Carseat Installation

I understand carseat installation is a difficult procedure even in ideal condititons.

Monday afternoon, after an hour of futile investigation, I discovered our 2001 VW Passat isn't equiped with new LATCH safety system as I was led to believe. LATCH makes it much easier to install carseats by providing standard connection points that are bolted to the car frame. Simply connect the carseat to LATCH using the provided tethers and calipers, tighten, and you're done. No LATCH meant using the old-fashioned seat belt approach.

Unfortunately, I didn't get back to installing the carseats until earlier this morning. In the hospital parking lot. Add the pressure of insuring our children's safety to the anticipation of finally taking the twins home, and you get a frantic hourlong blitzkrieg. Me against the carseats. Me against the instruction manuals (VW's and the carsear manufacturer's -- which often conflicted). I emerged victorous and sweaty with an hour or so to spare.

Coming Home!

Doctors have cleared both Lucie and Ryan to come home tomorrow! In order to be released, the twins had to pass a battery of tests more gruelling than the SAT. Is an hour of continuous monitoring in a car seat really necessary? How did our ancestors ever survive?

In celebration of the twins' imminent departure, the nursing staff replaced the standard white linens with colorful polka dot sheets. In preparation, we bought 200 diapers, premie shirts, and formula from Babies 'R' Us. That haul filled an entire shopping cart and yet will be consumed in about 10 days...

Best Buddies

Despite frequent whacks from 8 flying limbs in the same bed, the twins are most comfortable when next to one another. Sharing a womb for 35 weeks must forge a strong bond. Often the nursing staff will bundle them in the same blanket so they can share bodyheat. Then it becomes a race to see who can free one of their arms from the cloth cocoon first.

Thanks to Melanie for the new gender appropriate hats. Despite their elfen appearance, the hats are nice and soft.

Infant Special Services Center

We can't begin to describe how thankful we are for the talented and committed staff in the Infant Special Services Center. For those wondering, it's not called a NICU (neo-natal ICU) because the ward accepts babies who have already been discharged. Megan and I joked on several occassions that it is like having the world's greatest baby-sitters -- 24/7 care, expert advice, and constant attention.

The ward also has volunteer "cuddlers" who come in to hold and feed babies. Typically elderly and retired (think nice grandmas), cuddlers are there to give the twins additional affection since we couldn't be there all day. Plus, cuddlers are renowned for their knitting experience. All of the hats and blankets (including the ones in the photo) were made by cuddlers for babies to use during their stay in the hospital. Very nice to see the twins in something other than pink and blue stripes.

Naming Conventions

The name Lucie reminded Megan of her multiple experiences abroad in France. Her friend Sophie, a French friend met during a high school exchange program, named her little girl Lucie a few years back and the idea stuck. Ryan is a name we both like, but most importantly, neither of us have ever known a 'bad' Ryan.

The middle names are a longer story. I've been telling close friends about naming a boy "Dodger" for about 15 years. My obvious team allegiance aside, I didn't think about using it as a name until the TV show China Beach featured a character named "Dodger" in the late '80s. We continued the baseball theme with "Brooklyn" for Lucie's middle name.

Besides, does the world really need another Kaitlyn or Michael?

Cosleeping (Day 3)

Ryan (again in turquoise) and Lucie have returned to their in utero relationship. They now share the same bed warmer and seem to draw comfort from one another. One will often remain sound asleep while the other flails about during a diaper change.

For the most part, the nursing staff have them on the same schedule. As soon as one twin is done, they begin the take temperature/change diaper/feed/burp cycle with the other.

Megan continues to recover from the c-section upstairs in the postpartum are of the Maternity Center. The preeclampsia disappears after delivery so she's thankful to avoid the hourly blood pressure checks -- now it's only every four hours :>

Day 1

Since Ryan (in turquoise hat) and Lucie were born at just under 35 weeks, they are technically premature babiesthe NICU nurses call them "near-term" since 36 weeks is the average gestation for twins.

Still, they get the full neonatal experience: IV lines to deliver fluids and 24/7 monitoring of heart rate, respiration rate, and oxygen levels. Soft splints on their arms help keep the IV lines clear and avoid accidental pullouts (even at one day, the twins are already good at pulling things).

They are issued standard NICU apparrel of a white shirt and striped blanket. At least they have hand-knitted hats donated by volunteers.

Recovery

Despite the effects of the local anethesia, Megan was able to hold the twins again just a few hours after the procedure. Since they were five weeks premature and a little undersized, Lucie and Ryan were taken to the top-notch Infant Special Services Center (NICU).

Ryan!

Another quick crier, Ryan Dodger followed his sister one minute later thanks to the wonder of c-sections. Weird to think that while Megan is holding her son for the first time, a team of six medical professionals is performing major surgery on the other side of a curtain.

His vital statistics: 5 pounds, 13 ounces and 18.5 inches.

Lucie!

Lucie Brooklyn announced her arrival in the world with an almost immediate cry. Formerly known as "Baby A", Lucie had first honors as the presenting baby -- even though she was born via cesarian section. Megan cradled her once the medical staff finished their checklist.

Her vital statistics: 5 pounds, 1 ounce and 18.5 inches.