Gift from the babies

Wow! They slept a little over 8 hours last night! They have been sleeping about 7 hours at night for maybe a week now, but the extra hour was wonderful. They ate at 9:30 PM last night and woke up at 6AM to eat this morning. Amazing! They were actually starting to stir in their co-sleeper at about 2 AM so I brought them up by me in bed to cuddle and then they slept until 6AM. I love sleeping with them even though it gives Jason and I just enough room to sleep on our sides. :)
I've been reading now that sharing a 'family bed' (for as little as a couple weeks to years - won't be years on purpose for us) is good for Mom and baby(ies) as long as precautions are taken to avoid smothering. I barely move with them near me and am able to awake for all their baby noises and movement. I periodically wake up and just can't keep myself from giving them a head rub, kissing their cheeks, or patting their tummies. I imagine that close contact with Mommy is good for them. They will grow so fast, I have to take advantage of that snuggle time.


I have been trying to nurse them once or twice a day. I get myself eager to try again, but then afterwards think bottle feeding is easier. Who knows what we will settle on??
I just want the twin nursing pillow that I ordered to come so I can try that and see if it is really a management/positioning issue. I would like to nurse them simultaneously to save time, so we will see how it goes. I was thinking last night, maybe it would be easier to focus on teaching them one at a time. Like nurse Nicholas and bottle feed Celia until he is an expert, then I can add her on and focus on her?? Not sure if that would help? But, then I would need to nurse her anyway so she doesn't start to forget.
Hmmmm
Anyway, sleep was great. It is amazing how the amount of sleep you get is going to put a spin on how the day goes.

Vaccination Day

Today was the Day that the babies had their first vaccinations. The Dr only had them have 2 out of the 4 shots since they don't have as much baby fat as a term baby. Though, Nicholas is a chubby boy like a term baby, Celia is trying to keep her figure and has lean little legs.
They did well. They cried, of course, but were okay soon after. Then they had to have their heel pricked to check their iron and red blood cell levels. The nurse said, "Those preemies are tough!"
The rest of the day, they have been SO tired. Hardly waking to eat and then when they do wake up, they fall asleep before they finish the bottle.
These are their sleepy shot day pictures:

What to do?

I am trying to decide what to do - nurse or pump?
Trying to nurse has been exciting at times, super-challenging, tiring, etc.
I would do it with 1 baby, but nursing 2 is a lot of work.
I assumed I would when I was pregnant, but it morphed into pumping and bottle feeding. It works for us.
I like the closeness and simplicity of nursing, but then again it feels a little 'alone' because no one can help me with that. I don;t want to regret not attempting this special closeness with the babies.
I am stuck between both feeding types. I get a twin nursing pillow in the mail soon, maybe that will help?
Rambling on again. . .

Bumbo Seats

Bumbo seats allow babies to sit as soon as they have head control. Celia is ahead of the game with head control, even as small as she is. Nicholas is not far behind, but he does have a bigger head to balance. They really seemed to enjoy the seats - and Mommy did too. :)

It is funny to observe how 2 babies born at the same time can develop different abilities at different times.
Nicholas is good at his social skills. He smiles quickly and easily. He has started to coo and make noises.
Celia is a strong little one. She also can track objects very well. She is VERY observant and enjoys watching people.
Both love to cuddle and be with people.

Smiley Babies

Nicholas and Celia have such beautiful smiles. They are starting to smile more in response to our smiles and when we play with them. I am looking forward to them smiling and laughing with us. Isn't it amazing how quickly they change!

Jill with Nicholas and Celia.

Funny Pump

He LAUGHED! 5:30 AM and I am pumping in the livingroom after Jason and I fed the babies. Jason had taken Celia back to the bedroom and I had a swaddled Nicholas in the dark livingroom with me. Nicholas was tossing a bit falling back to sleep in the baby papasan as I was pumping. At one moment the suction of the pump made a funny noise and he started to LAUGH. Not a giggle, a hearty laugh. "You laughed!!" I exclaimed. It is still dark, the sun hasn't even come up, and he has made my day.

It will happen right away - Memory

Jason and I finally decided we wanted to start a family Fall 2004. As a teacher, we knew we wanted the baby to be born conveniently near spring 2006 so I could take my leave and summer vacation before returning to work. So, I went off hormones to prevent pregnancy Fall 2004 so I would be free and clear for 6 months or so before we tried. This would be to assure that we would be successful right away.
June 2005
First month passed. I assurred Jason that sometimes it takes people 3 months or so.
Next month I was sure something was different. Didn't I feel a little sick today? Was it nausea? We got a little excited! Nope, not this month.
Three months, four months. . .
I talked with a friend who used Clomid to get pregnant. So I saw her OB. He looked at my temperature charting and thought I was ovulating too late. So, clomid was started. I was sure we would be pregnant within 3 months, since Clomid usually works within the first 3 months. Hopes were slowly dashed as the 3 months on Clomid slid into 5 months with nothing occurring. It was hard to be happy. My Kindergartners had a crabby teacher that year. It was all the hormones for sure. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that they lacked the ability to listen (sense the sarcasm?). :)
I would have to seek additional "help". Wasn't this pregnancy thing supposed to happen right away???

Miracle Water is here!!!

We all plan to have carefree sweet babies, right? I was colicky, but I figured it must skip generations (ha ha). :)
Celia has been on Zantac for her reflux since soon after coming home from the NICU. However, after a while the big spit-ups seemed to go away, so I stopped giving it to her. Then the fussy eating started. She would cry and squirm while being fed, though she would seem so hungry. Zantac was resumed, but haven't been seeing great results. We have even taken her to the chiropractor. Today our shipment of 'Colic-Ease Gripe Water' arrived. Hoping this is the 'miracle water'. :) She is sleeping peacefully next to me in the swing right now. Hopefully her little tummy feels better with this stuff. Nicholas and Celia are frequent visitors to the 'Hiccup circus', or as Grandma and Grandpa Maus call them, "Hic-um-ups". This Gripe water is supposed to help with hiccups too. Fingers are crossed. . .

THE plan

During the uncertainty of my high-risk pregnancy, I became a member of a website called sidelines.com. After my twins were born at 35 weeks, I continued to visit the site to share my experiences, hear about others and also get tips and ideas about my newborn son and daughter. Through those people, I came across another woman who shares her bedrest experiences through her blogger website. I am so impressed with her entries and experiences that I am drawn to write my own.
I plan to write about my new experiences with the babies and memories of their pregnancy. Though, I am sure random thoughts will filtrate through.