On My Ownsie

for six hours!

This is the longest stretch yet. Trudi left for work at about 6 am, and Mum is coming at around midday.

It's been OK. Hazel had only a short nap this morning, and they demanded a feed at 9, exactly three hours after their breakfast. No chance of stretching them out any longer - Ivy was very definite about that.

I intended to go for a walk, but what with feeding, nappy changes (how much poo can two tiny people produce? answer = LOTS), and expressing, it didn't happen. They are napping again now. I hope they can sleep a bit longer this time.

In other news, Mum has re-retired. After Easter she will be around a lot more. We will have to work out what days we will spend together, and where. This will help a lot. Perhaps Trudi will be able to work in teh office for four days a week.

Before then, we are going up to Merimbula for two weeks, with Mum. She's flying up, and we four will drive. The cats are going to prison :-( We will all stay with Judy, in her beautiful house with views.

Hazel and Ivy in bed after their morning feed

And here is a video of the girls in a cot together after this morning's feed.

How cute are they! Ivy likes to yank Hazel's ear, and Hazel tests whether Ivy's hand is edible.

My first birthday present

Last night the girls went to sleep at 8 pm. I was asleep by 9.30 pm.

I fed them at midnight, and easily went back to sleep afterwards (this has not happened for two weeks!). Ivy squeaked once in the night, but nothing more came of it. The next I heard from them was Hazel chatting calmly at 6.45 am!

This lovely sleep was my first birthday present from our daughters. My goodness I liked it.

The Fricken Hokey Pokey

We finish the swimming lesson with a heartrending rendition of The Hokey Pokey. It's now stuck in my head.

Both grandmothers were there. The girls were very sleepy - they had been up for two hours by the start of the class. They fell heavily asleep in the car and did not mind being shifted into their beds.

Carol Visited

The day before we went back to Northpark, Carol came over.

And the Sailor Home from the Sea

Back home again. Hazel, Ivy and I returned home yesterday from our second stay at Northpark Hospital.

After our first stay their sleep patterns were heaps better, but I still didn't cope well. After this second stay I am on antidepressants and I have some new strategies for coping, including more yoga, breathing exercises, and learning to not catastrophise (imagine that a small problem will get huge and be permanent).

We got home early yesterday, and the day went well. My mum and Trudi's mum were both here, and Trudi worked at home as well. I like having four adults to care for two babies! The girls slept fairly well, with a few wake-ups during the early morning. T & I did not sleep too well, mostly because the cats were marching around on our heads all night. Also there was an earthquake.

For a while, Selby was asleep next to me and I kept thinking she was Hazel. I took a lot of care that she did not fall out of bed!

Wish me luck.

Swim lesson (doing the hokey pokey)

Time to go to hazel and Ivy's swimming lesson soon. Here is a video from last week's lesson.

All the babies wear pointless little bathers. They would not help a bit if someone did a poo.