Field Trip to the Fire Station!

My Mom came over today to watch the twins so I could take Cassie on a field trip to a fire station with some other kids.    It was nice to have just some me and her time.   She loved it and kept telling me how cool it was. 

Fire Girl Cassie

She took a tour of the Ambulance

Posing next to an old fire truck

Snack time after the tour

Spraying the fire house with the fireman!

The wheel is as big as her!

"Don't be scared of firemen!"

As close as she would get....the mask scared some kids

 It was a fun time for her and I.   My Mom did well with both babies also...she even had to feed them together and did just fine. 

4 Weeks Old!

The twins are 4 weeks old!!   1 month has already gone by and I survived having 2 newborns!   

Emily

Mandy

Last week I took all 3 girls out by myself.   One day we went to the library and Kmart.   In the library Emily started to cry so I had to carry her.   I did start to break a sweat for a while but it went smoothly.  After the library we headed to Kmart and all the girls were good.  At both places we did have people stop and ask about the twins.  
It felt so....SO...good to get out with all of them and do stuff I would normally do with just Cassie.  

Cassie

We are also in the beginning of a very busy week.  We move on Friday so we are pretty  much living out of boxes right now.  Its chaotic!!    Boxes are everywhere.  The majority of Cassie's toys are packed away which isn't fun for her.   We are so excited to get into our new house, unpack and get organized!!

Cass giving Mandy a kiss

Sister time

Emily in swing, Cass on the couch, Mandy on the floor (my heart is full)

Sleeping Mandy

Cassie helping give Emily a bath

Still a big difference in size!!

First outing out

Today we went on our first big outing with the twins.   We were only gone for about 2 1/2 hours and went to Home Depot, stopped at our new house and went out to lunch at Five Guys.    We were getting the attention walking around with them.   Comments everywhere we went.  A lady at Home Depot told me "You look incredible for having twins 3 weeks ago", that was really nice to hear.    I didn't tell her I am wearing a belly binder to pull in everything (I heard they are supposed to help get your stomach back to normal faster....not sure if that is possible after having twins) plus my hips....holy cow.   I didn't realize it when I was pregnant but now.....are they wide.   Yikes. I'm sure it will take a while to get my old body back, once we have moved I plan to start running again, can't wait to feel the burn again!!

This was supposed to be tummy time for Mandy and she decided to sleep instead

  I walked into Five Guys ahead of Matt and he said everyone was talking about me when I went by.   Saying stuff like "Look at her with Twins" 

Holding Emily

The girls did really well on their outing and slept the entire time.  However, it was nearing eating time on the way back and they let us know they were hungry and not happy.  They are even producing tears now....which I quickly kissed away.

Packing her up for the move (not really!!!)

On Friday I took them to their 2 week check up....by myself.   It actually went smoothly.   They had an extra nurse come into the room to help take the vitals of both babies and when I left a nurse helped carry a baby to my car.   They are growing fast!!
Mandy now weighs over 7 lbs and Emily is now over 5 lbs. 

Emily and Mandy during Tummy Time

Holding Mandy

2 Weeks Old

Mandy and Cassie

 Matt is now back at work as of yesterday.  Things are going pretty smoothly.  We did have a rough patch later in the day but it wasn't bad.   I think the girls are in a growth spurt.   They were eating every 3 hours and starting yesterday they wanted to eat every 1-2 hours.   This went on all night also.   Thankfully after they ate I was able to lay them right back down and they went to sleep.

All 3 girls

 Having Twins is definitly not easy (I never thought it would be) BUT it is easier compared to Cassie.   I don't worry about them like I did with Cassie.  If they are hungry I can feed them and they have that satisfaction where with Cassie we had to use a feeding pump.   Its just a lot less stress and worry with these girls.  If they cry I know its because they are hungry, tired, or need a diaper change where as with Cassie it could have been her horrible reflux, her g-tube botherng her....a number of things.

Having Twins does make me realize how easy one healthy baby would be.   What a breeze!    Like I said, having Twins is not easy but I find myself adapting pretty well.

Mandy is turning into a chunky monkey.   She is really getting big.   Emily is also growing well. She no longer has hanging skin on her legs.  They both have a doctor appointment this Friday so we can find out their weights.   Mandy eats about 2 ounces at every feeding and Emily will eat 1-2 ounces at each feeding.  Emily seems to be the more tempermental one, Mandy seems very mellow unless she is hungry....then watch it....she will try to eat your hand off.  The girl wants her food.

Cassie is loving her sisters.  She doesn't even want to go anywhere with Daddy or Nana.  She wants to stay home with me and her sisters. She is constantly hugging and kissing them.

Below I was able to dress them alike for the first time.   I got Emily into a newborn outfit, its still pretty big on her but I needed a picture.   Otherwise she is still in preemie clothes.

Grandma with all her grandkids.  

How are we doing?

We are doing great.   The girls are really so good.   I love them so much and could kiss their little cheeks forever. 

Emily and Cassie

Mandy

Emily

Feeding and sleeping are both going good for them.   When one is up I wake up the other one to feed so we can keep them on the fairly same schedule.  We stick to a schedule unless they show signs of being hungry earlier.  This is very true for little Emily.  She has been eating up a storm.  Sometimes she will go 3-4 hours before eating and others its after an hour but we go with it and its paying off.   Last Thursday she weighed in at 3 lbs; 8 ounces.   (4 ounces below her birthweight)  Today we went to the doctor and she weighs 3lbs: 14 ounces.  She is a big lug now - haha! The doctor was very happy with that.

Cuddles with Mandy

Sleeping - Matt and I take shifts.  He does the 10-2 shift and I take 2 on. The girls actually sleep really well.   I can say I am not feeling any sleep deprivation.    Hoping it continues this way!!   We do have a bedtime routine so maybe that is helping with how well they are sleeping already.

First Walk

Feeding - I am bottle feeding.   I tried tandem breastfeeding.   It is fine if you have someone to help you but once Matt goes back to work it was going to be insane.   So stressful.   I am now giving them formula and pumping to give them breast milk.   Way less stress and I am able to enjoy them and Cassie.  She doesn't feel left out and "helps" me feed them.

With my 3 daughters - how blessed!!

The only diffcult part has been when they are both crying at once.   When I am by myself....which I already have been...I have to pick up the baby that is the most upset and let the other cry. I do use my twin nursing pillow to help hold them both when this happens...this is the best I can do to pick them up and hold/comfort them at the same time.  This is the only hard part I see happening with having twins, otherwise everything else is double the fun.   I love it.   I am so blessed to have twins.   It truly is amazing.  

Matt and I are so blessed to have these 3 little girls.