Playtime on the play mat

Naptime

So I am able to type some stuff since the babies are both napping at the same time. We had the belly button stumps fall off two days before the two week mark for Michael and the following day for Malia. Today marks that they are three weeks old. Our multiples class said the first six weeks are the hardest, so we are halfway through the hardest part. I think the first two weeks were the hardest because we didn't know what we were doing. It's better now, and the babies aren't really doing anything different, we just know more about how to be mom and dad.

The next pediatrician appointment is Jan 6, their one month birthdate. That is the day I hope he tells us that the babies can sleep through the night, waking when they want to feed instead of us waking them up after 4 hours from the last feeding (usually 1 or 2am). We bought a baby scale for our home and this morning Malia weighed in at almost 8 pounds. Michael didn't get a weigh in this morning. That's just how it goes, take what you can get and be happy with it.

Jason and I are so happy with these two. We love them more than we could have ever imagined. When we are away for even the shortest period of time (grocery run, doctor appt) we miss them like crazy. Jason is working one day a week right now; he'll go back full time mid-January. I'm a little nervous for that part - being home alone with the babies. But I've got to learn sometime. Hopefully when they are 6 weeks old they will be easier and we'll have a system/schedule in place somewhat, so I feel like we aren't winging it all the time.

Feeding is getting better with the babies. I am still not producing enough to satisfy them completely so we have to supplement with formula. I'm reading up and doing lots to try and up my supply. We are now tandem feeding for all feedings but one. We have the 1/2am feeding which is pure formula to give me a break. I pump during that feeding after the babies go back to bed (and Jason goes back to bed, I'm a little jealous when I hear him get into bed). I'm getting enough to feed one baby and then a little more, when I pump, but that's not enough since I don't have 1.5 babies. :) Hopefully the tandem feeding, fenugreek pills, bread, and tea will all lead to more milk supply.

Each kid definitely has their own personality. Malia is quiet and subdued. She has a muffled cry which starts quiet and then slowly gets louder, but never is unbearable. Michael has a temper. He gets mad and shows it immediately. He goes from 0 to 60 in a second with his cry. His face turns bright red and then he just wails. There is no ramping up. Unfortunately, he gets himself so worked up, it's hard to get him to calm down. When it's feeding time, he cries so hard, he doesn't realize the food is touching his lips. He also is our gassy baby, which might be why his is the fussy/cranky one most evenings.

I really hope to get these kids off formula soon. Nothing against people that choose formula only, over breast milk. I don't like it because it smells, it stains, and their poops smell worse than I could have ever imagined. Jason and I describe it as rotten peanut butter. And it is a lot when they poop. They don't do it everyday, but when they do - it fills the diaper completely. We have only had one "blow out" so far. Unfortunately Michael was wearing white pants when it happened, so I'm trying to figure out how to get that stain out. I might have to resort to bleaching those pants. That brings me to the cloth diaper situation.

Since we had such a difficult time getting the kids on the breast successfully, we stuck with the disposables sent home with us from the hospital. When those were running low, I wasn't ready to make the switch to cloth yet, so I bought some more diapers from a website. We just opened the last box, so by the end of this week we should be out of diapers for these guys (we go through about 30 diapers a day). Then we will start cloth diapers. I'm excited, but also really nervous. Jason just installed the sprayer on the toilet, so we can spray out those mega poops when they occur. I don't have a wet bag though, so I have to figure something out where to put the diapers that are waiting for washing. I have special detergent for the cloth diapers, so I can't just through them in the washing machine. Or maybe I can. I would just have to remember that I am storing up for a diaper load. We'll see how it works once I get going.

So that's the update. I think that's pretty much all that's been going on. We are super thankful for all the items people have given us or let us borrow. The baby clothes, the swings, the bouncy chairs, the playmat, the swaddle blankets. All of these items are getting daily use. I'm excited for the kids to be able to hold their heads up so we can get into the next set of stuff - bumbo seats, jumperoos. But I won't rush them. They are only 3 weeks old!

So I'll keep posting random pictures, but a text entry won't come until I have time to sit down again. It's about time for the next feeding, so I am off to get Jason and wake up these sleeping babies. I can't wait to not have to wake the sleeping babies. But it's been 4 hours since their last feed and that's the rule right now.

First Christmas

Beautiful Babies!

Our friend Pam is a photographer and has been snapping some awesome shots of the babies when she visits them. I included a link and a couple photos below. She does great work and I can't wait to see the rest when she gets back from vacation.

malia in red, michael in green

malia, michael

http://pylesphotographs.smugmug.com/Portraits/Duffy-twins/14984416_c6TVQ#1119284773_u69Uj

michael

malia

malia, michael

Please visit us!

So it would be really great if those of you who wanted to visit us, would just let me know. We love visitors who will watch the babies while we do random stuff such as catching up on bills, taking a shower, taking a nap, just relaxing and eating a meal without worry about a baby suddenly needing picked up or changed.

Brook just visited us today and brought us lunch. It was great. She's so brave coming over alone. She has experience with twins though, so she wasn't scared. She was able to snap some cute pics of the babies while she was here and was kind enough to share them with me. She is coming again next month with her mom and I think we are going to dare leave the house while they are here.

Babies; They're Here!

Dad waiting to meet his kids.

Last full belly shot for Mom.

Hello Michael!

Hello Malia!

Photo Shoot

http://piecesofyouphotography.blogspot.com/2010/12/twin-goodness.html

1 day till due date

Here we are - 40 weeks! I can't believe it!

I'll be sure to post an after belly shot. I hear it's going to look like there is still a baby in there.

The weather monday is going to be the coldest day yet this winter. 27 degrees. it won't be hard to stay holed up in the house with the babies once we get home - brrrr! at least it won't be snowing too much. the forecast says some flurries, but nothing to create traffic troubles. plus we live four traffic lights away from the hospital. but i'm sure the drive home with the babies in the car will be the most carefully driven trip of our lives :)

I'm hoping the next post will be an introduction of these two to you all. Thanks for all your love and support. We can't wait to show them off! And of course, once we are home we welcome visitors. Just give us a heads up so everyone doesn't come at the same time.

2 days till due date

Since this is the last weekend without babies in our house we have been getting two pieces of advice over and over. Rest & Relax and Live It Up.

We are going to rest and relax. And shop online for xmas presents.

I don't really understand the live it up advice. I mean, haven't I had enough time to "live it up"? And how exactly am i suppose to live it up? Have you seen me lately? I probably could have a drink since the babies are full term, but I'll wait 3 days (or more) for that. It just makes me laugh. Thinking of myself showing up to a nightclub or bar and "living it up."

3 days till due date

The induction is scheduled for Monday, my due date! We are going to meet the babies soon! This is really exciting and we can't wait. I can't believe I'm carrying twins a full 40 weeks. My doctor said this is very rare and all the nurses in the office think i'm unbelievable. The babies looked very healthy today and I'm only 2cm dilated. The boy has dropped lower into the pelvis, so hopefully that means he will make some moves before monday. I think it was the long walk that Jason and I did yesterday. It was painful but it made some progress which is worth it. I like pain with results.

4 days till due date

so....things are going to start happening. either natural (because of my long walk and hot wings) or with some interventions. it kind of makes sense that these babies don't want to come out without medicine, because they didn't get where they are without medicine. hopefully the medicine to get them out will be as effective as the medicine that got them where they are in the first place.

i don't have an induction date scheduled yet, but I will have a date tomorrow. the doctor, whom i trust and know wouldn't recommend something unless it was truly needed, would like me to have an induction sometime soon. i'm meeting with him tomorrow to schedule a date and time. it's exciting to know that these babies will be here in our arms very soon. it's a little scary, because it's been so easy to take care of them this long so i hope the trend continues. my friend with twins said if you expect the worst you will be pleasantly surprised. so i'm going to expect the 6 weeks of complete hell that the multiples class told us about. hopefully my idea of what it will be like will be far worse than it actually will be. we have tons of friends and family to help us, so i think i will be pleasantly surprised.

so, tomorrow will be the big announcement of when the action will begin. i am not going to be able to keep everyone constantly updated, so i hope that you all can talk to each other and to our family members to get the info you desire if you do not hear it from us. we will try our best to keep everyone informed, but i have to break it to you (read this quick like ripping off a bandaid) our #1 priority will be these babies and ourselves. it's hard to hear, but you are not our #1 priority.

we do love you all and have really appreciated all the love and support we receive from you. we are truly blessed and we are thankful everyday for it.

talk to you tomorrow!

5 days till due date

A tip someone gave me was to go somewhere where i wouldn't want my water to break, like the movies. So Jason and I ventured out last night to the theater and saw the harry potter movie. We had some popcorn and enjoyed the show. The kids must like harry potter or popcorn because they were both moving like crazy. No water breaking though.

Tonight I'm going to a 31 gifts party, Jenna is now selling those products. Hopefully this will be another chance to have an embarrassing water breakage situation. If not, at least I can check out the neat stuff Jenna is selling.

Tomorrow is the big day, I've got the non stress test and will talk with the doctor again. We'll see how it goes. I won't post until the evening, so don't worry if you don't hear anything right away.

Wish us luck! I'm having Jason join me for this appointment since it could be a pretty big one. I said could be - it also could show everyone being happy and the doctor saying we can wait longer if we want. I'm not sure of what I will decide just yet.