A Year in the Life With Twins--By the Numbers

A year ago today, I was shell-shocked in the hospital, in pain from a c-section, with two newborns and my nurse's call bell firmly by my side. Since then I've learned how much stress I can take and my marriage can take. I've also learned how to grocery shop with three children at once, breast feed two children at once (lasted 5 days), and live on less than 45 minutes of sleep per night (that lasted about 2 weeks).

Number of:

Weeks I was pregnant: 38 1/2

Pounds each baby weighed at birth: 7

Diapers used: 2,100

Cases of formula: 240

Hours of sleep lost: Countless

Nights they've slept through the night: 6

Times they've slept through the night that I actually went to bed early enough for it to make a difference: 0

Car accidents caused by sleep deprivation: 1

Worst thing I ever said: "I think it would be easier if I were dead."

Number of pills taken, following this statement, to counter post-partum depression: 185

Days I've been grateful for getting help: 185

Baby outfit changes: 1250

Mom outfit changes: at least double that.

Pounds I gained: 74

Pounds I lost: 59

Amount of cash spent on nanny, even though I stay at home: Over $15,000

Number of times we've had to count pennies at the end of the month because of this: 10

Toddlers toilet trained in the middle of the chaos: 1

Times I've been asked if I took fertility medication: 4

Times I actually took fertility medication:0

Times I've been asked "Are they twins?": Countless

Times I've dressed them identically in public to avoid having to answer that question: 10

Times I've still been asked that question, in spite of these actions: 10

Time it takes to get everyone out the door once fully clothed: 30 minutes

Times I took the twins to Gymboree by myself: 1

Times I went back: 0

Approximate number of magazines ingested by one of the twins: 6

Number of days I still had back pain: 365

Stupid arguments with husband: Quite a few

Days I've wondered "Why me?": 365

Days since I've learned to take the bitter with the sweet and thank God it's me: 185

Was it all worth it? Absolutely.