Guess what's in my freezer?!

If you said 12 ounces of breastmilk you would be correct!

I have been struggling with breastfeeding since the day these babies have been born. I never expected it to be so hard. First it was NICU, then it was latch, and always it was supply.

Well, we worked on latching and I pump all the time, we stopped using bottles at home and finally I had enough in my fridge that I needed to start freezing some of it. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Now, I just have to get through going back to work. Wish I could be a stay at home mom, but being a teacher is pretty good job for hours. The babies should only get 2 or 3 bottles during the time I am gone.

Hurray!!

I Went Crazy

So this past month has been very difficult. Some family stuff, but mostly I just went crazy. I was taking Reglan to help boost my milk supply. One of the side effects is depression and anxiety. Well it sure is! I started crying all the time and getting getting anxious about being home alone with the babies. I couldn't figure out how to get the babies off the nursing pillow anymore-- I mean really, I'd been doing it for month! So after I made Stacey come home from work early one day she said, "Hey, maybe your meds are making you crazy." I stopped taking it right then and there. So now I am able to leave the house again, I can be alone again and I am not depressed about breastfeeding anymore.

So if you take Reglan for breastfeeding, just be really aware of your feelings. It snuck up on me all of a sudden and I had a miserable week and a half.

Now for the good stuff

Adventures in Breastfeeding!

Breastfeeding has not been what I thought it would be. Instead of snuggling in with my babies and providing ample nourishment, I am instead having intimate relations with my breast pump to help build up my supply.

So here is what I do:
I take an herb called fenegreek-- probably spelled wrong
I take Ra.eglan 3 times a day
I spray oxytocin (refrigerated) into my nose 10 minutes before nursing or pumping
I am trying to eat oatmeal. I think I have finally found the perfect consistency.
I pump every 1 1/2 to 3 hours.
I visit with a lactation consultant from the nicu once a week


I am trying to be exclusive, but they are SO hungry! I don't feel like this has been working. I never have extra anything in my fridge or freezer. I am not and/or barely keeping up. The babes get formula 1-2 a day. Not bad, but not good either! Or Jelly gets it all and PB gets formula. (Her stomach does NOT tolerate the formula very well).

It is quite the production to nurse to babies at the same time. I have to get my water, the remote controls and/or book and/or computer, and the very best twin nursing pillow! It is made so that you can nurse 2 babies without holding them. They lay in the "football" hold and the pillow keeps them turned in to my body and at the right height.

So any other suggestions? Has anyone out there struggled like me and turned a corner sometime after 2 months? Because I go back to work at 3 months, and if it isn't any better I might just have to give it up.

Here is me nursing! I couldn't get my head to fit, so it is just the good parts!

And I just have to add some pictures I found. I don't think I ever posted them and I think they are hilarious. This is my cheerleading uniform from HS. Normally, I still fit it.

The Mini Vacay- First Family Vacation

The babies are growing, growing, growing! We took them on a surprise vacation to stay at Di.sn..ey's Gra..n.d C..ali.for..nia.n Hotel and visited D..is.ne..yla..nd for the first time. The kids will not remember this first trip, but we will! The park was all decked out in Hall..o.w.een gear and that was fun to see.

Dis..ne..yla.nd was an adventure for us. A true test of how well we can prepare for being out with them. We did very well! They had food all day, enough diapers, naps, and we only were short 1 item and that didn't happen until the end of the day! At the end of the day... we only had 1 diaper wipe. :) Not too shabby.

The babies were quite the hit at Disn..eylan..d as Izzy's legs hung from the Bj..or.n on my chest, she loves that b.jor..n! Everyone wanted to look at them and we were very careful with that. I think I have perfected the "look from afar" manuever. Although, some people are so curious! No one touched the babies, though, and I find that to be a success! We did have random people want to take pictures of them in their super duper cute Ha..llo..we..en cos.tu..me.

The hotel stay was good. It was so nice to be away from home. We did bring Ly..s.ol and spray the heck out of everything, used our own pac.n..pl.ay, used blankets like they were going out of style and washed washed washed our hands. There was only 1 incident of crazy spit up courtesy of Ms. Isabel, but it wasn't too terrible... we did sleep on towels that night though. :) oops!

We decided to make the trip an annual trip for the kids an
d took a picture by Ch.ip N D.ale that we intend to use as a size reference for the yearly trip.

I guess that's all for tonight... I must head to bed while the kids are sleeping... we should be too.

1 Month 3 Days

We are planning to get professional pics of PB and J every month. Our first installment is a "Halloween" theme. PB is dressed as a ghost and Jelly is pumpkin. We had a great time at the photo shoot and the kids did great. I cannot believe a month (five weeks tomorrow) has/have gone by already! They have grown over a pound each and are turning out to be quite cute!