The art of blogging?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by suggieblue

A few weeks ago I posted about my desire to move back to my home state. To keep me busy, so I don’t think about it too much I said I was going to concentrate on a few things in my life.

On Sunday, I posted about one of them - my weight loss goals. Today I’m posting about my blogging goals.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year since I started blogging. What have I achieved in that time? Not much. What did I want to achieve? Well… I honestly had no idea.

I’ve been a sporadic blogger. Sometimes I’ll blog a few times a week. And sometimes I’ll blog once a month. I’ve signed up to Twitter and created a Facebook fan page. But I’ve never really gotten this baby off its feet.

I still don’t know what I want to do with this blog. And to be honest, I find it extremely difficult to find the time to write. Whenever Snowflake is sleeping, I’ve always got plenty of housework to do, appointments to attend or people to go and visit.

You can see how behind I was getting with the housework! Apparently life doesn’t suddenly become leisurely when you become a SAHM – not that I ever thought it would.

Aside from my skills in procrastination, and poor time management, I think my biggest problem is my writing itself. I begin writing and I’m all inspired. If I can’t get everything that’s swimming though my head out fast enough, I get overwhelmed or bored and take a break. Then I find something else to do. When I come back to my writing, I’m in a different frame of mind and have to change the way things are worded.

Does any of this sound familiar? Surely I’m not the only one with this problem?

So with all of this in mind. Today I’ve decided to make some blogging goals. They aren’t so much ‘I want to write more about this or that’ kind of goals; just goals to actually get me blogging again.

In Where the heart is? Three of my general goals were:

• Blog more

• Make my blog more interesting.

• Increase blog readership and Facebook likes

I said at the time they go hand-in-hand.

It’s true.

In order to increase my Facebook likes and Twitter followers I need to make my blog more interesting. To make my blog more interesting I need to blog more. It’s a vicious cycle. I guess blogging more doesn’t necessarily guarantee it’ll be more interesting, but I can only hope it is to someone…

I have a whole list of things I want to blog about. The topics vary greatly. I just need to learn to write them faster. This blog alone has taken me almost two days to write and post. TWO DAYS. Admittedly I have had a couple of visitors who have forced me to put my writing on hold, but seriously? TWO WHOLE DAYS??? God help me if I want to include a gallery of photos. I get soooooo frustrated trying to get photos in a sequence I’m happy with.

SO. FREAKING. FRUSTRATED.

If anyone has any recommendations on photo plug-ins for WordPress please let me know. NextGEN plugin has been recommended and I’ve just started using it, but it still frustrates the hell out of me because it doesn’t do what I want. Maybe I just don’t understand it well enough yet.

Anyway…

My blogging goals for the next two months are:

• Blog at least once every two weeks.

– I know I know. To increase readership you should blog several times a week, but once a fortnight is double what I’ve been doing anyway. So really it’s the same as with my weight loss goals. If I can do more, then great.

• Find a photo plug-in that does what I want (or learn how to use what I’ve got properly)

– Mainly I’d love to be able to have several small galleries in different positions of one post. At the moment I can’t seem to figure how to do it. Suggestions are welcome.

• Add a photography page (amongst others). My current theme doesn’t allow me to have more than one page. This leads me to the next goal;

• Change the theme to something that is friendlier to what I want to include. Again, suggestions are welcome (has to be for WordPress) – and I’m happy to pay just depends on the price.

Oh! And can someone tell me: if I originally paid for my domain name with WordPress and then transferred everything over to another web host, do I renew it through WordPress? Or the web hosting company?

Umm… well I think that’s enough for now. I’m going to be keeping myself busy trying to get my two posts a month anyway.

How did you learn the art of blogging?

Candice

Weight loss 101

Posted on May 6, 2012 by suggieblue

I’m obese.

At least that’s what the Wii tells me. And what I’m told every time I calculate my Body Mass Index (BMI).

My Current BMI is 32 (Obese) and it should be 20-25.

I’m 5 4″ on the old scale, or 162cm and weigh 84.5kg. I had a baby four months ago, which is part of the reason I’ve gotten to such a weight but, unfortunately, it’s not the first time I’ve been this weight. Before I was pregnant with Snowflake I weighed 80kg, so I’m really not doing too badly in terms of post baby weight.

This is me now:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

If you look at me, you wouldn’t think “that woman is obese”. You’d just think I’m overweight. I think that too. The problem is I should weigh 52-66kg. Again, according to that pesky BMI scale.

There’s only been one time in my entire adult life when I’ve been placed in the ‘healthy’ range and that was when I was 18. I weighed 65kg and had actually lost 12 kg to get there. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I wasn’t trying at the time. I was playing some form of sport five nights a week, not to mention partying it up on the nightclub dance floor one or two nights a week. If you think about it, I was doing exactly what I should be doing to lose weight. I was expending more calories than I was putting in. It’s weight loss 101 really.

This was me then:

108-aaa061_0 140-aej132_0

Oh to be 18 again.

So now I’m back at my heaviest weight, and I don’t find it so easy to lose. Thankfully I’m not out to impress everyone like I was back in the day. I just want to feel better about myself.

So this is the plan:

My 10% Goal is 77. I think that’s too high for an initial goal, and being a breastfeeding mother I shouldn’t lose weight too fast – not that it’s healthy to do so anyway.

My first goal will be to lose 3 kilo’s in a month, which is 500g to one kilogram a week. If I lose more, great. If I don’t, I won’t beat myself up about it.

Aside from my newfound love of chocolate (I’ve never eaten so much in my life) from which I blame breastfeeding (any excuse really), I generally eat pretty healthily (although I do have a fondness for all things cake and pastry).

I may be more delusional there than I think. Yes I eat fairly well, but my portion sizes are waaaay too big and – I’m going to admit it – I do binge eat junk food. Only what’s in the house though. I get to a stage of eating healthy where I just crave crap, and so I search for it and binge. And then feel extremely guilty for doing so. Sound familiar?

As a general rule we don’t have too much crap in our pantry or fridge (or freezer) anyway. I do cook though. Or bake I should say (Mr.SuggieBlue usually cooks our meals). I go through phases but I’ve learnt to adapt cake recipes to make muffins so I can freeze them in batches of two or three so I don’t feel like they all have to be eaten before they go mouldy. Because of my baking, I have lots that can be made in to a yummy binge-fest – if I have the desire to do so. And believe me, chocolate filled pastry parcels are just as good as any chocolate croissant – if you’re in the mood!

Anyway, my aim is to lose three kilograms per month. These are my goals for week one:

Exercise:

· Go for a walk/run at least three times a week.

· Do a full body stretch at least three times a week.

I don’t want to over commit myself at first in case I don’t do it. Much like my three kilo goal; if I do more then great!

Food:

· Correct my portion sizing.

- There should be ½ a plate of veggies, ¼ each of carbs and protein

- Might try to change to a smaller plate too

· Eat more veggies and fruit.

- I guess the ol’ Two Fruits and Five Veg is a good aim. I probably should brush up on what an actual ‘serving’ of veggies is! Feel free to help me out!

· Drink two litres of water a day.

- I used to be very good at drinking water and it wasn’t uncommon for me to drink three or more litres in one day. I’d have my one litre bottle sitting beside me at work, and I’d fill it up at least once. I don’t know if it’s because I’m just pottering around home more often than not now, or because of breastfeeding, but I just don’t seem to be drinking enough water anymore.

So there you have it. My weightloss goals and plan of action for week one.

· Lose 500g -1kg.

· Exercise three or more times a week.

· Stretch three or more times a week.

· Eat more veggies and fruit.

· Drink two litres of water a day.

I’ll check back in in a week’s time to update how I’m going! Meanwhile, feel free to give me your favourite tip on losing weight.

Candice

Where the heart is…

Posted on April 20, 2012 by suggieblue

We’re back.

Home.

If home really is where the heart is, then I’m not sure I’m home.

I don’t know if it’s Tassie’s cooler temperatures,

[A shock to the system when coming from consecutive 40 degree days]

[Snowflake and I enjoying the cooler weather]

the beautiful scenery,

[Taken from the top of Mt Victoria, North East Tasmania]

[The view from Ronny's Creek, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania]

the fresh air,

[There's something about sea air]

[Fresh and pure mountain air...]

the abundance of fresh food

[Our veggie haul in just a few hours]

or just the fact that all my side of the family is there,

[Snowflake with her Great-Grandparents. We didn't think she'd get to meet her Great-Grandad!]

[Getting to know one of her Great-Great Aunts]

[Bonding with her youngest cousin (and Grandmum, who's holding them)]

but every time I visit Tassie I leave a little more of my heart behind.

It’s almost been ten years since I left.

I guess, for now, home is where the husband is. And child. I’d be lost without them.

I am lucky though. I might not have any of my family here in WA (now that ESD has moved back to Tas), but I do have my in-laws (IL’s), and my three best friends. Well… Only two are here at the moment, but one is making the trek across the Nullarbor with her new husband in two weeks. She’ll be here for at least a year so it means I’ll have my three BFF’s – my three bridesmaids – in the same state as me. That’s gotta count for something right?

And my IL’s? Well, they really are the best IL’s someone could ask for. They support us all in whatever we want to do. We have dinner there every Sunday night and they’re always there if we need…well…anything really. Hell…They even bought us the house we live in. And they’re infatuated with Snowflake. What grandparent isn’t infatuated with their first grandchild?

Anyway, to keep my mind occupied so I don’t pine for my family in Tassie too much I’ve set myself some goals.

Lose weight
Blog more
Make my blog more interesting.
Increase blog readership and Facebook likes
Get the garden in shape
Get the house in shape

These are pretty big goals. You might have read about the weight I need to lose in Delusional: My Ass. It’s a significant number. It always has been. And the blogging stuff? Well they go hand-in-hand really.

To help myself get there I’m going to break them down into smaller goals and post them on here. Just not right now. Right now I’m busy preparing for…well…working on my goals.

I need to learn how to prioritise my time better. They don’t call me the ‘Queen of Procrastination’ for nothing.

Actually ‘they’ don’t. I do. I’ve always been good at it. See? I’m doing it right now. Instead of figuring how to end this little post, I’m prattling on.

Procrastinating.

So…I’m off to work on my goals. Luckily there’s a lot to work on so I don’t think about Tassie. And that lovely new semi-rural land development just out of Launceston I’m trying to convince Mr.SuggieBlue to buy…

Candice

Delusional: My ass

Posted on April 2, 2012 by suggieblue

Week four of my five-week holiday is here. Mr.SuggieBlue has already been to Perth and back again – he arrived back on the Apple Isle early Saturday morning. Apart from collecting him from the airport, my time here in Tassie has been filled with doing not much; and my…hasn’t time flown by.

I had a realisation as we were flying over (all those weeks ago now) I’m not losing weight. I did have thoughts before I left that perhaps breastfeeding may be working for me (as it did for my three sisters) and I might be losing some weight. When I sat in my assigned seat onboard our flight to Tassie, I realised I was slightly deluded.

As I sat down, with Snowflake in my arms, I was talking to the flight attendant who was explaining how the baby belt works. How it would protect a baby in a crash I don’t know, but I’ll leave that for another post, on another day. Most likely by another person on another blog.

Anyway, I sat down with Snowflake in my arms and said to myself (loud enough for the flight attendant to hear), “oh god these seats have gotten smaller since being pregnant.”

Snowflake and I on as we were about to take off.

I was sure it was true. My butt used to wedge itself just nicely between the two armrests, but now…well… it’s a tight squeeze. I almost felt like is should be using two seats. OK…Not really. It was just a fleeting thought that was dismissed as fast as it arrived.

The flight was a bit squishy because of these ‘smaller’ seats, but thankfully I was on the window seat, so it was just Mr.SuggieBlue my ass and subsequent thighs were squashing into. He didn’t mind. He loves them!

I didn’t think much of my ass-in-seat problem again until we arrived home. Well… I should say when we arrived at Mum & Dad’s. Usually, when we sit in the lounge room, we’re on a couch so ass-squishiness isn’t necessarily an issue. There’s plenty of couches and plenty of room.

At the end of the night, I went to express and moved away to the ‘sitting area’ situated behind the couch so I could have a little privacy. I was used to expressing in front of Mr.SuggieBlue, but my parents were a different story – especially my dad!

I set the equipment up and sat down to milk myself (ironically Mum and Dad own a dairy farm). Low and behold, mum’s chair had also gotten smaller! There’s no longer a gap between my ass and the arms of the chair when I sit down.

The Dairy...

My temporary milking chair - looks like it has plenty of room right?

When I last weighed myself I had five kilo’s to get back to my pre-pregnancy (PP) weight. How deluded was I to think I was finally losing it? It seems that might have been a while ago and suspect I may have more than five kilo’s now – and that’s to reach PP weight. On top of that I need to lose another 20 kilo’s at least to get down to a healthy BMI – if you go by them. Personally I think I would be too skinny when I’m in the lower end of a healthy BMI, but I’d still like to lose at least 15 kilos. It would mean when I step on the Wii it wouldn’t tell me I’m obese. Thankfully I don’t take what it says to heart.

When I get back from this holiday it won’t be so hot in Perth. It’s been my excuse for not getting out and going for walks. Oh – and maybe I could eat a little less and a little better.

I guess I’ll have no excuse when I get back. Hopefully the weight will begin to fall off and my delusions will turn into reality!

Candice J

A change of scenery and a time of firsts.

Posted on March 10, 2012 by suggieblue

Mr.SuggieBlue, Miss Snowflake and I are heading on our very first holiday as a family on Monday.

There’s no surprise as to our destination. Tasmania. Aside from our Easter holiday to Karratha and Karijini last year, and Phuket in 2006, Tassie is our only holiday destination. Not only because we love the cool crisp air (a refreshing change to WA’s summers) and beautiful scenery, but because it’s where the majority of my family live. Come May, it will be where all of my family live, as Eldest Sister Dear (ESD) and her family are packing up their life in Karratha and making a new one in ‘lil old Tas.

So as much as it’s almost same old, same old for myself and Mr.SuggieBlue, it will also be a trip with some firsts. It will be Snowflake’s first time on a plane (she gets two rides before we arrive at Launceston). It will be the first time Snowflake will meet her Grandad (my dad) also her Aunty S, both her uncles and four of her cousins (all on my side of the family). Not only is it our first family holiday, her first plane ride and first time meeting all my rellies, it will be the first time Mr.SuggieBlue is away from both of us.

Let me explain.

We’re not just flying over for a lovely family holiday. You may remember me talking about having four weddings to attend between November and Easter. Well, the two November ones have obviously been and gone and now that we’re approaching Easter (in case you weren’t aware) we have two more weddings to attend; both of which I’ve been bestowed to honour of being Matron of Honour (MOH. Makes me sound old).

The first wedding, is of my bestest and longest (time-wise, not height-wise) friend Lu-Lu. It’s on Saturday. St Patrick’s Day. But there’ll be no green thank you very much. Just black and white. That’s the theme for the day. The girl who I know for her love of all things pink (as I’m known for my love of all things blue) has chosen a black and white theme. I can understand her reasoning though, and it’s very thoughtful. What guy wants to have a pink wedding? Lu-Lu selflessly decided to save the pink for the hen’s party (tonight), where she’s going all out – I believe. I not there. I believe her other bridesmaid isn’t either (she lives in Queensland). We’re great friends aren’t we? Unfortunately Mr.SuggieBlue and I had booked our flights before the hen’s party was organised, and we arrive two days after it! Bummer.

I know it’s the MOH’s duty to organise the hens party, but due to my recent change in career (becoming a SAHM), Lu-Lu gave me a leave of absence and allowed me to sit back in the shadows while she, the bride, organised it all herself. It would have been a touch difficult anyway, given that I’m on the other side of the country, but it could have been done, and I do feel guilty for not having had any part in either the organising or the actual party. Or organising the wedding for that matter. On my last trip over, in September – six months before her wedding – she had a majority of it prepared. Down to the place settings.

That’s what I call organised.

I had my bridesmaids, family and friends finishing all our table decorations the night before. You could say I was a little unorganised but it all worked out well in the end!

The second wedding is of ESD. She was engaged before Mr.SuggieBlue and I, but now they’ve finally set a date! I think it was based on how much accommodation was available at the venue. Originally it was going to be six days after Lu-Lu’s on March 23rd, but due to a failure to book (on ESD’s fiancé’s behalf), April 7th ended up being locked in, not realising its Easter Saturday. I suspect there may be some drunken/semi-drunk Easter Bunnies this year, but on the plus side, all the family will be together for once.

Unlike Lu-Lu, ESD hasn’t been so organised, and only started looking at invitation stationary in January. It was about this time she started looking at flowers, a band, and pretty much everything else that needs to be organised at a wedding. At this stage, the only things that were booked were the venue, the celebrant and the photographer.

It’s ok though, we’re getting there. We now have an idea and quote for flowers and table settings, she has a dress. I have a back-up dress (from eBay). We’re hoping a dress-maker in Launceston might be able to help us out so we can get the colour we want and a nice flattering style for my post baby body.

Once again, the MOH won’t be there for the Hen’s Party. Or even have anything to do with organising it. Although, I have to admit, I did Facebook message two of her friends suggesting they could hold something in honour of ESD’s impending nuptials. They were already thinking along the same lines, but ESD wasn’t so keen on the whole Hen’s Party idea. They did manage to agree on a very tame High Tea Party with a few themed games. I’m still waiting for my invite…

So while both of these lovely ladies have been busy preparing for their weddings they’re also packing up their houses and subsequent lives for huge lifestyle changes. Needless to say they’re a little stressed! Not just because of all the planning, preparing and packing they’re doing, but because of their new lives of the unknown.

Lu-Lu is moving over here to Perth (WA), and ESD is heading in the opposite direction; from Karratha to Tassie. So, while I’m losing the only family member I have in WA (not counting my in-laws), I’m gaining my best friend who’s moving about 1km away from me. I might not have my sister, but I will have my three closest friends in the same state as me.

So the next few months will be filled with firsts – and not just for myself, Mr.SuggieBlueand Miss Snowflake. I’m sure, for all of us, there will be tears of happiness, tears of sadness, tears of frustration and most likely tears…well…just because. One thing is for sure though, with new chapters beginning in our lives, there will be plenty more first’s for us all.

Candice

A Mum’s lessons: Getting to know motherhood.

Posted on March 3, 2012 by suggieblue

Life’s lessons can be hard. I’m a new mum, in a completely different world and learning new things constantly. Miss Snowflake is already two months old. Time has really flown by and as a result it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. As usual, there are ideas whirling about in my head, but finding time to put them into a blog…well…it just doesn’t happen often enough.

Today I have managed to find a small amount of time (thanks Mr.SuggieBlue) and I’ve put together a compilation of lessons I’ve learned about motherhood so far. So here goes:

• Snowflake is the cutest most /beautiful/gorgeous/perfect/precious thing in the world (love those rose-coloured glasses).

• Taking the advice of ~~‘experts’~~ others and sleeping when your baby sleeps is easier said than done.

• There is always something else to do.

• Sleep is a precious commodity.

• Breast milk is a precious commodity.

• Breast feeding is not easy, does not come naturally and hurts like hell – at first.

• If you can breast feed, watching your child do it is the most beautiful sight and they can make some wonderful photos. I don’t care what Facebook thinks.

• Formula can be a lifesaver; literally.

• Feeding your baby formula is not blasphemy.

• Dummies can be a lifesaver.

• Your house will always feel messy.

• Your house isn’t as messy as it feels or as messy as it COULD be.

• (Other) People don’t really care about your messy house – if they do they’re not worthy of visiting again.

• Cats really are curious (no, they haven’t been killed…yet).

Little checking out what's underneath the bassinet

• Eating too many lactation cookies and/or muffins in one day can lead to an upset stomach.

• Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles can give you a break when you need one.

• Don’t be scared to take up help when it’s offered.

• Online grocery orders are extremely handy. They’re also great time wasters (because you have so much spare time to waste).

• Needles hurt.

• Nipple thrush hurts.

• Smiles and giggles melt the heart.

My beautiful Snowflake giving me precious smiles & giggles.

• Modern reusable nappies aren’t scary and are actually easy to use (and yes, I HAVE used cloth ones before. Briefly. On my nephew many years ago).

• 40 degree temperatures (weather wise) and newborns aren’t fun. Even with air-conditioning.

• Gastro while breast-feeding isn’t fun.

• Baby fingernails grow super fast and it’s hard to bring yourself to bite/cut/file them – at first.

• Finding time to blog isn’t easy.

So it seems I’ve learnt a few things in my short career as a SAHM, but by far the biggest thing I’ve learnt to date is this:

• Do not make yourself a list of things to do for the day. If your baby has a non-sleeping day, for whatever reason it results in you getting NOTHING done and feeling like crap because everything on the list still needs to be done. You will only set yourself up for disappointment if you have a list of things to do!

What lessons did you learn when you first became a parent?

Candice :

Wordless Wednesday: Four weeks today

Posted on January 25, 2012 by suggieblue

Miss Snowflake is four weeks old today. As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I thought it would be fitting to add a few pictures. Of course I’m linking up with My Little Drummer Boys for Wordless Wednesday. Enjoy!

Mr.SuggieBlue's, Grandma's and Grandad's (his parents) first cuddles.

Top Right: Grandmum's first cuddle (My mum). Left: Eldest Sister Dear. Bottom: Ms. M (sister) and Snowflake's cousins.

Top Right: Sucking her thumb - just hours old. Very clever girl!

Head over to My Little Drummer Boys to see what everyone else has in store for this week’s Wordless Wednesday.

Candice

How to bring a summer Snowflake to life

Posted on January 24, 2012 by suggieblue

This post has been a month in the making, but it seems fitting to post it today since Daisy, Roo & Two is talking about her caesarean birthing experience and Muddled Up Mumma has revisited the pregnancy and birthing unmentionables on Facebook. How all you mums find the time to get on your computer and write constantly I’ll never know, but it’s something I aspire to. You all give me inspiration that it can be done; and so it will…eventually…

On December 28th, as we were all recovering from overindulgence of Christmas festivities, Mr.SuggieBlue and I embarked on a journey that would change our lives forever.

It’s almost one month ago already. The day began with an early start. I was awake at 3.45am. Maybe because of nerves, maybe because of that damn bird that usually starts its call between 4 and 4.30. I think it got confused this morning and started even earlier. Whatever the reason, I was awake early and because I knew I needed to be at the hospital about 6.30am, I decided there was no point even trying to go back to sleep.

We arrived at hospital about 6.45am – maybe closer to seven since I dawdled at home before we left, getting these final pictures of my big belly with Mr.SuggieBlue and my mum.

Mr SuggieBlue & I about to head to hospital

By 7.30 my OB was trying to break my waters. Apparently the membranes were part concrete or something; because it took her a long time to do it, and she had to change to a bigger ‘hook’ in order to get it done. She eventually managed to break my waters, and then decided there was no point in wasting time to see if that brought on contractions, they would proceed with the Syntocinon drip straight away.

It was a day to be hooked up to everything. Because of my Gestational Diabetes (GDM) I had to wear a foetal heart rate (FHR) monitor to make sure Snowflake wasn’t under any extra stress. I was also hooked up to an IV line, including saline, to make sure I stayed hydrated, and the Syntocinon – the hard stuff which induces labour.

I was lucky enough that my usual GP OB was on duty, so I had a familiar face. Unfortunately it was my day to be human pin cushion. Her first attempt at setting the IV line up ended up going through the vein so she had to try again in a different spot. Personally I think the second spot was a better choice comfort wise anyway.

With the IV line in and working we then played a waiting game. According to the monitor I was having absolutely zero contractions. A few started not long after, but they weren’t really anything more than period pain and nothing I couldn’t handle.

About 10.30 some real contractions started. More than two hours after the Syntocinon was started. They start you on a small dose of 12 and keep doubling it every 15 mins if nothing is happening. Once they get to 60 they need a Dr’s permission to go any higher. I think I was on 60 when the real contractions started, but the Dr said to stay on 60 until she came around to check my progress at 12.

12pm came and apparently I’d advanced to 1.5cm dilation – from 1cm that is. That was 4 hours of basically nothing. I had my lunch, a tasteless cheese & salad sandwich on wholemeal bread (because of my GDM) – although I only managed half of one triangle.

By that stage the indigestion I’d been feeling all morning was making itself very apparent, and I was altogether feeling quite uncomfortable.

I switched from the bed to the birthing ball, which was far more comfy, but far more awkward with the FHR monitor hooked up. As the contractions got stronger I needed to lean forward, but when I did Snowflake’s heartbeat disappeared because the monitor had moved. While I was on the ball I decided the contractions were strong enough to begin using the TENS machine I’d hired. It was just another contraption I became hooked up to.

Eventually the Midwife must have become a little frustrated with FHR not getting a constant reading and she told me to lie on the bed on my side. When I did, I found this to be far more comfy than the birthing ball anyway. I think it had done its time.

From this point I don’t really remember too much, but here’s what I do remember:

While lying on my side, increasing the power on the tens machine frequently, I decided it might be time to use the gas and air. They say it just takes the edge off the pain of the contractions. I’m not sure if it did or not, but I used it for the rest of my labour.

Apparently at about 3pm I decided it was time for the next level of pain relief – a shot of Pethidine. The Midwife wanted to check how dilated I was before doing this. Imagine our surprise to find I was 7cm dilated. In three hours I’d progressed 5.5cm and. It was no wonder I wanted something stronger to ease the pain – although I was warned it wouldn’t necessarily ease the pain but help me relax more during contractions.

I vaguely remembered this being injected into my thigh (and I still have a lump to help me remember) and I think it was about this time we rendered the TENS machine useless. Well… up until then it hadn’t been, but I wasn’t really noticing it by this stage.

I also vaguely remember being told the Pethidine would take about 15 minutes to work, and that it had some anti-nausea stuff in it to stop me feeling sick. I think it was about two minutes after that I threw up. I blame the indigestion I’d been feeling all day, not the Pethidine.

It felt like the 15 minutes I had to wait for the Pethidine to kick in had only just arrived before I was asking for an Epidural. Apparently it was close to an hour later when I asked, and once again, the Midwife wanted to check my progress before administering any new drug. So, at 4pm I was 9cm dilated. Progressing nicely you might say. Did I still want to go ahead with the epidural? If it helped with the pain: You bet I did!

The anaesthetist came and attempted to do his business, but after one failed attempt, there was no way I was able to stay still long enough for him to attempt again. So he patched me up and was on his way. And not a minute too soon either. It was 4.15pm and I was feeling the need to push. In hindsight I doubt the Epidural would have had time to kick in anyway.

Unfortunately the Midwife wouldn’t let me push until 4.30 as i wasn’t fully dilated. I proceeded to push as soon as I was allowed, and at 5.01pm our little Miss Snowflake came to life. I’d done it! Well…Mr.SuggieBlue & I had done it together – he was there every step of the way and did not complain once. In fact I think he thrived on it! Especially when he got to hold his little girl. Our precious little Snowflake.

Me and Miss Snowflake - just minutes old

Almost a month on and we’re all learning to adjust to our new lives. We’ve had our ups and downs (see here), but there have definitely been more ups, and seeing our little girl grow before our eyes is the most precious thing, and something I’ll be sharing with you all.

Candice

P.S. Call it irony, but Miss Snowflake was born on a 39 degree day. I sure was glad I was in hospital for that and the next few days as they were hot and humid and our air-con at home isn’t the best. A Snowflake in Summer for sure.

Today I’m linking up with Diary of a SAHM for IBOT. Make sure you check out everyone else’s IBOT post’s – oh and please leave comments on them too – it’s Jess’ special request for the day!

Crying and babies go together…right?

Posted on January 9, 2012 by suggieblue

This is not exactly the first post I imagined I’d write about my new life as a mother. No sir-ee. I had another planned, but time hasn’t really allowed me to be on my beloved computer; and this post was written on my phone, one-handed, with long fingernails (I’m not the fastest using the phone keypad at the best of times), while feeding Miss Snowflake. Needless to say it was a time-consuming job, and as a result, the ‘yesterday’ I refer to is Saturday. I’ll (hopefully) have the intended first post up tomorrow – with some pictures – if Miss Snowflake behaves. Or if I feel I can do without a much-needed nap. Anyway, here’s my unintended first post on motherhood…

I had a good cry yesterday. Isn’t that what new mums are supposed to do? Cry a lot? I admit I’m a whole lot more emotional since having Miss Snowflake, 11 days ago now, but I don’t think I was quite prepared for the onslaught of emotions I’m feeling.

Yesterday it all got a bit much for me. I’m breastfeeding, and I seem to have a very fast milk flow, which Miss Snowflake is struggling to handle. She gulps it down like its going out of fashion, and you can hear the big bubbles of air going down with the milk. The end result? Well…I’m sure most of you have been there at some stage; but the end result is a little girl with a belly full of wind, painful wind. And try as we might, Mr.SuggieBlue and I just can’t seem to get it all up for her, so she sleeps for a fitful 10 minutes or so before the next pain creeps up on her, causing her to wake once again.

Yesterday seemed to be the worst day. Thankfully not night. Mr.SuggieBlue, doing what he seems to do best (other than all the household chores I never get to) burped her and put her to sleep. She slept for four hours – until 12.30pm. That was great. I woke her for her feed (I can’t let her go too long between feeds because her blood sugar levels might get too low) and that was the last she really slept until 9pm last night.

We did manage to get her down for (maybe) an hour at about 3pm. But feeling like I needed a little pick me up I decided to turn the coffee machine on (to make myself a coffee obviously). When I’ve done this before she hasn’t woken, but yesterday she did. The chance of a good sleep was lost. The rest of the afternoon was spent by me second guessing myself, wondering how come Mr.SuggieBlue seems to have the Midas Touch & gets far more wind out of her than I do, consequently settling her easier than I do. Am I just the feeding machine? It certainly felt like it yesterday.

Even the Midas Touch seemed to run out, and out of pure frustration on the both of our parts (& believe me, it takes a LOT to get Mr.SuggieBlue frustrated) Mr.SuggieBlue decided to head off to the chemist yesterday afternoon. We’d heard of some tablets or drops you can give your baby to help ease wind. I wanted to wait until Monday after I’d spoken to the Child Health Nurse, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures (by this stage I was openly sobbing into Mr.SuggieBlue’s shoulders). He didn’t come back with said tablets, but did come back with some Gripe Water – that say’s its safe for newborns. I’d still prefer to have talked to the nurse, but we gave her a few drops before her next feed.

I can’t really say if it did anything or not, and we weren’t sure if we should give the drops before or after, since nothing on the bottle gave us any indication, (we’ve found out since it’s after) but we did eventually manage to get her to sleep (after 8 hours of on-off naps lasting about 10 mins). Needless to say we had one very overtired Miss Snowflake before we finally managed to get her to sleep.

Since Saturday we’ve been doing better. The afternoons seem to be a non-sleeping time, but the Gripe Water seems to be doing the trick and she’s not in so much pain. I’m off to see the lactation consultant on Friday, but it seems what I’ve been doing to help slow the flow of milk is on the right track - just going by what I discussed with the Child Health Nurse today and the lactation consultant over the phone.

If you have any tried and tested burping techniques, feeding techniques to help slow the flow of milk, or any similar stories, I’d love to hear about them. I know I’m not alone in any of the things I’ve talked about on this post – it’s just the first time I’ve had to experience it!

Now I’m off for some sleep before the next feed!

Candice

A Snowflake in December: It’s Time!

Posted on December 27, 2011 by suggieblue

As everyone was counting down to Christmas day Mr.SuggieBlue and I were patiently (or impatiently) counting down to Boxing Day. Yes. The day when Miss Snowflake was due, except she’s yet to make her appearance.

Mr.SuggieBlue had bets on that she would arrive on Christmas Day. He’s Scottish. He only wanted to give people one present for Christmas (apparently all Scottish are tight with their money, though I’d never heard of this until I met him, and I’m yet to really experience this).

Well, he didn’t get his wish. Christmas Day has been and gone. So too has Boxing Day. If it were any other time of the year, I would have been induced by now, because of my Gestational Diabetes (GDM). Unfortunately (or fortunately), the hospital where I’m booked in don’t do inductions on public holidays. I guess it makes sense when you know the city was voted in the top ten of Australia’s most Bogan cities – they want to make the most of their public holidays…

Last week I was madly running about chasing my regular GP OB so she could organise an induction in case Miss Snowflake didn’t arrive before her due date. They were worried that she might be a little on the small side because of my GDM so I was ordered to have another ultrasound at the hospital. The scan revealed Miss Snowflake to be healthy with an estimated weight of seven pounds ten (they didn’t tell me what it was in kilos). Not really on the small side after all.

This made no difference to my GP OB. She still didn’t want me to stray too far from my due date, so I had to visit her at a completely different medical practice on Friday so she could do an internal exam, where she also did a stretch and sweep (she only works Monday’s at my regular practice, and the other GP OB is on holidays).

Hand’s up who’s had one of those before? Now keep your hand up if you never want to have one again…

OK. Now you just look silly sitting in front of the computer with your hand up.

She (the OB) said if I do end up going in for an induction, they will most likely break my waters as Miss Snowflake had just begun to start the process on her own (with risk of saying too much – softened & slightly dilated).

Bearing that in mind, the stretch and sweep was obviously unsuccessful, because I’m still wandering around with a belly which just seems to be getting bigger by the day. Although, just maybe, that has something to do with all the food I’ve been eating over the past few days…

So anyway…Guess what! Tomorrow’s the day. Yep. All that running around last week did have one little bit of success – my OB managed to book me in for an induction on the 28th – which is tomorrow. Eeek!

So I guess my next post won’t be as an expectant mum, but as a new mum learning the joys of breastfeeding, (more) sleepless nights and getting to know my daughter.

It’s a little scary to know that by the end of the day Mr.SuggieBlue and I will be holding our little bundle of joy. Well, I hope she’s a joy, anyway. So far, all she’s been is a bundle of expanding belly, kicks, uncomfortable sitting positions and non-sleeping nights. But we’ll love her just the same.

Candice