Ten pm and the eyes are drooping

Sorry folks. I've been meaning to write and post pics for ages, and we've just struggled to find the energy. At the moment, we are waiting until 10.30 to feed the boys and put them down for the night, and Claudia threatened me with violence if I didn't post. ;)

So here you are, but I'm incapable of stringing lots of word together, so no monologue to go with the pics. Sorry. Enjoy the photo catch up anyways. Just to let everyone know that the boys are doing brilliantly. Cheers

EndNovMidDecember

Up,down and all around

This has been a hectic couple of days. First off, the good news: James is sleeping through, and has done so for 10 nights in a row. We wake him up to feed at around 11; and he holds all the way through to 6. Of course, Thomas doesn't. This was especially true last night.

One of the real down parts. Damn, Thomas just wouldn't go to sleep; and of course Daddy has to walk around trying to calm him. Eventually, Mom managed to get him sleepy; but it was a really bad night. The awfulness has been compounded by the lack of a night nurse over this last week. She's off sick. Hopefully that will be sorted this week. I'm really tired.

However, a further up is the form of baby genius James, who not only sleeps through - but even holds his own bottle now. Granted, he doesn't really lift it up, nor do it every time, but he can hold it.

We had Claudia's folks over for a braai today. Robyn and Keith joined us, and all this because Claudia bought a bad piece of meat. She was desperate for steak, and bought a piece of Rump. On the reverse side however, the piece was full of gristle and fat; so she phoned to bitterly complain, and the manager drove in his own car to our house to drop off a replacement steak; twice the size. So we decided that cooking a kilo of meat for two was a bit decadent, and took the opportunity to have a get together.

As we speak, I'm waiting for 11 to feed James, and hopefully make it 11 nights in a row. Holding thumbs.

Mid to Late November

It's the end of the world as we know it.

These two are in all kinds of strife as we speak. Thomas is struggling to feed nicely, and James has a little bit of a runny tummy. That said, the people taking the most strain are not the twins. Claudia and I are short on sleep and humour at the moment.

We have made some nice changes to the house. This was in a bid to separate some space out for the boys to play in. We moved the dining room table to where the lounge was, and turned it 90. The couches come next, set in a L shape against the top wall next to the fireplace. This leaves a small space behind the couches and in front of the kitchen for the boys. It has been a hectic week and there are no promises it will get easier.

In other news, James is over the 5kg mark (5.3); while Thomas has kept up weighing in 600 g's lighter - just like last time. We also have some pics for you to peruse. Cheers.

Late October to Early November

October draws to an end

Wow. Can you imagine the world used to be without these two? Apart from some feeding issues, they are wonderful; and have been growing and working out (courtesy of their mobiles) getting ready to move about on their own someday. I'm not sure we're ready for that.

We have managed to find some time to take the boys out; and to record their growth and activities for prosperity. Since all two of you that read this blog really only want to see pictures (and who could blame you); here they are. Presenting in all their glory - the two little tykes.

Mid to Late Ocotber

Hello Summer

October is upon us. The final quarter. The boys have been growing steadily. After the saga of the night nurse, we have been without help during the night, and the lack of sleep is starting to get to us. That said, we have been coping just fine. You learn to adapt I spose.

Today we had a real suicide hour. Poor Claudia! She deals with it every day, half an hour of which is without any help. But this time the kids were shrieking. James was even crying loudly while sleeping. Not an easy trick. Still they're damn cute, even when the tears are flowing and the tempers flaring attached are some pics of the first few days of October. Cheers.

First week (and bit) of October 2008

We're growing rapidly now.

The time literally flies by. It seems like only yesterday that the twins had arrived home from the hospital. Things in the Hicks household continue along at a frantic pace.

But first, some things I need to tell you about. Some adventures in babysitting, if you will. First there was the saga of the nanny. Quite some time ago, Claudia and I decided to investigate hiring a nanny during the day. This was mainly to give Claudia some much needed help while I was at work. So we went through an agency called Nanny Magic. After interviewing, and finding what Claudia felt was the best candidate, we signed on the dotted line. What a nightmare! She was useless, bringing Claudia a bottle, when she asked for a dummy; or a disposable nappy to wipe the dribble from the boys' chins ... Really pathetic. So we let her go, and made use of the "guarantee" period to interview more candidates. We now have Alica, and she's working out great.

Then, the saga of the night nurse. Rejoice is her name, and the first few times we used her - there was much rejoicing. But the last two times tore the whole thing up. The penultimate night we were awoken by the twins screeching in harmony for a good few minutes. I got up to help, and immediately went into the nursery to calm them. Rejoice nowhere to be seen. She arrived shortly, and when I asked where she had been, she pleaded her need to use the loo. I could not verify it, but it seemed unlikely, because I thought she had come from the lounge; but still. I let it go. The last night she worked for us, we were once again woken up by a baby crying - this time James on his own. For ten or so minutes we waited, expecting to hear Rejoice calm him down; but when that didn't happen - Claudia got up to see what was what. No Rejoice to be seen; so Claudia carried the, now calm, child through and found Rejoice asleep on the couch, curled up with her back to the world; snoring loudly. To make it worse, both monitors were off.

Apparently - if you want something done right, then you best do it yourself.

So now we are without a night nurse, and searching for a new one. We do have a good contact; but they are not yet available.

That said, the twins slept 5 hours last night in one sitting; which is brilliant.

Still, to keep you all up to date - here is the latest batch of pictures. Enjoy.

The boys from middle to end Sept 2008

Big Day Out

Hi again. I know it's been a while. I have a great excuse. At the moment, all I can think of is sleep, and my desire to do anything else simply has disappeared. Time does not weigh heavily on my hands!

We have done more than just eat, feed, poo and be changed in the last few days, and the photos attached are evidence of that. On Friday for example, while I was at work, the twins met some family and friends at the zoo. Which was pretty cool for them, and I'm very sad I missed it. Robyn and Keith are back from the UK. I think they simply couldn't stand to be away from the little tykes. Grandpa Hicks is also out for a visit, which is great, and he loves seeing his grandsons.

Thomas is still struggling in comparison to his brother. The doctor is concerned over his head, which is slightly smaller than James's, but it is growing, which is good. The twins also weigh almost 4 kgs now, and are picking up weight at almost 30g a day.

So, without further ado here are some pics. Some of the days before the big one to catch up; and then one of the big day. Enjoy.

7-8 Weeks	The Big Day

The end of my parent's tether

The terrible twosome have made sure that lack of sleep is foremost on our minds. My memory, bad under the best of circumstances, is almost gone. But, despite this, they are adorable.

There are moments when both Claudia and I have looked down at them with a mixture of tiredness, irritation and supreme discontent. When James has refused to settle for two hours, and is threatening to wake his brother with every breath, it is difficult to stop yourself shaking him with frustration. But even at these times (like last night for instance) it is impossible to not fall in love with them.

Claudia needed to go see the doctor yesterday, so the twins got to see their deliverer. They behaved beautifully, just to prove that they can. We even stopped off at Melrose Arch to get a coffee and allow my work colleagues to come and check the little tykes out. Next stop - Vodacom.

Okay, enough with the verbal barrage. You just look here for the update albums anyway ... Cheers.

Week 6

Thomas is home at last

I know, I know - I've been lax in posting photos. Sorry about that. But we have news to report. Young Thomas has joined his younger brother at the home of goodness that is 31 Equity. He marked his appearance with some synchronized screaming from 6 to 10 that same night.

As the saying goes, when he's good, he's very good; but when he's screaming loudly, he's very very loud. Nevertheless we have some good photos to share, and they stretch back to before Thomas came home.

The twins are keeping us awake at night, and we'll need to hire a nurse soon to help out. in the meantime - here you go ...

Visitors, Last few days in hospital, One Month Old & Thomas coming home

Updates, Updates, wherefore art thou Updates?

Sorry to all two of you who read this blog. I haven't been updating it, mainly because I haven't uploaded photos from the camera yet (soon I promise). Also because I haven't slept in a while. James has developed colic, and last night screamed for 3 hours straight between feeds while his stomach was twisting and turning inside him. Poor little boy.

Apart from the night antics, we have done little to warrant an update. Thomas continues to improve slightly each time we see him, but the rate is very slow. He's demand feeding now, and continues to take most of his feed via sucking at the bottle. They have had to tube progressively less and less. When he is taking all his feed consistently, then we can bring him home.

James has blossomed at home, picking up weight at a good pace. When he went for his first inoculations we weighed him, and he is a healthy 2.7 kgs (we were discharged with him at 2.26 kgs). Thomas, by contrast, has slowed. When James was discharged, Thomas read a pleasing (from a purely mathematical symmetry point of view) 2.62. He's now 2.78 kgs. A gain is a gain; but 440 grams (by James) is much more than 160 grams (by Thomas).

We have read that this is common for twins, as they will catch each other up early on, before growing at the same rate. Nature makes up for the differences at birth, bringing them back to the "identical" part of their existence. Ain't it beautiful?

Speaking of which they are still lady killers, and continue (when not screaming blue murder) to make our lives complete. Poor Claudia is dead on her feet, and her mood spirals down at night when Thomas isn't there, and she's acutely aware of it, but it picks up again. We're handling it, and that, at the end of the day, is all that matters.

Rise and Shine Sleepyhead!

James is lucky he's so damn cute. This morning, after a feed at 2 am, and only half way towards his scheduled feed at 6, he decided he was hungry. We're trying to keep it dim during these feeds to instill the idea that night time is sleep time. So I stumbled up and groped my way to the kitchen to boil a kettle.

Having yawned myself to some form of wakefulness, I plopped the bottle of breast milk into a cup of boiling water, and groped my way in the gloom to the bedroom.

It had been suggested that we start a feed, and then do a nappy change, if needed, part way through. So having got him settled, and partially fed, I opened the wrapped blanket to see what was what. This is the point at which sensitive viewers may want to switch channels ...

All down his left leg, through the white baby grow, and glistening like an oil slick in the near black, was a steak of something unmentionable. Guess he needs that change then ...

Since it is winter, changes are something to be done in haste, and are impossible to do quietly. This is an issue because Claudia was passed out in the bed, and in desperate need of sleep. I swore softly but violently, and holding the poor child up on my shoulder to help burp him, I awkwardly laid out the changing mat, and collected the paraphernalia needed, one handed. The yelling has to be heard to be believed. You'd think we were skinning the child, not stripping him. And I'm trying to do it at pace in near pitch black. In the immortal words of Peter Sellers: "That felt good!" (Pink Panther Strikes Again, just after the Inspector has fallen down a stair well)

Well, the story ends with me washing baby clothes at 5, and walking up and down with the little tyke until I had to get ready for work at 7 because he wouldn't go down. Tough work - but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Oh, thankfully I have no pictures of this episode.

Visitors!

Sally phoned me a while ago and berated me for not organizing a visit sooner. To be honest, we had, but with the pregnancy and then the sudden arrival, it somehow fell through the cracks. So we arranged for Sally to visit with Matthew and my mom. The day finally arrived, and yesterday I phoned to make sure of arrangements.

Of course the plans had changed. So, expecting my mom at 9, and the rest at around 11, it was a bit of a shock to get the call this morning saying the whole gang was coming over. This was 8.15 and we were catching up on sleep. A few brilliantly quick showers, some frantic tidying up, and some rapid preparation of bottles later, we were ready to greet our guests. This was handy, as the car had just pulled up outside the gate.

It was a wonderful visit, and really good to see them. Matthew is huge, and looking like a real mix of Driver and Walland. His size is clearly Walland at the moment, and seeing Matthew next to James was unreal - as in I didn't believe it to be real. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of the two together to show you all the size difference. But there are some pics nonetheless.

Sally, John, Granny and Matthew

Thomas' first bath

Well, a few days ago we were asked to come in to the neo-natal ICU to give young Thomas his first bath. Thomas took some time to be ready for this big step because of all the tubes, drips and other assorted paraphernalia. It is difficult to immerse a child in water if his head, arms and legs are sprouting tubes and wires. It was a big moment. This was a real sign of how much better he is, and quite a moment. We missed James' first bath, and we were not going to miss Thomas', come hell, high water or eskom load shedding.

It was every bit a special as you might have thought, and was made even more so because they removed the feeding tube for the duration. It is incredible how much difference that makes. Dad got to do the bathing, whilst mom gave encouragement, and took some truly awful pictures. The best of the 50 she took (and almost the only ones that are not blurred beyond imagining) are posted here for you to enjoy. Look at that handsome devil. He did look better with hair, but they shaved it off to put drips in his head. When it grows back - watch out ladies!

First bath for Thomas

Welcome all and sundry

Hi,

Being the internet savvy type I've decided I'm tired of sending out links to new picassa albums every time some new dodgy photos of the twins appear. So instead I'm going to try and keep this up to date with news, views and interviews of the terrible twosome.

Welcome to the wonderful world my boys - your life is being blogged about already ...