My dear, sweet, M&M - this blog is for you. I am not sure if I'll ever get around to putting together your baby books- particularly b/c I find them kind of strange - but I do want to make sure I capture all of those unique moments that you two create in our lives. I don't know if one day I'll present you with my musings so you can know not only how much we love you (obvious), but also how much you enrich and enliven each day of our lives together. Or maybe this blog will just be for me and your dad - to write down and remember the funnies, the frustratings, the tenders, the togetherness of life with you two.Today you are 7 weeks and 5 days old and the pace at which you are changing is stunning. Daddy and I are so sad that your babyhood is racing by so quickly, but we are so thrilled at how you seem to be thriving and growing and more full of life every day.
But since this is my first entry, I wanted to take you back to the beginning - your birth- and write down some of the memories I have from it...
June 14, 2008 - Your birth, kids, was very surreal. I was in Durham with Auntie Alexa and Daddy was still in NYC. He was due to fly in that evening, and we had a special night planned as our final "date" before you came into our lives. But at the hospital, because of some surprises with Auntie Alexa, the doctors decided to take you out right away. I was shocked and I was so worried that your dad wouldn't make it for your birth. I begged the docs to wait until night to get you out, and they agreed (I think my tears kind of shocked them into submission). Anyway, your dad got to the hospital only about 30 minutes before your birth so we really cut it close!
Anyway, Meera, you came out first. The docs held you up for us so we could see you, and I thought you were the cutest baby I'd ever laid my eyes on. You had the most adorable, fat cheeks - even in your first moments in this world! And you were very calm - you didn't seem too upset by having been yanked out of your safe, comfy home into the wide world. Max, with you things were a bit different. They took several minutes to try to get you out, and the docs just seemed a bit stressed about it all. We found out later that you had a cord around your neck and they had to get you out safely, which took some time. But in those few minutes, I remember a feeling of dread growing steadily in me. We had had so much bad news over the past few years, that I was just paranoid. But then they told me you came out and we only got a very quick peek at you before they whisked you away. All I remember is that you had the cutest little lips which were bright red and so sweet and kissable!
Later, we were allowed to spend more time with you. I kept going back and forth from one of you to the other, just amazed and in wonderment that you were in this world. You looked so adorable, even then in your first hours of life in the nursery. Max, you looked like SUCH A BOY! There was no mistaking you for a boy- it was clear as day. Just something about your face. And Meera, your cheeks... oh they were so fat and sweet! You were both totally pink and it was kind of hard to believe that you were our kids! Your dad and I were definitely in awe.
Your grandparents didn't make it time for the birth, but Ammamma and Thatha showed up just a few hours after you were born, and Grandma and Grandpa drove through the night so they could see you as soon as possible- the first morning after you were born. They were all so excited and thrilled and totally amazed by you. I remember calling Aju Mama and talking to him and he was so excited- just laughing and laughing with so much happiness. Diyatha was full of joy too! And Uncle Brandon and Aunt Maggie just couldn't wait to see pics of you and were so excited. Dean all of a sudden went from being an only grandchild to have TWO cousins! You were so deeply loved by so many people- from your first moments on this earth!
You had to spend the first few hours in the nursery, but at around 3 or 4am, the nurse brought you in to us. Daddy and I were sleeping at the time but we woke up instantly and were so excited to see you! I'll never be able to describe what we were feeling in those first few moments and first few days, but there was just so much love and happiness. There was also lots of confusion about how to take care of you and fear that we were going to screw up! Neither of us had really ever spent much time with babies- we were both pretty darn clueless! But the nurses at Duke hospital were amazing and they helped us and trained us so much. Our first nurse was Jamaican or some sort of Carribean, and she was my favorite. She was so patient with us and so, so helpful and friendly. The next night our nurse was an Asian woman who was also very helpful but wow- she was a firecracker! She would totally put you in your place and wouldn't take no for an answer! She had a bit of an edge, but she still got the job done and we appreciated that about her. All of the staff at Duke were really top notch and they were all so thrilled about you- you two were so special- even with the staff! You were twins, and of course you had a very unique and special story about how you came into our lives, and everyone at the hospital was so excited for our new family and thought you were so wonderful....
The First Week - OK, the next week was pretty darn crazy. It was like a zoo at our condo in Durham. First of all, all 4 grandparents were around for some time. And I mean, everyone loves each other, but it's hard to keep 6 adults and 2 babies in one three-bedroom apartment. Period. But we did it, and it was all for you two. We were just all so excited and happy! In that week, you had your first few pediatrician appointments and they were... well, stressful. We loved your first pediatrician, May Slowik- she was really sweet and thorough just great all around- we were impressed. But wow, getting you to and from those appointments was hard, and then what was most stressful was that you were dropping weight rapidly and the doc was kind of nervous about it, which made us nervous! We had to bring you in every day for about a week and it was not only stressful but exhausting! We were novices at lugging twin newborns around, and well- how good can anyone really get at that anyway?
I had a few really emotional moments with you kids that week, b/c I was so worried and overwhelmed and all I wanted was for you to gain weight and begin to thrive. It was hard though b/c on top of dropping weight rapidly, you were also very, very tough to feed, but we had a lot of pressure to make sure you ate properly! I guess b/c you were early, you were just seriously sleepy babies and you had very little interest in food. We had to monitor your feeds and poops and pees like hawks, writing every little detail down to show to the pediatrician. And wow, it was a huge fight every time we had to feed you, which was often! It was like Christmas on steroids when you finally started turning the corner and gaining weight- oh, we celebrated!!!!
Aju Mama and Diyatha came and visited you in your first few days back home and that was really, really neat. I think they really enjoyed seeing you and welcoming you into this world. They were experts at holding you and even helped me feed you a little bit. Your dad and I were so, so touched that they flew all the way to Durham to welcome you into the world. They are such truly good people and you two kiddos are very lucky to have them in your lives!
Auntie Alexa and Grandma Jeannie and Zoe also came to visit several times. They really enjoyed seeing you and holding you and Zoe was just so fascinated with you! I felt bad b/c we didn't want her to hold you and I know she was dying to, but she was such a good girl and never complained one bit! It was a lot of fun when they visited and I wish they lived closer so that we could get together more often.
Anyway, the first week was pretty crazy. Really crazy. Feeding twins every 2-3 hours was a real chore. We all took shifts and somehow got through it all. In spite of how totally crazy it was, it was so special and I have nothing but really warm and happy memories of that time. It was neat.
The Second Week - Well, the highlight of the second week was bringing you home! Oh man, was that an adventure. We had to drive you from Durham, NC to New York City, your home. That, by the way, is a loooong way with newborn twins! We ended up breaking the journey up into legs. Our first leg was from Durham to Richmond. That is actually normally only 2 hours by car, but it took us probably double that time. We had to feed you right smack dab in the middle of the trip, which of course was nuts! Feeding you in the car and changing your diaper in the car...well, I think the pics say it all!
Another very, very special thing that we got to do on this leg of the journey is to visit your great grandma. I really hope you kids get the chance to get to know her, b/c she is an amazing, amazing woman. Your great grandpa was too - I know your dad really wishes you could have known him and so do I. But you did get to meet Great Grandma Salmon and it meant so much to all of us. She was so thrilled to see you and we were thrilled to show you to her. She kept saying how this was her first set of newborn twins that she'd ever seen! It was a really special visit. Your Aunt Missy and cousin Abby and Great Aunts Verne and Delle were all there to greet you too. I think everyone was really thrilled to see you guys, and you did us proud- you were so cute!
Anyway, after another stop in DC with Ammamma and Thatha, we headed home. After a strange and exciting two weeks, you were HOME!
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