The other day the boys were both sick which means I was on house arrest for the day. It sucked. However, I discovered just how much you can get done when you’re trapped. I did every stitch of laundry, caught up on blogging, FB, Instagram and Twitter (because that is of the utmost importance!), made banana bread (from a box…let’s not get crazy here) and started to clean out a particularly messy cabinet. In said cabinet, I found my pregnancy journal! Since I needed a really good laugh, I decided to read it. Here’s some of what I found:
Journal entry – September 29, 2008 – 10 weeks pregnant
I’m starting to really worry about everything I’ve been reading (and hearing from moms of twins!) that this is going to be very difficult!! I’m trying to reassure myself that I’m healthy and strong but I’m not sure if it really matters!! My head is spinning with thoughts of being in the hospital on bed rest for months and having premature NICU babies who are small and sick. It seems that this is the “norm” rather then the exception. I guess I’ll just have to take it one day at a time but it’s not going to be easy. I will definitely have to take it much easier as the pregnancy progresses and I’m going to gain more weight!! The norm is between 40-55 pounds!! I’m already showing at 10 weeks. This is just not how I thought this was going to go!! I had better just let go now or this is going to be increasingly difficult.
Me and the boys at 10 weeks. I look so happy, so unaware…so clueless!
I love that I actually wrote “this is not how I thought this was going to go!” Really? You weren’t expecting twins? Did that throw you for a little loop? And how much weight did you think you would gain? Ten pounds? Were you expecting to deliver a puppy or a human?
Don’t worry, it gets a lot better:
Journal Entry – September 25, 2008 – Day after I found out I was pregnant with twins
Ok, sleep as I know it is over! I’ve been up at 4am then 3am since I found out I was having twins. (That last sentence is obviously from a woman who is sleep deprived since the times don’t even make sense!) I finally made it back to sleep around 5:00! My run sucked today. I only did a 5 mile loop around the lake and it seemed like a marathon but I did it…I guess I should say “we” did it! My back hurts on the left side so I’m trying to be nice to it. Just yoga tomorrow and then REST Saturday and Sunday. OMG twins!!!!
I love that I’m totally freaking out and I’m two months pregnant. Why did I think I would still be able to run like the wind with even one baby? Because ignorance is bliss and I was super blissful. It’s hard to go back to that mindset, to that person I was before I was first pregnant. I definitely remember really wanting to get pregnant and thinking it would be no big deal because I was in such good shape. Hearing the news of twins definitely made me reconsider some things but I think I was still delusional about how much things would change.
Because of these workout “setbacks” and “OMG twins!” I set out on a fact finding mission. This is what I do. I research everything I possibly can to somehow prove my point or reinforce a decision. My husband loves this about me.
Well, let me tell you that finding fitness information on twin pregnancy is like looking for intelligent conversation when watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I found a whole shit ton on twin pregnancy and almost nothing even remotely related to fitness and twin pregnancy. Oh wait…I remember, they refer to twin pregnancy workouts as BED REST. Not to worry, I soldiered on and bought a pile of twin pregnancy books and headed home.
I was able to get out and do some x-country skiing. I’m pretty sure the zipper on my jacket is getting a better workout then I am.
Each day I would take some time out and read all about being pregnant with multiples and how to care for them once they are born, etc. Most of it was like “For God sake woman just get some help because you will NEED it!!” or “Never ever, ever stop doing laundry because if you do, even for one day, the pile with crush you beneath it and you will never be able to dig yourself out”! That was actually true. Some other gems included:
Only change a child’s shirt or pants if they are really dirty. I mean you definitely do not have to change them every time there’s a little stain. If you do, you’ll be doing even more laundry and don’t forget what I said about the pile of dirty laundry coming to life and eating you. Gross!! Somehow I will find time to do this even if I have to give the kid MY shirt! God, is it really that bad?
Should you or should you not dress your twins alike? It’s really a personal decision but here’s what some moms of multiples have to say… Is this really necessary? Of course I will dress them alike until they’re 30, duh?
How to make homemade baby wipes. And when exactly do I have time to whip these up?
You will average 10 diapers per day per child. Jesus Christ! Kill me now!
Another alternative to high chairs is a daycare table. Let me get this straight…with one pregnancy I will now need a freakin’ table that is suitable for a person whose profession it is to look after 15+ kids all day? What the what?
Minivans and Other Minutiae. Ok we can SKIP over that chapter entirely since the day I buy a minivan will be the same day I start wearing mom jeans and holiday sweaters with little jingle bells on them.
Expect to bleed for several weeks following your delivery. Stock up on lots of maxi pads. Your best bet is to go with the longest, thickest size you can find on the store shelf. And if that doesn’t work just shove and entire roll of toilet paper in your mesh underwear and let the party begin!
When I Googled “minivans and Christmas sweaters” this came up. I think it’s a prefect representation of what I’m talking about here people.
You can imagine my excitement at the prospect of what was to come after reading through these books! It’s so funny looking back on it because every twin pregnancy experience is so ridiculously different. Some of the tips were very helpful…nothing comes to mind but I’m positive reading all that shit was not a waste of time!
At 31 weeks! I still have 6 weeks to go at this point. I almost couldn’t reach the steering wheel in my car already.
As it turns out, the boys were born healthy and did not have to be in the NICU. The first three months were a complete nightmare but I was fortunate to have a TON of help. I’m still paying for anger management classes for the relatives and friends who helped me during that time but it was definitely worth it. For me. Sorry. Anywho, life actually went on. I survived and the boys thrived. I wish I could go back and tell my pregnant self not to worry so damn much. What I would say is being pregnant is the easy part! Once they are born…shit gets real! But I wouldn’t change a thing. Ok, maybe a dozen things or so but that’s it. It’s perfectly imperfect and absolutely REAL. Crazy.
What are your thoughts on pregnancy if you haven’t been there yet? If you have, what do you wish you could tell your pregnant self? Did you read any pregnancy books? Did you keep a pregnancy journal?
You looked absolutely amazing pregnant! I am six weeks away to giving birth to our fifth and final (and I mean it this time) and just feel like a lump. Gained a little too much with this one which means I’ll be working hard after giving birth. I’ve never kept a pregnancy journal. But I have made a lot of notes in what I consider to be the pregnancy bible, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 🙂
God bless you woman!! You’re a better person then I am!! Wow!!
I should maybe write a What to Expect When You’re Expecting Twins!!!
You look too young to be having children in your ten week photo! I am under no delusions that pregnancy or having children is going to be a walk in the park! Although I think I may be slightly delusional in thinking that I will be able to workout the entire time. I have a feeling that I will probably be sick the entire time, which scares me because I really hate feeling sick and how are you even supposed to work if you are sick!? I can barely stay on top of my own laundry so that kind of scares me. Also, I don’t do well on sleep deprivation.
You are too kind my friend! I’m actually 33 in that picture!! I’ve been blessed with good genes.
Being sick was the ONE THING I was spared during my pregnancy. I’m not sure how other women do it but I do know that you JUST DO. I’m sure you’ll be fine and have beautiful kids:-)
I was sick throughout my second pregnancy. I loved that you kept all of these memories of how you were feeling throughout, I had a ton of worries and anxiety and I only had one in my belly 🙂 10 diapers per child sounds about right, we fly through diapers in my household!!
I’m really glad I wrote it down too! I hope someday the boys will get a kick out of it!! And the diapers just never ended!! I think it was more then 20 a day but I’ve blocked it out!
LOVED reading this!! I cannot begin to believe you were cross-country skiing while you were pregnant!! I swear to God, I wouldn’t even cross-country ski if I was not pregnant!! ;)-Ashley
It wasn’t the smartest decision but I just had to keep moving!!
You were the cutest pregnant woman ever! I had to throw away “What To Expect When You’re Expecting.” Actually, it was a nice gift so I didn’t throw it away but I didn’t open it until the 2nd trimester. Every page was about vomiting. It was so vomit-obsessed! “Are you vomiting? You will be! Oh, you’re not vomiting? Don’t read this until your 2nd trimester. But you’re probably vomiting, so, eat some crackers! Oh..ha ha! It’s not really morning sickness. It’s all day sickness. Isn’t that funny? The joke’s on you, chumps!”
Anyway. I paraphrased a bit but that was NEARLY verbatim.
Oh I know!! I wasn’t sick at all…it was the one thing I was spared! And WTEWYE has nothing to do with TWINS!
Isn’t it funny how you spend nine months reading all about pregnancy, prenatal care, what size produce your babies are equivalent to each week, etc., but then you get ready to come home from the hospital and realize, WTF, they never told me how to take care of these amazing human beings. Seriously, it’s still crazy to me that they just sending you packing after a few days. Of course, we all figure it out. Eventually! Yes, pregnancy really is the easy part. Parenting is when the sh!# gets real!
Exactly!! We were SO overwhelmed at first but luckily we figured it out and, like I said, got a ton of help!!!
You most certainly have good genes. Lol. I kept a pregnancy journal for my first child and read a ton of books etc. My poor 2nd child, I didn’t journal nearly as much neither did I read any books. lol. I’d tell my pregnant self, like you did, not to worry so much. A healthy pregnancy really is the easy part. The real work comes after the kids are born. Nice strolling down pregnancy memory lane with you.
Oh the poor second child! I will never know what having one feels like because I am most certainly DONE! Of course, in my case it would be a third child and with my luck it would be a third and fourth!
What fun!! I loved reading part of your journal and your thoughts now!!! Isn’t it funny how we think we are preparing and yet there really isn’t much that can be done until the baby(ies) are here?! You planned to maybe need NICU and I didn’t with my 2nd yet we ended up there (he was 6 weeks early).
Love the pictures – you were a super cute twin prego mama!!!
I hear that all the time about the NICU. I don’t think a mom is ever prepared for that but with twins you know it’s a real possibility. I’m sorry you had to go through that. But man, look at your son now!! No one would ever believe he was in the NICU! Go strong moms who raise strong kids!!
haha. Homemade baby wipes? No thanks!! I swore up and down I was never going to get a minivan and guess what my last two cars have been? I think I have been driving a minivan for like 15 years now. My next car is NOT going to be a minivan but my lucky son is going to be driving one in a few months…he is so excited. NOT.
I’m sure a minivan has EVERYTHING I need. I know the new Honda one has a vacuum in it, which would be awesome, but I just cannot do it. I drive an SUV with third row seating and it has plenty of room. I have a bunch of friends who have minivans but I just can’t. As for your son, he should just be happy to get a car…I mean van. HA! Poor kid:-)
You did pregnancy so well! You look amazing!! I loved reading some of your journal – isn’t it the best to have and look back on? I am amazed at all the things I worried about…. but maybe in years to come I’ll look back at what I am writing NOW and think: “Seriously?!??! You worried about that !”
I only posted the semi-cute pics. Weeks 35-37 were ugly!!
What a great thought! You are so right. I’ll probably look back at some of these posts with confusion and laughter. OMG so true!!! Thanks Leah.
Had to pop on over after seeing your comment above mine on Mommy Run Fast. First off – yay twin mamas! Second – how did you get my pregnancy journal?! Mine is exactly the same. As soon as I found out we were having twins I was not sleeping, Googling ‘twins’ and getting freaked out. I had an almost completely normal pregnancy, I was induced at 38 weeks, easy delivery and the kids didn’t have to spend any time in the NICU. And I said NO to a mini van and have been perfectly happy!
We obviously have been living parallel lives!! OMG that is too cool…especially the fact that you don’t own a minivan – ha ha!!! Power to twin moms!!
I love my kids, but I am so happy that I never have to be pregnant again. And I am 100% with you on everything in this post from minivans, to making my own banana bread, to making my own baby wipes. Really??? You are such a riot! This was a great laugh for a Friday morning!
I’m so glad!! That’s the best compliment. Here’s to never being pregnant again!!
Lol- omg so your “before” voice sounds a lot like my voice now 🙂 twins run in my family, my dad is a twin, so there’s actually a good chance ill have twins and the thought terrifies me. oh well, 2 kids, 1 pregnancy- i do love the efficiency of it 🙂 but nooo to minivans!! my mom went through a phase where she traded in the station wagon for a convertible- luckily our legs were small so my siblings and i fit in the miniature back seat just fine, and would just hold all our stuff on our laps 🙂
I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure twins only follow your maternal line so if you’re dad’s a twin…it doesn’t really matter. Whew!! BUT, identical twins can happen to anyone!! The efficiency is definitely a plus and it truly is a very special and amazing thing. The boys are so close and have a very interesting and loving relationship and I’m so lucky to be a part of it.
I love that your mom bought a convertible. She is awesome!!!
Too funny! Best one is about the maxi pads. I didn’t have twins but I read pregnancy books and repeatedly diagnosed myself with serious health problems and successfully made myself completely paranoid that every ache and pain was a symptom. My husband thought I was nuts.
I know! It’s so crazy what we do to ourselves!? Thanks for reading!!
I’m going to look for my pregnancy journal now – I can’t even remember what naive thoughts I had back then. I do remember freaking out about a birth plan. I wrote it and made copies for the doctor…and then promptly forgot all about it in the midst of labor. And I remember those huge maxi pads – my three year old saw one after I had her brother, and she asked if they were mattresses for her baby doll. Nice.
Ha ha ha ha!!! OMG they would make a perfect baby doll mattress!! That’s funny that you actually wrote out a plan. Sounds like you may be more type A then me and I didn’t think that was possible!! Thanks for reading:-)
oh wow lady..skiing while pregnant…i wish i would have maintained running when i was pregnant…i stopped shortly after i found out i was pregnant!! and i did yoga but that was still not intense enough!! hopefully next time i remain consistent with my workouts!!
That was one of the hardest things for me because the doctors (and books) were telling me to restrict exercise but it made me feel better and I was doing everything very moderately. I actually went swimming the night before they were born. Exercise was my sanity…as it remains!
Haven’t been there but absolutely adored this post! You are so funny Allie, it’s ridiculous. I’m 32 so I’d welcome all of this and bc of said age…TWINS!!!! Yes, that would be Awesome. You look so cute at 10 weeks, like a little teen mom, lol..that’s not cute but you looked like a baby. Twins dressed alike are so confusing to me! Anywho, great stroll down memory lane for sure.
First of all, you will be an amazing pregnant woman because you’re so fit and so strong – it definitely helps!! And yes, it’s ridiculous how young I look in that picture when I was 33!! I’ve obviously aged horribly since they were born. I feel as though it’s added at least 10 years – 5 for each of them:-) But, it’s really ALL good. Plus, I got two kids with one pregnancy and I never have to be pregnant again. YAY!!!
I can’t imagine being pregnant with twins. But this is too funny! I love that you can look back on yourself and have a good laugh. I do think it’s weird that there was nothing on staying fit during a twin pregnancy. I’m a researcher too so I would have approached it exactly the same way.
I did not keep pregnancy journals. My first two pregnancies were a breeze. With the third one I was on bed rest and it was horrible. Especially when I had two other kids to take care of.
OMG I can’t imagine being on bed rest at all…let alone taking care of two other kids!! Moms really are like super heroes. Nicely done on that one mom!!!
I’m pregnant right now (26 weeks) and this REALLY makes me wish I had kept a journal. I loved everything about this post (especially all of your pics, you were such a beautiful pregnant lady)! I’m really surprised with all of the fit-pregnancy things out there that there is nothing targeting being pregnant with twins — that seems like a pretty good market lol!
Congratulations!! I’m really glad I kept one now b/c it’s just so funny. Someday I hope the boys appreciate it…or maybe their significant others will!? Thanks for commenting and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
I seriously laughed out loud at the part about minivans, mom jeans (with no back pockets) and Christmas sweaters…haaaaa!!!! I have a toddler and I’m still driving around in a coupe and skinny jeans. Winning! Visiting from LOBS.
Atta girl!!! Keep it up mama!! Thanks for hopping over:-)
With my first pregnancy, I read every pregnancy book under the sun trying to get as much information as I could. I figured that way, I could create a plan or a formula of some sort on how to raise the baby once he arrived because I was freaked out! I didn’t really keep pregnancy journals (I don’t think?) but I can only imagine what I would have written in them. This is hilarious Allie and you look fabulous!
Thanks Christine!! I didn’t post the hideous pics of me at week 37.
Isn’t it funny what happens with the first (or first and second) baby?? And now we have new challenges which we’ll probably look back and laugh at as well. At least it makes for good blogging material:-)