1 Month Old

Where has the time gone? Deacon and Aniston have been bringing joy into our lives for 31 days. The twins are officially one month today!!

Not only did our babies turn one month, but Joe went back to work. I feel so lucky that Joe was able to take 4 weeks off. He was there to share in every special moment of their first month and was so helpful! Having twins is not easy and I couldn’t do it without him by my side!

Weight: Deacon is exactly 9 lbs and Aniston is 8 lbs 2 oz. Deacon is a stocky little guy and Aniston is his perfect dainty match!

Sleep: It hasn’t been too bad. From the moment we brought the twins home, we made sure to get them on the same schedule. They eat, nap, and sleep at the same time. During the night they are sleeping in 3 hour stretches. I am sure one or the other would sleep longer, but since we want them on the same schedule… if one is awake to feed, we wake the other. We have established a nightly routine of baths, jammies and swaddles, feeding time, and story time. It is amazing how they know the moment they get into their swaddle that it is bedtime.

Eating: We recently upped their food intake. They are both eating 4 oz at every feeding and do this every 3 hours. Deacon has a weak tummy and requires a lot of “burp time” during his feedings. If he doesn’t burp well, he is bound to spit up. Annie on the other hand rarely burps and almost never spits up. She is one tough cookie.

Clothing: Deacon and Aniston are still wearing newborn clothing and will be for quite some time. Many of their newborn outfits are too big on them still! We usually go through 2 outfits (or more) a day. They love to spit up and pee on their clothing….Just today both occurred! So, let’s just say, I am doing LOTS of laundry.

Mood: They have both already developed their own little personalities. Deacon is rather laid back. He can self soothe and put himself to sleep. He loves lying alone in his crib and staring up at the lights. He doesn’t mind being put down and left alone. Aniston is the opposite. She loves human contact (Joe says she is just like me). She wants mommy to hold her often and wants to be rocked to sleep. She can be fussy, but it usually is because she wants more attention.

Loves:

▪   Music: Joe has always been a music fanatic and he constantly listened to music or played his guitar throughout my pregnancy. I think the twins remember this because music really soothes them. We listen to it each morning and on car rides. They are wide-eyed with wonder each and every time.

▪   Singing: This falls into the same category as music, except we sing very specific songs each day. During our morning “happy time” the twins and I sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”. As we sing, I point out the corresponding body parts. I know they are newborns, but its never to young to build vocabulary.

▪   Their Lambies: Joe’s brother got them vibrating rockers that are cozy and look like lambs. They love sleeping in their lambs and look so peaceful when they are snuggled inside. I am very grateful for these!

▪   Their Hands: Deacon and Aniston are both fascinated by their hands. They love waving them around and trying to place them in their mouth. This has caused mommy some problems because their nails grow SO fast and I cannot keep them short enough. We have had numerous scratches on our little faces because of this!

What I Want to Remember:

▪   Their sweet newborn faces: Joe and I are so in love with them and cannot help taking tons of pictures. I know this can be a bit overkill, but they will only be this small once. So Joe and I are soaking it ALL up.

▪   Their sweet smiles: I love when Deacon and Aniston smile! They are still too little to know they are smiling and they do it at the strangest moments, but it is so special! My heart melts…

This month has flown by! We are now the parents to two beautiful babies, we moved hundreds of miles away from my family, we learned so many new things, and we are BEYOND happy!

Happy 1 Month Deacon and Annie. 

Deacon and Aniston's Birth Story

January 2, 2014 was a special day. Joe and I were celebrating 4 years of marriage and looking back on all the wonderful memories we have created together as a couple. As we enjoyed a romantic dinner we talked about the future and how the next day our lives would forever change. That day, January 3, 2014, was the day our twins entered the world!  

As I looked back on my pregnancy I couldn't believe it was over! I had carried the twins to full term with no complications or risks. I had worked the entire beginning of the school year and spent many hours on my feet. Joe and I had spent numerous nights discussing our future plans. What would their names be? How would we decorate their nursery? What would they look like? All of these questions would be answered very soon!

We had scheduled a C-section with my doctor from the very beginning. He had explained all the benefits and risks to us for all of our options. After these discussions, Joe and I had decided that delivering the twins via C-section was our safest and preferred option. This option became all the more real when we saw that Baby A was breech and had NO room to turn. A C-section now was our safest choice without a doubt. As my due date drew closer many were surprised that I was still holding out. Twins are usually delivered early and even my doctor was surprised I had not shown any signs of labor. At my weekly check-ups I was healthy and not dilated one bit! This was when we picked the date of January 3^rd. I would be exactly 38 weeks on that day and my doctor did not want them in any longer. Joe and I now knew when we would meet our babies!

38 weeks had flown by and as I woke up that morning I knew I was going to become a mother. The hospital bags were packed (I brought way too much with me to the hospital) and we were on our way! Joe and I arrived at the hospital at 7:30 am and were escorted into the labor and delivery area of the hospital. We would spend the next 2-3 hours preparing for the surgery. During this time many things occurred… I was given an IV, the twins heart rates were monitored closely, a variety of medications were given to help with the surgery, and Joe was prepped to enter the O.R. in his scrubs. Many experts visited (the anesthesiologist, baby nurse, and my doctor) and explained what was in store! These hours drug on for what seemed like days! I was so nervous and could not shake the chills that had overcome my body. I had never had major surgery and this was the source of all my fears. I wasn't scared to meet our babies… that was the part that was going to make this all worthwhile.

THE DELIVERY

At around 10:15 we entered the Operating Room. I was taken in 15 minutes before Joe so that they could prep me and get the room ready for the twins’ arrival. The operating room was extremely bright and full of the sounds of machines. The anesthesiologist had me sit on the edge of the operating table and administered the epidural. This was when my nerves really kicked in. My heart rate rose rapidly and the anesthesiologist kept telling me to take a deep breath and calm down. As they laid me down on the operating table I began asking a lot of questions. It was strange to me that I could feel them moving and touching my body. I knew that within minutes my doctor was going to be cutting in to me and I in no way wanted to feel that! I was assured by all of the kind nurses that everything I was feeling was normal and that no pain would be felt.

I felt a hundred times better when they brought Joe in and he sat next to me holding my hand! Dr. Folkestad then entered and exclaimed, “Let’s have some babies!” He began the operation and by the sounds I knew we were on our way to meeting the twins. At 10:40 am Dr. Folkestad pulled out Deacon Wesley Suarez. He held him high above the barricade separation and then handed him off to the baby nurse and he declared “Wow, he is a big boy!” So many emotions came over me all at once. He was so perfect and I was amazed that he had just come out of me! The doctor then said, “I think there is something else in here!” At 10:41 am I delivered Aniston Paige Suarez. She entered the world loud and proud! Dr. Folkestad held her where I could see and then she went off to be cleaned up. Joe followed the babies to the other side of the room and looked on as they were cleaned, weighed, and measured. It was announced that Deacon was 6lb 11oz and 20 ½ inches long and Aniston was 6lb 6oz and 20 inches long. All of the nurses kept saying how healthy they were and what a nice size for twins. They soon brought the babies over for “Skin to Skin Contact” and it was so amazing to see Joe holding our children. He instantly changed from my husband to a daddy!

Deacon Arrives!

Aniston is Here!!

Deacon being weighed!

Annie has her foot print taken

Deacon is a happy boy

Annie loved her daddy from the first moment!

Deacon has his chest measured

Aniston is weighed!

Throughout the surgery I felt extremely nauseous. Once I saw and touched the babies, the anesthesiologist gave me a cocktail to help with the nausea and to calm me down a bit. Man… it was a strong cocktail. Before I knew it I was in recovery holding Aniston and I was not quite sure how I had gotten there. After some time in recovery, I was wheeled into the room where Joe, myself, and the twins would spend the next 3 days. This was when I really had a chance to love on and look the babies over. Right away I noticed how different they were! Deacon was all boy and had such beautiful olive skin and Aniston was so dainty with perfect fair skin. They were beautiful and we were both instantly in love!

The first day in the hospital was filled with extreme nausea. I did not handle the medication well and puked numerous times. The nurses were wonderful and assured me that it would pass (it did). I was in some pain from the incision, but the pain medication that I was give every 4 hours made it all go away! I was so grateful for those magic pills. It made having a C-Section a piece of cake. My family arrived and loved on the babies! Everyone was so happy and the joy that filled the room could be felt by all. It was such a blessing…We had two gorgeous and healthy babies.

My birth experience was not typical, but I wouldn't change anything. My doctor and the nurses took wonderful care of all 4 of us and made this big moment in our lives one we will always look back on fondly. I am so thankful to all those who shared in our big day. Thank you to our families and friends that made the effort to come and visit, bring food, and spoil the twins with gifts! You all are so special to us and will forever be in our lives.

Welcome to the world Deacon and Aniston. You are loved more than you will ever know!