date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 09:25:41 PM PDT
sub: being a new parent early twins day 2
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We completed two full days of being parents of a preemie, and it
wasn't easy, but we achieved our goals. One to make it through
the day. Two, to feed our child enough so that he grows, and he
did, a total of 3.5 oz. This was no small effort. It required
feeding him every two hours 40 mg of food.

As people we are a bit exhausted. My wife and I are trying to
take shifts at different times to sleep. I try to catch some
rest with my son when I'm waiting for my watch to silent alarm,
but the rest isn't that deep. While I'm on care duty my wife
rests with the cat during the night as much as she can before
she has to wake up to pump her breast milk. So I might get
about 4 hours of good sleep a day, and my wife about 3.5 hours
of good sleep. During the day we see each other and try to do
what people do; like eat breakfast, take a shower, prepare for
appointments.  Our spirits are high but we have a couple months
to go. I have to remember to take it hour by hour. If I think
about our daughter coming home, I wonder how anyone can do
anything but care for their children.  Parenting is difficult,
so when you see yourself in the mirror remember someone gave it
their all to get you there. Their all was their sleep and
ultimately their life force. Please rejoice in their sacrifice.  

As I work at this in the wee hours of the morning, measuring
water to formula, mixing, cleaning, sanitizing, changing
diapers, I have to pretend I'm some scientist, growing a human,
in order to get them to the starting line for the dream of life
in 20 years. All I did a week before almost doesn't matter. No
shows to watch, no looking into new technology, nothing much
matters but keeping my babies alive. 

Its like the pros in the NICU as they nod and smile as we talk
about what we think we experience having just gave birth, in
their mind they probably are thinking, if you love them, show
us! Keep them alive! 

Our pediatrician told us we can feed our child every 3 hours,
and that he is going to eat more. We are moving forward, and our
next checkup is a weigh in. In this corner weighing in at 4 lbs
and 13 oz ... well we hope its a bit more than that!

Life is a dream. No matter what you are doing. Remember the work
you do is the dream and some strange journey of experience, for
what purpose ... we can only hope we find  out at the end. 

I love them.