My oh my, how the time does fly... I can't believe the twins are three weeks old already and clearly I'm not going to be much of a mommy blogger (heavy on the mommy, easy on the blogger, sorry guys). We are settling into a routine at home, even though we still continue to fine tune as we figure them out.
At their three week appt. today, they are now up to 6-9 (Alistair) and 6-7 (Marielle).
At two weeks, they were 5-15 (A) and 5-12 (M), which had him surpassing her for the first time.
At one week, they were 5-6 (A) and 5-7 (M)
At discharge @ 4 days old: they were 5-2 (A) and 5-3 (M) (Mari's dramatic 14% unexplained weight loss in day one is why I have been pumping and supplementing since the hospital- never say never, right?).
At birth: they were 5-7 (A) and 6-1 (M)
We and
our awesome pediatrician (which we go all the way to the city to see each week, call us crazy) are happy with their weight gains. They absolutely love to eat, especially little Alistair. It was so nice out after our appt. today that they got to take their first walk along the Lake. They slept through it, but it sure was nice to get outside. One more day of 50-something weather until winter sets in for real.
We are pretty sure his size and weight (not to mention his general comfort) was compromised by being breech for the last ten plus weeks of their gestation, as he had been measuring ahead until then. Poor little guy. This also gets him a ticket to Children's for a routine hip u/s @ 6 wks, though they say he is fine. Hip dysplasia from being breech is a more common issue for girls apparently. They either both stopped growing in utero, or less likely our u/s estimates up to and including 35 wks were way off. Both that he was just an ounce under the cut off for LBW and her weight loss obviously concerned us, but they are both very healthy so far, which is what is important. Small, but mighty they are.
When I first started trying to feed them at the breast, our little guy would work so hard, but pretty much just ended up nibbling on my nips. Not so great. Mari had a little better latch, since she had a bigger mouth, but she'd just fall asleep. Our little sleeping beauty. But then all bets were off when we needed to make sure they were both getting enough to eat, since my colostrum apparently wasn't cutting it and my milk came in on day 3. Thankfully, I've been able to produce the vast majority of what they are now eating. I think most of the remaining ten pounds (of ~50 by the end) I'm carrying around is in my boobs.
My mother has been here helping off and on since they arrived (albeit with limited helpfulness), and she will go again as my dad and step-mother are coming this weekend. MIL arrives from India on the 22nd and will likely stay until summer. As challenging as it is to have house guests now, I've bought into the "don't turn down free help" mantra, which sadly is needed given the fact that I am still far from 100% now. I'm feeling much better now, but a CS recovery is pretty stark, which I guess makes sense when you realize they've cut you right where almost all movement starts from. It takes a few weeks to feel anything more than completely useless. DH is starting to go back to the office now for meetings, but he will work from home until his mom comes.
I have also ironically developed a nasty case of carpal tunnel post-pregnancy, for which I'm seeing a hand doctor next week. Since I've already been icing, wearing braces, and taking anti-inflammatories to no avail, and my thumb and first two fingers on both hands are numb, I'll be potentially looking at cortizone injections, but we'll see what he has to say. It's another one of those things that when you hear about someone having seems like not such a big deal (kinda like bed rest), but let me tell you it's not cool to have something like this that makes it so much more difficult and painful to take care of your children.
Mari is so very animated, she puts on little shows with all her faces and like I said she absolutely loves to sleep. She is more alert now that they are outgrowing their pre-termness (their EDD is later this week), but I think she will be a sleeper like her mom. We sometimes have to wake her to eat. Alistair is our not so little anymore guy, though he still has that scared look on his face, even though I always talk to him and tell him that he doesn't need to worry. The kid has a furrowed brow already. Guess who got my anxiety? They both love being read to and do lots of neck exercising and hold up their little heads and are getting more used to tummy time. They are pretty tolerant of bath time and we've also introduced pacifiers, which is very helpful for him especially. They are now next door in their nursery in their own cribs instead of in the PNP.
Showing off their matching outfits...
They are now out of preemie diapers, since their cord stumps are long gone and are working their way into larger newborn clothes. My mom went out and bought them smaller ones, since the ones we had they were absolutely swimming in at first.
Our announcements are coming tomorrow and I can't wait to see them and get them sent out. The proof was perfect, I am so happy with how they turned out.
I know I still need to post on their nursery, which is finally done, but now in full use. Hope to get the pics up soon. We are both loving our new life and I've never been happier. Life is good. :)
