Wordless Wednesday

Jefferson is 4 weeks old!

Thankful Thursday

Catherine had her appointment with the pediatrician yesterday because of her toe walking. Luckily we were able to see a pediatrician that I have worked with at the hospital. He watched her play, had her run/walk up and down the hallway and checked her reflexes. Other then her right foot not coming back as much (when you pull your toes up towards you) as her left foot, everything looks good. She can walk heel to toe, she just prefers to walk in her toes. She should stop by the age of 3, but she may still unconsciously do it after that too. So all we have to do is work on stretching out her tendons in that right foot when she is sitting and relaxing.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Jefferson is 3 weeks old!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the wonderful family that I have. Sam, Catherine, Jefferson, my mom and I all headed to Ottawa earlier this week for Sam’s University Convocation. We had a great time and I am so proud of Sam. Then my Grammy came to visit Catherine, Jefferson and I this morning.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Jefferson is 2 weeks old!

Jefferson August Cremasco is here!

 

I’m a little late in posting this, but life with two and a husband that is working away from home is busy.

 

Happy Birthday Baby C!

Name: Jefferson August Cremasco

Date: May 30, 2011

Weight: 8 lbs 5 oz

Length: 20.5 inches

I woke up on Sunday May 29, 2011 at about 6:30 am to a contraction. I thought nothing of it because I had been having contractions for over 2.5 weeks at that point, but these contractions seemed to be more uncomfortable. I kept having them on an off from then until 10:30 am, but they were all over the place time wise and the length was varying as well. Then they stopped completely for a few hours. After that I would have them randomly again. I laid down in the afternoon when Catherine went for her nap because I was super exhausted from not sleeping well and being up at 6:30 am. I only slept for an hour and a half and then woke up to my Grammy calling about my uncle Gary’s birthday BBQ that evening. I got up and started to get ready to go. We headed over to her house around 4:30 pm, I was still having the contractions and they seemed to be even more uncomfortable and about 10 minutes apart give or take, but they were still really varying in length, so I didn’t think it was the real thing. We had dinner and cake and then my uncle drove Jeff home so that he could get ready to head up north for training for the week (and he was getting pj’s and a few other things for Catherine, so we could put her to sleep there if we had to). My Grammy urged me to stay at her house until Sam (my sister) got off of work, so that I wasn’t alone at home in case I was really in labour. Shortly after Jeff left I text messaged Sam to ask her to come to Grammy’s after work. She sent me a message right back saying she had been cut early and as just cashing out and she would come. I called Jeff to tell him not to worry about the stuff for Catherine since we would be home before her bedtime, so he stopped by my Grammy’s on his way our of town to say goodbye to us and I told him I would call if I needed him to come back. Sam got to my Grammy’s around 8:15 pm and by that point I was really uncomfortable even between contractions and I had a heating pouch on my back because it was killing me. Sam took Catherine and headed home and my uncle Gary drove my van home. Sam then took my uncle Gary back. Once Sam was back, a huge thunderstorm started rolling in. I decided that I had had enough and I paged my midwives to see if they had any suggestions on what I could do because I was miserable. I spoke with Laurel, the student midwife, for about 10 minutes, during which time I had 5 contractions, but they were still really short in length (about 30 to 45 seconds). She told me she would call Rebecca and see what she thought we should do and that Rebecca should be calling me shortly. About 5 minutes later my midwife Annita (the midwife that delivered Catherine and my favourite midwife) called me back because Rebecca and Laurel had been to 2 births in the last 24 hours. After talking to me for a few minutes in which I had a few contractions, she decided she was coming to check me. Shortly after I hung up with Annita, Jeff called to say that he was pulled over at the side of the road because the rain was so heavy he couldn’t see the road. I told him I had called the midwives and that Annita was coming to check me. He said he would stay where he was and to call him once she checked me. I commented to Sam at this point that I could see why some women get epidurals because I was so uncomfortable and that maybe having a home birth wasn’t such a good idea. Annita got to our house at about 9:10 pm and later told me that she knew I was in labour as soon as she walked in the door. She asked me to go use the washroom before she checked me, when I finished using the washroom I noticed that I was having bloody show. When she checked me, much to my surprise, I was 5 to 6 cm dilated, with bulging membranes to which she said your in active labour and that water could break anytime now. The house then went into a frenzy. Sam started moving the kitchen table in to the living room and began putting the birthing pool up. I began making calls, first I called Jeff to tell him he needed to head back, then I called my Grammy to tell her she was right, and then I called Jeff’s parents to tell them that I was finally going to have this baby. Sam text messaged our mom because she was in Toronto at the Lion King Musical with work. She called right back and said she would be at our house around 11 pm as long as traffic was okay coming out of Toronto. I then started pulling our home birth supplies out and was helping Sam and Annita get things set up between contractions. I noticed that my contractions weren’t as uncomfortable as they had been, but were about 2 to 3 minutes apart lasting 1 to 1.5 minutes in length, I was very happy and commented that it must be because I knew I was really in labour and going to have a baby that night or early the next morning, so my body finally relaxed. Jeff got back just before 10 pm and helped Sam get the birthing tub filled, so it was ready when we needed it. Once everything was set up I pulled out my computer to update my Strongmommas and Due in June 2011 message board friends. I also sent my friend Dawn a BBM that I was finally in labour and responded to a BBM from my friend Amy and let her know also. Amy’s sister in law my best friend Jacquie then began BBMing me also. I would stop and concentrate and do my HypnoBirth breathing through the contractions, but I felt great in between them. Everyone was just relaxing, Jeff was watching the NASCAR race and when Dale Earnhardt Jr. almost won the race, but ran out of gas at the last turn I went running to our bedroom to watch the finish. My mom arrived just before 11 pm with coffee and timbits for the troops. At that point my contractions got way stronger and closer together to the point that I was pacing around and around through our kitchen and living room to get through them. I also wasn’t getting much if any relief in between contractions. Annita said in a few contractions she wanted to check me again, so that we would have enough time to get Sarah there for back up. I had two more contractions and she checked me again and I was 8 to 9 cm dilated and my membranes were still intact. Annita then called Sarah to get her to start coming. Annita suggested that I get in to the birthing pool because the water may help with the contractions, so I did. The water did help a lot and I was able to get some relief between contractions. At this point I also got my saline lock put in, so that if I had any post partum hemorrhage they had access to help stop it. Sarah arrived at about 11:20 pm and we began to wonder if the baby would be born on May 29 or 30. Shortly after I told them I felt like I had to push and that I thought my membranes had ruptured. Annita check me again and I was 10 cm dilated, 100% effaced and there was still a layer of membranes intact, so I asked her to break it and his head came right down. I pushed a few times with the next contractions and it hurt so much. Sarah said once the contraction was over that if I pushed like that again I could have the baby out in a few more contractions. I tried, but it just hurt too much, so I would breath through 3 to 4 contractions in a row and then push for 1 to 2 contractions. Once his head was halfway out we realized why the pushing was hurting so much, like his big sister Catherine, Jefferson decided to come down with an arm in front of his face. I pushed 2 to 3 more times and he was out. I scooped him right up and on to my chest and said “Hello Baby” and then announced that he was a boy. They left my umbilical cord attached until it stopped pulsating and the Sam had the honour of cutting it because Jeff didn’t want to. When he came all the way put meconium (first poo) came out too, but he must have gone when he was crowning, because his lungs were clear. I also got a dose of Pitocin through my saline lock for active management to hopefully stop me from haemorrhaging. Sarah then got Jefferson, brought him over to Jeff and asked if he wanted to do some skin to skin holding. Jeff looked puzzled and said do what? I then told him to take his shirt off and hold Jefferson with a towel over them both. Annita and Sam then helped me out of the birthing pool and on to the birthing stool so that I could deliver the placenta in case I hemorrhaged like I did with Catherine. A few minutes later I delivered the placenta and I bled a little, but it was well within normal. At that point it was time to head to the bed in our room, so Annita could see if I needed any stitches. I did need 3 stitches and after getting the freezing she put them in. The entire time I was laying on the bed Jeff kept asking if I wanted to hold Jefferson and I kept saying no I wanted to wait until after she finished my stitches. I found out after that Jefferson had pooped on him and he wanted to get cleaned up. Once I was all done and resting in bed I fed Jefferson and he latched right on and nursed for over an hour. Once he was finished, Sarah did his newborn assessment, gave him his Vitamin K injection and Erythromycin eye drops. Once she was finished it was my turn to get up and use the washroom. After I was all settled back in bed, Annita and Sarah headed home to get some sleep and Jeff and I settled in to get some sleep.

I am so happy that I got to give birth at home in the birthing pool. It was so nice not to have to travel to the hospital in labour and even better to be able to climb in to my own bed to go to sleep when it was all over.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that Jefferson only gets up to eat 2 to 3 times at night and that I am actually sleeping well in between. I am also thankful that Jeff has been home this week because Catherine has been having a hard time adjusting to sharing her mommy and has been a bit rotten. So its nice that there is two of us to deal with her.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

     

Jefferson is 1 week old!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that this week has gone so smoothly. I feel almost 100% better now then I did when I was pregnant. I am actually sleeping more at night despite the frequent night feedings. I honestly don’t feel like I had a baby at 12:28 am on Monday morning. I am also thankful that I don’t have to solo parent next week because as much as my wonderful children really were easy on me this week I am looking forward to having Jeff home all next week.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday – Jefferson August Cremasco is here!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that this pregnancy is almost over. I am sore tired, sore and just done. I want to hold my baby and know if its a he or a she. Come on baby we want to meet you!

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

101 Things Update – May 15, 2011

Update time!

This list is good from Aug 12, 2010 to May 9, 2013

Self-Help Section

1. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
2. Don't complain about anything for a week
3. Learn to be more patient – In Progress
4. Complete Wedding Scrapbook
5. Complete Catherine's 1st Year Scrapbook
6. Read 101 books – In Progress, I’ve read 36
7. Not log into Facebook for a whole week!
8. Learn Italian
9. Stop swearing for a month
10. Re-finish a piece of furniture
11. List 101 things that make me happy
12. Sew/knit a blanket
13. Have Christmas Cards out by December 1
14. Get a digital SLR camera
15. Take a class to learn how to use the Digital SLR camera
16. Have a spa day – Completed April 16, 2011 with the Cremasco Women
17. Host a wine and cheese party
18. Update this blog at least twice a week for 6 months – In Progress
19. Do a Wordless Wednesday post every Wednesday for a month – Completed
20. Do a Thankful Thursday post every Thursday for a month – Completed
21. Sell our house and buy our dream home (or as close to it as we can afford) – Our house is SOLD, it sold within 3 days of listing and our new house is well underway!
22. Learn how to grow a vegetable garden and grow one
23. Make a new friend
24. Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month – Completed
25. Make a list of 10 things I like about myself
26. Finish parent (and grandparent) photo books of our wedding – Completed!
27. Make photo books of Catherine 6 months to 1 year
28. Not use the internet for a whole week
29. Not play on the computer when Catherine is awake for 3 months
30. Read Catherine 1 book a day for 3 months – Completed
31. Build a snow man with Catherine
32. Complete a 500 piece puzzle

My Career
33. Apply to all offers for further education (ECG course, KCI study etc...) at work
34. Complete annual review paperwork and have Annual Review - Aug 23, 2010 – Completed
35. Get serious about taking the breastfeeding and newborn assessment courses

Health & Wellness
36. Do yoga 3 times a week for a least a month
37. Reach my goal weight – This will have to wait until Baby C 2.0 is here
38. Continue to exercise on a regular basis
39. With next pregnancy, continue to exercise and eat healthy food – In progress

Financial
40. Create an emergency fund
41. Pay off all debt (loan, CC) in 5 years
42. Stick with a budget for 5 months
43. Not use a CC for everyday purchases for 3 months

Helping Others
44. Give more to our church
45. Pay for someone behind me at a fast food or coffee shop
46. Put change in someone's expired parking meter
47. Do something nice for someone without being asked to help
48. Leave a 50% tip for dinner

Spiritual
49. Do bible study every day for a month
50. Go to church every week for 2 months
51. Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
52. Pray for others every day

Food
53. Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $100)
54. Only one small sweet or less a day for a month
55. No fast food for a month
56. Cook dinner for a week straight
57. Make ice cream from scratch
58. Make my own bread (not in the bread maker)
59. Make an entire meal with organic food
60. Learn how to bake amazing cakes/cupcakes
61. Make Jeff breakfast in bed for Fathers day with Catherine
62. Organize my favourite recipes
63. Bake something once a month for a year
64. Make soup from scratch – Completed

Trips/Outings
65. Go on a family trip
66. Build a sand castle
67. Attend a taping of a live TV show
68. Visit somewhere in Europe
69. Go whale-watching
70. Go skinny dipping
71. Sleep under the stars
72. Ride in a hot air balloon
73. Go on a picnic
74. Spend a day at the beach
75. Visit the Grand Canyon
76. Visit 3 provinces (I haven’t been to) in the Canada
77. Go somewhere Tropical with Jeff (no kids allowed)
78. Take Catherine to Disney World – Completed
79. Go camping as a family
80. Go scuba diving or snorkelling
81. Visit the Green Gables Heritage Place (Anne of Green Gables)
82. Go to Las Vegas
83. See a play, ballet or opera – Completed
84. Take a train somewhere with Catherine – Completed (we went to Disney on Ice in Toronto)
85. Take a sister’s trip (when Sam graduates!)
86. Go to New York and see Time Square and Ground Zero
87. See the Toronto Maples Leafs play – Completed
88. Visit the Canadian Rockies
89. Hike part of the Bruce Trail
90. Visit Niagara Falls
91. Go visit a volcano
92. Take a random road trip
93. Take a mother/daughter trip

Jeff & I
94. Kiss in the rain
95. Have another baby – In progress – Baby C 2.0 is currently baking in the oven, hopefully he/she will be here any day now! 
96. Have dinner by candlelight
97. Continue to communicate effectively – Completed
98. Have a designated date night once a month for 4 months
99. Go out for an expensive dinner at a fancy restaurant
100. Take a dancing lesson together
101. Take a cooking class together

Book List – Update May 15, 2011

1. Room By Donoghue, Emma
2. The Search By Roberts, Nora
3. The Passage A Novel By Cronin, Justin
4. The Forgotten Garden A Novel By Morton, Kate
5. Safe Haven By Sparks, Nicholas
6. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet A Novel By Mitchell, David
7. Three Weeks with My Brother By Sparks, Nicholas
8. House Rules By Picoult, Jodi
9. The House at Riverton A Novel By Morton, Kate
10. Beaded Hope By Liggett, Cathy
11. Water for Elephants A Novel By Gruen, Sara
12. Freakonomics A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything By Levitt, Steven D.
13. Still Missing By Stevens, Chevy
14. The Wives of Henry Oades A Novel By Moran, Johanna
15. The Red Tent By Diamant, Anita
16. The Pact A Love Story By Picoult, Jodi
17. Fly Away Home A Novel By Weiner, Jennifer
18. Vanishing Acts By Picoult, Jodi
19. Second Glance A Novel By Picoult, Jodi
20. Sarah's Key By Rosnay, Tatiana de
21. Eat, Pray, Love One Woman's Search for Everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia By Gilbert, Elizabeth
22. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo By Larsson, Stieg
23. The Girl Who Played with Fire By Larsson, Stieg
24. Midnight at the Dragon Café By Bates, Judy Fong
25. A Thousand Splendid Suns By Hosseini, Khaled
26. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
27. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
28. Big Jack by J.D. Robb
29. His Robot Girlfriend by Wesley Allison
30. Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin
31. Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
32. Choosing Waterbirth – Reclaiming the Sacred Power of Birth by Lakshmi Bertram
33. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
34. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
35. Happy Ever After – Nora Roberts
36. HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method by Marie F Mongan

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful to have made it to full term with Baby C 2.0. Now that we have hit this point it is now time for baby to vacate the premises. He/she has been getting ready and I’ve been having contractions and am super crampy all the time, so it should be sooner rather then later.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday – In Honour of Mother’s Day

I won a contest!

Now if you know me well you will know that my family and I don’t have the best luck when it comes to winning contests. That doesn’t stop me from entering any and all that I quality for. I probably enter 10 or more contest a month for baby/child stuff. Well I finally won something!

Mother-ease is a cloth diaper company from the Niagara Area and I have wanted to try some of there stuff for a while, but I could not find any reasonably priced second hand to buy in newborn for Baby C 2.0. They just released 2 new diapers in their cloth diaper line and they have been giving away diapers over the last few weeks. I have entered each time, but never thought I had a chance of winning. Well I won a Wizard Duo cloth diaper. Its a AI2, so I got a small cover and an extra small/small insert. It won’t likely fit for a while, but I am excited to use it when it will fit Baby C 2.0!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that my sister is home from school and her Florida trip. She is so awesome with Catherine and it is so nice having her around for extra help when I need it and just to have someone to talk to when Jeff is on shift.

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful to have a great friend, Dawn! She did an amazing job taking maternity/family pictures for us yesterday and even sent me a sneak peek!

What are you thankful for?