837 Change laundry over and put Clara and Anna on their
boppies on a blanket in the living room so I can see them from the kitchen. Gather Bo’s breakfast of milk, juice (watered down), and a yogurt and sit with him while he eats.
Some days, we all have to raise our hands to try to receive some attention.
9 - Katie arrives. Bo is still sitting at the table eating breakfast. I talk to Katie while Bo finishes up and then Bo takes Katie in to show her his new bed. Katie and I talk about how I am trying to get the girls to go in their cribs for naps and about our weekends.
917 – I escape to bedroom and start pumping. While I pump I check email, facebook, and class. Then I make the poor decision to finish editing photos instead of grading. I finally finish editing and post late notes in my classes while video uploads. I write a blog post (yesterdays) and then work. Grading, discussion questions, and weekly feedback.
1046 - Clara wakes from nap, head to girls room to feed babies, Katie changes Clara. While I feed Clara I talk to Bo and read him some of his new Thomas book. Bo says he has to potty and leaves the room. I ask if he wants to sit on the potty with no response. He went in his room and was playing with Katie. Bo poops and then comes to get me for a diaper change. I give Katie a full Clara and change Bo’s diaper. I get Anna up and change her. While I am feeding Anna, Bo is in his room with Katie. I check stuff on my phone, type this, and read a few pages in the book I’ve been working on for a month and a half –
Julie and Julia
(good book, just no time to read).
Some days, we share kisses.
1117 Finished feeding Anna. Took Anna into Katie in Bo’s room. Attempted to go work but didn’t make it. Bo is crying “Mama, Mama” at the door. Come out, give him a hug, and explain that Mama has to go to work.
1139 Manage to go back to work. Work. Work. Work. Grading. Feedback. Discussion. Work. Work. Work. Try to get as much as I can done as quickly as possible. Hear babies crying and want to go help Katie but realize that if I don’t get my work done now, I won’t have any time later. Keep working and hope that she will come get me if she needs me.
1254 Anna is crying and not napping. I sneak in to deal with her while Katie puts Bo down for his nap.
101 I walk out of the girls’ room as Katie leaves Bo’s. Ask Katie about Thanksgiving and what Bo had for lunch. I stick some leftover spaghetti in the microwave and go back to give Anna her paci. I eat on the floor in our bedroom with the computer on the ottoman.
122 Take plate to the kitchen and gather ingredients for supper. Put the salmon on the counter to thaw and start working on Bo’s birthday thank you notes.
137 Anna is not napping so I get her up and feed her while typing this on my phone. I put Anna in the bouncy to look out the window but she screams most of the time I am feeding Clara. I try to move the bouncy closer and rock her with my foot but she is not thrilled. When Clara is finished I move them both out to the living room.
213 I start with both girls on either side of me on loveseat and attempt to sing and entertain them. Anna is still mad so I attempt to burp her but no luck. Bo has finally stopped talking — he must be asleep.
220 Put the girls on their tummies for tummy time – run into kitchen and get a bowl of cake and ice cream. Eat it hurriedly while sitting on floor with girls and encouraging head raises.
230 Flip girls over (sounds like they are hot cakes, doesn’t it?). Take bowl in kitchen and turn on oven. Play with girls and open box of clothes from blog friend. Show girls the adorable clothes they will be sporting this summer. They aren’t very impressed.
Some days, are a little uncomfortable.
242 Put salmon in the oven. Keep trying to entertain the girls. They are mostly just crabby.
300 Both girls are very fussy. Decide to try to put them down for another nap.
302 Take salmon out of the oven. Go back to girls room to settle Clara
306 Mix the salmon sauce in the crock pot and turn it on. Bo is still quiet. Sit on couch to write thank yous, up and down after nearly every sentence to settle a girl. Nap is not going well.
333 Bo is up. I get him up and we play with Thomas and read in his room and I keep going back and forth to the girls’ room
409 Mike is home. It’s an early day! Yay! He comes into Bo’s room and we all go to the kitchen for a snack. Bo has some milk and fruit snacks.
423 After going in to settle a few more times I decide to get Anna up and feed her. Clara is sleeping. Mike puts on his swim stuff and gets Bo ready to go to Aquatots at the Y.
436 Mike and Bo leave to run an errand in Ottawa before swim class.
449 Clara wakes up. I change her and feed her while typing this. Anna fusses while propped up in the boppy on the floor.
512 Clara is done. Anna is still fussing. I sit on the floor with both and they are both screaming. I try burping, try holding up, try tummy time, nothing works.
523 Decide to give them both gas medicine. Anna stops screaming and falls asleep. Clara will not settle so I try to lay on the floor by her. Try this position, that position, no go. I go in the kitchen to preheat the oven. Back to Clara. Back, forth, back, forth between the kitchen and the girls trying to get dinner ready.
6 Decide to try cribs and see if we have more success. Anna settles immediately. Clara will not. One or both of them is crying the entire two hours that Mike and Bo are gone and I am attempting to fix dinner.
636 Mike and Bo arrive home. Supper is ready and Bo’s is on the table (he usually eats between 5 and 5:30 so this is a late supper for him). Clara is still crying. Mike brings her out to the kitchen in her carseat. Halfway through dinner Anna starts crying. I bring her out. Salmon fettuccine is fine, but not something I’ll be making again. At least the bread tastes good.
702 We finish dinner and leave everything on table. I start feeding Anna while Mike takes Bo to put pjs on and brush his teeth. Usually after pjs Mike and Bo go downstairs to watch Diego and Backyardigans but tonight Bo wants to watch the “puter” so I set him up to watch Cars Toons on You Tube while I feed Clara on the couch. Mike lays on the loveseat and reads a magazine.
721 Both of the girls have eaten. Apparently this was just a snack. I start cleaning off table, Mike comes in to help.
Some days, we just want to be held.
728 Clara starts crying, I go back to the living room to rock her. Mike finishes loading dishwasher. Bo wants to watch Thomas on Netflix on demand. Mike reads his magazine again. I type this on my phone.
745 Mike puts Bo to bed. I change both babies and put both babies in living room. Mike watches babies while I empty diapers and gather garbage on the main floor, make our bed, and pick up from the day.
811 I sit down in the living room. Mike is watching both girls in the living room too. Turn on computer – attempt to work. Mike and Anna go downstairs to feed cats. Clara cries so I pick her up and attempt to work with one hand.
840 We put the girls in their cribs, hoping for a short nap before the last feeding.
846 I try to work while Mike is in girls’ room. Mike goes in to see Bo as he is upset about something.
848 I realize my brain is fried and no more work is going to be accomplished tonight. I turn off the computer and head to the girls’ room to feed them again since they are still awake. I feed girls and read some of my book.
935 Finished feeding the girls. Talk to Mike briefly in the living room. Put on pjs, wash face, brush teeth, and get ready for bed. Mike will stay up until the girls are fully asleep so I can start sleeping.
958 Lights out. It’s bedtime.
1030 Mike comes to bed. Everyone is asleep.
But there is never any doubt, that we all love each other.
Notes: This was our day on Monday, November 23, 2009. This post was originally typed with my thumbs on my Blackberry throughout the day as events occurred or while I fed a baby. I intentionally chose a “normal” day that did not involve anything extra such as laundry, cleaning, leaving the house, etc. The only abnormal thing was Bo’s swim class. Just substitute that part of the day with me managing three kids while fixing dinner and Mike getting home at 5:45 and you have a totally typical day. This is as relaxing as it gets around here! The photographs in this post were taken on Friday, November 20, 2009 – Bo’s 2nd birthday. A big thanks to Katie for helping me attempt to take some photos of the three of them together!
Wow it makes me dizzy just thinking about your day! You are amazing!
Now I remember why I don't need another baby (or two). Thanks!!! LOVE the picture where they are raising their hands. Too funny.
I love the hands one! Little teachers in training!
Oh Jamie – I wish you were closer- I would love to help you, this makes me tired. Mandy is making me wait for grandchildren, I could practice with yours!!! Love you all.
Rena
OH MY!!! I am exhausted just reading this list. I have no idea how I am going to survive in the spring. lol But my husband looked over at the pictures and said they made him super excited to have our twins. Somehow, we'll get through.
Love this post! I couldn't imagine adding a 2 year old with my twins. Good job, Mom!
What a day! You are all troopers.
I try to forget those days of non-stop crying from someone. E cried for 4 months before we figured out that he had eczema and once he started using a treament the non-stop crying stopped. Add in that they were both refluxing, it made for even more fun.
The only way we could get E to sleep in his crib for a long time was to put him in there sleeping. We would move him in his boppy to his crib, or rock him to sleep in the rocking chair.
Those outfits you have the girls in are adorable by the way.
Wow, you must be exhausted. You are doing an absolutely terrific job though!
What a crazy day! At least things will start to calm down or get into more of a routine.
I love the pictures! Which girl is in brown? She looks like Bo to me and I think he looks like you. Does the other girl resemble Mike?
What a crazy LONG day!! You have to be exhausted, I am exhausted just reading about your day. I just wanted to let you know you are such an amazing mom and are doing a wonderful job.
I am also tired just from reading this
Keep up the good work & definitely get some rest when you can!
The hardest part about all this is that it never ends does it? Just when you think you can sleep. Something happens. I have 2 boys, 4yrs and 19mths and I can count on one hand the number of nights that the youngest one has slept through.
Nothing in comparison to having twins though (and working – here's a medal for you!!!!).
I *really* got this post!
wow, this is amazing! to see it all written out…completely overwhelming! a true testament to what goes into a day and the hard work of raising kids…and how much the little details matter! what a great mom you are!