bugsii

You wanna know what I’m doing on any given day?  Every day is pretty much the same.  Right now, there’s no such thing as a relaxing Friday night or sleeping in on Saturday.  It’s a lot like Groundhog Day around here.  And just in case you have some morbid curiosity about just how I go about feeding two babies at the same time, here ya go.

4am- These days it’s getting closer to 5am (thankfully!), but this is the first feeding of the day/night.  I grab my phone and a big glass of water and feed the boys on the floor of the nursery while I check FB (not much going on at that hour!) and read a book using my kindle app.  (I can’t feed them on a chair because I use a giant pillow to feed both of them and it doesn’t fit.)  I keep the lights off and the sound machine on, hoping that they won’t think it’s time to get up for the day (although this is getting harder since it’s getting lighter earlier).  When they finish, I change them quickly and put them back to bed.  They actually go back to sleep these days, which is a huge improvement over the first 10 weeks.  Then I get to go back to bed for an hour or two.

7am- For this feeding, I turn off the sound machine in the nursery, turn on a light and act like it’s daytime.  I also try to grab some breakfast before I start feeding.  If the boys are still asleep, I’ll make some oatmeal to take upstairs with me.  If they aren’t, I’ll grab some poptarts.  I also get all my vitamins.  I feed the babies on the floor of the nursery again and then I call for Dan (sometimes I actually call him, but most of the time I just yell through the monitor).  He takes Dominic (or whoever’s done first), burps him and changes him, while I finish up with Leo and do the same.  We usually share how the 10pm and 4am feedings went (Dan does the 10pm on his own with bottles) and then we put the boys down for tummy time while Dan goes to work (in the basement, since he works from home) and I pump to get extra milk for that 10pm feeding.  I also use my phone to play Jewel’s Lullaby album for the boys.  When tummy time is over, I flip the boys on their backs and talk to them until they get tired.  During this time of the day, they’ve become very cute and interactive.  They coo at me and smile until they get tired.  Dominic gets tired first, so I wrap him in his woombie and put him to bed.  Then, I can usually put Leo to bed and he goes right to sleep.  This is the only time of the day this happens, so be happy for me!

8:30am- I get to shower!  This wasn’t always true!  I shower and get ready for the day, then I come downstairs, wash bottles, do some cleaning up and make coffee.  I even get a few minutes to myself before the babies wake up.  Lately, they’ve been taking a long nap during this time and I’ve been letting them sleep until 10:30.

10-10:30am- If I’m on my own this is how it goes: The babies start to wake up, so I go upstairs and get one, bring him down and put him on a boppy.  Then I go get his brother and take off his swaddle blanket and put him on another boppy on the couch (next to where I nurse).  I can then take the swaddle blanket off of the first baby, put my nursing pillow on (yes, it straps around my waist), pick up the first baby and sit down on the couch.  Then I can pick up the second baby and put him on the pillow with his brother.  It’s quite the feat.  They eat and I watch Kathie Lee and Hoda.  When they are finished, I take Dominic (usually) and sit him up on the edge of my nursing pillow and burp him for a while before putting him tummy down on the boppy to finish burping while I burp Leo.  I single-handedly (with a baby in the other hand) unstrap my nursing pillow and take Leo over to the changing table to change his diaper and get him dressed for the day.  Leo then goes on tummy time while Dominic gets changed and dressed and then he joins Leo for tummy time.  Then, I sit near them and shake toys in front of their faces, play music, read books and whatever it takes for them to not cry during tummy time.  After tummy time is over, I put them on their backs in their play gym, which they love.  They play there until Dominic gets tired (he’s almost always first) and then I wrap him up and take him up to the nursery.  Thankfully, he goes down quickly, so I can run back down to play with Leo for a little longer until he gets tired.  When Leo gets tired, I wrap him up and I usually have to rock him for a while until he gets drowsy enough to lay down in the crib.

Noon- I usually get to eat lunch during this nap.  The boys sleep pretty well for this one, but sometimes (like right now actually!) they fuss and I have to go up and give a pacifier or rock someone a little extra (usually Leo).

1-1:30pm- Another feeding!  See 10-10:30am.  It’s pretty much the same, except I watch the news.  It’s also different if I have help, then someone else (usually Grandma) takes Dominic and I take care of Leo.  After this feeding and tummy time, I sometimes take a walk with the boys.  Then, they fall asleep in the stroller and I let them sleep in the car seats (which go in the stroller) until the next feeding.  If I have help, this is also a time where I’ll run out to grab groceries or run some other quick errands on my own.

4-4:30pm- Another feeding!  Usually I get the boys started while I watch Ellen and by the time they are finished Dan is off work and can help with the burping, changing and tummy time.  The boys don’t usually sleep well during this nap, so we try to figure out dinner while we run up and down the stairs putting in pacifiers or putting babies in swings (the swings usually do the trick).

7-7:30pm- Last feeding of the day for me!  Dan helps me get the boys and they eat while we watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and sometimes (okay most times) eat dessert.  We don’t have the boys do tummy time after this feeding because we feel like they get worked up (and this is really bed time) and we also think they deserve a break.  We usually just hold them or let them play in their bouncers while we talk to them until someone gets tired.  I’ve also given baths at this time and I’m trying to get into a routine to get these done at this time, but I usually do baths after the 10am feeding when Dan’s mom comes over and helps.  By 8:30pm, we try to have the boys in bed, but they really fight this one.  Dominic will go down, but then wakes up a few times.  Leo is almost impossible to put down, so he’s usually in the swing.  And don’t think we’re trying to force them to sleep.  They are fussy cranky if they are up, but also fight sleep if we try to get them to bed.  We’ve tried extra formula, we’ve tried allowing them to stay up and all we can figure is that they are extra tired at the end of the day and it’s hard for them to sleep, but they really need it.  Plus, I’ve googled it and it seems like most babies experience a fussy time in the evening referred to as the “witching hour.”  They say it ends at 3-4 months.  Let’s hope so.

8:30pm- I try to get ready for bed at some point while trying the settle babies.  At 9ish, I pump more for the 10pm feeding and then I read a little before finally going to bed.

10-10:30pm- Dan bottle feeds the boys with my pumped milk mixed with some formula on the floor in the nursery.  He uses two boppies, one of each side of him, props the boys up and feeds them.  Then he burps and changes one at a time and, thankfully, they go to sleep very well at this time.  And then they sleep until 4-5am!  I’m still excited about that. 

More than you ever wanted to know?  Good.

Even though my little peanuts are only 11 weeks old tomorrow, I’m starting to see their personalities emerge and I want to document them before things change and I forget.

Dominic is our brute.  He wants what he wants when he wants it.  When we wake him up to eat, he’s a ball of tense muscle, shouting for his food now now now.  Once he’s done eating, he gives us a short window of a smiley, relaxed baby.  He’s great on tummy time.  His neck is strong and he just recently stopped wailing for the whole duration and instead makes adorable cooing sounds.  After tummy time, we flip him onto his back and he enjoys kicking around for a little while, but just a little while.  As soon as he starts to give a grumpy cry, I know I need to swaddle him and get him up to his room for a nap.  He’s very easy to read.  And as I’m walking up the stairs to the nursery, he’s already blinking his eyes slowly and ready to sleep.  Although, he’s also always been the gassier one and when we spy on him on the nursery camera, he’s often doing leg lifts in his bed trying to work it out.  Another special thing about Dominic is that he has the widest, brightest eyes (as you can see in the picture).  He loves to push off of Daddy’s chest and stare at him as he talks.  He likes to follow Mommy as she moves around the room and he’s just starting to stare at his brother as he lays beside him.  He’s our little chunk, just recently passing the 10 lb mark and he’s serious about his eating schedule.  Don’t mess with it.

This is a classic picture of our little guy, Leo.  I think of him as a baby professor, slightly quirky but brilliant.  The looks he gives us crack us up daily.  Half of the time he’s serious and looks at us like we’re crazy people.  The other half of the time he’s very smiley and content.  Sometimes he smiles when we think he’s mad.  Sometimes he smiles when he should be sleeping.  In fact, it’s hard for me to tell when he’s tired at all because it seems like he could just kick and play in his play gym forever.  I know he needs sleep, but I’m not sure if he knows it.  And speaking of those kicks, they also crack us up.  He either looks like he’s trying to gallop or he just kicks one leg really fast.  Right now, he’s on a tummy time strike.  Rather than move his head, he sucks on his hand and tries to find his thumb (which he’s found a few times).  And if he does lift his head, he cries like someone’s torturing him.  We’re hoping he gets back to work on his neck muscles soon.  He’s generally pretty laid back, but when he’s upset he does a fast breathing cry that sounds like a he-he-he-he before he actually starts to cry.  He loves to be on his back.  That play gym is his favorite place.  He’s also our cuddly guy.  He likes being held and snuggling up against Mommy.  He’s a dainty eater and he’s weighing in at just over 8 1/2 lbs these days.  I give him extra time to eat, just in case it helps, but he’s growing fine.  He has the sweetest little face with long dark eyelashes and looks like a perfect doll when he’s sleeping.

I can’t wait to see how they grow and change!

Now that the boys and I are finally getting into a routine and I’m getting some sleep, I’m going to do what I’ve been wanting to do for 11 weeks… blog about the day they came into the world.

It started on Monday, February 11.  I went to my biweekly non-stress test to monitor the babies.  At the test, baby B’s heart rate decelerated one time in the 20 minutes that the test took.  The doctor didn’t seem too worried, but they wanted to send me to the hospital to be monitored for a few more hours.  I went home and Dan and I headed down the Good Sam.  We’d spent a lot of time there being monitored, but this was the first time that we were put into a labor and delivery room.  We were usually in a special care room for pregnant women trying to stay pregnant.  It was a little disconcerting, but since I was 34 weeks and 6 days, I was told that I was there just in case.  Our nurse was a little nutty and very talkative.  As a hobby, she showed Great Pyrenees at dog shows.  We saw pictures.  As I was being monitored, baby B’s heart rate decelerated a few more times.  A doctor visited and even though she wasn’t too concerned, I was now going to be staying the night at the hospital.  Dan went home to pick up our overnight bags.  While he was gone the nurse came in because baby B’s heart rate had decelerated again.  She started to push on my belly and then she became a little frantic.  She pushed a button and had me turn from one side to the other.  Suddenly, 5 other people rushed into the room, an oxygen mask was put over my head and several people were pushing on my belly.  I was scared and Dan wasn’t back yet.  Baby B’s heart rate went back up, and the doctors and nurses started to calm down and leave the room.  I called Dan, teary, telling him to hurry because I had no idea what was going to happen next.  I also started to contact family.  When Dan got back, I was having painful contractions and the doctor had decided that I should go ahead and get an epidural, just in case I went into labor.  She still wasn’t convinced that I would have the babies that night, but I was dilated 4 cm and they were going to let me rest for the night to see if I progressed on my own.  I got my epidural and then I wasn’t allowed to eat, so I ate my ice chips and Dan and I settled in for the night.  At one point, a nurse offered me a popsicle and I was pretty excited about it.  Dan’s parents came down, but since it looked like I was going to make it through the night, we sent them home.  Eventually, it got late and Dan and I both went to sleep.

Around 3am, I was uncomfortable and since I couldn’t move my legs I called the nurse in to help me change positions.  When I shifted over to my side, suddenly baby B’s heart rate decelerated to the 50s, which was dangerously low.  That’s when things got really scary.  The lights flipped on and doctors and nurses surrounded my bed.  They yanked out my monitors, threw scrubs at Dan and ran me and my bed down the hall to the OR.  The activity in the OR was fast-paced.  One nurse was hovering over my head trying to make sure I was okay, but I was scared.  Dr. Smith leaned over and told me that baby B’s heart rate was back up and that they weren’t in a rush any more, but they were still going to go ahead with the C-section because baby B was ready.  Things slowed down and the anesthesiologist came back in to make me even more numb and Dan was finally let in.  I started to shiver from the medication and Dan came over to hold my hand.  Somehow he managed to remember the camera.  They put the blue sheet up to block my view from the surgery and I guess the doctor poked me because she asked if I could feel her poking me.  I couldn’t.  It seemed like just a few moments later, when I heard a suctioning sound and the most wonderful cry.  That’s when I saw Dominic Joseph for the first time.  He was perfect.

I cried when I saw that tiny little body and then I started worrying about baby B.  I wanted to hear another cry.  It didn’t take long.  1 minute later, at 3:31am, there was a second suctioning sound and a second cry.  An even tinier, perfect baby appeared.  We’d call him Leo Richard.

I looked to my left, where nurses surrounded my two boys hoping that they wouldn’t be taken away.  Dan stood up to see how they were doing.  Dominic weighed 5 lbs 3 oz and Leo weighed 4 lbs 8 oz.  “Are they okay?”  I asked Dan repeatedly.  After a few minutes, the nurses said that they were fine and that they wouldn’t have to go to the NICU.  I was relieved and in awe.  My babies were here and they were safe.  I was finally a mommy.  And Dan was a daddy.

And the adventure began.

Why can’t I see to remember to blog daily?  It used to be so easy.  I need to make it a habit like it used to be.  Hmm.

Ben came back last night to stay the weekend between his two weeks in Dayton.  We ordered some Greek food for dinner and hung out.  Today, we’ve been he’s been helping Dan with some things around the house.  They got the car seats installed and ready and now they are finishing changing out the hinges on the doors upstairs.  In between jobs though, Dan and Ben played some video games and I took a panoramic picture.  This has been my view for quite a few weeks now (minus Ben).

We had our weekly appointments today.  My NST was fine, my cervix is still 1 cm dilated and the babies have grown to 5 lbs 2 oz and 4 lbs 10 oz.  That’s all good news, but I still want to hang on until March 1.  At this point, the best news is that if the boys were born tomorrow they would develop just fine.  But, they would need help eating.  I’m already nervous enough about breastfeeding, so I don’t want that to happen.  I’m gonna keep hoping and praying.  In the meantime, I’ll spend my time wondering what they might looks like when they get here and making comparison collages of Dan and I. 

I had another NST today and all is well.  Ben came back to spend his birthday with us.  We ordered out, ate DQ ice cream cake and opened presents.  Happy birthday, Ben!

Ben came over today since he’ll be working in Dayton for the week.  We watched the Puppy Bowl and the Super Bowl.  I think I prefer the Puppy Bowl, but I rooted for San Francisco because I like the underdog and I don’t think anyone from northeastern Ohio is allowed to like the Ravens.  But, they lost.  Ah well.

I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed to learn that I wasn’t going to be having a girl, especially since I’m not sure we’ll be having any more kids.  But, since I know that I was meant to have two boys, I fully embrace it.  And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of having two little guys.  Here are just a few things that made me think I’ll like having two boys.

1) For starters, having two of the same gender, boy or girl, makes it easier for them to share clothes and toys.  This means less stuff and more sharing, which is a good thing.
2) I hear that boys love their mommies and I do think there’s a special bond between opposite gender parents.
3) I get to be the model female in their lives and I’m glad that they will compare future girlfriends to me.
4) Not having to worry as much about protecting them from body image issues.  (Although, still having to teach them that girls aren’t required to look a certain way.)
5) Getting to teach them that they don’t have to be a macho punk to be a “real” man.   Although, his Dad will probably be a better teacher of that.
6) Short haircuts

Everything else I can think of, I have to check myself to not stereotype my boys before they’re here.  I like to be active, but not every little boy is a wild child or will even want to play a sport.  I actually think that one child will take be more outgoing like me and one will be more introverted like Dan, but we’ll see.  It will be fun to get to see their personalities develop.

Other things I’m excited about just in general:
1) Baby smell!
2) Getting to come up with fun little activities to do with my boys.  Hello, Pinterest.
3) Reading to them.
4) Taking walks with them.
4) Watching them when they are trying to learn to jump and they think they are getting off the ground when they aren’t.  I love that.
5) The funny things they’ll say and the funny ways they’ll say them when they are learning to talk.
6) Cooking with them.
7) Shooting hoops with them in our driveway.
8) Getting to help them with homework.

Okay, now I’m getting ahead of myself.  

I had another doctor’s appointment today.  These days I have lots of appointments.  On Mondays, I have an NST (Non-Stress Test), which is where they strap three monitors on my belly- one for each baby’s heart and one for my contractions.  I lay there, not stressed at all, for 20 minutes and they see how many contractions I have.  They also check to see if the babies can raise and lower their heartbeats when they are active.  Every Thursday, including today, I have a doctor’s appointment, another NST and a check of the amniotic fluid.  My appointment was pretty uneventful.  My cervix remains at 1cm dilated, which is good.  The boys did their duty during the NST and I only had one contraction.  The amniotic fluid is checked by ultrasound and that also looked good.  It’s always a little disappointing to get my amniotic fluid checked because they use the ultrasound equipment, but I don’t get a full scan of the babies, so I don’t get to find out how much they’ve grown.  Right now, I have a full ultrasound every other week, so I had one last week and I only have to wait one more.  Last week Baby A was 4 lbs 5 oz and Baby B was 4 lbs even.   I’m really dying to know how much weight they’ve gained, but I guess I’ll have to wait 7 more days.  Ho hum.

I really shouldn’t complain though because I’m so glad that I’m still stable and we have gotten this far.  I’m confident that we’ll make it until March 1… so confident that I scheduled pedicures with two of my twin mom pals on February 16.  That’s in more than two weeks!  No problemo, right babies?

I tasted a little bit of freedom today.  It might not be a good thing, but it sure felt good.  For Christmas, Dan got me a pregnancy massage and at the time the doctor said I had to wait until 32 weeks.  So at my 32 week appointment, I got permission to get that massage and even permission to drive (it’s pretty close by).  Today was the day and I didn’t know how good it would feel to drive myself somewhere.  I turned up my music, cracked the window (hello 66 degrees in January) and felt very independent.  The massage was great and then I picked up some Starbucks on the way home.  Ah, freedom.  After 7 weeks on bed rest, I almost felt like I was 16 again getting some alone time in the car and finally getting to go wherever I wanted.  Actually, I also wanted to go to Buy Buy Baby and Whole Foods, but I was on a time limit, so I didn’t.  Now that I tasted it, it makes 5 more weeks seem long.  But!  I’ve been doing so well and I’m really feeling like I might have full term babies (on March 1st!) and I know I can handle being on my butt for a good cause.  So for now, I’ll take little bits of freedom, until my boys are here safe and sound… and chubby!