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Sunday 23 December 2007

2 Weeks

Happy 2 week birthday to Liam! He's still changing each day. He's got big blue eyes, but I have a feeling they will change soon enough. Not sure if they'll stay blue, go brown like mine or maybe a hazel colour like Oliver's. I love this picture... I surprised him a bit with the camera flash.

Right, so it's a bit tough at the minute. He doesn't have any routine established (think it's a bit early anyway) and he's up and down and screaming his little head off. Breastfeeding is really tough. He still won't take the breast without the nipple shield and he wails his head off for a good while before he takes it. We're still topping up with a bottle now and then, but I'm starting to express as well- if he wants a bottle, I would rather give him a bottle of breast milk. I knew it would be tough, but there are times when he won't stop screaming and I feel like crying myself. But we must persevere... we'll get a wee routine established soon.

Look how exhausted poor Oliver looks...


Some action shots...
I'll post some more pictures on Christmas day. Got him a lovely little red outfit and his grandma Kerwin and godmother Linda sent a nice Christmas bib.

Saturday 15 December 2007

1 Week Old


Happy Birthday to Liam who is a whole 1 week old! He's already changed loads. We're trying to get a bit of a routine established, but it's a bit difficult. Luckily Ollie is off until next Friday and then only in 1 1/2 days the following week because of Christmas. A few pictures from today...

You can really see how long he is in these photos. He doesn't fit any of our newborn clothes, so it's all 0-3 months for our young son. We've been getting lovely clothes from friends. Nice blue ones for our baby boy- makes a difference from all of the white, yellow and green ones we've stocked up.


I'll try and regularly post updates when I have time. Just want to spend it all with Ollie and Liam at the minute.

Oh, and thanks to everyone for their well wishes and congratulations.

Thursday 13 December 2007

Our New Arrival

Well the wait is finally over....


Liam Daniel Reynolds arrived on Saturday, 8 December at 12:38 am. He's a big boy- over 23 inches long and 10lbs, 2 ozs. Below is his first picture...


I wish I could say labour was fun, but they don't call it labour for nothing. My waters broke at 2 am on Friday morning and I was so excited that I took a shower and shaved my legs (which was near impossible) and got all ready to go into hospital. I didn't want to go in too early, so I waited until my contractions were around 5 minutes apart and lasting for over 30 seconds. We went down to hospital at 5:30 am and they admitted me. I was only 1 cm dilated and they transferred me to a ward to wait for me to go into established labour. I'm not sure if it's because I was so exhausted or because I was put onto a post natal ward because they had no room in the antenatal ward, but I laboured there all freakin' day. The pains started to become much much worse around 6:30 and after an examination put me at 3 to 4 cm dilated, I was transferred down to the labour suite. This was a much more relaxed atmosphere. There weren't screaming babies and visitors in and out. I was labouring hard from 8:30 to 11:00 when I was fully dilated and started to push. It took me ages to get this big kid out! Over an hour and a half of pushing!! I used gas and air, which I didn't like and got a shot of pethidine which I don't think worked. By the time I decided on the epidural it was too late, so I had to go it alone! Ollie was brilliant throughout, but I think he's been a bit traumatised from the whole incident. I screamed as though I was being killed. Ugh, it was pretty horrible. But all worth it in the end when our beautiful baby was placed in my arms.

Think he looks massive in this picture... need to not put him in horizontal stripes! And do you love the throw back to John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever??

I had a few complications after the birth because of his size and the size of the placenta. I lost a lot of blood and my hemoglobin levels dropped from 12 to 7. I needed 2 transfusions and I'm still only up to 7.8. They considered giving me another transfusion, but I was so eager to get home. I was on a shared ward with about 7 other women and babies. It was impossible to get much sleep and I think that's really what I need to fully recover. I'm still really weak and haven't gotten my appetite back, but I'm at home with Ollie and our beautiful new son and over the moon!

Proud daddy...

At home with my new man...

Monday 3 December 2007

Still effing pregnant...

Right, offically over due and not a happy bunny. I had all of these great signs last week, but this kid isn't ready to go anywhere! Each night I would go to bed all optimistic and excited that I'd be woken up with a strong contraction and rush off to the hospital, but each morning I have woken up disappointed and rather pissed off. I'm done! This turkey is ready, but the freakin plastic popper thing hasn't popped up!! UGHHHH!!!!

Breathe. Okay, so I went for reflexology again today and she worked hard on my uterus, cervix and general lady areas- on my feet of course. She did say that a few sessions can help to bring on labour, but I'm not getting my hopes up anymore and set myself up for a let down. I just need to focus on other things. I remember when we started trying to get pregnant at the beginning of the year. I went off alcohol and was eating 9 portions of fruit and veg a day and taking my temperature and plotting my ovulation cycle/ fertility times... made it super sexy for Ollie. I was so disappointed each month when I got my period. Then in March I went to London for a conference, had a good piss up and forgot about it... and then I got pregnant. I guess it's true when they say a watched kettle never boils. I'm going to try and take my mind off of it and maybe that will do the trick!

I'm scheduled for induction this Sunday, 9 December, so baby should be here by this time next week. I really hope s/he decides to make an appearence before then because I'm really not looking forward to induction, but what will be will be.

Hope to post some good news and pictures of our beautiful wee baby soon! Till then...