Sizing Up Alice

08/05/09

It’s been a week since my last confession, and since then I have had another scan, this time to make sure that Alice’s little heart is pumping in time to MC Hammer’s Hammertime, which it is – Hurrah!!

Stop thinking about hammer pants and shuffling sideways….

She’s going at 148bpm and she measured 8weeks on the nose last week (she should have measured 7 weeks +1 day). So either we are a few days over the initial estimate or… like Jake she is going to be “bloody enormous” and I’ll be waddling round like an overeaten walrus before we know it.

All of those who read the last diary will remember the concerns we had about “George’s” (Jake’s) gestational age and size of his head. He came out perfectly – but as a preemie at 6lb 12oz he was far from small and he has a big noggin – just like his Pa , so if Jake is our measuring gauge, Alice is likely to be another “mother of a baby”, good job the slippery dip is already oiled up eh!

Yet again I am going to buy shares in Bio Oil and Palmers Cocoa Butter for stretch marks, no stretch marks for me thanks – didn’t get one from Jake the monster, and do not intend to get any from Alice either, not that I really am that bothered to be honest – it was just nice to not have any. Quite impressive really considering I looked like a small African nation.

I’ve just come from an interesting meeting, which hopefully (if I pull my bloody finger out and stop procrastinating) will change the shape of my business and make us a bit of extra residual income. We were chatting about introducing new technology into what I do; one of the discussions was about creating video messages to send out webinars and the like. There is a new technology where you can use a green screen so you can be displayed onto any background you like even if you are at home with the kids running around like hooligans.

So my over active imagination goes straight into me giving a marketing presentation about something obviously wonderful and very useful whilst I am being beamed across an image of a tropical beach, saying “you too could be working here, blah blah blah…” when all of a sudden the voice of a small child comes across the speaker – “Mum, I’ve done a POOOOOOOO” – even though this all happened in my head – it made me laugh. Sad when you make yourself laugh eh! Oh well….

So my belly has started to go into the small hard bump stage (already I hear you cry – yeah me too – it’s all happened sooooo much faster the 2nd time round) It’s like being pregnant with Jake on speed.

Alice apparently now looks more like a Human than she has so far – which is good, if she had started to take the shape of a mongoose I’d be concerned. Her hands and feet are now taking shape and the spine is being formed. It’s all pretty cool when you think about it, while I’m sitting her drinking tea and typing this – I’m growing Alice some ears!!! Lets hope she bloody listens, unlike her brother- who I’m sure conveniently doesn’t listen to the word NO on purpose, especially when he grins after doing the naughty act (whatever that may be – there are numerous things he does which he thinks are flippin hilarious, but are totally bad). He surely is a menace and if definitely spawn of his father – not me because I was perfect (of course! Mum – back me up here)

Well it’s my very first Mothers Day this Sunday – how very exciting. All I ask is for a cuppa in bed on Sunday morning and a cuddle from my boys.

To all those Mummies out there – have a great day, you do an amazing job – keep it up! I never really realised what an enormous job being a parent is until Jake arrived. I have complete admiration for people with big families, I have one gorgeous yet crazed child and one cooking and that really is enough, anymore and I’d go completely bonkers.

Anyway – all is well, no sickness (touch wood) just a few flutterings and a heap of being as tired as an old dog, my brain has remarkably stayed in-tact (well it’s no worse than before) so far, but watch this space – baby brain will come – it’s a guarantee….

Until next time

Love

Angie & The incredible Alice (Alice, who the F**K is Alice)

xxx

Date: 24/04/09

The tiredness has set in, not that it was long ago, but I’d forgotten how bloody exhausting growing a baby can be in these early stages. I am currently growing Alice a spine and setting up all her blood vessels which pump blood to her tiny little heart, which only started beating visibly last week. Currently is she only about 2-4cm long – it’s amazing how something so small can make me look so rotund. I was concerned about the fact that I have indeed popped so early.

The general consensus is that I am getting a tummy because my abs (have never seen these by the way – I think they may be a myth) have not gone back to their original location and so the process has all happened much faster this time round. All of my weekly efforts of late with eating a balanced (low carb and fat diet), aqua aerobics, cycling and personal training have gone to pot – it clearly made no difference (although I did loose a bit of weight) and now I’m up the duff again the concern is that I’ll never get the pre baby body back. Oh well it’s a bloody good job that Kev loves me regardless of my lumps and bumps.

I went for an ultrasound last Thursday to confirm the gestational age of Alice and if she has company or not.

What can I say – 2 under 2 is going to be plenty for me to handle – so I am glad that Alice is a singleton and doesn’t have a little friend inside. Hurrah! If we were going to have 3 under 2 I may have gone slightly mad (ok madder), Garnish would have been put on hold and life as we know it would have morphed into a world plagued with nappies and crying.

All is well, I have another scan next week just to make sure Alice’s heart is beating the way it should, and then we just keep on with all the STD appointments.

Jake is going through a little bit of separation anxiety – which is a challenge as he wants to be picked up all the time (with his 12.5kg frame it’s hard work) he also cries when we are not in the same 6 metre space as him, but it’s something he will grow out of (he’d better – can you imagine an 18 year old screaming at the top of his lungs because mum has left the room, clinging onto my legs and dragging himself on the floor behind me) It’d be quite amusing…..

He will be walking before we know it – he’s trying his best now and is into EVERYTHING……. The fish tank is his current source of fascination and if I’m not careful he will get a tad wet one of these days, poor Bert & Ernie will be flipping around on the floor gasping for water while Jake plays with them. I’m hoping that by the time Alice is cooked (mid Dec) Jake will be walking, talking and potty trained as it will make our lives so much easier if he is. So he is in Baby Bootcamp from now till then.  Just kidding

It’s Kev’s birthday on Sunday – so we should have a great weekend chilling out and about round here. I’ll let you know how the scan goes next week.

Popped

How to freak your husband out in one fail swoop:

Say the word “Twins”

OK – I’ll explain.

Last week I’d made a phone call to the Amity Team at Redcliffe Hospital who delivered Jake in to this world – bungee style. They were great, so we have decided to use the same team of midwives again.  After chatting to one of the midwives about my tummy and that it already seems to have Popped, we chatted briefly about dates and the fact that we are a little uncertain if we are 5 weeks or more preggers, she suggested that we do a gestational age scan – fine by us, it’s what we wanted anyway.

So I go to the hospital to pick up the form on Saturday, Kev waits downstairs in the car with Jake who is in la la land. Whilst I am there I chat to Barb one of the midwives who I met last time. I asked casually why she thought it was that I have popped so early this time – because surely at 5 weeks Alice can only be about 5mm long max, so there should be no reason for any sort of “tummy” to appear.  Barb gave me 3 reasons why this could be the case.

1. My date are wrong and I’m further gone than we think
2. My abs never really went back into shape after Jake – and I carried really big, so it could be just that, plus it’s only been 10 months…
3. Or she casually adds – it could be twins….

TWINS!!!!!

Shit!

Was both of our reaction to the potential news! Not so much as oh my god – no it can’t be – more along the lines of – shit imagine…. ahhhh what if it is Twins……

At this stage in time we still think it is just one bub inside, until proven otherwise. Innocent until proven guilty! Although when I had my blood test done – the result was 89 – which is double what it should be to show an early pregnancy. The norm is 40. So just another reason to think mind boggling thoughts about 2 bubs.

However if we do have two bubs, we will certainly have to re think our schedule, house size and everything…. Imagine 3 kids under 2 – We’ll go bonkers. It’ll be a challenge, fun and tiring all at the same time.

This year we will be renovating our home to add an extra 2 rooms onto the property otherwise we will seriously be buried underneath baby stuff.

“How did she die….” “Whilst tripping over that stray bottle cap she had been searching for (why do they make them clear), Angie unfortunately head butted the rocket shaped baby walker and broke her nose in two places on the musical snail shape sorter, she then somehow (don’t ask me) managed to get the stuffed giraffe (bill) wedged into her mouth and then she suffocated due to lack of breath and not being able to breath due to the broken nose” Just imagine……

I have contacted the hospital and have requested a scan this week, if they can fit me in (fingers crossed).

Am feeling slightly greener today and am either getting morning sickness (not reserved just for mornings though) or I have a tummy bug – or both – hurrah!

If we have 3 kids it changes everything…. The car (which we have just purchased) will have to be fitted with 3 baby seats – can an Outlander fit 3 baby seats in the back? Who knows? The buggy will need to have go go gadget seat extensions fitted, We’ll need a front and back baby sling and my boobs will begin to take the shape of a cowboys dried up old leather water canteen. Mmmm saggy…..

We’ll never see the light of day again, it’ll be 5 years before anything resembling a night out without kid’s takes place and I’ll know all the games, craft activities, names of cartoon characters and songs on all the shows off by heart. (OK so that has already happened).

Not that I’m panicking or anything, but I was HUGE with Jake, so I’ll be the size of a mansion (let alone house) with Alice & potential Co.

Its funny, part of me thinks it’d be good to have twins, and so does Kev, and part of it scares the living daylights out of me. I have no history of twins in my family, Kev does – but as far as I know it’s the female side that has to have the connection as I have to produce two eggs. Please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. Only time will tell, so I’ll patiently (Pah) sit by the telephone until the hospital calls with a date for the scan, then be there full of water and orange juice an hour ahead of time so they can scan me and let us know the score.

Sometimes you know – it might just be better if people didn’t tell the truth. One little word has had our minds racing all week.

So I will be in contact in due course with information about whether I am a human maxi taxi or not.

Enjoy your week – nice short one this week – Good on ya Easter – love a long weekend.

Alice, Alice …… Who the F**K is ALICE????

T’was a wet stormy Wednesday night and all was quiet, except from the noise of Jake Dunn duuun derr deer ring off the lounge onto the cushions and whacking his head on windowsills for good measure.

My stomach had been being decidedly quirky for a week or so, hmmmmmmm. An unopened test lay in the bathroom drawer… I un-wrapped the test – and then pee’d all over it. (No way to make that sound mystical – a pee is a pee). Then we impatiently waited the three long minutes for the results to appear – three minutes can take blooming ages!!! At last the feint line appeared. A tad too feint at first, so we thought we better recheck….

A further 8 home tests (yes 8 – should have bought shares in Crystal Blue and Pregnosis last time round…) and a trip to the doctors later and now I come bearing news of Alice…..

Alice, Alice …… Who the F**K is ALICE????

Alice is currently in Wonderland, swimming around in her little embryonic sack growing a tail. Yes – you guessed it – Jake is going to be getting a sibling later on this year. Hurrah!!!!

Like Jake, we have an “inside the womb” name, his was George, so whilst she is inside we are calling her Alice – Kev chose it for the comical effect of being able to say “Who the F**K is Alice” whereas I like to think of her in Wonderland.

So I will (as I did with George’s journey to the outside) update you all with a fairly regular email.

Thought you’d all like to hear our wonderful news!!!