Five Generations

Here we are, five generations of my family. Abigail, her mom, her grandpa, her great-greandma, and her great-great grandma!

(We had a difficult time co-ordinating which camera to look at...)

"Grandpa" (my dad) is in town visiting for a few days with his first granddaughter.

Abigail is usually sleeping through the night... except for last night when she woke at 3am and decided it was "day" and would not go to sleep and was fussy for hours... I suspect (hope) it was because she'd slept most of the day and eaten less as we spent a lot of time in the car yesterday.

Banana Bread Baking

Can you smell the banana bread baking? I can! Mmmmm. I smell bread, hear laundry (dryer and washer), see clean dishes in the drying rack, and am sitting on a recently vaccumed couch (over the vaccumed carpet). It's been a productive day! And I'm done! No more cleaning for me today. I'm going to knit! I deserve it.
I won't be knitting for long though. I have one friend coming by to visit in an hour. Then another friend after that. Then Robin will get home just in time to finish dinner and for his cousins to arrive. Tomorrow morning we pick my dad up at the airport, drive to St. Catharines to see my grandparents (his parents) and will take a 5 generation photograph with my Great-Grandmother.
Sunday shall be a day of rest...

piglet!!

not even 3 weeks old and the little piglet has put on an entire pound in the last week!!
she now weighs 9lbs 8 oz.
and she did not pee on the scale today. maybe because it wasn't the midwife's sling that would have to be laundered - ie,it just would not have been any fun to pee on the metal scale.

i forgot to weigh myself... i'm curious to know...

Fountains of Joy

I've discovered that it is not newborn babies who create the most laundry...

it is breastfeeding mommies...

I laugh every time it happens...

Breastmilk spurting everywhere as if I have sprung a leak - a fountain of milky goodness. It doesn't just drip, oh no, it sprays! Usually onto Abigail, then her clothes, then me, until I can get the receiving blanket to cover the "leak".

Apparently, however, it is not just mommies who cause the laundry. Or babies. Daddies do it too when they forget to put a cover over the prefold diaper... (yes hun, you did that this morning).

Abigail is currently sleeping through most of the night. It's lovely. I know this may change, but I am enjoying the longer sleeps while they last.

What of the rest of the family? I've not written much about the other "kids" - Darla, Monkey and Fenwick. I must say, with pride, that they have been wonderfully well behaved. None have become jealous. And Darla has not yet peed on the floor since mom left. I had expected to find several "accidents" the first few times I left her alone at home. None of the animals are particularly interested in or disturbed by Abigail, even when she's screaming. Sometimes they wander over in curiosity, but they quickly wander off again after a couple sniffs. (Sorry, no photos. I should get some of the animals with Abbie.)

Bunny sleeps

sorry for the lack of capitalization, but whenever i put abbie down this afternoon she awakes fussing or crying. so i have abigail in one arm and typing with my free hand. reminds me of the old days with with jenny (cat) who would insist on sleeping on my arm/chest/shoulder. mom was wondering how i could be so proficient at typing one handed - i guess this is why.

we hope everyone had a relaxing easter holiday. we watched LOTR, which i hadn't seen since the videos came out. mom was always rewatching them, but i needed to allow some time before i felt like watching that many hours of fighting... then we moved, no longer had a vcr, and had the first film on vhs only. needless to say, i couldn't watch the second and third films without watching the first again. mom sent us the dvd for xmas when she learned of this atrocity.

no new photos to share, at least none that aren't already on flickr. did you like abbie's bunny outfit? it started me calling her bunny. but we still haven't settled on any nicknames... sometimes we call her squeak, because she squeaks (duh). but that was also jenny's nickname, so it's a bit weird for me to call abbie this.

abbie and i took our first visitation tour this morning. i had to return a recalled library book to campus. we visited the admin assistants, picked up my mail, and rtnd the book (which it turned out was no longer being recalled). amid my mail was the student feedback from my course last year. i've browsed some of the comments and am generally pleased with the feedback. there are some criticisms - but usually concerning the same things other students valued about the course. you can't please everyone... i may be teaching this course again next december. i'll make some changes, of course, but second time around should be easier than putting my first course together from scratch.

Two Weeks / Blessed Ostara/Easter

I can't believe Abigail is 2 weeks old already! Or perhaps I should say "only" two weeks old. She's such an integrated part of the family that it sometimes seems as if she's always been here.

This morning we took Ostara/Easter photos of Abigail in her Anne Geddes Bunny outfit (thanks Katie).

She refused to smile. Must have some cat blood in her - hates being dressed up and photographed for the pleasure of others ;)

We hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend with family, friends and chocolate.

Home Alone

My first day home alone with Abigail... is going well. We're cuddling in the Moby wrap on the couch. Trying to make sure I eat and drink, finish laundry, bundle up to take Darla out... otherwise watching the snow whipping about outside and glorying in the short bouts of sunlight that grace the living room.

Robin's got a long weekend starting tomorrow, and plans for Friday include doing NOTHING! A day of cuddling with Abigail and admiring her belly button. She has one now! Her umbilical stump finally fell off last night during her 4am diaper change. Yes, the world revolves around Abigail's belly button.

Our little angel stirs... quick, go transfer diapers from the dryer...

OMG, mom's leaving tomorrow!

What'll I do?
Home alone for two days. Then the weekend with Robin. Then another week alone before dad arrives.
So... who wants to stop by and visit next week? I'll try and schedule our naps around it ;) Okay, I can't guarantee Abigail will be awake, but we will be home. That much I can guarantee.
Unless I'm at Cloth and Clay...
Today mom and I will have to make a shopping excursion to Cloth and Clay. While I was in NICU I heard the tragic news that C&C is closing. This surprised me. Given the large knitting/crochet community in KW and the local knitters guild (which I've heard boasted as one of the largest in Canada) I assumed we could support the single local yarn shop in the area. I had only recently graduated to quality yarns, being a beginner. I can't go back to cheap yarn now! Where will I get my yarn??? Time to go through my planned projects for the next while and figure out what I need to pick up at the liquidation.

Abbie awakens...

Monday - another day with Abigail

Life is good. We are all settling in comfortably at home. It feels "right" and normal. Abbie sleeps well at night, although she still needs feedings about every 3 hours. I can handle that since they are usually at 10, 1, 4 and then at 7 when she wakes up. So, only two feedings in the night.

Aunt Rita and Uncle Ted joined us to celebrate mom's 50th birthday yesterday over brunch at Boa Nova. Abbie slept through it all. I pigged out! It was a much needed pleasant, relaxing outing.

We're enjoying the sunshine in the living room, but I think it's about time to start watching Robin of Sherwood.

Homeward Bound

[cross posting from my mass e-mailing this morning]
"Dear friends and family,

Abigail and Mandy are leaving the hospital today and looking forward to snuggling at home with Daddy. Abbie is fully healthy! She's already above her birth weight!* (Little piglet) She sleeps very well also, much to Mandy's delight.

We want to thank everyone for their support. Mandy especially appreciated the full inbox on her first day here when a week in NICU seemed like a lifetime.

We'll be resting at home for a while, just because we can. But Mandy promises to start "touring" Abbie as soon as we have the energy. There may be a moderate fee for smelling her perfect head ;-) We have to start her education fund somehow!

Photos are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandyz/
Robin has been pretty good at updating the photos, but Mandy will do it even more often. Rather than flood your inbox, we'll let you look at your own leisure if you choose.

With love,
Mandy, Robin and Abigail"

*Up to 3660g or 8lbs 1 oz last night. When she came in to ER she was 8lbs 0.4 oz. I know, we said 8lbs 4oz originally, which is what the MW's scale said, but there was some discrepancy between the scales.

Tomorrow

I have confirmed with the pediatrician that we are DEFINITELY going home tomorrow afternoon following Abbie's last antibiotics treatment.
Things are going great.
Robin has photos... not sure if he's uploaded them. But don't blame me :)

Sun and Piglet

Yippee! Last night's blood test revealed that Abigail can come off the phototherapy today! That means she'll be out of the isolette, into a cot, and able to wear clothes! :) Best of all for her, she can be swaddled and will never EVER have to wear the "sunglasses" again.
I forsee a lot of cuddling today...

If I thought she was feeding well before, the little piglet is feeding even more! As of Monday eve she had put back on 20g and as of last night she had put on 60g! (There you go Sheryl, now we know.) Just this morning she had a good 30-45 min "breakfast", followed by a 20 min break where I thought she was done and ready to sleep for a long while... until she insisted on "dessert"... for another 30-45 minutes! NOW she's sleeping soundly - "glasses" and all - in the "sun".

Messages and Updates

Hello everyone.
I just had a thought - I can't access FB, but you're invited to click over to the blog here and leave a message that I CAN read :)

Today is a good day. Abigail is still "sunbathing" and I'm not allowed to take her out for as long (as I was) because they really want to give her as much time under the light as possible. They've even stripped her down to not wearing a diaper so she has as much skin exposure as possible. Robin will have to take photos when he gets here, because they've been laying her bum-up on her tummy, just like an Anne Geddes photo - her little bum pointing up. Of course, it has its drawbacks... no diaper... ha ha. She's very good at the "intake" AND the "outbound" aspects of baby life. And the sleeping. Yep, she does it all. ;)

I'm feeling more energized - finally catching up on sleep, even though I'm feeding every few hours. Now that she's getting more "food" with each feeding, though, she's sleeping longer and more happily between feeds. She would still prefer to be swaddled rather than lay naked in the "sun" with the horrid "sunglasses" over her face, but she's resting with less fuss now. Hopefully she'll get throughthe jaundice quickly and maybe be out of the isolette tomorrow. Now, if only she didn't have to have an IV tube...

NICU

Writing from the NICU where I can access some internet sites, but not Facebook which has been blocked by the hospital. So, sorry to everyone on FB whose been trying to find photos or reach me. I hear I have a wall full of messages (probably a few pages by now!) and I expect a full inbox. I'll get to that eventually... In the meantime, I know some of you have popped over to Robin's FB page for more info. You can also see photos either here at the blog or at Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandyz/

Abigail is doing great. She does NOT have pneumonia, just amniotic fluid in her lungs. She is "sunning" under the phototherapy lamp for jaundice, however, and she has to be on antibiotics until Friday afternoon because of a high white blood cell count. I'm hoping/expecting we'll be home Friday evening. She's a feisty one - what else would you expect! Hates her "sun" glasses (for the phototherapy), loves cuddling, and is a strong feeder! A little piglet at times and she likes to feed longest in the middle of the night - the brat.

I'm doing well. Dislike being here of course, but given the situation, I'm comfortable. I get a courtesy room to myself (don't have a roommate and hoping I don't get one). My feet are hugely swollen because I don't get much chance to put them up properly, but I'll survive and can fix that when we get home.

A big thank you to everyone who has sent encouraging messages. I apologize for not replying personally to each and every one of you, but I expect you understand that my computer time is limited. A special thank you to Chris for the food you dropped off - delicious and nutricious. Mom and Robin are bring me food daily. Since I'm not a patient, I have to tend to myself here. If you've ever been to / stayed at KW Hospital you know how pathetic the food services is. Pretty much your only option is Timmies... cafeteria has very limited hours and closes after lunch! (What's up with that???)

Well, Abbie is sleeping after a bath and a feed. I should go catch a few winks before her next feeding. This would be so much easier if I were at home and not having to trudge down a long hall every few hours, check/change her (icky disposable) diaper, unplug her from her sensors, get her out of the isolette, get set up in the rocking chair, maneuver around her IV... and then feed. It's the little things that make it a huge hassle. Oh how I look forward to being home...

Pics

Baby Pics

Check out flickr or Robin's facebook for some photos. Not a lot yet as has been very hectic and NICU ward O2 tubes, Machines and wires don't make for great photos.. And she was only home with us for a short time. Promise to post more pics soon

March 7

Here is a very quick update to keep you from asking.
After 12 hours of active labour (including 2 hours of pushing) plus a couple days of "inactive" labour, Baby A (still unnamed right now) was born at home Friday March 7 at 1734h.
She weighed 8lbs 4oz at birth and measured 20.5 inches.
She is a beautiful baby girl! Photos pending.

Unfortunately, there were some complications. I had to go in for stitches, and upon my return we discovered that Baby also had to go in because she was breathing rapidly.
Baby has fluids in her lungs, possibly pneumonia, but we have to await the 48 hour blood test.
She will be in NICU for the next week and I will be staying there with her.
The family room has internet, but I'm not sure how often I will be updating.

She is otherwise healthy, feeding quite well, looks great, strong and active.

Prayers are always welcome.

Timing Contractions

We're at the counting of contractions stage and the contractions are definitely stop-what-you-are-doing worthy.

A little something

Now, don't get too excited, but there is definitely some progress on the baby front. However, it could still be a long while yet. I just thought you'd want to know that things are going well. Except that, obviously (if you check the time stamp) I can't sleep. That's because I lay down at 6pm and awoke around 12:30. And Robin is (was, can't currently hear him) snoring.
There's a wicked storm raging outside. So let's hope that the labour does NOT progress much further this evening. I'd hate to make anyone drive in this.
My aunt (mom's sis) drove out from Kincardine yesterday and had a good visit with us. She left this afternoon after my midwife appointment, lunch and some shopping in St. Jacob's (to work off the lunch).
Perhaps I should try to go back to sleep now. Big yawn! Yep. Sleepy now. Good.

Nothing - Part One

Nothing to report on the pregnancy front.

I kicked butt in Mille Bornes last night. Robin is leading a training class for the next few weeks, or, until he's called home for a different sort of labour. Mom and I are relaxing this morning. Freezing/melting rain outside and a lot of ice means I don't think we'll be taking that walk I was hoping for. But maybe it will melt more.

Saturday night mom and I attended a Winter Blues party in the colour purple. I went dressed as the Purple People Eater, complete with purple people to eat (jello jigglers shaped with people cookie cutters), the hides of my last few meals (purple clothes), horns, and my freak cousin - the one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater. He's a freak because not only does he only have one eye and one horn, but he doesn't even eat people! He'd rather be in a rock and roll band. What kind of monster is that??? Fortunately for all the purple people at the party, I was (am) still digesting my last meal... The evidence was in my belly!

I won the costume prize :-) It was a good night and we ended up staying out (up) much later than I expected I could (after midnight).

I suppose I should give Robin his due credit... the Purple People Eater costume (with hides and digesting my last meal) was his idea, although I added the jello jigglers and my freak cousin to the costume. I was going to purposefully not wear purple (that would mean I eat my own kind, except a monster isn't a person), but when it came time to get dressed for the evening I decided a PPE (yes, I'm so cool I abbreviate "Purple People Eater") should still dress in colour for the purple party.

The First of March

When did February get so short? What, it was even longer than usual this year? Then where did all the days go??
I hope I didn't scare you with my lack of blogging over the past two days ;)
Nothing to report on the baby front. Waiting waiting waiting.
Mom and I have been filling up our days with s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g... we're shopping.
And food - a lot of yummy food. We just discovered Oscar's for breakfast and have been taking advantage of my ability to actually leave the house to eat.
Drove up the St. Jacob's market today to buy a Sock Monkey for me/babyz at the Sock Monkey shop. A new Nanners - named after my first sock monkey who mom threw out after the hundreth (or so) time of sewing his tail back on. And I've never let her forget that she threw out my Nanners!!!