The Combs Krewe

Friday marked 2 months for the twins! The last month has been such a special time because the girls have grown so much and there have been so many firsts. The best "first" has been their first social smiles. I noted Brooklyn's in my nursing log on April 9th. Since that morning she's been happily grinning at us each and every morning. It's no wonder because she sleeps SO WELL. Most nights she sleeps 5 hours; one night this week she slept 6 and a half. This is just unheard of in the Combs household! She has also gained great head and neck control. She has been called the "Traci baby" since she was born but I didn't think she really looked much like me until this week. A friend had her on her lap; she sat there looking around wide eyed and it was like looking at one of my baby pictures! I also see a lot of my dad in her. She definitely takes after the Ladd side of the family! Braelyn has definitely been stingier with her smiles. She has suffered th...

When I was pregnant with Jathan, I had this whole plan which included a natural, hypnobirth and exclusive breastfeeding afterwards. Yes, I was just getting into my hippy dippy crunchy mama phase! However, my natural, hypnobirth went out the window when I was induced at 33 weeks for preeclampsia. His birth and the days after were perhaps the worst experience I've ever had. Not only was I in extreme physical pain and stressed to the max, I was also emotionally distraught over the fact that suddenly my birth experience  had been pretty much the exact opposite of everything I'd hoped and planned for. I think it was because of that that I clung to breastfeeding. All my other plans had fallen apart but I could still do this and, by God, I would. Over the next few days I would pump milk for my boy sometimes struggling to even sit upright because of my blood-pressure induced headaches. Jackie or my mom would transport the milk from the Ronald McDonald house where we were staying to t...

Brooklyn has become quite the morning person. After sleeping FIVE WHOLE HOURS, it's no wonder. And her mama is loving this whole sleeping, smiling stage!

  Can you believe it's been one whole month already? I would say no. Jackie might say YES, ha ha. There is a quote I love that says something like "parenthood consists of long days and short years."  The more children I have, the more I appreciate this truth. Now--six children into this life--I can sit in bed at 2 a.m. battling exhaustion and love every minute of it. (Okay, most minutes of it.) I can snuggle my nose down beside their little heads nestled into the crook of my neck and be completely content with life. I know that all too soon one month will be two and the days will slip right through my fingers and before I know it all their tenderness will be concealed beneath a teenager's sharp facade. And then I'll wish again for these sweet moments when it's so simple to convey my love for them. Because for now all they want in the world is a warm embrace in which to find nourishment. But I suppose in actuality that's all we all truly want! I sp...

A few weeks back my friend Amanda asked if she could throw me a diaper/wipe party. Of course I said yes! Since I've never had a "real" shower I was thrilled at the prospect of a girls night in musing over babies and baby stuff. I was a bit nervous, however, that I might not make it to the shower date still pregnant. One of the reasons I've never had a real shower is because every time someone plans one, I end up having the baby early. I would be just over 34 weeks pregnant this time and I had no idea what to expect with twins. The day finally arrived, though, and I waddled downstairs to Amanda's apartment. This cute sign was waiting to greet me! Then I stepped inside and knew this wasn't your typical baby shower. The lighting was low; candles twinkled here and there. Soft jazz was playing in the background and her apartment was decorated beautifully. The pictures really don't do it justice. And on that table? Some SERIOUSLY delicious food. No...

A few weeks ago I was dreading the every 2-week and eventually every week doctor visits, but this week I was looking forward to it. I am growing closer and closer to my due date and, being in the third trimester now, am experiencing different things. My feet are sometimes swollen in the evening which is worrisome for a former pre-eclampsia patient but the doctor said that's normal especially when simply sitting upright at the dinner table cuts off the blood supply to my legs because my stomach is pressing down on them! I also am experiencing more frequent and more intense Braxton Hicks contractions. But after a check yesterday, I now know that I am not dilated at all so they are indeed "fake" contractions. It's comforting to have a little confirmation that everything is going remarkably well and that everything I'm feeling is normal, because although this is my fifth pregnancy, I don't have a lot of experience with normal. I also had my monthly ultrasound...

Today marks 31 weeks into my pregnancy! How am I feeling? I'm feeling very pregnant . I'm feeling very conspicuous . It's awkward to have everyone stare at me. So many people stop and talk to me. So many people can't believe I will grow EVEN LARGER. I met a lady earlier this week who, upon finding out that I'm having twins due on April 3, absolutely and openly gawked. She eyed me up and down with her mouth wide open. I am not exaggerating in the least. She kept saying, "Bless your heart." I really wasn't sure what to say back. I don't know how to explain how I feel. Almost guilty. Almost immodest somehow. I feel like staying home. I feel like I shouldn't feel that way. I'm feeling heavy . I've gained over 40 pounds and sometimes my little size 6 feet sometimes have a hard time carrying me around past supper time. Of course, laying down really is not an option anymore. I'm a stomach sleeper and am missing it. I can't li...

On Thursday we had our "big" ultrasound. I was so hopeful to be able to find out the babies' genders. At both my 14 and 18 week doctor's appointment, my doctor performed ultrasounds and each time the baby on the right was turned in such a way that you couldn't tell. At 18 weeks we were 99% sure that Baby A (who is on the left) was a girl so I was eager to find out her twin's gender so we could tell everyone! At this ultrasound, both the babies were laying across my stomach. Twin A was on her tummy nearer to the top. The ultrasound technician confirmed that she was indeed a she! Twin B was more to the bottom and facing up so it looked like they were talking to each other. Thankfully she was compliant and we could tell quite easily that she was a she, too! She already behaves very different from her sister, however. While Twin A was calmly rubbing her hands over her head, Twin B was turning backflips it seemed. The ultrasound technician kept having to chase...

Wednesday marked 16 weeks into my pregnancy. I'm happy to be fitting into maternity clothes now instead of being at that weird in-between stage. At around 12 weeks, I was certain  that I was feeling some movement but then they were few and far between until this week. Then I had one day when I felt a lot of little flutters but only on one side. I know that one placenta is anterior and one is posterior so I wonder if this has something to do with that. After a two-week wait and calling to see what was up, I finally got a call back from my nurse setting up my BIG ultrasound appointment. Sadly, it's not until November 13th! I will be one day shy of 20 weeks so hopefully we will get a nice view of them and find out their genders. I hate the wait, though. I'm contemplating having a gender-reveal party. I think it's such a fun idea. I really, really don't want to wait myself, though. Would it be bad if Jackie and I found out then had a party to tell everyone el...

Today I am 15 weeks pregnant! According to BabyCenter , the babies are each about 4 inches long (from head to rump). They can sense light through their still-fused eyelids and are peeing out the amniotic fluid they've been swallowing. Ah, they grow up so fast! = ) Their sex organs should be visible on an ultrasound. I'm still anxiously awaiting a call from Dr. Perret's nurse to schedule that all-important one. I can't wait! We are one of those families that finds out the genders before birth. I think it would be so much fun to wait and have a birth surprise but I just can't bring myself to do it. One of the main reasons I like to find out is to feel more connected to the babies before they are born. Then you can pick out special bedding and clothing and know their names. I just think it's a wonderful privilege.  I'm most excited at the moment to choose baby names! Although Jackie likes to wait until we know the gender, I love perusing name books...

Yesterday I celebrated being 14 weeks pregnant! Today I had my OB appointment. I was so happy when, after a very long wait, the doctor said, "I'll be right in. We're going to get the ultrasound machine."  She said that at 14 weeks it would be difficult to distinguish between heartbeats simply using the doppler. Plus I think she just wanted to see them which was totally okay with me!  Jathan came with me today and the doctor gave him the first peek. She pointed out their heads and "frog legs." Then I got a looksie.  This is a picture of the twin that is on the right. It was in a good position and the doctor try to determine its gender but felt it was still too early to tell. At 14 weeks boys are easier to spot than girls and this baby didn't have any obvious, um, protrusions, shall we say, but we just couldn't tell for sure. I'm betting on girl, though!  The baby on the left was not feeling so photogenic today. It was imp...

In late July Jackie and I discovered that our family was expanding. We usually wait several weeks just to make sure everything is okay before we tell everyone (usually after I go to the doctor for that first ultrasound) but this time I struggled to conceal my nausea and tiredness. My family was coming to visit and I knew there would be no hiding it from them so on my mother's birthday which I admit I forgot--can I blame baby brain?--I sent her a text of the kids saying happy birthday and told her that her birthday surprise was that next year there would be one more singing to her! After that we let everyone in on the secret. Over the next few weeks I felt much like any other pregnant woman--sick and tired! In my mind those are good things because they mean a healthy pregnancy. I wasn't overly sick or overly tired, but something was different . I had a funny feeling and kept finding myself referring to the baby as "them" or "the babies." I Googled things li...