These two scriptures were significant leading up to Isaiah's birth and really encouraged me. God gave me a deep sense of his peace as I repeated them over and over to myself. Just wanted to share them and I guess record them for my own memory. Reading them again now, I think they are just as significant to me as encouragement for the days that lie ahead as I work out how to be a mummy to 3 little ones...
Psalm 139: 3 & 5
You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am...
You both precede and follow me,
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Thanks God for being here with me right now, in the days that have just passed and in the days to come. I can't do this without you...
x
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Psalm 100 - A psalm of thanksgiving
Shout with joy to the Lord, O earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Our sweet babe's arrival - my birth story
Today our newborn son is one week old. In fact as I write this and look at the clock, I'm reminded that exactly one week ago almost to the minute, we would having parking our car in the car park at birthcare (where we delivered) and heading to the birthing suite! For those who haven't caught up here are the details.
We have named him Isaiah Gary Toka te manawa (Isaiah pronounced I-say-ah, Gary after my dad, Toka te manawa - "contented" in Maori). He weighed in at 4555g or 10lb 1oz, was 57cm long with a head circumference of 36.5cm. I told you my baby was gonna be big!
As you know if you had been following my previous posts, Friday 7 Sept - Sunday 9 Sept I had been having contractions at a semi regular rate. I knew they weren't just good old Braxton-Hicks contractions because they had a bit of a bite to them. Completely manageable - just no longer pain-free. These continued through Monday and by Monday night I was semi-convinced it was all on. We decided this might be our last chance to capture the preggy belly shots, so here's one of 'em!
I texted RK (my midwife Rhondda) that contractions were regular at 10mins apart (still quite manageable) and headed to bed for an early night in preparation for what lay ahead. I was quite sure that at some point in the night I would no longer be able to sleep through it all.
5am Tuesday 11 Sept
Reuben had to make the decision about whether or not to go to work. We decided he would stay home as I was still contracting.
8am
everything has pretty much stopped. Me being quite keen to get it all going decided to go for a walk around the block. So out we all headed for a 30min stroll. On return home - still pretty much zero activity. I was pretty grumpy about it all by now, so we decided to send Reuben off to work and me and the girls headed out to our usual outing at playgroup in an attempt to distract myself. Text RK and tell her its all stopped. She tells me "Don't worry, it will happen soon"
1.15pm
I arrived home at after dropping Isabella at Kindy.
1.30pm
Go to the toilet and discover I've just had a show (google it if you want details of what a show is!). Feel both nervous and excited as I never had this with the girls, and realise I must be going to be in proper labour soon enough. Text RK and she says "keep me posted"
2pmContactions start again - 10mins apart and this time they are fairly uncomfortable - I want to move every time one comes on.
2.20pm
call Reuben who decides its time to jump on a train and come home
3pm
make the 10min drive to kindy to pick up Isabella. She wants to hang around and play - so I tell her we have to go because Coco is coming out today. She gets way excited and runs to her teacher Lisa to tell her Coco is coming out today. Lisa looks way confused so I - slightly embarassed - tell her that I am in labour and we need to go. Lisa gets into a panic and starts asking if I need her to look after the kids or drive us home etc etc. I say I'm okay and go to the car. Then Lisa and another one of the teachers come out to the car and frantically try to help with getting the girls strapped in, again offering all sorts of help. I again say I am okay and drive off to get Reuben from the train. I now have a massive adrenaline rush from the drama at kindy and wonder if everything is going to stop again.
3.30pm
Arrive at train - labour hasn't stopped and I am greeted with a lovely contraction as I get out of the car to move to the passenger seat. Reuben gets his first chance to try applying pressure to my lower back - relief!
3.35pm
At home getting bags for me, girls and reuben all together and in to the car. Sort out food for the animals. Have to juggle car seats around to try and find best place for me to be. Eventually decide on me being in front seat, kneeling on floor, leaning over bean bag. Me fairly calm, Reuben a little less calm!
4pm
Begin journey to my parents to drop off girls. Contractions now 7mins apart.
4.30pm
Arrive parents. Contractions still 7mins. Reuben calls RK. We are wondering if we should get in the car and go to birthcare as rush hour is fast approaching and birthcare is 25mins away when there is NO traffic. She says to meet her at birthcare at 8pm unless things really heat up.
5.30pm
Contrations about the same. Everyone having dinner at mum and dads. For some reason I am not interested in food right now!
6.15pm
Decide to have a shower and see how that helps me cope with pain. Is awesome relief! Love the hot shower on my back - coping really well - contractions suddenly drop to 3mins apart. I stay in the shower for 15-20mins and time contrations - yip, they are still 3mins apart.
6.45pm
Out of shower and tell reuben I'm at 3mins apart. He calls RK and she says - "time to come in!"
7.00pm
Leave for birthcare. Again a "great" trip. Reuben is doing a great job timing contractions, applying pressure to my back through contractions and driving the car. I knew there was more than one reason I have had two home births previously - contractions and car rides don't mix! On the way in I decide that I want the extra support and call my friend Kristen to ask if she can come support. She is able to come in and says she will see us there.
7.30pm
Arrive at birthcare - perfectly timed as RK drives in behind us. Great fun timing getting in and out of elevators as I have contrations.
7.40pm
RK checks me and I am 6cm dilated. Feel slightly cheated and wonder how much longer this will take! The birthing pool is already full and so in I get. The water is great - but almost too hot at 40 deg c. My contractions have slowed, but as I relax they start to pick up pace again and it is not long till I am concentrating hard through each one. In between contractions we chat and laugh about all sorts of amusing topics.
8.45pm
It all becomes a bit more serious for me as I enter transition. I just want it to be over and start telling Reuben that we are not doing this again. I get a bit grumpy but find the encouragement from everyone spurs me on and helps me concentrate. RK offers me gas but I am not sure if I want it - she tells me If I am not sure that I am better not to have it.
9.00pm
Urge to push... roll on second stage of labour. Feels good to have something to do with each contraction. I get a bit lippy and start asking RK "can you see it yet" she replies "oh yes love" I reply with a fair amount of tone, "how much". This converstions occurs at least twice more.
9.20pm
RK checks if waters have broken which they haven't. Asks me if I want her to break them. I say "no, not yet"
9.30pm
waters still haven't broken and are slowing things down. RK asks again if I want her to break them. I say "yes" and wish I had said yes earlier!
9.35pm
waters broken and I literally feel Coco come right down with next contraction
9.40pm
Head crowns and is out, shoulders are stuck. Reuben and Kristen have to help me stand up and with the next contraction I push Coco out - I am sure they heard my roar in reception! I am helped back to sitting down in the pool and handed my beautiful baby - its a second before I remember to look and there he is - my sweet baby boy. At this moment the pain is gone and Reuben and I are looking in awe at our first son - its an absolute magical moment.
welcome to the world sweet boy!
RK getting Isaiah all dressed for the first time
About an hour or two after Isaiah was born - out of the birthing suite and getting settled into "hotel" birthcare!
me and my babies - Isaiah day 1
sleeping in daddys arms - Day 2
We have named him Isaiah Gary Toka te manawa (Isaiah pronounced I-say-ah, Gary after my dad, Toka te manawa - "contented" in Maori). He weighed in at 4555g or 10lb 1oz, was 57cm long with a head circumference of 36.5cm. I told you my baby was gonna be big!
As you know if you had been following my previous posts, Friday 7 Sept - Sunday 9 Sept I had been having contractions at a semi regular rate. I knew they weren't just good old Braxton-Hicks contractions because they had a bit of a bite to them. Completely manageable - just no longer pain-free. These continued through Monday and by Monday night I was semi-convinced it was all on. We decided this might be our last chance to capture the preggy belly shots, so here's one of 'em!
I texted RK (my midwife Rhondda) that contractions were regular at 10mins apart (still quite manageable) and headed to bed for an early night in preparation for what lay ahead. I was quite sure that at some point in the night I would no longer be able to sleep through it all.5am Tuesday 11 Sept
Reuben had to make the decision about whether or not to go to work. We decided he would stay home as I was still contracting.
8am
everything has pretty much stopped. Me being quite keen to get it all going decided to go for a walk around the block. So out we all headed for a 30min stroll. On return home - still pretty much zero activity. I was pretty grumpy about it all by now, so we decided to send Reuben off to work and me and the girls headed out to our usual outing at playgroup in an attempt to distract myself. Text RK and tell her its all stopped. She tells me "Don't worry, it will happen soon"
1.15pm
I arrived home at after dropping Isabella at Kindy.
1.30pm
Go to the toilet and discover I've just had a show (google it if you want details of what a show is!). Feel both nervous and excited as I never had this with the girls, and realise I must be going to be in proper labour soon enough. Text RK and she says "keep me posted"
2pmContactions start again - 10mins apart and this time they are fairly uncomfortable - I want to move every time one comes on.
2.20pm
call Reuben who decides its time to jump on a train and come home
3pm
make the 10min drive to kindy to pick up Isabella. She wants to hang around and play - so I tell her we have to go because Coco is coming out today. She gets way excited and runs to her teacher Lisa to tell her Coco is coming out today. Lisa looks way confused so I - slightly embarassed - tell her that I am in labour and we need to go. Lisa gets into a panic and starts asking if I need her to look after the kids or drive us home etc etc. I say I'm okay and go to the car. Then Lisa and another one of the teachers come out to the car and frantically try to help with getting the girls strapped in, again offering all sorts of help. I again say I am okay and drive off to get Reuben from the train. I now have a massive adrenaline rush from the drama at kindy and wonder if everything is going to stop again.
3.30pm
Arrive at train - labour hasn't stopped and I am greeted with a lovely contraction as I get out of the car to move to the passenger seat. Reuben gets his first chance to try applying pressure to my lower back - relief!
3.35pm
At home getting bags for me, girls and reuben all together and in to the car. Sort out food for the animals. Have to juggle car seats around to try and find best place for me to be. Eventually decide on me being in front seat, kneeling on floor, leaning over bean bag. Me fairly calm, Reuben a little less calm!
4pm
Begin journey to my parents to drop off girls. Contractions now 7mins apart.
4.30pm
Arrive parents. Contractions still 7mins. Reuben calls RK. We are wondering if we should get in the car and go to birthcare as rush hour is fast approaching and birthcare is 25mins away when there is NO traffic. She says to meet her at birthcare at 8pm unless things really heat up.
5.30pm
Contrations about the same. Everyone having dinner at mum and dads. For some reason I am not interested in food right now!
6.15pm
Decide to have a shower and see how that helps me cope with pain. Is awesome relief! Love the hot shower on my back - coping really well - contractions suddenly drop to 3mins apart. I stay in the shower for 15-20mins and time contrations - yip, they are still 3mins apart.
6.45pm
Out of shower and tell reuben I'm at 3mins apart. He calls RK and she says - "time to come in!"
7.00pm
Leave for birthcare. Again a "great" trip. Reuben is doing a great job timing contractions, applying pressure to my back through contractions and driving the car. I knew there was more than one reason I have had two home births previously - contractions and car rides don't mix! On the way in I decide that I want the extra support and call my friend Kristen to ask if she can come support. She is able to come in and says she will see us there.
7.30pm
Arrive at birthcare - perfectly timed as RK drives in behind us. Great fun timing getting in and out of elevators as I have contrations.
7.40pm
RK checks me and I am 6cm dilated. Feel slightly cheated and wonder how much longer this will take! The birthing pool is already full and so in I get. The water is great - but almost too hot at 40 deg c. My contractions have slowed, but as I relax they start to pick up pace again and it is not long till I am concentrating hard through each one. In between contractions we chat and laugh about all sorts of amusing topics.
8.45pm
It all becomes a bit more serious for me as I enter transition. I just want it to be over and start telling Reuben that we are not doing this again. I get a bit grumpy but find the encouragement from everyone spurs me on and helps me concentrate. RK offers me gas but I am not sure if I want it - she tells me If I am not sure that I am better not to have it.
9.00pm
Urge to push... roll on second stage of labour. Feels good to have something to do with each contraction. I get a bit lippy and start asking RK "can you see it yet" she replies "oh yes love" I reply with a fair amount of tone, "how much". This converstions occurs at least twice more.
9.20pm
RK checks if waters have broken which they haven't. Asks me if I want her to break them. I say "no, not yet"
9.30pm
waters still haven't broken and are slowing things down. RK asks again if I want her to break them. I say "yes" and wish I had said yes earlier!
9.35pm
waters broken and I literally feel Coco come right down with next contraction
9.40pm
Head crowns and is out, shoulders are stuck. Reuben and Kristen have to help me stand up and with the next contraction I push Coco out - I am sure they heard my roar in reception! I am helped back to sitting down in the pool and handed my beautiful baby - its a second before I remember to look and there he is - my sweet baby boy. At this moment the pain is gone and Reuben and I are looking in awe at our first son - its an absolute magical moment.
welcome to the world sweet boy!
RK getting Isaiah all dressed for the first time
About an hour or two after Isaiah was born - out of the birthing suite and getting settled into "hotel" birthcare!
me and my babies - Isaiah day 1
sleeping in daddys arms - Day 2Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Due date tomorrow
I am tired and a little teary this afternoon. I want to be in proper labour as weird as that may sound. Since Friday I have been experiencing regular contractions - the only problem is that they aren't that strong and therefore I am not really in labour - just "early labour" which can go on for days!
If you are reading this please pray it would all heat up soon and become the real thing...
x
If you are reading this please pray it would all heat up soon and become the real thing...
x
Thursday, September 06, 2007
3 days till due date...
I'm hoping this might be the last post before a sweet new babe makes its anticiapted arrival. Went to see Rhondda our midwife today. Coco is completely engaged at D3. (Midwife talk...) In her words he/she can't get any lower. And even though Coco is right down, I am measuring 43cms. Basically that means Coco is BIG and there is NO ROOOM LEFT!! Come out little baby!!! The really annoying thing is that because I am tall, I guess I don't look huge to some people. A woman at the playgroup I go too kindly informed me that I am actually "small". I just smiled sweetly and told her if she put this belly on someone who is average height, they would probably fall over! My body is def at its limit, rolling over in bed is a slow painful process - I am sure I wake Reuben every time I have to move.
I think Isabella and Hannah sense big changes as they have been much more cuddly in the last couple of weeks. I am going to try and make the most of these last few babyless days to spend time with them...
For now its off to bed to have some energy for tomorrow
x
I think Isabella and Hannah sense big changes as they have been much more cuddly in the last couple of weeks. I am going to try and make the most of these last few babyless days to spend time with them...
For now its off to bed to have some energy for tomorrow
x
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