Adventures!!

The past few weeks I’ve been harping on about how I’m going to go introduce the babies to my colleagues at the office! But to be honest, the outing would be full of firsts, that I honestly was a little chicken to tackle.

Those firsts being:  using our double stroller for the first time, besides practice stints around the living room;  driving and handling the babies on my own;  packing and feeding formula on an outing (I’ve managed to breastfeed, or not need to feed on previous ventures).

These may not sound huge, but all together I was quite daunted, hence, I hadn’t actually done anything about it.

Fortunately, I got an invite for a friend at work’s babyshower that was being held at the office – which motivated me to bundle my visit, with attending the shower.

So yesterday I managed to fold up and squeeze our stroller into the back of my car,  set up the car seats, packed the baby bag, and packed the car with the present etc, and finally set off, babies safely belted in. So kindly, Rob met me at the office parking lot (just as well, cause I couldn’t for the life of me remember how to open the stroller again!)  and we headed in to the office.

And what a pleasure to see all those lovely faces again. And everyone seemed thrilled to see the little ones finally. And speaking of – the twins almost slept through the whole thing. Except for Annabelle, who got hungry, and later started crying, prompting us to leave.

But we’d spent over 1,5 hours catching up with everyone, and it certainly wasn’t as overwhelming as I’d expected.  (Thanks to Rob being there)!

I hate to say we might have stole some thunder from my friend who’s shower it was, but I hope she still had a lovely celebration!

The babies were a bit of a distraction!!

Fortunately, the drive home was uneventful too, with babies lulled to sleep!

sleeping cutiepies!

A lovely afternoon, all in all.

13 days old!

Ok. I have a couple of minutes to spare while I have a quick cup of coffee, and before I get onse withs the busy day. So, here’s an update, witb pics!

My / our days have consisted of driving the 20 mins to the hospital, in time for a feed (Both Annabelle and Dominic are now on three hourly feeds), me nursing one or both of them (depending if the nurses have started cup or tube feeding, or if they need to rest. Breast feeding burns a lot of calories, and the nurses carefully ensure the babies don’t over tire – also, Dominic is smaller and struggles more, so he often gets tube fed so he can rest. (Tube feeding means my breast milk is fed directly into their tummies via a teansie tube that goes down their throat through their noses.  Annabelle no longer has hers in, as she’s strong enough to be cup fed, or breast fed)

After, and during feeding they need to be burped (Annabelle pulls the funniest faces when she’s got a wind!) and then we start with the same process on the next baby, and then (or sometimes before a feed) their nappies are changed, and then finally after some cuddling, they’re left to sleep.

— Dominic and Anabelle cuddling with Mum —

This cycle can take about an hour and a half, each time! And the nurses / paediatrician want me to nurse as much as possible now, so most of my day is and will be spent with them.

But fortunately, at the speedy rate the babies are gaining weight now, they may only be in hospital for another 7 or 8 days!  They’ve both been through the ‘losing weight’ phase, and now Dominic weighs 1.71 kgs, and Annabelle weighs 1.92 kgs! Annabelle graduated from a closed incubator when she reached 1.8 kgs, and now sleeps wrapped up like a bug in a cot, next to her brother’s incubator.

Last night my sister and her hubbie came to ‘meet’ Annabelle and Dominic.  This meant they stood outside the NICU’s glass door and the babies’ dad and I each bundled up a little one and showed them to their aunt and uncle through the glass. We’ll do the same for the grand parents and other aunt and uncle too.  Soon everyone will get to enjoy Annabelle and Dominic, when they’re bigger and stronger.

— Rob cradling Dominic —

Tomorrow is our Baby Shower!!!! We had to wait till after the birth, since my c-section got moved so much earlier than expected. We’re doing a non-conventional picnic, where ladies AND their guys are invited! My wonderful sister is arranging it, all while recovering from Lasik eye surgery! She’s such a star! Thanks Jo!

I better get on with the day. This afternoon we’re being taught how to bath our babies! Should be fun!