Originally posted on Twiniversity.com It came on quickly and out of nowhere. Wednesday morning Shelby woke with a little runny nose, nothing to worry about. Later in the afternoon, however, as I was holding her I noticed a faint wheezing sound. It was so quiet I had to put my ear right up to her little body to hear it. Although I’m a new mother to 9-month-old fraternal twins, I understood that wheezing coming from a baby is never a good thing. I immediately called the pediatr

Originally posted on Twiniveristy.com Sometimes it’s difficult to imagine what it looks like to have two babies growing inside, where that extra growing space is going to come from, what life with two infants will be like. When I was pregnant with my twins, people had loads of questions for me. One of the questions I got asked regularly was, “Are you going to breastfeed?” (If you think this is a personal question, just wait until the babies come!) Although these were my firs

Originally posted on Huffington Post This too shall pass -- it's what we say when someone needs words of encouragement. When we are not sure what else to say, but want to offer hope. When we've been there before, and made it through to the other side. When we are seasoned in life, and understand that life is ever changing -- that things will get easier. As a new mother, this phrase both helps me, and scares me. It helps me in the sense that when I am having a rough day (or a

Originally posted on Twiniversity.com 1. Check/Reload the Diaper Bag. Because babies poop. A lot. You will need wipes, diapers, and back up clothes for the inevitable poop explosions (AKA poop up the back, poop up the front, poop out the sides). Just to be safe, pack extra back up clothes. Two sets for each baby. This is your warm up. 2. Bring Snacks (for eating). Because babies are always hungry. 3. Bring Back-Up Snacks (for bribing). Because this is how you will get things

Originally posted on Twiniversity.com I know it’s hard to find the time, trust me. I know that sometimes it feels a little excessive or selfish. Sometimes you a little guilty for wanting time for yourself, especially when there’s so much to be done at home or work. Having “me” time is so important, even if you can only get little bits here and there. Make the time, and take good care of yourself. Do it for you. Do it for your family. Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent

Originally posted on Twiniversity.com Having twins means twice the work, twice the mess, twice the sweetness, and twice the love. While every baby is different – and every parent is different – I would like to share with you a few things that have made life with my twins easier, more manageable, and more enjoyable. Join a twin club. Early on in my pregnancy, my doctor (also a parent of multiples) urged me to join a twin club. Not only does this provide a sense of community an

Origianlly posted on Huffington Post Since the birth of my twins, I have talked to more people, made more new friends, and generally experienced a more extroverted lifestyle than ever before. Never before babies would I have talked to strangers, initiated conversations with those I don't know, commiserated with literally anyone who would listen, or suggested that we get together simply because we have one thing in common: parenthood. There's something about parenthood that te

Originally posted on Huffington Post Sometimes it's hard to make yourself go, there are so many reasons for you to say no. The babies will miss me, they will get hurt. They will end up rolling in a pile of dirt. But all those days you are up and then down, doing your errands all over town. Playing games, stopping fights, cutting up food into itty bitty bites. You're wiping tears and runny noses; what you need is to stop and smell the roses. Just think of all the things

Originally posted on Twiniversity.com This is my husband. Within just a few weeks of being married, he won the "best husband of the year award"(according to me). He stayed with me every single night during my two month hospital stay -sleeping on a little blue pull out chair. Every night when we went to sleep with the glow of the fetal monitors in the background, he said “Goodnight beautiful,” and I thought, “Who me?” Puffy, swollen, covered in acne, 6 months pregnant wi

Originally posted on Huffington Post I'd like to say that my experience at the Korean spa was relaxing, but I think that a more accurate description would be that it was interesting. Interesting to see so many women comfortable in their own skin, interesting to see women going about their cleansing rituals without giving a second thought to their bodies (or anyone else's), interesting to observe the culture within the entire space -- within the different rooms, interesting to