Moving on..

Posted by beccah2, 05/02/2008, 12:42 PM

I'm moving on. We've created a blog for my 2 precious babies.

Love from Mummy

PLEASE PM ME IF YOU'D LIKE AN INVITE

I've had some lovely memories created here in this diary. But it's not goodbye to EB forever. I still have a handful of diaries I read and forums to visit.

Love from Beccah

Wrapping it up...

Posted by beccah2, 27/11/2007, 07:28 PM

I'm moving on. We've created a blog for my 2 precious babies.

Love from Mummy

Feel free to visit.

I've had some lovely memories created here in this diary. But it's not goodbye to EB forever. I still have a handful of diaries I read and forums to visit.

Merry Xmas xxxx Love from Beccah

6 weeks - Dr's check up

Posted by beccah2, 15/11/2007, 02:45 PM

As a family, we all went off to the Doctors this morning for one reason or another.

Moi, to have my fargina swabbed, prodded and poked...charimg. The little boy, to have his willy squeezed, poked and prodded. The little girl, to have both upper legs jabbed and then buttered up with lollies. The old boy to squirm as he watched the little boy have his bits played with and to cry a little when his little girl had her legs stabbed.

FUN FUN FUN!!!!!......NOT

So me with my sore fargina, the boy with his throbbing willy, the girl with her battered legs and the old boy with his pride sorley damaged I took the kids to Lolipops for some "feeling betterer" therapy and Grant went off to a pre-wedding shoot in Parramatta.

You're asking for translation right?

I had a pap smear and an internal to check the status of my uterus...all is fine. Pestered to do MORE ab crunches *pout* and pelvic floor excercises. Given a script for the mini pill. Questioned the "Cervical Cancer" vaccine. I can't have it until I've finished brestfeeding which will probably be this time next year, hopefully longer (touch wood). Asked when No# 3 was being discussed. Told Sanna when Jonah is 2, we may think again...not ruling out, not 100% certain it will go ahead. Weighed in at 49kgs...Yaaahhhooooo!!!! 2 kgs to go.

Jonah had a 6 week check up which included checking of weight (4.6kgs still???). I was concerned that in one week he has not put on any weight. Dr Labib put it down to inaccuaracy in different scales. He had his fontanel checked. It's a little on the "small" side. If it has not corrected itself by his 8 week needles, Sanna wants to send the boy for an ultrasound. She wants to make sure that it doesn't close to soon, causing his little brain to be constricted. I'd hate to think what that would entail if that were the case. I'm not going to allow myself to think about it. If my boy is anything like me, with me "Teacher's Pet" syndrome, he won't need an ultrasound, it will correct itself and all will be fine. Being optimistic I am!!! Poor little mate had his testes checked too. I looked over at Grant at one stage and he had his eyes shut tight, wincing in sympathy. The little boy didn't even flinch. He was more concerned with talking and smiling at the Pink Frangipani painting on the wall above his head. Ratbag!

Isabella, my big brave girl had her 4 year old Measles, Mumps and Rubella needles. One in each leg. She winced a little and was determined not to cry, and guess what...she didn't! What a brave girl. For her exceptional efforts, Sanna gave her two Jelly Babies and I took her to Lolipops for 2 hours of "running around mad" fun and super bad food and drink. She deserved it I think?

We're home now with Jonah sound asleep in his cot preparing for his next feed any tick of the clock and Bella resting on the lounge, although I can't hear much resting going on. I might put my head back on the rocking chair here to get a little shut eye before the afternoon shift starts.

............ooooops, spoke too soon....I hear frenzied fist sucking coming from Jonah's cot....the afternoon shift begins.....

5 weeks

Posted by beccah2, 12/11/2007, 11:22 AM

Ventured out in the car last Thursday for the first time since my little man was born. Don't tell anyone, but I was not supposed to drive until 6 weeks, which is this Thursday the 15th of Nov, but I was going insane... I had a major case of "cabin fever" and with the constant Sydney rain we couldn't even take the pram out. Even poor Bella was as bored as I was. So off in the car me and my two little angels went to the Clinic and then a bit of retail therapy at Katoomba.

FATSO weighed in at 4.6kgs (dressed) a nice 200gm increase on last week. He really is quite rude and we do need to discuss his awful manners. He slept the WHOLE time. Poor Kathy was quite upset, she wanted to say hello, but he was being very rude indeedy! Jonah and Bella were so well behaved out shopping. I was quietly fretting as this was my first outing with 2 children. But we coped quite well. I was very proud of myself.

My little man has had a great week. Showing off more of his adorable smiles and has even began talking with his "coo's" and "cah's" as he's about to attach for feeding. It's too cute! He's awake alot more now after feeds during the day and I love looking into his dark blue eyes waiting for a smile as I talk to him. He follows his big sister around the house and I think he even recognises her voice when he can't see her. He looks frantically around the room for her.

She adores him just as much as he adores her. She is always willing to help me change his bum or bath him. Once he's been fed she is desperate for a hold on the lounge. He just stares at her and if she talks to him, he smiles....*sigh*

I haved my six week GP check up this Thursday plus Bella's 4yr needles. AGH!!! I have asked DH to have the day off with me to help me out. I can't picute myself with 2 kiddies having a Pap Smear then holding Bella down as the Dr gives her 2 jabs in the arms. Not my idea of a nice day out, makes me feel ill actually. But I have explained to Bella what will be happening and so far she's being very brave. We'll see on Thursday, shall we?

I have also just booked my 6 week check up with Kathy at the clinic but couldn't get in until the 13th Dec. That's also when Jonah has his big check over. Another bare weight, length and head measurement.

*Brag time*Last Friday night Jonah was due for a feed at 10.30pm. I was terribly tired at 9am and decided to get to bed for an hour or so sleep before he woke. Usually i would stay up and wait for him to wake. So off to bed I went. Later that night I heard his precious little mews and sucking of his fists and knew it was feeding time. I checked the clock...WHAT! it's only 1.15am. Bubby you're not due until 2.30am. So up I got and popped the dummy in to try and get another hour out of him. As I was making my way back to bed I noticed that my boobies were horribly hard and painful?????? WHY????

Oh my, he didn'eT wake for his 10.30PM feed and here I was cursing him for waking 7 hours later. Again, please don't call DOCS... hehehe. My little champion had gone his first 7 hour stint....he's not done it since though, little devil . Only joshing!

Here's a piccy of Jonah pooped on my should after dancing around the kitchen to the Dixie Chicks...he was quite bored with it all really...

*~~On a sad note, I went to my first child's funeral last Friday...little Emma who was only 7, lost her 18 month battle with a brain tumor. She was only 3 yrs older then my own precious daughter and when I look at Bella lately, I often think of A and F, Emma's parents and can not help but shed a tear. Our family loved you Emma. You were such a bright and bubbly little angel. I will always remember our dancing in the garage at my DH's 30th, 3 years ago. Bella will always remember playing dolly's with you when you looked after her on a Friday. Godspeed little angel. You've been given wings Em, now....FLY!!!~~*

4 week old Farty Pants

Posted by beccah2, 02/11/2007, 06:02 PM

We visited the clinic yesterday for Jonah’s 4 week check up. He is such a good boy. He slept through it all. On the scales our FATSO weighed in (dressed) at 4.4kgs, that’s an increase of 400gms in 6 days. He’s just thriving and you can really tell he’s a Porker too. His fat cheeks are adorable and he’s starting to get those yummy fat rolls on his thighs and arms. Yum Yum Yum. HC: 38cm, 1.5cm increase since birth and Length: 54cm, another whopping growth spurt of 4.5cm since birth. My little champion!

Over the past week I’ve noticed that my little man has terrible wind. It is really bothering him, especially around 6am each morning. His cries in pain are traumatising and he is constantly kicking those little legs for some kind of release. He also seems to get wind 3 or so hours after a feed. I’ve been referring to “Baby Love” and I suspected he may have colic of the bowel. I asked Kathy, the CHN yesterday for her opinion and she agreed that it sounds like “Colic”. The white watery part of my milk that comes out first is very sugary. Kathy says that most babies take a little while before their little stomachs get used to it. I’m also going to watch my diet and try to eliminate anything that may be upsetting him. I know onions are a “no, no”. I’ve been a “Eucalyptus Lolly” addict since late in my pregnancy and am still quite the addict. I haven’t had any today and hoping that may make some difference. We’ll wait and see tomorrow morning at 6am. If it’s not the lollies, I’ll try something else. My poor little man, I hate seeing him in such pain. I would give my right arm to take it away from him and have it myself. The only way to relieve his agony is to lay him on my tummy. He seems to be able to let a lot of wind out that way and get some sleep at the same time. I also get beautiful cuddles and am able to sniff him all up. I love that baby smell. Yum

He’s really getting into a great routine as well. After his four hourly feeds during the day, he’s awake for up to 2 hours after each feed. We get a lot of time with him on the lounge room floor singing and talking to him. He’s very alert and melts our hearts with his smiles. His little eyes go wide when ever he hears his sister’s voice. When she dances around him, he follows her with his big blue eyes and smiles constantly. He simply adores her. I get a lump in my throat whenever I witness it. He likes to sit underneath his play gym and moves his head around from each toy hanging above him. Then he’ll grizzle when he starts to tire, in goes the dummy, back into the cot and he’ll sleep until his next feed. He’s perfect. Then of a night he’ll feed and settle straight away. I’m feeling so energetic. Occasionally I might lie down of an afternoon with both the babies for a couple of hours, but mostly I can go without a sleep and get a lot done whilst their both down. I don’t feel tired like I thought I would. I was more tired being 8 and 9 months pregnant.

DH got himself a promotion whilst he was off on holidays. He begins his new role tomorrow and got a great pay increase. We’ve both discussed starting our home renovations some time in the middle of next year rather than the end, which is really exciting. I can also now have a nice relaxing 12 months off with my two little cherubs with hardly any money issues. Noice! Might even consider being a permanent SAHM. Now that I could handle!!!

Well, it’s been another wonderful week being Jonah’s Mummy. It’s hard to believe he’s 4 weeks old already. Crikey, he’ll be starting University soon…sheesh!

Love you Fatso
xxx

3 weeks & 4 days on...

Posted by beccah2, 29/10/2007, 01:35 PM

Kathy our CHN visited us again at home for the last time on Friday 26th Oct. From now on, we’ll be visiting her at the local Primary School each Thursday at 11.30am. In my last entry I was quite impressed that my son Porky Pig Jonah had gained 260gms in one week….I spoke to soon. FATSO (as he has now been dubbed) gained a whopping 640gms in just 9 days….YES! 640gms. FATSO…sheesh!

When Kathy did the calculations and surprised us with that figure, her jaw dropped to my kitchen floor. I was rather concerned by her facial expression. “Oh my, is that wrong, is there something wrong with him?”. No no no, Kathy said that was a record for her and that Jonah and I should be very proud of ourselves….and that I am! Again, I must make mention to my great boobies….YAY boobies!

So now he weighs 3.88kgs bare weight and 4.06 clothed. This Thursday he will be 4 weeks old and Kathy will do a length and head circumference measurement at the clinic. I can not wait to see how long he is, I really think he has shot out. I’ve noticed he’s not as tiny as he once was when I give him cuddle time. He’s all legs….just like his handsome father.

My little Prince is doing exceptionally well. Still feeding well every 4-6 hours. He hardly makes a sound between feeds. I tend to wake in the middle of the night to the sound of him sucking on his little fist and making a whimpering sound. I carefully collect him from his cot, where begins his sucking of my neck or chin (awww, too cute!) and lay him down for a bum change, where he barely cries. I am so in love with the sound of him smacking his lips together as he’s about to come into contact with my nipple. Sometimes I hold off putting him on just to hear that delectable sound…please don’t call DOCS. I do love him.

Daddy went back to work today which is a little sad. I’ve loved having him around. We both became obsessed with “Ready Steady Cook” that’s on at 2pm each weekday. Yes, we’re just a couple of old besties, hanging out watching daytime soaps…and occasionally we look after our 2 children as well….hahahaha . So today’s been my first official day at home by myself with the 2 lil’ rascals. At this precise moment both are hanging from the lightshades doing great Tarzan impersonations sleeping soundly. Bella is such a great help I don’t feel like I have to look after her. She’s self-maintained.

Well, it’s just a little entry today. I think I might get some shut-eye myself before FATSO wakes for his next feed. He’s being having a little more “wake” times after each feed which I am loving! I love looking into those Big Dark Blues of his. Oh, and he’s smiling! He smiled on the 27th Oct for Daddy and then at Mummy not long after. He melts my heart. *sigh*

All my love to you Jonah xxx

2 weeks on...

Posted by beccah2, 19/10/2007, 09:02 PM

I can not believe that two weeks have passed us already. It only feels like yesterday.

Kathy, our Community Nurse visited us on Wednesday 17th of October. Porky Pig had gained 260grams in 7 days. What good boobies I have…YAY for the boobies! Both my nipples have healed and no more need for Nipple Shields. Thankfully, I only needed them for 4 days. I think it’s amazing how quickly your nipples toughen up. For the first week or so, every time Jonah latched on I would either cry, curl my toes up or bite my tongue to get through those first 30 seconds of horrific pain. Now I only do that when I have a “let down”. Sheesh, I had forgotten how painful they can be.

My bleeding had stopped late last week but started up again a few days ago. It is terribly heavy but there are no clots and no pain associated with the heavy bleeding. I mentioned this to Kathy and she suggested I see my GP. Perhaps I should have an ultrasound to check that there are no retained products left in my tummy. I saw Sanna on the 18th of October and she wasn’t that concerned. She’s given me a referral for an ultrasound in case I start to clot, get pain or if it’s not gone by week 5. She explained that each time I breastfeed I’m releasing Oxytocin which contracts my uterus which in turn causes the bleeding. So not concern at this stage.

Sanna was so pleased to meet our little man. She was unaware that I had been in to have Jonah. I’ll be back in to see her at week 6 with my little man and also Bella is having her 4 yr old needles that day. I have my wonderful hubby accompanying me that day. I could not do it on my own. I have to make sure I have him on hand when Jonah has his needles on week 8. I am a wuss!

My prince has finally gotten a grab on “Day” and “Night”. We had a talk and he now fully understands me. I’m glad we had that talk. I was getting a little frustrated with the wanting to play at 2am. No way, I am not a 2am person. So by his having a little “wake” time later on in the afternoon, around the 6pm mark, he manages to wear himself out by 8.30pm and he sleeps like a log all night through, except of course when he wakes for a feed. But he goes back down straight away. What a little champion!

I made a horrible mistake on Wednesday night by having Pizza for dinner with Grant which had onion on it. He had horrible bowel movements the following day to the point where I went through 3 nappies in one change on his change table by just trying to catch the yellow water that was coming out his little bum. His screams with the “wind” pain was horrible. But by late that night he had gotten it all out of his system and is back to a more solid “Peanut Butter” poo. Note to self: Never eat onion again. You should have learnt that lesson when Bella was a week old and you did the same to her. My bad!

With Grant still on holidays we’ve been out and about most days shopping or eating out. Jonah is a wonderful companion. He enjoys being in his pram and the pouch. He looks like a little baby koala bear when he’s in the pouch. I love having him sit in my tummy region again. I can tickle his bum and rub his back. Reminds me of being pregnant.

Speaking of pregnancy…NO I am not pregnant…LOL. I really do miss it though. Towards the end of Mumble’s pregnancy, I never thought I’d hear myself say it, what with the insomnia, fluid, extra weight and that horrid uncomfortable feeling, but I really do miss it! I miss being able to rub my belly and feel Mumble’s move about. I miss waking up of a morning and not feeling my little baby say “Good morning Mum” whilst sticking it’s bum out for a tickle. I miss the feeling of the hiccups. *Sigh* I could do it again, I really could. I don’t think I’ll be ruling out a third, let’s just say that. Especially with how perfect both my angels have been…so far, touch wood!

I currently weigh 52kgs, that’s a loss of 10kgs so far, without lifting a finger. Woo Hoo! I have some work to do on the abs, but my whole appearance has changed since I’ve lost all of my fluid. I honestly thought it was fat looking back at my last days of being pregnant. But it couldn’t have been, it was ALL fluid. I’m close to being able to wear my precious wedding bands again. Not long and they’ll be back over my fat knuckles. I have 5kgs to go until I am back to my starting weight of 47kgs. With a few Ab crunches each day and some much needed walking I should be there in no time.

Jonah’s bellybutton stub fell off on Sunday night (14th Oct) in his nappy. Of course I have kept it. It’s wrapped in a tissue and will be stuck in his “First Five Years” book with a warning to readers…”open with care, do not open if you have a weak tummy”. I printed out some photo’s today for his book and have started recording all his special details of the birth. I have enjoyed doing Bella’s over the years and will have fun, I am sure, doing my son’s. I only have one more year left of Bella’s. Yes, she is almost 5. AGH!

So apart from the past 2 weeks absolutely flying, I must keep telling myself not to blink otherwise he’ll be starting High School soon, I have so enjoyed every minute of it. I was a little concerned towards the end of my pregnancy that with all the mixed emotions I was feeling, the crying and anxiety, that I might be a little teary and emotional in the first few weeks. However, the only tears I cry are when I look into my son’s eyes and fall in love that little bit more every day. Or when I hold my daughter on my lap and hug her tightly to stop her from growing up to quick. I’ve gone nearly 6 months without having her on my lap because of a certain little someone taking up much of my lap room. I cry too when I catch a glimpse of my husband staring at his son on his lap and seeing the love in his eyes for Jonah, Bella and me. I am so lucky!

Memories:

Smelling my little boys skin
Hearing classical music coming from under his cot of a night time when I feed him
Listening to the clicking of his little tongue when he feeds from me
Marvelling at his BURPS, such a little man
Hearing Bella tell me repeatedly “I can’t believe I have a brudder”
I love the way Grant calls Jonah his “old mate”

~Thank you for the memories Jonah xxx~

Birth Story...Part Two

Posted by beccah2, 13/10/2007, 11:45 AM

~The first night alone with my baby~

The morphine was working wonders for my pain but the dreaded side effect of itching was driving me mad. And those darn pressure stockings were driving me mad. My feet were so badly swollen from fluid and the stocking were making my feet feel terribly uncomfortable. I was given more Phenergan for the itching which helped a little. It was a freaky feeling not being able to wiggle my toes for some hours after the operation. Then when the feeling was starting to come back, my legs felt like lead, they were that heavy.

I had observations every hour and throughout the night when Jonah was due for a feed or a cuddle I had to call the midwives to help me get Jonah in and out of his crib as I was still hooked up to drips and a catheter. Jonah was also worrying me terribly with his vomiting of clear mucus. Jillian, a midwife told me that this was perfectly normal, majority of Caesar babies swallow mucus as they’re born and must vomit to rid it from their stomachs. He’d be peacefully sleeping and then all of a sudden start dry reaching then vomit. His cries and the pain he was showing in his facial expressions were killing me. I would have done anything to take that pain way from him and have it myself.

At 3am he had a horrible huge vomit and wouldn’t take to my breast for comfort. Jillian changed his bed sheets and could sense, I think, that I was beginning to freak out from his discomfort and lack of sleep. She asked if Jonah and I had had any skin to skin yet? No we hadn’t. She stripped him down to his nappy and asked that I undo my gown around my chest area. I laid down and she placed him next to me. She told me just to cuddle and caress him. Let him smell me. As soon as she left the room, my precious son opened his eyes to me for the first time and looked at me. I mean, he really looked at me. I talked to him in amongst my sobbing and I think the sound of my voice was soothing for him. His dark blue eyes met mine…..and I fell in love.

I have been under the impression that you can not go through life being in love with more than one man….but you can. At 3am on the 5th October, I fell in love with another man. My son, Jonah. We stared into each other’s eyes for a good hour and then he moved his way over to my breast and had a little feed. We both woke later that morning at around 6am, skin to skin.

~My stay in hospital~

We had lots of visitors come meet our newest member of the family. He was given some very precious gifts. Amongst those visitors were Nanny, Poppo, Uncle Michael, Aunty Holly, Aunty Amy, Uncle Mitchell, Kylie B, Kylie, Travis, Thomas, Ian, Liz, Rob, Paula, Brayden and Poppy Ross.

My milk came in at around 6pm on Saturday night. I went into the bathroom to change into my PJ’s and took one look in the mirror at my new chest and was instantly impressed. Here I was in a public hospital, and given a tummy tuck and a boob job…FOR FREE!!!! Woo Hoo…

I was under the impression that I would stay for 5 days. But my recovery was quick, I was up within 24 hours, no catheter, showering and taking only Panadol for the pain. Jonah was feeding like a pro, although I was beginning to get grazed nipples. Lesley showed me different ways I could cradle him whilst feeding in order to avoid further pain. I was released on an early discharge program on Sunday the 7th October after the Paediatrician came around and told me that my boy was perfect. Naturally. The lovely Isabel did his heel pricks, he had his hearing tested (Perfect), a bath and dressed up in a new outfit bought by Nanny and wrapped in his bunny rug to be taken to his new home.

Overall, my stay was incredible. I owe everything to all the midwives that took care of us. Lesley, Jillian, Isabel, Rachel, Therese, Elaine, Kylie, Skye and Elizabeth. Everyone of these women were angels. They always had time for us and made us feel very comfortable and welcome. I will never forget them. The hospital was incredible when I had Bella too. Both my experiences have been priceless.

Midwife Julie, came to visit us at home on the Monday and the Wednesday after our release. She was very happy with our progress. My scar looks good. I was advised to use my nipple shields until my grazed nipples had healed. Jonah’s discharge weight, taken on Wednesday 10th October (his actual due date) was 2980grams. He’d lost only 165gms, that’s a mere 5% of his birth weight. What a good boy! What good boobies I have!

~9 days on…~

My little angel has settled in quite nicely into our little family. He seems to love his surroundings. I am constantly finding him wide awake staring around his new bedroom, his new loungeroom, at his new big sister. Bella has taken on her role with gusto! She is forever saying “Mummy, I can’t believe I have a baby brother”. She is so gentle with him and loves her hold’s of him on the lounge.

The first few days of being home and my right nipple being grazed, I was expressing some milk and bottling it. On Monday we asked if she’d like to feed her brother his first bottle. You should have seen her little face light up. She did such a good job checking that the teat was constantly full of milk and even assisted me in burping the little piggy!

Grant and I have had to (for better use of words) get used to his little doodle. We couldn’t understand why for the first few days he was soaking through his nappy and clothes. We could go through 3 or 4 outfits a day. A phone call to Aunty Holly who is an expert on little boys having two of her own, suggested that we always point his doodle down (he has a naturally pointy up-ety one) to avoid going bankrupt on washing powder. Now that Jonah’s said doodle has been pointing south, we have saved on outfits, we just have to now get used to him not christening us everytime we take his nappy off…Sheesh, little boys can be mischevious!

I need to have a good talking to the boy too, in order to sort out this day and night business. He sleeps like a “Baby” during the day. After each feed, which by the way is anywhere between 4 and 5 hours, he goes down awake and falls off to sleep all by himself. However of a night time, it’s another whole kettle of fish. He’ll want to be awake after each feed and fall asleep in the arms with a dummy….AGH! That spell’s FIASCO. But I’m going to patient and keep reminding myself that he is a newborn.

Last night we changed our answering machine message to include our little man of the house. That was fun! He’s still holding onto his dried out pruney umbilical cord, but I’m guessing it’s going to fall off any day now. He’s had a couple of “Nappy off” times in front of the heater in the dining room. He loves it, just like his sister did. He kicks his little chicken legs around and stares around at his new furnishings quite content. Our first outing was on Tuesday the 9th October to Aunty Holly’s to visit cousin Jack for his first birthday. Billy was fascinated by his new cousin, Jack couldn’t have cared less really.

We’re off to visit Aunty Ruth, Uncle Doug and Crystal tomorrow in Bathurst and mine and Grant’s work on Monday. Jonah will have his first listen to Poppo and his band next Sunday at a Pub in Windsor. I am really looking forward to showing off my angel to all of Poppo’s band friends and the like.

So all in all, looking back over these past 10 or so days, they have been such a memorable and heart warming experience. I am delighted in my little Jonah and fall more and more in love with him everyday. I look at my husband and my daughter and sometimes tears spring to my eyes with the shear joy that my heart is feeling. I am a Mummy to two beautiful healthy children. My Princess Isabella Rose and now my Prince Jonah-Leonard.

I am a little bit proud of myself….can you tell?…is that wrong?…of course not!

I always knew that when I had a boy, this would be his song….







Godspeed Jonah...

Birth Story...Part One

Posted by beccah2, 13/10/2007, 11:41 AM

Where did we leave off….?

I kind of left the “Mode of Delivery” topic a little open. On the 11th September at my appointment with Dr Rizvi, we booked an Elective Caesar for Thursday the 4th of October 2007. I was going to meet my little Mumbles on the 4th of October. I was going to be a Mummy of two little Munchkins some time on the day of the 4th of October. Grant and I decided that we would keep our news a secret from everyone until we’d had our little babe in arms. We had however, told my Mum on the Sunday before as we were in need of sitter for Bella. I wanted desperately for Bella to be right outside the Theatre when it all happened. We both wanted Bella to be the absolute first person in the world (besides us and the Doctors) to meet her brother/sister and to tell everyone what we’d had. Wow, looking back now, everything went so well. What a day…?! Let’s begin…..

Wednesday 3rd October – Bella was off to school for the day and then staying at Nannies for the evening. She was totally unaware of what would be happening the next day. We hadn’t told her yet, in fear that she may have accidentally told someone. I wanted more than nothing to get my housework done as quick as possible in the morning, do some personal grooming and have a lovely rest for the remainder of the day. Housework done and dusted by 9am…check. Legs shaved, bikini amazon slashed and toe nails painted…check. Mumble’s bag and my bags checked and double checked for all important essential items needed for my 5 day stay…check. Let the resting begin. I had a lovely little cuddle of Thomas when Kylie came over for a shower. We chatted and watched TV and the whole time I wanted so much to share my news with her…”I’m having a baby tomorrow…AGH!!!” but I kept it a secret.

I had to call the hospital at 1.30pm for details of the following day. I was told to fast from Midnight, be at Ward S4EP (Postnatal) at 6am (Holy cow!!) and I was 1st on the list that morning, that’s if no Emergency C-sections were pushed in before me. Now that the phone call had been made and an approximate time had been given for the meeting of the little bubby….I was sick! I was so nervous and anxious. I rang Grant and cried. I cried happy tears that finally the day had come for when I would be holding my precious little miracle that Grant and I had created some 9 months ago. I cried sad tears because my little girl would tomorrow become the eldest child of the family. The BIG sister, no longer my only child. Our time together would now be split between another little person. How would she take it?

After dinner that night, Grant and I had a ball making a plaster mould of my ever-expanding belly. Gosh that plaster can be cold on your boobies! Once the plaster had dried and the mould was plied from my body, we took the mould out of which we did when I was pregnant with Bella to compare the two. You know I could never understand how people told would keep telling me these last 9 months just how HUGE I was. That I must have been a lot further ahead on my pregnancy than I thought. I used to think, Nooo, I’m not that big. I always thought I was bigger with Bella. But no, I was HUGE HUGE HUGE this time round. If all the old wives tales are true, comparing the two bellies, I was having a boy this round. With Bella I was high and wide, with this pregnancy, I was low and all out front. I honestly looked like I had swallowed a Basketball. Everything was now done. I was ready to have a baby.

As suspected, not much sleep was had that night. I sat up in the Lounge room until 1am. I went to bed and was wide awake until 3am. The alarm went off 4.30am. The day had arrived…

Thursday 4th October - I felt physically ill in the shower, like my morning sickness from the early weeks of pregnancy had returned. I was dry reaching and had horrible head spins…sheesh, I was nervous! Good and bad nerves. Grant got up to shower and both being so tired from lack of sleep, not much talking was done. We exchanged a lot of loving looks though and touching of hands as we walked past each other. A single touch can say a thousand words. “This is it”, “I know you’re nervous, but I’m here for you”, “I do love you”, “We’ll be a family of four in no time and I Thank You for that”.

We took piccy’s on the front porch , me with my big tum and lots of bags (I’m no good at packing, I’m female) as we had when I was off to have my little girl some 4 years earlier. In the car we hopped and off we went. A 40 minute drive to the hospital. It was silent. The sun was rising in the East, it was going to be a beautiful day on so many levels. We held hands on the gear stick the whole time.

We arrived in S4EP right on 6am to a very dark and quiet Postnatal ward of Nepean Hospital on Thursday, 4th October 2007. Occasionally you could hear a precious newborn crying and I knew that within the next few hours I would be holding my own little precious newborn. Two beautiful angels (Midwives) were sitting at the desk when we arrived like pack horses with our few dozen bags. The looks on our faces were quite obvious, because one the nurses told us we had nothing to worry about, we were in good hands. I knew that.

We were taken to Bed 13 for observation. Weight: 62 kgs. BP: 130/80. Fetal Heart: 132bpm. My little Mumbles was moving around the whole time and I had a few strong Braxton Hicks when Hazel was monitoring the heart. I changed into my gown, was given my lovely cap for my hair and Grant helped me don my pressure stockings. All my efforts the previous day of painting my toe nails was to no avail. I had to remove my artwork. We were all done by 6.30am and Lesley told us that we were expected to be wheeled to theatre at 8am. I had an hour and a half to rest. I needed it, I was so tired and so was Grant. So we both had a little shut eye. Just before 8am, Elaine came in to ask if she thought I could express some colostrum into a cup to give my precious baby when it came up to the nursery with Dad whilst I was in recovery. With her help (she milked me like a cow) I was able to express 2ml of liquid gold for my baby’s first little drink.

Andrew from theatre came in right on 8am, I was being wheeled down to theatre for the proceedings to begin. We had a lot of the nurses wishing us luck on the way down. I was amazed at how excited everyone working at the hospital would get when we informed them that we were unaware of our baby’s sex. It was going to be a surprise for all of us.

Into the pre-op room and we met with Piot, the anaesthetist who would be putting in my Spinal Block. I was given the option of going under for the event…NO WAY, I wanted to be awake to hear that first precious cry of my newborn baby. Grant was whisked away to change into his lovely blue scrubs. He wouldn’t be in the room with me until the cutting began behind a very high curtain. We exchanged a loving kiss and off he went. I had to drink that disgusting stomach acid stabiliser drink (YUK!) and a cannula was inserted into my left hand. Piot explained the whole operation to me. How different it would be this time round. Because I hadn’t laboured for 14 hours before hand like I did with Bella and because a Spinal Block was very different to an Epidural, my recovery this time round should be so much quicker. I was relieved to hear that the Spinal Block was morphine, not pethidine because I am not very good on pethidine. So up off the bed I got, I walked myself into the Operating Theatre and up onto the bed.

I assumed the position on the edge of the bed for the Spinal Block to be administered. By this stage my nerves had taken the better of me and I was shaking uncontrollably. Every time a nurse or doctor looked at me, they thought I was cold, so a heated blanket would be bought over to me. I wasn’t cold, I was terribly nervous. The local into my back wasn’t as bad as I suspected. I had Nurse Trudy’s hands to squeeze. Just being able to feel the morphine being pumped into my back and the pushing and shoving was a little nerve racking, although I couldn’t feel a thing. As soon as the needle was taken out, I was very quickly laid onto the table for the block to take effect. I had the ice cube ran up and down my legs to compare the numbness. Thankfully, I couldn’t feel a thing from just under my breasts and down. What an amazing feeling?!

Not long after the curtain was put up and discussions were taking place over the screen between Dr Rizvi and the other surgeons, I started to feel terribly nauseous. I was trying the get my mind off it, breathing in through my nose and out my mouth. I was trying to stay calm, “Go to a happy place, go to a happy place”. Piot came over and asked if I wasn’t feeling well, almost as if he could read my mind. Apparently as an expected side effect, my blood pressure plummeted which he could see from the screen. He knew I’d be feeling ill. He quickly administered some amazing miracle cure into my cannula and instantly I was feeling good again. But the shakes I was having were uncontrollable and “Where was my husband???”

At exactly 8.45am my nervous and pale husband was guided through the room over to sit on my right hand side. He kissed my forehead and instantly grabbed my hand. This was it! Oh gosh, what was that horrible feeling I could sense over the other side of the screen? The pushing and shoving of my insides was incredible. I could feel everything that was going on, but obviously no pain. This was very unlike the Epidural I had some 4 years ago. I heard the suction hose sucking out fluid and Piot telling me everything was go swimmingly. Grant and I chatted about whether he’d seen Bella and my Mum waiting outside? No he hadn’t. We were making small talk when all of a sudden Piot told us that he could see a head full of hair and then I heard it……….those amazing first signs that my baby was being born, was alive and healthy…..I heard my baby’s first gurgily, wet cry…I instantly starting crying, sobbing and looking at my best friend sitting beside me for some sign that everything was ok?

“Is the baby ok Grant?”, “What is it?” but he couldn’t see over the screen. Piot told us that he knew the sex and if we both quickly looked up over the right hand side of the screen, the Doctor was going to hold up our healthy crying little bundle in order for us to see what we’d created…we looked up and low and behold there was a little penis peeing all over his new Mummy and Daddy….the little rascal entered this world weeing all over us, christening us with a mountain of pure, innocent Good Luck….Geez, we laughed!

The doctor kept Jonah up in mid-air for a good minute so that Grant and I could take him all in. He was crying and gurgiling. He had his precious little face screwed up looking like a grumpy old man and down right refused to open his eyes. All I could hear was Trudy and Piot reassuring me that he was perfectly healthy. Congratulations, it’s a Boy and he’s Perfect!

Grant was taken over to Jonah along with Elizabeth the midwife that would now perform his Apgar’s and generally check him out all over. I laid there listening to my boy cry and trying desperately to take my mind off the pulling and tugging of the surgeons ripping out my placenta and commencing the sewing up of my jelly guts. They were nice enough to remove my old scar and give me a new neat scar.

Finally after what seemed like forever, my two boys came over to me laying on the table. My very proud and speechless husband, my grumpy little son Jonah. Oh, he was a sight for sore eyes. His precious little whimpering was a beautiful sound. He still hadn’t opened his eyes, except choosing to stubbornly keep them clenched shut. With my free hand, I got to explore his face. I touched every inch of his silky skin and kissed his vernix covered little cheeks a dozen times. I sniffed him, I breathed him in, I loved him wholeheartedly.

Those first 5 minutes with him will be etched into my heart forever. Elizabeth explained that he would now be taken up to the Cub House in the Postnatal Ward along with Grant for weighing, measuring, Vitamin K and Hep B injections and his first little drink of my precious colostrum. Away they went. I continued to lie on the table whilst I was stitched and cleaned up. It was very uncomfortable being able to feel the tugging, but I kept my mind on the fact that within the hour I would be holding my little man. My Mumbles.

After the surgeons were done with me, Piot topped up my morphine and hooked me up to a bag of Oxytocin. I was also given an injection of Phenergan for the itching I may experience in a few minutes time as a side effect of the morphine. Each and every nurse and doctor came over to congratulate me on my perfect pigeon pair. I even had two German students in on the surgery (they asked my permission before it all began, I was more than fine with that) come and thank me for allowing them to be in on this wonderful experience.

I was then wheeled into recovery to have my blood pressure and temps observed for the next 40 minutes or so. The nurse there looking after me told me I should try and get some shut eye. I was throwing out so much adrenalin, floating on cloud nine, that sleep would not become me, even if I tried. Thankfully those 40 minutes went rather quick and before I knew it, a lovely young gentleman was wheeling me back up to S4EP, now in Room 30, Bed 2, to meet my little man officially. I arrived in my room at 10.30am to my beautiful husband and daughter sitting beside my bed, looking lovingly into the crib of our newborn son and brother, Jonah.

My mum was downstairs getting Grant some breakfast whilst over the next half an hour Grant filled me in on all that had taken place when they took Jonah to the Cub House. Grant told me that he wheeled Jonah out of the Theatre to see my Mum and Bella sitting patiently outside waiting for the news. He called out to Bella who reluctantly left my Mum’s side to talk ever so slowly up to Grant. Grant told her that Mummy had had the baby and it was a Boy. She had gotten the little brother she so desperately wanted. She ran back to her Nanna and told her “Nanny I have a Jonah”.



I put my little boy on the breast at 11am and you’d swear he’d been here before. I was a little nervous myself as it had been some 3 years since I finished breast feeding Bella. Pardon the pun, but it’s just like riding a bike. I got straight back into it and it was like my body and my boy knew exactly what to do. He fed off both breasts for a total of 40 minutes. Yes, it was a big feed, but he’s a growing boy!

The remainder of the day was spent speaking with friends and family on the phone and sharing our wonderful news. Everyone was surprised about our “secret” elective Caesar. That’s exactly what we were going for…Surprise! I spent many hours getting to know every crease of my baby’s face and little body. I got to cuddle my son and daughter and re-live the exciting morning with my Mum. Bella insisted that she call Poppo, Aunty Holly, Aunty Amy and Uncle Michael with her news. They were all beautifully surprised with her news that she had a baby brother.

To be continued…

39weeks

Posted by beccah2, 01/10/2007, 11:13 PM

Oh my, my dearest precious little Mumble…almost 5 weeks without an update. (Tst, Tst ). Shame on me…gets one to thinking that since being on Maternity leave I’ve either been super duper lazy or down right busy nesting like an old hen on your impending arrival…it is most certainly the later. (cluck cluck)

So much to write, not sure where to start….I’ll start with stats me thinks…

ANC appointment: 10th Sept 07 (35w6d)
BP: 110/70
FH: 35cm
Weight: 59kgs
Tummy: 100cm

This appt was with Dr Rizvi. We discussed mode of delivery…

ANC appointment: 25th Sept 07 (37w6d)
BP: 110/75
FH: 38cm
Weight: 61kgs
Tummy: 105cm

Iron levels were very low at 99 (should be around 111). Advised to commence taking Fabfol, not Blackmore’s as Fabfol has more Iron and Folic Acid. Faye assured me that my levels were low not through something I have been doing wrong. I eat a lot of Spinach, I could give Popeye a run for his money. Obviously my little womb-dweller needs it more and has been stealing it right from underneath my nose. I don’t mind sharing. Mumble’s has yet to engage either…not happy Jan! But very happy with Fayes comments after applying the Doppler to my large tum, that inside lives one very happy little baby…YAY, gold star for ME!

Note to self: Never never ever ever EVER gloat that you are terribly lucky to have never contracted a single (tummy) stretch mark over your past 2 pregnancies, because the Big Man upstairs will punish you for said “gloating” and have you wake the next morning with the most horrific red/purple itchy, scratchy, painful stretch marks protruding from your belly button, that mind you looks very much like a little boys doodle and has turned a horrible brown colour….NEVER EVER gloat.

I have at times scratched them so bad in the shower that I have made them bleed. Naughty! But if it means my wearing a “boob tube” around the shops is over…so be it! Hehehehe…

As of a mere 1 hour ago, my hospital bags are packed (however, I must write a note to self to throw in phone charger). I have packed lots and lots of thick cushion pads for undies and lots and lots of breast pads for leaky boobies. Multitudes of dark undies, 2 brand new spanking pairs of jarmies. Ipod, Mother & Baby magazine and packets of heartburn tablets. The most important item not yet to be zipped up in my bag is a present from Mumble’s to Bella. Us girlies are off to the plaza tomorrow for some retail therapy. I have a couple of things in mind of which to get her. Bella has already lovingly chosen a gift from her to Mumble’s. Like Mother, like Daughter, it was the most expensive plush toy in the shop. Mumble’s better like it (shaking fist at tummy) .

As suggested earlier in this entry, since taking Maternity Leave I have been spring cleaning in preparation for bringing my littlest baby home in a mere couple of weeks. The whole outside of the house has been hosed, scrubbed and washed down. Windows are sparkling from inside and outside. All surfaces have been dusted. Change table up, baby bath lies waiting in the bathroom and baby monitor has been battery –ed up and plugged in. Carpets are vacuumed almost daily…yes I have a problem, hehehe. Just a few things left to do, take plaster mould of belly and self groom (ie, shave legs, attack the Amazon Jungle down below, trim and paint nails). Have even drafted emails to friends and family announcing he/she’s arrival and compiled a list of mobile numbers for the all important text message just minutes after you are born.

My girl and I have been walking a lot. It doesn’t appear to be shaving much off my large a**, however it wears the girl out for a good 3 hour afternoon nap, to which I gladly join her, because there ain‘t been much sleep happenin’ for me of a night time. Whenever I wake to roll over, I get my bladder squished so am up to the loo. When I lie back down, Mumble’s take this as play time and then commences our favourite game “Guess which body part I am poking out”. Three or four times a night I have a heartburn attack and I have also been suffering terribly from Hayfever these past few weeks. So the constant blowing of noses and pounding headaches are added to the list above.

I find myself easily falling asleep on the lounge of a night around 1am. I may get a good solid 3-4 hours before my bladder is screaming to be emptied. Then once bladder is empty I take myself to bed for a fitful few hours before the sun rises at 5am and I woken to having my face stroked by an adorable blonde headed 4 yr old begging me for breskas at around 7.30am.

All in all, one could say that we are 99% prepared for your arrival in a mere 9 days. I am beginning to feel a little nervous and anxious. I have loved having you share my body with me for the past 9 months. I have gone to bed each night with my hand on my belly feeling you settle in and woken each morning with you as the first thing on my mind. I know once you are here I will still find myself panicking at stages when I haven’t felt you move for a few hours. Der mummy, you’re not pregnant anymore, just look over there at that precious little creation laying soundly in it’s cot.

Am I going to be a good mum to two little angels? I am going to miss my “me and Bella” time. I am constantly reminding her that I do love her so and just because there’s going to be a new baby around, I will never stop being her mummy. She understands though, she’s been here before, I swear it.

Well my precious baby, I think I am done for now…until my next entry, stay safe, keep snug and please be a little gentle on Mummy’s insides….phoa! I do love you Mumble’s.

Love Mummy xxx

~Two weeks into my Maternity Leave, the dreaded phone call arrived…~

On the 15th September 2007 at appox 12pm, Grant lost his beloved Uncle Tony (Uncle Tone) in a tragic boat accident in Taree. He was 6 weeks of turning 58 and leaves behind a beautiful Aunty Lee, Josh (21) and Sharisse (15). We received this news the day before Grant’s birthday which was cruel. It was a hard week between his death and the funeral. I always knew how much Grant adored his uncle, who practically brought him and his siblings up when they were younger. He taught me how to milk a cow and ride a motor bike….we will always love Tone Spigone, which is why in dedication to him, our son Jonah will adorn the middle name Anthony…in memory.

~26th September 2007, my 31st birthday and 1 year since losing my precious Kookie…~

It was an emotional day. I did loads of crying and remembering. I thought that even though I was pregnant this year round with a beautiful healthy little baby due any day now, that it would make it easier. It did…..and didn’t. I will always be a mother to three children, even though one chose to live in Heaven. God bless you…