CHRISTMAS 2012

You may be wondering where my posts have been over the past few weeks.  I wish the excuses were that our holidays have been so busy with us all frolicking in the snow, visiting friends, and up late playing games.  However, the truth is that the days surrounding Christmas were full of boogers and fevers and kids up through the night.  The cold and flu which started with Jesse 2 weeks ago, continued to cycle through the house.... through everyone.....and through poor  Janna twice!  And so my energy and free time has been quite strained.  We have all been laying low the past couple days in recoup mode.....and trying to get back on top of laundry, marking, resting.  Today the kids were both in amazing spirits,  and I am hoping we get some time later this week to play in the snow and have some fun!  And I will hopefully have some more time and energy to blog about such adventures.   However,  I thought I should just shoot off a quick update on our Christmas, though.   Afterall, tomorrow is the new year and I’ll have new things to nanner on about!

So, Christmas Day was pretty good with the kids.  BUSY BUSY BUSY, but good.  I was very happy that I had all my cooking and baking done the day before.  Dave’s parents were up visiting, and the women all did our prep the day before.  I had the first morning shift in the kitchen and tackled desserts, salads, veggies, and a lasagna for supper that night.   Sharon spent the afternoon tackling oodles of potatoes and dressing, and Katie worked later prepping the bird, and slow-cooked a ham.  

WE went to the Christmas Eve service at our church around 4.  It was packed, but we got there early enough to get seats in the back.  I figured Jesse and Robyn could make it through the hour long musical event- but one of us would probably have to take Janna out.   Sure enough, Janna was a squirmy worm- but it was mostly her giggles and singing that came out during any speaking that was distracting.  I thought Jesse would enjoy the music and being in the big service- but he mostly sat there grumpily and kept pushing his limits.  When a beautiful opera solo started he covered his ears and scrunched up his face while Janna beamed and tried to sing along.  Anyways- about a quarter of the way through Dave took Janna out, and half way through I took Jesse out.  I found Dave in the gym where the service was being broadcasted into and all the kids under 4 seemed to have pooled.  They were running around having fun, while the adults chatted and listened to the music as almost a background.  It was the place to be!  Next year perhaps we will just go there to begin withJ

 We all arrived home famished and after lasagna and caeser salad the kids tore into their PJS with delight.  We also opened a gift from my brother Josh. Growing up,  my family always opened Josh’s gift to each of us on Christmas Eve.  He usually gave entertainement gifts, and so a book or DVD would occupy us on Christmas Eve!  Well, Jesse was in heaven getting to open 2 presents and help Robyn open hers, and I could barely imagine his state come the mornings.  After the kids went to bed, we put all the presents under the tree, cleaned up and hit up the kitchen around 9 to help Katie do her GF cinnamon buns.  I went to bed pretty early and was very excited for the kids reaction in the morning.

Well, Robyn woke Dave and I up at 5:30, and decided to be up for a while, so we came downstairs and enjoyed coffee by the tree while the rest of the house slept.   Around 7:30 we heard the kids and grabbed them to join us.  Jesse greeted his aunt Katie with a big hug and his eyes widened at the sight of all the gifts.  We opened just stockings at first- and Jesse’s thankful reaction to each present was priceless.  Janna woke up under the weather- and was not interested in opening anything.  She just wanted to snuggle me for a while...and so Jesse was more than happy to open stockings for her.

PAUSE IN MY STORY.   Growing up, I did not open presents until later in the day.  We did turkey at my grandparents around noon followed by opening of gifts from non-immediate family...then opened our presents later in the evening upon returning home from hot turkey sandwhiches.  Dave did the more traditional opening of presents and stockings in the morning, then turkey for supper.  So- while we wanted to sort of meet in the middle with all presents after a turkey lunch....naps and little kids just didn’t mesh with our desire. So- we decided to do a big brunch and do all the gifts after that.

RESUME.... After stockings we all took our time getting ready for the day and then I made a big brunch for everyone.  The bacon was MISSING!  But otherwise it was good.   After everything got cleaned up, we settled in to open gifts.  Wow!  As a parent, it was sort of overwhelming.   We even did the “one gift at a time” approach. But trying to watch the kids, and help them, and watch other people open theirs, and open a few of my own, and get rid of paper in a very small living room,  was sort of crazy.  Jesse was SO excited and just wanted to move on from present to present.  As soon as something started to get opened, he would say, “and how about another?”  Unfortunately,   Jesse’s gifts all seemed to be circling the perimeter of the tree.  So, the first hour he just got gift after gift (even though we tried to space them out) but then the last half an hour or so there were NO gifts for him to open.  He started to melt down a bit, and Dave asked him to sit on the couch.  He plunked onto the couch and pouted while moaning, “ Poor ME!  Poor Jesse.”    Ugh...and so the Christmas greed begins.   We only bought two presents for each of the kids this year...but once you add in the aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents, it sure it a TON of stuff!  Next time we are at our place, I think we will do half in the morning, and then bring up a surprise pile later in the evening!  Anyways, the kids got some wonderful gifts, as did we, and we got everything cleaned up just in time for naps!

We had an early 4:00 dinner.  Our turkey turned out perfect and dinner was amazing!  Katie was not feeling well, and didn’t enjoy it so much, but we put aside all the white meat and half the potatos and dressing for her, and we’ve all been enjoying  our leftovers all week long!  I felt bad for Sharon and Rob who had to leave the next morning  (one day early to beat a storm) and didn’t get to experience the unending leftovers like we have.   Actually, we finished them entirely tonight!

Tonight, we have a bunch of friends coming by to play games/eat food, and ring in the new year with.  So, with that, I should be on my way and get some stuff done around here. Thanks for reading. I’m out.

catching up on the week

I seem to have found a little opening of time to blog today.  I have a feeling it won’t last...but I’ll try.

The week was a bit rough.  Jesse was sick on Sunday through Tuesday with high fever/chills/sneezing/coughing/ etc etc.   He complained of a sore ear and throat and being freezing all day on and off- but he’s pretty good when he is sick.  I can’t complain.  But- we were stuck in the house for the whole day which is a bit draining for me.  I like to get out with the kids at least once a day.  

I took Jesse to the doc on Wednesday morning even though his fever broke.  Aside from a slightly pink ear he checked out alright.  The doc’s order was rest, rest, and fluids fluids fluids.... We had a busy morning out and then at home getting final things ready for the holidays.  Jesse’s bug hit me gradually during the day, and I felt like death by supper time.  Like something was squeezing my head- whole body aching-sore throat-fever-chills- like I’d been hit by a truck, really.  I felt a lot of sympathy for Jesse.   I kept it together until the kids went to bed at 7:30 and I broke into uncontrollable sobs while hugging my legs and rocking.  My darling husband got my Tylenol, forced me to soak in the tub, and ran out at 9 pm to buy me ingredients to make my beloved homemade chicken and vegetable soup that I crave when I’m sick.   What a man.

I woke up the next day and cancelled all my plans to try and rest (AS much as possible with 3 little kids).  I was popping the vitamins/chugging water/and starving my body of all dairy and sugar.  As supper rolled around I was feeling a little on the up and up.  Dave arrived at home, and we drove to the airport to pick up Nana.  It seemed everyone was going to the airport at the same time.  The traffic was awful, and the trip was almost 2 hours there and back.  Luckily, the kids were happy and sitting in the car actually felt like a break from running around with them at home!   We dropped Dave off at his school’s Christmas banquet on the way home, and I was happy to cozy in back home as the forecast showed a monster storm a comin’. 

Well- the baby and kids went down pretty well and I did a few things around the house and visited with Sharon and Katie while catching the X Factor finale.  I was so excited to get to bed around 10:30- as I was still feeling under the weather.  I got in my Pj’s and hopped in bed.  Then I saw my magic bag sitting on the end of my bed beckoning me to heat it up.    I ran downstairs to heat it up.  At the same time, Dave texted Katie who was cooking in the kitchen.  He asked Katie if she was awake still.   He had someone how gotten stranded at the school without his ride home in sight.  Ugh... I was so grumpy, “ TELL Dave I will be there in 10 minutes.  To be waiting at the door, or else I will killlll him!” I instructed Katie.  I went out in the cold wet snow that was whipping around to a van covered in a layer of ice in my Pjs.  After grumpily scraping off the ice,  I drove 20km/h to the school.  The whole way there I thought to myself, “Dave probably didn’t see his ride, and then he’ll find them, and go home with them and I will be sitting at the school wondering where he is.”  Well, I arrived at the school, and sure enough Dave’s drive WAS there.  But, Dave didn’t go with him, they were just waiting for me to arrive.  Anyways- it sure felt good to sink into bed around 11:30.  But- I felt stressed out that I probably would only get around 5 hours of sleep before the day needed to start.  I find sleep is simply the most important factor in how my next day will go. 

Well, Jesse was up on and off through the night still a bit under the weather, and Robyn was up for one long feed.  The snow was just pouring down outside, and I felt stressed out that Dave would need to travel into school in the bad weather AND the kids and I would be storm stayed.  Well, shortly before 6 AM, we received a phone call.  Happy Holidays from the principal...all the staff could take a real snow day and stay home.  I was SO happy!  Dave and I fell back asleep and everyone slept until 7:30.

Friday felt like Christmas came early.  The kids had slept in- the ground had tons of snow with big flakes still shooting down- Dave would be home- Nana was here to hang out- and Jesse and I seemed to be on top of our colds!  I figured Dave would at least put in half of the day catching up on marking.  When he told me that he was going to take the whole day off to spend with us, I nearly cried!  We had a great day.  We took our time getting ready,  braved the snowstorm to make a snowman as a family.  Well, this was mostly Dave with the help of the little girl in pink (our neighbor).  But Jesse was intrigued with the process, I got the accessories, and Janna tried her hardest to plow through the snow which was thigh deep for her.  Made her a bit cranky!

 We all enjoyed a long afternoon nap, and gingerbread house making in the afternoon.  This is 50/50 Mommy and Jesse’s creation.  I think that this is probably the ugliest gingerbread house ever made.... perhaps that will be our family tradition.... who can make the slantiest shanty?  

Anyways, Saturday continued to be good and busy.  Dave’s Dad, joined us yesterday and we all enjoyed pizza for supper and lots of yummy baked goods throughout the evening.    However, a nasty fever hit Janna last night on her way to bed, and she was up several times during the night.  The bliss seems to have ended as Janna woke up totally miserable this morning.  Fever/chills/ and wouldn’t eat or drink a single thing I offered her ( And I did offer all her favorites!) All she wanted was for mommy to snuggle her for hours on end.  Literally.  She has just sat on someones lap snuggled into them all day long. 

 We tried to juggle taking turns going to different church services so someone could be home with Janna.  But although Dave got out early this morning, it didn’t quite work for me to get out later.  So! I feel like I have been snuggling one of my girls non-stop for the whole day.

 Dave has done a great job taking over the cuddle role, and forcing some fluids gradually into her. She was still miserable, and sort of floppy and worrying me.  Finally, we made her drink about a quarter cup of apple juice.  She fought through the whole thing, and then immediately after threw up all over the place.   We gave her a bath, AND she all of a sudden became a new girl.  She ran downstairs and wanted to play and read books, and then bolted to the table and moaned for us to get her in her chair.  She downed a monster bowl of KD with some fruits and veggies, and while she is still a bit whiney- I am not worried she is about to sink into a coma or anything!  She just needed a puke and bath I guess J

The kids just ate supper and there is only a bit of time before we start bedtime.  I know this is maybe not the greatest time for a sick kid. BUT!  I am happy that Jesse and I got the worst out of the way, and that we now have some extra hands to help out.  When Janna threw up, Poppie ran the bath, I carried her upstairs to strip her down, and Nana cleaned up the mess while Dave got changed.   All hands on deck around here!!!  I don’t know how I would have taken care of Janna along with the other two all by myself today if this were a normal weekday.  Hopefully the worst of this bug will pass along and people will be happy (although perhaps a bit snotty) for Christmas.

Exciting times!  We are all crossing our fingers that Nana and Poppie stay strong! The kids are delighted to have them here.  I haven’t taken too many pics, but here are a few from Nana’s camera.  Thanks for reading! I’m out.

my confession for the day....

Well, I am feeling a bit old today.  Last night I decided to brush my hair.  Something I rarely do, but probably should.  It was late and I really wanted to get to bed, and as I was sort of tearing through my hair I saw something in the mirror gleaming.  Upon closer examination, I realized it was a LONG glistening fully GREY hair.  I was sort of in awe.  I pulled it out to get rid of the evidence and started looking for more.  I found 2 more.  I am getting grey hair and I'm not even 30!!!

With the birth of each of my children, I feel like there has been some major physical change.
With Jesse... Although I lost all the actual pounds.... my hips and ribcage were widened to the point I couldn't squeeze into my jeans OR fit into any of my previous bras.  With Janna, I got a few faint wrinkles kicking in around the eyes.  And Baby 3... could I be going grey?  I am hoping not!

There are so many sacrifices that a parent makes for a child.  I realized this to a certain extent when I was younger- but not even close to it's full capacity.  I never once, though, thought about the physical toll on a momma, either from pregnancy or sleepless nights, or stress.  I feel like I need to say THANK YOU to my mom for so much that I never realized.  I love you Deborah ;)  I'm sure that I will discover more and more things along the way that inspire this guilty and thankful appreciation towards my mom.

But- it's worth it! There is nothing quite like the snuggles of a newborn, the adorable dancing and squeals that come from a toddler, or the things a 3 year old will say! Jesse told Dave a few nights ago that he wanted to follow God.  Dave said that was good, and asked him how he would follow God. " Well, dad... I will just walk right behind him."  He continued on to tell Dave that he wasn't going to "sin".  Then after a pause, "But Janna sins!"

Well, off to bed for me.  Finally got my baby to sleep after her little hour of evening grumps. (I don't know if I can really call them grumps- she continues to be SO good)  Here we are swaying around the house for a bit to relieve some gas pains, while daddy marks at the table, and Jesse and Janna sleep away the night.   Oh sleep... I'm coming!   Thanks for reading, one and all. I'm out!

forward and back, and MORE cookies

Well, I am home from church with the 3 kids this morning while Dave plays guitar at the service.  Jesse has a yucky cough and is a bit warm this morning, and so we had to keep him home from Sunday School. 

Robyn is sleeping, Jesse is a bit under the weather, and Janna is in another one of her diva moods.  After trying to make everyone happy, I felt like I was just making things worse- so left the kids to play in the living room and tackled another cookie recipe and am now blogging.  Somehow they seemed to mellow out once I left them alone.   It’s funny how kids can be like that.  I have found with each of my babies, also, that sometimes after trying and trying to get them asleep or settled from fussiness- just putting them down seems to calm them right down.  Dave and I both like our space, so maybe our kids have picked up on that ;)

Many people have been asking how the kids have been adjusting to baby Robyn as of late.  We have been lucky to still have no jealousy issues- they both ADORE Robyn.   Whenever Robyn cries, Jesse runs over and strokes her face and gently says stuff like, “it’s ok- don’t cry.  I’m right here. You’re alright baby girl.”  If this fails to soothe the baby, Jesse will sometimes sternly yell at me, “ Mom!  Robyn needs milk.  Feed her!”   Janna also loves touching her sister.  Recently, Janna will pull up beside Robyn to read a book.  After flipping through a few pages, she will lift up the pictures to show Robyn a page.  This morning, upon seeing some milk dribble on the baby’s face, Janna RAN to find a cloth to wipe her up. Despite no overt jealousy issues, the kids are feeling the change, and have both responded in classic, but opposite approaches.  Jesse is doing a bit of regression, while Janna is embracing progression.

So, Jesse has decided that being baby-ish is cool.  He wants to wear a diaper all day (which we have declined)  He pretends to spit up foamy spit and asks for us to wipe him up (to which we usually say “disgusting- go get your own Kleenex big boy”)  He also pulls out baby talk, and will ask for help with silly things like, “I can’t get on the couch.” Luckily, this isn’t 24-7 or anything.  We just get little glimpses of it here and there each day.  Maybe if he was our only child we would think it was cute.  But, we have other younger kids to put in diapers, clean spit up, and help onto the couch.  We prefer 3 year old Jesse!  We have been trying to give lots of praise and big boy jobs to encourage this, and hoping it will pass.

Janna, has gone the other way.  Since Robyn was born, it’s like she has realized she is no longer the baby and has progressed in leaps and bounds with certain things.  Her language is growing by a few words each day it seems, she is being way more independent in playing and reading as well.   The other neat thing, is that when I am holding, changing or feeding Robyn, Janna behaves pretty well.  She doesn’t ask to be picked up or whine, and seems content with that.  However- when the baby is down for a nap- Janna is back to being a bit clingy on her off days.  The final thing I wanted to mention was that a few days after Robyn was born, Janna decided that she wanted to potty train!  She ran to the bathroom and said, “PEE! PEE!” while pulling at her pants and pointing at the toilet.  I thought it was funny and took off her things and put her on there.  She beamed!  She didn’t pee, and I really don’t think she is ready.  More importantly, I am NOT ready to put in the effort and energy at this point with her.  Jesse was ONE weekend to potty train because he was fully ready.  She would be much longer- because she isn’t.  She has continued to grab at herself when she is peeing and THEN run and ask to be put on the potty.  If I have a free hand, sometimes I give into her whims.   But- it’s just to encourage her interest in it- not tackle the training.  If it was just Jesse and Janna at this point, I would give it a shot over a week... but really bad timing to decide she wants to use the toilet J

Here she is the other night, doing her thing!

It’s all very interesting to watch!  As I mentioned, while I was letting my kids entertain themselves, I made another bath of GF Christmas cookies.  Yesterday I tackled these cherry chocolate macaroon squares that were really tasty- but today, I was more excited to try some chocolate mint butter cookies, as I love all three of these things.    They are a gluten free classic butter cookie, rolled in turbinado sugar for a bit of added crunch, and a tiny square of Ande’s crème de menth chocolate shoved inside, drizzled in more minty chocolate.    They turned out perfectly delicious.  I love this woman!  She is making gluten free baking much more appealing to me these days.  Here they are!  Thanks for reading. I’m out! 

grumpy kids, tears and cookies

Today has been a wonderful day so far.  Dave had the older kids out all morning while the baby slept.  So I’ve got lots of work done around the house.  I plan to get the END of my Christmas shopping done this afternoon, and then hang out with the 3 kids solo while Dave had a music practice tonight.  I am hoping they all behave for tonight.  Yesterday was a bit of a disaster.

All 3 of my kids woke up in “moods.”  Janna was bursting into tears every 30 seconds over EVERYTHING and anything.  Jesse was whiney and defiant, and Robyn was overtired and could not settle to sleep.  I had to tackle groceries with the 3 of them like this, and I felt like bursting into tears by the end of it.  I was relieved to get everyone settled in for nap time, and fell into bed exhausted and desperate for 20 minutes of sleep.  Well, Jesse had other plans. He was being VERY loud and kept leaving his room and coming into my room to tell me something or claim he needed to use the washroom, or that he needed a certain toy, etc.  Simply put, was annoying me TO BITS!   To the point I decided that kids are rotten and that baby 3 is the final one!   I put him back in his room, gave him one final scold and then closed his door and decided to just get up and do some work because the whole “trying to sleep” thing was really depressing me.   I sat down to check my FB and email before tackling a to-do list, and erupted into uncontrollable tears upon discovering the tragic shootings in Connecticut that morning.   I just cried for a while. 

Then, I felt super thankful for my kids, and thankful Jesse was not sleeping.  I ran up to his room and just hugged the little guy for a bit- who was pretty confused.  I took him out of his “quiet/nap time” an hour early and we made some Christmas cookies together while the girls slept.   I felt silly for the complaints and frustrations I’d been simmering over all morning.  My kids are healthy and alive and well.  

Now, I wish I could say that the rest of the afternoon went amazingly.   However- Jesse was still being a punk, Janna and Robyn woke up both in tears and unsettled, and I was still tired, sore and experiencing vicious headaches.  BUT!  My perspective and attitude towards my struggles were severely improved.  I kept wanting to blog something significant in regards to the shooting all day, but it’s too sad and too big for me.   And I’m not even really affected directly by any of this.  I can’t imagine what this town and these families are going through.   I really have no words.

On a way less important and much happier note, my cookies with Jesse turned out amazingly.  When I first got married, I decided to tackle Christmas baking and do a bunch of gluten free things.  However when only 3 of the 8 varieties turned out yummy (according to me- Dave loved it all).  I decided it wasn’t worth the time and money and effort.  I don’t really like baking, and then to have yucky creations as the end result.  very frustrating.   However- recently we’ve been getting lots of sweets from other people and there are always delicious things at parties and events.  The majority of time, Dave hasn’t been able to eat any of it, and I feel sorry for him!  Lol.  well, the other day y mom in law sent me a link to a gluten-free blog by Mrs. Spinner, and she had a picture of her little spread of GF treats (with recipes included) that were SO SO pretty.  The look of having such a yummy and colorful assortment of baked goods, drew me in.  So!  having no clue if her stuff was even good or not, I wrote up a HUGE ingredient list to tackle all 6 varities of cookies and squares. I have completed 3 of the 6 so far- and they have all been delightful! Yay- success.  

Jesse and I tackled a classic ginger/molasses cookie yesterday,and they were JUST as good as a REALLY good normal cookie.  I don’t think I could even taste a difference.  Just that little amount of crunch on the outside- but TOTALLY soft and perfect in the middle.  Best gluten free cookie I think I have ever tasted.  Here is Jesse very proud of our creations.

This Mrs. Spinner lady is awesome!  I think I will have to try more of her baking recipes in the future.  Well, my kids are due home any minute, and so I should prepare for them!   They always burst through the door like they haven’t seen me in a week- and I know this won’t last for too long- so I try and play it up.  Thanks for reading! I’m out. 

My Labor Story baby 3!

Robyn is one month old today!  I had her in for a weight check this morning, and she is up to a whopping 8 pounds and 13 ounces!  I gave myself a deadline of one month in which to post my labor story.  I love reading about other people’s labors.  Many moms love to hear about this experience.  However!  If you are due soon- you may not want to read this.  If you are a man- you may not want to read this.  If you are petrified about labor- you may not want to read this.   If poop makes you very uncomfortable, you also may want to avoid reading this.  Just a disclaimer.

So, on November 13, I woke up with a bit of dull lower back pain, and thought “hmmm...could this be the day?”  However- I continued on with our normal routine.  The kids and I got out to the chiropractor, and came home and went for a wagon ride, and played in the backyard for a while.  It was an unusually mild day.   I had some random contractions here and there, and then several more starting at noon.  But- having had many of these little spells MONTHS before- I really didn’t think too much of it. 

At 2:00 though, I decided I should start timing them.  Sure enough, they were 5-6 minutes apart.  They were mild, but consistent all the same.  At 3:00 I decided to send Dave an email at school.  Not to rush him home or anything, but just so he was in the loop, that this might be the day J  I also texted Katie who was our person to watch Jesse and Janna that evening and night.  She was due at work until 5, then planning on going out for dinner with a friend.  She had said they would eat somewhere close- or she would cancel if I thought I was potentially in labor.  I got the kids up from their nap and we just plunked on the couch with a snack and TV so I could keep relative track of the timing of my contractions.

Well, minutes after my email, Dave calls home in a bit of a panic.”  Ok! Should I come home?!”   I laughed and told him I wasn’t even sure if this was it, and NO to finish his work.  It would be HOURS before any action would be necessary.  I re-cuddled myself in with the kids, and had to chuckle when 15 minutes later Dave bursts through the door (about an hour earlier than normal) after an aggressive bike ride home.  “The guys at school all told me to leave now!  That with baby number 3, it could happen very quick, and we don’t want a baby on the living room floor while I’m at school.”  I was still not convinced I was in labor, so sort of rolled my eyes and said, OK.  The phone rings, and it’s an emergency call from a friend who is in university and often has Dave edit her final papers.  She wanted to know if she could send him her paper to edit that night.  “I’ll do my best! Chrissy might be in labor.”  So, Dave plunks himself on his laptop and is frantically trying to edit this thing, while I keep telling him to take his time... I’m fine...I might not even be labor.

By 5:00, Dave had finished editing the paper, and my contractions were still 5 minutes apart and getting much sharper.  At this point, I felt pretty sure this might be it, and so we cancelled our small group meetings for the night.  I told Dave to let me text all my girls first (as they would be sad to find out I was in labor from their husbands) and then Dave emailed his guys to let them know.   We ate supper, and then Dave dealt with the kids, while I rushed around cleaning, getting laundry in, and tidying up.  Really unimportant things, but they just felt pressing!

At 7:00 we put the kids to bed, and Dave sat down to make lesson plans for a supply for the next day.  This step made me feel nervous, and I kept saying... “But what a waste of time if this isn’t IT?!”    I was still in a bit of denial, but decided to pack up my hospital bag with final things, and get into something comfy all the same. 

By 8:00 I was having to sway a bit through the contractions and making some moany noises, and was 99% sure the baby was on it’s way.   I called Katie to ask her to come home.  She was out in South keys with her friend whose car was broken down and they were running around looking for a boost.  She had not received my text earlier and so had no idea anything was going on,  and told me she would get home as soon as she could!  A few minutes later,  I get a call from all my girls who have met for small group. “Chrissy?! Are you in Labor?”  All 6 of them hadn’t gotten my texts either.  Weird.  I got off the phone and had Dave look at my phone.  It said they sent no problem.  I had sent them hours ago.  I tried to make a call with the phone, and a voice pops on saying that my phone has been deactivated.  Well, we have all our contacts on the phone, and it’s supposed to be our main form of communication while at the hospital.  So!  Dave tries to make some calls to get this thing fixed!  However- Telus closes at 6.  And we even tried calling different time zones, but were not able to get anyone.  Katie came home around this time to my butt in the air draped over the couch trying to ease a contraction.  She is very scared of pregnancy and all things labor related and so that was pretty funny as she gasped, “Are you having your baby?!  Go to the hospital!”  

Everything was in line.  Katie was home, Dave’s lesson plans sent, our bag all set to go WITHOUT our phone.  But, we hung around the house a bit longer.  I wanted to do a good bit of the labor at home and not be at the hospital for hours OR worse, sent home.  So, we decided to go for a walk.  We got all dressed and I was dismayed to see it raining outside. “Fine!” I said, “Let’s just go to the hospital.”  Katie was relieved! 

We arrived around 10, and I was excited to see that my actual OB and his  “special little helper” were in for the night.  He wasn’t on call for Jesse or Janna, and it would be cool for him to get to actually deliver the baby.  Although, at the same time, I sort of felt more comfortable with the idea of a stranger delivering the baby.   We got settled into our observation room, and an emergency C section whisked away a bunch of the staff.  So, we waited for an hour in this tiny claustrophobic feeling room.   I like to move around and be distracted while I’m in labor, and so this was a pretty long and painful hour of the experience.  Finally, the doc came in, and I was pleased to discover I was 5 cm dilated and they would admit me to my room immediately.

So, shortly after 11, I got settled into my large, spacious and clean room.  My nurse, Deneave (rhymes with believe) was truly a GOD send.  I just really clicked with her personality, and she was tremendously supportive of my desire for a natural birth.  With about 90% of deliveries at the hospital on epidural, and those without having a mid-wife with them, I was worried my nurse would think I was crazy or have no clue how to help out.  However, Deneave was absolutely amazing.  The next 3 hours, we did several different positions during contractions, and she was very encouraging, helpful, and we all just chatted away between them.   I had told her I wanted to “save the water- a hot bath or shower” for the end when the pain was REALLY the most intense.  Around 2 AM, the contractions were pretty horrible, and so she checked my progress.  I was pretty disappointed to discover I was only at about 6 cm.  Three hours for 1 cm!   She encouraged me to hop into the bath to try and relax myself, and then we’d try and move things along.

My previous labors, I had gone in with the plan to get as far as I could go au-naturel, and then get an epidural for the pushing part.  The “ring of fire”  was what really freaked me out, and so I had made it to 8 and 9 cm with the other kids before getting the epidural.  I had avoided water previously because for Jesse I was hooked up to an IV for Group B strep and it was very annoying trying to move around.  With Janna, I didn’t want to progress too far in the water to the point I couldn’t get the epidural.  

So, trying the water was a new experience for me, and was it EVER amazing! We filled up the HUGEST tub ever with hot water, and I just laid back like I was having a bath for the first 10 minutes to relax myself and get some rest.  I had been on my feet for most of the night, and it was just SO great to lay down and rest.  After getting some quality relaxation in, Deneave suggested I sort of hang my body over the tub while on my knees through the contractions to have gravity on my side.  These were pretty painful, but they felt really productive and sort of de-tensified because of the heat. 

I stayed in the tub for a while.  We had low lights and Dave was pulled up to the tub sitting on a stool right there with me through it all.  He was very supportive and a real calming spirit in the room. However, around 45 minutes into the bath, I felt REALLY gross.  I was shaky and hot.  I felt like I might puke.  I wanted to get out, but each time I stood up, it was so cold and I would sink back into the heat.  The nurse popped in and out as I wanted, and had to leave the room for a few minutes.  As she left, I felt this huge blow, and realized my water had broke.  I panicked and had Dave page her.  She came back and I told her my water broke, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get out of the tub or stay in.  She encouraged me to try  2 more contractions in the tub- then to hop out and she would check my dilation again.  Well, I managed one more contraction, then the next one, something snapped in me. 

I turned into a psycho laboring woman!  I threw myself backwards in the tub, while wailing and kicking and  yelling things along the lines, “This is NOT working for me! I NEED something different.  This is NOT ok!  I am NOT ok!”  Dave and Deneave helped me out  of the tub when the contraction ended and told me we would go to the bed to be checked.   I got my swim top off because it was soaked and hobbled over to the bed.  Another contraction hit, and I threw my body forward on the bed while yelling and groaning, “ SHE IS FALLING! I’m POOPING!  The baby is FALLING!!!!”  The nurse rubbed my back and very calmly and slowly said, “ It’s ok sweetie.  It’s just a lot of pressure.  The baby is not falling, you are ok, you’re doing great...”  She reached down to sort of feel around that area as I still had my swim bottoms on, and all of a sudden she sort of panicked and was like, “ Dave! Get me gloves over there!”  She reached for an emergency bell to ring and started trying to haul my bottoms off.  Well, the baby WAS crowning at this point.  My body was pushing out that head    (I WAS pooping) and there was NOTHING I could do to stop it.  Dave was trying to find some gloves, Deneave was trying to get my bottoms off and I was wailing like a CRAZY person.  My contraction ended and I was able to help get my swimsuit off, and climb onto the bed.  Another one hit and I let out these unearthly scream like grunts again!  I was surprised at how LITTLE control I had over myself.  I thought I would be collected and calm, but it all came so fast!  Boy- did the hot water EVER do wonders for speeding things up.  I flipped onto my back at the same time that the doctor walked in, lifted up my legs and was finally told to push.  One big push and out she came!  What incredible relief!  She was put right on me, and had an explosive poop all over my stomach.  NOT that beautiful calm and controlled picture of natural birth that some people envision or get to experience. 

But, in the end, I don’t even remember the ring of fire, nor did I care about the poop.  I was just mesmerized by my little girl and loved being able to finally meet her!  Tears welled up in my eyes and nothing else mattered for the next little bit.  Not the couple of stitches I needed, not the intense chills and sweats I burst into, not the intense pressure as they kept pushing on my uterus to get things moving. 

Eventually the baby and I got cleaned up, and Dave had a chance to snuggle her before she nursed for a good hour.  We wheeled out of the delivery rooms into ours at 5 am and I was so happy the sun was still down and I could pass out for a few hours.  Dave crashed into an intense snore within minutes of getting settled on his cot, and while I wanted to sleep, all I could do was lay there replaying the events of the past few hours.  It’s amazing the lasting adrenaline that surges through your body in these situations. I was quite happy when Dave woke up at 7 so I had someone to compare facts with.  He snuggled into bed with me, and I said , “I feel like that was a CRAZY INTENSE last little bit of labor? Can we talk about it... like, did I say and do what I thought I did?”  His response was a chuckle and “you were the picture of calm, Chrissy.”  before delving into the true account from his perspective.

Anyways, another Labor Down! And although the last little bit was kind of traumatizing in that I just wasn’t ready for it,  I’m happy things went the way they did and the baby was healthy and the labor had no complications.   Robyn continues to be a mellow darling of happiness and health, and I’m thankful she came the way she did!  Thanks for reading! I’m out. 

PUNCTUALITY

Well, I tend to blog on the heel of feeling certain extremes....really good, really excited, really blah, or perhaps really horrible.  I am happy to report that today I am feeling pretty good!  I got in a whole hour long nap this afternoon, and I just had a 30 minute bath, AND the baby is still sleeping, so I have a quick little chance to blog before trying to go to bed ( She’s been out for 4 hours, so I’m sure the second I go to bed she’ll be up!)

Anyways, I’ve been doing pretty good lately with getting places on time with all three kids.  I do like to organize, and so that certainly helps with being punctual.  I always make a to do list the night before for the next day and if time could be crunched I make little notes like, “start getting kids ready at 8:00” for myself, and make sure I have my bag packed the night before OR a list of what I need to take.   I haven’t been attempting more than one social outing most days with the kids because it is QUITE the process, but today we had 2 places to get to in a timely fashion.

OUTING ONE: PLAY CLASS at a GYM TALE 9 AM:  FAIL!

So, the kids have their little gym play class on Tuesdays at 9 am.  I managed to get everyone up and dressed/fed/ready and out the door with 25 minutes until we needed to arrive in Barrhaven (which is only a 15 minute drive)  I was feeling pretty good about myself as I hustled the bundled up kids out the door into the icy cold.   However, upon getting them to the van, I could not get their doors open!  I tried both sides, and after a few good pulls decided to open my door and get the van running.  Maybe a few minutes of heat would do the trick.  In the meantime, I contined to yank on the doors.  Well, it was getting colder and I was getting crankier, so I started banging on the frame a bit with my hands trying to loosen them up.  Nothing.  So, then I took to kicking the door a bit.  OK. A LOT.  Poor Jesse and Janna are standing at the door just looking at me like, “what the heck.”  When my kicking failed ( I was SURE that was going to work)  I took to doing several  little running starts with a full body side check into the van doors to get them to open.  UGH!  My van is parked in the middle of a bunch of townhouses that the main windows look right out at my vehicle...and there I was with my 3 little ducklings staring at me while I BEAT my van door senseless.   I imagine my neighbors thought I had rage issues.

 I would feel better about this story if the door opened.  But it didn’t.  I ended up throwing the kids into the front seats and helping them climb into the back of the van.  And THEN I had to get Robyn’s huge carseat through the little middle aisle and clipped into her base.  SO HARD!  When I got into the van I realized the door would probably open easily from the inside, and felt a little more dumb.  But after buckling the kids in, I tried opening it from the inside, and that failed as well!  So, I resorted to more side checking.  That didn’t work, so I braced myself against Robyn’s seat and lifted my feet up onto either side of the door frame and pushed with all the might( and stance) of a laboring woman.  Cha Ching!  Success. 

Anyways, I was 15 minutes late for the class.  Next time I will have to take cold door malfunction potential into account. FAIL.

OUTING 2: Baby meet-n- greet at RCHS 3:10pm SUCCESS

Dave’s school put on a little meet and greet today for the staff to have a chance to meet Robyn.  I made it ON TIME!! Yay me. In fact, I was a few minutes early, and so they had Jesse page Dave on the intercom system, “ Daddy....where are you??  Daddy...where are you???” 

So, I thought this event would just entail maybe some  food in the staff room and people popping in and out  to meet the baby and say hi.  But, the “joy and sorrow” committee is made up of 2 younger female teachers this year (who- might I add- are pretty funny) and they decided they wanted the primarily male staff at Dave’s school to have to experience what women go through a million times... the typical  “baby shower.”  So!   There were pink balloon and streamer decorations up, and smell the chocolate in the diaper games among others,  and prizes, and yes, yummy sweets.  And it was all pretty funny, as the majority of the teachers are men.  Jesse, Janna and Robyn were well attended to and entertained by all the wonderful staff, and it was just a really relaxed, and enjoyable way to put in that last hour before Dave usually gets home.    

Anyways, as I finish writing this and anticipating going to bed, Robyn is of course now up... so I should attend to the little love.  Thanks for reading one and all. I’m out!