Oops I did it again

So for those who haven't spoken to my overly enthusiastic husband in the last 13 weeks or seen the announcement, this lady is having another baby.
Yep you know what that means, new blog name, more to add to my tattoo and my baby has been kicked from baby status to big brother.
I never expected to be the mother of five kids before I was thirty, actually I never expected to be the mother of five at all. It was not a planned baby, it was a whoopsie daisy, faulty PPE. I did feel like a teenager out of a bad midday movie telling my doctor the condom broke and I'm late.
Now that we've had a few weeks to get used to the idea Michael has decided if we can do five we may as well do six. The man is baby obsessed. I personally would like my body to resemble a 30 year old rather than the old lady who lived in a shoe.
I'm still trying to figure out how we will handle the logistics of five kids, school, Kindy, daycare, sports, homework, bath time. It all sounds to hard right now but I'm on the roller coaster and there's no exit for the next 18 years or so and I'm sure there will many a blog post about getting it wrong as much as getting it right...

 I'm ready for the journey, will you come along with me? 

Two weeks later his birth announcement!

The morning of his birthday all ready to go to the hospital. 

None of my boys have ever wanted to come early, or on time. 
They have all been late bloomers and have needed some help getting their little bums moving. I really wanted to experience a natural labour no oxytocin drip, no being strapped to the bed, but I wasn't holding out much hope it would happen. So having my induction date set was a little disappointing but not a huge shock. 
The day came, we got ready, kissed the boys, I had a little cry I knew that would be the last time I'd see them before I bombarded them with yet another brother, then we headed off to the hospital at 7am with a maccas iced coffee, we were ready for action. 
After a quick listen to his heart beat and a check over I got a dose of  prostaglandin gel, we were told to walk the corridors to get things moving and come back at 2pm to see how things were going. Well that's not what I was expecting to hear. I felt like it was a huge waste of time. At 2pm I was getting pretty painful contractions but they weren't regular and my midwife told me all they were going to do was give me another shot of gel and check me out again at 9pm, and probably leave me over night and break my waters the next day. I was not a happy camper at this point. If you've never had gel on your cervix it feels like awful period pain. Not a fun way to spend an entire day. 
Michael and I headed back to my room to wait it out, we decided Michael may as well go home and bath the kids and help mum with dinner and come back afterwards.
I was getting lots of really painful contractions that were lasting for around 10 seconds but they were really irregular so I just waited it out. at 5pm my dinner turned up (gotta love hospitals!) I tried to sit up and eat but I was in way to much pain. I headed back to the labour ward to see what could be done, we decided a hot bath would be a good, and it really was. Around this time the midwives changed shifts and my new midwife came in to check on me, after we'd had a chat and she watched me have a few contractions she asked if I'd like the gas, oh hell yes! 
A few contractions later she suggested we call Michael and get him back to the hospital, we do live a good half an hours drive away so I said sure thing. Then time seemed to stand still. 
I got sick of the hot water and the hard bath so we moved to the bed, my contractions were getting pretty full on and I was glad to have the gas to keep my mind on something else.
A quick internal between contractions and I was 7cms, so much for come back at 9pm! 
I had my eyes squeezed shut and my toes curled over when Michael turned up and held my hand, It felt like hours since we'd called him when in actual fact it had only been 40 minutes.


It was 6.55pm when Michael got there and the next half an hour was pretty hectic. A few more contractions and I knew what was coming, I told my midwife the next contraction I was going to push. She was all alone with a student doctor, this is when they started running around making sure they had everything ready to go. Next contraction Williams head was out along with his arm, two more pushes and the rest of him was out and he was on my chest. I had never been so relieved in my whole life. I remember thinking that is the last time I will ever experience childbirth and thank goodness! 

William Robert was born born at 7.21pm, 55.5cms long, weighing a whopping 11lbs 10ozs. 

William and I a few minutes old.

I'm still here!!

Helllloooo!!!!!

So life has been a little busier than I was expecting with a hungry newborn and three other kids to look after. So unfortunatly my blog was completly ignored for the whole month of January basically. It was a very busy month so I won't try to chuck it all into one blog post, but it started off with the birth of our beautiful little William, my birthday, and then my two big boys going off to school. That's a lot in one month!

So here are a few pictures for now, I will be back tomorrow (hopefully!) with William's birth story. 

William Robert 2 days old. 11lbs 10ozs. I think half his weight was in those cheeks. 

Charlie pretty happy with his new brother. 

My beautiful James. He demands cuddles with William several times a day.

For a kid who didn't want to have another brother he is pretty impressed with William. 

I know he will hate me for posting this on the internet when he's older, but how freaking funny is that face! 

Sleeping like a baby. Literally. 

The Waiting Game

This is where we went yesterday.

 A 1.5km round trip to a beautiful (very cold) waterfall. 

We thought maybe that would scare this baby out of me. A big walk and being an hour or so from the hospital that's when it would happen if I was in a bad midday movie. No such luck in the real world, but we did have a really nice time, today my swollen feet are testimony to that. 

I thought my feet were going to snap off after I put them in the water, Michael took the boys in, they didn't last very long. I could hear Charlie from up here telling Daddy 'COLD!' 

After we got them dressed we head off to another pretty spot to show Nanny. Mister Cute sitting still for one second, while we got lunch ready.

Nanny, she's nothing if not sun smart. 

If you think after a huge walk and lunch you could lay on the grass peacefully you were dreaming Dad. If your on the ground your fair game. 

I'd love to have their energy. 

I love this picture of Nanny and Jack, he is Nanny's boy. through and through. 

Tomorrow were off to show Nan the hospital for my last appointment with my midwife. I'm getting bored of the waiting game! 

Baby Daze

Week 40!

This is my last pregnancy update (hopefully). My mumma flew up this afternoon and after my midwife checked me out this morning she told me I am already 2cms and my cervix is 'paper thin' sounds nasty but it's a really good thing. I'm hoping that this means #4 will be my chance of having a baby without the drip and the gel. I don't know how likely it is it'll happen but I can only hope!

I've started sleeping really badly, my hips hurt and I can't lay on them without them hurting but can't really lay any other way. My hormones and moods have been crazy, I think because of the lack of sleep. 

It's defiantly time for him to evacuate, I can feel he is right down in my pelvis which is uncomfortable but it's a promising sign.

Apart from sleep I feel pretty good, my belly hasn't gotten any more stretch marks thank heavens, I don't think it could stretch any more than it already had. 

So now we just have to wait and hang out with my mum and hope that the next ost I have is introducing our new little man. 

Baby Daze

39 Weeks

The finish line is within sight! 

I have two more midwife appointments. Both of them will include a stretch and sweep, which for those of you who haven't had it done, is as awful as it sounds but is meant to help get things going. 

I got very excited when I jumped on the scales yesterday and my midwife exclaimed you've only put on 4 kilos! I was boasting and gloating all afternoon until I remembered I only started going there after my 20 weeks scan so the 10 kilos I put on before 20 weeks as well as the 4 I've put on since then, oops.

Everything is going pretty well, I'm awake at 3.30am every day without fail and only go back to sleep 5 minutes before someone climbs into bed with me but I don't feel like I'm struggling to stay awake during the day, an afternoon nap is always appreciated but I'm surviving ok without it. 

I think this boy is going to be bigger than his brothers I can feel him turning in my pelvis and when he moves around there's a lot of movement in funny places, it's that or he's stretching much further than his brothers did.

I got all the linen out of layby this week so once the Christmas presents are all out of his room I'll be able to finish off his room, I'm pretty excited about doing it really, it's basically the last thing I need to do, apart from pack my hospital bag, which I had sort of forgotten about, I don't really want to spend a huge amount of time in hospital so not planning on packing too much, although the thought of people bringing you food in bed for a few days while I lay around and nap and feed is tempting, I won't get another chance to do it!

I've got an induction date booked if the boy doesn't turn up on his own and so now were just playing the waiting game. 

I'm getting quite impatient to meet him, not so much to get it over and done with but once he's here our family will be done and we can move on to bigger and better things as a family of 6, me and my 5 boys!

Happy Anniversary

On this day five years ago I was pregnant and cooking for 12 people for Christmas day. Today is strangely no different, except last time it was my wedding day. We got married on Christmas eve and our movie is Love Actually. 

I never thought about it but we really are Christmas tragic's.

A lot has happened in the last five years, our big boy has gone from a toddler wearing nappies to a big school kid ready for grade 2, our middle boy was born and has showed us what our combined stubborn streak can produce, our Charlie surprised us and now he's 2 and were getting ready for #4 to arrive. We've moved more times than I care to remember and I know we've spent far to much money in the process. It sure hasn't been an easy five years, but this last year has been one of the best, were in the same place and we know each other so well after 7 years together, were in a good happy place. 

When we got married I was 22, seems so crazy to me now that we got married 2 years after we'd got together, but we had Jack already and James was baking in my belly, it didn't seem rushing at the time, it just seemed good timing. 

Our wedding day 

Us five years later. 

Happy Anniversary my love heart. 

Food!

This is the last Christmas were going to spend as a family of five, only three small people. Next year we'll have an almost one year old seems so bizarre considering he still isn't here yet. 

A few of Michael's mates from work couldn't get home to their families for Christmas as their roster basically only leaves Christmas day and boxing day to travel there and back again, so were having them instead of them staying in their rooms at work, I couldn't think of anything more depressing on Christmas day than being stuck in your tiny room with nothing to do and no where to go. So far I'm catering for 11 including us. Thank heavens were off to the beach for most of the day, lots of swimming, drinking (by the big boys, not so much by me!) and eating. After reading Beth's Christmas menu this morning I thought I might share ours as well. We live in the same country but you'd never know it, Beth is cooking hot food in the cold weather, I'm trying to figure out how to keep everything cold while we swelter in the sunshine. 

Breakfast

Were having a smallish breakfast of bacon and eggs on the BBQ and loads of fresh fruit, watermelon, strawberries, grapes, cherries and mango. Lots of mango. 

Snacks

Cheese, biscuits, dips, deli meat, nuts and rum balls, have to have loads of rum balls.

Lunch

Honey and mustard baked ham, cold prawns with a mango and chili sauce, prawn and avocado rolls, cold roast chicken, tomato and bocchini salad, roasted Mediterranean vegetable salad,  garlic potato salad. 

Dessert

Pavlova with lashings of  cream, passionfruit and strawberries, and a mars bar cheesecake. 

So if you don't see me around for the next few days I'll be in the kitchen, that's a lot of food to get ready when you look at it like that! 

image

Baby Daze

Week 38!

I am officially gong to start counting down in days not weeks! 

I feel huge, and my right rib is defiantly bruised from a small bum resting under it, my hips hurt, my pelvis hurts. If I stand for too long it hurts, if I sit for too long it hurts. Yep it's defiantly time for it to be over. 

I have been sleeping through the night though which is a big change, I had terrible pregnancy insomnia with the other boys so this is very nice. 

This week I bought a few small things for the boy, a bath seat, more towels, and bibs. Still no pram though, I will get there eventually, it my not be til after he is here but hey!

I'm defiantly more calm this time around, I needed everything to be done and ready with the other boys this time I'm ok with things not being perfect. Its not going to be, why stress about it? 

Next week I'll be getting ready for Christmas, mum gets here on the 29th so then he can come out, fine with me! 

Baby Daze

Week 37

I am officially classed as full term! I'm not due for another 3 weeks so even if I go 1 week over there's only 4 weeks left to go, I'm so ok with that! I was looking at bump pics of Charlie and found the same dress in my cupboard so thought I'd do a comparison, whataya reckon any difference? 

Same dress, same weeks pregnant with Charlie.

This time around, I don't think I look much different?

James and Charlie were almost identical when they were born, height, head circumference, the only difference was James was 30gms heavier, I'm guessing this boy will be around about the same.

I went to the doctors yesterday, only problem was I read the appointment date wrong and my appointment isn't actually until Monday. Oops. Talk about baby brain!  

It's been a really hot busy week and I've fallen off the housework band wagon big time, my pelvis hurts when I bend or lean more on one leg so vacuuming hurts, mopping hurts which means my floors are driving me nuts, if I stack the dishwasher I need to have a sit down because my feet hurt, seriously I'm not moving very quickly these days! Hopefully I'll get the nesting bug soon and go crazy! 

I spent a small fortune at Toys'R'Us this week, all baby stuff (sorry big boys) so if this boy is anything like his brothers, here is where you will find him at nap time for the first few months 

It swings by itself, has 18 different songs, and 6 swing speeds. A mobile with a mirror and toys on it, and the best bit? I put it together all by myself. Usually I would leave it to Michael but with him being away so much I figure I better learn to do this stuff by myself! 

A cute new play mat with loads of fun things to do on it. 

And this came with the swing, its a tummy time toy, I would probably never have bought one but hey it was free so I'll try it out! 

Jack's on school holidays now, so I plan to take it easy and get things done at my slow poke rate, I've bought all the Christmas presents, now I just need to wrap them and post the ones going far away then bring on Christmas, and before you know it, it'll be baby time! 

Baby Daze

Week 36

36 weeks and I'm out of the bathroom!
(Taking photo's in the babies room instead)

I can't believe I'm down to the last month! I am officially due this month. My mumma will be here in 27 days to hang out with the kids while Michael and I are at the hospital, and look after all of us when we come home with our newest smallest person. 

Although it seems like I've been pregnant forever, it sort of seems like it was only yesterday we found out!

The boy has a name. Finally. 

Everything is falling into place. 

We've put Charlie's new car seat in so the baby can have Charlie's, I still haven't washed all the clothes but apart from that were so ready. 

I've been trying to do lots of leaning forward and not putting my feet up to turn this boy around but my pelvis is strongly disagreeing with that idea. Hopefully a couple of trips to the pool and some swimming will help get him around the right way. 

I've been feeling pretty good, it's gotten really hot so the air con has been my friend, its defiantly helped me sleep much better. Gotta be happy with that! 

I am over people asking me if I'll make Christmas or asking me is Santa bringing me a special present. Seriously we've had three late babies, I have no hopes of  a 2011 baby, it's going to be January for sure. I am ok with that, I'm prepared for that. 

So for now I'm off to put my feet up and wait for Christmas to come! 

Baby Daze

Week 35

Yeah baby week 35. I love that it's only 5 weeks to go!
My sister requested a non bathroom shot of the bump, so instead here is a headless shot thanks my lovely James, photographer in the making. 

I had a midwife appointment yesterday and in the last month I have put on a grand total of 10 grams. How awesome is that? I put it down to Monday getting the gastro bug that everyone in town seems to have gotten, in 24hrs I more than likely lost all the weight I put on in the last month. 

Baby is still posterior, his back is on my back he should have his back on my belly, which is worrying me a little, but I'll keep doing the exercises to get him to turn around even though they completely contradict what the recommendations are for pelvic instability. I know its getting close to the end when my body just starts falling apart. 

I went a little nuts on eBay this week, I was planning to get a cover for our 3rd hand bouncer but when I was looking for one I found replacement covers, even better. Our bouncer turned into a outside play toy and after a few weeks in the hot sun I wasn't real sure if it would hold my chubba bubba so now I have a brand new mint green cover. Love that!

I still bought a cover its padded and so soft, I almost bought a plain coloured one until I remembered how much mess a small person can make, and opted instead for this cute one covered in combi vans. 

Apart from that I've just been feeling huge and making a lot of old man noises when I try to move around. Oh and did I mention we decided on a name? I can't believe it took us so long and was such a hard decision. I knew when we found it we'd just agree and that would be it.

Baby Daze

Week 34.

This week baby is perfectly formed and will spend the next few weeks getting bigger and their lungs will develop a little more.
This week baby #4 got the hiccups, defiantly a funny thing to experience if you haven't before. 

I'm learning to take it easy and put my feet up more, my pelvis really is running my life a bit at the moment but the boys have been really good about helping me out and taking it easy on me, thank heavens. 

I finally picked out a theme for the baby's room. Teddy bears, who knew it would take me this long to decide on teddy bears! I bought a cute set from Target with grey teddies and hot air balloons, it's simple but cute and I'll be able to add other things to it as he gets bigger and gets more interested in things.  

I bought a cute vinyl wall sticker for his room, it's a quote, can't wait for it to turn up so I can put it on the wall above his cot.   

I feel like now we're just waiting for him to turn up! 

Baby Daze

Week 33.

What a week. I can now officially say I am ready for it to be over. 

This week I became the one of the 1 in 5 who suffer from Pelvic Instability. Thankfully it's taken until week 33 to arrive unlike some woman who have it from the very start. I now have to spend the next 7 weeks trying not to open my legs, keep my knees together and don't push anything heavy or bend over. Ever tried giving birth with your knees together? 

My lovely husband also informed me this week this is the crankiest and moodiest I've ever been during pregnancy, I informed him this is the first time I've been pregnant with three kids to look after. I think I'm allowed to be a little cranky when I don't sleep through the night and my husband works away for 4 days at a time. To bad if I'm not allowed because I will be cranky anyway! 

Baby this week is drinking his own pee, doesn't that sound inviting? Drinking your amniotic fluid then peeing it out then drinking it again. By week 33 baby should be around 43cms long with the head down. I don't think this boy has discovered that spot just yet, they do say with every baby they drop much later and prefer to hang around under your ribs instead. 

Now I have everything pretty much that I need, just waiting for December before I start washing baby clothes and the car seat. Then bring on Christmas once it's over I'll only have 5 days to go, by then we shoud have finished the Christmas food and put the decorations away and life will be back to normal (ish). I'll be ready to have a baby by then! 

Blog re-naming done!

 

So if you don't know what I'm talking about, you obviously don't read my blog. So here it is in a nutshell. Started my blog in 2009 when I was preggas with Charlie, we decided no more babies, I called my blog Kate and Michael + 3 after Jon and Kate + 8. Now 2 years later and a little whoopsie daisies there is another boy growing in my belly and it's time to change the name of my blog and add to my tattoo.

 So here we are, last week I ran a competition, throw your best blog names at me. And there was some seriously awesome names on the list but you know what, as amazing they all were, none of them felt right. I really have issues with names, probably why with only 8 weeks to go this boy has no short list of names, not even close to it. 

But I did spend hours scouring the internet for ideas and racking my brain for a new name. Michael suggested something to me in passing and it just stuck (bugger him!) So obviously I'm not giving him the prize so instead everyone who commented and suggested names is getting a little prize. Isn't that fun??!! 

So I'll be emailing you all that left comments to get your addresses and in the next few weeks you'll be receiving a little Kate and Michael + 3 love! 

That's what I call a good result for a giveaway! 

Baby Daze

Week 32

Every week when I see the new number it seems a little scarier.
32 weeks down only 8 weeks to go. That's two months. Only two months to go! 

This week baby's lungs are now not just for show anymore but are actually working functioning. Always good to know. 

I still feel really good apart from being a bit slower and needing to have a pop down after doing anything. I do often think I can do what I want, yesterday we did two trips to the beach, and by dinner time I was having some kick arse bratan hicks.  All that running around in the sand and dragging Charlie around in the water was a bit much on my bump. I really need to learn to slow down. 

We are back to square one with names, every name I throw at Michael gets knocked back, and all the names he comes up with I think is terrible. 

I've been hanging out in the babies room re-organising and folding little clothes. I can't wait until I have a little bundle to put these tiny clothes on! 

Baby Daze

Week 31

The weeks really are flying by now. 

I waddled off to the hospital this week to see my doctor and I've put on 2kgs in two weeks and I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead. No wonder I've been so tired and cranky. Everything else is good, baby doesn't like the doppler being on him and moves as quickly as possible away from it, my doctor giggles every time this happens, which makes me giggle which makes it even harder to find his heartbeat. 

We got a little more organised this week, Charlie got a new car seat so the bambino can have Charlie's and a few more outfits and bibs, and some cot sheets. I'm excited for him to be here but I'm not at the stage where I want it to be over already, I'm enjoying this pregnancy more than any other and it's defiantly my last I'm not ready for it to be over just yet. Michael on the other hand is, he wants baby here already!

Next week I need to tackle the Christmas list, it's going to be here before we know it! 

Baby Daze

Week 30.

10 weeks to go until I'll never be pregnant again. This very scary, very final fact hit me this week and considering we weren't planning #4 I was shocked by how hard it hit me. 

I have really enjoyed being pregnant this time. I've been so well apart from having very thin patience and a raging temper. I have really let loose this week and if you've had anything to do with me you'll know it. I was complaining to anyone and everyone about everything. I'm really sorry about that. I'll try harder this week to put my happy face on!

Baby still has no name but I think I'm wearing Michael down so I may get my way again, sorry hunny I do love you.

This week baby is getting porky and his skin is smoothing out, if he was born now he wouldn't look wrinkly. That's an important fact to know isn't it?

My mum knew I was having a hard week (she got lots of cranky venting phone calls) so she sent me these seriously cute outfits. They are vintage no idea what era but the tags are tiny and very basic, love them.

We have set up babies room there's basically nothing in there though so I'll wait til I've started decorating a little before I show you. I have organised his clothes and my goodness there is lots of them! Still need to wash them but that can wait a little longer. 

This is all I see these days. Still can't figure out what position he's in. He moves so much it's hard to tell. Soon enough he wont be doing somersaults anymore, well not on the inside!

Baby Daze

Week 28.

I was channeling Dani for this photo, I realised we have a fence like her's, pity James' photography skills are about as good as mine and he cut my head off. 

I am officially in my third trimester. 

Babies brain is going from smooth to lumpy. Isn't that a gross thing to know? 

I've been getting some serious big kicks this week, I feel like the ladies off the maltesers ad. I think James is going to be my baby whisperer. Every time baby kicks and I put James hand on my belly baby stops. Jack on the other hand has felt baby kick lots, and he really likes it. I think he's at a really good age to understand what's happening and be excited, when Charlie was born he was defiantly not interested. He keeps coming up with names like Bob (the builder) or Honey or any other weird thing he can think of. 

I think Michael and I have found a name we both agree on, although that may change by next week. I wont be sharing this time until he's born, there has to be some surprise after all. 

I haven't been sleeping very well until last night when Michael put on the air-con in our bedroom and I slept through the night. Unfortunately I think it may be the way it will be for the next three months, sorry electricity bill. 

On Wednesday I have to have the gestational diabetes test. Thankfully I booked it when Michael is home so I can sit in the hospital for an hour by myself without having to keep little boys amused, I may even sneak off to have a quiet lunch my myself before heading home. 

Baby Daze

Week 27.

Don't be fooled by the smile this week kicked my butt. 

A mixture of being busy everyday (It is school holidays after all)  and not sleeping very well over night made for a very cranky lady in the house this week. Every afternoon you could have found me comatosed on the lounge while Charlie napped and the big boys made amazing creations from lego or watched countless episodes of Wallace and Gromit. 

I finally had my booking in appointment at the hospital and discovered I've put on 7kgs already, I was shocked and a bit peeved, I've been eating quite well and this is probably the most active during pregnancy I've ever been. I'm putting it down to the wide and tasty array of take out we have at our finger tips compared to the couple of dodgy choices we had in Blackwater.

Apart from that I've had a few nasty leg cramps which I always get when pregnant, and suffered a bit of heartburn, completely my own fault from eating things I know will hurt me but I do it anyway.
We still have no name choices really. We have a front runner for a few weeks and then we get over it. I know when we find the name I'll know it and it will just be right, until then we just have to keep searching and  I'll just keep baking!