Nutrition.....Interrupted

Warning: I am going to talk about breastfeeding in this blog....if it wierds you out in any way then you probably don't want to read this (because I wouldn't have wanted to read about someone else's nursing issues before I became a mom).

We hit a little bit of a "snafu" 2 weeks ago. But first let me say that I had to Google the world snafu because I am anal about spelling and I had NO idea what it stood for!!! It's pretty crude. I don't think I will be using it in my vocabulary too much anymore. You should Google it if you don't get offended easily! OK, anyway so 2 weeks ago on a Tuesday I had to go to court to testify in an old case (in which they found the defendant not guilty after he confessed...anyway that is for another crime scene blog from my former life that I could spend years writing..Eric always says I should write a book about my crime scene/autopsy/working with child molester days...maybe I will do that in all my free time!). Anyway Eric came home from work to watch the babies while I went to court. On the way home I called him and he said that Graham had been so fussy the whole time I was gone. Granted, Graham is definitely a fussier baby but not as bad as what Eric was telling me. It continued ALL week long. He was NOT happy....by Friday I was at my wits end. And at this point Evie Claire had chimed in and was just as fussy, which is when I knew something was wrong because she is the most content child. On Friday night we weigh both of them just to make sure they are gaining weight. So we weighed them that week and neither one of them had gained any weight. Graham was at 8 lbs 6 oz and Evie Claire was at 7lbs 4 oz. I called our pediatrician, Dr. Stephanie, on Saturday morning and told her what was going on and she wanted me to bring them in. Thank goodness she works on Saturdays and she has twins so that is one reason why we chose her. They weighed them and sure enough Graham was the same weight on her scales and EC was an ounce less at 7 lbs 3 oz. Dr. Stephanie said they were in the 5th percentile for weight and that they need more calories. They should be gaining 5-7 ounces per week at this point and taking about 4-5 oz of breast milk each feeding. The thing about breastfeeding is there is no way to gauge what each child is getting. They said a breastfed baby is getting enough if they are content and gaining weight....which neither of mine were doing at that time. Her suggestion was to nurse them and then follow up with a bottle of a couple of ounces of frozen breast milk until I depleted my frozen supply and then add in formula. I did this for 2 days and it was too much. We were back to square one with it taking over an hour to feed them. Eric was able to help me since it was the weekend so I would nurse and hand him one of the babies for him to bottle feed. But when Monday came around it was going to take a while. So Monday I decided that I would just start pumping and giving them bottles. That way I knew how much they were getting each feeding. It was working out MUCH better. Graham was taking about 4.5 oz and EC was taking around 4 oz. I weighed them this past Monday and Graham was up to 9 lbs 3.5 oz and EC was at 8 lbs! EC finally made the transition to 0-3 month clothing at 3.5 months! So the last couple of weeks have been a little crazy but I finally have my happy, content babies back and they are off their baby Weight Watchers program that I didn't even know they were on in the first place.
It took me about 6 weeks to build up my stash of frozen breast milk...I had the whole sidebar of my freezer chest full of milk.......and sadly, it took me about 5 days to deplete the stash!!!!!!  Now they are getting about 3 bottles of breast milk a day and 2 bottles of formula. I have to admit the first feeding that I had to give them formula I cried. I felt like I had failed some how as a mom and meeting the nutritional needs of my children but then I stop and tell myself that I do have twins and most twin moms don't nurse at all and a lot of them don't produce enough milk. So I was lucky and fortunate to solely nurse them for a little over 3 months. They got breast milk during the most crucial time of their life so I think I did pretty good.

So let me say this.....breast feeding is not easy, well at least it wasn't for me. For all the women out there who have a baby and they just latch on the first feeding, say a prayer of thanks. Maybe I had a hard time because mine were preeemies, maybe I didn't know what I was doing....I don't know. Maybe it's because I have a set of twins.....but I did not enjoy breastfeeding. I will say that I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I was just nursing one. But nursing one baby while the other one is screaming because they are hungry too is not enjoyable. You have to do what is best for your baby and for mom's sanity, I have learned.  My love language is "Words of Affirmation" so I needed someone to tell me what I was doing wasn't working...I got that affirmation at the doctor. And from the help of a few wonderful friends! :) One thing I have learned since becoming a mom is that everyone has an opinion on being a mom! But in reality the only opinion that matters is Graham and Evie Claire's! And I think now, they think I am doing a pretty good job!

Addi and Evie Claire.....

Finally meet! I think Addi has asked Jayme numerous times to see and hold Evie Claire. She told Jayme she wanted to come over and hold Evie Claire but that Graham could just sit beside them.  So yesterday I had to run over to Jayme's to pick up a few things and decided to take EC with me for Addi to finally meet.  When I got there and sat the car seat down on the table she quickly got up to see EC. I asked Addi if she wanted to hold her and she quickly shook her head "yes." She sat down on the couch and I handed EC to her. She did great! She even gave EC her pacifier. EC fell asleep so I put her back in her car seat and Addi sat down in the floor with her and rocked her. She even tried to give EC her fake pet snake....to which Jayme told her that EC was too little to play with a pet snake. Addi said "but I washed it."  Soon, Addi, soon. 

Houdini.

The last two mornings I have found Graham in a totally different position than where he was when we put him to bed.....want to guess how he went to bed and how I found him????? I think we have a Houdini on our hands.....

These pictures are of course, re-enactments....

A Night out at Publix....

I don't get out of the house much. The other night as Eric and I were watching American Idol they were singing songs from the last 2 years....about halfway through I told Eric that I had only heard of 1 of the songs they were singing so far....but then I remembered I have pretty much been stuck in this house since Thanksgiving which is when I stopped worked and went on maternity leave. I am totally not complaining....just funny how things have changed. I used to be up on all the latest music...Eric used to even make fun of me for knowing almost every song that came on the radio. Now, I listen to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (which has the same melody as when you sing your ABC's...I bet you are doing it in your head right now), and whatever other song is playing on the swing that one of the babies is in or the cat that sings on the play mat....this "classical" music,  has become the theme song for mine and Eric's dinner time....

Anyway, I have digressed and this was supposed to be about our night out at Publix. As I said, I don't get out of the house much...not that everyone under the sun hasn't offered to baby sit and I am so thankful and grateful for their willingness to help a sista out but it's really too much work to get out the door....with babies or without them. I mean I have to shower.....normally not taking a shower to run a few errands wouldn't be a big deal but these days I HAVE to shower daily.....no one told me that when you are nursing that you sweat like a 300 pound offensive lineman who has been playing 4 hours of football in 90 degree weather......thanks a lot , mom friends! I kid...I am thinking men's deodorant is my next investment...I wake up in the middle of the night and am soaking wet...the other night Eric touched my back and said "that's gross." Point is I sweat a lot so I have to shower....and after I shower and dry my hair (which I do about 2 times a week) and put on make up (if you are lucky) I am sweating again.....

So back to the point of my story.....I have enjoyed getting out of the house every once in a while to run a few errands alone but I love my family and want them to tag along too so I asked Eric on Thursday if maybe we could go to Publix Friday night and take the babies...he was game! I started getting ready on Friday morning....making my list...taking my shower...getting dressed....makeup..., etc. So when Eric got home...we ate dinner, loaded up the babies and were off...ok, it really didn't go that quickly.....after we ate, Eric changed Graham and got him in the car seat...I had to change Evie Claire's clothes because she needed something long sleeved since the grocery store is usually a bit cooler...I changed her into a long sleeved onesie with pants, put her in her car seat and she then spit up ALL down the front of the onesie and down the arm...she never does this so I changed her again....she then spit up on that onesie...it was a small spot so we left it, loaded them up and off to Publix we went. Some people might think this sounds crazy that I run around like a mad woman but when you are nursing 2 babies you only have a small window of time that you can be gone before you have to nurse again and like some women I am not comfortable nursing in my car, a bathroom, or anywhere in public for that matter. It's a personal choice however it's just not for me.

We got to Publix and got a parking spot up front...score! Since we have been out 3 times with the babies we are now pros at this, right? So our game plan is to each grab a buggy and a baby.....that's how we roll! We each are carrying a car seat into Publix...Eric grabs a buggy and shoots it over at me...I catch it and sit Graham up in it....Eric does the same for Evie Claire....then......wait for it........................................... the lady behind us waiting to get her buggy says "Are those twins?" :) We say "yes" to which she tells us all about the fact that she is a twin! :) We finish chatting and head to the produce department. As I am looking at the squash, which is on sale....I hear a man come up behind Eric and say "Are those twins?" At this point I start to laugh......Eric tells him that in fact they are twins and he proceeds to get pictures out of his wallet and show Eric his grandchildren who are 4 months a part and they "might as well be twins." Not even 5 minutes into our shopping and here we go again..... To my surprise that was the only 2 comments we got all evening, well until we got to the checkout line.  It could have been because we split up and no one really noticed me or Eric with just one baby in tow.

So, there it is....our little trip to Publix! I try to make it funny because it really is! Life has definitely changed, but for the better and I can't imagine my life without Graham and Evie Claire now!

 Stay tuned.....today we went to the mall AND Target!

Happy 3 Months!

I can't start every monthly birthday post with "how can you be this old?" but seriously the time is flying by!

Graham:

-you are mostly out of newborn clothing and into 0-3 month clothing

-you weigh 8 lbs 9.5 oz

-you smile A LOT and are starting to laugh

-you have rolled from your tummy to your back, twice...the first one I missed. I laid you down on your tummy and when I turned around you were on your back. The second time you rolled it scared you so you started to cry

-you had your first outing to Target and Babies R Us and to see the Easter Bunny. You were mesmerized at all the lights in Target

-you have started noticing your hands and chewing on them

-you have started sleeping through the night

-you also went to visit daddy at Walgreens and you smiled at every person that talked to you

Evie Claire:

-you are still wearing newborn clothing

-you weigh 7 lbs 1.5 oz

-you are starting to mimic and will stick your tongue out when daddy or I do it first

-you love your playmat and smile at the cat that dangles above

-you have started noticing your hands and chewing on them

-you had your first outing to Target and Babies R Us and to see the Easter Bunny at the mall

-you rolled from your tummy to your back once

-you have started sleeping through the night

-you went to visit daddy at Walgreens and slept the entire time

-you are smiling more and have laughed once or twice

Happy Easter!

HE is Risen! Happy Easter!

One day Graham and Evie Claire will not appreciate these pictures as I show them to prospective spouses when they come over for dinner and a questionnaire! But for now they are cute little bunnies who I think thoroughly enjoyed wearing the bunny ears that I got for $1 at Target!~

I bought G and EC cute little Easter outfits to wear to my mom's for lunch....however both of them were too big and G didn't like his overalls so much as he screamed when he had them on for the most part. They are 3 months old and EC is still wearing newborn and G just went in to 0-3 months!

At least we got a picture in their outfits. 

One of the only pictures we have of the 4 of us since their newborn pictures...

When I become famous...

I am not a famous person nor do I foresee becoming one in the near future or ever for that matter; however, if you want to feel famous just take a set of twins out in public! Last Sunday Eric and I decided to get out of the house with the babies for their first public appearrance...to Target and Babies R Us. Eric and I each took a buggy and a baby and hit it...we had to exchange our swing which quit working. We could hardly get through Target because we kept getting stopped. Among the questions and comments...."are they twins?," "are they boys (I guess EC's pink pacifier and pink outfit didn't tip them off..I say "no, a boy and a girl)?", "are they identical (umm....as I said it's a boy and a girl....why don't you open their diaper and tell me if they are identical)?", "oh my goodness, twins", "look, two babies", "oh my goodness if I had had two babies I would have given one back." "do they have the same color eyes?" And this was just at Target. Babies R Us wasn't as much of a challenge.

All I could do was laugh. In my mind twins aren't THAT uncommon. I would be more apt to stare if I saw triplets or quadruplets but I can understand the fascination with multiples. When you join the MOMS OF MULTIPLES club you join a pretty "elite" group who understand the "famous" factor of taking your multiples out in public. That is why a lot of moms of multiples just don't leave the house a ton....well that and the fact it's like an act of Congress to get out the door with 2 infants.

Fast forward 2 days....Tuesday...I want to take Graham and Evie Claire to have their picture made with the Easter Bunny. Eric kindly declined this outing so I asked my mom if she wanted to go. By the time we got them in the car, unloaded them at the mall, pushed my 50 lb limo stroller through the mall, unloaded them again to have their picture taken and loaded them back in their stroller, I had sweat rolling down all parts of my body and was thinking my idea was not so brilliant. If I had to give an estimate on how many times we got stopped or had someone ask a question I would guess it was at least 25 times....no exaggeration.

It gets a little frustrating but it does make me laugh when I think about it. If I wasn't a mom of multiples I am sure I would stare too! I like to think we get stopped because Graham and Evie Claire are just so darn cute.....