Where to begin.

I am so far behind on these posts that I don't even know where to start. I have many pictures from before Jade was born of Suzie and our lives here at home, and then of course there is all that has happened since. There is a story to be told for each part of these, including the transition from a three unit family to a four. I want to tell the story of Jades birth and I wish to begin with that as it is still fresh in my heart. The wonder and shock of it all.



Unlike my pregnancy with Suzie I had false labor a few times with Jade. Because of this I was unprepared for the real deal. Slight contractions started the evening before she came and continued through the night. I awoke at 3:00 am due to the contractions coming every 2 to 3 minutes but was able to be relaxed and just putter around the house. The contractions were strong in the sense that they did start in my back and move forward but not at all painful. In fact I never thought of them as painful till 11:45 am.



I was able to return to bed at 4:00 and sleep till 5:00. I again got up. I decided to take a warm bath as that can stop false labour. The contractions continued and did not slacken. I again went back to bed at around 6:00 and slept for another hour. When I awoke at 7:00 it seemed the contractions had slowed right down. At this point I was disappointed cause I truly believed that it had been false labour and I had waisted a night due to it. I got up around 8:00 and decided to go on with my day. The contractions did start up again in full force but I still did not believe them.



Finlay at about 11:00 there were a few small signs other than contractions. I was on the phone with my mom in Calgary and at 11:30 decided it was time to have some lunch. I got the soup that I was going to have out of the fridge and put it in a bowl to warm it in the microwave. The bowl made it to the top of the stove and got no further for the rest of the day. As I moved the soup there was a sensation like I have never known before and with a sudden realisation that I was indeed having this baby today, my water broke. That is when things started to come on strong.


Paul didn't even have time to take off his jacket.

I tried to call Paul on his cell phone and it rang in the kitchen. Poor Suzie became confused at this time as her mom is walking around having said that something has broken and dealing with phones ringing where they should not. Suzie sat at the table saying "it's loud, it's loud" over and over again in a very concerned voice. I called the school where Paul works and they did not answer. This has never happened to me before. At that point I was unsure as to what to do so I called His parents. Irv tells me that he will drive down to the school to let Paul know what has happened. Thankfully Wendy was able to get ahold of him on msn and he was on his way in a short minute. The trip that usually takes him 20 minutes only took him 10. For this I was extremely thankful as I was already feeling like I could push.



I tried to call Gab cause she was going to take Suzie when the time came. But of course she had stepped out of the house for those exact ten minutes and I was left trying to get things ready to go to the hospital while having strong contractions and Suzie fallowing me around with great concern. All in all it was a very crazy ten minutes. When Paul arrived he told me that he had seen Gab walking into her house as he drove by so we knew at that point we could leave Suzie there when we were ready to go. We literally threw everything into the car, laid down some plastic and towels on my seat and took off. Poor Suzie was practically thrown at Gab and we were on our way.


Jades first bath, not too impressed.

This is where the blurring begins. We drove fast, this much I know. Whenever Paul would slow down to 120 or 115 I felt a slight bit of anger that he wasn't continuing on with the 140. But I also knew that being stopped by the cop who lingers most commonly around a certain small town would only slow our progress worse than the 115 speed Paul was taking. The midwife returned my page and told me that she would head to the hospital when the staff told her I arrived. I told Paul there was no way on earth she would make it.


Really wasn't into the new do either.

My midwife was a woman from Winnipeg out to help the midwives in Brandon over the holidays. It turns out that she was having lunch with the Brandon midwives when the call had come in and one of the midwives who knew my history told her she should head over right away as I would be a quick labour.



Sure enough when we got to the hospital I "ran" as fast as I could (a.k.a. waddled quickly) to the elevator, had a contraction in there, "ran" to the maternity ward, "ran" past the nurses while saying "I am in labour, I am need to push RIGHT NOW!!!".

"Are you Angela?"

"YES!"

"okay to room 42"

"I don't know if I can make it"

"just keep walking"



I had to walk through that contraction or Jade would have most definitely been born on the hall floor. I got to the bed and they helped get me on. The midwife had time just enough to take off her over coat. The rest was done in her day clothes. No gown, no slippers, just right now. She managed to get me to calm down even though the nurses were telling me I had to wait and I was not impressed with that one bit. "PLEASE Don't make me WAIT!" I don't even know how I got that please out. I was mad. This kid had been trying to get out the whole car ride in and now that I am here you are asking me to wait? NO CAN DO!!


Showing the first signs of her great knowledge as to where her thumbs are and what they are good for at this time.

We were literally in the hospital for no more than 5 minutes and I had a little baby girl on my chest. No longer inside. I was holding her. She was crying. It was wonderful and I still come to tears.
Sadly there are no pictures of Suzie meeting Jade at the hospital as we came home the same day and she never did come in.



Jade Alexandra Kroeker came into this world with a bang. My little Pinto Bean.

Life as we know it is heading into a new direction. I have Three to five weeks left with this wee one inside and then I will be a mother of two. For now I am soaking up as much time with my little girl before the big day arrives and turns her into a big sister. Crazy to think that my "baby" is going to be the "older" one. These days she is bringing such fun to my life with all her words and sayings. I offered her yogurt yesterday asking "Suzie do you want some yogurt?"

Her response, "yeah, I want some yogurt. Mommy have yogurt too?"

"Sure I'll have some yogurt. Should the baby have some yogurt?"

"No, Baby not have yogurt." Points to my belly, "baby in 'ere".
Kid knows where the baby is right now. Will she get what's going on when it is out? I have this feeling she will.

So this may come as a shock to some of you readers out there but the truth be told Suzie also knows who Spock is, and Captain Kirk and what the Star ship Enterprise looks like. Paul and I have been very heavily into watching the first three seasons ever made. So it turns out that according to Suzie the crew of the star ship all wear pajamas. "Oh, He's wearing 'jamas, so nice and soft, they comfy and cozy!! Oh! Very nice" All with alot of inflections on how great it is for them. Now even during the day she will mention Spock and the ship. I asked Paul the other day if this means we are going to raise a Trekkie. I don't know though cause I have this feeling we won't be much into the later series. It is the first one that was so 60's and great. Also I believe the next ones will be a little more graphic than the first series and so less child friendly. Week or so in Photos.

Mornings like this are rare as usually she is quiet in her room for some time, waking up, before I even set eyes on her.

Here is a morning girl.


Still not fully awake.






Waking up quickly though, it does not take her long. Her outfit of choice a few days back. She didn't want a skirt or a dress, just the leggings.




Looks good to me.


And another day out on the lake. The last of the season for us. It turned out to be a cold, windy day. But fun even if it was short.


Paul took Suzie for a walk out on the lake. She looked so small out there.






Heading back to the truck for the trip home.


Finger Painting has become a more desirable experience for Suzie. She is starting to find the enjoyment of the feeling of it on her hands.




The paint brush is still a good tool now and then of course.




And When mom makes a Chocolate Pie, the beater is a good source of flavour testing.


Also a good source of Chocolate face. And then last week we went to the winter fair. Suzie had her serious face on most of the time. Petting Bunnies is a serious business.




Pointing out it's ears,


and it's mouth.


Looking in on the sheep and goats.


Her favorite, it actually got a smile of out her, chasing around the little chicks, trying to pick one up.


So fun to watch how gentle she was with them.


I went in to the baby goats with her, holding one for Suzie to look at and pet. Turns out the wood shavings on the floor were of a much greater interest.


Dumping grain into the grain separator. Much fun.


I love to watch this man with his little girl. He loves her so much and that makes my heart explode with joy.

This time of life

So I realised as I was writing an e-mail to one of our Aunts that I have been up to alot these days. I don't have many pictures to show for it all but my house is slowly filling with baking and freezer meals. Kitchen chairs are being re-covered and more sewing is being done. Nan king cherry jelly and choke cherry syrup being canned (frozen berries from the fall).






(Choke cherry/apple Jam).
Recovering kitchen chairs, one at a time


before


Suzie using the frame of the chair for entertainment.





After.

Baby room is slowly being looked at and worked on. No real redecorating just organizing. The room has been kind of a storage room as of late where stuff is just thrown with out any rhyme or reason. (Edited: Baby room has since been finished. A few small things to do but the floor is now visible.)


After a walk to the bank Suzie spends a bit of time out in the snow. This picture was taken little while back. Since then the weather has been much nicer. That clear spot in front of the truck is much larger and there is now a frozen puddle in front of the drive way.


She no longer needs to wear a snow suit outside and I have brought out the gum boots. There are still cold days but I believe and hope that the levels will continue to tip from cold to warm.

This time of pregnancy is a strange time. You need more rest than ever it seems and yet there is this awesome natural drive to get stuff done. You feel focused even though as you are baking bread you are forgetting to put in the honey and turning on the oven and forgetting it on while just trying to warm it up to rise the dough. One can't seem to help but work towards getting things done. Even when the pressure from the baby is causing a sciatic nerve pinch and you all of a sudden can now only sleep on one side because of the constant indigestion. Yes, that is correct I have gone from a measly two position option of sleeping to just one. It seems if I lay on my right side there is no sleep for the discomfort. Amazing how you can sleep all night on your left side and decide that it was indeed the best sleep you have had. Even though that is how you have been sleeping for a week now.

The house is in a sort of constant kayos. All the dishes from the baking have a hard time getting clean all the time and there is only so much drive to worry about the dust. But then that day comes where it is the dust that must go and trust me the ceilings will be wiped down before this kid comes. Don't ask me where this comes from, it is intense. I remember while I was pregnant with Suzie I wondered at this talk of women washing the floor just before the baby came. I thought "NO WAY ON EARTH!!, I can't imagine crawling around on the floor even at seven months how could you think of doing such a thing at nine?" And then the day came. I got down on the floor and washed the whole thing, two days before the kid came. And it was not because "well every one does it and so must I" No, instead it was a need. It had to get done. There was no way this little one was coming home till the floor was clean. I told my mom that day that I washed the floor. She rushed out from Calgary the next day and Suzie was born the day after that. So I am sure some strange cleaning frenzy will come over me in a month or so. Some insane need to clean the ceiling and floor, who knows maybe get up on the roof and remove the ice. It seems that insane sometimes. Thankfully by then it should have melted off so I won't be tempted.

I have already started to pack some things for the baby to come home with. May as well have that all ready to go. The new blanket sits comfortably in the bottom of my suit case along with a very pink sleeper and red and white pants and jacket. That way boy or girl I am ready to dress them for the ride home. Next I am looking to buy some new born diapers and start looking into how to make cloth ones work on tiny little babies. I used cloth for most of Suzie's baby days though I started at around three months with her. I am hoping to start earlier with this one.

Suzie has found her room to be a new place to spend time. I will be downstairs and she will take off with a goal in mind. Coming to the main floor to see how she is I will find it empty and hear squeals of delight escaping her bedroom. Going up another flight of stairs this is what I will find.

If you ask what she is doing she will inform you that she is Jumping.


The "smile" she brings out when I bring out the camera.




And so today will be another day of flurry to get things done. While balancing that with spending time with my little girl who is growing up so fast. And one day soon she will pass over from my little girl to a big sister and there will be no going back. So I soak up the hours of my little girl being the little girl she is and even now find it hard to see the baby that once was.
Enjoy this time, it is spring. In parts of the world the weather even says so. The time to take in the warmth and spring clean. Today looks to be a cloudy one here but that is okay we have many a thing to do indoors as well.