It's a Girl!

Okay, I guess it's about time I pulled myself out of the cave, and posted a blog entry on the new baby! She was born October 3rd, so it's already been 2 weeks! Well, 2 weeks goes by quickly when you are dealing with 3 kids now! Yikes!

Anyway, things went well that fateful Wednesday night. I knew things were off to a good start when I was having contractions during the evening that were only lasting 30 seconds, and were 10 minutes apart. Called Grandma (Mummi for those of you who are Finnish), and send the kids off. I was waving goodbye at 8:15 when hubby came back from his Karate class. Called the midwives, and told them to hussle. Last time I called them and they only had 1/2 hour before the baby arrived - they almost didn't make it last time. This time they had a good 2 hours to set up and get ready. I even called my hubby's best friend and our down-the-street neighbour who has wanted to see a birth since baby #1, five years ago.

So, midwives and hubby, and neighbour and 2 midwifery students all packed into my small/med bedroom ready to deliver. Hubby was great - he kept me focused, and made sure that my back wasn't killing me the whole time. I had some brutal contractions, and I'm really glad I was at home, cuz then those meds that are so tempting at this point are just not available - and out of temptations path!

So, long story short.... I got on the bed and delivered the baby at 10:30pm. She was just perfect. I didn't know if she would be a girl or a boy, so I was happily surprised when hubby piped up and said - "It's a girl!" I could just hear the smile on his face. It would have been good if was a boy too... he was just happy the baby was finally here!

Mia was 8pounds 10oz, 21 inches long and just perfect. We had a bit of trouble with breastfeeding, and we ended up in the hospital for 2 days on the IV while her hydration came back up, but I'll leave that story for another day.

Instead... here are some cute baby pics! :)

Update... pregnancy

It's sad really. I haven't been blogging because very little has been going on in my life. Besides, who's going to read it anyway. (Kris, you out there... oh yeah... you're coming to dinner!).

Anyway, things have been going well with the pregnancy. I can't believe that the end is near (read, kid will arrive soon - ACK!). I've been feeling really good about everything my body has been doing, or not doing for that matter... and really... it's all good.

I know that it's a bad thing to say, but I have been chatting with some friends going through hard times lately, and I keep remembering how good I've got it. Really. Good kids, great hubby, really good friends. Can't go wrong, right... right? Anyway, it's kinda like waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know... the kid will show early, home delivery will go awry, and I won't even have anything for the kid to wear. Must fix that. It's actually hilarious that I don't have much for this kid yet. I mean.... it's only 4 weeks away. Guess I should get some stuff together. Kids are so easy at this age tho. They don't need much except clothes, diapers, a boob to suck on, and some comforting arms. At least, that's what I say now! :)

All in all... things are good. Now, what's oging to happen that I said that? Hmmm???? At this point, short of pregnancy complications, I could probably handle anything that life tosses my way. And, that's how I like it.

Rella

Take it... like a Woman!

I'm back to blogging... can you tell I've hit an idea that won't let go ? :)

Anyway, Demented Michelle had a post on today that really made me think. It made me think about my own Theory of Pain. Labour pain for the moment, but pain in general too. Why is it that some people are so sensitive to pain, while others aren't? Why is it that some people can "take" so much more than others? Well, I'm hardly a researcher with all the answers, but I can relate my own tales.

For me, I have a high tolerance to pain. Why? I think it has to do with genetics, and also how my family perceives pain. I know, sounds wonky, but stay with me. My family is hardly ever prone to hysterics. We are a very "even" bunch. We don't fly off the handle when bad things happen - quite the opposite, we put our heads down and get things done. I remember when my father died, my family was in tears yes, but none of us were slobbering through the service or otherwise. We got through it, we bonded together, we were together all the time - helping each other silently.

When I was young, if someone was injured it wasn't a big deal. I remember skinning my knees or cutting myself, and never did my mother make a fuss. She just talked about how we had to take care of it, and clean it up. It would be all better. I didn't even get any candy to make me feel better - that was up to me. I remember my father cutting off his finger, and I happened to stop by. There was my father and mother rushing around, looking for something to wrap it up - my mother was more concerned about the blood getting everywhere than the actual injury - mostly because my father wasn't yelling or screaming. I'm sure that initial scream happened, but then he was really calm. I drove him to the hospital. He didn't complain... well, until the guy who was stitching him up wasn't doing a great job, in which case he asked if he could give the guy a few pointers on how to sew something up right - all in his broken English.. :)

So, how does this get back to my theory of pain? Well, it's all back to that simple equation. Mind over matter. If you've been trained all your life to view pain as not a big deal - any pain will not be a big deal. It's something you work through, not something you try to mask. It's there for a reason, and once you get past it, it will go away.

That's how I view labour. After going through this 2 times before, I see myself getting through this with no problems again. Yes, I have started to prepare for it. I practice maybe 1-2 minutes of relaxation in the shower every day - nothing fancy, just practicing relaxing my body parts. I've gone to see my chiropractor, just to make sure that everything is in alignment. I sit properly - I take care of myself. And I guess my body has been practicing for labour with all these Braxton Hicks contractions that I've been getting - it's basically your body prepping for the big day.

It's also one other thing.... It's taking it slow. I can't imagine ever being induced into labour. It's like asking a person to start running full out from a dead stop. Very difficult. But, if you ask that same person to walk for a little bit, to see their target, to slowly start speeding up, then run full out, I'm sure it's a lot easier to get to a good speed. Why would we ask our bodies to start dealing with full out pain, via induction when we can slowly get there... getting used to each contraction, each stage, understanding how the pain is working, and what position feels better - instead of being strapped to a bed, unable to move, and having to get more chemicals pumped into your body to counteract the other chemicals that were pumped in earlier?

Hmm.. that's just my little rant. Do I plan on getting induced into labour? No, unless it's a natural induction via pressure points and acupuncture. Do I plan on using drugs for this one? No, I know that I can do it... and I've done it before... so I know that I can work through this one too. My body knows how to do it, my mind is getting ready for it... and I've done my homework and appointments like I should. Am I scared? Of course. You can't go through 9 months of gestation, and expect to be all smiles about the end. There are many uncertainties... but, the one thing that keeps me going, is that I've got everything ready. I know my contingency plan, and that makes me calm. I'm like a boy scout - prepared!

Preggo update

Hello readers... sorry if this is TMI... but... I don't hold anything back! :)

This last week has been killing me. I know, I shouldn't be washing walls and going crazy cleaning, but at this point the nesting is starting to sink in. That, and we went away for the weekend, and the cat had his way with the front door wall. I know.. TMI!

But, really, I should have expected feeling like this, but not so soon! I mean, I'm at what... um... 29? weeks so far? Okay, I should know this, but really with this being baby #3, I'm glad I remember the due date. I remember being a first time mom and knowing the exact number of weeks I was at, how many were left, and what the baby's growth rate was at. Now, well... I know that it's getting close... October 1st. As for anything else, I have to constantly look it up. My trainer asked me ... you have about 10 weeks to go right? Uhhhh.... that sounds ok. :) Call it pregnancy brain or something, but I call it priorities. The baby is growing... the midwife says all is well, so I'm not about to start worrying about how far along I am. I'll get there! :) This baby will show up whether or I know the exact week I'm "on".

Anyway I'm looking forward to the weekend - despite the call for rain, again! I mean seriously, how many nights of rain and thunder can one city deal with. It's great to fall asleep to, but the chills first thing in the morning have got me closing the window pretty darn fast! I'm hoping it all lets up and we can have our Dragonboat races. I'm not involved, but the kids sure have fun watching. Oh well. Either we watch outside, or I get to clean my house. Either way, I'll be happy! :)

Hope your weekend is a good one!
Rella!

Baby thoughts

The weekend is just about here, and of course it's a long weekend, and I have to work! Oh well.... I just keep thinking of the whole year off that I'll have very shortly. No matter. One Canada Day weekend won't kill me.

Yesterday I saw a tiny baby at work. A former co-worker came by to show off her foster daughter. Nearly 4 months old, preemie, and only 6.3pounds or so. Wow! I hadn't seen a kid that small before. Well, not recently anyway. My babes were 8 and 7 pounds. That little girl kept me thinking of the wee thing growing inside me. I hope all is well. My biggest fear is that this one will not be healthy. That I wasn't lucky the third time around. How life would be turned completely upside down by an un-healthy baby. I'm talking brain damage, disfigurement or Down Syndrome. I don't know if I could handle that one. I'm sure that given time I could, but initially I'm sure that I would break down in my hormonal state, and be unable to function for a time. But, I try not to think about that part of the possibilities. I think of the days and nights that this wee one will need me, and the sleepless nights. It's only a short time that exists, that part of the journey is short - to end up with a child that can communicate and state that they truly love you - unconditionally. That's what being a parent is all about.

It's funny the third time around. I'm not nervous (not that I ever was), the weeks slip by, and I hardly notice them. October will get here soon enough. I know that sooner or later I'll have to think about newborn baby clothes (which I gave away after DD)... I'll have to think about setting up the crib in the bedroom, and I'll have to think of the multitude of "stuff" that comes with a baby. Hopefully I can get by with the minimum on this one considering that space has gotten smaller with 2 others spreading out their wings and toys all over the house! ;)

But right now, I'm enjoying this belly that is getting harder, firmer and larger. I'm enjoying the kicks and punches to my side. I'm enjoying the fluttering where I swear the baby is tickling me. To know that new life is growing inside you... it's a great thing. I can't believe that I'll be able to experience another miracle in this world - because in the end... that's what it is.

Rella

Let's play... catchup!

Wow. It's been a while since I blogged, but that only means that my hubby and I are talking more, and I have less to get off my chest. (Such as it is).

Let's see... to catch up.

Pirates 3 - Good movie. Don't expect too much, and you will be happily surprised. After-all movies are just entertainment. Period.

Spiderman 3 - Ditto from above. But, not as good as P3.

Baby update - Well, I'm about 23 weeks along. No, I'm not going to translate that into months (okay somewhere around 5 months). It's annoying enough to remember the weeks or months, I'm not trying to do both.

The baby is doing well. (no surprise considering my baby-making history). My belly is growing, but not as fast as the last few times. Which, is a good thing. I think that I've gained now a total of 9-10 pounds in 23 weeks. I like those numbers! I credit continuing my workout and boxing, although squash has suffered since Kris has been sick. The ultrasound was a bust when it came to finding out the gender. Oh well. Another surprise then! :)

Kids - The rugrats are growing like crazy. DD (almost 2) is finally in her own room. (She woke up constantly, thus her bed stayed in our room - why the heck should I actually get up to deal with her?) Last night was a rough night. She came looking for me at about 2:30AM. Yeah, she went downstairs (where I usually am, except at 2:30AM), so the moral of THAT story is to keep the gate up at the top of the stairs, so I can keep an ear out as to where she is. Would consider putting the gate on her own door, but that would make for a bad scene when prego me went to check on her at night, and forgot the gate was there! :)

Life - Life is crazy as always. People think I'm nuts for continuing Boxing at this stage of the pregnancy. Too bad. I love boxing. But, I wanted to pummel the bxing trainers girlfriend last time. Yeah... "How far along are you". "Wow, 5+ months! You've really gained." (Which I haven't). "I remember really popping during the last month. Before that, I really didn't have a belly." THAT is total BS. Sure Ms Skinny Stick, you had no trace of a pregnancy until the last month. I highly doubt it. The longer she talked, the better it sounded to work out my frustrations on the heavy bag. Can you guess who I pictured there? There are just some things you don't say - especially if you are a skinny stick, who can't remember even how to hit the damn bag! ARGH!

Anyway, life is good now, and I'm off to work. Hope your day is a good one.

As the Belly Expands

Yep, it's official, there is something in the "oven". Okay, so that was yesterday's turkey, I really mean that there is some truth to the fact that I'm pregnant. How do I know? The belly. It has begun.

Yep 13 weeks along, and I'm already showing. I guess that's normal, after-all it's kid #3. I'm starting to get rid of those pants that I worked so hard to fit into, only to try and find something in my closet that will fit. Ironically I didn't get a chance to donate the last batch of clothes, although they feel really big on me right now. My belly has grown, thankfully not my ass.

So, I guess next thing to do is to start getting ready for this kid. Yeah, I know that it's a while away, but knowing my luck the days will speed by! After all my youngest (1.5) just moved into her "big girl bed". I know, it sounds corny, but she looks so tiny in that big bed. Now, the next step is to move her into her own room. Harder than it sounds considering how often she wakes at night.

This time I'm going to find out if I'm looking for girl names or boy names. Woman's intuition, no, untrasound! :) If i had to rely on the intuition, I wouldn't be much better off than I am now. Kid #1 was all about sweet stuff, kid #2 was craving salty stuff, this kid? sugar in the morning, and salt in the PM! Yeah, you're so much help. So, nix the idea about intuition on this one, and go for the ultrasound! Granted it's only a 95% chance of being correct, but I think I can live with that 5% possibility.

Okay, that's enough for me at the moment. I have to find something to eat before I fade away. Have a good Easter/Passover/Long Weekend. After doing dinner at my place last night, we're heading to my sister's place tonight. yay... more food. Definately what I need for this expanding belly. ARGH!

ciao
Rella