We’re home...

After 2 sleepless nights (well 4 hours worth) – not because of my baby but because of every Tom, d*ck and Harry – we are home.

I’d love to go into details now, but to be honest I am exhausted, emotional and just couldn’t be bothered. So for now, I will just mark my spot and come back later, when I probably am more coherent in my thoughts!

Byronism of the day...

When Byron got home from kindy I showed him my now deflated tummy, much to his delight. His first response was to touch it, following which he said...

"Oh it feels like playdoh" (accompanied by lots of forceful jiggling of my belly)..."It’s floating down, and down and down"!

Welcome Princess Lily!!!!

Well what a day!! At 3:36pm today our little princess, Lily entered the world, weighing in at 3.360kgs (7lbs 6oz), 51cms long and a head circumference of 36cms. She certainly is a little cutie, little rolls and all!!!

After arriving at the hospital last night, Nic was given the gel and headed off to the ward for the evening. Then this morning the fun began!! And all without pain relief….After a little wait for doctors etc, etc, she finally had her waters broken at around 11/11:30am. As time worn on she started to feel the pain increase and at its worst caused her to nearly puncture her mother’s hand with her nails.

I won’t go into all the details as I’m sure Nic will want to put her own spin on it but it is safe to say she has no intentions of not using pain relief drugs IF she decides to add a third child to our ranks.

Knowing all the pain and discomfort she has endured over the course of the last nine months I can not begin to explain how proud I am of her. I just hope she realises how special she really is, as my wife and the mother of our two beautiful children!!!!!!

The time has arrived...

I got a phone call this afternoon from the hospital whilst on my way to taking Byron to his cowboy birthday party (for which I will report later). It seems they are ‘quiet’ today and that if I wanted to they would be happy for me to come in tonight (after 8pm) to have the gel inserted – however, firstly I had to ring them at 7pm just to make sure there hadn’t been a sudden influx of labouring ladies.

It goes without saying that I couldn’t wait until 7pm – Byron was driving me nuts with his hyperactive silly behaviour – so I rang at 6.15pm. The midwife said it was still ok for me to come in anytime after 8pm. She asked me if I had been labouring at all. I said that I had had contractions on and off over the last week but nothing lasting. The reason she wanted to know is it seems they will only insert the Gel tonight, which means that if my cervix is dilated enough already to ARM (artificial rupture of membranes) I will have to come back in the morning. Apparently, they will only break waters in the morning (this is really odd). She did say that sometimes the ‘examination’ will get things moving over night and I might have to come back anyway.

Trevor (who I might add is completely seedy from his big weekend – but that’s another story for later) has dropped Byron off at his parents for the night which is good. It means we don’t have to worry about him should I have to go back to the hospital at some ungodly hour in the morning.

I am just sitting here wondering how I feel…to be honest I feel:

• Nervous for what lies ahead (how labour will be; that my baby will be fine; that everything will run smoothly)
• Anxious about the pain (well that goes without saying really)
• Excited (that I will met Lily within the next 24 hours – see what she looks like, how big she will be)
• Happy (that I won’t be pregnant anymore)
• Sad (that I won’t be pregnant anymore – strange I know)

Well the time has arrived...off to the hospital I go...if all goes well, next time I post I will be holding my...

Let me see...

I was supposed to go down the coast today for my Betsy’s hens’ weekend. Originally (before the scheduled induction on Monday) I was going for Friday and Saturday night (actual hens’ night). Following the news Lily would be arriving on Monday, I reconsidered my decision about Saturday but figured Friday would be ok.

However, since my appointment on Wednesday I have been feeling a little strange (the OB did say to me when he was doing the internal that he would see if he could get things moving). By strange I mean...general unwellness, sore back, fatigue, urge to go to the toilet more then I need to. Plus, all this was accompanied by the lose of my mucus plug on Thursday. I had a feeling that Miss Lily might not wait until Monday.

Today however the symptoms have settled a little. In the circumstances though, I decided (with the persuasion of my mother who insisted it wasn’t safe and that I shouldn’t go) that it might be better to give things a miss. I thought my Besty might be a little upset, but turns out she was fine. Of importance really is the wedding, and as it stands things will have worked out a treat in that regard (which I think she couldn’t be happier about).

Whilst I am not attending the hens down the coast, Trevor is still attending the Bucks night (which is also down the coast). This is a little concerning, especially given, should I go into labour, he would not exactly be in any state to (1) drive back from the coast (2) actively participate in the birth. For my piece of mind though, his mother has offered to drive down and pick him up should things get started a little earlier then anticipated.

I finally packed my hospital bag yesterday much to Trevor’s delight (I don’t think he fancied trying to decide what underwear I might like to wear). The baby’s bag is packed. All that is left to do is to wrap Byron’s present from Lily and have him wrap a little something for the baby.

Well there really isn’t much else to report...just 3 more sleeps!!!


*******************************************************

Before I end this entry, I just wanted to say to a dear friend (she knows who she is) that I am terribly sorry that things didn't go her way today. It pains me know end to think of her as being unhappy. I found these words which I think 'might' sum up how she is feeling (hence 'might' because lets face it I can't be sure)

God answers so many of my little prayers,
so why not the big ones too?
I just can't understand it
Why does he do the things he decides to do?
My deepest desire lies unfulfilled
I feel so hopeless inside
I know I should be thankful
and not so full of pride.

I ask God every day
for this or that, you know, little things.
And when he answers so clearly
my heart just really sings.

But in those deep, pondering moments
When I ask for the desire of my heart,
I get no clear answer
and then my tears start,
Oh God, I want a baby
to hold and kiss and love
I know that you alone can give me
that blessing from above.

I keep waiting, waiting, waiting
and my patience grows to despair.
Oh why can't I have a baby?
For nothing else I truly care.
I know you haven't forgotten me
for better things to do
because you answer all my little prayers,
I just wish you'd fulfil my big one, too.

5 More Sleeps...

I cannot believe it...5 more sleeps until we meet Miss Lily Pie. That’s right – 5 more sleeps!!!! I am scheduled to undergo an induction at 8.00am on Monday, 28 August 2006. It seems there are some lovely, kind hearted Obstetricians with wonderful bed side manners out there – it just turns out that I had never meet them before, until today.

As previously explained, I had an OB appointment at the hospital today. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from the appointment given my previous experiences with the midwives and OBs. I just thought they would ask how I was doing (not really caring for my answers), check my blood pressure etc and send me on my way. Truth be told, I was hoping the OB would do an internal to see how my cervix was and that I guess, is all I really wanted.

To my amazement after I had explained my problems with the SPD, some of which was obviously evident to them – especially when I couldn’t get my legs up onto the table to check out the baby without help, the OB mentioned the possibility of induction. I nearly fell off the table in shock. He said that an induction will generally only work if things are favourable. At that point I requested he do an internal to check how ‘things’ were...I know you must be thinking who gets that excited over an internal examination?

Whilst doing the examination he indicated he was "playing with the cervix" in the hope things might get moving a little earlier. I presume he was doing a ‘stretch and sweep’. He told me my cervix was ripening and thinning and was open 1 to 2 fingers (or centimetres), which he said is sometimes normal at this stage.

He commented they could offer me the induction at around 38 weeks. Of course I promptly noted that I would be 38 weeks on Monday. So next thing you know, he is on the phone to labour and delivery scheduling my induction. Again I was blown away...I just never expected this offering. I had hoped but never expected they would.

Apparently, inductions can take hours and some times days to get things moving. Not only that, if they are ‘busy’ in labour and deliver they will bump me and prioritise according to clinical need (which is completely understandable). Therefore, worst case would be for the induction to be re-scheduled a day or two later (I can live with that!).

When I was leaving the appointment he said that if I changed my mind I could just ring labour and delivery. Change my mind...was he nuts. Here's hoping they don't change theirs.

So, here I am with 5 more sleeps (maybe 6) until I get to meet my baby girl. It is so surreal and kind of weird to know when things will be happening. Within a week, if all things go well, I will have hopefully regained my mobility back – the ability to walk without waddling, roll over, get up out of chairs – I can’t wait! Of course it goes without saying the greatest part will be meeting my Princess Lily.

5 more sleeps...

More Birthdays!

Today is Trevor’s birthday!

We didn’t plan to do much seeing I am a bit of a cripple at the moment and it is a work day (plus he was aware of my feelings towards his birthday considering the effort he made with mine). We did however go out to dinner (twice within 5 days to the same restaurant – a miracle) with his parents which was nice.

Byron said the funniest things at the restaurant today which brings me to report an updated Byronism(s)...

First up the waitress came to take the dishes away. After she had picked up the plates and was ready to walk away Byron turns to her and says in this stern voice, "be careful and don’t break the plates". He not only caught the waitress by surprise but us too.

Later on, Byron decides out of the blue to start a strange conversation which went like this:

Byron: "Mummy would you like to be a penguin?"
Me: "I might like to be a penguin"
Byron: "Be a penguin"
Me: "How do you be a penguin?"
Trevor: "Well you have the waddle down pat!"
Byron: "Waddle, waddle, waddle, waddle" – all accompanied by head and hand movements

On a completely different note, Trevor just said to me (without prompting) that he is looking forward to Lily coming which was kind of a shock because he doesn’t really talk about that much (or as much as I would like). His reasons are:

1. So he can meet her
2. So I will feel better
3. He will get a holiday

According to him they are ranked in order of importance...good to see I come before the holiday.

37 Weeks Today!!!

As expected the pain from the SPD is not getting much better – I don’t suppose it will get any better until the baby is born. It seems today, as an added bonus, there is some back pain chucked in for good measure. Look I can’t complain really, at least I can waddle along and function and it’s not always ‘painful’. Night time seems to be my biggest quandary.

Last night was a terrible night again. I must have woken about 4 or 5 times with period like pain in my lower back (in addition to the SPD problems). It was a little unusual because I hadn’t experienced any pain like that so far. It even got so bad as to require a heat pack this morning.

I had a doctor’s (GP) appointment today. When I walked in she said that I looked "haggard". To be honest that is exactly how I felt – haggard!

She took my vital statistics:

• Weight (all important of course) – 81kgs
• No abnormality detected in urine
• Blood Pressure – 125/80
• Fetal Heart rate – 160 beats per minute
• Oedema – present
• Presentation – cephalic (head down) 1/5th engaged (yippee)

When she said the baby was engaged (even though only 1/5th) I can tell you I was excited. Byron never fully engaged and from memory was 2/5th when my waters broke – although I was 1/5th engaged with him at 36 weeks and nothing happened until 39+ weeks, so I guess it might not mean anything at all (I can still cling to hope though). It does however confirm the reason the SPD pain has gotten worse over the last week (ie. there is more pressure) – the baby has dropped so to speak.

In relation to the back pain the doctor said it is either a symptom of the SPD or early labour – bet you can guess which one I am hoping it is? After the doctor’s visit, for about 2 hours, I experienced period like cramping in my tummy and back. I am presuming they were Braxton hicks – I am not too sure as I haven’t had them before, or never noticed them at least. They just disappeared...not to return again today.

On a final note my doctor said that she thought I would go earlier then I did with Byron...how early she wasn’t sure or didn’t really elaborate. I came away from the appointment today happy and content that my Little Miss Lily Pie might make her entrance in the not to distant future (here’s hoping anyway).

I have an OB appointment on Wednesday (how exciting NOT! – can’t you tell I’m a big fan of them at the moment). I will see what he has to say, although probably nothing I want to here.