The Twinkies

1 small step for my abdomen, 1 large step for sanity.

I walked downtown today for the first time since the kids were born, discovered that when you have twins you never lack for conversational partners, bought some cute baby outfits, new, larger diaper covers and an iced tea.

Free at last, free at last…

I passed my post-partum exam. I am 161 pounds. This means I have lost almost 60 pounds since the kids came out, as I was not quite 220 they day they were born. They did, somehow, manage to spill my pap smear, so I have to go back next week to get another one done. Since there is nothing quite as much fun as a pap smear, I am just so excited about that. Is that sarcasm working in print?

Sleeping
F. did something that looked a lot like sleeping though the night on Monday, than again almost did it on Tuesday. Hard to beleive, but making my life a wee bit easier. Go F.

Baptism
We have decided to postpone the baptism until next summer. I have not been functional enough to enjoy it, and F’s future godmother is going to France for the school year to research canon law. Thus, summer of 2007 it will be. SPCHS students I asked for an address so I could invite you: expect that invitation NEXT year.

Breastfeeding
F. is getting pretty good at this, and though she chewed me up a bit yesterday when she was over-eager, she is nursing 2 -3 times/day. They are getting 50 - 70% of thier food from me at this point, and I am pumping over 30 ounces/day.

Photos:

J. (in blue) and F. (in pink)

B. with F., S. with J. Babies color coded for your convenience.

Today was J. and F.’s one month checkup. They are doing great, though the doctor did utter the word “colic” in reference to J…

Weights & Lengths

J.:
Birth: 6lbs. 8 oz. / 19 inches
1 Week: 6 lbs. 4 oz. / 19 inches
1 Month: 9lbs. 6 oz. / 20 inches

F.:
Birth: 6lbs. 13 oz. / 20 inches
1 Week: 6 lbs 10 oz. / 19 inches
1 Month: 9lbs. 1 oz. / 20 inches

My weight, however, remains a mystery until my 6 week check up in 2 weeks. I am finally small enough in the abdomen region I was able to pull my extra padding up and see my incision for the first time. That Dr. M. did good work; I have cat scratches that are more dramatic scars than this is going to be.

The past day’s schedule:

6:00 PM: B. home. I tell him he needs to take over, it’s been a rough day.

6:30 PM: dinner. Take turns eating while one person attends to whomever is crying.

7:00 PM: Go upstairs to shower. Breasts leaking. Pump. Bring milk down. Both babies are crying. Sit and feed J. while B. feeds F.

8:00 PM: Take 2 on the shower

9:00 PM: Go to bed.

10:30 PM: Pump

12:30 PM: Wake up to pump. Turn off air conditioner downstairs and in spare bedroom (which B. had turned on for reasons that I am sure made sense at the time.) Let cat out of storage room, which she managed to get locked in since 2.

1:30 AM: Feed, burp, change F.

1:45 AM: Pump

2:00 AM: Feed, burp, change J. Pees while changing him. I am so tired I stare at arc of urine in utter perlexity.

3:00 AM: turn out lights, go to “sleep”

3:45 AM: Feed F.

4:00 AM: Pump

4:30 AM: Feed J. Have meltdown. Leave babies in bassinet and go to basement for 15 minutes. They are quiet when I get back. This lasts until I get into bed.

5:00 AM: put J. on chest in hopes that will soothe him. Alternate between patting and rubbing back for 45 minutes.

5:45 AM: Get up. Feed J. Change J.

6:00 AM: Feed and change F.

6:15 AM: Suspicious sound causes me to change J. again. Poops twice and pees once while I am changing him.

7:00 AM: Doula arrives. God is good. She takes over.

7:05 AM: Breasts leaking prolifically. Pump.

7:30 AM: Go to sleep

9:30 AM: Pump

9:45 AM: Go to sleep

12:00 Noon: Nurse F.

1:00 PM: Feed J.

2:00 PM: Feed J. and F., alternating as they cry. Change when done.

3:00 PM: Change sheets on bed.

4:00 PM: same as 2:00, with a bath thrown in (for them, not me)

4:45 PM: B. home early. Watches babies while on conference call.