Inside the Mind of a Mother of Twins: Nap Time Madness

Last updated on July 30th, 2024 at 02:34 pm

It’s 12:30

The twins and I are in the car, driving home from a play date.

“Everlynn?! Vivian!? Stay awake! Please don’t go to sleep…”

God I hope they don’t go to sleep. What’s the speed limit? Oh great, the sky is black. It’s about to pour.
It’s pouring. Maybe it will keep them awake.
I glance into the mirror. They are out cold.
Perfect. Oh well.
Nothing I can do. Should I slow down and let them sleep, or keep going? If I hurry then they will only get ten minutes. Hmmmmmm…

12:45

Alright, we are home. Should I leave them in here to sleep? It’s just a garage.
Why does this creep me out?! It’s not too warm- not too cold. I could totally sleep in here. I could turn on Kyle’s work bench light, so if they wake they won’t be scared.
No, they will wake up since the car is stopped.
It’s still pouring… maybe the noise will help them stay asleep… maybe. Okay, how asleep are they? Yeah, they are knocked out.
Poor babies. They need sleep. They’re both teething hard core. They are barely sleeping at night. They need to nap…but I know they won’t stay asleep.
Should I TRY and transfer them asleep? Yeah right. Been there, tried that many times.
If I wake them, they will be wired. Oh! I could get bottles ready and have the rooms dark and ready for a nap… yeah, that is a good idea…
…slowly getting out of the car… STUPID beeping!
Errrrr… shutting the door… okay this is working. Still sleeping. Running up stairs… bottles bottles… shutting windows, turning off lights…
Okay, gotta get them out of the car, without waking them too much… oh, but they are SO cute and VERY asleep… I should just leave them in here…
…I should get a fan for noise. And the monitor…. running back up the stairs.
Got it.
Fan, monitor, and bench light.
Okay, they should be fine. I mean, the dogs would bark if something strange happened.
They are fine.
They are sleeping.
I am starving. Going to make a quick lunch and eat.
Got the monitor… sitting down to eat.
Vivian screaming.
That didn’t work. Got to get her before she wakes Everlynn.
Okay, the milk is still warm, room is ready.
She’s is poopy. I think I can change her and still try for a nap. She only slept 20 minutes max.
Changed and laying her down… please don’t cry!
Please go to sleep.
Take the bottle and just go to sleep…

1:00

I should check on Everlynn. Can’t hear the monitor in here with Vivian.
Please don’t cry when I leave Vivian…
…I will go fast. Vivian screams. Crying crying crying…
Everlynn is fine. Still sleeping.
Okay, Vivian doesn’t want the bottle. Still crying. It’s her teeth. Yep, hands in the mouth and face pounding in the sheets. Teeth. No drugs yet. Try patting her to sleep.
Patting patting paaaaaaaaaattttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggg…………..
5 minutes….
10 minutes…. still patting…
…I need to check on E. What if she woke up in the garage and is scared. I gotta stop patting, but V will really wake up then… oh well.
Maybe she can cry for a few minutes and she will go to sleep!
Yeah RIGHT. What planet am I on right now… the one where everybody tries to function on no sleep or food. Yep.
Leaving Vivian crying. Checking on Everlynn…
Everlynn is awake. Crying.
Total sleep time for Everlynn, 30 minutes.
Okay, that cannot be enough, she looks exhausted. They were up at 4, so total night sleep time was 9ish hours… no way she has had enough.
Vivian still screaming from her crib…
Everlynn is dirty. Gotta change her, but V is screaming… I hate having to always CHOOSE between babies!! It’s not fair to them.
Okay,  maybe when E is clean, she will take her bottle and just go to sleep.
HA.
Okay, E is changed, bottle, lights, fan, and PLEASE sleep.
Vivian… still screaming, jumping, biting her hand- she needs something. Poor thing. I hate teething!!!!
Screw teething. My poor baby is in pain.
I hate this.
I HATE drugging her… should I… yes I should. She is hurting….
… and poopy… again. Changing her. Please go to sleep after this.
Please.
I am hungry.
I hope E is not screaming… I hope she goes to sleep.
There is no way either of them have had enough sleep. They will be total train wrecks without a good nap. Especially since they are teething…
Okay, back in the crib Vivian.
Patting patting patting….
5 minutes…
10 minutes…
I hear E screaming.
Awesome… just as V is falling asleep.
Wonder how long she has been crying. 8 ounces of milk, so probably only a couple minutes. Should I let her cry? Come on Vivian, GO TO SLEEP!
Almost asleep… okay sleeping.

Everlynn! POOPY! AGAIN!
SERIOUSLY!!!
Okay, then maybe after she is clean, she will sleep. Then both babies will be sleeping. Hopefully a hour at least.
Back in the crib Everlynn. Pat pat pat… leaving the room.
Screaming… more patting patting patting paaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg………..
5 minutes…
trying to leave the room…. nope crying.
Patting patting……….
5 mins…
10 mins…
Sleeping.
Yes!!!! Both sleeping.
Leaving quietly.
What?
VIVIAN!! God help me.
What does a mom with triplets do!?!?
Vivian dirty AGAIN.

1:45 ish

Changing Vivian. Holding, soothing, back in the crib.
I cannot keep leaning over this crib.
I am smashing baby Grayson and my back is killing me.
Going to stick my arm through… right… here. That should work.
Kinda tight.
Get past the elbow…
… much better.
Now, I can sit on the floor and pat more comfortably.
Pat pat pat, slowly try to stop… screaming….
More patting patting patting………
5 minutes. 10 minutes.
Is this even worth it?!!?
YES. Everlynn is sleeping, so both babies would be sleeping and I can EAT, finish laundry, clean the kitchen, etc.….
it’s totally worth it.
Come on V sleep for momma.
Patting patting patting…
20 minutes… still patting….
She is asleep!
Awesome.
It’s gotta be past two, so I should eat first.
I need to pee sooooo bad.
Holy crap.
My arm is stuck in the freakin’ crib rails!
No.
No.
You have GOT to be kidding me.
Yeap. It’s stuck. I hope E is still sleeping and not screaming…
Now what? I am going to have to call a neighbor. My arm is seriously STUCK.
I don’t have my phone!
God I have to pee so BAD.
Oh my GOD, I am going to be stuck here until Kyle gets home and the babies are going to wake up……. and Everlynn is going to have to cry for HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait.
I can reach the Earth Mama Bottom Balm with my toes.
Reaching….. please please….. Vivian don’t wake up… don’t wake up… stretching… got it!!
Lather it up and it slides right out!
Yes!!!!
I am free.
Pee, eat, laundry… I have MAYBE an hour, if Ever sleeps as much as she needs to.
Awe… okay, now for FOOD.

It’s 2:45… another 2 plus hours down the drain.

Vivian crying again.
I give up.
I GIVE UP for today with Vivian. Hopefully E stays asleep, so I have at least one well rested, happy child.
Well, I obviously was asking too much.

“Come on Vivian! Sister is awake. Let’s go get her…”

Total sleep time for Everlynn- about 50 minutes (including the car ride home)
Total sleep time for Vivian- approx 30 minutes

This should be a fun afternoon. I wish I could say this was a “bad” nap day. Nope. It’s very much in the “normal” range, when it comes to our sleeping issues.
Sometimes the frustration is so overwhelming, the only way to help is write. I should be doing that laundry or something, but I am completely exhausted.

Who knows, maybe I will give a copy to the twins when they are mothers some day.

At the end of the day… I still hope they are blessed with twins. I would not trade it for anything. Not even food or sleep… or a toddler that takes beautiful peaceful naps.

I remind myself of this quote multiple times a day.

As told by Jennifer of Twin City Sweetpeas –

—Thank you Jennifer for telling your story. I am sure we have all had those exhausting days where you get nothing done, don’t get to eat or pee or breath for a moment because we are caring for our precious little ones, but it is all worth it and wouldn’t trade it for anything! Hope you got a good nights rest. To read more from Jennifer visit her at Twin City Sweetpeas blog.