Double Trouble

[buckeyegal]

Yikes...I had a little forum scare today! I've recently changed e-mail addresses, and Samuel @ IVF wouldn't let me back on! I could see your posts but couldn't write back. How frustrating.... Anyhoo, I'm back on.

Laura---so glad Nicholas got through the surgery okay. I bet he's going to be a "new man" now! Good luck! As for the car seat situation, I know your frustration. The infant seats were so easy to pop in and out, but now that the babies are so heavy....geez.....We did end up going with the Britax Roundabout. It's the one that goes up to 40 pounds (@$200) We had considered the Britax that went to 65 pounds, but it didn't get as good of reviews (plus, we wondered if having a 65 pounder in a car seat might be a bit of a fight? We thought the little booster seats would probably be more practical at that size...Plus a fireman friend already gave us booster seats for when that time comes.) Good luck with whatever you decide. My DH is supposed to be putting in the new seats this week. I know the kids will be more comfy, but I dread getting them in /out while they're still rear-facing.

Woodcliff...Here's what I did--Don't know if it helps...I had my big shower around 24-26 weeks. My girlfriends threw it for me, so we had to coordinate several schedules. Plus, I wanted to make sure I had it before any possibility of bedrest. I had another small family shower closer to 30 weeks. And, YES YES YES, I registered for anything and everything I needed! A lot of our bigger items could only be found online, so a lot of people just gave us gift cards. (It's hard to find the snap-go, double strollers, etc. in the store) Don't feel greedy. You will need a lot. (Don't forget to check out any local twin clubs too....they're a GOLDMINE when it comes to double gear) As for pack-n-plays, I debated about that one. While a lot of my friends raved about them, I wasn't sure how useful they'd be for twins--due to the fact that the weight limit would be reached pretty quickly. Didn't matter in the end though, because a friend gave me hers--just a standard single one. I intend to use it when we travel this summer as a crib for one of the kids, and yes, they fold down pretty compactly. (When the babies were really little, we had a family basinette that we used downstairs to keep the babies in while they slept--which was similar in size to the packplay, so I guess in a way "I needed one".) I DID get a 3-1 convertible crib for each baby. (which we have slept them in at night since day 1--our nursery is just feet away from our bed.) We went ahead and purchased the conversion kits when we bought the cribs...just in case the company went out of business or there were color variances, etc. One big item I'd recommend for later on? (3-6 months or later?) The Fisher Price "Jumparoo". My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE that thing. It's a stand-alone piece that's similar to an exersaucer (we have one of those too), and the kids can jump and spin in it. It's seriously a RIOT to watch them in, and they get some good exercise!

Good luck!

[kholtan]

Woodcliff~ I basically second what Kim said. We registered for everything we wanted and needed and literally ended up getting it all. Some people like to go in together and get the bigger items which is AWESOME! It felt a bit greedy but I was so happy in the end. I think my total registry was 60 items and then grandparents bought some of the bigger items we just told them we needed when they asked.
We went with a Jenny Lind crib that converts to a toddler bed but not a childs bed. IT was cheap and looks great. Plus, being in the design business I didn't know what I wanted a few years down the road or how much space we would have for beds. Right now we wouldn't want two full beds but maybe in a different house.
We also have a pack-n-play and used it for about 2 months as a bassinet. Worked great for a while and now we take it when we travel. It's a bed for one and keeps the toys off of germ ridden floors of other places while they play. Germ greak!!!! It will also be great in the summer if I have them outside and need to keep them in one spot.
We only registered for one of most items and are really happy with how that worked out. You are welcome to visit my registry on line. It's babiesrus.com and go in under Kimberly Holtan, Meridian ID. Due date was Oct. 11.
My shower was at 30 weeks and now I know I was cutting it close! WHEW!

Good luck!

WEll, better go drink my wine tonight and enjoy some silence before the day starts again. Both babies were in a foul mood today and really wore me out. Thank God for naps! Dh is out of town on a job so I'm going solo for a few days. Wine is my best friend tonight! Too bad I can only drink two glassed before I feel tipsy! My tolerance isn't what it used to be!

Again, I am so appreciative of all the support. If there are any suggestions out there I am super open to hearing them!
Love and higs~
Kimberly

[faithandhope]

Hey ladies-
I am so behind on reading the posts!

LauraLou...LOVE the pic of the boys with their sunglasses on!!! Too cute!

Kholton....My heart broke when I was reading about Bodie. I completely agree with what all the girls said. Remember, that everything happens for a reason, even if it is hard to see why at this time. I know you and your family will pull through this and we will all keep you, Bodie, and your family in our prayers! Continue to have that strength that you have and we are here for you!

Woodcliff...my big baby shower is going to be at 30 weeks. I'm hoping for the best, because I can't imagine what I will feel like at 30 weeks.

My boys are doing well (almost 16 weeks) but I am still 10 pounds below my normal weight from all the sickness. Today at my OB appt. they decided to send Home Care to my house starting next week. I guess they will check my blood and urine and give me IV's when needed.

Oh, KHolton...My husband and I tried to get the Colonial life insurance stuff that you talked about. Is there any way you could email me the information if you still have it? They told us we could only get that if we were a part of a group??? Any help would be appreciated!

[kholtan]

Faithand hope~ I will dig that info up in the morning! I know every state is differnent but I also have the 1-800 # somewhere. Aflak does it as well and some others. THanks so much for keeping us in your thoughts. We truly appreciate it!
Take care~ Kimberly

[faithandhope]

Kholtan...I looked at your registry online...very helpful! Ok, so what carriers did you get to go in the Snap and Go?

[kholtan]

I went Britax. Can't remember the exact name but they are awesome! It's not the easiest one to get them into or out of and they are a few punds more than some others but they are so safe and the babies are ULTRA comfy in them! Well worth the money! I think $200 each.

[buckeyegal]

I got the Graacco snugrides. We've been very happy with them, and they were on the top of the consumer reports list. I think they were about 99 bucks each.

[LauraLou]

Woodcliff- I had my shower at 32 weeks. I delivered less than 3 weeks later, so I really cut it close! I got the twin pack-n-play. It holds 15-20 lbs on each side, so it doubles the weight restriction on the single pack-n-play. I used it as a bassinett until they were about 3 months, then I moved them to their cribs. I bought the 3 in 1 cribs, but haven't gotten the converter kits yet. Simmons has been in business for a very long time, so I'm not too worried but I should probably do so soon.

We bought all the big ticket items ourselves (cribs, dresser, car seats, pack-n-play). My parents bought the changing table and matresses. I registered for things like bouncie seats, boppy, bathtub, diaper genie, etc. All our family lives out of town, so my shower was just for friends and I didn't want them to spend too much money.

I got the Baby Trend car seats. They, along with the Graco Snugride, were top rated by Consumer Reports for infant seats. I bought them over the Graco mainly because I liked the color better!

Kim- I think I am going to buy the Roundabouts also. I think they will fit better than the large ones and I agree, booster seats will probably be easier than a big car seat when they are 50-60 lbs. What design did you get? I love the Cowmooflage covers!

Faithandhope- Don't worry about the weight, it will come. I didn't gain any weight until I hit 20 weeks and then started to gain regularly. Whatever you do, don't read that Barbara Luke book. It will stress you out about weight gain. I actually threw mine away because it made me cry!

Kimberly- My husband travels out of town most weeks Mon-Thurs, so I understand the importance of cocktail hour after they are asleep!

[Malinka]

Woodclif, I am using twin pack and play as their bassinet, so far no complains. Some of my friends advised me against 3 in 1 bed, because they ended up buying a lot of additional staff. Some bought a 3 in 1 bed in a very expensive store, had it for couple of years, then had to change the bed to a child bed and buy some addtional gear, she called the store, turns out her model got discontinued...

I also was feeling bad about putting too much under my registry, got one of each on everything.
Didn't put really big staff, like beds and car seats and strollers.

I had my shower around 35 weeks, big mistake, could barely move and was so scared to go to PTL because of overdoing it that day.

[buckeyegal]

Laura--Our babies r us only had one pattern for the Roundabout. They had the nicer patterns for the most expensive models. So, we just got the plain gray. Which, in the end, is probably good for us, so we don't have to worry about which baby goes in which car seat....Would hate for Braeden to get fussy about being in a girly carseat someday! ha ha!

[IndieBlue]

Newbie lurking here...just wanted to say that we have the Britax Regent for our toddlers and it's GREAT. Really big car seat and it goes to 85 pounds I believe...so they could sit in it till they are 8

Oh and carseats expire 5 years after manufacture date so make sure that any carseats that friends give you are still under that date. They start to disintegrate after that, very unsafe in crash test.

I really hope to be posting here regularly soon...but for now, back to lurkdom living vicariously through you pregnant ladies!

[faithandhope]

Ok, so sorry about this, but I am still a little confused about this whole stroller/carseat thing. We just registered, but this is the one thing I am a little unsure of. So, I'm thinking we will go with the Snap and Go stroller that many of you recommended. So, now for the carseat thing....do I get 2 infant car seats and then later get another stroller and just use different regular carseats OR are we purchasing an infant/toddler carseat thing? Those don't go in the Snap and Go, correct, so I am assuming we do Option 1. Get the snap and go, 2 infant car seats at first. Later, get car seats that don't leave the car and a different stroller.

Kimberly, Kim, and LauraLou, and others, can you clear this up for me?? Thanks!!!

[buckeyegal]

faithandhope---If you do the snap n go, then yes, you'll have to end up with a different stroller later on. If you want to go with the duo travel systems (like Gracco has), then you only have to get one stroller....however, I've heard that they're very cumbersome? So, I just got a side-by-side one. As for car seats, most people seem to do the infant car seat, and then later go to the convertible kind. That's what we're doing. Infants can sit in most convertible car seats, but you can't take them out of the car. Since infants sleep so much, that could be a real hassle if the babies fall asleep in the car...which they most likely will. Good luck!

indieblue--hi there! We looked at the REgent, and it does go to 65 pounds, but it's quite big. So, we ended up with the roundabout. I've heard great things about both. Good luck getting preggers!

[woodcliff]

THANK YOU LADIES SOOOOO much.

[Dexter]

Hi guys,

Anyone have any spotting/light bleeding with twins at 12 weeks? Had my 12 week scan yesteray and all was great and then noticed some brownish/light pink discharge on the t/p, followed by some red blood in the toilet. I went straight to ER where they performed another scan and said both babies were fine and to go home and keep an eye on the bleeding. It doesn't seem to be much at the moment- only when I wipe but of course I am freaking out!

Any similar situations?

Thanks,
Dexter