Having Twins.....

Tonight looks like another long, sleepless one as both twins have colds and coughs to join the pain of teething. I think I have been awake longer than Santa this year!
As I am taking all the older ones out to the cinema tonight to see 'New Years Eve' I thought I would blog now.

After some rather pessimistic posts I decided I should really be a bit more upbeat. What is better than to mention my beautiful twins. I get rather sad when I take them out and everyone says 'Twins! double the trouble'. No actually, they are not. I must have said this about a hundred times when we were at the sales. More like double the joy. What a blessing to be sitting here typing with these two wonderful little people both in their baby bouncers laughing and giggling at me?
When I was 28 weeks pregnant I was rushed in for a scan as I had a few things in my urine, it escapes me as to what, I lost track! It was very late by the time I arrived as I waited till I got the youngest ones in bed. I had to wait for the scanner and eventually he came to my room. The Dr scanned me with a midwife present. As always, Caleb was hopping around like a lunatic, Anya who was always pretty quiet, was worryingly still, in fact absolutely still, and it took over 15 mins to even find her heartbeat. I cried and asked if she had died, as the Dr and midwife exchanged worried glances. When her heartbeat was eventually found, the relief in the room was audible.
I have never, ever forgotten that moment, and how I felt. Every time I feel really tired or one of them winges I remember it, and the absolute joy I felt when I new they were both healthy and safe.
Having twins is not double the work most days. Yes it's very full on and hectic. It is sometimes hard to give them both the attention they need if they demand it at exactly the same time, but there are ways and means of achieving this. I love seeing how they gradually relate more to each other, how they are company for one another and the special relationship develop.
I have already had girl/ boy twins, who are now 15 and my husband is also a girl/boy twin. I feel very very lucky to have another set, and looking after them is such a privilege, even on the back of no sleep!
However you do need to be organised. Very organised. In term time this is quite easy as there is a set routine we follow. In the holidays this is much harder. twins, without a routine are hard work as we are now finding over again! It unsettles them and us! They are waking later, sleeping at very odd times and going to bed later. I for one cannot wait for my nice organised life again! It's lovely to be able to have more time to watch them develop relationships with their elder brothers and sisters. I could spend all day watching them, they fascinate me that much. Mair, in particular is so funny with them. Yes, we have had to stop her 'kindly' giving them her plastic toys (with small detachable parts) peanuts, and God knows what else, but she does love them to bits. With such a large (5 year) gap between them, this is our biggest gap and we are thankful she has adapted to her 'baby of the family' place being usurped  not by one, but two babies.
So if you are pregnant with twins, be encouraged. If you are not, just make sure you don't say twins are double trouble or as a national newspaper recently quoted 'double the burden'!