Wow, I can’t believe the holiday season is over with! It has been a wonderful and surprising one for my family. I hope you all had an amazing 2014:)
My husband and I got our own little surprise this holiday season. We found out a few months ago that we are expecting again!
This wasn’t something that we had planned at all, so we were pretty shocked by the news. We took those first few weeks to really soak it in and be thankful for Clute Baby #3.
We had an ultrasound at around 10 weeks. My midwife couldn’t find the heartbeat with the normal heartbeat monitor so she wanted to ease my mind before we left for our holiday vacation. I was measuring a few weeks larger than my estimated due date, but this wasn’t too concerning since I have a pretty sizable fibroid that was could easily have been causing that.
My midwife was making a joke to my husband about “wouldn’t it be funny if you were having twins…” My hubs didn’t find this very humorous. We always joked about getting pregnant with twins because of how insane it would be. Neither of us have twins anywhere in our family history so it was never something that we even thought about on a serious level.
Surprise! That ultrasound showed two little baby sacs, two little heartbeats, and two little Baby Clutes.
We are having twins!
I was laughing hysterically because that’s usually how I handle shock. My husband was keeled over, hands on his knees, like he was about to pass out.
I am about 14 weeks now and feeling quite large. The emotional and physical toll of this pregnancy is SO much different from my first two babies. I am slowly coming out of shock and accepting this crazy gift that we have been given.
We waited to tell almost everyone until Christmas because it was around my 12 week mark and we just needed some time as a family to take it all in on our own time.
I knew that everyone would be really excited and probably as shocked as we were. My family was almost in disbelief when I called to tell them the news. My mom told me that she even though she knew it would be a lot to take on, she was “so excited in a selfish grandma way”. ๐
My mother-in-law screamed… no, that isn’t an exaggeration. She screamed and cried for a good five minutes. I had been pretty adamant about not wanted anymore children, which she wasn’t very happy about, so this news was the exact opposite of that!
I am really thankful for all of the support, love and excitement that we have been shown over the past month since we have let out the news. But, it has been a really hard adjustment for me to make mentally and physically.
I went from being about to exercise vigorously 6 days a week, drinking coffee and focusing all my energy into my two very active little ones, to having to change my life 180 degrees. I have been extremely sick, exhausted, only able to do light exercise a day or two a week and struggling to keep up with my girls.
It has been a huge adjustment trying to keep up with the changes in my own body. Twin pregnancies progress at a much faster rate than other pregnancies, so at 14 weeks I am about the same size that I was with my single pregnancies at 20-22 weeks. This is the progression from about 4 weeks, to 11 weeks, to 14 weeks.
The major changes that my family as a whole will have to make now is also very stressful and emotional. Sometimes my husband and I just look at each other like “what on the earth are we going to do?!”
I am really thankful for the blessing of two babies. I know some people struggle to even have one. I think that all children are a blessing, even if we have no clue what we the future is going to look like!
So, as we head into 2015, my family is preparing to get a bigger house, a bigger car, double of everything and to have 4 kiddos under 4-years-old. This is absolutely the time to find joy in the crazy.
On that note, how was your holiday? Any fun, exciting, or crazy news like ours?
I am going to start doing a weekly pregnancy update/mini-series this twin pregnancy. It’s a new experience for me and I hope it’s something that you all enjoy or maybe even take some information from, especially if you are trying to conceive or new to being pregnant.
*Cheers to taking all the surprises of life with patience and strength*
So happy and excited for you! I know it must be very overwhelming on all aspects, but you can do it and thankfully you also have a lot of support. Let me know if I can do anything for you.
Cajun recently posted…Citrus & Sandlewood Lip Balm
Thank you so much lady. It is really nerve racking but I am just trying to take it as it comes, day by day!:)
What crazy, exciting and scary news! Congratulations!
Thank you!
I had an aunt that had twins. I’m excited for you! Glad you have a supportive family and hope they are close enough to help you after the arrival & as needed. I love the pic in your Santa top. No, crazy holiday news from me, lol. Happy New Year!
Theresa @DearCreatives recently posted…Rustic Banana Bread with Crumble Topping Moist & Delicious #Recipe
A lot of them live far, but they are still really supportive emotionally:)
SO so happy for you! What a crazy and exciting time.. and I hope you know me and the girls are here for you to help out with whatever you need!!!
Lauren recently posted…December Family Favorites
Oh my gosh!!! Twins how very exciting ๐ You will be joining an “illustrious” group once you reach child number #4. I am so excited to read and follow your pregnancy. Hugs as you get through it for sure!
Jen recently posted…Man-Day Post: The Man Cooks Aebleskivers
I am nervous about joining that group. Although, my mom had 10, so 4 should be a piece of cake;)
Great post Joanne, I love reading the different family reactions. My cousin and his wife went from 0 – 5 in less than 4 years. She found out she was pregnant on their honeymoon. Then 2 years later they put in for adoption of two brothers who were in foster care and then found out they were having twin girls soon after. Lets just say the holidays are always loud, crazy and fun with the kids running around.
I am sure you and your husband will be fine with the new additions and I look forward to your updates.
On a side note, my husband and I always joke about twins. We have twins on both sides. My Father-in-law is one of 6, and two are twins. There are 12 kids in the next generation, 9 of the 12 have children and so far the twins have yet to make an appearance. Eeek!
Jeannine recently posted…Your Digital Marketing Goals For 2015
That sounds like a big and wonderful family:) I come from a family of 12 siblings, so I am used to a busy household. Be careful joking about twins, they come unexpectedly!
Oh my goodness! First of all, Congratulations! Second, WHAT???? Crazy and happy for you. Your world is about to get a whole lot busier. Hang in there and enjoy the ride!
Kirsten recently posted…Noon Year’s Eve at the Notebaert Nature Museum
Thank you! Things are going to be crazy, quickly I feel:)
CONGRATS!! I’ve always dreamed (sometimes good, sometimes bad) of having twins!! Enjoy the wild ride and keep us all posted on how things are going…or sleep…actually, just go sleep
Anne Marie recently posted…What I Did on my Christmas Vacationโฆ
Hahah I long for sleep these days:)
I am sure it will be a big adjustment, but it sounds like you have a lot of support which is so so important. I hope you feel better and are able to find time for you ๐
Bev recently posted…Ringing in 2015 with creativity
Thank you! I am thankful for having such a big family:)
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So excited for you and your family. Healthy preggo vibes your way!
Amee recently posted…Sofia the First Birthday Cake
Thanks lady!
Wow, that is so exciting! What a blessing and take care of yourself.
Melissa Matters recently posted…The Eye of the Storm
Thank you:)
Oh wow! This is so exciting! I’m so happy for you. Wow. Wow. Wow.
I look forward to following your progress.
Congratulations!
xoxo
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom recently posted…9 Tips To Inspire Great Blog Post Ideas
There will be plenty of updates:) Thank you!
Just saw your post on the SITSshare. Congratulations! Overwhelming I’m sure but exciting.
Liz recently posted…Zoe vs. How to Open a Present
Thank you so much:)
Woohoo Twins! Huge congratulations! What an awesome Christmas present!
Echo recently posted…Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Lemon, Thyme and Kale!
It is exciting and crazy all at once!
Congrats! We had a delightful surprise with baby #3 last year. I would have no idea how to react if it were twins…laughing hysterically sounds about right! Good thing you have lots of support. It’s going to be an amazing journey! Nice to *meet* you on #sitsblogging ๐
Gracielle recently posted…That’s a Wrap
Nice to “meet” you too! Air hugs:) It will be a big adventure for us, to say the least. But we are excited as much as we are nervous.
Congratulations! I had boy/ girl twins nearly 4 months ago (and I have 2 boys, one just turned 5 a couple of weeks ago, and a 2/1 2year old), so my situation is the same as yours. We don’t have a history of twins in our family either, so it came as an utter (and wonderful) surprise. I got big fast too, lol.
Going from 2 to 4 kids may seem like a lot (like A LOT), and it is, but it’s actually easier and better than one would think. If you want to chat/ ask any questions, please do!
For now, enjoy the pregnancy!
Alison recently posted…Through The Lens Thursday: Colourful
Thank you so much for the support and input:) I am sure that I will have plenty of questions so it is great to have someone who’s been there to chat with!
I am so SO thrilled for you! (even though I don’t know you!) BOth of our daughters were conceived via IVF, and I always secretly hoped some big surprise like this would happen to us. Life happens when you are busy planning it..good luck!
Kristen recently posted…Top 10 Signs You Are Living with a Threenager
Thank you:) That is so true! Life can throw some crazy things at us, but we are thankful.
Congratulations! I am so excited for you. I had always wanted twins myself so I’ll live vicariously through you! ๐
Phyllis @ Verified Mom recently posted…Feng Shui Your Deskโฆ I did! ๐
Thank you so much:) We always joked about twins but never in a million years thought it would actually happen.