OK, now it's for real...

So now we're home and we couldn't be more fortunate to have two extremely healthy babies (Rocko had a touch of jaundice in the beginning, and had to have supplemental feedings, which I did with a syringe- but he recovered quickly) Liz is healthy and looks great due to her swimming 2 miles several times a week until the day before she delivered. These babies have not had any trouble nursing, they sleep pretty well, weigh above average; all that stuff is great.

WE, on the other hand, are starting to come unglued. The adrenaline and euphoria has started to wear off. We haven't really slept in a week. I don't know how we'd be getting by if we didn't have the support of our parents. And they are leaving soon. Ross and Barbara were only supposed to be here for a week, and that is pretty much up. Dad has decided to stay, but my mom has a class to teach and can't extend her visit.

Mary and Sackett have a little longer but have been here a more than a month already and have to get back in a couple of weeks. Also, I will be going back to work soon. I decided that with all the help now it would be better to take time off when everyone has gone, since I only have a limited amount of time off. I cannot imagine going back. I can't imagine being away from my babies and Liz. This is what they look like now:

Mary has been furiously cooking and freezing meals for us. We interviewed a night nurse so we can try to get some sleep, but fired her after she come to our house with a cold and a gallon jug of orange juice and fell asleep on the job. We started with another nurse Claudia, who is great and confident and helpful. You can hear her breathing half way up the steps, which is a relief, because by the time she shows up at 10pm, we are so tired we can't see straight. Liz pumps enough for one feeding, but still has to get up for another one before morning. We are still so nervous that we don't get much sleep anyway. We hadn't really thought about a night nurse and only really thought we would use her a couple of times a week, but quickly realize we need her full time. Especially since I am starting back to work next week. Claudia is amazing and kind and really helps to establish the beginning of a schedule. We have a tough time with the realization that our entire savings for childcare was going to be wiped out in short order- on something we hadn't even budgeted for. Though it is particularly hard for me to accept help, we are grateful to have gotten financial assistance from family to allow us to continue with full time help.