Meeting Lee & Lorraine

15 weeks reached today & it was off to our first midwife & obstetric appointment.

It's a bit strange being on the other side of the wall, so to speak. All the paperwork I've flicked through for years in my work in obstetrics/gynae, and it's now for me. All the obstetric/midwife notes I generally flick over in order to get to partograms and clinical pathways during labour - I now have my very own set.

All parties were very happy with me - well, Lee (my obstetrician who I've worked with for years) will be as long as I promise not to do any more night duty. All those statistics showing increased risks of premature labour and all that. Trust me, I'm not disappointed to give it up.

Yet more paperwork to read - about food and exercise and breastfeeding and private antenatal classes and postnatal depression. But I did get a really nice baby book to write down all the 'firsts' that Abeje will eventually have.

And over to pathology for even more blood tests - the ones that check for the nasties like Syphilis and HIV and Hepatitis. I am well and truly over blood tests now - but there's still more to come as time goes on. I also got a referral off to the anaesthetists to check my back due to having scoliosis as a child. Just in case I do end up begging for an epidural and the poor anaesthetist on at 2am in the morning freaks out over my back (I don't think they will though).

But the best bit was hearing Abeje's heartbeat, which we haven't heard since 7 weeks pregnant (we only saw it during the NT scan). Nice and strong and in the right range, which was wonderful once more.

Next time I see everyone won't be until the end of February, so I get a bit of rest from appointments now.

Abeje's First Photo Shoot!

I know many of you have been waiting to see our bub 'in utero', and so here are the pictures from Abeje's first modeling shoot!

Waving to his/her fans!

Tiny little feet

Abeje's Profile (complete with legs crossed!)

Abeje the little smoker!

It's amazing just watching this little baby jumping around and realising that all that movement is in my belly right now!

Tomorrow I have my first appointment with the midwives and Lee (our obstetrician), and I also reach 15 weeks!

I told my work the other day - they are all thrilled and taking extra special care of me.

It's all over til next roster!

Thank you Jesus for only two night duties. Please Jesus can that continue until they tell me I don't have to do nights any more!

Thank you Jesus for portable water evaporative coolers (given by parents) that keep me cool during the very hot days I'm supposed to be sleeping in. Please Jesus let it keep working until we can afford air conditioning.

Thank you Jesus for keeping me awake until 5am this morning, when we finally got the last (of 5) patients back to the ward. Please Jesus, it'd be really nice on all those ladies in birth suite (and me!) if more of them can get their babies out without having to visit us (ok, it's not ENTIRELY selfish, is it?).

Thank you Jesus for the safe arrival of my dear friend Myf's baby. Please Jesus let her recover nicely and just keep falling in love more with her new little man.

Thank you Jesus for new DVDs to watch, a new MUSE cd to listen to, and new sleepwear to enjoy. Please Jesus let me find a nice maternity dress for the wedding, and some other much needed maternity items that won't cost me the earth!

I think that's my prayers for today...

Told a few people at work yesterday. Also put up a photo from our 12 week scan on my locker (which I promise I'll pop up here soon as B can scan them for me), which meant lots of other people came up and asked 'is that photo what I think it is?'. Is very nice being the centre of attention - and I do like all the hugs and cheers and everything.

I am sure, however, that I definitely want to go through labour; and that no amount of fourth degree tears/episiotomies/forcep & vacuum deliveries I see are going to change my mind and have me booking in for a 38 week c-section!

Now it's three glorious days off until I go back.

Yawn...

I hate night duty at the best of times.

I hate late/early turn around shifts at the best of times (ie. finish late at night one day, start the next day's shift nice and early in the morning).

Throw in pregnancy - I am downright LOATHING night duty. Hate hate hate hate hate. Seriously - there have been floods of tears right up to the minute I leave home.

That is all.

(Can you tell I'm right in the thick of my return to work/night duty shifts?).

21 weeks til Maternity Leave... 21 weeks til Maternity Leave...

Soccer has started

Last night was the start of pre-season soccer. The Salvo team B plays in field a team for 'lightning league' between January and February to try and get their fitness up again for the traditional season.

Lightning League is quite fun, actually. 30 minute halves, smaller playing field, and only 7 players each side. It's fast and furious and they play two games an evening (which is fun when they play one at 7pm and another at 930!).

Last year I ended up doing a whole lot of late shifts on Fridays, so I didn't get much opportunity to go. This year, however, I seem to have managed quite a lot of earlies (at least for Jan & Feb), so I should be able to go to nearly every game.

B was happy - he's got his #14 shirt again; and he played quite well last night. Onya B!

Perks of Pregnancy

I have found that alongside the constant nausea and the endless feelings of fatigue, there are some pretty good side effects of being pregnant.

My skin is clearer than it has ever been since I was a teenager. Not that I've had massive outbreaks of acne since being a teenager - but there's always been two or three hanging around stubbornly. Since being pregnant my skin seems to be better than ever (and I don't think it's just the increase in water intake).

My hair is growing so fast. Okay, so this is mildly frustrating after a great haircut - but usually my hair is just painful. Since being pregnant it just seems to 'work' a lot more.

But I think the main 'wow' has been my nails. I have been an obsessive nail picker (and occasional biter) since childhood, even to the point that mum bribed me with a ring if I stopped picking them when I was 8. Not even that was enough to stop me. If I've had long nails, it's been because of acrylics and nothing more.

But within two weeks of finding out I was pregnant, my nails were so long and so strong. I would literally stop and stare at my nails some days, not believing they could look so good.

And yesterday was my first ever manicure. Oh my goodness - bliss! It is such a nice thought that I can go and have a manicure now, and not be wasting anybody's time.

Now I just have to learn how to paint my nails. I have (for the first time ever) bought some nail polish (in a metallic cherry red and Metallic midnight blue); and I need some tips! This is the first time I've ever tried nail polish, and I'm a bit scared of it!

But here are my nails, beautiful and long and shiny!

I think my mother owes me a ring!

Reflections of 2009 - a Montage

Rather than my usual post highlighting the highs & lows of the previous year, I've got something a bit different for 2009.

Sit back and enjoy the slideshow we did for my parents to tell them about Abeje.

My Adorable Niece...

So Z, who is four, was told during our stay with B's family that we were having a baby. During a quiet moment on Christmas Day, I thought I'd ask her what she thought about the whole thing, and if she had any thoughts about what Abeje would be like. The following conversation ensued...

Me: Z, do you think Aunty Sasch's baby is a boy or a girl?

Z: A girl

Me: Why?

Z: Because you're a girl, and girls have girl babies (interesting, considering she has a brother!).

Me: What colour eyes will the baby have?

Z: Blue, just like mine (has to be a recessive gene then, seeing my eyes are black almost, and B's are hazel).

Me: What colour hair will the baby have?

Z: Blonde, just like mine (again, recessive genes must be strong, as both of us have dark brown hair; as do both of our parents).

Me: And what should we call the baby?

Z: Carrie-Anne (she was quite firm on this point, but we don't know quite why. It's not the name of a Disney Princess and she doesn't know anyone with this name).

So there you go - Abeje as described by Miss Z. Will be interesting to see how accurate she is!

New Years Resolutions...

Do you do these? Do you think they are a waste of time? Do you have goals that try to be achieved every year, and have you been successful?

I try to make more 'life philosophy' type resolutions, so here are mine for 2010.

* Be kinder towards everyone I meet and not let my passion act like a steam roller over people's feelings and emotions.

* Be more thoughtful, encouraging and helpful towards my husband.

* Prioritise my time with God better than I have this year.

* Deliver Abeje safely and healthily in July.

* Get onto some kind of fitness plan for the year. Even if that just means using the wii fit we just bought with the Christmas money!

And my scripture of the year? Actually, it's been mine for most of this year as well - but I think it sums up what I see my role as quite well...

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8).

Blessings everyone as we start 2010 together.

Our Miracle

Well after eighteen months of tests, drugs, tears and prayers, our miracle has finally arrived.

As of Monday, I am twelve weeks pregnant and due on the 19th of July.

We have had three scans thus far (at 5.5 weeks, 7 weeks, and yesterday at 11.5 weeks) and bub is doing really well. Yesterday we even saw bub stretching and kicking!

We are so excited about what the next little while has in store for us, and it has been VERY hard to not shout it from the rooftops!

We have named our bub 'Abeje' for now, which is Nigerian and means we asked for this one.

God bless you all through 2010, and I pray that all your prayers come true this year.

Love Sasch, B & Abeje