In a month my little girls will be turning double digits. Yep, 10!
I suppose they are not little anymore.
I’ve noticed changes in both girls but brushed them off.
My girls are 9, no they cannot be in pre-puberty. NO! Pre-Teens??? NO WAY!!!!!!
Makeup, hair and more time in the bathroom is happening at my place. Is this the start of being a pre-teen?
What changes have been happening?
Moods – no speaking, yelling and just crying about everything and nothing
Interest in doing hair all the time (no one seemed interested before)
Body changes
Getting taller
More independence
Also wanting to spend more time with mummy and daddy doing things, and having adventures (without their baby brother)
I looked up all these strange things via Google and other sites confirmed my suspicions. Yes, the twins are indeed in the waiting period before puberty happens.
Well possibly best to call it pre-puberty.
I’ve started having chats with the girls and told them that it is all normal and that it means they are growing up.
I gave each kid a big cuddle and one on one with more of an explanation on what is happening to their bodies. Not sure if they understood it all but gave the info in a way I hope they could cope with.
Even though the kids are slowly going through these changes they are still kids. Needing advice, help and guidance. I sometimes look at the twins and think how grown up they are and other times feel like they are still little. I think it is an in-between time for everything.
I must say that boundaries are being tested and mummy has had her fair share of headaches with stubborn girls who wish they were teenagers.
When did you notice that your kids were in pre-puberty? Were your child/children happy about the changes? What did you do to help them?
I’ve seen the book by Kaz Cooke, “Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8 – 12” and think this might be a good addition. If you got it for your girls did it help?
Do you my dear readers have any recommendations for other books that might help? Let me know.
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I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
Tomorrow the twins go back to school. Insert happy dance. Maybe a HUGE boogie-woogie.
Yep, the start of term three is nearly here. I’m so tired due to the last few weeks.
There was always something on and therefore to drive to. If we weren’t driving to places it was days out and fun with other kids and parents too.
I want to sleep like this cat. Wish I could just curl up when I wanted and have a sleep.
Last week had five days out of the house, the week before we had three days out of the house.
Some of the things we did were:
Did Science workshops at Mt Tomah Gardens
Had playdates with some of the kid’s friends
Drove to visit family (they live far away so it took 2.5 hours each way, so 5 hours of driving)
Visited the Way Out West Festival (WOW) and then visited a good friend the same day
Attended the Robogals STEM workshops at New South Wales University
Went swimming and played at an indoor play centre
My plan for the school holidays was to relax and to stay at home more.
I had a vision of just staying in my pj’s and not having to be anywhere or do anything in particular.
One insane thought was to get the house tidier, organised and remove clutter during the holidays. I hear you all laughing at me very loudly and with bad snorting to boot! I, of course, didn’t any tidying done or making the house look more organised.
Nope, it did not happen. I did try and the twins room got a big tidy up, bags of clothes and toys were given away, many other bags ended up in the bin and more room was created. However, this cleaning of one room took two days, required constant supervision and reminding the kids of what they were doing. Oh, the energy really was zapped from my being.
You might think after losing hours of my life in a feral cave of mess that finally managed to be tidy after over 48 hours it would be brilliant now.
Well, I kid you not it is like we never touched it. It is a huge mess yet again.
I’m beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
I am so tired, my cells are aching, and my body is throbbing.
I could close my eyes and sleep for a month. I know that school going back is great but more running around will happen.
School drop offs, pick ups, after school activities, getting kids to do homework and more.
Kids get holidays, but mummy rarely does. Actually, I don’t get any holidays! I need one now to recharge from our hectic few weeks.
Did you have relaxing school holidays? I close my eyes and dream a relaxing holiday…possibly Fiji, Europe, Bali, Thailand? Who knows.
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We have to be at the school at 7.45am to ensure that they don’t miss the bus. This means a super early morning for all three kids and mummy.
Last night I helped the kids pack their camp bags. The only thing that we don’t have done is their lunch for day 1 and a sun hat that they will take with them on the bus.
Camp bags are packed. All done and ready for the girl’s first school camp.
I’m pleased that I finally got two bags packed, and we are not doing it the night before!
It was a trying experience.
First, the girl’s room needed to be tidied up. The floor was a huge mess and we couldn’t sort anything out. Picture kids standing on things, clothes and toys and then piling a bag and more on top. How would we know what is coming and what isn’t!
Hours later and much discussion about not mucking around and cleaning up, we were finally done with the cleaning the girl’s room. It wasn’t perfect but just enough to allow us to get organised.
Mummy needed a stiff drink by this stage and some painkillers but had to hang in there until the job was complete.
Now the packing started.
Geez, you would have thought this part would have been easy. No, it wasn’t. I was getting yelled at by the kids about what they have to pack and what they cannot.
One thing that the twins did not want to take was their wet weather jacket. This jacket has a hood and will also keep them warm if they are sitting around a campfire at night time.
Don’t tell them but I have secretly added the jacket in their bags.
They will be thankful as it is going to get cold this week and the kids are camping. What would they do if they needed a jacket, and were stuck without it?
Roasting marshmallows on a campfire. Maybe the kids will do this while camping.
As you might have guessed the twins are so excited to be going away with their mates from school. Three days away having fun, and not doing school work!
The girls heard about how fun it was from their mates last year, and have desperately wanted to go. This camp is only for grade four so therefore as soon as the kids started grade four this year their first thought and comment was, “We can go to camp this year mummy!”
Have your kids gone camping with school? Did they have fun? Was it hell packing before they left? It was a nightmare here but thankful it is all done now… Phew is what I am saying and glad that I have survived this stressful experience.
It will also be a break for mummy having the twins at camp.
No kids to take to school and pick up, and also no after-school activities for the week. What a fab break for me!
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Tantrums, crying, yelling and then throwing things!
Falling on the floor/ground and banging his head in annoyance. This is a worry sometimes as I worry that my little boy will hurt himself.
Upset boy having a tantrum. My little one does the same. Covers his face and tries not to look at you.
Yelling! And screaming at the top of his lungs,”NOOOOOOO!!”
Fighting me when I try to put on his nappy as well as his shoes and clothes. After moments like this, I am all hot and sweaty and need to have a rest.
Sometimes I get one leg into shorts or pants and Alexander wriggles so much the leg is out and I have to start all over again!
This hate for getting dressed has carried over to putting swimming nappies and swimsuits on too. I come to the pool from playgroup, and go straight to the change room to get him and myself ready for his swimming lessons.
The other week it took 15 mins to just get his swimming nappy on him and another lady gave me assistance to at least get his legs into his swimmers. Alexander was fixated on having a shower rather than going into the pool. I told him that we can have a shower after the pool but he was not pleased with this idea, and kept on yelling, “shower”, and of course not letting me get him ready for his lesson.
Finally in the pool and learning to swim… well that is in between jumping into the pool.
Once we were all ready to get in the pool, Alexander decided throwing himself on the side of the pool and lying there was better than coming into the water. He was safe and I was close by, I decided to get in the water and show him how much fun it was.
He turned his head to make the point of not looking at me, and was still yelling. I then tried to get closer and comfort him. The closer I got, meant that he turned away from me. Talk about drama!
Finally he calms down a bit and allows me to get him in the pool to join his lesson. He has some moments where he is trying to climb me to exit the pool and the rest of the time is Alexander wanting to go back to the edge of the pool and jump in.
Now my little boy cannot swim.
He has not taken to the pool very well at all, and does take a long time to get used to it.
Once on the edge of the pool he does a happy dance, smiles and then jumps in (I’m not sure why he likes to jump in the pool but he loves it. As a kid who takes ages to get used to the water it is amazing that this is preferred activity).
A few times he went under but I was there to catch him. I did think he would lose it after getting his head soaked in the water. I think the only thing that annoyed him was that he had to do what the teacher was asking and he didn’t want to.
Not only does he want to do his own thing during swim class, he does not like to show the teacher anything. If he has managed to blow bubbles in the water he stops if the teacher is looking. His head is turned so that he cannot see her and he is pressed as close to me as he can be.
I attempted to join in with the other mums and dads, as a reward for doing part of the lesson I let Alexander jump off the side of the pool. Then back to the lesson. I did this until he was happier about the lesson and being in the pool.
We managed a small win. Alexander was finally kicking his legs and actually happy for a bit of the lesson (Normally he clings to me for dear life and screams and cries for the full half hour). After the swimming lesson was over I played with him in the pool and allowed him to jump off the edge a few more times. Then he didn’t want to leave!
I used the magic words that he wanted to hear before….”Lets go and have a shower now.”
As soon as he knew we were going to have a shower he was very happy to leave the pool.
I think at this point he had about 5 meltdowns and the day was only half way through. As you can imagine, I was ready to go home. I was ready for bed and to just sit and do nothing. However I still had a few more things to do and one major item was to pick the girls up from school, do homework and organise dinners.
I finally was able to get Alexander a haircut, he loved sitting in a red car during his haircut but refused the apron to not have hair all over him. The only downside of the car was getting him out of it. Yes more tantrums followed. Oh the joys…. it was a day that kept on giving in meltdowns.
Then off to the shops, chemist and post office.
Now it was time to go to the twins school for pick up. I know my little boy was so tired but if I went home I would have to wake him to then go and get the girls (It would be perfect to have him home while he slept, but I don’t have anyone to mind him, so he needs to come with me.) While in the car we drove to the school and spent some time checking out the traffic on the highway, birds and more things on our walk while we waited for the bell to go.
Insert about 5 or more tantrums while at the school. I was very ready to put head in hands and fall on the ground myself. I wonder if I did that if it would stop the tantrums from the toddler? Or would it create more of a drama?
My little boy just loves Thomas the Tank Engine. It was a huge job to get these trains out of his hands at the school library. This image is a little bigger than the ones that Alexander had and wished to come home with.
He climbed the stairs to the library and wanted to leave with the libraries Thomas the Tank Engine toys. It took a few goes to get them out of his hands, and put them on a tall bookcase to allow me time to get him out the door and down the stairs.
Once I got both of us down the stairs and in the courtyard at school, this is when my little boy threw himself on the concrete ground and was yelling, screaming and crying.
He was yelling “choo choo” about the missing Thomas the Tank Engine toys. He did attempt to go up the stairs again but I stopped his efforts and yes you guessed it more crying and falling on the floor.
I find that if I ignore the tantrum it ends quicker than if I try and calm him down. Ensuring that there the area is safe for him is one thing I do to know that if I walk away for a few seconds he will be okay.
Another technique that I have tried with success is to not have eye contact with the kid who is throwing the tantrum. I find that if I show interest then the crying, yelling and upset lasts longer and it is harder to have the child calm down afterwards.
It is interesting that the twins didn’t throw many tantrums. I think I was lucky to be spared twin tantrums while at the shops.
Below are a few links that might help if you are dealing with tantrums as well:
The baby is finally not sick and is in care, and mummy is able to take some time to just be. To sit and have quiet time.
The school holidays were crazy. Well, not all crazy, but some of it was just chaotic.
There were some nice moments of sleeping in, not having to be anywhere and staying at home, plus spending some nice time with the kids was good.
There always seemed to be something happening. One kid fighting, one kid hurt or hurting the other and then the arguments. Oh my gosh! As the mum of three kids, it seemed that no matter what was going on it was hard to keep up. I was constantly exhausted.
Do you find this? Trying to entertain kids at all times is difficult. Once you think everyone is happy and playing it then all changes and you are back to sorting out a disaster.
A disaster could just be someone throwing out a drawing or not playing the game they want to play. Simple things but huge dramas to a little kid.
During the holidays the twins flew to Coffs Harbour to see their grandparents. The girls were unaccompanied minors and they got on a plane all by themselves. This was a huge step and a great thing to foster their independence.
This was one of the weeks that I was really looking forward to. While the kids were away I thought that the baby would be in care, and I would get so much done.
Fast forward to the actual week that the twins flew to visit the grandparents and of course Alexander was ill. Yes, this was the week that my little boy was very sick.
No child care, he had to have mummy and now the week that I so desperately was excited about was not great. My time alone was non-existent.
I did feel like it was a horrible conspiracy. No, you can’t have time to yourself….. ever! Yes, I know that the baby did not plan to be sick and these things just happen.
However, why do they happen on the week that the older kids were not going to be home? Why couldn’t this have happened the weeks before the girls flew to visit their grandparents?
How did you fare during the school holidays? Did you have fun? Did you get driven crazy by the kids?
Now that school is finally back I hope that you are having a well-deserved rest.
If you are busy at work you might need to wait for that rest, but I’m sure work is a change from looking after kids during the school holidays.
I’m happy about school going back but I miss sleeping in, and not having to be anywhere important was nice while it lasted.
Doing your own thing was good, and I must say that I’m not really in back to school mode just yet.
How are you doing now that school has gone back?
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Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday.... we are turning 10 this year!
This year the blog is turning ten.
What a major milestone it is to be blogging for 10 years!
Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday…. we are turning 10 this year!
It really doesn’t feel like it has been ten years. Maybe it is all the things that kept me busy in the nearly ten years since having my first children (I did think that I would always say first child but in my case its first children).
The blog was started just after the twins were born and the girls are soon to be ten in September. The twins are super excited to be double digits soon.
To celebrate this amazing milestone I am giving away prizes to a valued and cherished reader each month.
I value all of you that have helped create such an awesome community and for following the blog for all these years.
Make sure to follow the blog, subscribe to the newsletter on the link below (I email my readers about giveaways, promotions and interesting news), and of course, follow us on our social media sites to not miss out on these amazing competitions and much more!
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Soon there will be the first giveaway to enter and trust me the giveaways will be amazing. You will not want to miss the opportunity to win.
A HUGE thanks to all that have followed the blog and for helping make it such a great place to be.
2018 is going to be awesome and there are so many wonderful things in store.
Check out my Q & A article, it was so that the lovely Kiddipedia readers can get to know me.
I know many of you might already know some of these things that I mentioned in this post, but some might not. Take a read and learn more about me and the blog.
Each month I will be posting a new article on the Kiddipedia website. I hope you pop over to read my new articles.
While you are there, please take the time to look at all the wonderful resources that this great parenting resource offers.
Kiddipedia is very thrilled to announce our partnership with Mummy to Twins Plus One.
Founded by Suzanne, this blog was created as a project for her to work on and a way to document what is happening with her and the children.https://t.co/ApZ3pzgqdO#MummyToTwinsPlusOnepic.twitter.com/b6wGgVPWOZ
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This isn't the truck at fault but just an image of a truck. I needed one for the post.
I had a thought last night that today was not going to be good.
My premonition was about me and the car.
I had a dream that I would have an accident and it would be bad. My instinct told me to stay at home and not to go anywhere.
One kid is sick, the other had to go to school and the baby of the family to childcare.
I couldn’t just stay at home.
I brushed off my feelings and just decided to be extra careful and hope that it was not true.
One of my girls helped me drop off the baby to care and then we were on way to school.
I was at the lights about to turn right onto the highway. The lights turned green and I started to move the car to turn onto the main road.
In a spilt second I realised that it was not safe.
A HUGE truck was going fast, well fast is an understatement. I think the driver was going well over 100 km and was not stopping.
This truck went through the red light and actually seemed to speed up when it went through the lights.
This isn’t the truck at fault but just an image of a truck. I needed one for the post.
Now remember this was a quick decision I made.
I looked up and noticed that the lights were green. I started going and then stopped.
I could have been half way in between the roads and nearly merging onto the highway. If this was the case I and one of my daughters would have been in the path of this truck.
A truck that didn’t slow down.
A truck that would have hit us even if he braked to avoid us.
It made me thankful for reacting the way I did.
It made me question why I left the house and didn’t listen to my inner voice to stay home.
I couldn’t shake the terrible near catostphere that could have happened.
It could have been horrible. Me dead, my little girl dead and hubby left to pick up the pieces.
After a very tentative drive to school, I carefully deposited one child to the world of learning and then carefully drove back for an appointment.
You might think my near death experiences ended there…. I kid you not, they didn’t.
I was crossing the road and did this on a zebra crossing. While I was crossing the road an old man drove through it while I was walking on it. Yep, talk about dangerous! See I should have listened to my feelings about danger, and stayed in bed.
However this whole traumatic day got me thinking. What would have happened if we were in an accident.
One kid at home, one kid at childcare and if me and the other child were indeed hurt or needing help, who contacts the husband? How long would it take someone to know who to call or to let people know.
I started to panic about the what if’s.
I knew that hubby told me ages ago to put ICE with his number in my phone.
What is ICE?
ICE stands for In Case of Emergency.You put in someone that can be contacted in an emergency. Police, Ambulances and other emergency people know to look for this to help contact loved ones and alert people in emergencies.
I thought I did but of course never did. So today was the day. I have added ICE in my phone with hubby’s name, mobile number and place of work. Adding place of work I thought would help if he was not answering his mobile, they could ring the switch room and get a message to him.
Put emergency contacts in your phone under the contact ICE – Incase of Emergency. Help out the emergency staff that are there to help you. Let them call your loved ones and tell them where you are.
I’m very happy and grateful that we are okay. I am exhausted and have been replaying the whole event over and over in my head.
It was a split second decision.
One that I am glad I made. If I kept on going I don’t think I would be here, and either would one of my girls.
Our light was green. We had the right to go. This still meant nothing when a truck zooms or more like breaks the speed of light going through a red light.
It has made me think all day about how things can change so quickly. A decision not to stop or a decision to go, maybe I should have just stayed home.
On a lighter note
I was very happy that both my beautiful girl and I are still breathing and we are all okay. We are fine.
I decided to put on a lottery ticket to see what might happen. Some numbers were picked due to today, as I think the universe is trying to tell me something. Not sure if it is saying take care or something else.
I’m sure the universe gave me the warning for a reason and I have been listening.
Wish me luck on the lottery tickets, I picked some numbers from today and then did an auto pick. Maybe the universe can decide on my winning numbers too.
Do you sometimes have dreams or visions of a warning of some kind, be it a car accident, or falling and hurting yourself or something different? Have you listened to these dreams that are trying to tell you something?
I think I should have just stayed at home. Next time I will!
If you had a close call like I did, what happened? I hope you are all okay and that all ended up fine.
I know that we are all good and things are not an issue but I am still on edge due to the freaky incident this morning. I think my body has freaked out and I’m exhausted now.
A drink and a lie down is in order.
This drink and a lie down has to be put on hold until tonight though (need to be a responsible parent and pick up kids)
I hope this helps you know to add an emergency contact under ICE in your phone contacts and maybe do the wallpaper on your phone with the details if your phone is password protected.
Thanks for reading, this mumma is going to have a cup of tea and a good rest before I pick up kids again.
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I was at a function on Wednesday. I went to hear some great women speak at the Mums Society talks this past Wednesday.
There were many tables to sit at and I chose one that had two other mums to twins.
Yes, I must have known.
Maybe there was something in the air or the universe told me to sit at that exact table.
One mum had twelve-year-old twins and a two-year-old.
The other mum had a five-year-old and soon to be two-year-old twins.
Introductions were made and we all got to know each other.
The mum of the nearly two-year-old twins, I think her name was Sam asked me the following….”How do I manage to fit everything in”.
“How do I find time to blog with three kids and everything else that needs to be managed???”
Getting stuff done while I am kid free. Maximising my time for me!
Well, if this lady ever saw my house she would be in shock. It is a mess. Sometimes it is tidier than before but that tidy never lasts long.
I do get sick of it and have days that I go mad cleaning and sorting things out. On these days I don’t get a break and never get around to doing anything for me. I use the time for myself to try and sort the house out.
Once complete and the house looks at least like a whirlwind has not been inside recently and that finally, people care about the place that they live in. My happiness at the calm, the space that has been created by removing junk and finding places for things does not last. It never does!
In a blink of an eye or even quicker the mess finds a way back to my tidy rooms. The floor that you could walk on without checking what you stepped on are soon filled with toys, mess, clothes and anything really that does not get picked up (even after a million times that mummy asks and tells kids to pick these items up!).
I know prioritise my time without kids to do something for me. Yes, the house comes second. I do wish while I was off being me and not a housekeeper or mummy that I had a cleaner or helper making sure the house was spotless. Where for art though cleaning fairy? I need some help.
So due to not having a house cleaning fairy, I do what I can. I pick the major rooms to tidy, kitchen, bathroom, and living room. They might not be 100% but they are okay for now. I do give them a big clean every now and then but I do what I can when I can.
You cannot do everything you wish to do.
However, if you manage to do something that you are wanting to do, you will be a happier person.
A less stressed mummy, a calmer version of you. Not getting to do anything that makes you happy creates frustration and anger.
You end up resenting things, people and you start yelling and being an upset individual.
Timeout for you is essential.
So answering the question of how I fit it all in. I do the following:
While kids are at school and the baby is at childcare I blog. Before I sit down to my computer I put a load in the dishwasher and the washing machine. I clean a bit of the kitchen and then while the clothes are getting washed as are the dishes I write a blog post.
I try and ignore the mess and get work done. It does annoy me and I wish it was all neat and tidy but if I did that I would have no time to do work while alone.
I get back to emails in the evening or on my time alone without kids.
Once I do a few things I then put the clothes on the line and do a quick tidy around the living room. I also if I have time tidy around the kid’s room (although now I have decided it is the twins responsibility… they need to tidy their own room).
When the twins were babies I completed my postgraduate study in Project Management. This was all done via online delivery and I did one subject at a time to maximise success and to not overwhelm myself. I did well but it was a lot of late nights reading and doing assignments.
I am now trying not to watch too much television. Once the kids are in bed, hubby and I watch one show and then I am doing a few hours on my blog.
If I had the money I would have a housekeeper or nanny. This would free up my time to do more and be a massive help. Maybe when I get rich or my book is a best seller (yes world domination awaits me!)
In the holidays I put the twins into vacation care or they visit relatives for a mini holiday. This means that I have more time to concentrate on the blog, things for me, spending time with Alexander and organising the house without interruption.
If you have the cash getting a cleaner would be ideal. Help to sort out things that you never get around to, like floors, walls, windows and countertops are a huge help. Someone to tidy up and to sort so that you can work on other things or not feel like things are getting on top of you.
I do know what it is like having too many ideas and not enough time. It is annoying or the idea that if you could only not be interrupted all the time you could be amazing. I know …… it is hard.
Choose one thing that you wish to do and give it a go. You can do some things but not everything!
Start by putting in systems to ensure that you can get a few things done for you.
Tell your partner that you cannot be interrupted between these times. If the baby cries it is their job to help out.
If you are starting something start small. If it is a blog, maybe aim to do 1 post that is wonderful each week. This way it will not freak you out that there is too much to do and causes you to panic.
To the mums that have younger twins a schedule helped me. I had them up at a certain time. Fed, and then I took them out to exhaust them. Yes park, pool, playgroup and more. If we played at home I engaged with them and did as much as I could to stimulate them to make them tired.
If they did not sleep I set up what I called quiet time in the living room. I made the floor a bed with pillows and blankets. Then I put on a movie and told them to lie down and rest. At first, they wanted me to stay with them, but I told them that mummy had to get a few things done and once done will come and be with them.
Enforcing quiet time allowed me to tidy up the kitchen or sort out the mess somewhere else or write a blog post.
In response to getting it all done, I am not doing everything I wish to do but I am trying to do a few things on my list.
I hope this helps you out if you are struggling to do something for you.
Note: I have written this in a cafe while having an ice cold orange juice. The twins are at school for their last day of term and the baby is at childcare. I’m squeezing in some work and me time while I am kid free!
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It is hard to believe it has been nine years already.
Nine years sounds like a long time, well it actually is.
However, it only feels like yesterday that my twin girls were babies. Only yesterday when I had them and they were so tiny that they had to be in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).
Everyone said that having twins would be hard. It has had its challenges and also has not been as hard as I thought it was going to be.
I think the birth and hospital stay was the worst really for me. The twins got treated very nicely in the NICU but during birth and before it was not great for me.
About the birth of the twins
Firstly my water broke at 33 weeks and a few days. It was Father’s Day of 2008 when this happened, and it occurred at 4am at home. I did my constant pilgrimage to the toilet and then realsied that it had happened, game on by membranes rupturing naturally. We went off to the local hospital to then be told that I had to be ambulanced to Nepean due to being very early and of course pregnant with twins. Katoomba hospital does not have the facilities for intensive care of babies this little.
Now for one of the weirdest things that happened, the ambos were concerned that I might go into labour on the drive to Nepean. To get to this hospital there is only one road there and one road back home. So if there was a delay, accident or if I did indeed go into labour and have the babies it would have been a road side birth in the back of the ambulance.
The doctor thought it was best to check me out to confirm that a roadside delivery with twins was not immediate and this was done with the aid of a dolphin torch and a doctor who still had his beanie on. It was confirmed that labour and babies was ages away and it was safe to transport me to the other hospital and made the ambos happy knowing that there would be no emergency birthing issue roadside.
I was finally at the hospital and then had to be placed in a delivery suite until a room was made available. I stayed there for most of the day and night and then at some point Sunday evening went to my room in antenantal.
During my stay I had nurses thinking I had the babies, thinking that I was only having one baby, and after I had them trying to give me medicine that I did not need.
One medicine that I was given was meant to stop contractions and make labour not happen. This drug was a very tiny pill and the side effects made me dizzy and my skin all red hot and bothered. Yes I had the sweats… just perfect and what every woman wants while they wait to give birth.
I stopped taking this pill Wednesday night and at 2.30am Thursday morning it all started. I found I wanted to go to the toliet and more importantly felt the need to poo, but nothing happened. I wanted to push. My legs at this stage were like jelly and I was finding it very hard to walk. I was in a lot of pain and in tears.
Since I kept on having the urge to go to the toilet I decided to go and stay there. There was an emergency buzzer in there so I buzzed it for help. No help came for over 30 mins. Finally a nurse came and I told her in between tears and pain what has been happening and how painful it was. Mind you it was not in my belly and all in my lower back.
This nurse said that they had a few emergencies so were very busy and someone will be back soon. She also told me that it sounded like I was constipated and that she can help me if this is the case with equipment. Equipment? Really I don’t think so! I’m having the babies. Mind you by this stage I had been in hospital for five days waiting to have the twins and my water broke days ago, so they were ready to come.
Pregnant with the twins. It was only a few weeks later that they were born.
When someone finally came back they told me they could not give me painkillers, which sucked big time.
I asked if they could check to see how far along I was and they didn’t. Instead they hooked me up to a machine to see if I was having a contraction or not. They then asked me and I said I didn’t know and told them I had intense to horrific pelvic and lower back pain. It was like my pelvis would crack open and be in two different parts. It was horrible. They only seemed interested about any pains on my belly. I kept on telling them that I did not have them, just extreme bad pelvic and back pain.
After being on this machine for most of the day and night I finally got someone to look at me. It was estimated that I was about 3cms dilated and that I would need to be moved to the delivery suite downstairs. By this time it was after 8pm at night. I rang hubby so he could come to the hospital as he was home at the time.
I started at the delivery suite Thursday the 11th of September at about 8 pm, then I had the worst midwife.
She did not believe me when I told her that I still felt like I had to push and needed to go to the bathroom. She kept on asking about contractions on my belly and told her that it was all in back. She got annoyed that I was not presenting like a text book case and gave me Pethidine and left hubby and I.
During me being out of it on Pethidine I still went back and forth to the bathroom and was very upset. Hubby was in and out of sleep on a mattress on the floor. Typical that hubby manged to get some sleep.
Shift changed for the nurses and Friday morning we had a lovely midwife and trainee midwife as well. I told them what had been happening and she was upset that no one had checked me. I told her that the other lady said that if she checks to many times I might get an infection. Well she never checked me during the whole shift at all.
The midwife who I think was called Janet finally looked at me and said I was about 5 cms and like it or not I was having the babies. I asked if my chance to have drugs to help was over? I was worried I might have missed the window. She said no and got the person who did the Epidural. However I did not know at the time they did it that it would not work. It must have been put in the wrong position and I felt everything and it was horrible! It was like someone was killing me and I could not move.
Julia and Lilian on last day of school for term 1 at Pre-School. The girls were 3 years old here.
The epidural ended up parlising my legs and allowed me to feel the pain. Really not the point of it. However I never realised why the doctors were looking so concerned until after the birth of my third baby. During the birth of Alexander I had an epidural where I felt no pain for a long while, I even managed to fall asleep and I could move my legs.
Thinking back to the birth of the twins I think they thought they paralized me. I am so grateful this did not happen, but it was annoying as they kept on asking me to move my legs and I kept on telling them I couldn’t.
On the Friday night I had two doctors come and do rounds. I had never seen these doctors before. They then told me that if I could just hold off until I was 36-38 weeks that would be great.
I asked them who they were. They told me that they were doctors. I then said that I don’t think you are. My water broke nearly a week ago, I am in a delivery suite and very clearly in labour with twins. I also told them that I was over 5cm dilated so stopping this birth is not an option, so telling me to just wait till I am further along was bullshit.
During the birth I had a full room of what looked like 30-50 people. There were two doctors for the babies, two humdicribs, nurses, support staff and a whole lot of trainee doctors just observing. It was packed. Hubby ended up in the corner of the room behind a machine (I don’t know if this was the machine that goes bing) but it was a packed room. The doctor had to yell for the husband and finally people moved out of his way so he could be next to me.
Finally on Saturday the 13th of September after over 30 hours of labour and nonsense from the doctors and staff the girls were born.
Julia (Twin A) – 2:55am, weighed in at 2.1kgs, just over 4 pounds.
Lillian (Twin B) – 3:07am, weight in at 1938 grams, just over 4 pounds.
When the girls were babies I got them into a routine early on and that helped immensely. I woke the sleeping baby up so that they both could feed at the same time. I know waking a sleeping baby is not a good thing but you don’t want to be feeding babies all day and night either. Having them feeding and sleeping at the same time meant that I could go out and do things, like playgroup, shopping and have some downtime for me.
When the girls were older
I did not think the two’s were troubling but found when the girls turn three to be even harder. They had an opinion about the clothes they would wear and everything really. Things took longer to do due to the girls deciding that they preferred the pink one or the purple one and god help us if we could not get those colours when they were younger.
The girls about 3 years of age at Stanwell Tops with daddy.
The girls were always on the smaller scale for their weight and maybe height. More so their weight. They were only 8kgs at one years of age and during the years of being two and three gained and constantly lost weight too. I think in a whole year they only gained a kilo. From memory at about 3 years they were about 10kgs or just a little bit over. So they were tiny.
The girls were and still are very active. Running, jumping, swimming and exploring the outdoors.
I have found that the girls are very stubborn and headstrong. These are great traits to have but does annoy me as a parent when they don’t do as they are told. They have always thought they know best and still do.
Twin Connection
When the girls were babies about 4-5 months old. One kid was screaming and crying but never woke up. I then checked her sister and she was wet and cold. Her sister was telling me something was wrong and I had to come and change her nappy and clothes and then bedding.
The girls seem to be able to sense each other. When Lillian was 18 months old she had to be hospitalised for a bad UTI(Urinary Tract Infection). When Julia and hubby came to visit Lillian could sense they were near and said to me Julia is here and so is daddy. They are coming to visit now mummy. I knew they were coming but had no idea of the time. Then seconds after she said they were here I heard them come down the corridor of the hospital. She just knew.
The girls seem to have to hurt themselves in the same spot. One could hurt their knee falling down stairs and then the other does it somewhere else but manages to do the same injury to the same knee. This has happened to the girls with hurting other body parts but it could be minutes or hours apart but it will happen.
They need to be together. Both kids want to still sleep in the same bed.
Even though they want to be different they still like dressing the same.
The girls are very competitive and get upset when one does something better or before the other. I know this happens with siblings but it is more intense with the girls.
They need to do everything at the same time and like the other. If they were sisters who were 2 years apart then this might be upsetting but maybe not with such hysterical meltdowns and angst.
The girls and I experiencing snow in October of 2012.
Being Nine
I have found the last few years to be rather hectic. It is due to the frenetic activity, headstrong attitudes and surging independence.
The twins really want to do more on their own and I am trying to accommodate these requests. The girls like to take the bus home some afternoons, and walk to school when I park further away. When they do walk to school they really love crossing the road at the zebra crossing outside the school on their own as they feel like big girls when they do.
Lately there have been many meltdowns. I have found that they are trivial and just reactions to things that really don’t matter in the long run. However, they are super important to the twins. If they cannot listen to music of their choice, watch videos on YouTube or on the iPad or even on the television they are very grumpy and rude individuals. In fact when things don’t go their way and they cannot listen to what mummy or daddy is saying they are just plain horrible really.
I have been told it is the age. Many parents of kids that are 9 or 10 are saying the same thing.
Trying to get them to have more responsibility around the home and looking after their things is a challenge too.
I’m getting told by the girls when I ask them to pick up their rubbish or clothes, “It’s not mine!” so they leave it and promptly fall over it.
My response then is it’s not mine either and most of the things in this house that get taken care of and put away are not mine as well. Maybe I should just leave it all as it is not mine!
It is like they are grumpy teenagers all ready.
I have been told that this is the precursor to pre-teen years. Yep, hormones changing, bodies growing. Annoyed and more grumpy people to come.
Jeez I hope it gets better. However I think it won’t. Maybe they will slowly understand that having a clean room might be a good idea.
The girls being silly. This was in 2013, so they would have been about 5 years here.
Being a Twin Mum
I never thought that I would have twins and thought that I was having one baby so it was a huge surprise.
Having twins that are now 9 is a shock as I think that they are so grown up at times and at others still babies that are learning.
It is hard as I think that the kids are in between being little and being so grown up, I do struggle with what to purchase them now. I don’t want them to be babied but I would not want them to be fast tracked into being a teenager and an adult as well.
For their birthday I did a mix of toys and some more grown up items that will grow with them, oh and also a pair of shoes that are awesome (well I think so, I just hope the kids love them too).
Having twins as my first children has made me feel that I can do anything, but now I just need the time to do them.
Doing two kids at once was really hard and difficult with no sleep when they were babies but it was doable. I find that others cannot understand how you can cope, but you just deal with what you are faced with and are used to. For me this was two babies as my first children.
Sometimes it is hard when you find that you make appointments or do things and they only make one appointment or they think it is one gift for one child. I find that I am constantly explaining why my kids have the same birthday and for some people it doesn’t occur to them first off that they are twins.
Twins first has made me stronger, and able to take on more in life. I’m the primary caregiver for the girls so therefore I take them everywhere, school, activities, when little daycare, preschool, parks, outings, swimming, play-dates, parties and more. It is a huge responsibility and one that I managed mostly on my own. Hubby is with me during the evenings and weekends and helps then, but if something has to happen during the week or if he is working it is all up to me.
I’m sure that this is not unlike other families with kids and something that you just deal with and manage.
However I do drool over having a nanny and some help. Maybe a housekeeper???
Now I am not only a twin mum I am a mum to a little boy, three kids keep me very busy and help would not go astray.
I do love being a mum to my twin girls and watching all their development milestones. It was great to see them walk, talk, and much more. Hubby and I once took the kids to their 6 month check up, but happened at 9 months due to the doctor being on holiday. During this check up the twins were having a conversation in their own language and laughing and having a great time. The doctor was in awe as he had never witnessed this before. We told them that the girls did this regularly and sometimes one ended up crying and yelling at the the other one and then sometimes they laughed at supposedly and inside joke. Once the kids got the real words for things they substituted and lost their made up language.
The girls at about 8-9 months of age.
Are you a twin mum?
What have you noticed about yourself that has made you stronger since being a mum to twins?
How have your twins changed since babies?
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I have spoken to many women about their pregnancy journey, and then their birth stories. Most of the things that they dreamt or thought about never actually happened.
While at Problogger last year (Alexander was eight months when I attended Problogger in 2016. I was having a funny conversation with other bloggers and the topic of my fears and worries while pregnant with baby three was discussed.)
New born baby – This cutie is looking very relaxed and has no idea about all the drama that went on before they were born.
When I was pregnant with the twins I had horrible thoughts. I watched a film when I was about five months pregnant and I ended up having terrible dreams. Now, this film was a horror film and just horrible really. One scene had a person put on a tea trolley or hospital trolley (never sure what to call them). In the film, this person met a terrible end and I found it hard to watch.
My dream was being on this trolley as a pregnant woman with twins. They were then trying to tell me that the babies were coming and if they didn’t come they would take matters into their own hands. I was shackled to the trolley and it was uncomfortable, scary, and freaky. They were going to cut me open to save the babies. I of course was screaming, NO! They are not ready. It is too early and stuff like this.
The room I was in was like the bottom of a hospital that was all tiled and not kept very clean at all, it also reminded me of some shows that use disused railway stations as it looked rather like those.
I woke very upset and was thankful it was a dream. Maybe horror films when pregnant is not a good idea!
Flash forward to being pregnant with Alexander and I had all sorts of concerns. They were the following:
Due to having one baby, this child will be HUGE and be horrible to have.
Since I thought that this child might be enormous I would need a C-Section.
The baby would not be head down and cause issues.
I knew that the baby was due on the 7th of January and had no idea that he would come exactly on his due date. I did have thoughts that I might have a New Year’s Day baby and be on the front page of the local paper.
“Local woman gives birth to the biggest baby on New Years’ Day 2016”.
As you can see I still was panicked about having a HUGE BABY!
Scans did show that my third child was indeed on the small side. This however did not relieve my very active imagination and concern.
I was fully aware that this was only one baby this time. This baby could spread themselves to every corner of my insides and be a record weight. I know… I was so fixated on the baby being too big.
I did have my reasons to be freaked out about the birth. The first birth (with the twins) was not fabulous and mind you birth is not pleasant on any level.
The midwifes at the local hospital kept on insisting due to age that certain things would happen and that it might be classified as a high-risk pregnancy. Oh, how silly I thought.
I have already had a high-risk pregnancy with twins and all was well. I do understand things can change but why freak out the mum to be with what ifs. I ended up having a very healthy pregnancy and all was well with our third little person.
If help or intervention was needed to save the baby or myself I would have not stood in their way, however if it is not needed and all is well, then I say let nature decide when the baby comes and don’t intervene.
Maybe the hospital helped with my visions of horrible things happening while pregnant? I think they contributed in a small way. Wanting me to be induced for no actual reason, saying that I will develop gestational diabetes due to age I’m sure was not helpful. For the record, I had my third child naturally on his estimated due date and was lucky not to get gestational diabetes.
All my concerns were unfounded.
My baby was tiny compared to what my brain thought it would be.
This is what happened. I had a normal to smaller sized baby that was very healthy. Lucky nothing went wrong and all my fears were unfounded.
All the scans kept on saying how small it was going to be, however, I could not tell myself that this would be the case. I was freaking myself out.
It also could have been the fact that my second pregnancy with Alexander lasted longer than my first. The twins were born at 34 weeks and 2 days. Alexander came exactly at the 40-week mark. This meant more time to grow. More time for anything else to happen… I did not know but I knew that anything past 34 weeks was overdue for me.
Did you do this?
Are you currently pregnant and freaking yourself out?
What is the weirdest thought or dream that you have had while pregnant?
I just want to say that all the things that you are thinking could happen will most likely not happen so just relax and enjoy the day. Enjoy the time being pregnant if you can, and if you are able take a nap. You might be too busy soon to rest so get in now. Although this might be hard if you are working or have other children.
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Saturday the 15th of July I took the twins to see Frozen on Ice. This was a great treat on the weekend before school went back. It was the night time show and due to this, it would be a late night.
Hubby was looking after Alexander and the girls and I were off to a night out. A night for just the girls, which my kids were very happy about.
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They love their brother but like the fact that they get to spend some one on one time with mummy.
We left super early and it was lucky that we did as later we ended up having issues with traffic and finding the parking station. (more about the parking issue later)
In the car, the kids and I played eye spy. and then a game they created about finding colours of cars. It was all fun until I decided to try and find a purple car. Yes, these are rare and therefore the kids decided it was all too hard and they took a nap. Oh well at least I had some quiet time before the show happened and the madness of parking and trying to find where we were supposed to be.
I got to the venue with an hour to spare but that was soon whittled away to about 20 minutes or less due to roads being closed. Yep there were road closures which meant that I could not get access to P6 parking station and my GPS kept on telling me to go back, but it had no idea that the roads were closed. Due to this stupidy, I ended up getting directed back to the same spot twice.
Yep there were road closures which meant that I could not get access to P6 parking station and my GPS kept on telling me to go back, but it had no idea that the roads were closed. Due to this stupidy, I ended up getting directed back to the same spot twice.
Due to this stupidy, I ended up getting directed back to the same spot twice. You can imagine my annoyance at this and not knowing where to go to get to where I needed to go.
On my second pass at the same place with the road closed I decided to continue straight. I had no idea where I was going other than away from the P6 parking station but just had to keep on going.
I was worried that I would be late and not make the show. Would I ever find this elusive P6 parking station?
I was annoyed that I was 1 hour early and now I might be late and miss things.
There was no way to stop to get directions as there was so much traffic that this was impossible.
My bet paid off and I saw that there was a sign to P6 parking. Phew!
I kept on going and followed the signs and hoped that there were no more road closures.
We managed to get to the venue with enough time for a quick toilet break and to get the twins an Olaf mug with shaved ice.
Julia with her Olaf cup and waiting for the show to start.
Then it was announced that the show will be starting soon and we had to find our seats. Geez…. I was lucky that we did not leave later.
Stupid road closures.
I initially thought that we would be there too early and have heaps of time with nothing to do. How wrong was I.
An announcement was made and we had to make our way to our seats. The show was going to start soon. How exciting and very happy we got there in time.
The lights went off and the show started. The kids were super excited and we all had a fabulous time, and yes we all did sing “Let it Go” and more.
Frozen on Ice was a great family show for kids. You can dance, take photos, sing and have fun. Perfect for little kids and adults too.
The show ended at about 8pm. By the time the kids and I walked to the P6 parking station it was about 8.30pm. We didn’t have dinner and promised kids that on the way home we would eat something but I didn’t think it was going to be so late.
On the way to the show, Julia said the following.
“Mummy, do you think Alexander is still awake?”
Mummy to Julia, “No it is too late for him, he would be asleep by now.”
Then Julia said this….
“Well Mummy if Alexander is awake Daddy has failed!”.
Geez, this is a bit harsh I thought.
But I was so sure that Alexander was fast asleep, and hubby was busy watching a show or doing something on his computer without interruption. You will learn how wrong I was soon.
Anna and Elsa at Frozen on Ice
On the way home I stopped and got dinner for all of us and then we got back in the car for a huge drive home. The kids slept nearly all the way home.
I got home at about 10.30pm or could be later.
I opened the door to reveal Alexander running around and playing. He was excited to see me and said, “Mumma!”
Then Julia looked at me and said, “See, Alexander is awake……”
I then saw hubby in the kitchen looking like a wreck.
He had the baby bath on the counter tops and had just finished giving him a bath and changing his clothes for the millionth time so I was told.
At about 6.20pm Alexander had started throwing up and did not stop. Hubby had not had a chance to sit down or even get himself dinner.
Hubby then gave me a blow by blow description of what went on and how horrible it had been.
I did feel for him and it is horrible when kids are sick, especially babies. However I have been faced with three kids throwing up and also myself at the same time. Yep and being the only one dealing with it all. Not fun at all!
When the twins were little they got sick like Alexander and I had to manage with two babies being sick and then me also getting sick too!
I did sympthaise with him but I told him that he should be grateful it was just one baby this time!
Hubby did a great job and held down the fort in trying times.
So this sickness did not stop until Monday morning. Anything we gave Alexander he threw up.
Monday morning he woke and was just looking limp. He was very floppy and not well.
I tried to get water into him but he guzzled it and then it all came back up. Oh shit….. not good.
I then limited the amount in his sippy cup to try and make sure he kept it down. This worked for a while and then he passed out on my lap. He was snoring and just so tired. Not good at all. So limp still.
A doctor needed to see him to make sure all was okay. I could only get into the local doctors at midday and that for me was not quick enough. I was getting very worried about him.
I got organised and packed a bag and took Alexander and myself to the hospital.
On the drive there he screamed and carried on. He was upset. He was still not well and mummy was taking him somewhere!
I got to the hospital and the lady could not hear me well over his screams and just had to ask for name and date of birth due to him being screaming mess. I waited only a few minutes and then saw the triage nurse. He was lovely and asked about what had happened. I told him what had gone on.
Alexander had his immunisations the Wednesday before, Thursday he was good, Friday he went to daycare and then Saturday night he was sick. I did explain that hubby thought it was related to a bread roll that he fed him as it happened quite quickly after he ate this food. I was not so sure, as the other kids were not sick from the same bread rolls.
The triage nurse took blood for blood sugar levels and then other things. He weighed Alexander but only with me being on the scales with him due to the fact that he was so upset and still screaming (he screamed for at least over 2 hours).
My little boy in hospital. He was not well at all. I am so thankful I took him to get looked at.
His weight on Wednesday the 12th of July was about 11kgs. His weight on Monday 17th of July was 10kgs. He had dropped 1 kg not even in a week. (Note: I had his 18mth health check yesterday (27th July) and his weight was 10.3kgs so not great but at least he is putting the weight back on).
The triage nurse said that his blood sugar levels were very low and could be dangerous. Shit really! Oh no!
He found us a bed in emergency and said that they need to see if Alexander’s levels can be increased while we are there. Patches were also put on the back of Alexander’s hands in case a cannula was needed (this was never used and the patches numb and have a form of anesthesia so that it does not hurt the babies as much).
Alexander was given a lemonade icy pole ice block. He loved it and ate most of it. However he did try and eat the foam cup the nurse made to catch the drips and cried when some of the ice block fell on the floor.
One nurse gave him some diluted apple juice but he did not want this.
Another nurse tried the hydralyte ice blocks but Alexander did not like the flavour.
One nurse Alexander loved. He had a real way with kids and Alexander thought he was funny. After being in emergency for about three hours Alexander had calmed down a bit. He was not great, but had not thrown up.
They did give him a tablet that dissolves in his mouth to help with the nausua. The cool nurse came back and he wanted to see if Alexander’s sugar levels were going up.
I asked the nurse what Alexander’s sugar levels were when we were in triage? I was told that they were 2.2, and this nurse said that is extremely low for a baby or anyone.
After the second test I asked what the levels were? They were 3.3, and this nurse seemed happy that they were going up. He did say that they are still low.
The doctor came to see us again and said that he is happy that he is calmer, and is looking a little better. They did not need to run any further tests and I just had to try his sugar levels up.
The nurse told me the following:
Low blood sugar can cause people to go into a coma
Babies and young kids cannot store the sugar so need a daily amount to keep their levels up.
If things changed to come back immediately.
I left the hospital and it got me thinking. If I had waited till midday to see the regular doctors would he have been even worse? Would he have gone into a coma or maybe had something else happen? I don’t know and it is a scary thought. I am just grateful that I took our little boy to the hospital and got the help we needed.
I do know to give kids food and drink and when they don’t want either it is hard, however I was not thinking about blood sugar at all. This did not even enter my brain that this could be an issue. It makes sense though.
Due to Alexander not eating and drinking his system was really needing sugar.
I got a whole box of lemonade icy poles and he as been eating with honey on bread.
Alex with his big sister Lillian. Lillian was not well and having a day off school. Alex was much better and getting cuddles from his sister.
At the time of writing this post he is much better and back to his usual self. His appetite has come back and he is making up for the lost days when he did not eat.
Now this is frightening and it could have possibly happened to my boy. His levels were 2.2 when we came to the hospital and seeing these numbers, and what can happen sent a chill up spine.
The illness ended up being a terrible episode of gastro, and that I later learnt that Alexander picked up from childcare.
Alexander was much better Tuesday the 18th but the bug hit me too. This past weekend Julia and Lillian have also been sick but with the twins it only lasted 24 hours. The only person that has missed out is hubby.
Blood Sugar levels are super important when ill
I know that you need to eat and drink but if a child refuses to do this the blood sugar drops. My kids are not big people, and also don’t weigh a lot. If they drop any weight they get hit harder I think.
Making sure that your little ones have something to help put the sugars back is ideal. Here are some suggestions:
Store the hydralyte ice blocks in the freezer. They can keep and then you have them handy.
You can buy the hydralyte drink premixed and you can keep in the fridge. This puts back the sugar and electrolytes so great when not well.
If your kids don’t like the flavour of the hydralyte ice blocks you can always use a lemonade icy pole or any flavour that means they will eat it.
Honey toast or adding some honey to drinks.
I don’t like giving kids too much of one thing and I am big believer of moderation in relation to sugar. However if you have not eaten for a while you need it.
I hope this helps create awareness on what could happen.
A HUGE Thanks to the lovely and quick staff at the Blue Mountains Hospital. We are super lucky to have such great health care in Australia and I am very grateful that Alexander got looked after so well. So a big thank you to you all!
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Lillian my little Animal Planet Ranger. She is having fun spotting all the animals at WILDLIFE Zoo in Darling Harbour.
I was invited to try out the new Animal Planet Ranger activity at SEALIFE and the WILDLIFE Zoo. This fab new exhibition that is run across both the aquarium and the zoo in Darling Harbour.It was super fun and the kids loved racing around finding all the animals and learning more about the animals on their collectible animal planet ranger cards.
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So what do you do when you are an Animal Planet Ranger?
Children get an Animal Ranger Pack that have animal planet ranger cards, facts on animals, colouring in and much more!
Once my girls and their cousin got their packs they were keen to find the animals on their cards. First we found a cassowary. It is a big bird like an emu…well not exactly but the size might be similar to an emu.
We found the cassowary that was on the Animal Planet Ranger cards.
Kids can dress as a ranger, swap animal facts to earn more ‘animal planet ranger cards’, and make it your mission to find the animals before anyone else does.
If you wish to be an animal planet ranger it ends soon so be quick to not miss out.
The baby lost it after this picture. So this was the best one with all the kids. Score really when you are out and try and get a group photo.There is a viewing area so that you can look at the big enormous crocodile. It is great that this is now built as the last time we were at the aquarium it was still under construction.
The kids mission pack. Armed with this they raced around to find the animals on their cards and to learn more fun facts about the animals too.So much in the animal pack…. the kids will not be bored at all!
Finding Dory and Nemo is always fun
Julia loved taking photos while on our adventures at SEALIFE and WILDLIFE the other day.
The Art Aquarium is so much fun
Just before you leave the aquarium you have the chance to colour in a fish or creature to appear in the art aquarium. Once you have coloured in your art work, you then get it scanned in and in minutes it appears animated on the projected wall of fish and other sea life.
This is super fun for kids and I must say adults too.
I was so pleased that this was still at the aquarium. My girls loved it and so did their cousin as well.
Make sure you add your artwork to the art aquarium before you leave.
The twins and their cousin colouring in fish for the art aquarium at SEALIFE Sydney.
The twins and their cousin. All the kids had a fabulous time and there was so much for them to see and do. Just perfect for weekends, holidays or anytime actually.
A HUGE thank you to Merlin Entertainment for our fun family day out. It was such a pleasure to be with family and to experience your fun new exhibition. The kids had a blast and raced everywhere to learn more, see more animals and to explore everything. Everyone was super tired after our huge fun day out.
I know that this kid is much younger than the girls and is not the twins. I just wanted a picture that conveys annoyance, being angry and upset. Sometimes the kids are like this regardless of their age.
Note: I wrote this yesterday in order to post today. Today the twins have been extremely good and I have hardly raised my voice. Not sure why they are being so good or what they want but I am just accepting the nice behaviour as lately it is a rare occurrence (Maybe they knew that I was writing this and are being good). One kid cleaned the living room, folded the clothes and put them away. She also wrote me a note saying that she loved me and had a glass of water waiting for me to drink. Very nice indeed.
Now to more of what has been the norm around here and to see if it is happening to you as well.
I know that this kid is much younger than the girls and is not the twins. I just wanted a picture that conveys annoyance, being angry and upset. Sometimes the kids are like this regardless of their age.
What is it with the twins lately?
Any time I open my mouth to ask them to do something or see what is going on and I get attitude!
Yep I kid you not.
I get told the following and it does not matter from which kid:
“Leave us alone!”
“You don’t need to know”
“It is none of your business”
Mind you this is all said to me with the grumpiest of voices and faces, plus it gets yelled at me or screamed like a banshee is yelling, not my children.
Could it be the age?
The twins are nearly nine and lately been wanting more independence. I like to walk them to school after I park the car but the girls have been asking me to park further away and let them walk the rest of the way. One kid said she wanted to “look like a big girl”.
The girls can do a lot of things on their own and some that I wish they would do is help put things away in the house, tidy their room and help when asked. However it seems like it is a fight to get them to do anything or listen at all.
One kid helped Daddy on our land putting up a silt fence. She worked so hard and even got blisters on her hands from putting up the fencing. She did a good days work. However if you ask her to pick something that she left on the floor up, this will be completely ignored.
Is Mummy Invisible?
I could be right next to one kid and ask them to pick something up or put something away and they will not hear me. Most likely ignoring me to see if I will forget about it. (Not likely!)
The same could be when either child wants to pick up things to take to the kitchen. I ask them to wait and tell them to take more than one item to the kitchen. (This makes sense doesn’t it. Why take one item to the kitchen and have to do several trips rather than one trip). While I am asking this child to wait they are already walking away from me. I have to repeat about four to five times to get them to come back and do the job correctly.)
Why is it that as soon as I organise some wonderful treat for the kids they turn into little nightmares. I pay and get tickets for fun events and the kids act horribly towards me during and after the event. Maybe I should not bother! Why does this happen? It is very annoying and stressful to have this constantly occur.
This happened last Monday when I took the twins, baby and myself off to see Despicable Me 3. They were good to a point and then turned into rude and horrible little people. Yelling at me to give them money for the arcade. Telling me that we were staying when I had already told them we were going home. I ended up going home and the kids ended up in their room until it was clean. Once the room was clean and they were behaving themselves they got lunch and could come out of their room.
Does this happen to you? You organise some fabulous outings for the kids for them to just be annoying and horrible about the whole thing. I have told my kids that if their silly behaviour continues they will be spending more and more time in their room. Geez lets hope it gets tidy if this happens.
It is frustrating when you are constantly repeating yourself, and feel like everything is a fight to get even a small thing done. After getting something achieved I feel exhausted as it has taken a lot of energy.
I feel like I need a drink and then a lie down. Maybe a G & T would be perfect after this type of carry on.
This is me, pretending the silly behaviour is not happening. I am also trying to get some quiet and alone time with no noise.
My Techniques to Help
I have explained to the kids that I am the only one that organises all the fun things for them due to the fact that I am the primary care giver. If the kids muck up they will not have fun and instead be watching the paint on the wall in their room.
One of my techniques to help the twins understand is to put it into context for them.
I asked if the girls would want to be friends with someone that once you did something nice for them ignored you? They said no.
I then asked if they would be happy if they got tickets to a fabulous event and then their friend complained every second they were at this event. Would they be happy about this? They said no.
After going to the movies and being told that there is only a certain flavour of chips available, and not accepting any alternatives. The actions of this child is screaming and crying. I then asked if they were taking their friend to the movies and this happened would they be happy about it. The kids said no.
When we go out and end up at a restaurant and the kids don’t like the food options. The reactions are hysterical meltdowns that are just crazy and horrible. I told the kids that we cannot control what the restaurant serves and they need to be more adventurous and try new foods. They agree but then don’t. I asked if this happened to them how would they feel? Both girls told me that they would be unhappy and upset.
It seems that they understand how their behaviour is making me feel and that it is not nice. The twins acknowledge that they don’t want to be treated like this.
I then said then, “Why is it okay to treat mummy like this?”
Then I get the all encompassing answer, “I don’t know!”
Well I know they are being naughty and not nice and mostly to me and to me alone.
I told them that I don’t like being treated like this either. I don’t like doing nice things for kids who are not nice back.
So unless they can be nice, no fun things will happen.
I have also tried their silly answer to everything back at them. If they ask when dinner is happening I say, “I don’t know”, if I get asked if they can watch TV, I say, “I don’t know”, if I get asked what are we doing today, I then say, “I don’t know”.
I think you get the message. I know sometimes you don’t know and that is fine but this cannot be the answer to everything… maybe it is the other answer to life, the universe and everything?
The Twins Seem to be Better When Separated
Hubby and I noticed the other day that each child is much better behaved when they are on their own. Once they are together the silliness takes over and more naughty vibrations travel between them and they become extremely naughty. Would it be the twin connection? Have you experienced this?
It is a pity that there are not a lot of opportunity to have more one on one time with each child. We are planning to do more of this on the weekends but it is harder during the week when I am the only care giver and therefore the kids are with me.
Let us know what is working for you?
Have you found it is the age that your children are at?
The twins are seeking more independence and I suppose due to the fact the girls are identical, they are making themselves different from their sister.
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Fridays are not the same when you realise they are just like any other day.
Every morning this week I have found it harder and harder to get out of bed.
I have even thought that every day was Friday or at least close to it.
Yes I thought that Monday was Friday, Tuesday was and so on. Strange but it is true.
Maybe it is wishful thinking. Maybe it is wanting the school holidays to be here now!
Fridays are not the same when you realise they are just like any other day.
However the school holidays tire me out. All the activities to keep everyone entertained and the constant whinging does my head in.
So thinking everyday was Friday was rather silly. As a mum it being Friday really has no meaning. It used to mean that I could rest on Saturday, sleep in and relax. However with kids, Saturdays and Sundays are the same as any other day.
Don’t get me wrong. Holidays are great. Not having to be anywhere or do anything is great.
I have booked the twins into some days at vacation care. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the days that I chose for the girls vacation care has special excursions or activities. The kids will also have fun with friends, be able to run around and have fun without me telling them to be quiet due to the baby sleeping.
Secondly, while the kids are at vacation care I might be able to get a few things done. Yep I can focus on the blog, tidying up around the house and maybe have some quiet time.
I have booked the kids in some days while the baby is in daycare so that this will allow full on rest or peace for me. Not totally but it will be a nice break in the holidays.
During the two weeks of school holidays I have many fun things planned. Taking the kids to the movies, a visit to the aquarium and zoo, plus seeing Frozen on Ice.
I have mixed it up for the two week break so that it gives the kids some fun things to do, and mummy some time out as well.
Have you been thinking it is Friday? Is it due to the school holidays approaching that this is happening?
It will be good to not have to do the school run and other things in the afternoon.
Today is now Friday and I am off to get ready to go to the kids school. The girls have learnt some songs in Gundungurra for NAIDOC Week. The twins can now sing heads, shoulders, knees and toes in Gundungurra. Very impressive indeed.
What are you up to for the holidays?
Do you look forward to Fridays or is it just another day?
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I recently attendedThe Bloggers Brunchand had the opportunity to listen to Frank Caruso speak about his journey and how he has built such a successful business.
Frank explained how he had teachers that thought he was not bright and would not amount to much. He had doubters but he never kept on giving things a go. Frank Caruso’s talk was very motivational and made me think about my journey so far.
I had very similar things happen to me as a child. I was told that I was stupid. I would not be able to do this or that and I should just get an office job and forget about it.
Thank goodness, I was stubborn and did not listen to the doubters. I kept on plodding along and worked towards my goals.
Slowly but surely, I managed to get into the university I was drooling over. I managed to get in as a mature aged student. According to the universities mature age is from 20 years and older. I started my undergraduate degree at UTS (University of Technology, Sydney) when I was 23 years of age.
Frank invested in his health journey and was so passionate about it, it became a hugely successful family business.
Learning about Frank Caruso’s tips for success. In grade 3 one of his teachers told him he would never succeed at anything. Don’t let other people’s view of you dictate what you will become! This is one of the key points from Frank’s tips.
Hearing Frank talk at The Bloggers Brunch was inspiring and made me think of things I wish to achieve for my business and my family. Frank is contagious regarding motivating people about their dreams and passions.
It got me thinking about my health and wellness after I got home.
Since having kids, I want to make sure I look after myself. I want to be healthy and active for them, oh and myself as well.
I make sure to have good food, some exercise, rest, relaxation (although sometimes hard with a busy family), and time with the family to just be.
Part of looking after myself means that I make sure to get enough vitamins and minerals that my body will need to lead an active life.
Being a mum is tough job. You cannot afford to get sick (no sick leave, no sick pay, or nanny to come help) so being as healthy as you can is very important.
The kids and I in April 2016.
It is even tougher when kids get sick and you are the one that cares for them, dodging coughs, and snotty noses is next to impossible and therefore mum is the next one on the list to get ill.
Since having my last child, Alexander, I have noticed that my hair has been very dry and brittle. I don’t remember this happening after the twins. Maybe it did and I was so tired I never realised.
I mentioned this to the team at Caruso’s Natural Health and they recommended I try Super Collagen Builderfor Hair, Skin and Nails.
Super Collagen Builder for Hair, Skin and Nails from Caruso’s Natural Health.
I’ve been using the Super Collagen Builder for the last month and it seems to have made a difference to my hair. It appears softer, and not as dry. I will be continuing using this product to see what it does over a longer period.
I do eat quite well but like to ensure I’m getting the right vitamins and minerals with a multivitamin. I’ve been taking Women’s Super Multi. This is a multivitamin tailored for women on the go.
Women’s Super Multi by Caruso’s Natural Health
I take one multivitamin a day. I’m sure this has helped me feel better and allowed me to keep going when the kids have been unwell. This multivitamin helps you for all round health, heart, immune support, bone health, energy, stress and loads more.
Meeting Frank has made me see that I too can achieve what I set out to do. I already knew that health was extremely important and as a mum looking after myself is a top priority.
Not only will being healthy in my older years ensure that I am here for my kids but will allow me to lead a happier, and better life.
The inspirational and charming Frank Caruso from Caruso’s Natural Health. It was such a lovely thing to meet the wonderful man himself.
Have you met someone that has motivated you to be a better you? Frank Caruso is defiantly a person that encourages change in people. Frank is also proof that you should follow your passions and invest in you. The more you do this, the more successful you will be.
How do you make time for good health at your place?
Do you exercise with the kids?
Or maybe eating more vegetables and less refined food?
Let us know.
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The baby/child in question is annoyed, upset and in pain and likewise so are the parents. Oh and other kids who live in the same house.
Our little boy is teething again and it has taken a toll on everyone.
Mainly our little boy is affected but all of us have suffered from the following:
No sleep!
If you did get to sleep you are woken by screaming and crying from the baby.
Once up and dealing with the crying baby he is upset at you and not letting you help him.
Once up and trying to soothe him dealing with a very upset child that does not know what he wants due to being so much pain.
Hubby nearly falling asleep in a business meeting.
One of the girls nearly having a nap in maths class and the other girl has just been very tired and annoyed.
As one kid today said, “I would rather be sick than have an upset baby” Oh so true.
My little boy has been upset and unwell all week. This photo was taken on the 30th of May. He is getting more teeth and this makes him sick, throw up and just not want food. At least he was drinking water.
Although I don’t want to be sick to just have a happy baby, I understood what she meant.
Our little boy is not coping with teething well at all. On the 7th of June he will be seventeen months old, and every time he has gotten teeth this has happened.
He gets multiple teeth at the same time and due to this suffers very badly with the pain.
His reaction to this pain is to hit his head into the floor or to try and smack it on teddies, objects or anything actually.
I have been trying to reduce the pain by giving him painkillers, however last night he was spitting it all out and not wanting to open his mouth to accept any.
How can you help someone if they don’t allow you to give them the medicine.
Finally at about 11 pm or later he allowed us with some tricks up our sleeves to give him some painkillers. Once it kicked in he was a little happier and more calm.
Phew!
No more screaming in my ear. I really think his constant screams could make me go deaf.
I know he is in pain, I know he does not understand.
I cuddle him and try and console him the best way I can. However it is hard when he squirms like he does not want to be on my lap at all.
He acts like he cannot get comfortable. He really does not know what he wants. The only thing that he would want, would be the pain to go away and to not come back.
Have you had issues like this with your kids when they were teething? Are you going through this now? Let us know what worked for you.
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This test makes sure that kids have the basic skills of reading, comprehension, and maths.
NAPLAN started in schools in 2008 and the following years are tested: Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The girls sit the first test for NAPLAN today. It is over 3 days and a big thing in their school life so far. I just told the kids to do their best.
I like the idea of testing and making sure each kid is on track. If they are not, more help will be given to a child that needs assistance with reading or maths.
The results are also helpful for more funding for the school so that the school can help all kids and ones that need some extra help.
One kid this morning looked rather upset and worried. I asked her why she was upset and she said, “I’m worried about NAPLAN Mummy”.
This is what I told my girls before they head to school to do their first major test:
I’m proud of you both.
I love you both so much.
Do your best. Doing your best is all that anyone can ever ask.
Relax, take a deep breath and just pretend it is the practice test that you were doing with your teacher.
If you cannot read a question ask your teacher to read it to you.
If there are pictures that go with the question look to see if this helps you understand the question more.
Do the questions you can do first and see if you can go back and do others if you need more time.
I told both kids that they are brainy.
They are smart.
They are clever little kids that will do well no matter what.
It does not matter how they do on the test just that they give it a good go.
I just hope that my kids don’t get freaked out by this test.
I hope that they don’t lose their confidence and shut down for future exams.
I hope they don’t think they have failed. The girls might feel they have not achieved after this test.
One kid reads very well but not perfect, the other kid has some issues and finds some things difficult. I hope that the kid that has some issues with reading does not panic and get upset with what she is being asked on this exam.
As a mother I am sure that I am more worried by all this than they are at this stage. The twins are in grade three and there is plenty of time to get better at things. To be come an expert or a master at maths and reading.
However if there are issues with a child understanding the basics it is a good idea to learn now about what the difficulty is and to get help to fix the issue. The earlier you can help a child that has issues reading, writing, and other things the better their life and time at school will be.
I’m hoping that if there is anything found that we get told so that we can action things now rather than later.
Parents can remove children from sitting the NAPLAN test on special grounds. If you decide to do this you can write a letter to the principal and tell them why you wish your child not to sit the test.
I hope that all kids do well this week sitting the NAPLAN. It must be hard on kids with dyslexia or other issues. I hope that kids that struggle with some things at school don’t feel too stressed taking this test.
This test is over three days. Today is Language conventions for 40mins and then writing for 40mins. Wednesday is Reading for 45 mins, then Thursday is Numeracy for 45mins. It is a big thing the next couple of days.
I even put love notes into their lunch boxes. The notes tell each child how smart and brainy they are, and also how much mummy loves them.
Good luck everyone.
Remember just do your best and that is all anyone can ask for.
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