Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas

We have made our way home after a busy four days of travel and family. I am not sure who was happier to be home Jay and I or Griffin. He did pretty well on our travels but he giggled and smiled and talked up a storm when we got home. He is a pretty shy little guy and he struggled with big crowds at our gatherings, he needs his down time and time alone with mommy and/or daddy. Plus lots of car time (Riverton to MacGregor, MacGregor to Winnipeg, Winnipeg to Lorette to Winnipeg, and finally Winnipeg back home) over the four days was a little much for all of us! I think next year things will need to change around here!

That being said we enjoyed our time with family and friends. We had small gatherings with both immediate families, and larger ones with aunts, uncles, cousins and Griffin's great-grandparents. We ate three turkey dinners, and enjoyed our traditional Christmas breakfast of eggs benedict. The cousins played, at least as much as a 6, 8 and 21 month old can play together :), and we all got very thoughtful and lovely presents. It was a busy way to celebrate the birth of our King.

But sleeping in our own bed last night was wonderful!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas At Our House!


 After some back and forth discussions we decided that rather than hauling all our stuff around with us next weekend we would have Christmas early at our house. Griffin doesn't know the difference, and it will make packing the car so much simpler next week. So after nap time we opened presents. Here are a few pictures:




Griffin's presents and stocking.

Our family stockings ready to be opened!

"Stacking cups/barrels, just what I wanted!!"

Every little boy needs a ring stacker! Thanks mom. I will eat it now!"
We tried not to go to crazy for Griffin's first Christmas, but clearly he did get some toys (stacking cups, ring stacker, sensory balls, puzzle, and a piano/xylophone), he got a book, toothbrush and paste, sippy cups, and a fork and spoon. Somethings he would have needed whether it was Christmas or not. He so far has been very interested in the sensory balls and the ring stacker, but I know he will enjoy it all in time!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Forgotten Photo Friday Number 2

 Last week as I looked through pictures I realized how many great memories I had from my childhood. While the activities may be different for Griffin I hope we can create great memories in his childhood too. For now a look back on my great memories:

Anyone can be in the Field Parade!

I spent every summer from 9-15 showing my sheep.

I love skiing and started at a young age at Lake Louise, we took a few multi-day trips to Mt. Washington when we lived on Vancouver Island.

By the sea.  I grew up in the mountains (Field), by the sea (Sydney, Cowichan Bay), and on a hobby farm (Cowichan Bay, Rocky Mountain House). I love how many experiences I had because of it.


Saturday, December 3, 2011

STOCKINGS!

 After many days of working on our family stockings they are finished! No they aren't perfect but I think they will work. I have actually complete a number of projects in the last few weeks, but I will save them for another post (I need to take pictures).

Yes, I made four. One day we hope to add a sibling for Griffin, he or she will need a matching stocking! No, I am not pregnant!
Three up for now!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

What A Week!

We have had a very busy week around here, we have learned a bunch of new things and we have gained new skills. Well at least Griffin has, we are trying to keep up!

For months now we have had a roller on our hands, over and over he went, he did pretty well at getting around the living room. Last week our roller became an army crawler and is now tracking down whatever toy he wants wherever it is. Just the other day he learned how to get onto his knees; he was only rocking back and forth on them, but now he can push himself back to sitting. Today he also has discovered that while on his hands and knees he can go backwards... I can't imagine that it will be long before he is realizing that forward motion is possible!


All this while TEETHING! Yesterday while giving him is vitamin D I felt a sharp little tooth, you can barely see it but it is certainly there and coming up!

He hasn't ventured too far out of the living room so for now I am not chasing him everywhere, but I imagine it is coming! When did my little man go from a little new born to a seven month old busy little boy!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

How Does He Sleep?

I have discovered that new parents get some pretty standard questions: Are you breastfeeding? (yes, now I am), Is he a good baby? (Yup, I have no other baby to compare him to, but he is great to me), Does he sleep well? (ummm...).
My little guy is a great eater, he loves to play, read books, and laugh (especially at his mommy). He doesn't like to sleep, especially alone. From day one he was a cuddle bug, he loved to be held and rocked. My lactation consultant told me to hold him skin to skin as much as possible in those first weeks in order to help him nurse. I held and held and held, it worked... and created a baby who loves to sleep next to a parent. Of course many people ask how he sleeps, and the answer is that he sleeps pretty good, as long as he is in our bed! He naps in there alone (after being nursed to sleep) ; we often put him to bed in his crib at night but he wakes up anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours after we put him down... and then comes to bed with us. Sometimes we just skip the crib step and we all just go to bed together. Truth be told I love waking up to my happy, playing little boy. I also love that I get enough sleep, and my baby gets enough food, and parent cuddles. He doesn't usually fall asleep until some time between 10:30pm and midnight, which I find difficult because I am not a night owl, but he sleeps until some time between 8am and 9am and has at least 2 one-two hour naps during the day (often with a 30-45min nap in the early evening which we are trying to get rid of). He explores his world, giggles, laughs, listens to stories, plays games, eats like a horse, and jumps likes crazy during his awake hours. We bat around the idea of changing things... and always come to the same conclusion: he (and we) are not ready to let him cry it out. We know that lots of people do it, and it works, and the baby is just fine afterwards; and I am sure Griffin would be fine too. The truth is I can't stomach the idea of having to listen to him cry and doing nothing to help him, plus I don't enjoy the idea of getting up to nurse him once or twice a night, now it is so easy! So for now our little boy is a co-sleeping, happy baby; and we are co-sleeping happy parents. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! We know that eventually he will have to move to his own bed, but for now we will enjoy this time we have with him... they grow up so fast!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Ideas, Materials... Now I Just Need To Create!

So Pintresting has been addicting over the last little while. There are so many ideas that I am really looking forward to making some things. Griffin is taking hour plus naps BY HIMSELF (although in our bed; one battle at a time) so I even have the time! I have purchased a number of materials for a bunch of different projects.

First I bought fabric and notions for our family stockings, so excited to make them! I bought most of what I need but now I am thinking I want to line them so I need to get fabric for that before I start. Although I have different plans this is my inspiration:
Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest


They will be burlap with red button and ribbon accents.

Secondly I have bought a picture frame for a memo/calendar board for our house. A way to keep track of who is where, when; right now it isn't as big of a deal but come April when I go back to work it will sure be helpful.

I bought this exact frame but my papers will be different.

Today I went and bought a frame for a Christmas card display I want to make. I need to pick up some ribbon and paint still, but thanks to the Thrift Shop I have only spent 50 cents so far.


 





So Now I have a bunch of projects I need to work on... next week, because this week is already full!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Six Months... ALREADY!!

Early in the morning of April 24th, 2011 my life changed forever; it was 12:35am when my little boy was born. His birth wasn't "perfect", and we were a little scared, but looking back it feels like so long ago that we were in the NICU wondering what was going to happen next.

Hours after Griffin was born. CPAP, Oxygen, and IV fluids and antibiotics attached.
These last six months have flown by, it is so hard to believe he is already half way through his first year of his life. He has learned so much; how to eat, roll over, sit, smile, laugh, babble, kiss... oh the list goes on. Although those first days were scary, he has grown into a beautiful baby boy, who is healthy, and happy. For that I am grateful!

Curling shoes and all, he is beautiful to me!
 While he has been learning and growing so have I. He has taught me patience, flexibility, and taught me how to love more deeply. Of course he has also taught me how to live with less sleep than I would like, and that diapers get yucky when a baby starts eating solid foods! Although I don't love the these things they are a small price to pay for the giggles, smiles and kisses that I am paid in. Really he has taught me that I love being a mommy, it is the best job in the world!

The three of us! 



I have loved these last six months, and I am looking forward to tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. I am just so in love with my little boy, how can I not enjoy each and every day with him! 

Happy First Half Birthday my little man! Love you forever and ever!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Happy Birthday!

 To My Wonderful Husband!!



My husband gets a little closer to me in age today (yes, he is younger than me). I have been keeping a secret from him for months and I got to surprise him last night with his gift; an ASUS EEE Pad. He has been talking for months about wanting a tablet computer, so with the help of a friend I figured out what to get him. I had my parents buy it so to hide the credit card purchase (I bought it online) and paid them cash I snuck out of  the bank account. It has been hidden under the spare room bed for a month, and FINALLY I gave it to him! Griffin and I have been talking about it a lot, I was worried his first words might be "eee pad", but he helped me keep it a secret. He had asked for a specific dvd for his birthday so he knew that something was up when I came out with a bigger and heavier box, but when he finally realized what it was he squealed and giggled like a school girl! It was so much fun to surprise him with something he wanted. Apparently he had no idea, which means my accomplices and those I talked to did a great job and helped me keep it a secret (Thanks Pasith, Mom, Dad, Ashley, etc.). Sometimes giving some one a surprise is even more fun than getting one!



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thankful Picture Post

  Thanksgiving is this weekend! Here are some of the things I am most thankful for:

My Little Boy

Every morning when I wake up next to this little one I am so thankful for him. I really do know how blessed we are to have this little one in our lives. He makes each day brighter and more joyful. Can't help but love him to pieces!

My Husband
 
 My husband rocks! He is so invested in our family and I am so grateful for that. 

My Family
I am so thankful to have such awesome parents, they really are the best parents in the world! My brother and sister (in-law) are pretty great too! I am so thankful that Ashley is on maternity leave right now too, she is a wealth of information for me, and I love our days in the city together. Remember when there was only 6 of us, we are so much better now!!

The Babies

 I am so thankful that Griffin will grow up with cousins. Mika and Maddie are the beautiful girls in my life, and I can't wait to see these three in about two years when they are running around and causing all sorts of trouble!

Of course there are oh so many more things to be thankful for: my warm house, the food on my table, the material blessings,my health and the health of those close to me and of course the love of my Lord! My life is blessed!


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Not Creative, But Productive

** I wrote this post On Saturday, I meant to take a picture of all the food cubes, but haven't so I am posting anyway**

For the last three days I have been shopping, chopping, boiling, and puree-ing a ton of food for one little baby boy! Now that he is eating cereal (although it seems rice cereal is the all out fav.) I figured I needed to start thinking about the other food he would be eating. After researching (internet, but more importantly Ashley) I made a list of food for him. We went to Gimli and after a lunch date with Jay I went SHOPPING (G stayed with his daddy at work). I was pleasantly surprised on what I spent, I obviously bought food for Jay and I too, and didn't spend a ton over the normal amount! AWESOME!!

I started on Thursday night with some stuff I had in my cupboards like lentils and split peas. Last night I did a couple more, and today have sent the ENTIRE day making food. The last three are currently cooking :). Here is my list of that I made:
  1. Lentil
  2. Split Pea
  3. Carrot
  4. Sweet Potato
  5. Pears
  6. Plums
  7. Blueberry
  8. Peach
  9. Parsnips
  10. Green Beans
  11. Butternut Squash
  12. Peas
  13. Chicken
  14. Beef
  15. Pork
  16. Broccoli
  17. Black Bean
  18. Kidney Bean
  19. Navy Bean
  20. Cauliflower
Some I can start to use soon-ish, others will have to wait, but for now I am done. I know that there might be favourites that I need to make more of, but at least he will get a taste of a bunch of stuff. I will also give him mashed banana and avocado but I don't need to cook, blend those two. Since I wrote this my case of apples came so I will make apple puree sometime soon too!

For the record I tasted most of them, and I would have loved a smoothie made from the pear, peach, and blueberry cubes!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Be Creative!

Don't just "pin" it; actually make/do it! So I have been pinning lately on pinterest, and now I actually need to do something creative! I have made a list (on the side bar) of things I want to do before I go back to work (the ones with * I want to do before Christmas). Griffin and I are getting into a rhythm, so I could probably get some projects done.

I want to make stockings for us. Jay has his childhood stocking, and I have mine; it is time to have matching stockings! I might pick up fabric this weekend so that I can start on this project soon. The other thing I want to do before Christmas  is make a card display; maybe like this one:

The other things on my list can be done whenever, but need to be done BEFORE I go back to work. The first is a couple of eye spy bottles (for work, not G yet). They are bottles filled with birdseed and a bunch of little items. Kids can use the list to find the items. This would be great for fast finishers, etc. Finally I want to make a quiet book for G. He will be too young for it right away but i have more time now to make it. I know my sister-in-law has talked to my mom about making some too... maybe we will have to have a quiet book assembly line one of these days! I have a feeling this project will be a lot of work, but oh so worth it once it is done.

I hope to post pictures as I complete my projects.  As I continue to "pin" I may just add to my list!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

YUMMY!!

So after a few rough nights of many, many (like 4-5) night feedings we decided today was THE DAY! Griffin had "solid" food for the first time. He is sitting by himself (for a few seconds at least), interested in food, and HUNGRY! Let's face it my Little Bear is not so little! I sort of feel like it is too early (he will be five months on Saturday), but man did he eat and eat, so maybe he is ready! To make things even better I am sitting here on the computer, my baby is in his crib SLEEPING!! Not sure if it is because his belly is fuller or because he is getting older and less clingy.

He was so cute that we couldn't resist taking pictures and a little video (http://www.youtube.com/user/Boazapalooza#p/a/u/0/ItjeWF7yoiU) too!



So next step is baby food making! I really want to feed him the best food possible (hence the breastfeeding battle) so I am planning on making my own food over the next couple of days. I have a list of purees I want to make; apple, pears, peach, pea, carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, green beans (I will give him avocado and bananas too). I plan to introduce one at a time and wait four days before adding a new food. Should I make meat purees now too? What other yummy foods should I make? I am kinda looking forward to this new stage! :)
Posted by Picasa

Friday, September 16, 2011

Pictures

Here are some of my scrapbook pages. I am by no means good at it, but I enjoy making them!
<
 

 

 

 
Posted by Picasa


And one picture of my Little bear. Latest stats: 16lbs, 26.25 inches, with a head circumfrence in the 15th percentile (his other stats are 50th or higher)!
'> 

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Yes I am One Of Those...

Jay and I laughed the other day, we realize we are those annoying parents who constantly post pictures, movies, and blogs about our sweet little boy. Oh, how we love him! Sorry, we just can't help it!

So I am going to try to write a post about other things in our lives (although let's be honest Griffin will creep back in). Jay is LOVING his new job! In so many ways it is his dream job, we don't know what will happen at the end of his term, but for now it is working out great! Although he does have to work some evenings and weekends it doesn't seem to really matter because Griffin and I are home whenever he takes time off anyways.

This fall has been a weird one for me, I usually spend a good chunk of August prepping for the school year, and I have enjoyed that in the past. I am missing it a little. Yet, without a doubt, I LOVE being at home with my Little Bear (sorry, I warned you he would creep back in). In many ways this time is like a sabbatical for me, and I am beginning to realize that I needed one. I think I needed a break from teaching and so this is a great time of refreshment for my teaching self. I have committed to teaching Sunday School. Jay and Griffin hang out at home for the hour and a half that I teach. It is good for them to hang out without the overbearing momma that I can be, and it is good for me to find myself outside of Jay and Griffin.

Since Griffin has been born I have also taken up a new hobby. After our unique birth and beginning I felt a great desire to document it. Maybe as a way to process it, maybe as a way of keeping record so Griffin can look back and see how much he was loved. So I have started scrap booking. I am by no means good at it, but it has become a bit of a creative outlet for me (maybe filling the void that not teaching has left). I tried to post pics, but it isn't working, so maybe I will later on this week.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Pray With Me

We spent a wonderful weekend away with my family (another post for another day), but arrived home to heart breaking news. My friend Melissa's daughter is ill and at the Children's Hospital in Calgary. The doctors have found a brain tumor and operated on it today. Baby K is only 2 years old and has a four month old little brother, oh how I ache for this family. I have spent all day checking the facebook group for updates, as I pray for them. Melissa walked with me when my dad was sick, she was my shoulder to cry on, I so wish I could do more than pray for her. If you think of this family please pray for them, they are trusting in Him and could use all the prayer they can get!

Friday, August 12, 2011

L-O-V-E

Love consumes me these days, I just love my Little Bear! A couple of days a week I end up napping with Griffin, he gets an AWESOME sleep cuddled next to me, and I usually get in a good nap too (yes, this is partly to blame for why he won’t sleep alone during the day ). When he stirs he ends up nursing and falling back asleep, so today he had a four hour nap! Today I was tired but couldn’t sleep, so I enjoyed reading my book and staring and the cutest baby in the world (yes, I am biased!). As we were lying there I was thinking about how much I love him, and how easy it was/is to fall in love with him. He really is my world these days! The real truth is that no matter how rough the day (and sometimes they are rough), how little sleep I get, or how many diapers I change each and every day begins and ends in love (and has a whole lot of love sprinkled in between)!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

What A Difference A Year Makes!!


A year ago today we found out we were pregnant. We were so excited!!

A year later I have a rolling, laughing, smiling, "talking", and amazing baby boy! He is now joining us at the supper table in his high chair. He is growing so fast!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Griffin

Griffin at two and a half months has started to develop a personality, likes, and dislikes. Here are some things he is liking/doing/learning/being:

• BEARS!! Griffin loves his bears. They hang above his swing, he stares and stares and stares. Sometimes they rotate out of view, he lets us know!

• SONGS!! Getting Griffin to smile is as easy as singing a song, and if they involve actions/tickling/touch all the better. Right now “If I were a butterfly” is a hit.
• BOUNCY CHAIR!! If he isn’t being held chances are he is batting at toys in his bouncy chair

• SLEEP!! I am blessed with a sleeper. Lately he has been sleeping 8-ish hours straight at night, and then from the 5/6-ish feeding until 8. He doesn’t nap without being held during the day though. I am well rested but don’t get much done during the day!
• THUMB!! He is a thumb sucker (so were his parents).
• EATING!! After all our struggles in the beginning I am so happy to have a nursing baby. He weighed 13lbs 1.5 oz. the other day (clothed) so he is gaining weight and hasn’t had a bottle since week six. He is wearing 6 month clothes!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Adventure



So Saturday was a test day... could we camp with Griffin? Jay and I have enjoyed many trips together and we want to do the same now that we have Little Bear. We went with friends, Mark and Jobina, and their three kids. We hit Hecla (40 min. from home) for one night, just to see how it went.

The trickiest part may have been packing the car! Tent, food, stroller, clothes, diapers, stove, cooking/eating gear, sleeping bags, bouncy chair (to sleep and play in).... all in our family size car (next vehicle we buy will be a van)! Seriously I should have taken a picture of my husband’s awesome tetris skills! Griffin rides in the back seat so we don’t want a ton of stuff back there with him, the trunk was crammed perfectly! Setting up and packing up were a little tricky because both times Griffin decided it was meal time, which means I was no help at all, but if we went by ourselves we would just have to wait until I was done feeding to set-up/take down.

Griffin was pretty good for the most part. He had a bit of a rough time in the evening, which is usually the worst part of his day. He hates the nursing cover so that only made things worse. Jay spent some time in the tent with him and when I went in he ate a bit (more) and conked out for the night. He seemed very fine sleeping in the tent, and woke up smiling and ready for the day around 7:30am. On Sunday he enjoyed a nap on the beach in his stroller, and playing in his bouncy chair under the bug/uv cover. He came home without bug bites or a sunburn! I think we will do another trip later this summer with him!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Happy Father's Day!

I should have wrote this yesterday, but I had a super long nap instead!
I was blessed with a terrific father. Joel and I were lucky that we were the first priority of both our parents. As an adult I have come to realize how much my parents gave and gave up so that we could follow our dreams. Their love, support, and encouragement still plays a huge role in my life. Having great parents will hopefully help me be the best parent I can be!

This year I am grateful for the new dad in my life. As we have become parents I have realized how amazing Jay is. As we welcomed Griffin into the world in not ideal circumstances Jay was my rock. I am sure he was scared and worried too, but he kept me as calm as possible. He did everything he could for Griffin, and made sure he was well looked after when he was born. He supported me in my desire to breastfeed, but while bottles were in the picture he did many middle of the night feedings (I miss that). Jay clearly loves Griffin and does everything he can for him. He dreams of coaching soccer and curling, but in the meantime spends time cuddling and loving on Little Bear. He has been busy these last two months, starting a new job, and still doing a big part of his old job, but he has made sure to spend as much time as possible with us. In his new job he has three weeks of additional time to take this year and has taken some of it already in order to give me a break and spend time with Griffin. He sure has become a lot more confident with newborns! I look forward to watching him as a dad for years to come!





Can't you see the love!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Extra Time in My Day

This week I have been celebrating success! With this specific success comes extra time in my day, and freedom!

Griffin has not liked to nurse since day one. There seems to be five factors in a baby refusing to nurse, and he was subjected to 4 of them, the lactation consultant wasn't surprised by his refusal. He would scream and scream when I tried to nurse him. We left the hospital with a plan to finger feed and keep trying to nurse. Finger feeding lasted three weeks, until he hit a growth spurt and we just couldn't do it. I kept pumping so that he could get the good stuff, but we did have to supplement with formula. The bottles came out and I kept trying to nurse. They told me it might take 6 to 8 weeks for him to latch on.

This week I laid the gauntlet down, this was going to happen! On Monday he screamed and screamed each time I tried, but each time he figured out food was avialable and nursed. I figured I could deal with the screaming, I wasn't sure what Jay would think, but he wasn't home :). Tuesday less screaming and no bottles at all! By Wednesday he had this thing figured out. Seriously the switched turned on and I now have a nursing baby! He knows exactly what to do and does it happily!

I have felt like throwing myself a party because of this development! I feel like I have won this battle, at least for now. He is happy and content, and I am thrilled that I am not attached to my pump six times a day. I can go out and if he is hungry, I can feed him. Freedom and time, great rewards!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Six Weeks!

Time has flown by but I can’t imagine my life without my Little Bear. He has me wrapped around his little finger, and has barely left my sight in 6 weeks. He sure has grown and changed in these 6 weeks, literally! I weighed him last weeks, and although he was dressed, he weighed 11 lbs 13 oz., that is three pounds more than last month!! Of course he is growing in other ways too, he is much more alert and interactive. We can get smiles from him, and he loves to “kick and flail”, he coo’s, he is getting into a routine that is somewhat predictable, and his neck muscles are getting much stronger. His biggest goal lately is to get is thumb in his mouth. The other day we were sleeping together in the rocking chair, when I woke up he was sucking away on his thumb, ever since he has kept trying, without luck. He just can’t figure out he needs to extend his thumb, his whole fist ends up in his mouth instead.

Our biggest struggle since coming home has been his eating, clearly he is getting enough, but not the way I want him too. Nursing is not his favourite activity. We finger fed for three weeks, but he was hungry and couldn’t get enough fast enough, so we gave in and began to use a bottle. I haven’t given up, in fact just yesterday he only nursed, no bottle, and today so far it has been the same. Of course now I wonder if he is getting enough... I like to know he is doing well, I felt the same when he came off the monitors in the NICU. What I have realized is how much extra time I have if I don’t have to pump, I guess I lose a step, and wow, right now he is sleeping and I am not pumping, but have eaten breakfast! I won’t be nursing in any place other than my living room for a while yert. If you didn’t know me you would think I am murdering my baby as I work to get him to latch, there is a lot of screaming, in a minute or two he realizes that food is available and eats and eats... silly boy!

We spent a weekend at my parents two weeks ago. He did pretty good away from home, but boy was he tired when we got back on Sunday afternoon. He did meet his Great Grandparents (Jay’s grandpa, and my grandma), and had his first cousin sleepover (Mika slept at my parents one night). He is now battling his first cold, his stuffy nose makes me sad, but he is not really complaining too much, he is sleeping more and like to get extra cuddles. He is enjoying being the youngest in the family but we are all waiting for the arrival of my neice or nehew. Ashley is due any time now, and Joel gets home tonight. I am looking forward to one more family memeber!

I have really loved this stage of mommyhood more than I thought I would. I already dread going back to work, I can’t imagine not spending all day with him!




Griffin and his Great-Grandma

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Pictures

Today my friend Shelia came over to take pictures of our little family. We had yet to get a picture of the three of us, so it was about time, plus we wanted pictures of our Little Man before he changes too much. I love so many of the pics, but seeing as I am one dial-up I will only post a couple of them.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Life With My Little Man

It is hard to believe I have had over two weeks with my Little Man! In some ways it has flown by, but it also seems like eons ago that we were in the NICU. We are settling into a nice little routine; it goes like this: sleep, poop, change diaper, eat, watch mommy pump, sleep. I keep telling Griffin that we could speed up the process if he would just eat from the source, but other than a few short attempts yesterday latching is not happening! So we finger feed, it takes time, but I am told that most babies will latch on in 6-8 weeks if we stick to the plan. I am super determined to get him to latch, but for now he is getting mostly breast milk, in the evening he never stops eating and I can’t keep up to him so he gets some formula then.

Other than his eating issue Griffin is a great baby! He rarely cries, and when he does it is because mommy or daddy just aren’t quick enough getting his next meal. He is a night owl (total opposite of his mommy), he starts eating around 5pm and usually doesn’t stop until midnight (or later). Then he sleeps for 5 or 6 hours and wakes up around 6:30, yup my two week old gives us 5 or 6 hours of solid sleep! Now that I have written this I am sure it will come to an end! During the day he eats every three hours or so. He is most happy when he is in someone’s arms, and I love loving him to sleep. As the days have gone on he has gotten much more active with his arms and legs, and stares at faces for hours.

I am loving my new job as mommy. I love spending hours with Griffin in my arms, I love feeding him, changing his diaper, and basically loving him. My c-section recovery has been super easy, and pain free. In fact I am convinced that it has been easier than it would have been if I got the birth I wanted. I am super thankful that this is the case, it has given me the chance to enjoy every moment with Griffin!

Monday, May 2, 2011

For I Know the Plans I have For You...

Declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Griffin Allan entered the world at 12:35am on Sunday, April 24th (Easter Sunday), not according to our plans, but according to His! We like to think of him as our Easter Miracle

On Saturday we went in for a non-stress test to make sure all was well. It was great, and Griffin looked really happy in the womb (even though he had spent an extra two weeks in there). The doctor figured we might as well start the induction a day early seeing as we were already there. They started with cervidil and things got under way. Jay and I walked and walked around the Selkirk hospital parking lot, and finally when I went to have a nap around 2:30pm the contractions started. This was a good sign right?! I ate dinner and then got hooked up to the monitors. My contractions were super close together, without much time in between them, I am sure full blown labour is worse, but these ones hurt, and neither Griffin nor I had time to rest between them. The doctor pulled the cervidil around 6:30pm, she figured the contractions needed to find a normal pattern and that this would help. It didn’t they continued to come one on top of the other, and I was uncomfortable and Griffin’s heart, although okay was not recovering fast enough. At about 10:00pm Griffin’s heart rate took a nose dive (into the 60’s) and the doctor advised us to make the trip to St. Boniface Hospital.

By 11pm I was being loaded onto the ambulance and Jay was heading for his car to make the trip to the city. The nurse that I had all day in Selkirk joined me and I was so grateful for the company and conversation to keep my mind off what was happening. Little did I know how difficult this trip was for Jay, who was by himself and running over all the possible outcomes of this. When we arrived at the hospital I was whisked into a delivery room and checked over by nurses and a doctor. By now my contractions had slowed down, so I figured that we might wait until the next day to figure this out, but then Griffin’s heart rate dropped again, and it was time to get him out! The last doctor decided to break my water to get things moving, with hook in hand he examined me and found the umbilical cord below Griffin’s head. Clearly breaking my water was not an option. Before Jay even arrived at the hospital it was made clear that a C-section was absolutely necessary! Jay got tied up in admitting and I didn’t want to sign or start anything without him, when he finally got to me I filled him in, we signed the forms, and we were taken down the hall where he put on scrubs, and I went to the operating room. Within an hour of arriving at St. B. Griffin was born, a little blue, and with a lot of fluid in his lungs. I did see him very briefly, his eyes were open, I fell in love! He was then whisked away to NICU, with Jay following close behind him.

I was wheeled into recovery, and after throwing up once felt pretty good (at least physically). It was certainly scary to not know what was happening with Griffin. Jay came up to update me and let me know that Griffin was getting admitted to the NICU, and again when he got kicked out so they could attach him to machines. It certainly was not easy to be stuck in bed as all this was going on, but I was thankful for the nurses and doctors and all the work they were doing. Besides the breathing issues, Griffin appeared to have some sort of infection, his blood counts were pretty low. So while Jay was with me they put Griffin on a CPAP machine and oxygen for his breathing, and hooked him up to an IV for fluids and antibiotics. After half an hour Jay was able to go back to be with him, and finally my legs were moving and the effects of the epidural was wearing off the nurses wheeled my bed into the NICU so I could see him. It was so hard to see him but not be able to hold him, I touched his foot. I was wheeled up to the maternity floor to “settle” in for the night, and told Jay to go to my parents to sleep, we couldn’t do anything in the hospital and we were looking rough around the edges.

I must say that night was terrible, I was in the room with two other women, and their babies. One was a teenager who was less than thrilled to have to feed her baby. I did get an hour or two of broken sleep, but at 6:30 the nurse found be bawling in bed. I so badly wanted to know Griffin was okay, or at least would be okay, I wanted him in my arms. She did go get an update for me, but the only change was that the x-ray showed something (fluid, infection???) in his lungs, we already knew that was the case. He had remained stable through the night.

At 8:30am my parents walked through the door. I had talked to mom as I went in for my c-section but Jay told them the whole story when he got home. It was good to have them there. Jay arrived not long after, by 11am we were allowed to go to the NICU. I finally held Griffin, almost 12 hours after his birth. He was still hooked up to all his machines but his stats looked great. After my turn Jay had his, and as he held him the doctors took him off the CPAP. His stats remained high, and he was able to breathe on his own. His infection was still a concern, but things were improving.
During that day we spent as much time as possible with Griffin in the NICU, between Jay, and his parents and I he got lots of cuddles. We worked on feeding issues but he was given bottles in order to meet his nutrition needs. My parents got to meet him, but not hold him that evening. At the 8pm feeding we talked with the doctor and were told it was possible that he might be moved upstairs that night! We were thrilled with the idea, but scared to have him not on monitors and such. By about 11pm he was in a bassinet at the end of my bed (okay his bassinet was there, he was in our arms). It was so good to have him with us. Of course this was day two and Jay and I had two hours of sleep each in the 36 hours. We were both exhausted! Jay spent the night, even catching an hour or two of sleep on the floor.

I find it a touch ironic that my last post was about plans, seeing as by the end of this we referred to the word plan as a four letter word. Nothing went to plan, at least not my plan! If I had gone into labour at home (plan a) we certainly would have lost Griffin, there was no way I could have reached the hospital in time and the cord would have prolapsed. If plan b would have worked out it is likely that the outcome would have been the same as plan a. Selkirk doesn’t have the resources to deal with a situation like that. Clearly Plan C was God’s Plan A! Looking back and at the “what-ifs” is much scarier than anything that actually happened. In fact I think I was pretty calm as the plans were being blown apart. God clearly worked through each situation as it arose, and each decision that needed to be made was made correctly. Even though our plan didn’t work out, the outcome was more that we could have hoped for!

In the end there was no infection, and after 48 hours Griffin was wireless and normal looking (other than the bruise on his hand and foot). We spent three nights in the hospital and came home on Wednesday. In all reality Griffin is a amazingly content baby, he likes to be held, and cuddled, and loved on, and I don’t mind at all. He cries only when hungry, but we often have to wake him in order to feed him every three hours. He feeds for hours on end in the evening and the last two nights has let mommy and daddy sleep for 4-5 hours at a time. We continue to deal with feeding issues, another thing not going to plan, but he is gaining weight and thriving, mommy just has to work hard. We are loving this new stage in our lives!

Pictures to follow!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Still Waiting...

So I am not really a patient person, I like plans, and I like when they go accordingly... Maybe God is trying to teach me patience before this little one comes! Although my due date was changed to the 14th a couple of months ago I have focused on the 10th for this whole pregnancy, which means I am now almost two weeks overdue... two weeks of waiting to meet this little one... waiting, waiting, waiting. This is just reinforcing my guess of boy, he probably won't leave the nest until he is 30!

Now we have another plan (and we have since Monday)... one that I dreaded this entire pregnancy, but at this point I am okay with it. As much as I don't want to be induced it is time for this little one to make an apperance, although the doctor keeps wondering if he/she is not so little! So unless Baby Boaz decides to join us in the outside world before Sunday an eviction will take place! We have a non-stress test on Saturday to make sure everything is good, and then we will head back to the hospital on Sunday for the start of the eviction, if we are lucky Sunday will be enough and we won't need more interventions on Monday. Either way this baby has a deadline to enter this world.

So we continue to wait, but are able to plan... maybe this baby is working with his/her mommy, I do like plans!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Playing the Waiting Game

Remember when you were 6 and it was Christmas Eve, there were big boxes under the tree with YOUR name on them, you couldn't sleep you were just so excited? I remember those evenings/nights as special, and fun... but I knew that the next morning was Christmas and that I would be unwrapping the presents as soon as breakfast was finished. Nice memory!

Now picture this I am 29, and I am as huge as huge can be. I am in the 40th week of pregnancy and really want to meet our son or daughter. I would love to sleep but am uber uncomfortable in any position and spend my evenings tossing and turning. Unlike those presents under the tree I have not peeked (or unwrapped) the present yet and am dying to find out if I am right and we are having a boy or if I have been calling our little girl 'he' for the last 20 or so weeks. Of course the worst of it is that I have no idea when I will get to open this present and I am pretty sure it won't be as easy as pulling off the wrapping paper!

I so want to just meet this little one! Pregnancy has been fun, but it is time for it to be over!

I guess I am getting closer, only because I can't be getting any further away!!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Post 129

It is hard to believe we are at the 36 week mark, even harder to believe that we are 4 (yup only FOUR) weeks to our due date. I keep saying that in 4 to 6 weeks I will be a mom! It is so hard to imagine what my life will be like, how it will change, and how I will function with less sleep! Yet the excitement is ever increasing and I am very much looking forward to meeting Little Baby Boaz. When people ask me if I am excited about my life change, I often comment on how I am a little nervous, really I know that there will be struggles and such, and I am not naive enough to think that I know what to expect. Of course I am oh so happy to be becoming a mom, I have wanted this for longer than I would like to admit!

Last weekend my sister threw me a baby shower. Ashley is Ashley so let’s just say there was a ton of effort put into games, food, decorations, and pretty much everything! I was so blessed with gifts that we will definitely put to good use. Having things like clothes, bath tubs, and toys for the baby makes it all seem so much more “real”! Don’t get me wrong the kicking, and punching let me know this baby is real, but “real” as in will be coming home with me in not too long of a time! It was good to see family and friends.

I think everything will feel more real when I am done teaching. Right now I am so focused on all things school that my focus is not on baby quite yet. I have another week of teaching and a ton of stuff to do over Spring Break (report cards, cleaning and packing up my classroom etc.), when that is done I am sure my focus will change. Currently I am praying that there is a teacher for my 22 kids come April 1st, but either way I can’t stop the baby from coming so I won’t be here!
Of course my life revolves around baby and work, but other fun things have happened lately too. We have had friends that live in Australia up to our place for a couple of nights over the past few weeks. Paul and Jay have been friends for years. Paul and Ashley moved to Australia a couple of years ago, and since then have had two boys. They are in Canada visiting family and friends. It was great to have them come visit and hang out (twice!!). We don’t get lots of visitors so it was nice to have people come see us!

So, bets on when this baby is coming and whether it is a girl or boy??

Will post 130 be the announcement?

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Life as I Know It!

Is a little on the CRAZY side, but I am loving most moments of it!
I am in the anxious stage of my pregnancy. As a student said the other day I was more excited at the beginning. It isn't that I am not excited about it now, it is just that worry is creeping in. I am going with "this is normal" and thinking it is okay to want to make sure things are good for baby, but in the process my worry-wart personality can take over. I spend my evenings at home telling myself not to dwell on things.In the end things will be fine, and what I have control over I will take care of, everything else will work itself out!

We started our pre-natal classes last night. I left with a question... why do the pregnant women sit on mats on the floor, with nothing to rest our backs on to practice breathing? I made the decision yesterday that I will NOT be in labour on the floor! Seriously I am eight months pregnant, I don't sit on floors very comfortably and instead of focusing on my breathing I was thinking about how my back hurt and my legs were getting cramped. At times I wanted to burst out in laughter...

Jay and I both experienced a wonderful case of the stomach flu last week. I commented that it was the first time we had two solid days at home together with no commitments in months... of course we spent it sleeping and puking so the qaulity was laking! I was so thankful that every time i woke up baby kicked me. I dranks as much water as I could and things seemed to be fine (no I didn't go to the doctor).

As for school it is hard to believe I have only two weeks and two days left with "my kids". I will have stuff to wrap up during Spring Break but these last two weeks with my students will fly by. We are working a ton of stuff right now so I don't leave stuff hanging when I leave.

Right now that is life: work, sleep, eat (and that I do a lot these days), think about baby, press repeat. Just the way it shoudl be right now! Change is just aroudn the corner!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Tagged!

Lindsey tagged me in this game, Jay is working late and so here I am, at work "working" and answering all these questions! It seems better than going home to my empty, and messy house! Plus I really am getting work done!

Rule #1: the tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.


Rule #2: tag 4 people to do this quiz; they cannot refuse (ok, so nothing bad will happen if you don’t participate but I would love to see your answers). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?
We don't have any pets, but my childhood was full of them. While they were important and definitely a part of who I was they were animals, although I wouldn't move without them!

2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?
In many ways I am living my dreams right now, but I dream of owning a house (a goal after Mat. leave), and finding balance between my family and the rest of my life (work, commitments, etc.).

3. What would you do with a billion dollars?
That is a lot of money... and it could and would do a a lot. I would share with family and friends, pay off debt, buy a house, travel a bit, give to some great causes that are close to my heart, buy a smart board for my classroom, and still have too much left over to know what to do with, I would let Jay help me spend it, which means he would choose some sport related things to build/give to.

4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Sleep (no word of a lie things always look better in the morning), uplifting music, praying (mostly for my attitude to change), and talking to my mom who puts things in perspective.

5. What is your bedtime routine, with your kids?
No kids, yet, but for now it involves putting my heat bag in the microwave, washing my face, brushing my teeth, putting on PJ's, taking the heat bag out of the microwave, taking my vitamin, positioning my three or four pillows and heat bag carefully in strategic positions, reading, and finding a comfortable position.

6. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your significant other?
Technically we met at camp (but we were not courting, there is no courting at BCBC!! :), but it wasn't until we were set-up that we even thought about each other in a romantic way. Our first date was with my family, apparently they didn't scare him away...

7. What kind of books do you read?
All kinds, I love books, in fact I own way too many! Right now I am into easy reads, fiction that I don't have to think about a ton, and can put down when my eyes get tired. On my night stand right now I have The Giver, What To Expect when your expecting, and Baby: the all-important first year.

8. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
I will be 39 then... baby will be almost 10, and in fourth grade! YIKES!! I hope to have more than one child, be working at the job I love, and spending time with family and friends. Really I want to be open to whatever great opportunity gets put in front of me, and follow His guiding, the future will unfold as it does. For the first time in my life I am okay with how things are, and so i am not anxious about what the future holds. A nice place to be!

9. What’s your fear?
Other than heights!? Failure, not doing something well enough...

10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?
Before I started teaching about Space I would have said no without a second thought, but as I have learned about space in makes me curious and so maybe i would be willing to give up junk food to see that part of creation.

11. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Turn off my alarm clock and hope to wake up on my own in 10-15 minutes; most of the time it works, on the days it doesn't i end up in a little bit of a rush :)

12. If you could change one thing about your significant other, what would it be?
That he would talk to me when I am mad at him.

13. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I like my name, even though there are a ton of Sarah's.

14. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose?
Sun, rain gets annoying!

15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Hmmm... pineapple! I eat 1-2 pineapples a week, I love it!

16. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?
Not sure, in fact if i could think of a new question I would replace this one!

17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?
Depends on the day... usually salty.

18. What items are in your purse right now?
Wallet, lip balm, hand lotion, random pieces of paper, junk that I should throw away... I wish my cell phone was!


19. If you had to choose between vacationing at the beach or in the mountains where would you go?
Can't I have a little bit of both! I love the mountains for skiing and sense of wonder, but lying on the beach sounds relaxing right about now!

20. What do you watch on television that you know you should’t?
Absolutely! Too much, really it isn't what I watch necessarily, but rather that I watch too much! It is my biggest, most problematic addiction!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

One Day Closer to You

Every night as I fall asleep I think we are one day closer to meeting Baby Boaz, and that makes me happy (even if my day sucked). We are now in the 30th week, which means (unofficially) that we have 10 weeks left. In my world ten weeks flies by! Of course baby makes me aware of his or her presence on a regular basis, mostly in the evening and through the night. He/she is getting stronger because he is now able to wake me up (I have to think of it as training for the future). Every evening as I watch TV I enjoy watching my alien stomach as it rumbles and rolls. Of course I miss sleeping a solid 9 hours every night, but I think that might be a thing of the past for the next year or so. Sometimes I marvel at how in love I can be with someone I have never met, how he/she dictates my life and how I wonderfully excited I am to meet this little one!

My birthday was last week, and it was made very special by people in my life. My husband (who listens well and knows that I cheap-out on myself) bought me a pretty pink I pod nano. It even has my name engraved on it. I really wanted an mp3 player (but probably would have bought myself a cheap one) so that when I am at home I can listen to music when the baby is sleeping, or when we go for a walk. Of course shopping for music is fun too!! My students planned a surprise party (of course the balloons and streamers that they put up the day before gave me a clue something was up). They made yummy cupcakes (with whip cream icing in white and pink, yup they know me well), and together created a lovely gift basket full of stuff I really like. It was a very nice day. I kept thinking to myself “this year will be the most life changing one yet”.

My second quarter report cards are done, after a long weekend of work and a very early Monday morning to finish them up. I might have one more set to do before the baby is here... but that worry is for another day. This month is full of events at school. My class (sans me) is going curling twice, I am hanging out with the grade 7 and 8’s while their teacher takes my class. Jay will do the instruction at the rink. It is I love to read month and I have challenged my students to read at least 30000 pages as a group. The reward gets bigger at 45000 and 60000. This morning as they each came into class they grabbed their books, it was the quietest morning ever! Hopefully the goal will keep them all focused!

My parents have flown off on their February trip. They spend most of the month at the condo down south (my brother, sister and neice will join them for a week as well**), and I am a little jealous! Today at lunch I tried to put my snow pants on before going outside with my kids... yeah I think that I am done with that, I am just a little too round these days. So instead my legs froze in the -30 wind chill! Luckily my jacket still fits me!

**Joel, Ash, and Meeks, if I don't get a call that I need to be in Mesa ASAP for something that would be wonderful, I am not sure I can even fly! No Weddings, births, etc. please!

Friday, January 21, 2011

125 Posts and 79 Days!

Apparently I have posted 125 times on this blog. Interestingly my life was emensly different 125 post ago. A good form of self-reflection could be had if I went back to post one and read them all through... but that would take time and other priorities are ahead of this one.

Life has been busy. Last weekend we drove to Fort Frances where my littlest brother (in-law) plays hockey. Jay went out there once last year but this was my first chance to see him play since he moved out there. It was great to spend time with Blake and Jim and June! Plus I had the best cheesecake for dessert on Saturday night! YUM!! It was a great weekend but I came home tired and have never really "caught up".

I think this weekend I will crash, hard, and not do a ton. Report cards are right around the corner so I guess marking and starting is my project... but I also realize that I am only 9 weeks away from being done work, and starting my new "job"! In fact the 79 days in my title refers to the number of days until my due date... seriously 79 days! That is crazy soon, I started this count-down at 200 and something, 79 seems so few! My latest focus is on what we need for this baby... I ask everyone I know! So seriously what do I NEED for this baby? Moms out there, what could you not live without, what was a waste of money? I know each baby is different and each mom is too, but I could use some advice!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

A New Year... A New Adventure

A new year has begun, and with it the countdown until the biggest change in our lives! Yes, we are counting down; currently we are at 13 more Satudays! Yes, we do know baby could come earlier or later, but for now we are focused on April 10th. We know how fast Saturday's come and go, so 13 seems like very few! After spending last weekend with babies (we had friends with 7 week old twins over, and we were surrounded with little ones at church) I so want to meet our little one! We want him/her to grow a little more before we meet but oh how I can't wait to be a mom! Now that the nursery is done-ish and I see the crib everyday it is becoming more and more real to me! At times I am excited, but at times I am a little scared... I have so much to learn!

I have noticed many blog posts abotu New Years resolutions, and truth be told I don't make them, at least not in January. Usually my resolutions come at the beginning of my "year", September, but this year I failed to make any then either. I was just hoping that the puking would stop so I could think about something, anything else... so no resolutions this year at all... I am sure it will be a life changing year without them!