The week started with Cecilie being here the first three days and Mary Ann turning 4 month Monday. The health visitor came Tuesday. Mary Ann’s mental development is like a 4 month old but her physical is like a baby at 2 month. That is typical premature babies. That means that Mary Ann is “right after the book”. I was pleased that Mary Ann was right awake when the health Visitor was here. And so was Nina. She had been thinking that Mary Ann should bee ready to talk and play some now. And so she was our wonder girl – of curse. She has a weight on 3555g now.
The following days we truly saw a development with Mary Ann. She is right awake the most of the day ready to talk, cuddle and play. I have enjoyed many moments with her playing in the new high playpen. Mary Ann and I went to the library to find some baby music. So we heard different cd’s in the playpen and I made gymnastic/massage/cuddling with her. She smiled back at me as never before. Those smiles made me continue the following days. You live and breathe for these smiles as a parent. I love the fact that I can do these things with her now. In the same time I found a way to do it without getting pain. I can’t wait for all the things I want to teach her, show her and do for her.
We tried to bring my scooter/crosser to a bigger shop nearby. It worked out fine with the auto chair attached on the back. Mary Ann glanced at all the things we passed by lying there in the back of my mini crosser in her auto chair. That was onto she suddenly screamed because she was hungry again. She was feed just before we left. But in a way it was good with her complaint. That gave me an opportunity to try out what to do sitting on the scooter with a crying baby. That was nor neither a problem. I just had her on my arm which could rest on the armrest and that was it. Neil was also next by all the time. But I did well on my own. And that was what we wanted to try out. Neil had worked hard on getting the scooter in the car. He had to unscrew the auto chair first. That is not an easy job. It will get easier now we know how to do things.
When we came home I started to feel a bit of the over-exertion pain. That is the only time the whole week. It has paid of to take more care, with having Neil to lift Mary Ann and I haven’t been out for water aerobics this week. I have even been able to sleep all the night every night this week.
Mary Ann makes bobbles with her mouth. I call them happy bobbles as they come when she giggles of excitement moving her arms and legs around as she experience something new. She got the sweetest little princess curl on top of her head now and her hair is still on the lighter site as when she was born. Her eyes are getting darker grey now. We wonder if they turn out brown like ours or blue as Neil hopes.
Is there such a thing as love management course? I could in deed need one. I’m totally aware of how much love I have for Neil and Cecilie. Now the love for Mary Ann is coming sneaking in on me increasable more and more for every day. How will it end?
Cecilie said one day: “Are you not happy to have become a mummy? Now you can kiss Mary Ann as much as you like since I’m too big for that now”. Yes, I’m happy but also scared about it. What to do when Mary Ann gets too big? I do understand the parents how have difficulties to let the kids move away. Right now though, Mary Ann is just a baby and she can’t get enough love and affection. Luckily for me. I guess the baby stage is good for me in that direction. I wonder if that is what all the baby commotion is all about? Is that why so many women loves babies? As explained before I have never had the desire for having a baby as such more having a child. Maybe because I didn’t understand the “love possibilities” in it. I don’t know what to do with all my love. I can care for her, give her attention and love. And still I have all these hugs and kisses ready. Sometimes the poor Mary Ann looks like she didn’t know what had hit her. Then I simply have to give Neil all the hugs which are left inside me. I presume I’m trying myself to make some kind of love management.
I’m surprised how easy it all comes to me. I have no experience with child care except for with Cecilie who was four years old when I meet her. So everything regarding child care under that age I simply do by intuition. The funny thing is that up to now I have always known what to do in certain situations. As the other day where I started singing with her, keeping eye contact, making funny faces, new sounds with my mouth and move her around a bit like gymnastic, curdle her and give her slight massage. The day after, I found a little booklet describing exactly these things to do with your baby. When friends have said that I would be a good mom, I only believed that could be 90% correct. Now I believe that 100%. I’m born to become a mum. I love every minute and strongly believe that no one else could be such a good mum to Mary Ann as I can. I’m totally utterly in love with this adorable, strong, cute, perfect little human being.
I want the world to see how wonderful she is. One of my friends who live close by is coming today to see her for the first time. I look forward for that. And tomorrow we will go to a Wine and Dine Fair with some new Danish/British friends. Besides that it is a nice quiet weekend. We love when we have this mixture in the weekends: being with friends but also time alone.
In spite of my eagerness to show my family all my love, I also need to be left alone once in awhile. In the night I don’t like Neil to lye too close to me, I want to be on my own writing blog and I enjoy going out on my scooter on my own. I revitalize my batteries and besides the mentioned situations I’m always energetically ready to exist!
Mary Anns has turned one :-)
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Week 17 - UK
Long time no see – or no writing. I didn’t know how to put it or if I should write about this at all. But here it comes. It has been an awful start of the week. I have been in such a pain I can’t describe. I can explain about 8-10 different kind of rheumatism pain but this is so different. In a way it has nothing to do with the rheumatism and yet it has anyway. Sometimes I fell that everything has to do with my rheumatism. And it also has to act on my daily life with Mary Ann and how to deal with her and her needs. That is why I do write about it now. My whole intension with this blog is to record our daily life for my own shake, Mary Ann’s and for others if anyone else can benefit from my experience or like to follow Mary Ann’s development.
Now I think this heavy pain comes from my muscles. And it is because of lifting Mary Ann. It can last for hours and hours and it seems as nothing can ease it. It goes on and on. I find it difficult that I can’t do anything to improve it. And the fact that it ruins the next couple of days as well after a night like this one the night between Monday and Tuesday is bad enough. That it also ruins my possibilities to handle Mary Ann every day is really irritating me. Especially because I can lift her, change her and things like that. But I have to leave Neil to do it because that is what makes this pain comes back. Next to that I have things that I can not do. Therefore it is especially irritating not to be “allowed” to do what I can.
The week ended with me being with my psychical therapist. That changed some things for me because she came with different good ideas in how to handle the pain and how to prevent it being so heavy. That has totally changed my perspectives. Now I’m not so nervous anymore for it to come back.
Mary Ann has gone through a good development the last week. She has swiftly grown out for five different jumpsuits. She is so much more awake throughout the day and much more curious. So we have now introduced her for her mobile. She gazes for hours at this mobile. She has also developed at bad habit of eating small portions all the way through the night. So now we try to feed her more, make more funny faces and sounds with her, read and play music and things like that to keep her awake in the daytime. We hope that will make her sleep more in the night again as we were use to. Cecilie play music for her as well. Cecilie got a new mobile phones which she takes with her everywhere even at the toilet if I can’t help it. I like her to try and separate from it once in a while when we eat, when she goes to sleep and when she has friends over. The good thing about it as that I always know where Cecilie is. Mary Ann loves the phone as well or at least the tunes coming from it. Cecilie is singing along and Mary Ann pretends to sing along with her sister. She giggles and moves her arms and legs around when the music plays. We all love music here, Neil as well. Once I found him and Cecilie dancing around. Scenes like that make my heart all soft. I love when we all join up with a special thing, except once this week. Neil where vacuuming the body of Cecilie who had been very creative. She had expanded polystyrene all over the kitchen floor and her self. To my horror he also had Mary Ann on his arm in the same time. I had to rescue my baby. When I came to think of it, Neil was totally on control with things. Sometimes I forget that he can manage at lot more then I can in a physical way. He would of curse never do any harm to her. That was also why I didn’t tell him of. I just grab my baby because for me it looked a little difficult.
We have had some friends over this week as well. Suddenly our friends Rikke and Jan from Randers called if they could come by. And Friday we were on a visit at my work. That was such a good visit were we had time to chat to with most of them. I thought they didn’t have the time to chat so I was ready to leave them on their busy own way. I was very happy to see them all again and get all the good news private and work wise as they had for me. My colleagues mean the world to me.
I think we only write every week now because of Mary Ann’s increasing needs.
Now I think this heavy pain comes from my muscles. And it is because of lifting Mary Ann. It can last for hours and hours and it seems as nothing can ease it. It goes on and on. I find it difficult that I can’t do anything to improve it. And the fact that it ruins the next couple of days as well after a night like this one the night between Monday and Tuesday is bad enough. That it also ruins my possibilities to handle Mary Ann every day is really irritating me. Especially because I can lift her, change her and things like that. But I have to leave Neil to do it because that is what makes this pain comes back. Next to that I have things that I can not do. Therefore it is especially irritating not to be “allowed” to do what I can.
The week ended with me being with my psychical therapist. That changed some things for me because she came with different good ideas in how to handle the pain and how to prevent it being so heavy. That has totally changed my perspectives. Now I’m not so nervous anymore for it to come back.
Mary Ann has gone through a good development the last week. She has swiftly grown out for five different jumpsuits. She is so much more awake throughout the day and much more curious. So we have now introduced her for her mobile. She gazes for hours at this mobile. She has also developed at bad habit of eating small portions all the way through the night. So now we try to feed her more, make more funny faces and sounds with her, read and play music and things like that to keep her awake in the daytime. We hope that will make her sleep more in the night again as we were use to. Cecilie play music for her as well. Cecilie got a new mobile phones which she takes with her everywhere even at the toilet if I can’t help it. I like her to try and separate from it once in a while when we eat, when she goes to sleep and when she has friends over. The good thing about it as that I always know where Cecilie is. Mary Ann loves the phone as well or at least the tunes coming from it. Cecilie is singing along and Mary Ann pretends to sing along with her sister. She giggles and moves her arms and legs around when the music plays. We all love music here, Neil as well. Once I found him and Cecilie dancing around. Scenes like that make my heart all soft. I love when we all join up with a special thing, except once this week. Neil where vacuuming the body of Cecilie who had been very creative. She had expanded polystyrene all over the kitchen floor and her self. To my horror he also had Mary Ann on his arm in the same time. I had to rescue my baby. When I came to think of it, Neil was totally on control with things. Sometimes I forget that he can manage at lot more then I can in a physical way. He would of curse never do any harm to her. That was also why I didn’t tell him of. I just grab my baby because for me it looked a little difficult.
We have had some friends over this week as well. Suddenly our friends Rikke and Jan from Randers called if they could come by. And Friday we were on a visit at my work. That was such a good visit were we had time to chat to with most of them. I thought they didn’t have the time to chat so I was ready to leave them on their busy own way. I was very happy to see them all again and get all the good news private and work wise as they had for me. My colleagues mean the world to me.
I think we only write every week now because of Mary Ann’s increasing needs.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
100208 - UK
I thought being on leave would change me somehow, making me more relaxed. I guess not. Not even when being on leave after a big surgery I can relax. Somehow it is just impossible for me. Then I count the days for being back to work again, getting on with my life. Often I go back to work long before I’m actually ready. I hope I will not do that this time. I guess I won’t. This time I have Mary Ann to take care of. So I need to be as well as possible.
I look so much forward for the daily life, waking up knowing Neil is next to me, having a little quiet time on my own before I wake up the rest of the family, making them all ready, going to work, shopping, picking up Mary Ann, doing the different household choirs, having dinner together. All that which sometimes make people wanting to hurl is my kind of ideal family life.
I’m thinking of my restless self because the Health Visitor guessed right away that I was this kind of person looking at the clock all the time. My motto has always been Carpe Diem – seize the day. I mean it as in grab all the opportunities you got while you can to make the most out of your life. Maybe I should more see it as Be Present! I always look at the time for example when having a little nap. Then I think if Mary Ann and I fall a sleep right now it will give me 30 minutes sleep, then 25 … 20 and so on. I didn’t understand why she easy fall a sleep with Neil and not I. If someone is relaxed like all the time it’s Neil. So no wonder really she can sense that. I could learn much from him. I hope I am through the years spending quality time with him.
I’m totally relaxed when I feed her and often we both fall a sleep after the feed unless I need to do something on the computer, some household things, thinking my many thoughts I simply have to right down etc. As now 6am when finally in bed again. Mary Ann woke me up at 4am being hungry. You should think I could sleep again then, but no. I started thinking of all sorts of things I wanted to write down. If it’s not because of thinking, it’s because of pain in my joints I stay awake. Something I’m so tired that I can sleep no matter what luckily. So I will be alright. It’s more the situation with Mary Ann where I can’t relax I’m thinking of.
I guess I feel a little pressed. I still have all these things because of my health to take care of and in the same time the same health situation is slowing me down more than usually. I find it difficult to be relaxed and spend time with Mary Ann. Tomorrow I go for a meeting with the social adviser at the hospital. I hope that will help my work level a bit. She will continue some different affairs and lawsuits I have with the local authority. She understands me completely and I know she will do a great job. These days it has been a matter of making it all ready for her. My mind is so full of all the new things with Mary Ann and therefore it has been very difficult collecting all the information the social adviser will need. However I think I have it all ready for her now.
I have a little time to finish the papers for tomorrow. The rest of the day we will have a good tea break with some neighbours. They come to meet their new little neighbour Mary Ann. Cecilie is playing with her friend Signe. Like yesterday I think we will watch something together at the telly.
I look so much forward for the daily life, waking up knowing Neil is next to me, having a little quiet time on my own before I wake up the rest of the family, making them all ready, going to work, shopping, picking up Mary Ann, doing the different household choirs, having dinner together. All that which sometimes make people wanting to hurl is my kind of ideal family life.
I’m thinking of my restless self because the Health Visitor guessed right away that I was this kind of person looking at the clock all the time. My motto has always been Carpe Diem – seize the day. I mean it as in grab all the opportunities you got while you can to make the most out of your life. Maybe I should more see it as Be Present! I always look at the time for example when having a little nap. Then I think if Mary Ann and I fall a sleep right now it will give me 30 minutes sleep, then 25 … 20 and so on. I didn’t understand why she easy fall a sleep with Neil and not I. If someone is relaxed like all the time it’s Neil. So no wonder really she can sense that. I could learn much from him. I hope I am through the years spending quality time with him.
I’m totally relaxed when I feed her and often we both fall a sleep after the feed unless I need to do something on the computer, some household things, thinking my many thoughts I simply have to right down etc. As now 6am when finally in bed again. Mary Ann woke me up at 4am being hungry. You should think I could sleep again then, but no. I started thinking of all sorts of things I wanted to write down. If it’s not because of thinking, it’s because of pain in my joints I stay awake. Something I’m so tired that I can sleep no matter what luckily. So I will be alright. It’s more the situation with Mary Ann where I can’t relax I’m thinking of.
I guess I feel a little pressed. I still have all these things because of my health to take care of and in the same time the same health situation is slowing me down more than usually. I find it difficult to be relaxed and spend time with Mary Ann. Tomorrow I go for a meeting with the social adviser at the hospital. I hope that will help my work level a bit. She will continue some different affairs and lawsuits I have with the local authority. She understands me completely and I know she will do a great job. These days it has been a matter of making it all ready for her. My mind is so full of all the new things with Mary Ann and therefore it has been very difficult collecting all the information the social adviser will need. However I think I have it all ready for her now.
I have a little time to finish the papers for tomorrow. The rest of the day we will have a good tea break with some neighbours. They come to meet their new little neighbour Mary Ann. Cecilie is playing with her friend Signe. Like yesterday I think we will watch something together at the telly.
090208 - UK
It’s a little better today with my health and during the day it all got better. I had some problems sleeping because of the rheumatism. So I got up round 4am to do different things I needed to be done. Because then I can concentrate on spending a little more time with Mary Ann the rest of the day instead.
Cecilie went for football and Neil for a meeting with the neighbours. He brought Mary Ann. So I had some time on my own with the computer. The whole purpose of today is keeping Mary Ann more awake so we can have her sleep in the night and awake in the daytime. That worked out very well. We went to bed at 10pm. Perfect.
Cecilie went for football and Neil for a meeting with the neighbours. He brought Mary Ann. So I had some time on my own with the computer. The whole purpose of today is keeping Mary Ann more awake so we can have her sleep in the night and awake in the daytime. That worked out very well. We went to bed at 10pm. Perfect.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
080208 - UK
Mary Ann has this irritating habit of staying awake the whole night. Neil had only slept for two hours. So I let him sleep and woke Cecilie up. Since it was so late before Cecilie came to bed because of the meeting at school last night I made her breakfast at bed. I drove her to school on my way to water aerobics. I was there an hour before the aerobic class started. I wanted to spend some time in the Jacuzzi and sauna first. My entire joints were aching. I was not sure I could go to the aerobic class at all. After warming up my joints I did go to the class in my own tempo.
I wonder why it is that I feel so bad every Friday and Saturday. It must be something about the chemotherapy medicine I get on the Wednesdays. Normally medicine will make you feel less pain right after you take it and then through out the week for example the effect will reduce. I gathered it would be the same with this (for me new type of) medicine.
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is one of the most effective and commonly used medicines to treat various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. It is known as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also can reduce damage to joints and the risks of long-term disability. Methotrexate interferes with several enzymes involved in the immune system. By blocking an enzyme in the body called dihydrofolate reductase, methotrexate hinders the production of a form of folic acid important for actively growing cells such as those comprising the skin, blood, gastrointestinal tissues and immune system. However, it is not entirely clear how methotrexate decreases the severity of arthritis. Improvements in arthritis and other rheumatic conditions typically are first seen in 3 to 6 weeks, but the full benefit of methotrexate may not be noticeable until 12 weeks of treatment. Improvements in arthritis and other rheumatic conditions typically are first seen in 3 to 6 weeks, but the full benefit of methotrexate may not be noticeable until 12 weeks of treatment. The most common side effects of methotrexate include nausea or vomiting and abnormalities in liver function tests. Slow hair loss is seen in some patients, but hair grows back when the medication is stopped. I have nausea and loss of hair. However as long as the medicine might work I still carry on. The side effects are the least of two worries. I would like to know though why it is on the Friday I’m feeling most pain. I have to ask the doctor.
Neil going back to bed created a problem for me since we or at least I had to go to the bank meeting. In the day time I can work almost as normal but throughout the day it gets worse and worse. I ended up with my weekly physiotherapy. I was eager finally to get home to Mary Ann after all this. But when I finally reached home, I felt really lousy. I had a little nap with her before dinner. I really had to fight to stay awake. I get so tired when in pain. Finally I went to bed with only a little contact with Mary Ann - again. Oh my, I look forward for the medicine to kick in.
I wonder why it is that I feel so bad every Friday and Saturday. It must be something about the chemotherapy medicine I get on the Wednesdays. Normally medicine will make you feel less pain right after you take it and then through out the week for example the effect will reduce. I gathered it would be the same with this (for me new type of) medicine.
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is one of the most effective and commonly used medicines to treat various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. It is known as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also can reduce damage to joints and the risks of long-term disability. Methotrexate interferes with several enzymes involved in the immune system. By blocking an enzyme in the body called dihydrofolate reductase, methotrexate hinders the production of a form of folic acid important for actively growing cells such as those comprising the skin, blood, gastrointestinal tissues and immune system. However, it is not entirely clear how methotrexate decreases the severity of arthritis. Improvements in arthritis and other rheumatic conditions typically are first seen in 3 to 6 weeks, but the full benefit of methotrexate may not be noticeable until 12 weeks of treatment. Improvements in arthritis and other rheumatic conditions typically are first seen in 3 to 6 weeks, but the full benefit of methotrexate may not be noticeable until 12 weeks of treatment. The most common side effects of methotrexate include nausea or vomiting and abnormalities in liver function tests. Slow hair loss is seen in some patients, but hair grows back when the medication is stopped. I have nausea and loss of hair. However as long as the medicine might work I still carry on. The side effects are the least of two worries. I would like to know though why it is on the Friday I’m feeling most pain. I have to ask the doctor.
Neil going back to bed created a problem for me since we or at least I had to go to the bank meeting. In the day time I can work almost as normal but throughout the day it gets worse and worse. I ended up with my weekly physiotherapy. I was eager finally to get home to Mary Ann after all this. But when I finally reached home, I felt really lousy. I had a little nap with her before dinner. I really had to fight to stay awake. I get so tired when in pain. Finally I went to bed with only a little contact with Mary Ann - again. Oh my, I look forward for the medicine to kick in.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
070208 - UK
The day today was planned to every minute. I was busy throughout the day with some financial family planning, making ready for a meeting with the bank tomorrow. Neil went for this Danish class at 10-12am. I got Cecilie up and in she came from school again at 2pm with a friend. I sent them down to the grocery and helped them bake a cake when they came back.
Neil came back round 1pm and a workman came here half an hour later to have a chat about things we want done in the garage. Cecilie’s friend was here to 4pm. At 5pm Neil had dinner ready and he and Cecilie left 5.45 for a pupil/parent meeting unto 9pm. All this meant that is was me being the lucky one home with Mary Ann even on a day were she wanted to smile and make funny faces. Normally it is always me going for the meetings, to hospital, running round planning things and so on all the time. I really needed this day home with her now. How will I have time for all this when I start work again?
We now got the good news; Mary Ann is admitted in the local day nursery as we wanted. They don’t have any stairs so I’m a happy bunny. Now we just have to hope that we get the space from the day when Neil starts work again.
Neil came back round 1pm and a workman came here half an hour later to have a chat about things we want done in the garage. Cecilie’s friend was here to 4pm. At 5pm Neil had dinner ready and he and Cecilie left 5.45 for a pupil/parent meeting unto 9pm. All this meant that is was me being the lucky one home with Mary Ann even on a day were she wanted to smile and make funny faces. Normally it is always me going for the meetings, to hospital, running round planning things and so on all the time. I really needed this day home with her now. How will I have time for all this when I start work again?
We now got the good news; Mary Ann is admitted in the local day nursery as we wanted. They don’t have any stairs so I’m a happy bunny. Now we just have to hope that we get the space from the day when Neil starts work again.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
060208 - UK
No such luck as planning on how to sleep with Mary Ann. She can feel that I want her to sleep with me and then she of curse doesn’t want to.
The Health Doctor was pleased with her again yesterday. She said everything was normal about her. Compared to her due day she is a little more mature. So that is fine. However we need to remember to place her on her tummy and on her left side. Her favourite site is the right one which means that her skull is a little awry. Mary Ann has a peppery temper as soon as we move her. She gets angry at us because she wants to be left alone sleeping. That is also okay as long as the Health Doctor again assured us nothing was wrong.
We went to the baby bio today, Neil, Mary Ann and I. Her first time in the movie and she didn’t even realise it. She slept all through the movie.
I can just about remember my first cinema experience, but it's unlikely our daughter will remember hers. Not half as well as we remember it, anyway. For one thing, she slept through most of it. For another, she's only 16 weeks old. As such, she can barely recognise her parent's faces or voices, let alone those of Jerry Seinfeld or Renée Zellweger. So I doubt young Mary Ann fully appreciated the merits of the irreverent cartoon BeeMovie - but we did. A mewling baby is about as welcome in your average multiplex as a ravenous wolf, but cinemas are steadily waking up to the fact that new parents are just as hungry for movies as anyone else - if not more so. The solution is screenings laid on exclusively for parents and their babies, which leave nobody with any right to complain about the mewling. Or the nappy changing, vomit wiping, breastfeeding and other problematic baby-related activities. Movie going is often cited as one of the "outside world" activities parents miss the most, and these dedicated screenings, which can now be found in Aalborg and other cities, have helped convince new parents that their lives have not exploded completely. They're good news for cinemas, too, which are drawing back customers they would otherwise have lost. Furthermore, they can fill the house with an old movie on a weekday afternoon.
We had lunch together in town afterwards. We had such a nice day together Neil and I with Mary Ann on the sideline.
The Health Doctor was pleased with her again yesterday. She said everything was normal about her. Compared to her due day she is a little more mature. So that is fine. However we need to remember to place her on her tummy and on her left side. Her favourite site is the right one which means that her skull is a little awry. Mary Ann has a peppery temper as soon as we move her. She gets angry at us because she wants to be left alone sleeping. That is also okay as long as the Health Doctor again assured us nothing was wrong.
We went to the baby bio today, Neil, Mary Ann and I. Her first time in the movie and she didn’t even realise it. She slept all through the movie.
I can just about remember my first cinema experience, but it's unlikely our daughter will remember hers. Not half as well as we remember it, anyway. For one thing, she slept through most of it. For another, she's only 16 weeks old. As such, she can barely recognise her parent's faces or voices, let alone those of Jerry Seinfeld or Renée Zellweger. So I doubt young Mary Ann fully appreciated the merits of the irreverent cartoon BeeMovie - but we did. A mewling baby is about as welcome in your average multiplex as a ravenous wolf, but cinemas are steadily waking up to the fact that new parents are just as hungry for movies as anyone else - if not more so. The solution is screenings laid on exclusively for parents and their babies, which leave nobody with any right to complain about the mewling. Or the nappy changing, vomit wiping, breastfeeding and other problematic baby-related activities. Movie going is often cited as one of the "outside world" activities parents miss the most, and these dedicated screenings, which can now be found in Aalborg and other cities, have helped convince new parents that their lives have not exploded completely. They're good news for cinemas, too, which are drawing back customers they would otherwise have lost. Furthermore, they can fill the house with an old movie on a weekday afternoon.
We had lunch together in town afterwards. We had such a nice day together Neil and I with Mary Ann on the sideline.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
050208 - UK
I have a busy day today. That means yet another day were I don’t spend so much time with Mary Ann as I would like to. The chiropodist comes today to take care of my feet. The cleaning lady comes today. A workman comes to fix my electric rest chair. And the Health visitor comes. Cecilie came here again yesterday so she will come home in the middle of it all. I have to help her with her homework and then she will be off again for her creative lesson.
It is international Pancake Day. So we also want to spent some time making pancakes for dinner filled with different sort of meat. It will be a tight schedule since I also have to go for water aerobic. I will have maybe 1-1,5 hour in the afternoon but I sure I will fall a sleep then. The good thing about not being at work is that I can allow myself to sleep when I suddenly need it. I do feel a bit more tired. Nevertheless I would prefer just spending time with Mary Ann instead. Maybe I can have a little nap with her. Two for the price of one …
It is international Pancake Day. So we also want to spent some time making pancakes for dinner filled with different sort of meat. It will be a tight schedule since I also have to go for water aerobic. I will have maybe 1-1,5 hour in the afternoon but I sure I will fall a sleep then. The good thing about not being at work is that I can allow myself to sleep when I suddenly need it. I do feel a bit more tired. Nevertheless I would prefer just spending time with Mary Ann instead. Maybe I can have a little nap with her. Two for the price of one …
040208 - UK
I went to the hospital on my own. I wanted badly to bring Mary Ann however there were snow so I was afraid of bringing her along. It is way too slippery for me with the snow. And Neil was tired after being up 2-3 times in the night.
Is she the most photographed child? It is just so much more fun now when she doesn’t sleep all the time. It is so touching going through the pictures I take of her these days. I see this happy perfect child bright and breezy. She smiles and smiles now. Love it! I can stare at her for hours. Though she finds it difficult to smile and eat in the same time.
Is she the most photographed child? It is just so much more fun now when she doesn’t sleep all the time. It is so touching going through the pictures I take of her these days. I see this happy perfect child bright and breezy. She smiles and smiles now. Love it! I can stare at her for hours. Though she finds it difficult to smile and eat in the same time.
Monday, 4 February 2008
030208 - UK
Mary Ann has this Teddy Leon with music which I bought for her. She is getting interested in that now. She also looks up when we use a rattle. These days we use one from Ida, Cecilie’s little sister. Cecilie’s mum gave it to us.
Mary Ann has found a valuable tactic when she needs to slip a wind. She push down both her legs on the edge of her crib and get all red in her face has she press the wind out with a lot of noise. Maybe there’s a man hidden inside her? I wonder when he will pop up. Maybe he was the one giving her this enormous willpower.
We had our friend Bo here the whole afternoon and evening. I let Mary Ann stay more in the room were we all sat. Normally I would place her in her room when having friends. I feel that she is okay with being round people and new voices. It could also activate her so she gets more tired in the evening.
When I came to see that Mary Ann and Neil were up to in the late evening as I was on my way to bed, it was not sleeping. That’s for sure. She made all these funny faces and looked totally adorable. I had to play paparazzi. Look for your self at the slide show I made. Isn’t she the most beautiful baby?
Mary Ann has found a valuable tactic when she needs to slip a wind. She push down both her legs on the edge of her crib and get all red in her face has she press the wind out with a lot of noise. Maybe there’s a man hidden inside her? I wonder when he will pop up. Maybe he was the one giving her this enormous willpower.
We had our friend Bo here the whole afternoon and evening. I let Mary Ann stay more in the room were we all sat. Normally I would place her in her room when having friends. I feel that she is okay with being round people and new voices. It could also activate her so she gets more tired in the evening.
When I came to see that Mary Ann and Neil were up to in the late evening as I was on my way to bed, it was not sleeping. That’s for sure. She made all these funny faces and looked totally adorable. I had to play paparazzi. Look for your self at the slide show I made. Isn’t she the most beautiful baby?
Saturday, 2 February 2008
020208 - UK
A quiet day in the house. Neil slept to 3pm because he and Mary Ann were up to 5am. She is so awake in the middle of the night, that it is annoying. We are not use to have difficulties with her. I tried to talk and keep her awake here in the morning. Of curse she is right awake now in the afternoon when I want to write the blog and do other things.
I have started reading to her now. I started with the Bible in child version. Reading to a child, no matter how small, will pay off. It helps the baby develop an ear for the cadence of language -- in fact, varying the pitch of our voice, using accents, singing, and vocalising make the aural connection between us and Mary Ann that much more stimulating. But she looks the other way or loses concentration – I try to adjust her stimulation by trying something else, or give her time to rest. I have read that I should co-ordinate me interactions with her responses and interest. However she doesn’t seem interested at all. She just fall a sleep. She slept all the time and I’m wondering if it’s because she is not mature enough yet.
I also tried to play music for her today. That was fun. She was defiantly fascinated of that. She smiled and made funny grimaces. We got busy to find the camera and record her for the first time on that. When we finally found the camera and got it working she was tired – again.
I have started reading to her now. I started with the Bible in child version. Reading to a child, no matter how small, will pay off. It helps the baby develop an ear for the cadence of language -- in fact, varying the pitch of our voice, using accents, singing, and vocalising make the aural connection between us and Mary Ann that much more stimulating. But she looks the other way or loses concentration – I try to adjust her stimulation by trying something else, or give her time to rest. I have read that I should co-ordinate me interactions with her responses and interest. However she doesn’t seem interested at all. She just fall a sleep. She slept all the time and I’m wondering if it’s because she is not mature enough yet.
I also tried to play music for her today. That was fun. She was defiantly fascinated of that. She smiled and made funny grimaces. We got busy to find the camera and record her for the first time on that. When we finally found the camera and got it working she was tired – again.
Friday, 1 February 2008
010208 - UK
It has been a perfect night, all three of us sleeping the whole night in our own beds. We were very busy trying to keep her a little more awake yesterday so she could sleep the whole night. So that plan went well. She ate a lot when I woke her up to feed her 7.30. She also seemed more alert this morning and she smiled. That is still a rare thing for her to do. So I enjoy it a lot every time. She seems like she thrives.
In the last couple of weeks she got small eyelashes and now she is starting to grow eyebrows. In that aspect she is a little immature. She still can’t hold her head but her neck is getting stronger, you can tell. Mary Ann’s hair is getting curlier. I look forward to see how it will turn out.
Mary Ann’s first vaccination was given yesterday. I was happy to learn, she didn’t get any fever of it. In Denmark the first vaccination is given when the baby is 3 month. That is the Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. I think it’s given a baby when 2 month old in England.
Neil’s dad has sent me a lovely letter again which I replied on today and started on the invitation for the christening. We wanted to send it today for the family but forgot to mail it. Now it will not be before Monday. Ugh, I was so happy that I finally came around to making them.
I’m adapting to the full medication now. And finally I’m getting a hang on when to take what. Wednesday I take 18 pills, Thursday 13 and Friday 12 and so on. I’m also getting use to the medicine now. I get dizzy and nauseating on Thursdays after the new drug on Wednesday but Friday I’m okay again. I have cut down on the water aerobics. It seems to be better for my body but I miss it. Although all come in good time.
In the last couple of weeks she got small eyelashes and now she is starting to grow eyebrows. In that aspect she is a little immature. She still can’t hold her head but her neck is getting stronger, you can tell. Mary Ann’s hair is getting curlier. I look forward to see how it will turn out.
Mary Ann’s first vaccination was given yesterday. I was happy to learn, she didn’t get any fever of it. In Denmark the first vaccination is given when the baby is 3 month. That is the Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. I think it’s given a baby when 2 month old in England.
Neil’s dad has sent me a lovely letter again which I replied on today and started on the invitation for the christening. We wanted to send it today for the family but forgot to mail it. Now it will not be before Monday. Ugh, I was so happy that I finally came around to making them.
I’m adapting to the full medication now. And finally I’m getting a hang on when to take what. Wednesday I take 18 pills, Thursday 13 and Friday 12 and so on. I’m also getting use to the medicine now. I get dizzy and nauseating on Thursdays after the new drug on Wednesday but Friday I’m okay again. I have cut down on the water aerobics. It seems to be better for my body but I miss it. Although all come in good time.
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