Happy New Year!

Happy Mommy!

It's 3:33 AM and the boys last ate at 10:30 PM. They are just starting to wake up now. I fell asleep shortly after 11...I woke up 3 in a panic because no one was crying and I woke up on my own after about 4 hours of solid sleep - that hasn't happened in months...honestly can't remember the last time I slept longer than 3 hours. In my amazement, I woke up Striker (sorry!) and told him the glorious news!! He was immediately concerned that the boys were both still breathing - they were - of course I'd already checked :)

Alex had kept Striker up until about midnight since he was wide awake and a little fussy after his last feeding, but that meant that even Striker got a solid 3 hours!!! We can safely say that hasn't happened since December 7th prior to 3:48 AM. :)

This was especially a nice gift from the boys since Alex set a new record for the number of times and total time spent feeding yesterday and Tony ate on the higher end of their average. They are plumping up and Tony is filling out quite nicely...take that stupid hospital nurse that thought I was starving my children!!! Leave me with Google and I'll figure out how to get my sleepy jaundiced son to eat!!!! Still bitter...sorry.

Tired Striker

You may have noticed that the boys don't look that much alike...or at least that it's fairly easy to tell them apart. Striker and I have been known to mix up a baby at 2 AM when half asleep. This becomes an issue for the purposes of our nursing/diapering log and general confusion for the other half asleep parent.

Tonight at only 8PM (when we were both wide awake), the following conversation occurred:

Me: Which side for Alex?
Striker: Alex is on the right.
Me: Ok. (Begins nursing)
Striker: (reviewing the log again) oops, I screwed up.
Me: (peering over at the log) Um, Babe? This is Alex, not Tony...did you write that on the wrong side?
Striker: Oh, we're good!
Me: (sigh) (laugh)
Striker: Blog?

At least he knew what was coming :)

Signs You're a New Parent

This may only apply to twin parents, at least in this severity...at least I hope.

Mom: I stink. When did I shower last?
Dad: Not today. I didn't either.
Mom: Hmm, was it yesterday some time?
Dad: Maybe.
Mom: Wait, what was yesterday?
Both (realizing yesterday was growth spurt/day of constant feeding/diapering): Nope!
Mom: Guess it was Saturday. Pretty sure it was at night at least.

This conversation may or may not have transpired between Striker and I while going to sleep at midnight tonight. ;) It probably shouldn't be shared publicly, but this is our life. We love every stinky moment of it. We do make the extra effort to shower before non family visits though...sorry family!

And in case you're wondering...I still haven't painted my toenails since removing the (very old, half worn off/grown out) polish on Christmas Eve. Striker commented then that it was the first time he'd seen my toenails naked in the almost 8 years he's known me.

Update on the boys: they are staying awake longer during the day and recognize Mommy and Daddy's voices. Pretty sure that they are about 7 (Alex) and 6(Tony) lbs each...both are about to move up to the next size in clothes (that'll be 0-3 for Alex and Newborn for Tony). They had a crazy growth spurt Sunday that included 21 diaper changes and 9.5 hours of feeding time. Yes, we're still tracking that stuff and are considering adding our showers to the log as well. We already record our vitamins and medications there ;). Oskar is a very good boy and now snuggles with the boys and worries about them when they cry. He's a good big brother!

First Official Mail

The boys received their first official mail (not counting cards and gifts) - their Social Security cards! Striker is already working on our 2009 taxes. ;)

Merry Christmas Eve!

We were in bed by 9, though Tony wasn't quite ready to sleep. Now that he's finally out (but still in my arms), Alex is starting to wake up. It's Striker's turn to sleep right now. I slept from 9-10.

Motherhood is the most challenging and rewarding thing I've ever done. I would face every single struggle all over again just to hold these little boys in my arms. I love being Alex and Tony's mom!

Bad Patient Service

There are 2 reasons that we'll be changing doctors for the boys. The main one is that I don't feel they are that supportive of breastfeeding and have been too quick to suggest supplementing both boys despite their both growing on pace. They don't ask very many questions which is necessary for proper diagnosis. I'd rather take them to the family practice physician who finally got my Chiari diagnosed.

The other is this note:
To Our Patients:
Please verify with your insurance company if the doctor you will see is under your plan. We don't have enough time to verify your eligibility. If the doctor is not covered, you will be responsible for the full amount.

To quote my mother in law (who works in an urgent care office), "that's their job!"