So, I really need to know...

How do you working moms do it? I want to feel like I am not alone in this, but I just can not keep my house clean and pristine. I work a full time job outside of the house, as does Chris. We also have the 4 kids to keep up with. I need to know, how in the world can I keep this house clean, and not stress over cleaning everyday. I know there are some of you out there that have the answer, I have seen your houses!

Changes are coming!

We are very excited to have a big change in our lives VERY soon! Keep checking back for updates!

Hello Blog World........

So, I guess I kind of forgot to update my blog. I got it in my head that everyone has facebook, and just stopped. Tonight, I sort of was reminded that not everyone has facebook, and a lot of people don't use the facebook account that they have. So, in an effort to try and keep in touch with those people as well, I am going to try my best to update my blog more regularly!

I will start by posting some new pictures...

Gabby & Alina
Gabby & Alina
Alina & Nicola
Nicola
Nicola

Now a brief update. Things are going okay. We keep pretty busy with 4 kids. Christian is 13 and in grade 8, Gabriella will be 4 soon, and she is in pre-kindergarden, Alina is 2 and has recently had her adenoids out and tubes put into her ears, and Nicola is almost 10 months old, and is for sure our miracle baby! Our children are all so amazing, we love them to bits! But if you ask me if I want a vacation from them............ lol.

The Natural Baby Company (people who make gro baby diapers) is giving away their new Tiny Bubbles Laundry Detergent. I haven't tried it yet, I actually just learned about it a few minutes ago. I am always looking for something different to try with our cloth diapers.... I have been pretty happy with the product we have been using, but hey, I may like the Tuny Bubbles better... you just never know. Click on the link bellow to find out more about it!

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/tiny-bubbles-p-732.html

A quick (and much needed) Update!

I just wanted to update everyone really quick... I need to get back to Nicola's room. We are still in the hospital. She has been getting treatment for Pneumonia for a week now. There still seems to be crackles in her lungs and the chest x-ray from this morning still showed fluid in the lungs. She has a large amount of thick mucus build up. She will be going to Charlottetown on Tuesday to be tested for CF. If you guys could keep her in your prayers, I would really appreciate it. I will try and update again as I know more.

Gwyn

What's going on...

WOW! It has been a crazy week! Nicola was born on April 6th at 8:46PM. She was 6lb 10oz and 18 5/6 inches. She is a strong girl and eating well. She had trouble keeping food down at first, but has been doing very well the past few days. We were orriginally going to go home on Friday, April 10th, but when they checked her blood, her billie levels were really high, so she went under the lights. While under the lights, her oxygen levels went down, so she had the oxygen going into her nose. She is no longer under the lights, and the oxygen has not been running for the past 12 hours! We may get to go home by Thursday of this week, but I refuse to get my hopes up again. We are still at the hospital, and she is still in the NICU. Those who are reading this on facebook, I am unable to get on facebook right now. My laptop is not picking up the wifi anymore for some reason, so I am using the parents lounge computer (facebook is blocked). I am posting the birth story below. So those who have weak stomaches may not want to read any further ;)
*************************************************************************************
So, it all started around February 26th. I woke up with contractions about 2-3 minutes apart. Chris took the girls to my parents, and took me into the hospital. They got me on the monitors, and noticed the contractions, but also noticed that the baby's heart rate was shooting back and forth from the 120's to the 220's. The nurse got a bit freaked out, and called in the doctor. She did not seem as worried, but it was bugging me, as the nurse was a bit paniced. My OB called to the IWK in Halifax and spoke to my doctor there. Her respoce was "send her IMEDIATLLY via life flight!" Wow... They called to get life flight set up, come to find out that it was grounded, so I was transported via ambulance. That was the most uncomfortable 4 hours of my life! I had a threatened pre term labor and I had to go through it in an ambulance with 2 men I don't know! Chris had to stay home because he had to work. I was taken right into ultrasound upon arrival. Baby was calm, and my contractions had also calmed down. I guess the meds to stop labor worked! I got my first steroid shot that day and the second one the next day. I spent 7 LONG weeks on bedrest in the hospital. Talk about boring! I was on level 3 bedrest, so I was allowed to get up and walk in the halls, but I had to stay on the floor I was a resident of. After a couple weeks of being on bed rest, I was allowed to go out on passes during the day. Ceri would pick me up and take me out to eat, and stuff like that. It was not until I hit 34 weeks that I was "allowed" to go shopping. We spent a lot of time walking at the malls.... but baby stayed put.

My doctor and I talked about an induction date.... we agreed on April 6th. It put me at 38 weeks, 5 days by one of my due dates, and 39 weeks 1 day buy my other due date. On the morning of April 6th, my doctor and a resident walked in. My doctor said "Ready to have a baby?!?!?" OMG, I was so excited! A couple hours later, they had stripped my membranes and put the gel in there to get things moving. Contractions kicked in with a vengence! Ceri and I sat in my room watching Wall-E waiting for things to happen.... I really did not think that we would make it through the movie. Around 6:30pm, we were getting ready to go down stairs to the labor room. Once I was in the bed down there and hooked up to monitors, Ceri went back up to get all my junk that I had aquired over my 7 week stay in that room. The contractions were about 2 minutes apart... but my water still had not broken. At 8:25pm, the doctor broke my water, 21 minutes later, at 8:46pm, Nicola Kathryn was out. She did not do so well right away. She scored a 3 on her first APGAR at one minute old... and an 8 on her second APGAR at 5 minutes old. I was freaking out, because I was not hearing her cry..... and the doctor was trying to keep my attention on gettting the placenta out. This was the first time (being my 3rd vaginal birth) that I had to push the placenta out. Nicola was rushed to the NICU, to do her first assesment. They got her weight, and all that fun stuff after making sure that all was okay. I basically got up and out of that bed and into the shower as quick as I could. That had to be the best shower I ever had. Followed by a visit with the new little bug! So, that is the birth story.... as of today (April 13) Nicola is still in the NICU. She has been off the oxygen now for 12 hours and is no longer under the billie lights. YEAH! We may go home soon!

Birth weight 3000 grams (6lb 10oz)
Birth length 48 cm, about 18 5/6 in

I had a dream...

**disclaimer... this might not be something you want to read if you are of the male variety**

Well, I had a dream last night that my water broke, but it wasn't just the normal, my water broke, and it was done, no. The "water" just kept coming. It wouldn't stop. There was "water" everywhere! I ran to the bath room, and sat on the toilet, until it over flowed.... then I moved to the bath tub, it filled up faster than it could drain. It was not making any sense... but what really does in pregnancy, right. It never stopped, I woke up having to pee though.

Baby is still inside. She does not seem to want to get out today. Chris would love it if she would get out, so we would be closer to coming home. He is having a hard time being home without me, and not being able to see me. It has now been 2 1/2 weeks. I know this is very hard on him, and it is not fair that he is having to do so much on his own. We are grateful for all the help that friends and family have offered.

Another siggy

I learned how to make it rain in photoshop! Check it out!


the right side is cut off a bit in my screen. if you would like to see the full image, click HERE

I have a new hobby!

Okay, so I was getting pretty bored with the same ol same ol in this good ol hospital room. So, I thought, what better way to kill time, than by doing something productive. So I have been reading lots of tutorials online on how to make digital scrap booking kits! I just completed my first kit today. If you would like to check it out, you can go to My Digital Scrapbooking blog. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, considering it was my first go at it. Please let me know what you think!

Made it through February!

Well, we officially made it through February, and there is still a baby in my tummy. This is good news! The goal right now is to try and keep her in there growing, at least until March 15th. So 15 days... at that point, if she tries to get out, they wont stop her. Last night was a good one on the monitors, no spikes in her heart rate. I don't have a lot to add. Not much has changed.

If you guys could really pray for Chris, he is getting frustrated that he can't be here with me, not even for a visit, because it is a long drive and the money for gas and tolls adds up so fast. And there is also the part where if he does not keep working, we loose the house and all. We don't want that. My phone call with him last night was rough. He just wishes that we were not so far apart. He seems to be doing pretty well with the girls, considering this is all knew to him. Thank you to everyone who has been helping out with the girls, I really appreciate you!

Here's what's knew...

I should really try and keep my blog up to date better. I know there are still a hand full of you that don't have facebook, so this update is for you. Those of you on facebook are going to get some repeat information in this update, as my blog posts are auto added to facebook.

Baby Nicola is doing pretty good. Still inside Mum. Her heart has been acting wacky in the mornings, but seems to calm down in the afternoon. Yesterday evening, she had a couple spots on the monitor where her heart jumped from 120's to 190's. I am not really sure how often the spikes are happening, because I am only on the monitors for 15 minutes after each meal. This morning, there was only one spike in the 15 minutes, so that is good. Yesterday mornings spikes caused us to have another ultrasound. My doctor caught the spikes on ultrasound as well, so I am not crazy, this really is happening!

At this point, I am still not sure how long they will keep me here at the IWK. The pediatric cardiologist said it could be 2 weeks, it could be 6... It all depends on what happens with her heart. The one thing that frustrates me every time I talk to him is that he calls her a fetus! I am sorry, but she is a BABY! A HUMAN! Off my soap box... Ceri has been treating me so well. She has visited me a lot, and I have only been here since Wednesday. She brought me movies, magazines, clothes (considering I only brought 2 day's worth), toiletries, snacks... She is spoiling me!

I miss the girls a lot. You'd think I would enjoy the break from them, but they are my life. I spend every day, almost every minute with them. So it is very hard to be so far away. It is also hard to be away from Chris. And I know it is not easy on him either. He has never had to care for them alone. He does have help, and for that I am so grateful, I just wish he was more open to accept the help that people are trying to offer. He is a very prideful man, and I am sure many of you can understand that. I am very proud of him, as he has been caring for the girls in the evening, and even using and washing cloth diapers (something he said he would never do!)

Well, I guess that is my update in a minute. I hope all is well with you and yours!

Something I found out yesterday

here's your hint:


Keep your comments on the net.... not out loud ;)

At the IWK

Well, here I am, at the IWK. I am hooked up to the monitors, and now baby is nice and calm. Doctor did a quick ultrasound and she said things seem to be looking okay. I am currently trying to choose what I want for super... I get to choose! As of now though, things look okay. I am in a private room, due to medical reasons. So it is nice and quiet!

I got the steroid shot in my hip, to help mature the baby's lungs, just in case an early delivery is necessary. I have to get a second one tomorrow... I guess it takes two.

I will update as I know more.

Making a buck!

So Chris and I had to head to the BELL store today, in search of a new remote for our Satellite box. Gabriella decided that it looked pretty good in her glass of milk, and now, it no longer works. When we asked the lady at the BELL store how much we were looking at to replace it, she told us it is $50! That is a lot of money for a remote! So then Chris asked her if it was the only remote that would work. She says, "Yes, there is no other remote that will work for Bell receivers." Just for the heck of it, we went down to Zellers (it's in the same mall) to have a look at the universal remotes. Well, all of the ones they sell at Zellers say that they will work with the Bell receiver! We bought the Sony remote that they sell there, for $14.99. And guess what, IT WORKS!!!!! And we like it a lot better than the one from BELL! So, if your child ever chooses to drop the Satellite remote in his/her milk, don't waste your money on the $50 remote!

What's going on?

Well. For starters, I would like to congratulate yet another bbc couple (and friends) for bringing a baby into the world on Gabby's birthday! That's right, this is the second time (that I know of) that friends from BBC decided to have their baby on my Gabby's birthday. Gabby and I are good at sharing, so we wont get upset, or try to take it away from you! Congrats to Jess & Justin, I can't wait to see pictures of baby Avi!

On another note, Gabriella's birthday was pretty good. We did not do a party, because we have all been sick around here; but we did go to my parents place for cake (it was yummy) and Gabby got her present from Gigi & Tad-cu. The day was a bit rush-rush overall, but that is what works best for Gabby anyway. We went to play group in the AM (she loves playgroup); then lunch with daddy, they a new hair cut for Gabby, she looks sooooooooo cute! I think we did pretty well for her on gifts this year too. We got her the Fisher Price Kid Tough portable DVD player. Since I take trips to Halifax, this will give her something to do on the drive besides saying "hey mommy, what are you doing" for 3.5 hours. She wanted to watch movies on it last night. Alina got her a Disney Princess directors chair. And, Alina loves it so much that she faught Gabby to sit in it..... Good thing I found it at liquidation world, I will have to get another the next time I am in Amherst (only a month away)!



Chris had his doctors appointment yesterday. Our family doctor told him that they are so many gall stones in his gallbladder, that he is likely to have another attack any day now. So, she has sent a referral to one of the surgeons, and he will have an appointment with him soon. The gallbladder has to come out, no question. The last time he was in the hospital with an attack, it was infected, which means that the next attack, it will most likely be infected again. If/when that happens, they will take it out right then. Recovery is longer and the scare is bigger if he has it out while it is infected, so I just hope they get it out before he has another attack. And lets just hope that his surgery and this baby's arrival are spaced out enough so that Chris and I can be somewhat helpful to each other. Timing can be so crazy, and we will be at 2 different hospitals.

"I'm being a sister!"

So, the other day the girls were playing in the living room while I was cooking dinner. As usual, I hear Alina start to fuss, and go to check out the situation. Alina is on the other side of the room from Gabby, looking at her as if she had taken her favorite toy away. I asked Gabby, "are you being a mean big sister?" Gabby replies, "no mommy". So I ask, "well, are you being a nice big sister?" And her response was priceless, "No mommy, I'm being a sister!"

A tribute to my hubby

For our 5th Valentine's Day together.

Home from Halifax

Well, the girls and I made it home safely. I ended up taking them both to the after hours clinic tonight. They both have a double ear infection and a chest infection! Oh boy, no wonder they have been so crabby! So they are both on meds for that.

My appointments at the IWK went pretty well. Still not convinced 100% either way on the gender, although the one tech is leaning more towards a girl. So, baby remains simi-nameless! Chris and I have agreed on a name for each gender; so we are prepared... although we may change our minds when we see him or her.

As for baby's heart. There has been little to no change, which is GREAT news! The pediatric cardiologist said that as long as I am in Halifax by the time I am 36 weeks, he will be happy. I don't have to live at the hospital like we were originally told. I will be crashing at Ceri's place, as will my girls. He also said that we may be able to put off the surgery on baby's heart until he or she is a little older and stronger, rather than doing it at a week old.

I will have to finish this update later. Alina just woke up and is crying, A LOT! Thanks to everyone who has been praying for this little booger! We appreciate it very much!

Where is daddy's hair?

So we were sitting in the living room, Chris, Gabby and myself, and Gabby says "daddy, look at my pretty hair!" Chris responds: "Yes Gabby, it is very pretty!" Gabby comes back with "Daddy, where did your hair go? Mommy, where is daddy's hair?"

Hehe! I love having a bald hubby!

Blog Facelift!

I got tired of the baby blocks.... yes I still have babies.... but I wanted a sharp looking blog, so here it is everyone! Now, to remember to blog....

I have 3 appointments this week. Today I have a Dietitian appointment; Wednesday I have an appointment with my Island OB; and Friday I have another ultrasound in Halifax. I am really hoping to confirm the gender of this little booger. 2/3 ultrasound techs said boy, the other said "I don't see any boy parts." Sooooooo... Cross your fingers and your toes, I want to know for sure!

We are still waiting to hear results of Chris' ultrasound. If it is his gallbladder, hopefully they can schedule his surgery to not be the same time I am in the hospital!