be a better mom. (of course the sleep subject had to be mentioned, hee hee).

Thanks again for asking Jenny!

Mona

 

How fun! I have never loved anything more than being a mom to two sweet little babies! I lucked out and got such good little girls They have just made me so happy. Everyone asks me if I'm doing okay or if I'm going crazy but I can honestly say for the last six months I have never been happier I LOVE being a mom!!!

 

Jenny, thanks for asking about us all! We just you and love TS, but you know that already (I think I have told you that a few times ).

I wish I could say I am doing well but really - I am so disappointed with how incredibly difficult it has been trying to take care of two babies at once. I knew it was going to be hard but I honestly thought my 6 months things would lighten up a bit. Well my guys are just the most whiny two babies. I read everyone else's posts and it seems like everyone has this really happy laughy babies that do all sorts of great things and sleep during nap time, and bedtime, love solids and are starting to crawl. People write about how their twins are showing a bond too. Almost never does any of this stuff happen for us. I am at my wits end with them and their temperment. It seems like when one is happy the other is not. One is eating, the other doesn't want to. One is sleeping, while the other is crying too loud for them to both sleep. One sleeps through, well the other won't. They could care less that the other exists except they cry more if the other one is freaking out

Rhea once said her twins were the most "un-twin" twins out there, but I think mine take the cake!

I just want to sleep one night, and have one day where they seem happy and actually nap normally. I would love to see them try to even stay on their tummies for more than 2 minutes. I would love the reflux (which they both have apparently) stop, I can't stand the icky throwup! Yuck!

Ok, I bet you are sorry you asked now Sorry!

Seriously though Jenny, this site means the world to me and all my friends that I have from it. I want to take Becky too because she lets me vent to her in my emails and she is really there for me.

Here's hoping month 7 is our month!

 

Sarah,
I am so sorry you are having a rough time. BELIEVE ME when I say we have all been there! There have even been days when I felt like super-mom one minute and a lunatic the next! I am right there with you on the reflux issue, in fact I am taking DD to the ped tomorrow and insisting on seeing a GIS.

Chin up girl, you are a great Mom and if it gives you any hope, 7 was our month (although 8 was really rough because we got 6 teeth in less than 2 weeks) but 9 is wonderful again.

And about the twin thing...I don't think mine are very "twinny" either, but I think that will come when they are ready. Mine are very independent of each other and I am not going to force the issue. They have their whole lives to bond, KWIM? My DD just started calling DS "bubua" yesterday - it brought tears to my eyes because she says it everytime (4 so far) she sees him with a HUGE grin!

 

Thanks for asking!

Things are going great! We are still breastfeeding exclusively, which I am very proud of! I can't believe in 3 months the girls will be one. We have all seem to have gotten into a groove. The babies are on a great schedule and all my kids take a nap at the same time in the afternoon ! It only took 9 months to accomplish .

The girls are having some developemental delay and feeding issues but I am sure they will all work out!

The only bad thing is my dh and I can't seem to get along. I swear this past year has been the hardest on our marriage. The sleep deprivation really starts to get to you after a while. I still don't have the girls sleeping through the night. I am hoping once everything settles and we get more sleep we will reconnect. I am sure we will. It is just scary sometimes thinking of how disconnected we are. He does his own thing and I do mine.

 

well..... I have enjoyed this year so far (i think lol). I just need some sleep!! I love my 2 to bits and they just seem to be changing every day. It is all going to fast. We are getting there. I always said after these two i would love some more but the lack of sleep has just got to me to much and i think i will just stick with my 2 lovelies just now. It has been a year of ups and downs but it can only get better. Right?!!! x

 

I didn't think I'd make it as long as I did. The girl's turned 10 months today and I still have all my hair and I haven't killed Joe. So I think we're doing good or at least better than I thought.

 

thanks for asking. gives me a chance to step back and think about how things are going.
so far so good! the girls have started sleeping through the night since last week. Their weight gain is going good and they will be starting rice cereals in a couple of weeks when I will start weaning them (finally!). Iris is flipping all over the place and Nefeli is trying to. They are both happy babies and smile alot to me and each other. The best part is in the morning when they wake up they talk up a storm and I wake up to the nicest sounds in the world! The hardest part was tension with DH the first 4 months and that's leveling out as well (sleeping through the night makes him the lovely man I know he can be).
i'm so glad this community exists for me. You've all been so helpful and it's always helpful to know how others are doing.

 

Thanks for asking! The quick response: we're exhausted, lonely, and sick of Bell's Palsy, yet so absolutely delighted to have the two sweetest little girls either of us has ever met. We are blessed!

The detailed response:

Our first 8 months have been pretty up and down, too. It's finally starting to get fun, with the girls laughing and learning to fall asleep. They still fight naps and don't sleep all night (darn!), so I'm very thankful for daycare (and lunch hour - when I run out to my car for a 30-minute nap). We're still exhausted.

Pretty much all of our friends have disappeared from our lives - even those with kids. That's been a really, really hard surprise/reality for us. Our premies still are on limited germ exposure - so no grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc. And everyone says they don't want to intrude because they're sure we're so busy. DH swears we haven't developed some bad stench, but I'm beginning to wonder what happened to everyone. The lonlieness has been so lonely, yet good for DH and me. We've become closer than ever.

My Bell's Palsy is still hanging in there, which is the suckiest part of anything. My smile is mostly back, but my eye still doesn't blink on its own, so I have to wear glasses a lot and my eye gets so tired. I still feel ugly because of it, though my colleagues and family say you can hardly tell. The other physical thing is that I lost all of my prego weight (yay!), but am shocked at how differently my body is now proportioned. And I miss having boobs. I'm going to make the big move of gathering up all my bikinis and dropping them off at the Good Will this weekend. Closure, I guess.

On the up side, our girls have finally noticed each other. I was wondering what was taking so long. They don't do the cute twin things I see everywhere else, like twin talk or holding hands. But they do look at each other and put their hands in each other's mouth now. Also, they laugh a lot and keep me smiling because they are so darned cute! I love seeing them interact with my DH. They're still quite small, but healthy. I wouldn't trade any of it for any amount of money.

 

It's been a joy! I'm blessed to have two healthy, growing babies. They're doing what they are suppose to for their age. I tell people that it's been kind of a juggling act between the two of them. I'm also thankful that I continue to bf exclusively, that makes me so happy! Thanks for asking!

 

I wasn't sure if I was going to b^&8h or boast... a little of both I suppose. Its been three glorious months, I sometimes I wish I had help and support from family BUT I am proud that I did do it all on my own. I had to learn to let dh get in some baby time too, I was so efficient I cut him out of the equation too!

Some days I get so frustrated without a real schedule to go on and babies awake and fussing every 30 minutes (ie yesterday.) Then I have days (ie today) where I can't wait for them to wake up! We really are so lucky to have two at a time.

 

Thank you, Jenny, for asking. I agree with all the above, you're doing a wonderful job moderating and I love TS!

As for my first year, it's definitely been up and down. The twins are both sick again, wheezing and at least one ear infection . It's so hard dealing with all the medication, the snots, the crankiness, the doctor visits, the hearing aids (both have mild-moderate hearing loss), therapy sessions (Speech and Physical 3x/wk), sleep issues, feeding issues, eczema, etc. etc. Sometimes I just get sooo frustrated, and I can see how it and the sleep deprivation sometimes turn me into someone I don't like . I try to step back and put things in perspective. I am so lucky to have 3 beautiful boys who make me smile and laugh, my mother's help, and my husband's support. Yes, things could be better but things could also be worse (knock on wood). Just trying to take things one step at a time. I thank TS so much for being such a great resource!

 

So far, so good! The boys are 2 months old today and are doing really well. They almost sleep through the night, we are only getting up once to nurse, which DH and really appreciate!! They both have their fussy times, which unfortunately is in the early evening, right around the time DH gets home from work, but generally, they are happy babies.

They are a lot of work for me since I'm home with them, but I love it. I can't believe how much they have changed and grown since they were born! I love being a twin mommy!