I'm listening....

I do watch a lot of tv being home now. One of my favorite channels is HGTV. I especially like Property Virgins and House Hunters. I think it's very sweet of them to wish viewers Sweet Dreams when their regular broadcasting is done and infomercials begin. The Food Network is also a groovy channel with Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Ace of Cakes, and Challenge. They also offer a good night to viewers. Ahhh, the things you learn at 4 am.
I love Frasier. I do appreciate the show's sense of humour. Did you know that you can also watch full episodes on youtube? I tried to get the theme song for my ringtone but it was not available.
I discovered a new show-The new adventures of old Christine. I was feeding both babies at the same time and was not available to change the channel after Frasier. It's now part of my viewing repertoire.

Feeding

For reasons I don't understand I did not see my babies after delivery for hours after I had them. I saw them briefly after delivery. I was told that they were taken to the nursery for observation and evaluation. Both did very well with their Apgar exams and were healthy upon delivery.
I first saw Peanut around 2:30 am (he had been born first at 12:37am). I nursed him and then he was taken back to the nursery. I did not see Squeakers until 5:30 am (he was born at 12:50am).
Looking back I wish I would have asked to have them both with me until our room was ready (the hospital was doing a makeover of the entire ob dept). I'm reading information now that says the first hours are so important to breastfeeding and setting up your supply. They told us to supplement because their birth weights were so low. I did. I have such mixed emotions about that. I wanted them to gain weight and I knew that wouldn't happen with bf because my milk hadn't come in yet. (I did pump a few times during my stay and with nursing both of them my milk came in quicker with them than with E). I wanted them to gain weight so they could come home.
I wrote in the last post that M took care of Squeakers because he was taking the bottle more. I wish I had nursed him more. After the babymoon he is doing better. I do hope that by nursing him more he'll get better at it.
It's still early and I'm hoping nursing with Squeakers will get better. I still feel guilty and bad about not being more on the ball with nursing. Hindsight is 20/20.

Busy as a bee

I knew it would get crazy here but I just had no idea. My days are filled to the brim for the loving and caring of E and the babies. As a matter of fact I'm pumping while writing this. I've always been a pretty good multi tasker and now it's gone to extreme multi tasking.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was wonderful. Finally having the babies made it even more special. We had Christmas Eve dinner at my parents with M being Santa and E playing the part of Elf. She loved being Santa's special helper and passing our presents. I enjoyed spending it with my good friend J and her family--my goddaughter N! My Dad made the traditional Wigilia dinner--mushroom soup, sauerkraut with peas, pierogies, coleslaw and desserts (my Mom made me anise cookies--soooo good!) It's my favorite holiday of the year. I like the food and I love spending it with my family.
Squeakers and Peanut are doing well. We just weighed them and Squeakers is 10 lbs (bw-4.3 lbs) and Peanut is 10 lbs 14 oz (bw-5 lbs 6 oz). I am trying to get Squeakers to nurse more. We just got done doing a "babymoon". I nursed Squeakers for 24 hours. No bottles. He ate quite frequently. I'm hoping after this he will be better with nursing (he loves the bottle. its easier. he does get breast milk and formula in the bottle.) and it will up my milk supply. I've started taking fenugreek hoping to increase my supply also. It's my fault he likes the bottle so much. I supplemented with both in the hospital to help with weight gain. I knew it was a necessary evil. When we got home I continued to supplement. M had taken two weeks off after they were born and he took care of Squeakers and hence bottles were given. It was easier to tag team the babies like that. Now I'm trying to make up for a poor start.
New Years Eve we had my Dad over for seafood. I went to Cooper's Restaurant for our dinner and they threw in free cole slaw because I told them I had twins! I thought that was funny. I was the only one up at midnight. I was nursing Squeakers and they say that whatever you do on New Years day you spend doing for the rest of the year. I hope it's true with the nursing part!
Our dreams came true in 2010. I keep everyone in my prayers that yours do too.
I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

Pure Bliss

I've been meaning to update my blog for awhile. I knew having two babies would keep me hopping but in reality it's been crazy!
Thank you all for the well wishes and congratulations! We've been waiting so long for our babies and it's been so amazing. I'm in heaven! I am savoring every moment with my babies.
They are both doing well. I was discharged on Halloween and that was super hard to leave them there. It was like leaving a part of me behind. Two days later they were both eating well and maintaining their weights and temps and I was able to bring them home.
Peanut (Baby A) and Squeakers (Baby B) are excellent eaters (Peanut is on the boo crew, Squeakers is supplementing with high calorie formula but he's slowly hopping on the boo crew too), gaining weight, keeping their eyes open for longer periods of time and really only cry when hungry or need a diaper change.
I'm still in shock that they are here and that there are two of them!
My husband has been wonderful. He has jumped in with both feet and has been very supportive with nursing, taking care of E and the house. I couldn't ask for a better partner. He is doing an excellent job taking care of all of us.
E has been good also with all the changes. We aren't having people over other than our parents because of the babies immature immune system. That has been hard on E because it means no friends can come over. Her friends and their families have been having E over to play and that has been a big help.
My first time out of the house was two weeks after we brought them home. We had two errands to run (E was with me) which wasn't going to take us long. We were on our way home when I get a text from M asking me if we would be home soon. Peanut was refusing the bottle and Logan was throwing up. Oh my! It felt great to be out of the house but I felt bad that M had a rough time.
I've been living in the living room with the babies. It's just easier and the couch is super comfy. I have the bassinet right next to the couch in case both babies have to be fed.
M took off two weeks right after they were born and it was great having him to help me. He's back at work full time so he stays with me downstairs on Fridays and Saturdays.
The puppies have been good with the babies. Kona doesn't mind them and Logan is a mother hen. He's even nudged me when I've been napping to wake me when one of them is crying.
We're holding our own here and are enjoying every moment with the babies. I will try to post but I know it won't be too often. I have pictures to add but I don't know how to do that with my new laptop (combo birthday-which was Nov 4- and Christmas gifts). I will ask M and post pictures of the babies.
I will write about the labor and delivery in the next post. A memorable experience to say the least!

Just beautiful, aren't they?

At 12:37 and 12:50 am today, (10/29), the boys arrived.
Happy to report that mom and the boys are all doing well. I will leave the remainder of the details for mom to report upon her return home.
M.

It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween

E spent the weekend at my parents. She loves going down there. They went to a pumpkin patch and carved pumpkins. She's going to another pumpkin patch today. One where they will have activities and animals. I would love to go but I can't walk around like that, plus I have my cousin's shower to go to. I told her we would make pumpkin seeds. Yum!

They look great all lit up!

High risk appt

Wednesday we had an appointment to see how things are going. At the last visit both babies weighed 3 lbs. Now Baby A weighs 5 lbs 6 oz and Baby B weighs 4 lbs 11 oz!!!! Holy Toledo batman! I'm amazed and in shock. I'm thrilled with their growth. They are measuring right where they should be. The doctor said we can go at any time. Our next high risk appt is Nov 10. If we haven't had the babies before that, then we will pick out a date. I do have regular ob appt's scheduled for every week now.
We're pretty much ready to go here. Their room is done. The play yard is up and ready in our room. Tomorrow the car seat bases are going in.
I'm trying to get ready myself. I have some things to return to stores. I got my hair cut a little shorter and with more layers so it will be easier to do. I bought some extra stuff for the house so we don't run out. I'm trying to keep up on the laundry in case I go into labor.
I do feel so much pressure down there. I've noticed an increase in --tmi--discharge. And the Braxton Hicks contractions are doozies now. Heartburn is coming with every meal. The high risk doctor said the uterus will only stretch so much and then it will send the babies out. I wonder when mine will reach it's limit?
It's so cute how our family keeps buying us clothes and stuff. They will be the best dressed kids on the block! We are very blessed ;-)