My Life as a Loris

2 weeks in...

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:51:58 +0100

Weeeeell, i have found a few spare minutes to update although i am typing one handed as a sleepy Jacob naps on my knee.

Motherhood is well hard isn't it? All you out there with more than one sprog have my utmost respect. The endless anxiety over Jacob is tiring, as is the lack of sleep and lack of time to myself. My brain is totally fried, so if this is bitty then I'm sorry -I can't hold a proper face to face conversation either!

My beautiful boy is well... beautiful though. And pretty well behaved too. He rarely seems to cry although he does like to wee on me at every opportunity. S is back at work now which leaves us to watch the tennis and nap in the afternoons. But we might pop out for a little walk now, whilst the suns out. Its a different world!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I'm a mummy

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:51:26 +0100

I am alive! And I'm also a mummy!

Jacob Peter was born at 6.37 am on Wednesday 18th June and he is beautiful.

I have to say that being a parent is without a doubt the most challenging thing I have ever ever done. The endless worry is crazy but we are just taking things a day at a time.

I had a difficult labour and delivery (forceps and an epsiotomy and a 2nd degree tear -ugh) and had to be stitched up in theatre. My milk supply is rubbish and as a result Jacob was losing lots of weight so we've been supplimenting with formula for the last 2 days. Now he is actually getting food he is so well behaved and sleeping really well. I've been feeling awful though and according to the midwife today my stiches are infected, which is making me feel clammy and crap so I'm on antibiotics - it seems to be one thing after another at the moment.

But despite these setbacks, Jacob is gorgeous -judge for yourselves!

Jacob

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

3 days

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:38:53 +0100

Yesterday morning (although lets face it, its not real morning at that hour) at 4am I was awake. There was no good reason and its definately a preggars thing. At 5am I got up and watched the discovery channel. I'm sure its no coincidence that 'baby story' is being shown at that time. By 8am I was completely knackered and managed to get a few more hours sleep. This morning I've rather more sucessfully slept til 9.30 am with just the 5 wee breaks. Not bad.

I am now pretty fed up of this. The thought that it could potentially be another 2.5 weeks til baby is here fills me with dread. I can't really do anything. I can't even do the supermarket shop by myself because I can't get the stuff out the trolley. My top speed is literally the pace of a slug and I seem to be sweating rather a lot. Obviously the hot weather isn't really helping matters there. Oh yes, and I need to slather on at least factor 30 suncream for even 5 minutes outside as my skin has gone hyper sensitive.

I can only applaud my husband who yesterday bought me season 2 of House on dvd and still maintains that I am attractive. Admirable traits, I think you'll agree.

3 days left (or 4, 8, 10 etc)

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: Homes Sweet Homes

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:35:12 +0100

How many houses have you lived in? How is where you live now different from where you grew up?

I'm not too sure on dates -lets see how it goes...

1979-1983 A two bedroom terrace in Yampton, Devon. It had a red door and was on a busy road through the village. I remember my little sister lying on the pavement having a full on tantrum because my mum wouldn't let her toddle accross the street by herself. We had an allotment down the road and my dad used to take me in the wheelbarrow. My parents painted an entire wall of my bedroom to be a shop front called 'Laughton's General Stores'. We also had some chickens I think.

1983-1984 My dad moved jobs up to Cambridge and we ended up living in a horrid rented house in a god awful place called Waterbeach for a year. I think I have blocked it from myh memory.

1984-1997 Wilgress House, Bourn. My parents finally found a house to be home for us. When they bought it there was no running hot water, electricity or pretty much anything. The nettles in the back garden were taller than me. They saw potential though and gradually did it up themselves. Now it is a gorgeous 3 storey detatched victorian red brick with a massive garden which is absolutely beautiful. My dad has just started keeping bees. My parents intend to live here til they retire and then move to the cottage in Cornwall which used to belong to my granny. When that happens I shall be very sad indeed.

1997-1998 I lived in halls at the college of St Hild and St Bede at Durham. I had a teeny weeny room but it had fantastic views over the city. I had my own sink but we shared everything else.

1998-1999 I moved out to live in an old town house in the city centre with 3 normal people and one complete psycho. Virginia used to steal stuff from our rooms, claim she hadn't and then wear it herself the next week. She also melted my cds on the aga and refused to ever ever empty the bin.

1999-2000 I moved back into college for my final year and was upgraded to a slightly larger room. woohooo.

2000-2001 I was back at home for a year, temping and saving some money.

2001-2002 Back ooop north but this time to Newcastle to start my MA. I lived in Heaton (studentville near the city centre) with 4 other postgrads in a big terrace. Somehow I managed to bagsy the only double bed in a huge huge bedroom with 3 windows. Result. I really liked this house and the other occupants were pretty ok considering they were strangers when I moved in.

2002-2003 In fact I moved out with two of them after we graduated and rented a corner terrace in South Gosforth which is a very nice area. It had two lounges and a big kitchen and a garage and we seemed to pay only a nominal amount of rent somehow. It was almost like a proper home. Unfortunately I was struggling to find a 'proper' job doing what I wanted so I was pretty unhappy for most of the year.

2003-2003 After our tenency was up I moved in with my then boyfriend of 5 years into his semi just round the corner. I was blissfully happy playing house until he cheated on me and I was forced to move out...

2003-2004 ...into a modern ground floor flat with a girl called Maxine who was lovely. I found her on easyroomate.com and she was the cleanest person I have ever lived with. She was also bulimic and only seemed to eat boiled fish. I was pretty happy here though, I even had a fish tank in my bedrooom.

2004-2007 I decided it was time to get on the property ladder and I bought my lovely lovely flat in Gateshead. It was two bedrooms, original wooden floors and high ceilings. It had a little yard which I stuffed with flower pots and window boxes. I adored living here and had several lodgers live with me throughout the 3 years (some odder than others - remember?!). Eventually S moved in with me in early 2007 and that was that.

2007- present...except it wasn't. We wanted to live out in the country and a bigger place that belonged to both of us. So I sold at the perfect time pricewise (phew) and we bought 7 Bute Street. Its a three storey stone terrace in a little village between Newcastle and Durham. It has a miniture front garden that gets the sun til mid afternoon and a back yard which is sunny after work. It has high ceilings, original features and big windows. We are both very happy here and the only reason we would move in the future (but not for years) would be for a bigger garden so I could have a bunny.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Pj day

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:56:46 +0100

Its 10.50 and I am still in my pjs. This maternity leave lark gets the thumbs up from me so far (until I actually have to give birth I suspect).

I'm waiting for the midwife to come and check my BP so obviously until she does I am forced to watch Jeremy Kyle and This Morning. Drat.

We went to see the new Indiana Jones film on Saturday and I really enjoyed it. Yes, the ending was ridiculous, but my goodness Mr Ford looks good for his age. I even treated myself to half a pint of cider after, it was delicious. I can't wait til I can stuff myself with brie and pate again. I plan to eat nothing else for the 1st week post birth although how nutritious that would make my milk remains to be seen.

Right, i need to go and head off people who insist on getting in touch each day asking if I've had the baby yet. Its getting quite irritating!!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Fatso

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:42:15 +0100

Yesterday morning when I got dressed I had ankles, feet and legs. They were all distinguishable from each other and apart from the thighs which admittedly were larger than they were a few months ago, they didn't look too shabby for 38 weeks preggars. Last night when I removed my shoes and trousers I discovered that they had morphed into one hideous, sausagey, swollen structure. Not an ankle bone to be seen and my toes looked like chipolatas. Gross.

Over night they deflated somewhat but by lunch time today they are in full force again and actually quite uncomfortable as well as highly unattractive. Soon none of my shoes will fit and I will be forced to walk barefoot wherever I go. Oh the glamour. Still, one day left at work and then I can take up permanent residence on the sofa.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

36 wks

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:15:52 +0100

Midwife this morning and it went fine. After the debacle last time when I was waiting for an hour and got myself all stressed and then the stand in lady was horrid, all was back to normal today including my BP. Excitingly the baby has started to engage. It is 4/5's engaged which confusingly means that 1/5 (of the head) is in my pelvis and 4/5's are still free. Still, its heading in the right direction.

I shold really pack my hospital bag I suppose...ho hum.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Joining in...

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:25:18 +0100

Whilst it doesn't compare to some, I've always thought my shoe collection non too shabby....

Black pointy flat mid calf boots

Red pointy flat mid calf boots

Burgundy flat knee high boots

Fake uggs

Brown knee high biker style boots

Black and orange puma trainers

White aididas

Nike gym trainers (gathering dust)

Black whicker base flip flops

Black leather flip flops

Gold flip flops

White leather GAP flip flops

Yellow flip flops

Gold tie front pumps

Silver pumps with woven front

Black ballet pumps x2

Puple suede kitten heels

White kitten heel sling backs

Black jelly shoe pumps

Pink kitten heel flip flops

Turquoise cut out kitten heel peep toe sling backs (these rip my feet to shreds)

Burgundy wooden heeled peep toes

Scarlet patent mary janes (wedding shoes!)

Black round toe high heels with flower on the front

Black peep toe wedges

Strawberry patterned white canvas pumps

Purple flat buckled ankle boots

Thats all that immediately spring to mind...

There are definately some spaces in there for more high heels.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

34 wks

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:12 +0100

I've now started avoiding people who cannot help commenting on my size every single bloody day. On Monday Barbara said 'ooooh isn't that baby getting bigger every week'. Yes. Thats what babies do, they grow. Good grief.

My resillience to such ridiculous statements is much lower now, I am a stroppy cow. Hence the avoidance.

Anyway, 34 weeks now...not much longer to go. I go through phases of thinking -'et thee out baby, I want my body back' to 'shit no! I'm not ready to be a mum, I haven't washed the baby clothes'.

4 weeks til Maternity Leave - I'm crossing off the days.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Book worm

nobody@vox.com(slowloris) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:05:10 +0100

I've been reading lots of books recently. A random mixture. What to expect when you are expecting is good and so is the baby whisperer once you get past the vastly irritating writing style with over familiar 'luvs' and 'duckies'. I shall give it a go anyway, the principle of the thing seems quite sound.

I keep trying to persuade S to read a bit more of the baby book - as in the part about labour. He has read little bits but I think I would feel a leeeetle bit happier if he knew the basics of what will happen!

Oh, and I was reading Random Acts of Heroic Love the other week (and very much enjoying it) until I got to the middle of the book and discovered a chunk of missing pages. Shall I press on and hope the missing part isn't essentally integral to the story? I really want to know what happens!

I also read Notes on an Exhibition by Patrick Gale and love love loved it. But then I love all of his books.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend