Saturday, October 18, 2008

Baby Boot Camp -- The Night Shift

Well, our day campers were better than our night campers. The boys really gave Jeff and I the business from about 9:30 until 2 a.m. Sometimes one, sometimes two, and too often all three were have a good fuss. There simply aren't enough hands, bouncy seats and swings for that.

Jeff, my loving husband, took on the midnight feeding by himself to try to give me and Grandma a little extra sleep. It was a crazy idea, but he got most of the way through it before I realized (from the depths of sweet sleep) that more than just the one crying baby I had left him was crying and came out to rescue him from dealing single-handed with three babies who needed to burp or just fuss.

That time all the commotion woke Amelia, who wanted to get up and help. She and I sang a lullaby to baby Sam, and then I told her it was time for bed and to go ask Daddy to take her. Fortunately his crowd had calmed down by then. Amelia was up a second time about 1:30 and wanted to hold a baby. Have you ever said "No," to a very tired two-year-old in the wee hours of the morning? MELTDOWN!

We woke Grandma up then and Jeff took Amelia back to her room for rockabye and some milk. He got up with her this morning and persuaded her to snuggle up with him for an extra hour of sleep, which they both needed!

I hit the sack about 2:30 a.m., but forgot to set the alarm for the next feeding. The boys went until 6:15 before their feeding though, so I got almost four full hours of sleep.

Now their first two feeding of the day have gone beautifully, Jeff and Amelia are at the zoo, and Grandma and I both took a shower. (Insert Wonder Woman theme music here.) Time for lunch and another 20-minute nap after I prepare bottles.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sending these blogs to my daughter who is 27w1d with GGB trips. Trying to prepare her for what is to come! Keep the blogs coming, they need all the advance knowledge they can get!
Mary from South Ga.

Anonymous said...

Jeff, Christy,
Hang in there.... you and Grandma are doing a great job...Oh, and I can't forget Amelia! You all will get through this and, from a pediatric nurse....Keep up the great work! I admire you very much!! Prayers for sleep for everyone....at least in some way, shape or form! Love you!!

Christy AKA Trippin' Mama said...

Mary, thanks so much for reading and for all your prayers. Just look how far all those prayers took us -- to 36 weeks 3 days, and bringing 2 babies straight home with us!

I'll keep posting between feedings and naps. Right now I'd say this --you need more blankets than you think (the square receiving blankets are perfect for these little ones), because they sleep better swaddled, but they get dirty fast. We're also using the blankets to help prop bottles, too. And you need burp rags -- by the dozens.

Feedings are a two person job, and with our big guys, we're still feeding every 3 1/2 to 4 hours (Sometimes 3) and it takes 1 1/2 hours to feed. Sleep time is very limited.

Suzy said...

I'm pooped just reading this. You are a superstar! I hope the boys start letting you guys get a little more sleep very soon!