Dear Sammie

{**Preface - The more time goes by, the more I find myself reflecting on the hard times coming my way. If I concentrate for too long about what it is going to be like to care for twins I stress out to the point of tears. So, this is a little note from me to me. Something I can pull up and read when I'm in the thick of it (double diapers, feedings, bottles). Hopefully it will help.}

Dear Sammie,

This is a phase. Life will not always be this way. You will not always feel this way. You will not always look this way. Now, take a few deep breaths and read on.

Before you know it your days and nights will be two separate entities once again instead of one never ending black hole. It feels like it is so far away and will last forever, but in the big scheme of things, it really is a short period of time.

Be nice to Keith. Try not to snap or take things out at him. It's not his fault :) When one of the babies is crying for the fourth or the fifth time that night do NOT attempt to smother him with a pillow because he has the ability to roll over, start snoring and not hear a thing. Remember, you'll need his help with the other 4 kids once morning comes!

If you're feeling down or depressed, do one of the following...these things always make you feel better.

-Call a family member or friend.
-Step outside, even if it's just into the backyard for a few minutes. Sunshine is a miracle worker.
-Strap the kids in the car and get out of the house, a few minutes away will do wonders.

-DO NOT eat away the blues. This is only a temporary high that will result in causing more depression later on.
-DO NOT attempt to go shopping. Retail therapy can only cause grief when you're still carrying around unwanted baby weight.
-DO NOT make a drastic change to your hair...color, cut or style. Chances are you won't like it and because of the unstable hormonal state you are in, it won't be healthy for anyone.
-DO NOT stress when the house is a mess.
-DO NOT stress if the girls head to school with "daddy hair-dos".
-Do NOT stress when there is not a nice hot meal to serve your family at the end of the day.
-DO NOT take your frustrations out on the older 4 kids. Their world has been turned upside down just as much as yours has.

Hang in there. This too shall pass. Before you know it you'll be looking at pictures taken during this time of your life and you'll see pictures of your newborn baby boy and girl. They'll look so unbelievably small and sweet and you'll wish so badly that they could be that small again. And you'll wish they could be that way again, just for a few days. Then you could smell their cheeks, kiss their little feet and rock them to sleep one more time. Please remember this when you feel tired, exhausted and when the babies are fussy and your house is a disaster. Try and enjoy this precious time with your new baby boy and girl.

Love,
Sammie