Month: December 2005

Christmas has come and gone, and if one more person asks if there’s ‘any news?’ on the baby front I’m going to scream. Five days later and it’s still showing no signs of wanting to come out. Mind you, with the wind and rain howling round the house, it’s hardly surprising. We’re beginning to think that it won’t be with us until next year – what a bizarre concept…

On Monday I’ve got instructions to call the midwife and she’ll come to the house to try to get things moving (won’t go into the details, don’t worry). If that doesn’t work then it’s off to Reading for an induction. Either way, there is light at the end of the tunnel and with a bit of luck and some help from those in the know, our baby should be with us by the end of next week at the latest.

A great week all round what with cat rescuing and Christmas parties. Tilly is Mother’s new charge, she was going to be homeless last weekend as the family she lived with were moving to a place which wouldn’t take cats. Had a sudden flash of inspiration and called Mother who said she’d have her, and now she’s firmly ensconced. Much to Woggles’ (malevolent incumbant) chagrin.

Jane and Ian’s Christmas drinks were fabulously festive and it was wonderful to see everyone before the baby. Was almost hoping it might decide to turn up afterwards as it all started at their wedding, but alas it’s far too comfortable and happy staying put.

Last night we went over to Tim and Anne’s for their do, but at this point I’m afraid I had to give up. Couldn’t stand or sit after about 1/2 an hour due to excrutiating backache. It’s such a shame because they had a band and in normal circumstances we’d have stayed, drunk muchos vin rouge and probably embarressed ourselves on the dancefloor. Next year…..

Tonight we’re heading over the road to Cate and Jim’s for a spot of carol singing and then we batten down the hatches in preparation for Christmas Day!

It’s funny, but over the past couple of weeks I feel like I’ve grown hugely. I have this awful habit of dropping everything on the floor too, I’m sure it’s the body’s way of making you bend over to pick things up and maybe kick-start labour. So far it’s not working, just driving me potty.

Had a lovely meeting with the NCT ladiees, all glowing and happy with their offspring, and Helen, Lisa and I still the weebles of the group. At least I can safely say that at our next meeting we’ll all finally be in the same boat (unless I’m really unlucky and get to 42 weeks).

Talking to them is very reassuring, and they have all had amazingly quick and relatively painless labours. On the minus side, by the law of averages, this makes me worry I’ll be the one to go for 48 hours in excrutiating pain. Although having said that at this stage I feel past caring as long as I’m no longer pregnant by the end of it.

We’re all set for Christmas, although at this rate it’s going to be pretty uneventful – not to mention dry. Lots to do this week to keep my mind occupied – supper with Lowly, drinks with Janie and Ian, Tim and Anne’s Christmas party and then before you know it Christmas Day will be here. The question now is….will our baby?

This cold’s still gripping on for grim death, although I’ve pumped my system full of Ribena, soup, satsumas and honey…There’s nothing like artificial drugs to help you out in these situations. Sigh.

Fortunately, the baby remains blissfully unaware that its Mother’s suffering in the grip of hideous germs and is now so big that its making my tum into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes. VERY freaky.

Went to see the midwife yesterday and it’s working its way further down, but has a way to go yet. Apparantly it has a boy’s heartbeat, but as it was a girl a few weeks ago it’s anyone’s guess what it’s going to be at the end. I keep trying to tell it that it’s much more fun outside than in, but so far to no avail.

So it’s just a question of waiting now. Next appointment is on 22nd December, so we’ll see how the land lies then.

The cold is slowly abating, very slowly. Must add Lemsip to the list of things I miss. Poor Eddie is the one I feel sorry for having to live with a Titanic-esque lump who’s constantly snivelling/getting up/turning over and generally being as unsettled as a gargantuan, gestational female can get. Will try further hibernation today and hope to feel better in time for tonight’s team Christmas dinner at The Bunk as would hate to miss that.

The baby was doing all sorts yesterday, bouncing around all day (it clearly knows I’m feeling sick). Felt my first Braxton Hicks in the night too, I’ve never been quite sure whether I’ve had them or not, but Helen from the NCT described it as your whole tum going rock solid, and that’s exactly what happened. All good signs that my small bod is getting ready to expel its cargo.

Have a midwife’s appointment later on this afternoon which I’m looking forward to. Will be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat which is my favourite thing, and also find out more about how it’s getting on, but perhaps more importantly, if it hasn’t come by Christmas, think about what we do next…

Spent most of the early hours asleep on the sofa in front of Oceans Eleven, having totally given up on attempting to get any rest in bed. Have stinking cold; throat full of razor blades and together with heartburn and having to get up to go to the loo about 6 times, I just felt ready to burst into tears.

Have dragged myself out of bed at last, but am definitely spending today in front of daytime TV with muchos Ribena and chocolate.

No sign of Houghton Junior wanting to make an appearance yet. Yesterday it was my turn to have the NCT ladiees round for tea, which was very nice, but it’s a strange split now that half have had their babies and are glowing with the joy of new motherhood and the other half are still huge and uncomfortable and can’t imagine that their babies will ever arrive.

I console myself with the fact that – worst case scenario – the baby is a maximum of 3 and a bit weeks away. And as De kindly pointed out last week, if it goes to the wire and turns up on 8 Jan, it’ll share a birthday with Elvis!

A true Judge Christmas abberration. We love it!

This was Eddie wrestling it into the house earlier today. Will put more pictures up once it’s decorated and looking beautiful. Feeling very festive and Christmassy (if drowning in pine needles).

Sitting at the kitchen table with a Jamie’s stew in the oven and plum crumble well on its way. Perfect food for a cold December evening.

This week brought more excitement as baby Katie arrived with James and Emma after holding out on them for 6 days. Am becoming even more addicted to this machine – you never know who’s going to appear next. Bumped into Debs in town with Taylor, who’s now 4lb 10oz and very dinky indeed. She’s going to try and make it to Monday’s tea, which would be great.

More scary is the fact that I’m actually hosting tea on Monday and am going to potentially have 3 teeny tiny babies in the house!!! Good Lord. Must start sterilising the house. All good therapy for me in advance of Houghton Junior’s arrival.

On that note, no news as yet alas, but we have 2 weeks to go until Christmas and I’m upping the Rasberry Leaf to 2 a day….Otherwise all aches and pains remain as before – just amplified with each week that passes.

In the meantime, I’ve worked through my list and even survived a Playboy at the merciless hands of Arezoo with barely a squeak. Clearly my pain threshold’s preparing itsself for the onslaught.

The baby has moved back up I think; bowling ball action at a minimum and severe heartburn to the max. The positives are that I don’t have to go to the loo 6 x a night, but my insomnia, exacerbated by the heartburn, has proved too much so I’ve given up on sleep for a while and am sitting downstairs typing away.

Yesterday was the second of our weekly ante-natal gatherings – a strange one now that two of our number have had their babies! All very exciting and it makes me feel impatient for ours to come now, although I know I’m last in the line and am preparing myself to be the one still waiting in January. Two more are due this week so who knows what will happen. Hoping to get together next Monday and maybe meet some of the new arrivals if possible. If I wasn’t freaked out before – I will be then. The labours sounded very straightforward, but clearly we need more detail. But it’s clear that no matter how long or arduous it is, it’s all worth it and forgotton once the baby is there.

They say that women can mentally delay labour if they don’t feel ready. In my case, we have all our Babylist stuff coming today which I’ve been waiting for – especially the travel system and moses basket – there’s a ton of stuff I can hardly remember ordering. I’m going to spend today unpacking everything and putting it in the nursery, then I’ll try to get my head round how to work the car seat/buggy etc, which I suspect you need a phD to figure out…

After today, the other things left on the list are:

1. Finish stockpiling food (my equivalent of nesting I think)
2. Full body wax at Arezoo’s
3. Hair cut and colour
4. Procure Christmas Tree
5. Finish the utility room (one for Eddie)

By the weekend, I’ll be ready – time to up the Rasberry Leaf to 2 x cups a day, eat vindaloos and start bouncing on my gym ball.