Time with tiny twin girls

         

Steve Baker holds tiny, sleepy granddaughters, Alina, left and Thea, right.

    There are 10 fingers and 10 toes on two tiny babies with itty-bitty fingernails on each digit.

    The feet are as long as one's thumb, and these two -- born five weeks early -- are stronger and more feisty than an adult might think.

    This is a short description of Alina and Thea Rodewald, the two newest members of the extended Baker family. Adding two girls, with their big sister, Myla (age 3.5 years old), makes the girls/boys grandchildren ratio almost even. The count is five boys, ages 17-27 years old, and four girls, ages 3.5 weeks to 20 years old.

    Granddaughter Hailey, the 20-year-old college student, said it's great to have more girls in the family. Hailey would know as she was the only female grandchild for more than 15 years.

    The twins started life on July 20 in the Neo-Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Our daughter, Kirstin, visited the NICU daily to see her new daughters over a period of three weeks.

    She also handled several inquiries as to when the twins would be released from the hospital. 

    "Mom," she said, "No one knows when babies get released, not even the nurses. It's a last-minute decision."

   Nonetheless, the twins were eventually released on Monday, Aug. 8. We had agreed to help out the family Aug. 8-12 and were in Ankeny when the tiny babies arrived at home.

    I can't really describe what it's like to change diapers, and clothe, these little girls. I'd never done this before on such a small human being.

    But, like riding a bike, the abilities are there. Carefully -- ever so carefully -- I'd take one of the twins, change diapers, and feed them a bottle of mother's milk.

    It got to be a good routine; while Kirstin was at every feeding, I'd help at the 3 a.m. feedings, and then fill in when necessary. Their dad, Gage, was an integral part of this team. Husband Steve filled in with both babies. Kirstin and I would often trade off on the twins. 

    As grandparents, our basic job was to watch the toddler, Myla. She visited many playgrounds and the Blank Park Zoo on our watch, besides getting smoothies for the family one memorable afternoon.

    I also helped them to their first doctor's visit out of the hospital. This went pretty smoothly, but both parents learned better how to help the little ones thrive.

    As I write this blog, the girls are eating very well and learning to sleep a bit better. They are finally getting used to their Forever Home.

Thea, left, and Alina, right, in onesies decorated
by their mom and sister, Myla.
These were the first layer; we added sleepers as well.