REGISTERING FOR DAYCARE

Josh and I registered John Luke in a daycare center (more of a learning center) for when the twins arrive.  I have mixed emotions, but feel it is best for him and for me.  I won’t be able to give him the attention he’s used to getting.  He loves being around other kids and doing different activities.  I think once he adjusts, he will love it.

There’s a 6 month waiting list (in his age group) to the center we applied.  I’m hoping an opening will become available before then.  It would be ideal to get him adjusted prior to the twins arrival; that way, he’s not going through so many changes at once.

There are several factors involved in choosing this daycare.  It’s closest to the hospital for Josh’s commute to work.  We are all going to be a little sleep deprived for the first several months.  I don’t want to add any more time than necessary to his morning commute.  He will have to get up at 5:15AM to have him fed, dressed, and ready to drop  off before being at work at 7AM.

There are many aspects about the center I like.  It’s a large facility- they group the kids by age.  The center does various learning activities for their specific age group.  Because the kids are of the same age, they are mostly on the same schedule.  They go outside twice a day, and do various reading and learning projects throughout the day.  Meals are provided by the center, and they eat “family style” which creates a family like atmosphere.

Josh and I talked with them about my concern that John Luke is in a slapping phase.  The director didn’t seem daunted by it, and had the approach that all kids go through this phase.  She said they help the kids resolve their emotions, and when possible let the kids “work it out”.  She said they have a “Cozy Corner” instead of time-out.  If someone needs time alone to settle down, they can just go play in the Cozy Corner.

I’m happy with our decision- I’m just not sure if I’m ready for John Luke to go to dayscare- I mean– daycare!  His needs are changing, however.  Soon, I will be covered up in poopy diapers, keeping the twins on a schedule, breastfeeding/pumping; and just trying to keep dinner on the table, and clean clothes for everybody to wear.

There was a time when I dreamed of this.  Now it’s all happening.  I used to sit at lunch with my girlfriends, and hear of how they were “covered up” with their kids activities.  The pain would just sting without kids in my life.  I had a perfectly clean house, but an empty heart.  My house will now be “perfectly” messy, but my heart will be overflowing.

 

15 WEEK ULTRASOUND

 

Friday, I met with the nurse practitioner at my local ob/gyn for a consultation and 15 week ultrasound.  During the u/s both babies were very active.  Baby A’s heartbeat was 147 and measured in the 47th percentile of growth.  Baby B’s heartbeat was 152 and measured in the 68th percentile.

The ultrasound technician asked if I wanted to know the sex if she could tell.  Knowing I should probably wait for Josh to find out- I couldn’t help myself– and said YES!  She said one appeared be a boy and one a girl.  Josh is worried about me getting too overjoyed about one being a girl, at least until we’re further along.

Next, I had a consultation with the nurse practitioner.  She said my lab results looked good, and both babies were measuring on target.  She also said there is about an 8% variation in growth rates; not to read too much into the difference in percentages between the two fetuses.

We discussed, since I had gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy, for me to treat this pregnancy as if I had diabetes again; and skip the glucose fasting.  There is a higher risk of diabetes with twins.  We decided I might as well be proactive about it.  I did very well during my pregnancy with John Luke, and controlled it with diet.  She gave me a meal plan and recommended foods for managing gestational diabetes (along with charts to keep track of what I’m eating).  She also wrote me a prescription for the test strips.

We scheduled my Anatomy Scan for September 8th, with the genetics counselor, at the University of Tennessee.  It’ll be exciting to see if both babies are healthy- And!  To confirm the sexes!  It’s hard to believe by this appointment, I’ll be at least halfway through my pregnancy, at 19 weeks.

Here is an ultrasound pic of my two peas in a pod!

Is He Yours?

I get asked, “Is he yours?” occasionally- probably because of my age.  To that I want to reply, “Who else’s kid would he be?”…..”Considering I am the only person with him?”  I guess being forty something and toting a toddler around causes people curiosity.

Recently, after taking John Luke to the pediatrician, I was asked by the receptionist, if I was the mother or the grandmother.  Err umm…Excuse me while I get the dagger out of my heart, the lump out of my throat, and the restraint not to jump over the desk and clobber you with my diaper bag.

I politely replied, “I am his mother and we have twins on the way!  I’m going to be a busy mom.”  I proudly walked to my seat with my head held high, but I really wanted to find a coat closet and have a good cry.  I’ve worked too hard all these years, to become a mom, to be asked if I’m the grandmother.

So then…I was at a store where I’d purchased a child’s vintage kitchen set a few months ago. The store owner told me she’d been wanting to call to see if my procedure was successful.  I told her we were due with twins in February.  Maybe we’ll get a girl for the kitchen set after all!  Her co-worker replied, “Is he yours.”  The owner gasp then said, “I told you he was hers.”  I laughed and said, “I got a late start, but yes, he’s my son.”

The funny thing is, I know I’m technically old enough to be his grandmother, if I had a twenty something son or daughter, who had a child already.   I don’t see myself as they do I suppose.  I don’t have gray hair yet and don’t feel like I look like a typical grandmother.  I see other people my age with young kids, and do not question their relationship.  I guess because I can relate to them. 

Although, there is a “sting” every time I’m asked if my child- who I labored and birthed- is mine, I will be around forty-five when the twins turn two.  These questions are unlikely to go away.  I just have to remember that people are just nosey- I mean curious!  They really don’t have bad intentions, or mean to hurt me.

When John Luke is old enough to understand he’s adopted, these questions could give me an opportunity to talk about the joys of embryo adoption and the advantages of being an older parent.

FAMILY VACAY

John Luke and I spent a week at Chestnut Bay Resort on Lake Weiss in Alabama with Josh’s family.  Josh was only able to come for the weekend due to work.  On Monday I did my follow-up blood work at Lab Corp in Gadsden, Al.  While in Gadsden, we all went sight seeing to Noccalula Falls.  We toured the park and rode the train.  They had a petting zoo where kids could pet the animals such as rabbits, llamas, goats, and deer.

 

 Tuesday we rented a pontoon boat and hung out by the lake kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming.  The lake had a beachfront with lawn chairs and a shallow section for the kids.  John Luke wasn’t as much into swimming as he was playing in the sand.  The lake had a 120 foot water slide the older kids loved.

 

 On Wednesday my mother and sister-n-law had a girl’s day out for lunch and Antique shopping.  We found this little cafe called Tewana’s which has been featured in Southern Living.  After a couple of bites, we found out why.  It was a great day and we enjoyed the kid free shopping.  Spoke with the NEDC and my blood work came back good.  I am officially released to my Ob/gyn. Yippee!

 

 Thursday we all loaded up and went to Little River Canyon and Lookout Mountain on a road trip.  We had lunch in a quant little town called Mentone and did some more shopping.

 

 Friday, John Luke, Pop and I stayed back at the cabin while the rest of the crew went zip-lining in Little River Canyon.  That afternoon we did some more kayaking and paddle boarding.  I’m a little hooked on paddle boarding and told Josh I want a paddle board for my birthday in September.

 

 We were blessed with beautiful weather.  It started sprinkling Saturday, the day we were leaving.  It was a jammed pack week, but always good to get to spend time together with family.  Here are some pictures from our vacation.