Tuesday twin tidbit (much more than a tidbit today)

I love nursing! It's been a four month struggle, but so worth it. Here's my long tale...I always wanted to breastfeed, but I'd heard of its difficulties and if I couldn't, I couldn't. Although, I was determined to try my darndest! I read everything I could find, took a breastfeeding class, and purchased this twin nursing pillow. Then the girls were born. The lactation nurse visited me just hours after, advised me to use the hospital pump at least three times a day and assured me I'd be able to nurse my twins. I was exhausted, but did as I was told. I rejoiced after a successful feeding and cried when the girls were having a hard time latching on.

After four days the girls had lost over 10% of their birthweight, so the doctor recommended supplementing formula. I was discouraged, but kept pumping. We rented a hospital pump for month and I pumped after every feeding. I couldn't get them both to latch at the same time, so I'd just nurse one baby, then the other, then pump. With diaper changing, this process usually took about an hour and a half, so I was getting maybe an hour of sleep before the next cycle. After a couple weeks I was still supplementing formula and was only producing 1 or 2 ounces total of breastmilk (newborns need about 2-3 ounces each per feeding). I wanted to give up, but kept trying. I called the lactation consultant every other day, sometimes pumped before and after each feeding, purchased a liquid herbal fenugreek mix called 'more milk plus' (tasted very disgusting bytheway) and still not enough.

It came time to return the rented hospital pump and I thought of giving up again, but the girls were finally latching on so well. I decided to purchase my own double electric pump and by six weeks I was a walking zombie. I needed more sleep! I gave them whatever breastmilk I had pumped in a bottle along with formula and only nursed once or twice a day. I got the girls on the same schedule and I was sleeping 4-5 hours at night. Luckily, the girls were still latching on and by eight weeks I could finally use my twin nursing pillow and nurse them at the same time for a couple feedings per day. My milk supply had increased, but so had their appetite. I was producing about 15-20 ounces per day, but they were consuming about 50-60 ounces total per day.

Finally, around 12 weeks the girls were sleeping 9-10 hours at night and I was starting to feel normal again. I began tandem nursing at every feeding, offering a bottle and then I would pump. Slowly, I noticed they were consuming less and less formula per day. I now only supplement about 10-15 ounces of formula per day, although sometimes I think they don't really need it. I offer it more out of worry because I want to make sure they are full.

So, that's my long tale. Some might ask if it was worth it and for me I have to emphatically say YES! I enjoy nursing for so many reasons. First of all, having my hands free to read a book or use the computer or talk on the phone makes the time fly by. But mostly I enjoy the closeness the three of us are able to experience. I love to play with their hair or have them grab onto my finger. Sometimes, I'll look down to see one or both staring up at me; they'll flash me a goofy grin, then get back to business. And I love when they are just staring at each other. Lately, Lucy will pat or grab onto Audrey's hand for awhile. It's so cute. That is why I heart nursing!

Anyone out there ever use a nursing necklace? Audrey's been getting more and more distracted and pinching me a bit. I really like this one, but I want to know if they've worked for anyone else before I buy one. Thanks for all your comments...isn't blogging fun?

Tagged by Kiersta

What's fun...
1-Right now I love trying to get my girls to smile, babble or laugh!
2-Going on a nature drive and/or hike with German
4-Watching Everybody Loves Raymond with German
5-Pretty much anything with German
5-Cooking and eating FRENCH TOAST--yum yum
6-Talking on the phone with friends
7-Bloggin'
8-Reading a REALLY good unpredictable book (hate when I can figure out what will happen next)
9-Going out to eat
10-Getting my hair done or a pedicure
11-Taking pictures
12-Finding a great deal on something
13-Scrapbooking
...and that's all I can think of right now, but it doesn't take a whole lot for me to have fun!

Tuesday twin tidbit

I haven't posted since the girls were born, so I told Sara I'd write something this Tuesday. The girls have been talking up a storm lately. Yesterday we noticed that they're much more likely to loosen up the tongue if they're right next to each other. It's as if they feed off one another. Lucy gathers up energy and starts cooing and Audrey follows shortly thereafter with her "gurgling." They can go up to ten minutes at times all while Sara and I watch them, laughing at times, trying to keep them going. They're a joy to watch! Here they are chatting it up in Audrey's crib.

We Love Raymond

Just been watching Everybody Loves Raymond episodes lately (German and I have all 9 seasons) and it's just sooo stinkin' funny. We watch them over and over again and still laugh hysterically. Anyone else out there fans? If so, what's your favorite clip? Here's a funny one for you to enjoy...

Tuesday twin tidbit

German's grandpa (Abuelo) and aunt Norma came over to visit us on Sunday. Abuelo is holding Lucy & Tia Norma has Audrey. Tia brought over some of her yummy empanadas and gnocchis. We love her cooking! We chatted and baby watched for a few hours. It was great to see Abuelo talking & playing with the girls. We hope he sticks around awhile longer, at least until the girls get old enough to have memories of him. He's 88 years old and has a prosthetic leg; I know just walking around is painful and very difficult for him. Yet, he still wanted to get down on the floor and play with the girls. He is such a sweet old man! Here are some pics of the girls with their great grandpa...te amamos visabuelo Oscar!

Daily Routine

*this is my typical daily routine, but most days it varies--plus or minus 30 mins or so.

7:00am feed girls, change diapers, then some playtime
8:30am down for naptime, mommy eats breakfast, checks email & blog, etc...
10:00am feed girls, then some playtime
12:00pm change diapers, down for naptime, mommy eats lunch, takes shower
1:00pm feed girls, then some playtime
2:30pm down for naptime, mommy prepares dinner, household chores or maybe takes a nap :)
4:30pm feed girls, change diapers
5:30pm daddy comes home! playtime w/ dad or bathtime
6:30pm mommy & daddy eat dinner
7:00pm girls last feeding
8:00pm change diapers, hugs & kisses, bedtime for girls...mommy & daddy hangout, chat about the day whatever
10:00pm pray, read & lights out

I was wondering what kind of routine everyone has, since I'm new at this and all. So, here's my schedule and I tag Lori Q, Hannah C, Jenny M, Ashley L, Justina S, Brittany F, Shaunna L, Darlene R, Wendy F, Karen B, Lindsey P...well actually I'm interested in anyone who wants to share. Also, does anyone have more playtime activity ideas for newborns? We read books, do tummytime, play w/ mobiles & toys or just chitchat. Let me know what you enjoy doing! THANKS...

Tuesday twin tidbit

The girls are three months old this week and we can't believe how much they've grown. We love staying home and cuddling with our precious little LuLu & ReeRee. Happy Three Months!

Happy Anniversary

Saturday we celebrated our 6th year anniversary by going out to lunch and having a blast at the U23D IMAX film. German said it was "Even Better than the Real Thing." Thanks again to aunt Amy, uncle Spencer and cousins Dayton and Ellie for watching the girls. Lucy and Audrey told us they enjoyed every minute of it.

Here a few new pics I took yesterday. Lucy's eyes always seem to make her look sleepy while Audrey has big bright eyes.

"Rock On Everyone"

Audrey & Lucy

new layout...

Soo, I'm trying to give our blog some personality. I searched and searched for a layout that wasn't too girly for German's sake, but I couldn't resist this cupcake one. German is the brown one with absolutely no pink. I'm the one with the strawberry on top and the girls are next to mom and dad. I guess we'll have to have another kid to be the one with red sprinkles. Oh, and I have to add all our bloggy friends again one by one. Some of you may be listed under an alias (just for fun). Tah Tah for now!

Tuesday Twin Tidbit

Instead of just pictures, I really want to make this more of a journal. Every Tuesday I'm going to post something about life with our twin girls, something I want to remember about the past week. And I've chosen Tuesday because the girls were born on a Tuesday. Last night I put the girls down at 8pm and both were quiet for awhile, so I assumed they were asleep, but then around 8:30 I heard some noises from their room. I peeked in and Audrey was sleeping, but Lucy was wide awake cooing and babbling to herself very loudly. German came in also and we both stood there together for a few minutes watching and listening to her goo and gaa. She's getting more and more social, always trying to get my attention and always rewarding me with her big toothless grin. Audrey on the other hand seems to be more of an observer. She listens intently to everything I say, but tries to avoid eye contact. Although, once in awhile she'll just randomly look at me and laugh. I love it!

Trying to change layout...

FYI: Temporarily Under Construction

My girls finally love to sleep

I have to give a shout out to Babywise, I started it just before Christmas and it took four days to get them both to sleep from 11pm-5am at seven weeks. Although, I don't agree with every aspect of the book, it really helped me get the girls on the same feeding and wake/nap schedule. I just dropped their 10pm feeding on Monday night. I fed them at 7pm, put them down at 8:30pm and they slept until 5am! I still woke up every few hours thinking they were going to wake up any second fightin' mad with hunger. I thought it was just a lucky break--ya know just a one night thing, but last night I bathed them, fed them at 7:30pm and put them down at 9pm. I slept a little better than the night before, but still woke up on my own at 4am this morning. They weren't awake yet, but I couldn't go back to sleep. I started cleaning and waiting for them to wake up hungry. German gets up around 6am to change diapers and help me with the girls, then he gets ready for work. But this morning he was shocked to find out that the girls were still sleeping (usually he wakes up to them crying). Finally, at 7am I heard Lucy stirring a little bit, so I got her out of her crib and then had to wake up poor Audrey to eat. I knew it was possible, but I didn't know how exciting it would be for me! 9-10 hours! Two nights in a row! I hope they keep it up, now I just need to reteach myself how to sleep through the night again.

Nothing sweeter than smiles from babies!

Today was a smiley day!

Baby blessings & two month check-up

I can't believe our two little bundles are already 9 weeks old. Their blessing day was beautiful and it was great to get together with family and friends. The girls are growing so fast and we found out today at aproximately the same rate. We thought Lucy would weigh more than Audrey (because of her cheeks and also because she eats more), but Audrey weighed in at 12.7 lbs and Lucy at 12.6 lbs. The 90th percentile isn't bad for premature twins, but we weren't too surprised--big babies run in both our families. German was 9.2 lbs and I was 10.8 lbs at birth.

They had their first round of shots and the girls were so brave, they only cried (screamed) a little bit. I hope they sleep well tonight, Oh and guess how many hours I slept last night---7 HOURS!!! I am one happier mommy :o)

playtime w/ music

Babies first Christmas

This is also our first family picture. I've finally got the girls on the same schedule, which means I am getting a little more sleep. Actually since Christmas Eve the girls have started to let me sleep 4-5 hours straight at night! It's amazing what an hour more of sleep can do for your sanity--def a great Christmas gift from our girls! We love them sooo much.

Bath Time!

You can probably guess from the pictures who enjoys bath time and who doesn't. Lucy is usually fussy right up to the point when we dump her in the warm water, after which she is happy as a lark. Audrey on the other hand, has grown to dislike the whole process (must have gotten that from me - I hated bathing until just a few months ago...ok, I was more like 9). I remember wetting my hair and pretending to have showered completely so my mom would leave me alone.

It's funny how parents indulge in trying to figure out who passed on a certain gene - big ears, big nose, blue eyes, brown eyes. I'm just as guilty of it. I catch myself saying "those are grandpa's ears," or "she's got my crooked toe."

Why do we do it? Parents have a hidden fear that their kids will not be "cute" and somehow that will mean a life filled with misery and heartache for them or something bizarre like that. Sure we all want cute kids, but if we give their looks a disproportionate amount of attention we may one day regret the finished product: a child bound by depression and low self-confidence, who probably struggles from some sort of eating disorder.

I can't tell you how many times people have asked me what color their eyes are. That's a simple enough question except that sometimes, I know that the person asking thinks that darker eyes are in some way inferior to light eyes. I have green eyes but I love the way my wife's soft brown eyes glow in the sun. They complement her freckles and auburn hair dramatically. Had it been any other way I may never have been struck the way I was when I first saw her. (Brownie points for me!)

Enough hot air for one night. I'll end by commenting on these two pics, and I choose my words carefully: I love the way Lucy's gentleness is captured by this picture. The way she looks into your eyes can be so subtle but completely penetrating it's impossible not to be stirred. Audrey's spirit is vibrant and capable of expressing a wide range of emotion. Thankfully for us, her "grumpier" moments tend to be the exception, but even then I love absorbing her little tantrums. I love my three girls!

German--husband and father

Daddy loves his girls!

I wanted to dedicate this post to my amazing husband...he just had foot surgery on Friday and he still spent the whole weekend hopping around on one foot trying to do things for me and the girls. He's been so helpful, patient, loving and supportive during the whole pregnancy and even more so these last 6 weeks. I love how he runs in from work to kiss all three of his girls and tells me he'll take over so I can sleep. I love him even more now than ever and our girls are so lucky to have him to call dad!

 Kisses for Lu

Feeding Ree

Naptime with dad...

Funny faces with Lulu

I think he's in love!

Daddy holds the girls at the hospital, so mommy can sleep.

Kisses from dad in the hospital just two hours before the girls were born (I can't believe I was sooo big, it's nice not being prego anymore)

Happy 4 weeks Lucy & Audrey!

The girls are growing soo fast. They weigh about 8 1/2 pounds and love to play with

mom and dad! We are loving every minute and getting used to functioning well on little sleep--although we can't wait until they start sleeping through the night.

Thanks Aunt Amy for the adorable onsies!