Imagine you have two young children at home, 2 boys, and you think to yourself, “I really would like to try one more time for a girl”.  Happens all the time for one or the other sex so you can make that decision to tie the tubes, vasectomy or whatever choice you have made to complete your family with no more births.  That is exactly what happened to me.  I had a 5 year old and a 2 year old boy.  I wanted to try one more time for a girl at which time I was getting my tubes tied.  I never knew twins ran in our family.  I remember joking with my then husband about twins because I felt movement from these little ones, constantly, since I was about 2 months pregnant.  Then I got the confirmation from the doctor.  “You are going to have twins”.  I can still envision their dads jaw touching the ground when I told him. 

I thought, “how am I going to handle 4 kids under the age of 5 all myself?”  I had no family around except for a sister not to nearby and his family was all out of state.  But, you know what?  You do what you have to do and you manage.  I was very lucky that year that we had a grade school across the street for my son who just started kindergarten that year when my daughters were born.  On top of that, my 2 year old just got potty trained.  I was afraid he would revert as kids often do . . . but he did not.  The boys loved their sisters and tried to help me in their own little ways.  I just had to be sure they were not going to try to pick them up on their own. 

Breast feeding or a bottle, that is the question!  Well, I was lucky for a month that my mother in law stayed around so I did breast feed that month.  Nights was the fun part when one of the baby’s would wake up crying, should I wake the other right after the first feeding or let her wake up on her own.  Oh boy, that worked for a day because I got no sleep at all.  So when one would wake up, I would feed her and then wake the other for her feeding, giving me my two hours sleep after that.  It worked out well.  Once mom in law left, the real fun began . . . after all, I still had two other young children at home.  Those pour baby girls had so many of their feedings with propped up bottles while I chased one other toddler and got the other to and from school, naps and feedings as well.  I have felt a lot of regrets not having enough bonding time with them because I hardly could hold them to feed them as a mom should.  I had these beautiful twin girls and they just grew up right before my eyes.

But, oh the things they got into together.  You will have the fun of your life because what one doesn’t think of, the other will.  They beds were in an “L” Shape in their room and somehow, no matter what, they ended up in the same bed.  They used to throw everything out of their cribs and laugh about it until I tricked them and made elastics for the bottom of their sheets so they would not come off.  They would empty their changing table and get into their closet and take out all over the floor.  How could you reprimand them as they stand there smiling like “look what I did, Mom”?

They used to go into the pantry and take things, remembering the one time they got my gravy packets and tore them open all over the cocktail table (which of course had a groove all around it) now full of gravy powder.  Their ideas are endless so be prepared.  None of these little incidents can ever overpower the joy that they have brought.  Aside from their little mischievous acts as babies, they have been such good girls.  I have been so proud of all my kids and could never imagine any other life. 

There are a few tips I could share that I learned.  I remember laughing when I read the book about breast feeding, when I opened to the page with a lady nursing with a baby in each arm.  Then there was me.  Decide if you want to nurse.  Statistics have shown that whatever amount of time you can devote to breastfeeding is definitely healthier for the child.  If you need to, alternate feedings, nurse one while propping the bottle for the other and next feeding switch.  I always felt it good to have the baby used to both feeding types should you have to leave them with dad, sitter, relative, who ever would obviously not be able to nurse.  The alternating method really does work well. 

Don’t even consider cloth diapers or you will be doing laundry more than once a day.  I tried everything only because my daughters had horrible rashes.  I had to soak them in baking soda & water, drying them with hair dryers, and let them air dry on pads with no diapers so many times because no ointments in the world would help.  We did finally get through the ordeal and of course had to buy boxes of 48 counts, 2 of them weekly. 

When it comes to potty training, one of them was ready before the other so she basically taught her sister “it’s not so bad” and one day, low and behold, they were both trained.  When it came to walking the same one was walking my 9 months, the other crawling right behind her.  Don’t worry.  She’ll get there.  And she did.  They never competed as far as doing the same things at the same exact times.  My daughter who was born first (by two whole minutes) was first to walk, talk, potty, ride a two wheeler and more and her sister never felt threatened.  When she was ready, she decided.  

A trick I learned during feedings when they were old enough for high chairs, place their chairs on top of a vinyl table cloth so as they think they want to share with the dog, who was not allowed in the kitchen during meals, afterwards you just have to pick up the cloth and either shake it out or wipe it like you would the table. 

One of the twins was not interested in her thumb or a pacifier (my only one out of 4 kids).  It was pretty funny when our wonderful sitter got them mixed up and could not figure out why the one baby would not take her pacifier. . . it was the wrong baby.  I knew that the babies would get weaned off their bottles eventually . . . you don’t usually see kids bringing them to school.  So I felt it best to wean my one daughter from her pacifier first as I thought that would be harder for her to do away with.  It was only difficult for a day or so. 

Bath time was definitely another fun experience.  I remember one time bathing one of the girls alone, ran around the corner to get something, came back and the other was in the tub, fully clothed, with her sister.  From then on it was dual bath time.  It was nearly impossible to keep them apart . . . and pretty much is until this day.

I loved dressing them in a lookalike outfit as they grew up, always trying to find the same clothes but in different colors.  I had to try to dress one almost always in pink so all our family and friends knew them apart.  So why do kids always know them apart?  I could never figure that out!

Having multiples from twins, triplets and more, can be very fun and rewarding and it makes you feel so proud as a mom.  Just remember as with anything else, should stress take over, there is plenty of support out there.  It is even easier now with the internet searching.  I joined the “Mothers of Twins” group and it was the most fun, most rewarding thing I did for myself.  We went to one of their outings and it was so cool to see all these duos running all over the place!  Of course, mine were the cutest!

Now my daughters are grown, one is married, both professionals and still extremely close.  At the time you think you won’t but trust me, you will get through it.  Enjoy them and love them.  You can contact me if you need any help or advice.  I would be happy to respond.  Enjoy those babies.  They grow up quick!