Sailing!

Now that we are parents, it is really important to us to raise our children doing the things that matter to us...even if they were more difficult to do with children. One of those things is getting out and using the boat!

We were able to get away for a few days on the boat last week, when the boys were just 6 weeks old. Some things were infinitely harder, and other things were infinitely easier. It was amazingly difficult to get packed up, provisioned, to the boat and away from the dock. We started packing at about 9am, and by the time we were able to get away from the dock, it was 3:30 pm, and we couldn't actually leave until 6:00 because the bridges won't open for rush hour traffic. On the way out we stopped at Ivar's for take out dinner and the fuel dock for fuel. By the time we were at the Fremont bridge, the boys were SCREAMING because they were starving. I also think they were feeding off the stress I was feeling at the whole ordeal getting away from the dock and the stress I was feeling because Tor couldn't help out with the feeding since he was running the boat. While the boys were screaming, I had to boil water to wash bottles and make up formula (which always stresses me out...I don't like that I can't give the boys breastmilk exclusively yet). For the first time as a new mom, I cried along with the boys because I was completely overwhelmed. It was AWFUL. I got them fed on my own and Tor continued on to Port Madison where we were going to anchor for the night. We finally pulled into Port Madison around 9:45pm and set the anchor.

The next day after sleep and decompression time on the boat (which is really our floating cabin and an incredibly relaxing place to be), things got infinitely easier. Ever since we launched the boat, we have envisioned having kids aboard. Infertility took that away for 2.5 very long years and it didn't seem possible that our vision would ever come true. We now have our kids aboard and life is amazing. We are incredibly lucky people to have these beautiful little boys in our life. See, infinitely easier.

We spent two nights out and had a wonderful time. We had a good sail home and we put into action the lessons we learned on the way out. We stopped the boat at a dock for feedings as we were able and we just took things slowly, instead of trying to do too much. We can't wait for the next trip.


Laundry baskets make GREAT beds say Lars and Odin



Odin has some growing to do before his PFD is really useful, good thing the boys aren't running around yet and stayed down below!

Big Eaters

We went for an appointment with a lactation consultant today (we love Group Health!) and the boys are doing really well. Breastfeeding/ feeding the boys with expressed breast milk has been a challenge...to say the least. Since they are preemies, we couldn't start off breastfeeding like a full term baby would have been able to, they needed to develop neurologically as well as physically before breastfeeding would work. Tomorrow is their due date, so we are technically full term now, even though the boys are 5 weeks old now. Since the boys couldn't feed from the breast, my best friend and nemesis has been the breast pump in order to develop my milk supply. Since a pump just can't remove milk from a breast as well as a baby can, and milk supply is a supply and demand thing...I haven't been able to produce enough milk to feed both boys. It's been REALLY hard.

Today's appointment made all of the hard work seem worth it. We weighed the boys before and after a feeding and Odin (the one who has the most problems breastfeeding) took 22 mL (almost 1 oz) and Lars took 50 mL (almost 2 oz)! Lars weighed in at 8 lbs 2 oz (birth weight 4 lbs 14.5 oz) and Odin weighed 7 lbs 7 oz (birth weight 5 lbs 3 oz). We also learned that the boys are likely both "tongue tied" which makes breastfeeding more challenging and the transfer of milk from me to them less than optimal, on top of all the issues that come with pre-term birth. We have an appointment to have that taken care of (clipping the frenulum) on Monday (again, we love Group Health!). We still need to supplement with bottles since each boy typically takes 3 oz per feeding, but breastfeeding (even exclusively!) is eventually going to work!

Lars thought the heating pad on the scale was super comfy

Big Boys Meet Little Boys

Lars and Odin's cousins Einar and Soren are in town. Einar and Soren were VERY excited about meeting their new cousins. It's awfully cute to see our 5 and 2 year nephews hold our babies!

Chillin' at Home

Today was a home day. Papa and Odin got some good snuggles. Doesn't Papa look tired? All four of us took a good nap together and Papa doesn't look as tired now.

We also weighed the boys today, they're getting big! Lars weighed in at 7lbs 14 oz and Odin was 7 lbs 4 oz. No wonder my arms get tired!

Grandpa Bill went home today so we had a visit this morning with Grandpa, Grandma Lynn, Auntie Jenn and Uncle Karl. Later Grandma Jean and Grandpa Lee brought lunch and some snuggles. It was a good day.

Boating Boys

Yesterday we had an errand at Shilshole and the boys came along for a ride in a dock cart, it begins early!

We also had a quick job to do at our boat, Tor pressure washed the deck. The boys and I relaxed down below. We didn't go sailing, but it was still nice to have the boys on the boat!

Welcome

We wanted to start a blog as a way to keep in touch with family and friends about the goings on in our family. We welcomed Lars and Odin to the family on May 11th 2010 and things are moving so quickly now! The boys are changing daily and they have a ravenous fan club hungry for the latest and greatest on the boys. This is the place for updates, welcome!