Some Things We've Learned So Far

Addison and Mackenzie are now two weeks and five days old, and we have been home for two weeks and two days. It's been an interesting journey so far, and thank goodness it gets a little better most days. Some days we do feel like we are starting all over on day one again, but other times we think we might be getting the hang of this stuff.

The past two weeks have taught us many, many things we never even dreamed we'd have to know. Here's a sampling of some of the more interesting lessons we have learned since bringing these two little bundles of joy into the world:

• It's not only little boys who pee on you when getting their diapers changed! Addison seems to particularly enjoy surprising us when her diaper is off for too long...I'm getting really fast at changing diapers in the middle of the night.
• Preemie clothes are meant for very short babies. At barely 5 lbs. each, Mackenzie and Addison are swallowed by newborn clothes, but most of their preemie-sized footed sleepers are too short already. Both girls are right at 18 inches now, so still a little on the short side (where they will probably stay, considering their parents' height!).
• Although it's still a little unpleasant at times (such as the 2 am feeding), Jeremy and I have discovered that we are indeed capable of feeding bottles to two tiny babies at the same time. We have now spent a couple of nights on our own, and that is the only way to work it so that either of us gets a minimal amount of sleep. We are on a three-hour feeding schedule until further notice, so feeding one infant at a time takes up entirely too much of the precious time between feedings (needed much more for washing a load of clothes, sterilizing bottles, or even- gasp!- catching a nap). When feeding both girls by myself, I find it works best to arrange them in their Boppies on the floor, then sit down between them and get a bottle in each mouth as quickly as possible.
• I've also learned that when feeding both babies by myself, it's okay if one has to scream bloody murder for just a couple of minutes while I change the other and get her settled. There is just no way one person can keep them both completely happy at all times. The screaming one is just hungry, and the screaming will stop as soon as she clamps down on her bottle. Similarly, it's perfectly fine if their clothes have to be changed after each of these tandem feedings because they have let a third of their bottles run down their chins. It's just one more load of laundry for the morning.
• I will indeed wash a load of clothes at 3 am, because my children LOVE noise, particularly music and the washer and dryer. If they need me to do extra housework to help them sleep, so be it.
• I'm learning to forgive myself for not breastfeeding as long as I could have. I did nurse both girls for several days, but it was just entirely too much for me to handle for the long term. I know many people exclusively breastfeed their twins for many months, and I have even more respect for them after having experienced it myself. I just couldn't deal with the 45-minute nursing sessions, and even the 20-minute pumping sessions took up too much of the aforementioned precious time on the three-hour schedule. I have had a lot of guilt over quitting, but as I said, I'm learning to let it go. I am a much less stressed mom this way, and in the end, that's better for us all.
• Contrary to our previously held beliefs, there is absolutely NO WAY we could have survived these two weeks without my mom. We hadn't planned for her to come and stay, but the day we came home from the hospital, we knew she was staying if we had to hide her car keys to make it happen! She has been amazing, as have the many others who have brought us meals, cleaned my house, and taken a turn washing bottles. We truly had no idea how hard this was going to be, but thanks to excellent help, we have survived.

In other news, our "itty-bittys" as we call them, are growing slowly but surely. We went to the pediatrician last Wednesday, and Addison weighed in at 5 lbs., 2 oz.-just two ounces away from her birthweight. Mackenzie weighed in at an impressive 5 lbs., 5 oz.-already surpassing her birthweight! Both girls are in the 1st and 2nd percentile for weight and height, making their appearance on the growth charts for the first time. It was kind of funny...the computer at the pediatrician's office still won't plot their growth on a graph because technically, they still aren't supposed to be born! It's odd too think that if I were still pregnant, I would just now be almost 38 weeks. I am so thankful that my girls are here safe and healthy, in my arms instead of in my belly!

Before I go (they are anxiously awaiting their first Gilmore Girls lesson this morning!)...a few pictures of the superstars...

Addison's first bath...they both love it!

Mackenzie in the bath

Addison enjoying some tummy time on her Boppy

Wide-awake Mackenzie

And, because I still can't quite believe it myself...this is me in pre-pregnancy jeans! (I'm holding Addison, I think.)