An Answer to Your Question...

The main question we get asked is, "Well, what's it like having twins?"

I am sure this is a question to be asked of us by many for the rest of our lives. But let me give you some answers to what it's like so far.

It's been six weeks. Just three weeks since we have had them both home.

It's been all of these things:

fun, crazy, tiring, emotional, stressful, enjoyable, nuts, wild, peaceful, busy, a blur, a blast, worrisome, anxious, and hopeful all in one.

Let me quash a myth real quick though....it is not "double the work" or "double trouble" as many say. It's more at times. Having two babies is not just double the work. You can't give each one just 50% of yourself. Each one requires 100% attention, love, care, pampering, feedings, changings, baths, tickle sessions, play time, doctors visits and more.

There are times when both are going crazy and crying for no apparent reason (usually at night except when one of the sets of grandparents is on duty...of course!). There are times when both sleep and the house is at peace. And the fun times are when one is sleeping, and the other decides she isn't about to no matter what you do. It's 12:15 in the morning now. I am on duty. Julie is trying to sleep. The girls have been crying off and on since I came home and took over at 3:00pm. Yep, 9 hours my friends. Needless to say, this is not one of the greatest moments of the last few weeks.

Let me give you a quick run down of a typcial day with two 6 week old, identical twin girls.

NOTE: Picture this for feedings - lay both girls down on soft surface, hold bottles in both mouths and use chin to stabliize while using other hand to wipe excess milk from cute faces, use foot to shoo away Big Brother Sam who comes to give loving kisses, use knees to keep girls in correct position. Burp one girl while doing the above with the 2nd girl. Repeat with 2nd girl. After feeding is done (30-45min later), put one girl away while you change the other. Repeat with 2nd girl.

7-8am - up and feed girls...playtime for 30min in floor, then back to bed, dad goes to work
9-10am - Julie tries to eat, clean, dress, etc.
11am - feed girls...playtime for up to an hour, back to bed, take nap
2pm - repeat above, try to eat
5pm - repeat above, dad home to help, try to eat something
8pm - feed girls, give baths, put to bed, no play time
11pm - feed girls, put back to bed, parents sleep for 1-2 hours
2am - repeat above
5am - repeat above
8am - start over
*if this ACTUALLY happened every day, it really isn't as bad as it sounds. Really. It just doesn't always go as planned. They have different things planned on their calendars for the day sometimes....

Twins are fun though and a true blessing. They will be special, and so will we for years and years. Just watching them squirm, touch each other, grunt, toot and belch makes it all worth while. We'd have it no other way. God gave us what He knew we could handle, as He always does.

In general I can say it really hasn't been as bad as I was afraid it would be. At times it is for sure, but other times it isn't that hard. Then again, who I am to say? I work all day....

Brady