1st holidays with babies - what to do?

bearfootz

Please share your experience with this so I can get some perspective. 

Our babies were born at 33 1/2 weeks, both are doing fine now but the dr's had suggested that we avoid crowds, churches, family gatherings, etc. for a while.  Their ped. had recommended RSV shots, but the insurance co. denied them.  We've been keeping them at home since they got out of the NICU, only leaving for dr's appts. or a visit to Grandma's.  But now with the holidays fast approaching, we're torn.

On one hand we think we shouldn't take any risks and one of us should just stay home with the babies, there's always next year.

On the other hand, we really would like everyone to meet these babies and we'd really like to enjoy the holidays together as a family.  Of course we'd still be protective in that we'd make sure anyone holding them had just washed their hands.  We are also getting a lot of pressure from the family, who of course think that we're being overprotective...although I'd rather have healthy babies than annoyed relatives...but I think it is natural to want your whole family at the family gatherings.I'm thinking I could send out an email and make sure that no one has been sick in the past couple of weeks and then make the decision to bring them or not, but there's no guarantees that everyone really is healthy. 

This is just not how I pictured things going...but that seems to be the norm with twins, isn't it?  I also am nervous about bringing them that they will have a meltdown and I'll end up packing them up and heading home mid-festivities, so if you have any tips for avoiding that please share.

I'm sure you ladies have had this predicament, what did you do?

aniticipation

We are considering sitting this year out. It's just not worth it to me to risk my babies' health and given all the flu stuff going around, it's risky. I also don't trust family to stay home if they are sick and wanting to meet the babies or celebrate the holidays.

Twin.Peaks

We will be staying home on Christmas. My husbands family are not the kind of people that stay home when they are sick and with all that is going around Im not willing to risk it.

janjag

our g/g also born at 33 1/2.  i think we have the same ped!  LOL.  maybe the same ins. too.  so irritated with the synagis thing!

at 5 1/2 months, ours are older, but we still won't be going to big family gatherings this year.  only to grandpa's very clean house, or maybe a couple other people who i know to be very clean/healthy, etc. 

we DO have people come over (make sure they're healthy first), and wash hands thoroughly when they come in.  then i ALWAYS end up having someone hold/feed a baby.  i also have 2 different college girls come alternate mornings on week days.  and we have a nanny come to the house 3 afternoons a week while i work PT.  to me that is plenty of exposure to people, and they don't need any more.

shellshavintwins

My girls will be here in time for christmas and we will be staying home, but in laws live next door so we can't avoid whole family. But I have warned my church "family" now that we will not be back to church until FLU/RSV season is over. Call me overprotective, but there have been H1N1 cases in my family and at my church so........