Three Years Ago ~ my twins were born : Memory Lane

In my wildest dreams, I didn't know that life could be THIS good. I have my family and I adore them. My husband is my best friend. We met when we were 14, were friends until 17, and dated from 17-21, engaged, and then married at 22. We traveled and lived with no cares until we had our first angel baby Gabriel. We liked him so much that on/after his 1st birthday we started trying to have more children. Instantly I was prego, and in May took the "test" ~ POSITIVE!

At 10 weeks I went in to meet with a mid-wife, and found out I needed an ultrasound due to NO PERIOD between Gabe and baby #2. I went in to find out a due date. I told the ultrasound tech, "OH! And please just tell me I am NOT having twins. I keep having these HORRIBLE premonitions." "Sure Honey, " was her response ~ for about 1 minute! Lay back, cold gel squirt, whizzing around my belly. FREEZE ~SILENCE ~ She goes to her computer.

"WHAT?!?! It's twins, isn't it. Tell me! NOOOOOOOOO!!!" Sniffling and crying.

Pretty soon I have non-stop (seemed like it) appointments, get switched to a MD and wait nervously due to all medical personnel terrified at the fact that my twins were identical (and that there was a THIRD ~ triplets!!!)

Soon I find out that they are boys. Here is Gavin and the top, and Grant waving to Gavin on the bottom.
At 5 months people began saying, "Any day now?" Ummm... No, try another 4 months. WHOA was I HUGE!!! By seven months I just recieved stares and pointing. At 30+ weeks people would say a version of, "Oh honey, how many are in there?" I would try not to cry while toting my one year old around. "TWO ~ just two!"

Not for the feint of heart prego pics! 35 weeks. 1 week before I delivered (Dec. 23, 2007)

OUCH, that hurt so bad! I would check daily to see if I was bleeding. I felt like my skin was ripping! Plus I had cankles, heartburn (ICEEs were a staple), sore back, had to take iron, and weird broken blood vessels all over (especially on my face).

Pregant with twins was hard and hard on the body. I wear a tankini now folks. The tummy was unmendable.

I find out that the little twinsies are EACH over 5 lbs. What the WHAT?!?! I removed myself from my last 2 weeks of bedrest and started walking, Costco baby! (the samples were motivating!) Finally steady, HARD contractions and Corey and I head in.

Look at my alien stomach. Oh my GOODNESS. Get these babies out. I want to hold them, snuggle them, meet them, kiss them so bad that I am delirious with adrenaline. Plus, I am a pro; know the ropes and am getting an epidural this round. Praise God. I am confident in the health of the boys and my KNOW of birthing.

So I am admitted at a five (11:00 pm), get an epidural around 3 am, and still am a five in the morning (8:00). My sweet Doctor comes in and I ask her to break my water she agrees and leaves. I try some Bradley method stuff, working with your body on the contractions and from (8:30-9:30) go to a TEN!!! Call my doctor back!!! Corey and my mom scrub up and come to the OR with me, where I will be giving birth. ***Side note: small babies come out WAY easier.

We (Me/Corey/Mom ~ My Doctor and her partner Doctor ~ Their nurses ~ Two NICU teams ~ Anesteologist ) all pile in the room. Around 10:30 we are set up to PUSH, Gavin is out at 10:38 am. Grant isn't coming, worried looks, spotlights on, doctors whispering. They say that Grant is stressed and he will need a C-Section. Prep (numb me, move me, usher out Corey and my mom) when I annouce, "NO! He is stressed. I am stressed. I am freaking out. Let me calm down and try one more time. Please," I ask my doctor. She agrees. Freakishly the lights go out, everyone leaves accept for 1 nurse. Corey comes back in with Gavin. Finally I tell the nurse, out of NO WHERE, "I N*E*E*D to push." Doctors back in. I ask a nurse to get my mom. She's in, I push about 7 times and here is my second, perfectly healthy Monday morning miracle. Now he was thoroughly bruised, but again perfect. Praise be to GOD. Every perfect gift comes from Him.

Here I am back in "my" room. Holding my babies together for the first time.

BLISS ~SURREAL~ LOVE

Here I begin learning so much my first year:

Holding two babies and tandem nursing two babies

learning to love my two little ones, discover their differences

switch gears from a family of 3 to a family of 5, teach our boys what it means to be brothers

learn how to comfort two babies, have a deaf ear to crying, know that they really NEED to be touching, learn how to find time with each infant individually and my 1 year old

learn how to feed to babies, burp two babies

double diaper and dress two little ones, see devoloping personalities

bathe 2 or 3 little boys simotaneously, stop painting the toenail and fingernail blue on Grant trusting yourself you know who is who, secretly love all of the stares, giggles and smiles they get because they are truly a DOUBLE BLESSING!

We survive TWINSOMNIA and reach their first birthday. They are almost walking, right on track, great sleepers and the pieces that filled the heart of our small family.

Happy First Birthday Gavin and Grant!

Make a wish little angel babies.

You two were all I could have dreamed up and more!

Hmm... pictures are fun. One baby looking and smiling is tricky, two is ridiculously hard.

The year between one and two BLEW by. It was so fun. They walked, babbled, giggled non-stop and developed DISTINCT personalities. The twin connection though is uncanny.

Now here they are, almost 3. Still best friends! *How special to be born with a best friend.* I cannot imagine the only having one baby. THEY (the two) make our life complete.

And yes, for the record ~ I only dress them matchy 50% of the time. They coordinate often.

So 3 years ago today (Dec. 31st, 2007) was one of the 3 best, most precious days of my life. (Married to Corey ~ Gabriel's birth ~ Gavin and Grant's birth) I cannot think of a higher calling to mothering these 3 angel babies, more precious gifts from God, or a more perfect family than God picking the 5 of us to be THE COWART CLAN.

* I love talking TWINS. Have any questions? I would love to "chat". Memories of these 2 or this crazy time? Parts were somewhat of a blur! :) Comments appreiciated!