I've decided that exhaustion is something like a five o'clock shadow. You don't really notice until your face is scraggly and itching. For all those prospective parents out there who want to know what its like, here's my 5-step plan to re-create having a newborn in the house: first, don't even think that one night will cut it. That first night that Naomi was home I fell asleep for an hour around 10, then got up and STAYED awake until 6 a.m., waking Erin just to pump and then letting her go back to bed. That worked great, the first night. Then the second night rolled around. Then Evan came home. And it's not even that these are fussy babies; they are on a clear schedule and really stick to it very well. The trick is that schedule dictates that the twins are to be fed every three hours; I can assure you they are most impatient if that deadline is not reached. So, step two is every three hours, get up. Do some trivial tasks (because there's really not anything all that difficult in baby-care: change the diaper, feed the bottle, lay back down). After an hour, lay back down for two hours, then get up, rinse, and repeat. Naomi and Evan are on the 3-6-9-12 schedule so at each of those hours we have to get up.
Other than the sudden departure of regular circadian rhythms all is well. We seem to be keeping them content and they are both feeding well. Our first appointment with the pediatrician is tomorrow, which will also be the first time we will attempt to leave the house with both in tow. It should be exciting.
I'm off to catch a few (as in two) hours of sleep, so I'll leave you with a picture of the dynamic duo, asleep on their home wedges:
1 comment:
It will get better, but it will take a while. In the meantime, that old saw about when the babies sleep you sleep? Follow it! It will keep you from going off the deep end. Is anyone bringing you meals? I'm sick right now, and I don't want to get anywhere near you or the babies, but once I'm well again, I'll see what I can rustle up. Call me.
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