Back 2 Metric: June 2006

Our Sleeping Beauty

James' News

As many of you know, James has not been interested in potty training in the least. I haven't pushed the idea, because of all the changes he has had to deal with recently, but we have always had the potty in the bathroom and encouraged him to sit on it. Well, about 2 months back now, James suddenly became scared of the potty - he would ask us to hold his hand if he sat on it, and would often cry if we asked him to sit for a while. So, we left the issue totally. I am not a believer in pushing the whole thing. And I had no idea where the fear came from. After Kate's arrival though, Rein and I were both a bit weary of changing nappies on 2 kidlets and we thought we'd try again.

Well, on the advice of many people we decided to try a "Star Chart" incentive thing to encourage our little boy. It has worked like a bombshell. We made a big song and dance about buying the cardboard and stickers and Rein made the chart and stuck it on the wall 2 evenings back. The deal was he'd get a sticker for every wee, 2 for every poo and after 5 stickers we'd get him a cheapish toy. The first evening he already had 3 STICKERS! We were gobsmacked! And absolutely overjoyed too!

So, I went out yesterday and bought him his first reward (a small Barney puzzle that he chose). No luck on the #2's yet, but I'm sure things will sink in soon. At this rate, James is going to cash in on some nice loot and we're going to be very poor!

Yay for James!!

Kate Elizabeth's Birth Story

After much umming and ahhing, I decided that if my dearest baby had not made her arrival by the 5th June, I would be induced. Lots of reasons for this, biggest probably being mutterings about a mature placenta and big BIG baby. I still so desperately wanted to go into labour naturally, but I guess this was not to be.

On Sunday, June 4, we had my friends Georgie and Kirsten and their families over for afternoon tea. James decorated a cake for Georgie, since it was her birthday. Kirsten (hi Kirst) has 2 gorgeous kiddies, but James is particularly keen on Leah who will be 2 in September. Kirst also has a 2 month old boy'tjie Thomas and Georgie has 3 month old Benjamin...so it was a lovely introduction to the baby thing. It also took my mind off the next day. Anyway, to cut a long story short, we all decided to go out and buy cod liver oil to help the whole process along. I know castor oil is a definite inducer, but I've also heard it goes hand in hand with terrible stomach pains and diarrhea. Cod liver oil is supposed to be gentler. Well, NO LUCK.... Rein eventually took me into the hospital later that evening as I had to spend the night there. What a whammy!

If I ever had suicidal intentions before, the ward I was in would have pushed me further along the clifftop! One lady, 30-ish, spoke like she was a Grandmother of 14 - long winded stories about her ailments, her bout of flu she was struggling to get over, blah blah blah. Finally at midnight, her sleeping pill kicked in - THANK GOODNESS!! Well, so I thought - then the snorer started. Good grief - it sounded like a combine harvester with problems. Initially I could barely control my giggles, but after 4 or 5 hours of continual snoring, I was not impressed.

Anyway, I'd better hurry the story along, otherwise we'll never get finished. 5am sharp - a rude awakening is an understatement. "Here's your enema, dear. Get up and get moving." I was totally shocked and a bit miserable. I'd never had to endure this in the States. I must admit that it all did feel very clinical at the beginning. I hated that. I had decided to go the epidural route too, because of the induction... but they do the epidural here before you feel any contractions at all - which sucked. They also catheterize you before the epidural, which is also bloody awful. Anyway, besides the moans....everything was hunky dory - epidural in, Rein, darling hubby within an arms reach, magazines aplenty. Oh well, let me just say the EPIDURAL never took!! So, fortunately (and unfortunately) I had the experience of a natural birth sans pain killers. Similarly to James, it took forever to go from 0-5cms (as in from 8am to 2pm), but then within 30 minutes, I went from 5-10cms and in 2 pushes (literally), our little Kate was born. All 4,1 kgs of her. With James I had back labour and I remember vividly the feeling of pressure and pain on my back as he was moving down the birth canal. With Kate, I could feel exactly where she was by the pressure and agony in front. Quite a miracle! Hee hee.

I felt really good after the birth and only had one eensy weensy tear. Even better! I had a really lovely midwife helping me through the whole day. She was great and was very compassionate and competent.

Was totally shocked the first time I saw Kate though. I battled for quite a while to accept that she was my baby. I think I probably had some unconscious expectations that she'd look like James did (fair skin and blonde hair). She looked totally alien to me. The big bruise on her face, which made her skin look so olivey and the dark hair just did not belong to me!

She latched beautifully though and things were looking even rosier when one of the nurses told me that they'd moved me to a private ward and I would not have to endure the snoring for another night!

Stayed in hospital for 2 more nights. I found it to be quite calming, actually. I had had such a tumultuous time leading up to the birth that being able to lie in bed and read magazines while Kate slept was absolutely heaven. One tough part about being in hospital though is that James was not allowed to come into the ward at all. Kids under 12 are expressly forbidden. I was able to go into the waiting room to see him, but Kate had to stay in the nursery. Poor little boy, he didn't really understand that. But he was being spoilt by his 2 Grannies, so it didn't worry him too much.

And that's that. Nothing too extraordinary. We have our completed family and Kate is just adorable. We are very blessed! Looking back at everything from 3 weeks on, I have an almost tangible feeling of relief that my pregnancy is over. I had such an uneventful and healthy pregnancy, I know, but such stressful events surrounding it that it feels like my whole life is settling down into a more relaxed, "normal" state. I'm really looking forward to the next few months.

More pics...

Kate on her Dad's chest again

Brother and sister

Brother and sister #2

With Oma feeding the birds at our house

Breakfast with the family

James at the playground where we went for breakfast

African playground

2 weeks old

I'm back and hopefully for good this time. Both kids are down for naps and I have some time to blog again.

So much to update you on:

Kate is beautiful. She has completed our family in such a lovely, serene way and we are so thankful. I am enjoying her so much. Sounds a bit gushy and schmaltzy, I know, but just allow me that for a few more weeks. :)

I have found the second time around to be so much easier. I don't have the angst of a first time mommy and I also don't have the intense stress of sickness (at this stage) that we had with James. She is also a very placid baby and hardly gives a cry. I am reasonably well rested too, which is such a blessing as sleep deprivation makes everything horrific. (PS. I also have help with the house..... which is one of my biggest blessings, I know)

James has also been a star and has accepted her wonderfully. He is so gentle with her and proudly shows off his new sister "Dickie" to anyone who visits. Fortunately now he can say her name properly, but for quite a while it was rather embarrassing when someone asked what his sister's name was, he would say DICK or DICKIE very confidently.

My next post will be about the birth and the differences between that and the birth in the US, but for the meantime, I thought you'd be happy with some piccies of the last few days.

Must apologize for not emailing anyone directly... Laptop has been out of use for last 2 weeks and has no battery so can't retrieve email addresses. I have only received mail sent to R's account....

One of our first days home - me, James and marshmallow girl

First time in her carseat - still yellow from jaundice

On Daddy's chest - rosebud lips

James infatuated with his little sister

Welcome Kate Elizabeth Hillmann!

Kate Elizabeth arrived on Monday at 2:35pm. She weighed 4,1 kg (9 lbs) and is 55,5 cm (22 in) in length and arrived with a mop of black hair!

Labour at the end was soooo fast that our poor little girl came out with a huge pressure bruise on her face, so although she is not the most beautiful of newborns, she is absolutely fantastic to us!

Too knackered now to post more...

Here are some pics.

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