Recovery

I'll tell you what, this somewhat difficult "recovery" has certainly made me much more grateful for my previous uneventful recoveries. It started out with the most glorious 3 days in hospital. I mean, when you're being brought big meals and 3 snacks ("tea"s) a day - in bed - who can complain, right? Just the peace and quiet and lack of having to clean up or pick up or basically be responsible for anyone but me and baby, combined with endless food and naps... it's better than a vacation!

We had some cute visitors and the nurse talked the kids through Desmond's first bath. I found everyone here is more hands off - they basically left me alone, only checking in occasionally to see if I needed any pain meds. Didn't bathe the baby til the night before we left, rarely checked my bleeding/vitals, just trusted me to let them know if I needed anything. Even at the prenatal appointments I was never weighed or had to pee in a cup - just measured, checked blood pressure and baby's heartbeat. Cool.

Unfortunately, a few days after GramB left I started bleeding heavily and feeling real sick. Apparently it was some sort of infection, followed by some sort of hematoma that had to get drained (ouch!) and after the third round of antibiotics I'm finally feeling human again. Check out the pic of one day's worth of my pills... It didn't help that the whole fam traded ear infections, nasty flu and chesty coughs/colds for a week after I got home, too. I don't think there was even a day when all the kids went to school together. Good thing D was able to take off work - he was a champ, taking it all in stride and holding us all together. (You know you've hit rock bottom when you hire your 6 year old to mow the lawn.) Huge thanks to the amazing army of friends who swooped in with meals, deep cleaning, rides, playdates, food, encouragement, gifts and visits. We feel so incredibly loved! Without them we'd still be wallowing in this (ahhh, the delightful state of things with a new baby in the house):

instead of this:

Honestly, you just can't put a price tag on good friends.

We are so grateful!

 And we hope to be able to return all the wonderful favors someday :) you know, when I'm not so busy being a 24 hour milk factory and all...

Snapshots II

The kids threw a celebration party soon after we found out little guy is a boy. Costumes, music, choreographed dancing, friends. Between that and Will climbing into bed with me every morning to snuggle my belly and whisper animatedly to his little bro inside - it's overwhelmingly sweet how excited they are.

Summer continues to sprout. Nothing like an imminent new baby to make your previous baby seem suddenly enormous and mature.

Happy to report she has finally weaned (I was increasingly nervous about managing milk supply for 2 children - this was new territory for me to even be able to feed so long...)

Fortunately, her new love of babydolls has eased the bedtime transition as she gathers 5-10 each night and we rock them all to "sleep."

We found a cool frog in the neighbors pool one afternoon. (It received endless boogie board rides.)

her new favorite perch - you better watch out if you try to sit there

And so much yummy food has been gracing our palates these days. Thanks to Pinterest I have been going to town in the kitchen whipping up all sorts of yummies with loads of fresh motivation. 5-minute homemade granola bars? Yes, please. Fresh peach pie? Okay. Artisan pizzas? Sign me up. Spinach artichoke pasta? Yum-O!!

my current obsession: fresh figs (and notice how Will has surpassed me in his level of Vegemite Love)

It's A.... (drumroll, please)

Apparently you have to be either Australian or pregnant to enjoy the taste of Vegemite. Because I honestly crave the stuff now. I have a version of this snack at least once a day and the vegemite content keeps creeping higher each time.

But on to the news you really care about... yes, it's a:  BOY!!!



Darren has called them all correctly and this pregnancy was so much easier, so we were hardly surprised, but it's still such great news this morning. Will is certainly beside himself to finally have a brother... "I've waited 9 years, Mum!"

Still due July 18th, baby is active, healthy and all looks good. I'm about 20 weeks (halfway) and feel real good now despite friendly strangers assuming I am to deliver next month :)

We brought blue treats to school to tell the kids and they were pretty giddy.

In Lieu of A Christmas Card...

And then there were five.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!