Hello Blog

So I never thought that when I set up to blog that it would be so difficult to sit down and do it everyday. Yikes!

Aunt Pattie is here for a few days this week. She is so helpful to me and I never have to ask anything of her. What a relief! She cleans my house and does the laundry. She gets up with the babies at night and takes care of them during the day. She makes me sit down and pump before she has even showered for the day. We walk the kids and the dog and she takes me shopping to get errands done. I wish she lived close.... all of the time. It's fun to just sit and feed the babies together. And I know that she really really loves the kids. Aunt Pattie dances with them and holds them close and gives them so many kisses.

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with John. He enjoyed walking up and down the aisles. We got plenty of complements.

Tonight is the Council Meeting where Andy's employment contract is up for review in a public discussion. After careful consideration, Andy did not think it would be a good idea for me to attend. So home I will stay awaiting the results until probably very late tonight.

I am looking forward to our company this week. We will have a full house: Peter, Leslie, Ben & Drake; Kathleen & Morgan; Pattie, Jim & Abigial. Very fun. Birthday party for Andy on Friday evening. He turns 34 on Thursday.

Routine?

A close friend asked me if I had a routine started with the babies. I panicked. A routine? Should I have one already at just 2 weeks? Oh no. The routine is this... feed 1, change a diaper, change clothes (if necessary), feed 2, change a diaper, change clothes (if necessary), pump, change myself, eat something, play with the dog, throw a load of laundry in, and start over. Sometimes we change it up a bit... instead of throwing a load of laundry in it may be mop the floor or vacuum. But that is the only variance.

The babies are already growing in just 2 short weeks. Both of their faces have filled out and their cheeks are chubby. So cute.

That's John on the left and Elinor on the right. Sleeping beauties!

We have visitors coming this afternoon. Doug & Amanda also have twins. Their twin girls are 11 weeks old. I cannot wait to pick Amanda's brain. I need tips and tricks.

I am able to start driving today - however, I have yet to find the time to get out and do it. I feel like I need to run a couple of local errands just to feel normal and a part of society again. Don't get me wrong. I love spending my days with the babies. I just need to get out of the house for an hour.

Gotta go... Elinor is waking and the "routine" starts again.

They have arrived

Elinor Anne White born on August 4th, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. weighing 6 lbs 4 oz. and John Macnamee White born at 2:41 p.m. weighing 6 lbs. 1 oz.

This is Elinor Anne....


This is John Macnamee....


We scheduled a c-section since Baby B (John) was breech. The c-section was definately quite an experience. In preparation for the surgery, there are just too many things that a husband should not have to witness. But he did and I try to forget about those things and hopefully he does too.

Anyways, back to the babies..
They are such beautiful babies. Ellie is our eater and light sleeper while John is sluggish in his eating and loves to sleep. Occasionally during one of his deep sleeps I see him poke one eye open to see if anyone is looking. Ellie loves to be held especially heart to heart. I think they both enjoy my singing.
I started nursing right away. 2 weeks post partum I have resorted to pumping and feeding. Being that the babies were born at 37 weeks, they are not good "suckers" and don't latch very well. It was quite stressful until the lactation consultant made a home visit one week after delivery. She took one look at me and said "oh, you aren't sleeping are you?". I then had a meltdown right in front of her. She told me not to stress out about everything and even gave me permission to feed formula. I struggle with that on a daily basis. It's like I feel like a bad mother or a quitter at something that is too hard. But I am slowly coming to grips with it. So now I pump every 3 hours, feed bottled breast milk throughout the day and do formula at night. So far so good.
Andy is a wonderful father as I knew he would be. I don't think he totally understands how he can interact with a newborn but I just love to watch him hold them or dance with them. While in the hospital he changed their first diapers, finger fed them both and learned how to swaddle them in a way that impressed the nurses.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE being parents! The best thing I have done in my life for sure.

Time's Up

The babies will be arriving tomorrow.

Wendy and Dad surprised us yesterday and drove from Milwaukee on Sunday rather than on Monday. We dined on hot dogs and hamburgers out on the deck and stayed up past 11pm talking. I did manage to get in a few ZZZZZ's until about 4am. However, I don't think Andy slept at all. There is a bit of anxiety and nervousness in the house.
Today Wendy took me to my last prenatal appointment. There they checked the babies' heartbeats and did a quick ultrasound to see the position of the babies. Baby A is definately head down, but Baby B is breech. That little stinker. He was definately head down just a few weeks ago. I don't know how he found the room to flip around. Probably one of those sleepless nights or something.
So, due to the placement of the babies we have scheduled a c-section for tomorrow at 1:30pm. I cannot believe that I will be a Mom this time tomorrow. It just doesn't seem real. It's not like someone gave me a license to be a Mom. It's just something you decide that you want to do and then you just let it happen.
We have a lot of loving family and friends that will be with us in the next few days.
I am praying for peace for both Andy and myself and of course, it goes with out saying, very healthy babies.

36 Weeks Equals

36 Weeks = fatigue, aches and pains, sausage toes, numb fingers, insomnia, crampy belly and an end in sight

36 weeks

Here's me at 36 weeks...

It has been extremely hot here this week which makes it difficult for me to do anything outside. I did manage to take Lloyd to the dog park this morning. He got exercise and so did I.

I am finding it more and more uncomfortable to sit in a chair. My belly rests on my thighs and I don't like that feeling. Also there seems to be swelling in the entire legs which is not pretty. I really think my thighs are touching. Yuck!

Dad & Wendy are making their way to Huron from Milwaukee on Monday. They have been there for about a month helping my brother and Leslie get settled and to also look after Ben while Leslie had the new baby. I would say that they have completed their responsibilities in Milwaukee... now it's my turn.

This is what I am preparing for dinner tonight. I am prepared to make extra to have in the freezer for when we come home from the hospital. They are sooo yummy. I really think I could survive on just beans alone. Andy and I both really enjoy chickpea burgers as well. Definately give one of the recipes a try.

Welcome Baby Drake

My nephew finally decided to come into the world yesterday and he did it quite enthusiastically. From first contraction until he was out, it took only about 3 hours. Poor Peter didn't even make it because it happened so fast.


Drake Harrison Smith, 7 lbs. 14 oz.

I am next. Today the doctor told me that I was still at 1 cm and 80% effaced which is common with first time moms. Effacement first before dialation. My bag is packed... I am so ready to go...soon, I hope.