Welcome Home

This first photo illustrates how we all felt (including Kessler- not sure why- she got less activity than she ever has the first few days at home) as we made the adjustment to being at home and on our own.  There were no nursery nurses offering their watchful eyes so we could get a little sleep, no one resupplying the diapers while we held the babies or attempted to feed, no one offering to fill my bedside water because it got a little low or delivering three meals a day (although we have had SO much amazing food delivered to the house- our community here pretty much rules). 

 

Chip and I both averaged about three hours of sleep a night for the first handful of days...and if you know me very well, you know how I LOVE my sleep.  I tried to store up before hand like everyone suggested- we knew this time was coming- but that must have been a joke because it didn't work.  You can't store up sleep for something like this.  And, although it is draining to listen to crying babies, play detective about why they are awake and/or upset, and tiring to get in and out of bed in one night more times than you have in the past year cumulatively...it was fun too.  Although I did not want the babies to get any formula at all (again- lesson in letting go- breastfeeding also did not go as planned- another story for another day), it was really nice to have Chip there through the nights as an equal player and teammate.  We tagged off and tag teamed well to get through those first few difficult nights as rookies, not only to the game, but to covering two bases at once also.  

Sometimes when everyone else was sleeping I still couldn't sleep cause I might miss out on this.  Plus, I am convinced there is some mommy hormone that makes it possible to function on no sleep for longer than you would think. 

But, we did not have to fend on our own for too long!  After a few days, Nana and Papa DuRoss swooped in to help hold and love Ruby and Owen, do laundry, feed us, run errands, and generally anything we asked (or didn't ask- they had an amazing sense for what just needed to get done).  While they somehow also found time to hold and love the kids, they actually selflessly encouraged us to indulge in this activity most of the time while they ran around taking care of everything else necessary to our existence those first two weeks.  The words "thank you" and "you da bomb" somehow seem insufficient to express our appreciation for their time and efforts, so we will keep working on something more,  but I am  not sure the English language has words to express our gratitude.

Ruby and Owen's first week of life was one of extremes on many accounts.  We experienced very low temperatures and several feet of snow...which was exciting, and also added to everyone's to-do list as we did our best to maintain the driveway, stay warm (thanks for manning the wood burning stove Papa!), and get out of the house to hunt and gather for things like food and diapers. 

Owen all bundled up by the stove trying to keep warm while taking a nap. :)

Despite the weather and surgery and general whatnot, we did get out for our first family walk around the neighborhood on their one-week birthday.  Kessler was grateful (although once Nana arrived she got a lot more exercise than we were able to give her) and we enjoyed introducing Rooster and OT to neighbors while getting some fresh air.

Holding two newborns at the same time is a challenge, but we each figured out our ways to get it done. Chip's bigger and dexterous hands seemed to be able to grab them both and football hold them and/or get them to his lap together, while I resorted to the Moby wrap (thanks Dee!) to hold them both at once...which also allowed me to run over to the neighbor's house with things in my hands too!

It just made me laugh...
"When I have a kid, I want to put him in one of those strollers for twins, then run around the mall looking frantic."  ~Steven Wright