kowy done got knocked up

37 weeks

2008-08-26T17:12:00.001-07:00

Holy crap I'm HUGE!

We had a surprise baby shower on Sunday and were very touched by our friends and family!

Jen did a wonderful job of taking DOZENS of pictures. You've probably seem them on the Crackbook. For those of you who haven't...here are some of them.

Hagrid is still growing - as shown by the HUGE bump he's making. I'm now petrified that he has to come OUT of me somehow.

36 weeks

2008-08-21T07:54:00.001-07:00

A MAXIMUM of 4 weeks left! OMG!

My doctor won't let me go past my due date due to hagrid's size so if I go overdue, he'll induce me.
I don't think I'll get to that point, honestly. Nor does anyone who's seen me!

We had our GARE appointment yesterday and had my first non-stress test. I got hooked up to a fetal monitor and sat on a bed for a half hour. Apparently it went well. I don't know what it's supposed to show other than baby has a heartbeat and that when I cough or move, or when baby moves, the machine goes nuts.
We also had a quick ultrasound to measure baby's growth. He's slowed down a bit and isn't as far ahead as last time. He's just a smidge over where he should be for 36 weeks. He's just getting fatter and fatter. They guestimated him at 6lbs 4oz yesterday (the guess can be off by as much as a pound each way).

John was at this appointment and even though the U/S was short, we still got to see baby in all his healthy glory. He was practising breathing and his heart is good and strong.

I ALSO got a new drug regime.
The GOOD news is that I don't have to take the Aspirin anymore. One less pill. WOO HOO! I also don't have to do the Fragmin injections anymore.
The BAD news is that the Fragmin (a low molecular structure Heparin) got replaced by Standard Heparin. Which means TWO injections a day. This is because standard Heparin has a shorter lifespan than the Fragmin. They do this switch so that if it comes to me being in labour and needing an epidural, the Heparin will be out of my system quickly. It's dangerous to give spinal injections while the blood is thinned (which is what the Heparin/Fragmin is for).

The pharmacist called me this morning to tell me my Heparin is ready, but I will have to go back to the hospital to get a nurse to teach me how to fill my own syringes - I don't have the pre-filled ones like I did with the Fragmin.

Yeah..you know you really wanted to know all that medical stuff eh?

Other than that...what else?

We're now the proud owners of a lovely high chair thanks to Chrissy and Sheila. It's set up in the kitchen even though we won't need it for a while. I like just looking at it.
It's current occupant, Keswick the HBC bear, is enjoying his new perch. Yes...I put teddy bears in ANY baby furniture I have...I'm odd that way.

Oh...we've finished the baby room. It's nice and simple. I didn't like all the froofy stuff I see on websites. No ruffles or cutesy pastels for me. They look nice in their place, but NOT mine.

I was looking for wall decals for AGES. John and I went to Rona, Home Depot, and all the other places and I was almost at the point where I thought I'd have to buy online.

Know where I found them?

Rossy ! Yes THAT Rossy...the cheap-ass store people go to when they can't afford Zellers.

For a total of $3 at that!

I just have to fix up the curtains...the liners I bought need to be actually sewn in properly and at the right length. Right now they're just tacked up there real quick.

So, now I sit here, patiently waiting for the GARE clinic to call me back to let me know when I can come in and get my lesson in syringe-filling. I'm going to be SUCH a good drug abuser by the end of this.

BRING ON THE SMACK!
(I'm KIDDING.....Geez.............)

34 weeks

2008-08-07T03:14:00.001-07:00

OK...Hagrid can come out now. I'm tired of lugging around the extra weight!

Everything is going tickety-boo. baby is growing by leaps and bounds. He's going to be BIG! I find out at today's appointment if the doctor still thinks he's going to induce me. Then, an ultrasound in two weeks to confirm how big he is. At the rate he's going, he's going to be at least 9.5lbs...par for the course in this family!

The nursery is ready. All that's missing is a baby.

Oh, and we have changed our minds about the diaper service. In theory, it would be a GREAT idea...and I still wish we could do it, but in practicality it just costs too much. So we're going to be using disposable diapers. I still plan on buying some cloth ones though for use at home. Craigslist has lots of used ones for sale dead cheap.
I'm kind of bummed about this, but hey, money doesn't grow on trees.

What else? Oh yeah, I was at Zellers yesterday and found an awesome sling. The best part about it is that I originally wanted a mamankangourou sling, but they cost upwards of $70 EACH! So, instead, for the same price, I was able to get the sling AND a mobile.

John put the mobile together last night. I tried out the sling with Norm. Norm doesn't like it. I don't know why?

*UPDATE*

Got back from the doctors this afternoon and baby Hagrid is doing well. He's measuring in at 36 weeks though. So, technically, he's fully cooked and can come any time he wants now.

Doctor's in no rush to do anything yet though. I'm a big strapping lass and he's sure I can manage delivering a giant.

32 weeks

2008-07-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

I've started my maternity leave as of Monday so now I'm spending my days being bored to the point of actually CLEANING this apartment! I KNOW!!!

Lots has happened over the past few weeks and I'll do a proper update tomorrow but right now I just wanted to put up the latest pictures - then it's off to watch Coronation Street.

This kid is going to recognise the theme song at birth!

Oh yeah...and the first picture of the bare belly in all it's icky, bruised, stretch-marked glory.

Prenatal classes

2008-07-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

We start school tonight. How exciting!

They are held at the CLSC and we don't have a clue what we will be taught there.

All we know is from Alan - who told John that the movies we will be shown are full-on 1970's cheese, complete with gross details and lots of body hair.
Can't wait!

Oh...and 16 more work hours left!

Almost 30 weeks

2008-07-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

Only 10 more working days til I'm off on mat. leave.
This scares the frak out of me!

We went for a walk yesterday at Cap St. Jacques. Baby likes cows.

We hate painting!

2008-06-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

So finally today, after a week and a bit of painting one TINY room we're done!
Here's some before, during, and after pictures. The furniture goes
back in this afternoon.

Some things we've learned:
1. Painting during the hottest days is NOT recommended
2. Painting latex paint over what we thought was latex over years of
oil paint...not recommended
3. It takes longer to clean up the mess than to actually paint a
room. Ain't nothing more fun than scrubbing/scraping a floor to get
the paint off.
4. Next time...we hire painters!

Notice the shiny, shiny floor in the last two (green) ones. This is
the cleanest this room will EVER be. EVER. Heck, right now you could
probably eat off this floor (but if you do...and you make a mess...I
will KILL you!).

P.S. Look to the right pane for a new belly pic.

It's totally for real now

2008-06-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

I just handed in my 'Request for Maternity Leave' form to my manager.

I'm off work as of July 18. Just in time for John's birthday.

WOO HOO!

It can't come soon enough. I'm exhausted, hot, cranky, swollen, and just basically a bitch to be around. A constantly hungry, sweaty bitch.

I don't actually have a replacement yet though. One girl came for an interview. I liked her...she was smart...and likeable. She also informed me that she had *just* found out she is 10 weeks pregnant. So not a good choice for a maternity leave replacement. I don't think she'll be replacing me.

No pictures lately - sorry. I've been forgetting to take one. I'll try to remember soon.

We're 27 weeks as of tomorrow. Down to double digits. I have 90-odd days left.
All is going well. Baby is growing by leaps and bounds and therefore so am I. John can now feel baby moving occasionally. It's weird...it's as if baby knows when we are waiting for him to move...he won't budge. 5 minutes later, when I'm alone, he kicks up a storm. It's really kind of annoying of him. He's going to be stubborn I can tell. Either that...or just really lazy like his parents!

John has started painting the wee bairns' room. The ceiling is done and we start on the walls tonight. When I say 'we' I really mean John. I'm allowed to help but this is really Daddy's project.

It will be a nice bright airy green. I painted a small patch last night to see what it looked like. I can't wait to show you all the finished project. John wanted to have *his* project - making our son's room. It'll look fantastic when it's all finished. *MY* project is making a baby.

Work is hectic to say the least. The boss-man figured out a couple of weeks ago that

a) I'm off in a month and
b) that HE is off on vacation for most of the summer.

So...LOTS of work to be done. I daren't tell him I'm not supposed to have any stress - he might go a WEE bit ballistic!

Mother's Day Update

2008-05-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Well, this past week has been rather hectic!

On Monday, I got to work to find that there was a surprise baby shower for me, thrown by my office-mate and various bosses. Yes...I cried.
It was early, but she wanted to be sure that everyone could make it before they head off to various summer obligations. I'm going to miss them! Got some really nice gifts, including a really unexpected gift of an hour's prenatal massage done by the massage therapist who volunteers on the wards to de-stress the staff. I'd had a chair massage from her the other week and told my boss how good it was. He got me the gift certificate that day.

Tuesday was the 'big' ultrasound. The big 20-week one where they check to make sure baby has all it's bits and pieces. John joined me for this one so he got to see where we will be having little baby Hansen. Baby is perfect in every way size wise and has all the bits it should have.
We also found out the gender. We DID originally want to keep it a surprise, but it's surprise enough that we managed to procreate.....

It's a BOY!

I kind of knew this all along. We have a name picked out and THAT will be the big surprise. We told everyone this weekend that it's a boy and we also told them the name it would have been, had he been a girl. Georgina Frances - named after both of our grandmothers. Apparently, no-one likes that name. Well...poo on you...
:-)

Thursday was yet another ultrasound. This time, I went to Ste. Justine Hospital for the special doppler ultrasound. This one was to measure the cardiac function of our boy. Because I have hypertension, they wanted to make sure baby's cardiac function was not affected. It was a very LONG ultrasound....lots of detail. I didn't mind though, because I got to see my baby for a bit longer. The doctor interpreted the scans and told me that all is 'perfect'. Yes, he used the word 'perfect'. It made me very happy.

Next week is our monthly prenatal exam.

I'm almost 22 weeks. More than half way. "Scuse the language, but HOLY SHIT!

The BIG baby shopping trip (or why IKEA is STILL the best store EVER!

2008-05-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, John and I went to Swedish Heaven to buy the rest of the furniture for the baby room.
I put it together yesterday and today - after having to take one piece back and replace it because I bought the wrong one - and now, for your viewing pleasure...

IKEA crap:

Funky cool buckety-drawers

Change Table

The light fixture - which, as you can tell, is not put up yet

Curtains

And...here's the rest of the crap that we still have to clean up and deal with:

These are the last pictures of the room until it is painted and all put to rights. A teaser one might say...
Enjoy.

May 1st update (2 days late)

2008-05-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

So...we're half way there folks! Time to get in to panic mode. We have so much we have to do: paint the room, get rid of junk, arrange my maternity leave, etc. We thought we had so much time but apparently not.

All is well with the butter-bean. He/she is growing and healthy as is his/her Mum.
Let's catch up shall we?

Thanks to some still wonky results on the blood sugar front, I'm being seen by a nutritionist and given a 'pre' gestational diabetes meal plan. It's high on veggies and low on carbs/sugar. Makes perfect sense really. That, and portion control, is keeping the blood sugar a lot more normal. Hopefully, this is all I will need and I won't have to do the insulin shots. This is the ONE thing I can control myself so I'm doing everything I can to keep it that way.

The blood pressure is down, as is expected for the second trimester, but they're still watching me closely in case I develop pre-eclampsia. GOOD LORD I HOPE NOT!
Exercise and pills are my friends.

The injections of blood thinner are doing their job. I still hate them. Only 6 more months until I *HOPEFULLY* am allowed to stop doing them. Not only are they painful and leave colourful bruises, but they cost a FORTUNE. It's 100% covered by insurance but at about $10 a shot it adds up really fast.

Other than that...we have two ultrasounds next week. One is the BIG one where they might tell us the sex (we still don't know if we want that or not), and the other is a doppler ultrasound at Ste. Justine to monitor the heart function and blood flow - a specialized scan that is thanks to me having 'special' super thick blood.

Not many kicks yet. They'll come.

I start my Mat. leave in 3 months if all goes well, but the GARE clinic doctor may veto that and I'll probably be off earlier on CSST until the baby is born. Such is the life of a geriatric mother!

The baby shrine

2008-04-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a double-whammy of baby purchases.
My tax refund bought us our stroller. It's small, folds very compactly, and most important...was on sale.

The crib is courtesy of Aidan who has outgrown it.

Bedding is from the Barnslig collection at IKEA.

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

2008-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, John and I were talking about poems we remembered from Childhood. He has a favourite book "Alligator Pie" (which he's just bought for the baby) full of very Canadian poems. He remembers reading it and re-reading it.

I had favourites too, except that I can't remember the titles of the books at all. I had a few anthologies of children's poetry. A lot of stuff by A.A. Milne, a certain Mr. A. Nonny Mouse, Lewis Carroll and others.

Yes. I read VORACIOUSLY as a child (and still do).

There was one particular poem that I remembered last night. I had no idea who wrote it or what it was called, all I remembered was that I loved the way the words sounded when I said them out loud.

The internet is great for research. I found it:

ROMANCE

by: W.J. Turner

HEN I was but thirteen or so
I went into a golden land,
Chimborazo, Cotopaxi
Took me by the hand.

My father died, my brother too,
They passed like fleeting dreams,
I stood where Popocatapetl
In the sunlight gleams.

I dimly heard the master's voice
And boys far-off at play,
Chimborazo, Cotopaxi
Had stolen me away.

I walked in a great golden dream
To and fro from school--
Shining Popocatapetl
The dusty streets did rule.

I walked home with a gold dark boy,
And never a word I'd say,
Chimborazo, Cotopaxi
Had taken my speech away:

I gazed entranced upon his face
Fairer than any flower--
O shining Popocatapetl
It was thy magic hour:

The houses, people, traffic seemed
Thin fading dreams by day,
Chimborazo, Cotopaxi
They had stolen my soul away!

'Romance' is reprinted from An Anthology of Modern Verse. Ed. A. Methuen. London: Methuen & Co., 1921.

April 1 update

2008-04-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

I am most definitely up the duff.

It's now week 15 and counting.

Everything is going well and I'm getting bigger.

There have been quite a few doctor visits in the past 2 months due to my 'advanced maternal age'.

The first prenatal visit about a month ago went well. It basically consisted of us hearing the heartbeat (SO COOL!) and getting all sorts of consultation requests for various specialists, ultrasounds, and blood tests.

One of the consults was for the GARE clinic (Grossesse a Risque Élevéé). My first visit there I was expecting to have my high blood pressure confirmed and get put on pills. I was right...I was. She also put me on blood thinner (SUBCUTANEOUS blood thinner...with a needle every day in my belly), and I'm checking my blood glucose levels every day as well, no thanks to a wonky result from the initial blood tests.

Hopefully, when I go back to this clinic this week, I'll be able to stop the blood glucose testing.

We've had an early ultrasound and saw the baby moving around. It looked like an alien.

Other than that, we have our second prenatal appointment this week and I'm looking forward to seeing the doctor and hearing what he has to say.

February 13 update

2008-02-13T17:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been 'knocked up for almost 9 weeks now and have discovered the joys of morning sickness. I saw somewhere on the internet that it can be compared to "your worst hangover, with the flu, for three months". I'd say that's pretty accurate.

Luckily it hasn't been TOO bad (knock on wood). John's been giving me rides to work to save me from the terrifying prospect of sitting on a bus for an hour trying not to puke.

Other than that, and some major tiredness, it hasn't been too bad.

We've told everyone important. We were hoping to hold off until 12 weeks, but because of the wedding in Cuba (that is now cancelled) we had to tell them so that they wouldn't buy tickets. As for us getting married, I'm not sure when that's going to happen now. I know that John would prefer us to be married before the baby. I don't have an opinion either way - other than the fact that I don't like the idea of a maternity wedding dress.

Oh...and I've bought ONE outfit. I had to. It was really cute.

The first doctors appointment is next thursday. I'm so nervous.

January 13th was a big day

2008-01-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

*This was written on January 16*

Sunday, January 13, I decided to buy a pregnancy test. I was a couple of days 'late', and was just feeling...not quite right.

I'd complained to John on Saturday that I didn't smell 'right'. I also had massive heart-burn.

So, John and I stood in line to buy the tests. We bought two....just in case one was defective or something.

John wasn't concerned about the buying of tests. He just figured I was being a girl and worrying too much.

Went home and peed on the stick.

Here's a mental picture of the immediate aftermath:

Me, sitting on the loo, staring at a pee-covered stick and crying. Norm (who always HAS to come in to watch me pee - she's weird that way) looking at me and begging for attention.

Came out of the bathroom, still in tears, and showed the positive test to John.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent in shock and wondering what the hell we're going to do.

Yes....we're VERY happy about this. We've wanted this for a while now.

But....we've just invited everyone we know to a wedding in Cuba...when I will be 6 months pregnant.

Laugh or cry???

So, after calling the info-santé line to find out what I do next, I called for an appointment for prenatal follow up at a clinic near me. My appointment is February 21 so I have a month to wait before I can even see a doctor and have him tell me that yes, I AM pregnant.