I have thin, straight, brown hair. It's pretty boring really but when I was pregnant, I enjoyed the good "pregnant hair". In a matter of weeks, my hair turned from lifeless to full of body and very luscious (if I do say myself). It sounds like a shampoo hair commercial! Three and a half months of post-pregnancy has turned my hair back into the old lifeless hair I had before. But it seems to be falling out. I've done a bit of research and this is normal but it is so annoying! I've left hair everywhere, all over the bathroom, clothes, hair brush, my car and even on poor James. Apparently the shedding will slow down over the next few months so I'll just have to wear hats until then!
In other news James is growing like a weed. I can't believe he'll be four months next week. He's weight gain has slowed down but he's getting longer. I've even starting putting him into jumpsuits for six to nine months olds just to get the length.
One year ago today I had the FET that would eventually become a BFP and then our son. It's still difficult to imagine this living breathing little boy was the blasty we saw on the microscope a year ago. And it even makes me a little sadder about our first failed IVF and the baby that blasty might have been. We still have one Frostie ready when we are and that makes me a little excited about who that (hopefully) will become.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Three months...
Well the Party Animal has been tamed, for now anyway J We tweaked his night-time routine which seems to have worked for the past couple of weeks. I now nurse him in the dark without any distractions, no noise, no talking etc, in his room and then straight to bed. Sometimes he might stir but only for a couple of minutes and then off to sleep. Most nights we might not hear from him again until 5am. What a little champion! There is a lot of trial and error with parenting, more so than they tell you while you're pregnant. It's just working out what your little one likes and dislikes.
Now for the fun part here are some photos of my little man.
James has now starting grabbing objects and wants to get everything in his mouth! I've had to start putting bibs on him because of all the dribble from sucking on his hands! I was changing is clothes every couple of hours. No sign of teething yet but I'm keeping an eye out.
For the past week I keep having dreams about being pregnant again. When I left hospital some of the midwives told me I'd be back within 18 months. When I did ask Dr J about when we could use our last frozen embryo, he told us to wait six to nine months for my body to recover and then try naturally for six months before coming back for a FET. I was keen just to go straight to the FET. After trying for two years, it seems almost impossible that we could fall pregnant naturally. But Dr J has seen a lot of his patients use IVF for their first and then fall naturally for their second. It seems a bit like a urban myth to me but it would be wonderful to get pregnant without any medical intervention. I would like to have another baby within two years. I'm only getting older and now that I'm thirty (which isn't really that old for another pregnancy), I can really hear my body clock ticking.
Now for the fun part here are some photos of my little man.
James has now starting grabbing objects and wants to get everything in his mouth! I've had to start putting bibs on him because of all the dribble from sucking on his hands! I was changing is clothes every couple of hours. No sign of teething yet but I'm keeping an eye out.
For the past week I keep having dreams about being pregnant again. When I left hospital some of the midwives told me I'd be back within 18 months. When I did ask Dr J about when we could use our last frozen embryo, he told us to wait six to nine months for my body to recover and then try naturally for six months before coming back for a FET. I was keen just to go straight to the FET. After trying for two years, it seems almost impossible that we could fall pregnant naturally. But Dr J has seen a lot of his patients use IVF for their first and then fall naturally for their second. It seems a bit like a urban myth to me but it would be wonderful to get pregnant without any medical intervention. I would like to have another baby within two years. I'm only getting older and now that I'm thirty (which isn't really that old for another pregnancy), I can really hear my body clock ticking.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Party animal...
When I met (and then married) BJ, I knew he was a party animal. He loves catching up with friends or family over drinks or dinner. He is a very social person which helps him in his job as a salesman. Apparently even when he was a baby he always wanted to the centre of attention and never wanted to go to bed. Unfortunately it seems his son is the same way.
Over the past couple of weeks James has not wanted to go to sleep after his bedtime feed. Since we brought him home, we have used a bedtime routine where he has a bath/shower, a feed and a book then bed. Now after his feed, he just wants to play or be held, sometimes not going to bed until an hour and a half after his 'dinner'. During the day he is fine, I can usually read his tired signs and get him down for a nap. But this not wanting to go to sleep at night is, surprisingly, making me really stressed. This isn’t good for anyone.
I didn't realise how hard or stressful it would be to get him to sleep. I don't mind him being up and I love spending time with him, but I also don't want to get into the habit of having to rock him to sleep or have him cry to sleep (why is this always the advice from Grandparents or older people???). But he makes it up to me by (once he is asleep) sleeping until 6am!
Over the past couple of weeks James has not wanted to go to sleep after his bedtime feed. Since we brought him home, we have used a bedtime routine where he has a bath/shower, a feed and a book then bed. Now after his feed, he just wants to play or be held, sometimes not going to bed until an hour and a half after his 'dinner'. During the day he is fine, I can usually read his tired signs and get him down for a nap. But this not wanting to go to sleep at night is, surprisingly, making me really stressed. This isn’t good for anyone.
I didn't realise how hard or stressful it would be to get him to sleep. I don't mind him being up and I love spending time with him, but I also don't want to get into the habit of having to rock him to sleep or have him cry to sleep (why is this always the advice from Grandparents or older people???). But he makes it up to me by (once he is asleep) sleeping until 6am!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Two months...
The one thing people told me over and over again during my pregnancy was, "Time will fly". And it sure has! I can't believe James is already two months old! He has nearly doubled his weight since birth and therefore already grown out of his newborn/0000 clothes, which I thought was a little bit sad.
He has been sleeping from 7pm until around 4am for the past week, which I've been grateful for. Sometimes after his 6pm feed he fights sleep which is frustrating because you know he is tired but I can't complain too much. James loves his hands and is consistently putting them in his mouth, even while I try to burp him or he is on is tummy.
James is more active now, legs and arms are always flying around, and he has started making some cute "talking" noises. He can hold his head up while on his tummy for ages (which is probably really only 30 seconds) and has a good look around. He loves bath time and taking showers with BJ. He loves the feeling of the water while taking a shower. No matter what mood he is in, once he is in the shower and feels the water, his whole face lights up.
He has been sleeping from 7pm until around 4am for the past week, which I've been grateful for. Sometimes after his 6pm feed he fights sleep which is frustrating because you know he is tired but I can't complain too much. James loves his hands and is consistently putting them in his mouth, even while I try to burp him or he is on is tummy.
James is more active now, legs and arms are always flying around, and he has started making some cute "talking" noises. He can hold his head up while on his tummy for ages (which is probably really only 30 seconds) and has a good look around. He loves bath time and taking showers with BJ. He loves the feeling of the water while taking a shower. No matter what mood he is in, once he is in the shower and feels the water, his whole face lights up.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Frostie is here...
I'll start off by apologising for not posting sooner but, as many new mothers can agree, motherhood comes with a huge learning curve so I haven't had time to post about Frostie's arrival until now. But I have been following your stories (usually while nursing in the middle of the night!) and I'm so glad to hear about some of the terrific arrivals and BFPs during late 2011!
And without further ado I'm pleased to announce the arrival of James Nicholas!!!
Every time I look at him, I count my lucky stars that we have him. It still seems surreal and especially for the first couple of weeks, it felt like we were babysitting someone else’s baby and I would wake up and it would all be a dream. But now, almost ten weeks down, it feels like he's always been here.
As you would have read, I was booked in for a c-section on the 31st October due to Placenta Previa, but James decided to come a little early. On Thursday 27th October, I had cleaned the bathroom and decided to rest my inflated ankles by watching some TV. At 11:00am I went to the toilet and found out that I had started bleeding. I called the hospital and they said to come in straight away. I called BJ so he could pick me up and put the last few things into my hospital bag. At that stage we thought I would just go in for monitoring and since the bleeding wasn't too bad and just stay in hospital until the 31st.
Once we got to the hospital they set me up in a birth suite with monitors so they could keep an eye on Frostie's heartbeat and any contractions I was having. My bleeding had stopped but they still called my OB and he said to keep monitoring me for an hour. So BJ and I sat there talking with the midwife giving her a run down on our past and how Frostie was "conceived in October 2010 and was being born in October 2011"!
The monitors were showing very mild contractions about ten minutes apart that I couldn't even feel but Frostie's heartbeat was still very good. My OB called back and advised that he was 99% sure we were going to go ahead with the c-section today but would come a see me before making a decision. So I started to get ready for the c-section around 1pm, thinking it would take place around 5pm that afternoon. Nope, I had just finished my shower and worked out how to put on the lovely hospital gown when my OB turned up. Frostie was going to make his/her arrival now! A quick blood test and discussion with the anesthesiologist later and I was on the move to theatre. Poor BJ, still in his work clothes, had to call both our mum's to give them the heads up. It was only as I was speaking with the anesthesiologist that the midwives realised BJ didn't have a theatre gown or scrubs so a set had to be quickly found. And then as I'm being wheeled out of the room BJ was still trying to get the scrubs and booties on before chasing after us!
The nurses and staff were terrific while I was getting the spinal, as I was a bit worried and I think it showed on my face. I was glad when BJ could come into the room once the spinal was done and the screen had been put up. The nurses kept us informed of what was going on so I wouldn't freak out when I felt the pushing and pulling. It felt like a lifetime before we were finally told our baby was coming out. At 2:26pm on Thursday 27th October 2011, James was born. BJ jumped up so he could see over the curtain and he was the one to announce, "It's a boy!" even before our OB could! We were both crying over the arrival of our little man, the poor nurses thought something was wrong! I also had a quick peek at our boy before he was taken away with BJ so they could warm him up.
This was the nervous part, if I started to bleed too much I would put to sleep and I have to require a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. Another lifetime later, my OB told me everything went well and they were finishing up. BJ and James were allowed to come back in and I could finally see our little boy!
This is what we had been waiting, praying, longing for the past three years. All the anger, tears, hopes and dreams had brought us our little boy and we are over the moon about him!!!
And without further ado I'm pleased to announce the arrival of James Nicholas!!!
Every time I look at him, I count my lucky stars that we have him. It still seems surreal and especially for the first couple of weeks, it felt like we were babysitting someone else’s baby and I would wake up and it would all be a dream. But now, almost ten weeks down, it feels like he's always been here.
As you would have read, I was booked in for a c-section on the 31st October due to Placenta Previa, but James decided to come a little early. On Thursday 27th October, I had cleaned the bathroom and decided to rest my inflated ankles by watching some TV. At 11:00am I went to the toilet and found out that I had started bleeding. I called the hospital and they said to come in straight away. I called BJ so he could pick me up and put the last few things into my hospital bag. At that stage we thought I would just go in for monitoring and since the bleeding wasn't too bad and just stay in hospital until the 31st.
Once we got to the hospital they set me up in a birth suite with monitors so they could keep an eye on Frostie's heartbeat and any contractions I was having. My bleeding had stopped but they still called my OB and he said to keep monitoring me for an hour. So BJ and I sat there talking with the midwife giving her a run down on our past and how Frostie was "conceived in October 2010 and was being born in October 2011"!
The monitors were showing very mild contractions about ten minutes apart that I couldn't even feel but Frostie's heartbeat was still very good. My OB called back and advised that he was 99% sure we were going to go ahead with the c-section today but would come a see me before making a decision. So I started to get ready for the c-section around 1pm, thinking it would take place around 5pm that afternoon. Nope, I had just finished my shower and worked out how to put on the lovely hospital gown when my OB turned up. Frostie was going to make his/her arrival now! A quick blood test and discussion with the anesthesiologist later and I was on the move to theatre. Poor BJ, still in his work clothes, had to call both our mum's to give them the heads up. It was only as I was speaking with the anesthesiologist that the midwives realised BJ didn't have a theatre gown or scrubs so a set had to be quickly found. And then as I'm being wheeled out of the room BJ was still trying to get the scrubs and booties on before chasing after us!
The nurses and staff were terrific while I was getting the spinal, as I was a bit worried and I think it showed on my face. I was glad when BJ could come into the room once the spinal was done and the screen had been put up. The nurses kept us informed of what was going on so I wouldn't freak out when I felt the pushing and pulling. It felt like a lifetime before we were finally told our baby was coming out. At 2:26pm on Thursday 27th October 2011, James was born. BJ jumped up so he could see over the curtain and he was the one to announce, "It's a boy!" even before our OB could! We were both crying over the arrival of our little man, the poor nurses thought something was wrong! I also had a quick peek at our boy before he was taken away with BJ so they could warm him up.
This was the nervous part, if I started to bleed too much I would put to sleep and I have to require a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding. Another lifetime later, my OB told me everything went well and they were finishing up. BJ and James were allowed to come back in and I could finally see our little boy!
This is what we had been waiting, praying, longing for the past three years. All the anger, tears, hopes and dreams had brought us our little boy and we are over the moon about him!!!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
38 weeks...
Only five days to go until we get to meet Frostie!!! I finished up work on Friday, so this week has been catching up with things at home and trying to relax. I'm so glad I was able to work up to when I planned, which means I'll be able to have more time at home once Frostie makes his/her arrival. Now I have twelve months off at home!
I've been starting to get more uncomfortable and my sleep is getting worse but that's supposed to be expected at 38 weeks. I've been pretty lucky this whole pregnancy with sleep so I think it's just my body getting ready for the sleepless nights ahead.
At this stage I'm not worried about c-section, but I am worried about how I'll recover and be able to look after a newborn. Luckily my mum is coming to stay with us for a week after I get out of hospital and BJ has two weeks off after mum goes home. So I'll have plenty of support once I get home.
How far along: 38 weeks, two days
Total weight change: not sure
Maternity clothes: All the time, thankfully now I'm not working I can wear what I want at home
Total weight change: not sure
Maternity clothes: All the time, thankfully now I'm not working I can wear what I want at home
Stretch Marks: Not yet
Movement: More rolling and the odd kick or punch
Movement: More rolling and the odd kick or punch
Sleep: Has been better
Best Moment This Past Week: Only another five days until we get to meet our little bubba
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Reflux has still been bad and more sleep required
Belly Button In or Out: Still pretty flat but pokes out every now and then
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing much
Symptoms: Reflux and multiple toilet breaks
Symptoms: Reflux and multiple toilet breaks
What I'm Looking Forward To: meeting our little Frostie and becoming parents!
Monday, October 3, 2011
35 weeks...
Thirty-five weeks down four more to go! Sometimes I can't believe how fast the time has gone and sometimes I think the 31st October is going to take forever to get here. We both can't wait to meet our little Frostie. October is the perfect month for Frostie to be born. BJ's birthday is the 12th, one year ago tomorrow was our first transfer day (of our first IVF cycle) and three years ago we starting down the TTC path. To be able to realise our dream of parenthood this month seems too good to be true.
On a whole I've been feeling really good. Reflux has been bad the past week, even to the point of waking me up at night but if that's all I've got to worry about, I feel pretty lucky. The only other gripe I have this fortnight is the 'fat' jokes my parents-in-law have been throwing me. It's getting a bit tiring trying to be pleasant when someone (especially family) calls you large, not once but twice in a week. And "maybe you should hold off on the sweets" when they're on their eighth beer and overweight themselves. What do you say to that? "Thanks"???? I couldn't hold my tongue yesterday afternoon and did end up saying, "at least my stomach will deflate in a few weeks". If anyone has some polite comebacks please let me know :)
How far along: 35 weeks
Total weight change: +8kg (17 pounds)
Maternity clothes: The majority of the time, still fitting into my workout pants :)
Total weight change: +8kg (17 pounds)
Maternity clothes: The majority of the time, still fitting into my workout pants :)
Stretch Marks: Not yet
Movement: More rolling and Frostie has had regular hiccups
Movement: More rolling and Frostie has had regular hiccups
Sleep: Sleeping well, apart from the toilet breaks
Best Moment This Past Week: Being able to say, Frostie will be here THIS MONTH!!!
Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: Reflux and rude comments :(
Belly Button In or Out: Still pretty flat
Cravings/Aversions: Nothing to mention
Symptoms: Reflux
Symptoms: Reflux
What I'm Looking Forward To: Only fourteen days to go until I finish up at work!!!
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