Notes From the (Twin) Trenches

We've now been home 48 hours with our twins.   Or has it been more?  Less?  Not so sure.  Our girls are four days old and we are in the stage that many twin parents liken to "survival mode" which sounds a bit dramatic if you ask me.  But I see where they are coming from -- two newborn infants in a house really stirs things up.

So how are we doing?  Overall, we're doing good.  Really good.  Our girls are healthy and big sister Isla is absolutely head over heels in love with them.  She has yet to show a single sign of jealousy or any indication of feeling displaced (*knocking on wood*) and this fact alone makes me so happy.  "Wanna see babies!" is the phrase of note around here and they've gotten more kisses from her than anyone else I think.  Because my delivery went so well and I didn't need any stitches, my recovery from birth has been a dream (though the post-delivery uterine contractions?...WOW.  Ouch) which makes life so much easier.   My incredible girlfriends have been making us meals, taking "cooking" off of my list of things to do and I have successfully established tandem breastfeeding (*knocking on wood, again*).  Scott has again proven to be the most supportive husband and daddy I could ever wish for, running out and about at all hours to get me everything from my favorite cookies to breast pump shields.  He even got me stool softeners.  Yeah.  I just went there.  Sorry.

We are also incredibly blessed to be living with my parents at this time.  My mom has made this transition so much easier with her help and care of Isla, and I honestly think that all the attention Isla gets from her is a very large part of why she's adjusting so well to being a big sister.  While the notion of the "boomerang child" (s/he who comes back to the nest in adulthood) is a relatively new phenomenon and one that gets it's fair share of scrutiny and judgement, I think I speak for all of us (my parents included) when I say it is really a gift for all involved.  We feel very lucky and super thankful to have ample family support right now.

Of course it's not all roses.  I am writing from what has become "my spot" on the couch, a spot that I am pretty certain will forever have my butt imprint on it from sitting here so much.  Because breastfeeding is so important to me, I have literally been parked in this same place for the bulk of most days with my boobs hanging out while I nurse two babies almost around the clock.  Glamorous, it is not.  National Geographic?  More like it.  I am grateful that visitors have been respectful and kept their distance.  Right now it's all about getting into a little groove, and it's going to take a while to get there.  But we'll get there.  I was told I would feel very much like a milk cow and that about sums it up.  I'm tired, I look like crap and while I have managed to take a shower daily and actually blow dry my hair, I still feel a whole new level of frumpy and gross.  In other words: I am not ready for my close-up, thankyouverymuch. Blech.  But, like everything baby, this wonky adjustment period will be over before we know it.

Nights are hard because I am nursing every two hours and since nursing two babies at once is such a production, I find it much easier to sleep sitting up with my nursing pillow around me and the girls sleeping on either side of me.  We all sleep better that way.  I would kill to lay down on my back, side or tummy and stretch out for an hour or two but it's just not in the cards right now.  So instead, I sleep propped up with a hilarious and very specific concoction of pillows, blankets and accouterments all around me.  It works.  The girls are getting awesome skin to skin bonding time, which is important and I'm getting a chest that could rival that of any Victoria's Secret model.  Point for breastfeeding.

So far I can say that being a mom of twins requires a tremendous amount of forethought, patience and preparation.  And it's pretty cool.

Kind of like sailing, actually.

So far, so good.  We've got this.

Haven Jane (left) and Mira Ann (they are fraternal in case you can't tell)