Disappointment

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This has been a week of two halves and I’ve had a pretty emotional time of it. Both Craig and I have been plagued with insomnia, sore throats, and earache, and poor old Dex has a front tooth coming through.

Despite this, I was optimistic that we’d finally get a positive pregnancy test and we’d be one step closer to being a family of four.

The signs were a little flaky as we had already tested ridiculously early and had a negative, but as March wore on there was no sign of Mother Nature. My chest felt heavy, I had a metallic taste in my mouth, and I was regularly being sick (with Dexter I was sick pretty much from Day 1). Although both Craig and I were both under the weather, our symptoms were hardly alike and I couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

Yesterday I rang Craig whilst he was working and convinced him to buy us another test. He was reluctant as he didn’t want me to have my hopes dashed but I can be pretty insistent and he relented. Needless to say, the test was negative. I threw it across the kitchen in frustration and curled up on the sofa sulking.

Later in the evening I was pouring myself a drink when I spotted the bastard thing in the corner and went to toss it in the bin - a quick glance down and the result had changed - it was positive. Faint. But a positive.

I bounded into the living room and pounced on Craig like Beethoven. It was impossible to get the smile off my face and I kept on and on to Craig saying “I knew it. I knew it” like there had never been any doubt. Craig was less optimistic and fished the instructions out of the bin to find an explanation for what was a conclusive negative magically turning into a positive.

I was due to go the doctors today for an unrelated blood test. We resolved that I’d beg the nurse to do a HCG screen and wait out the results. I promised I’d not get too excited and would wipe the grin off my face until we had confirmation. But come on, this is Gemma and I had a sneaky plan to test again today.

So today, after my blood test, I bought a Clearblue twin pack at the pharmacy and rushed home to test. I don’t need to tell you it was negative. To top it all off, just half an hour later, my period came.

All I’ve wanted to do all day is cry and sleep, yet I still can’t sleep, and neither could Dexter. We lay in bed with me stroking his hair, and him wincing through the pain of his latest tooth coming through. I’d truly forgotten what a bitch trying for a baby is. It feels like we’ve had heartbreak upon heartbreak since losing the baby back in January and I’m getting impatient. The thought of going through all this again next month is positively exhausting.

Now Craig is home we’ve had a few cuddles and vowed to try harder next month. I know we’re putting a lot of pressure on ourselves but it’s a dream of ours to have two under two so we’ll have to pick ourselves up keep on going.

Wish us luck x


INSOMNIA

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Running around after Dexie this morning, I feel like Kerry Katona after one of her binges. I have some triple vision going on that makes simply staring in the mirror more a horrific prospect than summoning the Candy Man to my living room.

Ironically I have two reviews due this week. One for memory foam pillows, and another for some bedding sets by The White Company. Strangely enough neither Craig and I feel much like writing these right now!

Over the last 69 hours, I’ve had a total of 11 hours sleep. Then, just last night, Craigy managed just two hours. Scarily Craig still got up at 5am and went to work (he drives for a living!). Looking at him this morning, I know he’s fine, but I still can’t wait to get him home at lunchtime and play doctors and nurses. I don’t dole out sympathy for man flu, but I’ll happily declare war on the Sandman for messing with my man.

My problem seems to be a result of a change in medication. As we’re trying for a baby, my doctor decided to switch some medication just in case we conceive. The new course of meds is supposed to be safer for baby. Since the switch I’ve had constant sickness, a metallic taste in my mouth, no appetite, and trouble winding down. If it wasn’t for a negative pregnancy test a week ago, I’d be prancing around my living room like a sugared-up 5 year-old meeting Mr Tumble for the first time.

Given I go downstairs when I can’t sleep and read my book, I try hard not to spread the misery to Craigy. Granted a decent book is like a double-edged sword. A law fan, I read true crime books and get completely OCD about them. As this insomnia has kicked in, I’ve found myself googling the case at 3am for newspaper transcripts, pictures, and even studying the profiles of the legal representatives involved. I’m not sure my doctor would advocate my writing my own legal arguments to rid the world of OJ Simpson in the wee hours…

In Craig’s case last night was therefore a mystery. We don’t drink hot drinks in the evenings, nor do we have any caffeine drinks. Dexter sleeps soundly from 9pm to 8am so doesn’t keep us up in the slightest. We both crawl into bed at 10pm and chat until 11pm before lights out - no tv. We’re not stressed about anything either! The only thing I can think of is that Craig has the family holiday to plan this year and is obsessive about it. He must have topped 100 hours research already this month in scouring websites and reading villa reviews. I’m constantly teasing him about it.

Parenting after a rough night’s sleep is the hardest job in the world so I’ve declared today to be Physical Education Day for Dexter. I’m hoping to tire him by setting obstacle courses throughout the house. The sofa cushions are scattered all over the floor and Dexter faces the prospect of the Baby Grand National. I’m hoping the result will be that he has some long naps today so I get over this jet-lag in relative quiet, with any luck he’ll be thirty odd steps closer to competing in the 2028 Olympics too. Here’s to an award-winning gymnastic floor-routine!

 

 


Dear Dexie

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This is wayyyy overdue. I haven’t written a proper update on your progress for months - and there is simply so much to say.

You are now nearly 9 months and growing up so fast. You’re beginning to look so much more like me in the face. You have your daddy’s chin and ears, but your eyes, nose and cheeks are definitely mummy’s. You’re just about growing out of 6-9 months clothing and are therefore exactly on course. We’ve moved you up to Pampers Dry Fit 4.5 - as you’re on the move we need to ensure you’ve got plenty of room to avoid little accidents.

You’re now managing to get around - using sheer determination rather than any actual skill. You pull yourself around with your arms and your little leggies are forced to come along for the journey. You don’t seem in too much of a rush to use your knees yet, but it can’t be too long before you perfect the move.

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This rubbish attempt at crawling allows you to traverse the room in a matter of minutes. You’ve been using this newfound freedom to explore the house, which is incredibly cute but a little terrifying at the same time. You have a bit of a kitchen obsession and I’ve caught you messing around with the mop and rummaging through the recycling box. You’ve also got a strange habit of seeking out wires and will therefore bypass a rug full of toys to get at the back of the television. Black and white are your favourite colours so I have to hide daddy’s trainers, iPhone charger, mobile phones and other things I don’t want you putting in your mouth.

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You’re now regularly saying “mama” and “dada” but you won’t do it on command so only mummy and daddy have witnessed it. You can’t connect these words with us yet so you use them to tell us you’re hungry, had enough of bath-time, or are tired… I can’t wait to hold a conversation with you and teach you all about the world around you.

You still love splashing in the bath, music, and being tickled. You’re also ridiculously vain and one look in the mirror will stop a tantrum in its tracks. Some of my favourite pictures have been of you posing in front of the mirror.

Weaning is going well and you’ll eat literally everything we put in front of you. We’re trying you on Petits Filous, Dairylea, and real fruit now (banana is your all-time favourite) and you’re finding it all very exciting. We still can’t get you interested in water or fruit juice though, and you’re finding it hard to get your around sippy cups; I reckon you’re playing us for fools though as one day you’ll drink from them just fine, the next you’re flinging them across the room.

You’re still a massive fan of napping and we’ve bumped these up to 2 a day (totalling a whooping 3 hours) - I’ve put this down to you getting tired more easily as you’re more mobile. With all the chasing you around - I often feel like doing the same!

I’ve been so sad recently having lost your baby brother or sister. When mummy fell pregnant we were so excited; buying baby name books and imagining our lives as a family of four. When I started bleeding the day after New Year, I felt so angry and devastated. Our baby was almost 12 weeks old.

For weeks I was so lost in my own personal denial, grief and hope that I missed my own 30th birthday, and have been hiding away from friends and family - this has meant we’ve only had each other (and daddy) for company for almost a month. I’m still reminded of it everyday, but things are slowly getting easier. I promise this month we’ll open our curtains again and let the light in - it’s time for us all to move on and be thankful. Soon my body will allow mummy and daddy to try again and we will. You’ll make such a beautiful brother.

Mummy and daddy are so incredibly proud of you and love seeing you grow into such a sweet and happy little boy. We might have the odd day when you’re unsettled (yesterday was a prime example when you screamed for hours when mummy was having a catch-up with her best friend over a glass of wine - I was embarrassed and desperate in equal measure) - but I couldn’t love you any more than I do. We’re so blessed to have you, and will go to the ends of the earth for you.

Love Mummy xx

Whilst writing this post, I’m reminded of another 9-month-old baby, who grew her wings last weekend. Matilda-Mae was the most beautiful little girl of a fellow blogger who devastatingly passed away in her cot at exactly 9 months. I am consumed with sadness and grief for her parents Jennie and David - there are simply no words to describe how they must be feeling.

I’m so proud be a member of such a wonderfully caring community who have all sent messages of love, sympathy and support to Jennie. Although there is simply nothing we can do to take away her sadness, I hope Jennie will take some comfort in the fact that we are all thinking of her, and sending her and her family thoughts of faith, strength and courage.

I won’t be promoting this post out of respect for her.

 


Things that seemed important before I had Dexter

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So after making my MAD Award nominations this morning, feeding Dexter, changing 2 nappies, chasing him across the living room to retrieve Daddy’s self assessment invoice from disappearing into his mouth, putting all the bed sheets in the washing, holding a phone conversation with my mother whilst washing up, putting Dex down for a nap… I finally managed to get on my laptop. It was 12 O’clock.

As I checked my emails I noticed it was really dark in the lounge, then it struck me that I hadn’t even opened the curtains. In fact, I hadn’t even changed out of my nightdress or eaten anything myself. One glance at my epic to-do-list (my daily checklist for when Dexter gifts me 2/3 hours whilst he naps) and I sank a little inside. There just aren’t enough hours in the day anymore.

This is becoming a common occurence. Simple tasks like cleaning the bathroom, hoovering, sorting though Dexter’s wardrobe - just aren’t getting done with enough frequency. All the household chores seem to be left to the weekend when Craig is here. Leisurely weekends have become a distant memory.

When I think back to life before Dexter, I can’t believe I ever moaned about anything. I don’t miss anything about my old life per say, but I do feel like my priorities have taken one gigantic shift to the right and the things I once thought were so damned important don’t matter one iota anymore. Here are some of them:

  • Doing my make-up before I leave the house - this should probably read ‘doing my make-up at all’ - if I’m not going anywhere I’m lucky if I manage a sweep of lip gloss. If going out, it’s now bronzer and eyeliner. I haven’t brought a new foundation since having Dex!
  • Painting my nails - My nails always used to be pristine. I wore retro red nails and was well-known for it. My fingernails would always match my toenails and I’d literally hide all of them from view if there was a single chip.
  • Filing my nails -See above.Yep it’s got that bad.
  • Wearing matching underwear - Supposedly (according to teen mags) the easiest sexiest thing a woman can do - well bollocks to that.
  • Straightening / curling my hair - My hair is vaguely straight anyway, and I no longer have 4 hours to spend trying to change it. I doubt you will ever see a photo of me with Farrah Fawcett flicks (that I thought looked so good).
  • Facebook - I can’t possibly deny I go on there - it’s an everyday occurence for me. But no longer do I try to be witty, interesting, (dare I say it) flirtatious! Now every post is baby-related. You are more likely to hear me rant about a dodgy high chair in Bella Italia, than you are about me spotting Lee Ryan from Blue in Leicester Square.
  • Watching TV -When it’s aired (it’s all about catch-up nowadays). TV box sets are the best baby shower gifts you can ever give.
  • Nightclubbing - We do take nights out. But now the focus is on wolfing down a restaurant meal so we can squeeze in a few pints in a bar before the baby-sitter falls asleep.
  • Buying new clothes - We have John Lewis vouchers from Christmas that we’ve not cashed-in (and will probably go towards something Dexter-related), I’ve actually deleted Topshop from my bookmarks, and I’ve worn things that Gok would kill me for day-in-day-out.
  • Not singing in public - A wallflower I am not, but I’ve been known to invent excuses to go home if within 20 metres of a Karaoke box. Now I sing as I’m walking the pushchair (louder if I know Dex will giggle when we pass someone). I expect to see myself on You’ve Been Framed very soon…

So what do you do differently? Or am I the only converted princess around these parts?


What a Difference a Day Makes…

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Having been poorly these last few days, I’ve had to leave my poor little blog to fend for itself whilst put on a laptop-ban by Craig on bed rest. I have managed to sneakily catch up on lots of my favourite mummy blogs on my iPhone however and have been furiously scribbling down post ideas for the next few weeks.

I woke up this morning and couldn’t wait for Dexter to go down for his afternoon nap so I could jump on here and get writing. Unfortunately, he’s teething and my hospital stay (and the resulting follow-up appointments) seems to have played havoc with his routine. Because of this, Dex has been refusing to nap all day. My little red-faced protegé is now furiously rubbing his eyes and fighting sleep on the sofa beside me. I know in a few minutes I’ll be able to bundle him up and pop him upstairs in his cot for a few hours - but for some reason I feel totally stressed out.

I only had one full day away from Dexter in hospital but he’s managed to learn lots of new tricks during our time apart. He’s got the babbling down to a fine art and can now say “Mumma” and “Dada”. I always thought I’d love to hear him talk, but after the hundredth time of hearing it today, juxtaposed with some unhappy screaming and lots of tears, I’m almost desperate for a bit of quiet.

My little man is also now more mobile than ever and is now able to drag himself across the floor with his elbows (his little legs flailing hopelessly behind him). Annoyingly, he seems to have had enough of his toys and is repeatedly insisting on the following;

  • Emptying his change bag and chewing on his nappies and baby wipes
  • Hunting down my handbag and sucking on the leather straps
  • Commando rolling to the nearest plug socket and chewing on any wires

As it’s now impossible to leave him alone for 2 minutes to visit the loo or have a shower - I’m still in last night’s pyjamas, my hair hasn’t seen a hairbrush, and I’m yet to brush my teeth.

I know I’m just having a bad day and am probably still a little spaced out from the surgery, but I’m honestly sat here wondering where my smiley baby boy has gone. I’m now the proud owner of a little gremlin and have no idea what to do to placate him. I can already see it’s going to be a long old stretch to the weekend…

 

 

 

 

 

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