Thankfully, we had a much better night last night.  And thanks for all the encouragement. 

Also, thankfully, my milk supply is fine.  They both seem to be getting enough (at least for now!), but there’s not much extra.  We have been bottle feeding them at bedtime with what I have pumped which buys me a break (and I pump what we feed them the next night), and last night we did a bottle in the middle of the night as well.  That helped a lot! I just can’t seem to pump enough to be more than one bottle (each) ahead of them.  Oh well.

Also, we are learning how to tandem feed during the day.  That is extremely nice because it buys me more time between feedings.  And when they go for 4 hours between feedings at night (like they did last night), they’ll only go 2-3 hours during the day between feedings.  So I enjoy all the time I can get!

Other more fun things about them…

• Erin doesn’t have great control of her eyes yet, but she has a plethora of facial expressions (our drama queen in the making, I guess).  And sometimes she’ll go cross-eyed while making a funny face.  Maybe she’s more a clown in the making…
• Alex is already losing his hair.  At three weeks, he has a receding hairline…poor little guy!
• They were lying together on the large boppy I use for tandem feedings the other day when Alex flung his arm into Erin’s space.  She didn’t flinch at all, but since his hand was right there, she started sucking on it for him.  Such a giver, huh?

Okay, gotta run…happy New Year to everyone!!

At least that’s how it feels this week.  

Last week, we seemed to have found a tentative rhythm.  The babies were eating every 4 hours at night for a few days in a row.  Which means I was getting at least 2 hours of sleep between every feeding.  And getting some pumping in.   Of course, they were eating every 3 hours during the day, but that was totally do-able with sleep and Eric’s help all day.

But for the last two nights, feedings have been getting closer and closer together.  Last night, after the 3:00 feeding, I crawled into bed at 4:30.  Erin had me back up at 5:45.  *sigh*  I need a lot more sleep than the 4 hours I’m getting between 10 pm and 7 am.  And I can’t pump much when they eat every 2-3 hours.  So I can’t seem to get and stay more than a bottle each ahead of them.  It’s frustrating. 

Anyone have some advice about pumping while breastfeeding twins?

Basic Update:

• They are two weeks old today. 
• I’m feeling really good these days.  I still lack my old stamina, but I have recovered nicely from the surgery.
• Eric is home this week “on vacation” – I’m not sure this is exactly relaxing, but I’m sure glad he’s here!
• They are very fussy today for the first time (at least the first time for both at once and without a clear reason). 
• We gave them their first real baths last night, both of us kneeling by the tub with a baby.  Right at the very end, Alex let go and sprayed Erin in the face with pee.  Poor Erin. (And yes, Mommy laughed )
• We had a rough night on Saturday night, but last night went really well.  They wore themselves out crying during the bath, I guess.  That might be a good enough reason to bathe them every night.

And now on to pictures!

I think this one looks professional…it’s one of my favorites!

Here are a couple of Alex:

And Erin:

And us!

I actually had a chance to read some of your posts (or at least skim them quickly) this morning…glad to see you’re all still alive and well!

We, too, are alive and well.  I’m exceedingly tired.  And all I’m getting done is feeding babies.  But I figure that’s important.  And as long as that’s getting done, it’s still a good day!  (and my mom is still here doing all the rest of the stuff! )

We had our one-week appointment yesterday.  I really like the pediatrician.  Karen takes Jason to him, and I’m definitely a fan as well.  But as for the news:

• Alex weighs 5 lbs., 12 oz. now.  Erin is 5 lbs., 10 oz.  They both are 18.5 inches long (they shrunk!).
• The doctor was very pleased with their health.  He said we could stop supplementing their feedings now.  And that I did not have to wake them from a sound sleep just because it was exactly 3 hours from the last time they’d eaten.  That made me very happy!
• He gave us lots of good perspective on what is normal for boys and girls and for babies in general.  He actually offers information, rather than answering only the questions I’d thought of to ask.  It’s very, very nice!

So it was a good trip.  And I actually got out of the house.  And we made it to the office 10 minutes early and without anyone being in tears (including me!).  Lovely!

And that’s the news.  I have to go shower while I have a chance…have a happy Tuesday!

I realize that it’s Friday and, for obvious reasons, I’m way behind on all the stuff going on in your lives.  Hopefully I’ll have the mental energy to actually read posts some day soon.  But no promises…

All is well here.  We’re home, and we’re tired.   But we are home.  It was so nice to sleep in MY bed and take a shower in MY bathroom and sit with OUR babies and look at OUR Christmas tree.  And my mom is here for a few days helping out with organizing, cleaning, cooking, and of course, baby stuff.  I am so very lucky to have her. It’s definitely a good idea to outnumber the babies, especially when they gang up on you at 3 a.m.!

The babies seem to be doing well.  We were discharged yesterday with instructions to supplement their feedings, just to make sure they’re getting enough.  And since I was allowed to leave (with them), I am happy to oblige.  We were totally ready to come home!

Of course, we will keep updating the pictures on our website (http://babies.elhogue.com), so feel free to check them out regularly.  And I’ll just enjoy looking at the live versions! 

Happy Friday!

You all are in for a double treat today. Not only do you get to hear about the new babies, but you get to hear it in the words of Eric!

Both babies were surgically removed from Shannah at 7:52am and 7:54am respectively. The first born, Alexander Leon, weighs 6lbs 0oz and was 18.75 inches (He may be taller by now.) Number two, as opposed to Frau Farbisna, is Erin Elizabeth. She weighed 6lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long.

Babies and mother are all recovering from their adventure and I’m starting to revive thanks to my infusion of Starbucks.

There will be pictures eventually. Check out elhogue.com for the widest selection.

–Eric

Now: 10 Hours and Counting
Later:  “What have I gotten myself into?!?”

I realize that by the time most of you read this post, the babies will probably have been born already (and I’ll probably be asking myself that second question!).  I will try to get the info up as soon as I can.  But that’s not my point here.

Mostly, I just wanted to say thanks to you all. 

Thanks for all the encouragement.  All the prayers.  All the countless comments and requests for pictures.  For everything.  It’s not that “I can’t believe it’s been 38 weeks already” because, trust me, it’s felt like 38 weeks (maybe longer!).  But I do know that my Xangals are one of the primary reasons we’ve survived so far and done so well.  I truly do appreciate you ladies!

Please do keep us in your prayers as we jump into this crazy new adventure.  As I’m sure you will. 

I’ll be back just as soon as possible…with pictures!!

Just so you all know…there’s been no change.  So it looks like Monday is the official day.  Thank Jesus! 

Of course, now they’re probably considering arriving sometime this weekend, but I’ve made it very clear that they have to wait.  All plans are hinging on Monday’s c-section, so they’ll just have to wait now.  We’ll see if they listen to me this time…

And for Jess…one final picture (sorry it’s not great)…

Of course, the best one taken recently is on Eric’s photo gallery.  But this will do for now…

I feel as if I should write some profound as this will likely be my last substantial (and not sleep-deprived) post for a while.  But I’ve got nothing.  Oh well!

One of my favorite things right now: flipping the switch on our Christmas tree lights first thing in the morning. It’s usually the first light I turn on, and I love it!  I also got my Christmas presents wrapped yesterday, so there are even gifts under the tree now…how fun!  I Christmas!

I’m definitely in countdown mode now.  I didn’t sleep well last night, but instead of being annoyed, I just kept thinking that there were only a couple more nights of this particular kind of pain and discomfort.  (I do realize that a different type of pain and discomfort are heading my way…don’t worry!)  I turned the page on my little blood sugar record book for the last time today.  I only have to take my blood sugar for 3 more days.  And there are a hundred other little things like those. But I won’t bore you with them!  Suffice it to say…I’m counting down!

Last night, Eric’s brothers came over for a bit.  They bought Christmas gifts for their parents and then went out to dinner. I think Eric felt a little bad for me to have to sit home alone again in the evening, but it wasn’t so bad.  After all, they did hang out here for a long while, and well…he’s not going to be able to do ‘brother-only’ things in the foreseeable future, starting next week.  So I’m glad they could do it.

Not much planned for today really.  I have my last doctor’s appointment this morning, but I doubt I’ll have anything too exciting to share from that.  I’ll let you know later.  And other than that, we shall see…

Happy Friday!

No, I’m not talking about the cast of my favorite movie, but the cast of my dream last night.  It included Kimberly, Trisha, Gail, Beki, and Gail & Beki’s dad.  I’m not sure why their dad popped up…I haven’t seen him in years.  But he was definitely there.  I can’t remember the plot exactly, but it was, apparently, a Xanga-filled dream!  Sorry the rest of you couldn’t be there!

I ran a number of errands yesterday and finished my Christmas shopping.  I will try to get the wrapping done today.  I do love seeing wrapped presents under a pretty tree!

The one bad thing about the babies coming right now is that I’m going to have to miss all sorts of fun gatherings in the next few weeks: a baby shower, a cookie exchange, an ornament exchange, the Christmas program at church, etc.  Of course, at this moment, I’m more focused on the babies’ arrival, but it’s still a little sad that I’ll miss all of the fun. Anyone want to just bring me cookies or ornaments?  Anyone? 

I caught one story on the Today Show this morning: the interview with the author of the new book, How to Talk to Girls.  He’s 9.  He wrote it as a class project after watching boys get rejected on the playground.   It’s a cute story, should you care to read it. 

I guess Eric’s brothers are coming over for a bit tonight.  I think they’re planning to go out to dinner, but I will probably not go along.  Still I now have to clean up my house a bit before they come.  My couch is currently covered in piles, so I’ll need to remove those so they have someplace to sit!  Sounds like fun, I know…

Happy Thursday!