Settling In...kinda, sorta

Sorry, for the delay since the last update…needless to say, it’s been a little crazy since coming home and getting settled.  Well I shouldn’t say settled as I don’t think we’ll ever be that, but we are settling into somewhat of a routine.  But that’s not to say we’ve figured things out, we're still trying to come up with the winning game plan as to how to tackle the feedings.  We can easily (well I shouldn't say easily) run a man-to-man defense for the feedings, but when we try to go on the offensive (i.e. trying to take on the double-team by feeding them solo) it all falls completely apart - like when teams think they got the game under control and go into a prevent defense way too early, then feel the momentum beginning to shift, but can't switch back to the normal defense that was working before it's too late. 

As a result, we can't trade off on the middle of the night feedings or take turns alternating from night to night...unless we get the night nurse, which basically allows us to get a full night's sleep, (or at least Catherine does because she'll go to bed shortly after they get there, whereas I still can’t force myself to go to bed before midnight).  However, we're really trying not to get addicted to the drug that is the night nurse (for various reason$).  Although I will confess that the other night, or was it the morning (it all runs together, I think it was around 4:00 AM, which makes me wonder, is 4:00 AM considered night or morning?) we looked at one another, each of us holding a fussy baby that refused to eat, and without saying a word we both knew it was time to order up another ‘fix’ and schedule the night nurse for another night or ten.  

Another difficult aspect about feeding two versus one is that it takes twice as long.  So until we get more efficient, it seems like as soon as we get done with one feeding it is time to turn around and feed them again.  Literally, right now the full feeding process, which includes mixing formula/preparing bottles, waking them up, changing them, actually feeding them, burping them, usually changing them again (because apparently feeding gets their systems moving and they go while eating) and then getting them to settle back down, takes an average of an hour and a half…and they’re supposed to eat every three hours, so you do the math as to how much time we have in between each session (then consider that this happens eight times a day, or in our case sixteen!). 

So much for stockpiling supplies taken from the hospital carts…We’ve blown through all of the formula and are quickly depleting the diaper inventory.  We mostly have Cate to thank for this, not only does she eat (or drink really) more than he does, but she is already for notorious for waiting until she has a fresh diaper to really “relieve” herself.  Seriously, she seldom will maximize a diaper by doing both acts in one; she usually waits until we’ve changed a wet diaper before totally soiling another one.  We’re almost to the point we need to back off from going with an “all-you-can-eat” feeding strategy with her.  The higher calorie formula is thicker and must clog up their digestive systems a bit, thus causing some major gas issues.  They both do this, but she will strain and strain (I’m talking moaning, grunting, red-faced, and sometimes put both feet in the air) to get something out down there, but usually all it results in is a rather audible flatulation.  However, it is kinda funny in that as soon as she relieves herself, she’ll let out this satisfied sigh/giggle.

Otherwise, she is staying true to form as her low maintenance self, and he's starting to find his way a little bit more...helped by him realizing it hurts to haul off and hit yourself in the face, and it knocks your pacifier out, go figure!  Besides, he's got his sister to do that for him...

I’ll do my best to try and get an update on here every week…but be sure to check the photo/video website for pictures:  www.mixeddoublesmatch.shutterfly.com