Oh, what a night!

My level of sleep deprivation with the twins is nowhere near what I was fearing, but when we have a rough night, it's a doozy...

First, let me set the background. It was one of those days that are oh-so-relaxing compared with, you know, that horrible stressful working for a living. All I did was multiple feeds, multiple changes, laundry, organise three kids out the door, walk to the train station in the seriously hot sun, lug a double stroller on to the train, feed both twins (again) on the train, haul the stroller off the train, walk to the doctors, discover that the doctors' elevator doesn't FIT the double stroller, unload both twins from the stroller and leave it in the pharmacy downstairs (who know me well from my horrible sick pregnancy and are always delighted to see the twins), carry both twins and a nappy bag while herding a recalcitrant five-year-old up to the doctor, visit the doctor, lug the magically-increasing-in-weight-ugh twins back downstairs and into the stroller, go to a café so I could feed both twins (again), walk back to the train station, lift the stroller on to the train, sit on the train for a few treasured moments while entertaining the five-year-old by playing "spot the flax/toetoe/gorse/agapanthus/Norfolk pine", and unload the stroller. Then I took Xander swimming while the twins slept.

After a day like that, naturally I was feeling absolutely CHIPPER.

Hubby got home from work before we straggled in, but the moment we got home he retired to bed feeling unwell. So I cooked dinner, got in four loads of laundry (funny how every time I'm at the clothesline, the theme song to The Neverending Story pops into my head), and did dishes while I jollied the twins and a very grumpy Xander along. Then I bathed the twins by myself (an operation that requires a very precise setup of towels, clean clothes, nappies and change-mat to enable quick changes). Vieve did her newly-customary-and-unwelcome nightly screaming fit, but I got them both to sleep, then read Xander a story.

Phew. All three kids asleep. Time to hang out a load of cloth nappies and another of laundry (in the dark), put out the rubbish and recycling (in the dark) and rinse out the rubbish bins (in the dark).

Now I'm feeling just a wee bit tired. Time for bed... on the couch, since hubby is really unwell. The twins are in the bassinet beside me, and I drift into slumber...

...for an hour. Finn's ready for a feed. I oblige, and drift back into sleep. For a good 20 minutes, when Xander comes out, climbs on to me and announces that he had a nightmare that his storm book fell into the water!

Gasp! And then proceeds to talk at me loudly and lucidly for the next hour, except for the brief occasions where he starts batting at the air and freaking out about SPIDERS and their WEBS and TURTLES (don't ask me). The poor guy is really spooked. Eventually, though it's far too hot to be snuggled up together, I manage to get him to sleep.

Until Vieve wakes up at 4am for a feed. I banish Xander to the other end of the couch while I feed her. It's a quiet bonding moment as I gaze into her eyes in the annoying streetlight that comes through the blinds. She gazes back at me, pops off, smiles... and poops. Voluminously. I groan, and carry her into the hallway where I can turn the light on without waking either hubby or Xander and Finn.

Halfway through changing her, Xander runs up and clings to my neck while babbling about SPIDERS and TURTLES and WEBS, oh my! I'm trying to save myself from being strangled while keeping Vieve's feet out of her nappy, when hubby runs past to go throw up. By the time we're all sorted, Vieve figures everyone's awake so it must be time to party.

So she babbles and coos and laughs for the next hour and a half, during which Xander insists that we all decamp from the couch to his room and Finn demands another feed.

And then I got up for the day and did it all over again.

On second thoughts, maybe the title of this entry should be "Birth Control".

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EJT   #1   09:34 am Feb 04 2010

Oh you poor thing! I don't know about you but I find that when things go from crazy to ridiculous I strangely find my mood improves. I stop trying to make everything run smoothly and just hunker down and do what needs to be done. I accept that I might not sleep much for a few days and I change plans accordingly (usually by canceling outings and relaxing my TV rules) and just concentrate on getting through the day in one piece. Sometimes when it all turns to custard it's just nice to have someone acknowledge that you are doing an awesome job - and it sounds like you are!

harrysnapperorgans   #2   09:45 am Feb 04 2010

My word, sounds like a very hard day!

My wife went out with some friends last night and left me with Mr. 8 weeks and Mr 2 years. Mr 2 years was fine and I managed to get him fed and into bed pretty easy. Mr 8 weeks wouldn't take the bottle and wouldn't stop crying, daddy cuddles don't seem to work the same way mummy cuddles do! Of course Mr 2 woke up from all the noise and then I had two crying children to deal with. Hard work, even just for a few hours. I take my hats off to hands-on mothers, and I pray I never have twins . . .

CT   #3   10:51 am Feb 04 2010

Hey Donnelle - HANG IN THERE!!! As much as it feels like a never-ending cycle and that you have NO LIFE outside of your children and the house, it will pass and then you will miss it! No really, you will!! Now I don't have twins, so I can only imagine the juggling act you undertake every second of the day, but I am a Mum and I also know that as much as I like to complain about all the juggling I do at times, I LOVE IT as well. Being a Mum is the most REAL and constructive work I have ever undertaken. I wish you well in your family endeavours and lots of afternoon naps without interuption once the babies are bigger and can be looked after by someone else for a bit!!!

Carolyn   #4   11:49 am Feb 04 2010

I agree with your second thought at the end. Stop Having Kids.

Liv   #5   12:49 pm Feb 04 2010

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the kids don't catch what your husband has. THAT would be bad.

Mel   #6   12:52 pm Feb 04 2010

This may come across as harsh, but its a sincere question: Is it all worth it?? I dont have kids, and I have to say that reading things like this and my Sister In Laws Facebook status updates "L slept for three hours straight last night! YAY", really -really- puts me off having my own kids... Birth Control is right. Our parents can continue to wait for more grandkids coz they sure arent going to get any from me in a hurry!

Clare   #7   01:01 pm Feb 04 2010

Oh man. To get through that 24 hours and not have murdered someone or be carted off to an institution is a miracle! Congratulations and hope it doesn't happen again for a VERY long time!

(not regular posting) Don   #8   01:41 pm Feb 04 2010

I wish i was married to you.

"Hubby got home from work before we straggled in, but the moment we got home he retired to bed feeling unwell"

I'd have to be almost dead with the ebola virus before I was allowed to retire to bed during the crazy hour.

CJ   #9   01:47 pm Feb 04 2010

Mel #6, the answer to your question is YES!

EJT   #10   02:56 pm Feb 04 2010

Mel #6 that is not harsh - it's a fair comment, especially from those who don't have children and are constantly bombarded by horror stories. But the decision you need to make is whether you want to raise a child, not whether you want to have a baby. The baby stage can be tough, but it doesn't last forever. It's pretty damn short actually! Soon it's replaced by another stage with its own benefits and challenges. And it's nice to have an influence over the next generation - put some great people out there who will contribute in positive ways to society. Finally, when I am an old lady, I want to know there are people who love me and will take care of me. Having children isn't an entirely selfless act after all!

And I haven't even touched on all the cliches about how much you learn about yourself by having children, discover a capacity for love you never knew possible, blah blah blah. All true actually :-)

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