I have finally gotten into a little bit of a mothering groove here recently. One major change is that I’ve stopped trying to breast-feed the twins at the same time. Not only was it getting increasingly difficult due to their ever-increasing size, but the feeding was just becoming such an event: putting on a clean diaper while the other hungry baby screams (times 2), placing baby onto the twin feeding pillow and walking to my chair without harming the baby (times 2), getting settled and comfortable into the chair, and latching the baby on (times 2), trying to burp (and usually clean up the puke of) one baby while the other is still feeding … all while attempting to be as hands-on as possible with Houston. 

Ashley & Ingrid visit “the zoo” to hang out and help out.

The frequent task had simply become too high-maintenance. Therefore, I have gotten the twins on a staggered feeding schedule and have been feeding them one at a time for about a week now, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s much more relaxing for everyone involved. 

The thinking with twins is that if you feed them at the same time, you cut feedings in half. In theory, that’s a great plan. But being that I also have a near 19 month old running around, it’s as if I have triplets, not twins. So, doing single feedings frees up one hand and doesn’t confine me to a chair for a half hour. In fact, I began this blog while breast-feeding Gabriel — too cool! It’s so much easier to keep an eye out on Houston this way and sometimes even get a few light household tasks accomplished in the process.  

Gabriel has fun during tummy time.

This is not to say that things are EVER simple around here, but I must say that I have come a long, long way since the twins came home from the NICU in early November. 

Also helping things to run as smoothly as possible is the help offered up by friends and family. My pal, Meredith, usually comes over for a few hours every Tuesday and Friday. She does whatever it takes to get things on track, from feeding to playing to changing diapers to bringing over delicious food for an always-hungry Mommy to eat.

Two of my best friends, Ingrid and Ashley, came to visit from Virginia for a couple of days in early January to lend a hand, meet the twins and play a little Rock Band 2.

“See, we do have red hair, Daddy,” says Zeke.

My buddy, Beth, who lives about 45 minutes from here, brought her 10-month-old son, Matthew, over this week to do about the same thing. It’s so wonderful to have an extra set of hands for Mommy and a fun play date for Houston.

We also hired a wonderful young woman named Heather to assist with childcare for about 4 hours a week. Again, she’s an extra set of hands, which helps keep things a tad more sane.

Of course, grandparents are invaluable, and luckily, our kids have two loving and giving sets of grandparents. 

Houston builds stuff with his new blocks.

Another wonderfully gracious and charitable item worth mentioning is that Stephen’s colleague made a sizable donation to our family to help out with the immense medical expenses we’ve incurred since July in dealing with the TTTS and the subsequent NICU charges.

Stephen and I are constantly bewildered by the fact that we are so tremendously blessed with the goodwill of our family and friends. Thanks so much for the love and support, y’all! 

Click the top photo to see the pics from Ashley and Ingrid’s visit, and click the above photo of Houston to see all the December – Part 3 photos. Also, don’t forget to check out the new additions to the December – Part 2 gallery.