March 2005 part 5 - Can't believe they're almost 1!

[busywizzy]

This time last year, we were all enormous, waiting for them to arrive - now they're almost 1

Right, medicine adminstered, DD asleep, Harrison still coughing away but sort of asleep aswell.

So, with 1st birthdays about to start next week, who wants to fill me in on their birth stories as I wasn't a member of this illustrious gang then, only found you when Harrison was 4 months old.

I was 10 days overdue and was booked in for an induction on the Monday. On the Friday before that (March 18th, so there's a bit of a clue) I had a show when I woke in the morning. As a show had been the start of my labour with DD and it only lasted 4 hours I told DH that Harrison was probably going to make an appearance that day and he should stay at home as midwife thought this labour would probably be quicker. Eventually started getting mild contractions at 3.00pm so DH took DD to neighbours and I phoned hospital to say I was coming in as didn't know how quickly he might appear. Got in car with DH to drive to hospital and 20 minutes later when we arrived, the contractions were coming so strongly, I couldn't get out of the car DH and someone else (no idea who) managed to drag me into the hospital and onto the labour ward by which time it was about 3.45pm. Cue much rushing around to find me a bed in a delivery room. Internal examination broke my waters then gas and air arrived almost exactly at the same moment as I screamed I needed to push. 15 minutes later at 4.30pm, out popped Harrison - an hour and a half, start to finish

It's the only thing he's done quickly in his life

Come on, share your stories ladies

Busy - you're having a touch time there with two porly children. I hope they get well soon. Dominic used to be sick a lot when he was younger, we've been through all that changing bedsheets several times a night. He's been well these past 2 years or so. One thing Sylvia doesn't have (touch wood, she's never vomitted) and it's so much easier.

Sylvia was born by elective CS. Got in at 8 am, had her around 11 am (I can't believe I've forgotten the exact time ). They had music in the room and we asked for Abba (we'd brought our own music but forgot to take it out of the car) and she arrived on Mama Mia. Perfect Apgar score. We then moved to the post-delivery room. She started having breathing difficulties, breathed v loudly. It didn't sound right but I could only think "at least with her I know she's breathing" as Louis hadn't 16 months previously. Eventually (about 3 hours later) she was taken to SCBU and put on a ventilator, after just oxygen didn't improve things. Scary week but she came off it and another week later was home. Now she's walking!! Dominic was born by forceps, big baby, Apgar score 2 at birth, he was blue, not breathing, only his little heart was beating away. Spent a few days under the lamp as he developed jaundice. He's now 6 and v sweet most of the times.

Sylvia is getting steadier by the day on her feet. It's so funny seeing her mastering walking. She started on Tuesday by propelling herself forward with one leg and dragging the other one, while holding on to her nappy. Now she can walk a metre or so, very focused and quietly proud. (Unlike her mum who's boasting

Just read some of the March entries under "Birth announcements". Wow, a year ago.

Cristina, how scary for you. I was chatting with a friend the other day who also had complications when her DD was born, saying how we take it for granted that everything's going to be OK when giving birth, when the reality can be quite different as you know

Last night was much better. DD slept in with me and had a good nights sleep with no sickness. She's still quite poorly today but isn't so hot and has managed to eat and keep down a bowl of dry cheerios this morning.

Harrison woke coughing at 2am and 5am but settled quickly both times. Then he slept until 7am so I'm hoping he's on the mend too. His cough is still bad so we'll see what the doctor says later today.

Right, off to do the shopping as I haven't been able to get out this week and we're surviving on the dregs of the fridge at the moment

Have a nice weekend all.

Jambot - are you using the Ergo carrier? Would you recommend it? I am thinking of getting one for Sylvia as the various others are getting a bit uncomfortable.

busywizzy - I really feel for you - I hate it when the kids are ill, and am the most impatient, grumpy un-nurse like mummy! Well, I do try to hide that and give them sympathy, but I don't enjoy it one bit. And get very cross at lack of sleep.

We've just done party invites for Iris - with a piccie of her 5 minutes after she was born, still in the pool, and then another of her now, with chubby cheeks. What a contrast.

Inevitably the party will be attended by quite a few 3 year olds. I'm planning to do some 'dancing' which the babies and older ones can all join in. Then the older kids are going to do a treasure hunt in dd1's bedroom. And on the food front, I'm going to do finger food that hopefully both babies and toddlers will eat. Iris is a pain with not wanting to eat finger food, but she is partial to Annabel Karmel's Bang Bang Chicken! Being a baking enthusiast there will of course be a large cake - haven't decided what yet, but probably orange or lemon sponge, which Iris is going to be allowed a small piece of. Oh and cupcakes because they're so cute.

I still get goosebumps thinking about Iris's birth - it was the most amazing experience. She arrived at home, in water, the midwives made it JUST in time, and I didn't need any pain relief,- just lots of breathing, and quite a bit of yelling! Oh and dd1 slept through the whole thing, waking up to her new baby sister. Mind you I did tear, and was very glad of gas and air for the stitching bit.

PS Trip to Oxfordshire was great - though two nights with all four of us in the same room in our country pub = not a lot of sleep!!

Busy - what an awful time you've had with the two children. Do hope they are on the mend and that you can catch up on some rest.

Hope everything goes ok tomorrow with your start back at work. I can't remember if you are going back full or part-time?

Sorry that Niklas is ill again Leo, but as Busy says, after the first few months of picking up every illness going at nursery, they do seem to build up fantastic immune systems. DD1 (who is almost 8) has only had 2 days off school due to sickness since she started at age 4. Love the new pics of Niklas btw - he is absolutely gorgeous. Jambot is right - we do seem to have the most beautiful crop of babies!

Christina - we have a Kozy carrier which I think is similar to the Ergo - it's great, really comfy to wear and Grace likes being in it.

Not made any firm plans for the birthday party yet (I am so disorganised), apart from vaguely thinking that we will have it on the day before (which is a Sunday) and will invite my parents plus a few friends to include my ante-natal group. I must galvanise myself into action!

BW - Hope you have a good time back at work tomorrow and that it all goes ok. Do you think DD1 will be ok to go back to school?

DS1 has also been a bit poorly this half term - he has had an ear infection and is on 2 lots of antibiotics answell as calpol and nurofen. This has given him a bit of a dodgy tummy as well as I think it is a bit too much for him to cope with.

Freya is now standing pretty well, and has mastered the stairs so I have to keep an even closer eye on her.

Leo - Hope Niklas is ok for nursery this week. I remember when DS1 started he had conjunctivitis, hand/foot and mouth and numerous colds in very quick succession. Luckily my mum helped out with looking after him so I could still make it to work, but it was still a tough time. It makes them very hardy in the long run though.

I'm pretty sure no one has, but have any of the babes had chicken pox yet? Freya has been 'exposed' this week, so we will just have to wait and see. DS1 has already had it so at least I will only have to cope with 1 poorly child. I have to agree with Pidge that I am not a natural nurse and am not at my best when the kids are ill, esp as it inevitably leads to lack of sleep for the whole family.

Well better be off to gather DS1's school stuff together from every corner of the house.

Christina - Re the Ergo - Must honestly say it hasn't been a great success. Lauren doesn't really seem to like it and starts to complain after about 15 minutes. I think it might have something to do with the fact that the legs are forced very wide open and apart and I don't think she finds it very comfy. To be honest it's not that comfy to wear either and you feel that you constantly want to keep hitching it up. Pretty disappointed as it cost me a lot of money to have shipped over from the US.
I would definitely have a look at some others before making a decision.

Jambot - re the Ergo. I'm sorry to hear you didn't like it as I'd heard so many good things about it. Is it the New Generation Ergo or the classic one? What colour did you go for in the end? If it's cranberry then I'd be interested in buying it off you, if you can be bothered with shipping etc. (It costs £60 new here, so anything up to that.) I'd like to give it a go and I know it sells well so I can sell it on if I don't like it either.

BonyM - I have a Mei Tai which I think is quite similar to the Kozy, but I was thinking of trying something that is easier to put on and off, including on the back. I can't do it with the MT unless I have help. I have a variety of ring slings and ouches too but Sylvia is getting a bit heavy for them.

I hope Freya doesn't get chickenpox. I know it's a godo idea to get it young but they just still seem so little at this age...

Pidge - your party for Iris sounds like it'll be good. We thought about inviting a couple of friends (no kids yet) and Richard's brother (not married, no kids) for an evening around Sylvia's birthday.

Christina - Yes, I would be interested in selling the Ergo. It's a new generation in Cranberry. I've only used it about three times. I could send it back to the UK with my cousin, who could then send it on to you, so the postage would be minimal. If you're interested I would sell it for 40 pounds.

Jambot - fab news! I really look forward to it then. My email is cristina at cismigiu dot demon dot co dot uk. I can pay you by Paypal or cheque via your cousin or some other way, let me know. V happy.

Well, here I am back at work and surprisingly, not doing too badly. I had a few tears on the drive in but otherwise, I've been very composed

Usually I will be working from home on Mondays (with Harrison at home so I'll be working around his naps) and Tuesday through to Thursday in the office (day off Friday) but I can't work from home yet really so I'll be doing a few 4 day weeks. It feels a bit strange to be back but I'm sure it won't be long before it feels like I was never away.

DD is completely better and back to school and Harrison slept through last night from 7pm and was still asleep when I left the house this morning at 7am. He hardly coughed at all. DH has taken the day off today (so I didn't have to cope with my first day back at work as well as leaving Harrison with the childminder for the first time) and he says Harrison is much, much recovered today (yippee). He brought him into my office to meet me for lunch as a surprise and that has really made my day. Harrison managed to charm everyone as usual and is definately much brighter and happier, thank goodness.

Tomorrow, he goes to the childminder, so we'll see how that goes but at least now I don't have to be worrying that I'm leaving my baby for the first time when he's not feeling 100%.

Thanks to you all for your kind words - it really made me feel better.

BW - I hope your resumed working life will run smoothly. How nice of your DH to make you such a surprise!

I have a job interview on Friday. It's for a Project manager job at Royal Marsden hospital. I haven't been for a job interview for 5 years, so i'm a bit nervous. My boss thinks the job is below my capabilities so now I'm having doubts. But it's well paid (or I hope I could negotiate to get paid at the upper range and perhaps a bit more than what they advertised, to be in-keeping with what i'm on now) and close to home (10-15 minutes on the train or 20 minutes in the car). It also has a creche on site. Oh well, I'll think more about it, I can always turn it down. Either way I need some practice at interviews again.

Good luck with the interview Cristina7, hoping to hear from a library assistant job myself. Hope that Niklas gets well soon, my cousin had asthma as a baby and toddler but grew out of it and is now fine at 8 years old.

We had Calebs birthday party on Sunday and it was lovely, he was spoilt and has loads of presents! I made him a giant blue and pink teddybear cake (will post pics) and was very proud of myself!! He got a trike and can slowly push himself along on it which is so cute. Not walking yet but very into pointing at anything and everything.

Waters broke on Saturday and caleb arrived at 11.46pm on the Monday! He was born with ventouse and had the cord wrapped twice round his neck, I also had stitches which were horrid. Needless to say it was not a nice labour but thank god for gas and air!

Am I the first on here to say...........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA AND CALEB!!!!!!!

!

Well done Calebsmum and Misdee!!!!

xxxxxx

Busywizzy, sorry to hear you had such a tough week last week ! But good to hear both your babies are well again .
Well done for getting through your first day at work. I would say it gets easier, but the way I'm feeling today I would be lying !

Cristina & Calebsmum, good luck with interview and job application.

Thanks for get well wishes for Niklas ! Yesterday we took him to the children's doctor for his 12 month check up (its quite a drive so when he has illnesses we take him to the local GP), the children's doctor said he quite clearly has bronchitis, not asthma and it should be treated immediately, he also has an ear infection starting so she gave some anti-inflams for that. Don't know what to think about the GP now, he obviously doesn't have a lot of experience with children,the only thing I like about him is that he will give homeopathic medicine before pumping Niklas full of drugs.
The children's doctor was veeeeeeeeeeeery happy with his development, she said that (here comes a proud mummy moment) Niklas has the development level of a 15 month old (although we are still waiting for some real words from him), he is smaller in height and weight than average (9.75Kg and 75cm I think)!

He is quite happy in himself so went to nursery today and we had a really great day yesterday . Monday is the day i meet up with my 'best' friend, we always have a lot of fun. Niklas and her dd (who is 20 months) really like playing together, we played at their home for a while, then walked into the city, we both bought shoes in the sale (while Niklas and Anna slept), then lunch in a restaurant with a children's play corner, then Niklas walked (in his rubber bottomed socks) miiiiiiiiles back to a children's play area where they went on swings (Anna pushed Niklas )and slides and Niklas pushed Anna's very, very pink dolls buggy around the playground ! So cute! We are starting to worry about bird flu over here and Niklas had been picking dirt up off the ground, so we put them in the bath together when we got back.
It was a really simple, but somehow magical day!

Now back at work today!

hi girls
sorry you've been having such a hard time busy, and congratulations at getting back to work. i found it did get easier to leave the little one as time went on. i went back to work two days a week when she was 6 months old and put her into a nursery, which she absolutely loves - and yes, i do worry that she loves it more there than with me!! but it's good to know that she's happy when you leave her. i think it's good for them to see you working as they get older. and of course, there are so many skills which they learn by going to nursery, like social interaction (sharing toys etc) and discipline from other authority figures.

i think we're ending up with two or three parties for amy since i'll have one for all my friends then one with my family and one with my husbands! i'm only going to think about organising the one i'm having at my house with my friends, but haven't started planning it yet, but have at least invited people, whih is a start!

oh, i forgot to say, how do i access the photobucket and how do i add photo's?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA!

Calebsmum and Misdee - I hope you and your little ones enjoy this very special 1st anniversary. Have a lovely day.

My problem with work at the moment is that I am not enjoying the work I am doing at all so it seems pointless to be leaving Niklas to come here. He also loves the nursery and is definitely learning a lot from it.

I meant to update you on my birth story.

I 'planned' a natural birth in the water with no pain control (except accupuncture and homeopathic) ! Found the perfect hospital to go to etc.....

I had had a trickle for a few days and thought I was losing bladder control but the early hours of 23rd Feb it was quite clear that my waters had broken. We went to hospital around 8am the next morning, water flooding out but no contractions. Was strapped up to a monitor, visited by the doctor who said he would come back around 3 (In switzerland you take your own Gynae/Obst to hospital with you, he was actually on holiday so I guess he had gone off to play golf or something)! I was given something homeopathic to the start contractions. And almost as soon as the doctor left the contractions started. We were left alone for about 45 minutes very excitedly watching the monitor. The midwife came back and said something wasn't right, the babies heart rate was dipping very low with each contraction and not rising as it should. Niklas still hadn't dropped into the pelvis at all and was in some kind of trouble. A Caesarian was mentioned, then the next thing my clothes were being pulled off me, needles stuck in my arm, anaethatist and a stream of other people came to see me. No one could get hold of my doctor so they had to find someone else (he never did make it back in time)!
At 14.02 I got my first glimpse of the little purple bundle and a minute or so later his head was laid down next to mine.
Its amazing how clear some memories are !

When I was 'planning' the birth I thought if I had to have a caesarian I would really miss out on the amazing birth experience and would always feel disappointed by it. How unimportant it all seems in hindsight !

DH was the most amazing partner through the whole pregnancy and birth !

Leo - I hope your work improves or at least keeps you busy enough not to miss Niklas quite so much.

I so agree with you - some things really seem unimportant given enough time. I think it's healthy not to dwell on what your birth choices had been and move on.

Have a lovely day, Caleb and Serena!!
Susie - If you give us an e-mail address I'm sure one of us will e-mail the passwords.