I’ve never shown you all this picture, but this was how I looked 364 days ago, exactly 24 hours before I had the twins:
It literally makes me hurt to look at this picture. I felt awful all over, and every step was painful. After this picture was taken, I felt progressively worse all day, and came home and went straight to bed after my doctor’s appointment. I didn’t know it, but my body was in trouble. When my blood work came back the next day, they discovered that I had Hellp Syndrome and immediately took the babies. (You can Google it if you want to read about it. My husband did while I was in surgery, and it scared him to death.) I’m so thankful that they were able to get the babies here safely, and that God let me come home with all of them.
Hart to Hart Digital Photography
I decided not to share all of that when I first had the babies. It seemed kind of like a downer, and I’m not personally a fan of reading every detail of somebody’s birth experience. And, although I’m pretty open on the blog, I’m not sure how much you really want to know about me besides what color I’m thinking of painting our bedroom. . . But, I’m telling you now, and here’s my PSA for the day. Pregnant ladies—if you even think you’re having any unusual symptoms, don’t necessarily discount it as typical pregnancy stuff and not tell your doctor. Looking back, I should’ve pressed the issue of how bad I felt with my doctor a little more. My blood pressure stayed consistently normal through all of this—which is the only red flag they were routinely checking for at my appointments. But, I had other signs—which were all chalked up to being pregnant, with twins.
But, back to the good stuff. Our babies are a year old today!
It hardly seems possible. And, after being so nervous we could hardly breathe after our first ultrasound, they have been such a happy addition to our family. I’ve loved seeing their sweet personalities develop.
He’s the more serious, sensitive one–and, happiest when on mommy’s hip. . . or touching my face. . . or my hair. And, you’ve never seen a faster crawler than when he thinks his sister is about to get to my lap first. Yes, I would say he’s a certified mama’s boy. (And, I kind of love it.)
She is happiness personified. I hope she always thinks life is as funny as she does now. She has the best giggles and is a little more independent. Sometimes, I think I can already see the gleam of mischief in her dark eyes. She watches her big sisters intently. She’s learning from the best.
The last twelve months have been a busy blur. Thanks for letting me share their pictures (and fuzzy heads) with you all over the past year.
Happy Birthday to the Fuzzy Heads!!!!!! They are absolutely adorable may God bless them always –
Thank you for sharing
I can’t believe a year has come and gone already. Happy Birthday to those adorable fuzzy haired twins. I always get such a kick out of them and they always make me smile. God bless you and your entire family Emily.
They are so sweet! I am so glad God got you through what sounds like a very scary and unknowing time. You are so blessed! xo Kristin
They have the BEST.HAIR EVER!
They are adorable, and I think most would agree that we love to see pics of your cute fam!
Emily, thanks for sharing tHis. I’m so thankful everything worked out so beautifully and that you and family are healthy. You are such a huge positive presence to the blog world and you post just the right amount of mix of decor, home and family, I think. you’re a lovely person and have a wonderful family celebration? happy birthday babies!
Xoxo Nancy
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Happy Birthday to the twins!! I hope they never loose those sweet smiles, or that great hair. So cute!
Fuzzy heads!! Happy Birthday, little ones! Your blog title made me laugh- When my baby Peter turned one on Monday, that’s all I could think, this was the fastest year of my life. Here’s hoping it slows down a little for both of us!
Wow, that is scary that you had HELLP! I’ve never heard of it but thank the Lord you and the babies are healthy. You carried them so well! With my twins, I was more pregnant higher and I got REAL puffy (big nose – so ugly!) in the third trimester although I gained 36 lbs. You look amazing!! No puffiness whatsoever….but I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must have been ;( What an experience, and what a beautiful outcome. God bless your happy family ;) Thanks for sharing!
Dear Emily your little toddlers are adorable and so healthy. By the way you look great one year later.
You have been through so much, I am just glad you were in good hands and that you hubby was right by your side!
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xoxo
Karena
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Wow, they are one already! Happy birthday, sweet ones! Time flies. I am so happy that you were in good hands and everything worked out so well. What a lucky gal you are, and the twins are to have you!!
Happy birthday to your twins. Being a mom of 4 year old twins..I remember those days before they arrived very well.
I love that floaty hair! Their personalities are evident in those pictures. Thank The Lord the three of you are here today. Happy Birthday Babies!!!
Very sweet! Happy birthday to them! Thanks for sharing the PSA as well. Very important! :)
My 11 y.o. still thinks life is as funny as she did when she was little. Such an admirable characteristic! Thankful you’ve been so blessed, Emily.
Happy Birthday to the Twins. You look amazing in both pictures. Hope you all have a super day. Hugs, Marty
Happy birthday to the twins! Love their fuzzy hair. I have to say you look amazing in the picture the day before their birth!
awww Happy Birthday kiddos!!! They are sooo adorable and like Ive said before -they have the BEST hair! Love it! And you look AWESOME! Hot momma!!
Happy Birthday to your great little additions!
I think you do a really good job of mixing in the right amount of personal stuff…it’s fun to get to know you a little bit, even if it is totally virtual. I don’t really enjoy reading birth stories either, but I’m glad you shared this. So, so thankful everything turned out well for all of you. That’s a total cliché and a huge understatement, but it’s sincere for sure.
Happy Birthday to the twins!
Thank God you are ok. I’m glad you put this out there for young mother’s. I would love to see those faces every day.
it is so weird you mention hellp. I am pretty sure I have it and had it with my last pregnancy as well. (long story) and my doctor wont do anything about it. pretty scary stuff. you look amazing to have had twins a short 12 months ago! they are precious and its funny having that shocking pregnancy leads to the most wonderful addition you had no clue you needed!
I would insist on blood work if you have any signs. After all this was over, they told us that they often catch this only after the mother starts seizing.
Happy birthday to your littlest ones! So glad you all made it through healthily.
I can’t believe they are a year old! I remember anxiously awaiting to see a post letting us know they had arrived. I love their fuzzy heads!! I love reading about your beautiful family!
Oh my goodness, it’s seriously been a joy to see your babies (and your three other beauties) in photos on your blog!! The babies’ fuzzy heads are the BEST!! You look so amazing, it’s hard to believe you have had five babes! Enjoy your little wonders and all the fun the next year of their lives will bring to your family!
Oh my heavenly days! My sister-in-law almost died from that – very serious! So glad you were fine, as were those two cutie pies. You are just gorgeous in that last pregnancy picture, and oh my those babies are DELICOUS! It’s been fun to see how you’ve weathered these changes this year – with such finesse!
Happy Birthday to the twins! Love those fuzzy heads.
Happy healthy birthday!
Happy birthday to your babies! They are so sweet and it’s been fun watching them grow! Have a great day celebrating with your family!!
Happy birthday to your twins! That’s scary stuff and I’m glad you and babies are happy and healthy :). You have such a beautiful family!
Emily, Wishing a very Happy Birthday to your babies. I always love seeing your family pictures.
Happy Birthday Babies! We have been excited about you since your Mom first told us you were coming, and love watching you grow and change! What a sweet family that you are a part of!
Happy Birthday twins! I am so glad to know you and they made it through all of that OK. And I thnak you for sharing things like this on the blog, its more relatable that you think, and hopefully you just helped someone. :)
I love their wild hair – always makes me smile. Everyone kept telling me when we had a baby, “The years are short but the days are long.” I’ve thought about that a lot…:)
A year already? Holy smokey! My baby is 15 months old now (my third daughter) and I’m just loving this age. So fun! You look so teeny tiny in your prego pic except with a big, beautiful baby belly. It’s a great picture. I’m going to have to google that syndrome, but I’m glad all is ok now :)
PRICELESS!!!
ps…your advice will be so helpful to many.
I love your blog and love when you share more personal stuff. So I’d tune in to read about paint colors or potty training or whatever you want to talk about. :)
Thanks. But I promise to never write a post on potty training :)
It does go by fast and in a blur! My boy/girl twins turned 19 a couple of weeks ago! And at the end of June, I’m going to be a grandmother! I’m not sure any of us are ready for that yet! But babies are blessings!!
Happy birthday to your precious babies!! :) I think what you shared is relevant because it could help someone else and you gave God the glory! :)
Happy Birthday to those sweet babies! Hard to believe it has been a year already. One of my favorite sayings about raising kids…”The days are long, but the years are short” Enjoy every moment…well maybe not EVERY moment! :)
ps…you look fabulous!
What a sweet, sweet post! I’m terrified reading your scare..even 12 months later! so grateful everything worked out for the better. And really, you may have felt bad, but you looked amazing!!! I didn’t look like that at 5 months pregnant with 1 baby!!! Love those little fuzzhead cuties…thank you for sharing them with us this year!!! xoxox
Wishing those sweet fuzzy head sweethearts the happiest birthday everrrr!
What adorable children! You have been truly blessed~
So so sweet! Happy birthday to the twins! They’re SO adorable. What blessings :)
They are adorable! And I was as big as you were with one giant baby–but you looked far more serene and lovely!
Happy birthday to your adorable little ones! We just celebrated my daughter’s first birthday last week too. Time really does fly! Thanks for sharing the more personal stuff :)
Happy Birthday to your beautiful twins! I’m so happy for all of you :)
Hi Emily,
The babies are gorgeous, you look amazing, and I’m so happy that you are healthy and doing fine after that scare. Congratulations!
xo
Holly
I had HELLP too, with my second, no risk factors. My only “symptom” other than generally feeling ready to be done with having a baby in my belly was having some light flashes in the corner of one of my eyes. I thought I remembered reading that vision disturbances were no good, so I called my Dr. who asked me to come to the hospital, reassuring me that it was likely nothing. I almost left my overnight bag at home. Only moments after arriving at the hospital I was being told that “you’re having this baby. NOW.” And away we went . . . Happy birthday to your twins.
Your babies are adorable! Thanks for sharing the pics of them. It’s always nice to hear a little of the personal behind all the beautiful design posts!
Happy birthday to those adorable fuzzy headed twins of yours!
Happy Birthday to your sweet little ones! :)
i’m sure it’s been said, and i’m sure you didn’t feel like it, but you sure carried those babes well. holy cow. you look fantastic. then, and now!
Happy Birthday to your darling twin babies! Love their hair! So darn cute!
Happy birthday to these precious babies! Thank you for sharing their pictures this past year! Enjoy celebrating them!
Holy cow! I didn’t know (obviously) that you had HELLP! Yikes! From a former L&D nurse, that freaks me out for you. You 3 are miracles. Happy happy birthday to the babes! Squeeze those little cheeks for me!
Oh my goodness how scary! But so glad you and the babies are healthy!!! They are both so stinkin’ cute!
Emily, their fluffy hair puts me in a happy place. They’re so stinking cute!!
Double Happy Birthday! Enjoy your precious gifts!
Wow! You just brought back some memories! I also have twins (boy/ girl) who were delivered at 32 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. As soon as I started feeling strange I checked with the Doc. Good thing I did. They were delivered 5 days later. Thankfully, after some NICU time we all went home happy and healthy. Congrats on making it through the first year (which I barely remember!). I don’t know how you do it all! Happy birthday to those babies!
Susan
http://simplymodernhome.com
Girl, you carried so well. I looked like Mr Puffinstuff or whatever it’s called and I was only pregnant with one! Happy Birthday to the babies!!!
Your babies are adorable and you look beautiful! Keep up the good work on your blog, I don’t know where you find the time, but I do enjoy reading it.
A whole year?! Happy Birthday to your twins and congratulations to you! How fun to have been able to follow along on that journey with you.
Camille
Happy Birthday to your little ones! They are just beautiful(just as all of your other children). Enjoy your day with them!
Wow! Thanks for sharing (appropriately) ;)
and Happy Birthday to the little lovelys
Happy birthday Clark twins!!! I totally feel you with time going by at a breakneck speed! They are absolutely precious!
Happy birthdays!
First off–you look AMAZING in that first photo..Hard to believe you were about to have twins. Secondly, glad you are all okay! That is scary….and your family is adorable!
Happy, happy birthday sweet ones! Thank you for sharing your precious family’s adventures with us, Emily. You are a wonderful blogger and designer, but I bet they all think you have the mommy thing down best! :)
Can’t believe how beautiful you looked at the end of your pregnancy! Gorgeous! Happy Birthday to those cute twins.
Happy Birthday to your precious babies!
oh my gosh, they are so cute. the HAIR!!! I’ve loved following along with your story. happy birthday twins :)
I can’t believe it’s been a year! Wow. And I’m so, so glad that all of you made it to the other side of your pregnancy okay. I had post-eclampsia (so mine happened after delivery, whereas yours occurred before delivery), and it was completely terrifying. I can relate! Happy birthday to the babies! You know they’ll ALWAYS be your babies. :-)
Fastest year is right! Twins make you have to slow everything else way down, but then life speeds by right? It’s so odd. I still feel a little in a blur and mine are two. I’m glad you shared a bit of your story, and especially glad you, and those cute babes are healthy! This is such a milestone for ALL of you!!! Good job mom!!!
Wow, time goes by so fast. My year was a blur, so I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for you. Such a blessing, and I’m so glad you’re able to reflect back now with fonder memories.
So happy for you that you and your babies are okay! I agree that the first year is such a blur, and you have experienced it times two!
Congrats!! Those twins are so adorable and precious and I’m glad you have settled into a happy routine – you really seem to have handled it well, you handle it with more grace than I did with one!
I do have to say you look so amazing in that first photo – you look so great, I have never seen a mother look that good who had 2 babies a day later!! Right before I gave birth to all three of my kids, I sort of resembled a big puffy blob with long blonde hair. I was almost unrecognizable, I thought that was normal, but apparently not! :)
Wow, HELLP is scary and dangerous (and you look amazing to have been pregnant with twins AND in distress!). Most women are so swollen (I didn’t have pre-eclampsia or HELLP and I was so puffy it was ridiculous!). So glad everyone is healthy…and the twins have the best hair :-) I can’t believe it has been a year already!
Happy birthday to the twins and congratulations to you! I too am a mother of boy & girl twins and 5 kids in total. We had our twins first (they are 11), then 3 little boys followed (6, 4, and 18 months). Wishing you another fabulous year!!
Emily– Happy birthday to those beautiful children. In the last photo the smile on your face is beaming – and says it all! You and the twins look so happy!
A first birthday is one trip around the sun, a very nice way of putting it told to me when my Evie was one. In 365 days the Earth orbits the sun once! So happy first trip round the sun to those two adorable children!
Loretta
Emily– Just looked up HELLP and am so glad you and the children are well!
Loretta
Happy birthday to your little ones! The picture of the three of you is adorable, especially since the twins’ expressions seem so opposite from the personalities you described. No way could I keep up with everything you do–you’re an inspiration!
They are beautiful! Happy first birthday to them! I’m the mother of five year old twins, and I remember the pain of those final pregnancy days well – and I didn’t have a complication. Kudos to you for focusing on the positive and your blessings, and for your PSA.
So glad you are all okay. We LOVE seeing pictures of your adorable babies and their bedhead! You look gorgeous in that photo- I know you felt terrible and were so sick, but I never would have known.
Emily, you are beautiful–inside and out. Happy 1st Birthday to the fuzzy heads! And congrats to Mom and Dad for a successful first year as parents of 5! May God continue to bless your sweet family. :)
happy 1st to ur babes! and my sister had that exact issue, it is very scary and very serious!! she had to be kept isolated for the quite, dark, etc to keep her safe.
Emily…..wowza that first picture! So glad those beautiful babies are healthy and so so happy!
Again, a late comment here, but I’m a long time reader (never commenter; and I’m a blogger! I should know better!), and I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while that I, too, am a mama to 5, with the 4th and 5th being identical twin girls.
They’ll be 1 in a week, and I can’t even BEGIN to tell you where the last year has gone. Fastest year of my life, bar none. And after imploring God to only give me singletons, a year later, I’m wondering what I was thinking. Twins are amazing. And a lot of work. But mostly amazing!
As a fellow blogger/house decorator, it’s always so much fun and so encouraging to see the fabulous things you comes up with, knowing that you share the kid craziness.
Keep up the good work, Emily!