2 Months

I know I'm a few days late, but hey, I have twin infants!

Luckily, right now they are both napping along with their big sister, and lest I jinx it, I have a few minutes of quiet. 

There is laundry on the floor to be folded, a floor to be vacuumed, dishes to be done, a shower to be taken, beds to make, but I am just taking a quiet moment for myself.  These times are few and far between

So on to the babies.

Emmerson obviously not to happy about this...done with the photo shoot!

2 months already!!  So crazy!  I see some things getting easier.  I have finally figured out how to feed them at the same time by myself.  I've found a method that works well for me.  Baby on each side sitting in a boppy, blanket rolled up in front of them and bottle resting on the blanket.  I hold their bottles for the most part, this just makes it easy when I need to burp one of them.  No wrangling to try to prop the bottle up, its just let go and burp.  Works well for me.  Now, if I could just make myself put them on the same schedule.  I do for the most part, but I hate waking them up when their sleeping.  Like right now, I really should be waking up Caleb to eat because his sister ate a while ago, but when their napping so well, I hate to do it! 

Here's and individual twin breakdown.

Caleb:

Holds his head up pretty well
Loves to look at the pictures on the wall
Smiles when you talk to him or smile at him
There's no fussy with him, its either happy or screaming. 0-angry right away
Isn't sleeping through the night and not really giving me a super long stretch.  6 hours has been his max
Likes the bouncy seat as his toy of choice
Loves his brother and sister! 
Eating 5oz about every 3 hours
Loves tummy time

Emmerson:

Getting better at holding her head up. Still pretty wobbly but getting stronger all the time
Also loves the pictures
Loves to watch tv
Great smiler!  Beat her brother to the punch for first smile!
Sleeps through the night!  Last night was from 8-5!  Yep!  Love her :)
Is content most of the time and only really gets crying when she's hungry
Loves the swing, the bouncy seat and the play mat.
Loves her brother and sister!
Eats 4oz every three hours
Hates tummy time! 

Any advice on scheduling would be helpful!  I know Eat, wake, sleep. Just really how strict should I be?!? Or do I stick with what I'm doing?

1 Month

I am taking a quiet moment while I've got one to report in. 

Bar far the hardest part of having twins is the no sleep!  I have found I can operate for a few days on very little sleep, but on about the 4th day I have to get a nap.

They are doing great!  Each of them eating 4oz every 3 hours.  I was able to pump for a month and then honestly didn't have the energy or time to continue.  Feel like a HUGE failure, more on that later.  Every time I feed Emmerson I wonder where she is putting all 4oz, I think she has a hollow leg.

I have gotten a smile out of Emmerson but Caleb is a hold out! 

They are starting to sleep a little better at night. Last night E did a 6 hour stretch between feedings and Caleb did 5. I would have gotten to sleep from 11-3 if I hadn't had a 5 y/o wake up puking at 2. O joy, we just did this with him last week too!  We are all sick around here.  We all have colds, including the babies and Wy has this stomach thing.  Really hoping that doesn't spread its way around.  I hate having all these germs around my almost 5 week old babies.  Sigh

I am so thankful for my otherwise healthy family though.  Got a heart/mind check this last week, when one of our really good friends out here's 8 day old son had to have heart surgery last Monday.  It actually ended up being 2 heart surgeries in one day.  What a toll that took on his mommy and daddy!  He is home now, 7 days later! Crazy right!?!   Praising God for His hand on tiny Rocky! 

Many people as how they can pray for me. Here's how. Having twins is hard. Having twins after already having 2 older kids is harder.  I feel like a failure in every way as a mom right now.  A failure with the babies because not only did they not nurse, but I couldn't even pump for that long.  Any mom who has tried and failed to nurse knows exactly how I feel.  You know its ok, that the best thing is that they are growing, but you've missed out on giving them the "best" and what parent wants 2nd best for their kids.  I feel like a failure because I don't get to spend as much 1 on 1 time with the babies. I feel like I'm just feeding, changing, feeding, changing and not really spending much time talking to and enjoying them.  I feel like a failure with the older two, because I can't spend nearly the time with them I'd like.  I am trying to find at least 1 thing a week to do with each of them, just us to help with this. 

I know I am trying my best, but just pray for me/us! 

I am not trying to complain!  I LOVE my family!  These babies have been a great blessing, I am so so thankful for them!  This is just the reality of life for the moment!  God's gonna get us through! 

This picture, shows a bit of life right now.  Neither big kid paying attention to me. Leah's hair insane...sigh...gotta love my bunch!!

They're here!!

This past Wednesday was met with excitement and trepidation! 

We arrived at the hospital at 9:30am and were taken right up to periop for prep for the surgery.  I can't say I wasn't nervous, but I think I was more excited and ready to be done being pregnant!   We were met by our sweet nurse who took us back to our room and got us ready!  We didn't have long to wait, the surgery was scheduled for 11:30am and there was a lot to do before then.  We got pushed back a half hour at some point, and since they had already started pumping me full of fluids I needed to use the restroom.  My nurse had stepped out and the nurse that came in amazingly was our labor and delivery nurse from when we had Leah!  We LOVED her in our past delivery!  She was awesome so we were so excited to see her! She said we looked familiar but she's helped with probably thousands (ok or hundreds) of deliveries in the last couple of years so I'm sure the faces blurr together.  She ended up being in the surgery and then we had her for our post op!  She again was amazing.  But, I'm getting ahead or myself.

We were taken to surgery just before noon and the part I was scared most of was right in front of me....the spinal!  But I bucked it up and clenched my fists and was plesantly surprised that it wasn't really that big of a deal1  Yay!!  Man, those things work fast!  The first sensation was nice, because my feet had been freezing and were instantly warm :)  Its funny the things you take note of!  Ok all draped and prepped and

at 12:09 Chris was ushered in and

at 12:11pm Caleb Jeffery joined the world and

at 12:12pm Emmerson Rose brought us her sweet presence!

What amazing moments!  Very different than delivering naturally, but still amazing none the less! 

Caleb screamed and screamed and screamed while he was being weighed in at 6# 13oz and measured at 20" long

Emmerson also cried and cried while she weighed in at 5# 14oz and measuring 19" long!

At times we were laughing because they seemed to be competing with eachother!

Both were doing great at first, but Caleb started having some trouble breathing before the surgery was done they decided he was going to go to the NICU for observation for a bit.  Thankfully my surgery was completed before he was taken away and I was able to hold him for a few minutes.  Not nearly long enough, but at least I could see him!  Incidentally, I didn't get to see him again until after 8 that evening.

Emmy, in all her tiny goodness was doing great!  She never had to leave us!  She is perfect!

We were taken back to recovery, where after a bit my dad was able to come in to see us!  So so sweet, seeing our tiny tiny girl in her grandpa's big hands!  Very secure! I was able to call my mom and let her know all was well and they were here!  She was staying with the older two kids so had to wait a bit to come up!  Dad went and subbed her out and she came up to meet her newest grandbaby. 

The Dr. from the NICU came up just before we were taken to postpardem to let us know about our sweet boy!  He had a small, very small pneumothorax and was just having some trouble breathing.  They decided to admit him :( He was doing well, just not well enough. 

The next few hours were met with lots of family and friends all thrilled our sweet blessing were here!!!

There is so much more to add, but for now this will have to do!

In all the craziness

So I just realized that in all the craziness of life, we have not revealed what were are having to the blog world.

I know, so important right :)

So, just in case you don't know...

We are having a boy and a girl!!

Right now they are sitting pretty at 4lbs each with 7 weeks left to go.  Yes, 8lbs of baby already in the belly, and 7 weeks left to go so needless to say, I would be very happy if they decided to come early...not too early obviously, I want them to be healthy. But, a good 35, 36 weekers would be welcome! 

Right now we are busy trying to get the nursery ready and finishing up some stuff on the house so we do need a bit of time, but I'm getting very uncomfortable and I am ready to meet them!!