I've just had a midwife round to have a quick check-up (everything was fine - this time no protein in urine - which is good), and to have a chat about home birth. Well it's a bit of a shock to hear that if there are no midwives available that we have no option but to go to hospital, but then again saying that that would only be a very rare occurrence. Phew. The last thing I want to do is to go into hospital, last time I felt I was totally ignored and they were there just to do a job quickly. Even though I had a straight forward delivery with Phoebe, 12 hours no stitches etc, I still felt I didn't get what I wanted and that was ultimately the use of the birthing pool.

So today we are ordering our pool and I hope there are no delays in the postal service!

Talking about pools with my friend just yesterday and I was shocked to find that when she was in labour they allowed her into the birthing pool when she was only a few centimeters dilated! From the books I've been reading they advise not to get into the pool until you are about 5cm otherwise the pool will slow labour, and this is what happened to her!

I think we are pretty much prepared. Not only is the baby 4/5 engaged but thankfully Drew has a first aid certificate so not only will he be able to deal with any emergency we would also have 2 midwives around and Lisa for support. I know what to expect in labour, I know my rights, I know my pain relief too - surprising to find out that I can get meptid on prescription from the doctors if I feel I really need this for labour - well 'spose its better to have than not. But then again would I be more tempted to use it knowing it's around? I know that sometimes I give in too easily but I really think that only applies to chocolate!

Well here goes, only 3 and a bit weeks left to go.

Lets Make Some Honey!

Took Phoebe to Cambridge Uni Botanical Gardens as there was a Fairy Workshop, well when Isay work shop it consisted of a tent in the grounds of the gardens, and some worksheds used to house some events such as painting potion bottles and making potions. It was a good day out and didn't cost too much either, which makes a change.

Here's some pictures of my little busy bee.

http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Fairyland/?action=view&slideshow=true

Then we stopped at Pizza Hut to george ourselves stupid - eww I never want to see a pizza again.

CONGRATULATIONS

Karen & Andy

On the birth on their first son Scott Lewis

24th August, 5.59pm

Many thanks to people who have told me about Kiddicare.com who have a shop/warehouse in Peterborough. Drew, Phoebe and I spend Saturday afternoon there choosing our re-usable nappies, sterlisier and some other little supplies. It was quite funny watching Drew choose baby items, well rather heart warming than funny. His careful consideration over which steriliser to buy, discussions on which nappy offer was better value for money and baby wipes. I have to say even though it's a small store it's got everything you could possibly need at much cheaper prices than the high street shops. We bought our nappy system, which contains everything you need from birth to potty, for a mere £160 - but considering how much you spend on disposable nappies over a 3 year period, this price is such a saving - must also say that buying it in store was cheaper than buying it online! So Double Bargain!

Once we got home and opened the nappy-sack I have to say that the nappy folding instructions were somewhat more complicated than we had anticipated, you have to fold it one way for a newborn or girl, another way for a boy, and yet again another way for diarohea. mmm nice!

I'm sure we will get the hang of it fairly quickly.

Well today I might have finally given up the battle to carry on working till a week before my due date. I didn't sleep well last night and moving in bed causes so much groing and belly pain that it's near impossible to sleep at all. I had to give in and go home after lunchtoday, and after a 2 hour nap I felt a whole lot better. I was hoping to keep my annual leave for use either after my maternity leave finished or getting paid for the holidays instead. I still cant make up my mind - I might just end up using my annual leave for the days when I just can't face the office. After seeing the midwife yesterday I'm also concerned about swelling feet, protein in urine and the regularity of the braxton hicks, as the midwife advised that having so many braxton hicks was my bodies way of telling me to slow down. We shall see.

Anyway we've been busy this weekend doing a little gardening - as my tomato patch is now of monster proportions - I hope to get a good crop this year. As for the other seedlings well I have a few chilli pepper plants, a small crop of carrots and courgettes. Not bad but still disappointing considering how many seeds I've actually planted. Never mind I still have dreams of having the garden totally overhauled and redesigned next year where I could have a couple of veg boxes to play with instead. Maybe I should still put my name on the list for an allotment? Lisa will laugh at me for this as she's gonna say "yeah right" like I will have the time to do this along with a new baby. I'm glad I've chosen Lisa to be our extra birthing companion. I now feel totlly confident that I've done the right thing in choosing a home birth with a birthing pool. Lisa has some knowledge with aromatherapy oils, and I've done some research on using homeopathic medicines for labour - all that combined with my loving partner Drew this may even be the happiest birth I could wish for.

Lst note I've published some photos of our holiday in Strathconon! http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Strathconon2006/?action=view&slideshow=true

All I can say is it didn't wipe out enough of the little blood suckers http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/4799243.stm

At last all the video clips are online! Just click on the links on the previous posting

At last I've returned to the land of the living (after having 10 hours sleep!) . I want to say a special thanks to Do and Lorna helping me get from Inverness to Lauder so I could pick up Drews car, and to my brother David and his partner Julie for acting as standby in case I needed a lift from Edinburgh to Lauder. It's been a stressful time with flights being cancelled left right and centre - but at the end of the day maybe it worked out for the best as I was able to get Drew's car back home otherwise he would have been forced to make another trip to his brothers house to collect it!
Anyway on a lighter note I won a fab prize 2 weeks ago of a free Premier Plus 4D scan - we'd been deliberating over the last few months whether we could afford one, and this was just a wonderful gift. So yesterday we travelled to Trumpington to have the scan and it was amazing, I bubbled like I always do at these things, but it was such a surprise to see her face. Thankfully flumpy was in good form and was wide awake showing us her finger sucking skills, yawning and sticking out her tongue. Drew swears he saw her flicking us the "bird". I've managed to get all the photos and 1 cine film clip on line yesterday and today i'm going to try to get the other 2 video clips so you can all see our little cutie.

sorry for short post but here are some 4d baby pics
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Baby/?action=view&slideshow=true

and here is a short cine clip
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Baby/?action=view&current=BABYHENDERSON.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch17

DVD clip 1
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Baby/?action=view&current=test.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

DVD clip 2
http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/chenderson99/Baby/?action=view&current=largevid.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

This week I received a special invite from Phoebe's school to attend a coffee morning to say thanks to the parents who have helped support the school over the last year. This has meant helping out at various school fayres and projects like the walking bus. Well I decided to attend despite the heat - and I must say I enjoyed it, but I'm beginning to think I'm mellowing in my old age as years ago I surely wouldn't have entertained the idea of drinking tea with a group of other mothers. I just felt that I didn't fit in as everyone else either seemed to be a full-time mum or worked part-time. I always felt that I didn't fit the norm of other mainstream parents. Anyway as I've grown older and I moved away from Aberdeen to St Neots I met a whole different group of people who like me work full time and still have the energy to raise a family. Maybe it's the support I get from Drew that enables me to feel differently about motherhood. Maybe it's the fact that now that I'm expecting a baby with someone who truly wants a baby and supports me, loves me etc that I feel I can relax about being a mum.

I also wanted to say that whilst attending the coffee morning - not one - NO NOT ONE mother offered me her seat! Pah women eh?

Ok I find it hard enough to walk, sleep or sit these days so how the heck did I sprain my neck?
I now have to do a set of exercises every hour to help sort out the pulled neck muscle, first I turn my head left 10 times, then right 10 times and for my finale I rotate my head clockwise 10 times and then anti-clockwise 10 times - whilst trying not to make myself dizzy.

Met the ever lovely Tosha for lunch yesterday, it was nice to get away from the office and speak to another mum. I had a rant on about how fed up I felt and how I wanted to be alone - moan moan moan. It was comforting to know that I wasn't the only one who had felt like this at this stage of pregnancy. I feel so damn tired and uncomfy sometimes that I find it really hard to be civilised to many people so I'd rather hide myself away. Maybe it's the hormones, maybe I realised that in less than 10 weeks any idea I had about having any ME time will be lost for ever, well lost for a long time anyway. Once this little arrives I wonder what it will be like, will it be endless nappies, crying and feeding? Will I have another dream baby like Phoebe was, she was such a good baby, ok the sleeping part was rough for a couple of years but in the end it all turned out all right. Will I cope, being an older mother and someone who wants to continue her career? Since Drew and I started going out I've felt like I've just began to live my life, I feel free and happy to say and do what I want (well most of the time). But he has given me something that I never thought I'd have and that was pure love. Maybe I'm just scared what effect having a baby will have on our relationship. Maybe it's just the hormones eh?

Geek Alert!
Yes I'm excited about it and can't wait to tell people about it! I've made an appointment to see my Doctor - why am I so excited I hear you say - well I did it online! Signed up to this new surgery booking system online and now I can sit at home and make an appointment for me or Phoebe (ha Drew wasn't too keen on signing up- he will change his mind sometime as it's a nightmare trying to call the Docs at 8 am to get an appointment). I can pick and choose which Doctor, day and time I wish to visit - I'm delighted.
Oh yeah and my neck still hurts and my pelvis is being pulverised by every step I take - yeah for the joys of motherhood - blerugh! I feel like an 90 year old woman with severe arthritis who needs a hip replacement.
I have 10 weeks left and boy am I counting the days. I just hope my labour goes as quickly as Two-Hour-Tosha's!

Thanks to Lisa I found a rather nice maternity wear website http://www.funmum.com


Well this week has been exhausting to say the least, as they say the last trimester is the hardest and I have to agree. I've pulled a muscle in my neck which is now giving me headaches, and my hips are still causing a lot of pain - so much that I've had to stop doing any kicking lessons at my Tae Kwon Do class. I'm not too heart broken about that as I can still go to my lessons and practice my patterns, oh and I made Green Belt last week too! Phoebe has now reached a Blue tag belt (she is one Kup ahead of me now). And she rocks!
It's been hard for Phoebe and Drew this week as I've been working loads and have come home every night totally exhausted and well lets face it a complete grumpy cow! Sorry guys - I know it's hard being around me just now but it's not because I don't love you all it's because I'm just so freaking exhausted. It will soon pass in another 10 weeks (hehe).

Baby flump is making lots of movement these days, I'm constantly being kicked in the ribs and punched in the bladder (this also links into why I'm grumpy). Sometimes s/he is moving around so much that I think s/he has been sipping some stimulants and dancing the River Dance!

WARNING!For viewers of a nervous disposition please look away now.

For those who don't know I promised to publish pictures of Drew's insides! I've never seen so much of my boyfriend before!

Wow I've been working so hard over the past few weeks, despite being ill for 2 and a half days with a chest infection I've still managed to do a heck of a lot. I've managed to get all my tomato seedlings into grow bags last thursday, and with me putting down bug killer pellets all over the grow bags I've managed to create a kind of pet cemetary for slugs and snails. Where did they all come from, do snails and slugs smell fresh seedlings? Each morning I go out to check on my precious tomato plants and I find masses of dead and dying slugs. It's kinda sad too, here I am trying to grow some veg for the family and be enviornmentally friendly and kapow I end up having a mass cull of the little critters. Oh well maybe it will be different next year. Drews lovely sister Lorna has kindly offered to come down and help design and create a new garden for us! Yep Lorna I'm gonna hold you to that offer too!

We hope to incorporate some large veg box type areas so i can grow some stuff rather than having pots of seedling hanging all over the place, level out the lawn which will probably involve re-turfing it all, some new fencing - I'm sure it's all going to look terrific when Lorna has finished.

Thanks to the lovely James too, for inviting us to his BBQ this weekend - we had a brilliant time chatting to folk from work, eating lots of gourmet sausages and lovely mainated meat - very yummy guys. I met the lovely Bertie and Paul - they seem like our kinda people - NUTS! Hehe. They've invited us to theirs next saturday for another BBQ and the other good thing is they live in Milton Keynes! And as my friends know, god knows I keep telling them, that this is a bonus because when we go to visit them I'll also get the chance to visit the new Krispy Kreme store they have opened. Trust me you have never tasted a good donut until you taste one of these dreamy sugar loaded sweet bakes. I'm sure they have trillions of flavours I haven't trued yet and I can't wait to visit to purchase some more!

Extreme close up- meet Elvis (aka Evil One, Smelvis or Satan)

Ya gotta love him really! no honestly :)

Oh yeah and he loves the Banjo - check him out.

What can I say - she takes after her barmy mother!

I just had to show you this from Two Fat Lumps - (see my list of links for more cartoons) this just made my day!

As promised I've added a link to the BBQ photos (at the right hand side of this page) - Enjoy!

I've spent most of today lounging in my new pool! Finally purchased a 6ft wide plastic pool and it took us an hour to fill it with water from the garden hose - but boy was it worth it. For once I've actually stopped running around doing stuff and had a chillin afternoon in the pool, eating cherries - pure bliss!

Happy Canadian Day! Exhausting day today - had to get up and drive to Luton to complete our Tae Kwon Do grading, in the heat! Then drive back home - getting stuck on the road due to the never ending road works on the A1 - that sucks. Quick shower and then off to Lisa and Pauls for a BBQ - yummy - lots of fab food to eat and people to hang out with all afternoon.

Followed by some beaver bashing (fnar) - meet bertie the beaver pinata! Got smashed to bits though the poor thing - but he was full of yummy sweets!
Yawn got to go to bed as I'm exhausted.