Survival Mode....but loving it!

Survival Mode...that is how we have been living for the past week! Until last night I think I have been running on about three hours of sleep a night (after a week, that really starts to catch up with you!). Last night was my first night to get 4-5 hours of straight sleep, and I feel like a new woman today! Let me give you a recap of the week:

The babies are doing great. They came home last Saturday afternoon. I think the only thing scarier than leaving the hospital with a new baby is leaving with two. (We are supposed to take care of these? At the same time?!) They have to be fed every three hours, which I was very anal and exact about for the weekend, and then relaxed a little when we took them into the pediatrician on Monday and saw that they are gaining weight just fine (Wyatt at 5 lbs and Brynley at 5 lbs. 8 oz.). Now I am only semi-anal. :) I did stop setting my alarm at night to get up to feed them. Sure, they still wake up about every three hours, and have their days and nights mixed up, but as long as they get in their 8 feedings a day, I am a little more relaxed about letting them sleep (and letting me sleep). My parents were here for a while, both while they were int he hospital and then after they came home. Between Josh and I and my parents, we were able to get them fed, changed, and burped in pretty good time. So, basically, if I can have a team of four people on hand, I can manage. After they left, I had a little nervous breakdown, then pulled myself together and things have gone pretty well. Josh's mom came on Saturday, which has been fabulous to have the extra pair of hands and loves on hand to help us.



Parker has been great with all of these changes. Here he is in his favorite new toy, the bouncy seat. He can almost catapult (spelling?) himself out of it. He absolutely loves the babies, which is great, but was a slight problem when he came down with the croup the first night the babies were home (yes, just to make that night even MORE exciting for us!). We had to spend the next few days trying to keep him away from the babies and from giving them hugs and kisses, which he was not happy about. I feel bad that we had to confuse him so much : "Look Parker, here are your new brother and sister, don't you LOVE them? Come here, give them a kiss." "Wait Parker, stay in your room and watch another video because you are sick, and don't touch the babies!" Poor kid! :) He is better now and has been so loving and cute with them. He likes to drive his hot wheels all over them, and to help burp them the best.

Here are a few more pictures. Wyatt (on the left)has the biggest, roundest, most exploring eyes. He can already lift his head up and look around. Yes, an overachiever! Brynley is an overachiever at sleeping, especially during the day. She still makes the cutest cooing sounds, and could also challenge any grown man in a burp or farting contest. (How does that come out of something so small!?)I am hoping this week they will do better at the day-night cycle, but I know that can take some time. They have not even hit their actual due date yet, so any progress in that area is good at this point. THey are really sweet babies, very good natured and happy, especially when being held or rocked. Our family has truly been "double-y" blessed.