Three Weeks Old..phew

Well, I've finally made it back to the old BLOG to share comments on life as a renewed parent. It's been a pretty good couple of weeks with a newborn I think. I'm only marginally sleep-deprived and I can still handle heavy equipment (okay, so I drive and haven't driven into a parked car yet). Oh, and did I mention a fairly non-rebellious toddler, cranky husband and ultra-neurotic dog are also byproducts of the baby? Yah, well, it really has been a good bunch of weeks. I'm enjoying an entire king-sized bed to myself while my spouse gets acquainted with the couch - it's a good arrangement. At least someone should get a continuous block of time with the sleep fairy. (Besides the baby & her sister of course). We discovered that breast-feeding might not have been the most efficient way to put weight on Noelle; seeing as my hospital hemorrhage diminished my milk supply. But thanks to modern medicine and some funky side-effect of a GI drug - I'm now supplying sufficient amounts of human moo to my offspring (who I'm sure is entirely grateful for my efforts). I guess the lesson here is not to procrastinate and find someone who knows what they're doing. This is my homage to the Public Health Nurse network - they rock!
Oh, the growing baby stirs... so say my nipples! :-)

And she's OUT!!

Yippee! The day did arrive and we didn't need surgical intervention of the inducement sort. As it turned out - Thursday was the start and Good Friday was the day of our blessed addition - Little Noelle Marie. We had a wee visit (2 hours worth!) to the hospital in the middle of it all, at midnight on Thursday; we were sent home of course (the rooms were full). So, taking that as the cue for when we should go back, I endured hours of contractions until procrastination turned to mild panic and we were off. I might add that labour contractions that are 3 - 4 minutes apart aren't much fun when one is strapped to a car seat. That 15 minute drive to the hospital was one of sheer agonizing eternity.. ah, the melodrama of it all. Anyway, Noelle (6 whole pounds of joy!)came into the world with a double umbilicus necktie and then a scream at 13:09 - almost 30 minutes after our arrival to the hospital floor. Nothing like waiting to the absolute last minute huh? Little did we know at that moment that a little hemorrhage would ensue and an extra night at Hotel Hospital was in order. It all seems fairly like a dream at this point - that is - until I hear a little squeakie noise and hold the newest Brown family member. We're smitten!

Who'd a thunk it?

I do believe after many days of griping about it, that this could actually be THE day today! I know that sounds fairly vague to all that have been keeping a finger on the baby pulse at our house - but really it's true.. er, I think. The stopwatch has even been dusted off and started/stopped a few times already with extreme vigilance. I'm limiting my food intake to the "easily digestible" and I continue to slug back water in attempts to ward off any unpleasant digestive issues. Crossing my t's and dotting the old i's per se. Ernie is now on high alert - but I let him know that it still could be some time. All I know FOR SURE is that contractions are happening in a more painful way and in a more regular occurrence. Has the eviction notice been, say, noticed??

Due date followed by Stew Date...

Well, I've made it back to the page - regardless of the recent critiques (my emotions have healed). It's one day post-due-date and there has been no new addition to our family as yet. Emotionally it's a tough thing to swallow but I should just get on with life like it was and continue to complain about aches & pains until labour or a surgeon rears its head to me. Sounds good.

I've also been doing some research into contractions and such. Braxton-Hicks (I wish they could think up a smaller name for them, it would be easier to type) contractions come & go by the dozen in an hour which spurred my recent thirst for knowledge. Anyway, there are no real answers out there for me other than - stop counting them and carry on with cleaning the fridge! (that's what one midwife said). So, I think that those are the wisest words I've heard and will do just that.. Although, my fridge is new and quite clean thank you. Perhaps I'll tackle the fur on top of the cupboards after shoveling the walk AGAIN...