August 31st 2007

Well, today is the last day of my second trimester (ever), and the last day of August as well. Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will be starting my final third trimester (ever) and it will also be September 1st! Imagine that! Wow, how time flies by!

We are getting there, and last night Cliff was able to feel the baby give some big moves and kicks. He enjoyed that! So did I.

9 years almost to the day...

I was thinking back to when we first conceived our first baby. (that would be Cameron) My lmp was November 12, 1998. And we conceived him around the 26th of November, 1998. And, for this last baby will be born right around that same time frame, except 9 years later!

I am due December 1st. But there has been talk of delivering a week or so early (IF I am favourable like I have been in the past couple of deliveries.) Wouldn't that be wild if we delivered on the same day, or a couple of days off from that first conception? Wow. That would truly be an ending, to a truly wonderful beginning to my journey to motherhood almost 10 years ago.

By the time I stop breastfeeding this little baby in my belly (next year around November 2008) will be a decade of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding under my belt. Wow!

Mom and Baby Needs Checklist

Baby Care Products
•Aveno baby shampoo/body wash combo
•Vaseline (have)
•baby nail clippers or safety scissors (have)
•Ivory Snow/Washing Soda for Laundry Layette
•diaper pail (perhaps Diaper Champ)
•newborn diapers Pampers Swaddlers (several bags needed and perhaps 1 bag of size 1's )
•baby washcloths (have some, need new ones depending on the sex of the baby)
•gowns/newborn sleepers (4-6) Will go out and buy 3 brand new newborn sleepers: Pink,Blue and Green! I think they will need to be pink
•receiving blankets (4-6) (I have a ton of pink ones, and Mom has the boy ones still I believe)
•newborn cap (1-2) See if I have any left?
•hooded bath towels and wash cloths - Definitely need these, as I gave all of mine away because I wasn't having any more babies. Perhaps can be bought after baby is here! Go gender specific?!
•4-6 all-in-ones (see if I have any white newborn ones left in the bin? Maybe April has them?)

Baby Gear
•baby carrier (sling and/or Baby Bjorn) Look into a sling for the winter. I have my Bjorn
•infant seat (have to bring it to the hospital!) Will get the infant seat from Sears on a Baby Days sale
•bouncer seat (Kidwap or Craigslist)
•diaper bag (Have, but pack to suit newborn and other gals!)

Furniture and Accessories
•bassinet/crib Need to buy one more crib...wait to see what sex we have. Need that bassinet ASAP from Sears or Toys r Us
•mattress (packed away)
•new pack and play for family room (get from Sears on Baby Days sale)

Nursing Necessities
•nursing pillow - have my nice one packed away
•disposable nursing pads - Get Lansinoh - Need
•sports-bottle for much-needed water - Be sure to pack to the hospital

New Mom Care
•big box of extra-long maxi pads - Going to get Kotex overnights (thanks Kidswap friends!!)
•another box of smaller pads for later after the flow cuts down
•nursing nightgown or comfy cotton pajamas - I will definitely need something here!! Nude won't cut it lol!
•Nursing tank tops! From Thyme or Motherhood
•nursing bras (go to lingerie store one month before babe is due, so around November 1st)
•Tucks x 2 boxes!!

Other Good Ideas/Purchases
•cook and freeze meals for when baby is first here (want at least 5 days of freezer meals!)
•Arrange for pregnancy photos around week 37
•dig out suitcase and start packing (remember folder)
•hand print kit (bought this weekend)
•newspaper for the day baby is born (Mom usually does)
•Christmas ornament (Mom already bought!)
•big Rubbermaid container for memories - Need
•Purchase baby book and calendar - Either Babys World or Bug a Boo or even Hallmark...just need the right one
•memory box small from Toys r Us - Gender specific as per usual!

Things I have noticed this past week and today:

• Well, for one swelling. From my toes, ankle and up to my knees
• More braxton hicks, and very strong this morning (they get stronger with each pregnancy I have found)
• Veins are bulging and throbby and achy. I am now developing veins on my left leg too.
• Still feel sick in the morning
• Heartburn
• Getting up to pee in the middle of the night
• I can see my belly moving from the outside when baby is moving! Hopefully Cliff will feel some more movements soon! Every time he tries, baby stops moving!

Some more facinating stats!

Trimesters:

I have been through 7 first trimesters
I have been through 6 second trimesters
I have been through almost 6 third trimesters

Breastfeeding:

I breastfed my first until 6 months
I breastfed my second until 12 months
I breastfed my third until 12 months
I breastfed my fourth until 12 months
I breastfed my fifth until 13.5 months (and never used any bottles this time around, we went straight to cup!)

Morning Sickness:

I have had morning sickness with all babies. The easiest time was with my first, my son. I never threw up with him. Just felt tired, and at times sick.

With my daughters:

• Claire I was so sick, and had nausea for weeks on end.
• Carly, I was so sick and throwing up and I considered Diclectin, but then didn't.
• Catie, I was sick, but only a few times but had really bad 24/7 nausea
• Caroline, I was sick a few times, but had the 24/7 nausea
• This baby, I have thrown up four times, and had the 24/7 nausea.
• My morning sickness lasted until about 17/18 weeks with them.

Old Wives Tales:

The heart rate pregnancy old wives tale has worked every time for us, and if it is right again I will be having another girl.

Delivery Stats:

A female doctor delivered my first boy
A male doctor delivered my first girl
A male doctor delivered the rest of my girls
A male doctor will be delivering this baby...I call girl

Glucose Screenings:

I had to take the three hour gestational diabetes test with two out of five babies so far. With Cameron, my first, and Caroline my last pregnancy. I go for my test next week! Time will tell.

Natural Childbirth:

I have had natural childbirths with each of my kids. I have used nitrous oxide right before pushing with all of them. From about 9-10 cms. Pushed out 5 babies with my own will lol.

Labour:

• Cameron: Water broke in a gush, 16 hours total, hard labour; pushed for 2 hours, needed stitching and had some hemorrhaging afterwards
• Claire: Tiny water leak, 11 hours total, hard labour; pushed for 20 mins
• Carly: Tiny water leak, 8 hours total, hard labour pushed through 10 mins
• Catie: Induced, broke my water, 9 hours, hard labour, pushed through 2 contractions
• Caroline: Induced, broke my water, 6 hours, hard labour, could have pushed her head out in one push, stopped and then 1 or 2 contractions she was born

The Kids' Stats:

• Cameron born at 37 weeks (19 days early) 7 lbs. 1 oz.
• Claire born at 36 weeks, 6 lbs. 12 oz.
• Carly, born at 37 weeks (on her brothers original due date, 19 days early too at 6 lbs. 14 oz.
• Catie, born at 39 weeks (day after her Daddy) at 7 lbs. 5 oz.
• Caroline, born at 38 weeks, 7 lb.s 4 oz.

Who was present at the births:

• Cameron: Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Claire, Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Carly, Cliff, my Mom, my Dad, my MIL, Cliff's cousin, my friend and my 2 sisters
• Catie, Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Caroline, Cliff, and my two friends Lisa (with 5, and expecting her 6th like I am) and Louise. Sisters missed the birth. And, there were a lot of nursing staff and students in the room
• Baby C6: Will just be Cliff and I!

Week 26, 14 weeks to go...

Week 26! Baby 6!

Hello Cathy, from BabyCenter Canada
26 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby's becoming more sensitive to sound as the network of nerves in her ears develops. If dad talks to her now, she might learn to recognize his voice. The more she hears it, the more likely she is to find it soothing after she's born.


----



Well, I have grown EVERYWHERE from what I can tell in the photo that was taken last night at 2 am! Why at 2 am you ask? Well, Cliff and I went out on a REAL date. Part of our get back out into the real world lol! We went out for a nice dinner, and then we went to see the new Bourne Ultimatum movie which was SOOOO good! We saw the first two movies in that series at home. So, in our quest to be a "couple" as well as parents we have started hiring a babysitter so we can get out a couple of times a month! The kids love the sitter, and we love getting out together on our own.

I tried a pair of jean capri maternity pants on this morning that I purchased at the beginning of my pregnancy, and they fit perfectly then.Today, I couldn't pull them over the top of my bum. I showed Cliff, and I said see: It is a girl in here! He still insists it is a boy. Even though he has called the baby a girl on ONE occasion. He said he can still dream for the next 14 weeks! Usually the big bum equals a girl in my pregnancies! I believe this will hold true again for baby number six.

Anyways, I cannot believe that next week I enter my final trimester. Trimester number three. Somewhere where I will never again venture in my life. I am OK with that.

99 days to go!

I just looked at my crazy baby ticker, and all of a sudden I am in the under 100 days left! Yikes!

I better write up my to-do list for this baby!

round round get around

I think the baby has flipped over, and gone head down. Maybe last night, because all of the movements I have felt have been up high, and not down low! Hopefully now Cliff and the kids can feel the baby move when it moves about!

25.5 Week Doctors Appointment

Today, we had a longer appointment! Not because of the baby. But, because of my five year old baby (well grade schooler) Carly. She had her Kindergarten immunization done at this appointment today. She did fine, and did not cry and got two treats for being so brave! She does not need immunizations until Grade Six now!

I talked to my doc about the two incidences of spotting I had about ten days apart in my 22nd and 24th week. We also discussed the swelling in my legs. I put on another six pounds, bringing the grand total to twenty pounds added. I haven't gained nearly what I have in the past with my other pregnancies. That is a good thing!

Carly got to hear the heart beating of her baby sister or brother, which was beating away at a slower-than-usual 148 bpm. Cliff says it is a boy. I had to remind him that Caroline had the same rate ONCE lol.

I will go for my one hour glucose screening in three weeks, and a follow up appointment at my last "four week" appointment at almost 30 weeks by then. After that appointment I go to every two weeks, and I will be well into my third trimester already! I cannot believe it. Either can the doc. Especially moving when you think that Carly was the first baby he delivered just over five years ago. She was supposed to be my "last." And then came number four and number five, and coming soon number six.

Doc told me to keep up the good work! And that was it! See you in four weeks!

25 Week Photo

25 week pregnancy photo taken this evening!

Week 25, 15 to go!

Hello Cathy,

from BabyCenter Canada 25 Weeks Pregnant:

Your baby is responsive to touch now. You can have fun with him by trying to tickle his foot when he kicks you or by lying on your back and rolling from side to side, to see how he reacts. His eyelids will open around now and his heart is beating so strongly, it may be heard with just a stethoscope. As your baby grows, you may feel some aches and pains as your body adjusts to accommodate him. Even your center of gravity changes along with your body shape.
____

This morning started off with morning sickness. Yes, I threw up like crazy. All bile like. Yuck. Problem was this: Prenatal vitamin on an empty stomach, and just water. I baked some oatmeal muffins for the kids. I was putting them on the plates. And all of a sudden I knew I was going to throw up. And, that I did. I ran to the bathroom and puked so hard that I popped blood vessels under my eyes again. This is my 4 puke this pregnancy. I am sure this is a little girl due to the hormones and sickness!

Cliff is sure this is a little boy. He rubs my belly and says hi baby boy! I say to him you will feel bad when this baby pops out and it is a girl! lol.

Today, I pampered my feet. I had a lovely pedicure done, and waxing. I feel human again! It is such a nice treat for swollen feet and legs!

This week I have a prenatal appointment, and I am sure I will get the requisition form to go take the glucose screening test. Out of all of my pregnancies, I have had to do the 3 hour test two times. Once with Cameron, and once with Caroline. And, those two look the most a like and gave me both that lovely 3 hour break. I wonder what will come out of this test? I am thinking I will sail through this one too. The glucose screening with Claire, Carly and Catie were totally fine! This pregnancy I have no complaints. Just tired!! But, isn't that the nature of motherhood?!

And, I guess at some point the Rhogam shot in the but. That will most likely be the next appointment I schedule.

Shopping ideas for the new baby!

Here is the crib I want to get for Caroline or for the new baby *if it is a girl* to continue on in the girly-girl room that I am working on. It HAS to be all things white! I just love it. It is called the "Jenny Lind" crib and it is a convertible crib and turns into a day bed. I love the old-fashioned feel it has. Below is a close up of the detail. They are available at sears.ca for $240.00 Canadian. And good quality! The close up of the crib details! So nice, yet so easy to use! I just love the Storkcraft cribs! We still have the stork craft crib my parents bought for Cameron, and now Caroline uses it. If we have a boy, he will move into that same crib and share a room with his big brother!
I would find some cute baby boy bedding for him too! Don't worry lol! I have to come up with a theme that works with Cameron's existing theme. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out.
Here is a great new car seat made by Graco. It is called the Graco Safety Seat. It is available at sears.ca for $189.00 dollars Canadian. The neat thing about this infant seat is that it goes up to 30 pounds and remains rear-facing. Quite a few friend have really recommended this seat! I am going to get it! I will wait for a Sears baby days sale and get about 20 dollars off! I saw this cute fitted crib sheet, and realized. I have haven't had ANY pink crib sheets in the past. For the play yard yes. But not a fitted sheet. I think it is adorable. I saw this on the Toys r Us website. If we have another beautiful girl, she will hopefully get this, and Caroline too (or something similar!)
Oh, I am so excited! I wonder who is in here?! Only 15 more weeks + 3 days until my due date!!!

A pregnant girl waddles up to the chair...

Yes, I went to the dentist two nights ago. The hygienist (in-training) said I am just going to do some x-rays. I said no. I am pregnant. She said it is not on your chart. She says how far along are you? I say about six months along. I am almost 25 weeks. Oh, but you don't look pregnant.
I said to her, I will take that as a compliment. I said my last appointment was about six months ago. Please mark it on my chart for next time. Well, next time I will have a newborn! Duh.

Then, I get is this your first baby. And, I am like nope. This is our sixth. YOUR SIXTH?! Oh my God, are you CRAZY??! You must be busy. YES I AM BUSY. Now, can we just get my teeth done now!! I want to get out of here! You have kept me here way too long! *just talking in my brain there, didn't say that to her lol* Finally she is done.

The head hygienist comes out. She says, you are pregnant. And we go through the yes, it is my sixth baby blah blah blah. I just want to get home. Well the hygienist (head) was pregnant too, with her second. Her baby belly was pushing into my head and holding a piece of my hair and it hurt. So, I moved my hair away.

That was the longest appointment EVER!!!

I cannot believe they couldn't tell!!! The baby was kicking away during the cleaning, quite possibly because I was uncomfortable in the chair, and I felt like I couldn't breathe! There was lots of belly action! lol.

Oh, I have no cavities but of course. They said I have the most beautiful smile, and the whitest teeth! Thanks to my 3 years of braces, headgear and elastics and many years of retainers! PS. The head hygeinest said I should consider getting new retainers especially for the bottom...Thanks Mom and Dad xo

Feathering my nest...

Well, today I am officially 24 weeks pregnant. And, I have been getting into these crazy nesting and cleaning projects that suddenly bug me so much that I have been cleaning and organizing like a crazy mama bird! It just feels so good!

Yesterday:

• Organized and sorted my pantry, and now it is so organized and tidy! Nothing will be lost in there again.
• Washed both sides of all of the windows and glass french doors in our place
• vacuumed and did all of the edges of all of the stairs and wall edges
• Washed out under the bathroom sinks
• Organized my linen closet in the master bathroom
• Cleaned up the washer and dryer.

Today:

• Stripped the beds and washed the bedding
• Did about 5 loads of other laundry (still going right now!)
• Washed all of the appliances in the kitchen until they sparkled
• That would include the small grooves in the dishwasher, and took out and cleaned the element ports in the top of the stove and put in fresh tin liners! Oh, and the crumby toaster oven, and splattered microwave!
• Washed down all the cabinet fronts and sides
• Washed the counter tops
• Went through my counter top boxes that hold kids' stuff and purged
• Washed down the doors and mouldings because they looked grubby
• Vacuumed (again)
• Cliff washed the vehicles and power-washed the driveway! (yay!!)

Cliff just kept asking me when I might be finished lol! But he says the kitchen looks brand new ;D

What to do next?? Soon it is time to go through all of the kids' clothing and get ready for back to school and fall. Do an assessment of what we need for the coming season. Start and finish my Christmas shopping before October 1st!

tight shirt

Yesterday we ordered sushi to eat, as we just wanted to treat ourselves so we ordered take out after the kids fell asleep. We had California rolls, gyoza and miso soup! Cliff had the raw sashimi. Yummy. Well, I wanted to change my white shirt as I knew I would slop soy sauce on my top or belly when I ate. So I did. I pulled out a "big" shirt from the closet that I had bought at the beginning of my pregnancy and I put it on and it was tight!! I am amazed at how fast I am growing! I think I am mostly belly! Amazing.

116 days to go?!

Cliff and I have been doing a lot of chatting about how we want our last birth experience to go. We know it will be fast, we know we will have a baby at the end. We don't know what we are having. We have two wonderful names picked out, and we have a Godparent in mind for our sixth baby.

And, with each baby that has been born into our family, we have done different things as far as the labour/delivery is concerned.

For baby 1 aka Cameron we had my sisters in the delivery room.

For baby 2 aka Claire we had my sisters in the delivery room.

For baby 3 aka Carly (our last baby ;D) we had my sisters, my MIL, my parents, my friend Kim, and Cliff's cousin who was 16 at the time (good birth control!)

For baby 4 aka Catrina we had had my sisters in the room.

For baby 5 aka Caroline (our last baby ;D) we had my friend Lisa who has 5 kids and is expecting her sixth baby, 5 days after me, and my friend Louise who will not be having kids. My sisters missed the birth as Caroline came out too fast! They came after for a visit!

For baby 6 aka...as if I would spill the beans on the names...seriously you all will have to wait!! We have decided to just have each other. Meaning Cliff and I together. This is our LAST baby! And we want it to be a memory we have of just the three of us at that moment. We will video it though. Cliff will take photos after baby is out.

We have also decided that I will call out the sex of the baby, and Cliff will cut the cord. We will only have our parents to visit aka the grandparents/aunts and uncles at the hospital depending on the time of birth. If it is a weird time, say in the middle of the night. They will be waiting until the morning and or when we go home. We will be sure to call you all with info about our new baby! We are so excited.

As for other visitors, we will be home for the first week as a family without any visitors. We want the kids to see their sibling first and that is very important to us. Because we don't stay long in the hospital (usually under 24 hours) we will want the kids to see the baby first. I will use the first week to rest up, bond and get my breastfeeding going. Cliff will only be home for one week after baby is born, so we need that family time together. Visitors will be able to see the baby on the next available weekend, and we will not be allowing pop over visits during the week. Visits will need to be made via phone and on a weekend preferably when Cliff is home to help out!

Baby will be born during a very busy time, and we want to be relaxed as possible before Christmas. I would not expect to be attending many family functions at that time. Depending on how sleep-deprived we feel. We will play it by ear. But I am sure in the new year, baby will be a socialite just like all the other kids!

23 weeks 2 days

Here I am this evening, and I look at this belly and I don't think I am as big as I have been in the past. My face looks normal, and I certainly don't look bloated. I look like more belly than anything (well so far anyways!) I still have many weeks to go.

What does babycenter.com have to say about week 23?

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. He may be able to feel your movements now, so put on some tunes and dance around the house. No matter what race your baby is, he looks red now due to blood vessels showing through his transparent skin. His true skin tone will develop over the course of his first year. Blood vessels in your baby's lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing, but complete lung development will take many more months. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop.

As for symptoms, this weekend I thought I was going to be sick in the morning. That was gross! But it passed with lots of spitting excess spit into the sink! Yuck. Then the wave passed. I was feeling really tired this weekend, and my lovely hubby gave me this whole weekend to sleep in until almost 9 am which was very helpful! This morning I FINALLY woke up feeling refreshed and "normal." I have noticed that my ankles get more swollen towards the end of a long day, but they still go down in the morning (for now I guess) and I am just enjoying this pregnancy as much as I can. I know this is my last one. FOR SURE. No more babies. It is the right choice for our family. And hey, what is it that everybody relates to me like I am Mrs. Duggar who just gave birth to her 17th baby!, or is it because we are all "C" names just like the kids in that family all have "J" names? Just because I have a larger family does not make me a MEGA family. Have you seen her hair? lol.

In all seriousness, I would say I really admire that family. But, I certainly don't want to go there! I don't think that is the right lifestyle for me at all. Or for our family. But, they certainly do a great job with their family. I say don't knock it, until you walk in their shoes! Who am I to judge? Certainly not me. They are one amazing family! As my doctor says he really thought our family is rather small if you look at the overall picture of them vs our family. He is right about that. It is all in the way one looks at things I guess.

The really neat thing about our family of soon to be eight, is that our family will officially be the largest family in his practice of this "generation" of baby makers lol. I said to my doc that our family should get our family photo right up on the main wall of the office. He agreed. His other large family is one of 7 kids, but the first born is already having kids, so they are a lot older.

We have FINALLY found two names, and a Godparent for this baby. But, we have not asked that special person yet. And, the special person will also share a name with the baby too. We are very excited to ask this special person in our lives. Soon, very soon.

Well, Cliff still says it is a boy, and I still think it is a girl. We will find out in a few months! All of the kids who can speak are saying boy too. I hope they are all not disappointed. I will be happy either way. To me, all signs point to girl for me!

4 months to go...

Today is August 1st, and my due date is December 1st! So really, I we have about 3+ months to go. Time is flying by! Today, I got to hold a beautiful little girl Ava (almost 4 months old) in my arms, and she was sleeping on my shoulder. It felt so good to hold her.

I cannot believe that will be me in a few short months! Life is good! I just keep wondering about who is in here!?!