N14 Twins Check In (11/24)

absolutelymaybe

Happy (early) Thanksgiving! What's everyone up to for Thanksgiving with our little twin turkies!?

How do these weeks keep flying by? Seriously, ladies! I feel like I blink and it's Monday again. Which really sucks because apparently my babies hate Mondays, too. It's like their worst day of the week, which means little sleep for me.

How are things going? Give us an update and feel free to AW those adorable baby photos!

N14 Twin Moms

@yess0311 - Welcome Erick and Arielle - born 9/17!

@amberej - Welcome Levi and Cora - born 10/05!

@KimmieS1756 - Welcome Grayson and Bodhi - born 10/7!

@lisalynnmama - Welcome Ella and Sadie - born 10/13!

@tiersa_smith - Welcome Lyric and Brooklyn - born 10/17!

@ktibbits1 - Welcome Miles and Sadie - born 10/22!

@Amandakea15 - Welcome William and Averie - born 10/22!

@Zamboni00-Welcome Garrett and Zoey - born 10/23!

@IntuitiveBlue - Welcome James and Elsa- born 10/26!

@morrkim - Welcome Levi and Evan - born 10/28! 

@erinwithtwins - Welcome Baby Boy A and Baby Boy B - born 10/28!

@missvolvo - Welcome John and George - born 10/28!

@Mrs430 - Welcome April and Breanna - born 11/2!

@CPM13 - Welcome Salvatore and Josephine - born 11/3!

@absolutelymaybe - Welcome Ari and Willa - born 11/7!

@MsMolly520 - Welcome Austin and Anthony - born 11/14

As always, please let me know if you want to be added to this list or your information is incorrect.

MrsC430

Happy (early) Thanksgiving to everyone & your families!

We're keeping the holidays pretty low key & local this year. Usually we travel to my ILs out of state, but we decided it'd be best for babies (and our sanity) to pass. Plus we're supposedly getting a snowstorm Thanksgiving eve, so I'm thankful we won't be stuck driving through that!

As for babies - April got diagnosed w/ a milk protein allergy last week. So she's now on Similac Alimentum... a hypoallergenic formula. I'm relieved to finally have an answer for her formula/digestion issues, but the Alimentum is so damn expensive. Though what matters is that she's doing much better since the switch.

They're both still waking up every 2.5 hours at night. Anyone else's babies doing longer stretches? If so, please share your secret! I've tried upping their feedings, but they won't budge past 3oz.

I could also use advice on taking the babies out. Leaving the house alone w/ them totally stresses me out. I honestly don't even know why? I'm starting to feel like a shut in though. Anyone else feeling this way? I wish I knew how to get over it.

Here's a "snuggle time on our play mat" picture.

absolutelymaybe

@MrsC430 - Sooo cute! Love your little girls! 

re: Sleep/eating schedule: When we brought them home, we woke them up to eat every four hours (they were sleepy newborns). Once they started "waking up" a little, Ari would kind of guide the feedings, waking up every three hours (and then we wake Willa to feed with him). Now, it's kind of game of chance for how long they sleep and who wakes up first. Sometimes they think they (usually Ari) need to eat every two hours, other times they will wait three. OCCASIONALLY (not enough IMO), they will sleep four. They eat anywhere between 1.5 - 4 oz per feeding. I let them guide me and so far so good. I have no advice on getting them to sleep longer. Mine just seem to regulate themselves. 

re: Going out: Yeaaaah, I don't have the balls to take them out on my own yet. So far I've only gone out with DH and we haven't attempted anything like the grocery store. 

Just curious, how did you know something was wrong with April to get her tested for an allergy? What were the signs? Not that I think anything is wrong with mine, I'm just paranoid there is and I'm missing some symptom. (First time mom worries?)

AFM: We are going to DH's family's house on Thanksgiving (they live about 30 min away), then doing another Thanksgiving with my family at our house (for the first time!) on Saturday. I want to keep everything really low-key, though. We're just making a turkey and potatoes and everyone is bringing everything else Saturday.  

Sooo we got FANTASTIC news about Willa's wonky feet when we took her to Shriner's hospital on Friday. She has a condition called Calcaneovalgus due to her position while she was growing, but won't need casts or anything! It should fix itself and we can help it along by stretching her feet out while we are playing with her. That was such a relief! 

DH went back to work full time this week. I was sort of used to it from him being part time last week, but last night and this morning were rough. The twins decided to tag team me -- Ari was up and fussy all night and Willa took over in the morning. I know last week started off rough for me but got better, so hoping this one will do the same. If nothing else, at least I will have DH on Thursday and Friday due to the holiday. 

And ending with cuteness. Is it creepy I love watching them sleep? I love how they mimic each other's poses. 

morrkim

@MrsC430‌ Alexis had a milk protein allergy as well and since I was bf I had to take all dairy out of my diet. It was so difficult. At least she didn't have the soy allergy that some have. We discovered it when she started having bloody stools. I'm so worried that Levi & Evan will have the allergy too.

They like to take turns with their sleep ranging from 1 to 4 hour stretches. Usually Levi will wake up constantly, because he likes to be held all the time. Evan will usually give us longer stretches.

I've gone out a few times, but I always had DH with me. I am so nervous about going by myself, because I will probably have to deal with a 2 year old as well. We have been using the double stroller and she likes to sit in it, so I think I will put her and 1 baby in the stroller and the other in the baby carrier.

@absolutelymaybe‌ that's great to hear about willa's feet.

AFM: We will be doing thanksgiving on friday with the in laws, but we will take the kids to see MIL in the hospital for the first time on Thursday. We have a tiny kitchen so they are making half the dishes before coming and we will make the other half the night before.

Things are going better. We haven't had to see the doctor in a week. Tandem nursing is going better, but I still can't do it every time. I'm starting to figure out the middle of the night routine, except when Alexis decides to wake up too, because she wants mommy. We have been having an issue with a diaper rash with Levi that wouldn't go away, but I decided to try aquaphor and it is looking a lot better.

MrsC430

@absolutelymaybe‌ Awesome news about Willa!! You must be so relieved. They are too cute - are those Aden and Anais swaddle blankets in the pic? Our girls love them! During pregnancy, I was all... $35 for swaddle blankets? Really? But they're well worth it!

re: The allergy - She would have awful screaming fits after eating (screams that could wake up the whole city of Boston), turn bright red and scrunch her knees up tight to her belly (as if she was in pain). She was also constipated a lot. So I brought this up to her pedi, who suggested the allergy test. It was very simple, they just test a poop sample in office.

@morrkim‌ They are so handsome & stylish! Curious - did Alexis' allergy go away? April's pedi seems to think that it does by a year in most cases. Our other little lady, Brianna, is having diaper rash issues too. I'll have to try Aquaphor on her. I'm convinced that Desitin sucks.

zamboni00

@MrsC430‌ we are also expecting that snow storm tomorrow. As of now, the plan is to have my folks, my brother, SIL & nephew over on Thursday. We will see what the weather does.

Re: sleep- knock on wood, we have been doing really well. They both go right back to sleep after eating at night, and have a nice long wakeful (and happy! ) stretch during the day. We can usually get one 4 hour stretch out of them at night, and the pedi said they are ok to do two of those back to back at this point. I'm crossing fingers they take his advice!

I can't say for sure, but I've been waking them every 2.5 hours or so during the day, & keeping them in bright, noisy rooms. At night, I keep them in a dark, quiet area. It seems to be helping, and that's when we started getting the 4 hr stretch.

Re: outings- I'm terrified. We haven't even taken them anywhere together, except their dr appointments. But the pedi also said we can & should take them for walks, or out to dinner with us. That at this age, they stay in their safe little cocoon, and add long as random people aren't getting in their faces, they will be ok. I'm thinking I will start the solo trips just by getting them in the car and driving around. Maybe go to dunkin & drive-thru or something. Baby steps

@absolutelymaybe‌ yay, Willa! What great news! Mine seem to mimic sleep positions, too!

@morrkim‌ what kind of swing is that? They look so cozy cute together

Our babies turned 1 month yesterday! ♡ I can't believe it! They are growing like weeds (2 lbs each since their 2wk appointment! ) so I guess we are doing something right. So proud of my boobs, haha.

They are also super strong! They lift up their heads for minutes at a time during tummy time.

Last week I left the house on my own, b so this week I'm hoping to get out of the house with the babies. Wish me luck!

PP update- I'm wearing my wedding band for the first time in so many months engagement ring is next!

zamboni00

@MrsC430 also- have you asked your pedi about samples of formula? The nurse asked us if we wanted any yesterday. She said to always ask because they will give us whatever they have. Might be with a shot!

morrkim

@MrsC430‌ She eventually outgrew it, but not as soon as I was expecting. She loves all dairy now. Around a year and a half. She might have outgrown it sooner, but I was nervous about giving her dairy and if she got fussier or her stools changed then I stopped. At less than a year it had gotten better in that I could have dairy, but she couldn't.

@zamboni00‌ Its the fisher price starlight papasan cradle swing. I don't usually put them in it together, but we were skyping with grammy, who is in the hospital.

MsMolly520

Checking in from the fog! So glad these updates are still going. I love seeing our babies getting bigger!

Austin and Anthony are 1.5 weeks and we're trying to get into some routine. Just when I think we may have some organization, Austin throws a wrench into things. Poor little guy has become a little gassy the last couple days and has had a rough time. There has been a lot of burping, rocking and snuggles to help get the bubbles out. He's no where near what Alexander was at this age (crying all.day.long) so there's hope that this will pass soon. 

Anthony is our easy baby. I totally understand people who want to have a lot of children after having an easy baby. He's so chill and not much phases him. He's also a smiley little guy. It's so cute!

I'm a little jealous of those that are doing so well with breastfeeding. I had to supplement while in the hospital and then started EP when we got home (still needing to supplement). I had sooo much trouble with supply the first time around, so I knew it was a possibility. It's all become too much with both babies plus a toddler so I'm weaning off the pump. I know it's the right thing (especially since Austin has started to take more with each feed) but it's still sad that it didn't work out.

We're not doing much for Thanksgiving. My mom is staying with us and my sister is stopping by for a couple hours. My mom is going to cook a small meal for us and I'm looking forward to that (she's a great cook).

@absolutelymaybe‌ I'm so happy for Willa's great news!

I have yet to venture out with the boys except their pedi visits. And even then I have to have someone with me. I'm scared of the day I have to take all three to the grocery store myself! 

MsMolly520

Oh, pictures! I'm so in love with these sweet faces! :x 

 Austin: Anthony:

absolutelymaybe

@morrkim - I'm so impressed that you are not only breastfeeding but tandem nursing. I can't even imagine how hard that would be. Kudos to you! And love the pics. Your boys are so cute!

@MrsC430 - Yes, they are! I had them on my registry and got as a gift at one of the baby showers. OMG, I had no idea how they would change my life. (Okay, maybe a little exaggeration...but they're pretty awesome). We use them nearly constantly, even when I'm not swaddling them. 

@zamboni00 - Awesome to hear about their weight gain! You are definitely doing something right!

@MsMolly520 - Don't feel bad about having to go to formula. I think it's amazing you've made it work this long (I couldn't at all)! And love the pics. Sooo sweet when they're sleeping. 

CPM13

I want to update more but limited time- as you all can understand. But @MrsC430 our older daughter had a dairy/soy allergy that she outgrew at 6 months.  Fingers crossed you have a similar experience!

missvolvo

@MrsC340 I don't know how to get them to sleep longer at night either.  George will sometimes have an almost 4 hour stretch, but John is up every two hours to eat.  We are breastfeeding full time so I'm just assuming that John needs more to eat than George?  George also weighs more so I am fine with John waking up more frequently.  

@MsMolly520 I hear you on the pumping!  When John was in the hospital and needed his intake monitored I was pumping for him and still breastfeeding George and it was exhausting!  I can't imagine throwing a toddler in there too.  If I hadn't gotten John back to the breast I think I would have given up.

The boys are doing pretty well.  We are slowly getting into a bit of a routine.  George has been spitting up a lot lately and seems fussier these last few days.  I am still nervous about everything John does because of his cortisol deficiency.  I worry about developmental delays for both of them - the problems with working in Early Intervention too long!  I haven't taken them anywhere on my own yet - but will on Monday to the pediatrician.  For Thanksgiving we just spent it at my mother-in-laws and boys slept all day long!  I was terrified they would never sleep last night, but it went okay.  Here is a picture from their newborn photo shoot that I just love!