If the kittens are eating eagerly then they definitely have a chance. You may not have had experience with bottle feeding but you are cat savvy and know about normal kitten development and really, that is the most important thing. Even the most experienced neonatal caregivers were new to the process at one point. What you do have is the kind of knowledge that lets you know if things are working or not working and guides you in making changes as necessary. Savvy can sometimes be worth more than all the "book-learning" in the world.
If Mom is that depleted, there is a good chance that her milk is not as good as it needs to be. Plus she really does need the break in order to get her own reserves back up. I think the kittens definitely have a chance with hand feedings, but someone who cannot tell if a cat is emaciated is probably not going to be able to read the subtleties of the kittens' demeanors to know if they are getting enough to eat and are improving. I really think you are their best chance right now, and I think you can give them a good chance.
If Mom is that depleted, there is a good chance that her milk is not as good as it needs to be. Plus she really does need the break in order to get her own reserves back up. I think the kittens definitely have a chance with hand feedings, but someone who cannot tell if a cat is emaciated is probably not going to be able to read the subtleties of the kittens' demeanors to know if they are getting enough to eat and are improving. I really think you are their best chance right now, and I think you can give them a good chance.