the Buns : 6.5 weeks

Today would have marked the Buns’ 40 week due date! It’s crazy to think we’ve had them almost a full extra two months than planned…the best two months of my life. They’ve only been home for a few weeks so we’re still getting into our groove but here’s how life’s been looking lately. And excuse me if this post seems to be all over the place. It’s kind of like my brain right now ;)

When we left the NICU, Slater & Zoe were on a very strict schedule to ensure they were getting enough nutrients to keep them growing and healthy, so we decided to keep them going in the same routine and it’s really been a life saver. I never thought I’d be the “on a schedule” type mom but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who’s pregnant and having major anxiety over when/how/what to do with their future child! With two it’s especially useful as it helps me keep track of what each baby has eaten and when. Also, who has pooped peed and everything in between :) I feel like I’d be a nutcase trying to keep track of who needs what when if I totally winged it!

The babies eat at 2am, 5am, 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm, and 11pm. (so, every 3 hours). Whether or not they need it, we change them before every feeding-it’s just the easiest way to keep check of two and feel assured they’ve been cleaned up frequently enough. They sleep in between each feeding and we squeeze in snuggle sessions and walks when we feel like it. The schedule is nice for Hunter and I because we know our windows where we can grab lunch or dinner, run errands, and other things. We aren’t super rigid as life happens and things pop up, but we try to keep to plan as much as possible. For the next month, we have a night nurse/lactation consultant who comes a couple times a week. We are very hands on when she’s working and still participate in nightly feedings, but she’s been super helpful in educating us on preemies and twins. Plus, she will usually handle the 2am feeding so we can get 4 hours of sleep and therefore function the next day! I’ve realized raising a newborn is not hard work, it’s just constant work, so any extra sleep I can get I’ll take. I’m cherishing the last few weeks with her! Once we make it through the babies’ dream feed, my day officially starts at 4:45am, when I get up to tandem breastfeed. I change the babies’ diapers, then weigh each baby. I put them on “My Breast Friend” Twin pillow to b-feed them, then weigh them each again after their feed to confirm how much milk they consumed-which is necessary since they’re preemies. Aside from this one feeding, we mostly bottle feed the babies my breast milk which again, helps us to more easily understand how many ounces they’re actually eating per feeding so we can ensure they’re getting enough! Not to mention, it’s much easier to manage than tandem breastfeeding (big props to you twin mamas who’ve mastered that sich)! We started the babies on my breast milk with a touch of formula, but now they consume breast milk only as the formula seems to upset their stomach (they both have acid reflux so I’ve cut out dairy from my diet and am testing a few other tricks out – we will see what works).  When I’m flying solo during the day, I try to feed them at the same time while they sit in their Twin Z pillow  and often times, I’ll put my handsfree pumping bra on and pump while I feed them. It’s amazing how much time it saves me (especially because I’m pumping 7x a day)! Between changing, feeding, pumping and cleaning up, I find very little time to work or do things for myself (like shower!) so I’m really trying to master the multi-tasking thing at the above hours to make time for other things (even if it means only an extra 20 minutes). After the Buns’ 11am feeding, I usually treat myself (and them!) to an outing. Lunch is usually my thing for the day…and if I eat at home I still try to take a “lunch break” by getting outside mid day for a bit. Whether we go on a walk to get a meal or some sun, it’s nice for me to get some air and also have a reason to get dressed :) Oh, and on the food note, I haven’t cooked in months considering I was on bed rest, and then had the kiddos, but I’m slowly getting back into the kitchen by “fixing up” (in my grandma’s words!) prepared food (i.e. already made salads and entrees from Whole Foods etc.). And thank goodness for Uber Eats & Postmates…I wasn’t kidding in my Insta story a few days ago that we seriously eat Tocaya & Mendocino Farms on repeat. In the evenings, Hunter and I tag team feedings and baths. I try to fit in a shower (by the end of the day I’m drenched in breast milk, spit up and pee so night time rinse is a must) and we’ll hit the hay around midnight until we have to get up again-and start all over.

It’s been fun to figure out the Buns more and more each day, and I love to challenge myself (hence the double feed + pump sich!). The first day I spent alone without Hunter I was determined to take the babies on their first walk. They had never been outside for more than a minute to and from the car, so it was a big deal to not only get them out of the house, but carry the giant twin stroller down the stairs while also figure out how to get my purse and babies inside of it at once with only 2 hands (I mean, cuz you can’t leave a baby…or two babies…outside while you grab your purse. And you can’t leave your purse…while you grab your babies! #help). I was so traumatized by the whole situation that after the 30 minutes I spent getting all the gear and kids out of the house…I was satisfied by just a quick walk down the alley and back, haha! We’ve gone on many outings since so I like to think I’m slowly mastering the production.I am definitely realizing there is no right or wrong way to do things and love learning as I go.

 

Workwise…I’ve taken a little step back. Even though I work for myself/make my own agenda, I told myself I’d take a proper “maternity leave” to fully embrace this newborn phase and be there for my babies, but I still want to keep the momentum going since I have a few consulting gigs on top of the blog.  I’ve found it pretty challenging since the lines are blurry at home as it’s hard to be present for Slater & Zoe when I’m constantly switching on and off my computer to get things done in between feedings so I’m trying a new method where I stay up after the 5am feeding and work from 6am-9am while Hunter and/or the night nurse are home. So far, a solid 3 hours of work during the morning is enough at this newborn stage for me and I’ll add in an hour here or there in the afternoon when time permits until I need to put in more hours in a few months.

So that’s what’s happening now. A lot of you have commented on my Insta stories and asked questions on how I’m doing it all. I have no idea what I’m doing you guys! If you saw my life behind the lens you’d know that my unwashed hair is aways a mess, I have spit up and/or pee on my clothes at all times, am leaking in more places than one (TMI!) and I’ve worn the same leggings and tee several days in a row. Those pretty cups of coffee in photos sometimes take me hours to finish, and the few pics of vino are really the only two or three glasses I’ve had so far in maybe ten months. By now you know my daytime strolls usually require a good half hour or more to actually get out the door, and usually involve a diaper blow-out or two beforehand to get me motivated. My “mom brain” is in full force with limited capacity (ask Hunter how often he has to repeat things), and the only way I squeeze in any extra time to work and what not is to get it done in the morning, or by multi tasking with a freestyle pump and dual bottles in my hands! My days are filled with so much trial and error, and a ton of imperfection that I’m learning comes with the title of motherhood:)

As I go through these many motions of the Buns over and over each day, I’m realizing how much they’ve already changed so I’m trying to soak up these newborn days as much as possible. They’re  growing and filling out size wise, but Hunter and I have to remind ourselves that they are still “premature” and need to be cared for more delicately than a regular newborn/baby for a few months. They really aren’t supposed to be handled or stimulated much for a few more weeks and their outings kept to a minimum, which is challenging for us sometimes since we are both very close to our family and friends, and are constantly on the go. On the flip side, it’s kind of nice to take a break from regular life and just enjoy this rare quiet and peaceful period with our new unit of four <3

Fun Facts:

SIZE: Slater’s approx. 8 pounds and Zoe’s almost 7 pounds! They’ve both grown  3+ pounds since birth. Since they’re 40 week due date wasn’t until today, they’ve measured “negative” on the charts but for their gestational age, they’re pretty big according to their doctor! We see her every two weeks.

ACTIVITY: Slater sleeps all day. Like all day. He’s just starting to wake up more, but he’s been so busy growing! Zoe is very awake and alert. She has some nasal and gas issues which is why we thought she was cooing non stop but now we’re starting to think she enjoys attention, especially from her daddy who never fails to give it to her ;) We’re starting tummy time and play mats so it’s been fun to see them interact a bit more!

STYLE: Zoe loves her onesies and bows. She’s still too small for most dresses and all that cute stuff. Slater wears onesies too, usually with sweatpants over. But he also likes to ditch the clothing and go diaper dude.

SLEEP: Like I said, Slater sleeps pretty much all day. Zoe will nap in between feedings but she is usually pretty wide eyed and alert! They usually sleep in the same crib together in the nursery at night (they’ll switch to separate cribs in a few months), but sometimes they sleep in the bassinet in our bedroom when we feel like a slumber party.

 

How’s mama doing? GOOD! I feel like every morning is Christmas morning with the Buns. No, it’s not easy, and yes, I’m exhausted but it’s not as hard to wake up in the wee hours of the night to a sweet baby or two (I say that now, ask me again in a few weeks haha). I really can’t complain about anything (yet), I’m just so happy and so in love! When the going get’s rough, and we’re not having a complete meltdown, Hunter and I often look at each other and just laugh. This is our life now! Motherhood has exceeded my wildest dreams. Yes, it’s a 24 hour job, but by far the best job yet.

 

More updates to come as these kids never fail to surprise us each week with something new. Thanks for all your support as always, and for following along on the adventure of Slater and Zoe!