Twins: Who wants to discuss and share experiences?

[baby_blu73]

HI LADIES!!! I'm so very sorry I've been MIA, between work, twins, big kids (and all their activities) and trying to find time with my hubby and for myself (lol, yeah right!) I barely even touch my computer anymore. So very different from the IVF and pregnancy days... sigh...

I just wanted to pop in and say hi and I miss you! I'll try to put a new pic of Brady and Jaxon up tonight, but right now the fam's hounding me for food.

Hope all my fave twin mamas are loving life!

[baby_blu73]

Being silly with Mommy



First time in the swing



Going for a walk

[rypell1985]

Steph-they are gorgeous! Can't believe how big they are!!!!

[rypell1985]

Here are some recents:
Princess Bell

Dylan

First bikeride (pretty crazy for March in Chicago)

[blairwh58]

Stephanie- I cannot believe how big and handsome those guys have gotten. It seems like just yesterday you were posting pics of your belly before they got here. Glad they are doing well.

Ryann- What a beautiful little girl and handsome little guy!! The weather really has been crazy. In KY we went walking last week and it was 81 degrees!

AFM- Well Harper saw the plastic surgeon on Monday and it was decided we are going to move forward and try a helmet to round out her head a little more. She was fitted on Thursday and goes back on March 28 to pick it up. Im not looking forward to it at all and just hope shes in it as short a time as possible. He said since shes still so young it shouldn't take too long. I ordered her 2 onesies- one says "Dont mind me just reshapin my head" and the other has a pic of a watermelon and says " just fixin my melon". I know people are going to give ugly stupid looks so Im glad shes too young to know any better. Did any one else have a twin or both in a helmet for a period of time?

Will try to attach new pics later

[alexis]

Hi Ladies!
I haven't be on here forever, so I'm so sorry I've fallen so behind. I was so crazy tired during my first trimester and now I'm starting to feel so much better, but of course work got CRAZY then. I've so enjoyed reading about everybody's experiences and I find this thread so valuable...thank you!

AFM, I'm 17 weeks and this week we found out we are having 2 girls! We have a two year old son at home, so this will be wonderful. So far I haven't seen a perinatologist, but at this last OB appointment, they recommended we have our 20 week scan with a specialist. Our Baby B was measuring about 14% smaller than Baby A (who was right on target). Did any of you experience a size difference like that this early in the pregnancy? I hope everything is ok. Other than that new worry, I am definitely showing now, but feeling great. I hope to start getting our house prepared more so that if I end up on bedrest, etc... things will be more ready. We are on a waiting list for our son's daycare, which we love, but I don't know if we can afford to send all three kids there yet or not. I think we'll research a nanny for the twins, but I don't know how all of that works in terms of taxes and payment to the nanny (or what the cost would even be). Do any of you have any nanny pointers? We live in a smaller town, so I don't think we have a nanny service to go through to find a nanny. Any ideas? I also just recently joined a Moms of Multiples club (an hour away), so now I have a "Big Sister" that has twins already. I'm sure that will be helpful.

I'm sorry for no personals, but I truly have been enjoying reading all of your updates!

[baby_blu73]

Ryann - Thanks! And holy cow! Look at how gorgeous and happy your babes are! How do you like the bike pull along thing? MIL wants to take the boys out in hers, but I'm so paranoid...

Blair - Thanks! I don't have any personal experience with the helmets, but a lot of twin mommas I know had to get them (Brady's head seems to have rounded out on it's own thank goodness) and their biggest complaint is when they have to sleep in them. I LOVE the t-shirts! Nobody knows better about wanting (or needing) to post signs for strangers than mothers of multiples!

Alexis - Congrats on your little ladies! I think the size difference sounds minimal IMO. Are your girls identical or fraternal? I know twin transfusion can be a concern for twins sharing a placenta. I'd check with your MOMs about nannies, we have a Nana (MIL) a few blocks away, so luckily we didn't need to go through the selection of a caregiver process. Good luck with that, I'm sure you'll find someone great! Congratulations again, and enjoy the time of feeling great during your pregnancy!

[DillysGirl]

OMg, what adorable little ones!!!

[DALLASTWINS]

Im sooooo tired!!! For the past 3 days I have been up since 2am! Ethan, my bad sleeper has turned into my good sleeper. Avery, my good sleeper has turned into my bad sleeper!!! She sleeps from 8-830pm to 2am, which has been the norm.. but now thinks that she is supposed to wake up every hour after 2am!!!! Sometimes this wakes Ethan up, so I know its early but am thinking I may have to separate them. I dont know what her new deal is!

[WeHaveHope]

Dallas-I'm so sorry. Hopefuly your babies will ge unto a regular sleeping routine soon.

Hello friends,
I have a quick question. I am trying to figure out if we should go with one crib, two cribs, or two mini cribs. We are leaning towards two mini cribs that eventually convert to twin beds. What do you guys think?

[blairwh58]

WeHaveHope- I think the decision on crib vs mini-crib depends on how much space you have. Right now we still have our girls in bassinetts (pack n plays) by the bed in our room. Once I am ready to move them into their room we have 2 cribs for them. Our cribs convert to toddler beds and full size beds. If you have the space I think you may as well go with beds they can use longer. Good luck. Hope things are going well.

Afm- we go tomorrow to get the moulding helmet for Harper. Our insurance is refusing to cover the cost so it will cost $1200. My husband is currently a Neurology resident so he's furious and found some journal articles to support the need for the helmet, and is having 2 physicians write a letter. I hate insurance companies!!

[DillysGirl]

Dallas- hope your sleep is improving! Good luck Mama, this too shall pass.

We- I think either way, go with 2. Even if you put them together you will probably separate them eventually. We have a small home so we got the mini cribs. My boys are almost two and in the 90% for height and they are still fitting fine in them. Somewhere between two and three we plan to convert them to twin beds with bedrails. The trickiest part with the mini cribs has been finding bedding a mattress that we liked (we prefer all organic as much as possible).

Blair- good luck with the insurance company, seems rediculous that they won't cover the helmet, but what do I know. Sounds like your DH is on top of it!

[WeHaveHope]

Ladies,
Thank you for the feedback. We are definantely leaning towards either two curbs or two mini cribs. We won't be doing one crib because they will needti be separated at some point and they will eventually need more space. I did notice with the mini cribs that bedding sets are very difficultto find. Th choices are very limited. I found one mini crib that I love because it converts to a twin bed. My kids are older 19, 15, and 13 and they all have twin beds and are very conferrable. Because we plan on having the babies dare a room for years to come, I like the idea of the cribs converting to twin beds because two full size beds in one room would take up too much space. I haven't been able to find a regulate size crib that converts to a twin. They all seem to eventually convert to full size beds.

[DillysGirl]

We- Another plus of the mini cribs is that they fit through a standard doorway after they are put together so if you wanted to use them in your room before their own room it works great! Maybe for bedding you can have it made? Are you going to find out the genders?

[WeHaveHope]

Dillysgirl-yes, we will be finding out the gender. I have a routine OB appt tomorrow an they will be referin me to a perinatologist to have the anatomy scan next week. I'm still researching the whole crib thing. My sin is 13 and when I had him I bought a full size bed that converted to a twin. He used it for a very long time. If I can find full size cibs that converts to s twin a will probably go for that. If not then I will most likely go with the mini cibs.