Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Great Uncle Maple Leafs Greatest Fan and Grandma C!

Twins are are a wonderful thing...but I'm glad it didn't happen to me :-)

Opened a Bank Account

Today I opened the fundraising bank account! Yippee. First big hurdle jumped.

Will be soon searching for Corporate Sponsors. Would love any suggestions that you have for names of businesses that may be interested in financially contributing, $$.

Cheques to be made out to:

Special Deliveries

Mailed to:
St. Joseph's Health Care
c/o Carrie Kinsman
Room A4-037
London, Ontario
N6A 4V2

We will also be looking for silent auction items, after I figure out how to get free pamphlets printed. And of course, participants will need to collect pledges...but all in due time. Peace :-)

A few wacky things about my pregnancy

Some things you probably didn't need to know:

I asked Auntie to be a surrogate baby maker from about the age of 14. (You can ask her, it is true). I never offered to return the favour.

I googled ovulation calender and charted out the fertile days...poor Pa. When I saw the lines on the stick I said "What have we done?" Pa said..."Everything is going to be fine...what is wrong with you?"

I thought Pa was trying to kill me with deodorant and leather shoes. Turns out it was my hyper smell-o-meter.

Auntie had to drive me to work because I was not functional enough to drive the car.

I had strange cravings and ate chilly fries and a large chocolate milkshake...and threw it all up. I gave up Diet Coke.

Pa knew I was home by the trail of clothes from the front door to our room. I would sleep until morning.

I freaked out about laminate flooring in the nursery at week 12 because I had a feeling we were going to be in the NICU and I didn't want Pa working on the nursery if this happened.

Sha's ultrasounds kept missing a kidney and I thought that was something to panic about. (Not a problem!)

I have an entire wardrobe of summer wear maternity clothes that I didn't wear. I refuse to wear them in public now, so I call them "Sha can barf on them" shirts.

Pa brought Ma a "Glamour" magazine when she was admitted to the hospital. (He has high hopes for Ma!)

I ate a sausage from the weenie man on the steps of the hospital (even though I was told to go straight there...oops!).

Although I asked over and over again if I was being admitted, I knew things were bad when I got an armband.

I asked Dr. H to bargain some time from Dr. G. I asked for 1 more day. (Secretly thinking that if I could get one more day of pregnancy, I would then bargain for another day). I think my secret plan was written all over my face.

I begged Auntie to go out and get me some Croclike shoes. (and of course, she did!) I was petrified that Dr. C. might see my feet which really, really needed a pedicure.

I sobbed through the NICU tour, even though I was trying to be the "strong one". Pa stayed strong enough for all of us.

I think I had my first anxiety attack in the delivery room when Sha was born. Eek! I do remember introducing myself to everyone in the delivery room (Hi, I'm Nancy, welcome to my delivery!...drugs), trying to pull off the mask, some resident asking if I felt pressure or pain (huh? Is there a difference?), and the happy white stuff they put in my IV. I do not remember telling the room that Pa is a great husband and for a Diet Coke. But Pa remembers this part!

I remember waking up in the recovery room and thinking it was really funny that my family looked like they were going by on an escalator. (again, it was the drugs). I remember trying to remember to ask for Sha's Apgars.

I was wheeled into the NICU on a bed. I do not remember seeing Sha.

More tomorrow!

Shhhh...

Sha is sleeping. Pa is sleeping. And Ma is up, still prowling around in the kitchen. Even though I'm not even close to being a cook, I can sterilze a mean batch of bottles. Sha is having a great day and is looking so peaceful. He has so many cutie pie expressions. What a ham! Sha continues to grow and grow and grow. I have had to "retire" so many clothes...so sad, but very exciting! He continues to try to roll over from tummy to back and gets so darn frusterated that I can't leave him down for long. Will try to take some photos tomorrow...

What am I going to do when Pa goes back to work? I suppose I will go to bed...
Why is no one awake this time of night...sure wish my phone would ring right now and someone would come over and hang out with me!

Home oxygen is coming for a visit tomorrow...

Keep smiling!
Ma

The River

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changing as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores

And I will sail my vessel
Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
Til what we put off til tomorrow
It has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance that tide

These are a few of my favourite things...

"Ma, I just don't know how one person could do this first month all alone. It is a lot of work."
"Ummmm. Me either, Pa".

"Ma, I brought you something, close your eyes".
"Rolo Ice Cream Cones".
Holy crap. Yummy. D
I will not eat whole box, do not eat whole box, do not eat whole box...

I think that if babies in the NICU have a "honeymoon period" (which is really nothing like a honeymoon, if you ask me, because it is so freakin' scary!) in the beginning, then we are having our family honeymoon right now. Life just can't get better than this. xoxo

Invitation

Dear Everyone,

I would like to invite anyone who would like to be involved the organization of an NICU fundraising walkathon event to join:

www.Londonmoms.ca
Forums
NICU Moms

I am the moderator of this forum and would welcome any help and ideas from everyone!

Ma

Little Turkey

He awakens and plays his newest game. Pull off my prongs. Much to my parent's worry. When did he get so strong? The prongs are taped to his face, but he manages to do it everytime. And he smiles when he does it....he must get this from Pa!

Rhotorical Rant

Ever had one of those days where you are convinced that you probably know nothing about anything? Just returned from my meeting with the Foundation office...which was great. They are very open to all fundraising opportunities and gave me some information about how to begin a fundraising event.

But then on the drive home, I got to thinking about me. And if I can really pull this off. Whepfh. It feels like jumping off a cliff and just hoping the chute opens behind you. I often wonder about people with long studied careers, and I think next lifetime (if infact there is another!), I would like a degree, with some long fancy name that no one really knows or understands...and then I could look up at that piece of paper and know that I actually do know at least one thing for sure about something. How do people know what they want to do? Are they called? And how can you be called to a job you don't even know exists? And do they doubt themselves, or do they just know that they know things?

So I stopped on my way home to get some comfort food at Loblaws. A huge container of Boccucini and tomato salad. $16.00 worth. "Are you going to a party?". Ummm. Yeah, that's it. (Actually going to drive down the road eating this oversized party sized container, contemplating and driving).

I really hope that I'm Seven Ways to Kevin Bacon. I really hope that I don't end up at this event standing in the park alone with Auntie, Mrs Cowboy and Dee...

Fundraising events. Why do I continue to fill my life with chaos? Ok, because I thrive on it...deep breath. I'm pretty sure I can do this. All I can really hope for is that I set the spark, fan the flames and hope it catches fire.

There has to be more than this.

Great idea Irina - Trying to Roll

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Another milestone reached

Today Sha graduated from his Haberman nipple. Lately I have been noticing how much barf was spewing out of Sha and how his lips just didn't seem to be sealing over the nipple, it seemed to cause an awful lot of the breastmilk/formula combo that he gets to run down his face. And for air to get in. On top of that, I think Pa had just about had enough of our Habermans. They are darn leaky little things when they have been sterilized so much. Each time we went to feed we would have a hand full of milk and some on the baby...well...you get the picture. So, today Sha "graduated" to the AVENT system. What a difference. All is well! ISha is much more awake for feedings, no barfing (cross my fingers) and much less burping action. And Pa is much happier too! It has been 24 hours so far, so good.

Today Pa and Sha watched "American Chopper". What a cute sight. Both of my boys on the couch in front of the big screen in their pjs. Awwww.

BTW, just an FYI - CPS and the AAP do not recommend cosleeping.

Should go, Sha just finished a bottle and I'm shopping Ebay for some Robeez...apparently the must have for the season! Too many too choose from. Need to go to bed too, but I'm really not tired.

Happy Birthday Cousin, Anne Geddes baby!