Welcome Baby Simon!

Well, it's been a month since I last wrote; things have been just a tad crazy!

The last few weeks of pregnancy were NOT fun. Even walking became a huge effort as it felt like a bowling ball was lodged in my pelvis! Walking definitely turned into waddling! I was so thankful when my water broke around 7pm on Thursday, Dec. 3rd - 6 days before my due date. (I was sooo worried I'd be late!) The contractions began to pick up around 1am and we went down to the hospital to get checked out around 4am. But then the contractions started to subside and they gave us the option to go home and wait it out a bit.

The next day was such a weird day - trying to rest, walking around the block a few times in the hopes of getting things going again...we were just in limbo...waiting. (BTW, the weather was sooo strange - wet snow, rain, sun...a real mix of everything...) Anyway, the hospital had said to call back at 2pm with an update and they said to come in and they'd induce me. So Jon, my mom and I all headed off with our bags in hand...

Without getting into too much detail, labour lasted about 7 hours and I wasn't able to get an epidural until near the very end. So I basically got to experience "natural" childbirth up until the 'pushing' part - it was soooo intense. I thought I would pass out from the pain at times. Once I got the epidural, it was time to push and it was actually PLEASANT. I had NO pain (actually no sensation at all) and it was so calm. The pushing was so easy this time and only lasted about a half hour (compared to 2-1/2 hours with my daughter). I got to hold Simon right away and of course I started to cry. Jon was such a great support through the whole process and it was nice having my mother there, too. And there were no complications after delivery (i.e. retained placenta) so everything went smoothly. I honestly felt like I was glowing afterwards, like I was at peace with the universe or something...

Simon has been a dream baby so far. He sleeps at least a 5 hour block at night so I'm actually getting more sleep than when I was pregnant! He is just perfect and Jon and I feel so blessed to have him!

Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I guess I should get down to business with this blog. The title afterall is about weight loss after baby and, honestly, I can't WAIT to get back to the gym!However, Christmas is in a few days and I'm also supposed to wait 6 weeks before technically exercising but I honestly feel so good I"m going to head back right after Christmas (not push myself too hard, but go on the treadmill, etc.)

I'm also going to weigh myself/take my measurements on Christmas Day and use that as my starting point. I can't wait to get active again!

The tiny red stocking

This evening, I sit alone. And I'm savouring the quiet.

You see, Jon took the kids to the Santa Claus parade. I just wasn't up for standing (or even sitting) by the road for over an hour. I'm sure they're having a great time and I normally would love to be there, but instead I'm really enjoying the peacefulness of the house....especially knowing that any day now our lives are to get significantly more hectic...

We put up our Christmas decorations today and the house is so cozy with the white lights. Every year I love taking out all the figurines, ornaments, etc. and reminiscing about how each one was acquired. However, this year something quite remarkable and unexplainable happened...

As I was taking out the kids' stockings, I noticed a tiny stocking stuffed inside, one that might have contained a gift card or something. I have no recollection of getting this stocking last year, and I honestly am surprised I would have kept it at all...and the most shocking thing is that I had placed it with the other two stockings...who'd have known what "surprise" we'd have this Christmas?! Perhaps Santa knew;)

So now, on either side of the mantle hangs Ethan and Mary's stockings. And in the centre is the tiniest little red stocking for our wonderful upcoming Christmas present...

4 Weeks and Counting...

Somehow, my belly seems to have doubled in size the last week! It's getting hard to tie on shoes, put on socks, teach, etc. Thankfully, the baby has shifted so I'm not getting the shortness of breath which had been plaguing me recently, and the swelling has been limited to my right ankle only.

I know it sounds kind of strange, but I'm just this week realizing that I'm having a baby! I mean logically, yes, I knew there was a baby in there but I don't think emotionally I'd trully accepted it yet. Especially since I haven't felt a lot of movement this whole pregnancy due to the position of the placenta (in front). But this week - holy moly! I see bony protrusions sticking out, or sometimes my whole belly will "roll" in front of me as I'm on the computer. As I touch my belly, I realize that my hand is only an inch or so from our baby and I'm starting to get pretty excited about it (rather than deathly afraid!).

At my OB appointment last week I was thrilled to see I hadn't gained any more weight. Still at 180 which puts me at +50 exactly. It's amazing though how much more uncomfortable I feel this week even though my weight is the same. Must be the way the baby is positioned now - lower - and putting more of a strain on my back.

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to feeling "normal" and active again. The irony is that once you get your 'body' back to 'yourself', you don't have the time to go the gym, go running, etc. now that you have a newborn. However, I look forward to getting back to SOME kind of physical activity!

More panic...this time swine flu...

The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions. I have gone from being somewhat concerned about the H1N1 flu to pretty much paranoid.

I think what has surprised me the most is just how early the 'wave' began and how fast it started to spread! We began having many absences at school a couple of weeks ago. My OB said last Friday that the flu was "rampant" in our town right now, with one confirmed fatality at the hospital. Well, I wasn't taking any more risk...I decided to stay home until my kids and I got vaccinated (which was yesterday.) It's supposed to take 7-10 days to fully kick in so I will be going back on Monday (just shy of a week).

The vaccine definitely had an effect on me - for just over 24 hours I had mild flu-like symptoms such as achiness, headache and nausea. But I figured that was nothing compared to what the full-fledge flu would be like. And getting the vaccine protects this little one inside me by giving him/her the antibodies so I'm very thankful for that.

My OB appointment on Friday was a bit of a shock - I'm at 180 lbs now - that's up 50 from the start and I still have 6 weeks to go! One of my problems has been that I've been super stressed with work and worry, and when I'm stressed, I don't care what I eat! That's not a good combination!

Things for baby are almost ready: diapers purchased, onesies and other outfits washed, receiving blankets ready to go, stroller assembled, etc. Sometimes, I still can't believe there's going to be another baby in the house! Agh!

Giving thanks...and panicking a little too...

Today is Thanksgiving Monday and this weekend I have been thinking a lot about all the blessings in my life. Just over 7 years ago I seriously doubted I'd ever be a mother. It was just after Thanksgiving in 2002 we adopted our son, Ethan. Then Thanksgiving of 2005 was my due date with Mary and I delivered her a week later. And now, as I type this on the laptop, my belly is moving and shifting in front of me...how odd a sensation it is! And as freaked out as I am about having another baby at 37, I am also absolutely in awe. I never ever thought I'd be lucky enough to experience pregnancy again...

However, in this blissful state of daydreaming about a newborn again, the panic starts to creep in...this morning it started at 5:00 am and never left...I figure I might as well get up and get some things *done*. I was on a frenzy. Maybe it's nesting. Maybe it's feeling like time is running out. Maybe it's knowing that my body isn't going to be this mobile much longer...

I started cleaning out and organizing my kitchen cupboards. Then it was getting the winter clothes, scarves, etc. out of storage and doing four loads of laundry. In the meantime, I threw a chicken in the crockpot, made a curried sweet potato soup from scratch and cleaned out the refrigerator. Add to that cleaning out my purse, getting the recycling and garbage ready and cleaning our laundry room and I was/am EXHAUSTED. Did I mention all of this was accomplished by 9am?!

So I am now sitting here with my feet up hoping I get a second wind today. There still feels like there is so much to do to get ready for the big day...8 weeks to go!

172 lbs and counting...

Okay, so I got weighed at the OB last Friday...172. That's up 42 lbs, and believe me I'm starting to feel it. I'm still trying to be active (going to the gym at least 3 times a week) but my workouts are definitely becoming somewhat half-hearted. At boot camp class yesterday, I was trying to do some ab stuff but let's face it -- the belly is getting in the way! And forget about lunges with weights! I already have an extra 42 lbs I'm "lunging" up thank you very much!

I still don't understand how women are only supposed to gain 35 lbs max. I mean I *really* don't get it. Maybe I should just stop looking at the scale. Especially since this time last pregnancy I started getting a lot of swelling and my blood pressure started going up. However, I'm determined to stay active as long as possible so maybe that will help a lot.

While at the hospital for my OB appointment, I popped in to visit a friend who had just given birth to twins a couple of days prior. I got to hold her beautiful baby girl who was only about 4.5 lbs. I started to get baby pangs thinking, "Aw, I want one of these..." and then I realized, holy sh*t, I'll have one of these in a couple of months!!!! Seriously, I think I'm in denial about this pregnancy most of the time. There have been many, many instances when I feel a kick or I see my belly move and I literally think for a moment, What the heck is that...??? Oh yeah, there's a BABY in there...

Today is my wedding anniversary. My husband and I have been married for 13 years. I certainly never thought we'd be having a baby after 13 years. Our original "plan" was to have two (maybe three) kids in our late 20s...guess you "never know what you're gonna get..."

"Everything in Moderation"...am I finally getting it?

When I'm not pregnant, I'm usually either 'on the wagon' or 'off the wagon.' I'm a bit of a binge-eater, I will confess...when I get stressed I am much more likely to polish off a bag of oreos than have a drink or two...I'll often use any excuse to eat because, quite honestly, I really love food! I love celebrating with friends and family. I love to cook, trying new recipes out on everyone. There is a wonderful feeling in providing my family with a "home-cooked" meal and knowing my kids are well-fed and nourished, both with food and love...

When I'm not pregnant, I'm often on a "diet" -- you know, South Beach (or "South Bitch" as a friend calls it!), food journals, exercise, etc. Problem is, when I "cheat" I realllllly cheat. Sometimes, depending on social functions, my 'cheating' lasts the whole weekend. In the case of my last pregnancy, the 'cheating' went on for 9 months and look where that ended up - 80 lbs gained and a gall bladder that had to be removed!

The thing is, for the first time in a long time I find myself with a really balanced approach to food these days. I eat healthy for the most part, but I don't deny myself treats. I'll have a cookie here or a small piece of cake there....and I don't feel guilty about it one bit. I'm not fixated on food to relieve stress. Generally, I'll eat a very high fibre cereal for breakfast, a homemade energy bar late morning, a salad with protein for lunch, some kind of snack in the afternoon and then a 'normal' dinner with a small dessert. It seems strange to be eating everything "in moderation" which is really I think the key, isn't it?

There are people in my life who seem to have this balanced, healthy attitude towards food and exercise it certainly inspires me to continue this path of living...

I am happy to report that my weight is still 167lbs which means that my exercising and balanced eating is paying off! I really hope that I can continue physical activity up until the 9th month!