Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The First Week

Going home!



In Grandpa Funk's Hands




Curled up in Mum's arms



What a big soother!



The Pout

Sunday, May 18, 2008

A Few Details

Further to the pictures posted by the Husband on my behalf;

Isaiah Jack was born on May 13/08 weighing 5 lb 12 oz. Because of his small size for dates he had a hard time keeping his blood sugars up. He would expend more energy trying to feed than he gained with the meal. He went to Neonatal Intensive Care for a couple of days for IV therapy and some tube feeds. Despite these concerns he has a good appetite and is an eager feeder. We were discharged home after 4 days in hospital with stable weights and blood sugars. Now we're busy trying to adapt to life at home.

I'll post the details of the labor and delivery some time this coming week.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Overdue

It's mother's day and I'm officially overdue by 2 days. Tomorrow I go see the doctor again. In the meantime the Husband and I have enjoyed a childless weekend. We went to the theater just because we could. We ate out, went for walks, and accomplished a couple of things around the house.

Here are some recent pictures:



Pre-Baby Family

40 weeks 2 days

Nursery with Blanket from Mum

Thursday, May 8, 2008

A Pregnancy 13

Tomorrow marks 40 weeks of pregnancy. This kid is fully cooked. I'm starting to reminisce over what the pregnancy has been like before it's even over. Multiple small concerns over the size of the baby (small), amount of amniotic fluid (small), and words about "growth retardation" (isn't "restricted" a more acceptable way of saying it?) and "placental insufficiency" will ensure that this baby doesn't cook much longer. Here is a list of 13 things that have struck me during the last 9 months:

1 - I do not love being pregnant

2 - I don't hate it either

3 - I'm way more excited about the end result than the process. Truth is, the process has taken over my body. And I don't like to share. I'd like my body back, please.

4 - My biggest symptom this whole time has been a growing belly - the unpleasant symptoms decided not to visit me this time around.

5 - The scariest moments were 2 episodes of spotting at 6 and 8 weeks

6 - I've felt more temperamental, possessive, and emotionally reactive in the last month than I did for the entire previous 8 months of pregnancy. Perhaps a symptom of too much time on my hands? I sit at home, on EI.

7 - Favorite part - fetal movements. Kicks, flutters, rolls, hiccups. And now I can see practice breathing.

8 - No stretch marks. Yet

9 - No significant cravings. But acceptable excuses for having whatever I want on a whim.

10 - My back has been surprisingly tolerant. Worse, yes. Unbearable, no.

11 - The Husband has read way more books than I have. I just don't care to. Books will make me feel guilty and I do that well enough on my own, thanks.

12 - I've worried more about the well-being of my kid in the last couple of weeks than the previous 8 months. Will it be healthy/normal? What if I think it's ugly? What if I don't even like it? What if I die before he/she grows up?

13 - I may be 9 mths pregnant, but I can still clean house, walk the dog daily, climb stairs. I could probably still do a half hour of cardio at the gym.

May labor and delivery be just as easy!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Maternity Leave

I don't know what is with me. Perhaps end of pregnancy hormones. Maybe a sudden change of pace from hectic to s-l-o-w. Maybe I have too much time on my hands to obsess.

I am just plain temperamental. Cantankerous at times, as my Dad would say.

I have a list of things I want to get done. But I don't feel like doing it. I feel like being alone, but then I'm lonely. I think I want this, but then I end up doing that. I react emotionally instead of rationally.

I've been off work for about a week now. I'll be 39 weeks pregnant tomorrow. The kid is set to make a debut any time between now and 3 weeks from now. I can't grasp the leap from pregnant to parent. It thrills and terrifies me at the same time. Although I feel connected with the life inside of me, I can't imagine it in an independent form. I am going to be a parent for... ever. It's kind of a big deal.

If I had known how good I would be feeling, I would have worked longer and brought home a good pay cheque. My back is tender, but I imagined it would be far worse. I can still bend, walk, lift. I'm not particularly huge or awkward. It's a bit too early for gardening. I've come through this remarkably well.

Tuesday I spent one more day with my Mum. We went to multiple medical appointments, did some shopping, and enjoyed each other's company. We've done shopping days for a long, long time. This is probably the last time she'll just be my mum, and not my kid's grandma.

I suppose I'm just bored. I should tackle my "to do" list. I'd like to have the car, but the husband takes it to work most days. So I feel kind of stuck at home. The dog gets me out daily and more often than not, we run into the regulars at the dog park. I have time to get all the things I've procrastinated on completed. But what fun is that?