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Friday, Lucas, Brodie and I rode from our house near Watt Avenue and Hwy 50 to the Central Library in downtown Sac to attend Story Time.  After Story Time, we ate a picnic lunch at Caesar Chavez Park, then rode over to K Street Mall.  Bikes are not allowed on K Street Mall, so we walked a couple blocks through the mall, then through the tunnel under the freeway and arrived in Old Sac.  As we emerged in Old Sac we were transported back in time to the Gold Rush Days.  The streets were covered in dirt.  The only traffic in the streets were wagons being pulled by livestock. I thought riding through Old Sac would be a quick route onto the bike trail.  I was wrong!  I tried to walk my bike with the trailer along the wooden sidewalk, but there were so many tourists we could barely move at times.  They were taking pictures of everything.  Pictures of themselves, their families, the horses, the covered wagons, etc.  I finally decided the only way to get through Old Town was to ride on the dirt covered streets, with the horses and covered wagons.  At one point, I actually had to signal I was turning left to a woman in costume riding a horse.

If I had known Gold Rush Days were going on in Old Sac I would have planned on staying for a while.  It looked like everyone was having so much fun.  But the weather was warming up and we still had about 10 miles to go before arriving home.  After riding on the cobblestone strees to fill up our water bottles, we continued our journey onto the American River Bike trail through Discovery Park, up river to CSUS, crossed the Guy West Bridge, and finally arrived home.  We stayed inside the rest of the day enjoying the air conditioning.

It seems like every where I go these days, I run into parents of multiples, soon to be parents of multiples, or someone who is a twin, or has multiples in their family. 

I have found that the common thread other than the multiple connection, is we all like to talk, share stories, and offer advice about being parents of multiples.

After Lucas and Brodie were first born, I was overwhelmed when meeting parents of multiples.  Their words of wisdom were frightening at times.  Especially when it seemed like all I was doing was barely making it through each day on a few hours of INTERRUPTED sleep. 

Now that my boys are a year old, I have officially emerged out of the fog.  Now I too am one of those mothers of multiples who likes to talk, share stories, and offer advice.  But I can still remember how I felt not so long ago, and I try not to overwhelm the new and soon to be parents of multiples. 

Becoming a new parent is a major accomplishment and takes getting use to, but becoming a new parent of multiples requires some sort of super human feat.  The only way to survive is to accept help when its offered, ask for help, ask questions, and listen to the advice of those who have already been through it. 




 

Brodie and Lucas had their first hair cut on Friday.  Brodie went first and sat cooperatively the entire time.  Lucas went second and was not very happy.  Eventually he started to cry, but not until the very end.

They are officially no longer babies.  They are growing up before my eyes.  They are both standing, occasionally letting go with both hands, and will soon be walking.  I'm sure as soon as they take their first steps, they'll both be running.  I love being a mom.  I love my twin boys.  

The attached photo was taken after their hair cuts. They are posing with Ursula, their Hair Designer, who helped make their first hair cut a positive experience.    

4 AM I woke up to Brodie crying.  4:30 AM he fell back asleep without nursing.  5:40 AM I woke up to Brodie and Lucas both crying.  Our 5:15 AM alarm didn't go off because my husband forgot to set it.  After nursing the kids, my parents arrived to babysit for the day. My husband and I were off to race the Single Speed World Championships in Napa at Skyline Park.  We arrived at Skyline Park by 9 AM.  I had planned to pump before and after the race, but the car adapter did work in the Honda Element.  I decided this was out of my control, so I would just deal with it.  Whatever that meant, I did not know.

The race started at 10 AM with riders from all over the world walking to park their bikes to a far away empty field. 10:30 AM everyone had to run (in their bike shoes) down the fire road, around the horse corral, and through the field, find our bikes, and start the race.  Riders were wearing wild and crazy outfits, costumes, and some just wearing their "whitey tighties" or briefs.  You had to be there to understand why.  I was happy to keep my clothes on, and was one of the few who was dressed in normal bike clothes.  We raced 3 laps totaling approximately 30 miles.  I finished in just over 4 hours, just 4 minutes ahead of my husband.  Yes, I beat him.  He started the race ahead of me.  I passed him on the second lap.  For a while we had fun riding together.  The entire race, I kept telling myself, "Don't even think about your ****.  Don't even touch them. Just pretend you don't have any."  Luckily, it worked.  We arrived home around 5PM, and after taking a quick shower to clean off the sweat, dirt, and potential poison oak, I nursed the kids by 5:30 PM.  Brodie and Lucas were so happy to see us, and especially happy to nurse.  They latched on for a good 15 minutes.  Much longer than their usual 5 minutes.  They did the same thing when I nursed them before bedtime.  The missed their Mama.  I missed them too, but I also had such a fun day racing my mountain bike and spending time with my husband.  Grandma and Grandpa said the kids were happy the entire day.  They all had fun and played hard, but were exhausted and ready to go home and relax.  Brodie and Lucas had no problem falling asleep tonight.  Now I just hope they both sleep through the night, so Mama and Dada (as Lucas refers to us) can get some much needed recovery sleep.          

If you are looking for a fun place to go outdoors with the kids, head over to Seely Park.  Not only does this neighborhood park have a great playground, it has a splash ground that will keep the entire family cool and entertained for hours.

Seely Park is located at 2804 Pope Avenue in Sacramento.  Don't forget to bring your swimsuit, sun block, and a towel. 

Who knew that a black bean-sweet potato quesadilla with soy cheese in a brown rice tortilla would be so tasty.  In trying to avoid wheat, eliminate dairy, and create new food choices for dinner, this was the evenings entree.  After one bite, Lucas and Brodie didn't want anything to do with it.  In fact, they decided after tasting THAT, they didn't want anything else in their mouths.  So dinner consisted of a few grapes, and milk.  I ate all the yummy left overs.  Now I'm just left with the after dinner mess, which is much worse on a night that the kids decide not to eat because most of their food ends up on them, their highchairs, and the floor, rather than in their mouths. 

It seems like this week, no matter where I go to run or ride, I've had to deal with broken glass.  Thursday while riding my bike with the kids, we encountered broken glass in the bike lane and on the sidewalks in my neighborhood.  Friday morning while running through my neighborhood, there was even more broken glass than the day before.  This morning while riding to the Farmers' Market, there was so much broken glass on the Watt Avenue bridge, we had to turn around and go around and ride across the other side. 

So far we've been lucky (knock on wood) and haven't had any flats.  I always carry spare tubes, patch kit, tire irons, and a pump.  I go out of my way to avoid getting a flat tire because having to repair a flat on my bike, their bike trailer, or running stroller would not be very much fun, especially with two kids that just like to go, go, go.    

I think people who choose to throw glass bottles into the streets are so inconsiderate .  The world is not their trash can.  They probably don't even realize that they are littering.  They definitely aren't being environmentally conscious, and they are inconveniencing the rest of us in a big way. 
 

Within 5 minutes of feeding the boys lunch on Wednesday, Brodie had an allergic reaction.  The left side of his face got red, blotchy, and and within the hour his entire face, including his nostrils, eyes, checks, chin, around his lips, and ear lobes were swollen.  I talked to the advice nurse twice.  She thought it was a topical allergic reaction, possibly to the new sunblock I put on him @ 8AM in combination with the food that got on his face during lunch.  Based on the recommendation of the advice nurse, I gave Brodie (and Lucas because he did not want to be left out of all of the fun) a tepid bath, put 1% hydrocortisone ointment on part of his face farthest from his eyes, and there was no improvement.  I loaded the kids into the car and drove in the 100 degree + weather to buy Baby Benadryl.  I arrived at Raley's parking lot.  I hadn't even driven 5 minutes, when both kids were asleep.   I decided they needed the sleep, so I started driving to the nearest Target.  About 1/2 way there I thought I am being so silly.  I'm wasting time, gas, and polluting the environment just so my kids can get a nap.  All I really needed was to give Brodie Baby Benadryl ASAP to help the little guy.  I pulled into Safeway, the next closest grocery store.  I cringed every time someone came up to me and said, "Oh, are they twins?" because Brodie's face was not looking pretty.  Amazingly, Lucas and Brodie slept through th entire unloading into the stroller, shopping at Safeway, loading back into the car, and continued to sleep all the way back home.  I started to feel panicked when it was nearing 3PM, my husband is out of town, and I really didn't want to brave the emergency room by myself with twins.  I finally woke Brodie up to give him his medicine. Within the hour, Brodie's face started to improve.  By the time I put him to bed, approximately 4 hours later, he looked almost normal.  The entire incident was scary.  Baby Benadryl did the trick.  I still don't know what caused the allergic reaction.  I wish I knew, because this is one incident that does not need repeating.

Last Sunday I raced the Howell Mountain Challenge on my single speed mountain in Anguin.  As I pedaled up the first hill at the start of the race, my husband and the boys were at the top cheering me on, with a large sign that said, "Go Mom, Go!"  This was the most memorable part of the race, next to finishing the 20 miles in just over 2 1/2 hours.  (A little slow, but at least I finished!)  I crashed once, but jumped off in time to avoid hitting the ground.  My bike worked well.  Luckily I didn't get any poison oak.  The best part of my day was, I got a much needed break from being "24/7 Mommy on Demand", and the boys got to spend the morning with Daddy. 

In two weeks, my husband and I are both racing Single Speed World Championships at Skyline Park in Napa.  Lucas and Brodie will stay home with my parents.  I'm already mentally preparing myself for when we leave them for the day.  It is going to be difficult to not worry about them while we're gone.

This morning started off mellow.  Lucas woke up at 5:30 AM.  Brodie woke up at 6 AM.  I was able to take a quick shower before my husband left at 6:30 AM to go mtn bike riding for the day in the Sierras.  After breakfast, we played for awhile, then I loaded the kids into the car so we could go to the Farmers' Market. 

I locked and shut the door leading into the garage, and had this sinking feeling that I had just locked myself out of the house.  I checked my diaper bag, and found my wallet, but no keys.  I checked my pockets, and found the grocery list and my cell phone, but still no keys. 

I called my Mom on my cell phone, and she said she would be right over with her keys.  While we waited, I figured we could all play on the front lawn.  (I mowed the front lawn on Monday of this week while Brodie and Lucas watched patiently sitting in their running stroller.)  I just about jumped out of my shoes when I walked around the back of my car and saw a large eared, furry, stiff and bloody rat in the garage behind my car.  EEEEEEW! YUCK! GROSS!   I pulled myself together so I didn't freak out the boys, and stayed clear of the dead rat as I pulled the picnic blanket out of my car.  We spent the next 30 minutes waiting for my Mom while playing on the front lawn.  Entrainment value:  crawling over Mommy and onto the wet grass, trying to eat grass, watching cars pass by, airplanes fly overhead, and neighbors walk by with friendly commentary. 

My Mom arrived just in time, as the boys were starting to get tired.  Tired + slight slope in lawn =  baby face plants and tears.  My Mom offered to stay and watch Brodie and Lucas while I went to the Farmers' Market. 

Before I could even drive out of the garage, I had to remove the bloody rat from behind my car.  EEEEEEW! YUCK! GROSS!  It is now in a paper bag, outside the garage, waiting for my husband to dispose of it. 

When I returned home from the market, both Brodie and Lucas were napping.  I sent my Mom home with a Bell eggplant, Thai peppers, and a Buttercup squash, as a Thank You for coming to our rescue. 

I think it's going to be a great day!



       

What I learned the first year as a twin mom:

Focus on the positive.
Find the humor in stressful situations.
Challenges bring opportunity for intense learning.
Take a deep breath and repeat "This too shall pass".
Thank God for each new day and for blessing me with patience, courage, physical and mental strength, and energy despite sleep deprivation.

Live, Love, Laugh:  Life with twins is always an adventure.

Lucas and Brodie will celebrate their 1st Birthday August 15th. 

Besides the fact that I am exhausted, the weaning process is going well.  The dairy elimination diet is working.  Brodie is no longer anemic.  His iron levels are normal.  He no longer has an upset stomach.  Best of all, his sleep at night has improved.  We still have a way to go before I can say Brodie and Lucas are weaned.  Night weaning Brodie has been tiring.  He is still waking up every 2-3 hours with the expectation that I will nurse him back to sleep.  He goes to sleep at 7 PM with Lucas.  Each time he wakes up within the 2-3 hour time frame, I offer him a bottle, and rock him back to sleep.  Sounds easy, NOT!  He pitches a little fit every time, but eventually sleep over takes him, and I return him back to his crib.  Usually around 1 AM, he awakes again.  Considering this is about his 3rd time waking up, he finally gives in and takes the bottle drinking 4-5 oz of soy formula.  Once he falls asleep, we both get the best sleep of the night, until around 5 AM when I awake to a duet of crying.  Brodie and Lucas both wake up together every morning and cry big tears until they get what they want most...to nurse with Mommy. 
I am nursing them before they go to bed at night, when they first wake up in the morning, and at least 3-4 other times throughout the day.  Breast feeding averages 5-6 times per day.  They eat 3 solid meals a day with 2 snacks.  They are starting to increase the amount of milk they drink from cups during the day.   It seems like our daily focus is drinking milk, eating food, and decreasing nursing gradually.  We add in play, naps, and suddenly the day is nearly over, and its time to begin the bed time routine and start everything all over again.  No, I rarely get to take a nap.  So by 7 PM when Brodie and Lucas are asleep, I can barely function due to fatigue.  Night, Night!  I'm off to bed before Brodie wakes me up.

This morning while getting ready to take Lucas and Brodie for a bike ride, I was literally running all over the house.  Lucas was crawling at warp speed through the kitchen toward the step, and the gate was not up.  Brodie was crawling at warp speed down the hall, and I forgot to close the bedroom doors.  I felt like all I was doing was chasing after the kids.  Eventually, we did make it out of the house on our ride to McKinley Park.  What a beautiful day. 

We met some other moms and dads in the park for our Tuesday picnic and playgroup.  While feeding the kids their snack, I couldn't keep them still long enough to feed the two of the at the same time.  So Brodie took the opportunity to go on a sippy cup tasting tour, visiting all the different blankets, while I tried to keep Lucas still enough to finish his yogurt.  Then we switched.  Luckily while feeding Brodie, Lucas wasn't interested in the sippy cup tour.  Instead he was content searching for new toys to put in his mouth.  Not to mention, he ate a piece of leaf.  Since I couldn't get it out of this mouth, I gave him a drink of milk to wash it down the hatch.  The grass is always greener on the other side.  Next time I shouldn't bring a blanket, since the kids seem to spend their time everywhere else except on their own blanket.  Just kidding.

My first ever, 8 hours away from Lucas and Brodie wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Actually it went great!  My Mom babysat, while I attended an all day insurance seminar.  The boys ate solids, and drank milk from cups.  One of my Mom's friends came over for a couple hours to help around lunch time.  In the late afternoon, one of my friends came over with her son to help. 

In order to avoid clogged ducts or engorgement, I pumped during my lunch break.  I went to my car, covered as many windows in my car as possible, hooked myself up to my electric breast pump started pumping milk.  The entire time I felt like I was being watched as I was parked in a parking lot surrounded by office buildings with tinted windows.  I'm sure no one had any idea I was even in my car.  But I was a little paranoid, considering I was exposing my breasts.    The original plan was to dump the milk.  But after pumping 10 oz. I just couldn't pour it out.  So I quickly drove home, deposited the milk in the frig, and zoomed back to the seminar, arriving just a few minutes late. Once I returned home, Lucas and Brodie were on my like glue.  They nursed ferociously, and the just hung out crawling, climbing, clinging all over me.

My Mom was exhausted.  As she left for home to recover from spending the day with the boys, she said, "I'm glad I'm the Grandma and not the Mom because I can't imagine taking care of Lucas and Brodie every day.  I don't know how you do what you do each day."

My answer to that:  I love being a mom to twin boys.  I love what I do, but truthfully, I'm exhausted at the end of the day too.