Look what happens when I'm left with my sisters!
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Friday, April 08, 2005
More tests
Calum had his hearing test yesterday with mixed results. He is really too young to test his hearing but you can test to see if his ears are working properly. There were two tests - one to test for response to different frequencies and one to test the response of the ear drum to different pressures. His right ear didn't respond to changes in frequencies. When we tried the second test to determine if it was an inner or middle ear problem we couldn't get the machine to test properly so we aren't entirely sure about the results but the audiologist thinks it could be a middle ear problem - likely fluid build up - in which case it would be a temporary thing. We have to go back on May 6th for more tests and go in on Monday to see if his doctor can see anything in the ear canal. It's not easy to test him at this age because his ears are so small and it's hard to get good results. When he gets older, they can do behavioural tests but that won't be till he can respond to sound.
This poor little guy sure has to go to see the doctor a lot. I guess all babies do but it seems like we go from appointment to appointment sometimes. Oh well, he was, as usual, a very well behaved little boy during his check up despite the fact that he had things shoved in his ear over and over again. Now last night, on the otherhand, he kept me up from about 1 am on. We were only in our bed for a total of 45 minutes. He has been napping nicely all afternoon and I have been grumpily trying to get things done while he sleeps. It looks like I will have to wait till Don gets back before I get any sleep because Dakota has just told me he is awake again. She wants to help by holding him but for her, that usually means picking him up for 5 minutes then passing him back to me. I love my little guy but sure could use some sleep today.
Happy rest-filled weekend everyone. Look for more pictures of Calum next week.
This poor little guy sure has to go to see the doctor a lot. I guess all babies do but it seems like we go from appointment to appointment sometimes. Oh well, he was, as usual, a very well behaved little boy during his check up despite the fact that he had things shoved in his ear over and over again. Now last night, on the otherhand, he kept me up from about 1 am on. We were only in our bed for a total of 45 minutes. He has been napping nicely all afternoon and I have been grumpily trying to get things done while he sleeps. It looks like I will have to wait till Don gets back before I get any sleep because Dakota has just told me he is awake again. She wants to help by holding him but for her, that usually means picking him up for 5 minutes then passing him back to me. I love my little guy but sure could use some sleep today.
Happy rest-filled weekend everyone. Look for more pictures of Calum next week.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Under fire
It's happened to all of us and Calum is only three weeks old. The fact is the little guy has let loose on Angie, Desiree, Dakota and I...it is at the moment in the midst of that diaper change when it happens. Yes you guessed it, he lets loose a nice arcing flow of pee which has an uncanny ability to always hit the shirt you just put on! Angie is right, Calum is a little trickster and it is only going to get better.
Growning Boy
Calum now weighs 8lbs, 7oz. He gained 1lb in 9 days! I thought that he was getting a bit heavier. His check up went well and his doctor is very pleased with his growth. He won't have to go back to see her for 2 months. We did postpone the hearing test though because he wasn't a happy boy that day so we will have an appointment next week. This poor boy must be tired of all the doctors visits.
Because he was such a good boy yesterday we stopped at the new Bear Workshop store in the mall before going home. We made a new teddy bear for him but have yet to name it. Don and Dakota had some suggestions and I'm thinking it's a good thing I asked them otherwise the poor bear would have gotten one of Calum's other nicknames. I was thinking "Little Lovely" (can you guess who Big Lovely is?) or "Sweetie Baby". Yup, I don't think Calum is going to like the nicknames I've given him when he gets older. Mind you, I can always fall back on the "I-was-sick-for-eight-months" line and he will just have to accept it.
Calum and I had a busy week of sleeping and playing. He is much more alert now and stays awake for hours at a time. To keep him entertained we read books, practice sign language [only the words Calum and Mom right now], listen to music, make funny noises and our new favorite is to pretend that the exercise ball is a horse and to bounce, bounce, bounce. I know that they say that baby's don't smile when they are this young but I am convinced that he does. He has a very mischievous look about him a lot of the time so I know we will have a little trouble maker when he grows up. Mostly, he still likes to cuddle. As my sister and mom have told me, we have spoilt him already because he is only happy when he is in someone's arms. No crib for this kid, if he is napping he has to be held. I enjoy it most of the time but it sure makes it hard to get anything done.
No other news this week. Have a good weekend everyone.
Because he was such a good boy yesterday we stopped at the new Bear Workshop store in the mall before going home. We made a new teddy bear for him but have yet to name it. Don and Dakota had some suggestions and I'm thinking it's a good thing I asked them otherwise the poor bear would have gotten one of Calum's other nicknames. I was thinking "Little Lovely" (can you guess who Big Lovely is?) or "Sweetie Baby". Yup, I don't think Calum is going to like the nicknames I've given him when he gets older. Mind you, I can always fall back on the "I-was-sick-for-eight-months" line and he will just have to accept it.
Calum and I had a busy week of sleeping and playing. He is much more alert now and stays awake for hours at a time. To keep him entertained we read books, practice sign language [only the words Calum and Mom right now], listen to music, make funny noises and our new favorite is to pretend that the exercise ball is a horse and to bounce, bounce, bounce. I know that they say that baby's don't smile when they are this young but I am convinced that he does. He has a very mischievous look about him a lot of the time so I know we will have a little trouble maker when he grows up. Mostly, he still likes to cuddle. As my sister and mom have told me, we have spoilt him already because he is only happy when he is in someone's arms. No crib for this kid, if he is napping he has to be held. I enjoy it most of the time but it sure makes it hard to get anything done.
No other news this week. Have a good weekend everyone.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Birth Announcement Publications
This posting is really for the grandparents because I'm not sure who else might care but we are publishing the birth announcement in the Prince George Citizen [Thurs, March 31 edition], the Vancouver Sun and Vancouver Province [Mon, April 4 editions] and the next editions of the Merritt Herald and Surrey News Leader [Wed. Apr 6 and Friday, April 1]. Collect them all for your scrapbooking pleasure!
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Calum and Mom have a quiet day
Calum and I are just sitting here cuddling today. I still have to finish my invoices but I don't know if I'll get much done before Don gets home. My little one doesn't want to take a nap and doesn't want to be put down again. He had a good night last night, waking up only a couple of times. He did a good job of getting Don and I up in the morning too. We have both slept through the alarm and Calum made sure we got up when he gave out a big cry. Right now he is telling me stories and demanding attention. He's really got me wrapped around his little fingers.
Tomorrow we have an appointment with an audiologist to get his hearing checked. I think everything is fine but we want to make sure. It's to be about a half hour test and the doctor said that it would be best if he was a little sleepy when we went. I don't know about that but we can always hope, right? On Friday Calum also has his next appointment with his doctor. It will just be a check up but we will get to see how much weight the little guy has gained. I'm guessing that he will be close to 8 pounds now. He certainly is feeling a lot heavier.
Other items on are agenda today are a walk this afternoon and a trip to the mailbox to send off Calum's registration materials - we can't register him with Don's Band until we have the birth certificate so we have to send that off soon. Yes, we decided to register him with Don's band but he will always have the option of switching to mine if they don't treat him right. Oh, I also have to follow up on with several newspapers about placing his birth announcement. We are going to plaster the newspapers to get the word out [not that his dad hasn't already done a good job of this]. Well, better go and try to work on those invoices, Calum has decided he needs a short nap and has passed out next to me. He'll be up in an hour to eat again so I have a very narrow window to get anything else done.
Take care!
Tomorrow we have an appointment with an audiologist to get his hearing checked. I think everything is fine but we want to make sure. It's to be about a half hour test and the doctor said that it would be best if he was a little sleepy when we went. I don't know about that but we can always hope, right? On Friday Calum also has his next appointment with his doctor. It will just be a check up but we will get to see how much weight the little guy has gained. I'm guessing that he will be close to 8 pounds now. He certainly is feeling a lot heavier.
Other items on are agenda today are a walk this afternoon and a trip to the mailbox to send off Calum's registration materials - we can't register him with Don's Band until we have the birth certificate so we have to send that off soon. Yes, we decided to register him with Don's band but he will always have the option of switching to mine if they don't treat him right. Oh, I also have to follow up on with several newspapers about placing his birth announcement. We are going to plaster the newspapers to get the word out [not that his dad hasn't already done a good job of this]. Well, better go and try to work on those invoices, Calum has decided he needs a short nap and has passed out next to me. He'll be up in an hour to eat again so I have a very narrow window to get anything else done.
Take care!
Monday, March 28, 2005
Another sleepless night
Calum was not at all sleepy last night. This of course, meant that I could not be sleepy either. We had a nap just before going to bed and wouldn't you know it but he woke up as soon as we climbed in bed and decided to feed for 2 hours. When he still wouldn't settle, Calum and I got in and out of bed for a few hours then decided to just get up and go to the living room. Another old episode of X-Files, several movies, a couple of stories, two diaper changes, and several attempts of filling his belly later we finally dozed off for awhile. All told, I think we only got about 1 hour of sleep. Though the nurse recommended that I wait awhile before expressing milk I think I'm going to be doing it sooner rather than later. It's time Don got to share in the fun of the late night feedings, pacings, and generally entertainings. Or maybe I just need a nap today.
We had a nice dinner at home yesterday with Don's family. Don's mom did most of the cooking and even brought paper plates and cups. The girls were pleased with this because helping with the dishes would have fallen to them. Don and I had very little to do and Calum was being passed from person to person so he got all the cuddles he wanted. He was particularly good for his grandma and grandpa. We had another little incident while changing him and he ended up going through 4 outfits over the course of the day. I've nicknamed him the "soggy bottom boy" on days such as those. Oh, we also found out that he is getting used to his baths but hates to have his bottom washed.
Don thinks that Calum is going to be a real little story teller. He makes the cutest little noises when he wants to get your attention. It sounds something like a little lion. It's hard to describe but he is constantly doing it so we are convinced that he is trying to tell us something already. What a funny boy he is.
Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. I've just learned that the girls have tomorrow off from school too. Just how many days off do kids get these days?
We had a nice dinner at home yesterday with Don's family. Don's mom did most of the cooking and even brought paper plates and cups. The girls were pleased with this because helping with the dishes would have fallen to them. Don and I had very little to do and Calum was being passed from person to person so he got all the cuddles he wanted. He was particularly good for his grandma and grandpa. We had another little incident while changing him and he ended up going through 4 outfits over the course of the day. I've nicknamed him the "soggy bottom boy" on days such as those. Oh, we also found out that he is getting used to his baths but hates to have his bottom washed.
Don thinks that Calum is going to be a real little story teller. He makes the cutest little noises when he wants to get your attention. It sounds something like a little lion. It's hard to describe but he is constantly doing it so we are convinced that he is trying to tell us something already. What a funny boy he is.
Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. I've just learned that the girls have tomorrow off from school too. Just how many days off do kids get these days?
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
7lbs, 7oz
Wow, Calum is growing. We took him into see his new doctor today and found out that he now weighs 7lbs, 7 oz. That's a gain of about 1 oz a day. I thought his little cheeks were filling out a lot. His doctor checked him over and declared him a very healthy baby boy. We were able to show him off to Dr. Ross and the nurses too.
Dakota and I took him to the mall after his appointment. He was such a good boy today. He barely complained the whole 3 hours we were away from home. It sure was nice to get out too. Tomorrow we are planning a nice long walk if the weather holds out. He seems happy in his stroller or in his Baby Bjorn. He likes to be cuddled the best though so Dakota and I have spent a few hours this afternoon just holding him. He's so warm and soft that he lulls me to sleep everytime.
Don asked me last night what else I was wishing for. I wanted a cuddle bunny and we got one. I wanted a boy and we got one. Maybe if my luck holds out we will have a book loving, computer programming, music loving boy! If not, well, he's just too cute the way that he is now so I'm happy.
Dakota and I took him to the mall after his appointment. He was such a good boy today. He barely complained the whole 3 hours we were away from home. It sure was nice to get out too. Tomorrow we are planning a nice long walk if the weather holds out. He seems happy in his stroller or in his Baby Bjorn. He likes to be cuddled the best though so Dakota and I have spent a few hours this afternoon just holding him. He's so warm and soft that he lulls me to sleep everytime.
Don asked me last night what else I was wishing for. I wanted a cuddle bunny and we got one. I wanted a boy and we got one. Maybe if my luck holds out we will have a book loving, computer programming, music loving boy! If not, well, he's just too cute the way that he is now so I'm happy.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Very much in need of exercise
Yesterday, Dakota and I decided to take Calum for a small walk. We didn't go far, just down to the corner store for ice cream. Mind you, the way back was a bit of a walk. It's uphill and while not overly far, it was a bit taxing for me. I guess I'm a bit off from being totally recovered. I had to stop a few times just to make it up the hill. Calum and I are really going to have to start taking daily walks just so I can be ready to start chasing him around when he hits the toddler stage.
In other news, we experimented last night with having Calum sleep with us rather than in his crib. It was more out of desperation on my part - I needed some sleep and Calum wouldn't settle in his crib. He only woke up a few times - 2:30, 5:30 and 7:30 - and only then for a quick snack then back to sleep. I'm feeling so much better today because of it but will have to find another way to get him to settle in his crib. Afterall, his poor dad did work hard to get it put together for him. Right now he is napping with Dakota on the couch. Our little guy sure likes to snuggle.
We've got some more pictures that we will be posting soon - these from the 35mm that Don had scanned onto CD-Rom. Look for an update soon.
In other news, we experimented last night with having Calum sleep with us rather than in his crib. It was more out of desperation on my part - I needed some sleep and Calum wouldn't settle in his crib. He only woke up a few times - 2:30, 5:30 and 7:30 - and only then for a quick snack then back to sleep. I'm feeling so much better today because of it but will have to find another way to get him to settle in his crib. Afterall, his poor dad did work hard to get it put together for him. Right now he is napping with Dakota on the couch. Our little guy sure likes to snuggle.
We've got some more pictures that we will be posting soon - these from the 35mm that Don had scanned onto CD-Rom. Look for an update soon.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Huzzah for Baby Bjorn!
Okay, decided to try out the Baby Bjorn carrier today so I could strap my snuggle bunny to me and still get something done. Wonder of wonders, it works and Calum is sleeping peacefully at the moment. It also has the added bonus that we are both warm and toasty.
I love my little guy but he sure doesn't like sleeping in his crib at night. Last night we got up at 1:30 and didn't get back to bed till 5am. I watched a movie between his snacking and even an old episode of X-Files. That sure brought back some memories. Also, Calum was fussy last night so somehow he ended up in our bed. We were all nice and cozy, even after Don got up and left for work. Calum and I slept in till 8:30 then got up for breakfast and our baths. Well, Calum fell back asleep and didn't actually have his bath till 11:30 but it gave me the chance to get caught up on some email.
Don's back at work today but is feeling pretty bad. Dakota has got a cough but is keeping herself busy planning the purchase of some new Chucks (some kinda shoe) and watching movies she has seen over a dozen times. Desiree is off at the mall then going over to visit her boyfriend. All is quiet and work seems many miles away. I've got a few invoices to submit though so I'll have to think about it sometime today. For now, I'm just going to sit and enjoy the snuggling. Happy Monday all.
I love my little guy but he sure doesn't like sleeping in his crib at night. Last night we got up at 1:30 and didn't get back to bed till 5am. I watched a movie between his snacking and even an old episode of X-Files. That sure brought back some memories. Also, Calum was fussy last night so somehow he ended up in our bed. We were all nice and cozy, even after Don got up and left for work. Calum and I slept in till 8:30 then got up for breakfast and our baths. Well, Calum fell back asleep and didn't actually have his bath till 11:30 but it gave me the chance to get caught up on some email.
Don's back at work today but is feeling pretty bad. Dakota has got a cough but is keeping herself busy planning the purchase of some new Chucks (some kinda shoe) and watching movies she has seen over a dozen times. Desiree is off at the mall then going over to visit her boyfriend. All is quiet and work seems many miles away. I've got a few invoices to submit though so I'll have to think about it sometime today. For now, I'm just going to sit and enjoy the snuggling. Happy Monday all.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
What? A week already!
Yup, I was sitting at home last night holding Calum and thinking about what I was doing around the same time last week. It's hard to believe that the first week has passed so quickly. Dad was sleeping, Desiree was out with friends and Dakota was watching t.v. so Calum and I observed the occassion of his first week together. He celebrated with milk, I just stuck with water. For such a little guy he sure sucks up the love and attention. I must admit that I do have a tough time letting him sleep quietly in his crib. I too often want to cuddle him.
This morning he lost his umbilical cord stump. We had been warned that it could get to smelling rather foul so we are very happy to be done with it. We had a visit from the community health nurse yesterday and she helped clean it and predicted it would fall off today. Oh, we got to weigh him too and are happy to report he has regained his birth weight plus an ounce. He should be growing an extra ounce a day now so in a month or two he will be a very healthy little boy.
Don's feeling a bit under the weather today and the girls have started spring break. Next Wednesday Calum and I visit his new doctor. Dr. Ross is so busy that she can only take on new prenatal patients but the other doctor is one of two others that share her office so I think it will go well. All you book lovers out there will be happy to know that Calum and I have started our story time. I've read him his first books as we lay down for a nap today and he just went right to sleep. Let's hope it continues because it is a trick I may need at night. Last night, Calum decided he wanted to be wide awake at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 am. Finally I gave in and we had a small nap together in the living room until I got up for a shower. Calum made sure to wake Don and Dakota up while I was otherwise occupied. That's my boy!
This morning he lost his umbilical cord stump. We had been warned that it could get to smelling rather foul so we are very happy to be done with it. We had a visit from the community health nurse yesterday and she helped clean it and predicted it would fall off today. Oh, we got to weigh him too and are happy to report he has regained his birth weight plus an ounce. He should be growing an extra ounce a day now so in a month or two he will be a very healthy little boy.
Don's feeling a bit under the weather today and the girls have started spring break. Next Wednesday Calum and I visit his new doctor. Dr. Ross is so busy that she can only take on new prenatal patients but the other doctor is one of two others that share her office so I think it will go well. All you book lovers out there will be happy to know that Calum and I have started our story time. I've read him his first books as we lay down for a nap today and he just went right to sleep. Let's hope it continues because it is a trick I may need at night. Last night, Calum decided he wanted to be wide awake at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 am. Finally I gave in and we had a small nap together in the living room until I got up for a shower. Calum made sure to wake Don and Dakota up while I was otherwise occupied. That's my boy!
Friday, March 18, 2005
Calum's Grand Day Out
I've gotta make this a quick post because one thing that you learn with little ones is that there is very little time for anything but quickness. Calum had his first outing yesterday. Don and I took him down to his office to show him off. Don tried to convince me that we were going down to drop off some film for development but I knew he had to get into the office before the weekend just to stay in touch. Fair enough, afterall, he has been so busy taking care of us at home that I'm sure his staff are missing him very much.
We also managed a visit to a friend's house to pick up more baby stuff. Calum now has lots of toys and even more clothes. They sure go through those little t-shirts and sleepers - not to mention the many diaper changes.
Dakota and I have both been christened by him this week. Word of warning - watch which end of the baby you are sitting at during all diaper changes. I told Dakota that it is good luck to be the first target so it made her feel a little better. I must have the mom gene kicking in because it didn't bother me at all. Either that or I'm pretty sleepy.
Health-wise, we are all doing well. Calum will meet his new doctor soon and we have to schedule a home visit with the community health nurse. I'm feeling loads better, especially since Don and the girls took over this morning and let me get a 2 hour nap in after they all got up. Calum gets very alert at night and doesn't like to be put down in his crib. There is no way I want to try sleeping with him in our bed so I fight sleep throughout the nightly feeding/play session while he happily cuddles and learns more about the world around him.
Oh, gotta go. Someone sounds hungry again. I'm sure it's been a whole hour since he had his last meal. It's a lucky thing he is so cute. Happy weekend all.
We also managed a visit to a friend's house to pick up more baby stuff. Calum now has lots of toys and even more clothes. They sure go through those little t-shirts and sleepers - not to mention the many diaper changes.
Dakota and I have both been christened by him this week. Word of warning - watch which end of the baby you are sitting at during all diaper changes. I told Dakota that it is good luck to be the first target so it made her feel a little better. I must have the mom gene kicking in because it didn't bother me at all. Either that or I'm pretty sleepy.
Health-wise, we are all doing well. Calum will meet his new doctor soon and we have to schedule a home visit with the community health nurse. I'm feeling loads better, especially since Don and the girls took over this morning and let me get a 2 hour nap in after they all got up. Calum gets very alert at night and doesn't like to be put down in his crib. There is no way I want to try sleeping with him in our bed so I fight sleep throughout the nightly feeding/play session while he happily cuddles and learns more about the world around him.
Oh, gotta go. Someone sounds hungry again. I'm sure it's been a whole hour since he had his last meal. It's a lucky thing he is so cute. Happy weekend all.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Life according to Calum
Day 5 and our boy is adjusting well to life outside of the womb. We are all still easily amused by his every expression and sound.
Calum and I have spent the last few nights at home trying to establish some sort of feeding/sleeping schedule. Don is off this week helping at home but as I'm the one with the milk, I get to do the feeding shifts. The first night, as can be expected, was very tiring and I think neither baby nor I got more than 3-4 hours of sleep. One thing I've learned is that feeding baby is an art form that is constantly evolving. Sometimes it's very easy to get him to eat his fill and others I'm constantly trying to wake him up enough to make sure that he finishes eating. Our record to date is a 2 hour long struggle to make sure his little belly was full enough for him to go back to sleep. Of course, he was up an hour later for the next meal too.
We had a bit of concern regarding bilirubin or jaundice. We had to take him in for tests both yesterday and today but all is well. I hated the thought of him going back to the hospital and the tech who was drawing blood for the test was awfully inexperienced and he was crying throughout. I'm glad that is over with. We also had him circumcised at my doctor's office. Don and I were told to leave for a few minutes while they did it. My blood pressure is coming down but they didn't want it to skyrocket again so out we went. When we came back they told us that he was a real little man and did very well.
Don and I are starting to get into a flow of never ending laundry. How can a little guy make so much? It's all so cute though and I think even Don is convinced that some of those little outfits really are adorable. His uncle brought him back some really styling little shoes from his recent trip to the US. I'm sure that Don will have some new pictures soon. Speaking of which, I've got to go cuddle someone really cute now. If I don't go now I won't get to hold him again until the girls go to sleep.
Calum and I have spent the last few nights at home trying to establish some sort of feeding/sleeping schedule. Don is off this week helping at home but as I'm the one with the milk, I get to do the feeding shifts. The first night, as can be expected, was very tiring and I think neither baby nor I got more than 3-4 hours of sleep. One thing I've learned is that feeding baby is an art form that is constantly evolving. Sometimes it's very easy to get him to eat his fill and others I'm constantly trying to wake him up enough to make sure that he finishes eating. Our record to date is a 2 hour long struggle to make sure his little belly was full enough for him to go back to sleep. Of course, he was up an hour later for the next meal too.
We had a bit of concern regarding bilirubin or jaundice. We had to take him in for tests both yesterday and today but all is well. I hated the thought of him going back to the hospital and the tech who was drawing blood for the test was awfully inexperienced and he was crying throughout. I'm glad that is over with. We also had him circumcised at my doctor's office. Don and I were told to leave for a few minutes while they did it. My blood pressure is coming down but they didn't want it to skyrocket again so out we went. When we came back they told us that he was a real little man and did very well.
Don and I are starting to get into a flow of never ending laundry. How can a little guy make so much? It's all so cute though and I think even Don is convinced that some of those little outfits really are adorable. His uncle brought him back some really styling little shoes from his recent trip to the US. I'm sure that Don will have some new pictures soon. Speaking of which, I've got to go cuddle someone really cute now. If I don't go now I won't get to hold him again until the girls go to sleep.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Monday, March 14, 2005
We are home at last
Wow! What can I say to describe the last few days? Everyone said that having a baby is a life changing experience and I must say that while I understood this all on the theoretical level, it sure is something difficult to understand until you acutally live it.
Where can I begin to describe it all? As you probably know from either Don's blog updates or phone calls, it was not an easy birth. Our little one was not all that eager to come as early as we needed him to. The induction started Thursday night in preparation for the delivery on Friday. It was a long, long process. While it was the most painful experience of my life, all I remember about it all now is how tired Don and I were just before they told me to start pushing and how much of a difference it made for me having him there by my side. I'm sure that I don't have to tell anyone just how wonderful he is. I was sorry that I couldn't have more of my family in the room with us - they were just too concerned about my blood pressure to allow it but it was also very reassuring knowing they were all waiting to greet our little one. Even my 5 year old niece, Nicola, was there till the end [but she fell asleep just 1/2 hour before Calum arrived].
The moment Calum arrived and the days that have followed have been amazing. I dream about him at night, hold him close during the day and am delighted [though more than a little sleep deprived already] by his every movement and sound. I got my wish, we have a little snuggle bunny! Desiree and Dakota have been great big sisters. You should see them with him, it's so amazing. This kid is not ever going to want for attention. Well I have so much more to share and tell you all, I think I'll let Don's pictures speak for themselves. We are all home, happy and loved. Calum is upstairs with Dad and his sisters but I still don't like to be too far away from him so I'm going to head back up.
Before I go though, I wanted to thank everyone who gave us their support before, during and after the whole process. Don and I agree that we have some pretty amazing friends and family and even though we have been so wrapped up in how our little world has changed we want everyone to know we do appreciate you all. Now I'm off to cuddle with our little guy if I can get him away from his dad.
Where can I begin to describe it all? As you probably know from either Don's blog updates or phone calls, it was not an easy birth. Our little one was not all that eager to come as early as we needed him to. The induction started Thursday night in preparation for the delivery on Friday. It was a long, long process. While it was the most painful experience of my life, all I remember about it all now is how tired Don and I were just before they told me to start pushing and how much of a difference it made for me having him there by my side. I'm sure that I don't have to tell anyone just how wonderful he is. I was sorry that I couldn't have more of my family in the room with us - they were just too concerned about my blood pressure to allow it but it was also very reassuring knowing they were all waiting to greet our little one. Even my 5 year old niece, Nicola, was there till the end [but she fell asleep just 1/2 hour before Calum arrived].
The moment Calum arrived and the days that have followed have been amazing. I dream about him at night, hold him close during the day and am delighted [though more than a little sleep deprived already] by his every movement and sound. I got my wish, we have a little snuggle bunny! Desiree and Dakota have been great big sisters. You should see them with him, it's so amazing. This kid is not ever going to want for attention. Well I have so much more to share and tell you all, I think I'll let Don's pictures speak for themselves. We are all home, happy and loved. Calum is upstairs with Dad and his sisters but I still don't like to be too far away from him so I'm going to head back up.
Before I go though, I wanted to thank everyone who gave us their support before, during and after the whole process. Don and I agree that we have some pretty amazing friends and family and even though we have been so wrapped up in how our little world has changed we want everyone to know we do appreciate you all. Now I'm off to cuddle with our little guy if I can get him away from his dad.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Baby Calum on Schedule
Angie checked into Burnaby General at 7:30 am this morning. As you can read in Angie's post below, they have started the inducing/induction of Baby Calum. In other words, we sat around all day! I did my best to entertain Angie with my witty jokes (and retorts) and my detailed stories of lore (note: she likes my stories). We had visitors during the day (thanks for the flowers UBCIC), talked on our cells (the hospital allows the use of cell phones - call us!) and in general just tried to relax.
Angie's family arrived late this afternoon to be here for the Calum's big day tomorrow.
Angie's blood pressure is still a concern and tonight she had to take some medication for it. Angie asked about side-effects and the nurse brought a huge reference book so Angie could read what this particular drug would do and its side-effects. The nurses and doctors at Burnaby General are great.
It's 9:00 pm, Angie kicked me out and told me to get some sleep.
A sincere thank you to all of you for calling, texting, emailing and for your thoughts of support.
Angie's family arrived late this afternoon to be here for the Calum's big day tomorrow.
Angie's blood pressure is still a concern and tonight she had to take some medication for it. Angie asked about side-effects and the nurse brought a huge reference book so Angie could read what this particular drug would do and its side-effects. The nurses and doctors at Burnaby General are great.
It's 9:00 pm, Angie kicked me out and told me to get some sleep.
A sincere thank you to all of you for calling, texting, emailing and for your thoughts of support.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
SPECIAL ADVISORY - NEW ETA FOR BABY CALUM
Okay,
Let's hope that this is the last time we have to change the ETA for our little one. Don and I have just returned from the latest round of tests. We had another stress test and blood test and had my blood pressure checked once again. Guess what? The darn thing is still too high. I was afraid that they would keep me at the hospital again but after the nurse talked to my doctor we decided to bump up another of my appointments and I was to see her at her office first thing in the morning. On our way home, we were told to page my doctor and she said she now wants me to check into the hospital tomorrow morning so we can begin preparing for the induction.
I don't know what the whole process involves but I do know it involves the insertion of a catheter into my cervix to start the dilation. I'm thinking that there are going to be some drugs involved somewhere along the way too and an IV drip. This will all lead up to a scheduled birth for Friday! That's right, Friday, March 11 will be the day our new bundle arrives. Is it okay to get a little scared now? I'm trying to keep my excitement down but you know this little guy isn't making it easy. Yesh, we haven't even set up the crib yet.
So, we now go into blog silence mode until we have more news to report. I'll be in Burnaby General Hospital as of tomorrow morning. Let the real adventure begin.
Let's hope that this is the last time we have to change the ETA for our little one. Don and I have just returned from the latest round of tests. We had another stress test and blood test and had my blood pressure checked once again. Guess what? The darn thing is still too high. I was afraid that they would keep me at the hospital again but after the nurse talked to my doctor we decided to bump up another of my appointments and I was to see her at her office first thing in the morning. On our way home, we were told to page my doctor and she said she now wants me to check into the hospital tomorrow morning so we can begin preparing for the induction.
I don't know what the whole process involves but I do know it involves the insertion of a catheter into my cervix to start the dilation. I'm thinking that there are going to be some drugs involved somewhere along the way too and an IV drip. This will all lead up to a scheduled birth for Friday! That's right, Friday, March 11 will be the day our new bundle arrives. Is it okay to get a little scared now? I'm trying to keep my excitement down but you know this little guy isn't making it easy. Yesh, we haven't even set up the crib yet.
So, we now go into blog silence mode until we have more news to report. I'll be in Burnaby General Hospital as of tomorrow morning. Let the real adventure begin.
Monday, March 07, 2005
New moms and their babies
Okay, I'm trying my best to rest but it's not easy. I just wanted to share a little more news and more of the experience with everyone. One thing that I forgot to mention about my brief hospital stay was that I was put into the maternity ward with all of the new moms and babies. I had a private room but with 8 babies in my wing it was hard not to know they were around. It was an interesting experience and I learned a lot. Mostly, I got used to hearing all 8 of the babies crying at different times of the day and night. Some of them were pretty vocal while others had very distinct cries - the "I am hungry" and "Change me" type. It was the new moms that were the most amusing. You know those call bells people have to summon the nurses? Well, you could definitely tell the new moms from those more experienced. I had a new mom in the room next to me and I lost track of the number of times she used her call bell. At night the sound really carried so I got to hear all sorts of things like "Why is my baby still crying?", "Is she eating enough?" and "Is this normal?" I wonder if I will be like that when Calum comes?
On the news front, I've got appointments most of the week. We have another stress test at the hospital, an ultrasound, a blood test and another visit with my doctor. Don's working from home as much as possible this week so we don't have a repeat of last Friday. If the baby doesn't come earlier, my doctor has scheduled us for an induction next Monday for sure. Baby will soon be on the way! I'm going back to rest now - next week our lives will be turned upside down.
On the news front, I've got appointments most of the week. We have another stress test at the hospital, an ultrasound, a blood test and another visit with my doctor. Don's working from home as much as possible this week so we don't have a repeat of last Friday. If the baby doesn't come earlier, my doctor has scheduled us for an induction next Monday for sure. Baby will soon be on the way! I'm going back to rest now - next week our lives will be turned upside down.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
A trial run
What can I say? As you can see from Don's post we had a real adventure since Friday afternoon. It all started innocently enough. I went to my regular weekly check up and it quickly went downhill from there. As Don so nicely explained, my high blood pressure and protein spill were not good signs so I was immediately sent to the hospital for a stress test and consultation with a specialist.
It was just our luck that it happened to be the one day that Don was out of town at a meeting. To make a long story short, my husband is amazing and managed to leave the meeting, arrange a plane ride back to Vancouver, have my future sister-in-law pick him up and take him to the hospital and to contact our family to make sure someone was at my side just in case we had to do an emergency delivery. My wonderful brother-in-law, Rob, was at the hospital before I even finished my tests and was ready [though nervous] to be there for me in the delivery room.
At that point I was feeling a bit more relaxed and was more concerned that Desiree and Dakota have someone to pick them up so Rob went off to take care of them and to rescue our poor cat that I had left outside just before leaving to see my doctor. He also managed to pick up our truck that was out at the ferry terminal. Don and Jen arrived shortly afterwards and we quickly learned that I was being admitted to the hospital for more tests and monitoring.
The rest of the weekend passed with us not knowing if we would have to have the baby within the hour or within days. It seems that the doctors wanted us to hold out for as long as possible as long as my health didn't decline. My blood pressure remained high all day Saturday but went down during the night and was looking good, well, better, today. I am now home resting in bed. My doctor will continue to monitor my condition and as long as things don't take a drastic turn we will try to hold out for another week. I do get my wish though, baby will indeed be coming early!
Though it was a bit of a frightening weekend, we did get a good trial run in. We all know our way around the hospital now. We know a lot of the staff, have seen the birthing suite and found out that you can now use cell phones at the hospital so we will be able to keep in touch with everyone on the day of the real adventure. Our son already has earned himself a nickname with one of the nurses. She called him a little stinker because he wouldn't remain still enough for us to set up the stress monitoring test. Another called him a little angel because he seemed to behave for her. I think that we are going to get a very healthy mix of both. Oh, we also got another ultrasound done and Dakota and Don got to have a good look at our baby. You will be happy to know he no longer looks like a blob. I also had plenty of time to finish that 800 page book!
For all of our family and friends who offered us support over the weekend we thank you. Sorry for the scare but this kid doesn't seem to want to do anything the easy way. Expect more news within a week or so. While my doctor wants to induce a week from Monday I'm starting to think the baby may make that decision for us before then. Be assured that baby and I are getting the best possible care and much TLC from Don and the girls. It won't be long now! Also, FYI, I was able to be admitted under Angie Bain, instead of Shuter so if you are trying to track us down at the hospital at some point give them my married name.
I'm off for more bed rest before Don comes down and carries me back upstairs. I promised my doctor not to do much this week so if you don't hear from us for awhile it's just because we are being good and obeying orders.
It was just our luck that it happened to be the one day that Don was out of town at a meeting. To make a long story short, my husband is amazing and managed to leave the meeting, arrange a plane ride back to Vancouver, have my future sister-in-law pick him up and take him to the hospital and to contact our family to make sure someone was at my side just in case we had to do an emergency delivery. My wonderful brother-in-law, Rob, was at the hospital before I even finished my tests and was ready [though nervous] to be there for me in the delivery room.
At that point I was feeling a bit more relaxed and was more concerned that Desiree and Dakota have someone to pick them up so Rob went off to take care of them and to rescue our poor cat that I had left outside just before leaving to see my doctor. He also managed to pick up our truck that was out at the ferry terminal. Don and Jen arrived shortly afterwards and we quickly learned that I was being admitted to the hospital for more tests and monitoring.
The rest of the weekend passed with us not knowing if we would have to have the baby within the hour or within days. It seems that the doctors wanted us to hold out for as long as possible as long as my health didn't decline. My blood pressure remained high all day Saturday but went down during the night and was looking good, well, better, today. I am now home resting in bed. My doctor will continue to monitor my condition and as long as things don't take a drastic turn we will try to hold out for another week. I do get my wish though, baby will indeed be coming early!
Though it was a bit of a frightening weekend, we did get a good trial run in. We all know our way around the hospital now. We know a lot of the staff, have seen the birthing suite and found out that you can now use cell phones at the hospital so we will be able to keep in touch with everyone on the day of the real adventure. Our son already has earned himself a nickname with one of the nurses. She called him a little stinker because he wouldn't remain still enough for us to set up the stress monitoring test. Another called him a little angel because he seemed to behave for her. I think that we are going to get a very healthy mix of both. Oh, we also got another ultrasound done and Dakota and Don got to have a good look at our baby. You will be happy to know he no longer looks like a blob. I also had plenty of time to finish that 800 page book!
For all of our family and friends who offered us support over the weekend we thank you. Sorry for the scare but this kid doesn't seem to want to do anything the easy way. Expect more news within a week or so. While my doctor wants to induce a week from Monday I'm starting to think the baby may make that decision for us before then. Be assured that baby and I are getting the best possible care and much TLC from Don and the girls. It won't be long now! Also, FYI, I was able to be admitted under Angie Bain, instead of Shuter so if you are trying to track us down at the hospital at some point give them my married name.
I'm off for more bed rest before Don comes down and carries me back upstairs. I promised my doctor not to do much this week so if you don't hear from us for awhile it's just because we are being good and obeying orders.
Whew!
Angie just called, she is coming home with the strict order of bed rest. Doctor Ross will keep an eye on her as she has scheduled regular appointments and tests.
I am sure Angie will be online soon enough to tell you all about it.
I am sure Angie will be online soon enough to tell you all about it.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Friday, March 04, 2005
You are hereby on notice!
Hello all
I let the following text message that I received today from Angie tell the story:
Have 2 go 2 hospital for stress test. Baby expected early - Monday or maybe 1 week. Looks like will induce.
Now on top of that, Angie did not answer her cell for almost an hour after she sent this message! Here I was sitting in a meeting in Victoria going absolutely crazy!
At this point, I will tell you that Angie and Baby are both doing well but Angie is in Burnaby General Hospital for the weekend for observation. It is now apparent that the little one will be born within hours or days!
The concern is that Angie's blood pressure has been high and her tests from this week showed protein in her urine. Both are symptoms of preeclampsia, a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and is affecting Angie and baby. The concern is that preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood possibly causing low birth weight and other problems for the baby. In severe cases preeclampsia can result in a condition called eclampsia (seizures).
Ok...I cheated above with cutting and pasting from websites about preeclampsia. The doctors agreed that Angie should be monitored for the next 24-36 hours. It could be that the decision to induce can be hours away or we can wait for a few more days.
The baby is 36 weeks 5 days as of today, a few more days in the womb would allow his lungs to develop a little more.
Here we are, on the edge of our seats and Angie turns to me and says "You have to update the blog!" I definitely love my nerdy wife!
I let the following text message that I received today from Angie tell the story:
Have 2 go 2 hospital for stress test. Baby expected early - Monday or maybe 1 week. Looks like will induce.
Now on top of that, Angie did not answer her cell for almost an hour after she sent this message! Here I was sitting in a meeting in Victoria going absolutely crazy!
At this point, I will tell you that Angie and Baby are both doing well but Angie is in Burnaby General Hospital for the weekend for observation. It is now apparent that the little one will be born within hours or days!
The concern is that Angie's blood pressure has been high and her tests from this week showed protein in her urine. Both are symptoms of preeclampsia, a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and is affecting Angie and baby. The concern is that preeclampsia can prevent the placenta from getting enough blood possibly causing low birth weight and other problems for the baby. In severe cases preeclampsia can result in a condition called eclampsia (seizures).
Ok...I cheated above with cutting and pasting from websites about preeclampsia. The doctors agreed that Angie should be monitored for the next 24-36 hours. It could be that the decision to induce can be hours away or we can wait for a few more days.
The baby is 36 weeks 5 days as of today, a few more days in the womb would allow his lungs to develop a little more.
Here we are, on the edge of our seats and Angie turns to me and says "You have to update the blog!" I definitely love my nerdy wife!
Is it too early for one of these?
I found a neat web site while doing some online shopping [http://www.coolpedalcars.com/]. It has some really nice looking reproduction peddle cars and planes for toddlers. They look a lot more sturdy than the typical plastic ones you see these days. I was tempted to order one but I do think it will be awhile before the baby is big enough for one.
There's not much to report this week. I'm still fighting morning sickness in the afternoons and have picked up a sore throat. The baby seems fairly active still. He's really been making it clear when he is not comfortable in there and has been making me toss and turn at night. Don had fun last night trying to decide what part of his little body was sticking out of my tummy. I think the kid mooned us a few times and I've almost been tempted to hold one of his little shoes up to the foot that keeps sticking out to see if we will have a good fit.
Don's off to Victoria for the day and has had a busy, busy week full of meetings. It's pretty funny though because he still makes time to call and check up on me a few times a day. Sometimes I get some odd text messages too. That guy sure loves his phone.
I've got a doctor's appointment this morning. Only 2-3 more left after this one! Although it has seemed like a long journey we are almost at the end. I've been trying to imagine what our days will be like when the baby arrives. I think we all may be fighting for our turn at cuddle time, at least until the diaper get dirty. I know it's probably a new mom thing but I think that it's going to be hard to get the baby out of my arms for the first little while. We've been through a lot together already and all I want to do is meet this little person and see just how much he will be like his dad. Do you think that it is too much to ask for curly hair and long eyelashes?
Happy Friday everyone.
There's not much to report this week. I'm still fighting morning sickness in the afternoons and have picked up a sore throat. The baby seems fairly active still. He's really been making it clear when he is not comfortable in there and has been making me toss and turn at night. Don had fun last night trying to decide what part of his little body was sticking out of my tummy. I think the kid mooned us a few times and I've almost been tempted to hold one of his little shoes up to the foot that keeps sticking out to see if we will have a good fit.
Don's off to Victoria for the day and has had a busy, busy week full of meetings. It's pretty funny though because he still makes time to call and check up on me a few times a day. Sometimes I get some odd text messages too. That guy sure loves his phone.
I've got a doctor's appointment this morning. Only 2-3 more left after this one! Although it has seemed like a long journey we are almost at the end. I've been trying to imagine what our days will be like when the baby arrives. I think we all may be fighting for our turn at cuddle time, at least until the diaper get dirty. I know it's probably a new mom thing but I think that it's going to be hard to get the baby out of my arms for the first little while. We've been through a lot together already and all I want to do is meet this little person and see just how much he will be like his dad. Do you think that it is too much to ask for curly hair and long eyelashes?
Happy Friday everyone.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Expecting a call?
I get an interesting reaction these days whenever I make a phone call. The first question I get asked is "Are you alright?" It usually takes me a moment to respond. I'll admit, with the morning sickness, sore throat, flu [or whatever this latest is] I'm not always sure what people are really asking. Then it hits me. Everyone is expecting THE CALL. Believe me, I'd also prefer that be the reason I'm calling. And I thought I was the only one who is impatient. I'll have to come up with a code word or phrase to use when we really are calling because of the baby. Maybe something like "My husband will suffer".
Don has told me that I must preformat a text message just in case I can't get through to him on his cell while he is in a meeting. I suggested something like "Baby is coming" followed a minute or two later by "Just kidding" but he didn't seem too keen on that idea. Now, I may have no experience with this whole giving birth thing but everyone I've talked to has given me the impression that it all takes a bit longer than 20 minutes. With my luck, it will likely be on the other end of the spectrum and people will be saying "Would you just have the baby already!"
Dakota was a little disappointed when she asked if we would take them out of class once I went into the hospital. I told her that it is likely to take a long, long time and that I doubted we would have to do that. Then she asked if her and Desiree would be waiting at the hospital and I said that I was sure they wouldn't want to be there the whole time but hopefully they could be there towards the end. I've a feeling the whole experience is just going to seem much too long for her. She'll probably remember it in terms of the shows she missed while waiting for the baby as that is how she seems to measure time.
In other news, I've been having fun selecting a few more toys and even more fun opening the packages that are arriving via UPS, Priority Post and through regular mail. That little toy box that I built is getting close to full already. Dakota has been carefully inspecting all of the toys and has informed me that she may even sneak a few out to play with now and then. I told her that is what brothers and sisters do and that she better be ready for the baby to want to get into her stuff too [Desiree and Dakota have pretty different personalities so tend to stay away from each others things]. We both laughed when we tried to picture a baby wearing her street hockey gear but I suspect it will happen one day. While I like hockey, Don and the girls are true fans so I suspect the baby [and I] won't have much choice. I will draw the line at anyone painting his face with a Canucks logo or putting a blue wig on his little head. Now a cute little hat, well that's a different story.
Don has told me that I must preformat a text message just in case I can't get through to him on his cell while he is in a meeting. I suggested something like "Baby is coming" followed a minute or two later by "Just kidding" but he didn't seem too keen on that idea. Now, I may have no experience with this whole giving birth thing but everyone I've talked to has given me the impression that it all takes a bit longer than 20 minutes. With my luck, it will likely be on the other end of the spectrum and people will be saying "Would you just have the baby already!"
Dakota was a little disappointed when she asked if we would take them out of class once I went into the hospital. I told her that it is likely to take a long, long time and that I doubted we would have to do that. Then she asked if her and Desiree would be waiting at the hospital and I said that I was sure they wouldn't want to be there the whole time but hopefully they could be there towards the end. I've a feeling the whole experience is just going to seem much too long for her. She'll probably remember it in terms of the shows she missed while waiting for the baby as that is how she seems to measure time.
In other news, I've been having fun selecting a few more toys and even more fun opening the packages that are arriving via UPS, Priority Post and through regular mail. That little toy box that I built is getting close to full already. Dakota has been carefully inspecting all of the toys and has informed me that she may even sneak a few out to play with now and then. I told her that is what brothers and sisters do and that she better be ready for the baby to want to get into her stuff too [Desiree and Dakota have pretty different personalities so tend to stay away from each others things]. We both laughed when we tried to picture a baby wearing her street hockey gear but I suspect it will happen one day. While I like hockey, Don and the girls are true fans so I suspect the baby [and I] won't have much choice. I will draw the line at anyone painting his face with a Canucks logo or putting a blue wig on his little head. Now a cute little hat, well that's a different story.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Monday morning blues
Monday again. It was a nice weekend here in Vancouver but I didn't get a lot done. The office is still a mess, receipts still have to be organized for tax time and work to be finished. Luckily, Don fixed the timer on the washing machine so laundry is done. We also finished the usual weekend chores like grocery shopping. Poor Don wasn't feeling well yesterday but is off to work this morning. Now I'm feeling sick again but hope it's whatever he had because it seemed to go away pretty quickly. Once Dakota goes off for school I'm going to go back to bed for awhile and hopefully all will be well when I wake up again.
The baby was very active yesterday. I had a little foot sticking out for most of the day and was being kicked like crazy. I wonder what got him so excited. I had a few conversations with him telling him to leave his mom alone but all to no avail. I sure hope that this isn't a sign of things to come. Oh, I also discovered that he has a strange reaction to tea. I haven't had much since becoming pregnant but had some with breakfast yesterday and with every sip I had an answering kick. We are really going to have to keep anything containing caffeine away from this kid.
I'm almost nodding off here so I think I'll take care of a few things for work then head back to bed a bit earlier than planned. I hope you all have a good start to your week.
The baby was very active yesterday. I had a little foot sticking out for most of the day and was being kicked like crazy. I wonder what got him so excited. I had a few conversations with him telling him to leave his mom alone but all to no avail. I sure hope that this isn't a sign of things to come. Oh, I also discovered that he has a strange reaction to tea. I haven't had much since becoming pregnant but had some with breakfast yesterday and with every sip I had an answering kick. We are really going to have to keep anything containing caffeine away from this kid.
I'm almost nodding off here so I think I'll take care of a few things for work then head back to bed a bit earlier than planned. I hope you all have a good start to your week.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
A sleepless night
Would you look at the time. Baby Calum has decided that he would much rather mom be up than asleep so I turn to the net to pass some time. To top it off, I've got a bad case of heartburn tonight. It's near impossible to lie down and get some sleep. I managed for a couple of hours but woke up just as bad as I did when I nodded off. The bad thing is I can't take much to make it go away. I detest milk and tums, my calcium supplement, just makes me ill when I'm feeling like this. So my choices are to ignore it or to get upright and kill some time till it passes.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. This one was one of the bigger check ups. My doctor checked on baby's position and offered some predictions regarding his expected time of arrival. I was happy to hear that he is indeed settling into a head down position and dropping a bit lower but was dismayed to find out I am not dilating yet and there seems to be little thinning of the cervix [both sure signs that baby could come early]. She told me that some women are in fact experiencing both of the above at this point but that it's more common for women to go past their due date. You can guess how happy I was to have her confirm this news.
I left with directions to take yet another blood test. This, hopefully will be the last. I go back again next week for what I hope will be one of the few remaining check ups I will have before the little guy arrives. I don't care what anyone says, I'm still going to hold out for an early birth [heck, I'll take a day at this point]. My doctor has had a busy week - almost nonstop deliveries. She said that she's been back and forth to the hospital so much this week that she is almost forgetting what day it is.
I've been experiencing what I hope to be another side effect of pregnancy [not a sign of growing older I hope]. On Thursday Don and I were supposed to go for a hospital tour and I didn't remember till I was reminding Don not to forget about it. It seems I was a day [and half an hour] off myself and when Don reminded me that it was Thursday I was more than a little mad at myself. I even had it written down on my desk calendar that was sitting before my eyes all morning. Now we have to wait another week or two before the next tour.
Desiree's birthday is coming up. She will be fifteen on Monday. Yeah, fifteen! It must seem a very strange thing for her to see us preparing for a new baby while she's just a few years away from graduating from high school. While she's a very smart girl and is unlikely to jump at being in our position anytime soon, I must say it probably is the best example for both her and Dakota about how much being pregnant can change your life. After hearing me complain for months I highly doubt either will be wanting to experience this anytime soon.
In some ways though, if I were in her position, I think I would have enjoyed being so much older than my siblings. My sister and I are 2.5 years apart and by brother and I are 8 years apart. While I remember having my sister as a playmate, I remember a lot more about when my brother was a baby because I was old enough to see him as more than a rival. Don tells me that I remember just a little too much about him because I always have lots of stories - I'm just saving them up for his kids. I think our little one is going to be pretty lucky to have both Desiree and Dakota as sisters. At the very least, it will save them from their old fashioned and nerdy parents.
Well, I'm going to do a little more surfing and then try to get back to sleep. Calum has stopped his kicking at least so I may be able to settle back in bed soon. The heartburn is still there though so I'm not ready to turn in just yet. If I'm lucky, everyone else will want to sleep in a bit in the morning so we can delay the start of the new day. Our goal for the weekend is to fix the timer on our washing machine - the darn thing has been acting up all week making it a real chore to get a load of laundry done. Other than that, I guess I'll get a start on getting my tax documents together since it's almost that time again.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. This one was one of the bigger check ups. My doctor checked on baby's position and offered some predictions regarding his expected time of arrival. I was happy to hear that he is indeed settling into a head down position and dropping a bit lower but was dismayed to find out I am not dilating yet and there seems to be little thinning of the cervix [both sure signs that baby could come early]. She told me that some women are in fact experiencing both of the above at this point but that it's more common for women to go past their due date. You can guess how happy I was to have her confirm this news.
I left with directions to take yet another blood test. This, hopefully will be the last. I go back again next week for what I hope will be one of the few remaining check ups I will have before the little guy arrives. I don't care what anyone says, I'm still going to hold out for an early birth [heck, I'll take a day at this point]. My doctor has had a busy week - almost nonstop deliveries. She said that she's been back and forth to the hospital so much this week that she is almost forgetting what day it is.
I've been experiencing what I hope to be another side effect of pregnancy [not a sign of growing older I hope]. On Thursday Don and I were supposed to go for a hospital tour and I didn't remember till I was reminding Don not to forget about it. It seems I was a day [and half an hour] off myself and when Don reminded me that it was Thursday I was more than a little mad at myself. I even had it written down on my desk calendar that was sitting before my eyes all morning. Now we have to wait another week or two before the next tour.
Desiree's birthday is coming up. She will be fifteen on Monday. Yeah, fifteen! It must seem a very strange thing for her to see us preparing for a new baby while she's just a few years away from graduating from high school. While she's a very smart girl and is unlikely to jump at being in our position anytime soon, I must say it probably is the best example for both her and Dakota about how much being pregnant can change your life. After hearing me complain for months I highly doubt either will be wanting to experience this anytime soon.
In some ways though, if I were in her position, I think I would have enjoyed being so much older than my siblings. My sister and I are 2.5 years apart and by brother and I are 8 years apart. While I remember having my sister as a playmate, I remember a lot more about when my brother was a baby because I was old enough to see him as more than a rival. Don tells me that I remember just a little too much about him because I always have lots of stories - I'm just saving them up for his kids. I think our little one is going to be pretty lucky to have both Desiree and Dakota as sisters. At the very least, it will save them from their old fashioned and nerdy parents.
Well, I'm going to do a little more surfing and then try to get back to sleep. Calum has stopped his kicking at least so I may be able to settle back in bed soon. The heartburn is still there though so I'm not ready to turn in just yet. If I'm lucky, everyone else will want to sleep in a bit in the morning so we can delay the start of the new day. Our goal for the weekend is to fix the timer on our washing machine - the darn thing has been acting up all week making it a real chore to get a load of laundry done. Other than that, I guess I'll get a start on getting my tax documents together since it's almost that time again.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Caution - Feeling just a little grumpy
Unfortunately, there is also not a lot I can do about any of this at the moment. The baby will come when he is ready. I’ve got to wrap things up at work before I go off for a bit so I can’t jump into any new projects or tasks. I’m too tired and sore at the end of the day to do much of interest at home even if there was anything exciting for an 8-month pregnant woman to do [and believe me, the options feel pretty slim]. Don comes home and tells me about his busy day, the girls come home and have stories about what they have been up to, even the cat had a little excitement this week when she caught a rat in the front flower bed. And me - well the most excitement that I had this week was reaching the 500 page mark in my book.
The girls have another professional development day tomorrow so today is the end of their school week. I’ve got a house full of kids at the moment with two of Dakota’s friends over playing with her in the next room and Desiree is upstairs with her boyfriend Chris. My darling husband is out with a friend and while I don’t begrudge any of them these enjoyments it doesn’t help the grumpy mood considering I’m still in my office trying to get some work done and thinking about the mess the house will be in when they all leave.
I think I’m going to take a page from Don’s book and turn on some music and loose myself in a computer game and forget the rest of the world exists for awhile. I guess it would help if I actually enjoyed those things but right now I feel like creating a little havoc so maybe it won’t be so bad. Tomorrow will be sunny and I’ll make myself go into the office in the morning for a change of scenery. I’ve also got a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon and maybe I’ll get some good news. Something like an earlier than expected delivery date would cheer me up right now.
On the good news front, my parents are now online. Welcome to the cyber world and don't worry, I'll pick myself up out of this grump after I blast a few aliens or something.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Map to Hospital
Because we are getting closer to the due date I though I'd share some info for those of you who may visit us in the hospital.
Baby Bain is expected to make an appearance in the world on Sunday March 27, 2005. Here are some important facts:
- He will be born at the Burnaby Hospital [3935 Kincaid Street, Burnaby, BC, V5G 2X6]. You can reach the hospital at (604) 434-4211. The hospital is located quite near the Burnaby Campus for BCIT. If you are coming off of Highway 1 take the Willingdon Ave. exit. Head south just past BCIT and you will see signs for the hospital on your right.
- If you arrive at the hospital before the baby arrives, you are welcome to sit in the family lounge of the Birthing Suite. There is a cafeteria on the 3rd floor which closes at around 6:30 but there are vending machines available. Visiting hours are open in the Birthing Suite.
- When Baby and I move to the maternity unit, visiting hours for family and friends are from 12-8pm.
- Don can be reached on his cell at (604) 813-9709. If his cell is off, leave a message or try our home number at (604) 435-8804. Desiree may also be available by cell at (778) 828-2822.
- Because I am still awaiting my new Care Card, I am registered under my maiden name of Angie Shuter.
Baby Bain is expected to make an appearance in the world on Sunday March 27, 2005. Here are some important facts:
- He will be born at the Burnaby Hospital [3935 Kincaid Street, Burnaby, BC, V5G 2X6]. You can reach the hospital at (604) 434-4211. The hospital is located quite near the Burnaby Campus for BCIT. If you are coming off of Highway 1 take the Willingdon Ave. exit. Head south just past BCIT and you will see signs for the hospital on your right.
- If you arrive at the hospital before the baby arrives, you are welcome to sit in the family lounge of the Birthing Suite. There is a cafeteria on the 3rd floor which closes at around 6:30 but there are vending machines available. Visiting hours are open in the Birthing Suite.
- When Baby and I move to the maternity unit, visiting hours for family and friends are from 12-8pm.
- Don can be reached on his cell at (604) 813-9709. If his cell is off, leave a message or try our home number at (604) 435-8804. Desiree may also be available by cell at (778) 828-2822.
- Because I am still awaiting my new Care Card, I am registered under my maiden name of Angie Shuter.
My husband the fisherman
Another nice picture of a younger Don. Since I actually don't like the taste of fish all that much I am more than happy to have him teach our baby how to fish. Maybe if I'm lucky they'll catch more of the same.
Now I'm off to hide my albums so Don can't get his revenge.
Now I'm off to hide my albums so Don can't get his revenge.
Monday, February 21, 2005
A neat idea
My friend Anna had a neat idea on her blog [http://www.livejournal.com/users/fluzie/]. Name ten things that you have done that most people probably haven't. In no particular order, here is my list:
1. Chatted with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark about school theme songs while drinking wine [and being just a little drunk] in Napier.
2. Was convinced that when I was a kid I saw a headless ghost in my grandmothers house. She lived in a house that was once an old houseboat and it was dark and scary for a kid. It had a set of long narrow stairs leading up to the second floor and I remember looking up and seeing this thing coming out of a room and walking down the stairs towards me. Mom said I ran home and wouldn't visit grandma for awhile. I don't know if I believe it today but it is a pretty clear image.
3. Been propositioned by a French man outside of the Louvre in Paris while reading a 3-day old English newspaper and writing post cards to family and friends back in Canada [okay, maybe this happens a lot but you never know]. Got away from said man by agreeing to meet for coffee after I collected my parents from a nearby hotel because I was sure that they would also want to spend the afternoon with him. He suddenly remembered he had a pressing engagement elsewhere.
4. Made obsidian and bone projectile points for archaeology class using only stones to sharpen and shape them. In same vein, conducted an archaeological experiment on the effects of trampling on different types of ceramic materials by setting up a plot in parents garden and walking back and forth over the site for hours at a time [yes, I felt pretty silly].
5. Had boyfriend [yes I do mean Don] fly from Canada to New Zealand to propose to me. Have said proposal made at the top of Skytower in Auckland [after Don's repeated attempts to ensure we were facing west before he asked the question] and days later have an entire roomful of Maori sing us a song of congratulations on the engagement.
6. Had a close encounter with a cougar while riding bike around small community conducting a survey on community visits to a small museum for a math project. The cougar was not harmed due to this encounter.
7. Had roommates from Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Japan, Eritrea, London, Germany, Sri Lanka and almost every province in Canada. You'll be happy to hear I also learned a great deal from these roommates, including how to swear in over a half dozen languages.
8. Spent an entire morning looking for [and waving at] webcams around Glasgow in Scotland just so I could see the places I had seen on the web.
9. While snowed in at college, helped save the day by skiing out to collect mail, wine and sushi for anthropology class party. I had to do it because several people had threatened to turn my pet sea cucumber into a meal if we didn't have snacks for the party. Also while at college, spent numerous days listening to Les Miserables with a friend while cleaning whale bones for a Grey Whale reconstruction project. It will forever be associated with that distinct whale smell!
10. After graduating from university, averaged 4 hours or less of sleep per night for 6 months while working as researcher by day and bookseller by night just to pay off student loan before the government would start to collect interest. During this time I also had several instances of working just under 72 hours straight because I couldn't say no to extra shifts. Ah, the powers of youth!
That's it. I've done a few more interesting things but as this is a family-oriented blog I really can't share. What would you put on your list?
1. Chatted with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark about school theme songs while drinking wine [and being just a little drunk] in Napier.
2. Was convinced that when I was a kid I saw a headless ghost in my grandmothers house. She lived in a house that was once an old houseboat and it was dark and scary for a kid. It had a set of long narrow stairs leading up to the second floor and I remember looking up and seeing this thing coming out of a room and walking down the stairs towards me. Mom said I ran home and wouldn't visit grandma for awhile. I don't know if I believe it today but it is a pretty clear image.
3. Been propositioned by a French man outside of the Louvre in Paris while reading a 3-day old English newspaper and writing post cards to family and friends back in Canada [okay, maybe this happens a lot but you never know]. Got away from said man by agreeing to meet for coffee after I collected my parents from a nearby hotel because I was sure that they would also want to spend the afternoon with him. He suddenly remembered he had a pressing engagement elsewhere.
4. Made obsidian and bone projectile points for archaeology class using only stones to sharpen and shape them. In same vein, conducted an archaeological experiment on the effects of trampling on different types of ceramic materials by setting up a plot in parents garden and walking back and forth over the site for hours at a time [yes, I felt pretty silly].
5. Had boyfriend [yes I do mean Don] fly from Canada to New Zealand to propose to me. Have said proposal made at the top of Skytower in Auckland [after Don's repeated attempts to ensure we were facing west before he asked the question] and days later have an entire roomful of Maori sing us a song of congratulations on the engagement.
6. Had a close encounter with a cougar while riding bike around small community conducting a survey on community visits to a small museum for a math project. The cougar was not harmed due to this encounter.
7. Had roommates from Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Japan, Eritrea, London, Germany, Sri Lanka and almost every province in Canada. You'll be happy to hear I also learned a great deal from these roommates, including how to swear in over a half dozen languages.
8. Spent an entire morning looking for [and waving at] webcams around Glasgow in Scotland just so I could see the places I had seen on the web.
9. While snowed in at college, helped save the day by skiing out to collect mail, wine and sushi for anthropology class party. I had to do it because several people had threatened to turn my pet sea cucumber into a meal if we didn't have snacks for the party. Also while at college, spent numerous days listening to Les Miserables with a friend while cleaning whale bones for a Grey Whale reconstruction project. It will forever be associated with that distinct whale smell!
10. After graduating from university, averaged 4 hours or less of sleep per night for 6 months while working as researcher by day and bookseller by night just to pay off student loan before the government would start to collect interest. During this time I also had several instances of working just under 72 hours straight because I couldn't say no to extra shifts. Ah, the powers of youth!
That's it. I've done a few more interesting things but as this is a family-oriented blog I really can't share. What would you put on your list?
Sunday, February 20, 2005
35 weeks gone, 35 days to go
I just realized that my counter is actually a day off. The baby is due on March 27th, not the 28th as our last test results indicated that we were off by a day. So, that makes me 35 weeks pregnant with only 35 days remaining. For those of you who measure time in a non-baby world way, March 27th is Easter Sunday. Or, if I want to be the optimist, that means the baby could come anytime after two weeks! Wow, the time is going by fast.
I'm not sure if we are prepared yet for just how much our lives are going to change when the baby gets here but I don't think we have much choice at this point. I'm getting pretty excited. For the first time in my life, the day-to-day things going on at work just seem less significant. I still get the job done but nothing seems as captivating as it did a few months ago so I guess I'm going to really enjoy the bit of time I will have off with the baby.
It bothers me a bit that I am less driven - I suspect I have let a few opportunities pass me by where I would have jumped at them before I had the baby to consider. I think that there is still the perception out there about the different roles of the mother and father. I've noticed it a bit with Don and I lately. We are both going to have this little bundle in our lives soon but for him the perception of it, at least to others, is much different. Nobody seems to be expecting him to take time off from work, or thinks that his priorities will change after the baby comes. He's actually been given more work to do. People seem surprised when I tell them that I am only planning on taking a little time off from work. I guess that it bothers me the most because although Don and I have agreed that having the baby meant that each of us would participate equally in raising it while still allowing ourselves the opportunity to have our careers, that's certainly not what is considered the norm. On the otherhand, maybe I'm just a bit more sensitive to these things right now as I get closer to having to step away from it all for a couple of months.
In pregnancy related news, the little kicker has been active this weekend. It's getting harder to bend over because I am very conscious of where his head is now and I try not to squish him. I'm still not sleeping all that well. I wake up often and sometimes find my hands are tingling or my leg is cramped or I just need to change position to work out some of the aches and pains. Unfortunately, I can only really sleep on one side so even if I do turn over, it is only a brief respite until I have to turn back again to try to get more sleep. Luckily, Don can fall asleep faster than anyone I know and doesn't wake up everytime I toss and turn. He will get his turn of sleepless nights soon enough. Speaking of sleep, I think I had better head that way now. The kids are down for the count and Don probably is too.
I'm not sure if we are prepared yet for just how much our lives are going to change when the baby gets here but I don't think we have much choice at this point. I'm getting pretty excited. For the first time in my life, the day-to-day things going on at work just seem less significant. I still get the job done but nothing seems as captivating as it did a few months ago so I guess I'm going to really enjoy the bit of time I will have off with the baby.
It bothers me a bit that I am less driven - I suspect I have let a few opportunities pass me by where I would have jumped at them before I had the baby to consider. I think that there is still the perception out there about the different roles of the mother and father. I've noticed it a bit with Don and I lately. We are both going to have this little bundle in our lives soon but for him the perception of it, at least to others, is much different. Nobody seems to be expecting him to take time off from work, or thinks that his priorities will change after the baby comes. He's actually been given more work to do. People seem surprised when I tell them that I am only planning on taking a little time off from work. I guess that it bothers me the most because although Don and I have agreed that having the baby meant that each of us would participate equally in raising it while still allowing ourselves the opportunity to have our careers, that's certainly not what is considered the norm. On the otherhand, maybe I'm just a bit more sensitive to these things right now as I get closer to having to step away from it all for a couple of months.
In pregnancy related news, the little kicker has been active this weekend. It's getting harder to bend over because I am very conscious of where his head is now and I try not to squish him. I'm still not sleeping all that well. I wake up often and sometimes find my hands are tingling or my leg is cramped or I just need to change position to work out some of the aches and pains. Unfortunately, I can only really sleep on one side so even if I do turn over, it is only a brief respite until I have to turn back again to try to get more sleep. Luckily, Don can fall asleep faster than anyone I know and doesn't wake up everytime I toss and turn. He will get his turn of sleepless nights soon enough. Speaking of sleep, I think I had better head that way now. The kids are down for the count and Don probably is too.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Mission accomplished [sort of]
Today has been a successful day afterall. Dakota took the shovel and cleaned out her room, Don and I washed the carpets [lots of cat hair], I finally put the wheels on the toy box that I made for the baby and moved it upstairs, Don did some plumbing work and fixed a water drainage problem that was threatening to turn our showers into baths and he washed the front window so that our neighbours can clearly see into our living room now. We also got to make a trip to Rona for supplies. There is nothing like a trip to the hardware store to give you a sense of accomplishment. We had to pick up some project supplies for Desiree and even got to leave with a 2X4. Something about carrying around a large piece of wood really makes you feel like a handy person [Dad would be proud]. Mind you, anyone who looks closely at my thumb nails will know different. I liked to hammer when I was a kid but my aim was always a little off. I now have two permanent reminders that some kids should stay away from hammers.
We've decided to tackle the recycling project in the morning. That will really give us a sense of accomplishment once we clear the house of all the bits and pieces that are currently blocking the hallway and are piled high in the basement. It's probably time for me to do another cleaning of the office too but that may wait for next week. I'm going to go back upstairs and see if I can't find Don's off button. It sounds like he's still working on the carpets and I've about had enough. Maybe we will watch Motorcycle Diaries since we haven't gotten around to it yet. He probably will be more interested in his box set though - it contains episodes from Unsolved Mysteries and is full of legends and lore about things like Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, sea serpents and Elmo. [Okay I added the last one but don't you think it would add to the collection?]
Hope everyone in BC is enjoying the sunshine today. Our cat is finding it hard to move away from her sunbeam.
We've decided to tackle the recycling project in the morning. That will really give us a sense of accomplishment once we clear the house of all the bits and pieces that are currently blocking the hallway and are piled high in the basement. It's probably time for me to do another cleaning of the office too but that may wait for next week. I'm going to go back upstairs and see if I can't find Don's off button. It sounds like he's still working on the carpets and I've about had enough. Maybe we will watch Motorcycle Diaries since we haven't gotten around to it yet. He probably will be more interested in his box set though - it contains episodes from Unsolved Mysteries and is full of legends and lore about things like Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, sea serpents and Elmo. [Okay I added the last one but don't you think it would add to the collection?]
Hope everyone in BC is enjoying the sunshine today. Our cat is finding it hard to move away from her sunbeam.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Clear or blurry?
Today was a day of appointments. I had my regular check-up with my doctor [baby is moving on down and everything else seems fine] then decided to see the optometrist to get some new specks. It's been awhile since I've worn anything but contacts. I do have a pair of glasses but while I was in New Zealand [years ago] they got squashed on one of my many back-packing excursions and now sport some lovely scratches. I figured I'd need new glasses if I want to be able to see the baby when I get up to feed and change him at night. I haven't decided if I want to be able to see everything during the delivery though. Sometimes that nice blurry edge around everything helps. I could also say that the delivery went by so fast it was all a blur!
Anyway, I got my new glasses and picked up more baby supplies including the remaining items we will need for our brief hospital stay. I picked up some film but won't give it to Don right away because we do need to be sure that we both understand no pictures are to be taken of little heads making their first appearance into the world. Nope, not something I want pictures of. Now when the baby comes out, that's okay. I also picked up the dreaded breast pump. I don't like the idea of it but I have to be fair and let everyone else have a turn at feeding the little one. Okay, it's been mentioned a few times that it is "our baby" and I will have to share. Dakota is even getting ready for diaper duty and just wants us to show her how it's done a time or two before she's set to go.
Don just got home from work and dinner is waiting so I'd better go. Tonight, our friend Greg and his two daughters are visiting from Montreal. Desiree is off swimming with friends but Dakota is here to help entertain. This weekend looks like it will be a weekend of chores - a final carpet shampoo before the baby arrives and a few trips to the recycling plant with all of the boxes from toys, etc. I don't think that we will get to it all till Sunday though because with all of the walking and shopping I did today I'm afraid that tomorrow is going to be one of those days where I do more of a waddle than a walk. Ouch!
Anyway, I got my new glasses and picked up more baby supplies including the remaining items we will need for our brief hospital stay. I picked up some film but won't give it to Don right away because we do need to be sure that we both understand no pictures are to be taken of little heads making their first appearance into the world. Nope, not something I want pictures of. Now when the baby comes out, that's okay. I also picked up the dreaded breast pump. I don't like the idea of it but I have to be fair and let everyone else have a turn at feeding the little one. Okay, it's been mentioned a few times that it is "our baby" and I will have to share. Dakota is even getting ready for diaper duty and just wants us to show her how it's done a time or two before she's set to go.
Don just got home from work and dinner is waiting so I'd better go. Tonight, our friend Greg and his two daughters are visiting from Montreal. Desiree is off swimming with friends but Dakota is here to help entertain. This weekend looks like it will be a weekend of chores - a final carpet shampoo before the baby arrives and a few trips to the recycling plant with all of the boxes from toys, etc. I don't think that we will get to it all till Sunday though because with all of the walking and shopping I did today I'm afraid that tomorrow is going to be one of those days where I do more of a waddle than a walk. Ouch!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Back online
Whew, it didn't take much longer after I drafted the last blog before I was able to get back online. It's strange just how much it can disrupt your day not to be able to connect first thing in the morning. I think I've finally gotten caught up and it's almost the end of my work day.
Poor Don suffered the most I think. He was offsite at a Chiefs Council meeting for most of the day and probably didn't have much opportunity to check his email on anything other than his phone. Today of all days too! We were waiting to hear the really-truly-this-is-the-final-word on the future of the NHL season today. At least working from home I was able to have the news playing in the background as I cursed all things in the e-verse.
Speaking of my darling husband, he's on his way home now and I'm hoping he was able to stop and get a copy of the newly released "Motorcycle Diaries" movie. As I promised to download his email to prevent an explosion of his inbox I'd better do that before he walks in the door. I truly hope tomorrow will be a better day.
Poor Don suffered the most I think. He was offsite at a Chiefs Council meeting for most of the day and probably didn't have much opportunity to check his email on anything other than his phone. Today of all days too! We were waiting to hear the really-truly-this-is-the-final-word on the future of the NHL season today. At least working from home I was able to have the news playing in the background as I cursed all things in the e-verse.
Speaking of my darling husband, he's on his way home now and I'm hoping he was able to stop and get a copy of the newly released "Motorcycle Diaries" movie. As I promised to download his email to prevent an explosion of his inbox I'd better do that before he walks in the door. I truly hope tomorrow will be a better day.
A curse on all things IT
Well, our internet connection is down at the moment so I don't know when I will actually be able to post this. I've been trying now for about an hour and a half to get it back up but as Shaw was doing some upgrades this morning I suspect there may be a small glitch. I'm loath to call tech support because (1) it's never a quick and easy call, (2) they assume women do not know anything about a computer [I do indeed know how to reboot, refresh and reconfigure and do not need to be told how to do so in terms even our unborn baby would understand] and (3) it's not easy for a pregnant woman to bend down to unplug and reconnect the router and modem over and over again as the bored technician has you run through everything that you've already tried a dozen times yourself. So......I'll give it another half hour and contemplate my options. I hate to loose my morning, especially when I've got things to do for work but some days it's best to just admit defeat and head off to do some more shopping.
In other news, Larry and Tabitha dropped by last night with presents from Mom and Dad for the little one. Calum [we are fairly certain the name is going to stick] received two lovely blankets that mom had made, a beautiful sweater and a tonne of clothes. We are going to have to have a rotation chart to just make sure he gets the chance to wear everything before he grows too much. Actually, aside from having to purchase some seasonal wear and replace things like socks and shoes, I think that this kid is set for the first year. It's a nice thought as it is completely opposite to the reaction that we are getting from Desiree and Dakota who, in typical teen fashion, complain constantly of needing more clothes.
Tabitha reminded me that I still have to pack my hospital bag. I've seen so many suggestions on what to bring with you to the hospital that I have to laugh. If all goes well, I expect we won't be there for a whole lot of time anyway so what will I really need to bring with me for the few days that we are there. Don has been tasked to get the word out when the baby arrives so I apoligize now to anyone who recieves a call at some ungodly hour. Also, if you happen to hear a screaming woman in the background telling her husband to just get off of the %*&#^& phone, I suspect that would be me. I'm afraid that it's going to take a fair bit of convincing to keep him in the delivery room with me and not have him running off to give everyone hourly updates.
Well, I'm off to try to reboot, reconnect and reconfigure. Wish me luck.
In other news, Larry and Tabitha dropped by last night with presents from Mom and Dad for the little one. Calum [we are fairly certain the name is going to stick] received two lovely blankets that mom had made, a beautiful sweater and a tonne of clothes. We are going to have to have a rotation chart to just make sure he gets the chance to wear everything before he grows too much. Actually, aside from having to purchase some seasonal wear and replace things like socks and shoes, I think that this kid is set for the first year. It's a nice thought as it is completely opposite to the reaction that we are getting from Desiree and Dakota who, in typical teen fashion, complain constantly of needing more clothes.
Tabitha reminded me that I still have to pack my hospital bag. I've seen so many suggestions on what to bring with you to the hospital that I have to laugh. If all goes well, I expect we won't be there for a whole lot of time anyway so what will I really need to bring with me for the few days that we are there. Don has been tasked to get the word out when the baby arrives so I apoligize now to anyone who recieves a call at some ungodly hour. Also, if you happen to hear a screaming woman in the background telling her husband to just get off of the %*&#^& phone, I suspect that would be me. I'm afraid that it's going to take a fair bit of convincing to keep him in the delivery room with me and not have him running off to give everyone hourly updates.
Well, I'm off to try to reboot, reconnect and reconfigure. Wish me luck.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day everyone and a very happy birthday to my sister.
We hope that you all had a nice weekend. Ours was quite enjoyable. We did some more shopping for the baby. Desiree and Dakota helped us to pick out some toys. Dakota told me my tastes are kind of "old fashioned" and I decided to take that as a compliment. Don had to remind me a few times that it would be awhile before the baby would be interested in some of the toys meant for older kids. The baby isn't even born yet and I have a bit of a dilemma. I want him to remain a baby for a good amount of time so that we can enjoy it to the fullest but I also want him to grow up quickly so that we can see what sort of personality he will have.
I also told Don that since he already got to experience this all before with Des and Dakota that it would only be fair if our son was a "momma's boy". It seemed like a reasonable suggestion to me but I guess those words are never to be mentioned in the same sentence around a guy from Surrey. Equally unacceptable, according to Dakota, is that I even suggest our boy might be a bit bookish. Apparently she is going to do everything in her power to ensure that her brother does not turn into a nerd. She qualified it a bit though, saying that it probably will be a bit of a computer nerd since "everyone else in the family" [excluding herself] is. Again, I fail to see how this is a bad trait.
My "old fashioned" sensibilities were truly tested once again this weekend. After some wheeling and dealing, the girls managed to convince Don to allow them to dye their hair again. Yes, we've been through this before and I had hoped that they were beyond this stage. Des, luckily, has opted for a more mature look these days and sticks to black. Dakota however, is still at the age where she thinks bright colours are cool. This time she decided cool means having green streaks in your hair. See, here is where my old fashioned sensibilites are tested. As I recall, if you had green in your hair when I was younger it meant that something went horribly wrong and you had grounds to sue the hairdresser or at the very least have a good cry over it all. Now, kids want to pay $100 to have it done on purpose. What will it be like when our baby grows up?
So let me sum up what I learned over the weekend. Surrey boys do not like the term "Momma's Boy", toys that do not beep, glow, or have an on/off switch are "old fashioned", green hair is a "good thing" and being labelled a nerd still isn't fashionable. Is there any hope for me?
We hope that you all had a nice weekend. Ours was quite enjoyable. We did some more shopping for the baby. Desiree and Dakota helped us to pick out some toys. Dakota told me my tastes are kind of "old fashioned" and I decided to take that as a compliment. Don had to remind me a few times that it would be awhile before the baby would be interested in some of the toys meant for older kids. The baby isn't even born yet and I have a bit of a dilemma. I want him to remain a baby for a good amount of time so that we can enjoy it to the fullest but I also want him to grow up quickly so that we can see what sort of personality he will have.
I also told Don that since he already got to experience this all before with Des and Dakota that it would only be fair if our son was a "momma's boy". It seemed like a reasonable suggestion to me but I guess those words are never to be mentioned in the same sentence around a guy from Surrey. Equally unacceptable, according to Dakota, is that I even suggest our boy might be a bit bookish. Apparently she is going to do everything in her power to ensure that her brother does not turn into a nerd. She qualified it a bit though, saying that it probably will be a bit of a computer nerd since "everyone else in the family" [excluding herself] is. Again, I fail to see how this is a bad trait.
My "old fashioned" sensibilities were truly tested once again this weekend. After some wheeling and dealing, the girls managed to convince Don to allow them to dye their hair again. Yes, we've been through this before and I had hoped that they were beyond this stage. Des, luckily, has opted for a more mature look these days and sticks to black. Dakota however, is still at the age where she thinks bright colours are cool. This time she decided cool means having green streaks in your hair. See, here is where my old fashioned sensibilites are tested. As I recall, if you had green in your hair when I was younger it meant that something went horribly wrong and you had grounds to sue the hairdresser or at the very least have a good cry over it all. Now, kids want to pay $100 to have it done on purpose. What will it be like when our baby grows up?
So let me sum up what I learned over the weekend. Surrey boys do not like the term "Momma's Boy", toys that do not beep, glow, or have an on/off switch are "old fashioned", green hair is a "good thing" and being labelled a nerd still isn't fashionable. Is there any hope for me?
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Don as baby
Don's parents have joined me in trying to illustrate just how "tough" Don was as a baby.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Sigh....morning sickness back again
I guess I spoke too soon or my head isn't hard enough and I should have knocked on a whole forest of trees. I foolishly thought I could stop taking the anti-nausea medication once again because I didn't want to mix it with the cold medication. Silly me.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Where did the weekend go?
The weekend sure went by fast! As predicted, we didn't feel up to doing a whole lot. Don and I stayed around the house on Saturday while the girls went to the Monster Truck thing with Larry and Tabs. We had a nice quiet time at home then went out for dinner. We were "resting our eyes" by the time the kids got back and were ready for bed soon afterwards.
Sunday was a bit more productive. I decided that it was time to set up the change table, which required the removal of a bookshelf and some rearranging of furniture. Don even managed to convince me that it was time to think about donating some of our books - not an easy task since I've had some of them with me since high school. I've moved a lot since then and have always carted them along with me, even if I've only read them once or twice. However, we did need to make room for the baby books so it was time to clear out some of the old stuff. It's funny how your priorities change when you have a baby on the way.
Don decided to tackle some of our strange electrical problems that we have been having in the kitchen and basement. We were just a little tired of having to replace lightbulbs every few days and having to tweak the light fixtures to get them to turn on. This repair job required a trip to Rona and also required a stop at our local Dairy Queen on the way back. So, we did get our ice cream afterall. I was suitably impressed with Don's repair job as I would never touch anything electrical even if someone paid me.
I had a nice chat with my mom on Saturday night. Everytime we talk she has some amusing story about my niece, Nicola. Nicola has always been a real character. This kid was just born with personality and really sees the world in a very unique way. She turned 5 at the end of January and told my sister that she was ready for kindergarten. She was very disappointed to learn that she would have to wait until September to enroll. Nicola loves to shop and I've been told that she's had a hand in picking out some things "for the little fella". I hadn't really thought of it until now but Jenny and Nicola will be the only cousins for our little one. At least he will have some great role models [including his big sisters].
Baby the cat and the baby in development were having another fight for space last night. It was a half-hearted attempt on both sides though. The cat was lying on my belly, thwacking her tail. This would get a response from the baby and the game would continue. I let it go on for about 15 minutes until I had enough and pushed the cat off again. In a strange way I'm going to miss all of those kicks after the baby is born. It's an impossible feeling to describe to others and is one of the most bizarre things you can imagine when you watch your own tummy jump up and down as if it has a life of its own [I guess it does]. I've had the foot or elbow sticking out experience a few times and that is really weird. It's very hard to picture just how he is positioned in there sometimes.
Well, I've got a busy work week ahead so expect we will get through another week rather quickly. Unfortunately that tingly sensation in my right had is still there and when I described it to my doctor she knew right away that it was carpal tunnel syndrome. She offered to splint it but I'm going to see how it goes this week with all of the typing I will have to do. I'm hoping that if I take enough rests during the day it will be fine. I'm down to visiting my doctor every 2 weeks now so will see her soon if need be.
Sunday was a bit more productive. I decided that it was time to set up the change table, which required the removal of a bookshelf and some rearranging of furniture. Don even managed to convince me that it was time to think about donating some of our books - not an easy task since I've had some of them with me since high school. I've moved a lot since then and have always carted them along with me, even if I've only read them once or twice. However, we did need to make room for the baby books so it was time to clear out some of the old stuff. It's funny how your priorities change when you have a baby on the way.
Don decided to tackle some of our strange electrical problems that we have been having in the kitchen and basement. We were just a little tired of having to replace lightbulbs every few days and having to tweak the light fixtures to get them to turn on. This repair job required a trip to Rona and also required a stop at our local Dairy Queen on the way back. So, we did get our ice cream afterall. I was suitably impressed with Don's repair job as I would never touch anything electrical even if someone paid me.
I had a nice chat with my mom on Saturday night. Everytime we talk she has some amusing story about my niece, Nicola. Nicola has always been a real character. This kid was just born with personality and really sees the world in a very unique way. She turned 5 at the end of January and told my sister that she was ready for kindergarten. She was very disappointed to learn that she would have to wait until September to enroll. Nicola loves to shop and I've been told that she's had a hand in picking out some things "for the little fella". I hadn't really thought of it until now but Jenny and Nicola will be the only cousins for our little one. At least he will have some great role models [including his big sisters].
Baby the cat and the baby in development were having another fight for space last night. It was a half-hearted attempt on both sides though. The cat was lying on my belly, thwacking her tail. This would get a response from the baby and the game would continue. I let it go on for about 15 minutes until I had enough and pushed the cat off again. In a strange way I'm going to miss all of those kicks after the baby is born. It's an impossible feeling to describe to others and is one of the most bizarre things you can imagine when you watch your own tummy jump up and down as if it has a life of its own [I guess it does]. I've had the foot or elbow sticking out experience a few times and that is really weird. It's very hard to picture just how he is positioned in there sometimes.
Well, I've got a busy work week ahead so expect we will get through another week rather quickly. Unfortunately that tingly sensation in my right had is still there and when I described it to my doctor she knew right away that it was carpal tunnel syndrome. She offered to splint it but I'm going to see how it goes this week with all of the typing I will have to do. I'm hoping that if I take enough rests during the day it will be fine. I'm down to visiting my doctor every 2 weeks now so will see her soon if need be.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Things still going well
Well, I've just returned from another appointment. This is the first time ever that I was done within 15 minutes of walking in the door. Apparently it is much quieter after lunch on a Friday. I even brought the 800 page book to pass the time. Not much to report for this visit. Everything seems on track. Since I've still got a cough the doctor checked me over and said I can take cough medicine with DM. The baby's head is still pretty much just below my belly button [which I may add is now an outty, not an inny] but seems a little lower [Yeah!].
Another small parcel of clothes has arrived today. I've placed a few orders from a place in Calgary that has an online store with stock that rotates ever few weeks. I've found some great bargains there and really like the clothes. Included in this batch is a small pair of rain boots. Now I know the baby actually won't really be walking through any puddles anytime soon but they look adorable and will keep his feet dry while we go out on some of the many walks I have planned for us.
We have a nice park not too far from our house that I think will be an ideal place for a daily walk. I'm going to need one if I want to stay sane and loose some of this maternity weight. This is the same park that has a path that runs along a ravine but we won't tackle that for awhile. Don and I walked it once and while it is a beautiful little walk on the way down, you have to climb back up about 200 stairs. I'm sorry to report we needed to stop and "enjoy the view", "tie our shoes" and "admire the folliage" a few times on the way back - while being passed by a small elderly lady going at a good clip the whole way up.
We've not got much planned for the weekend. My brother, Larry, and his girlfriend Tabitha are taking Desiree and Dakota to a Monster Truck event on Saturday. I'm going to take the opportunity to take my husband out on a date if I can get him away from his computer for awhile. Mind you, I don't expect either of us will be up for much of a wild and crazy time. I think perhaps he will be very happy with a trip out for ice cream - and now that morning sickness is no longer a part of my life [knock on wood], I think I'd like that too.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Another small parcel of clothes has arrived today. I've placed a few orders from a place in Calgary that has an online store with stock that rotates ever few weeks. I've found some great bargains there and really like the clothes. Included in this batch is a small pair of rain boots. Now I know the baby actually won't really be walking through any puddles anytime soon but they look adorable and will keep his feet dry while we go out on some of the many walks I have planned for us.
We have a nice park not too far from our house that I think will be an ideal place for a daily walk. I'm going to need one if I want to stay sane and loose some of this maternity weight. This is the same park that has a path that runs along a ravine but we won't tackle that for awhile. Don and I walked it once and while it is a beautiful little walk on the way down, you have to climb back up about 200 stairs. I'm sorry to report we needed to stop and "enjoy the view", "tie our shoes" and "admire the folliage" a few times on the way back - while being passed by a small elderly lady going at a good clip the whole way up.
We've not got much planned for the weekend. My brother, Larry, and his girlfriend Tabitha are taking Desiree and Dakota to a Monster Truck event on Saturday. I'm going to take the opportunity to take my husband out on a date if I can get him away from his computer for awhile. Mind you, I don't expect either of us will be up for much of a wild and crazy time. I think perhaps he will be very happy with a trip out for ice cream - and now that morning sickness is no longer a part of my life [knock on wood], I think I'd like that too.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Can I have another one please?
Don keeps trying to convince me that he is not and wasn't ever "cute". I've been told to use more appropriate terms like "tough", "mean" and "scary". I've agreed, but only under duress. Personally, I sure wouldn't mind it if our little one took after his dad.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Fair enough
Okay, lessons learned here. I can see that I'm a bit impatient to get the whole pregnancy thing over with. Anyone following this blog knows I've not enjoyed it at all. This week has been full of other wonderful changes including a new tingly sensation in the tips of the fingers of my right hand due to too much typing. Typing! You know, that really strenuous exercise that is the most basic and necessary component of my work. I checked online and yes, this is normal for some women and it is recommended that you rest your hand as much as possible. Rest! How am I supposed to get anything done if I can't even type for an average workday? Now, I don't even want to get into details regarding my newly developed waddle. It doesn't last long but is as uncomfortable as everything else about pregnancy.
Don has also learned not to jolt a hormonally charged pregnant woman back into reality. I had to mention the cup just to get my point across. When we decided to have a baby we agreed that we would equally share in the experience and I'm just trying to think of creative ways of letting him experience the whole thing.
Personally, I much prefer the encouragement that I got from my sister. My niece Nicola arrived exactly on the day she was due. So ya see, there is hope.
Don has also learned not to jolt a hormonally charged pregnant woman back into reality. I had to mention the cup just to get my point across. When we decided to have a baby we agreed that we would equally share in the experience and I'm just trying to think of creative ways of letting him experience the whole thing.
Personally, I much prefer the encouragement that I got from my sister. My niece Nicola arrived exactly on the day she was due. So ya see, there is hope.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
ok, let me tell ya...
You know the funny thing about Angie is that many of you know her as a down-to-earth person who is kind-hearted and generous. The reality, at times, is very much different...case in point - the previous post!
Angie is really, really (I mean REALLY) hoping that our little one will be making his appearence into this world of ours sometime within the 2 weeks prior to his due date of March 27. All I did was to remind her that he could very well be born 2 weeks after the due date, her reply was a simple one "You better wear a cup!" OUCH!
Angie is really, really (I mean REALLY) hoping that our little one will be making his appearence into this world of ours sometime within the 2 weeks prior to his due date of March 27. All I did was to remind her that he could very well be born 2 weeks after the due date, her reply was a simple one "You better wear a cup!" OUCH!
The blame game
Don told me last night that both Desiree and Dakota were born later than expected. He estimated the actual birthday of our baby to be two weeks late. That would mean that the baby would be born as late as April 11th and that just better not happen. I know that very few women actually give birth on the day that is expected and that it all depends on when baby is ready to greet the world but if our son decides to make a late appearance, I blame Don!
I actually have evidence to back this up if need be. Ever since I have known him, my charming husband has lived by his own rules, including his own perception of time. Before I knew him, I was one of those annoying people who had to be early for everything. It's a family trait [I used to hate it because we were always the ones who were ready hours before any event]. So, you can imagine what it was like when Don and I first started dating. I would tend to be early for everything [first date was an exception and I expect to hear about that for the rest of my life] and Don would be just a wee bit late. Now, in polite society, being a little late is not a problem. However, when you combine that with the inevitable wait of the notoriously early person, it can truly try your patience. It's a good thing that I found out early on that he is well worth it.
Dakota also seems to share this trait with Don. In fact, she really lives in a different world when it comes to being able to tell time. If you tell her that it is okay to visit her friend down the street but to call at a specific time, you can almost always predict that she will either forget to call or will call hours later. The first time this happened I was in such a panic imagining everything that could have gone wrong and the worst of it was I wasn't entirely sure what house her friend lived at and didn't have a phone number. Another issue is bedtime. Dakota goes to bed at 10 pm - for me, this means she should have finished brushing her teeth, chasing the cat, talking about her latest sports injury, remembered that she had an important notice for us from school about a bake sale the next day, etc. and be in bed at 10 pm. For her, this means she will wait about 15 minutes until Don reminds her that she has to go to bed, wait another 5 minutes before she is told to brush her teeth, then come back and do all of the above and suddenly develop a fascination with the nightly news and stand watching it until Don or I tell her once again that it is in fact her bedtime. That kid never actually gets into bed until about 10:30 then wonders why she's so sleepy in the mornings. I must remember to ask Don's parents if this is what he was like as a child.
Now I know that my own pecularities are not necessarily a good thing. It's nobodies fault but my own that I have spent a good amount of my time waiting. Over the years, I've managed to relax to the point where I manage to just be on time - not too early, not late. A researcher that I am working with in Ottawa always laughs at me though because I call her every Friday at 1pm on the dot. I don't have to even identify myself, she just knows it's me. I tried once to call her a little later but only managed to wait for about a minute or two before I broke down and made the call.
The point is, as much as I know you can't plan ahead in terms of things concerning the baby, logic and statistics just don't factor into my own world at the moment. I was told the baby was due on March 28th and it had better come on March 28th - or even a little earlier if it takes after me [Yup, I was a born early - by a month and a half]. If it doesn't, well, I'm just saying you can draw your own conclusions.
I actually have evidence to back this up if need be. Ever since I have known him, my charming husband has lived by his own rules, including his own perception of time. Before I knew him, I was one of those annoying people who had to be early for everything. It's a family trait [I used to hate it because we were always the ones who were ready hours before any event]. So, you can imagine what it was like when Don and I first started dating. I would tend to be early for everything [first date was an exception and I expect to hear about that for the rest of my life] and Don would be just a wee bit late. Now, in polite society, being a little late is not a problem. However, when you combine that with the inevitable wait of the notoriously early person, it can truly try your patience. It's a good thing that I found out early on that he is well worth it.
Dakota also seems to share this trait with Don. In fact, she really lives in a different world when it comes to being able to tell time. If you tell her that it is okay to visit her friend down the street but to call at a specific time, you can almost always predict that she will either forget to call or will call hours later. The first time this happened I was in such a panic imagining everything that could have gone wrong and the worst of it was I wasn't entirely sure what house her friend lived at and didn't have a phone number. Another issue is bedtime. Dakota goes to bed at 10 pm - for me, this means she should have finished brushing her teeth, chasing the cat, talking about her latest sports injury, remembered that she had an important notice for us from school about a bake sale the next day, etc. and be in bed at 10 pm. For her, this means she will wait about 15 minutes until Don reminds her that she has to go to bed, wait another 5 minutes before she is told to brush her teeth, then come back and do all of the above and suddenly develop a fascination with the nightly news and stand watching it until Don or I tell her once again that it is in fact her bedtime. That kid never actually gets into bed until about 10:30 then wonders why she's so sleepy in the mornings. I must remember to ask Don's parents if this is what he was like as a child.
Now I know that my own pecularities are not necessarily a good thing. It's nobodies fault but my own that I have spent a good amount of my time waiting. Over the years, I've managed to relax to the point where I manage to just be on time - not too early, not late. A researcher that I am working with in Ottawa always laughs at me though because I call her every Friday at 1pm on the dot. I don't have to even identify myself, she just knows it's me. I tried once to call her a little later but only managed to wait for about a minute or two before I broke down and made the call.
The point is, as much as I know you can't plan ahead in terms of things concerning the baby, logic and statistics just don't factor into my own world at the moment. I was told the baby was due on March 28th and it had better come on March 28th - or even a little earlier if it takes after me [Yup, I was a born early - by a month and a half]. If it doesn't, well, I'm just saying you can draw your own conclusions.
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