TwinHappy

Come Play With Us...

2011-11-01T11:19:00.004-05:00

Forever... and Ever...

LOL, just thought I'd post a quick pic of the girls in their Halloween costumes. I've been wanting to do this since they were babies, because I think it's the ultimate twin costume: This is Josie & Anna as the Grady twins from "The Shining." :-D

No, they've never seen "The Shining." I just told them they were dressing up as "Ghost Girls." They really got into it, though! You can see more pictures here, as well as check out the little video we made:

What did your twins dress up as? Feel free to post a link to your pic(s) in the comments! There's also a Halloween costume contest being hosted by our friends at Twin Parenthood, so you can go post them there, too!

P.S. If you have a moment, I'd love it if you voted for the girls in a couple of contest I've entered their picture in: The Children's Place and BuyCostumes. And, if you vote for them, maybe they won't eat your soul... maybe :-p

Help Emily Find Her Voice!

2011-08-31T18:04:00.006-05:00

So, I have totally not been keeping up with this blog, and I've actually had thoughts recently of just scrapping it all and maybe starting over fresh (possibly using Tumblr because I've come to like it more than Blogger)... but, for now, I wanted to go ahead and post this on behalf of a friend of mine...

One of the greatest things to come out of this blog is the fellow twin parents that I have become friends with. It may just be over Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, etc., but even if I haven't met them in person (at least yet), I can't help but feel that I know them so well through all the posts, stories, pictures, videos, etc. that they share.

This is for one of those friends.

Jennifer (yes, another Jennifer :-p) has twin girls and, both are exceptionally sweet with beautiful smiles. However, one of them, Emily, also has many special needs. This is a fundraiser Jennifer has started in order to find a way to help Emily communicate, not only with her Mommy, but the rest of the world. You can read more below, but please consider giving even just a little to help out this amazing family!

A note from Jennifer, Emily's Mommy:

My sweet Emily is special in many ways because she has cerebral palsy, cortical vision impairment (blind) and epilepsy. Many therapist and doctors have given up on her but we refuse. We need a way for her to communicate with us. I am wanting to raise money to buy an iPad that she can work with for communication. Her speech therapist is willing to work with her and her iPad but we need the equipment first. We are looking at an iPad2 for 599.00 and the app Proloquo2go which is 200.00, so we need to raise $800.00!

Can you please give at least a dollar? We thank you and she does too!

Click here to give!

Summer Cleaning :-p

2011-06-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

I have been spring cleaning (yes, I know it's summer already :-p)... trying to get my act together here, once and for all! :-p So, figured it was a good time for a quick update on what the heck I'm doing...

One of the biggest things to happen recently is that, my stepkids moved out. The youngest graduated high school and they both decided to move back to their Mom's in NJ. So, it's back down to just me, my husband and the girls, again. It hasn't been that way since the girls were 18 months old! (BTW--the girls just had their 6th birthday last month!)

So, while we miss Ryan and Dawn very much, we do have a bit more room to work with here... so, have been kind of overhauling the apartment ever since. We had toyed with the idea of moving and renting a house elsewhere, but finally decided to stay in our current apartment for one more year...

So, what are we doing with the extra room? Well, I think my Mom might actually be moving in :-p She needs a place, and we could use the extra help (both financially and, I'll admit, it is a bit of lifestyle change not having a couple of teenagers, i.e. built-in babysitters around :-p) She'll also be bringing her golden retriever so, it will indeed be a full house again, soon! But, using this time with it slightly emptied-out to finally get everything how I want it... so, that hopefully, I can FINALLY make some progress on other things (this blog included).

Financially, we are doing a bit better. My husband has still yet to find full-time employment, but he has been working part-time. It's actually the perfect job for him, and we think it has the potential to become a real career for him. He's been hosting live trivia events at different bars/restaurants and, if you know my husband, you'd know what a dream job that is for him :-p While it may seem to some, well, trivial, it's something that he's truly passionate about... and he's great at it!

As for me, I've been doing a bit of web design work. In addition to doing a site for my husband (I made him a site at SkinnyDave.com to advertise his trivia services), I also recently designed a site for a friend who has a new barbecue sauce company. And, I'm totally not being paid to say this (I was only paid for the design work :-p) but, this truly is THE best bbq sauce ever. Check out my work (and maybe even order a bottle or 3 :-p) at DoomersOnline.com (The site for my design business is at AutumnRainDesign.com

AND, this is certainly not everything, but just today, I joined a new page started by a couple of friends. I totally resisted doing so because, I definitely need to get organized here before I start taking on new projects... but, it's just a Facebook page :-p And, they totally assured me that I didn't have to worry about it being a job or anything... I would just post whenever I felt like it :-p So, I'd also like to give a shout out to this brand new page: Parents Page! (I'm one of 5 moderators... it's brand, brand new so, there aren't many other people on there, yet, but would love to help out with that, at least! :-D)

OK, definitely have more I could add, but I guess I'll end this for now... have kind of a busy weekend ahead of me, but I'm getting close to finishing this house, and then... well, maybe I'll actually be able to do, you know, other stuff! :-p

Cheerios! :-D

Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

2011-03-31T23:02:00.006-05:00

Hey! So, I'll start out by saying, I'm totally slacking here, at the moment :-p But, I know how awesome the Ultimate Blog Party is so I wanted to get SOMETHING up tonight... I'll definitely try to update this post with more info and, maybe even something witty :-p But, for now...

Hi! :-) I'm Jen, aka TwinHappyJen and in 2005 I became a Mom to identical twin girls. They will be celebrating their 6th birthday in exactly a month :-D

My pet project is raising awareness of TTTS (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) as, my girls were born 10 weeks early due to complications from it. We were very, very lucky... and I try to remember that every single day.

One of the ways I try to help support the cause is by donating $1 for every sale of my children's book "Two Snowflakes" to the Fetal Hope Foundation. (I'll try to add a giveaway for a copy of it, to this post, shortly... it's been awhile since I've done one and UBP is definitely a good excuse for one :-D)

Anyway, thanks for stopping by! If you'd like, please feel free to follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, as well as here. And, please do leave me a comment so I can come check you out!! :-D

Happy UBP '11!!

Mother's Choice Saves Unborn Twins

2011-02-08T16:11:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post... still have things to catch up on here :-p But, I really should get in the habit of making quick posts like this. I should realize that every post doesn't have to be some super-involved effort :-p

Anyway, this video just emphasizes what I've known for years... that we are so incredibly lucky. Some of you may have heard me talk about this before, but the TTTS in my pregnancy went undiagnosed (until after the girls were born 10 weeks prematurely, due to complications from it). So, the fact that they both survived and are doing so well today, really is nothing short of a miracle...

http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/mother-s-choice-saves-unborn-twins-24117000

Jen vs. the Snowmen

2011-01-13T22:00:00.020-05:00

No, it's not the title of a bad movie, likely to be mocked by MST3K... but, it is just as pathetic.

The other day, I saw this cute little craft/recipe on Bakerella for these Milk-Men/Snowmen:

And, I look at it, and think it's so incredibly cute... and actually looks pretty simple to do, too! Then, yesterday, we get the first significant snowfall of the season... and, I had to make a trip to grocery store last night anyway... so, I think, this is the perfect time to make these little guys for my little girls.

So, along with my grocery order, I pick up everything I think I'll need. I wasn't going to follow the recipe exactly... I had a few little improvements/improvisations that I thought would work well. And, the recipe on Bakerella was actually just another version of another version of another version of these milkmen guys. So, I kind of wanted to make my own version.

So, I bring everything home and at about noon today (giving myself what I thought would be plenty of time to complete the project before having to pick up the girls from school), I begin to craft my milkmen snowmen. I just forgot one little detail: I suck at this kind of thing.

Not that I'm not a creative person, or don't have any talents in the crafting/decorating/baking/cooking arena. I actually have many... but, when it comes to these delicate little projects that require such a gentle hand and perfect little, graceful accouterments... yeah, not so much.

Of course, I didn't remember this until I was halfway through and had already, stupidly, told the girls to expect a surprise after school, today.

I was actually doing OK (not great, but OK)... UNTIL, I got to their heads.

First, I realized that the donut holes I had bought were too small to really sit on the rim of the glass without possibly/probably falling in. So, I did come up with this genius idea of taking plastic wrap and stretching it over the mouth of the bottle, taking double-sided tape to secure it, and then wrapping some of this white sheer ribbon I had around the lip of the bottle. Which, sorta worked... I guess....

But, even so, I had this tiny area to work with on the donut hole itself, to make these little faces. I also bought these strawberry milk straws thinking they would be great to use since I could pour in white milk, but they could actually be drinking strawberry milk. (And the pink straws would add some extra color.) But, it was almost impossible to get these giant straws through these tiny donut holes without destroying the donut hole...

And, then the chocolate chips were too big, and I couldn't get them to stick and the only icing I had to use as glue was orange (that I had bought to make the carrot nose)... and, even the nose itself wasn't turning out because all the tips I had were too big... and in all this, the little pink beads in the straws were slow dissolving in the milk... and, well, after much trial and error (mostly error), this was the best I could do...

And these were the stars... you should have seen the rejects! It was like something out of sugary nightmare.

However, I thought the girls might still like them. And, they did... but, I think I built up the surprise too much and when I handed these over, I think they were thinking, "Oh, OK, yeah, these are nice, too, I guess." (I knew I'd made a mistake as soon as I mentioned it to them this morning... the first thing they responded with, after I told them I would have a surprise for them after school today was, "Is it a puppy??")

They did enjoy them, though... and it gave me fodder for this blog post. I really am trying to get back into the habit of blogging here (and on my other blogs)... I haven't given up on my New Year's Resolutions! I just have so many, it's taking me awhile to get to all of them. However, my biggest resolution is really just to not give up... to keep trying each day. And, even if I have a bad day, to just get back on that horse again the next day and try again.

Although, I think I might have to make an exception when it comes to the milkmen/snowmen. I don't think I'm gonna try this again... so, extra donut holes, anyone?

BlogHopPalooza and Happy New Year!

2011-01-08T15:47:00.009-05:00

OK, I'm a bit late in posting this (I'm so sorry!), but finally getting my BlogHopPalooza post up! (And I'm definitely remiss, since I didn't even realize I was an official hostess of this event! That just goes to show how with it I've been lately :-p)

Anyway... Happy New Year! Yes, I know we're already a week into the new year :-p But, I am making progress (even if it hasn't been visible on this site, yet). Have actually been doing pretty good with my New Year's resolutions and, while I still have a long way to go, I'm optimistic that, at the very least, this year will be better than last. Of course, it couldn't really get much worse than 2010 was :-p (I know, famous last words, but still...)

Seriously, even after a week here, I still feel very determined and motivated! I think the number one thing that I'm trying to keep in mind is that, I don't need to be perfect every day... I just gotta keep getting back on that horse and trying my best :-)

And, on that note, I'll just go ahead and get to this great event that's kicking off the new year: BlogHopPalooza! It's a month-long event and, well, I'm just gonna consider myself fashionably late... :-p

The Rules (The last 3 are optional, but a good idea for all!)
1. Follow the first 5 blogs.
2. Leave a comment that you have followed so we may follow back!
3. Add the BlogHopPalooza badge.
4. Blog about BlogHopPalooza and add the linky.
5. Follow others and have a blast!

Your 5 Blog Hostesses

BlogHopPalooza

Support BlogHopPalooza by adding this badge to your blog!

TwinTuesday & TTTS Awareness Day

2010-12-07T23:08:00.007-05:00

So, I know I've been pretty MIA from the twin community lately, but felt like this was definitely the time to try and get back into things, even if I just make a little post right now (been trying to get this all day :-p)

Today is much more than just another TwinTuesday... it is TTTS Awareness Day.

TTTS stands for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and, of course, this is a cause that I support a great deal. Honestly, I really don't know how or why we got so lucky, but both of our little girls somehow beat the odds and are TTTS survivors... despite the fact I was only made aware of the TTTS after they were born (almost 10 weeks early). They are now happy, healthy 5-year olds who are enjoying kindergarten and without fail, make me smile every day. Here's a photo I took a couple of days ago, of them in front of the Christmas tree (yes, Josie now wears glasses)! P.S. You might notice a "two snowflakes" theme going on in our tree :-p

Again, though, we were ridiculously lucky. They did have a few developmental delays, and I even suspect that Josie's vision problems might be a lasting affect of the TTTS... she was the "donor twin" and, while Anna was the one we almost lost at birth (she was the "recipient twin" and her cardiovascular system got overloaded), Josie is the one who had the most delays and developmental difficulties. Overall, though, they're great! They are doing awesome in school, they are bright, and happy, and funny as all get out! :-D

All too often, though, there are tragic consequences to TTTS: the loss of one or both babies. However, while there is no real cure for TTTS, there are treatments available that can, at least in some cases, increase the odds of survival. Of course, you have to know that it's there, before any treatment can be discussed. Which is why I urge all women who are pregnant with twins to have ultrasounds and, ask questions. Are there one or two placentas? What are the chances that this is an identical twin pregnancy (which is the type of twinning that can develop TTTS)? Not all identical twin pregnancies are affected by TTTS, but there are enough that it is something to keep an eye out for.

TTTS is not necessarily a death sentence... but, it can be. Today is about remembering those that were lost... celebrating those that survived... and, hope for the future: A future where there are, at least, less tragic victims of TTTS.

There is actually a candle vigil at http://worldtttsawarenessday.org/prayer.php where you can light virtual candles for your twins (whether they have been lost to TTTS or not... although, most do seem to be from those who lost one or both twins). There are now over 200 entries there... and, of course, that's only the tip of a very big iceberg. I haven't even been able to read them all. I get a couple in and I become overwhelmed with sadness. However, I did light my own candles for Anna and Josie, along with this prayer:

To Anna and Josie, I don't know how or why I got so lucky to have you in my life. It's hard for me to even think about how close I came to losing both of you. You two are absolutely the lights of my life and, I simply can't imagine my life without you (both of you). I cried the day I found out I was having twins. But, I cry now for all those who have been lost. I can't begin to understand that kind of pain. My heart goes out to all my fellow twin parents, whether or not your babies are still here on earth. I've prayed to my sister Sharon, who was born a year after me, and died when she was 2 months old, to look out for all these new angels in heaven.

OK, trying to dry the tears from my eyes... :-) Onto some fun stuff...

I've also been thinking about TTTS, because it's nearing the end of the year, and it's about time to total up the sales of my book "Two Snowflakes" for the year, so I can make a donation to the Fetal Hope Foundation. So far, this year, I've sold 81 copies and, I have pledged to donate a $1 for every copy sold, to help in the fight against TTTS!

However, TTTS Awareness Day was actually created by the TTTS Foundation and, in honor of that, I'm now pledging to donate an additional $1 for each sale of "Two Snowflakes" made in the month of December to the TTTS Foundation. So, not to make this too much of a sales pitch :-p But, not only does the book make a great gift, now $2 of your purchase actually goes toward the fight against TTTS!

Also, while I don't actually have a giveaway today, my friend Kristen at Life with Twins & Multiples has a great one going on right now! Click here for more info, and to enter her giveaway!

OK, I guess that's it for now... but, Happy TwinTuesday! And, will definitely try to be back with much more soon!!

Happy TwinTuesday! (Yes, I haven't forgotten! :-p)

2010-11-16T17:20:00.004-05:00

Happy TwinTuesday everyone! I know it's been awhile since I've done a TwinTuesday... and, still not really getting a chance to today, either. But, was inspired to write a quick post when I saw that my friends over at Twin Parenthood are actually hosting a TwinTuesday celebration today (complete with giveaways and all)! So, be sure to check it out at http://www.twinparenthood.com/2010/11/16/happy-twintuesday-giveaway-and-party/

Just as a personal note, though, I am fighting my way through my other work, so I can get back to my "twin work!" :-p Unfortunately, have just had to make some priority choices... and the number one priority has been trying to get bills paid :-( And, as much as I love TwinHappy, Two Snowflakes... and as much as I really want to finish up Two Princesses and, even more importantly, Twinstock (which I feel particularly bad about dropping the ball on and, know that I REALLY need to just finish up somehow)... none of these things really make any significant money right now. So, have had to focus my attentions elsewhere.

But, I really am trying to carve out some time to do some "twin work" anyway! It is something I still think about every day and, has been weighing heavily on my mind, lately. So, will definitely try to make it back for the next TwinTuesday!!

Quick Depression (Although, Not Depressive) Update :-p

2010-10-25T11:38:00.000-05:00

If I ever go off my Prozac again, please, somebody smack me upside the head :-p It's only my 3rd day back on it, but I already feel SO much better. It truly is like a weight being lifted off of me...

Depression is a funny thing...

2010-10-24T11:19:00.006-05:00

Not funny "ha-ha" obviously... :-p

But, unlike when you say, break an arm, conditions of the brain not only have the ability to inflict pain, but convince you that nothing is actually wrong with you.

So, while at the age of 9 perhaps, you try to jump from a balcony that's, maybe a foot off the ground... but, because you insisted on wearing dress shoes (for some reason) with shorts and your favorite horsie t-shirt, your heel gets caught and you land on your arm in such a way as to cause the front half of your right forearm to become perpendicular to the rear portion... well, the issue becomes quite clear: You are injured... seek medical attention... or at least Mommy and Daddy... :-p

However, depression is much more insidious. Not only is there no immediate snapping of your skeletal structure, but even if you start to feel the pain of depression, your brain will actually try to convince you that there is nothing physically wrong with you. It's simply due to your life circumstances, or the same old refrain of, "You were born a loser, you'll always be a loser..."

I really can't say for sure how long I've suffered from depression. It is certainly something that, seems to have gotten worse with age... and, fairly recently (early 2009), I did finally start seeking medical attention for it. However, it still gets me sometimes. And, it wasn't until yesterday that I was finally able to snap out of it enough to realize that it had gotten me again.

I can't help but kick myself a bit when that happens... because, how is it that I keep making this same mistake? But, I have at least seemed to have developed the ability to recognize when it has completely taken hold. And, that's what happened yesterday...

I don't want anybody to freak out if they read this, but there is one thought that, when it pops into my head, I now immediately recognize it for what it is. (However, it is something that I thought on many occasions, in the years leading up to that first doctor's visit in January of 2009.) And, that thought is, "If it weren't for the girls, I would just end it all, right now."

Don't worry, the thought process doesn't go any farther than that (at least not anymore)... because, my next immediate thought is now, "You haven't taken your prozac in a long time, have you?" And, that's of course exactly the case. I can't remember exactly how long I've been off it this time... maybe a month or two? But, certainly long enough...

I don't really stop taking it on purpose... at least not at first. I maybe miss a day or two.... and then I still feel OK, so it just completely slips my mind. And then, even if I notice the bottles I think, "You know, I haven't taken it in a long time, and I still feel OK (at least I think)... not saying I'll never take it again, but right now, maybe I don't need it. And, especially since we're without health insurance, maybe I should just hold onto the pills until or unless either Dave or I really need them...."

And especially this time, I had a few factors that helped mask the depression.

First, I got sick with the cold or flu or whatever it was. And, when that was going on (which seemed to last forever) I could just chalk my lack of energy, and generally feeling like crap, up to being sick.

Then, of course, there are plenty of life circumstances to feel pretty crappy and desperate about, right now. Our income is pretty compromised right now, due to neither one of us being able to find full-time employment (and believe me, we've BOTH been looking like crazy... but, even just getting an interview, or even any kind of response from anybody, seems to be absolutely impossible.) So, I've been so obsessed lately with making some kind of big change to get us out of this messy financial situation we've gotten ourselves into, that, I had that to occupy my brain.

Finally, a couple of days ago, I woke up with this horrible back pain (which is better, I guess, but still here)... and, of course, that gave me reason to stay in bed all day.

Yesterday, though, Dave got mad at me over some little thing and, it was just kind of the final straw. I didn't even see it coming, but I just suddenly thought, "If it weren't for the girls... although, maybe even they would be better off without me."

Maybe it was because I had taken it that step further... or because, I've been through this before, but almost instantaneously, I thought, "That's gotta be the depression talking." And, "It's time to start taking the Prozac, again."

I can't believe I've made this mistake again, but I'm trying to not get too down on myself about it. I'm still kind of waiting for it to take full effect, but I'm comforted even just knowing that, I'm at least doing this one thing that should help me get back on track. I've gotten so behind on so many things... which really should have been my first clue. But, again, I just kept telling myself, "It's just because you're too damn lazy to actually finish these things."

Anyway, while it may not mean much, I apologize if you're one of those people I've been neglecting (either personally or professionally). I know that apology won't really matter until I've actually done something to right the wrong... but, with any luck, and a little Prozac, that will hopefully come soon...

Happy Twinstock Thursday! :-D

2010-09-16T09:41:00.001-05:00

This is actually my second post today... I was going to do this all in one post, but the explanation of my recent absence from the site ran a bit long :-p So, while you are certainly more than welcome to read it, if you've been wondering where I've been lately, I figured I'd make a separate post to announce the re-boot of Twinstock! :-D

While I unfortunately dropped the ball a bit with this celebration, I have not abandoned it! :-p I've simply extended it until the end of this month! So, there's still time to enter the giveaways (and I think I still have at least a couple more to post, too!), nominate your picks for the Twinny awards, etc!! Just head on over to Twinstock.org to join the festivities! :-D

I'm back! I think... no, I am :-p

2010-09-16T09:32:00.003-05:00

This will actually be the first of two posts today. The second will be about restarting Twinstock :-) But, I have to first apologize for being MIA lately. I'll try not to make this TOO long of a story, since I'd rather get onto the fun stuff :-) But, to explain my absence...

I've mentioned this here before, but my family's been going through a difficult time. My husband Dave lost his job... in mid-November of last year. He did get a decent severance package (full pay/benefits through the end of last year). We cashed out his 401K, paid off bills... so for awhile we were doing OK. We never thought in a million years, though, that he would STILL be out of work.

Dave has worked continuously since the age of 14. He's had a number of different jobs (most recently in tech support, specifically the supervisory/managerial aspect)... and he has NEVER had this hard of a time finding work. And, it seems to only be getting harder, the longer he's out of work... probably because there is now this giant gap in his work history.

Of course, like many who are dealing with unemployment (which, unfortunately, is quite common nowadays), the problems go beyond just financial. That is a big part of it :-p We've been without health insurance... and, while I do still bring in some money with my web work, Dave finally had to file for unemployment a couple of months ago. That did help a little, but it's still only a fraction of what he was bringing in, so I've also had to borrow (way too much) money from my parents (who have been nice enough to do so, with no specific timeline for payback). I've had to let certain credit cards go into default... all of which in order to make sure the most important monthly bills get paid (rent, utilities, car, food, etc)...

Of course, this has also taken an emotional toll, on both me and my husband. I'll admit, I've felt at the my wit's end lately. Having everybody home all the time... well, I love my family, but working from home in what feels like constant chaos... :-p

Which also includes my 17 and 19 year old stepkids. My 17yo stepdaughter just started 12th grade... my 19yo stepson still won't get anything more than a part time job, despite my constant nagging :-p It's also a constant battle to get them to do even the simplest of chores... which also led to more stress, when they decided to call their Mother and complain to her about how we make them do things like wash dishes and watch the girls (like, if I want to take a shower or something frivolous like that :-p) So, she calls and creates a ruckus, threatening to call child protective services, etc, etc. She, of course, did this from NJ (we live in MD)... where, she has never paid any kind of child support, doesn't come see them, refuses to even have them come visit, even if we deliver them to her, since she claims that she doesn't have enough room, money to feed them, etc... basically, she's just a phone/Facebook buddy to them... but one who still knows how to stir things up, unfortunately :-(

That aside, though... in general, I just keep feeling like, if I just think hard enough, I can find the perfect solution to our problems. But, as yet, that perfect solution has eluded me :-p Honestly, I just haven't been in a great place lately.

The girls have finally started back to school, though... they just started full-time kindergarten! Which took some adjustment time, as well, but I think we're pretty settled into a routine now. Also, we finally decided that Dave should look for volunteer work. While it wouldn't help immediately, in the financial department, we think it's a good idea because, it would get him out of the house and doing something (which would be good for him emotionally)... and might even look good on his resume/lead to actual paid employment.

So, we are fighting our way back... it's just been a hard road lately. And, I kind of let a lot of things slide lately, especially things like TwinHappy and Twinstock. Which I hate, because these things are important to me!

Again, I am fighting my way back here, though! I've decided to simply extend Twinstock until the end of this month. And, I'm going to try and get back to at least doing my weekly TwinTuesday posts...

So, sorry for the novel here... as it is, I'm glossing over a lot of things :-p But, wanted to at least generally explain what has been going on... I am so sorry again, though, for letting certain things slide (I know owe a few people some e-mails!). But for now, will try to just get back in the saddle here... beginning with writing my "Happy Twinstock Thursday" post (look for that shortly)! :-D

Happy TwinTuesday! Twin Travel Tips? And, enter to win a Mother of Multiples Tee!

2010-07-13T11:17:00.010-05:00

Took a break from TwinTuesday last week, but we're back... and with not only a new QOTW, but a new giveaway, too!

Note: We're always looking for TwinTuesday Sponsors! If you'd like us to host a giveaway for you, please feel free to contact me: jennifer@twinhappy.com

This TwinTuesday is sponsored by Birds n Bees Tees!

Today, you can to enter to win this "Mother of Multiples AKA SUPER MOM" Tee from Birds n Bees Tees! It is a white V-neck (size Large) with a standard fit (not too tight, not too loose). And, it pays homage to the fact that, whether you're a Moms of twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, etc... we're all Super Moms!

I'm so happy that I finally get to do a Birds n Bees giveaway (and will be doing another during Twinstock!)... I fell in love at first sight with their designs :-) They have so many great things for families with twins, triplets or more. Be sure to stop by and see all that they have to offer!!

Mandatory Entry
(This must be done before any extra entries will be counted.)

Visit BirdsnBeesTees.com and post in the comments one other product (or set of products) you'd love to receive from Birds n Bees.

Extra Entries
Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry... it just makes things a lot easier when trying to count up all the entries :-)

1) Follow @TwinHappyJen and @BirdsnBeesTees and tweet the following:

This #TwinTuesday, @TwinHappyJen is giving away a "Mother of Multiples" Tee from @BirdsnBeesTees! Details @ http://bit.ly/tt071310

2) Become a fan of TwinHappy and Birds n Bees Tees on Facebook & post the following to your profile:

This #TwinTuesday, @TwinHappy is giving away a "Mother of Multiples" Tee from @Birds 'n' Bees Tees! Details @ http://bit.ly/tt071310

3) Follow TwinHappy via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs and/or sign up for the TwinHappy Newsletter. (Widgets on the sidebar :-D)

4) Answer the TwinTuesday QOTW:
Twin Travel Tips? Do you have tips/advice for traveling with young twins?

Post your response in the comments below, or answer on your own blog and add it to the linky below!

The Not-So-Fine Print: This giveaway is only open to US residents. You must be 18 years or older to enter. This giveaway will end on July 13, 2010 at 11:59PM (ET). The winner will will be announced/contacted shortly afterward.

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

The Twinny Awards

2010-07-10T19:35:00.002-05:00

Catching up on work here :-) I know I just completely missed the last TwinTuesday... just really had a lot of other things that needed catching up on, so decided to take a week off...

But, I am getting back to work here, too, now :-) And, I just made my first post about the Twinny Awards! I did so on the Twinstock site because, I've decided to make it an actual part of Twinstock this year... just thought it would be another great addition to the celebration! So, you can go ahead and post your nominations over at http://twinstock10.blogspot.com/2010/07/twinny-awards.html

And, of course, we are still accepting sponsors! Have a lot of e-mail to catch up on, too, but please feel free to add to it :-p You can check out more info on sponsorship opportunities at http://twinstock10.blogspot.com/2010/06/twinstock-sponsors.html

And, of course, we have giveaways! In fact, we already have a great one going on: The Twinstock Door Prize Giveaway! In fact, this might even be the best giveaway of the festival since, we already have a whole bunch of prizes in the pot (with probably more on the way)... so, be sure to get your entries in for that at http://twinstock10.blogspot.com/2010/06/door-prizes.html

OK, that's it for now... again, have things like e-mail to catch up on now, but will be back this Tuesday for another TwinTuesday, as well as more Twinstock info!!

Twindependence Day: Tutus and Wigs

2010-07-02T15:38:00.004-05:00

So, it's almost twindependence day again :-p And, I decided to try out something that I saw in Family Fun Magazine. It seemed like such a simple, but cool little craft project... and now that I've done it, I can say that it definitely lives up to both of those labels (and it was quite cheap, too). Making both tutus/wigs (they can be worn either way) took me just a little over an hour and under $14!

Here is a short demonstration (really, it's all you need... you don't need to be a particularly crafty person to do this one):

1) I ended up buying 2 yards of tulle (about 28" wide) of each color: red, white and blue (1 yard of each color, for each tutu). I then cut it into approximately 6" x 16" strips. Some were maybe a little bigger, some smaller, but the beauty of this craft is that it doesn't really need to be exact :-p

2) Then, measure an elastic band around your child's waist and cut to the appropriate length. Tie the ends together and stretch it over a book. Then, layer 2 strips, and tie them around the elastic band, as shown.

3) Continue tying, in alternating colors... again, I used 3 yards of tulle (1 of each color) for each tutu.

And, that's it! Could not have been easier... and the girls love 'em! And, so has everybody else that's seen it :-D I started out by only purchasing 1 yard of each color, but after making the first tutu, I realized I had to go buy a 2nd yard of each color to make the second tutu/wig. Anna insisted on wearing the first one out (as a wig), and she was an absolute star everywhere we went :-D (We had to make another stop, too, so she was able to parade in front of a good number of people.) Here are both of the girls modeling the completed tutus:

First, as a wig...

And, now as a tutu :-)

I can't wait for the girls to wear them to the 4th of July party we're going to! Now if only the cupcakes I'm planning to make turn out as well...

TTTS in the News

2010-06-30T17:09:00.009-05:00

As you might already know, TTTS (which stands for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) is my pet cause, since we almost lost our twins to this very serious disease, which affects some identical twin pregnancies. (You can read our personal story here.) Well, I suddenly have a bunch of TTTS-related news :-D

AOL Health: Pregnancy Survival Stories

I was recently interviewed by "AOL Health" for an article called "Pregnancy Survival Stories." Well, I just found out that it was published today! A friend of mine (who has been a friend since, even before my husband and I were married, much less even thought about having kids :-p) just happened across it and said, "Hey, I know her!" :-p You can read it at http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/pregnancy/pregnancy-survival-stories (we're the 3rd story down). It looks pretty good! Although, there was just one little detail that was off...

In the last article that I wrote about TTTS (for Twins Magazine), they edited me as saying that TTTS only affect Mo-Mo twins (Monozygotic/Monoamniotic)... which is not true. It does only affect monozygotic (identical) twins, but the twins don't necessarily have to be in separate amniotic sacs (in fact, Anna and Josie were diamniotic)...

When it comes to TTTS, it's simply about the shared placenta. And, in this most recent article, it says that it "is a complication specific to identical twins who each have their own amniotic sac but share a single placenta." Again, just to set the record straight: It has nothing to do with the sacs :-p It only affects twins who share a placenta (also called monochorionic). It won't affect ALL twins that share a placenta, but it does affect approximately 15% of monochorionic twins. (Which is why it's so important to find out whether or not your twins share a placenta... I certainly wish I had!)

And in fact, it doesn't just affect twins... as a quick side-story, on the way back from Twins Days last year, I actually met a couple with triplets that suffered from TTTTS (Twin-to-Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome :-p) I hadn't even considered that a possibility before then, but while extremely rare, identical triplets (and even higher order multiples) are possible... and, again, if they share a placenta....

(BTW--didn't actually didn't meet them at Twins Days... oddly enough, just happened to run into them at our last rest stop, at a McDonald's in Hagerstown, MD :-p)

Miracles of Multiples

In other news, I just received an e-mail from Karen Moise, RN who is actually a nurse coordinator at the Texas Children's Fetal Center in Houston, and recently, program coordinator for their new Program for Multiples. To help inform expecting parents, she started a blog called Miracles of Multiples. On it, she discusses a variety of pregnancy issues, including TTTS. It is definitely a great blog to check out if you are expecting multiples! Makes me wish we had been living in Texas when I was pregnant :-p (My husband actually lived in Houston for awhile, but it was a very long time ago... before we even met.)

The Fetal Hope Foundation and Chase Community Giving

Another piece of info I've been meaning to pass on: the charity that I most often support is the Fetal Hope Foundation, an organization working to raise awareness and support for TTTS and other fetal syndromes. And, they're actually in the running for the Chase Community Giving project! If you have a moment, please cast your vote for them!! It really is a great organization, founded by a fellow parent of twins/TTTS survivors. They often offer such help as travel expenses for families, if their unborn children need treatment for TTTS and other fetal syndromes... and much more!

TTTS Fundraiser in Philly

And finally, I just learned today that there will be a fundraiser for another great TTTS charity, the TTTS Foundation, in one of my favorite towns: Philly! :-) There will be a "Beef and Beer Fundraiser" on July 24th with a buffet, beer, soda, raffles, auction and kids activities, all to raise money to fight TTTS. This event is in honor of Charlotte and Mackenzie Garr who survived TTTS and to help more babies survive. Please contact Joe at jgkw123@comcast.net for more information. I'm actually considering attending this myself!

OK, I think that's it for now... phew, that's enough right? :-p Although, I will have more soon, as I am planning to include a TTTS fundraiser as part of Twinstock! So, be sure to stay tuned for more info on that! :-D

Happy TwinTuesday! Twin Conventions/Meet Ups?

2010-06-29T07:58:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! I can't believe it's this time of the week again, already... it really does seem like the older I get, the faster time goes by :-p

Anyway, I first wanted to mention that the "Teacher Appreciation Giveaway" (where you can enter for a chance to win a $60 GC to CSNstores.com) is still going on... but, it is ending tomorrow!

Also, I know I asked this question fairly recently, but it was one of those times that I didn't get the TwinTuesday post up until really late, and never got any responses to it, so... decided to go ahead and ask it again (since I'm getting this post up just a bit earlier in the day :-p)

Have you ever attended any kind of twins convention or meet-up?

I actually attended my first meet-up, right before the girls' 1st birthday. I organized a little trip to the DC Zoo, with a few other twin Moms that I chatted with on a twins message board. It was fun! It could have been better, though... I think the zoo just wasn't necessarily the best place for a first meeting between many different people, who didn't really know each other well: It was busy, everybody was trying to keep track of their own children, and ultimately everyone ended up going their separate ways. But still, it was a great first experience! And, in the future I'd love to do more (I don't know why I haven't before now)....

The only other thing I've done is taken the girls up to Twinsburg, OH (just outside of Cleveland) for the annual Twins Days Festival! Went up with my husband and the girls in August of '07 and took them again, by myself (I know, I'm crazy :-p) in August of '09. It is definitely something you should do, at least once, with your twins... especially when they get old enough to really understand their "twindom." I think it's so great for my girls to see that, they are not the only twins in the world... not by a long shot :-p It's a really great experience! And, my ultimate dream is to organize my own Twins Festival, in my own neck of the woods... I think it would be great to have more, in other areas!

For the time being, though, I'm currently working on my online twins festival: Twinstock! :-D I just set it up the other day, but have already received a whole bunch of sponsorship offers... and, since I still have over a month before it actually starts, I think this year's celebration is gonna blow last year's away! :-D I also have so many ideas for it...

But, I digress :-p What about you? Have you attended and/or hosted any kind of twins meet-up, convention, etc? Feel free to leave your answer in the comments below... or, answer on your blog and leave a link to your post in the linky below! (And feel free to add the blog hop code to your blog post, as well!)

P.S. You can also feel free to talk about anything you'd like in the TwinTuesday posting on your own blog... the QOTW is just meant as a discussion starter, but you're certainly not restricted to that as a topic :-)

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

Happy TwinTuesday! Road trips with your twins?

2010-06-22T19:03:00.003-05:00

Happy Summer everyone! At least, that's what I'm trying to tell myself :-p Of course, it is now officially, officially summer. And, while I always looked forward to summer in my youth, I have to admit that I have not been looking forward to this summer.

The reason? Anna and Josie LOVED school so much that I knew they would be bugging me every day they were out, about when they would be going back :-p And, they haven't proven wrong. We have now had several conversations about when they'll be going back to school, but every day they ask me something like, "Is it fall yet?" (Since that's when I've said they'll be returning. :-p)

I love that their teachers have given them such a great first impression of school (I go into that subject more on my "Teacher Appreciation Giveaway" post, which is where you can go to enter for a chance to win a $60 GC to CSNstores.com!)... but, I have to admit that having the same conversation with them over and over, every day since they've been out, has already started driving me up the wall... :-p

Well, today I actually got inspired to create sort of an advent calender for them. Just using a big sheet of drawing paper, some crayons and a yard stick, I made this for them (please pay no attention to my icky floors and wall :-p):

Bought them some glittery stickers and, filled up the days that have already passed... put enough away to fill up the rest of the calendar, and let them decorate the outer edges with the rest :-)

Now, even though I'm sure they'll still ask, I can just direct them to the calendar to show them how much time they have left until school starts again. Hoping this helps make it easier on all of us :-p

Beyond that, I'm hoping we'll be able to take at least one road trip this summer. Our finances are at least getting a little better :-) Not sure if we'll make it up to TwinsDays this year or not (thinking that we should maybe start a tradition of going every other year... seems to have been the pattern so far :-p), but would like to at least take one, at least semi-major, trip (will certainly take a few day trips, too).

So, speaking of road trips, have you taken your twins on a road trip, yet? And, if so, any tips/tricks for making the ride smoother? :-)

My personal advice is just bring plenty to keep them entertained... movies, games, books... anything you can think of. New stuff is the best since it will keep their interest longer. However, you should still be prepared to make plenty of stops. Our road trips with the girls just aren't like the old days where we'd drive for hours on end without a stop. Patience is definitely key when it comes to road trips with young children :-)

But, what about you? Feel free to leave your answer in the comments below... or, answer on your blog and leave a link to your post in the linky below! (And feel free to add the blog hop code to your blog post, as well!)

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

Teacher Appreciation Giveaway!

2010-06-16T14:10:00.003-05:00

Haven't done a giveaway in awhile so, thought it was definitely time! Especially after getting an offer to do one :-p This is actually a returning sponsor and, this one's even better than the last...

Need a new vanity? Or, just about anything? :-p Today, you can enter to win a $60 GC that you can use at any CSN Store (and there's over 250 of 'em)!

I also thought this was a good time for some "teacher appreciation." Yesterday was the last day of preschool for Anna and Josie... on Monday they had their "graduation." :-) And, I definitely want to show some appreciation for their teachers...

This is Day 1 of their summer vacation... and they're already bugging me about when it will be "fall." That's when I told them they'd be returning to school :-) I definitely want to give a big thank you to both of their teachers for making their first year in school such a positive experience. They've learned so much since the beginning of the year, but even more importantly, I feel like they've set the stage for Anna and Josie to go on and truly enjoy school. And, I don't think I can emphasize enough how important that is. To truly succeed in anything, you have to enjoy it. And, first impressions can mean so much :-)

Required Entry:
(This must be done before any extra entries will be counted.)

So, what about you? Whether it was your child's teacher this year, or any other teacher you've encountered, who would you like to send your thanks to? Post a comment below about the teacher you most appreciate, and be entered to win that $60 GC!

Extra Entries:
Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry!
(It just makes things a lot easier, when counting up entries.)

1) Follow the TwinHappy via Google Friend Connect.

2) Follow the TwinHappy via Networked Blogs.

3) Follow @TwinHappyJen and tweet the following:
Show your Teacher Appreciation and win a $60 GC from @TwinHappyJen! Details @ http://bit.ly/th061610
(You may do this more than once, but please only once per day.)

4) Like TwinHappy on Facebook and, post the following to your profile:
Show your Teacher Appreciation and win a $60 GC from @TwinHappy! Details @ http://bit.ly/th061610
(You may do this more than once, but please only once per day.)

5) Sign up for the TwinHappy Newsletter!

The Not-So-Fine Print: You must be 18 years or older to enter. This giveaway will end on June 30, 2010 at 11:59PM (ET). The winner will will be announced/contacted shortly thereafter.

TwinTuesday! What is your most memorable "public" twin experience?

2010-06-15T16:18:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone! Going a little post crazy today :-) I've already made one post today, but of course, had to make my official TwinTuesday post! :-) Also, after this, I'll be posting a giveaway! It is something I'm doing separately from TwinTuesday, but look for that shortly...

Anyway, onto the QOTW:

What is your most memorable "being stopped in public" experience?

Whether it was a comment someone made about your twins, or the circumstances surrounding being stopped... what one moment stands out in your mind as, "People really are crazy when it comes to twins." :-p

Mine was when my girls were just a couple of months old or so. I was at a new grocery store up the street (Wegmans in Hunt Valley, MD which is now my favorite store :-D), and I decided to stop and get some coffee. I was standing in line... the girls were asleep in their double stroller. And, then one person noticed them... and then another... and, before I knew it, there was a whole crowd gathered around them. It got so crazy that the walkway into the store actually became blocked (and this wasn't a narrow walkway by any means). I couldn't believe it!

What about you? What stands out in your mind as you most memorable "public" twin experience? :-) Feel free to leave your answer in the comments below... or, answer on your blog and leave a link to your post in the linky below! (And feel free to add the blog hop code to your blog post, as well!)

The next TwinTuesday QOTW:

Have you taken your twins on a road trip, yet? And, if so, any tips/tricks for making the ride smoother? :-)

Come back next week to answer!

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

Supernatural Twins

2010-06-15T15:47:00.004-05:00

This is actually the first of 3 posts I'm planning to make today... I know, I don't make any all week and then suddenly I go post-crazy :-p But, I actually have a giveaway to post... and then I have my usual TwinTuesday post... but, I just have to make one additional post, because I am still reeling over something that just happened...

First, I am not a religious person. I consider myself a true agnostic in that, I have no idea what, if anything, lies beyond this world. I don't make any judgments concerning what others choose to believe... but, I personally have adopted a certain humbleness: I know that I will never fully understand all the secrets of the universe. In fact, I doubt I'll ever even begin to scratch the surface, when it comes to my understanding of it.

However, I do hold certain beliefs. I may not believe in karma per se, but I do believe that if I live a good life, good things will happen to me. I also believe that there probably is more at work than I know about... and, every once in awhile, something happens that reinforces that idea, for me.

When Josie was a baby, she would often stare at a blank ceiling or wall... and, despite that, she would get a look on her face like the most entertaining show was being put on for her. At times, she would actually giggle, at absolutely nothing. This went on for a few months, when she was an infant, and then stopped. But, I would get such an odd feeling when she would do it... it was as if, she really was seeing something that I could not.

Well, just now, the girls and I were sitting on my bed, playing with Daddy's Magic Cheezburger (kind of a long story about that, but basically it's a magic 8-ball in the shape of cheeseburger :-p). We were just hanging out after school (today was their last day of preschool!), and they were asking it all kinds of silly questions :-)

Well, lately they've been really interested in the concept of growing up, including babies starting out in Mommies' tummies and then growing up... and at times have asked silly questions like, "Will we turn into babies again and go back into Mommy's stomach?" I've explained to them that it doesn't really work that way :-p But, in the midst of the silliness, Josie asked, "Will Josie go back into Mommy's stomach and then back into the light?"

I asked her to repeat it a couple of times and she really seemed to be asking if she would go backwards, and first go back into my tummy and then back into "the light."

I really don't know what to think of it, but I've had the weirdest feeling ever since. I'm really not one for ghost stories, supernatural tales, etc... at least MOST of the time, I think it's complete BS. Most of the time I'm a very logical, down-to-earth, woman of science :-)

But... well, I just really don't know what to think of this. Maybe she was just being silly... they make up things all the time: they're very creative and are always making up stories, characters, even words, etc. But, I just really don't know where she would have gotten an idea like this....

Anyway, don't really have more to say than that... just had to blog about this real quick. And, I wanted to ask, has anybody else ever experienced something like this?

Happy TwinTuesday! Twin Conventions/Meet Ups?

2010-06-08T13:43:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! Well, I seem to say this too often lately, but getting another late start. The girls and I just took a really long walk today (Anna in particular has just been wanting to explore the neighborhood lately)... and, then we all kind of collapsed when we got back :-p I got up just in time to get them off to school (it was the first time I had to wake them up for school :-p).

I also just got off the phone with a reporter, who wanted to talk to me about my experience with TTTS. I don't want to say more than that (I don't know how much I should and shouldn't say about it right now), but if/when the article goes up, I'll certainly post a link to it here! I just hope I didn't sound like too much of an idiot :-p I think I have some kind of phone phobia. Whenever I'm talking to someone I don't know really well, I get so nervous.... I start laughing a lot... and even just picking up the phone to call someone I don't know really well can sometimes be nearly impossible for me to do. I just do much better with meeting people in person or (especially) chatting online... I don't know what it is, but I usually avoid the phone as much as possible :-p

Anyway, back to TwinTuesday, I just realized that I never did post what today's QOTW would be, on last week's TwinTuesday posting... I'm so sorry! Will keep this week's question short and easy to answer...

Have you ever attended any kind of twins convention or meet-up?

For the time being, though, I'm currently working on my online twins festival: Twinstock! :-D I just set it up the other day, but have already received a whole bunch of sponsorship offers... and, since I still have almost a couple of months before it actually starts, I think this year's celebration is gonna blow last year's away! :-D I also have so many ideas for it...

P.S. And yes, Twinstock is what's been keeping me busy the past week :-p Sorry for letting TwinTuesday suffer because of it! But, to try and get on the right track, here's the next TwinTuesday QOTW:

What is your most memorable "being stopped in public" experience? Whether it was a comment someone made about your twins, or the circumstances surrounding being stopped... what one moment stands out in your mind as, "People really are crazy when it comes to twins." :-p

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

Happy TwinTuesday! Birth Order?

2010-06-01T00:01:00.013-05:00

Happy TwinTuesday, everyone! This post is a bit long-winded so, if you're pressed for time (or just don't feel like reading my ramblings :-p), please feel free to scroll to the bottom for the QOTW.

However, I'd just like to say, today is actually a personally special day for me. Even though the girls' 5th birthday was actually a month ago, on May 1st, June 1st is the day I celebrate as the day I really became a Mom.

While they were in the NICU, I of course visited them every day. Well, I actually a missed a couple of days in the middle because I developed a breast infection. I think it was somehow due to the constant pumping I was doing, and I, again, ended up layed-up with a 102 degree fever. But, other than that, I made my way there every single day... spent as much time as I could... and really did more than I probably should have since I was still recovering from my C-section. (I drove earlier than my doctor told me to... always had to park a mile away at the hospital, so did A LOT of uncomfortable walking :-p)

However, one of the most stressful things about them being in the hospital, was the fact that, I didn't really feel like their Mom yet. Their primary givers were the nurses. I just felt like a visitor. It's hard to explain that first month... a lot of it was just a blur for me. But, about this time 5 years ago, I received the news: the girls were going to be released on June 1st! Much earlier then expected (since they were 10 weeks premature).

As much as the previous month had been a blur, I remember that car ride home with crystal clarity: I was scared out of my mind :-p For the first time, the girls weren't hooked up to any machines and I remember feeling, "How am I supposed to know that they're still breathing, and that their hearts are still beating, without the beeps of the machine??" :-p We, of course, had to put them rear-facing, in the back of our car. So, I just kept reaching back, trying to get them to squeeze my fingers, so I knew they were still OK. We only lived about 10-15 minutes away from the hospital, but it was the longest 10-15 minutes of my life :-p

Finally, though, we made it home... and sure enough, they were safe and sound in the back seat. And, after that... well, things get blurry again :-p BUT, from that moment on, I was their Mom. I mean, I always was... but, now I was their primary (and pretty much only) caregiver. And, my bond with them grew both quickly and deeply from that moment on...

So, June 1st is a special day for me, personally. May 1st is their birthday, but I celebrate June 1st as my Mom-iversary :-p

Anyway, onto the QOTW!

The other day, I came across this article about birth order (and love choices so, it's a bit on the shallow/cutesy-side, for lack of a better description, but still interesting) and, it got me to thinking....

I've always been very interested in birth-order theories... I have always believed that birth order can at least be a very good indicator for someone's personality.

Me: I'm a firstborn. I have 2 brothers and a sister, all younger than me (by 3, 5 and 7 years respectively). And, like many firstborns, from a pretty young age, I was often left "in charge" of my younger siblings. Unfortunately, that led to a "me against them" (and vice-versa) mentality/relationship between us. But, it did also instill a strong "take charge" attitude in me. I have always strived to find my own way, take care of myself, cut my own path... which is sometimes a good thing... sometimes, maybe not so much :-p

The only person with whom I tend to let those tendencies fall by the wayside a bit, is my husband, Dave :-p He is a lastborn, with MANY older sisters and brothers. His family's a bit complicated... he's actually the only product of both his biological mother and father, but he has many half and step siblings, that may or may not have lived with him at some point. But, he is the last of all those siblings and, as the article pointed out, can have a tendency to be "easygoing, spontaneous, used to being noticed and fussed over, charming, and manipulative." And, I mean that in the nicest possible sense... really! :-p Many times, I do want, and will let him take the lead... I had a bit of a domineering Father, and I think sometimes I just get a little insecure about my own abilities. But, I think most of the time, I prefer to take the lead... and my husband even prefers that I take the lead (as long as he gets what he wants :-p)

ANYWAY, of course, a wrench kind of gets thrown into the works when it comes to twins. Even though Josie was technically born one minute before Anna, they're really the same age. Heck, for about the first week after conception, they were simply one fertilized zygote :-p And, since the only other children in the picture are their MUCH older half-brother and sister (my stepkids are now 19 and 17, respectively), they're pretty much just another couple of grown-ups in the house, to the girls. So, there's no real birth order dynamics taking place... in fact, they're kind of like two only children... taking on qualities of both first and last born children.

I know in some twin relationships, regardless of technical birth order, one twin will become the more dominant twin... but, that really doesn't seem to be the case with Anna and Josie. For awhile I thought Anna might be, just because in the beginning, she was developing a bit faster than Josie (leftover complications from the TTTS), but now that they've evened out that way, there truly does not seem to be a more dominant twin. They certainly have their differences... Josie tends to be a bit more sociable, while Anna likes to go off and do her own thing. But, when it comes to the dynamics between them, sometimes one will take the lead, sometimes the other will... but, they do seem to be true equals, in every sense. Which again, can be a good thing... but, sometimes it does lead to power struggles between them :-p

What about your experience, though? Just like everybody, every set of twins is different. Does there seem to be a more dominant twin? And incidentally, does it seem to correspond to their "technical" birth order in any way?

Feel free to leave your answer in the comments below... or, answer on your blog and leave a link to your post in the linky below! (And feel free to add the blog hop code to your blog post, as well!)

Special Note: Twinstock '10 is starting to take shape! Check out the update page/info for it at http://twinstock.org

New to TwinTuesday? Read about what exactly it is and how it all began!

Looking to connect with other Twin Moms, Dads & More on Twitter?
Check out the ever-growing "Twin Tweeters" list!

"Two Snowflakes" available at Barnes & Noble!

2010-05-31T07:55:00.002-05:00

I actually meant to post about this here yesterday, but ended up just having a nice day, chilling out... cooked some burgers and dogs on the grill... the girls played with their water table. Guess I should try to get some work done sometime this weekend, though :-p

Anyway, I just learned yesterday that my book "Two Snowflakes" is now also available at Barnes & Noble! (And, they're selling it really cheap, just in case you've been thinking of picking up a copy :-D)

I'm pretty sure it's just online, right now, but still seems pretty awesome to me :-) I just love that more and more places are picking it up!

BTW--if you want to request that your local bookstore or library carry it, you can do that, too! I think all you'd need to give them is the ISBN number(s):

ISBN-10: 1452833311
ISBN-13: 978-1452833316

OK, that's it for now... just got excited about that yesterday :-p

Oh and be sure to stop back tomorrow for TwinTuesday!! :-)