If you ask me, today is the perfect day to stay at home and snuggle up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate! But, most of us are working all day and can only dream. I'm so glad you found some time in your busy day to stop in and check out today's Momma - Louanna! This mama and her family are so of my biggest supporters! A few years ago my husband flew from Alaska to Virginia to surprise me for my college graduation. Louanna and her family were in on it, so they housed him once he flew in, and have wholeheartedly supported our family ever since! We like to refer to them as our extra set of grandparents. She is one of the sweetest and most hospitable ladies you will meet! A mother of three, she has a lot to teach us!
1. Tell us a little about yourself!
I'm a Christian, wife and mother of 3 wonderful boys. I was born and raised in Indiana, and married my high school sweetheart 30 years ago. We are a retired military family.
2. How old was your first when you decided to have more children?
My first born, Brian, was a little over 2 yrs. old when I got pregnant. Joe was stationed overseas (Korea). We didn't want Brian to be an only child so we decided to get pregnant once Joe returned from Korea.
3. What were your initial thoughts after finding out you were having twins? Were you scared? Excited? Overwhelmed? Were the people around you supportive after finding out?
I was totally surprised and shocked. I remember saying, "what am I going to do?" The doctor/Nurse practitioner said, "buy two of everything!" I was a little scared because in my first pregnancy I had premature labor, some difficulties, and was on bed rest. Brian, my first born, was a month early, so I was nervous if I could carry my twins, Robert and Joseph, to full term. I was very excited and happy! No, I don't remember feeling overwhelmed. Our family was happy, but no one lived near us. We had just moved from Ft. Hood, TX to Ft. Eustis. We hadn't had a chance to have any friends here. We were still living in guest housing when I found out about my pregnancy with the twins. Of course Joe was my support and my closet friend Katrina, who I called nearly everyday, gave me a lot of support.
4. How did you decide between staying at home and returning to work? did anything influence your decision?
If I went back to work I would be working to primarily hand over my pay check to the sitter. The cost of childcare for 3 small children is very expensive. It wasn't worth it to me to work to pay someone else to take care of my children. I was a working mom with my first and there were days I would cry when I had to leave him and go to work. I wanted to be a stay at home mom. I wanted to be the one to take care of my babies.
5. What are some of the challenges you found of raising twins and an older sibling? How is their relationship now?
When the boys were small, the challenges were the everyday things: cleaning the house, cooking, laundry, and making time to play and have fun with the boys. I had to have a routine for all of us. Getting enough sleep was hard, but I did take naps with the babies when I could, and then Brian had some quiet time. My husband, Joe, was a Drill Sgt. when the babies were 1 yrs. old and Brian was 4 yrs. old. That was the busiest and most challenging time. As they got older the challenges changed. I was always trying to think ahead before they would get into things. Brian was my easy guy, but Robert and Joseph - they were my climbers. My oldest was a great helper. As everyone got older they played together and that made things much easier. When Brian started school he'd come home with homework so I'd set him at the table to do his homework, and I'd put Robert and Joseph in their highchairs, give them crayons and coloring books, and tell them to do their homework too. It was still a challenge to make sure Brian got plenty of attention. We he would act up, Joe and I knew he was wanting more attention. Many times Joe would come home from work, eat lunch with us, and take Brian back to work with him. It got him away from being with babies constantly, and gave him special time with dad.
I feel like the boys have a very strong relationship. They grew up playing, fighting, laughing, crying and talking. They are very tight. Now that Robert and Joseph have graduated from High School and are in college, I see in Brian's eyes that he is very proud of his baby brothers. As for Robert and Joseph, they know hands-down they can count on Brian for anything. They have seen him go to college, work and become an adult; they trust him and can talk to him about anything. I think it helped Brian a great deal when I was pregnant with Robert and Joseph to tell him he's going to have baby brothers. I always referred to them as his babies. I'd tell him we were having babies. As they grew up I tried to make them help each other and get along even if they didn't want to. They grew up playing, fighting, laughing, crying and talking together.
2. How old was your first when you decided to have more children?
My first born, Brian, was a little over 2 yrs. old when I got pregnant. Joe was stationed overseas (Korea). We didn't want Brian to be an only child so we decided to get pregnant once Joe returned from Korea.
3. What were your initial thoughts after finding out you were having twins? Were you scared? Excited? Overwhelmed? Were the people around you supportive after finding out?
I was totally surprised and shocked. I remember saying, "what am I going to do?" The doctor/Nurse practitioner said, "buy two of everything!" I was a little scared because in my first pregnancy I had premature labor, some difficulties, and was on bed rest. Brian, my first born, was a month early, so I was nervous if I could carry my twins, Robert and Joseph, to full term. I was very excited and happy! No, I don't remember feeling overwhelmed. Our family was happy, but no one lived near us. We had just moved from Ft. Hood, TX to Ft. Eustis. We hadn't had a chance to have any friends here. We were still living in guest housing when I found out about my pregnancy with the twins. Of course Joe was my support and my closet friend Katrina, who I called nearly everyday, gave me a lot of support.
4. How did you decide between staying at home and returning to work? did anything influence your decision?
If I went back to work I would be working to primarily hand over my pay check to the sitter. The cost of childcare for 3 small children is very expensive. It wasn't worth it to me to work to pay someone else to take care of my children. I was a working mom with my first and there were days I would cry when I had to leave him and go to work. I wanted to be a stay at home mom. I wanted to be the one to take care of my babies.
5. What are some of the challenges you found of raising twins and an older sibling? How is their relationship now?
When the boys were small, the challenges were the everyday things: cleaning the house, cooking, laundry, and making time to play and have fun with the boys. I had to have a routine for all of us. Getting enough sleep was hard, but I did take naps with the babies when I could, and then Brian had some quiet time. My husband, Joe, was a Drill Sgt. when the babies were 1 yrs. old and Brian was 4 yrs. old. That was the busiest and most challenging time. As they got older the challenges changed. I was always trying to think ahead before they would get into things. Brian was my easy guy, but Robert and Joseph - they were my climbers. My oldest was a great helper. As everyone got older they played together and that made things much easier. When Brian started school he'd come home with homework so I'd set him at the table to do his homework, and I'd put Robert and Joseph in their highchairs, give them crayons and coloring books, and tell them to do their homework too. It was still a challenge to make sure Brian got plenty of attention. We he would act up, Joe and I knew he was wanting more attention. Many times Joe would come home from work, eat lunch with us, and take Brian back to work with him. It got him away from being with babies constantly, and gave him special time with dad.
I feel like the boys have a very strong relationship. They grew up playing, fighting, laughing, crying and talking. They are very tight. Now that Robert and Joseph have graduated from High School and are in college, I see in Brian's eyes that he is very proud of his baby brothers. As for Robert and Joseph, they know hands-down they can count on Brian for anything. They have seen him go to college, work and become an adult; they trust him and can talk to him about anything. I think it helped Brian a great deal when I was pregnant with Robert and Joseph to tell him he's going to have baby brothers. I always referred to them as his babies. I'd tell him we were having babies. As they grew up I tried to make them help each other and get along even if they didn't want to. They grew up playing, fighting, laughing, crying and talking together.
Thank you for your willingness to share your story, Louanna! You're a rockstar for raising three boys, let alone twin boys!