Trial Run

Sooooooooo thanks to Fay, my help this week (Aunt Tracy) had her flight cancelled last night and won't be here until this afternoon.. yes that means that I am flying solo today. It had to happen eventually and I am up to the challenge, even though it is coming a few days sooner than I thought it would. 

I kissed Stephen goodbye this morning, then hugged him tight, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay until he was out the door. Then I sat down to give myself a pep talk. I tried to pray but couldn't think of what to pray for so I just prayed for help and patience, feeling more tears welling up in my eyes. Ada was already waking up, starting to cry with hunger. Deep breath. Go into my bedroom and get all pillows, Boppies, baby medicine and burp clothes ready for the morning feeding. Went in to open the blinds in the girls' room and unwrap them to get them started waking up for breakfast. Ada gets louder, Margot is still sleeping peacefully. Decide I need some soothing music to keep my emotions at bay. Turn on a quiet iTunes mix. Pick up Ada to change her diaper - discover her diaper was not tight enough and she has peed on her shirt, poor baby. Put her back down to go make sure the load of baby clothes from last night is dry in the dryer (so I have more blankets if I need to change her blanket too). Ada is starting to turn red with all the crying. Pick her up again and change her diaper, decide to go ahead and put on a fresh Onesie, calm her down so I can get Margot ready to eat as well. Pick up Margot who immediately starts to protest. Her cries silence Ada who lies on her back staring contentedly up at Margot and I from the crib. Start to change Margot, she chooses the moment I open up her diaper to pee all over herself and the new diaper. Deep breath. Discard both old and new diaper.. get another new diaper and secure it in place. Wipe a screaming Margot down with a diaper wipe. Change her clothes. Ok.. we are ready. How to pick up two wiggly babies at once. I find it easier to hold them both in the "football hold", one on either side. Tuck Margot under my left arm, reach down into the crib with my right and scoop Ada up, quickly tucking her under my right arm.. and we're off to the bedroom to eat. Put each down on the bed, climb into position. Watch Ada turning purple with her ever increasing hunger cries. Apologize to Ada, trying to soothe her verbally and remind her that I have to give Margot her antibiotics before we get started. Margot looks on contentedly licking her lips and glancing over at Ada's breathless screaming face. Deep breath. Give Margot her medicine, which she takes like a champ. Put Margot back down and scoop up Ada who latches on like a like a champ and starts to eat her breakfast with vigor. Lean over carefully (making sure not to dislodge Ada) and lift Margot into position, who too latches on and starts to eat. We did it! I lean back and sing along to the Regina Spektor song drifting in from the living room. 30 minutes later the girls have nursed themselves into a sleepy stupor. I put both back on the bed and burp them one at time. Then it's back to the nursery football style. Another diaper change for each and a good swaddle and they are down for the count. Yeah!!  Feeling ambitious and energized I make the bed and tidy the bedroom, head to the kitchen and wash the few dishes there before fixing my breakfast. My back starts to ache a touch and I take my Advil and remind myself that I better not overdo it since I have only 3 hours before I need to do this all over again, so I better make the best of the time that I have - translation - make sure I get a shower and a nap. Speaking of which, I better get going :)