Author: Renae

Living life as a wife, a stay at home mama of 3 kids under 5, a marriage celebrant, a craft and sewing amateur, a cooked breakfast lover, coffee enthusiast, extroverted socialite, and most recently, someone who is trying to keep a tidy house. It's tough I tell you!

Tomorrow is D-Day

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8am I’ll be rocking up to maternity and be asking them to kindly remove this baby from my uterus.

It’s different this time around in that I haven’t known a week in advance that I’ll be having the baby, fully knowing I wouldn’t go into labour on my own any time before. With Darby we took it day by day until I’d had enough and then it took slow intervention and two days for Darby to join us.

This time will be much quicker – I believe they will break my waters, hook me up to the drip and away we’ll go. And that is actually fine because I am so done.

I’m done with the insomnia, the leg twitches, the pelvic pain that makes it near impossible to roll over in bed or get up out of bed or from any kind of lying down or seated position. I’m tired of the heartburn, of the bladder punching, and to be honest, of not knowing the gender!

I guess what I’m saying is I really can’t wait to meet this little bugger ahem bubba.

Literally hours left! Woot!

Small pleasures

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Yep. Still here. Still in one piece. Wondering what I would have to say/do for maternity to induce me. Immediately. I really am done. Even with Darby I was all “yeah I’m okay. Let’s just wait and see.” I’ve waited. I’ve seen. I’m not going into labour on my own. Let’s just get on with this thing.

It’s not all bad though. I have found myself with another child-free morning thanks to Mum being here. Let me tell you I’ve been taking full advantage of any child free time I am gifted. Mainly by going out for a coffee. All by myself. And maybe adding a cake of some sort to the order as well.

It really is a special decadence that you don’t appreciate or understand until you’ve had kids and have tried to go out for a nice coffee as a family. Even when all the planets align and the kids behave themselves, it’s still a constant stream of interruptions which result in drinking cold coffee, wiping up spills, and at least one toilet run, if not five.

So here I am, coffee in hand, enjoying the slow pace of my morning, and trying to ignore the niggling sciatica pain and everything else this 40+6 pregnant body is throwing at me. Because I know that this too is only temporary and in literally a few days I’ll be holding my baby.

And that will be no small pleasure let me tell you.

Happy mothers day

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Things my kids said to me today.

Darby: “Mama mama mama I got poo on my doodle.” He didn’t. I was relieved.

Quinn: “Do you know what my favourite smell is Mama? Farts. But only my farts.” Delightful.

And no new baby for mothers day for me. Though there’s still over 4 hours left of the day so you just never know. (Except I know. I do.)

Me and mine

Looking forward to garlic prawns and mussels on cous cous made by Dad. Yum!

The cavalry has arrived

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Mum and Dad landed on our doorstep yesterday and I’m already feeling a bit more relaxed. Though the insomnia has certainly kicked in. I was awake from 2am til 4am this morning. Like wide awake, contemplating getting up and doing something.

I eventually fell asleep, only to be woken up again by Darby at 4:30 calling out “squishy Mr Bump!” As if requesting something of me. That kid has some weird dreams let me tell you.

Then Hubs’ crossfit alarm woke me up at 5:30. Yeah Hubs is doing crossfit now.

Anyway wah wah wah. Had my 40 week (+3) appointment today. My induction is booked in for next Thursday. Unless I go into spontaneous labour before that.

Bahahahahahahahahaha.

Obviously I can’t see that happening. So yeah another week. Let’s do this thing!

10 things on the 10th

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Due today!

Reflections on my fourth pregnancy; the good, the bad and the ugly.

1. Itchiness – if there was one thing I could have absolutely done without this pregnancy it would be the hormonal itch on my arms. It was just torture. Some evenings I’d be beside myself with that under-the-skin itchy feeling that had no relief. The last month it has really calmed down but for about 4 months solid it was horrendous.

2. Fitness – I’ve never been particularly fit going into a pregnancy but this time I was all over it and it really has made a difference I feel. I also hope it helps in my recovery and even though I haven’t been able to attend fit mums since 34 weeks I feel stronger than I have in previous pregnancies. Can’t wait to get back!

3. Food – look it hasn’t been great but I’ve done my best. I’ve definitely been treating myself, particularly this last month, but I’m okay with that. I do notice my energy levels waiver when I’m eating rubbish so I need to address that sooner rather than later.

4. Pelvis – my pelvic area seriously loosened up about 6 weeks ago and is definitely ready for a baby to come on through. I just hope it comes good after all is done and dusted!

5. Baby movement – this one has been a doozy. Each subsequent baby has moved more than the previous, I’m guess each one had more room to kick around in than the one before. But this one is ridiculous. It really “comes alive” in the evenings and gives me such a hard time! It’s both lovely and nauseating at the same time. It’s definitely one of my favourite things about being pregnant.

6. Pelvic floor – this gave way the minute I became pregnant. It’s how I knew without even taking the test. Bloody hormones. I’m really really hoping this bounces back after birth as well!!

7. Hormonal swings – you’ll have to ask Hubs about this. I haven’t noticed it much to be honest. Ha ha.

8. Exhaustion – yeah this set in about 6 weeks ago, hence me having to give fit mum’s away for the time being. This baby really is sapping every energy store out of me. And I know it’ll get worse before it gets better.

9. Luscious hair – I’ve always cut my hair short around baby time but this time I have quite long, thick luscious locks and I’m seriously loving it sick!

10. Libido – speaking of good…. Again you’ll have to ask Hubs about this, but a gentleman never tells ???

Come on baby. Time to meet you!

I’m a day ahead of myself

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I thought today was the 10th and I was about to hit publish on my 10 things post.

I literally have nothing to share today.

After my day in bed yesterday I bounced back with four (overflowing/heaving/very necessary) loads of washing today.

It’s 8:30 and Hubs and I are both talking about turning in for an early night. Maybe just one episode of 30 Rock…

My due date is tomorrow.

I’m so freaking uncomfortable.

I think I’m done for today…

A day of rest

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I was struck down with something overnight which hit me hard this morning and I ended up spending the day in bed. I can’t remember the last time I had to do that. By some crazy luck Hubs had the day off so he could look after myself and the kids (and did a seriously wonderful job too) and now I’m just trying to bounce back.

I don’t think it’s pregnancy-related but I made the call to the hospital just in case. They reassured me that it sounded viral but to feel free to come up and get checked any time. I opted to rest in bed. I even had some company for a bit of it which is always sweet.

My back and pelvis and groin are all super loose and crazy sore. It’s gotta be a sign right! The end is near! Bring it on I say!

Confession time

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My name is Renae and I’m a compulsive entertainer.

Entertaining, dinner parties and BBQs were a huge part of my childhood. In a sense I’ve been entertaining my whole life. (Just ask my parents. Badoom ching!) I just can’t help it. The need to have people over on a regular basis is in my blood. It’s genetic. And Hubs shares and encourages this passion.

Two weeks ago though, I put my foot down with Hubs. “No more dinner parties for the time being. I’m nearly 40 weeks pregnant and I need a break! We can have people over but we’re ordering pizza. Because even a simple BBQ equates to preparation and cleaning up and I’m done for now!” That’s what I told him. And I meant it I swear!

So Thursday rolls around and Hubs says “I have a three day weekend. Want to fire up the BBQ Saturday night?”

And what do I say?

“Sure sounds good. Might as well invite the neighbours over. Oh and (insert several more people here.) Nothing fancy. Just burgers.”

Except I decided to make home made bread rolls. Because I can’t help myself.

And I made a special trip to Woollies because I had a hankering for yummy cheese. Because I can’t help myself.

And we invited a few more people who didn’t end up coming (8 in fact) so we “only” had 7 adults and 6 kids.

But that’s it. I swear. I’m done. We had a great night and we can take a break on a high.

Unless I can’t help myself…

Bambi is not a hit in this house

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We’ve been introducing the kids to classic Disney lately and although we’ve had some winners (Snow White, Pinocchio) Bambi has not faired so well tonight. Quinn gave up after half an hour and went to bed; Darby keeps asking if it’s finished; and Frith fell asleep on the couch not long into it which left me to explain to Chance what happened to Bambi’s Mum, as well as the fight scene between Bambi and the other buck over Faline.

I don’t think it will be getting much air time after tonight.

May the Fourth

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Unless I go into labour and have my baby in less than 2.5 hours, I shan’t be having a Star Wars baby. Which is fine. But it would have been kind of cool right?

I’m in a funny place at the moment. I’m surrounded by things to do yet have absolutely nothing to do. I have no good book to read; I have no awesome TV show that I’m dying to watch the next episode of; I have no sewing space even if I did have a sewing project (mending things doesn’t count); and our photos still aren’t connected to our computer so photo books are out also.

I read a saying a little while ago that said Only boring people get bored. Well consider me the most boring person in Rockhampton right now. It doesn’t help that I have no energy to do much even if I could find something to get excited about.

I think I’m just in a holding pattern at the moment. I’m excited about the baby arriving soon and I’m actually very well prepared. It’s just a matter of waiting now. And as Hubs can attest to, patience isn’t exactly a strong point of mine.

Maybe I should just go to bed.

Happy Star Wars Day! And May the Fourth be with you.