He Has a Point

He has a point...

 

Preview

We had newborn pictures taken yesterday of the twins and our little family.  We probably won't have them all for awhile, but here is a little preview:

 

1000 Words

1000 Words

 

The Best Things

I am not the first to say it... and yet it is not a cliche...

in my experience, I have come to find that the best things in life are not easy.

My marriage is one of the absolute best things in my life -- that does not mean our marriage is easy.  Sometimes it is -- sometimes we are a well-oiled machine.  Sometimes our marriage is more difficult, and it always takes work and effort on both of our parts.

Motherhood is the other absolute best things in my life... that does not mean that motherhood is easy.  Motherhood wasn't easy when I had one child -- and now, with three -- two newborns and one toddler, three children in less than two years, motherhood still is not easy.  It is joyful, wonderful, hilarious, heart-warming and more... it is not easy.

I have to keep reminding myself of this truth... that the best things in life are not easy as I see Tracey Ann adjusting to her brother and sister.  Now, thus far, she is actually doing very well with the babies and does not seem to have any anger or dislike for them.  It is clear she is adjusting to all the new commotion at our home, but she, so far (Praise God) has not seemed to be in any way angry or jealous of the babies.

The truth is, I fervently hope, and sincerely believe that having siblings will be one of the best things in her life.  Giving her siblings is one of the greatest gifts I, as her mother, can give her.  That does not mean having twin younger siblings will be easy for her -- now, or anytime in the next 10-20 years... but the best things in life are not easy.

I truly hope, pray and believe, these siblings will be two of the best things in Tracey Ann's life.

That's New...

Well, that's a new signature to sign...

 

Of Three

*** Disclaimer:  I am going to try to keep up with daily blog posts because it is just a part of my routine of how I end my day, and also, I want to document these fleeting precious first days with twins, but I cannot guarantee the quality or quantity of these posts. ***

In a few minutes, I went from a Mother Of One to a Mother Of Three.  That is a crazy jump to make in the span of a few minutes.

Although I was already a Mother Of Three because I had one toddler and two babies I was carrying in pregnancy... I only had one child to hold, feed, respond to when she's upset, dress in the morning, diaper, bathe, and more...

Suddenly, I have three.

Yesterday was a hard day because we thought we were going to be discharged from the hospital but the pediatrician was unhappy with Howard's weight loss and bilirubin level.  Yesterday was the first day I felt the weight of being a Mother Of Three.

I had one baby being set up in a bili light where I was told I could not hold him all day except for feedings.  I had another baby who was doing well, and I held all day instead because I couldn't hold my baby who wasn't doing well.  Much of my morning was spent standing at the bili light trying to soothe Howard while holding Caroline -- more for my benefit than hers.  Then, I had another baby (an older baby, but still my baby) at home in Rifle now going on four days of not having Mama and Daddy at home.  Mother Of Three took on a new meaning, and realistic weight in that moment.

Between postpartum hormones, lack of sleep, and on-going concerns about how each and all of my three children are doing, I have been a little emotional these days.

My dad did a great job of reminding me of how well a lot of things are going during these first days --

• Our twins really are doing well -- these issues we are monitoring with Howard are very normal and very treatable
• Our daughter is healthy and happy at home with Grammie and Papa and they are having a fun and doing well
•  Our twins are still in the hospital -- but it is a hospital 30 minutes from our home, NOT 200 miles away in Denver
• We have my parents here at home taking care of Tracey Ann, and ready to help with the twins as soon as we are sent home
• Chris and I are healthy and have each other and are incredibly grateful for each of our children

These first days of being a Mother Of Three has come with its challenges, but it has come with so many more blessings.

 

Big Sister

Tracey Ann is ready and eager to excel in her new role as a Big Sister.  When she came to the hospital a few days ago she looked at Howard and said, "Baby."  Then she looked at Caroline and said, "More Baby."  She's got that right.