Happy Easter!

Addison's second Easter was a success, even if she is afraid of the Easter bunny. It was busy, but still pretty low-key.

I took her to the Easter bunny at the mall last week. She was in such a good mood. She waved to the bunny (and everyone else around her) and said hi, with a big smile on her face. Then I set her down on his lap and I thought the world was going to end. She was not having it. Picture to follow once I get it scanned.

Addison spent the night with the girls on Friday, for her second-ever sleepover. Isaac and I had a little visit with them, then said our goodbyes. She was good until we got to the stairs and she realized we were leaving. I guess she cried for a while but eventually calmed down, and everyone slept through the night. Ryan dropped her off at 8:30 the next morning. Isaac and I had done absolutely nothing all night, and loved every second of it.

On Saturday, after nap, we went to Isaac's Uncle Ray's Easter party. They go all out for their parties, whatever the occasion. There were craft stations, a parade, an Easter bunny (another bust; Addison screamed), and a scavenger hunt. My hunting team was awesome. They were 1.5, 1.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 2.5. Hilarity ensued.

We hid eggs outside around our house on Sunday for Addison to find. She did pretty well, and got the hang of it quickly. It took a while to find just six eggs, though, because she wanted to play with every single one as she found it. The park finally dried up so we took her there (for the first time this year) after nap. That night I made ham, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and rolls for dinner.

I forgot to take a picture of her Easter basket. Isaac and I didn't get her much, but it still ended up taking over the entire Dining Room table. Addison and I dyed eggs and I put together a little basket for her, but everyone's gifts for her took over the entire Dining Room table. Kasey got her a duck, bunny ears that smell like chocolate, and a book. Grandma and Grandpa G got her a book and two shirts. Nana and Grandpa H got her some outdoor shovel toys, and a book. Ryan and Nicole got her bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and finger paint.

Today Isaac took the day off work and we went to his parents for turkey dinner. Addison loved all the good food this weekend and was in a great mood, as long as no bunny costumes were around. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as we did!

Update

My posts have been pretty scattered lately. Sorry. I've been really busy with a sick baby and reading for school.

Addison's finally starting to get back to her normal self. I can see a few teeth coming in, so that on top of a nasty cold equals one angry baby! Yesterday I had a break from both baby and school. I did a little shopping while she stayed with Grandma. I'm told she had a great time dancing, checking out the Christmas tree, and playing with all the kittens.

I bought all my gifts a while back but still needed some stocking stuffers and had to (finally) put up Addison's Advent calendar. This year she's getting LeapFrog's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet Set. Most days will be one random letter, but there are some snacks in there as well. On the 25th she'll get an ornament and the remaining pieces to put it all together on the fridge.

I have no idea what anyone's getting her for Christmas. I had a few toys we had been looking at for her for her birthday, and she got every single one! Now our house is over-flowing so who knows what this month will bring, or where we'll put everything. I'm trying to stick with the four present rule from us, as well as one thing from Santa. Something she wants, something she needs, something to wear, and something to read. Check back with me in a few years and I'll let you know how we're doing.

As for me, I've been reading, reading, reading. I've never been stressed about an exam until now. The one on Friday is worth 70% of my grade! 70! It's a subjective final, where I'll be asked to write short essays on a select group of topics that we've discussed this semester. I have a decent grade going in but I'm worried because a) 70% is an awful lot, and b) I don't know that much about the topics for this half, compared to those we discussed for the midterm. I was much more interested in that half than this. It's also hard to buckle down and read about child soldiers or terrorism for a day, while you have a baby attached to your feet. I think I've got the basics down pat. Hopefully. Wish me luck!

I'm considering applying for a few local jobs in the new year just to get out of the house a few times a week. We'll see. I think it would be good for me to have some adult company, and good for Addison to spend more time with the Grandparents. I'm so thankful that I am able to stay at home full-time with her but part of me wants a little change. Again, we'll see.

These are just a few questions I had

Compiments of Ali:
1. Five ways to win your heart: Hugs, acoustic guitar, smooth Kraft Peanut Butter, laughter, remembering the little things

2. Something you feel strongly about: Wrongful convictions, equal rights, music/gym/extra-curriculars throughout elementary and highschool, animal cruelty

3. A book you love: Anne of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery

4. Bullet your whole day:

• 730: Wake up, and don't go back to sleep, as per usual, thus dealing with a crank-ass all day
• 930: Drop of Mom's chairs at her place, get a load of manure from the farm for the new plants and have breakfast with MIL
• 1130: Come home with a sleepy baby that refuses to nap
• 1145: CRANK the music as loud as we possibly can against the door leading into the apartment, thanks to Rachel insisting on playing the sax at all times of day/night. We thought this might piss her off and teach her a lesson. It didn't work but it was funny, and therefore worth it. We went for a walk with it blaring.
• 1200: Visit Ryan and Nicole and their cranky babies. ADDISON TOOK HER FIRST STEPS! She walked back and forth about ten times, between Nicole and Isaac. So exciting!
• 1245: Go for a quick bike ride back up to the house with Isaac. The sax had stopped, so we shut off the music. Addison, in the mean time, didn't even care that we had left. She was content laying on the floor with Nicole, eating canteloupe.
• 230: Time to go home and clean up, and have a bite to eat. Perogies and bacon for dinner.
• 315: Isaac left for the week
• 316: Addison went right down in her nap, without a fuss, as soon as Isaac left. Go figure.
• 518: She's still sleeping, as I write. She hasn't made a peep.

5. Things you want to say to an ex: There is one person I'd like to say sorry to, face-to-face, but I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to do so.

6. Your views on mainstream music: When I listen to the latest top 20/any billboard these days, I imagine Neil Young and Bob Dylan tuning in and keeling over. What happened to song writers? Where have they all gone?

7. Five pet peeves: People who don't walk properly through hallways and sidewalks (not moving over, walking on the left, not turning wide etc), chewing with your mouth open, the misuse of homonyms, flicking quickly - and nonstop through TV or radio stations when you're with other people, the one student in lecture who asks 800000 questions

8. Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and toast, Lunch: Grilled cheese, yogurt and canteloupe, Supper: Perogies and bacon

9. Education is essential.

10. Put your music player on shuffle and list the first ten songs:

1. 100 Miles: Blake Shelton
2. You'd Better Go: Charlie Major
3. Rock and Roll Music: The Beatles
4. County Line: Sugarland
5. The Best Man: Blaine Larsen
6. New York State of Mine: Billy Joel
7. Where Are You: Classified
8. A Long December: Counting Crows
9. Sweet Dreams: Beyonce
10. This Year's Love: David Gray

11: Your family: Isaac and I met a million years ago when I started school with his twin brothers, and my brother started school with his sister. We've been dating for two years and have a beautiful 10 month old daughter Addison who is my splitting image, but thankfully has his laid-back demeanor.

12: Five guys whom you find attractive: Isaac, Tim McGraw, Ryan Gosling, Colin Ferrel, Ryan Reynolds

13. Your opinion about your body and how you feel about it: I'm starting to accept my brand-new, post-baby body. I'm smaller now than I was before I had Addison, and that's taking some getting used to. My belly makes me laugh, but it's all part of Mommyhood, no?

14. What you wore today: 3/4 sleeve black plaid shirt, jeans

15. Your zodiac sign and if it fits you: Taurus. Absolutely.

16. Something you always think "What if" about: I don't really think this often. Honestly. Maybe if I had finished school sooner or not gone back to highschool for a year. Maybe if I hadn't gotten pregnant so soon, or while I was in Ottawa. What if I hadn't gone to SK when I was 16? I don't know, that last one was long ago.

17. Something you're proud of: School. Are you sensing a theme here? I love school. I really do. I'm the first one in my family to really pursue a post-secondary education, and I am damn determined to finish it. It's important to me and my family, and I can't wait to show my daughter what I've accomplished, and how it's paid off for me.

18. A problem you have had: How about today's problem of having a cranky, cranky baby? *rips hair out

19. Five items you lust after: I wish I had a car, a coffee maker, more money, a degree, and braces

20. Your fears: Clowns, rivers, thunderstorms, anything happening to Addison

21. Your future: I hope to settle down in the woods with Isaac, Addison, and one more baby, as well as a goat, sheep, donkey, dog, and cat. He'll be working part-time or only during the Summer, and I will have used my degree to get a job in my field.

22. Your academics: See above and recent posts. I'm getting there.

23. Something that you miss: Having Kelly and Renee around all the time. I also miss having BBQs and nights at TG with the boys in Ottawa. I miss walking around campus. I miss Christina, before she moved way up north. I miss the flexibility of the call centre, and all the perks that came from being a lead.

24. Five words/phrases that make you laugh: Funky monkey (Renee), Bishop Jesus (Isaac)

25. Something you're currently worrying about: Finishing school online with a toddler running around, then paying for it.

26. Things you like and dislike about yourself: I'm honest, but sometimes to a fault. I don't have a filter. I'm impatient. I'm a loyal, trustworthy friend.

27. A quote you try and live by: The most wasted of all days, is one without laughter (E E Cummings)

28. Somewhere you'd like to visit: All of Canada, coast-to-coast, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia

29. Five weird things you like: Dry cereal with a glass of milk

30: One thing you're excited for: Addison's birthday

Here we go!

I admit it. I'm a terrible blogger. If I had to come up with an excuse as to why I'm too busy and forgetful, it would be my darling daughter. Addison is off to the races.

On June 17 her first tooth finally popped through. I say "finally" because the doctor had been so sure she was teething a while back. Her gums got red and hard (and clearly bothersome) but nothing popped through until now. She had been extra fussy and getting over a cold (related?) and then bam! Isaac noticed a sharp little triangle of white sticking out of her gums one afternoon. Unfortunately that very night she took a big tumble as she scooted around and hit her face hard enough for her mouth to bleed. I called the doctor and kept an eye on it, and all is well now.

We had a yard sale the next day with the neighbours. Addison got to hang out with the 2 1/2 year old girl next door, Arianna, so that was fun. We got rid of some stuff and gave the rest to Value Village last week. It's nice to clean house!

That Monday (June 20), she officially started crawling. It's the funniest thing you'll ever see, but it's 100% crawling. She knows what she's doing but sometimes she'll lift a limb off the ground for no reason and hop along. She likes getting up on her toes, in a plank position, as well. When she gets too excited she'll stop or fall over. It didn't take her long to learn that she could do this and now she doesn't really stop. We're hard-pressed to get her to sit down these days. She wants to be on all fours, and just go, go, go! The words most often heard around here these days are "No, that's Daddy's Xbox." It's her favourite! We need to baby-proof ASAP, which will include finding a new home for the Xbox, games, and movies. They're not contained enough for her right now. It's a challenge, that's for sure.

Continuing the milestone week, she started babbling "mamamamama" and clapping within days later. It's SO cute! On June 29, on the way to Ottawa with Grandma and Grandpa G, I noticed her second tooth popping through. It's been a busy time for this little girl!

Addison and I had a successful trip to Ottawa with Isaac's parents to see his cousin Cherise. We just hung out at her place for a bit, had lunch, went to my old work to see some old co-workers, and then headed home. She was pretty good for most of the trip. Got a little fussy near the end but we stopped for dinner and she was good to go again. She sleeps so easily in the car, which is great.

I think that covers the big stuff she's been up to lately. She started pulling up on everything last week, so she's definitely keeping us busy. I'll try and write more soon, but I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is her first swimming lesson! I swear I'll get caught up here one of these days!

The rest of our fun weekend

My side of the family has had a lot to look forward to this April and May. Easter was a hit, the in-laws are back, and we've heard all about the in-laws trip down south. They brought Addison back this hilarious doll that she is officially in love with. We call it Raggedy Aunt Jemima (cuz we're politically correct like that).  Picture to follow.  It's not uploading properly right now.

Next up: MY NIECE WAS BORN! Yay! We all guessed she'd be born this weekend, based on how Nicole was feeling on Friday.  Sure enough, Sunday rolled around and she knew this was it.  Thankfully my brother was home (not at work) or he would have missed it!  Unlike Morgan (12 hours - typical), baby Hannah was here in two hours!  I guess they called the Midwife right away, and it was already time to get to the hospital when she got there.  Twenty minutes and no drugs later, Hannah was here, happy and healthy, weighing in at 8 lbs even.  They came home that night!

Here's a picture from when Addison, Isaac, and I met her today:

 Hannah April Lynn

One last exciting tidbit: Addison is 6 mos old today! Stats to follow (her 6 mos appointment isn't until May 11 and I have to move it).

And so the countdown begins

Isaac's parents got home from their trip on Friday. Kerry has to work all weekend, though, so I won't see her until some time next week. I'm sure we'll hear all about their lovely Caribbean sun :)

We had Easter dinner at my parents place on Friday, since Kerry works all weekend. My mom actually does too but she was off at a decent time on Friday so we went for it. I cooked the ham and it turned out perfectly! Addison wore her new outfit Mom had gotten for her for Easter. I put red leggings on her instead of just the diaper cover because it was cool.

Cousins

I gave Addison her Easter basket early, simply because we were going out and I wanted her to wear her bonnet. She got that outfit, her dress she had worn to go see the Easter bunny, a book, and this bunny shaped teether (that she LOVES).

Baby in a basket

Addison and Morgan had a good time together, though Morgan was being super clingy and pretty fussy. All in all it was a good afternoon dinner.

Isaac had been looking at bikes recently and I woke up this morning to "Want to go to Ottawa?" Sure enough, he had fallen in love with one he had seen on Kijiji that was for sale in Kanata. I got out of bed at 8:30 and we were on the road around 9. It's in really good shape and it was a great deal, so he got what he wanted! While we were there, we grabbed some lunch and went to my old work to catch up with some old co-workers. Unfortunately with it being such a last minute trip on Easter weekend, not too many others were around. That just means we'll have to get up there again soon and give everyone a little notice!

Addison wasn't awake for very long but we brought her new teether and the FP Puppy to keep her company, just in case.

This is how she looked for most of our trip there and back (5-6 hours total).

Checking out Daddy's new ride

Next up: Isaac's driving to Guelph to get Laine tomorrow. My niece should be born any day now. Then it's my birthday. Then an election. Then Mother's Day. Then Morgan's birthday. Then Ryan's birthday.

Let's go shopping

Just a pointless post to express my excitement about going shopping tomorrow. It doesn't happen often. Isaac's not a fan of the city and is still getting used to taking Addison out. Shopping is not what it used to be. Tomorrow we have to go to the EI office to get his app fixed up, and he might have to buy new tires for the truck. That's the crappy stuff. After that, the Easter bunny is going shopping (Peter Rabbit book and First Years spoons) and I'm getting the gifts I need for Ryan's girls. Trips to BRU and Chapters are always fun! I might just end up with something for myself.

In other non-shopping news, today was great. We went out to the farm and took Addison out for a wagon/4 wheeler ride with Kerry out to the creek and through the fields. We came home to slow cooker beef stew and then I made these cookies. Delicious!

I should probably shower now and go to bed...

More about us

Isaac's home on Paternity Leave and the weather is improving day-to-day. I'm one happy girl! We took Addison for her first hike through the woods recently while there was still snow on the ground. I wore her in my Maman Kangourou carrier. Best invention ever! She cried for some food, but then she passed right out, snuggled up to me. We cooked some hot dogs over a fire. Good times all round.

Lastnight we went to my brother's for one last party before his daughter gets here. I can't wait to see her! They'll have their hands full, though. Morgan is scootin all over the place. She'll be walking in no time. I can't believe she's almost one!

I'm struggling to get everything I need for the occasions coming up. Everything is so close together. Isaac's parents get back from their trip on Easter, then my niece is due, then my birthday, Morgan's 1st birthday, my parents anniversary, Isaac's parents anniversary, and Ryan's birthday. The Easter bunny has started shopping and I know 1/2 things I'm getting Morgan, but that's it! And I have a little birthday list, but really I just want a date with Isaac.

Addison is struggling to take bottles but we're working on it. She's still exclusively breastfed (yay!) but it'd be nice to leave her with our parents and a pumped bottle for a but. We're getting there. We'll be starting solids at the end of April, which should be fun.

Addison has mastered rolling back-to-belly but rarely goes the other way. We've lost a lot of sleep lately, having to constantly flip her back over because she cries when she's stuck. It's not fun. Everyone thinks she's teething too, the poor girl. What else? She took her 4 mos shots a little better but wasn't feeling so hot the next day. Could've been better, could've been worse.

This is getting long and she just woke up from a nap so I'm gonna go. More to come!

Day 27: Pets

We have no pets right now. One day we will, when we live out of town again. In the mean time, we'll enjoy Grandma and Grandpa's cat (Ralph), Nana and Grandpa's cat (Sulli) and my brother's dogs (Maverick and Kiwi). I'd like to have one cat and one dog. I want a cat like the ones in the TP commercials:

 

And a Cane Corso or Golden Retriever:

Personality at 3 weeks old

Your feet and arms never stop moving.  You're always making faces, especially in your sleep.  You've been really attentive from the moment you came into this world.  You focus as best you can on whoevers talking, and follow my voice as well as Isaac's whenever we talk to you.  We didn't expect that for a little while yet, and it makes us smile every time to see.  Yesterday you were laying on Grandma G's chest and you started bobbing your head around a bit.  You'll be holding it up on your own in no time.  Isaac put you on your stomach on our bed last weekend and you moved your legs like a little frog.  We're in trouble once you start crawling!  If this keeps up, you'll be up and at it in no time.  Isaac walked early at 9 months but I was so late with crawling and walking (almost 15 months) that I had to see a specialist to make sure nothing was wrong with my back!  Turns out I was just lazy, and eventually became a runner, so you just never know how!

You have a nice full head of hair, but not too much like those babies that come out with crazy afros and mohawks!  You have more hair than Morgan lol, your six month old cousin (who you haven't met yet).  Sometimes baby hair falls out and grows back in later.  I hope this doesn't happen because I'm in love with yours.  Dark with a little girl when it gets wet.  I forsee thick, dark, curly hair.  It's in both of our families.  Your eyes are a reeeeally dark grey-blue but they'll probably change.  I love the colour now, though.  You have long eye lashes like Isaac (I hope that stays too!) and big feet like me.  Sorry, kiddo.  Hopefully you'll grow into those.  Everyone who looks at you says you look like me.  Neither Isaac nor myself can see it yet.  Time will tell.  Both Grandmas have very strong genes, so it'll be interesting to see what you get from whom.

Personality-wise, it's still too early to see.  You only cry for food though, which is wonderful.  It's so easy to tell what you want at any given time.  Of course you have your moments as we all do, but 99% of the time if you're upset, it's because you're hungry.  You sleep through dirty diapers and puke, and make a face (if anything) if you have gas.  We're currently struggling to get you to burp because you've been eating until you puke for the last few days.  Hopefully you'll learn your limit soon and stop yourself before you have too much.  Grandma H was bouncing you on her knee yesterday and you let out two good burps on your own, so I know you have it in you!  Once you learn to burp regularly I think you'll sense when you're full a little easier.  As for sleep, you are a solid sleeper like me!  It's great.  You sleep for 3-4 hours at any given time (day and night), wake up to eat, I'll change your diaper, and you're out again for another 3-4.  We actually struggle to wake you up if we need to.  Once you're out, you're out!

You love to stretch out, especially laying on your back on the couch.  If we take you out in the stroller or truck, or if you've been sitting in your chair, you're happy as can be once we set you down to get a good stretch.  You arch your back really far and even tip your head toward your back so your body is in a total U shape.  You also enjoy the bath, which we do every other night because you sleep well afterward.  If Daddy's here, he's actually been getting right in the tub with you (since I still can't bend over that far) in your pink Winnie the Pooh tub (from Cody, Shawna, and Chris from Ottawa).  I fill it up and check the temperature with the turtle toy (from Sarah from Ottawa), wash your face, then strip you down and put you on your little hammock in the tub, and Daddy washes you up.  You've fallen asleep on us a few times, and never cried.  You don't like getting out sometimes, but I don't blame you.  It's cold!  We try and make it as warm as possible, and if we're fast enough with the towel, blanket and clothes, you don't cause a fuss.

I can't imagine the person you'll become.  I hope you're motivated, funny, care-free and fun-loving like Isaac.  I hope you're honest, not afraid to talk about your problems, and enjoy school like me.  I hope you set goals for yourself and don't let anything stop you from pursuing them.  I hope you're smart about relationships, you wait for the right person, and when you find that one, I hope you don't hold back.  I hope you don't settle for anything less than the best and one day find a man as good to you as Isaac has been to me.  I hope you learn to use your words (not your fists) in an argument in a way that proves your point, without being cruel.  I hope you're not afraid to come to us, your cousins, and/or your aunts or uncles for help, advice, a laugh, or a shoulder to cry on.  I hope you ask a lot of questions and want to learn about everything, even when your asking over and over and over starts to drive Mommy and Daddy crazy.  I hope you understand that when we ask you not to do something, it's for your own good.  One day you'll discover that we know this because we tried to do the exact same thing, and I understand that once you know this you'll one day throw it in both of our faces.  That's ok.  I hope you understand that Mommies and Daddies make mistakes too, and sometimes we've also had to learn our lessons the hard way.

I hope you like Peanut Butter.  I hope you don't like tomatoes, because Isaac and I don't, so we never buy them.  I hope you listen to all kinds of music like we do.  I hope you find a hobby you love, like guitar or soccer.  We won't push anything on you that you don't want to do, but extra-curricular activities are a great way to learn about yourself and meet kids your age.  I hope you have a teacher that you will never forget.  I hope you like the outdoors.  I hope you can appreciate a good book.  When you learn to read, however, I hope you're not as anal as I am about proper grammar and spelling.  It's a good thing to know but it drives other people crazy sometimes.  I hope you enjoy having time on your own as well as with family and friends.  While we all hate small towns at some point in our lives, I hope you always remember where home is.  I hope you want to travel and explore different places, learning about other lifestyles, and cultures.  I hope you love to laugh until you cry, but know when it's appropriate to be serious.  I hope you're lucky enough to have the same friends for as long as Mommy has.  I've known Uncle Laine, Uncle Vaughn, and Aunt Kelly since Kindergarten!  I hope you're not scared of thunderstorms like me.  If you are, Daddy will be here to show you that you're okay.

It scares me to think that one day you'll learn of all the bad people in this world.  I hope you know that bad people can sometimes pretend to be good, and look like anyone else.  I hope you stay safe and never run into a bad person.  You might think nothing bad would ever happen in a small town but crazy things can happen anywhere, and unfortunately, there have been bad people here that you'll hear about one day.You just have to remember that for every bad person there are thousands of good ones who are there to help you and love you.  I went to school to learn how to put these bad people away, and make sure they can't hurt anyone else.

I hope you learn that you have to work for what you want in life; it isn't just given to you, and sometimes it won't always work out the way you want.  When you're older and think that you're in this alone, you're not.  I've been there.  Isaac's been there.  You might get fired from a job.  You might fall for a boy who likes someone else, or you might have your heart broken in a relationship.  You might break a bone.  A girl in your class might be your best friend one day, and talk about you the next.  I hope none of these things ever happen to you, but if they do, don't be afraid to talk to someone about it.  Growing up can be hard, but we've all gotten through it.

I hope you never experience a death of a loved one, especially like I did growing up.  One day you'll learn about Wyatt, Tristan, Drew, Erin, Dave, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Cassibo...The list goes on, sadly.  I'll take you to Wyatt's Memorial Chainsaw Challenge and I'm sure his sister Whitney will be babysitting you one day.  I'll take you to Erin's Memorial Baseball Tournament and the ALS Walk that we do for Dave.  You'll learn why Mommy never wants to see you near the green bridge in town.  When you're in third grade, I'll read you "The Witches" like Mrs. Foster did to me...Death is something a child should never have to experience, but all of these people have left me with stories to pass along to you.

Birth Story (part 2) and our hospital stay

Now to continue with your never-ending, wonderful stories!  It's still bizarre to me to think of how quickly the delivery process is with a c-section.  I had no idea.  My perception of time was rather skewed but even Isaac says it only took about 10 minutes.  He had to stay in the hallway while I got prepped and pumped full of some more drugs that are necessary for a c-section.  Thankfully they were able to administer them through the IV I already had, so I didn't need any more needles.  That was done so quickly I didn't even know it had happened.  I guess they normally use a variant of Morphine in sections but they were able to give me something else, thank god.

I remember Isaac was let in and Dr. Chanda pressing against my body in a line, then telling me there would be a lot of pressure.  "A lot" is an understatement.  That hurt!  While I couldn't feel the pain of them cutting into my body (again, I had no idea that was even happening), it's not nice to feel someone pressing into your stomach with all of their weight.  I have no idea what they were doing but she kept pushing around in there and it was beyond uncomfortable.  Amazingly, in a matter of minutes it went from that to "Daddy,do you want to see?" and he watched you come out of me!  They lifted you up over the curtain so I could see you, then took you away (with Isaac) to get you weighed and cleaned off.  7 lbs 10.8 oz.  Just that previous Thursday Dr. Chanda had guessed your weight would be 7 lbs 12 oz, which was pretty darn close!

It took another 20 minutes or so to get me cleaned and closed back up, unfortunately.  Isaac stayed with you until he could bring you over to me while they finished everything.  We took some pictures and he described his terrified reaction of seeing you coming out looking rather purple.  All the doctors and nurses (there are MANY in the room with you in a c-section) were smiling and saying "Congratulations" though, so he knew nothing was wrong.

He stayed with you to do the APGAR test and whatever else they do to you right away, while I got cleaned up and wheeled into the recovery room, and the two of you soon followed.  I knew I had been given some more drugs but didn't realize just how frozen I was.  The nurses had been patting me with a bag of ice and I had to tell them when it was cold and when it wasn't.  Turns out, at this point, I was frozen from my armpits down!  I'm not sure why they give you that much, it was kind of crazy.  I actually had to wait about half an hour to feed you because I couldn't feel that part of my body.  Meanwhile, you laid in your bed next to me smackin your lips, hoping I could help you out.  Thankfully when it came time to feed you, you caught right on and it hasn't been a problem yet!  I remember laying there frozen before I could feed you and one of the nurses asked what your name was and we still hadn't decided!  Your first name is one I threw out a few months ago that he liked, and your middle name is Grandma G's middle name.

We had a semi-private room, but it was not very nice at first.  You'd think the entire space would be split evenly, but that's not the case.  We had a tiny little section with no view, enclosed entirely by a curtain.  There wasn't even a chair because there wasn't room for one!  The other side had a big window, window seat, bed, chair, and tons of space to boot.  We lucked out though, because the couple there was just leaving and suggested we take their space before anyone else moved in, so that's exactly what we did.  We had that space to ourselves for a little bit, before a woman came in next to us who hadn't had her baby yet, but was dealing with kidney stones.  She was in a great deal of pain and had a husband and young one at home to worry about.  She left Wednesday morning.

Wednesday afternoon, a couple came in with the loudest baby imaginable.  I swear I will never forget the sound that baby made because it didn't even sound like a baby crying.  If I didn't know, I would've thought it was a little pig or some other small animal.  It was awful, the poor boy.  All the nurses said you were the quietest on the floor (even when you cried, which isn't often) and unfortunately he (Braydon) was the loudest!  The mom kind of drove me crazy, too.  She was really nice but FULL of complaints, even though she had a natural delivery that took 3 hours in total, with only 20 minutes of contractions.  The baby came on his due date which was also her anniversary with her husband.  She had plenty to be happy about, but all she did was complain.  She had a midwife so she could've gone home within a few hours but ended up spending the night with her mom and the baby because she wanted to speak to her pediatrician, who wasn't in until the next day.  They all left Thursday morning though and we had the room to ourselves until we left Friday at 1.

Originally we had asked to not have visitors because we hadn't anticipated staying very long.  Having ended up there from Monday night until Friday afternoon, we okayed it, which resulted in everyone wanting to come.  You're only supposed to have two visitors during the hours of 2-4 and 6-8 but we had more than that each time on Wednesday and Thursday and no one said anything.  Between those four times, we saw both Grandmas and Grandpas, Uncle Laine and Vaughn, Uncle Ryan and Aunt Nicole, Megan, Brandon, your second cousin Cherise, and (Aunt) Kelly.  I don't think you even opened an eye for anyone besides the twins.  Your grandparents brought us lots of snack foods, which was greatly appreciated, and Kelly brought us Swiss Chalet.  The hospital food was better than expected but it's still not as nice as real food!  Uncle Laine and Vaughn got you a lined silver sippy cup, spoon and fork that's engraved with your name on it.  Super cute.

The nurses on the floor were all wonderful.  We had one nurse named Wendy and another named Kerry lol.  Daddy actually knew Stacey, the nurse we had Thursday night.  She was really nice and put up with me having a big crying fit regarding supplementing.  Babies lose weight when they're in the hospital but it's not a huge concern unless and until it's 10% of your original birth weight, at which point they have to supplement a breast fed baby with formula until the mom's milk came in.  Well I was told my milk wouldn't come in for about a week because of having had a c-section, and you lost 7% of your weight, so they were a little worried.  That's fine, but they all knew I wasn't giving you a bottle (especially at two days old).  There are other ways of doing it if need be, if you had continued to lose weight (which you didn't).

I was unimpressed - to say the least - when your pediatrician, Dr. Vanier, told me she was concerned you would continue to lose weight because she was so sure my milk wouldn't come in any time soon.  We had been told we'd leave either Thursday or Friday, but Dr. Vanier wouldn't release you on Thursday because of said concern.  She went on to tell me that I had no choice but to supplement you with formula via a bottle.  When I asked about other ways, she wouldn't even discuss them.  At one point she told me they'd be too difficult to do at home so I may as well get used to a bottle now.  I put my foot down and you were not given formula.  She wasn't happy with me and she caused such a fuss that I spent Thursday night crying, just wishing we could go home.  Stacey listened to me rant and raised a good point, that if I had had a vaginal delivery and gone home on Wednesday, I never would have known you'd lost any weight and the supplementing would be a non-issue until you were weighed again at your first doctor's appointment within the week.

When Dr. Vanier came in to check on me early Friday morning, I was stressed and upset, and made even moreso as I expected her to send us home, but she had more bad news.  She didn't want to send us home in case you lost more weight because it's hard to get help on the weekend.  We'd have to go through Emerg, which is a royal pain.  Considering you had only lost 7% I did not understand why she was turning it into such a big deal.  I needed to get us home.  As we had this conversation, I was about to feed you in front of her and saw that my milk had come in.  We struck gold.  I insisted that we were taking my breast milk (not a bottle of formula) and going home that day.  She said she'd weigh you and we could go accordingly.  With that feed, you gained an ounce (yay)!  With the next one - three hours later, as they make Moms wake up their babies to feed every three hours - you had gained another ounce.  The nurse named Kerry came in with some paper work and information about breast feeding, safe sleep, and my recovery, and we were released immediately.

It was sunny out but really windy and cold.  The drive home didn't take any longer than usual but it felt like forever.  We were greeted at home by Uncle Laine and Uncle Vaughn.  I went upstairs to try and get some more sleep in between feeding.  It took us a while to get our stuff unpacked and the house tidied up again.  As I write this three weeks later, my incision is still sore, but getting much better.  I have an appointment with Dr. Chanda on December 2 to make sure all is well down there.  You've seen Trixie and Donna at the Health Centre and you're gaining weight left right and centre!  You were down to 7 lbs 3 oz when you left the hospital, and you're currently up to 8 lbs 3 oz!  You'll see Paige from now on every month or so.  Your next appointment is on the 30th.

As for your life outside of the hospital, it has been wonderful.  Sometimes I look at you and still can't believe we made you.  You were inside of me only three weeks ago.  I don't know how you fit in there, but you were pretty darn cozy.  You were dancing around in there right up to the last second.  Dr. Chanda told me you came out with your umbilical cord wrapped around your feet!  Silly girl.