I have less than 24 hours here with the twins. I don't want to dwell on that fact. I am going to miss them. I am however looking very much forward to being back with my husband and my children. Oh yeah, and sleeping 8 hours at night.








I took off for the evening to give Shana and J.D. time without me hanging around. J.D. has been in FL on business this week.
I treated myself to a movie. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I've been reading the Twilight series this summer. Easy reads. Juvenile, but catchy. And I am happy to report that this third flick is much better than the other two, thank goodness.

Why does Wyatt remind me of Rex is this picture? 

sometimes we cry

So how do you feed newborn twins...

Wyatt and Sadie were put on a 3 hour feeding schedule in the NICU and it is the same at home: 12, 3, 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, 9. They are breastfed babies. We feed on an alternating schedule. Shana breastfeeds one baby while the other is fed a bottle of breast milk. The breast milk is obtained by Shana by pumping after she has fed one baby. This pattern only differs for the 3am and midnight feeding. During those, both babies are bottle fed. Breastfeeding is harder for the babies and it takes them longer to fill their tummies. So night feedings are shortened a little. However they are getting faster. When I started my 2 weeks they would often breastfeed for an hour. Now most feedings are 30 minutes.

Wyatt eats more than Sadie and has a faster flowing nipple for his bottle. For this reason the bottles are differentiated by the color of the nipple ring. Wyatt’s are white, Sadie’s are green.

There is a system to the bottles in the refrigerator. Pull from the left, place new filled bottles on the right. (Formula is mixed with the breast milk when the amount needs to be increased.)

There is also a system to the bottles on the counter. Bottles, nipples, and pacifiers in the right drainer have been washed with soap and water. Those in the left drainer have been sterilized. The sterilizer is a plastic microwavable dome. We fill it with 7oz of water, place items in tray, close lid, microwave for 2 minutes, and let stand for 2 more. I think it’s a cool little contraption. 

I'm glad to be back. I missed these little people. They have worked their way right into my heart and I am going to miss them terribly when I leave on Friday. School for my kids and me start up in the next weeks and our schedule will be very busy. I don't know when I'll get back. But I won't think of that now...

This morning was a bit hairy. It seems Miss Sadie is waking up from her newborn slumber, just as her big brother did last week. Both babies were fussy and had Shana and I with our hands full. But this afternoon couldn't have been more the opposite. They were magnificent. After feeding they would lay for a while on their play pad and squirm, hiccup, poot, grunt, you know all those things that are precious coming only from a newborn. Then we'd have a little fussing as they would fall to sleep.

Wyatt does seem to suffer from gas, reflux, what ever you want to call it. He cries about 30 to an hour after a feeding in spurts and then he'll burp or release the gas by other means. He's also spit up a few times today, which is new. He cries more often then Sadie.

But the faces he makes cracks me up.

Sadie's sweet feet.

Just before bedtime. 

Weekend Retreat 

Poor little man. He had a rough day. He started fussing after the noon feeding and had a hard time getting good heavy sleep until just this evening. He took a pretty good nap on his mama's chest. But anywhere else he would wake after a few minutes and cry. He had gas and burped a time or two. Hunger, gas pains, who knows. All we could do was try our best to comfort and pray that it would all go away soon. 

And it did.

Sadie was an angel today.

Precious.

"You better watch it, I ain't scared of you."

"Oh yeah, take that!"

Bless you and you

More and more the babies are staying awake. And that means more holding, patting, comforting.  Wyatt had a fairly fussy day and we are anxiously awaiting a BM, he’s due a big one. Sadie’s wake periods aren’t as frequent but she is smaller. Both had their bottle increased by 5ml today.

Shana and I both got out of the house today. Not together. It feels good to visit the world outside these walls. I’ve been making myself jog everyday just to step outside. And man is it hot!

Caring for twins is just as you would expect: hard. But what I wasn't prepared for was the emotional difficulty. After days of sitting in the same room and watching hours of TV, my mind feels mushy. I was singing a song in the car today and the words came out jumbled. And dang look at those laugh lines on my face in that picture. Oh well, I guess it's good to be happy. See...mushy. 

I miss my family, a lot.

Here are they are watching David Letterman with me. Actually they had already fallen asleep. Wyatt did make it through most of the 10 o'clock news.

bathtime

Wyatt and Sadie seem to have the typical evening fussy time. Over the last two nights it has fallen between the 9pm and 12am feeding. It’s not bad. Granted there are two, but both are consolable. And, so far, this leads to several hours of good heavy sleeping. Last night I took the 9-12 shift. I tried my best to keep them quiet so that Shana wouldn’t wake and eventually took them away from the bedrooms and back to the living room. We watched David Letterman.  After the 12 feeding they slept hard, so did I. I was exhausted. I’m beginning to feel more comfortable. Getting used to both their personalities and sleeping/feeding habits. 

Shana and I watch TV most of the day. Lots of TV. A few of the shows on our viewing list today were: The Blob, NICU, and Cash Cab.

Oh and today was bath day. Fresh baby lotion. Nothing sweeter.

my second day

my second day: thats as original as it gets. i just dont feel like being creative. and typing with one hand and holding wyatt in the other, who just let out a good squirt. sadies here in my room too. im taking the 9-midnight shift so shana can hopefully get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep. Maybe this isn't the best time to post.

Pictures from today.

getting to know you

Good Morning Sunshine

Is it already morning? 

Both babies hardly slept between the 9 and 12 feeding. My usual bedtime is 11, so handling that stretch wasn't difficult. I enjoyed holding them (one at a time) and watching them watch me. So quiet, still and dim. 

They slept like rocks between the 12 and 3am feeding...so did I. 

Between 3 and 6 they were a little more noisy, starting to grunt and whimper around 5.

And then there we were at the 6am feeding. The sounds of commuting traffic outside, morning news on the TV, and coffee brewing in the kitchen. Can it really be another day?

I don't know how Shana does it. She is on her third week of this with no break, and producing enough milk to nourish two preemies. What a strong woman.

Here is my alarm setting on my iPod. 

Jammy Duty

Disclaimer: I cannot be concerned with perfect grammar, photos, composition, etc, or I will not take the time to post during these two weeks. I know me. That being said, Here we go....

When I stepped through the door I smelt them, Babies. The mixture of diapers, baby lotion, Dreft, intoxicating.

Wyatt, the first born. He seems to enjoy the ease of the bottle over the breast. He gets hiccups. 

Sadie Jane. She is so tiny, but healthy and vibrant. She doesn't seem to mind what she's fed. She can suck down a bottle fast. 

Feeding schedule is every 3 hours, just like the hospital. We've just had the  9pm feeding, babies are tucked in bed, grunting a little. Mom and Dad are hurrying off to get a few precious hours before the 12am feeding begins at 11:50. Me, the ignorant one is playing on the computer. 

J.D. is headed back to work tomorrow morning after 2 weeks of full time dad duty. I am taking his night feedings. I wish Shana could have a night off too. A mother's work is never done. 

P.S. My "grandma" name is Jammy.

1 Week, 3 Day Update

Shana First full day nearly done. It went pretty well. Actually got some sleep in and we feel pretty good. We hav nearly gone through all of our preemie diapers already. JD ordered $50 more worth online. I guess that will last us for maybe a week:) 7:52 pm

1 Week, 2 Day Update

Shana home sweet home:) 1:41pm

1 Week, 1 Day Updates

Shana made it through our first night of breast/bottle feeding in the NICU. Hoping it is a dry run for them sleeping in with us. we ave to learn CPR today. 7:09 am

Shana babies are in the room with us!!! 1:03 pm

Friday Updates

Shana kids are eating more than their goal. working on getting a regular bed today and hearing tests. Dr said they may get to go home by Monday:) 7:01 am 

Shana at 9 feeding they were in an open bed. I just went to drop off milk and they were getting their hearing test. I think we are getting close to going home!!!  10:21 am 

Shana passed the hearing test. temps are stable so far in a regular bed. fingers crossed that it stays that way.  1:49 pm

Shana last feeding jd went through four diapers with sadie. all at one time. she kept going to the bathroom every time he put a new diaper under her 2:37 pm

Shana just called our room and asked for the carseats!!! one of the last tests 2:48 pm

Shana looks like sunday will be the day we take the kids home. they passed their car seat test. we have cpr training tomorrow and then we should get to let them room in with us until we leave on sunday!!! 6:45 pm

Wednesday Update

Shana no more IV for Wyatt. Both of them are done with feeding tubes so they are free from all the machines except the monitors! I know I felt better once I wasn't hooked up to anything. Also Sadie gained 3 oz! Great day yesterday. Yesterday at 8:09am

First Touch

Access granted. The NICU nurses allowed for a visitor. Savannah, Blake, and I were at the hospital a.s.a.p. I arrived right at the noon feeding. J.D. graciously surrendered his position so that I could enter the nursery. NICU rules: maximum attendance, two. Shana was finishing Sadie’s first breast feeding and I got to hold Wyatt. His small size was intimidating, along with the tubes stretching from his swaddling blanket to the monitors across the floor. I was afraid I might hurt him. But I didn’t. We snuggled, he drifted off to sleep, and I reluctantly gave him back to the nurse.


3:00 feeding. Shana sacrificed her alloted time with her babies for me this time. I was honored. And prepared, I brought my camera.

J.D. changed Sadie's diaper and Nurse Julie changed Wyatt's. 

 

I got to feed Sadie this time. She downed her bottle. I was amazed at her strength. Julie showed me how to burp a preemie. The very same way you burp a newborn. 

Sadie was out just as soon as she finished her bottle. I studied her face and watched her sleep.

 

J.D. fed Wyatt. 

Too soon Julie said they had to go back into their beds. What a sweet sight to see them snuggled next to each other.

And here's what Dad has to snuggle into at night.

J.D.'s assigned bed just barely fit Savannah. He didn't complain.