Things are Different this Time Around

I never thought I'd be saying things like "the babies are playing footsie in my belly" or "I can't do the dishes tonight because my hoo-ha hurts" or even "our family might actually be too big to fit in a normal size car." I'm 25 weeks pregnant and feeling probably the best I will for a long time. I'm now busying myself reading books and making lists. So a plus, I'm learning a lot and starting to actually prepare for the craziness. On the other side, those nerves are acting up. I am actually most nervous about keeping these babies in my belly as long as possible based purely on my gut or the fact that I feel so much pressue on my gut and everything else around there. I'm a bit bummed how much extra work there is for us to figure things out because we're in Germany such as what does insurance cover, where to best buy diapers in bulk (read that twins use over 5000 diapers in their first year!), finding a twins support network in town, gosh, just getting random things done in a convenient way that we took for granted in the States.

My identity is soley tied to pregnancy and Lily right now. I really miss playing tennis, taking my urban hikes, being active and my Lompoc girls nights. When will I be able to reclaim myself again? I did experience a sliver of my old self today probably making a silly decision riding my bike on a perfect summer afternoon around Munich. I had to do it. I felt like the old Nicole for a moment. I wish I could exercise as much as I did when I was pregnant with Lily, but the doctors and books really stress taking it easy since twin pregancies are much higher risk.

Here are recent pregnancy pics comparing myself at 24 weeks pregnant now and with Lily. I'm about 6 weeks ahead in terms of size this time around.

Vacation Pics

We just got back from a nice two week vacation, wanted to share a few pictures. We spent our time at two Alpine lakes, one in Slovenia and one in Austria, with a night outside of Salzburg on the way. A great time altogether, we'll probably be looking back fondly on these pictures for a long time.

August 2011 Family Trip - Austria and Slovenia

Emma Hermine Elisabeth Brocks Biegansky

I have heard quite a few stories about my grandma (Oma) Emma Brocks (my Dad's mom) like when she stood in the wrong line at the German border looking for her POW husband and ended up in a prison camp for about a year while her 6 children lived on a farm during war time practically fending for themselves. My Oma had 6 children during the 1930's which actually isn't true, she had 7. My Dad's older sister had a twin brother who died at 6 months of age. My Dad didn't share this with me until after I told them I was having twins which initially completely blew me away. I can't blame him for not remembering or not thinking to tell me. He was born 6 years after the little baby boy Elmar died and it was war time. One of my Dad's earliest memories was running to a bunker during a bomb raid. I can't even imagine how his parents survived those times. Keeping lots of stories, photos, and keepsakes of the twin probably just wasn't a priority like staying alive was.

I am having a boy and girl as well just like my Oma. I never got to have a relationship with her. I lived far away and she died when I was still young. On one hand, I really wish she was here to share this twins experience with her but on the other hand, I already feel so much closer to her just knowing I am the one who will keep the twins tradition alive in the Biegansky family, hopefully with more success this time thanks to the time we live in. I find it so odd that of all the grandkids, I'm the only one pregnant with twins. My Dad has passed on a lot more than interesting stories to me, also the twins gene. With all the fear I have about not only having twins but being a mom to 3 kids, I do find comfort when I think about how special it is that I share something quite rare with my grandma.

Here is a picture of my grandma and the whole family. My dad is on the far right and you can guess who my grandma is.