This week we had a visit from Nanny and Granpy (Sam’s Dad Keith and Step-mum Debbie) for four days, Saturday to Tuesday. They just loved their grandchildren and spent many hour cuddling and looking after them.  Rosie and Lily are their second and third grandchildren.

It was great to see them and we had a great four days of it.  Everyday we went out for a walk of sorts, went Christmas shopping, managed to fit in a few drinks in bar in town and a meal later in Temple Bar.  Sam and her dad share the same birthday so it was lovely to have a joint celebration over the weekend.

It was a short visit but we will be staying with them again over Christmas.  Below are a selection of photos taken over the weekend.

This weekend I promised I’d take some time out to sit down and write a couple of updates given that we’ve had a fairly busy couple of weeks and I go back to work on Tuesday.

Last weekend we took a visit to Roscommon (my home town) to visit Granny and Grandad and a large number of friends and relatives.  Mum and dad were due to visit us here in Dublin but Dad was taken ill and admitted to hospital so we made the journey down instead.  Thankfully, Dad has since recovered well and is at home home with his feet up.

It was great getting away for the weekend even if the girls were only two weeks old, we needed to get out and they had no choice :). It was scary seeing how much baby gear we had to bring – and how long it took to pack – and we thought we were traveling light.  We were pretty tired when we returned but recovered after a day or so on the couch with the girls.

It was great to catch up with everybody and I’m sure we’ll be down again before the Christmas.  Sorry it was not possible to get photos of everybody – we though we had a larger selection.

It’s been two weeks since we’ve taken the girls home and, so far, it all seems to be going really well and to plan.  We were advised by many experienced parents that it’s all about routine, so we’ve tried to instill this early on.  Most will know the typical routine for a newborn but with twins it changes the dynamics a little so we’ll give you a quick run down of a 24hr period in our household:

It probably looks much worse in a table than it is in reality.  We have a great system going whereby I do the 12 and 3am feeds and Sam does the 6 and 9am – that way we both get a decent night’s sleep.  That is until one throws us a curve ball, like getting sick and needing a complete cloths change, having tummy ache or something that requires the other to awake and provide assistance.  This week we’ve been able to complete both feeds in just over an hour – saving about 20 mins – which is a lot at 3am in the morning and times 16 feeds a day!

We’ve managed to fit in a number of walks around Phoenix Park, shopping trips and strolls to coffee shops.  We try and get out most days even if it’s only for an hour.  I also managed to fit in two 10k runs but I know realize that it’s too much too soon – I look knackered in most of the photos – I was thinking the exercise would give me some more energy, I was wrong!

I’m really enjoying my time at home with the girls, I’m two weeks into my month off and I’ve never felt so relaxed.  Hopefully we’ll be able to get out n’ about a bit more next week before the cold weather really sets in.

A number of random photos of our time at home and visits from my sister Eilish, her boyfriend Eddie and Sam’s good friend Flavia – it was great to catch up with you guys, see you all again soon.

We had to brave it at some point so why hang around.  On day three we decided we’d head into town for a spot of lunch and some shopping.  We had no idea whether we were having boys or girls and only bought neutral clothing, so it was time to splash out and go pink!

We had heard how long it would take to leave the house,  the short periods in-between feeds, all the gear we would need to take, the weather, etc. etc.  One couple we met in the in the multiple births unit said it took them three weeks to leave the house with their twins and when they did it took seven hours – so by the time they had arrived the shops were shutting.  Pure baloney!  We were out of the house within half an hour of the last feed and stayed out for five hours.  We did plan well in advance i.e. we decided we would go after the lunchtime feed and brought a feed with us.

It was a great afternoon.  We had lunch in the The Church Bar (where my mate Aurther Guinness got married) then hit the high street for the usual shops, Mothercare, Next, GAP, M&S and Boots.  We stocked up on all the essentials and got a few nice outfits to boot.  We are only just realising how much of a rip off baby cloths are, most outfits are around €18 for what essential has no more material than a man’s sock!  But all parents are smitten and like us will pay any price to see their princes or princesses dressed to impress :).

We were most definitely the centre of attention.  If we weren’t stopped every two minutes by little old lady admirers we’d have got a lot more shopping done – we’re not complaining – they were really really sweet.

A selection of photos from last night’s bathing and our afternoon out – see how blonde the girls are getting, like their mamma.

On Monday evening I brought my three girls home from The Coombe Hospital.  Sam was discharged early in the day and the girls much later.  We had to wait for Rosie to have her heal-prick test completed.  We didn’t end up leaving the hospital until around 8:30pm and it was a very cold autumn evening.  It was a very exciting moment especially as Sam had been in hospital for over two weeks and of course the fact that we were bringing our new family.

It was nerve-racking once the security tags were removed and the midwife told us that they were now our responsibility and to take care of them.  We were both looking at each other nervously, knowing that from that moment on we had sole responsible for these two precious beings.  Our car had never been driven so carefully or slowly on the journey home.

My brother Clive and his wife Tracey had the dinner on and our apartment nice a toasty for our arrival.  We were only in the door when they needed feeding and they were happy to oblige.

The staff at The Coombe were just outstanding – there to give advice, help and support at every turn.  Sam and the girls received first class care while under their supervision and for this we will be forever grateful.  We would like to offer all the doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants a heartfelt thank you!

A big thank you also to Tracey, who’s a pediatric nurse tutor, for helping us to settle in and provided advice and demonstrations on sterilizing, bottle-making, dressing etc. etc.  It was very reassuring having an experienced nurse in the house on our first night – she’s on speed dial just in case :).

So far all is going really well and I am pleased to have all three here with me safe and sound.