The Fast and The Not So Furious

So Noodle was born and became Henry James. He is amazing and awesome and can poop like nobodies business (seriously, 2 weeks old and over 200 diapers... welcome to the poor house!).

So Thursday the 10th I hosted book club, towards the end I was feeling some contractions but only a couple and I had been like this for a week so I shrugged it off. I slept through the night, so Friday morning I knew it wasn't labor  If there is one thing I knew it was that you can't sleep through labor  So I got up and had breakfast and a shower (I had been having a shower every morning just in case). I decided that the baby would be here soon enough so I would take the time to straighten my hair. I had a couple of contractions standing there, but hey I was standing so of course I would feel gravity working a bit, no biggie. NOT IN LABOR  I emailed Kyle to tell him I was still contracting but that it was ok they weren't painful and didn't take away from my day and were not regular. In fact while I was sitting at the computer I took the time to email Mamaz back to say that it wouldn't be that day, and that I would probably make it to my next midwife appointment on Monday.
At 1 I laid down for my typical 1.5 hour nap time (also just in case). That's when I decided to start timing my contractions, just for fun. I WAS NOT IN LABOR  They were about 2 minutes long and 8 minutes apart on average. I emailed Kyle about this. He said that I probably had lots of time. By 3 they weren't letting up, but they weren't exactly regular either. So I sucked it up and called Mamaz to talk to Nurse Jessica about the whole thing. She said that it sounded weird because they are suppose to start short and get up to 1 minute long. I could talk and be normal so I assured them that it probably wouldn't be till the next day, I was so not having a baby that day. It was a Friday after all, and it was raining. Blah. However just to cover all my bases I called Heather, who was going to be taking the birth photos to say that maybe tonight I would need her. I emailed Kyle again around 4 saying that I was not in labor but that I was not feeling very well and therefor it was obvious that we weren't having pizza and watching a movie. His response was "that is not obvious, I am still having pizza".
Kyle got home from work at 5:20 and said he was going to go look in the drive way for the keys he lost out there during all that snow on boxing day. He came in shortly after 5:30 and I was REALLY grumpy by then. Maybe...MAYBE I was in labor. So I wandered around the house till 6 at which point I said he should call the midwife because I was finally admitting that I was in labor. Still no real pain, just contractions. Still not regular, still 2 minutes long and 8 minutes apart on average. But I was concerned because sometimes they were up to 4 minutes long and 10 minutes apart. She assessed me over the phone and said I was still a ways off to have a gravol for my nausea and get in a hot bath and relax. So I did just that. If I was still feeling ill in an hour I was to call her back and we would make a plan from there. During this call we informed her that even though my iron was up we weren't confident with my low platelets so we wanted to go to the hospital for the birth.
Then things go sideways.
It was 6:20 when I got in the bath. BAD CONTRACTION. I was uncomfortable, and I blamed it on being in the tub. I was fine in bed and I was fine walking. Then another. I decide that I am getting the drugs when we get to the hospital, there is no stopping me. Then it is 6:30 and I feel a snap and a bad contraction and then my body is screaming push. OH CRAP.
Kyle says it hasn't been an hour, but I make him call the midwife back, I am going to the hospital NOW! My water has broke in the bath tub, which really is the best place. He calls and says we are on our way to the hospital, leaving me alone in the bathroom to get out of our extra deep tub all the while trying my hardest to go against nature and not push the baby out. I get out and on to the floor. Dragging the towel behind me I make it crawling to the hallway. Kyle is now off the phone, midwife on the way to the hospital, and I inform him that the baby is coming right here and now. I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. Double crap. So he calls the midwife back and says change of plans the baby is coming now and there is no making it out of the house. He gives her the address and hangs up. I call for him to call Heather, he forgot all about her in the excitement.
I lay having a couple more contractions in the hallway waiting for the midwife. I hear the door open. Excellent! I put my legs up on the door frames on either side of the hall and push. Crap false alarm, it is Heather. She got here before the midwives. I quickly change back to my holding position.
It's now 7 and finally the midwives get here. They set up some of their things, start writing, ask Kyle to do some running around the house preparing things, and get me into bed. Finally time to push. First push and they announce "we have dark hair". BAH. There goes my push. I lay back and think how I was so sure he was a ginger. I push a couple more times and am shocked with how there is no pain.
7:30. Then shocked again as they place Noodle on my chest. Arthur Douglas goes out the window, this kid isn't a ginger. He is a mini Kyle. I can't even think of a name. I can't even think at all. I am in shock. I am scared, I remember the reason why we were going to the hospital, I could be bleeding out. I don't even have an iv started. The midwives are smiling and inform me that I haven't really bled at all. I cover him in the blanket so fast they ask if I don't want to check and make sure it is indeed a boy. I don't even care to look, who would care, my baby is here and he is happy and healthy and best of all I am OK  I focus on Noodle, loose focus as I see something shiny. Oh crap that's a needle and it is heading right for my leg. It hurts, a lot more than having a baby but hey I can look at my baby. Kyle cuts the cord and things are done in a blur around me. They get out all my pillows and some warm blankets and get me sitting up and tucked in. This is my favorite part. I am warm and feel comfortable in my own bed. Kyle and I are left to have some moments alone with Noodle. Still no name....this is making me upset but I am still in shock because I went from "I'm not in labor" to "hello I don't have a name for you" so fast.
When the midwives come back they inform me that I have a small tear but that they feel it will hold closed and stitches aren't needed. Did I want the stitches anyways? Ummmmm...... NO. So I was ordered to bed rest for a couple days and then to keep my legs closed as much as possible to heal.
Before the last midwife left at the end of the night she tells me "Next time, we come on the first call". I think, next time I won't be so foolish, I will tell them in the first call I want them there. I won't be so foolish in telling Kyle not to worry that I am not in labor.

Boy Oh Boy

So Kyle and I have always known we wanted to know the gender of our children ahead of time, this mainly because I hate surprises but also because I need to be prepared for everything WAY ahead of time.

So we found out the gender of Noodle. I might add that at my 20 week mark the ultrasound place was booked solid and I had to wait that extra week, yes it almost killed me.

At 9 weeks when I first heard the heartbeat I told Kyle it was a boy, I just knew it. But then I had time to change my mind and forced feelings of girl. Forcing feelings does not change a baby's gender. A few days before the appointment Kyle and I both admitted that we knew the baby to be a boy.

So Monday comes, I haven't slept and I am sick with anticipation, and we hear those words that we knew were coming, "It's a boy".

But that's where the story gets good because what came out next will keep this boy at home till he is 30.

"He isn't shy to show it either".....

As the tech says this, Noddle goes ahead and proves just how true a statement this is and places his gender against the viewer for all the world to see. A moment of "Oh dear, I just had to marry Kyle and have his son. A new regret for my life. This boy IS his father." Followed by a couple more "Hey look at me guys, look at this thing" and assorted shots of him grabbing his feet and being VERY active (active and not shy, not a good combination) and we were done. Kyle with a huge grin on his face because he has made himself a mini me. And me thinking the rest of my life is going to be crazy, and maybe when there is time to reflect, funny.

My new mantra?

"Heavenly Father chooses his most choice daughters of all to bring his next generation of priesthood holders into this world"....right?

On Decorating

I don't have an eye for decorating. I can't even match colours, though that is because I can't tell the difference between shades most times. Colours can be ever so tricky that way. So I am rarely called upon for say in colours, and to that end I can feel a little left out on the whole house renovations. I can't lift and help much because I am pregnant and get tired very shortly into a job and I can't even sit back and help being terrible with colours.

However Kyle came up with a way for me to help. He would choose the colours for a room (though I do have a bit of a say, such as "I like light green") and we would make up a theme for that room so I could decorate with little touches. I am turning out to be quite good at that.

So what are the themes?

Master Bedroom - Art Gallery

Nursery (girl) - Botanical Gardens

Nursery (boy) - Under the Sea Space (think octopus in space)

Main Bathroom - Evil Queen

Kitchen - Tropical Oasis

Laundry Room - Department of Missing Socks (think silly British office)

And You Are??.....

So flipping back to pre-announcement but still pregnant, so not too far. Kyle and I were at church on a Sunday (because it would look funny on Friday) and a gentlemen asks if he could sit with us. Kyle invited him in (squeezing me to the inner-most part of the pew) and proceeded to chat with him about all the questions he had all the way through the sacrament meeting. I guess Kyle is taking his new calling as ward missionary seriously, which I find odd but hey times they are a changin'.

Unfortunately being in that inner-most spot meant I would have to wait out their conversation to go to Sunday school. And that's when it happened.

A missionary (able to smell non-members at 100 paces) comes and sits directly ahead of me and asks who Kyle is speaking to. I said it was just a gentlemen who sat with us and from what I was to take from the conversation he wasn't a member. Continuing a conversation that, now looking back is funny but at the time made me want to cry, the missionary asks:

"And you are?....Kyle's friend?...."

"No I am his wife."

"Oh..... Kyle never said he had a wife...."

Oy. Sitting there, his wife of 5 years and 8 months, just short of 3 months pregnant with his child, being told he never speaks of a wife. Harsh.

So Kyle's out look on this?? First the cover, "Well I don't talk much to the missionaries so why would I just say I have a wife.". Then the hurt of his own "It's a family ward. Do I look over 30?!?!"

There were many snacks that day. Sugar heals all wounds, right?

Noodle

So here's Noodle, or I guess more rightly, here was Noodle at 12 weeks.

So how does a baby get the name Noodle? No we don't know it's a boy, or are hoping it's a boy.

I once read a blog about a couple who named their unborn babies food names. They did fruit, which I thought was applicable since I sell fruit. Kyle thought that was lame, there should be a reason behind the food we picked. So we sat in the kitchen one night discussing what we could call the baby that would be a memory and meaningful. I am sure we will have at least 1 more night of this when Noodle needs an outside name.

A couple weeks before early pregnancy caught up with me. I was feeling good all day, so I decided for the first time in a couple weeks to make dinner. It was glorious. Spaghetti and garlic bread and sauce with cheese in it. Just what I wanted. I enjoyed my meal, I even had a whole bowl full (now I am more of a 2 bite and can I be finished dinner eater). The second that last bite went down, I felt "that old fashioned feeling". Tongue pulled back tight, stomach rock solid. Oh no. I got up quick and made the run for it.

*Side bar, why did I buy a house with the dining room on one end and the bathroom clear at the other?

I got to the bathroom just in time. A burp. Fantastic. I hate running. Nope wait, yep I was right. So I make a quick call on the porcelain phone before yelling for Kyle. He came strolling in, as I was making another call, like nothing was wrong. Lucky for me he didn't have a weak stomach that night, because he cleaned me up and helped me to the couch after a few more calls. Though he did miss the spot of sauce on the side of the bowl, which did sit there until a week ago.

So flash forward to a meaningful memory name. "Hey you first puked spaghetti (like this is news for me?) why not something like that?" Ummmm..... spaghetti? Garlic bread? No. Noodle?Perfect.

Just a couple days longer and the name would have been Yellow Sugar Plum. Apparently 7 of those is not a tolerable number, or maybe Noodle just really hated the movie Horrible Bosses (I know I did).

The worst part of the whole experience, besides dinner in reverse, was we weren't telling anyone yet so not only could I not call my mom and have her say nice things to make me feel better. But Kyle had a missionary meeting to go to and no good excuse to stay home with me. So I was alone with my angry/hungry/sad/sick feelings.

An Update? That's Crazy!

So we have not done much to warrant an update on here, OK well we bought a house. But we are working really hard on it. Wait no. We are hardly working on it. Yeah that sounds more right.

However, there was a rather large development that happened in May but we didn't share until July. That is we are expecting! And yes we were trying. It is silly how many times you might get asked that. And also yes it is Kyle's, best question I was asked when I said I was pregnant.

So before I left for NYC in early May I took a test just to be sure I could have as much fun as I wanted, and you know what? That test said be crazy and party like a rock star because who cares it's only your body. SCORE! So I went on my merry way knowing that at some point I would encounter the dread week of ladyness. So the first week past and nothing. Crap. NYC will be ruined for sure. Second week. Nothing. Crap. Now I am pretty sure I am pregnant and that test lied and I ate a hot dog and didn't eat much else for a whole week. Crap. I have to email Kyle. Aren't I suppose to be sitting in a bathroom with him and jumping up and down and happy and crying? Not emailing like some 1 date wonder? This is not what that test promised. I emailed Kyle and we talked over Google Talk (that's what it was made for right?), thank Heavens that I got that android device for my birthday last year or I wouldn't have been able to contact Kyle at all.

So I did what anyone would do at that point. Go to the store and buy a test and make sure? Nope. That's not my style, plus do you know how expensive those things are? I kept waiting. I waited all the way till I was back in my own house. Day count? 18 days since last test. Longest 18 days ever. However it was worth it to take the test with Kyle there and "find out" together. Though I still didn't believe the test. I think I shall keep doubting that test till a baby pops out. After all the first one lied.

Why I Love Cross Border Shopping

So I was in Niagara for the weekend and thought I would share a deal I got with the few of you who read my blog.

This was on the front of the Tops flyer. I could hardly believe it, all I had to do was buy the beef and I get all those groceries free? Well I needed to have my trusty Tops Savings Card, but I got that a couple years ago when they had a good sale on chips.

The beef was a little more expensive then I would usually pay but it was better quality then I usually buy.

So what was the total for all that?

$18.79. Plus 5cent deposit on the pop bottle, but I get that back when I go back and recycle it at Tops. A total savings of $22.30.

I saved so much that I went to Walmart down the street and bought Hersey's Bliss White Chocolate Hot Chocolate and Pumpkin Spice marshmallows (that bills came to a whopping $3.75).

PS. I am aware that you aren't suppose to bring meat back over the border unless it is frozen. But it was a good deal and I am using it for personal consumption so I think its ok.

PPS. Tops Friendly Markets is located at 7200 Niagara Falls Blvd Niagara Falls,NY 14304.

PPPS. Also filled up at Smokin Joe's for 91.9 cents a liter.

The Boat Show Theory

Mamaz always says that the ladies with problems always have a sob story where "Daddy never took me to the boat show".

Luckily my daddy did take me to the boat show. A cold snowy day, dragging 2 kids around, I am sure he did his share of grumping. That is until a security guard seen him getting in line with 2 small kids and ushered us all inside "because it was too cold for kids".

So why do I share this? Well I have spent Saturday mornings up early for markets and caught a couple of conversations between females leaving my neighbors apartment. These chats make me fear for the future society, though I am not sure that is right as these girls are probably my age.

#1

Girl calling the group of guys outside to call her phone. A few minutes later she reminds them to call. She comes out a third time angry they haven't called, which they had, and she replies "Oh. This isn't my phone. I lost my phone. Who's phone is this?".

Wow, regular brain trust over there I see. I expect Mensa to come any day now and take them away.

#2

2 girls (walking barefoot I might add, I guess those shoes are with girl #1's cell?) were talking outside of my door as I am putting my shoes on. I might remind you it is 3am. The one says to the other "So do you think you would ever let a guy punch you in the face?".

Umm is that even a question? Really?

Birthday Ideas

So my 25th is coming up in December, which I realize isn't that close but I like to be prepared. So I have been thinking alot about what I would like for my birthday. Since it is my 25th I feel it is a special one and deserves special gifts. So here are some things I have picked out.

~A rocking chair, my Grandma gave me her old one before her house was sold. So I already got that.

~A grandfather clock. Odd I know but I just need one for my future house!

~A watch. I have been looking for this forever and still have yet to pick one I really like. But maybe this one.

~High thread count sheets. Except I have no idea how high is high, but I want them cream color, with varying stripes, like this.

~A white handkerchief with a purple L on it. With lace trim of course.

~A locket. Or a heart link necklace like this, but in yellow gold.

~An old timey apron.

~An owl cookie jar, because how classic is that?

~A china cup and saucer set for Sunday tea.

The grandfather clock I found in the Sears Wish Book. Isn't that sad?!?! I can still remember it wasn't that long ago that all I looked at was the toys. Now it is the dresses and housewares.

NYC

So K-Bot's shut down week has come and gone. NYC was a great way to spend time off work.

We took the bus from Buffalo down to NYC. It was to leave at 12:45am August 1st and we needed to be there 30 mins before hand to check in. We got there at midnight......the bus.....2am. I should have started this by saying we got up at 2am Saturday drove to Peterborough, worked till 1, went to Rice Lake and had dinner, then Mamaz and I went to the Jason McCoy concert till 10, got back to Rice Lake and drove back to Kitchener, got in at 1am Sunday morning, went to church at 9am, came back and packed and cleaned, drove to Niagara, waited till 11pm drove to Buffalo, waited in a bus terminal till 2, then finally sleep. But no we did not sleep. The bus driver was some sort of prison guard who barked out orders and then cranked the ac as high as possible and froze us out.

We get into the city at 11am Monday morning, cold, and having only a few winks of sleep. But hey it is NYC so nothing can get us down. The first day was great, we got tired early (because after all that who wouldn't be tired) and decided to go to the hotel at 6. Well that WAS the plan. We get to the train and there is some sort of problem and the lines have been down for 2 hours. Hundreds of commuters all waiting to leave the city. Finally at 7:45 not our train but the train to take us to Jamaica where a rescue train waited to take us farther left. When we got off at Jamaica some guy ahead of us got bumped and yelled that he had a gun. Cops came and arrested him and we crammed into the rescue train like sardines. It is a 35 minute train ride from the city to our stop. 1 hour and 15 minutes later, our stop. K-Bot had decided that we would go to the Italian restaurant for dinner, well we got there and it is closed. So we head to the hotel, check in, drop off the bags, and walk across to the grocery store. When we got back to our room we ate dinner and watched Shark Week (because what's a vacation without sharks?).

The second day was full of sites and shopping. And more Shark Week, but this time dinner was White Castle. Nothing real eventful.

The last day was making out to be uneventful. But then it came time to close out the trip. It started pouring rain at 4, we didn't catch the bus til 6:50 (the bus would leave at 7:20). So we walked around some shops hoping the rain would stop, but no such luck so at 6 we started the trip to the bus. But in all the rain we get lost. We have no idea where to find the subway we are looking for, we asked a friendly nypd officer, and he doesn't even know. I am now crying in the rain in times square. But then we find it. We get to the bus with 10 minutes to spare. But that isn't our bus. Our bus is running late. 30 minutes late. So we stand in the rain in line to get on the bus. Luckily when we do we have 2 great drivers. The first drives till Pennsylvania and when the second starts driving he turns down all the lights and turns on some soft classical music till we are asleep and then turns it off and drives us all quietly back to Buffalo. We paid for our parking ($18 for 3 days) and drove back through New York state to Niagara Falls to fill up at Smokin Joe's (gas there was 91cents a liter) before heading back across the boarder to Mamaz & Fajaz house. We got in and unpacked and changed into jim-jams at 4am Thursday morning.

When we got back here to Kitchener I totalled up our trip. Grand total for a 3 day NYC trip, including hotel stay for 2 nights, shopping, and all transportation???

$880.78.

1,000,000 memories from our first vacation together???

Priceless.