When twins figure out there IS an "oldest" child

Have twins have fights arguements.

From the moment they are born you know they will love each other and sometimes love to hate each other.  It's what siblings do, and for twins it starts even earlier, like in the womb.

There is a 20 minute time limit between birthing one twin and the other.  A rule put down in some book somewhere so the body doesn't start thinking it's done (or some crap like that).  My boys pushed that limit, and were born 17 minutes apart.  I knew soon after that 17 minutes would make a world of difference to the eldest child one day.  We chose right then and there to avoid telling them there was an "oldest" child for as long as possible.

It wasn't hard to do, we just never said anything about the time they were born.  They were born on the same day and that was it.  It was hard enough for them to understand that not everyone has a twin, and that most people aren't born at the same time as their brother.

When they were about 5, they figured out they couldn't have been born at the exact same time.  They came to me and asked who was first.  And I told them.  I was careful to use the word first, without any reference to time.

One of their first grade teacher assistant's happened to be a twin.  She approached me a few weeks into school and asked me, "They don't know who the oldest is do they?"
I responded "No they don't"
She said,"You did that on purpose didn't you?"
I just smiled as one of them approached.  She understood why I did it and agreed that avoiding one more reason to argue was probably a good idea.

Monday night, while showing off various ways to use body parts to make farting noises, T2 asked me, "Who is the oldest?"
T1 immediately interrupted and said, "I have to be the oldest because I was born first.  That's what a girl on the bus said."
(thanks girl on the bus)
T2 said, "Ok he is the oldest, but how much older?"
I was careful in what I would say next, because I knew it would be hard on T2.  I asked him if it would matter if he was a day older or a month older like a friend of theirs.  He responded that it wouldn't matter, because they are all the same.
"Ok" I said, "T1 is 17 minutes older than you."
"17 MINUTES!!!"
You would have thought I gave him a death sentence.  He literally keeled over.  And then made a farting noise louder than his brother to prove he could still hang with someone older than him.

A little while later, as I was entering their room to tuck them in I overheard this conversation.
T1: You know Mommy says you have to listen to kids who are older than you. (completely out of context)
T2: I AM NOT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK FOR YOU!!!

At least I made it 7 3/4 years before I heard that one.

There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: twins. ~Josh Billings

Who are these smart mouthed kids?

NOT MINE!
That's for sure.
I think they get it from their father.

Background of the story - I work for/with my father at our business.
During dinner last night I asked the twins our normal round of questions about their day.  One of which is "Did you ask any good questions today?"  I think it inspires them to seek more knowledge and not just let it come to them.  They gave their normal responses about questions in math and reading.
When they asked me the question, I responded with, "I called Pe-Paw and asked him about some rates we were working on."
T1's immediate response, "Ohhhh, you had to call your Daddy and ask him questions!"
Incompetent, I'm not.

Also on the topic of discussion yesterday was the word "diva."  Someone had used the word to describe T2's girlfriend and he took great offense thinking it was similar to devil.  I explained that it was used to describe a girl that has to look just so and may be somewhat of a show off.  T2 was much happier with that answer.  Especially when he said, "Oh, so your an old lady diva!"
Diva, I'm not.

I don't know where these kids are getting it from, but it seems to be never ending.  That was just one day.  Imagine my week!
Does anyone else have a sarcastic child?

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. ~Edgar W. Howe

Twins mean never taking a break

I'm taking a break from Friday's Featured Cause - to talk a little bit about one of the biggest causes in my house.  (don't worry, you'll have a new feature next week).

The biggest cause in our house is not usually the chd, it is usually a four letter word.

TWIN.

Or sometimes a five letter word

TWINS.

It is amazing how two little people can cause so much chaos in one house.


The twins are 7 now, and I have attempted to get used to the fact that we have twins.  I refer to them as the twins, only to seperate them from little man.  Little man cannot do many of the things they can, so they have a different set of rules.  But in our house I call them by their names (except for when I say the wrong name, heaven forbid).  They are two different people who happen to look a whole lot alike and share the same birthday.

To be honest, all the boys in my house look alike.  They are all blonde haired and blue eyed just like their Daddy.  I'm the one who gets to deny them with my dark hair and green eyes.

The twins only stand out because they also happen to be the same height, carry the same facial expressions, and happen to be able to read each other's minds on occasion.  And on occasion it still drives Mommy NUTS!

Listening to them tell me about their day at school now requires raising of hands.  Otherwise the competition to talk, the completing of each other's sentences and the volume level all leave me not knowing who actually did what.  Just because they know what happened to each other doesn't mean I do.

Nuts is also what happens when Mommy accidentally switches someones lunch.  I have color coded most everyday items in our house to simplify life.  T1's favorite color is red, so his bookbag, lunchbox, jacket and bat bag are all also red.  T2's favorite color is blue - so there you are.  It works great, except when Mommy is in a rush and doesn't pay attention to which bag she grabs and puts it in the wrong bookbag.  "MOMMY HOW COULD YOU?" is the response I get when they return home.  As if they don't have the exact same lunch (somethings are actually the same).

When they try to yell at their tone deaf Mommy from across the yard, I think they go nuts.  Mommy only gets their screaming from an acre away voices right 50% of the time.  For some reason that gets on their nerves.

Bedtime is still rough, although it isn't as nutty as it used to be.  We've never quite mastered the don't pester your brother when it is time to go to sleep.  It is a whole lot easier than it was, just not great.

There are a lot of things I've learned about twins in the past seven years, and I know I still have a lot left to learn.  They are two very different people, they just have a lot in common.  As their Mommy I work hard to take care of them both at the same time, while adjusting to their individual needs.  But still, when they were very little and I had no sleep, I would sit rocking them both and think "thank God, I didn't have triplets." 

When you are looking for a break, I've got the spot for you.
Today's post was inspired by the blogiversary at Multiples and More.  It's a great group that I have been a part of since right after I started blogging.  If you are looking to find out more on twins, triplets, quads, quints, then hop on over there.  Plus they have a ton of giveaways to celebrate this week!!!

What are you teaching your children?

We teach our children all kinds of things, from the abc's to lessons on how to deal with life.
But what is sinking in, and how do you really know? 

I'm a firm believer that our children learn by example.  They learn what to do and how to do it, from the actions that we, as parents, take.  In a bad situation, which you hope upon no one - we want our children to make the right decisions.

Sunday - we had one of those situations.  And my children made me so proud.

The twins were playing down the road with their cousin who is only a year younger than them.  Running and playing in the snow as all boys do.  They were in the back yard where a narrow creek runs the property line.  Apparently all the boys were jumping back and forth across a narrow part of the creek.  Then my nephew said, and I quote
"Watch the Master," as he jumped across a wider part of the creek. 
He missed the other side, and was in water up to his neck.  He didn't know what to do and was treading water to stay up.
T1 and T2 jumped into action.  T1 went running back to the house as fast as he could while, T2 stayed calm and stayed with my nephew.  T2 told him how to swim with his arms to reach a level where he could get out of the water.  And my nephew followed directions. 

Because they didn't freak out, fight over who was going to do what. Because they thought fast, my nephew didn't drown, or get hypothermia.  Help immediately arrived, and he was safe.

I am so proud of our boys!  And the new rule in our house,
No one is allowed to say "hey ya'll watch this" or on their level "watch the master."

What do you hope your kids have learned?

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. ~Joyce Maynard

Who is smarter?

For all of you stopping by from Multiples and More - HELLO!  For those that don't know, Multiples and More is a great blog dedicated to parents of twins, triplets, quads, etc - hence the name Multiples and More.  They are fabulous! Each week they present articles for parents on everything from what type of stroller to buy to books for parents.  And of course they feature readers/parents of multiples - which today is on ME!  YIPEE!




On to the matter at hand - who is smarter?

That ignorant question got asked by an older gentlemen to my twins while standing in line at Golden Corral Friday night.  I about fell over.  He apparently knew they were twins, and wanted to ask something witty, but really - who is smarter? 

Twins find themselves loving each other, but also in constant competition with each other.  As parents, many of us work hard not to compare them.  They are two different people, who happen to have been born at the same time.  Just like we all have our strengths and weaknesses so do they.

T2 was good, he answered "Well I'm smarter in math, but he is smarter in reading."  T1 got upset at the beginning of the statement, hearing that he wasn't as good at math, but then realized what T2 was saying was true.  They are different, while their aptitudes are very similar, T1 just gets reading faster.  And T2 gets math faster. 

The man didn't know how to respond.  What did he expect, one of them to say "I am!"  Not in my house.  No one is "smarter" than anyone else, or "better" than anyone else.  We are all different and all good at different things.  It may be easy to compare twins, but really, let's not make it worse on them than it already is.

What questions to people ask your kids that you hate?

So Mommy is a Girl

In case you haven't noticed all the blue and brown around here, I -the Mommy - live in a house full of boys.

People say boys are more rambunctious than girls. They say they get dirtier.  I don't really know, because I have no comparison other than myself, and well I don't really remember that far back.

Most of the time, the twins don't even remember that Mommy is a girl, unless I do something outrageous like put on makeup.  Then they look at my face and say "Mommy, you put that stuff on!"  It's the kind of normal in my house, that Mommy is expected to get out and play sports and get dirty, just like the boys.  We all have water fights, and nerf gun wars.  It was all well and good until Santa brought the dirt bike. 

Don't get me wrong, the boys love riding it (now that it is no longer as cold as the Arctic).  They and Dear Hubby have created grand plans for everyone in the family to have one, and to go ride trails together.  Everyone that is, except Mommy.  Mommy is supposed to ride a 4 wheeler.  Not Dear Hubby's rule, the twins rule.

Reasons Mommy needs a 4 wheeler.  A: Mommy is a girl B: Mommy could get hurt.

Well how 'bout them apples?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  I am not allowed to have a dirt bike?  Me?  The-non- primpy- hates to wear a dress- played rugby- Mommy?  Shock wasn't even the word.  I was a little more upset.  What have I taught my children that they think I shouldn't have a dirt bike? 

After some conversation T1 did finally come around and agree that I could ride, and he would even teach me.  T2, against it.  He was really afraid of Mommy getting hurt.  This from the child without fear of his own life flashing before his eyes.

Saturday, we decided to go for it no matter what the twins said.  T1 reluctantly taught me to ride, and T2, decided it was ok, "since I didn't get hurt."

Any "girls" in your house?

Dear Coach who is an %&&, these kids are only seven

Dear Coach who is an %&&,

Our children have been playing sports since they were wrestling in the womb.  They love sports and have unreal desire to play each and every game there is.  Even though they did not get their awesome athletic ability from me, I am going to support them in everything they do.

When I take them to practice or games, we go in expectation of having fun.  It is about enjoying exercise, learning something new, having fun with friends.  If we happen to win, great, if we don't, that is ok too.  I've taught my children that for every "winner" there must be a "loser" and that good sportsmanship is as important as actually winning the game.  They know they are not going to win every game and they know it is ok to lose.  At least they tried. 

During our last game, I was appalled at how you yelled at your players.  Your tone was one of a dictator instead of a coach and you never ever told them good job for something they did right.  Yes, your team is fairly good - they've been playing together since they were 4.  No, our team has not been playing together for longer than 2 months.  Most of our players haven't even played soccer before, but I didn't think that should matter. Apparently it does matter.  Apparently it means that your team should beat our team each and every time.

I know we amazed you when your team was only able to score on us once in the last game.  Does that mean you should get pissed off?  Does that mean you should yell that your team should have scored more?  Does that mean you should be mad at your team?  They tried really hard to score more often.  It just so happened that our goalie had learned a lot throughout the season and was on his A game that night.  Ever think to tell him good job?  After all they are only 7-8 year olds.

And our goalie - he thinks you're nuts.  He's glad you're not his coach (there went your dreams of recruiting an awesome goalie).  He loves that he was able to make a mean coach mad.

Sincerely,
Mom of the goalie who pissed you off

Most Admired Mom

T1 got to be the student of the week this week. The student of the week has to bring in pictures and answer some questions about themselves. I helped him by gathering some great pics and spelling all of his answers out on a seperate sheet for him so he could copy them down. (He didn't want to mess up on the sheet that would go on the wall *gasp*).


T2was quite jealous, especially since his class doesn't do student of the week. So T2 decided to rewrite the answers I wrote for T1. These are my boys.

Favorite Color: red BLUE
Favorite Book: The Magic Treehouse HARRY POTTER
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter HARRY POTTER
Favorite Sport: baseball RUGBY
What do you want to be when you grow up: a baseball player A RUGBY PLAYER
What makes you special: I'm a twin I CAN DO 1 PULL UP
What state were you born in: North Carolina
Favorite Food: Poor Man Suprise
Person you most admire: my mom
Favorite Subject: reading MATH



For the record, I don't think T1 actually understood what admire meant, and T2 chose not to answer that question. But either way I'll take it!!!

sayings

I've been collecting some of my favorite sayings from around our house. Some were one time lines that had me double over in laughter. Others were things so true that they have turned into normal language.

• "poop slide": as in I asked T2 how he was doing in the bathroom and he replied, "Mommy, I've got the poop slides!" We still use this one.
• "beans": the twins called change (quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies) beans for years. I always thought it made sense.
• "The best kind of fun, is nonstop fun" Said while hoping mommy wouldn't make them go home and go to bed.
• "let's go to the rocks, cars, or bars" T1 said this to T2 one day while we were outside and Dear Hubby  and I both said "What?" Apparently the rocks, cars, or bars on the front steps are very warm and good places to dry off after the pool.
• "Can I stand in the corner again?" said by T1 who had just been released from his first and last time out in a corner.
• "Do you have issues? I've got tissues!" from our stand up comic.
• "selfish hairball" this is what T1 calls T2to make him really mad.
• "huh" ok- so not so funny, but you must hear it come out of Little Man - the two year olds mouth - when we ask him to do something.

If we would listen to our kids, we'd discover that they are largely self-explanatory. ~Robert Brault

I'm BAAAACK!

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth.
Although it kind of felt like it. I've been taking care of a sick one and catching up at work.

What was interesting was taking him to the doctor on Tuesday and finding this big bold sign. (no I wasn't thinking straight enough to get a pic).

IF YOU HAVE A FEVER AND COUGH

PLEASE REQUEST A FACE MASK FROM THE RECEPTIONIST.

And these people were not playing. Since we had a high fever and no real cough (I didn't really think he had the flu - he just had to see the doc) I opted out of the face mask. We went into the SICK side waiting room and were the only ones in there for a minute. Then comes the really sick people, by droves, all with their children wearing face masks - which of course were adult size and didn't fit. This one girl couldn't get hers to stay on at all - it kept sliding down below her child and she would attempt to fix it, poor girl was only 3 or 4. I mostly enjoyed watching a Mom scold her sick child for not wearing it properly. I am so glad we opted for the no face mask - b/c I would have been doing the same thing. These people they were all freaked out, trying to sit as far apart from each other as possible.

I wanted to laugh, but refrained. Instead I explained to my son if he didn't behave he was going to have to wear one too. These people were freaking out. The only part of the flu I'm scared of is the being grounded for 7 days, b/c then we would all be grounded and I do believe if all 5 of us were stuck together without reprieve for more than 2 days one of us would truly lose it.

Does anyone have the flu yet - or are any of you paranoid?

Sick Days

I should've taken a sick day today, but considering all I wanted was the peace and quiet of the office this morning I chose not to.
It sounds awful I know. But really, I spent all weekend with my sick children, and of course, now I have it, but really my office is more peaceful than my house right now.
Of course the kids are no longer sick.

It all started on Thursday evening, I was on my way to practice (I coach) and my hubby called to tell me T1 had a fever. By the time I'd gotten home the school system had called to say that the pig flu (swine flu) was going around. We figured if T1 had it, T2 had it too and there was no sense sending T2 to school to spread it around. So they both stayed home on Friday.
Ty2 was fine - T1wasn't even that bad off.
Until Saturday - T1 had a 101.5 fever all day and a cough to kill. T2 was upset that he couldn't play with his brother and kept asking for something to do. At one point I asked him - "What would you do if you weren't a twin and didn't always have someone to play with? What do you think your friends do?" He was stunned into silence. His poor little 7 year old brain couldn't imagine not having a twin. So Dear Hubby took him away from the house just to give him something to do. T1 laid on the couch pretty much all day.
Sunday came - T1's fever was down, but T2 now had the crud. And poor little Little Man was cranky. So we spent ALL day sunday in our pjs watching movies. (well I read a book while T2's head rested in my lap).
Monday - everyone was better (except for a few coughs here and there), so much for the pig flu. I went to washing. All the sheets, clothes, door handles, etc to rid them from our sickness. I was thrilled that I didn't catch that mess.
Tuesday - I wake up exhausted, over sleep, and have a horrible cough.

The only thing more needy than a sick child, is a sick husband.

Summer Cleaning

I don't spring clean. It's a nice thought - but spring is baseball season in my house and we really don't have time for anything else. I don't fall clean either. But I do clean prior to the start of a new school year - very similar to spring cleaning I guess. I start at one end of the house and work to the other throwing out, reorganizing, and cleaning everything. The goal is to not have to search for the pencil sharpener after school starts as it will have it's own little space, along with everything else.

I started last Sunday - as it will take me a few weeks to complete. 5 hours I spent on our pantry, laundry room and kitchen. 2 bags of trash later (because instead of throwing away the blender that made it's last milkshake before cracking - it was cleaned and put away) I called it quits for the day. The twins became fascinated after I had washed the outside of the fridge - amazing how new something looks without 1000 fingerprints. T1 actually helped clean the inside of the fridge and the outside of the dishwasher until he got bored. T2 would just walk by with stellar comments like "Is that what it looked like when we bought it?" "Wow Mommy, its just so...so clean!"

I was actually pretty proud of myself and all my hard work. I took the rest of the day off (other than the folding of the laundry) and played in the pool with the boys. The next morning, while fixing breakfast, T2 looked inside the fridge and said "Well it's not perfect, you missed a spot. And another spot right there."

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

Tyler's Day

The twins and I were on our way home from Sam's yesterday when a fight broke out.
What's new.
T2 had gotten a cherry icee and was sharing with T1, only they HAD to argue over who had the longest sip, or whether they even got a sip. Finally Mommy asked for a drink and kept the cup. Then they fought over who made Mommy keep the cup.
So me being ingenious, asked "Who can be quietest the longest?" Which worked!
Then it transformed into "Who can be the quietest while making funny faces?" Which was still working until we all got bored with it so I asked "Who can..."
T1 said, "Who can count the most road signs?" Which is a game we've played before.
T2 replied, "Noo."
So I asked again, while thinking of something new and creative, "Who can..."
T2 interrupted to say, "Who can scream the loudest?" This was immediately followed by the loudest ear piercing yell there ever was. Only not to be outdone, T1 and I proceeded to scream as loud as possible. And then, as all twins can, they both screamed simultaneously as loud as they possibly could. At this moment I was grateful for two things: One, my dear hubby wasn't in the car, he would have not approved, and two, that we were on a country road with no cars nearby - people surely would've thought we were being carjacked.

T2 - he comes up with the darnedest things. Earlier in the day I had spotted him outside walking the dog. While the dog was pooping, he was peeing. And then because the dog was done before he was, he had trouble buttoning his pants as the dog pulled him in a different direction. I couldn't resist, so I yelled to him out the back door, startling him, which caused him to step (barefooted) into the dog poop. I was about to fall over in laughter. He comes running up to me and tries to wipe his poopy foot on my leg. EWWW -BOYS!

boy: n. noise with dirt on it ~unknown

Twins Turn 7

Time flies when you are having fun. I can't believe it is seven years already. Seven seems like such a big number to me - seven and going to the second grade. I really liked age 6, not really sure about turning seven and all the things it could bring. Let's go back instead, to right before they were born.

I knew who my children were while they were still inside me. I don't know how we know so much about them, or how I could tell more about their personalities than I could with a single. It is an amazing phenomenon that I have heard happen to other moms too. I want to take you through my predictions, and compare them to my children today.

BABY A: He would be the first born, in position ready to go. He would be our eldest child, more easy going, relaxed, a little shy, just going with the flow. He would be like his father, so his father named him T1.

BABY B: He would be our against the grain child, not wanting the monitors to ever keep track of him. He would be more outgoing, my risk taker. He would be more like his mother, so I named him T2.

Fast Foward 7 Years

Baby A/ T1 - Won the eldest child by a record 17 minutes. Those must have been the longest 17 minutes in history, because he plays the oldest child part very well. T1 likes to be in charge, but when things get changed, his is true to form and goes with the flow. Not easily upset or overly emotional. The only thing I didn't forsee, a class clown. While he does well in school and has learned when to clown and when not to (while the teacher's talking), he loves to make everyone laugh. He prides himself on being the funniest and is willing to take center stage to do so.

Baby B/ T2 - Let his brother be the eldest because he wasn't moving. He loves his Mommy and doesn't like change. He is a risk taker, daredevil that I watch with one eye closed, for fear of a heart attack. He likes to do things his own way and doesn't like to be pushed around. I didn't forsee such a shy child. He strives so hard to be perfect in school and wants others to like him, but is slower to make friends.

They have grown so much, so fast. I am very proud of who they are and how far they have come. And yes, all the twin mommies before me were right, it does get easier! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!!!

We've had bad luck with children; they've all grown up. ~Christopher Morley

ready, set, potty train!

Well, I'm ready. I went to the store on my lunch break and got all the gear.

• one potty chair (that converts to a seat adapter and stool)
• multiple CARS underwear
• peanut butter m&ms (because mommy needs a reward too)

This Fourth of July weekend, while others are off to the pool, visiting family, watching parades - we will be celebrating our own Independence Day - Independence from DIAPERS!!! We did the jam packed weekend last weekend, with the friends, parade, pool, fireworks, car burnout show (a boy thing), etc. This weekend it will be all about the potty.
Little Man started showing the signs a couple of months ago, but only recently have we been able to check them all off.

• dry through the night and nap time
• interested in the potty
• aware of when he goes
• desire to get the diaper OFF (not sure if that is a real sign of readiness though)
• Caught: sitting on the big potty, shorts off, diaper on

Most importantly its summer - (I don't train in winter) and I have a long weekend to work with. The twins were trained in the fall - turning 2 in July, they weren't quite ready - but by the end of August they were starting. I however was not prepared. Oh, I had the coolest potty chair given to me. It was able to have a picture on the lid, it had a handle and made cool flushing sounds and it had a recording of Mommy saying good job. I had special thick undies that stopped stuff from running down the leg. But after that, I didn't have a clue. I didn't know a thing about how to potty train a child, much less two. (Yes, I know, there are plenty of books out there, but I am not a self help book person).
I listened to great stories - of how I was trained in 48 hours. And horror stories - of how someone else took years. I got advice from all kinds of people (none of whom included rewards of any kind) about how often, what to say, etc. So I thought I was ready. We took the twins at the same time into our small bathroom, and Daddy showed them how it worked (I thought a man explaining would make it better - lets be like Daddy and all). And they thought it was neat, but no they didn't GET it. They enjoyed playing on the potty, in the potty, around the potty, but never actually used the potty.
I had figured T2, being just like his Mommy, would get it first. But about 2 weeks into our process, T1 all the sudden, understood. Finally, something, somewhere in there clicked and he got what was supposed to happen. A few days later he was done. No diapers, no pull ups (unless on car rides, because Mommy is a chicken), no wet bed. T2 was still not getting the whole concept. Maybe I started them too early, maybe I should've read a few books first. But I had one done and one not so done. Then one day, T2 walked in on T1 and while T1 yelled "OUT", T2 noticed his brother was doing something he couldn't. Well that was the end of that. T2 is never to be outdone by someone else, figured out what he was supposed to do and he too was done.
All of this was 5 years ago. Am I ready to try again? yes. Do I have a better strategy? yes. Do I believe that this time our son is a little more ready than the twins were? yes. Do I think it will happen in 48 hours? No. Not all of us can be that special :)

"A child can go only so far in life without potty training. It is not mere coincidence that six of the last seven presidents were potty trained, not to mention nearly half of the nation's state legislators." ~Dave Barry

Snakes, Snails and... dead lizards

I can handle a lot.

I don’t freak out when one of my boys comes screaming to me with blood running down his face. These are boys, this is what they do. They are going to get hurt, they are going to play rough and they are going to get dirty.

T2  fractured his leg when he was 1 ½ years old. I watched it occur; he was running down the hall, tripped, and fell on a plastic toy drum with the drumsticks tethered to it. And started crying for Mommy. I comforted him and told him to go play. He didn’t want to walk, but he quit crying. He sat on the floor and played. I thought it was odd, but my mother in law and husband agreed, nothing was wrong. I took to the doctor the next morning and he thought nothing was wrong either. But the x-rays showed something different. Apparently kids bones are so soft, they don’t hurt unless they are actually in use.

I am not squeamish at the sight of spiders, mice, worms, or lizards. The twins love for me to dig worms out of the garden for them, and actually fight over who gets the next one. We catch frogs on the side of the pool. Last summer they were on the hunt for the small garden lizards. T1, my quick and quiet one, was sure to catch one, considering he can catch flies with his bare hands. But it was T2 who finally caught the tail of one, only to pull it off and run to his Daddy squealing because the tail was still moving in his hand. We watched that lizard regrow his tail over the next couple of months. My father, feeling sorry for the twins, caught a lizard for them. I brought him home, along with an aquarium I’d acquired. I knew it wouldn’t last, but they wanted to keep the lizard for a pet, and hey – it’s better than a snake.

For a time, they took care of it. Then one day, one of the twins came running up to me, upset because the lizard was missing. I figured he was hibernating in a nice new home, somewhere outside the hands of 6 year olds. As fall faded into winter, the lizard was forgotten.

This past Saturday, I was sitting on the couch tickling my almost innocent one. Little man doesn’t know what a worm is; he just picks it up like dirt and drops it back down on the ground. T2 was helping me and we were having a laugh fest on the couch. T1 walked up and said “Mommy”, actually he may have said more but as I turned around to face him, 2 inches from my face was the DEAD BODY OF THAT LIZARD. I screamed so loud that T1 dropped it, ON MY LEG. I jumped up and screamed again and again, “GET IT OFF ME.” I was freaking out. My husband walked in the front door, as I tried to escape the living room. T1 asked me what was wrong and I didn’t even know how to respond as my husband was doubled over in hysterics. T2 asked why I was afraid of it and I replied “Mommy is a GIRL! Take that thing outside!” Being boys, the twins agreed with their father that this was the funniest thing they had seen in a long time. T1 proceeds to chase me into our room, where I locked the door, only to have him push it under the door while cackling with laughter.

Eventually my husband convinced him to get rid of it – outdoors.

Yes, Mommy is a girl. I can handle a lot, just not dead lizards.

Footnote: I am grateful to the neighbors who didn’t let T1 bring home the dead black snake that Monday. I am forever doomed now that he knows Mommy doesn’t like dead animals.

What are little boys made of?

Snakes and snails, and puppy dogs tails

That's what little boys are made of!

Springtime = Baseball

Springtime at our house comes with balls, bats, gloves, cleats, and lots of dirt. The twins have been in love with baseball since they were two years old. I'm not sure where the desire for the game came from, my husband and I never played, but never less they LOVE the sport. I am not overstating it either. Before they could speak sentences they would hand you a ball and try to swing a stick at it. Or they would scream "UPDOWN" meaning please throw the ball way up in the air so we can try to catch it when it falls back down.

When they were 2 1/2 they each got their own first t-ball set and played all the time. Inside the house and out (my favorite blown glass piece was broken by one such baseball).

At three T1 had watched enough baseball movies to know the pitcher stance and throw, and even to check first and third before throwing (although I'm not sure he knew what he was looking for). For years they asked me when they could play on a real team, to them those years must have dragged on. They were finally able to play last year, as five year olds, on a coach pitch league. I loved their team last year, everyone was great, the parents, coaches, kids. Most of the team was new, and we had our good players and our bad like every group. When the season was over they were sad that they wouldn't be playing again for a year (I see year round baseball in our future).

This years season started out great, they were so excited to be playing again. They would not have their same coach (as he moved on to the next age bracket), but the new coach wasn't too bad. Practice looked good, they looked good. And we won our first 5 games. But as other teams were getting better, we weren't because we no longer practiced as a team. Just games during which the kids were yelled at for not paying attention by the coach. Yelled at for not paying attention - these are 5 & 6 year olds here. This is little league. They are not always going to pay attention. My husband, bless him, is so frustrated with the coach. When he got word the coach wanted our boys next year, he decided he would coach next year, enabling him to control who gets to yell at them.

So here we are at the end of the season winning 5 games, losing 5 games. And our team has done well. There are your ones who always hit, and mostly catch, and then there are those who still aren't sure how to swing the bat. And then there are my favorites, no not my boys, but two kids, siblings, boy and a girl, who are so little but have such great hearts. They try so hard to hit, and about once a game they do manage to connect, but not being able to run fast, are usually tagged out before making it to first base. Their mom and I root for all the kids, but especially our four, the four of them love the game so much.

Last night was our first playoff game. We were up against a team we clobbered early in the season. But this was a different team. They had been practicing, they warmed up before the game. Only three kids on our team warmed up (you know 2 were mine). And they started pounding away at us. We weren't ready for them, we weren't communicating with our team. And we were losing.

I don't know the exact score, but they were up by 4, up by 5, up by 4, we were not making any headway. By the fourth inning, I had given up on the score, but still had my whole heart in the game. T2 came up to bat and hit a ball that went all the way to the fence (being a short field, it was still only a double). I was jumping up and down cheering so loud. T1 hit one 6 inches from the fence - and I cheered telling him he had hit the fence.

That's what matters right, teaching them to keep going, that they are doing great. We cheered for Adam and Abby every time they came to bat - even though they were using the wrong bat, and could barely lift it. We cheered when in the outfield Abby watched the ball go between her legs and it looked like something from the movies. But she figured it out and chased it down and still threw the ball in. We cheered when short stop threw to T1 at first, going over his head, and T1 still got the ball and threw it to the pitcher who was trying to stop the runner going home and did! (Now the coach did not agree on this move - but we ignored him). We cheered when T2 on third caught a ball and chased a runner back to second, almost stopping him. It was a great try.

By the last inning we were worn out. All this cheering, so wanting them to win for themselves, because they loved the game, but knowing the other team worked harder for it.

Bottom of the last inning and we are up to bat, when T1 comes running out of the dugout, I figured he wanted a hot dog, but he said his leg hurt. I checked him out while Adam was at bat. And as I sent T1 back (he was fine), Adam hit the ball, but didn't quite make it to first base. Out #1. Abby was up next and she missed, and missed and then she HIT, not far, but because they had to come get it, she ran as fast as her short legs could take her and made it to first base! We were screaming something fierce, she was safe at first - that alone made the season. The lineup started over and a good hitter was up, could she make it to second - YES! Wow, this was becoming unreal as T2 stepped up to bat. Ironically I was now afraid he would hit a double and the boys would run over little Abby, she would never make it from second all the way home. But he didn't, he hit a single and the bases loaded, with Abby making it to third. Could it happen? Could Abby make a run and score? That would be the way to end the season. The batter hit, and with the coach running along side her, little Abby made it to home plate - scoring her first point ever.

The bases still loaded the next hitter bats and hits, allowing 2 runs before being tagged out. Yeah T2 scored. But there is now a guy on third and T1 at bat. The coach from the other team, turned around and told us the score was tied. TIED, how did we do that, we couldn't be tied, we were just happy Abby scored, that they were having fun, oh this was worth more now - T1 was told, all he had to do was hit that ball, and he did and the other boy was able to score, ending the game. What a night, what a game.

So tonight we play again, shocked that we made it this far. I hope the kids have a good time and that I am not quite as hoarse as I was last night. This could be their last game, the end of baseball season, the end of spring.

Don't tell me about the world. Not today. It's springtime and they're knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball. ~Pete Hamill

The Story of Twins

Everyone loves a story. Mommies especially love a birth story, or even better a birth story on multiples - so here is mine. (Beware it is REALLY long)

Getting pregnant was not the issue with my dear hubby and I, it was the staying pregnant part. We got preggo in the summer of 2001, only to lose it just as fast. September 11th came and we chose to try again. I made it 6 weeks this time before they found a problem, the pregnancy was eptopic and we would have to terminate. We chose methotrexate, but the pain did not cease and I ended up having laparoscopic surgery. During surgery, they found that the pregnancy had dissolved, but the source of my problems was endometriosis. They were able to burn the spots off of my uterus. Now apparently my fabulous obgyn told my family that I was super fertile after the surgery, but no one told me that. A month later - I was preggo again.

On Monday December 10th, I went in for my first ultrasound. I was only 5 weeks pregnant, but everyone wanted to make sure this one was in the right spot. My mother in law went with me and we got a great pic of what looked to me like a chicken leg. So early in pregnancy all we could see was the sack and that it was perfectly placed in my uterus. We were THRILLED to say the least. Finally after multiple losses, we knew this pregnancy was going to make it. On Friday morning I woke up to spotting. Immediately terrified I called the doctor and she ushered me in right away. They scheduled an ultrasound at another location because they were booked, but wanted to see what was going on as quickly as possible. I ended up at one of these procedure clinics that don't really have doctors, but just do ultrasounds and other screenings all day long. I didn't know anyone there, none of my friends or family could make it on such short notice. I sat freezing (swear they had the air on in December) in a place I was unfamiliar with waiting on news I knew would be devastating. The technician performing my ultrasound was super nice. She immediately started chatting about the weather, and my history, what I ate for breakfast. I was so glad she was occupying my mind which was freaking out. She continued this barade of questions about my pregnancies, what I wanted, had I ever had twins. And I answered each one; I'd been pregnant twice already, one eptopic, wanted a boy, twins run in my family, my grandfather was an identical twin, my uncles are twins, my husband's brother was a twin but one didn't make it. Then she stopped talking.
Stopped talking, for a full 15 minutes (okay maybe it was 5 but it seemed like eternity). I began to wonder what was going on, but being in an unfamiliar place I was scared to ask. Then it dawned on me, maybe she wasn't asking for the heck of it, maybe I was having...
"Why did you ask?" I said.
"Oh, you're having twins." She replied, "I'll show you in a minute, just let me finish."

Oh, you're having twins! What? I was in shock. I was expecting news about losing another baby, not gaining another baby. Apparently I was having this ultrasound on the 5week5 day mark. This was the first time they could see the heart beats and inside that sack I called a chicken leg, were two heart beats. After giving me pictures, the tech told me she had to take my results to the radiologist and wait until she came back, reminding me not to use my phone. DON'T USE THE PHONE - Oh I didn't even know how to keep this kind of news to myself. But I did. I sat patiently and waited for 30 minutes while everyone looked at my ultrasound. After coming back she explained that I had Monochorionic-Diamniotic twins and the reason it took so long was that she was looking for the membrane that was dividing the sacs of our twins. Needless to say when I got out of that place, lots of squeals of joy ensued and the journey of my pregnancy began.
It was a couple of months before we found out we were having boys, and again we were thrilled. We picked out names within a week of finding out. John picking his favorite, and I picked mine. Things progressed fairly well with monthly ultrasounds and the goal of making it to July even though my due date was August 13th. In June I started having preterm labor, eventually I ended up on bed rest which for a non-stop person like me was oh so thrilling. The twins were in perfect position for birth - baby A was head down, straight, and feet up under my right rib cage. Baby b was head down, with his head on my left side, bent at his waist with his feet also in my right rib cage. By Friday, July 5th I was miserable. Having all these feet in one set of ribs hurt, and made it hard to sit comfortably or eat. I was so ready to have them. We went to the doctor for yet another ultrasound that would measure the boys and see where we were. We were told I was having giants. That both boys were already over six pounds. I was officially at 36 weeks, could come off bed rest and if they got too much bigger, we'd look at induction.
Well that was it for me - time to get those babies out!!! My wonderful hubby and I spent that July 4th weekend walking. We walked the mall, we walked some stairs, we walked everywhere. I felt so free finally being able to do things. (although I was finally cleared to drive, it hurt too much to operate the car). I started working on every known wives tale (except castor oil) to induce the labor. Not that any of it worked. By Tuesday morning I was exhausted and there was no end in sight. Wednesday would be my birthday and I did not want to spend it in the hospital, so I decided to take a few days off. Tuesday morning I laid down on the couch for a nap around 10am (you know get all the sleep now kind of thing). I was laying there basking in the silence when I heard a small pop.
There's no way I thought. That couldn't have been my water. But what else could it be. I got up and went to the bathroom, no gushing. Just dripping, that didn't end. I called a friend who happened to be a nurse and who was working with my husband at the time. She confirmed that it was probably my water. Well - I didn't believe it. I wasn't having contractions and who hears their water pop but doesn't see the gush. I got on the phone with my hubby who was quickly preparing to make the 45 minute trip home and get me, just so we could make another 45 minute trip to the hospital. I casually got into the shower and rinsed. I didn't use soap, but if I really was going into labor, I wanted to be freshly showered. As soon as I got out, my mother in law called to say she would be taking me to the hospital. She had happened to take the day off work and was a lot closer than Dear Hubby. Moments later she was there and we were off.
As soon as I got in the car, she asked how far apart my contractions were, I said I wasn't having any. Well 12 minutes later, I was having fabulous contractions 5 minutes apart. By the time we got near the hospital they were 2 minutes apart. The next little bit is really a blur. I remember being in a lot of pain, putting off the epidural only to have these awful drugs that made me loopy. Turns out the reason my water never gushed was Baby A's head was holding it back. At my first check I was already 8 cms and they were able to touch his head already. Everything continues to be a blur, although at some point I got the epidural and at 5pm they took me to the surgery room.
I was not sure what was going on. In all my preterm labor trips to the hospital, no one ever told me I would deliver in the surgery room. The doctor quickly explained that although the goal was for me to deliver vaginally, if anything happened they needed to be ready. I started out pushing on the bed they wheeled me in on. I was told they would move me to the next bed when I was really close, and the third bed was if surgery was needed. I pushed for over an hour, all the time thinking I was never going to make it to the next bed. Around 6:30 I got to move. At this point I was ready. At 6:48pm T1 was born. I saw a glimpse of him as the doctor lifted him up. He was white as a sheet and his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. We had no idea he had been in distress. My quiet child was immediately whisked away to the NICU without me getting to see him again.
But with twins there is no time to dwell, it was T2's turn. Only T2 wasn't moving. His water hadn't broke, he wouldn't drop and I was back to having contractions 5 minutes apart. Of course as in any hospital it was now shift change. So one son born, another on the way and now the room is twice as full of nurses as there were before T1 was born weighing 5lbs3oz. Barb, a nurse I'd met on a previous hospital visit, came in and took over. I was so happy to have her there. There is a 20 minute time limit on twins and 15 minutes after T1  was born, the doctor decided to break the water and suck T2 down. It worked. At 7:05pm T2 was born weighing 5lbs1oz and screaming. There was nothing wrong with him other than mad about being out. I was able to hold him almost immediately.
T1 had to endure a blood transfusion, and we didn't get to hold him for 2 days, but he only spent a week in NICU. T2 was able to come home after three days in the regular nursery.