I've become a donor...of breast milk, that is!

So, in case you didn't know, I grow really fat babies! I mean REALLY fat! They are born normal sized, but soon grow to about 20 lbs by 3 months, my biggest baby grew to 30 lbs at 8 months old! Their thighs are mountains of delicious chubbiness, their necks are not to be found, and they look as though there is a elastic band around their wrists! I just Love squishy babies!

Countless friends, family, and strangers have marveled at my babies, and then the usually comment that I must have creamy milk! I just laugh and agree because It's true! One time my friend and I both pumped milk for our babies to go out and leave them with their daddies. The dads planned to have a party with the babies, but us moms were a bit worried the dads would mix up our milk in the fridge. We didn't have to worry for long though, because when we placed them side by side they looked totally different! This explained a lot! My baby was huge and chubby and my milk looked like straight whip cream! My friend's baby was skeletal and tiny, and her milk looked like skim, but watered down and slightly greenish next to my pure white cream!
So, when people joke that I must have cream, I usually agree.

Recently I was joking with my friend about donating my milk to sick babies because my milk could really pack some weight onto a baby that had a hard time gaining any. Surely there were some babies out there that could use a boost in weight and health! Little did I know, there is an actual breast milk bank in Calgary, just a few hours away! My friend showed my the Facebook group for the milk bank, and I checked it out. I thought I'd be willing to try donating, and called the office.

After about a half hour questionaire, I was sent some paperwork in the mail and some collection containers. I committed to 4.5 liters...which doesn't sound like much, but it is a ton when you only pump a few ounces a day!

Anyhow, I need to keep track of how it is going, so I thought I'd blog my adventure into the world of breast milk donation.

Day 1: 6 oz
That was easy, at this rate I'll be done in a month! It only took 5 minutes and it was No problem! I felt like I had too much milk, so that made it faster I'm sure. All day my baby seemed to want to nurse more. im not sure if it's due to sharing his milk supply or due to teething. I guess time will tell. It is so encouraging to see my milk all collected like that! So far I'm still excited to help!

Day 2: 1.3oz
That was not easy, I'm waiting for my milk supply to catch up with the demand. Still I did not spend more than 5-6 minutes pumping. It was exciting to add it to yesterday's milk and put it in the freezer. I sure hope it gets easier than this soon, or I'll be trying to get the required 4.5 liters for the next year! Maybe I'll pump again in the evening.

So, I can't believe it has been a year since I last blogged! So much has happened! My babies are growing up,  and last summer I did a five day backpack trip with my new baby! That was probably the highlight of the year! 

More recently my sister and I joined a weight loss competition similar to "Biggest Loser" and to our complete surprise and enjoyment, we lost a combined total of 93 pounds in 12 weeks!

We also won $500 to share

and Heather (my sister) won the 6-week weigh in for $100 as well...I came in third! 

 We still have a long way to go, so we have started up our own competitions in our own towns! We hope to continue our trend and look great for summer. I have a confession: I have purchased a swimsuit in a size 8 and I am dying to fit into it!

My secret: There is no secret!
1200 calories
lots of green smoothies
lots of salads (no croutons)
lots of fruits and veggies
and exercise more than I eat!
...about an hour a day of cardio
If I wanted a sugary treat, I kept it within my calorie goals
...a few times I wrote that I ate only 2 T of pie or 1/2 cup of ice-cream because that is all I could afford to eat within my calorie limits

More to come...You can follow my weight loss journey here!

Sol"s first birthday

Finally a kid that made a mess! 

And enjoyed himself too!

Too bad I was dieting...

very fun!

Labor...in 4 hours or less!

It all began with a "pop"...

It was the tiniest little feeling, but when I went to get up I knew that this labor was going to be different! I called for my favorite nurse, Matt, and he too was surprised!

This was the first time I have EVER had my water break spontaneously! It turns out that laboring with your water broken is not as easy as when it is intact...With my other labors I would go for lovely walks, go shopping, or whatever!  There was NO possiblity of a lovely walk now! It was a beautiful day outside, and there was no way I would venture out into public, but I could at least enjoy the outdoors from the security of my backyard.

In the yard, Matt and the kids were jumping on our trampolines, and I wandered around with my toes in the wet and slightly muddy grass waiting for some contractions to begin.

I spotted two ladybugs and called the little boys over to see them crawling in the grass. As I bent down to show them, the baby moved and I was starting to see that this was going to be a very different type of labor, and the bug-show was over. I called to Matt " I'm going in the house to change. I squatted down to show the boys some ladybugs, and I ended up watering  the grass!"

Matt decided it would help my labor go faster if he kept the kids busy , so he entertained them all day. First with the trampolines, then with some balls, and finally with softballs and gloves. I wandered around doing a few things and feeling the relief of having less pressure in my large bulging stomach. It was actually more comfortable now than it had been for the last few weeks! I repeated my mantra in my head over and over. I had been practicing it for a couple of weeks now, "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast, easy labors".

Matt came in to see if anything was happening, and we were in our bedroom when we heard a huge crash. It sounded like something glass falling from the top shelf in the kitchen. Unfortunately, it was coming from outside. The kids threw the ball and it broke the basment bathroom window!

 

My first thought was "How can I labor without the shower?!!!" Matt was happy to report that only one layer of the window had broken, and I could still use the downstairs bathroom shower. PHEW!

Matt made a picture-perfect supper and he was so proud of it that I pulled out the camera for this delicious-mouth-watering proof of his amazing birth support! He was so thrilled with his creation that he asked me at least three times if I wanted any. I declined since labor was picking up and I was feeling a bit nauseous just thinking of eating!

Then my mom called and while we were chatting she noticed I was having some contractions. I admitted to her that my water had been broken since 8:00am and they were actually noticeable and getting stronger -finally! It was 7:30pm. She let me go as I was sounding like I was in labor.

Next I called my little sister, Heather. It was only fair, as she called me in heavy labor. I made sure to call her when it was serious, so it was 9:30pm before I dialed. She chatted with me between contractions, and later told me they were close together, long and sounded strong. To me they didn't seem long or close, but that's what happens in labor...our perception of time is totally gone!

I labored for  a few contractions in the shower, but I decided to get out before I ran out of hot water. This way it would be MY choice, and I wouldn't feel FORCED to leave the shower (like my last birth!)

I put my house-dress or "castle-dress" (thanks Matt!) back on, and looked for somewhere else to make myself comfortable. BTW, I highly suggest the moo-moo/ castle-dress for labor. I have three, and I felt modest and covered for the whole time!

I labored for a few contractions on the couch, and fell asleep between them. It felt like such a relief to have a few moments to relax!

I got pretty restless after that and moved from room to room. Matt followed and helped by holding me up in a supported squat which is what felt the best. He was wonderful, whispering "I love you" and giving me small kisses on my neck. In return I squeezed his butt during a couple of contractions, and then laughed as though I had made a REALLY funny joke!

 

A few more contractions in the hall, and bathroom, and then I sort of collapsed into a tired heap on my newly re-covered ottoman. (I knew I re-covered it for a reason!) I remembered thinking that another 20 hours of this would be unbearable! Still, I kept repeating my mantra in my head "I have fast, easy labors", "I have fast easy labors"

Then, right there in my kitchen I started pushing. It was only a few contractions, and I remember hearing Matt ask if I was pushing. In my head I was thinking there was no way I was moving or going anywhere, and this baby was coming out NOW! ...and then his voice said "slow, nice and slow". I felt the baby crowning, and as the break between contractions came I felt the baby slip back a bit, so I held a slight push to keep the baby in place.  A couple more deep breaths and pushes and I told Matt to "catch the baby". He was behind me and had to fight against a fair bit of fabric from my dress, and at that point said in mock exasperation, "Where???"

He said he could see the baby's eyes and nose. My next word was "cord". Matt checked as soon as the baby's head was delivered, "there's cord!" but he couldn't unwrap it as it was too tight and the rest of the baby was born in the next instant.

It was 11:10pm. Less than 4 hours of labor!

 He unwrapped the cord and I turned to meet our baby.

The placenta was delivered nearly immediately, and our boy was not yet breathing. The seconds felt like hours as we rubbed him to stimulate breathing. He made a little sound, but still not enough... Matt grabbed his stethoscope. He had a strong heartbeat, but still we rubbed him and I flicked his foot in hopes of a big breath in...a cry...a sound...something!

Matt ran for some of the leftover medical supplies from our other home-births. A Deelee mucus-trap was found and we succtioned his airways and held him in recovery position. Matt clamped the cord so we could more easily move him. More rubbing, more sucction, and then that beautiful sound of breathing!

He squinted and looked at us. He had a slow start, but everything checked out and he was perfect.

His first picture, after I had a shower...

and could see my legs enough to shave them!

Proud Daddy! Best Birth Support! Handsome Hubby!

Sweet Sleeping Solomon Francis Young! BTW, we thought we were having a girl and we didn't have a name picked until he was three days old!

We love the nickname "Sol" and Francis is for my Dad's Dad...my Grandpa Francis Johnny Linteris. His gravestone says "John Frank" as rumor says he changed his name legally after my dad gave him a hard time about his name. His parents were Italian.

Foster and Jessica brought me flowers and my FAVE...Lindor chocolates!

Driver in Training

I thought this was pretty cute! We were waiting for the kids to finish basketball and hanging out in the van. Gid loves to push all the buttons and check out all the knobs, and then he discovered just how much fun the steering wheel can be!

Also, along the same driving theme, Matt and I made CO2 cars for a recent church party! It took a fair bit of time, especially for me since Matt TOTALLY hogged the dremmel-tool! Picture this...I enter the garage and Matt is wearing safety-goggles, headphones, and his car is neatly clamped into a vice. He is holding the shop-vac in one hand and operating the Dremmel-tool with the other. It was quite the system! The conversation went something like this "Lace, you can use that sandpaper, or that spongy sanding block, or even the belt sander!" I shot him an incredulous look to which he responded with a "What?"  Hmm, let's see what's missing from this picture...No goggles for me? No headphones? No Vice? No vaccuum? No Dremmel? No NOTHING! And he wonders why I gave him "THE LOOK".

Anyhow, as the good and patient spouse that I am, I sat down and proceeded to hand-sand my car until my arms were ready to give up. Finally Matt put down the Dremmel and I quickly siezed it. As I used it he looked over with surprise and said "Hey! You're pretty good at that!" I replied with " Maybe it's all that Dental Assisting I did years ago...remember, I used to make temporary teeth!" Duh!

Then Matt gets this brilliant idea to use the hand-held belt sander to shape his car and he wants me to hold it still for him - upside-down. I immediately pictured everything that could go wrong. I saw his hand being sanded off, the sander flipping and attacking, I even pictured my hands being eaten alive. What I didn't picture was his car catching on the belt and flying up into the air with such a velocity that by the time it had hit me in the eye it had already ricoched across the garage! And where were MY safety goggles? Matt sheepishly handed me a pair, and I put them on for a few minutes only to remove them. After all, What are the chances of that happening twice? Right?

At the races, Matt was so excited and animated that he kept me entertained almost more than the ensuing race! I kept laughing at him as he bounced around the track in his new shoes...

the Vibram FiveFingers! (Which he couldn't stop talking about might I add!)

You can see Matt wearing his new shoes in this pic!

Here is the secret to success...hidden wheels!

Matt's car only got to third place but it was all a conspiracy! He had to race on the slow track twice!

My car didn't win at all, but it was the most sparkly! Next year I'm going for style and function, not just killer style!

Oh, and here's a picture of Will for laughs! He fell asleep while playing piano the other night! Awww!

Ha Ha Ha!

Nesting...again!

I took this photo of myself at arm's length! I don't have very many pregnancy pics this time, so I'm making up for it!

I am due any day now, and I still have so much left to do! I've really enjoyed the last few weeks as I have been reading and studying about birth and babies! It's very exciting to welcome another little person to our home! 

Here are some projects that have kept me busy...

 I picked out this fabric to make curtains for my kitchen, and I LOVE this painting! Both are from Ikea!

I then took this kitchen, and transformed it simply by updating the curtains! I love the new look!

You'll have to excuse the messy kitchen...it was "curtain day" not cleaning day! LOL! You can see I've been drinking my green smoothies though if you compare my glass on the buffet to my last pic. Oh yeah, this is my buffet actually in my house...(Heather!!!)

Next I took this rocking chair, which I never actually liked the fabric, EVER!...and I recovered it with some canvas I had laying around. I was able to re-vamp my chair and use up some of my fabric storage! It's like a house cleaning two-for-one!

This is the end result! Better? I have to agree! I still want to put some buttons on it or something to hold the cover in place, but that may have to wait until the next baby! JK!

Here's the fabric detail: Also, I didn't mention how awful the old fabric was! It was made of a huge threaded, loose weave! It was gross and the texture was that of an 80's tablecloth...or maybe a sack-cloth!

 ...and this one is for Heather and all those cheesecake lovers out there! Heather and I only eat sugar once a month, and we celebrated our last "Sugar-Day" together with this wonderful confection! You'll notice my slice is the one in the front right of the photo, while Heather's is in the far back left. If you want a close-up of Heather's monstrosity, go to her blog and check it out!

I just thought I'd point out that my slice was soooo much prettier than hers! Heather, your cheesecake needs an intervention! It looks like the sauces threw up on it! Ha ha!

Anyhow, it was way too much fun, and so was sharing this post!

Oh, and as a final note, here is a full belly shot of me pregnant. This was taken on Sunday, and I have one week to go before the Dr.'s "due date". I asked Matt to take it for me since my arms are not long enough to capture me in my FULL glory! He took a couple and commented on my dress. I then explained that it is a really comfy "house-dress", to which he replied that it was more like a "castle-dress"...I suppose that's better than the cow costume my MIL had me wear when I was pregnant with Will! LOL! I'll have to see if I can dig that photo up!