Saturday, September 29, 2007

What a palaver!

Well, Kaitereo gave us quiet a fright last week. On Friday, the midwife saw her and said she was not happy with her cough, so we were to keep a close eye on her, and if she got any worse we should take her to hospital. She also said if Kaiterero changed colour at all, we had to call an ambulance.
On Saturday morning, Kaitereo had her feed, then started choking on the milk. She went purple, so I turned her on her side and patted her on the back to try and get her to cough it up. She vomitted up most of her feed and started to breathe again, but I had already sent Tareka to call the ambulance. The ambulance people were great, the operator kept me on the phone and kept checking on Kaitereo - who was breathing but very floppy - and the guys arrived after about 15 minutes.
They checked her over and decided she needed to go to hospital for observation, so off I went in the ambulance. We gave her oxygen on the way which perked her up a lot (thank goodness!), and the paramedic kept a close eye on her.
At the hospital the doctors and nurses took all her vitals and kept her under observation for a couple of hours, and gave her some saline drops to clear out her nose. We were sent home around lunchtime with instructions to keep putting the drops in her nose, sleep her sitting upright and keep a close eye on her. If her temperature rose, or if she had another apnoea attack we had to bring her straight back.
Sunday I still wasn't happy with how sleepy she was, so we got the emergency doctor out, and he reassured me that she was just sleeping off the illness, and her chest was clear.
It's been a week now, and she's improved 100%, she's waking up properly during the day and feeding like crazy (making up for lost time I suppose!), so I'm a lot happier.

This week, Tareka finished making Mapera's buggy board which she loves. She was unwilling to let Kaitereo use the buggy until we got her the board, now she wants to ride it all the time!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

A family of four

Well Kaitereo has been home almost 3 weeks now, and she's a great baby. She's been sleeping and eating well, but just developed bronchiolitis the poor lamb, so the nights are a little more disturbed.

Her big sister is loving having a baby in the house, and wants to cuddle and kiss her all the time. Mapera has even moved herself into her "big girl's bed" quite happily. She trundles into our room first thing, and asks if "Kai'to wake?". Last thing at night she says "ni-night Kai'to" - bless her!

I think we may also be starting to crack the potty training, as Mapera asked to go to the toilet today, and actually went (rather than just sitting there)!! Lots of praise and a big sticker for the chart there, so let's hope that continues too.

Project update:
I am being very good and sticking to getting my knitting finished. I have now mastered the Pixie hood, so I'm knitting up all the wool I have into cute kid's hats ready for our craft stall. I think one of my friends has bought me a knitting machine for my birthday, so I'm hoping I can make them on that too, which will speed up the process no end!

I also made a scrapped mini-album of Mapera and her Grandparents with a scrap-mad friend of mine, which was going to be a Christmas present, but I've sent it early instead as it was so nice, I couldn't wait to send it to them.

Tareka is off work for another week (apart from one day back on Monday), and although it's been great having him at home, we're both ready to get back into our old routines again. I think I'll manage OK with 2, seeing as Kaitereo is such a laid back baby (so far!). The only time that's going to pose a big challenge is bed time, as Tareka and I have each been putting one of the girls to bed, and I've not tried to get them both off by myself yet.

I've had a few hours at home alone with the 2 of them, and thank goodness for Mapera still having an afternoon nap! It's been a lot easier than I thought, but I know that'll change as soon as Kaitereo starts getting mobile (not for a while though, let's hope!).

Summer is sneaking up on us in between the wind gusts, and Mapera has another birthday party to go to tomorrow. I really need to try and cut back on the amount of crap food she eats at parties, as we had a crazy night last week after she had a whole morning of birthday parties, along with the crisps, sweets and iced biscuits that go with it. I remember having sandwiches, sausage rolls and vol-au-vents at birthday parties, with maybe jelly and ice cream if you were lucky. I think we only got a few sweets in the "going home bag", not piles of them on the lunch table, maybe I am mis-remembering, but I really don't think my and my friend's parents fed us anywhere near as much junk as kids get nowadays (god I sound old!!).

Oh yes, and I'm turning 30 in a month. I don't believe it, as I am really only 15 in my head, but it seems time is catching up with me. Do I have to be grown up and responsible now? I hope not, we're having a Middle Eastern themed party, and I demand belly dancers!

Sunday, September 2, 2007

It's a GIRL!


Born Friday 31st August 2007 at 5.27pm. Weighed 7lb 7 and gorgeous.