The National Sleep Foundation in the United States maintains that eight to nine hours of sleep for adult humans is optimal and that sufficient sleep benefits alertness, memory and problem solving, and overall health, as well as reducing the risk of accidents.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy, full-term newborns should breastfeed eight to twelve times in each 24-hour period. This equates to feedings two to three hours apart.
Oliver:
Alexander:
Alexander and Oliver came home last Saturday. We've had almost a full week with them at home. After 18 days in the hospital, they seem to be adjusting to home life well. We are a little tired, but thrilled to have the family together.
5 am - Wake up
6 am - Check in at hospital
7 am - Gail gets hooked up to medicine that will induce labor. Contractions every 4-5 minutes.
8 am - Doctor comes in, checks dilation, breaks water, and hooks up monitor to Alexander (he's the one whose head is sitting right on Gail's cervix). 2-3 cm dilation
8:20 am - Anesthesiologist administers epidural
9-10 am - Rest, even doze off awhile.
10 am - Nurse checks dilation. 4 cm dilation; contractions every 2 minutes.
Things are going well right now. No terrible pains. It looks like it will be a pretty long process. The medicine is slowly working. We're hoping things will pick up before 2 pm. Our nurse Carrie leaves at 2. We kind of like her. She's like a grandma from the Upper Midwest or at least how I imagine a grandma from the Upper Midwest to be.
In preparation for the boys' arrival, we upgraded our Flickr account. Feel free to visit. I'll be uploading photos from iPhoto in a haphazard sort of way. Eventually we will have it organized so you can find pictures of Oliver and Alexander rather easily.
Being pregnant with twins is an interesting experience. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to, but I have daily reminders of how different it must be. For instance, everywhere I go, people comment on how I must be about to go into labor, etc. It's like they can't believe I'm walking around doing normal-life stuff when I'm so massively pregnant. At the birthing classes that Chris and I attended last month, I had a substantially bigger belly than any other woman there--and they were all due well before me! I guess this all makes sense given my doctor's report that I'm currently measuring 2 weeks past a single pregnancy due date. Whoa! What's weird is that I don't feel as big as I apparently look. Despite the stares and my own relative discomfort, I am elated to know that the boys are growing so well and that my body is handling that growth. I am thrilled to see my uterus continue to stretch beyond what seems humanly possible. I still can't quite believe that we will have two sons sometime within the next month, but I can't wait!
By the end of the year we will have three boys in our new house. I'm including myself as one of the boys. The other two are currently residing in Gail's stomach.
1. My book is out in the UK and is on its way to the US in October. Order now! Don't let the price deter you. The nice purple cover and the light reading will make everyone on your Christmas list happy.
2. Tonight, Gail and I are planning to go to our first Single-A minor league baseball game. Go Ems!
3. The baseball stadium just happens to be near our soon-to-be new house. We close next week.
4. Gail is visibly pregnant and more beautiful than ever. See for yourself. By the way, one of the babies is a boy. They other one is modest. Hopefully he/she will be more revealing next sonogram.
5. Go see Angel-A as soon as you can. It is a beautiful film! If you have time go see Once and Bourne Ultimatum too.
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Now playing: Black Moth Super Rainbow - Sun Lips
via FoxyTunes
...the newest soon-to-be members of the Spinks clan.
That's right. Gail is pregnant...with TWINS!!! It's a long story. Maybe one day we'll tell it. Right now we are overjoyed. Two for the price of one!
