Our "getting into a good routine" looks a little like this: I wake up anywhere from 9am-1pm, depending what time I went to sleep. I pump and store the milk. I prep a bottle for Liam and I get their prefolds and covers prepared and set them aside. Sometimes I can take another little snooze and sometimes someone is already waking up. Whoever wakes up first, gets changed and fed first. I either breastfeed Ellyana or bottle feed Liam --sometimes they wake at the same time and I have to feed them simultaneously! After they eat, Elly can stay awake for about 2-2.5 hrs and Liam only lasts about 1 hour, sometimes a little more. They nap --hopefully around the same time. *sometimes by the time Elly is ready to nap, Liam has already taken his nap and is ready for 'mommy time'.
Now, take that little chunk of schedule and repeat every 2-3 hours...
yup.
Sometimes it goes so smoothly, it feels like I'm running a home daycare again. Other days don't go as smoothly and it feels like I'm secretly being tested on my multi-tasking, ability to fast several meals in a row, and potty break effeciency --like washing my hands while I tinkle... I'm joking!
If I'm still sane and able to function well by 9pm, I will remember to change them into their 'night time diaper' and pajamas. They will usually get their last feeding between 10pm and 12am. At least, that's the plan. Ha! *If there's one thing that I've definitely learned and come to terms with is that I can do all the planning in the world and sometimes it just doesn't make a difference! Twins need things at different times, same times, and all the time.
Liam used to be asleep by 11pm and wake up 12-14 hours later (usually). However, these last few days, he has been staying awake with me while I pump and then needing another bottle before he finally falls asleep for the night. So, recently, that's been around 2:30/3am. There are even nights that he just doesn't want to be put down until he is asleep and that leaves me pumping at 3/4am.
Ellyana used to be up all night long and fall asleep closer to 6 and 7 am. Some mornings were as late as 8am! You're thinking, "oh my!", I know... I still think that when I go to sleep with the rising of the sun. Thankfully, the two of them have some what flip flopped. Elly has been going to sleep around 11pm/12am and staying asleep for approximately 12 full hours. These nights are definitely easier to manage. Nothing like the earlier nights where they were both awake and wanting mommy. And of course, the majority of those nights happened at the same exact time that I decided to hook myself up to the darn pump! That's a whole other blog post...
So, this brings us right back to when I wake up and pump in the morning. Now, repeat that schedule . . . everyday. It never ends.
There is no "break" for me; I just eat whatever I can, whenever I have a free moment. I rush to the bathroom inbetween bottle-feeding, breast feeding, pumping, carrying babies, and changing diapers. (It's amazing how a new mommy's body accommodates the new demands --I'm drinking approximately 90-150 ounces of water a day and have realized that I can survive on approx 2-3 potty breaks during the "day time". Where all that water goes, I have no idea!)
Do I shower?! Haha! Again, right now it's all based on "how important is it?" Am I leaving the house or expecting guests that might care (haha! -seriously!)? Do I smell funky? (Lol -gross!) Do I need a few minutes to myself? If the answer is "Yes" to any of those, then my response is "of course I shower!" (And when I do, it's normally in less than 10 minutes, normally around 3 or 4 am. Or right before we plan on leaving, while Chris is awake and sitting with the babies)
There's no such thing as "night" and "day" really. I do whatever they need as soon as they need it, whether it's the sun or moon that's shining. (Including diaper laundry) It all still pretty much feels like one long, very long, day.
What I am happy about is the fact that my "sleep" doesn't feel like just one of several naps anymore. I'm actually getting a good 4-5 hour stretch of sleep at night. The most I've gotten has been 9 hours, I think (that ONE time)! Now that's crazy impressive in my book.
So, we finally have some kind of schedule starting and I'm so glad! I'm starting to feel a little more "normal" again, just over the last few days. I feel like I can breath --just a little. Phew!
Well, this is it... how I survive. :)
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