three weeks old

In three weeks I've healed from surgery and brought the twins' weight up by nursing.  They've put on a combined 2 1/2 lbs. in 11 days (with an additional 60 oz. of milk on reserve in the freezer)!  All the pain, sweat and tears is worth it.

 

Dean (10 days old)

Our nurse practioner was so satisfied with their progress that we can skip the next well-baby visit, and don't need to come in again until they're eight weeks old.  That is savings, people!  Two babies is two co-pays, so that's $20 saved by breastfeeding (not to mention having no formula costs).  Plus, that 2 1/2 lbs. didn't come from nowhere - that's weight lifted off my body!  This is a win-win situation.  Exhausting, but worth it.

 James & Dean (13 days old)

Caitlyn & Dean (15 days old)

James & Dean (18 days old)

 James & Dean (21 days old)

Caitlyn & James (22 days old)

Other family fun times this spring break:

Basketball & Biking

Getting rowdy with Kaya

Swimming

First haircut with mom

Caitlyn & brothers

First family walk

buddy pics

The little buddies are 11 days old now - still nursing like champs and getting more regular in their sleep cycles.  Caitlyn's home for 2 weeks of spring break so we're looking forward to slowing down into our natural family tempo.

First Bath at home!  (James, 4 days old)

First doctor's visit: they gained back their birth weight; jaundice is gone in James (upper right) and improving for Dean (lower left).  Breastfeeding success! - the nurse practitioner said it's the best weight gain she'd seen for twins in 32 years. (6 days old)

So. Cal. livin' - 8 minutes out in Sun Diego to beat the jaundice (James & Dean, 9 days old)

First Signs - west siiide.

Post-sun, 3 seconds away from screaming for milkies. (Dean & James, 9 days old)

It's a Bonita life!

xoxo,

Christy

they're hee-re

It's been one week since the birth of our spontaneous fraternal twins.  Life is good, but exhausting.  This is as big as it got:

  
Dean Michael - air lifted on April 5, 2011 at 10:10 a.m.    6 lbs. 8 oz.     19 1/2"

 At three days old:

James Madison - air lifted on April 5, 2011 at 10:12 a.m.     5 lbs. 10 oz.     19 1/4"

 At three days old:

Daddy with James and mommy with Dean - about 2 hours old.

Big sis Caitlyn holding Dean (who looks just like she did) - 1 day old

Our brood, together at last: James, Caitlyn & Dean - 3 days old

Tummy Time: Daddy, James, Dean, Caitlyn - 4 days old

Bruddahs: James & Dean (what they do when not nursing) - 4 days old

Swaddle escape artists: James & Dean - 5 days old

ready for twins

A surprising ultrasound Friday!  The boys are all cattywampus and Twin B, with his marginal cord insert, is slowing his growth rate.  We're back on schedule for an April 5th delivery.  So before it's too late - last chance for pregnancy photos (finally, Tena!) & nesting ramblings. 

32 weeks pregnant => Project Life (turquoise) arrives!  Ok, it's more box than belly here.  I don't scrapbook but enjoy this way of documenting each week of the year.

33 1/2 weeks => at the baby shower.  Long time friends: Amy (with me the night I met DH at Bourbon Street),  Kiki (my Vespa-riding, UCSD-in-Hillcrest friend), and Jyothi (19 year friend since my arrival in San Diego). 

36 1/2 weeks => the family unit.  Posing in the bleachers at our first roller derby bout.  The belly is now a GIANT, low, protruding basketball, disguised in black. 

37 1/2 weeks => April Fools Day 2011.  The first day of swimming, the first day of shorts and sun exposure, the day of the ultrasound.

Nesting Ramblings & Four Top Finds...

On the first floor of our house is a newborn-ready living room with a hand-me-down changing table full of diapers, wipes, onesies, blankets, and toys. Nearby is a hand-me-down pack & play, bouncer seats, and a baby swing.  Both a breast pump and My-Brest-Friend twin are stationed by the couch.   

"My-Brest-Friend twin, I love you." (37 1/2 weeks)

By the door is the stroller, diaper bag, baby wraps & carriers.  We got this Valco on clearance, with 10% discount coupon, & no tax or shipping.

The kitchen has a drawer of pump supplies, storage bags, bottles, nipples and baby food packs.  Our hot & cold water cooler is always in use, and the pantry, fridge & freezer are full of good, whole ingredients.  The garage freezer is packed with freshly made then frozen meals.

Check out this surprise organic gift set from DH.  I love that man.  Love him.

Upstairs is the nursery, with a sports-Snoopy themed crib and room for another (we'll get it later).  The wall decorations aren't up, but the closet holds a TON of gift & hand-me-down clothes and toys (3m items are sorted on shelves and the 6m - 4T is washed, sorted & boxed).  The nursery's still a guest room with a bed ready for visiting grandparents. 

I'm going to LOVE these books.  One memory book per twin and a 3-month spiral notebook - each buddy has a daily record of Time / Bottle(oz) / Breast(min/side) / Diaper(wet/BM) & Meds/Other.  Extra lines for Appointments/Reminders & To Do. 

Lastly, our bedroom is the REAL newborn zone.  One side's ours with a king-size bed, cedar chest & chest of drawers.  One side's theirs with a glider & ottoman, bassinet, bouncer seat, and changing table (an arms-reach from a bathroom sink).  The diapers, blankets, toys and layette are stored here, with a 2nd Medela pump.

So, you can never be ready - but you can be well prepared.  Two days and counting!