WE'RE HAVING BOYS!!!

My husband and I had been trying to conceive for almost 3 years! You can imagine how delighted we were when we found out we were pregnant after trying for so long. We went along for our 7 week scan hoping desperately to see a heartbeat and were so surprised when the ultrasound technician told us there were TWO heart beats! Not only that, but they are identical ( one placenta, two amniotic sacs ). My initial reaction was to cry my eyes out - all I could think was 'How am I going to breast feed them???'. The shock has since worn off and we are very excited about having an instant family - sure it will be hard especially in the beginning, but they will have each other - always. Imagine, their first day of school....it won't be so bad because they have each other - it won't be such a trauma leaving Mama at the school gate each day ( although I think I will have real problems letting them go!!).

15 weeks

Now comes the reality of preparing for their arrival - double everything! Trying to find a suitable pram has been challenging. It needs to fit in my car, not weigh a tonne and be easily manevourable.

We are really looking forward to our 18 week scan which is in 2 1/2 weeks. Finally we will know if we are having sons or daughters - how exciting!

16/17 weeks

Finally we have found and ordered the PERFECT pram for us - thanks Soph-fe from UK for all your help! We will get the Jane Powertwin Pram in Ebory colour (which is orange and grey). Its a tandem pram which has everything - the description of it being the mercedes of prams is very true! We managed to import the pram from a really lovely lady who owns an online baby product company in GERMANY - Casita Bambini. Including shipping and funds transfer the total cost in AU$790 - expensive, but cheaper than buying a new car, which is what we thought we would have to do if we couldn't find a pram that fit into my boot! All round we are very excited about this pram and can't wait to receive it!

18 weeks

Yeah - we are having sons! Today was such an incredible day. My husband and I have been counting down the days until we found out whether we are having sons or daughters. The babies look so cute - constantly moving around . We saw everything - their cute little hands and feet, their spines - even their kidneys! Then finally their willies!! We both were so emotional for the whole day - wow, boys! I can just imagine them running behind daddy going fishing, surfing, playing tennis. These boys will have so much fun. I can't wait to cook for them! Now we can call them by their names and all of a sudden this feels SO REAL. We are parents!

23 weeks

Its been ages since I last updated my page - life has been so busy. In the mean time we have sold our second house (which has been on the market for 2 years). It has been such a relief to not have to worry about the extra mortgage repayments and rising interest rates. With twins coming, we really needed to reduce our debt and decrease our stress load. I've also resumed work, since the summer vacation is now over. Its been hard being at work (high school) as I get very tired by the end of each day and my ankles become very swollen. I sometimes feel dizzy too and need to lie down. Sleeping continues to be a challenge. Its hard to get comfortable and when I finally do, its time to roll over to the other side - quite a task these days! My tummy is growing so much - I am nearly 1 metre around!! The boys are kicking like crazy a lot. My husband has been so delighted to feel them - he's very proud of how hard they can kick! As for me, I'm glad they are moving around a lot as it reassures me that they're growing well, but sometimes its rather uncomfortable - cute though :)

My next drs appointment will be in 2 weeks - after that I will have u/s scans every couple of weeks to make sure the babies are growing at the same rate. I've been so humbled by the generosity of people around me - especially family. We have received so many parcels of babies clothes already. Our boys are already so loved - its beautiful.

33 weeks

OUR BOYS HAVE ARRIVED!!

The early arrival of my twins has been the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life! 4 weeks ago I felt a bit strange and decided to be extra careful by calling my doctor. He wasn't available to see me and his secretary advised me to go to the hospital just to be safe. So, I went and the nurses soon discovered that I was having contractions - at 30 weeks! You can imagine how scared I was. Soon after my husband and I were flown by air ambulance to a larger metropolitan hospital that could deal with such a premature birth. The days after that were carzy. My body started shutting down. I had kidney and liver failure and needed 2 blood transfusions. I was told that I had HELPS syndrome, which is kind of like pre-eclampsia. So, on Saturday 19th April at 3:56 pm our first son, Noah Beau, was delivered via caesarian and his little brother, Tully James, arrived one minute later. Noah weighed 1632 grams and Tully weighed 1356 grams. Given their gestation of 30 weeks and 4 days, their weights were great. They both came out crying which was such a relief. They didn't require assistance with their breathing and have had no health issues at all. They are just growing now. I spent 3 weeks away from home before we were flown back home this week. The babies are still in the hospital and I drive in to see them everyday and spend all day with them. They are so beautiful - very sweet little boys who are very calm and peaceful - quite suitable given the meaning of their names - Noah means peaceful and Tully means tranquility...very apt!

I express milk for them every 3 hours! That is tough!! They have both started to learn how to suck (normally babies develop this reflex at 35 weeks) and they have a breast feed once a day at this stage, otherwise they are feed via a small tube which goes down their throats and directly into their tummies.

So, I am a Mum! Its amazing. I still can't believe that this has all happened and I am so grateful that they are healthy and strong. I am recovering too - after my illness and the caesarian.

It will be about 5 weeks until they can come home - its very hard to be separated from them at night, but I have to keep telling myself that this time is very short in the scheme of things.

I thought I knew what it felt like to be in love....I had no idea until I became a mother!