Brag Book

About a month ago I took some pictures of the kids using my new fancy camera.  I've always wanted one of those cameras that, just because it's so good, the pictures are great.  Now, I know if I had the time to actually LEARN about the camera, aperture, etc., that I could take even better photos, but I'm quite happy with these.  And I get to show off my gorgeous children, so it's win win!

All photos are copyright 2012, and are not to be used without author's permission.

Baby Girl!

As I did with my announcing of the birth of Jacob, I have taken a LONG time to proudly announce the birth of the most beautiful and charming baby girl,

Joanna Mae!

Joanna, nicked named Josie, was born on Friday the13th (muhuha ha) of January at 7:45 pm, 7 pounds
11 ounces. Pictures to come once I can get some onto this computer (iPhone snafu's recently).

Josie is named after my mother, Joanne and her other grannie, Mary.  My mom passed away in 2009 from ovarian/peritoneal cancer, so I'm so glad to be able to honor her memory by naming her newest granddaughter after her.  

The birth of Josie was MUCH easier this time around.  I hear that's typically the case, but I'm so thankful it was!  I went in for an induction 1.5 weeks early because of the gestational diabetes.  Apparently I was the LAST on the list for prostin that night as I received mine at 3am!  At 8am the doctor came in to check me internally and said that I'd need a second dose.  But this doctor, who I'd been seeing at the diabetes clinic often, is rather rough-handed, and by 9am, I was feeling the love.  When she came back for my second dose, she had a look and sure enough, her internal exam had got me going and I was 2 cm dilated.  

Up I went to the delivery ward around 10am.  I got to sit on a pilates ball for a while as the contractions got a little stronger... but not strong enough.  So unfortunately I needed to start oxytocin.  UGH!  Luckily I was allowed an epidural pretty soon after the oxytocin started.

Now, because of my size, the anaesthetist had to use an ultra sound to guide the epi into my spine. He also added what he called a 'block' (I'm guessing spinal block, but I forgot to ask) which allowed me to push a button to top up if the pain was coming back.  Hurray!

Well, the pain DID start coming back on my left side, to the point where the button was doing jack, especially as I could only push it every 20 minutes.   So in again came Dr. Make-the-pain-go-away who topped up the epi.  Of course, it was with the provision that if it didn't kick in in about 20 minutes, he'd have to take out the line and reinstert. And if THAT didn't work, than the epi was a no go and I'd just have to deal with other pain meds. So apparently I'm a huge wimp.  The idea of more than 20 minutes of labor pain was terrifying.  I did talk to mom and ask for her to help get those drugs going. And bar that, just knock me out and take the baby!  Luckily, all it took was the top up and for me to lie on my left side, and the meds kicked in.  BLISS!

From then on it really was smooth sailing.  This time I could move a bit... with Jacob I was paralysed from the waist down the entire time.  But I needed to stay on my left side to let gravity help the epi work.  So there I lay.  To monitor Josie, the midwife insterted a heartbeat monitor to her scalp.  This was actually a blessing as the CTG monitor has never liked me and would keep on losing baby's heartbeat.

So a few hours later (could have been sooner, I really wasn't paying attention), my doctor came in to check on me and I was 9cm dilated!  MUCH faster than Jacob.  And I basically had to just lay on my side until I was 10 cm.  Then after that I lay around again for about 2 hours to allow the contractions to do their work getting Josie's head into the birth canal.  

Eventually I was allowed to push. An hour later Josie Mae was born.  I was allowed to hold her as soon as the midwife did her checks, which was wonderful (especially as I wasn't allowed to hold Jacob who was sent up to baby ICU for a checkup and some oxygen). She came out with a LOT of vernix all over her... apparently babies born after 38 weeks have less vernix. But she was beautiful and mucky and all mine (and Rob's too I suppose).

Love at first sight.

Yes, You DO Lose Your Balance! (Gore alert)

I should have posted this earlier, but just, well... didn't.  This is just a reminder to all preggo's out there that, yes, you can and WILL lose your balance the larger you get (with your pregnancy, that is).  A month ago, I was getting out of the car to bring my son to daycare, and bam! I tripped on a pot hole and down I went.  My bump was too big for me to keep my balance and there was nothing for me to reach out for.  Luckily, I kept my head about me and did my best to 'fall well.'  So instead of falling bump first, I fell knees and then hands and side of bump.... and then proceeded to bash my head well and truly into the ground.  Luckily there was a father who saw it all and came over to me, who lay bleeding on the ground, who was able to call the ambulance (who arrived 30 minutes later... gotta love Tallaght), and a grannie who brought Jacob into the creche.

Well, a 13 centimeter gash and 5 staples to my scalp later, I am living proof that your balance does go WAAAY off when you are pregnant.  So please!  Mind yourself.  Watch for pot holes, slippery things on floors, etc, and TAKE CARE!

(And baby is fine, don't worry. I went straight to baby hospital to have babaloo2 checked out after I was stapled up at the first one)

GORE ALERT!  I've posted pics of the day below, so if you don't want to see a bit of blood and head staples, don't scroll down.

 Triage did a fine job of temporarily bandaging me up.

Me and my bloody-matted hairdo 

 Post-stapling and loving my new bandages...sexy.

 Very thankful I wore a hat (and a red one to boot).  I had to rinse it well to get all the blood out, and it was still wet, but it was better than walking around mummified.

My staples.

"Bump" Pic

Taken on Christmas day, 36 weeks pregnant.  As I said, you can barely see a baby bump!  But the baby-grow helps with the whole "Yes! I AM pregnant!" thing.  :)

Knicker Wars

So I've come to the realization that I'm probably not going to get to a proper Knicker Wars like I did Battle of the Nursing Bras.  BUT, I will talk about my experience this go around.  And to be honest, the pregnancy knickers have won.  Although I haven't gained any weight, thus meaning I can TECHNICALLY still wear my old knickers, and I do when desperate, I find the pregnancy pants MUCH more comfortable, especially around the bump.  Now, if I HAD gained like I did with Jacob, I'd be in trouble, because I'm not sure the preggy knickers would have fit and I probably would have had to buy some from a speciality shop for the even larger pregnant woman.  But thankfully, my Motherhood 3x Maternity Underwear did the trick, so I thank my father for actually going in a buying me new ones and bringing them to his wedding for me!!

The Final Countdown

Ok, so I have been a horrible blogger this pregnancy.  I admit it's mostly because I've been living off my iPhone and typing out a long blog on a phone is just not all that appealing to me.  But the laptop is up and running today, the internet is smooth, and I'm awaiting a skype call, so I've got a little time.

As of tomorrow I will be 37 weeks!!  Happy New Years to me, my baby will be full term!  Of course, have we gotten ready at all.... heck no!  The changing table, sterilizer, etc, is all still in the shed, waiting to come out and be cleaned up.  The moses basket needs to be assembled, and most of all, I need to back my hospital bag!  Of course, with GD, you generally know when you'll go in to labor because they tell you!

So far, I haven't gained a single kilo.  Yes, I know I'm American and I'm using kilos, but that's what they use at the hospital, so it's what I'll use for now.  I'm still the same weight I was at my 8 week initial check up.  This pregnancy has definitely been different.  I can still wear many of the same pieces of clothing, bar trousers.  I've given up my jeans as they have no give, but can still wear my baggy black work pants.  I pretty much live in them now.  With Jacob, I HAD to wear preggy clothes because even going a size up in normal 'fat lady' clothes didn't fit.  I was too big in the boobs and bump.  THIS pregnancy, I still just look mainly fat with a big tummy.  So I try to wear clothes that emphasize the bump to make it clear that I'm not just a royal fatty, but a very pregnant one to boot!

I also feel more fit this time around.  With Jacob, I'd walk across the street to the shop and have to sit down before shopping for my groceries.  This time, I can go into the shop, get all my shopping done WITH over active two year old in tow, and MAYBE need a break once going through checkout.  The benefit to not gaining tons of weight.

And it's not like I'm not eating.  Oh I am.  But I suppose this time around I started BEFORE I knew I was pregnant with the healthy-ish eating.  Wholemeal bread, very little processed sugar, etc.  I suppose that whole eating healthy thing really just works.  This Christmas has been tough as I really want to stuff my gob with mince pies, cookies, etc.  And I think my couple indulgences have backfired on me.  So I'm back to avoiding the 'naughties.'

Babaloo2 (what I'm calling bump) is getting huge I think.  My bump is pretty solid and I'm now really starting to feel the weight, especially when I stand up and the baby sinks onto my bladder.  This past week has been more difficult sleeping and I've become reacquainted with my dear, dear friends, the pillows.  What I would give for a memory foam mattress and a body pillow!  But my wedge pillows and fluffy down pillows are a definite help.  Not to mention the baby belt the physiotherapist gave me...that I can actually wear!  Last pregnancy I was too big to wear it, but it actually fits this time!

So I guess what's the moral of this post?  Well, I suppose it is really to eat healthy. It makes a difference!  And that I'm VERY ready to meet Babaloo2!

Love to all and Happy New Year!!

Water, It's Not Just for Fatties

I was thinking of calling this post 'Survivial of the Fattest' but I think I may save that title for later. :)  I arrived home yesterday after a week away from my husband and 2 year old.  The longest I've been away from Jake ever!  My dad is now happily married to a lovely woman in Calgary, Canada and now that I'm out of their hair they can enjoy the beginning of the honeymoon. :) 

I ended up surviving the multitude of flights to and from Calgary for the wedding, at 20 weeks pregnant.  Starting the diabetic diet at conception or before has actually helped me maintain my weight or lose a healthy amount (for a fat pregnant lady, I do NOT recommend losing weight pregnant unless you are severely obese and have your doctor's blessing). 

So I took my baby aspirins, donned my anti-embolism compression socks and hopped aboard.  Thank God for small blessings, the pharmacy didn't have the full-leg style socks, and the doctor gave permission for me to wear just the knee-length ones.  I wore the full-leg ones when pregnant with Jake and found them very uncomfortable for a 7 hour flight.  And this time, on my way over, I had a 7 hour flight, followed by a 2 1/2 and then a 3 1/2 hour.  So, yea, little miracle there to only have the knee-highs.  Thank you pharmacy!

Travelling fat and pregnant can be pretty difficult.  I ended up twice with non-aisle seats.  Once a very nice gentleman was willing to swap with me with the promise that I would let HIM out to pee if he needed to (he didn't. I on the other hand went about 4 times on the 7 hour flight).  The second time the lovely flight attendant at the gate found me an aisle seat about 5 minutes prior to boarding.  Ladies, if you are in this situation, make SURE you get an aisle seat and do NOT be afraid to play the pregnancy card.  AND, point out that you WILL have to use the toilet frequently.  I think that helped more than anything else.

That being said, the reason I had to pee so much was because of the amount of water I drank.  I brought with me a 1.5 litre water bottle I filled at every possible opportunity.  And I kept drinking.  I honestly think that helped keep me from disintegrating into a pile of dry ash on the floor of the planes.  I've never drank more than on these flights, and I highly recommend to all fliers to do so.  Water isn't just for fatties! 

And on another bright side, my father (gotta love the man), braved the Motherhood in our hometown to bring me my pregnancy underwear!  Let the Knicker Wars begin!