2013 in Review

I started this post last year, I swear. I've been trying to find the time to turn it into a photo bomb post (like most of my posts these days) and I think I can finally publish it. 

By far, 2013 was the best year in a long time. January came with lots of trips to NYC for our ivf cycle with a successful transfer on the full moon of Jan 21st. 

In early February we found out we were expecting not only one, but TWO babies! I was so surprised and shocked that I didn't successfully wrap my brain around the concept of twins for a few months. 

March and April brought my changing and growing body as well as fears about my pregnancy. I had my first official ob appointment We got to Skype with my mom in Costa Rica to tell her the exciting news. I also told my work and families I was pregnant. Apparently I wasn't hiding it as well as I thought. 

In May we found out we were going to be having 2 girls. It was one of the best and most exciting days of my life. Prior to the appointment we said we were going to wait to find out what we were having. Big surprise, I couldn't wait. 

In June we celebrated reaching viability at a cousin's wedding in NJ and I started to get really big and uncomfortable. 

July was hot and exhausting with work, but I survived until about the first week of August before getting pulled out. In a weeks time we celebrated my 30th birthday with the purchase of a fancy camera, I stopped working, and W found out he was going to need to find a new job. It was a bit scary at times, but W quickly lined up a new job. 

The summer was spent being lazy and large. I did a lot of crafting for the girls (quilts, mobiles, dresses, etc) and napping. Life with leisurely and relaxing. 

On labor day my sister came for a visit. We celebrated W's birthday and debated going to the state fair. 

On September 3rd I was heading to the fabric store with the dogs when I got into a car accident. Immediately things changed as my water broke and I was rushed to the hospital. 3 hours later my beautiful girls were born and rushed to the NICU. 

The next 18 days were spent primarily at the hospital. I lived out of a suitcase at my in-laws house and spent as much of my waking time possible visiting my girls. 

On the 21st of September, exactly 9 months after our full moon transfer the girls came home. 

W was home with me until Halloween, and most of October and November were a blur of feeding babies every 3 hours around the clock. We had some outings, but mainly stayed home. 

December brought our first out of town weekend and our first Christmas with the girls. And now another year has ended. It's amazing to me how much changed in my life this year and how fulfilled I feel now. 

So now I'll use my usual template for new years. 

1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?

Became a mommy 

Sewed clothing

Started a new carreer and quit my old one (for now)

Became an aunt to my nephew Benny

Regained some confidence in my body

2. Did you keep your resolution's, and will you make more for this year?

I kept some abs wasn't so successfully with others. I helped W in the kitchen like I said for a few weeks. Getting hugely pregnant didn't help but it's also a convenient excuse for me. 

I continued with my yoga practice and attended a prenatal yoga class for a majority of my pregnancy. I loved going and even met a new friend. I'm hoping to get back into doing yoga again soon. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

This was a big year for babies. My sister had my nephew in February and 3 of my close friends had babies. 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My sweet grandma passed away in July at the ripe age of 94. She was so positive and such a wonderful person. I miss her and wish she was able to meet the girls. 

5. What countries did you visit? None! We spent a lot of money and vacation time on our ivf cycle in January that brought us our girls. Totally worth it but I miss the beach!

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? 

A beach vacation. Please??!!

7. What dates from 2013 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

January 21st-full moon transfer of our embryos 

February 8th- found out we were pregnant with TWINS!

February 23rd- my nephew's birthday 

May 8th- found out we were going to have 2 girls. 

August 3rd- celebrated my 30th birthday

September 3rd- the birthday of my girls 

September 9th- The day I first held my girls together. 

September 21st- the day we brought the girls home from the NICU

October 10th- our 4th wedding anniversary 

October 15th- the due date for the girls 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

 Growing and giving birth to 2 perfect little girls. I also view breastfeeding them as a huge achievement. Having these positive experiences with my body has given me renewed confidence that I definitely lacked the past few years. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not having the birth experience I wanted. Due to the accident I needed an emergency cesarean section. This was done under general anesthesia because I was on blood thinners. This meant I didn't get to hear my girls cry for the first time and W wasn't able to be in the room. Also, their prematurity felt like a bit of a failure. Avoiding the NICU would have been ideal. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No, we were very lucky. I had a pretty uneventful twin pregnancy that was only complicated by gestational diabetes. Even that was easily controlled through my diet. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The ivf cycle that got us our girls and broke the bank, a new car (Mazda CX9), and lots of fun stuff for decorating and putting together the nursery. 

12. Where did most of your money go?

Expensive ivf cycle in NYC, nursery, mortgage, new car, savings

13. What did you get really excited about?

This is getting a little redundant but obviously my girls. The most exciting days were finding out they were both girls, holding them at the same time for the first time, and bringing them home. Since then, every little milestone is exciting; sleeping through the night, smiles, rolling over, giggles, etc.

14. What songs will always remind you of 2013?

For like the third year in a row I'm going to say Mumford and Sons but also the songs Mercy and Sweet by Dave Matthews Band. I also played the song Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes to my belly while I was pregnant and play it for the girls now. I love the chorus, "Home, let me come home. Home is whenever I'm with you." 

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

Happier or sadder? Immeasurably happier!

Thinner or fatter? Much thinner. Thank you breastfeeding!

Richer or poorer? Poorer! I'm not working much at all these days. Financially things have changed but I'm beyond grateful that I get to be home with my girls every day. 

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Relaxing and lying around before the girls got here, living in the moment, trusting myself, and traveling to see my sister and nephew. 

17. What do you wish you had done less of?

Worrying about every little detail. 

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Christmas eve we went to the in-laws, Christmas morning we slept in until 10 and then went to my moms. We managed to get out of dinner on Christmas and stayed home in our jannies. For new years we went to dinner at my in-laws and had lobster and risotto. After we went home and both fell asleep on the couch before midnight. Having infant twins is so glamorous!

19. What was your favorite tv program?

Breaking bad, the new girl, Generation Cryo, and I watched a lot of a really crappy show called Dr 90210 on Netflix when I got pulled out of work. 

20. What were you favorite books of the year?

Ummm Babywise? Maybe the Baby Nane Wizard, Love You Forever, Raising Twins? I need to get back into reading for myself and enjoyment. I don't have the time yet, but maybe someday. 

21. What were your favorite films of the year? 

The Hunger Games is the best I can come up with. 

22. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I turned 30 this year which was a huge milestone. That same week I hit 30 weeks in my pregnancy. We were supposed to have dinner at my moms but she cancelled as she wasn't up for it. We went to the mall to look at cameras, went out to lunch, and then W's parents hosted dinner instead. My MiL made a nice cheese dessert as I had my GD test the next morning. 

23. What's one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Carrying my girls full term but oh well. 

24. What kept you sane?
W, my sister, and all my great friends who had been through infertility and pregnancy, especially Tamara.

25. Tell us valuable lessons you learned in 2013:
My body is better able to do things I doubted it could do.
Pregnancy is everything it's cracked up to be and I feel so grateful I got to experience it.
Trust your gut and pursue everything you think is necessary to accomplish your goals. Find a doctor who you trust and believe in.
 I should trust things will be okay.
I have zero control over things I like to try to control.

This year was so amazing and I feel so grateful to have found Dr. Braverman. I can't believe I had 2 little girls this year. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us.