Twin Bed Update

The boys got their twin beds right when they turned two in August.   It has been the biggest challenge for me in getting them to stay in bed.    So much so that I wasn't able to write in my blog because it was to late when they finally went to sleep.    Not to mention I was so frustrated and wiped out that all I could do was collapse.    Well it's now October and I think all the hard work and determination has paid off.

Both boys go down at 7pm now and stay in bed.   Naps are hit and miss but lately it's been more of a hit.    They may get up once and then we put them back down and they nap for 1 1/2 hours.   Instead of taking one week like it did with Brooklyn, it took a few months.    I asked for advice from friends, family and a great site that hosts the Twin Magazine.    Another organization that I asked for help was Love and Logic for raising children.    The consistant variable was being consistant and don't engage with them in any way.   

We kept the same bedtime routine of baths, pajamas, milk, reading and singing a song as we put them to bed.   We told them firmly to stay in bed.    If they got up we put them right back down without looking at them in the eye or talking to them.   The key was always doing the same thing.   After a few months of having no evenings for ourselves (yes a few months), they finally gave up and starting sleeping.   For those of you who are curious, we sleep them in the same room.   I tried separating them and it only made it worse.   After consulting the Twin organization, the experts agreed it's best to keep them together at this age. 

It's so nice to have our evenings back and boys who are not sleep deprived anymore.   Every child is different so never give up hope.  It will eventually happen if you be consistant and firm.    Thanks to everyone who gave us great suggestions.   It finally worked!

Personality Differences at the Halloween Patch

Halloween time is here.   The Twins are 2 now and Brooklyn is 4 1/2.     It was time to take the twins to their first pumpkin patch where they can actually do some things with their big Sister.    We found this great patch right outside of Dundee and before McMinnville.   You can't miss it because it has an old school bus with a VW bus welded on the top of it.  It's Dorian's favorite thing in the whole world.  He told me if he wasn't married to me, he would make an offer on it.    It's a good thing this trip isn't about him but about the kids.  

We are really noticing differences between the Twins.  Tygh seems to be more adventuresome and not afraid of anything.   Cole wants to study everything first and will work on a task for quite some time on his own.    If Tygh can't figure it out quickly, he gets frustrated and is off to do something else.   This trip surprised me after watching them go down a big slide.    Daddy took them both up the stairs to the top of the slide.    He was getting ready to put them both in his lap to take them down and Tygh just went right on down without him.   He loved it and kept doing if over and over again.  Cole on the other hand, had a look of sheer terror on his face.   

Cole first time down the slide on his own.  

Then we decided to have them go down together to see how they would react to each other.    Tygh was the big man on these trips as Cole tightly squeezed his younger brother every time.   It was so cute!!!!

Thank god Cole has Tygh to lean on.    They were all laughs and had a blast doing this together.   Next up is Halloween.    I would like Brooklyn to be the Cat in the Hat with Tygh and Cole being Thing One and Thing Two.    However, Brooklyn is not going for it because there is no Princess costume.    I'll keep trying.

Hair cuts

Everywhere I was going with the twins, people would comment on how cute my girls are with their long locks and curls.   As much I absolutely loved their curls, it was getting time to cut their hair or they might actually start believing they are cute girls.    The first attempt was me cutting their bangs so they could see.    However, people still kept thinking they were girls so I decided it was time to take them in for their first hair cut.     I was wondering how anyone could possibly get two toddler twins to sit still long enough to even cut their hair.   We found this great place in Lake Oswego called Little Clippers that caters to small children and was up for the challenge.   

This was Cole before and after his haircut.   He loved this place especially getting to sit in a race car and watch Thomas the Train.  

This is Tygh before and after his hair cut.  He did great too.

 







Tygh and Cole checking each other out after haircut.



 Boy was I ever in shock after seeing their beautiful curls gone and had to wonder if I did the right thing. Almost in tears, I head to Costco with the boys. The first comment I hear is what beautiful twin boys I have. As hard as it was to do, I know we did the right thing. Now don't hate me because the curls are gone:)





Twins get Twin Beds

     The dreaded day has come for us parents where we have to take down the cribs.    The comfort of knowing your babies are safe, secure and sleeping peacefully are about to be the thing of the past.   The days of putting the twins down at 7pm and going outside to visit are about to end.   Right after turning two, both boys started climbing out of their cribs non-stop.    We didn't want them to get hurt so we took them both down right away.   We couldn't even do the transition phase into big beds like we did with Brooklyn because it was getting to dangerous having them up.     Down went the cribs and up went the twin beds.     The nightmare begins...
     Day one in the big beds went great - to great to believe it.    They went down at 7:30 and did not get out of their new beds once.   I thought to myself that this was way to easy especially with two at the same time.   Well I was right because the next day the nightmare began with them.   It took us 2 hours to get them to sleep.   We must have put them back to bed 500 times that night.    Then they both woke each other up an hour early the next day!   The start of getting way behind on sleep begins for the boys.   
     The next week is still taking us 2 hours a night to get them to stay in bed.  Nap time is a complete joke now.   They both are exhausted but as soon as the bedroom door closes, the party begins for them.   Last night, Cole pasted out in bed right away but Tygh was still awake.  As soon as I closed the door, Tygh started yelling out "Cole, Cole, Cole" and then went to his bed and started jumping on it.   I opened the door and now Cole was awake.   I put them both back down but now I had two of them going crazy again for another hour.   Needless to say, both Mommy and Daddy are wiped out!!!  
     It's been a week now and neither one of us are having any luck with naps or bedtime.   Brooklyn only took one week and she was trained.   Having two of them constantly feeding off of one another almost makes it impossible to get them to sleep.    I really don't know what to do.   If this continues much more, I am going to relinquish my Mom title and give it to someone else!     Dorian will have to find someone else because I am so close to throwing in the towel.   If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to give them to me.    It's a good thing they are so darn cute.   It's the only reason I keep coming back for more punishment.

Cole snuck into Tygh's bed when we were not looking. 

      

Twins Turn Two!

Tygh and Cole at the Steam-up tractor show

It's hard to believe but the twins turned two on August 6th.   It was a beautiful weekend to celebrate their Birthday's and boy did they get into it this year.   Last year they fell asleep but this year,despite not taking a nap, managed to stay awake and open presents.    We cooked their favorite spaghetti dinner and had a Beaverton Bakery cake.  Daddy took the boys in the morning to the steam-up tractor show.   They absolutely love tractors and had a great time at this show.   Then it was back to the house for their Birthday party with family.

Cole and Tygh with the John Deer's.

After dinner, the boys climbed up on the table to open presents.  It was so cute watching them. They got so excited when they saw what was under the wrapping.   Cole would carefully open all the wrapping paper before looking at the gift.  Tygh would tear open the gift and shreak in delight at the gift.  Then Cole would have to look at Tygh's present before realizing he had the same. 



Cole opening carefully and Tygh tearing fast.



Cole has to check out all of Tygh's presents.

We ended the fun day with Thomas the Train cake and singing Happy Birthday.  Both boys joined in on the song as they know the words pretty well.   Then it was time to tackle the cake.  Cole forked the entire piece and ate it in a few minutes.  Tygh took small bites and never did finish it.   I wonder if this goes back to my pregnancy with them where Cole was getting all the food and leaving Tygh very little.   It is so fascinating to watch the growing differences in personalities between them.   We are looking forward to seeing how the terrible two's plays out with them.

Cole all done and Tygh barely getting started.



Tygh taking little bites





Cole all done



Lazy Days of Summer

Summertime is finally here and the kids are loving it.   Parks, camping, car rides through the county, swimming and playing with cousins.    The kids are all playing so hard and sleeping great.    

Tygh loves his books!



One of the twins favorite passtimes is reading books.    If you give them each a book in the car, they will look at it for 1/2 hour quietly and usually fall asleep with it.    All of this reading is paying off because both of them are talking really good.   

The boys are getting much better at playing with each other without fighting and love to play with other people.   They are getting better at playing with different things and waiting until the other person is done to take it.    I hope this lasts through the terrible two's that are approaching in two days.    This picture is the twins with Brooklyn and cousin Riley in her pool.   Where's the water????

Brook, Tygh, Cole, Riley

Tygh and Cole with Daddy in pool

Typical day

Before I continue on with this blog, I thought I would share what a typical day looks like for me.   To me it is just another day of my life, to others they always wonder how I do it.    Everyone has busy lives and when it becomes an every day routine, you learn how to get through it successfully.   If you don't figure it out, you will end up getting in your car all alone, driving a million miles away, all while crying your eyes out wondering how you got yourself in this mess.   But that's not me.   I love the challenge of trying to live my life, staying in shape, working, being a wife and raising 5 wonderful kids.  

During the school year, I start my day at 5:45am.   This is the only time for me to get ready before the twins wake up.    At 7am, I leave to run Kylie to school , go to work, run Ryan to school at 9am.  Then it's back to work.   Lunchtime is always spent at the gym working out and if things work out correctly, I squeeze in a run around 4pm before heading home.   At 3:30, I pick up kids from school and run them to their sporting events.    Then it's home by 4:45, cook dinner, bathe the three little kids, read books, put twins to bed at 7pm.    After twins go to bed, I do my chores - laundry, clean house, pick up toys.   At 8pm, I put the 4 year-old to bed.  Normally I have to run back to Lake Oswego to pick up older kids from their sport events and grocery shop which is usually every day!   Back to home with them and then help with homework and feed them dinner.   By 10 or 11pm, I finally get to say hello to my husband before passing out in bed only to start it all over again the next day. 

Now our 4 year-old will be going to preschool in the Fall 3 days a week, gymnastics on Saturday and dance on Wednesday so that will get thrown into my mix as well.    Ryan starts football and Kylie starts soccer.  I also volunteer at a local Credit Union and have monthly meetings and audits to attend.    I cannot wait for the boys to start doing extra-curricular activities!!!    Oh yea, Kylie is now taking driver's education classes so I get to run her to/from those classes.   The good news about that is she can help take Ryan to his events once she gets her license.    Finally I get to run back to Lake Oswego on Friday nights for my softball games.

How do I do it?    Lot's of drinking.   Just kidding.   The only way to do all of this and be a good person to them is to take care of yourself first.   I always try to squeeze a workout or personal time for me each day.  It is a necessity to feel good about yourself and what you are doing.   Everything you do and feel reflects back on your kids.   I feel it when I don't work out and my stress level gets to high.   Even if it's taking 20 minutes to go on a motorcycle ride or a walk alone, do it!   

Then second tip that has made this all possible is to find really good help.    We have a wonderful Nanny that comes while I work and takes care of the Twins and Brooklyn on Friday's.   She is the reason the boys are so good natured and always smiling.   She is one of the best decisions we have made since the birth of our twins.  She takes them to fun places every day, teaches them new things all the time, has a loving family herself that has also taken in the twins.   She is always willing to stay late if necessary and watch them for us overnight if we want to go out of town alone.   If I get in a jam, she picks up my older kids too and shuttles them around for me.    My kids all love her and it's such a huge relief to find someone like her.   She has become part of our family and I could not do what I do without her.   



Madisen with one of the twins



Madisen at beach with twins

Lake Billy Chinook Camping trip 2011

It's hard to believe that we pulled off another week long camping trip with seven kids without any problems.   I thought it was going to be a nightmare with 23 month old twins trying to run away from us but they were amazing!   Being outdoors is truly the ticket to entertaining the entire family and keeping everyone happy.   It's cost effective, fun, entertaining and great for the kids to reconnect with the basics and nature.  

We took two cars again and split up the twins for the drive to Perry South Campground.   The difference this time is they kept asking where the other twin was and seem confused.   Last time they couldn't talk so it's clear they notice when each other is not present.    Once we arrived, we set them loose in the campsites.   Luckily, we were able to reserve 4 sites together so they had plenty of room to play freely.   There were four families that went so we took turns cooking dinner and breakfast.    This is the way to go and made it so much easier and less stress!     After the boys passed out around 7pm each night we had great campfires.   They slept great from playing so hard all day outside.  

The highlight of the trip was renting a party barge at Cove Palisades.   It was a beautiful day and even the youngest of kids did great on the boat. 

Cole and Tygh loving the water

This trip was really neat watching the twins as they really never fought with one another.   I think because they had so much space and kept to themselves playing with things, they left each other alone.   At night, I would sit outside the trailer and listen to them laugh hysterically at each other.   Their portacribs were right next to each other so that was their time to share their adventures from the day.    The other highlight was having my twin brother Jim join us on this trip with his kids.   He is so much fun to have around and I truly miss him when he goes home to Idaho. 

Twin Brother Jim

With five kids all at different ages, I see camping being what we do for vacations for the next several years.   It's way to difficult and expensive to fly anywhere with 7 people and camping is relatively easy to do and so much fun.    There are no electronic devices (due to no coverage), no Facebook, no TV, only the great outdoors to enjoy.  Swimming, skiing, sailing, games, biking, hiking, fishing, boating, campfires....the list goes on and on.   Personally, I felt like I got more relaxation being on vacation with these kids then at home.  

Dad with Twins

Oldest daughter Kylie

Captain Cole on upper deck

Growing Interaction between Tygh and Cole

The twins second Birthday is quickly approaching in a few weeks.   It seems we just celebrated their first Birthday not to long ago but it flew by so fast.   The growing interaction between Tygh and Cole has both been a blessing and a curse.    They share lots more laughs with each other now but also lots more fighting over things.   We must have two of everything in order to prevent full on tackles between them.  

The two biggest changes with them this last year has been their increase in verbal communication and there ability to show affection to others.   From the moment they wake up to bedtime, they are chatting with one another.    The other day Tygh was able to tell me his ears hurt so I took him to the doctor and sure enough he had two terrible ear infections.   It is much easier now on us that they both can talk pretty well.    It probably helps that they have three older siblings to listen to all day especially Brooklyn (age 4) who never stops talking.   

Secondly, is there increased display of affection.   This past year has been fun coming home to all kids running up to the car with open arms, hugs and kisses.  What a great way to come home from a long day at work!   Leaving in the morning is always done with verbal good-byes and kisses from the boys.   The other day at the beach , Cole displayed his affection by kissing his girl friend.   It was the cutest thing in the world!!!  He is such a lover.  

Cole and Tygh giving each other kisses.

Next up on my list this week is preparing for another camping trip with family and friends.   We leave on Saturday and will be gone almost a week with all the kids.    This time it's Central Oregon so the drive won't be near as long as Montana.   This trip will be interesting considering the boys are now mobil and won't sit still.   I'm hoping we won't be chasing them non-stop.   Stay tune for updates on the camping trip and then the boys second Birthday!!!

Separation Anxiety

     It turns out the Twins separation anxiety is not from leaving Mom and Dad but from leaving each other.   Now that they are getting older, they notice when each other is missing.    Cole was the bigger twin at birth (6 lbs) vs. Tygh (3 lbs) and seems to have taken on the big brother role.   He will always call out for "Tygh, Tygh" when he doesn't see him.  
     Occassionally, Cole will wake up before Tygh so I will take him downstairs.    He will constantly be calling out for Tygh until we go get him.   Then once we have him, he gets this huge smile on his face like everything is perfect again in his life.   I wonder now if I need to start separating them more so they can develop their own personalities and get along without each other.   I'll have to ask my Mother how she did this with us growing up in the younger years.   This year we have decided to do more things individually with them to see what happens.  
     The first strange occurance happened when Tygh was outside playing and Cole with inside with me.   All of a sudden Cole started crying and calling out for "Tygh, Tygh".   He was very upset so I took him outside to find Tygh.    In turned out the Tygh had fallen and put a big knot on his head and was also crying.    I initially thought that Cole was upset because he notice Tygh was gone but I am now thinking it was because Tygh got hurt and he could sense something was wrong with him.  
    Being a twin myself, I can truly relate to those feelings betweens twins.  I had become deathly ill in my early 20's with spinal meningitus.   When they found me, I was told I only had about an hour to live.  I remember laying there calling out to my twin brother in my head to come help in hopes he could hear me.    Jim (my twin Brother) was at work and he said cold chills ran through his body.  He stopped dead in his tracks because he felt something was really wrong.   A minute later, Jim was being paged at work and he knew it was because of me.   So I do believe that twins share a very close internal bond that goes really deep.    I can only imagine that the bond between identical twins are even stronger.



Twin Brother Jim and myself - peope say he got the looks and I got the brains:)



Twins turn one!!!

     I remember waking up on the morning of their first Birthday to sounds of jumping and laughter in their bedroom.    I quietly cracked open their door and watched them jump up and down in their cribs while cracking each other up.   They were talking, laughing and copying each other moves.   It was quite cute to watch this interaction between the boys.    This was the first time I really noticed this close bondness between the two.   It was almost like turning one was the turning point in their lives and the fun was about to begin for them.     

     The boys have taken naps religiously since they were born every day.   Why is it the day of their Birthday party they decide not to nap.    By the time we did cake at 5:30, both of them were falling asleep in their chairs and staring tiredly at the cake.    It was such a non-event that we ended up putting them to bed and had the party without them.    The cake was excellent!

     Turning one is one of many major milestones in their lives.  This past year the boys have really grown attached to one another.  I don't think they have ever been separated as of yet.    Cole is walking now and Tygh is not far behind him.   Both seem to be having conversations with each other in a language that only they can understand.    I marvel at how well they seem to be in tune to one another.    I am really looking forward to this next year and how things progress with the twins.   Happy First Birthday Tygh and Cole!

Is Vacation Possible with 11 month old twins???

     We were all tired of being couped up in the house and decided it was time to go on vacation.     Was it possible with 5 kids and 3 of them two and younger.   I had survived through the first 11 months of sleepless nights, breastfeeding two babies, changing multiple diapers, bath times and many more challenges that comes with newborns.   And YES you will survive it.    Now it was time to utilize my planning skills and try to put together a family vacation with the 7 of us. 
     It was decided to join the rest of my brother's and go camping at Flathead Lake, Montana.   It was a 12 hour drive taking two vehicles.  One to pull the trailer and one to pull the Hobicat.   The best advice I can give to make it less stressful is to plan everything out ahead of time.   One week before departure date, I did all the shopping and put all the camping gear in the trailer.   Four days before, I prepared meals ahead of time.    Below are some great recipes to freeze ahead of time for camping trips even the twins could eat:

• Homemade Minnestroni Soup   -  1lb sausage, (2) 14 1/2oz cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, (2) 14 1/2oz cans beef broth, 1 can cannelini beans, 1 can red kidney beans, 1 cup thinly sliced carrots, 1 medium yellow summer squash sliced and 1 cup bow tie pasta.   Cook the sausage.   Throw all ingrediants except pasta in a slow cooker on low setting for 8 hours and cover.   45 minutes before it's done throw in pasta.   Serve and top with parmesan cheese.   DELICIOUS EVEN WITH THE KIDS! 
• Baked Beans with Polish sausage - 1 to 2 lbs polish sausage sliced, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can northern beans, 1 can black beans, 1 15oz can tomato sauce, 1 onion sliced, 1/2 cup red wine (drink the rest while making), 2 Tablespoons brown sugar and 2 garlic cloves.   Cook in crock pot for 70 minutes.   YUMMY!
• Other make ahead dishes is chili, breakfast burritoes, lasagna.   

This made the trip much more enjoyable because I knew what was for dinner every night and only had to heat it up.    Two days before the trip everything was packed so I could actually relax before our big travel day.   We split up the twins and put one in each car.   This worked out great because they slept most of the way without having each other to entertain.   We finally arrived and all kids survived the car ride.  

Everyone thought we were crazy to take the twins camping at 11 months.   I agree but with some tools it can be done.  We set up a huge playpen and let them crawl all over in it.   Having the trailer helped because we could open up the back, gate it and let them run around with toys.   It turned out to be easier going camping with all the kids then having them at home.   They were so entertained by the new surroundings and usually ready for bed by 6:30pm.   It left the rest of the evening for us adults to be adults and relax around the campfire.   

In looking back at this trip, it was one of my greatest memories so far with the kids.    All it took was a little planning ahead and a few lists to make it work.   YES, it is possible to do trips with infant twins, a toddler, pre-teen and a teenager and SURVIVE it with a smile.   



Tygh and Cole playing in trailer





Brooklyn age 2





Son Ryan age 10



Play pen outside for twins

Oldest daughter with Tygh age 14

Surprise of a Lifetime

I decided to start this blog because of my unique situation in being a twin myself and having identical twin boys.  It should have been started when they were born 22 months ago but as a Mother of five children, I find myself just now having time to write.   This blog will be about all of the interesting dynamics of raising twins and offer tips on how Mothers can successfully manage a very busy lifestyle.  

It started by going in for a routine ultrasound in the 4 month of pregnancy, looking at the monitor and seeing two heads moving around.   This is after the doctor told me on three other occassions that I was only having one baby.   It turns out that one of them was hiding under my ribs and decided to show himself in my 4th month.    It was our surprise of a lifetime.   I was always told that being a twin myself that I would not have twins.    NOT TRUE!   All I could think about was how was I going to raise my 3 other children (14, 10 and 2 at the time), work full-time, continue volunteering, be a good wife and get some time for myself.    Now I had to throw twins into my all ready packed life. 

Now, 22 months later it has been a roller coaster ride that I wouldn't have missed for anything.   Yes, it is extremely challenging to do it all of this but it's so amazing watching these kids all at different milestones especially the identical twin boys.