R&H May 2010

Hearts entwined Twenty fingers, twenty toes, two sweet babies with cheeks of rose. Born on the same day, two gifts from above, lives entwined, two babies to love. ~Author Unknown

January 15th, 2010 - lives forever changed.  Our twin girls were born! We leave for the hospital a couple; come home a family!

Six weeks later I'm just now coming up for air.  It has been everything everyone said and then some.

I have never been so tired, scared, happy, sad, frustrated, confused, lost, loved, full of love and completely in shock and awe of life than I am now!  Did I really just give birth to TWINS!?!??!?!?

Harper Kemp and Rowan James Adkins blessed us with their presence at 10:01 am and 10:02 am respectively.  The c-section was more terrifying than I care to remember and thankfully I had Jeremy's eyes to stare into upon the operating table.  With my arms strapped to the table and a cloth covering from neck down I had no idea what was transpiring minus the tugs, pulls and yanks I felt.  Definitely not the 'beautiful birth story I envisioned' but whatever was needed for the health and safety of all was fine by me.  As soon as Baby A came out I asked 'how is she?  she ok?  she breathing?' and then again those same questions were repeated for Baby B.  

After what seemed like HOURS I was able to hold my sweet wee girls and truly relish in their birth!  I still, as I type cannot believe I have twins!  I feel like I'll 'wake up' one day and it will all have been a dream.

The first few weeks have been brutal.  As I told a newly pregnant friend today I'm not going to sugar coat it.  It is HARD, the hardest work I've ever done.  They don't (unfortunately) send you home from the hospital with a manual on how to raise kids and what to do 'if / when happens.'

I think everyone should become a parent so they can truly understand what their own parents have sacrificed and experienced in their own upbringing.  With that comes a joy like no other.  Just last night as I laid the girls down to bed (for the first time) in the safety of their crib, by the light of the nightlight, music in the background I felt a fierce need to protect and provide for them like no other; to ensure all their hopes and dreams are reached at whatever cost. 

There are no 'sick days', no 'vacation days' and no 'personal days' to be had with kids.  It is a full time, 24/7, round the clock occupation!  What I thought was tough in the professional word does not even come close to this 'job' in all aspects nor does it come near the rewards.  

I got some great words of wisdom for a successful full year of raising kids from a good friend and new father recently that I thought was simple and poignant; 1. keep your kids alive 2. stay married. If you can manage those two things than you've accomplished a great deal.  (Thanks for that friend, you know who you are....)

The blog has taken a bit of a hiatus as I try and get my wits about me but look to this site for future twin updates, posts, laughs, cries, frustrations and joys! 

Thanks for all the advice (fellow twin moms / moms - you ROCK!), well wishes, (MIRACLE BLANKETS), hand-me-downs, calls and support.  I may not have the immediate bandwidth to respond but know they are forever etched in my heart and received with the deepest of thanks!

And to my own mom, with whom without I'd be nothing.  She sacrificed her time, marriage and life to come 'live' with us for a month when the girls were born and I will be forever indebted to her and grateful beyond words.  She truly was / is an angel sent from above and I / we would not have gotten through that first month without her.  Mom, I love you more than words can say....

Here's to hoping for a four hour stretch of sleep soon....

Lara

                Harper                           Rowan

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

I have received this quote from a few different people and come Friday, January 15 at 9.30 am Hawaii time we will experience it first-hand as we welcome our two new wee girls into the world!

I'm flooded with emotions.  While this 'date' can't come soon enough it also almost feels too soon!  I know one is 'never really ready' but am I?  Are we?  I hope and pray these girls arrive healthy and the surgery goes as anticipated.  I am grateful we understand the magnitude of responsibility but we're both a wee bit apprehensive about the life-changing moment we are about to embark on.  I assume these emotions are common and experienced by all first time parents.

Time to dive in, embrace the moment, cherish the 'firsts' and open our hearts.  I can only imagine what is in store but I'm confident with a bit of sense of humor JA and I can and will conquer anything...

Thanks for all your well wishes, thoughts and prayers.  Keep 'em coming.  Let the countdown begin.

Much love,

Lara, Jeremy, A & B