but are these not the CUTEST pictures of my babies? OMG! The only thing that makes them better is that I took them! Finally! Proof that I can photograph my own kids periodically...from time to time they do cooperate for me! ;)
This is Parker:
This is Addisen:
As any mother of multiples can attest, you get bombarded with the lamest of questions from people every single time you step outdoors with your babies. Some questions, some comments, stares, pointing and even the occasional photo taking. But what do you say to someone when they ask if your babies are 'natural'? For me, its always important for me to let people know that my babies were naturally conceived but to also emphasize that it almost wasn't that easy for us...
I guess I am one of the 'lucky' ones.
We had been trying for a baby for a few months and I was having lots of anovulatory cycles and weird pain. So, we decided to get a thorough work up (for the 3rd time for me and a new GYN). After my ultrasounds and hormone testing revealed 'normal' anatomy and hormone levels, my GYN ordered a S/A for Jason. "Just to be on the safe side". I will never forget the way she said it: "Just to be sure".
Jason made his 'deposit' and dropped it off at the lab. What a lovely way to start your day, I guess. ;)
Low sperm count.
Low motility.
Low morphology.
Wow. Who would have thought. Here I was the one having 'issues' but really it was Jason. He felt terrible. He was upset and we immediately began talking all the what-if's that come with infertility. What if we have to do IVF? What if it doesn't work? What if we can't adopt or can't get pregnant?
He saw our family doctor who did an exam and ordered an ultrasound. Varicoceles. We went to a urologist. We talked about surgery, supplements, etc...the whole time we were encouraged to just keep trying. "You never know" is what the docs would say and they would follow it up with "It only takes one".
We were in the process of getting Jason scheduled for surgery to repair the varicoceles at UC Davis with a top male urology and infertility surgeon when his grandmother passed away. Suddenly, all plans were on hold when we had to fly back east. We spent 10 days (mid cycle) cleaning her house, making burial arrangements, meeting with her pastor, talking to old friends, moving belongings, etc...
We came home, had another appt with the urologist and were again told to keep trying while we waited for surgery. We were told that the surgery would likely correct the issue but IUI and even IVF may still be in our future.
2 weeks later, while babysitting for my friend, I took a pregnancy test to prove to myself that I had horrid PMS and that I would start my period soon...well we had a BFP! Who would have ever thought?! We had given up that cycle since we were busy with the plans at grandma's but apparently grandma had other plans and sent us home with a couple of souvenirs.
Jason loves to tell this story- about how life goes out and life comes in; about how his Oma knew what he wanted (as she always did) and that she talked God into throwing us a miracle (or two)...
So, the moral of my LONG story is this: when someone asks me if my babies are 'natural' I just smile and say "yes", laugh and say "sort of" or I tell them whole story and know they will probably never ask another mother of multiples an inappropriate question like this again! :D
P.S. What is an 'un-natural' twin, anyway?
Tomorrow my tiny little babies will be 17 months old! When did that HAPPEN?! 
I know I say this every single time, but its so sad how fast they are growing. Some days (only SOME days) I wish for another tiny little baby to kangaroo with and nurse to sleep.
They have lots of new words including Lola (the puppy's name), bubbles, meat, cheese, yummy, daddy (not just dad or dada anymore), Gammy (my mom), fishie, bath, milk, wow, duck and much more. They are really getting into playing with one another and can even keep each other occupied while I do the dishes or switch the laundry now. Just yesterday I walked into the kitchen from the garage and heard hysterical giggles. I peeked around the corner and saw Parker sitting on Addisen's lap and they were rolling in laughter together. LOVE it!!! These are the moments that all mothers of multiples wait for!!! :)
Now, back to the main attraction. Today we did some coloring. I wrapped the top of my coffee table with butcher paper (with wax side down) and masking taped it down under the table. I gave them each a crayon (yes, I say 'cray-on' and not 'crown'-- big dispute in our household). They liked to scribble more than they have in the past and also liked to take them and taste them a bit. I warned my mom already to watch for purple poop tomorrow while I am at work.
Addisen:
Parker:
On another topic, yesterday morning Addisen woke up and got her leg stuck in the crib rails. I went in to her screaming and gently (I mean GENTLY) moved her leg out and consoled her. She was really worked up about it. Well, take a peek at it this morning. 24 hours later-- 
I cannot believe it! I already contacted the Million Dollar Baby Corp who makes DaVinci cribs (we have two of the Roxanne cribs by DaVinci). Lets just say that their website is less than helpful (not even a 'contact us' link) and their answer in the FAQ section about this issue is this:
"The distance between the slats on Million Dollar Baby cribs are regulated through the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The regulation is not to exceed 2 3/8" between the slats. With slats spaced farther apart, a baby's leg could become trapped or stuck between the rails. All our cribs follow the regulation set by the CPSC and Million Dollar Baby proudly carries JPMA certified cribs."
Well, thanks for that help. The actual question they had listed was "My child's leg gets stuck on the slats. How can I prevent this from happening?" and that was the lame answer they gave?! I sent an email and asked for a call back. I think I am going to file a formal complaint. This is not the 1st incident with this company and these cribs that we've had but this is insane. Her poor knee is soooo black and blue. That photo doesn't even do it justice.
My BFF and I both have twins. We are both very chatty women with a lot to say. We both have a sarcastic and wild sense of humor. Do you see where this is headed? We are thinking of co-writing a book about having twins. We are thinking of mixing the Jenny McCarthy sense of humor with the deeper aspects of parenting multiples that no one talks about or is brave enough to admit- the guilt, the anger or envy that mom's can go thru, the resentmet, the pride of having two, the 'fame' (wanted or unwanted) of having multiples, the isolation...no, not all the negatives. We also want to talk a lot about what a blessing it really is to have twins or more. What a magical journey it is to be on and when you come out of it how you look back and wish you could live it all again. All of it. Even the miserable times. If someone had told me 14 months ago that I would be happy to have twins and wish for more, I would have told them to go fly a kite. :D Now, its all different. Everything changes with twins. Every new chapter in their life is a new chapter in mine as a mother of multiples.
My BFF and I have a lot to say about raising twins- the silly stuff, the hilarious stories, the crazy things they do, basic survival tips, pregnancy tips, breastfeedings, pumping, NICU, bedrest...all the things that NO ONE told us. For some reason, the market seems pretty empty for books about twins and multiples. Its all the same stuff over and over with no real help and no 'deeper' discussion. In my What to Expect books, I am lucky to find more than 2-4 pages about twins in the ENTIRE book. The books we have read about twins are really basic. No one talks about the trenches of mothering twins...the grunt work of it all- from conception to kindergarten!
What do you all think? In our spare time, right?!
Parker is up for voting until 9PM pst!!! If you haven't already, go vote for Miss P on endonline.com.
And...once you are a pro, you can go back on Thursday to vote for Addisen!!! YES, that's right- they were BOTH selected to be voted on...lets go Cole twins, lets go! :)
Here is what they sent today for Addisen:
Congratulations!
Your baby has been selected to be posted for voting in our Baby Idol contest!
Your baby will be up for voting on Thursday, March 12th from 5AM to 9PM.
Send all of your friends and family to http://eclub.endonline.com to vote!
All voters must be registered E-club members.
For full details, visit the Baby Idol page at Endonline.com.
If your baby is chosen as Thursday's winner, the Wake Up Call will call you
Friday morning to let you know!
Good luck and don't forget to send everyone to http://eclub.endonline.com to
vote for your baby on Thursday!
107.9 The End
***UPDATE: I got a call today and Parker will be up for official voting on Tuesday. So, now that you have all had a practice run and have your membership completed, voting should be a BREEZE! Mommy could really use that $1000 gift certificate to our nice and posh little mall here.... hee hee!!!
So, my whole family has been logging in to vote for Miss P this morning and we were all bummed to see nothing but html code where her photo should be. :( I called the promotions guy at the station and she will be up on another day. Whomever put her photo up didn't get all the html code in there and her photo isn't being fairly voted on...so stay tuned! I will be posting as soon as I hear what day she will be up for voting again!!!
Thanks for the support...she HAS to win! ;) She is just soooooo cute!!!
We submitted a photo of Parker (because we didn't have one of the two of them together) for a local radio station contest and we are in the running! Go vote on Friday between 5AM-9PM (pst) for our little P!!!
Here is what they sent me:
Congratulations!
Your baby has been selected to be posted for voting in our Baby Idol contest!
Your baby will be up for voting on Friday, March 6th from 5AM to 9PM.
Send all of your friends and family to http://eclub.endonline.com to vote!
All voters must be registered E-club members.
For full details, visit the Baby Idol page at Endonline.com.
If your baby is chosen as Friday's winner, the Wake Up Call will call you
Monday morning to let you know!
Good luck and don't forget to send everyone to http://eclub.endonline.com to
vote for your baby on Friday!
107.9 The End
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