Almost every morning, Emily will come stand in front of me with her arms stretched wide to her side, standing up as tall as she can and she asks, "Mom, Am I bigger yet?" My answer, "you are getting there." Her response every time, "so can I play on the boys jungle gym?" I giggle to myself and answer, "you'll have to speak to Miss Raphael about that!"
This little conversation that we have at least 3 times a week always leaves me thinking about the fact that when we are children we spend so much of our time thinking about "being grown up" - or about being as big as that pretty girl in the class above us.
As the weeks and months pass, I watch in amazement as our girls get bigger almost by the second. Its CRAZY how fast Hailey has grown. She is 7 months today and has brought so much JOy to our lives. Emily and Hailey are already virtually inseparable and hopefully showing signs of being life long close sisters and friends. Hailey is desperately trying to crawl and I think that she will be in the next two weeks! She has reached these milestones so fast I can hardly remember her as a tiny little new born that did nothing but eat, sleep and pooooop! And oh boy, was there lots of poop! She is now on solids and eating 3 meals a day. Still keeping us up at night (but we are working on that), and a very chatty little thing!
Emily is growing and becoming such a beautiful, kind natured treasure. She spends her days singing and dancing while playing with her toys. She is our SunShiNe GiRL!
Our girls laugh and screech and play together constantly and bring us such unthinkable joy! We are blessed to have them and blessed to have each other! ....Now if only time would slow down a little so that we can have a moment longer to take it all in!
Have a blessed day everyone!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Haileys birth story
So here is the full account of the birth of our little Hailey. Originally our c- section was scheduled for the Friday, the 1st of July. On the Wednesday a week and a bit before, I was sitting at the clinic with Emily and I got a phone call from my gynaecologist's receptionist to say that he would like to move my date forward to the 28th of June. This was almost a whole week earlier and it left me 5 days to prepare myself instead of 11! I was stressed out, but excited. The monday before I had to go in, I spent the day Frantically doing those last minute things that I hadn't yet gotten too. I know I should have rested and taken it easy, but when you are pregnant with a mission, there's nothing stopping you. Towards the end of the day, just as I was getting ready to take Emily to her gran, she started throwing up. This was not SOmething I had expected to be thrown into my day now. I decided not to leave it and made a doctors appointment. Off we went, the doctor checked her out and said nothing was wrong...
Got home, chucked our stuff in the car - we were spending the night at Leons Mom and dad, so that when we left in the morning, Emily could stay nice and settled. She would also stay there for the week so that Leon could come and go from the hospital as he needed to.
On the big day, we woke up nice and early. Had to be at the hospital at 7 am. Went to check on Emily and she had a raging temperature of 39 degrees! This is not something you want to have to deal with before going in to have a baby! My poor girl was not feeling well but there wasn't all that much I could do about it.
We left for the hospital, got there at 7:15, did admissions and was shown to my bed. Unpacked and then suddenly the nerves started kicking in. I sat on the bed, Leon sat on the chair next to it and we just nervously started at each other. The reality that we were having another baby really hadn't sunk in yet. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that right from the beginning we had planned A C-section and so nothing about it would be suprising or unexpected. At 9:20 they came to get Leon to come and change into scrubs and as he left they started wheeling me through. I was so nervous I couldn't get enough of my asthma pump. Leon met me outside the theatre where they had me waiting for him. They briskly wheeled me into theatre where we were told we would have two students watching (poor chicks), and they started putting in the spinal block. That for me was the worst part. I remembered how sore it was from when I had Emily so I was very panicky about it. I cried So much while he was sticking the needle in, I think they thought I was a little crazy. Soon after it was in, I lost feeling from the top of my abdomen down and got incredibly cold. I remember thinking the room was so cold there was no way they could bring my baby into the world at that temperature. Lol, hormones make you nutty. Annoying thing was I had a bit of a reaction to the spinal block and started itching all over. It was horrible and lasted hours, eventually that night they finally gave me meds and cream for it.
With in minutes of the numbness kicking in, I thought they were still prepping me, when in fact our daughters head popped out and I heard her crying. I had no idea it would happen so quick and painlessly. She was not very happy to be out and screamed her little heart out. I remember thinking, 'dam, I hope she's not going to scream like this forever'. Once they wrapped her in the towel though, she was happy and quiet and a whooping 3,9kgs!! I make big babies, what can I say!!?
They put her on me and once they were done stitching me up , wheeled us through to the recovery room where I got her to latch. She was such a beautiful little girl and we decided almost immediately on the name Hailey. Back in the ward, Emily came in to see her baby sister. The rest of the day was a little bit of a blur because I was so drugged up. I just remember losing it with the midwife that kept on harrassing me and wanting to stick needles in me. *embarrassing moment*
I really loved my stay in hospital and thought the staff where excellent. I will go to constantiaberg Medi clinic anytime again! They did think that she possibly had jaundice and there was a point at which they thought she might have to go under the lights but thankfully that didn't have to happen.
We were discharged happily on friday the 1st of July And sent home, to do it all on our own :) :( no nurses or yummy sleeping tablets... But we survived and are enjoying our little growing family. (or though I think its done growing now!!! ...atleast till the medical loan is paid off!)
Got home, chucked our stuff in the car - we were spending the night at Leons Mom and dad, so that when we left in the morning, Emily could stay nice and settled. She would also stay there for the week so that Leon could come and go from the hospital as he needed to.
On the big day, we woke up nice and early. Had to be at the hospital at 7 am. Went to check on Emily and she had a raging temperature of 39 degrees! This is not something you want to have to deal with before going in to have a baby! My poor girl was not feeling well but there wasn't all that much I could do about it.
We left for the hospital, got there at 7:15, did admissions and was shown to my bed. Unpacked and then suddenly the nerves started kicking in. I sat on the bed, Leon sat on the chair next to it and we just nervously started at each other. The reality that we were having another baby really hadn't sunk in yet. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that right from the beginning we had planned A C-section and so nothing about it would be suprising or unexpected. At 9:20 they came to get Leon to come and change into scrubs and as he left they started wheeling me through. I was so nervous I couldn't get enough of my asthma pump. Leon met me outside the theatre where they had me waiting for him. They briskly wheeled me into theatre where we were told we would have two students watching (poor chicks), and they started putting in the spinal block. That for me was the worst part. I remembered how sore it was from when I had Emily so I was very panicky about it. I cried So much while he was sticking the needle in, I think they thought I was a little crazy. Soon after it was in, I lost feeling from the top of my abdomen down and got incredibly cold. I remember thinking the room was so cold there was no way they could bring my baby into the world at that temperature. Lol, hormones make you nutty. Annoying thing was I had a bit of a reaction to the spinal block and started itching all over. It was horrible and lasted hours, eventually that night they finally gave me meds and cream for it.
With in minutes of the numbness kicking in, I thought they were still prepping me, when in fact our daughters head popped out and I heard her crying. I had no idea it would happen so quick and painlessly. She was not very happy to be out and screamed her little heart out. I remember thinking, 'dam, I hope she's not going to scream like this forever'. Once they wrapped her in the towel though, she was happy and quiet and a whooping 3,9kgs!! I make big babies, what can I say!!?
They put her on me and once they were done stitching me up , wheeled us through to the recovery room where I got her to latch. She was such a beautiful little girl and we decided almost immediately on the name Hailey. Back in the ward, Emily came in to see her baby sister. The rest of the day was a little bit of a blur because I was so drugged up. I just remember losing it with the midwife that kept on harrassing me and wanting to stick needles in me. *embarrassing moment*
I really loved my stay in hospital and thought the staff where excellent. I will go to constantiaberg Medi clinic anytime again! They did think that she possibly had jaundice and there was a point at which they thought she might have to go under the lights but thankfully that didn't have to happen.
We were discharged happily on friday the 1st of July And sent home, to do it all on our own :) :( no nurses or yummy sleeping tablets... But we survived and are enjoying our little growing family. (or though I think its done growing now!!! ...atleast till the medical loan is paid off!)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A blurry 10 weeks...
So it has been a full two months and more since my last blog post and I can't believe how time has flown over these last 10 weeks. This post will be no means be a full account of the birth and time since then, because as you can imagine time is limited. Our little princess joined us on the 28th of June via planned caesarian section. The birth and stay in hospital was wonderful and I still occasionally wish that I could go back there. All the helpful staff and wonderful drugs! Hehe. Don't get me wrong, my husband is totally amazing and helpful, and Emily is a very helpful big sister! But there's nothing like trained staff to give you a helpful hand :D
So, I decided that rather than totally neglect my blog, I would at least post some pics of the delivery and our little Hailey. Some are a bit graphic so sorry if any of you have sensitive stomachs. I know there are some of you out there though that do like to see the yukky ones! I'm one of those :D
So here they are
There will hopefully be a more up to date post soon of life in our home since the 28th of June :)
So, I decided that rather than totally neglect my blog, I would at least post some pics of the delivery and our little Hailey. Some are a bit graphic so sorry if any of you have sensitive stomachs. I know there are some of you out there though that do like to see the yukky ones! I'm one of those :D
So here they are
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| here she comes! |
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| weighing a whole 3,9kgs |
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| Dads stomach and head failed him a bit... he did recover : ) |
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| She was letting us all know very loudly that she had arrived! |
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Nesty nest
So when I woke up this morning there was a email on my phone from one of the many baby/ pregnancy related newsletters I get. The opening statement on this email was, "so if you are starting to feel the urge to 'nest', be warned your baby is probably on his or her way and make sure your bags are packed!" I had to laugh, either I am totally not normal or the person who wrote this has never been pregnant!
My "nesty" thing kicked within in 3 days of finding out that I was pregnant. And no, I didn't find out at 7 months, LOL, I found out when I was just 3 weeks.
For those of you that know me, will know that I generally am a bit of a perfectionist (just a bit) and I like things clean. But my word, I have shocked and annoyed myself with how bad I have been through this pregnancy. I just cant stop cleaning and organizing things. Its driving me nuts, but the urge is so bad that I just cant ignore it. So, to narrow it all down and to make it more managable I decided a couple of weeks ago to make a "to do list" to go on our fridge, knowing my darling husband would glady help me with the things on it. Only problem is... Everytime I find that we get to the end of the list, I make a new one.... with a whole list of NEW things that suddenly need to be done!! CrAAZYYYY!
Yesterday, I managed to get the list right down to only 3 things left on it that need doing and these are things I can't do - Being in my huge and lumpy state and all. I am determined that I WILL NOT be making another list! Once that list is done, its done!
So with 10 days to go, I am going to try and take it easy! No promises though. I am going to try and spend more time with Emily and try not be too phased about the crazy mess that's accumulated within in 2 hours of us getting up in the morning.
We have our last Doctors appointment on Thursday evening. I cant believe we are at the finish line already! This pregnancy has gone incredibly fast. Only these last couple of days have dragged and I have a feeling the next couple are also going to drag. Its fine though, I know whats coming and will try and appreciate the uninterrupted sleep while it lasts.
....Our bundle is almost here!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The final countdown
In 3 weeks time, I will be in hospital having just had my first night with our little bundle of pink :) She is due to come on the 1st of July and I am so excited and cant wait. Of course there are nerves, but they aren't about whether or not I'm going to know what to do with this little person etc. My nerves are more about how I am going to juggle my time and energy between Emily and a new baby. I know that sounds silly, but that really is my only worry. Having been lavishing all of our time and attention on Emily for the last, almost 3 years, it is very weird trying to think about how this will work. Admittedly in the beginning the baby will spend most of her time sleeping.... because that's what newborns do right.... So we'll see. I know that everything will change naturally and before we know it we'll look at our little growing family and be astounded and how much we've grown and changed together.
We saw the doctor on Thursday and we are both doing well. Baby is growing well.... according to the doctor I have a "good oven" as he puts it sweetly! Her head is well in place, and as we saw on the scan it is her right foot that is giving me bruised ribs! I can't wait to have that relief once shes out - that's for sure! My sugar is all fine, its amazing what a couple of daily blood sugar tablets can help accomplish! I really am glad that I started taking them and I think I will continue to take them after the pregnancy. That is if I can take them while breastfeeding. I have put on 7kgs in total so far and am sooooo happy about this! of course I cant take all the credit - one of the side effects of the meds I am on, is weight loss, which in my case, because I am pregnant, instead of making me loose weight, has just helped to keep my weight gain at a steady pace. So I figure with 3 weeks to go, I'll maybe put on another 1,5kgs and that will take me to just over 8 kgs.... that's if it goes according to my plan of course... I might be sheepishly eating my words in a couple weeks :s
That's it from me for now. Emily is sitting next to me patiently waiting for her tea and I have
promised to get it now now... Duty calls!
Bye, have a great weekend everyone! Do something that's just for you!
We saw the doctor on Thursday and we are both doing well. Baby is growing well.... according to the doctor I have a "good oven" as he puts it sweetly! Her head is well in place, and as we saw on the scan it is her right foot that is giving me bruised ribs! I can't wait to have that relief once shes out - that's for sure! My sugar is all fine, its amazing what a couple of daily blood sugar tablets can help accomplish! I really am glad that I started taking them and I think I will continue to take them after the pregnancy. That is if I can take them while breastfeeding. I have put on 7kgs in total so far and am sooooo happy about this! of course I cant take all the credit - one of the side effects of the meds I am on, is weight loss, which in my case, because I am pregnant, instead of making me loose weight, has just helped to keep my weight gain at a steady pace. So I figure with 3 weeks to go, I'll maybe put on another 1,5kgs and that will take me to just over 8 kgs.... that's if it goes according to my plan of course... I might be sheepishly eating my words in a couple weeks :s
That's it from me for now. Emily is sitting next to me patiently waiting for her tea and I have
promised to get it now now... Duty calls!
Bye, have a great weekend everyone! Do something that's just for you!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Parenting - privilege? or right?
I have found myself deeply challenged by this thing called 'parenting' lately. Well... that's not entirely true, If you are a parent you will know that from day one, there are challenges. Big or small, there are challenges! The difference I am finding with the challenges that I am facing at the moment, is that there are no quick answers. There's no "how to" guide, and as much as I can ask advice from people around me - be it brilliant advice for sure, there is no clear cut solution at the moment! I say 'at the moment' intentionally, because I do believe that I we will get to the bottom of this.
For some of you that don't interact with us on a daily basis you are wondering what on earth I am talking about. I know. Sorry, I am probably not making much sense. Basically what I am talking about is the challenge of raising my child to be a whole and well adjusted person who is able to stand confidently in the world being 100% assured of the fact that she is loved and cherished by the people in her life. But at the same time knowing her place and having boundaries that she knows not to cross and understands why she shouldn't cross them. Teaching her that it is OK to have feelings and an opinion but to know how to process those feelings and opinions without being plain rude or obnoxious! And in doing all of this, making sure that in the process, we don't damage or break pieces away from her little personality.
OK, so I know that this probably all sounds way to deep and yes, I know she is only 2. Well very nearly 3!
I am just so aware of how easy it is to do this wrong. So often we take the 'privilege' of parenting for granted and we think we can do what we like with it. Or sometimes we just don't bother to give it enough effort.
As Emily is slowly getting bigger, I am seeing that these things need to start being implemented sooner rather than later. She is becoming her own little individual person already and is needing so much guidance - for her own sake. The world around them moves so fast and I often find myself forgetting that I don't just have a child in my care, I have a whole person in my care, with needs and feelings and fears. A person that is relying on me to help them grow through all these things. The responsibility is huge, and we need to not forget that.
So to those of you that walk this road closely with us - Thank you for all your love and support and your much needed advice. Thank you for supporting us as we try and do this the right way for our little (BIG) Emily, and thank you for seeing that she is an individual and for not expecting her to fit into a mould. And thank you for supporting us as we try to mould and shape her into her own special and unique 'shape' :) ....which she would probably tell you is an orange triiiiiiiiaaangggle!!!! :D Just one of her favorite shape/color combinations.
As I am writing this, the little one in my tummy is doing her morning work out... in between hiccups. She is getting so big now, I can feel her rapid growth every day by the weight of my protruding bulge. Not long now and we can meet her. The latest update from the doc is that she weighs 2,2 kgs, judging by her measurements she is NOT looking like a diabetic baby, which is a totally awesome relief! And spoke with my diabetic specialist on Tuesday and he is 100% happy with all my blood sugar readings and blood results and is confident that all is looking good! Wished me all the best for the rest of my pregnancy - which is a big YAY, because it means that I don't have to see him anymore! Unless my daily readings suddenly change, in which case I will need to contact him. I believe they wont though, especially because I am beyond the 30 week mark where sugar levels would normally go crazy again.
So that's where I am for now. If it was all too intense... Take into account it was 4:30 in the morning when I started writing this... and I am hormonal! ;)
it's a privilege, not a right.... but we do need to do our best to do it right....
For some of you that don't interact with us on a daily basis you are wondering what on earth I am talking about. I know. Sorry, I am probably not making much sense. Basically what I am talking about is the challenge of raising my child to be a whole and well adjusted person who is able to stand confidently in the world being 100% assured of the fact that she is loved and cherished by the people in her life. But at the same time knowing her place and having boundaries that she knows not to cross and understands why she shouldn't cross them. Teaching her that it is OK to have feelings and an opinion but to know how to process those feelings and opinions without being plain rude or obnoxious! And in doing all of this, making sure that in the process, we don't damage or break pieces away from her little personality.
OK, so I know that this probably all sounds way to deep and yes, I know she is only 2. Well very nearly 3!
I am just so aware of how easy it is to do this wrong. So often we take the 'privilege' of parenting for granted and we think we can do what we like with it. Or sometimes we just don't bother to give it enough effort.
As Emily is slowly getting bigger, I am seeing that these things need to start being implemented sooner rather than later. She is becoming her own little individual person already and is needing so much guidance - for her own sake. The world around them moves so fast and I often find myself forgetting that I don't just have a child in my care, I have a whole person in my care, with needs and feelings and fears. A person that is relying on me to help them grow through all these things. The responsibility is huge, and we need to not forget that.
So to those of you that walk this road closely with us - Thank you for all your love and support and your much needed advice. Thank you for supporting us as we try and do this the right way for our little (BIG) Emily, and thank you for seeing that she is an individual and for not expecting her to fit into a mould. And thank you for supporting us as we try to mould and shape her into her own special and unique 'shape' :) ....which she would probably tell you is an orange triiiiiiiiaaangggle!!!! :D Just one of her favorite shape/color combinations.
As I am writing this, the little one in my tummy is doing her morning work out... in between hiccups. She is getting so big now, I can feel her rapid growth every day by the weight of my protruding bulge. Not long now and we can meet her. The latest update from the doc is that she weighs 2,2 kgs, judging by her measurements she is NOT looking like a diabetic baby, which is a totally awesome relief! And spoke with my diabetic specialist on Tuesday and he is 100% happy with all my blood sugar readings and blood results and is confident that all is looking good! Wished me all the best for the rest of my pregnancy - which is a big YAY, because it means that I don't have to see him anymore! Unless my daily readings suddenly change, in which case I will need to contact him. I believe they wont though, especially because I am beyond the 30 week mark where sugar levels would normally go crazy again.
So that's where I am for now. If it was all too intense... Take into account it was 4:30 in the morning when I started writing this... and I am hormonal! ;)
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| Photo taken by Bernice Griffiths. www.bettybake.com |
it's a privilege, not a right.... but we do need to do our best to do it right....
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Grey days...
These Grey days just don't do it for me. I am talking literally, not figuratively! Winter is officially 2 weeks away, yet it feels like we've been in the grips of winter for a month already. I don't mind the cooler mornings and the crisp fresh air that leaves the tip of your nose feeling blue and frozen. I also don't mind that there is no wind for most of the time - that is a welcome relief for sure! I do mind the Grey skies though! I cant stand that my house remains dark the whole day and there are very few moments where the light streams in through the windows. Its so sad, makes me want to spend the day in bed with a book and just pretend the day is actually night! BUT, we all know that with a two year old, (or any child for that matter), its just not possible!!!
It is Emily's second day at school this morning. It is so cute to see how she gets so excited about it! I hope that it stays like that for her entire school career and that the novelty never wears off! Its amazing the things I can get her to do in the morning while getting her ready for school. Its like she transforms into a 'big, big' girl and the baby in her gets totally put away. The dummy gets put in the draw, the nappy comes off and goes into the bin and she starts to display more independence than she normally does! We get to the class room and its like I become invisible. Whether I am still there or not is totally irrelevant to her and the only reason she gives me kisses goodbye is to console me - not her! Crazy I tell you!
Its quite something to get my head around having some free time to myself in the mornings. Its kind of the a situation where there is so much that I want to do, I also don't want to do anything.I want to savor the time and and make it last as long as possible! And then there is the scary realization that there are only about 6 weeks of this 'me time' before this tummy princess is out and then I go back to having to wait more or less another 2 YEARS before I get me time in the mornings again! I really didn't think this age gap through very well did I! LOL, no turning back now and I am so excited about meeting this little one! Just wish that we could decide on a name already!!!! I Some how don't expect that we will until shes out in our arms! And even then, I have a feeling it might take a couple of days! sigh!
I hope that you all have a brilliant day and that the weather isn't too Grey where ever you are! I think that I will be spending the rest of my FREE morning, catching up on some scrap booking... maybe!
Toodles!
It is Emily's second day at school this morning. It is so cute to see how she gets so excited about it! I hope that it stays like that for her entire school career and that the novelty never wears off! Its amazing the things I can get her to do in the morning while getting her ready for school. Its like she transforms into a 'big, big' girl and the baby in her gets totally put away. The dummy gets put in the draw, the nappy comes off and goes into the bin and she starts to display more independence than she normally does! We get to the class room and its like I become invisible. Whether I am still there or not is totally irrelevant to her and the only reason she gives me kisses goodbye is to console me - not her! Crazy I tell you!
Its quite something to get my head around having some free time to myself in the mornings. Its kind of the a situation where there is so much that I want to do, I also don't want to do anything.I want to savor the time and and make it last as long as possible! And then there is the scary realization that there are only about 6 weeks of this 'me time' before this tummy princess is out and then I go back to having to wait more or less another 2 YEARS before I get me time in the mornings again! I really didn't think this age gap through very well did I! LOL, no turning back now and I am so excited about meeting this little one! Just wish that we could decide on a name already!!!! I Some how don't expect that we will until shes out in our arms! And even then, I have a feeling it might take a couple of days! sigh!
I hope that you all have a brilliant day and that the weather isn't too Grey where ever you are! I think that I will be spending the rest of my FREE morning, catching up on some scrap booking... maybe!
Toodles!
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