Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
It is indeed a most wonderful thing to be able to gaze at the cherub face of your child and know that this is (hopefully!) the first of many Christmases as a family.
Merry Christmas everyone. Blessings to us all.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Hubby has arrived!
A very quick update...
Hubby arrived the other day with a new stroller for us. Seems that although they had one on display here, they didn't have any in stock and even with a cross-country wide sale on that particular model, they weren't going to get any either. Nice huh? That's the kind of problem we frequently have living on the island portion of this province. How lovely. *sigh*
A funny story though; Air Canada was going to CHARGE EXTRA for hubby to bring the other one, new in its box. When he explained that he was bringing this one to his wife to replace one that their airline had broken almost 3 weeks prior, they authorized a wavier on the extra fee! No kidding. Damn lucky I wasn't there; I think I would have ripped someone a new one! Anyway, hubby made it, stroller intact and it's nice to have some relief for the night shift. Now I know what many single parents must handle in the course of a day/week/month. Tiring, that's for sure. Needless to say, I'm grateful for his help. As always.
If I don't get a chance to post again, Merry Christmas everyone. I hope 2009 has been good to you and that all your dreams come true in 2010. May we all be so blessed.
Hubby arrived the other day with a new stroller for us. Seems that although they had one on display here, they didn't have any in stock and even with a cross-country wide sale on that particular model, they weren't going to get any either. Nice huh? That's the kind of problem we frequently have living on the island portion of this province. How lovely. *sigh*
A funny story though; Air Canada was going to CHARGE EXTRA for hubby to bring the other one, new in its box. When he explained that he was bringing this one to his wife to replace one that their airline had broken almost 3 weeks prior, they authorized a wavier on the extra fee! No kidding. Damn lucky I wasn't there; I think I would have ripped someone a new one! Anyway, hubby made it, stroller intact and it's nice to have some relief for the night shift. Now I know what many single parents must handle in the course of a day/week/month. Tiring, that's for sure. Needless to say, I'm grateful for his help. As always.
If I don't get a chance to post again, Merry Christmas everyone. I hope 2009 has been good to you and that all your dreams come true in 2010. May we all be so blessed.
Friday, December 11, 2009
So Much for the Stroller...
The first time I use it is also the last time I use it.
The airline 'handlers' sheared off one of the front wheels on the flight home. Good grief. To give them credit, they offered to compensate me for a replacement, and I'll take them up on that. I have the paperwork to submit for a claim when I'm able to purchase a replacement for us. However, the trick is actually FINDING one that meets my needs here in my hometown. In the meantime, the airline offered me the use of a regular umbrella stroller (it's all they had to offer me). I declined, as that style doesn't meet our needs.
So I'm shopping here at home for something suitable. Nothing yet, but Toys R Us hopes to have some arrive in a shipment in the next day or two. Keep your fingers crossed, cause being sans stroller sucks.
Mind you, we've had over 40 cms of snow since we arrived here. So I doubt I'll be doing much walking outdoors with it anyway! Can you say "housebound" boys and girls? I knew you could!
Love to you all in blogland. More later!
The airline 'handlers' sheared off one of the front wheels on the flight home. Good grief. To give them credit, they offered to compensate me for a replacement, and I'll take them up on that. I have the paperwork to submit for a claim when I'm able to purchase a replacement for us. However, the trick is actually FINDING one that meets my needs here in my hometown. In the meantime, the airline offered me the use of a regular umbrella stroller (it's all they had to offer me). I declined, as that style doesn't meet our needs.
So I'm shopping here at home for something suitable. Nothing yet, but Toys R Us hopes to have some arrive in a shipment in the next day or two. Keep your fingers crossed, cause being sans stroller sucks.
Mind you, we've had over 40 cms of snow since we arrived here. So I doubt I'll be doing much walking outdoors with it anyway! Can you say "housebound" boys and girls? I knew you could!
Love to you all in blogland. More later!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Travel Plans Modified
I don't know how many of my readers may have seen this story, but the other day, this gave me goosebumps...
Toddler falls from mother's arms to death at Toronto airport
A 15-month old was in his mother's arms on the Departures level and when the mother turned her attention to the 4-year old sibling, the baby wriggled out of his mother's arms, over the side of the balcony and fell to the Arrivals level below. The baby was taken to hospital but died.
Knowing that I'm travelling with Petite next week, and I had planned NOT to bring a stroller or car seat, this shook me. I had tears in my eyes at the thought of that poor family and the grief and probably guilt that the mother must feel.
So yesterday, hubby and I went out looking for a lightweight stroller that reclined (for a young infant) that could fold easily for travel. The stroller we have has a large footprint and is quite heavy; it would count as a piece of luggage if I were to take it home on the plane next week. And I'd risk getting it beaten up in the process. Anyway, we found a couple of strollers that fit the bill. The one I liked best was the Graco Ipo (we found it in Navarro). But here's the kicker; here in Canada, it was $149.99. Across the border... $89.99. Guess where we bought it?! Now I have a lightweight, reclining, 5-point harness, umbrella style stroller that is suitable for a young infant. And I'll be taking Petite home in it (as well as the Moby wrap) when I go home next week. I can't fathom an accident happening and losing my baby girl for want of a stroller. It just ain't worth it.
Toddler falls from mother's arms to death at Toronto airport
A 15-month old was in his mother's arms on the Departures level and when the mother turned her attention to the 4-year old sibling, the baby wriggled out of his mother's arms, over the side of the balcony and fell to the Arrivals level below. The baby was taken to hospital but died.
Knowing that I'm travelling with Petite next week, and I had planned NOT to bring a stroller or car seat, this shook me. I had tears in my eyes at the thought of that poor family and the grief and probably guilt that the mother must feel.
So yesterday, hubby and I went out looking for a lightweight stroller that reclined (for a young infant) that could fold easily for travel. The stroller we have has a large footprint and is quite heavy; it would count as a piece of luggage if I were to take it home on the plane next week. And I'd risk getting it beaten up in the process. Anyway, we found a couple of strollers that fit the bill. The one I liked best was the Graco Ipo (we found it in Navarro). But here's the kicker; here in Canada, it was $149.99. Across the border... $89.99. Guess where we bought it?! Now I have a lightweight, reclining, 5-point harness, umbrella style stroller that is suitable for a young infant. And I'll be taking Petite home in it (as well as the Moby wrap) when I go home next week. I can't fathom an accident happening and losing my baby girl for want of a stroller. It just ain't worth it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Firsts for our Baby Girl + Infertility News in Ontario
Petite has had a few firsts of late.
She went to see her first movie... Michael Jackson's This Is It. They have "Stars and Strollers" here for parents; movies with the lights a bit brighter and the sound lowered a tad, stroller parking, and an area set up to change diapers and bottle warmers and everything. Hubby was off on Wednesday last week and the three of us went together. It was good. She was fussy at first, but after we got some food into her belly, she was happy and content for the remainder of the time.
Petite took a bath in the big jacuzzi tub too! (Okay, okay, with me, but she was in there!) She loves her bath and really enjoys kicking and splashing in the water so to have that much more water to do it in was loads more fun! The second bath she had with me ended on a bad note though; her head bobbled and she got some water on her face and in her mouth and she really didn't like that at all!
She also went to church for the first time. I've been looking for a church here for a very long time and hubby and I think we have found one that we like. The congregation and priests were very welcoming (maybe it's the baby effect? I'm not entirely certain.) and we're definitely going back there again. Regularly in fact.
Church is something that played a very important role in my life growing up. My family heritage is inherently tied to the Anglican church at home. I myself started going to church with my parents at a very young age. I attended Sunday School, I was one of the founding members of the youth group in my teens, I sang in the children's choir, I was a server assisting the priests at the altar, I counted the offetory after the service, somewhere along the way, I'd memorized the Nicene Creed from the BCP, etc. And although I personally don't hold all the ideals of the Church to be true, I still have a lot of faith in my life. I recognize that I want to belong to a church and attend services regularly. Although, no church here in this province will ever match the fondness I hold for the church my family attends at home, I'll do my best. And what's more, it's important to me that my daughter be baptized at the church at home. As the great, great, great, great, great granddaughter of that church's first rector, I think it would be beautiful and very fitting to have her baptized there. I'm currently communicating with the office there to organize things over the Christmas holiday. Hopefully we can get it together. Wish us luck.
On the infertility front...
I was contacted by one of the organizer's of this past spring's Babysteps Walk for Infertility. Apparently, there's a virtual rally happening on Wednesday December 2 at noon for those who live in Ontario, Canada. Go to www.conceivabledreams.org and take a peek. By putting in your postal code and your e-mail address, you'll receive an e-mail with an electronic form letter that you can forward to your MPP (they give you the name and e-mail addy of your MPP too!) regarding the Expert Panel's recent recommendation that the Ontario government fund three cycles of IVF for infertiles. Oh, I -so- wish the funding had been there for us. Go register on the site and on December 2 at noon, join us to make a difference in the Ontario policies.
Additionally, I was told that they're seeking someone who has undergone (or is undergoing) fertility treatments, who resides in the riding of Ottawa-South, who would consent to being interviewed for a community newspaper. Alas... I don't live in Ottawa-South so I can't qualify. But maybe you or someone you know does. If so, jot me a note (jiliana2 AT gmail DOT com) so I can put you in touch with the organizers/interviewers.
T minus 12 days and counting... til I leave with Petite to fly home to visit my family. For those interested, I'm definitely not taking the stroller or the car seat; those will be waiting for me at home and they're fine to use. Nor will I be taking a pack-and-play; I'll have one of those and a bassinet at home too. And I'll also have a swing to use at home. I'll be carrying Petite in the Moby Wrap (or my arms if she doesn't tolerate the Moby well for that length of time) and I'll be using the Baby Sherpa diaper bag I have (a knapsack). I'll ask for a window seat near the rear of the plane. I'm a big girl... the window seat will be easier for me to work with and Petite won't get her head or feet thwapped by people on the way to the washroom if she's sleeping. Alternatively, if I need to get up frequently and walk with her, I'll ask my seatmate to change with me. Much easier to ask to change that way around rather than to ask to take the window if someone else is sitting there! Wish me luck.
Now if I can just remember to put soothers in one pocket and tissues in the other for the flight...
She went to see her first movie... Michael Jackson's This Is It. They have "Stars and Strollers" here for parents; movies with the lights a bit brighter and the sound lowered a tad, stroller parking, and an area set up to change diapers and bottle warmers and everything. Hubby was off on Wednesday last week and the three of us went together. It was good. She was fussy at first, but after we got some food into her belly, she was happy and content for the remainder of the time.
Petite took a bath in the big jacuzzi tub too! (Okay, okay, with me, but she was in there!) She loves her bath and really enjoys kicking and splashing in the water so to have that much more water to do it in was loads more fun! The second bath she had with me ended on a bad note though; her head bobbled and she got some water on her face and in her mouth and she really didn't like that at all!
She also went to church for the first time. I've been looking for a church here for a very long time and hubby and I think we have found one that we like. The congregation and priests were very welcoming (maybe it's the baby effect? I'm not entirely certain.) and we're definitely going back there again. Regularly in fact.
Church is something that played a very important role in my life growing up. My family heritage is inherently tied to the Anglican church at home. I myself started going to church with my parents at a very young age. I attended Sunday School, I was one of the founding members of the youth group in my teens, I sang in the children's choir, I was a server assisting the priests at the altar, I counted the offetory after the service, somewhere along the way, I'd memorized the Nicene Creed from the BCP, etc. And although I personally don't hold all the ideals of the Church to be true, I still have a lot of faith in my life. I recognize that I want to belong to a church and attend services regularly. Although, no church here in this province will ever match the fondness I hold for the church my family attends at home, I'll do my best. And what's more, it's important to me that my daughter be baptized at the church at home. As the great, great, great, great, great granddaughter of that church's first rector, I think it would be beautiful and very fitting to have her baptized there. I'm currently communicating with the office there to organize things over the Christmas holiday. Hopefully we can get it together. Wish us luck.
On the infertility front...
I was contacted by one of the organizer's of this past spring's Babysteps Walk for Infertility. Apparently, there's a virtual rally happening on Wednesday December 2 at noon for those who live in Ontario, Canada. Go to www.conceivabledreams.org and take a peek. By putting in your postal code and your e-mail address, you'll receive an e-mail with an electronic form letter that you can forward to your MPP (they give you the name and e-mail addy of your MPP too!) regarding the Expert Panel's recent recommendation that the Ontario government fund three cycles of IVF for infertiles. Oh, I -so- wish the funding had been there for us. Go register on the site and on December 2 at noon, join us to make a difference in the Ontario policies.
Additionally, I was told that they're seeking someone who has undergone (or is undergoing) fertility treatments, who resides in the riding of Ottawa-South, who would consent to being interviewed for a community newspaper. Alas... I don't live in Ottawa-South so I can't qualify. But maybe you or someone you know does. If so, jot me a note (jiliana2 AT gmail DOT com) so I can put you in touch with the organizers/interviewers.
T minus 12 days and counting... til I leave with Petite to fly home to visit my family. For those interested, I'm definitely not taking the stroller or the car seat; those will be waiting for me at home and they're fine to use. Nor will I be taking a pack-and-play; I'll have one of those and a bassinet at home too. And I'll also have a swing to use at home. I'll be carrying Petite in the Moby Wrap (or my arms if she doesn't tolerate the Moby well for that length of time) and I'll be using the Baby Sherpa diaper bag I have (a knapsack). I'll ask for a window seat near the rear of the plane. I'm a big girl... the window seat will be easier for me to work with and Petite won't get her head or feet thwapped by people on the way to the washroom if she's sleeping. Alternatively, if I need to get up frequently and walk with her, I'll ask my seatmate to change with me. Much easier to ask to change that way around rather than to ask to take the window if someone else is sitting there! Wish me luck.
Now if I can just remember to put soothers in one pocket and tissues in the other for the flight...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A Busy Fall
Two months.
Oh. My. God. Where did that time go? I've already finished one-sixth of my maternity leave! It can't be! But my little girl is still a BABY for heaven's sake!
But then again, she isn't the newborn that she was a number of weeks ago. I take her to the well-baby clinic every Monday to have her weighed, checked, and to ask any questions I might have to the public health nurses. Last week when I took her, I realized she was almost 8 weeks old and there, next to me, was a woman holding a little ball of a baby who was a mere 3 weeks old. Looking at the size of her baby and the size of Petite, I almost wept to realize that she's not that little, tiny thing anymore. Yes, she's still only 10 or 11 lbs, but she's not the tiny ball that she used to be when she was newborn. And how did we get from there to here anyway? It boggles the mind.
As time passes, I cherish every moment. But I do have to look forward as well. I've already organized our flights for Christmas. We'll be heading home to visit my family. I'll get a good six weeks with them but hubby can only go for about one week because of his class schedules. That sorta sucks. He isn't looking forward to being separated from me and Petite for that length of time. I'm not looking forward to being separated from him either. But I'll have other hands to help me out and he'll get a few weeks of decent sleep while he goes to school.
I'm preparing for the flight with Petite by doing some research. I can tell you it's about a 3-hour flight, non-stop on the way down (one stop on the return flight, but no changing planes). I have opted to carry her on my lap and save the fare for the extra seat. I won't be bringing the stroller or her car seat or any other large pieces of child-care equipment as I've got a line on some things I can borrow from good friends while I'm at home. So knowing all that, what are your bits of advice for travelling with an infant? Aisle seat (to get up) or window seat (for a little extra elbow room)? How do you heat bottles on a flight? How do you carry your infant... moby? Sling? In your arms? I can tell you too that I'll have her passport before we go; we did the paperwork earlier this week and we ought to have her passport in two weeks. We already have three other pieces of ID for her so I am good in that department, and just to be sure, hubby is going to write a letter that I can take with me, stating that he is aware that I'm taking our baby girl home to my family for six weeks. What else do I need to think about? Bottles, soothers, blankets, where best to change a baby on an airplane? So much to consider! Your thoughts and ideas are most welcome!
While we're at home, we hope to have Petite christened. I've contacted my church at home with that request but we're not sure if they can squeeze us in during the Christmas and New Year week. I sure hope so. My family is a founding family of our particular church and although I can only attend when I'm home visiting, it's still my home church and I hope they can facilitate the christening that week. That would be wonderful. My mom brought up the christening gown that my sister and I both wore. It's lovely and simple yet very classy and I would love to use it for Petite.
I've got to call today to book a photo sitting for her for our Christmas Cards as well. Otherwise I'll never get them out the door before I get on that plane, will I? Yikes. Christmas. Can you believe it's almost upon us once again? This time last year, hubby and I were preparing for our trip to Florida with his kids, and we had our IVF meds all ready to go because I started injections on that trip, during our time in Disney. Amazing a year has passed already. Just amazing.
Later today, hubby and I have an appointment at the bank. We're opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for our little girl to use when she is ready for university in 18 years. We'll contribute to it (and get tax breaks for doing so) through the years and it will grow, hopefully into enough money to help her get a leg up when it comes time to further her education. It's so important to think of trying to do these sorts of things now, to maximize our contributions and help her later on. Hmm... reminds me, I ought to look into making a will and getting some life insurance.
I'm also trying to figure out when to get my H1N1 vaccine. Canada has already rolled out the vaccines and they're available to those on the priority list in my province as of Monday past. That means that anyone who meets the specific criteria can get the vaccination before it is distributed to the general public. Because hubby and I care for a child who is less than six months old (thus she is unable to be vaccinated), we're "high-risk" and we both qualify for the priority list. Fair enough. But the wait times are insane! People are lining up at 10 a.m. for a 2:30 p.m. clinic! And by 3:30 they're having to close off the line saying that those people would have to wait til towards the end of the clinic's hours (8:30 p.m.) to get their injection! It's crazy! But I know we both need it. Now how to get it and avoid bringing Petite along with me. I don't want to have her waiting like that nor do I want to expose her to all those people in a public place. Not with this stupid flu circulating like wildfire. While I might battle it okay, she's just a babe and I am not willing to expose her to so many potential germs! Ick!
She is growing like a weed though. At last week's well-baby clinic she was 10 lbs 12 oz and all smiles for the nurse. Unfortunately, now that the H1N1 vaccines are being distributed, the well-baby clinics are cancelled for the next six to eight weeks while public nurses go to assist with the innoculations. Thus Petite won't be back at the well-baby clinic; they're only for infants from 0 to 3 months and she'll be past that by that time. Additionally, we'll be flying home in five weeks so we simply won't be here. I do have a doctor's appointment for her this Friday though for her 2-month innoculations. I'm not looking forward to that. Hubby's coming too, cause I'm probably going to break down in tears! I'm such a wuss.
In the meantime, we bought a cute little Halloween sleeper for our baby girl. This is as much of a costume as she'll have this year I expect. We took a jaunt out to Saunders Farm to take photos with her. Here's a couple for your viewing pleasure.
I love how hubby stops to kiss Petite first and then me when he comes home. It's just another little reminder of this special little one in our lives and how we're now part of something that is bigger than just the two of us.
Thinking of...
My thoughts are with Patti over at Just One More, as she celebrates her mother's life and mourns her recent passing.
And I'm celebrating with Decemberbaby (of course you'll get pregnant!) as she has a positive beta. Keeping fingers crossed!
Happy Halloween everyone!
Oh. My. God. Where did that time go? I've already finished one-sixth of my maternity leave! It can't be! But my little girl is still a BABY for heaven's sake!
But then again, she isn't the newborn that she was a number of weeks ago. I take her to the well-baby clinic every Monday to have her weighed, checked, and to ask any questions I might have to the public health nurses. Last week when I took her, I realized she was almost 8 weeks old and there, next to me, was a woman holding a little ball of a baby who was a mere 3 weeks old. Looking at the size of her baby and the size of Petite, I almost wept to realize that she's not that little, tiny thing anymore. Yes, she's still only 10 or 11 lbs, but she's not the tiny ball that she used to be when she was newborn. And how did we get from there to here anyway? It boggles the mind.
As time passes, I cherish every moment. But I do have to look forward as well. I've already organized our flights for Christmas. We'll be heading home to visit my family. I'll get a good six weeks with them but hubby can only go for about one week because of his class schedules. That sorta sucks. He isn't looking forward to being separated from me and Petite for that length of time. I'm not looking forward to being separated from him either. But I'll have other hands to help me out and he'll get a few weeks of decent sleep while he goes to school.
I'm preparing for the flight with Petite by doing some research. I can tell you it's about a 3-hour flight, non-stop on the way down (one stop on the return flight, but no changing planes). I have opted to carry her on my lap and save the fare for the extra seat. I won't be bringing the stroller or her car seat or any other large pieces of child-care equipment as I've got a line on some things I can borrow from good friends while I'm at home. So knowing all that, what are your bits of advice for travelling with an infant? Aisle seat (to get up) or window seat (for a little extra elbow room)? How do you heat bottles on a flight? How do you carry your infant... moby? Sling? In your arms? I can tell you too that I'll have her passport before we go; we did the paperwork earlier this week and we ought to have her passport in two weeks. We already have three other pieces of ID for her so I am good in that department, and just to be sure, hubby is going to write a letter that I can take with me, stating that he is aware that I'm taking our baby girl home to my family for six weeks. What else do I need to think about? Bottles, soothers, blankets, where best to change a baby on an airplane? So much to consider! Your thoughts and ideas are most welcome!
While we're at home, we hope to have Petite christened. I've contacted my church at home with that request but we're not sure if they can squeeze us in during the Christmas and New Year week. I sure hope so. My family is a founding family of our particular church and although I can only attend when I'm home visiting, it's still my home church and I hope they can facilitate the christening that week. That would be wonderful. My mom brought up the christening gown that my sister and I both wore. It's lovely and simple yet very classy and I would love to use it for Petite.
I've got to call today to book a photo sitting for her for our Christmas Cards as well. Otherwise I'll never get them out the door before I get on that plane, will I? Yikes. Christmas. Can you believe it's almost upon us once again? This time last year, hubby and I were preparing for our trip to Florida with his kids, and we had our IVF meds all ready to go because I started injections on that trip, during our time in Disney. Amazing a year has passed already. Just amazing.
Later today, hubby and I have an appointment at the bank. We're opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for our little girl to use when she is ready for university in 18 years. We'll contribute to it (and get tax breaks for doing so) through the years and it will grow, hopefully into enough money to help her get a leg up when it comes time to further her education. It's so important to think of trying to do these sorts of things now, to maximize our contributions and help her later on. Hmm... reminds me, I ought to look into making a will and getting some life insurance.
I'm also trying to figure out when to get my H1N1 vaccine. Canada has already rolled out the vaccines and they're available to those on the priority list in my province as of Monday past. That means that anyone who meets the specific criteria can get the vaccination before it is distributed to the general public. Because hubby and I care for a child who is less than six months old (thus she is unable to be vaccinated), we're "high-risk" and we both qualify for the priority list. Fair enough. But the wait times are insane! People are lining up at 10 a.m. for a 2:30 p.m. clinic! And by 3:30 they're having to close off the line saying that those people would have to wait til towards the end of the clinic's hours (8:30 p.m.) to get their injection! It's crazy! But I know we both need it. Now how to get it and avoid bringing Petite along with me. I don't want to have her waiting like that nor do I want to expose her to all those people in a public place. Not with this stupid flu circulating like wildfire. While I might battle it okay, she's just a babe and I am not willing to expose her to so many potential germs! Ick!
She is growing like a weed though. At last week's well-baby clinic she was 10 lbs 12 oz and all smiles for the nurse. Unfortunately, now that the H1N1 vaccines are being distributed, the well-baby clinics are cancelled for the next six to eight weeks while public nurses go to assist with the innoculations. Thus Petite won't be back at the well-baby clinic; they're only for infants from 0 to 3 months and she'll be past that by that time. Additionally, we'll be flying home in five weeks so we simply won't be here. I do have a doctor's appointment for her this Friday though for her 2-month innoculations. I'm not looking forward to that. Hubby's coming too, cause I'm probably going to break down in tears! I'm such a wuss.
In the meantime, we bought a cute little Halloween sleeper for our baby girl. This is as much of a costume as she'll have this year I expect. We took a jaunt out to Saunders Farm to take photos with her. Here's a couple for your viewing pleasure.
I love how hubby stops to kiss Petite first and then me when he comes home. It's just another little reminder of this special little one in our lives and how we're now part of something that is bigger than just the two of us.
Thinking of...
My thoughts are with Patti over at Just One More, as she celebrates her mother's life and mourns her recent passing.
And I'm celebrating with Decemberbaby (of course you'll get pregnant!) as she has a positive beta. Keeping fingers crossed!
Happy Halloween everyone!
Friday, October 23, 2009
So Many People to Thank
Last weekend, we did something that I thought we'd never get to do. We placed a birth announcement in the local newspaper, and the newspaper at home. The content is as follows with some paraphrasing to conceal identities of family members, and the picture above is the one that accompanied it.
A Daughter!
Gil and hubby are thrilled to announce the long-awaited arrival of their daughter Petite born on August 27, 2009 at the Ottawa General Hospital at 7:43 p.m., weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz. Proud first-time grandparents are D and B of St. John's, Newfoundland. Seventh-time grandparents are N and G of Ottawa, Ontario and hubby's two older children are thrilled to have a baby sister! This has been a long journey and we would like to thank Dr. Barwin, Linda, and the staff of Broadview Medical Clinic; Dr. Tan, Dr. Chan, Lise and the staff at McGill Reproductive Centre; Dr. Black, Nicole and the staff at SoundCare Medical; Dr. Batra and Elaine at the Ottawa General and Anees at CML, for having faith and helping us reach our destination. There are no words to describe our joy, but so many of our friends and family have traveled this road at our side; we couldn't be more grateful for your love and support.
It took me weeks to craft something I was happy with, but I really hope we covered it. Today, I mailed a thank-you card to Dr. Barwin and his staff, along with a copy of the announcement, a personal note, and a photo of our baby girl. If I can get a pic of Dr. Barwin holding her in the coming weeks, it would complete this circle for me; for without him and his staff and their encouragement over the past five and a half years, I doubt we would have kept going. They are directly responsible for our success and I don't know how to thank them. I don't think I ever really can.
And for your viewing pleasure, the following photo is our first professional portrait as a family. I love it and I thought I'd show it to you. I hope you like it too.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Giving Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. (Yes, yes, it's Thanksgiving weekend north of the 49th parallel. So we get to celebrate now.)
Today, I'm busy cooking turkey dinner for us, hubby's two kids, and my friends K&K. I am really looking forward to dinner and that'll be in about an hour or so. Yum.
This year, I'm especially thankful of course. I am thankful for family and friends. For a good job. For my health and my financial situation. For the ability to go home for the holidays in a few months. For a roof over my head and a car in the driveway. For a loving caring husband who is the love of my life. For love beyond imagination. For the support of those around me.
And this year, I am especially grateful for this.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Today, I'm busy cooking turkey dinner for us, hubby's two kids, and my friends K&K. I am really looking forward to dinner and that'll be in about an hour or so. Yum.
This year, I'm especially thankful of course. I am thankful for family and friends. For a good job. For my health and my financial situation. For the ability to go home for the holidays in a few months. For a roof over my head and a car in the driveway. For a loving caring husband who is the love of my life. For love beyond imagination. For the support of those around me.
And this year, I am especially grateful for this.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Call from the Clinic
Yesterday, we got a call from our clinic in Montreal. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up the phone. A frisson of fear ran through me as the grief of six plus years still haunts my thoughts.
Turns out I had nothing to worry about though.
The woman I spoke with from the Lab wanted to know some details about the baby and her birth for our file. They asked questions like:
Did you deliver your baby? (Answer: Yes. Thank heavens.)
Was it a boy or a girl? (A beautiful baby girl.)
When was she born? (August 27, 2009)
How many weeks gestation was she born at? (40 weeks, 2 days)
Is she healthy? (Yes.)
Was it a natural delivery or a c-section? (Natural.)
Did you have any problems afterwards? How is your own health after delivery? (No, and fine.)
What did the baby weigh? (6 lbs 15 oz)
Is she gaining weight appropriately? What does she weigh now? (Yes, and I'm not sure, but at last check she was over 8 lbs. I hope to have her weighed next week again. I suspect she's close to 10 lbs by now.)
And when she'd asked all the questions she had to ask, I wondered what they needed that information for, you know... besides for their own statistics. She replied that the information I'd given would be added to our file for future reference should we decide to go back for further treatment to add to our family.
Our family. Our FAMILY.
It's nice to say that. We're not just a couple anymore... we are a family.
I don't yet know if we'll go this route again. It's a long, hard road. That's for sure. I expect that we've depleted much of our finances to do this a second time. However, it's not yet entirely out of the question. But first things first. I'm enjoying getting to know our daughter and to get the hang of us being a FAMILY.
That's incredible to me. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. But I'm glad I get to practise saying it.
Turns out I had nothing to worry about though.
The woman I spoke with from the Lab wanted to know some details about the baby and her birth for our file. They asked questions like:
Did you deliver your baby? (Answer: Yes. Thank heavens.)
Was it a boy or a girl? (A beautiful baby girl.)
When was she born? (August 27, 2009)
How many weeks gestation was she born at? (40 weeks, 2 days)
Is she healthy? (Yes.)
Was it a natural delivery or a c-section? (Natural.)
Did you have any problems afterwards? How is your own health after delivery? (No, and fine.)
What did the baby weigh? (6 lbs 15 oz)
Is she gaining weight appropriately? What does she weigh now? (Yes, and I'm not sure, but at last check she was over 8 lbs. I hope to have her weighed next week again. I suspect she's close to 10 lbs by now.)
And when she'd asked all the questions she had to ask, I wondered what they needed that information for, you know... besides for their own statistics. She replied that the information I'd given would be added to our file for future reference should we decide to go back for further treatment to add to our family.
Our family. Our FAMILY.
It's nice to say that. We're not just a couple anymore... we are a family.
I don't yet know if we'll go this route again. It's a long, hard road. That's for sure. I expect that we've depleted much of our finances to do this a second time. However, it's not yet entirely out of the question. But first things first. I'm enjoying getting to know our daughter and to get the hang of us being a FAMILY.
That's incredible to me. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. But I'm glad I get to practise saying it.
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