The good news and the serious stuff...

So I had my next OB appointment this morning. To get the results of the Glucose Tolerance Test that I had to do, after failing the Diabetes Exclusion Test. Apparently I failed the first test pretty spectacularly (if you are going to do it, do it well).

The good news is that I passed the GTT just fine - the OB classed the first one as an 'anomaly'. YAY!!!! I suspect I should probably still ease off on the Mars Bar Cheesecake, but it is good to know that I haven't been labelled as a Gestational Diabetic. And I can nibble on the occasional piece of chocolate, totally guilt-free!

As the title of this post implies, there are some serious thoughts going through my hormone-swamped brain as well. Brad and I are just sort of getting our heads around the whole 'actually having a second baby' thing. I have asked a good friend to mind Naomi when the time comes, and she has happily agreed to do so. N has played there with her little friend Harry a few times when I have had to do things, so hopefully she will be fine.

I had a long labour with Naomi - the first, 'latent' phase took about 24 hours, but the contractions were 3 minutes apart right from the first one. At about the 18 hour mark, I was tired, emotional and worrying that I couldn't make the distance. Then when I was told that I was only 2 cms dilated, I fell apart. It took some pethidine and a few hours sleep to get me back ready for more active labour, which still took another 10 hours. I was lucky to have had my wonderful sister as a midwife, and she knew what I really wanted -- ie, that my yelling for a caesarean to get it over and done with was just the tired raving of a scared woman. She (and Brad, my mum and another midwife) were a tower of strength in talking me through it.

I find myself being a bit concerned that the OB and the private hospital that we are going to this time might have a firm time frame in mind, and start talking about interventions such as epidurals, if I am not on their schedule. I did have a chat with the OB about this today, and he assured me that second labours are always different to the first time, and that he certainly did not expect me to have anything like the time frame. We also discussed natural options to get things moving - taking a walk, having a sleep, going home etc. He is happy to do these things, and doesn't feel the need to leap into breaking the waters, or using drugs to speed things up. This was reassuring.

A good friend who has had 4 natural births suggested that I use a little notebook, just to jot down my wishes before going to the hospital, so that the midwives have a note that I don't want to be told how dilated I am, don't want an epidural if at all possible etc. I think this is a good idea - especially as I want Brad to be able to focus on me and our baby, rather than have him in discussions with medical staff.

My question (after this long-winded and boring post) is -- has anyone actually written a birth plan, and if so, did you find that it helped to communicate your wishes and facilitate the kind of atmosphere in the birth suite that you wanted? If you know what I mean???

Still alive!

Although it feels like I have dropped out - or off the planet - for the last few months, I am now beginning to feel that I have just a small bit of control over my body and my life again. The morning sickness has almost totally receded, and aside from aching feet and being exhausted at the end of every day, I am actually now feeling pretty good again!

I have had so many ideas for posts in the past few months, that just haven't materialised into words on the screen. My mum and I went to a wonderful quilt show about 8 weeks ago, and I found the photos still on my camera the other day. I will definitely get to posting them up on here... soon! (Can't rush these things, you know!).

Anyway, in other news, there is the distinct possibility of a move in our near future - to the other end of the State. Brad's project work here in our city is wrapping up, the next project that company have lined up for him is over an hour's drive each way, up a winding mountain range, and they are not making any provision for families to move closer to the site. With work hours being 7am to 5pm, and every 3rd Saturday as well, we wouldn't see much of him - which is not a prospect I would look forward to, with the new baby due in March.

So instead he is looking seriously at other options in the south of the State, and specifically a move to our capital city (hi sis!). But we shall have to wait and see how the interviews go......

Must dash. Naomi has woken up from her unusually long nap (all of an hour!).

There were 2 pink lines...

on the test strip that I did over the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had my contraception implant out on 2 May. And now we have conceived in the first full cycle after that!

By my calculation I am about 5 1/2 weeks pregnant. the women in my family have a history of awful morning sickness. With Naomi, mine started at about 8 weeks, and didn't stop until the day I had her. I am therefore enjoying this brief respite period where I still feel fine (although rather tired), and stocking up on ginger biscuits for the morning that I know will arrive when the reality check hits me like a ton of bricks.

Can I really be pregnant again? It just doesn't feel like it yet... but I am getting excited, nervous and all the other roller-coasters in between.

Mince Casserole for toddlers (and anyone else!)

Just a quick post to share - here is Naomi's favourite food at the moment (and I love to make it, because it is so darn easy!)



Crock-pot Mince Casserole



1/2 kg lean beef mince
1 beef stock cube
2 carrots (diced)
1 potato (diced)
frozen corn kernels and frozen peas
crushed garlic
herbs
rice (about 3 handfuls)
1 can diced tomatoes

Brown the mince and place in the crock pot with the can of diced tomatoes. Add stock cube and about 1/2 a cup of water, and the diced carrots and potato. Stir in about 1 teaspoon crushed garlic. Simmer for 2 hours. Add the frozen corn kernels and peas, and the herbs of your choice (I use dried mixed herbs). Add several handfuls of rice and continue simmering. Keep an eye on the liquid level - the rice will absorb excess water.

When vegetables and rice are cooked, allow to cool. Serve into individual portions and freeze. I get about 7 meals for Miss 15 Months from this quantity.

To Dr Smith, with Love

Is there any more important service provider to your family, than your trusted family doctor? Ours is a lovely man, Dr Smith, who has 2 children of his own and a very thriving practice. He used to be located much closer to us at the Cherished household, but has moved his business to about 20 minutes drive away. He is so popular that getting appointments at short notice is difficult, and he is perennially late (go at 9.45 for a 9am booking!).

But he is so good with Naomi, and at reassuring her parents. Naomi had her 12 month injections today (well, 2 of them - the third is in 2 weeks time, because of a shortage of the vaccine), as well as a weigh and measure. That was the part I was dreading. At 6 months I took her to our local free health clinic for injections and a check-up. I ended up feeling terrible as the nurse told me she was "failing to thrive", due to her being in the bottom 10th percentile for size. I was told that I wasn't breastfeeding her enough (6 times a day was not enough?!?!).

Since that time I have snuck into the self-serve weigh and measure room, avoiding clinic hours, to monitor Naomi's progress without being guilt-tripped over having a small child (hello -- I am 5'2". Brad is 5'4". Do you think we will be breeding basketballers???).

So when Dr Smith weighed and measured her and we saw that she has not grown any taller, nor put on any significant weight in the last month, he just looked at me and said "Is she active?" -- Yes, started walking and can't keep her still! --. "Does she eat well?" -- Yes, like a horse --. "Is she still breastfeeding?" -- Yes, at least twice a day--. His final verdict -- "Well, then, she is doing fine and is going to be a petite little darling."

I could have kissed him. What a relief to not be put through the wringer.

And, after injections, he gave her a balloon and personally drew a smiley face on it. No sugar-loaded treats in sight, but she was happily playing with the balloon all the way home.

So, I have come to the conclusion that if you find a good doctor, stick with them. Through late appointments and longer drives. Stick with them.

Toothy-pegs

Mummy lesson 101 - When your gummy toothless 10-month old child wakes up distressed and drenched in sweat, run your finger around their gums before reaching for the phone to call the hospital Emergency Department!

Yes, it has finally happened. On her 10-month birthday, Naomi started cutting her first teeth. And being our first darling, they are MY first baby teeth too. Does this explain last week's nappy explosions?

One of the mothers in Naomi's swim class tells me that her daughter gets blisters in her nappy every time she cuts a tooth, and needs antibiotic cream!

I think I will be grateful that Naomi is dealing fairly well, and has only needed one dose of infant Panadol so far.

Do you have any teething stories from your little darlings?

A day in the kitchen

Doesn't sound as glamorous as a night at the opera, does it?!?!? But Naomi and I did have fun. We got given a bench-top water filter/cooler as a wedding present, which I have set up on the kitchen bench. This now forms an integral part of my healthy resolution to drink more water... maybe I should keep a running tally of number of cups I drink per day!

We were also given a wonderful cook book - the Australian Womens Weekly Cook book, from which Naomi and I baked bacon & herb muffins ... which I strongly recomend!

Ingredients
6 bacon rashers - rind removed and finely chopped
3 cups Self raising flour
60g butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons oregano leaves (chopped if fresh)
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 cup (250ml) milk

Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius (180 for fan-forced oven). Grease muffin pan.
Cook bacon in lightly oiled frying pan, stirring, until crisp. Drain on paper towel and cool.
Sift flour into large bowl and rub in butter. Stir in bacon, all herbs and cheese, then combined eggs and milk.
Spoon mixture into muffin pan. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Makes 10 - 12.

And they freeze really well, great for lunches. Enjoy!