Body Size

Well, as you can tell I have been unable to get to my computer to write anything. Keenan's feeding issues are still there as he only gained an ounce last week. But I think it was all the stress..we just bought a house! I will write more on that later.
Keenan doesnt sleep well during the day and we are busy packing to get out of here in 10 days. Hopefully.
I am not sure if this feeding issue is even an issue as Keenan is a small baby and I have always been on the small side. I was 80 pounds in grade 5. And my BMI was 19 (should have been 24) before I was pregnant. I am going to have to start asking more questions as it is becoming increasingly more interventionist. I just feel like if he is growing and gaining weight, what is the issue?

Startling

God damn the startle reflex. I can never put Keenan down for longer than 10mins before he startles and wakes up. When doesn't he have this reflex??? When he is sleeping on me!(which i love, dont get me wrong)
We went to the Breastfeeding clinic again today, Keenan was a no go... too tired. So we have to go again on Thursday. He has gained 6.5oz in 15 days thats good right??!How am I supposed to know? Hopefully I wont have to keep going after Thursday

Ben

Chris' friend Ben is moving to England so we had a wonderful dinner party at Morgans house. They pay the same in morgage as we do for rent, so now we are looking to see if we can afford a home. That would be great. A backyard for Keenan to play in. He is sleeping right now so I need to use this short time to do something other than type.

6 weeks

Keenan turned 6weeks old yesterday! I can't believe how much he has grown. We went to the Breastfeeding clinic and they said that Keenan weighed 8lbs 4 1/2oz which is only a half an ounce increase since his last visit a week ago...which I find interesting because we are supplimenting with formula and I am taking that drug to increase my supply. It also feels like I am increasing and when he ate yesterday the doctor told me that he had eaten 2 1/2oz so he isnt starving. I hate how I cant see what he eats but I really want to breastfeed so I am not going to let this stop me.

Naming and Other Things

Wow, what a week! Keenan is certainly a handful. I am never able to do anything but take care of him. We had his naming ceremony on Saturday and it was wonderful! (The weather wasn't )Granny's house was on the verge of flooding! But it didnt, thank goodness. Nadene the reverend did such a lovely ceremony, even with the glitches such as the weather and the forgetting of candles. We have a lovely certificate as well. I dont have much time to write. I am having breastfeeding difficulties so I have to pump and use a drug called motilium so that my supply increases and Keenan gets the food he so desperately needs! Gotta Go!

24 years and counting

Yesterday was my birthday, its funny because it really didn't feel like it, it felt like Keenan's 1month (which it was). Christopher bought me the most thoughtful gift. It's a royal doulton family peice...it made me cry! We went over to my parents house and had lamb. Keenan was such a fuss pot yesterday, it's really starting to be taxing as he crys all the time. (except when latched on). Needless to say, I am pretty tired today. Chris is on his second day of SCUBA so I am home alone, again, and will be for the next two days...thats why it is so taxing.
Still wouldnt trade for anything in the world.

Breastfeeding

It's so hard to keep this site up to date as I feel like I never put Keenan down! As it is right now he is nursing while I type. I have been having issues with my breastfeeding...one of them is always clogged so it hurts alot. I am going to a lactation consultant to see if we can nip this problem in the bud. I need to figure it out because I plan on Breastfeeding until Keenan is at least 12months old.
Another issue I have is my lack of Breastfeeding tops, you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to breastfeed in regular clothes. (that arn't frumpy). I did however get a catelouge so maybe i will get some clothes for my birthday!

Smile

Keenan smiled at me today! I know it wasn't just gas because his eyes smiled as well...and he was imitating me! It was so cool to have him actually start to interact with us! He has his good days and then his bad, it actually seems like it goes bad then good, then bad then good. He has a real issue with passing gas. I feel so bad for him because I can't do anything. And I have been trying to watch my diet so he doesnt get gassy foods in the breast milk...doesnt seem to be helping. Chris went to work this weekend so it was really wierd not to have him here with us, but I will survive! My birthday is comming up so that will be wierd, as people want to go out but I can't. And no partying for me...anywho baby is crying so I have to go and attend.

3 weeks

So, Keenan is 3 weeks old today. He has been a little bit of a handfull as we don't get to sleep until 2am. He is so mad at night so it takes us a little while to get him settled. He has to nurse for at least 30mins before he will start to sleep. Chris has taken to sleeping on the floor as whenever he moves Keenan wakes up.
We had Patrick(our photographer) come over to take Keenan's baby pictures but Keenan did not want to cooperate. So we had to postpone.
I got my invitations for the Naming Ceremony so I am planning on sending them out this week, so I need to get on that. Also, I have to start planning it. We are not planning to have anything big just family so it should be fun.

So Tired

I can't believe how tired I am. I have just about hit my wall. Keenan is so fussy after he eats so nursing is an hour long endevor. It's quite frustrating, and Chris can't really help because he doesn't have the equipment. I did however get an hour long nap today, so that was good. Keenan is not a bad baby by any means, we are just so sleep deprived that it's taking alot out of us. But, they say that it should get better at the 6 week mark, so only 3 more to go.
I am feeling like I am comming down with something, but I am not sure if that is just the lack of sleep or if I am getting a cold. Let's hope I am not getting sick as that would really suck

2 Ounces

We had our two week post-natal appointment today, and Keenan has gained 2ounces! That makes him 7lbs and 6oz. I thought he would be a little bigger than that as he eats constantly!! He is eating now every 3hrs during the day and 4hrs at night, so I am getting a little more sleep. I am pissed off today though as the midwives have informed us that we have to pay GST on thier services rendered. It's not like $2800 was enough for them, now they want another $200!! We can't afford that! Not with Chris on paternity leave. Stupid Government. Everyother province except Sask. pays for midwifery care, now we have to pay more money? What is this?!? Two teired health care already? It's ridiculous! Chris doesnt want to pay because he says that we signed a contract that said we had to be paid up by 36weeks and we were, so they dont have a leg to stand on...but I dont want them to be mad(what if i need them again...for my next birth???) So irritating. I think I am more irritated because I haven't been sleeping well....with the baby and all.

Visiting Day

Today is the visiting day. I am excited that people get to meet Keenan, but I am also so tired. This one hour of sleep stints are starting to get me down. Thank god I have Chris to help me out or else I think I would go mental. Keenan is not a bad baby, far from it, but he is a very sucky baby. He would stay attached to my boob all day if he had his way. I am constantly feeding him. At first I thought maybe it was me, that I didn't have enough milk or that he just wasnt getting enough nutrients.... but his output is above average so he is getting everything he needs, he just wants to suck. The hard part is that I can't tell between wanting to suck and hunger, so I end up sitting all day feeding. So it gets a little tiring, not to mention a little sore.
As I am typing this Keenan is swaddled and in a sling around my midsection because he freaks if I put him down, so typing and regular stuff just got that much more difficult.

One Week

One Week. I can't believe that he has only been here that long. It seems like he has always been here. We are pretty much feeding every hour right now as he is going through a growth spurt. I am lucky that I can go into REM sleep as soon as I fall asleep! Chris seems to be feeling it more than me. But, I cant be on the computer all the time anymore so my journal entrys wont be so frequent... but i will try!

Bed Rest

Wow! 3 days of bed rest really takes it out of you! Not to mention having to continually get up and feed the crying baby. But it is so worth it as most of you well know! We have been getting cards and congratulatory emails everyday. Everyone can't wait to meet our little guy. It's really hard to believe that we are actually parents and that Keenan is absolutly dependant on us!
I am so happy and proud to have Chris as my husband as he is the most caring and helpful father that I have ever heard of. Just yesterday night (or morning as it was 4am) Chris took Keenan upstairs after his feeding for 4 hours so that I could have some rest. Also, he has been waiting on me hand and foot! I am so lucky! I have no idea how those single mothers do it. My girlfriend Tricia had to do this all by herself and I admire her even more!!!

BIRTH STORY - written by DH

Keenan was born May 11, 2005, at 9:53pm. He weighed 7lbs 4ozs, and was 20 inches long! It was quite an exciting birth, as we never made it to the hospital! Here's how it happened. Yesterday morning, Alisha woke up with steady, stronger contractions, which were about 6 to 10 minutes apart. They weren't that painful, but stronger then before. We went on a long walk during the afternoon, and nothing seemed to change, so we were a little bummed that it might not be today. She had been having small regular contractions for about the last 3 days, so it didn't seem like it was progressing all that fast. After we ate some dinner (Caribbean Chicken, which Alisha now says might not have been the smartest thing to eat!), and Alisha decided to go and have a bath, as that worked to get the labor moving for her mother. While in the bath, I asked her if she was still having any contractions, and she said that she was, but it was hard to tell because she couldn't really feel them. At this point we started to joke about how this labor thing isn't all that painful, and Alisha said this was easy to handle. Not 2 seconds after she said that, her stomach had a massive rumble; it looked like the baby just kicked and punched in all directions, then there was a loud "pop". I said "Wow, that was some kick!" and she said "That wasn't the baby!" She had just finished saying that when her contractions kicked in full force, like nothing she had felt before! Here is where the pain coping we learned came in!! She had to stay hunched over on the bathroom floor while we called the midwives to let them know we think that the water broke. Maura (one of our midwives, Theresa and Toby came right after) said she was on her way, but not to get too excited, because we could still have lots of time to get fully dilated. However, when Maura arrived about 30 minutes later, Alisha had already began pushing, and when checked was fully dilated. We managed to get her from her birth-ball (thanks Joanna!) onto the couch, and within about 40 minutes he was out and in our arms! Didn't even have time to make it to the hospital! He was perfect! No complications, and as of today, he is doing really well. We will keep you updated, but we ask that no one stops by until at least Sunday (and please call first!!!) as Alisha needs her rest! Best wishes to our fellow class mates, and we wish you all a wonderful birth as well!

Time Yet??

All yesterday I was having mild contractions about 10 mins apart. We kept hoping that they would take off and get stronger. I can totally understand why women say that they were in labour for an ungodly amount of time. I could say that I have been in labour for over 48hrs. But, I really haven't because I don't consider first stage labour to be labour. Today I woke up with some doozys, so now I am averaging 6 mins. So it is getting closer and they are getting stronger...so...I have no idea! It's up to the baby. We just have to suck it up and wait for him.

GRRRR

IRRITATING!!! Nothing is happening yet and Chris and I are a little annoyed because if he isn't here soon Chris has wasted a vacation day that we would want him to use once the baby is born. It's so irritating because we told everyone that it was time and it was a false alarm. I only have 9hrs until the 36hr window I was given is up. I don't understand why I have to keep going through false labour, I have never been so irritated. I just want to get on with it and have it over and done with. The waiting is driving me crazy, not to mention mental because we don't really want to go out in case my water breaks in a store or something...wouldn't that be embarrasing.
So next time we decide to do this I am not going to tell anyone until he is actually in my arms because now we have to deal with people calling to get updates and we have no news for them. GRRRRR!!!!!
So really, don't call us we will call you.

Yuck

So yesterday we hit the 39 week mark that was given to us by the doctors and midwives. BUT, May 10 is what my due date was supposed to be according to my last period. And guess what?!!? I had my bloody show come away this morning so the baby should be here(God willing) in the next 24 to 36 hours.
My feelings?? Scared, excited, nervous, wondering if I can handle the pain etc... But, at the same time elated that he is actually comming.
I will let everyone know what happens!

Waiting...

We had our midwife appointment today and everything is still a go! We are just waiting on the little man to decide that he wants to come out. Now both of my midwives think that I won't go into the 20's of May so the longest they think is May 18. But, hopefully it's sooner. We have everything that we "need" for this baby! I got my diapers delivered today (We have a diaper service), I have been waiting for them, for like forever!
We will continue going in walks and trying the raspberry tea among other things to induce this baby. I don't want to wear myself out though, so I don't think that running up and down stairs is such a good idea.
Maura asked me today if I am ready and I think that I just about am. I don't think that I will get anymore "ready" so it might as well just happen.

38 Weeks

Well, we are now at 38 weeks. How crazy is that?! He is completely head down and dropped into my pelivs and Toby(midwife) thinks that it may even be this week! She said that maybe they wouldn't see me for my next appointment. It's funny though because I am so used to being pregnant that I feel normal. And having the baby outside my body would be the wierd thing.
Some interesting news...I tested positive for GBS (strep B) which is a bacteria in 4 - 20% of healthy women and is only an issue during birth because you can pass the bacteria to the baby while he is being born. So my dream of an unmedicated birth is no longer as now I have to have antibiotics pumped into me during labour. (I don't HAVE to but it's all a game of Statistics and I am not a big gambler). I am not sure if this affects the cord blood banking, probably :(
The only thing that I am worried about is how are the antibiotics going to affect him and his little immune system??
It's so annoying! Why can't things just be normal and uncomplicated for Christopher and I sometime in our lives??
Okay, stop ranting!! I have been getting irregular contractions regularly...:) So my uterus is gearing up for the birth. It's really just a waiting game. Hopefully he waits for Chris to come back from work...so lets say "Wait til the Weekends baby!!!"