Ryan's not so fun visit to the doctor...

I'll start by saying that Ryan is just fine, so that you won't worry while you're reading this...

And... Ryan is now 21 inches long and weighs 7 pounds 7 oz. (he was 4 pounds 8 oz when we left the hospital 5 weeks ago)

We noticed last weekend that Ryan was looking jaundice again. It had gone away by 2 weeks old, but it was back. The whites of his eyes are a cloudy, yellow color. I tried to get him some sun exposure this week, but it wasn't clearing up. So on Friday I took him to the doctor while Aunt Krista babysat Alyna.

The doctor said it's probably breastfeeding jaundice, and ordered a blood test to be done. Then we also discussed fixing another little problem that day.

The hospital here uses a plasti-bell when doing circumcisions... you don't really need to know what that is... just that with Ryan's, a piece of skin grew up over it and formed a bump of skin when the plasti-bell fell off. So there was a skin growth left there. So the doctor injected some anesthesia, and cut the skin growth off. It was not fun, and was made worse by the fact that it was right at Ryan's next feeding time. He was not a happy boy. I fed him there in the exam room after the procedure because the doctor wanted to make sure he was okay. We made sure the bleeding had stopped, and put a new diaper on with some vasoline guaze covering the area.

Then we went next door to the hospital to get his heel prick blood test to check his bili level.

We came home and Ryan slept all afternoon and evening except waking to feed. The poor little guy was not feeling very good. Mommy wasn't having much fun through all of this either.

The doctor called us about 6 with the results of the test, and his levels are all fine. If the jaundice is looking any worse this week, we'll test it again.

Ryan is fine today, though he is a little fussier than usual. The procedure looks like it will turn out fine.

Alyna laughed

She's only 5 weeks old... but Alyna laughed yesterday.

She was crying/screaming because she was hungry. When I set her on the pillow on my lap and started getting ready to feed her, she looked at me and let out little giggle and smiled.

It was as if she were saying... "I'm so excited, I get to eat now." I guess eating is the highlight of her day right now.

Growth Spurt Madness

Alyna has been having a growth spurt the past couple days... and yesterday was just awful at some points. She wants to eat a full meal every 2 hours, instead of 3, and screams her head off until I give in. And yes, this really is hunger, because I've become really good at reading their messy diaper and tired/fussy cues.

I think it wouldn't be nearly as difficult to manage if she weren't a twin. The rule I try to follow is that when one eats, then the other eats. Otherwise I end up feeding someone every hour of the day... and night... and that just doesn't work. I did that one night last week when Alyna got off Ryan's schedule by an hour and a half. So I woke every hour to feed someone, all night long.

Monday, she wanted to eat every 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I managed to keep Ryan on that schedule too, and he didn't seem to mind.

Monday night, she woke every 2 to 2 1/2 hours to eat, so Mommy didn't get much sleep, but Ryan stayed on Alyna's schedule.

Tuesday, I gave up keeping Ryan on her schedule... and this is why:

6:30 am - Alyna wakes to feed... 2 1/2 hours from start of the last feed -- feed Alyna, feed Ryan, and fortunately they both go right back to sleep
8:30 - I get ready and pump milk to take to ladies bible class with me
9:05 - leave for ladies bible class
9:20 - Karen, the preacher's wife feeds Alyna 3 oz of pumped milk
9:30 - I feed Ryan (class is starting)
10:30 - class is over and both get diaper changes and go to sleep
11:00 - Alyna starts getting fussy, so I decide to skip the luncheon and just go home
11:15 - I get home but both are asleep so I eat lunch
11:30 - Alyna wakes up hungry - so Ryan goes in the swing while I feed Alyna
12:00 - Alyna goes in swing while I feed Ryan
1:30 - Alyna is hungry again... so I feed her
2:00 - feed Ryan to keep him on her schedule
2:30 - Alyna is still hungry... grrrrrrrrr - she eats for another 15 mintues
3:30 - Alyna is screaming her head off because she's still hungry... I call Barry and tell him to make sure he comes straight home after work instead of going to get diapers, because I need a break
3:45 - feed Alyna for 25 minutes... forget about keeping Ryan on schedule with Alyna for now
4:30 - Barry gets home... thank goodness
5:15 - feed Ryan (he last ate at 2:30)
5:45 - I get out of the house to buy diapers, formula, and dinner
6:15 - I get back home, and Alyna is fussy because she's hungry again
6:30 - we've decided to supplement Alyna with a bottle of formula for this feeding this evening. She eats 3 oz (I had prepared 4 oz in case she just needed bigger meals, but she stopped at 3)
8:15 - feed Ryan who is still on the 3 hour schedule
8:45 - feed Alyna (back to nursing)
9:30 - both babies are asleep in the crib, so Mommy goes to bed

The night time feedings were actually all 3 hours apart and both stayed on the same schedule... thank goodness. Maybe that was the tail end of her growth spurt... I hope.

Nap Time Cuteness

Today at the lunchtime nap, I got both sleeping in the crib. When I left the room, both were on their backs with at least 6 inches of empty space between them. I took an hour nap, and this is the picture I saw when I entered the room.











I have no idea how they managed it... but they were completely content.

Home alone...

The twins and I are home alone during the days now.

Nanna (Barry's mom) left on Friday, and Uncle Joel and Aunt Jess were here for the weekend and left on Monday.

Everyone has been such a big help this month.

I can't believe it has been a whole month. My life seems to have turned into a bunch of 3 hour days. Each section is pretty much the same, and hopefully I get to eat or sleep some during each period.

The past two days alone with the twins have actually been easier than they could be. Both have taken turns been content or sleeping while the other is feeding, except for a couple times. At those few times, I've managed to feed them both at the same time. It's not necessarily easy to do, but it sure cuts down on the feeding time. I just have to watch out because Alyna is a spitup queen, and it's worse when they're both feeding at the same time.

They've also taken afternoon naps at the same time for at least an hour the past two days... so mom got a nap too.

Nights are going fine. Barry only has to get up if one starts to scream while the other is feeding. It's too hard to do a double feed when they are sleepy.

Next Thursday my sister is coming for a week and a half. I'm really looking forward to her visit because I love her... and I'll get a break every once in a while during the days.

The Twins:
Ryan seems to be growing like a weed. I estimate he's close to 7 pounds now... we won't know an official weight until his 2 month checkup in November.

Alyna has found her voice... she lets you know when she wants something with a short burst of voice that's more of a demand than a cry. She also has very good control of turning her head from side to side when lying on her stomach.

Look who's growing...

Guess who is now bigger than his sister...

At birth, Alyna was 5 lbs 2 oz and 18.5 inches long. Ryan was 4 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long

At 3 days old when we left the hospital, Alyna was 4 lbs 14 oz and 18.5 inches long. Ryan was 4 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long

At 8 days, Alyna was 5 lbs 4 oz and 18.5 inches long. Ryan was 4 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long

At 15 days, Alyna was 5 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long. Ryan was 5 lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long

In 2 weeks, Alyna has grown half an inch and gained back her birth weight. Ryan has gained a whole pound since we left the hospital.

I am breastfeeding both of them exclusively, though I am using the breast pump a couple times a day to give myself a little break. For now, they both seem to do just fine switching between bottle and breast feedings. It's very tiring to breastfeed the twins. I feel very blessed to have the grandmas help me out for the first month. I don't think I'd be sticking with it if they weren't here. The pump is working great. 10 minutes, I'm done, and Daddy and Nanna can help feed them from a bottle.

They are also sleeping well at night. They even had one night where it was 5 hours between feedings. Most of the time there's a 3 1/2 to 4 hour block somewhere during the night. It depends on who's having a growth spurt.

Ryan is very observant. Every time you go to a different room, or even just switch arms holding him, he has to look all around to see where he is. It's like you can tell he's thinking about something important all the time.

Alyna is a little drama queen. If she's content she's very content, but if she's upset or uncomfortable, she has to wail and let everyone know about it. She especially hates pooping. I don't know why, but she makes the most awful sounds and faces when she's trying to mess her diaper.

They both will turn their heads when they hear Mommy or Daddy talking somewhere in the room. It's a very sweet feeling. Of course, whenever I start talking their mouths start moving like they want to eat.

Feeding time is coming again, as it always does. They are on a 3 hour feed/awake/sleep routine during the days. It's working well... thank you "Baby Whisperer".