April Fools Day vs Eviction Day

So in the end we turned out to be the fools. Thursday was to be my last appointment before my scheduled surgery on April 7th. I remember asking if there would be anything special about the last appointment. The doctor said it would be the same old, same old...ultrasound and clinic. My friends laughed and said what did I expect balloons.
Well it was special. They saw some fluid around the belly during the ultrasound and the doctor asked what I thought of delivering the baby this week. In hind side I thought it strange that both the ultrasound technician and Dr. asked if I had eaten breakfast already they knew something was going to potentially happen soon. If I hadn't  breakfast I would have had the surgery that day. As it was I had to convince M. that this wasn't an early April fools joke. My last day of work was also suppose to be April fools. I am the fool.
In the end we were scheduled for April 1st at 8:30am. We were bumped a few hours by the only people who could bump us, a set of triplets. Go figure anything can happen on April fools day.

But at 10:55 am weighing at an awesome 6 pounds 11 ounces, and measuring at 51 cm Ceilidh Mary Smith greated us. Full of spunk and with hair. M went off with her while I was being finished up with my "tummy tuck".

Of course everyone had to see her as she isn't a common case. But she has doing great since. So great that just today she had her surgery to repair the Omphalocele or her own "tummy tuck". Just finished talking to the Doctor while typing this. Amazing person he is, he was able to repair the Omphalocele in one surgery. She is such a trooper and of course looks too cute. We have been through a lot and still have things ahead of us but we couldn't be more happier with the way things have turned out thus far. 
Thank you to all our family and friends for all the support. Thank you to the General and CHEO for delivering her safely and taking care of her thus far. Pictures to come when I get home. For now we are chilling at the hospital. Basking in the newes of our little family.

Ps Ceilidh is Galeic for kitchen party. Anyone who went to McGill with M or I will know the significance. It is pronouced Kaylee. Mary is after both our mothers. Mine Maria-Teresa and M's Reine-Marie.

xo D.

36 Weeks...are we done yet?

I am at 36 weeks and feeling like I am done and ready for the next part. Don't get me wrong I want the Wee one to spend as much time as needed in my uterus, which it has hijacked, but I find that in the last two weeks my energy has just drained. It's amazing how quickly you go from feeling good and loving the pregnancy bit to feeling like I will never get more then two hours of sleep (and maybe I won't) and how every task gets difficult. Putting on my socks is difficult, I often have to get M to help out on this daily task. And being in Ottawa it is still not warm enough for flip flops. The commuting is starting to get to me as well. The drive in the morning is fine but I always feel like the drive home I just can't get comfy. Must remind my self only two more weeks of work.
However, despite all my energy woes the nursery is coming along very well.. Now that we finally got rid of the old computer desk in that room I no longer walk in thinking this was our office. This is now the Wee's room. I have also finished my sewing projects and we have been busy purchasing the things that we have put off till now.

Of course many things in the nursery came from the generosity of family and friends. Everyone has been very supportive and loving through out all this. I know we still have many things to deal with once the baby makes its arrival but having an amazing support group makes me feel like we are in great hands. It won't be that much longer now.
I will keep everyone posted.
D.

St. Patty's day...I am as big as a pot of gold.

Gone are the days of green beer, but I still got to wear green. And the funniest thought I had is that today I have a bit of Irish in me. Literally, the Wee one has some Irish roots thanks to M, and it is currently squatting in my belly. I can't wait for it to be around next St. Patty's day when I will deck it out all in green. My Wee little leprechaun. Till then here is a picture of us in green and pictures of the crib as it comes along.
D.

What's 3lbs difference

Today we are at Week 33! Only 5 more weeks of work...and we also received the date for the C-section. Although, for all those people in the pool just know that the baby can still come at any time and yes they can move up the date. Heck I am sure if I drive up and down Carling Avenue closer to my due date one of those bumps is sure to send me into labour. Till then I will let you know the date closer to the time, or just ask either one us.
Yesterday, I had my regular round of appointments. The Wee one is head down which is where it was two weeks ago and if I wasn't having a C section this would really be important for eviction date. In terms of weight, two weeks ago it weighed in at 3 lbs 3 oz. This week there seemed to be some debate as to what the baby weighed. I know what you are thinking, how is it up for debate? Well it's not like they weigh me and all the weight gain is then attributed to the baby, they estimate by running certain measurements through a computer program. To estimate the babies weight they take a measurement of the babies head, femur (thigh bone), and the babies tummy. The problem here is the baby's Omphalocele gets in the way of a "normal" measurement. One of our first ultrasounds the technician tried to include the Omphalocele in the measurement and the computer program couldn't estimate the weight. Subsequently, most technicians don't include the Omphalocele. This time around this technician tried and it put the weight at 6lbs 9oz. That's an increase of 3lbs...trust me that's a lot for two weeks when the baby is suppose to gain the most weight towards the end of pregnancy. I know I have been having a lot of Cream Soda Slushies but not 3 lbs worth. At worst the child should come out pink, maybe I should switch flavours. At this rate I am looking at a 21 lb baby when I deliver. I know that it's coming out by C section but that's a turkey.
Needless to say, I suggested that the technician take another measurement of the baby without the Omphalocole, the weight was then 3 lbs 13 oz. Much more in line with the weight it was gaining previously.
The adventures of my appointments. Well that's the update for now. I hope to start taking pictures of the nursery soon as it is coming together.

Countdown to eviction...E-8 weeks

Things are beginning to really sink in! Dalia and I have 8 weeks to go and our pack of two will become three. It all became a little more real following the baby shower on February 6th. It was nice to see everybody who attended and I am sure that the gifts we received will come in very handy....only if I knew what most things were used for? Nevertheless I have focused my efforts to getting the crib done. Right now the crib is basically a bunch of puzzle pieces in various states of incompleteness.



Nevertheless here is a couple of pictures of what is done so far. Believe it or not, its half done. In the unlikely event that the crib does not get completed I do have a back up plan. I am sure that the wee Smith will be more than happy in a dresser drawer.

The link between 3M and Baby Clothes???

PS: There is none.

This entry deals with how I came to understand sizing for baby clothes and became aware that there is a huge copyright infringement on 3M’s trademark logo. When my wife asked me to help sort some freshly washed clothes I was not initially aware that sizing was done according to a babies age in months. For example, 1M = approximately 1 month of age, 2M = approx 2 months of age. So as I was sorting , 3M threw me for a loop. Anywhere else 3M and most men think of Red Green or even being a redneck with the ever so faithful roll of duct tape which can be used for any of its 1001 purposes. Here’s the clincher, 3M on baby clothes has absolutely nothing to do with duct tape, and everything to do with the baby’s age. I hope you enjoyed my little experience with sorting baby clothes. Stay tuned to this blog and I will fill you in shortly on duct tapes 1002 use.

Matt

December 30, 2010

The link between 3M and Baby Clothes???

PS: There is none.

This entry deals with how I came to understand sizing for baby clothes and became aware that there is a huge copyright infringement on 3M’s trademark logo. When my wife asked me to help sort some freshly washed clothes I was not initially aware that sizing was done according to a babies age in months. For example, 1M = approximately 1 month of age, 2M = approx 2 months of age. So as I was sorting , 3M threw me for a loop. Anywhere else 3M and most men think of Red Green or even being a redneck with the ever so faithful roll of duck tape which can be used for any of its 1001 purposes. Here’s the clincher, 3M on baby clothes has absolutely nothing to do with duck tape, and everything to do with the baby’s age. I hope you enjoyed my little experience with sorting baby clothes. Stay tuned to this blog and I will fill you in shortly on duck tapes 1002 use.