So hard to write about yourself: mom of twin girls. Does that really describe me? Just a tinsy bit.

I am originally from Lithuania, where I learned to love cold weather, good food and lots of beer. Obviously, today,   those are my biggest enemies, as I am battling the baby fat for past year.
I am also a vegetarian and try to use my culinary skills in developing yummy tasting recipes for my family and my twins.

I have been described as “difficult” by my family. Friends haven’t told me to my face what they really think. And I really wonder, what will my children think of me when they find their independent mouth.

Rest of my Family

Meet my inspiration: Allegra and Gintare.

My beautiful twin girls were born at 35 weeks via emergency C-section. It was a crazy day because I didn’t even expect to become a mother that day. Really small and uneven contractions prompted me to take a ride to the hospital. At first, the nurse said it was nothing but they gave me IV with liquids. After that, my contractions became stronger and organized. And behold, we were told that I was in labor and it is time to get prepped.

So on August 11 at 8 pm we started getting ready to meet our little bundles of joy.

I was scared shit-less. You can see the expression on my face. I totally didn’t believe that they could give me spinal epi and then cut me open and will not feel a tinsy bit. I refused to believe it until my legs stopped functioning. I was at the mercy of docs and nurses.

During delivery of multiples, there always so many more people in the O/R. You need two doctors, a nurse for each baby, an anesthesiologist, then a nurse from NICU. Not even sure anymore, but I think in my O/R there were about 8 people not counting Milton and I. Well, then plus two.

Of course, when the girls were born, Gintare didn’t make any sound at all. I was really worried. Then Allegra was born and she was upset at the whole world! That baby got some lungs.

Too bad, Milton was placed to support me behind the curtain and held my hand while making pictures with his iPhone with the other. He tried to peak from behind a few times, but was ushered back behind iron curtain in a jiffy.

He did manage to get a few snapshots though, but reader – be aware – you can see some internal organs. Boy, I am not timid at all.

The process of sewing you back together is much longer than the process of birth itself. A little bit later, I was transferred to my room, alone, without my kids.

Originally, my plan was for a nice, uneventful birth that was calm and natural, followed by cuddling and sleep with my newborn twins.

Yet, I went to sleep alone, with no knowledge of how were my babies.

In the morning, I was told that one of my twins (Gintare) didn’t have fully developed lungs which was puzzling to doctors. Gintare remained on CPAP and oxygen for 10 days. I was at my wits end when she didn’t show any improvement first 8 days.

I found strength in strangest places, one of them being NICU itself. Looking around and seeing other babies born at 24, 30 weeks or even earlier and fighting for their life gave me hope. Watching other mothers, hunched over the “warmers” while holding tiny hands in theirs, gave me belief in positive change. It was at most hard so see another woman crying in the corner, wiping away tears and hiding her sadness. It was hard being strong when doubt is constantly in your head.

But, at day 9 Gintare was taken off oxygen, then a few hours later from CPAP. Next day she received regular feeding by bottle and on day 11 we went home!

And this is where the fun begins! Keep reading my blog, I will keep adding posts and pages on how to survive twin pregnancy, vegetarian diet during pregnancy and after, breastfeeding, etc.

If you don’t see something you are interested in, write to me! I will be more than happy to answer questions.