I have long resisted a strict routine with my children as I believe that following babies lead is important to build trust, a good breastfeeding outcome and to learn to understand your baby. We have followed Felix's lead for the last 3 years with much success. So when Felix started to really have "issues" over the last month- I listened, I reasoned but to no avail. Felix issue= one or more of the following: waking up sad, negative, difficulties moving from one activity to the next, being frustrated and not giving things a go and extreme emotional outbursts. Michael and I started to ask ourselves- why is our wonderful boy so frustrated? Upon chatting with a really special friend this week, I described Felix's attitudes, emotional outbursts and issues. It is wonderful to talk to other parent's with children older than yours. My friend smiled and said "I have the female version of Felix, and she is 3 years older!".
So armed with some fantastic suggestions, Felix and I spent Wednesday afternoon creating his poster! We created a pictorial morning and evening flow. The basic things we generally get done every morning and evening such as brush our teeth, have a feed and get dressed. He loves it! Whenever he starts to get frustrated I remind him to check his poster to see what is next! He is playing well, communicating well, loves going to bed and wakes up with a smile on his face. Now I just need to work out how to stop him sitting on his sister like a horse ..
Friday, 7 September 2007
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Matilda's Birth Story
On the day I was due (30/7/06) with my second child I waddled off to the acupunturest/ naturopath to start the "induction" processes. I had come so close to being induced with Felix, 2 years prior, that I was taking any chances. My naturopath Chris was great. It was almost relaxing having some fine needles placed into key pressure points around my body. He also prescribed some homeopaths to take if contractions began to help to strengthen them. That night I had some mild contractions but they disapated by morning. Unlike my first pregnancy, I was unable to rest much while running around with 2 year old Felix. To my surprise I had managed to continue to breastfeed throughout the pregnancy. He was having very short feeds and was getting colostrum. I was looking forward to seeing Felix's response to my milk flow when the baby arrived. Each night after my accupunture I got contractions but only a few- each time they started I would get out of bed- unable to sleep for a couple of hours. By the time I was 9 days over due you can imagine I was very tired.
I was preparing breakfast- It is Sunday morning. 8:39am I get a sharp but short contraction- ooohh I remember this pain. The contractions I had been having during the evenings were definately pre-labour- this contraction hurt 8:51am another short and sharp contraction- wow this seems fast only 12 mins apart but it was only 10 sec long. These regular short sharp contractions continue for the next 2 or so hours until 11:30am. I took the dogs, Michael and Felix for a walk and still 10 sec contractions 10 minutes apart. I called the birthing centre- so say I would call them when we wanted to come in.
I called Mum- and asked her to come and spend the rest of the day and night with us- just in case we needed to go to hospital- but I was sure we would be in for a long night!
They continue to be very regular but so short. Mum arrived and we had dinner. Michael took Felix for a walk and they pop off to bed at 8pm. I am in for a busy night so I watch some TV, try to relax. Mum and I have wonderful chats till 10pm. I sat on gym ball and rolled my way through the pain. Just after 10 Mum decided to go to sleep. I can't sleep. I have a few contractions by myself and get a little worried. I don't want to be alone. I want someone to talk too. I want to hold someones hand.
I try to get my husband up- man he is a heavy sleeper. I get him up and Mum too and decide to have a bath. I hop in the bath and in minutes don't want to be in there. We ring the hospital- they say it is up to me. I love the birth centre but hate them at the same time. I want to know when it is time to leave.
Michael and I decided to go- even to just have a check up. My contrations are still 10 sec long 10 minutes apart. I start to get emotional and worry I might never see Felix again. I get mum to promise that she will look after him. I can't decide- Mum and Michael say to go I 'm not sure. We leave home at 23.30. The car trip was fine- we chatted the entire trip- still 10 sec contractions but now 25 min apart- this might be on all night- when will the contrations get longer I kept thinking?
We arrive at the Hospital at 23:50. I feel right- I can have my baby here- I think to myself. 5 contractions and 5 minutes later we arrive at Room 2 at Birthing centre. I announce I need to go to the toilet. Later my midwife said she thought I was in transition when I so boldly announced my requirements. She was right.
It is midnight. Michael goes back to car to get our suitcase and check me in. I try to lye on my back to have some monitoring done. I can can't lye still. I keep jumping to my feet and moving moving moving.
12:05 My midwife suggests I take my pants off. I take all my clothes off and lean over the bed. Michael arrives back in our room. He is taken back- "why is Sarah naked? It is a bit early for that isn't it?"12:08 I let go and push. My birth plan had expressed that I wanted to guild my baby out myself but when asked I say I don't want to. 2 contractions and 2 minutes after beginning to push the waters break and my babies head is out.
12:10 My baby starts talking to me and 2 minutes later at 12:12 on 28th August 2006 my beloved daughter Matilda Jane Milewska is born.
My second natural birth- this time without any gas. The love you feel throughout your body is amazing after a natural birth. Oxytocin pumps through your body at the level you will ever experience- thankfully I could feel it from head to toe. Oxytocin is the love hormone and suffice to say I feel in love with my daughter the moment I heard her talk. I love you Matilda. Happy Birthday.
I was preparing breakfast- It is Sunday morning. 8:39am I get a sharp but short contraction- ooohh I remember this pain. The contractions I had been having during the evenings were definately pre-labour- this contraction hurt 8:51am another short and sharp contraction- wow this seems fast only 12 mins apart but it was only 10 sec long. These regular short sharp contractions continue for the next 2 or so hours until 11:30am. I took the dogs, Michael and Felix for a walk and still 10 sec contractions 10 minutes apart. I called the birthing centre- so say I would call them when we wanted to come in.
I called Mum- and asked her to come and spend the rest of the day and night with us- just in case we needed to go to hospital- but I was sure we would be in for a long night!
They continue to be very regular but so short. Mum arrived and we had dinner. Michael took Felix for a walk and they pop off to bed at 8pm. I am in for a busy night so I watch some TV, try to relax. Mum and I have wonderful chats till 10pm. I sat on gym ball and rolled my way through the pain. Just after 10 Mum decided to go to sleep. I can't sleep. I have a few contractions by myself and get a little worried. I don't want to be alone. I want someone to talk too. I want to hold someones hand.
I try to get my husband up- man he is a heavy sleeper. I get him up and Mum too and decide to have a bath. I hop in the bath and in minutes don't want to be in there. We ring the hospital- they say it is up to me. I love the birth centre but hate them at the same time. I want to know when it is time to leave.
Michael and I decided to go- even to just have a check up. My contrations are still 10 sec long 10 minutes apart. I start to get emotional and worry I might never see Felix again. I get mum to promise that she will look after him. I can't decide- Mum and Michael say to go I 'm not sure. We leave home at 23.30. The car trip was fine- we chatted the entire trip- still 10 sec contractions but now 25 min apart- this might be on all night- when will the contrations get longer I kept thinking?
We arrive at the Hospital at 23:50. I feel right- I can have my baby here- I think to myself. 5 contractions and 5 minutes later we arrive at Room 2 at Birthing centre. I announce I need to go to the toilet. Later my midwife said she thought I was in transition when I so boldly announced my requirements. She was right.
It is midnight. Michael goes back to car to get our suitcase and check me in. I try to lye on my back to have some monitoring done. I can can't lye still. I keep jumping to my feet and moving moving moving.
12:05 My midwife suggests I take my pants off. I take all my clothes off and lean over the bed. Michael arrives back in our room. He is taken back- "why is Sarah naked? It is a bit early for that isn't it?"12:08 I let go and push. My birth plan had expressed that I wanted to guild my baby out myself but when asked I say I don't want to. 2 contractions and 2 minutes after beginning to push the waters break and my babies head is out.
12:10 My baby starts talking to me and 2 minutes later at 12:12 on 28th August 2006 my beloved daughter Matilda Jane Milewska is born.
My second natural birth- this time without any gas. The love you feel throughout your body is amazing after a natural birth. Oxytocin pumps through your body at the level you will ever experience- thankfully I could feel it from head to toe. Oxytocin is the love hormone and suffice to say I feel in love with my daughter the moment I heard her talk. I love you Matilda. Happy Birthday.
Monday, 27 August 2007
Happy Monday Tigger
or is that happy windsday piglet. Felix has discovered the amazing world of Christopher Robin. Only 3 weeks post his 3rd birthday the "new" toys have almost been discarded and the old favourites are out again. We play the Winnie the Pooh story over and over again. In between Chapters we are baking a yummy carrot Cake for Matilda's birthday. I have a bliss filled house. My baby(Matilda) is getting better from her first illness in her life, the sun is shinning- I can plan those tomatoes soon and Felix and I are in the same vibe. Hey it Matilda's first birthday tomorrow- better finish writing her birth story. Happy cakeday Tigger!
30 mins later.............
I put one child to sleep while the other eats a small version of the birthday cake. After coming back from lying with Matilda (approx 5 minutes)... The Big Birthday cake has been sliced Felix announces! Wow Felix that's great!
30 mins later.............
I put one child to sleep while the other eats a small version of the birthday cake. After coming back from lying with Matilda (approx 5 minutes)... The Big Birthday cake has been sliced Felix announces! Wow Felix that's great!
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Do it again
Being a kid and needing to learn everything from walking to talking involves a lot of repetition. No doubt this is why kids get drawn into routine so easily. It is part of making their life and surroundings easier to understand. For us adults most of it is old hat especially things like dressing and undressing. For me, two kids have taught me the dangers of undressing. For Felix it is just a fun activity which he is happy to practice over and over again, trying on his undies in every possible direction on every part of the body.
An extension of this is their ability to mimic a broken record even thought they have never seen, heard one. Just as I am writing this blog, Felix is chanting like a monk "co to jest, co to jest, . . ." (what is this at a pizza base waiting for tomorrows dinner) and now "to jest szklanka, to jest szklanka, . . ." (this is a glass, my ignoring him raises him steadily to a forte). And so it was when I acted out a story with some cars and wooden people. Each time I finished I got a reminder, "do it again" and over again.
Finally the repetition paid off, after about 15 stories. Felix decided he still wanted it again so he acted it out himself. I watched and enjoyed. Then he took it one step further, why should the ambulance have the important job of taking the injured boy to hospital? This is a time for Thomas! So Thomas chuffed over to the boy, told the car driver off, heaved the boy up onto the boiler and away they went to the hospital. Felix was not too impressed with me when I told him that the boy now had burns as well, from sitting on the hot boiler of the engine, nothing the doctor couldn't fix.
Looking back at it, my story was probably not fit for a three year old. This especially true once I filmed it with Felix and now watching him act it out. Basically a boy tries to cross a road and gets run over by a car. An ambulance takes him to a doctor who fixes him up before the child is reunited with his mother. The infringing driver is told off and the kid manages to cross the street to get to school. The strong moral overtone justifies the grim story. That said I do not think it appropriate to put our filmed story onto youtube.
An extension of this is their ability to mimic a broken record even thought they have never seen, heard one. Just as I am writing this blog, Felix is chanting like a monk "co to jest, co to jest, . . ." (what is this at a pizza base waiting for tomorrows dinner) and now "to jest szklanka, to jest szklanka, . . ." (this is a glass, my ignoring him raises him steadily to a forte). And so it was when I acted out a story with some cars and wooden people. Each time I finished I got a reminder, "do it again" and over again.
Finally the repetition paid off, after about 15 stories. Felix decided he still wanted it again so he acted it out himself. I watched and enjoyed. Then he took it one step further, why should the ambulance have the important job of taking the injured boy to hospital? This is a time for Thomas! So Thomas chuffed over to the boy, told the car driver off, heaved the boy up onto the boiler and away they went to the hospital. Felix was not too impressed with me when I told him that the boy now had burns as well, from sitting on the hot boiler of the engine, nothing the doctor couldn't fix.
Looking back at it, my story was probably not fit for a three year old. This especially true once I filmed it with Felix and now watching him act it out. Basically a boy tries to cross a road and gets run over by a car. An ambulance takes him to a doctor who fixes him up before the child is reunited with his mother. The infringing driver is told off and the kid manages to cross the street to get to school. The strong moral overtone justifies the grim story. That said I do not think it appropriate to put our filmed story onto youtube.
tuseday is ballet day
The other day it was me unblocking one of dads bags and tubes with a hesitant breath followed by a mouth wash, today it was Matilda's turn. Oh well what does not kill you only makes you stronger.
Felix is getting into a bit of ballet. This morning it was tutu and ballet shoes, a wand with a ribbon on the end, and wild pirouets that end in his head comming closely to hitting something like the piano, a chair or a door frame. Even I put my ballet shoes on to try and encourage some jumps, kicks and toe points.
Felix is getting into a bit of ballet. This morning it was tutu and ballet shoes, a wand with a ribbon on the end, and wild pirouets that end in his head comming closely to hitting something like the piano, a chair or a door frame. Even I put my ballet shoes on to try and encourage some jumps, kicks and toe points.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Why feeding a 3 years old is great........
Well the WHO code recommends that we breastfeed our babies 2 years and beyond. Last year I announce to Michael that i was now entering the beyond..... Parent will tell you that from 2 until 3 children really learn to talk and with it you get to know your child on a whole new level. When I feed Felix now 3 he is able to tell me how much he loves his "nana" (Breastfeeding/breastmilk), how it makes him feel safe and beautiful. But best of ll he is starting to feed his dolls, teddies and even his beloved trains- so they too can feel happy. I just laugh to think about the an incident on the Sunday just past. Felix and I were wandering through a "junk shop" and Felix discovered some stress balls shaped like breasts with nipples. He grabbed 2 placed them on his own chest and announce to the world, or at least to the elderly lady standing next to him, YUMMMMMMMM NANAs and promptly checked to see if they would provide any milk.
Monday, 30 July 2007
Dad at home
Dad has come over to stay for a couple of days. For Felix this is really the bomb. Dzia dzia (grand pa) this and that. He went to the extent of baricading the bedroom of Grand dad with blankets and a pusher the other day just to makesure that he does not go away. At dinner he is quite happy to give away the prime chair reserved for Mama to Dzia dzia. Dzia dzia is the favourite for
reading books and the first to be called to the train station once the wooden tracks have been set up on the living room floor. I am a little worried that he will find it hard when Grand pa Lech does decide to go home.
Yesterday we went to mass. Not having been for a while it was interesting to watch how Felix started to pick out words from the gospel, fish and snake, if you ask of your father of fish you do not expect him to give you a snake. Grandpa jokes that in Aboriginal culture the snake may be preferred.
The other day, Grandpa had a little accident with his tubes and bags. He has a catheter in after his operation, and as he was changing the drainage bag he had a few drops drip on the carpet. For me it was same old same old, a bit of bicard and it will be right. Felix asked what I was doing, he seems to be at that age where he wants to find out everything. I said that just like Gus having accidents on the carpet and just like Felix has accidents, Felix finished of "yeah Dzia dzia turn for accident".
Matilda falls under the radar a little mainly becasue most of her actions are so hard to verbalise, it is not like she is saying much comprehensible but she is a character. Although she has not started to stand unassisted, nor has she really thought about walking, I think she is almost certainly ready for both. Instead she has started to persue climbing. This is where she is just so
different to Felix. She often wakes up in a very happy mood, once she has seen one of us, were as Felix was always very precious and needed lots of hugs. Felix probably never bit, were as she has killed half the card board books and a set of plastic cutlery with her teeth already. So to Felix never got into climbing while I am thinking about bolting the book cases to the wall in case she decides to give them a go. This would be most terrifying for Sarah who would be limited
in which furniture would remain movable.
For those looking to the continuation of the the craft series, it is going a little slow, at least in the blogging side. I plan to include some oragami pigs and Felix drawings of big trucks and trains as soon as I take some pictures and get into the spirit.
reading books and the first to be called to the train station once the wooden tracks have been set up on the living room floor. I am a little worried that he will find it hard when Grand pa Lech does decide to go home.
Yesterday we went to mass. Not having been for a while it was interesting to watch how Felix started to pick out words from the gospel, fish and snake, if you ask of your father of fish you do not expect him to give you a snake. Grandpa jokes that in Aboriginal culture the snake may be preferred.
The other day, Grandpa had a little accident with his tubes and bags. He has a catheter in after his operation, and as he was changing the drainage bag he had a few drops drip on the carpet. For me it was same old same old, a bit of bicard and it will be right. Felix asked what I was doing, he seems to be at that age where he wants to find out everything. I said that just like Gus having accidents on the carpet and just like Felix has accidents, Felix finished of "yeah Dzia dzia turn for accident".
Matilda falls under the radar a little mainly becasue most of her actions are so hard to verbalise, it is not like she is saying much comprehensible but she is a character. Although she has not started to stand unassisted, nor has she really thought about walking, I think she is almost certainly ready for both. Instead she has started to persue climbing. This is where she is just so
different to Felix. She often wakes up in a very happy mood, once she has seen one of us, were as Felix was always very precious and needed lots of hugs. Felix probably never bit, were as she has killed half the card board books and a set of plastic cutlery with her teeth already. So to Felix never got into climbing while I am thinking about bolting the book cases to the wall in case she decides to give them a go. This would be most terrifying for Sarah who would be limited
in which furniture would remain movable.
For those looking to the continuation of the the craft series, it is going a little slow, at least in the blogging side. I plan to include some oragami pigs and Felix drawings of big trucks and trains as soon as I take some pictures and get into the spirit.
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