date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 10:00:43 PM PDT sub: being a new parent early twins ---------------------------------------- My wife and I decided to have a child about 9 months ago. Once we found out she was pregnant and we went to find more information at the doctors office, we were informed she has two babies in her womb. I think we almost died with disbelief that day (10/10/2025). I was in shock. I didn't think do financial planning for two children. All my plans for one child were over the bounds of my financial runway already, but two babies! This isn't really happening. When the midwife said with a joy and a smile "There's at least two in there." I thought at least! There could be more than two! I think the blood drained from my head. I couldn't reconcile how we were going to manage two children financially. That night sleep escaped my grasp. The next day my work announced a strike, then shortly after started laying off workers. A few nights later I started having fasciculations. Today my fasciculations are nearly as bad as they were, and my stress level and shock faded, but wow what a time. I'm still in disbelief about having twins. Its like a dream of some sort, not real. I would say my actual dreams are the real life, but you must sleep for those to appear. My wife just delivered our twins. They came early, and they are very small. One was 5 lbs 1 oz, the other was 3 lbs, 6 oz. So small. We were so happy to finally meet them at the hospital. It was a huge day. I think one of the happiest days of my life. So much joy and love. My wife's recover started going well, and although its a struggle she seems to be good. Our babies were in a different circumstance. They both wwent to the NICU. Our larger twin boy was released first. They sent him home with us and we were so excited. But being a parent isn't like owning a puppy. The smaller the baby the more work is required right away, and already being exhausted its a tremendous amount of work in terms keeping a baby happy, fed, and clean. Not having any experience its mind blowing. We celebrated making it through the first 24 hours. Our celebration was short lived. We had pediatrician appointment on his second day at home, and found out he lost weight instead of gaining weight. The pediatrician said you must feed your baby every two hours. You are going to be sleep deprived. Oh my gosh. This is incredible and daunting because my wife went a few days with 1 to 3 hours of sleep a night for the last 6 days already. Tears filled our eyes, and fear filled our hearts. I hope we can do this. We take it 2 hours at a time. That's all we can hope for get to the next feeding. We have no idea how we will manage when our girl gets out of the NICU. Its all a huge dream and fantasy until you get hit in the face with the reality, this is probably the hardest thing a person can do, raise twins!