Good Pets gone BAD
As we may have mentioned before – we have 6 pets. 2 large dogs and 4 large cats. As you can imagine, it’s very hard to keep up with them and now that we have babies, it’s even harder. What were we thinking? Every day we have pet puke and poo to deal with. Not to mention the vet bills.
Just recently Paisley cost us over $1k because she had an emergency. After we came home from the hospital, she lost alot of weight and smelled awful. Turns out she has worse allergies to food than we thought and the combo of missing us and eating wrong made her extremely sick. 
So with that, our house has not been very aromatic lately and I’ve been super embarrassed. We could not for the life of us figure out where the stink was coming from – besides the obvious 4 litter boxes.
What do you do when you’re also knee deep in diapers and baby drool? So many people think you can just “get rid of them” like it’s that easy! They’re part of the family. We’ve had 2 of the cats for almost 10 years! Sooo I’ve just been searching and scrubbing as much as possible (it’s not as often as it needs to be).
The other day while we were at Target though, I saw it. The answer! Urine Gone!!! I’ve been soo wanting to get this product but could never bring myself to spending the money. I was finally at my wits end though and broke down and bought it. And I was not disappointed. I’m like a kid with a new toy. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s an enzyme based cleaner that comes with a black light. The black light is the BEST and WORST ever. I was mortified when I turned out the lights in my house and walked around in the black light. The baseboards looked like a Jackson Pollock painting!! Eek!!
What the hell pets!? We feed you and love you, and you pee all over us? . Well with a lot of cleaner and elbow grease, I scrubbed in the dark until the glowing drippy splashes disappeared and I must say… The house does not smell like a hamster cage anymore! Yay! Thank you Urine Gone!! You make me very happy.
Now I doubt the smell is 100% gone. I spend too much time in this house and unfortunately I’m a little desensitized to it all. The air quality is definitely improved though and I hope to eventually rid our house completely of the embarrassing odors soon. Wish me luck.
Here’s a pic of me, Buddy and Brewster when I was about 8mo preg:
Phoenix and Ringo loving each other:
Crazy Paisley:
Lucy-fur:
If you question your position on same-sex marriage…
Gay marriage has been a hot topic in the news and media this past week. I’m glad that the LGBT community is getting so much attention and our concerns are being voiced on a national level, however, by Friday, I couldn’t even turn on my radio without hearing the phrases “same-sex marriage,” “political edge,” and “strategic.” Yes, this is a highly politicized issue. Yes, it questions people’s religion and how their religious views impact the way they govern. However, everything I’ve seen and heard has missed the point completely. This is ultimately about people. American families.
So, in order to wrap your mind around this topic, try to leave out religion and politics. To me, it just comes down to one question (and I wish everyone would try and consider it this way). Why is my marriage not equal to yours?
What if you were told you could not marry the person you loved even though you wanted to create a family together, buy a house together and grow old together?
What if when you try to accomplish your dreams together, you realize that it gets complicated financially and legally because there too many loopholes, cracks and terminology to stumble over – more so than other married couples endure. You are told that each year on your tax return, you must check the box that said “single”, thus denying your commitment to that person. What if you are told that you could not receive the same benefits that a “married” couple receives because you were somehow different or 2nd class? What if you had to pay higher tax rates and endure costly fees for lawyers and tax advisors? What if you had to be fingerprinted in order for your spouse to adopt your own children? What if you had to adopt your own children – the children you and your spouse brought together into this world? For a heterosexual married couple, it is assumed that the child to belongs to both parents – therefore second-parent adoption is unnecessary (even if they used a sperm bank or other means to conceive). Without marriage equality, a technicality like this forces my family to endure the extensive legal proceedings of second-parent adoption. What if you had to go to court and defend your family structure?
Love is supposed to be simple.
So why should there be one term for a union between man/woman and another term for a union between 2 men or 2 women? Why create this confusion and basically affirm that there is some sort of 2nd class situation for a large group of people?
Why does it come down to religion and politics? Please keep those things out of it. Because, despite those things, isn’t the foundation of marriage love, family, commitment and responsibility? My marriage to my wife values all of those things, minus the label and protection that the law denies us. My family deserves the same rights and benefits that your family enjoys – without debate.
We are an American Family
Two Months Old!
The girls are now 2 months old and are growing longer, gaining weight and developing well!
Olivia (now at 10 lbs) and Sara (now at 8.6 lbs), seem to enjoy riding in the stroller, riding in the car, shopping at Target, listening to music, reading Dr. Seuss books with their moms and watching the turtle mobile dance above their pack n play. To celebrate our FIRST Mother’s Day this Sunday, we’re planning to take the girls to the zoo for a scenic stroll, which has always been our favorite spot to visit (even before we thought of having children).
The girls change so much from day to day. I look forward to 6pm everyday when I get home, walk through the front door and find out how their day went. They’re usually ready to eat and Chrissy is ready to let other mom take over.
Olivia and Sara: two months old
Now that we’ve completed all of our clearances, received birth certificates and social security numbers for the girls, our lawyer is filing the petition for the second-parent adoption. This could still take months. However, to make due for the meantime, our lawyer helped us create a co-parenting agreement which has done well for us. When my insurance company refused to add the girls to my policy because the adoption had not be completed yet, I was able to reverse that decision with this document!
Everyday is a new adventure with twinfants in our lives. We’re constantly challenging ourselves to find better, quicker, easier ways to complete our everyday tasks so we can spend more time enjoying our babies. While the past 2 months have flown by, it’s hard to remember what our lives were like without Olivia and Sara.
We like shiny objects
We got a lot of wonderful books to read to the girls at our baby shower. The invite suggested that everyone bring one book to add to a bookshelf that was placed at the entrance at the shower. In almost every book is a special message written from the person that gave the book. It’s really cute and thoughtful. Currently the girls are enjoying Hello, Bugs by Smriti Prasadam. It has lots of high-contrast, patterns and shiny pages that the youngins’ enjoy.
All quiet on the home front
It’s been a pretty quiet day. Hardly any cries. The babies are sleeping a little longer now and they seem to only cry a lot when they’re gassy or trying to go #2. I even was able to run the dishwasher and put in a couple loads of laundry without much of any objections from the girls. Not sure if they’ll let me fold the clothes or put away the clean dishes though… Maybe other mommy can help with that?? 
Well Sara has a stinky booty. Time to change the baby!!
Glucose test and insurance woes
Today I’m doing my third glucose test. This time it’s just a 2 hour one so that means only 3 blood draws. Nothing like drinking super sugary orange stuff (tastes like melted freezie pops) on an empty stomach and having blood sucked out of you… After you had to do your morning breast pumping. I feel like the life is being sucked outta me! Ha.
I just hope the test comes back negative this time. My health insurance from my old job ends on Friday. I tried purchasing my own insurance for me and the girls but I was denied for pre-existing conditions: gestational diabetes.
That means the girls were denied too and we were in danger of having uninsured infants. We tried to get on CHIP but since I don’t have an income and Shan isn’t legally recognized as a parent until the adoption is finalized, they said I would go on medical assistance instead. Our pediatrician does not accept medical assistance/welfare and I do not want to change doctors for them. Sooo needless to say I had a little meltdown. Me being uninsured is one thing but we couldn’t have two uninsured babies!
I was told that if I get my sugar retested and I’m not diabetic there’s still a chance I’d be denied coverage again. So the next option was Shannan trying to add them on her insurance. Initially we encountered the same problem -they would not allow her to add them to her policy because they said she was not a parent or guardian. So we had to bust out the legal documents showing we have a co-parenting agreement and that we were legally married in MA… Shan works in NJ, they do recognize domestic partnerships sooo why wouldn’t they recognize she’s also a mother? After having to defend our family status, she was finally allowed to add the girls to her plan. Her very expensive plan. It would have been cheaper for me to get my own plan for us all. If only I didn’t have “pre-existing” conditions …ugh. I do not have diabetes anymore, so what the freak?! I barely go to the doc (cept when preg). I’m pretty dang healthy though, I haven’t even had a cold in years. Oh well.
So here I am, taking a glucose test just to maybe, hopefully get my own medical insurance plan without going on welfare. I can’t go on Shannan’s plan because domestic partners get taxed. This system is awesome isn’t it? 
If I do still have diabetes, I’ll probably have to go on medical assistance after all. I really don’t want to do that.
Eat eat eat
I’m giving Sara a bottle right now… Soon Olivia will be awake and wanting a bottle as well. Im actually using my phone to write this post. It’s been difficult to find time to sit at the computer desk so I’m trying to multi task.
Why am I bottle feeding as opposed to breast feeding? Well, even though the girls love breast feeding… I’m unable to really keep up with the demand and physical exhaustion that goes with it. They can sometimes nurse for an hour at a time… Each of them. That’s 2 hours I’m incapacitated. 2 hours straight sometimes. Then in another hour, someone wants to eat again. So I try to pump for 20 minutes at a time and bottle feed that to them. We still have to supplement with formula though because I just haven’t been able to produce enough for two very hungry babies. Once or twice within a 24 hour period, I make it a point to breastfeed them because they like it so much and well, I do enjoy it too. I just don’t love being immobile for so long. I’m thinking of getting a sling. They’re getting big enough for one now so I think it can help a great deal. I find that my milk flow is pretty strong at first and it can be too much for them. They pull off and it sprays them in the face. I kinda think it’s funny but really its no good. I read they can get belly aches and gas problems from it. And I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence or not but the last few days have been hell with gassy, poopy babies. I feel so bad when they’re struggling with it.
I pumped 6.5oz today so far. Which is an improvement for me. I’ve been taking Fenugreek to help boost the supply and I think it helps.
I also want a digital scale. I can never tell how much they weigh. I know they’re growing though because Olivia no longer fits in newborn clothes. Sara just moved up to size 1 in diapers and her newborn clothes are getting snug 
Ok, both babies are calm now. I’m going to try to eat breakfast before Olivia wakes up for a bottle.
One Month Old!
It’s been one month already! Sara’s been home with us for a few weeks and we’re finally starting to settle in & learn how to be moms to these hungry little girls.
I apologize for the lack of updates, but we’re really busy! I’ve gone back to my job and Chrissy is staying home with the girls trying to get feedings, changings and everything else accomplished with just 2 hands (where 4 hands can barely get it done comfortably). Since Chrissy is a world-class tweeter, follow us on twitter if you want lots of updates and pictures!
In the meantime…
The Easter bunny came to visit on their 1st Easter!
Olivia, Sara & Easter Bunny
They’re HERE: the birth story of Olivia & Sara!
Christine and Shannan are pleased to announce the birth of their identical twin girls on Friday, March 9, 2012!
Proud Mama with Olivia (L) & Sara (R)
Olivia Elizabeth (fka Baby A): 1:24pm, 5lb 5oz and 18.5 inches long
Sara Rian (fka Baby B): 1:25pm, 4lb 6oz and 17.75 inches long
Sorry for the delay on the announcement – we’ve had our hands full!
Chrissy gave us quite a scare last Friday when we went to her normal non-stress test. She was 35 weeks, 6 days pregnant. Her blood pressure was high and her contractions were strong. The team sent us right over to the hospital across the street to be evaluated. From there, she went downhill fast! It was really scary to watch this unfold! I won’t go into the details because I’m starting to doze off due to sleep deprivation – but the diagnosis was Preeclampsia and the only cure was delivery!
So the doctors bumped a few scheduled c-sections and got Chrissy prepped for surgery. Waiting for surgery was so nerve-wracking. They took her away for the spinal block. I was told to wait outside, suited up and hoped they wouldn’t start without me. Then I waited. And waited. I hoped and prayed everything was ok because I didn’t expect this to take so long.
Then finally, the answer to my prayers, the anesthesiologist came out to get me. She escorted me to a really brightly lit operating room and sat me down on a stool by Chrissy’s head. The doctors got to work and put up the curtain that separated Chrissy’s upper body from her lower body. She was shivering. She had been shivering all day – sort of her body’s reaction to the trauma it was experiencing. She was sick to her stomach and heaving throughout the surgery. This was a first. She never threw up during her pregnancy until the very last moments.
After the doctors verified that the anesthesia was working, they started. It seemed so surreal. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I also couldn’t believe how sick Chrissy was. I was terrified for Chrissy and our babies, but the casual cheeriness of the doctors and nurses in the room comforted me and made me realize that this was a pretty routine situation.
It didn’t take very long for them to say, “there’s a head!” and before I knew it, we heard Olivia. She sounded like a kitten meowing. Chrissy and I looked at each other and started crying. We were sort of frozen like that for who knows how long when the doctor held Olivia up for me to see and told me to take a picture!
Olivia at birth
Olivia: future surgeon
The woman holding Olivia was laughing and saying, “let go, let go baby! We’ve got a future surgeon here!” Olivia was gripping up the surgical instruments nearby!
Soon, we heard another kitten cry as they pulled out Sara. I peeked up over the curtain and could see how teeny tiny she was in comparison to her sister. While I was startled by her smallness, I was relieved to see her moving and crying.
Sara at birth
After they were checked out by the doctors in the next room, the girls were wrapped up like baby burritos and placed on my lap. This is one of the happiest moments in my life. And so far, this was the last time the 4 of us have been together because then the girls were sent down to the intensive care nursery for monitoring and special attention simply due to their low birth weight. But besides being teeny tiny girls, they’re absolutely perfect!
The next few days in the hospital were a blur. Chrissy lost 30+ lbs!!! I lost 10lbs.
Olivia and Chrissy came home from the hospital earlier this week but Sara has to stay until she gains weight and maintains a healthy body temperature on her own (without an incubator).
When we’re not visiting Sara in the hospital, we’re at home with Olivia snuggling, eating and napping. Our moms, Gammy and Gramma, have been helping us take care of Olivia and the rest of our household responsibilities while we run back and forth to the hospital. The dogs and cats appreciate this!
We’re learning how to be moms and loving every minute of it! We consider this sort of a practice run, dipping our toes into the water before we’re in charge of 2 little ones at once. But we can’t wait to get Sara home with us for good. Leaving her everyday after each visit breaks my heart. I just want my Sara home with us so we can be a family. She’s doing great though, getting stronger each day and should be home soon.
Olivia
Sara
Baby face…
Today we had our usual twice-weekly Non-Stress Test at the high risk office. As expected, the babies would not cooperate and we couldn’t get them to stay on the monitors. They really like to squirm around in there and give the nurses a hard time. So when that happens, we wind up getting an ultrasound to check movement, fluids, and heart rate. Today the tech brought up a cute profile of Sara on the screen, which we haven’t seen clearly in awhile. I commented that it was nice to see their face again, since we usually don’t get to have anymore really clear print outs of the girls lately. That’s when without saying a word, the tech switched to a different wand and before we knew it, a super clear, amazing 3D image of Sara appeared on the screen! We finally got to see her features and it just blew us both away. There really is living, breathing, fleshy lil chubby babies in my belly that aren’t just black and white weird skeleton looking fuzzy things! Since they’re identical and Olivia is really low and behind Sara, the tech didn’t capture her image but that’s okay with us… I think we know what she looks like now
So, without further ado… please meet Sara Rian, aka Baby B.
3D image of Sara Rian at 34weeks
