Day 11- Aye Aye captain

Our little pirate is reporting to duty! Can't wait for sailing trips with dad and uncle will.
Things are much better on the sanity front now that we're having about an hour and a half sleep between feedings (before it was just constant). We had a weigh in and unfortunately he's not gaining weight (still -20%) but at least not losing weight. We're supplementing with the tube + pumped milk + formula now to try to get his weight up. Continuing the appointments every two days until he starts on the up and up. Morale is good though.
Nice 'n pooped after a big feed. Love to squishy face
I think he has gorgeous hands. My nails are hideous, he definitely got these from Simon/Jane.

Adjusting

Warning - lotsa baby stuff I wouldn't have had a clue on or been interested in before. But I know there are some preggos reading, so thought I'd update. Will post pics later...

I had a bit of (okay, a lot of) a breakdown yesterday. It wasn't pretty. We had a great first few days and I was on a high. Then poor Riley weighed in 15% down on his 5-day and then continued to lose weight on his 7-day. In between he was super fussy and would "feed" for a few hours, constantly falling asleep on the breast, then fuss for an hour before wanting to feed again. Eventually we'd both fall asleep for a few hours in the morning exhausted. And while we had my nan here to help and she would take him while he slept I am just too programmed to do "stuff", especially with visitors over. Oh, and his poor bum was raw and he had constant (every few minutes) squirts, so it was impossible to keep clean. It was a downwards spiral (so fast!) of his being too tired to eat, so not getting sustenance and therefore being tired. So yes, I was falling apart.

Humbling.

Thank heaven for midwives. Leah came yesterday, spent three hours with us, took control and we now have a plan. He's not sucking right even though the latch looks good. He's not getting enough milk and especially hind milk (the creamy stuff) - so he's not gaining weight and he's got the runs since the balance is off. First, we're getting his weight up by pumping after he feeds for half an hour on the boob. While I pump, Simon feeds him the pumped stuff in a little tube (avoid nipple confusion). At least 8x/day (every three hours). Once he starts gaining weight, we'll deal with the longer term fix.

Leah left at 4pm after our first pumped feeding. Immediate results. He had a bunch of pees, poos are more solid and further apart and he sleeps. Also, Simon's helping with the feeds so is now getting up at night as well. Last night he was responsible for the alarm which made such a difference just having someone else change his diaper and wake me up when he is ready. Thanks Simon.

Okay, this was long and way too detailed. My heart goes out to people with sick or premie babies - a tiny taste of it and I was a wreck. Will keep you posted. For now, bed.

Day 6 - Riley it is

Bubbs now has an official name - Riley

Now I just have to remember to call him that, although I figured bubbs is okay for the first year at least. Right Erica + bubbs/Alex?

Poor bubbs has a wicked diaper rash. I craved milk throughout the pregnancy, I became one of those people you saw at safeway buying four gallons at a time. That's completely disappeared, and in its place was oranges and tomatoes. I must have had at least 5 oranges each day, and tomato salad. Well, poor bubbs got the squirts (acidic squirts at that) and is super sore. I'm sorry bubba! He also had his first weigh-in today and has lost just over 10% of his body weight. So no more citrus for me until we have him back being comfortable.

We had our first walk in the forest all together today. Tenge was thrilled to show bubbs his favorite trails and flushed all the birds for him.

Day 4 - So Proud!

Warning: I think its the emotional day today:) We are so proud, I keep crying when I look at our bubba

We had read a lot about pregnancy, and went to prenatal classes and everything. And yet bubba has now shown us just how much we didn't know, and have to learn from him.

We have been blessed with a great birth, minimal recovery required, and a healthy little boy. We are both amazed at how much he's taught us so far. It's like if we just listen to him we'll be okay. The poor guy hasn't slept any more than we have, and he's still learning how to breath and poo and nurse and everything. My milk came in and he dealt with it. He fed just enough that there's enough. This morning when there wasn't anything there, I was frustrated. He wasn't phased in the least and kept powering through it switching sides every few minutes until the milk came back - in like an hour! Poor guy has blisters on his lips and the top of his palate. It's like getting frustrated and giving up are learned skills. We're learning if we just follow his lead all's good.

My nan came in today and is a proud great grandmother. Simon's mom spent the first two nights with us too and was super as were his brother and dad - so helpful without being intrusive. Thank you for your support.

A face only his mother could love. Good... less competition for me:)

Gran and Grandpa

Great-nanny
He eased into eye-opening. First two days... virtually never. Now he'll look around, but only ever with one eye at a time.

Pics - day 2

The more I look at bubbs, the more he looks like a chow dog. Or a pug. He is too cute!

My forehead, frown lines and definitely a Trethewey nose. Simon's mouth and chin.

Quit taking pictures of me mom!

Still not decided on a name. I'm leaning towards Buddha. Simon thinks George as in Seinfeld. Right now he's still known as Bubba or bruiser. Only problem is "Bruiser Grace" doesn't quite fit!

Welcome bubba!

We are happy to announce the arrival of a healthy little boy on Monday pm. From when he decided it was time to make his appearance to his birth was pretty quick - at one stage mom was yelling at dad to put down the $$&*# watch (trying to get contractions that lasted one minute) and call the %*$ midwife - and she came just in time to meet the baby. Good thing Simon is a flyhalf with good hands.

Bubbs arrived screaming at 7:38pm, weighing 8lb6oz, 50.5cm long. Ten days early, but nice 'n pink and chubby. He was born at home (no time for hospital!) and we're all doing well, if shellshocked. Name is coming - we thought it was a girl!

Proud pappa

Few more pics

38 weeks - feeling good!
I'm a tiger, hear me roar!


Poor tenge. Kicked out of his house by a 4 lb kitten.

Simon's working for 2010 Olympics. He gets to carry a radio; they have no idea they don't need to pay him just because of this. It's a fun time to be in Vancouver! I'll get a better pic of him in his smurf costume (all the VANOC guys wear all-blue) and radio soon.
I adore you, Si.

Pregnancy - final thoughts

Feeling like I'll pop soon, just hoping that the last-minute cleaning urge sets in nice 'n early since the house is a sty. Hopefully next time we write it will be with a big announcement and a lot of yawns.

I never thought I'd be a person who enjoys pregnancy. I don't like kids. I've never thought of myself as the 'mom' kind, and the idea of prenatal yoga is scary. Yet I think I speak for both Si and I when I say we've enjoyed this time together.

I don't know if its because of previous miscarriage that we appreciate the "annoyances" instead of begrudging them. I remember the first time being frustrated every time I got sick in the first 12 weeks; then when suddenly I stopped feeling sick but before the miscarriage I was trying to get sick, walking past the frozen fish section and everything, trying to get some sign that I was still pregnant even though I didn't feel like it anymore. I am definitely more conscious of these symptoms now, and don't resent them.

Some random thoughts on pregnancy
- First 12 weeks are deadly; after that it was a positive slope to feeling normal. Exhaustion like nothing else.
- After the first 12 weeks sometimes I'd have bad days where I'd be out of breath, or unable to walk fast, or struggling to bend over to tie my shoelaces etc. I initially thought that it was my getting bigger that made it difficult, and that it would just get worse and the anticipation of this made me project that the pregnancy would suck in a few weeks. For example, around 20 weeks I had a clutz stage where I was slow AND kept feeling like I'd fall over, and dropping everything. However, everything came in waves - great days and mediocre - had I not anticipated forward I would have taken these not as good times better.
- There is nothing more exciting than feeling bubba kick when noone else knows. Bubbs loved power point; sitting in training or meetings made her go nuts. I would have the biggest smile inside knowing our little 'secret'.

I am so looking forward to meeting this little person and getting to see what parts of Simon s/he has and what parts of me. I would love for her to get Simon's calmness, his ability to make everything into a game, his bigger picture and his caring. My skin, logical brain and .... well, can't think of much else:) We can't figure out whose legs she'll get - my big strong diesels or his agile good looking (but hairy!) fast ones.

Simon is going to be a great dad. I am looking forward to starting our family.

Tiger attack!

Love how Tiger and Tenge play. We got a new camera, trying out some movies quickly tonight!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI0ktdSHUNU