The Gregoire 4: Eight Weeks Old :: Life at home with the babies

The past weeks have flown by - life with twins is busy! My mom stayed with us and helped out with Steve's transition back to work until this past Monday, so we're just getting used to the routine on our own. Today is the first day in a week that I've checked email and thought about blogging! The day after my mom left, I got mastitis and am on antibiotics, so my mom is coming back this weekend to help us a bit more - we appreciate her so much!

I'm on my own with the babies while Steve is at work during the week - he started his new job last week and is loving it - he's a Senior Software Engineer with a company called PHT Corp. in Charlestown. They do wireless tech for large pharmaceuticals' clinical trials for new drugs.

Sophia and Ethan have been eating every 2.5 to 3 hours round the clock with an occasional 4 hour nap. We have just enough time to do one or two of the following between feedings: pump and prepare bottles, cook & eat, shower/brush teeth, clean the house, fold laundry, or sleep. Of course, playing with the babies takes priority when they're awake - they're only awake and playful about 1 to 2 hours a day now, so we take advantage of that time. The babies are breastfeeding, bottle feeding with breastmilk, and bottle feeding with formula. Steve bottle feeds the babies in the early morning before he goes to work so that I can get a few hours of uninterupted sleep - zzzzzz...

Watching Sophia and Ethan develop and grow is amazing - there's something new almost daily. Ethan grabbed his bottle yesterday while I was feeding him and this morning Sophia did the same! It was so cool to watch! Sophia makes great eye contact and is very observant. Ethan loves to play and explore. I'm continually surprised - Sophia breastfed first, but Ethan figured out bottles first. Sophia smiled first, and Ethan grabbed his bottle first. Both of them smile now and can turn from their side to their back. Ethan is working on rolling onto his stomach. It's amazing what they can do!

Since the babies were born early, their lungs are more susceptible to germs and allergens. What is a small cold or minor irritation for us can be much more serious for them. We don't get out much - only to see the pediatrician for regular check-ups - so as long as our visitors are healthy and willing to wash their hands when they walk in the door, we welcome the company and help holding and playing with the babies! It's like a breath of fresh air each time and reminds us that there's a world outside our door that just keeps going. We love to see peoples' faces when they finally meet the babies. :)

My Aunt Jo-Ann came to help us the day the babies came home. My sisters Elaine and Kate came up from Virginia to visit and meet Sophia and Ethan, Steve's mom stopped by with yummy soups and rugelach, Reverend Anita from our church brought a casserole. Our friend Carol and her son Sam came to play (and also brought cookies and brisket). Sam is so cute and at almost a year seems so mobile and active and giant compared to our little beans! That said, we've already outgrown all of the preemie clothes and are into regular newborn sizes - the ones that looked so huge just a few weeks ago... Both babies are over 7 pounds now - they've almost doubled their birthweights!

My cousin Cindy also came for an evening and cooked up a storm in the kitchen (Steve assisted her) leaving us with days worth of meals - 2 quiches, a mac and cheese and ground beef casserole, and lentil soup. She's a fabulous cook! As if that wasn't enough, she also folded a mountain of laundry an helped us hold the babies. They enjoyed napping on her - she's got the touch. :)

Elaine with Ethan...