Twenty days and growing

Hello blogging world!  It’s been almost a month since I’ve last posted and things have been busy!!  Let me first say, that we had a beautiful baby girl on February 24th weighing in at 6 pounds 7 ounces.  I had the epidural – and will definitely do it again!

Let me tell you about my adventure.  On February 22nd I went for my last ultrasound and they found that my amniotic fluid was low and they also saw a 6cm by 6cm mass outside my uterus near my liver.  So, my OBGYN said she wanted to induce on the 25th and they would deal with the mass after my delivery.  Because the mass was outside my uterus it posed no risk to the baby.  My husband and I were very excited!!! We were going to have a baby that week!  We didn’t have much time to make sure all our t’s were crossed and i’s dotted.  My official due date was for March 3rd (according to the doctor, March 1st according to me), so I was going to be a bit early and certainly wanted to be prepared! On the 24th I got all my phone calls taken care of and errands done.  I finished and put away all the laundry and then stopped to have lunch.  About 30 minutes after eating, I felt very sick.  I started having excruciating pain in my abdomen that wasn’t stopping.  I knew it wasn’t labour because labour comes in waves.  I started throwing up and managed to call my husband at work and have him sent home.  My mom also called me while he was on his way but I was in agony and told her to call him – I just couldn’t concentrate on the pain and talking to her!  By the time my husband came home the pain had been going on for over an hour nonstop, and he & my mom wanted me to go to the hospital but I couldn’t walk because of the pain.  So…an ambulance took me down.  I’d never been in one before, and though it was a bit bumpy it was kind of cool!  Once we got to the hospital I was sent right up to labour and delivery where they proceeded to tell me I wasn’t in labour.  D’uh!  I told them  I knew that!  I had now been in constant excruciating pain for almost 3 hours!  By the 4th hour they gave me morphine – they said because I wasn’t in labour it was safe for me to take as it wouldn’t affect the baby.  By 10 pm, we were waiting to find out if I was going to have an ultrasound to see if the pain was associated with the mass.  I was comfortable as the morphine I had taken at 6pm was still working.  I told my husband and mom to go home and I would keep them posted.  Well,  at 11:30pm the pain came back with a vengeance but… it was coming in waves.  The nurse took a look at told me that I was 2 cm dilated and was in labour! Whoohoo!  She said I was feeling the pain because the morphine had worn off and did I was an epidural.  Yes please!

At 2am I texted my husband to tell him that we were going to have a baby that day (the 24th) and he came right back down (he wasn’t able to sleep anyway, as he was worried about me).  By 5:30 a.m. I was 7 cm and messaged my dad to tell him that we may have a baby by 9 a.m.  The doctor came in at 10 a.m. and noticed that the baby’s head was facing up and for a proper delivery babies heads need to face down.  So the doctor put her hand in and started to turn the baby’s head while I pushed!  An hour later it was time to start pushing her out and after 30 minutes out she came!  My husband was a great coach, my mom (who had arrived at 10:30 a.m.) watched the whole delivery, and because the hospital I was at is a teaching hospital I had 2 doctors, 2 nurses, and 2 interns in the small delivery room with me!  It was very busy!!!

They put the baby on my chest and then gave a quick bath and handed her to my husband while I tried to push out the placenta.  Well, after about 25 minutes I couldn’t push it out myself so I went off to the operating room where the doctor pulled with one hand and the nurse pushed down on stomach to ‘deliver’ it.  If you recall, I went into the hospital with agonizing abdominal pain so the nurse pushing felt like a jagged knife being driven into my stomach and tearing its way through.  It was awful!  After all that, I was placed in a recovery room where my dad, mom, and husband showed up with my beautiful daughter.  I sent my husband home to rest and I recovered.  On the 25th (Friday) I went and had an ultrasound and a CT scan to find this mass and see if it was causing my problems.  Well folks, the mass was gone!!!  No one knows what it was or where it went but it’s gone!  They figure that the pushing to get out the placenta could have broken down whatever it was.  We went home on the 26th and that is my story!

I feel like I’ve recovered and now we are learning about our daughter as she learns about us and herself.  It’s a real learning curve and it’s great to have the support of family, friends, and of course my husband!  I tell you, it’s weird to go from being an independent working woman to a stay at home mom with stay at home mom duties!  Now that I have a daughter I feel different, and am completely in love with my husband!  He’s changed too!  He feels the added sense of responsibility,  the love, the joy, and he races home just to see her!

I do hope to start knitting again soon…otherwise I may have to change the purpose of this blog to being about my daughter!

Guess who’s….

knitting again?  It’s me!  So, I know I haven’t written in a while – it’s been busy, crazy, stressful, exciting…

Nonetheless,  let me bring you up to speed.  I stopped working last Wednesday afternoon (the 9th) as I had really had enough!  My doctor was also concerned about some tests results I’d had.  Two weeks my blood pressure was up (not a lot but up for me) to 130 over 80, and there was +1 protein in my urine.  I don’t know what the +1 means (I guess a bit of protein).  This can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.  My doctor didn’t seem to be too worried but was concerned.  She said that once I stopped working things should get better.  Last week I went back to the doctor (once I got into my last month, I go every week) and my blood pressure was the same and still had +1 of protein in my urine.  So, here we are at this week.  I went to the doctor on Tuesday (2 days ago) and my blood pressure was 128 over 90 (now my doctor was getting concerned) and I had +2 of protein in my urine.  All my blood work though, has been ok – no signs of organ distress.  She preferred me to come back to the hospital today to have my blood pressure checked.  So, off we went to the hospital today.  They had to check my bp 4 times over 40 minutes (that’s once every 10 minutes-for all you math whizzes).  The first 3 were good – 122 over 80, and she wasn’t going to do the 4th but protocol is protocol, the 4th went up to 124 over 90.  The nurse actually looked at me and said “What did you do?” lol!  My normal blood pressure is actually 100 over 70.  So, she checked my urine which had gone up from Tuesday to +3 of protein and called the doctor.  The doctor said to check the baby and check my bp again and go from there.  So, the nurse put the monitor on my stomach for about an hour.  The baby’s heart beat was good and my place pressure was still high but since I had no other symptoms (blurry vision, increased swelling, abdominal pain) I was sent home.  So, I go back to the hospital on Tuesday (in 5 days) and then we’ll talk about possibly inducing me next week.

So, that’s the pregnancy scoop!  Oh, and I’ve been nauseous for almost a week now.  Someone recently said because I didn’t have morning sickness during my pregnancy, I’m having nausea now.  Who knows!  It’s a pain – makes the day quite uncomfortable.

Back to Guess who’s… I’m knitting!  It’s been a while since I’ve knitted as it felt like little needles were actually going through my fingers as I knit.  But the other day I picked up the needles again and am working through the booties I started a while ago.  It’s going okay though my hands still tingle and don’t close properly but at least I’m knitting!  It will certainly keep me occupied while I wait for baby!

That’s all for now! Clickety clack!

Back to the grind and getting excited!

Well, today is my last day off before my leave!  I go back to work tomorrow with 34 business days left before I’m off! lol!  Business days…I’m anal!  I want to make sure that everything is done and ready to go before I leave so that it’s a much smoother transition than when I started!  When I started there was no training and lots of questions.  Many of the families didn’t know what was going on.  I  hope to be able to spend at least a day or two with my replacement and have the manual I’ve been working on finished.  I’ve put together a social worker/resident relations coordinator’s manual for my job duties so that there aren’t as many questions and I hope to have some social work students come through as well when I come back – they’ll be able to refer to the manual as well.  It’s nothing huge just a guide, hopefully a useful one!  I do hope my leave goes well and that I’m welcomed back with open arms when I return to work!

My girlfriend came over yesterday with a tub of clothes and blankets from her daughter – who’s now 4 – so I’m now covered until we know the sex and can start buying some more clothes that aren’t yellow, green, and white!  In about 3 weeks we’re going to spend the day getting furniture and all that!  We’ll probably start painting in about 2 weeks.  I’m definitely getting more excited than nervous, then I was about 2 weeks ago.  We’re definitely in the home stretch now.  Actually, today we start prenatal classes.  We’re doing them at the hospital where I’ll be delivering so that we can get to know our way around!  Next week, my mom and I will be learning infant cpr.  I’m trying to pace myself and at the same time get all ready and organized!  When my girlfriend saw me, she said “you’re so big! Aren’t you uncomfortable?!” and honestly… I’m not!  I’m great!  Yes, my hands bother me and my hips and legs when I sleep but I’m comfortable!!!

Enjoy the day and the first week of 2011!

Some things to consider

I have not knit in well over a month.  Simply, I can’t.  Not that I don’t want to – it hurts way too much!  It feels like the fingers have needles going through them when I knit.  I considered doing 5 minutes here and there – but it’s not worth the pain.  I only have 2 or 3 ufo’s and hopefully after the baby is born my abilities will return!  *Fingers crossed!

Here’s a list of some baby things that you will need:

crib bedding, blankets/receiving blankets, hooded towels washcloths/rags, sleepers/diaper vest/clothes, hats & bibs,  socks/booties, car seat/stroller
diaper bag, Breast cream/breast pads, feeding chair, tub, safety 1st all-in-one child care kit, diapers, swing/bouncer, toys/tummy time mat, baby wash/baby lotion/diaper cream, gripe water &  tempra, pads (for you), nursing bra’s.

I also got some great information from the Johnson\’s and Johnson\’s website.

Checklist: Things to do Before Your Baby Arrives

Based on content from JOHNSON’S^® Baby Care Basics: Practical Tips for Parents-to-Be.

As you get ready for your baby’s arrival, you may feel that you need to know everything there is to know about parenting. Try not to overload yourself with too much information. Before your baby is born, learn what to expect during your baby’s first three months. Visit your local library or bookstore and explore this site for more information. The following checklist will help you be better prepared for your baby’s arrival:

• Look into parenting classes – they can be very helpful for first-time parents. Find out about these classes from the hospital where you plan to have your baby, your OB/GYN, friends and family.
• Prepare a telephone or email list to keep friends and family informed.
• Pack your suitcase for the hospital. Remember to take along:
• Nightgown and slippers.
• Toiletries, including toothbrush and hairbrush. Don’t forget supplies for dad (perhaps even a change of clothes!).
• Clothes for your return home: choose comfortable clothes you wore mid-pregnancy or later.
• Clothes for your baby to wear when coming home: undershirt or one-piece suit, and an outfit with snap closures.
• Receiving blanket (your local weather will determine if additional blankets are needed).
• Baby wipes.
• Camera / video camera.
• Make sure your baby’s car seat has been installed properly before you go to the hospital. Some hospitals will not allow you to take your baby home without a car seat. Many police precincts will be happy to inspect your seat to ensure that it has been installed properly, or you can visit www.seatcheck.org to find a certified child passenger safety seat inspection location near you.

Get hospital bags ready

Personal Care Items:

Make-up, toothbrush, tooth paste, Shampoo & conditioner, Lip balm
Hairbrush, Hair Clip, Deodorant, Good smelling lotion, Foot massage cream
mouthwash, Pads, massage oil, wooden three prong back massager
favorite SOFT brand of toilet paper (the hospital brand is AWFUL)

Clothing:

socks, A really big t-shirt if you don’t want to wear the hospital gown. (Makes it a lot easier to walk around.)  Clean sweats ( for time spent in the hospital and going home).  Clothes to wear home & maternity pants – to wear home
Robe and slippers, Pajamas,  underwear
For Baby:   Baby nail clippers, An outfit for baby to wear home, a receiving blanket, Diapers, ‘Snowsuit’

For your partner or coach:  Potent breath mints-for hubby, Some chocolate bars and canned drinks, Change of clothes

Other Stuff: gum (so that when you can’t eat at least you can can chew!)
magazines, lollipops or something to suck on, cell phone, A camera/ video camera, baby book (so you can get his footprints in it), journal, own pillow,
Cards to pass the time, bottled water, food, money for vending machines, relaxing music

First Night at Home      

      Adapted from Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep by Dr. Jodi Mindell and from an article by the baby care experts at JOHNSON’S^®.

      When you welcome your newborn baby into your home, you’ll discover that his sleeping patterns are very different from your own. Newborns sleep a lot — in fact most sleep up to 16-18 hours a day – but never for more than three or four hours at a time. For the first few months, your baby will fall asleep and wake up at all hours of the day (and night!). Waking frequently is normal. During the first weeks, you should respond to your newborn quickly – in about 30 seconds to a minute. Most newborns are unable to settle themselves back down. Later, when your baby is older – approximately two to four months old – you can give him a chance to comfort himself.

      Your newborn baby may awaken for many reasons, but most often because he is hungry or needs to be changed. As you get to know your baby, you’ll know when and how quickly to respond. And you should respond quickly to a sudden change in your baby’s established sleep pattern – it may signal illness, a hunger-inducing growth spurt or teething pain.

      Every Baby Is Different
Learn your baby’s signs of being sleepy. Many babies become fussy or cry when they get tired, while others will rub their eyes, pull on their ears, or even stare off into space. Put your baby down for bedtime or a nap when your baby first lets you know he is tired.

      Back to Sleep
To lessen the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) always put your baby down to sleep on his back, not his tummy. A baby should sleep on a firm mattress, with no fluffy or loose bedding, no stuffed animals and no pillow.

      Distinguish Between Day and Night – (I think this is something very helpful for new parents)

Although your baby is highly unpredictable during the first few weeks, you can help him learn that nighttime is sleeptime and daytime is playtime. When your baby sleeps during the day, keep the lights on and keep sounds at normal levels. After diapering or feeding your baby, stimulate his interest by speaking to him warmly and expressively, moving his arms and legs, or showing him toys. At night, on the other hand, turn off the light or use a night-light, feed and diaper your baby as calmly and quietly as possible, and limit your interactions to holding him gently. Soon you will notice your baby’s longest periods of sleep occur at night.

Establish a Bedtime Routine
Babies are comforted by routines. You may wish to establish a bedtime routine even at this tender age. For example, try regularly giving your newborn a warm bath, a feeding or a rocking session before bed. Also, a gentle, soothing massage can help to relax your newborn for easier sleep.

 Catch Up on Your Sleep
Finally, use your baby’s naptime as a time to catch up on sleep yourself. As tempting as it is to use naptime to get things done, you’ll be able to cope better if you nap when your baby does.

And that, is all my things for you to consider!

Sixty four days – 64 days – Sixty 4 days – 60 and four days

And counting!  That’s right folks!  I have, according to my babycenter.com ipod app, I have 64 days till my due date.  My pregnancy so far, as I’ve mentioned, has been very easy *knock knock, ptew ptew, and throw salt over the shoulder!  I’ve had moments of crying for no reason, I’ve had nausea, I’ve had sleepless nights, I’ve woken from the pain in my hips and knees, I’ve gained over 25 pounds, and my worst side effects – I have pains in my hands from carpal tunnel syndrome!  BUT, and  a big but, I know that I’ve had an easy pregnancy and so far I would say I would do it again!  There are certainly a lot of things to prepare for your first child – clothes, furniture, mental/physical/emotional even psychological preparedness, and of course the big one being financial.  When you look around you see all types of women and couples having children.  I’ve seen teenagers, welfare moms, upper class women, middle class, and all in between.  I’ve always heard you’ll never be ready for children.  I believe that but there are certainly better times than others to have them.  Does being financially stable help? Yes.  Does it make it easier?  Yes.  Does having a partner help?  Yes.

Planning and using your resources will help to make having a child a little bit easier.  Save your money, be prepared, and enjoy the kicks and hiccups!

I can’t wait to meet the little one that’s been growing in my belly!  To see them smile, count their fingers and toes, and watch them sleep.  I know that my husband is eager to meet the person we have created and to teach them all kinds of things!

I’m quite busy at work since  I’m trying to get things organized for my maternity/parental leave.  In Canada, we can take a year leave and go back to our jobs as long as we’ve been working at the job at least 13 weeks before our due date.  While on leave we (mother or father) collect maternity benefits (which is the same as unemployment – 55% of working income) and some employers will top up, maybe to 75% maybe to 100%.  My employer doesn’t.  :’-(  I’m going on leave in 31 business days!  Not very long at all!

We still need a crib, dresser, changing pad…and to get the room ready.  But in reality, we don’t need a crib – as we have a bassinet, we don’t need a dresser since we have space, and we don’t need a changing pad as we have a many flat spots to change a diaper!  But we will need those things within a number of months after the baby is born!

Anyhoo, I will close off today with this:

 

Busy as a bee… or a dung beetle!

I’m not really busy! Teehee!  I’m slowly knitting, and would love to add some pictures but can’t find the usb cable to upload any – dang this move!  I really want to put some pictures or something on my blog – it looks sad!  Nonetheless, Chanukah is in 3 days, Christmas is in 27 days, my mom’s birthday is in 5 days and my due date is still fast approaching!  I need to knit aka would like to knit a few more booties, a hat or two, and some mitts – maybe even a sweater or something!  Our new place still needs some work – pictures up, boxes away, a new piece of furniture here and there, and a rug or two.  In the new year, comes prepping for the baby.  Mostly we’ll be getting the room ready and then as the due date gets close we’ll get the rest ready!  I’m also trying to get completely organized and up to date at work, so I feel confident when I go on mat leave.  I know it’s still a couple months away but time goes by quite quickly when you have responsibilities.  As a kid, you have absolute freedom and time floats by.  Summer vacation lasts forever.  As you get older, responsibilities take hold and time flies by.  One theory on the nature of time is that as we age we have experienced more things so events aren’t as interesting so those memories are swift, whereas a child experiences many new things and takes the time to absorb them and really enjoy them.

Anyhoo, I’m getting off track!  We made a delicious dinner tonight.  I made the same dish in the spring only I improved it.  I added a packet of onion soup mix along with a bottle of diana bbq sauce.  It was sooooooooooooooooooo good! OMG!  I think I’ll make it in bulk and take it places with me! lol!

Alright, off to knit – but first to add a picture!

My bump in the fall

How wonderful to be pregnant!

It really is absolutely wonderful to be pregnant!  The absolute awe I have and hold of my body to create and keep safe this little bundle!!!  I’ve also been pretty lucky compared to some pregnant women.  So far…yes, so far (don’t want to jinx anything) I’ve had a  very easy pregnancy.  I’m quite uncomfortable while I sleep – so I’m pretty tired, due to not sleeping; but otherwise I’m great!  No vomiting, some nausea, no cravings, just some strong food desires, but overall just easy!  However… over the past month or so I’ve had tingling in my hands and fingers.  My husband, has also developped these same feelings – sympathy pains!  Lovely! At least I know he can relate.  These pains have gotten worse in the past week.  You know the feeling when your hand or foot falls asleep?  Well, imagine it’s a constant – typing, writing, sleeping, sitting…always there – it has definitely gotten worse!  My fingertips are constant pins and needles – and I have to use the keyboard a lot!  This carpal tunnel syndrome will apparently go away shortly after delivery (within a few weeks).  I can tolerate the feeling right now, though it’s a pain, but I still have 100 days to go till my official due date (d.d.) so I hope it doesn’t get worse!

Another high note, is the wonderful looks I get from men when they see me pregnant!  I say men, because oddly women (for the most part) seem to ignore my pregnancy.  It’s strange!  At work, it’s a completely different story that has actually begun to irritate me.  I am enjoying the attention, but people’s sense of space seem to change.  The people I work with (for the most part) I don’t know well enough to have touch my stomach.  And they do…with an outstretched hand they come at me!  I’m also getting a big tired/irritated by people telling me what I’m having.  I’m guilty of this too though, and didn’t realize how it can make pregnant women feel.  I’ve commented on pregnant women’s’ size, and my interpretation of what the sex is many times in the past.  I won’t in the future!   I’ve also been reading on the babycenter.com blog, how women feel the same way I do!  Well, thanks for letting me vent!  Again… completely wonderful to be pregnant except for the tingles and tiresome comments.  I’m truly outstanded by what’s happening in my body and to my body…especially when the baby kicks! Oh, and now – when I’m lucky- I can see my stomach move when the baby kicks!  Very cool and still very surreal!!!

Back to work I go!

It’s time to spill the beans!

Better late than never…Ok, so I finished the baby blanket! I picked my mom’s ribbing back up and after so long couldn’t remember how to do a 1×1 rib stitch on an uneven number of stitches and I couldn’t find the pattern! D’oy! Finally got it! Mom your stinkin’ (made with love) cardigan will be finished! I’m pregnant!!! And, I got married almost 3 weeks ago!!! And, I moved last weekend!!! And, I saw the musical WICKED 2 weeks ago!!! And… No that’s it for now!