Living my dream

Scenic Route DT

If you haven't seen Layles blog, go check it out. Looks like the calls are being made and the 2 internationals they chose have received emails. Go girls. Unfortunately, my inbox doesn't have an email from Layle in it. Bugger. Can't wait to see who did get in.

Actually I'm still in dream land that somehow 'THE' email has gone missing in cyberland and I'll receive it sometime soon. Yeah right! LOL.

Also exciting news for a new mum on the baby front. I did the controlled crying 'thing' with Daniel this morning and second time round it looks like (fingers crossed) he's gone to sleep from being awake. How cool! Sigh. Something new he's learning and he's still so little. 3 weeks today. And here's a wee photo of the boy. Taken this morning. Hmmmm. wonder if he'll appreciate the butterfly wings when he's 20?

Thanks Mum

Well I just had to get on here and say a big huge thank you to my Mum who took the twins today so Andy and I could have a rest at home. Wow, what a difference that has made. We've had such a lovely day (and so did the twins actually!) and we even got to take some much needed photos of us with Daniel. I suddenly realised we didn't have any of Andy or I with Daniel so I made it my goal to get some today.

Tomorrow its time to get some as a whole family and some with Matt and Sarah. But at least its a start.

So check these out.....

Two weeks old today

Where has the time gone? It feels like it was only yesterday, but also that it was years ago. The wee man is growing like a weed. Now up to 5.3kgs which is fantastic.

My boobs are much better. THANK GOODNESS! I seriously thought I was going to die. Ok, bit of an exageration, but has anyone else had thrush in their ducts? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean I've done some pretty hard things and been in some nasty accidents and this has to have been one of the worst pains I've ever felt. Then imagine having to go through it every 3 hours for 10-20 mins. Not pleasant. Could explain the tears every time I sat down to breastfeed.

Matt and Sarah seem to have adjusted really well. They went off to daycare today with maps made by Dad (with authentic burnt edges and all) of how to get to daycare and how to get home. One each. And will show them at 'news'. This is the latest thing they are into and its great. They love taking things to show and so they can be part of the action. When they're at home, they practise. They say "Hello everybody. My name is Matthew/Sarah and ......." its so cute. This is obviously the standard to which you start your news.

Not much else to add, its all feeding and sleeping around here, but here are the latest pics of Daniel taken late yesterday so not great lighting (thus a bit blurry).

Spring Flowers

I'm not sure how many of you know about my love of spring flowers? Especially daffodils and tulips. Well it all started when I lived in London and we had the most awful dreary winter (at the time the worst they'd had on record!) but at the end of it some daffodils popped up in our backyard and brightened up the whole place. It all ended rather sadly one day when my flatmate decided to cut them to put in a vase. I was so upset as they were 'killed' and would have lasted longer in the garden. Silly now when I think about it, but they were my sanity saver at the time. I guess you live and learn. Tulips were also big in England. Another bright and cheery plant which made me feel good at the end of those grey days. So since then they have become a favourite of mine. We even used the most beautiful purple tulips as our wedding flowers. Stunning.

Well the day Daniel was born, we had some daffodils pop up along our driveway. They are the first of this season. I know, some would say so what, but to me it was special. I didn't know about it until Andy told me when we got home, but it was just beautiful. Today nearly two weeks later I went outside to capture those beautiful spring blossums and this is what they look like. Just had to remember this.

Smiling baby

I've been saying for days now that wee Daniel has been smiling and tonight it was irrefutable. He did the biggest grin that lasted for ages with smiles either side. It made his Mummys day! We also got some 'goo ga's' from him which was pretty cute, but again not his first. They happened last Wed.

I know it all seems far too early, but for real it happened. Seriously.

Had a nasty day with sore boobs. ARGH! Long story, but I'm now getting treated with a follow up tomorrow to make sure we're doing the right thing. Thank goodness. I thought I was going to die this evening!

Ok, Greys is on and I'm heading to bed to watch.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Reality hits

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks and sometimes its a little hard to take in.

Things are still going very well. I'm just so hard on myself that I feel like its not. Add to that the hormones that seem to invade my body at times like this and it can lead to sessions of weepiness. I know this is normal. I know that its ok. I know that it will pass. But this time I'm going to do something about it and go see a guy in Browns Bay who does alternative treatments. He has helped diagnose things for me in the past so I'm hoping there might be an easy solution to calming these hormones down.

Now I'm not saying I'm unhappy. I'm so not. I just love being a Mum to Daniel, Matt and Sarah. They are all such amazing children.

Daniel has still been feeding and eating really well. Since day 4 he's been having big long sleeps at night, but last night after his 12am feed he even sleep through to 5am. I mean seriously! You can't get much better than that at little over a week old! How cool is that?!

Matt and Sarah are showing no ill effects of him coming into our lives. If anything, they think he's pretty darn cool. I'm guessing its cause they've always had to share as they are twins so another person in the family is ok. For me this is a huge relief.

So just a few musings and a wonderful picture taken during Daniels first bath. Those are my Mum's hands holding our dear boy. He just so loved the water. He just sat floating in it like he'd been waiting all his life for it.

One week old

Our beautiful boy was one week old today. I can't believe where that time has gone, and how much can change in such a short space of time.

I am feeling very blessed to be the mother of 3 such amazing children. And thankful that our family is now complete. It just so feels like we are a whole unit now. Its quite hard to describe.

However I've also noticed some changes:

* Its blimmin COLD out there! Since when did winter hit?! LOL. I have been wandering around all winter with short sleeved t-shirts on and wondering what everyone was moaning about. Hmmmm. I now know! I lost my internal heating. LOL.

* I no longer like the taste of the chocolate milk I've been drinking every day for the last month. What the?

* My hormones are playing havoc with me. It seems every afternoon is time for tears. ARGH! There is nothing wrong, I'm incredibly happy, but by golly, all it takes is something little and the waterworks are flowing! I sure hope that ends soon!

* I have lost 10 kgs! Yep, I know it sounds like a lot until you realise that Daniel was half of that, then there is the placenta and water etc. But I figure I must've lost at least 1kg by myself too! That breastfeeding's gotta be good for something right?! LOL.

* I had forgotten how SORE you get from breastfeeding. OMG!!!!!!!!!! 'Nuff said.

Oh and scrapping wise I've had a really great week. I think I've already told you about the LO requested for SM and 2 for Up2Scrap. Now I've had a request from FK as well. Yeha. I just need one from SC and I'd have the whole kit and kaboodle. LOL! Dreams are free right?!

Well I'm off for some sleep before Daniel wakes up for his next feed. Here's hoping for good nights like the last three. Feeds at 11 (or thereabouts), then either 3 or 4am and then not until either 7.30 or 8am! I mean really this kid is so civilised its wonderful. Here's hoping it stays that way! I'm not expecting it to, but one can dream right?! LOL.

Have a good one.

12 Month Teddy

Just had to share this pic of Daniel. Its him with his 12 month teddy taken as a newborn. Next one will be taken on or around 10th Sept.

Funny Faces

Just had to share these funny pics of my two big kids taken while I was in hospital, they MUST have learnt this at daycare! LOL.

Well I'm feeling GREAT this morning. Things are just going so normally its lovely. Feels unusual, but for now I'm not going to complain. So a quick update on our goings on:

* Sarah did her first wees on the toilet last night without prompting or anything. She just jumped on up and went, washing hands after and everything just like a big person. Wow! I think it might be time to pursue this properly? So proud of our special girl.

* Daniel was weighed last night and he's hardly lost anything. About 130gms which is brilliant. He's still weighing 10lbs 12ozs so nothing to worry about!

* Andy took the kids to music yesterday and has decided our kids need to learn to dance, so that's on the cards once I'm feeling better! LOL. Can you just see us with 'twinkle twinkle' blaring from the CD player and 4 of us dancing around the room?! LOL.

* I got an email from Up2Scrap while in hospital. They would like 2 of my LO's for their next issue. So cool. They are also holding a Design Team call with all details in the August issue. If you're interested. Grab the mag and take a look.

* I still have a numb bum from the epidural. Ugh. Hoping it wears off soon otherwise I might need to see someone about it and my milk has come in. Yes!

* And probably most importantly we only had to get up once in the night for Daniel. He had a feed at 11pm, then the next one was 3.20am and then not until 7.30am, and I woke up BEFORE he did! GOT TO BE HAPPY WITH THAT!!!! Yes!

New pictures

Well, I'm home and all is well. Daniel is feeding like a trooper and I'm exhausted, but loving it. I'm currently in the middle of writing the story of his birth mainly for my own records so I don't forget the c-sec decision was the right and only one, but also to pop up here, eventually. Don't worry I'll warn you before you start reading as it is a long one. LOL.

And I hear on the blog grapevine that E had her baby last night. YAY!!!!! So very cool. Go check out Nic's blog for the details.

Anyway, here are some more pics of our gorgeous wee man.

Thank you everyone

Wow is all I can say.

Wow that our son is here and so big.

Wow that its almost been 2 days since he arrived.

Wow that our family is complete.

Wow for all your support and love and wishes.

Thank you.

I can't seem to work out how to get my email to work from hospital, but I will get back to you all when I get a chance. For now I just wanted to say hi and that life is pretty darn amazing! Daniel is absolutely adorable. So huggable, so loveable. He is really just the bees knees. It was a horrible labour. Very long, incredibly painful - love that gas and epidural! Just had to happen after 15 hours, and thankfully did then as we still had such a long way to go before the c-sec. And with what we found out on the operating table he was NOT coming out naturally. I'm extremely grateful to have had the support team in John, Carol, Mum and Andy which made all those decisions easy and while I so didn't want a C-Sec (as many of you will know!) I feel totally at ease with what happened.

The twins have been really cool too. They are very taken with Daniel and love coming to visit us at the hospital. We are hoping to go home on Sunday.

Will try and get some more pics up tomorrow. He's so photogenic! Well, hey, I might be biased, but he is. LOL!

Oh, and even our specialist John who had guessed at 9lbs was totally surprised when he pulled out that big body!

Thank you all so much for your messages of support and love and well wishes. It means such a lot to Andy and I. Thank you.

introducing.....Daniel Charles McClune

At 1:38am this morning after 22hrs of labour daniel was born by C section.

Weighing in at a healthy 4.99Kg (11lb) and 57cm long.

After a really good trial at a natural delivery we were forced to have a C section as he was too big for my little wife.

Mum and Daniel are well but exhausted. Scrapbooking supplies are banned for at least 2 days.

Thanks for all your thoughts and well wishes.

Andy

Update

Well its all positive news around here right now. I've been having wee "contractions" since last night, but didn't want to jinx them and to be honest, still am NOT expecting anything today, we Ashby's like to take our time about these things. LOL. But the good news is that stuff is happening.

And more exciting, on seeing the specialist, he's agreed with everything I wanted. I'm allowed to go to 42 weeks (if I get that far) and will have a CTG on Thurs if I'm not in established labour. And even better his exam revealed that things have changed and todays niggles are actually doing things. Its all good. He's even given me a size estimate. hehehe. Gonna be interesting to see if anyone got that one right?

Anyway, here's hoping we'll have even better news for you soon.

Whada ya recon E? Wed instead of Thurs?

Yay.

Oh, and I even got an email from SM today. They want one of my LO's! Yes, jeepers its been a long time between drinks with them! Now I'm just gonna have to get my a into g and post this off to them.

Why do we always think we'll be different?

I know my family always, without fail, go overdue when having babies. I mean I even did with the twins. So what made me think I would be different? LOL.

Off to lapsit, specialist, maybe some photos today.

Tummy measurement is 128cm or 50.5 inches! Jeepers!

Noisy night

Woke up in the night with no Andy. Then woke up this morning to a head full of the cold and realised where Andy had been all night. Away from noisy me. LOL.

But this means its another night down. Seeing the midwife later today and Jan Cook my accupuncturist to stimulate things hopefully. One week overdue tomorrow. Will have to see the specialist soon and start doing scans etc to keep everyone happy. As long as we can keep an induction at bay for as long as possible, that's fine by me.

Finished a LO yesterday but can't show it yet. Just working ahead for No 8 Wired. You'll see it soon enough. hehehe.

Am stalking Nic's blog to hear good news about E, but her bubs is even more stubborn than mine! LOL. She must be 1.5 weeks overdue now?!

ok, so just checking in. Wish I had some cool photos/LO's/something to show you, but nadda here. We were meant to go take photos at Muriwai yesterday with our wedding photographer, but no luck due to weather. Am aiming for Tues, but closer to home. Wish us luck with weather and if bubs is here yet?

Wish me luck getting through the next few days with this darn cold!