Sunday, 25 March 2012

The first and second nights at hospital and first night at home

We thankfully had an amazing midwife team, obstetrician and hospital to welcome our little man. The staff at Redlands mater hospital were not only experienced and professional but they were understanding, easy to talk to and still loved their job. The midwives we just amazing, we had a number of them see to us for different things while we were there and none of which I can fault. They looked after all food needs, all comfort needs, all health needs and answered all questions and didn't look down on us cause we were first timers. Our obstetrician dr mastry was amazing, throughout the whole delivery process and after he was supportive, sensitive and professional with a hint of humor. I would highly recommended him, the hospital and the midwives to anyone.
Now we were there for 2 nights and 3 days. First night we we still caught up in the brand new baby, we were exhausted and he didn't need a great deal so it was quite simple. The second day was filled with drs, midwives and lots of staring. The second night was the complete opposite of the first. He was unsettled, restless, vocal and hungry. We had a midwife come in at 4am to give him a relaxation bath and this plus his obvious exhaustion finally put him to sleep and gave us a chance to get some shut eye. This was until 730am when the dr visits, food drop offs begun. (the only downside to being in hospital) we had Jackson checked out and we we given the nod to be on our way. Packed and ready we discharged, put him in his little car seat and made the drive home. Little bit worried we would have a repeat of Tuesday night and this time we would have no help. Needless to say we we scared. Turns out we had no need to. With us being in a comfortable environment, able to work on our own schedule, sleeping in a real bed, our little man picked up on this change and was a gem, he fed, slept, fed, slept etc etc and was no drama at all. To sum it up, I would go through all the pain, all the worry, all the stress just to have him all over again. Every inch of it was worth it and none of which I'd take back. Cannot wait to continue experiencing, writing about and enjoying every little up and downs that may happen. X

The Arrival of baby Jackson (pumpkin)

So the little man has arrived! We went to the hospital on Monday the 19th March at 630am and sat in our designated hospital room waiting to go into the Birth suites. Sat in there for what felt like hours before our love.y midwife came in to let us know we were getting the ball rolling. This is when the panic really set in. Thousands of thoughts went through my head as we walked the short distance to the suite. In there I got changed into my super sexy hospital robe and was hooked up to the drip and the belts. The last time I would be hearing our baby's heartbeat while inside me.
Once hooked up the obstetrician attended and did his examination and broke my water. Now what a pleasant experience this was while laying in the bed with no whe to go. The contractions came on shortly after this and I think I may have died if Dayne hadn't of been in there with me while this was going on. I had sworn off any form of drug, attempting a completely natural drug free birth. Well the pain made me cry, sook, want to give up and work myself up so much I was ill! at this point I gave in and had some gas and an epidural. Thankfully the gas allowed me to cope with the needle, big sucker that is! And I calmed down and stopped feeling all contractions. This was good as I had given up on ever having a baby any other way then c section or adopting! However I couldn't feel any contractions, meaning both Dayne and I assumed all had stopped and disappointed we had some shut eye.
The obstetrician returned and advised we were in fact still contracting and actually ready to have a baby. This took us completely by surprised and just looked at each other in panic. I hadn't prepared myself for this next step as I assumed it was put on a later train! So it was a slight shock to hear our obstetrician say PUSH! EEP. The next half hour was a blur, I was pushing, short of breath,freaking out and excited. Again I could not have gone through this part without Dayne, he was super through it and made things a lot easier for me. I was up in all sort of positions and all dignity was well lost! The experience has cured me of my fear of being nude!
The last few pushes tested both me physically and mentally. I was tired and felt I couldn't push anymore but meeting my little boy was top of my priority and this thought alone got me through these last pushes.
Before I knew it he was on my chest, yep I cried. Couldn't help it. All the pain, struggle, sooking and drugs were long forgotten as I looked down at this crying little boy that Dayne and I had created. I was in love. Jackson Anthony Clarke had arrived, 2:46pm, 9pound 3. 53.5cm
Once this happened it was just so quick, he was taken to be cleaned, mum and dad and little brothers were there, daynes fam were there and then it was just Dayne, Jackson and I. We could finally embrace and bask in the arrival of our beautiful little man. And we were in love, he was gorgeous and perfect and just the most amazing little person to ever enter the world.

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Count down - 6 days to go!

Well we are officially in count down mode. With 6 days to go, every little twinge, cramp, movement and toilet trip has me wondering if it's time to get this baby thing happening.
I have been for the last week, been experiencing cramping and have even resorted to timing these moments of cramping to see if it's possibly labour. I of course have been sorely disappointed by this. I have come to realise that it's simply my body going na nana na na and relishing in teasing me. Technical term is its my body preparing for the big day,I however choose to believe I'm just being teased.
So instead of reading into these preparation pains and what not, I have resorted to counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds. This has made me go quietly insane and is making me want to re pack and repack and repack both my bags and bubs bags, go for long walks even though I swear I may have a heart attack and BAKE! I cook and I can admit I cook well but baking, well that's another story. I cannot bake to save myself. I tried making a cake once and it tasted yummy but looked like a large biscuit and the second time, it tasted yummy again but I had to use icing to keep it all together and even then it didn't work. So for me to actually crave baking, means that I am going absolutely insane playing this counting down game. The other option is to go about my daily business, cleaning, washing, ironing, cooking daynes foods, drooling over shoes etc etc and not count down how many hours and minutes left to go tell I meet this little man, this will hopefully cause bub to attend the world soon! This option just doesn't sound appealing to me, why would I want to be normal when I can be going insane and counting down every second till the 20th!
So for now, until I come to my senses I will continue to want to bake, go for long tiring walks and continue counting until all the numbers merge together.

X

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

4 weeks to go!

I haven't 'blogged' for some time now, with work, pregnancy and pure laziness I haven't stopped to blog. I thought for my welcome back blog I would update on the pregnancy and the ever daunting only 4 weeks to go looming over our head.
For my entire pregnancy I have been blessed, no illness, no dramas, no complaints, none what so ever. I have sat back and wondered what in the world all these women winge about. Pretty much as soon as I thought this, my body decided to show me what every other woman goes through! I got sick, about 2 weeks ago I started getting headaches, headaches that mirrored migraines but without the need to hide in a darkened cave, headaches that lasted all day and night, preventing me from working and sleeping. To add to the headaches I had high blood pressure, vomiting and pain. Over the first week I went to drs, had blood taken from me and dealt with the worry of what was wrong, feeling guilty for not being at work and the not knowing when it will stop, I was exhausted. The verdict came back that I may have preeclampsia so Dayne shipped me up to the hospital where I was monitored and given a drip. This drip and the one after it lasted for hours,Dayne had to go to work and leave me alone in a cold hospital with no change of clothes, nothing, again with just the worry of what was wrong. The obstetrician advised it wasn't preeclampsia and I had a viral infection and required fluid. So here I was strapped to a drip and in a maternity ward. They also gave me tablets for the headaches which gave me a reaction of vomitting and dizziness and had me in tears because I couldn't stop the head spins. The thoughts the midwives must have had running through their heads when I was crying. How am I going to be with childbirth!
The night finally ended and Dayne came to collect me that morning, was tired, hungry, bored but was leaving without a headache! Over the next week I continued having headaches, nose bleeds and vomitting but they lasted not long enough to cause concern. Upon drs orders I handed in my certificate and finished work on the 17th feb to get some rest, relaxation and time to myself to get better and prepare!
What an understatement, by the time the 17th rolled around I was exhausted, my body felt heavy, I was tired, my appetite was off and for the first time I wished the pregnancy would hurry up and end. Instant guilt I felt, for one, leaving work so soon and two, feeling bad that i wanted out of the pregnancy when for so long it had been easy, carefree and amazing and this one week had made me so negative! Didn't I snap out of it really quickly!
I have had so far 3 week days off, 3 days I would have normally spent dealing with tenants, owners,a dramas and the stress of not feeling adequate at work and I haven't missed it at all (so far!) I have had my version of relaxing, I have cleaned, tidied, recleaned, moved furniture, built a shelf for bubs room, finished bubs painting and completed my brothers painting. I have been kept busy which until right now has prevented me from thinking about the due date.
We have 4 weeks to go, possibly only 2, but 4 would be better, to prepare, have quality time as a couple, get house, car etc ready and deal with whatever will happen in 4 weeks time! Until today I havent had to many worries aout birth etc however as of today i have been slightly concerned about the after birth, the bringing bub home part. Labour I'm of course petrified about but see it as a positive happy time that brings our little man into this world, so for now I'm fine with this (FOR NOW) its the after he arrives that I'm worried about! The sleep deprivation, the loss of intimacy with my Fiancé, the how will I know what bub wants or needs and will I be able to breast feed and who is going to help me when I no longer have midwives watching and monitoring me and will bub love me and know i will do anything for him and will he be ok??? I have a friend who has just put up a blog with these issues which has made my concerns come to light, it's refreshing to see her go through these concerns and see that she is coping despite the fears and concerns, that he baby boy is happy healthy and loved. It has allowed my fears to be realized, thought about and panicked about but has allowed me to see that I'm not the only one worrying about these things and that just because im worrying does not mean im unhappy with whats happening or that my positive outllok has been crushed by negativity it is just that we are already proving to be good mummies and mummy to be's because we are worrying so much about their welfare already and they are only just here, or about to be here. With only 4 weeks to go I am despite my worries and concerns, going to get myself into a relaxed,prepared as much as possible, happy state so when due date arrives, I can get through it and get through the tough days that will lie ahead with having a new born. I wil also endeavor to just chill out during these 4 weeks as I know sleeping, eating, showering in peace and quite and alone will soon be a thing of the past!

Thursday, 18 August 2011

TGIF!!!!

My consistent outbursts, lack of smiles and anger issues on this Friday Morning have had my colleagues plead with me to write a blog and get it our of my system. I however am unsure as to what is causing my morning mood swings. I have however narrowed it down to a number of things:

1. Hunger
2. Arriving at work later then normal
3. Tenants unable to think for themselves
4. Beenleigh Drivers

The first point is usually the reason for my mood swings. I eat alot, all the time and failing to do so results in me reverting to cave man style and grunting at everyone. I normally have my breakfast ready to go, preplanned and sorted. This morning however, i just didn't feel like eating my usual scrambled eggs and sausage so i took myself to Beenleigh Maccas and ordered a Hot chocolate and a toasted ham, cheese and tomato sandwich. Upon getting these items i took myself to work and had my sandwich and hot chocolate. However not only did the McDonald's attendants fail in the art of cutting a sandwich in two, they failed to live up to the HOT in the hot chocolate which was almost luke warm at best. For someone who loves their food and enjoys eating, this just irritated me which ensured my bad mood was here to stay.

Point 2 - I make a point of getting to work early, this is so i get settled, eat some food, plan my day, sort my desk, surf the net and in general get my head ready for whatever the day wishes to throw at me. With the Maccas debacle and waiting for AMART to turn up in their allocated 7:30am -8:00am time slot (which they didn't) i arrived at work at 22 past 8. Giving me little time to prepare myself. This is where my mood went south. I was late, unprepared and had crappy food!

Point 3 - I started to get over my food issue when i started getting calls from tenants about the most ridiculous items and items that were written in easy to understand black writing and simple english. By the end of these conversations my response to them was - Why am i wasting 60cents to send you a letter if your not going to read it and instead call me and have me read it to you like your a preschooler needing your afternoon book.

This brings me to Point 4 - A constant issue that is a pet hate of mine and only boils me up further if already in a mood, if your not confident on the road then stay off it. Some of us need to get to places on time and despite leaving early due to the Beenleigh drivers, i always end up late to wherever I'm headed. Sunday is for slow relaxing drives, not during the week in a busy town centre! Seriously people i past my driving test and have a good record, CLEARLY this proves driving is not hard!

While this has helped get rid of some morning anger and will provide some relief for my poor worker buddies i find myself at the beginning point again. I'M HUNGRY! and i have half an hour until lunch time. This is proving to be a very long and hard day for everyone involved with me including my stomach. Stay tuned people, this could get ugly!


Have a good day peeps

Jess x

Sunday, 31 July 2011

Gays - Why the need for the act?

Why do Gay guys feel the need the carry on so feminine? Although i have no issue with people who like the same sex, i have an issue when they feel the need to portray someone else. The makeup, the clothes, the stance, the walk, the attitude the bitchyness, the hand motions and the theartrical sayings and voices. Again, i have no issue with someone finding love or comfort in the arms of someone of the same sex. I just feel that gay men portray this 'gay' idea of what a gay man should be and i believe this is why they have so many 'haters'
Is this the way that society has portrayed gays in film and stage so then all young gay men feel they must act this way because society tells them its how they should act? Spending hours on their hair and their need to wear eyeliner and foundation and their super tight clothes and shoes and their high pitched voices and over the top 'Sweetie' and 'Darl' etc etc.
Or is it that when created  men are given certain more 'pink water' then 'blue water' that makes them gay in the first place and then some are given even more 'pink water'  - making them essesentially a form of 'girl'? Is this why only certain amounts of gay men are into dancing and singing and over the top stage acting? Is it the creation that makes these guys a girl gay?
Or is it that being gay is still a very sacred thing and not completely accepted or allowed  - meaning not all gays have come out, leaving the gay nation smaller and more competitive then what it will be in years to come, making the 'current' open gays feel they need to pull out all stops in order to be noticed and stand out and be aknowledged as a gay man?
This world is full of homophobics and there is always an outcry when a gay is hurt or 'teased' but have they done this to themselves? Are gays picked on because of how over the top in your face they are rather then that they are infact into men? Would we be more accepting if they were just gay without all this added show and your everyday bloke whi just happens to have a boyfriend?
I for one believe this world would accept gays better if they dropped the drama, the makeup the attention seeking antics and false persona. I have personally seen how a gay man who is still your average man is treated compared to how a girly gay is treated - Worlds of difference, the normal (for use of a better word) gay is accepted in sporting teams, straight male circle of friends and can go about his worklife, daily life and social life without the neagtivity and lack of acceptance. The girly gays i have encounted have an outward 'happieness' in order to cope with the lack of acceptance in their lives, work, social, sporting and general daily life. They come across as 'super' in order to deal with the emotional and physical abuse that comes with their feminine attitudes.
One example of an over the top girl gay who truly does my head in and is one of the reasons why i cannot stand GLEE is the gay character on the show - Whether this is the way he must act or his true persona - He is not helping this gay stereotype one little bit!

I understand that this post may rub some people the wrong way and provide me with some colourful replies, however its something that needs to be put out there for myself to have a fuller understanding on why people (gays) feel the need to act this way. This post is not to offend or upset anyone in anyway.

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Children.... Naughty or in need?

So i was sitting at the Dr's yesterday and was watching a disturbing scene play out in front of me that left me wondering - Are kids in fact naughtier these days OR are they in need of help AND should someone say something.  The situation from what i saw was a little boy about 4 or 5 waiting with his mother, the little boy was quite abusive towards her, punching her with such viciousness that it had all of us in the waiting room stunned. This child, was out to hurt his mother, the one solid person in his life, he was out to hurt. He proceeded to kick her in the shins with such force the poor woman was close to tears. This child was out of control until an older lady sat down and got involved. She was able to get him to stand with her and focus on a brochure, however once that focus was broken he was back to being a terror child. It made me wonder, is this something this child was born with and will forever be a danger to himself and others or is it what he has spent his few years witnessing via home life or TV or is that without proper parental guidance a child will act out in however way they can in order for attention? If its the first one, then what help is there to actually help this child and I'm not talking about days spent popping numerous 'drugs' for ADD or ADHD etc but help that is going to allow him to grow out of this destructive behaviour so he doesn't become the next prime time news? All children deserve the best start at life and being dependant on a drug for the rest of their lives, isn't curing the problem or allowing them a better life, its band-aiding it and providing the future with more miss fits and legal troubles. If its the second option then what sort of parental guidance is needed to prevent young impressionable minds watching violent TV or even worse watching violent behaviour at home. It is just a vicious cycle that will continue until someone makes the effort, comes up with a new teaching device that will help kids sort out what is right and wrong rather then having no guidance and learning what they see, assuming that its the right way and then grow to be violent towards their partner, kids or anyone they have a conflict with. If its the third option, then what is out there (other then DOCS) that actually care enough and able to monitor potential 'threat' situations where a parent does not have time, care or energy to properly parent and give a growing child the affection and right attention they so badly need and deserve?
It seems to me that everyone has given up on the human race and the daily struggles we all go through, especially the future of our world (the kids). The Dr's, the researchers and academics should be using their smarts and find a 'cure' the this ever increasing child violence and bad parenting before the world is full of jobless, uneducated thugs.


J x