4 months already

And the time to go back to work had finally come. I was out of work after I went to a scheduled prenatal visit with my high risk Perinatologist, on February 9, 2009 and was sent home on "house arrest,"  and did not return until September 8, 2009, 7 months later, Nate and Chloe were 4 months and a few weeks, and we were still full swing into colic with Chloe. The typical 6 week maternity leave had been replaced with 7 months. WOW, that's all I can say. My patients missed me and my partners couldn't wait for me to get back so that they could stop seeing all my patients and get to take a vacation themselves! It was a huge strain on my practice, but there wasn't a whole lot of choice in the matter. It was difficult leaving my babies. Luckily I work so close to home that I was able to come home at lunch time to breast feed and cuddle a little before I went back. I was also pumping at work every 2 hours on schedule until they were a year old. That was a feat in itself. Mainly because we were implementing a new Electronic Medical System which requires dictating all my notes. The system they chose had a headset for dictation. So, to get the full picture, imagine hooking up your double electric breast pump with tubing off to the right side of your computer, having your headset on with microphone piece in place and connecting cord that attaches to the left of center on the computer, and dictating patient notes, returning phone calls and communicating with my nurse during this time with  my office phone (attached cord will be #4). There was a lot of multitasking going on here. Luckily I invested in a "handsfree" pumping bra - another one of my lifesavers through this - never would have thought about that one, huh?!! It was only a problem if one of the pumps accidentally got loose - uh oh, there was milk spillage and tangled cords galore. It is a wonder I got anything actually done at work doing this every 2 hours for 15-20 minutes!

Poor little Chloe got colic starting in New York at Alamita at about 6 and 1/2 weeks old. Late one evening, she just started fussing and was unconsolable for several hours. Brian would help try to calm her down, but nothing we did helped. I would try breast feeding, changing her diaper, pacifier, swaddling, rocking, singing, walking around the apartment, laying her in her crib, putting her in bed with me, putting her in the swing with the white noise playing and a soft vibration. It was impossible to console her until she was so exhausted, that somewhere between 10pm to midnight she would finally fall asleep. There were several feedings and diaper changes for Nate during this time, and he would go right back to sleep, as well as a few 2 hour pumping sessions for me. The only thing I couldn't do was sleep, somehow I got colicky Chloe duty most of the time and Brian fed Nate.  All I could think, was "please don't start doing this too, please don't start doing this too, I can't do 2 colicky babies!!" It was misery for the poor little thing, and, yes, Chloe was not having too much fun either! One funny thing I remember during this time was I think she was mistaking my nose for a nipple. I would be holding her  while propped up in bed on pillows and she would be screaming. At one point she started army crawling herself up my body. Brian and I though she was trying to snuggle or attempt to soothe herself in some way by getting more comfortable. She would nestle in to my neck, still fussing away. One of these times, she actually got to my nose and looked like she was trying to latch on!! She did it to Brian too!! 

So, I was going back to work during THIS period, it hadn't yet resolved.

I remember one night like it was yesterday... Brian was going out to dinner with his friends and he left me sitting on my bed trying to feed and console a colicky Chloe at about 6 pm with Nate asleep in his bassinet at the bedside. Before leaving, he asked what my plans were for the evening. I was going to finish feeding her, feed Nate, try to make myself some dinner, pump, bathe them, get them ready for bed and try to get to sleep myself because I had to work in the morning. Well, he returned several hours (maybe 4 or 5) to us in the same spot and Nate in the bed beside us. She never stopped crying. And somehow I was still surviving, not really sure how. This is why mom's of twins say that the first year is really a blur - the severe sleep deprivation makes you loopy, so it really is a blur.

Brian's parents came to visit from Florida and brought beautiful handmade sweaters with matching hats and mittens! 

At 4 months, 2 months adjusted age for prematurity, they were not rolling yet, so they mostly spent their awake hours on the floor participating in different activities. The tunnel was such a great idea. It had a mesh top with lots of things to look at, little toys that could dangle and make noises, a crinkle bottom with different textures to explore when they got more mobile. They were really mesmerized by it all when they spent time in there.

"the tunnel"

Their favorite place to hang out, so much to do in there, it kept them quiet and occupied for "long stretches" -  10 minutes tops!!

Mommy washing Chloe's hair

Nate is finally smiling in a picture - this is a feat to capture.  I think it was just after his bath

But little miss is always ready with a smile for everyone!

Yeah!!

Our Nanny, Jill, hard at work - she was a baby whisperer!!

Nate looking very cozy!

Holding hands

They were finally old enough to sit up in a bumbo with their heads partially propped with blankets and the back of the bumbo. They still weren't rolling or have good head support. Life will never be the same now. It's a whole different perspective from up there. Their eyes were open a little wider, they could follow everyone around the room with their eyes, cooing right along with it.

Playing footsie in the bumbos

This was another one of their favorites. The cadillac of swings, this one swayed so smoothly, different speeds, had a vibration, toys to look at and play with, and many different choices for music and different sounds, including a sliding drawer with an ipod connection! One of my best investments, they would rock to sleep so nicely in there.

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ray

Mama and Daddy out by the pool 

Bailey joining in the action, I think he actually posed himself - poor thing, getting no attention since he's been replaced as the center of mommy's attention

We are up on the roof deck, trying to capture some of that New Mexico sunset - great lighting at that time

And so, it was finally time for mommy to go back to work. We hired an amazing nanny, Jill, got her trained and ready. I felt very comfortable about that. But I really didn't want to leave them yet!