Update, tips and tricks!

The girls have now been home a little over a month- which is incredible to think of how fast it seems to have gone.   They turned 7 weeks on Friday and are both doing great too.  We last visited the Dr. about a 2 1/2 weeks ago (1 month old visit) and Zoey was 6 lbs. 3oz. , Stella was 5 lbs. 10 oz. They should both be around 7-8 lbs. by now.  Zoey was about 1 inch taller than Stella- both around 18 inches.  Stella’s got the bigger, rounder noggin though!  The Dr. said normal weight gain is minimum of 15 grams a day. Stella was gaining 25g a day & Zoey 40g a day!   Great work ladies!  They have also both been smiling away back at us, which is what you wait for after weeks of just watching their tired closed eyes!  The eyes are opening and they are so much more interactive.  Stella likes to do lots of little excited coos when she really gets going too.  Yesterday, when I got Lucy out of her crib after a nap I had Zoey in the Moby baby carrier wrap and when her head popped out to greet a still drowsy Lucy, Lucy scrambled over to her and got so excited and Zoey smiled back at her.  Nothing could touch that feeling of having your kids enjoy each other like that!  Just incredible!

My parents were visiting from Albany the last 3 weeks to help out too. It was really fun and the best part was all the attention Lucy got. It was so nice to see her with them since we don’t get to see them a lot. They took lots of walks and made some special memories I think will stick with her.  Now, my brother Brian and his girlfriend, Lacy are visiting for the weekend.  We just returned from an awesome trip to the Zoo today.  Lucy is still napping after 2 hrs.!  She had a great time and thouroughly enjoyed the monkeys (obviously her closest relative if you have ever seen her climb the stairs in our house!) and even fed a giraffe with Uncle Brian!

So, everyone asks how its going.  Well, its busy and then its calm.  I have been on my own this last week for the first time during the day and except for a few moments of being overwhelmed, things have been great!  During the day, things are either incredibly calm and quiet or its all out crying and sometimes all 3 at once.  That is when I want to cry (and have!), but for the most part its managable.  Everyone is being well fed, napped, diapers changed and no one has gotten hurt.  I’ve even managed to visit a friends house down the street with all 3 for some play time and Aunt Chris and Uncle Bill visited on Thursday to watch the twins while Lucy and I met JD for lunch and went to do some big girl clothes shopping!  Not bad, if I do say so myself.  So, now I know it can be done.

My new worries are just that I am spending enough time with everyone to give them the attention they need. Lets face it, sometimes someone is just crying until I can get to them.  Believe me, I hurry and its not long, but I only have 2 hands!  How much does that affect a kid this young?  I remember hearing about a student I had who had some severe communication delays that were still very obvious at the age of 16.  I was told he was basically kept in a crib for his first 2 years with little interaction from anyone else.  How incredibly sad and abusive.  There is no way our situation is close to this, but its so hard to hear them cry and know I can’t do anything at the moment.  Fortunately they are such good babies and Lucy is so patient because this happens very infrequently.  However, I worry since it seems like I am stretched 4000 directions all day long.  Its like you are taking care of everyone so constantly that you can’t possibly pay close attention to anyone.  This is more complicated with twins (which I had read about before they were born) and many times it takes longer to bond with each of them because of this constant hectic life.  Throw a busy toddler in the mix along with them being in the hospital for the first 2 weeks of their lives and it all adds up to getting to know them each as individuals much later.  I feel like finally in the last week or so I have gotten to know and enjoy them so much more.  I am starting to notice what they seem to like, hate and what makes them happy.  I am also starting to notice the subtleties of their personalities.  Its nice to finally have a clue what they might need instead of a bit of trial and error.

OK a note on logisitics.  Many of my other friends and I talk about how to get around and get things done with 3 kids, especially 2 newborns.  Here are some practical tips I’ve learned already:

In the house

With 2 floors like we have, a large laundry basket is indispensible for carrying the babies up and down the stairs, etc.  I even have put them both in it when I hop in the shower during the day and Lucy is napping.  Friday I put them both in it and we all went outside to play in the backyard.  I transferred them both to the double jogging stroller once out there and wheeled it around to the shade so I could play with Lucy.

In the neighborhood

We all love to be outside and often take daily walks.  I highly recommend the Baby Trend Double Jogging Stroller (my parents scored it for free!).  Its a side by side and a bit wide, so you might have problems getting it through the doors at some places.  I pack up the babies in the laundry basket and put it by the door, put Lucy in one side of the stroller first and then put the fussier twin in my Moby wrap or the New Native sling Nicole gave me and then put the other twin in the other side of the stroller with the seat reclined.  Make sure to pack blankets to shade the baby and sunscreen for the toddler though!  The only thing to figure out is where to put the babies if we go inside someone’s house from the stroller!

Going out

This is more difficult if you can’t just put them in a stroller where you are going.  Haven’t tried this solo yet, but I could definitely do it if I can just put them in the stroller once I get somewhere (see “in the neighborhood” above).  Anyway- here’s the plan of attack for the car.  Have the diaper bags packed way before you go and if possible throw them in the car when everyone is napping.  First, get the twins changed and put in the car seats.  Put the car seats near the door.  Get the toddler’s shoes on and then start the car (to get the AC going) and strap the toddler into the car seat (screaming might insue, but hey, she’s a toddler- thats what they do sometimes!).  Get each baby and snap them each in (Graco car seat and base).  Lock the house (hard to remember believe it or not sometimes!) and get going!  Not gonna lie- just driving around is like a vacation sometimes!

Okay- just some tips we’ve learned the last couple of weeks.  Virtually anywhere is possible with the two of us though- not that tough.  HUGE thanks to my mom and dad who helped us learn and get the routine down lots of times before we were solo this week.  That was a lifesaver.  Also, thanks to Uncle Bill and Aunt Chris for the relief this week so I could spend some much needed solo time with my Lucy!