2 weeks old!

Carter and Nolan are 2 weeks old today!  I cannot believe it! Check out all of their pictures at this link. Click Here!

Since the last post, these boys have had some serious outings!  They had 2 more pediatrician visits, two walks, a trip to the mall and a photo session in the boys' first snow! It feels so great to get out of the house and to be using my muscles for a change!

They also had a visit from their Aunt Molly and Uncle Nate (he wants to be called Uncle Awesome but I don't know if I can do it. I'll try)  These two are engaged by the way!!!!

Friday at the ped. we got great news that both boys had finally started gaining. Carter made it to his birth weight and Nolan was fast on his way. 

Today we had their 2 weeks check up and they are continuing to gain!  Both boys have passed their birth weights! I'm happy that I'm able to feed them well but I'm already feeling like they are growing too fast! 

Nolan is now 5 lbs, 4 oz. and was 18.5 in. long. On average, he is in the 3rd percentile, compared with full term babies.

Carter weighed 6 lbs, 3 oz and was 19 in long. He is in the 10th percentile compared with full term babies.  This is all great!

People probably don't care about mom and dad anymore, but I'll tell you how we are doing anyway. We are definitely hanging in there. We are getting along and working together really well! Brad changes a lot of diapers and almost everytime he changes Nolan, I hear an "Oh Shit!" or "Oh my god!" We now know what has happened when Brad makes these exclamaitions. Nolan has shot another poop rocket. If you don't know what that is, I'm sure you can use the name to imagine it. These boys are always working something out down there and for some reason, they aren't always finished when the diaper comes off!  We are continually surprised by the distance and size of the rockets. The worst is when they are accompanied by pee pee.  The pee pee tee pee works really well for this issue but once it fills up and the vertical stream has been avoided, the pad still gets wet.   Whatever. It makes us laugh everytime and we figured we'd be going through 15-20 diapers a day! We've finally got supplies and extra outfits strategically placed and are getting quicker and quicker with the diaper changes. I just can't believe no one told us about the poop rockets.  Or maybe it is just the Kowalski Boys who have this amazing ability.

Okay, besides diaper changes, mom and dad are getting some sleep but I'm not going to lie....we are tired! 6-7 hours at night is wonderful but broken up doesn't give it the same result.  We sleep pretty late right now but that is going to have to change when Brad goes back to work. For the last several nights, Brad has been helping me get the boys set up for their feeding, then I make him go back to bed so I can do the rest (burp them, change them, feed them more to top them off, and put them back down).  This is working pretty well so Brad can sleep at night when he is back to work...this coming Monday!  From start of feeding to putting them back down, it takes almost an hour! And since they eat every three hours, we can get about 2 hourse of sleep in between. The next challenge will be getting the boys on some decent schedule for when I go back to work. March 31 will be here far too soon! Of course, the biggest challenge of all, that I imagine, is taking the boys somewhere with one adult! We'll have to figure it out somehow!

As for the c-section, I feel like I've healed very quickly. The first week was not fun with so much swelling but the pain wasn't as bad as I expected. I did get a case of mastitis, something related to nursing. Look that up if you want. It is miserable but was only bad for me for one night, before getting the antibiotics and pain killers going.

We are still so fascinated by these boys and looking at pictures from their birthday makes me happy cry! It is all just so amazing.

Sad news for today is that mom left! She is known as granny to her grandchildren. She was here a week and a half and was so helpful! It is great having your mom with you after giving birth! She helped us eat well and definitely made things easier with the extra set of hands!  We already miss her and felt like the time went too fast!

But if you didn't hear, she is on her way to meet her third grandchild, Ronan Brady Lawyer, born only 13 days after the Kowalski boys!  I can't wait to meet my little nephew! He is just perfect!

Check back soon for more updates!

First Pediatrician Visit

The boys have ventured out for the first time since coming home! They enjoyed the car ride and we were only 5 minutes late for our 8:10 appointment! Dr. Sickler said that the boys look great! She checked their color, hip motion (from breech placement in womb), umbilical cords, circumcisions and weights.

Momma Rachael had her first melt down at the doctor's office when she learned that both of the boys had lost even more weight. That was all I wanted to hear was that they had gained. Nolan lost 2 more oz. and is now down to 4 lbs, 11 oz. He was 5 lbs, 2 oz at birth. Carter lost 2 more oz. and is now down to 5 lbs. 5 oz. He weighed 5 lbs, 12 oz at birth. 

On a positive note, the Dr. did tell me that I am far ahead of the curve with nursing twins. She thinks they'll really start to show a gain very soon. She was not too worried about the loss since they are only 5 days old! That made me feel better. We have another appointment Friday, mostly for Nolan's weight. Then they have their two week appointment next Wednesday.

Here are a few pics. Nolan is in the blue hoodie. Below, they have their legs out waiting for their first vaccination. And here's the link to our picture website!

Babies!!!!!!!!

We are absolutely fascinated and in love with these baby boys! They are perfect little creations!

Born 3.5 weeks early on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Carter at 8:14 pm and Nolan at 8:15 pm. Carter was 5 lbs, 12 oz and Nolan was 5 lbs 2 oz. They were incredibly healthy! No problems at all! Babies lose some weight in their first few days and Carter got down to 5 lbs, 5 oz, Nolan to only 4 lbs, 13 oz! So tiny! They were still healthy and we were discharged Saturday, February 6, around 3pm.

The first moments out of our hospital room were stressful and that continued on the crazy car ride home and once at home trying to find all our things to help soothe the frantic boys! Difficult to do when mom and dad are frantic, too! But we all calmed down just in time for Mom (Granny) to arrive only an hour after we did! So glad she is here!

First night, here we come! It was crazy! Really, maybe a couple hours of sleep. We couldn't figure out why the boys were so peaceful at night in the hospital but so flustered at night here!  Well, the next morning, we realized that the heat had stopped working during the night. The house was freezing! What are the chances of that! They slept so much better when snuggled with mom and dad. After borrowing many space heaters from neighbors, heat is fixed now and the babies are happy.

The next day at home, we had several visitors and the boys were so sweet for all of them! They make you fall in love with them the moment you meet them! We are definitely up for more visits, just call or text and we'll figure out a good time!

Last night went VERY well! Yay! I think we slept 6 hours...broken up, but 6 hours, wow! Today, the hours have gone by so quickly.  The boys are eating so, so well, now and I think they are really gaining weight. Tomorrow is our first pediatrician visit and all I want is for her to say they look great and their weights are excellent.  Tomorrow evening, we will interview a daycare nearby. Two outings!!!!! Wish us luck! So glad mom is here for more helping hands!

So finally we have uploaded pictures. We have lots and will be adding lots and lots more because I can't stop taking pictures of these adorable boys.  Click here to check out all of them!

LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME!
Had high blood pressure at appt today which can be dangerous for Mom And babiEs.  best option is to deliver. I am 36 weeks and 3 days along. 37-42 Weeks is considered full term! These boys are going to be just fine!  C-section will be tonight sometime.  I cannot believe we've made it so far! WE ARE SO EXCITED TO MEET THESE BOYS!!! I'm blogging from hospital just waiting. AAAAAHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEE!!!