Michelle's day to day rituals have paid off for the Pirie Family. Michelle has followed a programme from a book recomended to her by another member of her family with twins and this has paid dividends. Both Jacob and Sienna at five months can now sleep a full twelve hours without waking. This is a great asset and allows Michelle and I a chance to catch our breath and some sleep at nights.
Michelle is still able to supply both kids feeding needs and they continue to thrive. Over the last month or so a number of problems have been worked through and solved contrary to some of the profesionals advice which has gone to show " mother knows best"
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The sleep deprivation has arrived! While in hospital and for a short time at home the kids had hardly cried. Not because their needs were being tended to or their laid back attitude but because they didn't have the strength or maturity. I'm happy to reveal we have two strong and healthy babies both with good lung capacity and we have even dealt with the first flu... times two!!
Our Plunket Nurse was amazed at the progress they have made and continue to make. She stated that an average child is expected to gain 20-30g per day. Jacob had doubled this expectation and Sienna was also about average.
Michelle has a firm interest in the mailbox and waits for the mail man every day and has enjoyed the very generous gifts the babies have received (although the mail man will no doubt be tired of coming to the back door with parcels!
There is a slight disappointment that our two children are growing up and the realisation that they will not remain small babies forever has set in! Although there is great delight taken in seeing them progress and develop unique personalities. Lots of smiles, giggles and rolling which make all the hard work worth it!
Our Plunket Nurse was amazed at the progress they have made and continue to make. She stated that an average child is expected to gain 20-30g per day. Jacob had doubled this expectation and Sienna was also about average.
Michelle has a firm interest in the mailbox and waits for the mail man every day and has enjoyed the very generous gifts the babies have received (although the mail man will no doubt be tired of coming to the back door with parcels!
There is a slight disappointment that our two children are growing up and the realisation that they will not remain small babies forever has set in! Although there is great delight taken in seeing them progress and develop unique personalities. Lots of smiles, giggles and rolling which make all the hard work worth it!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
we are out of here.
On Christmas Eve Michelle Jacob and Sienna had impressed everyone at Kew Hospital enough to be discharged. Even though we had wanted to get home it was a big step to leave behind the exceptional care from the staff at Kew and walk out the doors for home. After a lot of deciding on what was to be worn for the trip home the kids were loaded into their double barreled pram and wheeled out for their last goodbyes to the staff who were on duty. Sadly, not all the staff got to see the kids leave or for us to be able to thank them all but Michelle and I plan to head back to keep the friendships that we have made over our long stay.
Both Jacob and Sienna have progressed well and our lives now seem to work in four hour cycles. Michelle continues to feed the kids well and the only time the kids are bottle fed are at 4am so Michelle can continue to sleep. Dealing with two kids and two bottles at the same time takes some coordination which I'm yet to master completely. I some times wonder if they are absorbing as much as they are swallowing.
The kids routine is amazingly settled and they seem to be able to wake within minutes of their time whether Michelle and I are ready or not. Both kids enjoy their time on the floor together and even look for each other while feeding and playing. Although not alot of work gets done outside of the house, our days seem to be reasonably busy and any time to catch up on some sleep is sort after.
Both Jacob and Sienna have progressed well and our lives now seem to work in four hour cycles. Michelle continues to feed the kids well and the only time the kids are bottle fed are at 4am so Michelle can continue to sleep. Dealing with two kids and two bottles at the same time takes some coordination which I'm yet to master completely. I some times wonder if they are absorbing as much as they are swallowing.
The kids routine is amazingly settled and they seem to be able to wake within minutes of their time whether Michelle and I are ready or not. Both kids enjoy their time on the floor together and even look for each other while feeding and playing. Although not alot of work gets done outside of the house, our days seem to be reasonably busy and any time to catch up on some sleep is sort after.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Since our last blog the kids have maintained their milked fueled march towards a discharge from the hospital to home.
Michelles $65 taxi trips (protocol) to and from home only lasted a short time as a room became available in the same ward as the kids. Now that she is within yelling distance Michelle has been able to take an extremely active role in the day to day caring of the kids.
Sienna is very much like her mother with her dark hair and looks. She has progressed well and has on occassion been able to take a full feed from Michelle although this came to an abrupt end during the weekend which had alot of people scratching their heads. After some tests were run it would appear that Sienna is very much her mothers daughter as she is low in iron. This explains her unusal feeding problems and has been rectified with a small blood transfusion.
Jacob has had another fascinating week of looking at the inside of his eye lids and on occasion wakes to be supplied with more ammunition that he discharges at a frightening rate. Jacob is progressing well with Michelles milkbar and is only being substituted with tube feeds only occasionally now. This has taken a lot of time, effort and dedication from his mum to get him to this stage and he may end up passing on a few tips to his sister to get her up to speed.
Today Jacob and Sienna had the pleasure of meeting Lucas and Ashton who are Michelles twin nephews. Even though this took place from a distance (through a window due to infection control) there looks to be some fun times ahead for these four.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Jacob and Sienna continue to progress extremely well without any hint of a speed bump. The heavier bragging rights has changed on a number of occasions and Sienna has been placed on her first diet as she progressed too fast during the week and managed to advance 120grams in two days, which her care givers saw as being a bit excessive for such a small lady.
During the week both kids have progressed into cots and no longer need there temperature regulated to the same degree.
Each day they become slightly more active and on occasion slightly more audible as there strenght grows.
Michelle has started teaching them how her portable milkbar works but it will be sometime before the kids master this new fandangle. Children don't develope the suck,swallow and breath reflex untill around 35 weeks but there's nothing like a headstart.
Sadly our flat at the hospital is needed for bigger and better things and Michelle and I once again reside at the farm with michelle traveling each day to spend time with our kids.
During the week both kids have progressed into cots and no longer need there temperature regulated to the same degree.
Each day they become slightly more active and on occasion slightly more audible as there strenght grows.
Michelle has started teaching them how her portable milkbar works but it will be sometime before the kids master this new fandangle. Children don't develope the suck,swallow and breath reflex untill around 35 weeks but there's nothing like a headstart.
Sadly our flat at the hospital is needed for bigger and better things and Michelle and I once again reside at the farm with michelle traveling each day to spend time with our kids.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
sunday 22nd nov
The kids have taken off in the weight stakes.Both Sienna and Jacob have now past their birth weights and are looking to break the 100grams increase over two days. We have been close with an 85 gram increase but no one has made triple figures yet.
The fridge at neo natal now resembles a milk bar with 20 bottles stored in the fridge for future parties.
Michelle and I have been watching antenatal class mates come and go and it is slightly frustrating watching them leave for home knowing we are still a wee way away from making that step ourselves.
Both Jacob and Sienna are doing exceptionally well and its a credit to the staffs constant care and attention that this continues to happen without any setbacks. This week both of the kids had eye checks performed much to the distress of their mother. Both had no complications and impressed all those concerned.
The kids have also had some new company in the last few days with another set of twins sharing their room although they hope to head home around Wednesday.
The fridge at neo natal now resembles a milk bar with 20 bottles stored in the fridge for future parties.
Michelle and I have been watching antenatal class mates come and go and it is slightly frustrating watching them leave for home knowing we are still a wee way away from making that step ourselves.
Both Jacob and Sienna are doing exceptionally well and its a credit to the staffs constant care and attention that this continues to happen without any setbacks. This week both of the kids had eye checks performed much to the distress of their mother. Both had no complications and impressed all those concerned.
The kids have also had some new company in the last few days with another set of twins sharing their room although they hope to head home around Wednesday.
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