Simon Trevor Wiens

This is Trevor posting for Jill. Simon Trevor Wiens was born on April 28, 2009. He weighs 7 pounds and 3 ounces. He is 50 cm long. Both Simon and his mom are healthy. Simon has had to spend some time in the NICU because his breathing was "grunty" when he was born. We expect that he will be released to spend more time with his mom and myself in a few days. Birth story, and more!, when Jill is back home.

My Funny Honey

Conversation while lying in bed this morning.

J (just waking up) - Trevor, my uterus is deficient. I didn't have any contractions last night... again.
T (getting ready for work) - Someday soon you'll be sick of contractions.
J - I just want them to start.
T - You want a contraction?
J - Yes, yes I do!
T - (Coming over to the bed and hugging me really tight) There, I just gave you a contraction. Now, you can say you had a contraction today. Heh, heh, heh!
J - Sigh (rolls over and goes back to sleep)

Baby's still monitoring really well, fluid levels are still good, heartbeat is just dandy and Baby is thumping away inside me like crazy. I have no infection (always the concern for us PROM queens) and the Braxton-Hicks just don't go anywhere. I walk a lot and I drink a lot of raspberry leaf tea.
This sleeping-in deal is nice. I've been able to do some fun kitchen experiments with all my extra time (I made butter chicken and naan bread as well as cinnamon buns for the first time) and my house is really, really clean.
Still... it'll be nice to have this little person on the outside to cuddle!

Outsmarting Houdini Cat

Fergus discovered a trick to escape our yard.
Yes, we put our cat outside in the yard... leashless. Originally, he had a leash. He spent most of his time running as fast as he could to yank the leash until he broke it. I had visions of him climbing the tree and strangling himself. Now, he's leashless.
He figured out that he could climb the little tree between our house and our neighbour's and escape. He never went far but, he was a hellion to catch. Nothing like being 9 months preggo and trying to catch a snarling, hissing beastie hiding under a juniper bush.

Today, we chainsawed the tree down. No more escape kitty.
He sniffed at the stump and meowed in confusion.
I feel better about letting him roam the backyard.

We win, Fergus... we win!

Date Due

Today, our ball of sunshine is officially 40 weeks.
We'd love to meet this little person on the outside soon.
However, every day this child decides to "cook" extra for means
another good night's sleep for Mommy and Daddy.
I don't want to be one of those girls
whose whole demeanor past the due date is TENSION.
I have enough extra tension in my life.
We're going to be positive and
wait.
Baby will come when Baby is ready.
That's all there is to it.

Just Say "No"!

I am a sucker for kids who use the door-to-door sales tactic to raise money.
I can't say "no" to their waxy chocolates, stale jujubes or boxed cookies. Every time I spend my $3-$5, I shake my head at myself and wonder when I will muster up enough willpower to refuse.
Unfortunately, I look at their earnest little faces and think of all the blocks they've walked and will walk that night and I shell out.

This post has been brought to you by some really bad "Chocolate Whirls" bought in support of the Youth Bowling Association... helping neighbourhood children across this city learn to throw 5 lb. balls more accurately.

a welcome distraction

Just 4 more days until Thumper's due date.
Only 5 days since the water broke.
I feel like a watched pot.

Fortunately, Shiya and Marshall came to town.

We got to see them for a little bit yesterday.
We spent all day with them today...
playing games, walking the park and
eating Milky Way.
Shiya'll be my hospital appt. buddy tomorrow.
She'll get to hear Baby's heartbeat and
experience all the fun of our daily non-stress tests.
It's nice to have something else to think about.
They'll be jetting back to Victoria tomorrow. :(
We get to see them again in July. :)

This is how we feel

We're not overdue. The baby still has 6 days on it's little calendar.
If it weren't for the PROM, I wouldn't feel this way at all.
However, thanks to PROM, this is how I feel.

Thanks for checking in... still no action!

Happy Birthday Tim!

Today my baby bro is 27!
Yeeesh... where does the time go.
He's about to be a first-time uncle.
In late May, early June, he'll be a Daddy.
I love this guy and I'm proud of the man he's become.
Happy B-day Timmer!

P.R.O.M. Queen

P.R.O.M., in medical terms, stands for the Premature Rupturing Of Membranes. Basically, this means that the water breaks without contractions and slowly leaks out of the mother until the baby decides to come.
Hmmm... didn't know I would learn about this on my way to motherhood.
I woke up rather soggy yesterday. I didn't know what to do because I didn't feel anything. I eventually called the Health Line and was told to go immediately to the hospital - Labour and Delivery. I quickly packed my bag, called my husband who rushed home to get me. We hurried over to the hospital to wait, and wait and wait. We were given our little lesson on P.R.O.M. and were allowed to choose to wait for spontaneous labour or be induced. We thought we'd let Baby do things when it wanted and now... we're waiting... and waiting!
I get to do fun things like go for ultrasounds at the hospital to monitor fluids (Baby still has a healthy little swimming pool to play in), take my temperature (I'm now at risk for infection) and do a fetal kick count twice a day.
Trevor's decided to soldier on at work. Fergus is looking after me well enough at home. Baby's still dancing up a storm.
We have friends and relatives all keyed up and nada from Baby. The status of my pain (or lack thereof) has never been more interesting to other people. I have to break the news to many sweet people that no, I am not in any pain. Then, I audibly hear them sigh in disappointment.
Well, maybe I'll go eat some spicy food while doing lunges up and down my stairs after my long, long walk. We'll see if that kickstarts anything (at least I'll tucker myself out for a good night's sleep).

Ready or not...

Baby Laundry √
Car Seat - ready to be installed √
All blood work and other tests for Dr. √
Jill and Trevor discussed wishes for "Birth Plan"√
Nursery - ready to go √
Read "Baby Whisperer"√
Stroller on order √
Told Fergus about all the changes coming to his feline life √
Have swaddlers made (thanks Tilly) √
Bought all baby paraphernalia nesting Jill desired √
Found a "take-home" outfit that should please grand-mas √
Taking regular naps √
Baby's bag for hospital √

TO DO:
-pedicure appt. :)
-massage appt.
-one remaining prenatal class
-hospital tour
-bake banana loaf
-make lasagnas for freezer
-make chicken noodle soup for freezer
-make muffins for freezer
-clean oven (I found a chemical free way)
-take more naps
-take car to SUDS for a full cleaning before bringing baby home
-pack stuff for Trevor and I for hospital

Baby... we're waiting. We're in the process of doing all we can to be ready for you. Reality is that, we'll never fully be ready for you... :) Please come soon!

Footloose and Fancy Free

I locked the door to Room 112 and turned in my keys.
I gave my last lesson, sat down and sighed.

Today, I am footloose and fancy free. No more "work" for me until April 12, 2010!

It's a little surreal.
It just feels like I'm on regular Easter holidays like everyone else...
except for this enormous belly. :)

I guess it's time for me to clean, cook and nest.
This has been my impulse for the past few weeks.
Now, I am no longer distracted by directing a play, correcting like a mad-woman,
prepping for 2 different people to handle my mat leave, prepping report cards and spending 8 LONG hours doing parent/teacher interviews.

I get a whole year to be a wife...
and a MOMMY!
YEAH!

(Let the naps begin in earnest now because... I'm not sure how much this little one will
let me sleep in the near future!)

Well Played!

I'm 37 1/2 weeks pregnant.
I just finished my stint co-directing a fabulous One Act Play with a more then stellar colleague. He was the tech director; I was the creative director.
We performed at One Act Regional Festival last night and we rocked the house! The audience was in stitches laughing so hard.
Today, we were adjudicated. The judges loved us. At the awards ceremony, we received 12 awards. :) Best of all, we came in as Runner-Up to the Best Overall Production. (Secretly, this is almost better then coming in 1st. The 1st place show now has 2 more weeks to tweak their show and in order to compete at Provincials. With the baby coming, I wouldn't be able to go to Provincials with the kids. We just get to rest on our laurels!)
I only have 3 days left of work (2 of those have Parent/Teacher/Student Interview nights).
After our great show, I feel like I'm going out with a bang! :)