38 weeks

Baby Jardim aka Jelly bean is officially full term, yeah I said it FULL TERM! If you had told be 39 weeks ago that I would be sitting on my couch with a huge watermelon stomach, back pain, reflux, swollen feet with a 38 weeker in my belly I would have laughed in your face. Well boy do I take that back cause dam I am actually here.

This last 2 weeks since my last Jellybean update consisted of 2 visits to Dr Pope and 2 non stress tests. The Dr visits were pretty uneventful, besides the second one which was rescheduled to the next day due to the Dr being off with back pain and us experiencing our first snow/slush of the season. Other than that Dr is very happy. Constantly wondering why I am not stressed and that my only real concern is whether or not I can have a pedicure on Saturday. Like I told him, I'm 38 weeks, I'm full term, what do I have to stress about??? I am grateful for getting this far, for being healthy, for this gift I will soon hold why on earth am I going to stress....Ive done alot of that already over the past weeks I seriously just want to enjoy this.

My last non stress test was a little more exciting. The RN monitoring my test identified that JB's heart rate was running lower than JB's average rate over the past couple of tests. Even though we had movement and heart rate responses were good the concern was the lower than average rate. I was then escorted to labour and delivery, upon instruction of the Dr, and monitored for another 2 hours. I have to report that from the moment the machine was turned on to the end JB's heart rate was back to the normal range and did not drop once during the 2 hours. I was eventually discharged with a 10minute explanation of what labour feels like and should I experience it I should call. Little do they know, but my c section is scheduled for Tuesday and I aint going in any time sooner, I have things to do..."do you hear me Jellybean!"

So game day is still Dec 4th...1 more week!

On other news here's a pic from our first snow/slush of the season:

 

 

Days of the week

My boy is just growing up to fast! 

 

He is now learning how to read (they have some site words they learning and need to identify) and learning how to write.  Everyday now we have to write the days of the week on our white board.  I say the letters, he writes them down, and we read them aloud. 

 

 

Just growing up way to fast!

The thanksgiving turkey

The friday night after thanksgiving I found Mr Jaime wide awake at 10:30pm in our bed. When I asked why he was not sleeping he showed me this:

 

As part of the Thanksgiving celebrations, Mr Ryan explained to the boys that should they go to bed with their quecas under their pillow and that the thanksgiving turkey will come and swap their quecas for a dollar.

Yes he remembered a day late, but he remembered, and was waiting patiently for this turkey to give him a dollar. For the non American this ritual is one Uncle Ryan would like to make famous, starting with Jaime, Robby and Josh. Mr Ryan, all I say is wait till you have kids bud!

I had to gently explain that (a) the turkey ain't coming cause he is still awake and (b) it wasn't thanksgiving so the turkey (which we ate the day before) does not know he needs to come. Jaime's response was "Oh man, I forgot! We must remember next year right mom!" What a good attitude my big has...

Fun in a museum, a childrens museum

Sunday afternoon fun at the Childrens museum down the Cape, with my cuzzies.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2012

22 November 2012 - Thanksgiving 2012
The day America comes to a halt, shuts down and every single person is surrounded by family to give thanks and eat turkey.

This year we gave thanks by prepping the house for the folks arrival, prepping the babies room for the baby's arrival and giving thanks at dinner with the familia and friends hosted by Peter and Laura. I was lucky enough to be handed the task of making a salad and peas & corn, for this I was thankful!Big day for big thanks, and boy do we have alot to be thankful for!

Here some pics from the day:

Jaime making sure we all know its Thanksgiving ie by writing it on the wall

My big boy, one of my biggest things I am grateful for!

The Thanksgiving table was well decorated with name tags, thanks to Robby, and strategically placed...Ili gets the kids plate! 

Jaime's name tag and surprise attire

 

And the dinner begins

 

Our dinner consisted of a HUGE delicious turkey, stuffing, broccoli casserole, sweet potato bake, salad, peas and corn, baked potatoes and and and it was delicious and my mouth waters just thinking of it!

 

 

The familia 

And more familia

Dinner dress...Joao forgot his formal dress and had to borrow some

Delicious koeksisters, hand made by Rene..one word YUMMY!!!

 

Mr Josh sneaking in some more dessert

 

Like I said this year we have alot to be thankful for. Mentally, emotionally, its been a huge year for us, but lucky for us we have family and friends surrounding us all the time with thoughts and prayers, and for that we just have to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Karate week 3

This weeks karate was rather entertaining.

I managed to get a sneak peak into the formal ceremony:

 

 

And one of the practice exercises:

And then the entertaining bit.. and I know typing/reading this will never really share the moment but I have to record it so that I can giggle again and again when I read this post in the future.

Ok so they were doing these walking exercises from the one side of the class to the other with an additional punch, block and squat depending on what the Sensai shouts out. They had done about 10 of these, so Jaime was pretty into it, being his first time, he was not doing it perfectly but at least he was following instructions and enjoying every moment. For us parents the exercise was pretty mundane...until the Sensai shouts "crab walk"... the class drop to the floor as follows:

 

Jaime, remains standing and starts walking sideways with his arms in a 90 degree angle and his hands acting as pinchers, literally doing a crab walk! something like this, face expressions and all:

 

 

Oh my word I cannot explain to you how funny this looked. Every single parent in that room including the assistant Christal and the Sensai were keeling over trying so hard not to laugh but just battling to hold it back. I think the pure innocense of the action made it even funnier.

From that moment on Jaime became the crab walker!

World Prematurity Day

 Our big man Jaime was born 2 months to soon, those 2 months took us on a ride we never imagined we'd take.  I'm not going to bore you with all the details but the day Jaime entered into our lives was scary to say the least.  We went from a normal health pregnancy to a harsh reality of spending the next 6 weeks,  traveling 40 minutes to the NICU monitoring, watching, learning and trying to understand the situation we were in.   From that day onwards, I made myself a promise to detail every single detail and memory of his time in the hospital. I didn’t just want to remember it. I needed to commemorate his survival.    

Every year, on November 17th, parents, family and friends celebrate World Prematurity Day.   You may wonder “Why have a special day?”. You may wonder who cares. But moms like me do. Once you have a child born prematurely, you feel a connection … to others out there who have made the journey on the road you have. During the past 4 years we have made many friendships purely based on the fact that we travelled the same road.  You may honestly not realize but one in ten babies are born prematurely or roughly 13 million babies worldwide. They say it’s the number one killer of newborns and not only costs a family financially but also emotionally – we know.

So come journey with me as I celebrate World Prematurity Day!

 

My beautiful little miracle
Capturing the moment I met my boy.

Capturing how small he was, Jaime fitting into Ili's two hands



Capturing the size of his feet.

 

Capturing the moment, after 3 weeks in NICU, I was able to Kangaroo care
where he was able to feel my warmth and learn my smell.  I longed every day for my 20 minutes . 

These pics/memories still bring tears to my eyes, not because I hurt but rather out of pure relief that this little guy, and I mean little, has made a gigantic impact in our lives. 

Today I continue to capture his life through my blog, celebrating and commemorating.  And honestly I would not change a thing.  

We are thankful to the nurses and doctors of the NICU that worked hard at protecting our miracle.  To our family and friends we are thankful for the love and continued support you have provided us. To all the health practitioners that have helped and guided us throughout these 4 years, we are thankful. 

36 weeks update

Another week under the belt, or rather in the belly, giving us a total of 36 weeks! And with that the countdown continues... 3 more weeks to go.. 

 

Jaime the photographer

Monday had my weekly gynae visit, nothing but the usual to tell.  Dr was happy with my blood pressure, protein levels, weight (glad he is happy I am quite the opposite), belly growth, and blood levels.  He was quite surprised that I had no real questions this week, but like I told him, I've reached 36 weeks, further than I ever imagined, what happens from here onwards will happen and completely out of my control and nothing that we cannot cope with.  The car seat we have 3 days to get, clothes and bags are quick to pack and if I need anything the stores are always open, so no stressing! Keeping those positive thoughts high!

I've switched over from lovanox to heparin.  Still an injection morning and evening but different poison.

Wednesday we had our growth scan, again just good news:  JB estimated weight is 6.5lbs (2.95kg), my fluid levels are great and  JB's heart rate is perfect.  Good scan pics are difficult to get now, but we managed these:

Take note of those lips!

Side profile

Both Ili and myself noticed that the fatty layer around the feet and hands, this kid is packing on the layers and we are expecting a chubby checker!  I have decided to only wash the Newborn gifts we received from SA and not the ones here just in case we need the bigger sizes.  I do however believe that these scans are just an estimate and often proven wrong, so I might just be using those newborns for longer.   All good though!

We have officially purchased our one big ticket item: the infant car seat (complete contradiction from what I told the Doc on Monday) lol
We have also purchased our first set of nappies, wipes, bum cream and bath wash.
Still need to get some other items like a sterilizer, bundle me, changing pad, and and and... this list just is never ending and very very daunting! Kids are expensive!!!!  But all in good time and on a need basis!

So the plan for the next 3 weeks is as follows:
> get through 2.5 weeks of work
> wash baby clothes and blankets
> pack hospital bag
> enjoy thanksgiving
> prep for the arrival of the folks
> try and enjoy my sleep

Like father like son .....

Or rather monkey see monkey do ????


And this is how we spend our evenings...

Mommy I Love You

Its Monday Morning, as per usual we running late, things always take longer in the morning for what reason I don't know.   As I was still packing lunches, making coffee, eating breakfast Jaime decided he was going to start a small project especially for me.  

 

First he grabbed a fresh white sheet of paper and drew a big square on it.  He then cut out the big square.  (Mentally thinking this is quite the small project).  He then orders me not to look, and mind my own business...humph!

 

A mere 5 minutes later he presents me with his project:

 

I am the figure on the left, Jaime is the figure on the right with a heart in between us cause
Mommy loves Jaime

Ah man I love this kid..and that's more important than being on time on a Monday morning!



Computer hi-jack

I left my laptop unattended for 10 minutes and was absolutely speechless when I found Mr Jaime taking control of my laptop, navigating through the pages and links

J: Mom I'm doing your work
M: What work is that?
J: I'm looking for toys so we take back to Africa

With a little help PBS kids was opened.  He managed to flip between tasks, games and pictures.  Change characters and just have fun on the site.  It blows my mind how he knows how to do this stuff!

Playground fun

Veterans Day

Veterans Day, the day the Americans honour the men and woman that fought for the country.

We headed to Fairhaven to join in the honorary parade and ceremony.

 

In front of the Fairhaven High School
The little flags represent the Fairhaven soldiers that have died in the various wars, think there were 145 flags

Boys messing around before the parade

 

Burning the extra energy

Some pics from the parade:

Some of the veterans from the different wars

Definition of camouflage...Jaime was very excited!

 

The ceremony:

 

 

 

The canon was shot as part of the ceremony ..it was loud!

 

 

The children playing in the garden - just loved it! 
The little boy is in Jaime's class at school.