Me and Mine - December 2016

Happy New Year from the 5 of us!

Siblings - November 2016

So, my two beautiful girls have been joined by a lovely little boy. 

They adore him. 

I think he could be the most kissed baby ever. 

They've had three weeks together - well, just shy of that due to him and me having to go back into hospital for a couple of days. 

Me and Mine - October 2016

We are five. 

For less than a week we have been a family of five, and it has surpassed the rest of the month. 

A little boy, a son, a brother. 

Silent Sunday - 30th October 2016

A Brief, but Miraculous, Update

A Ray of Light Shining Through

We had a scan.

The Sonographer was so friendly.

We saw a little hand. And the cutest little foot, attached to a chubby little ankle.

40 Weeks - Still Pregnant

I was wrong.

The baby didn't arrive the day I thought it would.

I'm still pregnant.

40 Weeks Pregnant - Clearly, my womb is comfortable!

And I'm angry.

Like this enormous ball of pregnant rage.

Siblings - October 2016

No baby yet, so these girls are still a twosome. And you know you'll get a third sibling in my next Siblings Project post. 

39 Weeks - Counting Down the Days

39 Weeks Pregnant

For once I feel I can report a positive week of pregnancy. 

I feel completely upheld by the prayers of family, friends, and strangers who read this blog. 

Gradually I am gaining a sense of peace. A peace which is beginning to dwarf the fear.

38 Weeks - Approaching the End

Bump at 37+4

I feel I owe you all an apology.

I intended this pregnancy series to be a positive and helpful account of being pregnant with Gestational Diabetes.

And it has been anything but.

Me and Mine - September 2016

Unless I go totally overdue, this will be our last Me and Mine post as a family of 4.

We had a lovely holiday together in September. It was great to spend time together, with days out and lots of laughter. No nappies to change either, since M toilet trained herself, so my need to go to the loo constantly was useful for making sure the kids went too.

I don't know how bringing a baby into this foursome is going to work. The girls are excited, but I worry about them feeling left out, forgotten, ignored. M is quite a bit older now than B was when she was born. Will the greater age gaps be a good thing? They're both quite capable, so I'm hoping they'll be able to help out a bit more than B could.

The dynamics will change. That is certain. But I'm looking forward to seeing the new relationships forming, and to having new adventures.

This month...

The Hubby has enjoyed:
Running

Getting our issues with the Consultant sorted

Our holiday

Hot weather

Watching "White Collar"

I have enjoyed:
"The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Finally getting myself and the girls to a Home Ed meet
Our Norfolk holiday
Crabbing - I caught 5!
Spending time with my grandparents

B has enjoyed:
Getting a beautiful, red bike from her uncle
Visiting her cousin
Colouring
Meeting some Home Ed kids
Her Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party
Our holiday and the chance to spend time with Grandparents and Great Grandparents

M has enjoyed: 
Writing letter Ms
Drawing around her hand
Visiting her cousin and playing with her kitten
Seeing the Seals at Blakeney
Spending time with Grandparents and Great Grandparents

36 Weeks - Polyhydramnios

Due to birthdays, M getting chicken pox, our summer holiday and party prep, I haven't had a chance to let you all know how our meeting with the Consultant went.

Bump at 35 Weeks + 4

Before the meeting I wrote down everything I wanted to ask her, and some facts and figures I felt could be helpful to me.

It was a really positive meeting. We came away feeling heard and cared about.

The Consultant assured us that she would make sure that the safeguarding referral would be either removed from my notes or that she would get something inserted to say that the referral should never have been made.

We talked about possible reasons for polyhydramnios.

Siblings - September 2016

Look at these two. They're playing a lot better together recently, which is wonderful. There are still fights, but they seem happy to help each other with problems, to work together, and to interact more pleasantly. M wants very much to be like B, which has resulted in her toilet training herself  and trying to write her own name. They enjoy dressing up together, especially as Wonder Woman and Supergirl, and competing against each other in just about anything that can be competitive.

I think they're going to be amazing big sisters. They're so excited about the baby, and often talk about what they're going to do to help out. The baby could be here before my next Siblings post. The sibling dynamics will change, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new relationships forming.

33 weeks - A Brief Update

Not a great deal to report this week.

We saw our midwife, and she explained everything she knew about polyhydramnios, but she also recommended that we talk to a Consultant.

As I have maintained all along that I would see a Consultant if any issue arose with my pregnancy, then I could hardly refuse!

Me and Mine - August 2016

This is likely our penultimate Family Portrait before we become a family of five, and here we are with our best friends. 

Yes, that's right, we couldn't get ourselves organised to do a photo of just the four of us, which doesn't bode well for when we increase! 

32 Weeks - Colostrum

Gaviscon - the acceptable pregnancy cocktail

Two new arrivals this week. One more welcome than the other.

First, Heartburn.

It is here.

I thought I'd escaped, but I was wrong.

At least I got into the third trimester before it raised its ugly head.

Must hunt down some cocktail umbrellas to make the Gaviscon bottle a bit more exciting.

31 Weeks - A Rollercoaster Week

The week began badly. I had a day when I didn't feel the baby move, so, reluctantly, I had to go into the hospital to get checked.

I was a little worried about the baby, but more anxious about going in to the hospital.

It's become a place that terrifies me.

I shouldn't have to feel afraid to go into the hospital. It should be a place of safety and comfort.

When I haven't felt baby move, my worry should be that there might be something wrong with them, not a fear that the need to go into the day unit will be used against me in some way.

Typically, as soon as I lay on the bed to get the CTG straps put on, the baby jumped.

Pilsbury Dough Belly!

Still, I had to lay there for half an hour while  baby's heart rate and movements were monitored. Of course, the little tyke didn't stop moving the entire time, and hasn't since. I've felt more movements since being in, than I have all the rest of my pregnancy!

Siblings - August 2016

30 Weeks - Hope and Despair

When I told my midwife at my first appointment that I would be refusing consultant-led care, I thought that would be it. They would respect my wishes and my pregnancy would progress in a positive manner.

That was 19 weeks ago.

I was wrong.

Me and Mine - July 2016

July has disappeared so quickly. I honestly don't know how we've gone from June to it being August tomorrow. Perhaps the realisation that we have only 3 months before the baby arrives, with a to-do list that is growing longer, has made time speed up. Everything always goes quicker when you have lots to do.

It's funny to think that we probably only have two more Me and Mine shots before our family increases to five.

28 Weeks - Heading into the Third Trimester

Ee, the aches and pains of pregnancy.

It's not all glamour, you know!

28 Weeks Bump

I get cramp, frequently, and not just your run of the mill nighttime leg cramps. I get cramp in my right bum cheek.