34 Weeks Today!

OK, I started a diary entry tonight but for some reason felt extremely ill half way through writing it, so I will be back tomorrow with the finished version - or so I hope!

Stay tuned...

TAKE TWO:

This week marks my 34th week of pregnancy – Only 6 weeks to go!!! I can’t believe how far I have come since I found out I was pregnant. It seems like a lifetime ago I was in hospital on IV fluids due to my hyperemesis (11 weeks). Whilst the hyperemesis has all but gone, there are some days it lingers and I require Zofran to curb the nausea; thankfully this is only a few times a week. I have calculated that, to date, I would have spent approximately $800.00 on Zofran (and that doesn’t include my freebies to the value of $350.00) – the price of feeling ‘well’ I suppose.

I have read that with labour looming, it would only be natural that I would be feeling just a bit nervous (oh really).

Apparently some of my concerns could be...

• Will I have a safe birth? Naturally I would think about this.
• Will the baby be OK? Again, I would imagine this was on every mother to be’s radar and I am no different.
• Will the pain be more than I can handle? That’s what the epidural is for!
• Will my labour drag on for hours, or will I even make it to the hospital in time? I can’t say I am overly concerned about this given I made it to hospital fine and within plenty of time during my pregnancy with Byron. Plus, my labour only lasted 9 hours from start to finish (with a nice halt of contractions in between) so the dragging of labour isn't too concerning.

Apparently my major concern doesn’t make the list of those ‘most likely’ so I have another fear I would like to add...

• Will the baby arrive on or before her due date? As I may have mentioned previously, I have my besty's wedding 5 days after my due date at which I am to play the role of ‘matron of honour’. Leaving health and wellbeing of bub aside, my gravest fear is that I will let my besty down (and myself for that matter) by not having the baby ‘on time’.

Today I had my 34 week appointment at the hospital + anti D injection. The midwife was a little un reassuring. During this appointment the midwife asked if there was any concerns I had about the delivery, given this would be my last appointment at the hospital before the birth of my baby. Naturally, I expressed my concern at going PAST my due date. I explained my situation (ie. wedding) to her. Well, the midwife noted (and noted again – she seemed to take some perverse pleasure in doing so) they will not induce for ANY social reason at all even if I go past my due date - not even if the event creates a very stressful situation (which I can assure you this would).

In my wisdom of trying to be positive I said to the midwife... "Byron came 3 days early so it’s probably more then likely that this bub might come early too, or at least by her due date". She responded with "not necessarily...it doesn't always go like that" WTF , you could at least humour me with "it will work out" or "don’t worry darling" ( Now I remember why I came home a day after Byron was born - I can't stand some of the midwifes!!!). Instead she opted on giving me a list of ‘natural alternatives’ to induce labour, like exercise, sex and nipple stimulation. Silly me mentioned castor oil and of course she was adamantly opposed to this, stating "Castor oil does not work!". If only she knew how well it worked with Byron! At least I have that up my sleeve.

So of course now I am stressing that things are just not going to go to plan.

Moving on to the important vital statistics for the day:

• Blood Pressure: 110/64
• Fundal Measurement: right on target at 34 weeks (she doesn’t think the baby feels that big – just average which is great news).
• Baby is head down (cephalic presentation) but not engaged - she is kind of just resting in the pelvic area.
• Fetal Heartrate: 136 beats per minute
• There was a little bit of swelling (oedema) in my feet, ankle and fingers but nothing to be to concerned about.

I guess you could say that everything is travelling along nicely. OK, there are some concerns, but at this stage I can’t worry my pretty little head about them...I think I will wait until around 38 weeks. My next appointment is at 36 weeks, when I have an ultrasound of bub followed by an OB appointment.

BBQ Baby Shower

I wasn’t going to have a baby shower for this baby but then all these things started rushing through my head...like will she think it unfair when she grows up that I had one for Byron and not for her...why does the first always get everything but the second gets nothing...its just not fair! – So a baby shower it was (well, I opted not so much for the baby shower but the BBQ/men can attend/baby shower – no games).

Today was the day!

Mum came around a little earlier to help me set up (and to finish cleaning the house). She arrived with rissoles in toe, a present and this massive big bear with a bright pink ribbon – my heart couldn’t but help melt when I saw him. He was just so big, soft and cuddly – one of those things you would look at in a shop and think how adorable but never consider buying for yourself.

After dropping off the rissoles (and a little play with Byron) Mum then left again and came back shortly after with a big bunch of flowers (awwhhh) and the cake – that I had asked her so nicely to organise for me. She didn’t fail to deliver on that front either. A nice big "It’s a Girl Cake!" with a cute little swan carrying a pink bundle of joy...


Byron, sensing that something was going on today, acted a little crazy for the better half of the day but eventually calmed down. I tried to monitor his intake of chips, lollies and biscuits but it became a little hard when everyone would give him something here and there (or he would just grab it himself when know one was looking). Oh well...he managed to fall asleep right on schedule tonight which was good.

As I might have mentioned, we weren’t really going to have any games as such. However, my sister did organise the game of "guess what day, weight and length" (she didn’t think ‘men’ would like to play games). My besty rang me about an hour before it was due to start and felt incredibly guilty that she hadn’t organised any games (or any thing for that matter) . So, in her usual style she came up with games, prizes and everything that goes with it in about 2 hours flat! We played some games and they appeared to be a success with all in attendance - including males :smile: (is people laughing a success??).

Trevor cooked up a great BBQ; nothing fancy, just some sausages and hamburgers with a few different salads for the side (plus hamburger rolls of course!). I happen to think there is nothing better then some sausages and rissoles cooked on a BBQ and am pleased to advise that others might have thought along the same line .

It wasn’t a huge gathering of people, but it was cosy and all the important people were there to help celebrate the soon to be ‘Lily’. She received some wonderful presents, which included:

• Giant bear
• Giant Garfield
• Beautiful gold bracelet with the bluebird and name plaque (like the ones that everyone had when they were babies)
• Bunnykins melamine feeding set + knife & fork
• Bunnykins pink bunny rug
• $50 (courtesy of my father who in his usual style just says "here buy something for......")
• Pink blanket
• 2 money boxes (both very different)
• Musical snow globe
• 2 beautiful outfits (size 00 and 0)
• 5 x size 00 and 2 x size 0 summer bodysuits
• 5 x size 000 singlets (various styles and colours)
• Romper size 0
• 3 x size 000 and 1 x size 0000 ‘all in ones’ (various styles and colours)
• Size 00000 white nightie
• 8 pairs of booties/socks (various styles and colours)
• Baby powder and baby lotion
• Pink pilchers size 000
• Pink towel and washer set
• Baby hat
• Bib
• Petite gold plated diamond encrusted (fake of course) door plague that says "Princess Sleeps Here" (courtesy of mum!)
• Book "What are little Girls Made Of?"

As you can see, she did well and for that she is so very grateful (and mummy too). Lily would like to say...

Thank you all for stopping by
But as I am a little shy.
I thought today I'd stay away
Mummy said that it’s ok.
Friendship is so hard to measure
But something mummy (and daddy) will treasure.
I hope to see you very soon,
Because in here there ain't much room.

Love always, baby Lily.

Promoting Children’s Development

Off I toddled today to the second instalment of the Triple P Parenting Course. Today’s session dealt with "Promoting Children’s Development". The theory being, that encouraging the behaviour you like in your child increases the chances of the behaviour happening again (information we all should know).

This is what I learnt today...

• Parents need to spend quality time with their children. It doesn’t have to be large chunks of time...just a few minutes frequently through out the day (in particular, time that is special to your child). Time that is special to your child will occur when your child approaches you to tell you something, ask a question or involve you in their activity. If you’re not busy make yourself available.
• Talk with you children. Share ideas and information with your child and show that you are interested in what your child has to say.
• Show physical affection. Affection doesn’t necessarily mean cuddles...it can be holding, touching, kissing, massaging and tickling. Affection in the first few years of a child’s life helps them form secure bonds with their parents and those around them.
• Praise your child. Adults like to receive praise; children are no different. When giving praise you need to:
- Be clear & specific
- Describe the behaviour you like
- Be enthusiastic/sincere
• Give your child attention. This can be through a smile, wink, pat on the back or just good old plain watching. These actions add to your praise and show a child how pleased you are with their behaviour. These are particularly good ways to give your child encouragement when praise is not an option (ie. you don’t want to embarrass them or they are too far away to praise).
• Set a good example. Children learn through watching others, so let them watch you! Set a good example and show a child how to behave. Do not expect your child to follow house rules if no one else in the family does.
• Use incidental teaching. When children approach you for information help or attention, they are often motivated and ready to learn. Just telling your child the answer to a question does not help them learn to think for themselves. Prompt your child to come up with the answer and see if you can help them learn more...for example, "what colour do you think it is?" . Incidental teaching promotes:
- Language
- Creative independent play
- General knowledge
- Problem solving skills
• Teach children to become independent. To teach children to become independent in various areas (like dressing, brushing teeth etc) you should follow these steps:
- Ask: Ask your child what the first step is in the activity
- Say: If your child doesn’t know tell them what to do
- Do: If you child doesn’t perform the task, help them. Stop helping once the task is started to let your child finish by themselves.
- Praise cooperation and success
- Repeat Ask Say, Do for each step.
• Use behaviour charts. A little extra motivation doesn’t go astray.

Today’s session proved interesting; well to me anyway. I was happy to know that I had been implementing many of the strategies to promote my child’s development in the correct way. By know means am I perfect...it is just nice to know that I am heading in the right direction.

I wonder what next weeks class will entail...

My Dearest Baby Girl

My Dearest Baby Girl

(by Me - Nicole)

The past 8 months have come and gone
and soon you will be here,
A little baby girl of mine to love, cherish
and hold near.

A baby sister so treasured and wanted
for the brother that awaits,
For years and years you will play together
and become the best of mates.

There are so many people who await your arrival
full of anticipation and bliss,
Waiting to coddle over your every whim
with lots of cuddles and of course a gentle kiss.

For the moment however you are mine
you exist inside of me,
I feel your life; movement and hiccups
and can’t wait to set you free.

Who will you look like –
Daddy, Byron or me,
Maybe a distant relative
way back in the family tree.

Whoever you are; whom ever you look like
it doesn’t matter at all,
All that matters is that you are wanted
my dearest baby girl so small.

Beached Whale!

Today marks 33 weeks of pregnancy – and the day my hormones/emotions went skew if.

It all started about half an hour ago when I was relaxing in a nice warm bubble bath. I haven’t felt the best today...mainly fatigued and cumbersome. I thought I would get in the bath and relax for a bit and then Byron could join me after.

Well that’s what I thought until I asked him to get in and he responded with..."I can’t get in there isn’t enough room!".

He then asked me to get out. I promptly burst into tears...an uncontrollable sob. Poor Trevor thought I was laughing at first and Byron thought I was pretending. To the eyes of a child (lets face it anyone’s eyes), I must have looked like a beached whale. I sure felt like one.

Byron got in and proceeded to tell me everything was ok and that he was sorry, but still I sobbed. Trevor promptly grabbed my towel and helped me out (whilst I muttered that know one was to look at me!). After I got out I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and proceeded to burst into tears again. My face looked engorged, my upper arms definitely had a tuckshop feel to them and my feet were a little on the swollen side. Trevor was a little taken aback, seeing as I am normally one that has my emotions under control, and sat me on his knee. Of course, I had to get up...didn’t want to break his leg.

I hope today doesn’t mark the beginning of an emotional rollercoaster. I am hoping this was a one off. Although, I am confident it wasn’t and there will be more of this to come (I am a little sensitive about my weight - I am 500g from the 80kg mark!).

I think I might head off now...and wallow in my own self pity!

Seaworld Adventure!

For the last 5 weeks we have been meaning to get to Seaworld to make the most of some special annual pass deals they have running. Well I am pleased to advise that we finally made it, albeit we were only there for a few hours. Of importance was the fact that we succeeded in achieving our main purpose which was to get the half price annual passes ($77.50 each) before the promotion ended on 31 July. Byron is under 4 so we don't have to pay for him for the whole of the next year so we thought we would make the most of it and use it as an escape through out the coming year. It is somewhere cheap (well we don’t have to fork out $60 each visit) and because of this we don’t have to feel obligated to stay the whole day...we can go for a few hours here and there, which is perfect for a littlie and baby (and mum and dad too).

We never told Byron we were going to Seaworld – firstly because he wouldn’t have a clue as to what that was and secondly, we didn’t want to get down there and be stuffed around re annual pass special and have to come home. I did tell him though, while I was getting him dressed, that we were going to see some sharks. Of course he was super excited about that. See, Byron is somewhat fascinated by sharks or anything for that matter that has sharp teeth (like dinosaurs or tigers).

So, we were a little surprised when the time arrived to see the sharks :unsure:. He screamed and carried on when Trevor and I went near the barrier to see the sharks or when Trevor picked him up so he could see the sharks over the barrier - he wasn’t going anywhere near the edge! He kept saying (or should I say screaming) "get away from there the sharks will get you" or "it’s dangerous". There was just no way he was going anywhere near those sharks! It was quite funny and a little embarrassing (yes people were starring and laughing). However, when we went to the viewing area underneath (ie. through the glass) he was fine...not a care in the world. It would seem the deep open water proved to be the problem.

Moving on from the Sharks, Byron loved to chase the "geese" (all birds, including seagulls and pelicans were apparently geese – odd when the boy knows what a flamingo is ). There were plenty to chase...especially those that tried to eat Trevor and my hotdogs!

Byron also had a go on a few rides. There is a modest area there for little kids, with about 6 rides or so. We only went on 2 today (there is heaps of time to try them all). He particularly liked the helicopter ride. Trevor said he kept commenting on how "very, very high" he was!

All in all we had a good day, and will make the most of a few more visits. Trevor and I are planning on going one day - just him and I; no children – so we can enjoy the adult rides.

Birthday Plans...

I braved the Target toy sales today and got some great bargains for Byron (birthday and Christmas) and some things for the baby :rolleyes:. As expected though, you would have had to have been there right on opening if you wanted to get everything on your list – lucky that’s when I arrived!

I have given some thought to Byron’s birthday party this year. Originally, I wasn’t going to give him a party but thought it was a month where he really should have a day just for him, especially when the new baby arrives a few weeks before his birthday.

Having been to a McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and home party so far this year, I have decided on a Gymboree party; I certainly won’t be having a party at home, especially with a brand new baby. Not that I have anything against Hungry Jacks or McDonalds, its just that I want something easy and different, so Gymboree it is. The focus at the Gymboree party is more on play and activity then 'food' – which at his age is perfect, especially when they are not inclined to think party equals lollies and chocolate (although all those things will of course be included in the party bags).

This will be his first party where I will invite his kindy friends. He ran off a little list for me tonight, which was lovely. I was pleased to know that I got an invite as did "daddy".

In keeping with the discussion of birthdays, I asked Byron what he would like for his birthday this year and the only thing he wants is "a smartie cake" – cheap birthday that is!

Positive Parenting

It has only taken 5 months on the waiting list to get in...but today I finally started the Triple P Parenting Course. We had taken Byron to see a sleep nurse around 5 months ago (because he was being naughty and wouldn’t stay in his room at bedtime). After providing us with a solution to that problem she suggested the course might be helpful to curb any other problems that might arise. So here I am...hoping to learn some positive parenting techniques. Apparently, the program aims to make parenting easier (I’m all for that)...

There are 4 workshops that you have to attend over 4 weeks. Following this, there are 4 optional telephone conferences to discuss any queries raised. Plus, at the end I get a Parenting Certificate ([wonder what that qualifies me to be).

Today, I learned a few things, namely:

1. Accidental rewards for misbehaviour don’t work (this is a no brainer really, however I am guilty of providing "accidental rewards" or "hidden pay-offs" for misbehaviour). Accidental rewards include social attention (i.e. smiling and laughing), material rewards (such as toys) or food treats. Hmmm will have to put a stop to this I think :unsure:.
2. Children can learn that if they escalate and their problem behaviour gets worse, they are more likely to get what they want (like, when they get louder and louder to get what they want and then you give in) - again might be guilty :unsure:. Apparently this applies to the parents to – that is, parents can learn that if they escalate and get louder, they are more likely to get what they want...like me asking Byron 5 times to get in the bath – each time louder and louder until he does it.
3. Rumour has it (and I would most certainly agree) that behaviour that earns no attention is likely to happen less often. If children are ignored when they have behaved well, they may learn that the only way to get attention is to misbehave. I am pleased to say, Byron's good behaviour gets loads of attention and praise.
4. Punishment threatened but not carried out can cause lots of problems in the long term - I need to work on this one I think.

In attending my first session and in chatting with other parents at the workshop (3 of whom were referred by Child Safety) I realised that Trev and I are doing ok; there are things we could improve but I think every parent can improve somewhere along the way, hence the reason for my attending. Byron’s behaviour, whilst no were near perfect (lets face it no child’s is), is quite good. In saying that, I have set some goals for a change in my child’s behaviour (something you are required to do in the workshops). They are for him to:

• Eat at least half of the dinner put in front of him each night – at the moment, he tends only to eat a few little things and sometimes nothing at all :angry:.
• Learn that he can’t interrupt people when they talk (even when he says "excuse me")
• Get less frustrated when he can’t do something – like pedal his bike; take something apart etc.

I have some goals I hope to get out of the course as well...these are:

• Follow through on misbehaviour quicker (and with less escalation required)
• Try to eliminate smacking completely. I don’t smack very much at all, but figure it wouldn’t hurt to eliminate it completely – we’ll see how we go!

Ohh and before I forget...I have a goal for Trevor (which I only just told him about)...TO STOP SWEARING SO MUCH! His response was, "WTF!".

Byronism of the day...

After spending 3 hours sitting in a chair at the Triple P Course when I got up I struggled to walk to my car. My pelvic condition really flared up for the rest of the day. When I picked up Byron from Kindy he was playing up near the sand pit. To get his attention I had to walk up the hill (only little) to get him. Man was it a site to see; I was waddling like there was no tomorrow. G (the director) called out to Byron and said "Byron, look at you making your mummy walk up the hill". I indicated to Byron that I was in a bit of pain (I didn't mention where the pain was coming from).

On the way home in the car we had the following discussion...

"Mummy, my back is really killing me today...its really really killing me"
"Why, what happened to your back darling"
"I had to walk up the really big hill!"

Off to the loo my darling...

This week marks my 32nd week of pregnancy and also the stage of my pregnancy where I am getting up at least once a night (mostly early morning) to go to the loo. Yep that’s right, it has begun and from here on in it only gets worse until the very end when I estimate you need to make a minimum of 3 trips per night – oh the joys – makes me reminisce at my happiness of having a catheter during labour with Byron and for 24 hours afterwards :rolleyes:.

The heartburn is still lingering but not so often to cause great inconvenience. Often it rears its ugly head when I go to bed and lie on my right side, meaning over to the left side I roll. Lying on my back has become more difficult over the last week. I find I suffer from shortness of breath – hence why they tell you not to lie on your back. At this stage therefore, my left side appears to be the best option sleepwise.

I had a doctor’s appointment today which confirmed things are going along nicely. We also discussed the issue regarding the baby’s kidneys. She advised she had seen a few babies with the same or similar conditions. She noted that sometimes the condition rectifies itself on birth (as I had been advised by the OB). In response to some of my concerns she advised the following:

• Ultrasound (ie. that I will have difficulties getting one done): if it needs to be done, it is very easy for her to arrange an ultrasound outside the hospital.
• Antibiotics: she explained the name of the antibiotics (excuse my ignorance for not remembering); that they would in all likelihood be taken for 12 months; she arranges through the PBS scheme for them to be provided in monthly batches, thereby greatly reducing the cost impact.
• Worst-case: Lily would require an operation on her kidneys to remove the blockage, causing the reflux. This is a last resort and only considered if and when the antibiotics fail to work.

Here are those good old 'vital statistics' for week 32:

• The all important weight has hit 78kgs. That makes a total weight gain so far of around 10kgs. I don’t even want to consider what it will get to...probably a gain of around 15kgs (oh how scary). It’s a good thing I looked into the gym membership for the new Fernwood opening up near us – I think I’ll need it.
• No abnormalities detected in my urine.
• Blood pressure was 120/75
• Baby still head down i.e. cephalic presentation (good girl!!!)
• Fetal heartbeat continues to remain at 140 beats per minute (good girl!!!)

So as it stands currently all appears well. Next stop is my Anti D injection and midwife appointment at the hospital in 2 weeks time.

On a final note here are some pictures of my belly at 32 weeks. I couldn’t decide which one was more appropriate...see one makes me look small and the other bigger (I guess its all in the camera angle)...

Final Stage: Nursery Completed!

I started out with the intention of:

1.Going through all the baby’s clothes and sorting out what I had size wise;
2. Taking all the tags off the clothes, folding them nicely and placing them in the draw.

My objectives were not really to finish the nursery (i.e. place everything in order and remove all the junk, or the stuff that wasn’t meant to be in there); I really didn’t have the energy and thought the clothes will do fine – at least that was a start. Three hours later and to my surprise, it was all done!

Sorting through all the baby clothes was fun. If I hadn’t had the recent ultra sound, it would have been nearly impossible for me to take the tags off all the clothes. It’s so final to take them off. The reality sets in that another baby (a girl!) will be coming along so soon. I have decided that I won’t wash any of the clothes yet; I will do that closer to my due date when the bags need to be packed.

Some of the clothes I had for Byron were a little stained – they weren’t when I put them away after he was finished with them. Over time though, the acidic nature of baby spew etc has left some yellow stains. Hopefully, a little bit of bleach will remove the stains and they will be nice and white again. I didn’t keep a whole lot from Byron – mainly due to the fact he’s a boy (they might look a little funny on my baby girl!).

I realised that I have a nice amount of clothes for her; a mixture of 00000, 0000 and 000s. Byron fitted into 00000 and 0000 clothes for a good 5/6 weeks (I only had a couple of pieces which is the same this time) and then we moved on to the 000s. I like the clothes to fit my baby. That is, I don’t mind spending a few $$$ on smaller clothes if it means they are snug (albeit they don’t where them for long).

I must say that mum has contributed most to her wardrobe. She has got Lily a whole heap of stuff along the way...she just loves buying things and who am I to get in her way. I have purchased her a few designer labels (baby gap, baby guess, Ralph Lauren, Osh Kosh and Nike) from the USA (via eBay.com) at absolute bargain prices...if your reading, that’s the place to shop...these clothes are all authentic, brand new and cheaper then what I could get at Target!

There really isn’t anything that I ‘need’ now (f course there is always more stuff that I could buy). I have a few towels, enough blankets and wraps, toys and bits and pieces. It’s nice to know that there is nothing required. If I am able to breastfeed again (which is what I am hoping) then I will probably buy myself a new breast pump (but I won’t do that til after she is born).

On that note, here is her room...

Through the eyes of a child...

According to Byron, Lily is going to be born with:

• Green hair (at first he said her hair will be "darkness" then he recanted to a specific colour)
• Purple eyes
• Brown lips
• Yellow Belly

Oh and she will look like "Daddy"; quite hilarious !!!

I had this discussion with him in the bath (where many of the most memorable ones take place). I also asked him who he looks like. His response was "Daddy". Then when I asked him who I look like he said "Byron". I suggested that I might look like Nanna and Grandad and Daddy might look like Grandma and Poppy – you would have thought I said the funniest thing because he thought it was side-splitting and couldn’t stop laughing (do we really look that bad?? ).

I am pleased to advise that it appears Byron’s listening ears have returned (albeit a little jet lagged). My mother said he was a little cherub last night and my sister rang me up this evening just to tell me that she loves him so much and to inform me of all the cute stuff he said last night . I asked his kindy teachers how he was behaved today and they said he was pretty good; still talking in his loud voice but he wasn’t too bad. Pheww!!! I thought I was going to be dealing with a naughty child for a while. I don’t mind naughtiness in moderation but in my state nothing really seems in moderation!

Night out...

Trevor and I headed out tonight (yes a Thursday) to watch the "Australian Outback Spectacular". We cashed in our flybuys to get the tickets. From memory we used 10,000 points. The tickets cost around $90 each so I guess for a loyalty program $180 worth of ‘products’ is a good deal . The shows on the weekend sell out quite quickly and I would have been close to giving birth before we could have got in...so a weeknight it was. It was easy for mum to look after Byron and drop him off at kindy the next day, so there were no dramas in the baby sitting department .

I had heard good things about the show from friends who had gone to see it. Trevor was a little cynical about going and thought it would be too touristy. I can say though that it wasn’t overdone and was really quite entertaining. My favourite part was the food; Trevor thought the endless free beer was great (or wine). You also got a free straw hat which was exhilarating – for the tourists anyway .

We started off with a tasty mixed Queensland Salad served with tangy mango dressing. This was followed by barbecue tenderloin beef steak with rich gravy, seasoned with Kakadu plum sauce and served with garden vegetables and Australian Damper ( however there was no butter which was a little disappointing). Then we finished off with traditional baked Pavlova with Queensland berries and country cream. If you wanted, you could have had Bush Billy Tea!

Overall it was a nice entertaining night – except for Trevor’s antics when we got home; that I didn’t do enough around the house, or more to the point that I didn’t prioritise what should have been done . Apparently Byron’s toy corner wasn’t a priority...I would beg to differ. When he got home today, he thought it was Christmas...there were toys that he couldn’t even remember he owned...my favourite comment was over some toy saucepans, "Oooohhhh I can’t believe it...I thought these were lost...I couldn’t find them...here they are!" (All said in this shrill high pitch voice of delight). Unsurprisingly, all my hard work of the afternoon (i.e. to accomplish a clean toy corner) had come undone when he proceeded to pull nearly all his toys out.

Obstetrician appointment...the plan is...

Well I got my wish...I am having another ultrasound ($$ courtesy of the hospital) on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 11.15am, followed by an OB appointment to discuss the findings .

Not a lot was cleared up at the OB appointment today...like I said however, they did book me in for another ultrasound at 36 weeks which is in truth what I hoped to get out of this appointment. We did discuss my concerns with her kidneys as well as her size. Plus, they took the usual ‘vital statistics’ to see that everything is ok.

In relation to her kidneys, there wasn’t a lot more mentioned then what I had already been told by the ultrasound doctor. Really, they need to wait until the further ultrasound. At that ultrasound, they will check her kidneys to see if the fluid retention has gotten any worse. Apparently, (he was telling the student doctor) if it gets worse etc it can cause long term problems with the kidneys. Plus the fact that she is a girl (must be something to do with their makeup) can make things worse i.e. more likely the result of reflux (yes I am a little confused???).

The OB did confirm the baby would have a further ultrasound after birth to assess the situation (I made my feeling known about this...i.e. that I won't be leaving the hospital until its done!!!). Sometimes he said that hormones etc released by the baby can cause the swelling to go down and therefore no further treatment is required. Other times they may require antibiotics (although we didn’t discuss this in any detail).

In speaking to friends about her condition, I have come to realise that it is quite common. I have heard of lots of baby’s having these sorts of problems and most times they are treated with antibiotics and the problem clears up. It is not uncommon for them to be on the antibiotics for up to 12 months which I find a little scary. I am just so grateful that I had the ultrasound at 30 weeks so that I was made aware of her condition. If I hadn’t had the scan (which is the norm), it may have been weeks and/or months following her birth before we became aware of the problem . That’s weeks and/or months of dealing with a cranky, under the weather new born, who unbeknown to us was suffering. I don’t think it would have helped the ‘household’ any.

As for the size he wasn’t really helpful in alleviating my concerns. He said the baby didn’t feel too big. Also, he commented that a baby’s head area is quite pliable so sometimes the scan can be a bit deceptive (that is to say, it depends on what angle the measurements were taken and what shape the head was – he commented that it only takes a centimetre or two to put the measurements right out). He couldn’t really give me an answer when I asked what the rate of growth is for a baby’s head, but noted the average head circumference is around 35cms. They, are not concerned at all by her size...the previous ultrasound didn’t reveal anything abnormal with the brain etc so they don’t think there is anything to worry about (try telling me that). If truth be told, I think I am stressing a smidgen over how big she might be, when really there isn’t any need. I guess, she will be as big as will be and I just have to hope she can fit !!!

As for the vital statistics, they are as follows:

• Blood Pressure – 125/85
• Cephalic Presentation (head down)
• Fetal Heart rate was good (no measurements provided)
• Descent – 4/5 ( have no idea what that means at this stage)
• He noted an increase in maternal anxiety (LOL I wonder what that is all about!!)

I guess the plan is now to wait until the completion of the ultrasound at 36 weeks and see where we go from there. In the meantime, I will talk to my GP and see what she has to say.

Listening ears left the country AGAIN!

It appears Byron’s listening ears have gone further then I thought; maybe overseas for a holiday!!! He wasn’t the best behaved child at kindy today. Apparently he had his loud voice on; was interrupting other people when they were talking; and was just being a little disruptive.

I am a little bemused by his behaviour the last couple of days . I am trying to pinpoint what the problem might be. Of course, I have no idea . I was thinking, maybe he was a little bit spoilt with attention on the weekend, having spent most of it with his Aunty Natalie. Maybe, he is acting up because of the baby; she will be arriving in a little while and the scan last week might have reinforced that for him. What ever is causing his naughtiness, I just hope it is short lived.

I will be attending one of the PPP parenting courses (run by the Children’s Health Clinics) next week for 4 weeks running; it only took 4 months on the waiting list to get in. Hopefully that will provide me with some helpful advice. With any luck, I might not need to implement too much of what I learn at the course. I guess time will tell.

Moving on, I feel much better now that we have new tyres on the car – driving around with very worn tyres and no spare, was a tad scary. We originally were booked in on Saturday (I wasted no time after seeing what the flat tyre was like). However, we were advised that our car required special sized tyres and they did not have any in stock so we had to reschedule the appointment for today (the tyres had to be ordered in). $761.00 later (that’s $179 a tyre + wheel alignment!!!), I got in my car and drove off...I can’t tell you how much safer I felt with new treads under my belt !

Tomorrow I have my scheduled OB appointment at the hospital to discuss the issues that arose from the ultrasound last week. It will be reassuring to clear some things up.

Until tomorrow...

Arggghhhh!!!!

For the record, I just wanted to note that I am 31 weeks pregnant today. There is not a whole lot to report really – nothing that I haven’t spoken about in the last few days.

As for a Byronism of the day, I have to say there isn’t one! He is not my most favourite person of the day. His listening ears seem to have gone a walking – quite a fair distance I would imagine . I must have asked him 5 times to do things each time I wanted something done! I couldn’t begin to count the amount of times I said "Byron" today; probably hundreds.

Not only were his listening ears missing but he was a cheeky bugger too. Not cute cheeky but naughty cheeky. I was at my wits end; must have asked him 5 times to do something and he continued to ignore me. So, in my frustration I said to him that he was going to get a hard smack that would hurt his legs. He said to me "no don’t smack me hard, smack me soft!" WTF!!! That was just one of the cheeky comments for the day...others included:

"I don’t want to be your friend anymore"
"You’re not my friend"
"Your mean"
"No I’m not!" (in response to me telling him he is naughty)
"Yes I can!" (in response to me telling him he can't do something)

To top the day off, Byron refused to eat dinner again today. I don’t think he has really touched any of my home cooked meals for the last 2 weeks. I am a little worried that he is not eating very much to sustain him at the moment (but then I remember that little people can live off air if they need to).

On a final note, Byron wanted to ride his bike today so outside we went. He cried and carried on the whole time because he couldn't pedal it properly. All he wanted me to do was push him around, which I wasn't prepared to do as we are trying to get him used to pedalling himself. I ended up getting the sh*ts and came inside. He followed behind, continuing with his antics...

Arggghhhh!!!!

Stress Head!

Trevor commented this weekend that I have been much more stressed (or as Trevor would say 'uptight') of late; that the little things seem to be getting to me. Like the RACQ incident with the tyre or the fact that my baby’s head appears to be growing at a rate which might make her impossible to birth naturally .

I am not normally one to get too frazzled. Don’t get me wrong, if the need is warranted, stress will arise. As a general rule though, the little things don’t get me going (OK I still think my baby’s head circumference is an exception (i.e. not a little thing), although Trevor says relax until I see the OB).

I just seem to be worrying more about things that really don’t need to be given a second thought. To pinpoint exactly what they all are is impossible, but lets face it Trevor is right (although I won’t tell him that). I have been feeling more uptight of late. I think it might have something to do with my ‘physical’ capabilities. The baby has been pressing on my sciatic nerve when I walk causing a shooting pain down my left side; I am finding turning over in bed at night a complete nightmare (due to my pelvic condition) and getting up and down is frustrating (again due to my pelvic condition). In all, my level of fitness is shot.

Generally, I guess I am feeling tired and somewhat guilty for feeling that way. I don’t work and 4 days out of the week Byron spends most of the day at kindy. Someone mentioned to me the other day the reason I might be feeling so tired this time around (compared to my pregnancy with Byron) is because I have Byron. The days when I do spend the majority of my time looking after him I am exhausted. I can’t begin to imagine how I would have coped if I had him everyday (for the record...I couldn’t have coped especially with the Hyperemesis).

I only have 2 months left in this pregnancy. I will make a conscious effort to not get so frazzled over the simple things (I just hope my body is a bit more accommodating).

Byronism of the day

Byron stayed at my sister’s place on Saturday night as Trevor and I had a birthday dinner we had to go to. Whilst going to my sister’s car Byron had a bit of a fall (this could have had something to do with his "My First Leappad" strapped to his back which is nearly as big as him and the fact he was wearing thongs). Anyway, my sister mentioned that he had some grazes on his foot and right in the middle of his forehead. Trevor was there and said the fall was nothing serious...nothing that a cuddle and kiss couldn't fix.

When I picked him up this afternoon he immediately leapt into the dramatisation of his little stack which included a dive head first into the grass accompanied by sound effects (whilst I type this I am in fits of laughter thinking about it! ). He is a really cheeky little monkey that I can’t help thinking is just growing up way to fast.

What a day it has been...

When I got up this morning I was so looking forward to just resting at home. I have been physically struggling the last couple of days and so I was looking forward to the rest. Then I remembered that I had made plans to meet my friend L for lunch...

I was supposed to meet L for lunch at 1.00pm, so I got to the shops a little before then and was walking around waiting for 1.00pm to arrive. However at 1.00pm she SMSed me that she was running late and could she meet at 1.30pm; fine. Then 1.30pm turned into 2.30pm - her hairdressers fault!

I don’t get to see her often because she works way up North with her DH and 2 sons, so it was nice; despite the long wait to get started and to eat (by 2.15pm I was ravenous...since I don't really eat much early on in the day).

After we had finished and I said goodbye, I was getting in the car and whilst doing so failed to notice the very flat tyre on the front passenger side! So off I go on my merry way to pick up Byron when I notice that the steering doesn’t feel right and there is a funny noise, which sounds very much like a flat tyre . However, I can’t pull over as there is no where to pull over, so I have to drive to another car park 500 meters up the road. I get out and notice a very very flat tire. Great!!!!

There I was, parked in the car park, 7 months pregnant and needing to change a tyre so I call RACQ. They ask me for my registration details etc and I provide them. Then they tell me that my car (Ford) isn’t covered on my membership – our other car is (Pulsar). I explained the Pulsar is driven by my husband and is covered by his membership. It then occurs to me that we must be paying 2 separate memberships for the one car. They try to find Trevor's membership details but can’t!!! Then the guy says that he will add my car to my membership and charges me $90 (when what he should have done was just remove the Pulsar from my membership and add the Ford - I didn't know that at the time). I provided my credit card details; all I cared about was getting someone out to fix my tyre, so that I could go and pick up my son.

As I’m waiting, I am stewing (I mean stewing!) over the $90 and the fact that I have already paid for memberships on 2 cars and we only own 2 cars. After about 5 phone calls (to Trevor and RACQ) I managed to sort it out and they cancelled the payment on my card. Tell you what though; my mobile bill is going to be hefty this month .

Back to the tyre...the RACQ dude shows up (45 minutes later - I was a priority apparently given I'm pregnant) and starts to change my tyre. When he takes it off I nearly died ; it was bald right down to the canvas and metal. I knew I needed tyres but had absolutely no idea they were that bad. I can’t believe I have been driving around with bald tyres with my son in the car. It turns out the front drivers side is just as bad and the back tyres aren’t far behind. With all the bills I just paid, now we need 4 new tyres on top of that . Think priority - I'm just glad that my tyre didn’t blow out while I was driving.

Moving on from the tyres (sorry it just really stressed me out, more so then I normally get)...

The last couple of days, I have been struggling with a pinched nerve or something. Maybe the baby is just resting on my sciatic nerve; I can’t be sure. Whatever it is, it is causing me a lot of grief when I walk around. Admittedly, I have been a tad more ‘active’ the last few days (too much toy sale shopping!).

Relative to things that could go wrong; I guess my day hasn’t really been that bad. It’s just that things seem to be getting the better of me the last couple of days. I have been more emotional, stressed and physically tired; it must be the hormones!

My Princess Lily...

Before I begin I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my princess (yep she is a SHE), Lily...

The decision to go and get the ultrasound is one that I definitely won’t be regretting anytime soon. First up it gave me the opportunity to meet Lily just one more time before she arrives . I can’t explain how wonderful it was to see the images of her. I was blown away by how lifelike they were. The intricate details of her little chin, mouth and nose. Not to mention her hands, with her long little fingers. My mother, who accompanied me to the ultrasound, thought she looked just like Byron (to be honest I can't remember).

I also got some reassurance regarding the sex – as you might have previously noted I was worried she might come out a boy! At first, when the sonographer was examining that area all I managed to hear out of his mouth was something about a "blue nursery" – WTF!!!. At that point my heart rate jumped tenfold. It turns out he said "you won’t need a blue nursery!" . From that point, I wanted proof, so he pointed out her ‘girly’ bits to me. I am now officially able to take the tags off all the 'pink' clothes and wash them .

During the ultrasound, the Doctor became a little concerned about some fluid present on her kidneys. Following the examination he indicated that Lily has "Fetal Renal Pelvis Dilatation" (a mild case apparently). He said it wasn’t something to be too concerned about and was detected in approximately 1 in 50 pregnancies.

If I am, or my doctor is concerned, he recommends another ultrasound at 36 weeks. The baby will definitely require an ultrasound within a few days of birth to ascertain whether the condition has resolved. If it hasn’t he said it was a condition that could be treated with antibiotics once the baby is born. As any mother would do, I automatically thought the worse, like renal failure etc. He reassured me though, it is nothing too serious.

Another issue raised was that the baby appears quite big; although, he elected to maintain my dates, established through previous scans (his reasoning being that earlier scans are better detectors of dates). Here is a rundown of her vital statistics...

• Biparietal Diameter (Google told me this is the diameter of the fetal head as measured from one parietal eminence to the other): 81.5mm (very top percentile)
• Occipitofrontal Diameter (Again Google told me this is the diameter of the fetal head from the external occipital protuberance to the most prominent point of the frontal bone in the midline): 111mm (very top percentile)
• Head Circumference: 31cm (past the top percentile)
• Abdominal Circumference: 26.9cm (above average)
• Femur Length: 57.8mm (just below average)
• Fetal Weight: 1732grams (above average)

On a positive note the biophysical profile, dopplers, amniotic fluid volume and fetal breathing exercises were reassuring of current well being . Also, the heart and brain were well seen and appear normal, which is great .

As a friend said to me today, this 4D scan was a blessing in disguise. To think I wasn’t sure I wanted to get it done. Not only did I get some reassurance of sex, but discovered some things that really I think I needed to know about (and wouldn’t have known about had I not had the scan).

One more positive, was that I could introduce Lily to Byron; make it more personal. He could relate to the pictures of her and was pointing out her nose, eyes and mouth. When I called her my Princess Lily Pili Pie..he said "No, her name is Lily!". As you can see he is protective already.
I am now even more excited to meet her!

Finally it arrives

Yippee...the money has arrived (just in time I might add).

Hooray!

It has been a long 3 months financially and it is just nice to know there is a little bit of money in the bank, although for how long I don’t know (bill, bills, bills – they never end).

I can now sit back and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. Not long til I get to see Lily – 3 hours!!

Nothing day...

Today was a bit of a nothing day.

Nothing much happening so really there is nothing much to report. Let’s just say...

1. I still haven’t finished the nursery – hopefully I can get to that soon (I guess I still have a bit of time up my sleeve).

2. I still haven’t received my money from the insurance company which is beginning to get beyond a joke :angry:. It has been 8 weeks since I lodged my claim and nearly 2 weeks since they told me it was approved. I was told I would receive it early this week. By my calculations early this week ends at 12pm (but I guess I can stretch to 5pm) tomorrow (Wednesday).

3. I am looking forward to my 4D ultrasound of the baby tomorrow. I can’t wait to see her…I will report more about that tomorrow.

Byronism of the day...

Byron’s little friend Willow dropped by to say hello for a few minutes this afternoon. He was trying to give her one of the balloons (I brought home from the wedding) to play with. She didn’t want it. He turned to me and said "Mummy Willow is not sharing!". I thought it was interesting that because she would not take (instead of give) he considered it not to be sharing...this does put a whole new spin on the concept of sharing I would think.

Night out...

Trevor and I headed out tonight (yes a Thursday) to watch the "Australian Outback Spectacular". We cashed in our flybuys to get the tickets. From memory we used 10,000 points. The tickets cost around $90 each so I guess for a loyalty program $180 worth of ‘products’ is a good deal . The shows on the weekend sell out quite quickly and I would have been close to giving birth before we could have got in...so a weeknight it was. It was easy for mum to look after Byron and drop him off at kindy the next day, so there were no dramas in the baby sitting department.

I had heard good things about the show from friends who had gone to see it. Trevor was a little cynical about going and thought it would be too touristy. I can say though that it wasn’t overdone and was really quite entertaining. My favourite part was the food; Trevor thought the endless free beer was great (or wine). You also got a free straw hat which was exhilarating – for the tourists anyway .

We started off with a tasty mixed Queensland Salad served with tangy mango dressing. This was followed by barbecue tenderloin beef steak with rich gravy, seasoned with Kakadu plum sauce and served with garden vegetables and Australian Damper ( however there was no butter which was a little disappointing). Then we finished off with traditional baked Pavlova with Queensland berries and country cream. If you wanted, you could have had Bush Billy Tea!

Overall it was a nice entertaining night – except for Trevor’s antics when we got home; that I didn’t do enough around the house, or more to the point that I didn’t prioritise what should have been done . Apparently Byron’s toy corner wasn’t a priority...I would beg to differ. When he got home today, he thought it was Christmas...there were toys that he couldn’t even remember he owned...my favourite comment was over some toy saucepans, "Oooohhhh I can’t believe it...I thought these were lost...I couldn’t find them...here they are!" (All said in this shrill high pitch voice of delight). Unsurprisingly, all my hard work of the afternoon (i.e. to accomplish a clean toy corner) had come undone when he proceeded to pull nearly all his toys ou .

The countdown begins...

I have been busy the last couple of days. :wacko: More busy then I usually am. Lets face it, I don’t do much. I just sit around home waiting for 3.30pm so I can go and pick up Byron. I do some housework, hop on the computer and watch TV...but that’s about it :blush:.

I covered Friday in my last entry, so I guess that leaves the weekend and today...

Weekend

On Saturday (1 July, 2006) I had a friend’s wedding to go to (M & C). It’s just so hard to find something to wear to a wedding when:

1. It is the middle on winter; and
2. Your 7 months pregnant and feel like a blimp!

I decided you couldn’t go wrong with black pants (mmm...not a lot of choice available in my wardrobe – some how jeans or tracky pants just wouldn’t cut it). Black pants go with anything so I just picked my nicest maternity top and dressed things up (with earrings, black pashmina, nice shoes).

The wedding ceremony was lovely and the bride looked beautiful, as did the bridesmaids. It made me excited about my besty’s wedding in September and even more determined to get bubs out in plenty of time to enable me to at least enjoy myself. I.e. I don’t want to be leaking profusely at all ends or worst yet still be pregnant and therefore not fit the bridesmaid dress! :o

All in all the day was nice. It is always nice to catch up with and hang out with friends, especially those that you don’t often see (would have been nicer if I could drink – its not often the alcohol is free – no seriously, just being there was nice).

On Sunday (2 July, 2006), Trevor and I made the most of the sleep in (given Byron was staying at Grandma and Poppy’s place). We had some lunch and that was pretty much it. I potted around in the baby’s nursery for a while (its still not quite there yet) and then picked up Byron. It wouldn't be a normal day if he didn't come out with a Byronism worth recording...

Have you ever said to your child "don’t play with that it's not a toy?". Well I am sure somewhere along the way I might have mentioned that to Byron. I was getting him dressed after his bath and was putting on his nappy. To do this I had to lift his legs up as you do. Whilst lifting his legs, he said to me in a stern voice "don’t lift my legs, they’re not toys you know!". A 2 year old's thought process' - you gotta love it!

Today

Today marks my 30th week of pregnancy. Really there isn’t to much to report. Although, I am feeling somewhat larger by the week (but I’m sure I have mentioned this previously). I had an antenatal appointment today and here are the vital statistics:

• Weight 75kgs (I reckon the scales were wrong! They were different to the ones I normally use given I saw a different doctor as mine was on holidays. I would put my weight at approx 77kgs).
• Blood pressure was 120/70 (which is apparently good)
• Baby is lying head down (I hope she stays that way!)
• Baby’s heart rate was 140 beats per minute (same as usual)
• There was some slight oedema (swelling) noted in the feet and ankles.

This past week, I have been much more conscious of my physical limitations. I have difficulty getting up from awkward positions, trouble rolling over in bed and general shortness of breath when I do exertive activity (not a step glass – more like walking up 3 stairs!). I am definitely struggling physically much more then I did with Byron – someone mentioned that this could have something to do with Byron i.e. running after and entertaining a 2½ old. I think they could be right! I just hate to think of how hard it is going to be in 6/7 weeks time!

The countdown begins...