Tuesday, 18 September 2012

The cots are up!

Edward and I constructed baby's crib yesterday, and put the 'snuggy bits' inside the crib and Silver Cross moses basket.  The ironing pile is diminishing, Mum observed the bath-time routine, training is almost complete in that respect.  We're pretty much set, although still expecting to have to wait until Sunday at least to get things going.

Elizabeth woke at 3.30am this morning throwing up, which was not at all what we expected to have to deal with.  Neither of us could sleep after that, and although she is stoically brave, it really is quite difficult when there is sick all over the carpet, Sarah is screaming in terror, and you're balancing another bowl of sick under a retching child in the bathroom at 9 months pregnant.  Felt like today would probably be the day!  She's obviously off school and I've kept Edward off nursery in case he goes down with it.  We've survived the morning and she hasn't been sick twice, so hopefully at least she is on the mend.  Just fingers crossed the other two won't get it.

Sarah's birthday on Sunday was lovely - can't believe my beautiful princess is 2 now!  They saw cousins Phoebe and Seth in the morning, then we went out to Pizza Hut for lunch with my Mum and Dad, then more presents in the afternoon and birthday cake (that I'd hastily iced that afternoon) for tea.  She had a monkey from Elizabeth, a 'nice book' from Edward, and some gardening gloves from us, as Amazon have screwed us over with their so-called first class delivery!  'Ha Bir'day to me' as Sarah would say.  How many more posts before baby arrives??!!

Thursday, 13 September 2012

The Pear-Shaped Summer

Well, when did things start going wrong?  We had the survey done on our 'new' house, and then got an electrician and a damp and timber expert in, and the vendors then disclosed to the timber expert that they'd had subsidence.  Panic.  A weekend of horrific research on the internet, much soul-searching, crying etc, and creeping realisation that we have no other options.  Initially we went to see a new house, four bed, on the new development, but costs more and we couldn't really get our hands on more money.  We then put questions to the vendors via the solicitor, and they went on holiday.  Then they took a week to respond, then they told us scant information about the subsidence.  Tried to get insurance but couldn't.  Got ultimatum from first time buyers at bottom of chain that unless we could sort out exchange/completion dates by Wednesday (12th Sept) they were off into rented accommodation.  More tears, more stress.  Structural engineer commissioned to do a survey this afternoon.

Alongside this issue, I had my planned 36 week internal scan to ascertain whether baby is breech, or low lying placenta is still an issue.  They are not, but the woman looked at the birth weight of the other children, particularly Sarah, and referred me for a glucose tolerance test (GTT).  I had to fast over night then have a blood test either side of a sugary drink.  Did this, got a score of 9.5 which is above their threshold, so I now have gestational diabetes.  Went to meet with the diabetes specialist midwife, was given finger-pricker to test blood sugars with, and since husband's birthday on 31 August have not been able to eat any sugar or drink any juice/soft drinks, or eat carbs with abandon.  Am booked to be induced on 23rd September, a week on Sunday.

Swing between panicking about one thing then the other, and all the time feel absolutely shattered, and stumble through the day trying to get the children to school/nursery and the other various mw appointments etc.  We had the car in to be repaired (where another mum ran into the bumper and scraped it badly) for a week, and had a giant Hyundai van-thing which was interesting if difficult to park and clamber about in.  Time is ticking slowly.  Have now got hospital bags packed, but cots still to be made up and things to be got ready for Sarah's 2nd Birthday on Sunday.  Manual typed up for the grandparents (you'd think they hadn't raised three children themselves) and stickers all over the kitchen with instructions on.  Stress of waiting and waiting on house really not helpful.