Geez, but time flies.

It is Monday again and i have only shown you only one of last weekend's 3 parties. Holy guacamole!

Last Sunday we had our friends Kristal's birthday at Zita park. Zita park is a City Council park and very well ran, clean and neat. What a surprise! And entrance costs like next to nothing.

It has a kiddies pool and long slide towards it.

Our mermaid was either swimming or warming up in the sun.

As always The Boys were just everywhere and we ran after them forever.

Just before we left they had a fun "horse" ride with the birthday girl.

We thoroughly enjoyed it and will definetely be back.

A family complete - The story of us - part 6

So you are having twins? the Maternal fetal specialist asked? "Are you excited?" By this time, the Wednesday afternoon Hunter was excited and I was just stressed to get these two doctors appointments done. You see, my obs/gynea had to evaluate the risk of the pregnancy after the reports from these two doctors. He proceeded to do a very high definition scan and various other tests himself and kept saying, "looking well" and "very interesting" which freaked me out a bit. Back in his office he explained that their Downs syndrome risk was very low indeed and that all else looks fine. They are also attached at the opposite two sides of the uterus and are completely separate in all senses. He said we should think about this pregnancy as two separate pregnancies taking place at the same time - well, almost the same time. Then he asked the interesting question: " Is it possible that you could have conceived one of the babies about 4 to 6 days after the other?" (He knew that the babies were timed with an ovulation test and we knew the exact conception date). We looked at each other and almost immediately answered together - yes - 5 days! It turns out that the one fetus measured 5 days younger than our conception date -he explained that at 12 weeks growth and genetics are not factors yet and your most accurate conception and delivery date can often be measured. Sop now we had one fetus with a 5 day younger age - good to know when delivery time came near. This also explained why at 6 weeks there was only one heartbeat - the other was still too young! (and small embryos can hide anywhere!)

He evaluated the pregnancy as to my build and size, the measurements and health of the placentas and babies and deemed me, apart from the kidney problem, to be an ideal twin carrier. According to him, if my kidneys can keep it and off course, if no unexpected problem occured, we could have a successful twin pregnancy. We were so relieved! It was as if I received another confirmation from God that all will be ok. He was so positive! We were scheduled to see him again at 20 weeks for a detailed anatomical scan but my hopes of a VBAC delivery was shattered.

My appointment at the Nephrologist the next day was one of the most stressful days of my life. I knew that this was the big hurdle. And would you know, that God surprised both me and the Neprologist with 100% normal functioning kidneys! (Which stayed 100% throughout the pregnancy and promptly after the birth of the boys, returned to their "normal" state of hyper filtration.) He could not explain it. When my obs/gynea called me the next day to say that we are going ahead as for a normal twin pregnancy, I said to her - "How did this happen?" And her answer was simply;" We as humans do not know everything. Sometimes doctors think they know, but there is only One that knows". I can not tell you how much comfort this all brought to me.

In summary, the rest of the pregnancy was uneventful. Apart from extreme tiredness I had no other major pregnancy niggles. Not even heartburn. What a change to the first one! I did have huge problems gaining enough weight (for the first time in my life) and only gained 15 kg (33 pounds). The babies gained well though, but my stomach was constantly under pressure from Little Man C pressing it as flat as a pancake at times.

At our 16 weeks appointment Dr Barbie gave me what she called our "game plan" - a list of target dates up to 38 weeks with comments at each week. For instance, when they will have a good chance to survive, when they will be 2kg etc - all indicating time in NICU next to it. She also arranged for a visit for us at the NICU at the hospital where we would be delivering. This list off course was quite daunting, but I looked at the 38 weeks(for the oldest fetus) and though that maybe, just maybe we will make it. When we heard it was twins, the whole issue about gender just flew right out of our minds. We only concentrated on surviving the pregnancy. Now off course, we starting wondering once again. Hunter was so sure that he will only have girls, that he refused to believe when at last at 20 weeks at the maternal fetal specialist we saw that the baby on my left, the older one, was very clearly a boy. I was so delighted! Believe me that two girls would have been so welcome and we already had two girl names (no boy names yet) Now my thoughts were that a pigeon pair would be great as The Lil Miss would enjoy a sister and the bond should not be that tight between the twins if they are different sexes.

Finally at 25 weeks (yes so late!) Little Man L showed us his tools and Hunter could not take the smile of his face. Yes, he was going to have two sons! We were having the perfect twin pregnancy and I worked full day until 30 weeks and half day until 34 weeks. I also continued with my yoga until 34 weeks. For the first week of my maternity leave I ran around to get everything in place, and then, all of a sudden,I found I could hardly walk anymore. So for the last 2 weeks I was on self imposed modified bed rest. At 36 weeks the boys both measured very near to 3 kg and as the placenta of Little Man L seemed to not functioning as well as she would like and the weight was getting excessive, the delivery was scheduled at 37 weeks 1 day (and 36 weeks 3 days for Little Man L).

My experience of the C section was quite different this time. Everything was so relaxed and organized and I had no discomfort at all. At 13:50 on 25 September Little Man L was born. He had a true knot in his placenta and as he was pulled out his placenta tore of my uterus - luckily this was spotted by my doctor. He weighed 2,92 kg (6,4 pounds) and was 48cm (18,9 inches) long. After repairing my uterus Little man C was born at 13:57 weighing in at 3,02 kg(6,7 pounds) and at 49 cm (19,3 inches) long. They both had healthy APGAR of 9.
We named the boys after their grandfathers- we decided that the first born would have Hunter's dad's names - Leon Jacobus and that the second born will have my dad's names Christian Hendrik.

After holding the boys for a couple of minutes Little man L became pale and was put in an incubator with oxygen. He cried uncontrollably and the nurse came to get Little man C from me and placed him next to his brother. And immediately they both were content. What a special twin moment!

I spent a bit of time in recovery due to my usual after reaction to the spinal and the blood loss from the tear and when I arrived back in my room about 30 minutes later, there was Hunter sitting with his boys. What a proud daddy.

Our first visitors just an hour later was Granny Annie and The Little Miss - my mom had bronchitis and sadly only saw her grandsons 5 days later.

Meeting her brothers- she brought them bunnies. Check out the name tags on the hats - I was scared I would not know them apart, but they looked so different that there was really no need for it.

She got her own twin babies from the brothers and quickly like her mom, became an expert tandem breast feeder.

A very tired me sharing a special moment with my firstborn.

The hospital comes to take a photograph of the biggest twins of the year. (They kept the record for 2007 and 2008 - not sure about this year)

Spending half of day2 and 3 under the lights for jaundice. Both had it much lighter than The Little Miss had.

Going home after 3 days.
And the lesson I learned with this miracle - trust God to deliver on His promises and be careful of what you pray for - you might just get it (times 2!)

Off course, the biggest reason I am always thankful for is my hubby and my sweet sweet children. My little miracles.


Playing along with Thanksgiving Thursdays now at Elyse

And Thankful Thursdays at Laurie

Way back and wordful Whensday - 36 weeks pregnant tummy

Playing along on a Wednesday (as per usual) with Cheryl at Twinfatuation and Angie at 7 Clown Circus:

Today, exactly 2 years ago this was me:

36 weeks pregnant with twins. At this stage I was extremely uncomfortable and was lying down for most of the day. We went grocery shopping that morning - me and my mom and MIL. I sat at the coffee shop and waited for them to finish my list (which they divided into two - we shopped for the next two months!) and then I just got up to pay. Even this tired me out completely. My skin was showing little stretch marks that was tender to the touch - as if the skin was tearing away.

I can not believe that my babies (yes, may I please say it for the last time) will be two years old in a week's time! I am so sad and nostalgic, but also relieved at the same time (now only a mom of multiples will understand this sentence)

And if I get my act together for next week, the story of the twins (our family part 5) to follow.

Way back and wordful Whensday - the story of us, part 4.

Playing along on a Wednesday (as per usual) with Cheryl at Twinfatuation and Angie at 7 Clown Circus:

Today is literally a mouthful - so if you do not want to read a looong story, just check out the pictures.

It feels like yesterday. Early on New years morning 2003 Hunter woke me up with a kiss and the words: "Are we going to have a baby this year? " I literally had to think about closing my mouth not to look like an idiot - after all we did not plan on having children. Where did this come from? Hunter carefully explained that yes, he had second thoughts and yes, he can hear my biological clock ticking loud and clear. So I begged for a years grace to adjust my mindset, and he agreed. I also stated that if we then have children, I want 2 and not 1 - I was not going to repeat the only child pattern that I was born into.

By December I reluctantly agreed that we should give a try, but the mole on my eyelid (that has been there since birth) suddenly started to grow and it had to be removed in a delicate operation in February where a third of my eyelid was removed. By March I was off birth protection and we were ready to go. I paid my obs/gynea (The now famous around here, Dr Barbie - pregnant herself at the time) a visit to check out if everything was ok and her recommendation was that taking into account my age and previous problems, we try only 6 months on our own and then return to her to discuss other options. As I was leaving her office she asked me if I was excited about starting our family and I answered that I was still not sure if I was ready for this. With a small smile on her lips she replied that maybe she will see me sooner than later. She told me a few months on that her experience shows that the more relaxed you are about conceiving the easier it happens.

My disappointment at not conceiving the first month was not big, but it fell on the Sunday of sweet Emma's christening, and in church I started to feel teary. Holding her sleeping little baby body later at the braai after, spoke straight to my heart and I just suddenly knew that yes, I was indeed ready.

Three weeks later I had a bladder infection that drove me nuts - my back was sore, everything was niggly. But I was scared to try over the counter drugs for in case I was pregnant so I went to see my friendly GP who took one look at me and decided to do two urine tests - one for infection and a pregnancy test. Guess which one was positive! Hunter still tease me today about our 4 year old bladder infection. We did the blood work and I made my 6 week appointment at my obs/gynea. I did not say a word to Hunter but bought tiny little shoes and wrapped it up. I took him out to our local steakhouse that evening and handed him the gift, which left him speechless and extremely emotional. And we were pregnant - a very early show on the test.

One week later at 4 weeks the nausea started. I was miserable and hiding the pregnancy until we had our 6 week scan - when we were advised by my straight talking obs/gynea that our chances of miscarriage was 1 in 2 . I was 35 at the time and this was considered a high risk pregnancy so we kept the news from all , but at 12 weeks everything was in order. We told the family, friends and collegues at work.

The pregnancy was a tough one - I had no major problems at the onset , but every single pregnancy niggle you can imagine (I was spared heartburn). I lost 2 kg (4.4 pounds) in my first trimester because of the nausea - I was not only feeling nauseous, I was puking, 24 hours of the day and no medicine helped. At all. At 20 weeks, it was as if a switch flicked - the one day I was nauseous, the next, I was fine. I wore my ordinary jeans for the last time at 20 weeks.I was convinced I was carrying a boy - Hunter and his dad was so sure it was a girl.

Then the swelling started - my feet, hands etc - by 24 weeks I had Carpal tunnel syndrome and I could hardly write but some supplements greatly eased this. We also at last saw that we were expecting a girl - up to now she was lying with he umbilical cord between the legs. Then my sciatic nerve in my left leg went crazy and I could hardly walk - the Little Miss was lying with her feet wedged in left hand bottom side on the nerve. I absolutely craved everything sweet and one lunch time ate half a watermelon! By this time my obs/gynea's baby was born and she was back at her office - tiny, at 28 weeks but healthy, and what I did not know at the time, was that she expected twins and lost the boy a week before the girl was born.

By 26 weeks the protein levels in my urine was double the normal, but my blood pressure was low, very low. I had the first of 5 complete urine screens - where all the urine in 24 hours are collected, tested and correlated by two blood tests 24 hours after the other - each and every time a horrible experience. By 34 weeks (2 days before my birthday) the protein levels were completely off the charts and although my blood pressure was still very low, I was treated as having suspected pre-eclampsya. I was told to pack my bags and be ready to go to hospital at any time. I was given steroid injections to mature her lungs and really got very emotional about delivering this baby early. She was already 2 kg at the stage so my obs/gynea went through the NICU discussions and possible outcomes with me. This is the type of thing I most appreciate about her - she is straight up and inform you of all, while staying sympathetic.

I was ordered to take it slow, although bed rest was not necessary, and was given a blood pressure meter and urine tests. We were now heading into our long December holiday and my obs/gynea's office was closed apart from scheduled appointments for the pregnant girls. I had to text her my results every two days and she was so supportive - she twice came to her office just to see me and even went to a Doppler scan with me to check if everything was ok. By now my hope of a natural birth was dashed - she was lying with her head firmly lodged under my right ribcage and her feet in my left hand side and she was big! The doctor tried to turn her, but no luck. Adding to that was the suspected pre -eclampsya, which sometimes shoots the blood pressure sky high (and mom into a coma) when labour starts. I had to get my head around a C-section - not at all what I planned. At my 37 week appointment the doctor decided not to tempt fate and the pre-eclampsya any longer and scheduled the C-section on the day we were 38 weeks.

At 6 am on 11 January 2005 I was admitted to the hospital - the C section was scheduled for 13:00 and all was pleasant and very relaxed. Monitors were attached and we were left for half an hour for the observations to run. A very surprised nurse came back to ask me if I was not in pain. The relaxed atmosphere became very tense and people were flying in and out of the room. I was having contractions every 10 minutes and not feeling a thing - I was in labour and everyone was worried that my blood pressure will shoot up at any minute. I tried my luck one last time and asked for a natural birth but the labour was stopped with medication and my obs/gynea informed that I was in labour. All systems jumped into place to get the team ready earlier, and at 12:32 am our princess was born. It was not an easy C-section - she was lodged so tightly under my ribs and I started to panic, but in the end all turned out well. Her APGAR was 8 as she had a blue tip tip her left ear, but she weighed 3,45 kg and was 50 cm long. We named her Ann*ecke - both her grannies are called Anna, so it was an easy choice.


Off course, it is difficult to express my totally overwhelmed feelings at the time, but we were both in absolute awe of this tiny person. Hunter held her in theatre and insisted on carrying her himself to our room. When they wheeled me in (I had a small drama in recovery - after effect from low blood pressure and the spinal), they were quietly cuddling in a chair. My love for my special hubby at that instant took another giant leap.

We had the normal first time breastfeeding issues, but I held strong and not a drop of formula passed her lips. She was severely jaundiced ( Hunter and I have clashing blood type problem) and we had to stay behind in the children's ward for another 2 days after we would have been released, but from there on she has been the healthiest baby and child I know. She slept a 5 hour period from her very first night and the paediatrician gave me permission to leave her to sleep for that long as she was so big and healthy. She started sleeping through at 12 weeks and has never stopped. We had a little run- in with early evening colic from moths 3 to 4, but once that was sorted out, it was basically easy going. Our little girl - what a joy! For the moment our family was complete.

All safe on the homefront

On Monday, at last, The Boys were released from hospital after an exhausting week trying to split my time between home, the hospital and the office. Guess what came last? As result I had to work late on Wednesday to make a deadline and my planned leave for next week will not become a reality. We have a crazy week ahead of us in South Africa, with a public holiday on Sunday (Freedom day - commemorating our first democratic election) which means that Monday is a public holiday. Then on Thursday (1 May- labour day), we have another public holiday and the Friday have been declared one as well due to the co-incidence of two public holidays ( Good Friday and Human rights day) falling on the same day on the 21st of March. The whole of RSA thus have a 2 day work week and H.and I both obtained leave for the 2 days to do some decluttering at home. I've been looking forward to this for weeks, and now, well, I guess I will have to deal with the idea and get my butt going next week to try and catch up. Just part of being a mom and I guess I must be grateful that I was able to spend the week with The Boys at the hospital where a lot of other working moms might not be able to.

The whole hospital experience has been quite a shock. It was absolutely heartbreaking seeing them with tubes and stuff around them and so tired and sick. During my pregnancy with The Boys my biggest fear was dealing with tiny prem babies after a 3,5 kg first born and all the stress involved. I therefore made it my utmost target to get as far as possible with the pregnancy - I was paranoid in following doctor's orders to the T. I think all moms of multiples will know the feeling as you count every week towards a new target. My stunning gynea gave us a list of target dates following from 26 weeks onwards with expected weights and time in NICU. To our huge relieve we were blessed and The Boys were delivered at 37 weeks weighing a whopping 3,02 and 2,92kg respectively. This may not sound big for the parents of singletons, but for twins this is quite and accomplishment, and my joy was doubled when they came home with me after 4 days in hospital, standard time for a C-section delivery in South Africa. Therefore no NICU, no tubes, healthy big babies! And then last week. I almost felt cheated out of my perfectly healthy kids - you can tell we have been very lucky with The Little Miss' health - only been on antibiotics twice in her life.

The nursing staff has been extra special and helpful - we will certainly deliver flowers to them when we go for a check-up next week. I am just completely exhausted by the whole experience. By Friday last week, the boys were out of danger for the first time and they were placed next to each other in one crib. The absolute joy as little L kept touching C's face was something I will remember my whole life. It must be very special to have a best friend that came with you from day one of your life and before in the womb.

BTW - have you seen the National Geographics DVD "In the womb - multiples"? It is so special to see the interaction of multiples before birth. Unfortunately The Boys have completely lost their routine in the hospital and are refusing to sleep at night and are taking non-existent wee little naps in the day. We are working extra hard to get them into routine again and I am using homeopathic medicine to help them to calm down and sleep. The Paediatrician has also subscribed medicine to help with sleep as he is worried that they will not recover sufficiently if they don't sleep properly. Funny how I now don't worry as much about them sleeping through as I did before they got sick! Priorities change from being irritated about my own sleep to worrying about their health.