First Half Day on my Own

Well today was the first afternoon I was home alone with Caleb. Dave worked from home this morning, we had the Public Health Nurse come for a visit, so he wanted to be here for that. Then after lunch he headed to work. I managed ok. I won't go into the details of my methods of feeding Caleb, but there's a bit more work involved now, so I have to get myself into a routine. I felt the afternoon was spent feeding him. But hey, that's ok, he's so adorable, I love just holding him. And admiring him.

Our Christmas was special. Christmas eve we didn't get to hold much of him. My mom's whole family gets together that day, so there was almost 30 people at the farm, and yes, everyone had to have a hold. Caleb is so so good. He doesn't cry a whole lot, and he's so laid back. The loud crowd didn't seem to phase him one bit!

Christmas morning there was an overflowing pile of presents. I haven't seen so many before. And Dave and I were very overwhelmed, everyone bought something special for Caleb, and we totally didn't expect that. We also were spoiled. Right now I'm listening to a cd that Dave bought me Integrety's Worship Platinum. It is so great I love it! This year was the year of pj's for myself. I got 4 pairs of pj's and they are all pink! Adorable! And most importantly, COMFY!

I'm healing quite well now. I still have to take some pain killers late afternoon, as that's when the stiffness and uncomfortableness hits. Having a baby is such a blessing, but you know, it's very overwhelming. I have been an emotional wreck. I will fully admit that I have suffered with the baby blues. I look at my little man and sometimes worry that I'm not sufficient enough. Then with the struggles we have had with his weight, it was heartbreaking. But now that I have somewhat of a plan, I feel more confident in myself. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. He has been just an amazing help. He's just so involved. He keeps looking at Caleb and says, "He's cute, I like him, I think we'll keep him, and we should get another one too!" hahaha, I told him that he needs to wait, because my memory is not that bad, it will take a bit to forget. The labour thing was alright, it's this after labour that is so hard.

Anyway, here are a few shots of Christmas for our little guy.

I'm a Mom

Well, I'm now a Mom. It's day 3 and I'm thinking I'm doing alright. Although my Mom who was here helping me went home half an hour ago and I couldn't stop crying. I guess it's what they call the baby blues. I'm confident in myself, and I'm so proud of my husband, we are doing awesome (hence the reason my mom felt she was good to go now as opposed to later) but my Mom is my safe haven, she was the biggest help ever, she got up with me all throughout the nights to help me nurse. Because Caleb is so big, and I'm so sore and weak, it's difficult for me to hold him upto my breast. She helped keep the house tidy, and taught us all she could, so now that she's gone, I just feel a bit nervous.

Anyway, here's the story of Caleb's entry into this world. Irony I say started it off! I was talking to Deb on MSN wednesday morning, and I asked her if she thought I should be taking my hospital bag to my doctor's appointment in case he decides something needs to be done that day, and she said no, that if something were to be done, Dave was going to have to come and meet me anyway, and that he could always get them. Well, I had just finished my shower at 9am, and I was drying off with the towel when I felt a little twitch down below, and pop, my water broke. I immediately hopped over the toilet for a bit. Then stress hit me fast as I noticed my water was a dark brown colour. I first called Dave at work and told him to come and get me. Then I called my Mom to tell her what was happening. (in between those 2 calls I accidently answered a telemarketing call from Direct Energy, but I was kind and said I don't have time goodbye) Then I called the hospital and they told me to come right in. Well I sat on a plastic bag in the truck, got out in the parking lot and lost heaps more water. I was drenched! Then in the hospital they assessed me, because my water was brown, it meant the baby had it's first bowel movement inside. At this point there was no contractions, but man the water kept gushing and gushing out! Then all at once the contractions started to come every 2-4 mins apart just like that. They quickly got me into a birthing room. My nurse went over options with me, and I said that I was going to take an epideral, but that I would wait a bit. I didn't wait long, as the contractions continued fast and they were unbearable. So the anstesiologist came in to do it, and it was awful, I was so scared I was shaking, and I was also going through contractions. But once I was hooked up everything was hunky dorey for the afternoon. It was about 5pm when I started feeling a pressure. I told the nurse and she said that was good, it meant my uterus was pushing down the baby. Well by 6:45 the pressure was so intense, the nurse not to push even though I felt a need to. But at 7pm, I said that I had to do something it was terrible. So another nurse assessed me and by that point I was fully dialated. So I started pushing. My doctor came in around 8pm, assessed me, and told me that he was going to have to help me. So in came the forcepts. I didn't look at them. But it was amazing, he was so great, I didn't feel much, and he asked me to push once and boom out came the head! (although he had to snip me unfortunately so I wouldn't tear) He was a big big boy. I think my doctor was proud of himself! Especially when the nurse said 11 pounds! He was shocked! I cried!

It was an experience I don't know how to descibe. I look at this precious boy and think, that baby was in my belly! I fall more and more in love with him when I look at him. I'm so proud of him and myself. I'm more passionately in love with Dave. He has shocked me beyond words. I was always worried about how he would be with our baby. He is so proud! He wants to show the world first of all. He loves just holding him, and he tells me that he could just look at him forever. Then he told my brother that maybe by this time next year we'll have another one! (I said there's no way of that happening, the after effects on your body after delivering a baby is awful, especially when there's stitches in an inappropiate place and can't go to the bathroom without some kind of terror, and you have to say out loud, "ok ok lets pee, pee pee pee!") He tells me that he loves our baby, and how beautiful he is. When I see him with Caleb, my heart doesn't know what to do with all the love that overflows. God is so amazing, to have created life in this way.

Anyway, I'm going to go and put my feet up, as they are balloons at this moment. I'm sure there is much much more I can tell you about how my life has changed in the past 3 days, but I think my fingers have had enough exercise tonight!

Thank you for your prayers! God answered them with many blessings of a beautiful, perfect, healthy boy.

Good day

Well today was a nice day. My parents came over for the day, they got here early enough to join us for church. We had invited them to because there was special music today. The afternoon we spent just visiting with eachother. While in church it dawned on me, that this time next week there will be a baby in our lives!

I have mentioned the problems we have had with our neighbour and their stereo system? They play it so loud that we can practically hear what the words are, and of course, they play it sometimes at the most inappropriate times (such as 2am in the morning). Sometimes they play it late in the afternoon, where I feel like I need to turn up the tv volume to drown it out! Well this morning, Mert called and said that this neighbour was robbed last Thursday in the middle of the afternoon! The odd thing was I was home that day, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Then Dave asked me if I had heard the stereo since then, I don't think I have. This is the bad part of the story, I kind of started laughing! I thought, "was this my answer to prayer?" Would the stereo have been stolen too? Oh dear! I don't think it was because I'm thinking that I have heard it since Thursday, but I'm not 100% sure.

Anyway, Christmas Vacation is on tonight! I'm looking forward to watching it!

Question

Dave and I have been thinking of getting something special for our little one's First Christmas. Do people do that even though it will have no concept what so ever? If yes, then what do you suggest? My brother has already provided a "Baby's first Christmas" ornament for the tree. Grandma Fern has already bought a First Christmas outfit. And Dave has come home with a book of collected fairy tales from around the world.

If you have any good suggestions let me know.
Let me know if your suggestion would be to not worry about it and do nothing, because I honestly don't know what we should do!

Saturday Night

Well, no news to share as of yet. I'll just say that right off the bat so you're not wondering.

Today I didn't do much in the morning. Dave went to the church to work on the computers there, so I actually crawled into bed again after talking to my mom for awhile. After lunch, Dave went to the Card shop for a couple of hours while I cleaned the house. It needed to be vaccuumed. I also sifted through the millions of flyers we received in the last 3 days. When Dave got home we decided to go to Kelsey's for dinner. I wanted the spinach dip. Then we wandered around Home Sense and we bought Good Night Moon, as it was half the price on a discounted table. Then Dave took me for a drive, it was nice, we looked at all the rich houses on the north end of Waterloo. I just finished watching Home Alone. It always makes me laugh.

Last night we were treated out for Swiss Chalet by a couple from Church. Dave and Dave H. go way back, as Dave H. owns the Card shop (when I say that I mean like sport cards) Because my Dave helped him with his computer issues, he and his wife wanted to treat us out for an evening. It was lots of fun. Dave H. is a retired police officer and he has some pretty funny stories to share. His wife Pauline seems to be serious when you look at her, but the things that come out of her mouth can be hilarious! Late into the evening she decided to do the needle and thread thing over my belly. It swang side to side which we all thought indicated a boy. Well her husband thought she was making it do that, so he had to try, and so here I was reclined in a chair while the two of them hovered over my belly, intently watching this needle, and Dave H's amazment over the needle moving side to side was so funny. So he then made my Dave do it just to see, and sure enough, it went side to side again! So all three were hovering over my belly, just thinking about it makes me laugh, it was so funny! So it looks like were having a boy, that's what everyone is telling me, so I'm believing it. Only maybe 4 people have told me otherwise, out of all the tonnes of others!! Only a matter of short time will tell at this point!

Tomorrow my parents are coming to me for a visit. I mentioned that I wanted to go to the farm, but Dave is a little leary of going too far in case something does happen. So my parents are coming here for a change. I'm really looking forward to that.

Day 2

So I'm on day 2 of my maternity leave, without baby in hand! Oh well, I'm still waiting. On Sunday the pastor's whole message was waiting on God. And so that is what I'm doing. Yesterday I accomplished my thank you notes from my Mom's shower. I also had a couple of nice chats on the telephone, one with my Mom and one with Amy. In the afternoon I was feeling sleepy at 2, so I crawled into bed and slept for an hour and a half! Shocking! But much needed. I don't sleep well at all anymore. My hips just kill me at night. Last night was terrible, I couldn't sleep in the same position for long at all. I don't know how Dave stays with me in bed! He must be so tired that he sleeps through it!

Today I've been to Zehrs and back. I thought I would try and stock up on food for when the baby comes, but when I get to the store, my intentions fly out the window. I don't think I was sucessful for a food stock up. Oh well! I think I'll probably sleep the afternoon away. I'm expecting a phone call from my co-worker who needs help. I told her to call me if she had any questions while I'm gone. While I was out, she left me a message to call her, so I returned a message! We'll play phone tag.

Tomorrow I've got my last scheduled doctor's appointment, however I'm sure I'll be told to make another one for next week! hahaha. I'm gonna ask him what he thinks of only allowing me to go only 5 days over! I'm also hoping Christa will cut my hair maybe, we'll see, I'm feeling kind of attached to it right now, maybe I'll wait until after the baby and it all falls out! At that point we've been toying with the idea of perming it! I'll see, we'll be preparing for our small group party which is that night. I'm taking a salad.

Anyway, I'm still "hanging in there"! So many people come up to me and say that to me! Ahhh, it's kind of tiring! Dave made us go to his boss's Christmas party, and I totally didn't want to go, he didn't either, but because it's his boss, there was an obligation, and you know, you just totally reach a point where you're sick of talking about being pregnant. I had many wives asking me how I've been doing, that was the conversation for the night. I survived, but didn't want to talk about it anymore!

I really like the Dave Matthew's band. I'm listening to one of his Christmas songs, and I just love it! Hmm, I need to tell Dave this, so he can maybe get another Christmas present for me :)
hehehe!