Saana was born on the 4/3/08 by Caesarian because she was breech. Below is the account I wrote of her birth about week after she was born.
Mum dropped us off at the hospital at 11am and we went up to day surgery. We were quickly taken into the main section where we had to change into hospital clothes and scrubs. I got to wear paper undies, hospital gown and hospital dressing gown. Plus those special booties and hat. Miki had to put on the blue scrubs over his clothes and shoes etc. I wanted a photo, but he wouldn’t let me.
The doctor then sat and went through all our details and put the bands etc on my wrist.
We then had to wait in another waiting room until it was time for the surgery. I ended up sitting there until 1:45 in paper underwear.
At 1:45 they took us through to the “holding area� where I got put on a bed and they checked my paper work again. Miki had to stay there while they took me around to the theatre. I remember thinking he would never find me as we seemed to wind through about 100 corridors.
The anesthetist came and explained what would happen and I was then left in the theatre waiting room, while they finished the girl ahead of me and cleaned up the theatre. Finally I was wheeled into the theatre, I had to sit on the edge of the bed, curled over while an orderly or ward clerk (or someone similar, Sascha probably knows) held my shoulders so I couldn’t squirm or move. The anaesthetist then put in a local and then the spinal block. I was surprise how little it all hurt and I had no problem staying still for the spinal block ( I think it took two goes to get it in straight).
They then helped me line down and started to put in the other drips on left hand and the monitors on the right hand.
IT was then that they let Miki come into the theatre. And I must say I was really glad to see him, and he said the same. He said it was really hard waiting in the holding area not knowing what was happening.
They sat him down on a chair next to my head and he was allowed to hold my hand. They then started cutting, but I didn’t know that. I then started to feel sick, I founded out later that my blood pressure dropped and that combine with the pressure on my spine from the baby made me feel sick. I ended up throwing up (quite scary when you are flat on your back), but then I felt much better.
It was at about that point they were trying to get her out, but she kept pulling away and pushing her head up high into my chest. I could actually feel that and the dr told us what was happening.
The next thing miki said “She’s blue.� As he saw her feet as she was pulled out. But it turned out only her feet and hands were blue. They showed her to us over the curtain and then took her to be checked etc. Miki went with her and the midwife, but they stayed in the theatre.
While they stitched me up, they put Saana next to my head. I was too scared to move at first but the nurses helped me move both hands so I could touch her and almost hold her next to me. Then they gave her to Miki to hold for a while.
Once they were nearly finished stitching the midwife took Miki and Saana back to post-natal so they could weigh and measure her. They wheeled me to recovery and started setting up the next lot of drips and attaching a personal pain control thingy.
One of the nurses asked where my baby was and I said I hoped with my husband and she teased me about losing my baby already.
Then the midwife and Miki came back to recovery with Saana and she was put on my chest and I was encouraged to try and feed her. I don't remember if she actually feed, but it was a wonderful experience just lying there with my new daughter on my chest.
They then wheeled me to post-natal (Saana stayed on my chest the whole time). Once we got to post-natal she was put in the crib while they checked me and changed the sheets because I had bled all over the sheets. Miki went to make phone calls to family and send text messages.
My mum and Miki's parents came in that night to see us and have a hold of our precious daughter. I started to feel sick after everyone had left and before I knew it, I had thrown up in the bed and the nurses had to change the sheets again. I kept throwing up for the first half of the night and I know Miki was very torn between helping me and looking after Saana who kept crying every time I threw up. I had to feed Saana several times while I was sick and poor Miki was on standby to grab her when I needed to throw up. I finally started to feel better about midnight and we then settled down to have our first night together as a family. The room had a sofa bed for miki to sleep on, but I don't think it was very comfortable and he didn't have a pillow.
By the next morning I was feeling better and was allowed up to have a shower and get dressed in real clothes. After that I felt we really started our time as a family.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Saturday, 3 November 2007
Maybe I'm back
Well am I back or not? The answer remains to be seen. I have finally finished uni and am finding I have slightly more time to garden, read etc. All those things that normal people do. It is spring and I have very little time left to get my summer vegetable garden going. Have to get DH to help me drag the baths so I can refill them and give them a solid drink.
I have now turned half my back lawn into a flower bed. Well it was going to be a flower bed, I threw heaps of seeds on the no-dig garden I had made and waited for them to come up. Many have grown but out of the compost which I used in the no-dig I seem to have things such as pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes and maybe beans. I used pea-straw for the straw in the no-dig garden and I have lots and lots of little pea plants growing, which I am happy because I know they actually get pretty flowers. I don't have photos at the moment, but I will pop out and take some soon. I have been really lucky that after I made that garden we have been have regular, if light rain which has helped.
Oh in the new flower garden I have also planted rhubarb and globe artichokes and I'm planning to put herbs as well when I get organised.
That will do for now, but fingers crossed everybody that I start posting more regularly again.
I have now turned half my back lawn into a flower bed. Well it was going to be a flower bed, I threw heaps of seeds on the no-dig garden I had made and waited for them to come up. Many have grown but out of the compost which I used in the no-dig I seem to have things such as pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes and maybe beans. I used pea-straw for the straw in the no-dig garden and I have lots and lots of little pea plants growing, which I am happy because I know they actually get pretty flowers. I don't have photos at the moment, but I will pop out and take some soon. I have been really lucky that after I made that garden we have been have regular, if light rain which has helped.
Oh in the new flower garden I have also planted rhubarb and globe artichokes and I'm planning to put herbs as well when I get organised.
That will do for now, but fingers crossed everybody that I start posting more regularly again.
Thursday, 7 June 2007
General thoughts
Time is getting away from me, I have lots of blogs in draft form, which I'm not ready to post yet, but I don't ever seem to have time to sit down and write them properly and add in the photos etc. Too busy writing assignments and stuff I suppose. Not much is happening in the garden at the moment, I've got some cyclamens going in my bedroom now and I will post more about them soon. Two weekends ago I replanted some plants, my first real attempt at this, and I feel like I"m starting to get my head around it. What was particularly special was replanting my Nana's African violets, that will be a post soon too.
Tonight was special, I'm about to make omelettes for tea and I went to the garden and pick a leek, silver beet and parsley for my omelettes. The leek was the first I've picked, my mum told me to cut it off at ground level and it will grow again. So that is what I did, I hope it grows. If the leeks do go well, I will plant more next year as I love them and have a lovely leek and chickpea soup I would love to make with my own leeks. The silver beet is a dream, it grows with very little love and attention and every time I get a craving for green veges I go and pick some and steam it, to have with my dinner. No more rotting veges in the fridge.
Early autumn I got very excited and planted broccoli, Brussel sprouts and mini cabbage. They all got eaten by caterpillars and with my busy schedule I gave up on them and decided to do it next year. But some have come back, but now I have no idea what they are. Hopefully they will grow and I will find out.
Better go and cook those leeks and DH is starting to look hungry.
Tonight was special, I'm about to make omelettes for tea and I went to the garden and pick a leek, silver beet and parsley for my omelettes. The leek was the first I've picked, my mum told me to cut it off at ground level and it will grow again. So that is what I did, I hope it grows. If the leeks do go well, I will plant more next year as I love them and have a lovely leek and chickpea soup I would love to make with my own leeks. The silver beet is a dream, it grows with very little love and attention and every time I get a craving for green veges I go and pick some and steam it, to have with my dinner. No more rotting veges in the fridge.
Early autumn I got very excited and planted broccoli, Brussel sprouts and mini cabbage. They all got eaten by caterpillars and with my busy schedule I gave up on them and decided to do it next year. But some have come back, but now I have no idea what they are. Hopefully they will grow and I will find out.
Better go and cook those leeks and DH is starting to look hungry.
Monday, 28 May 2007
Spathiphyllum
After my last post I decided to do a search and find out exactly what is a Spathiphyllum. I search in google and found this link to Wikipedia entry. As soon as a saw the picture, my mind went "Oohh, one of those." So now I know that it is called a Spathiphyllum.
Are you a green thumb gardener?
On Stuarts page, he had put links to some older posts, one on African Violets I will post about soon, but I thought this little quiz gave an interesting outlook on where I'm at on the scale of becoming a green thumb gardener.
Are you a green thumb gardener?
So you've been pottering around with a couple of plants, got your hands dirty in a bag of potting mix and even removed the odd snail that was molesting your cabbages. Does that make you a green thumb gardener?
Let me paint a couple of scenarios for you and see how you fair.
1. You visit a friend's house and notice that their spathiphyllum is wilting on the window sill. Do you;
a). Immediately grab a container of water and pour it onto the plant
b). Point out to your friend that their plant is not as healthy as it could be
c). Mourn over the loss of another indoor plant
d). Type "Spathiphyllum" into Google to see what it is
As much as I would like to chose something higher, I would not be game to comment to a friend and I certainly wouldn't water it for them. OK I admit it, I'm off to actaually search to find out was a "Spathiphyllum" is on google. Make that a D. :(
2. You have heard that composting is a great way to recycle your garden refuse. Do you;
a). Build your own compost bins and start filling it with garden waste
b). Head to your local hardware store and purchase a manufactured compost bin
c). Feel bad when you put the next lot of garden waste in the garbage bin
d). Wonder if it's okay to put some of the kid's toys in the compost
I'm so excited, that's exactly what I did. OK maybe lining a few bricks up (I didn't use mortor or anything) is not quite building. But it is working, I love my compost.
3. There is a gardening fair coming up on the weekend. Do you;
a). Schedule your weekend around attending it
b). Phone your neighbour to see if they're interested
c). Stay at home thinking that it would have been a great idea to go
d). Buy tickets to the football
And if you are me, travel 3 hours to sydney, stay in a hotel and wander around for two whole days. Yes I was in heaven at the ABC gardening expo last year and I am waiting with baited breath for this years. That reminds me, have to book the hotel.
4. Your friend has just purchased a "Wollemi Pine" and invites you to come and help plant it. Do you;
a). Drop everything and rush over - even if you had to wake the baby
b). Try and schedule a better time during the week
c). Tell them that you intend buying your own Wollemi Pine and you'll check there's out next time you're visiting
d). Type "Wollemi Pine" into Google to see what it is
Especially because they are cool. But also because I'm still earning how to plant trees and it would be a great learning experience. Now I just have to find a friend who would buy a wollemi pine. Oh and a baby.
5. You find some snails in the garden eating your lettuces. Do you;
a). Instinctively know how to eliminate them organically
b). Pick each one off by hand
c). Reach for the Bayer snail pellets
d). Remove the lettuces because you think they're a weed
Time consuming I know, but is there a better way. Better go and search on google :), so I know how to instinctively eliminate them organically.
6. As you flick through the channels on your TV you come across a gardening show. Do you;
a). Make yourself a herbal tea and cancel every other appointment to watch it
b). Make sure nothing else is on the other channels
c). Note the time and channel so you can watch it next week
d). Write a letter of complaint to the broadcasting tribunal
I will watch most gardening shows, I also marked C, because I would want to know so I can watch it next week and the week after. My favourite show will always be Gardening Australia on the ABC, and I'm slowly teaching my husband that 6:30 on Saturday is quiet time in our house.
7. Your children get inspired to garden and want to help you. Do you;
a). Find creative ways to educate them about gardening
b). Give them a packet of seeds to plant
c). Get them to pull out all the weeds in the veggie patch
d). Give them your gardening tools and go and watch TV
Let's be honest here, I would definitely try and find creative ways to get them involved in garden, such as the ideas given the Gardening Australia magazine each month. But I would also get them to plant seeds and plants in the garden, and yes I would get them to help me in the vegetable garden. Now I just need to get myself some kids, maybe I could steal some nieces and nephews sometime.
So how did I go I got A= 5/7 B=1/7 and C=1/7 Does that equate to an A or a B. I think at the moment I'm more a B, but with time I hope to become an A, which equals a Green Thumb Gardener. I'll let you know when I get there.
If you ended up with all (a)'s then you can call yourself a Green Thumb Gardener. If you mostly answered (b) then people may suspect you have tinges of green on your thumbs and if you answered (c) for most of the scenarios then you are likely to be classified as a weekend gardener.
However, if you found that all the (d) responses were resonating with you, (as hard as it is to say this) gardening may not be your forte.
Are you a green thumb gardener?
So you've been pottering around with a couple of plants, got your hands dirty in a bag of potting mix and even removed the odd snail that was molesting your cabbages. Does that make you a green thumb gardener?
Let me paint a couple of scenarios for you and see how you fair.
1. You visit a friend's house and notice that their spathiphyllum is wilting on the window sill. Do you;
a). Immediately grab a container of water and pour it onto the plant
b). Point out to your friend that their plant is not as healthy as it could be
c). Mourn over the loss of another indoor plant
d). Type "Spathiphyllum" into Google to see what it is
As much as I would like to chose something higher, I would not be game to comment to a friend and I certainly wouldn't water it for them. OK I admit it, I'm off to actaually search to find out was a "Spathiphyllum" is on google. Make that a D. :(
2. You have heard that composting is a great way to recycle your garden refuse. Do you;
a). Build your own compost bins and start filling it with garden waste
b). Head to your local hardware store and purchase a manufactured compost bin
c). Feel bad when you put the next lot of garden waste in the garbage bin
d). Wonder if it's okay to put some of the kid's toys in the compost
I'm so excited, that's exactly what I did. OK maybe lining a few bricks up (I didn't use mortor or anything) is not quite building. But it is working, I love my compost.
3. There is a gardening fair coming up on the weekend. Do you;
a). Schedule your weekend around attending it
b). Phone your neighbour to see if they're interested
c). Stay at home thinking that it would have been a great idea to go
d). Buy tickets to the football
And if you are me, travel 3 hours to sydney, stay in a hotel and wander around for two whole days. Yes I was in heaven at the ABC gardening expo last year and I am waiting with baited breath for this years. That reminds me, have to book the hotel.
4. Your friend has just purchased a "Wollemi Pine" and invites you to come and help plant it. Do you;
a). Drop everything and rush over - even if you had to wake the baby
b). Try and schedule a better time during the week
c). Tell them that you intend buying your own Wollemi Pine and you'll check there's out next time you're visiting
d). Type "Wollemi Pine" into Google to see what it is
Especially because they are cool. But also because I'm still earning how to plant trees and it would be a great learning experience. Now I just have to find a friend who would buy a wollemi pine. Oh and a baby.
5. You find some snails in the garden eating your lettuces. Do you;
a). Instinctively know how to eliminate them organically
b). Pick each one off by hand
c). Reach for the Bayer snail pellets
d). Remove the lettuces because you think they're a weed
Time consuming I know, but is there a better way. Better go and search on google :), so I know how to instinctively eliminate them organically.
6. As you flick through the channels on your TV you come across a gardening show. Do you;
a). Make yourself a herbal tea and cancel every other appointment to watch it
b). Make sure nothing else is on the other channels
c). Note the time and channel so you can watch it next week
d). Write a letter of complaint to the broadcasting tribunal
I will watch most gardening shows, I also marked C, because I would want to know so I can watch it next week and the week after. My favourite show will always be Gardening Australia on the ABC, and I'm slowly teaching my husband that 6:30 on Saturday is quiet time in our house.
7. Your children get inspired to garden and want to help you. Do you;
a). Find creative ways to educate them about gardening
b). Give them a packet of seeds to plant
c). Get them to pull out all the weeds in the veggie patch
d). Give them your gardening tools and go and watch TV
Let's be honest here, I would definitely try and find creative ways to get them involved in garden, such as the ideas given the Gardening Australia magazine each month. But I would also get them to plant seeds and plants in the garden, and yes I would get them to help me in the vegetable garden. Now I just need to get myself some kids, maybe I could steal some nieces and nephews sometime.
So how did I go I got A= 5/7 B=1/7 and C=1/7 Does that equate to an A or a B. I think at the moment I'm more a B, but with time I hope to become an A, which equals a Green Thumb Gardener. I'll let you know when I get there.
If you ended up with all (a)'s then you can call yourself a Green Thumb Gardener. If you mostly answered (b) then people may suspect you have tinges of green on your thumbs and if you answered (c) for most of the scenarios then you are likely to be classified as a weekend gardener.
However, if you found that all the (d) responses were resonating with you, (as hard as it is to say this) gardening may not be your forte.
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Green Thumb Sunday -Flowers
When I went for a walk in my garden this afternoon, I was surprised at the number of flowers in my garden. I'm not really a flower person, my husband commented the other day, that I'm really only interested in plants I can eat. Not completely true, but close.Near by garden pond, there is the pineapple sage with its pretty red flowers.
Also near the pond is this flower. I think the plant is called savoury, but I'm not sure. I love it's daisy like flowers.
Then there is the potato vine. I know I should prune it, but I do love the constant white flowers.
I really must begin cutting flowers and bring them inside occasionally.
Saturday, 26 May 2007
Saturday Musings _ Things to do
Well now I'm suddenly back into gardening, there are so many projects I'm considering.
Big Gardens
I would love to start turning the back lawn into gardens, but I think that is going to have to wait awhile. Our lawn is on very bad soil at the moment. Very compacted, But I'm planning on doing these tests soon to see just how bad the soil actually is. Very bad is my guess. I think that I will have to use a no-dig style garden over every section of the lawn, so help build up suitable soil for gardening.
The lawn is basically divided into three sections, (see the photos below) I have different plans for each section, but there are reasons, why I can't get started on them yet.
Here is a photo of the whole lawn from the back step. Please excuse the rubbish and such in the garden, I'm slowly getting better about keeping a tidy garden.
The three sections are viewed from this point.
1) The first section is the one closest to the house. The vegetable baths, drain onto this section of the lawn, (when I'm watering). For this section I would like to create a cottage style garden with lots of daisys, bulbs and other stuff I haven't discovered yet. The problem with this section is it is held up using a retaining wall, which I'm pretty sure I will need to raise so I can build up the soil using my favourite no-dig style.
2) The second section is under the clothes line, it will also need the retaining wall built up and I suspect this will be the last garden to be developed. My plan at the moment is to have a sandy style garden with mostly low ground cover and plants that have low water needs. I am planning to keep the clothes line, as much as it is ugly.
3) The third section which runs along the back fence. At the moment there is a metre strip with a pine log style border. (Which I hate by the way). We have just had the privet cut out, but there is still a lilac and a few low fleshy plants. I don't really know what they are, but maybe one day I will take photos and see if anyone can identify them. My plan for this garden is a natural habitat garden with mainly natives. I had hoped to get this garden planted this year, but it is not going to happen. I didn't get the no-dig soil set up early enough, and now it is time to plant the plants and I haven't killed of the lawn etc. I did consider starting the no-dig part now, so I could plant in spring. But I suspect with level four water restrictions on the way , I'm better waiting and planting next Autumn. I'm sure I'll survive the wait, and it gives me plenty of time to plan.
So that is the lawn projects, which are long term goals.
But what about short term projects?
African Violets
I inherited these two African Violets off my Nana, they are in pots that I made for her one christmas. But I think they are due to be re-potted, so I am in the middle of learning how to do this. All a bit scary. I promise I will do it one day. At least I now know that you can buy special potting mix for African Violets.
Inside plants
I went for a walk through our local nursery today and boy did I start drooling. I was mainly looking for indoor plants for our bedroom and the master bathroom. For the bedroom I think I'm going to get cyclamen as mentioned in an early post and these miniature bamboo ferny things, which will match the bamboo in the courtyard.
For the main bathroom I saw lots of wonderful plants, some trailing ones and the maidenhair fern looked so beautiful and delicate.
Vegetable garden
The vegetable garden is still going, but I do need to plan some more plantings. I want to plant more silver-beet and rainbow chard, which is being eaten all most every night some weeks. As I mentioned early in the Rhubarb post I am planning to set up a perennial vegetable garden down the back of the garden. I'm thinking about planting rhubarb, raspberries, aspargas and artichokes at the moment. I'm still going to plant in baths, but this time I am going to try putting sand and gravel down before I place the baths. I am hoping this will stop some of the weeds growing up around the baths.
So there are some of the projects I need to get started. I might start by looking into where I can buy sand and gravel for the perennial vegetable garden and potting mix for the African Violets.
Big Gardens
I would love to start turning the back lawn into gardens, but I think that is going to have to wait awhile. Our lawn is on very bad soil at the moment. Very compacted, But I'm planning on doing these tests soon to see just how bad the soil actually is. Very bad is my guess. I think that I will have to use a no-dig style garden over every section of the lawn, so help build up suitable soil for gardening.
The lawn is basically divided into three sections, (see the photos below) I have different plans for each section, but there are reasons, why I can't get started on them yet.
Here is a photo of the whole lawn from the back step. Please excuse the rubbish and such in the garden, I'm slowly getting better about keeping a tidy garden.
The three sections are viewed from this point.
1) The first section is the one closest to the house. The vegetable baths, drain onto this section of the lawn, (when I'm watering). For this section I would like to create a cottage style garden with lots of daisys, bulbs and other stuff I haven't discovered yet. The problem with this section is it is held up using a retaining wall, which I'm pretty sure I will need to raise so I can build up the soil using my favourite no-dig style.
2) The second section is under the clothes line, it will also need the retaining wall built up and I suspect this will be the last garden to be developed. My plan at the moment is to have a sandy style garden with mostly low ground cover and plants that have low water needs. I am planning to keep the clothes line, as much as it is ugly.
3) The third section which runs along the back fence. At the moment there is a metre strip with a pine log style border. (Which I hate by the way). We have just had the privet cut out, but there is still a lilac and a few low fleshy plants. I don't really know what they are, but maybe one day I will take photos and see if anyone can identify them. My plan for this garden is a natural habitat garden with mainly natives. I had hoped to get this garden planted this year, but it is not going to happen. I didn't get the no-dig soil set up early enough, and now it is time to plant the plants and I haven't killed of the lawn etc. I did consider starting the no-dig part now, so I could plant in spring. But I suspect with level four water restrictions on the way , I'm better waiting and planting next Autumn. I'm sure I'll survive the wait, and it gives me plenty of time to plan.
So that is the lawn projects, which are long term goals.
But what about short term projects?
African Violets
I inherited these two African Violets off my Nana, they are in pots that I made for her one christmas. But I think they are due to be re-potted, so I am in the middle of learning how to do this. All a bit scary. I promise I will do it one day. At least I now know that you can buy special potting mix for African Violets.
Inside plants
I went for a walk through our local nursery today and boy did I start drooling. I was mainly looking for indoor plants for our bedroom and the master bathroom. For the bedroom I think I'm going to get cyclamen as mentioned in an early post and these miniature bamboo ferny things, which will match the bamboo in the courtyard.
For the main bathroom I saw lots of wonderful plants, some trailing ones and the maidenhair fern looked so beautiful and delicate.
Vegetable garden
The vegetable garden is still going, but I do need to plan some more plantings. I want to plant more silver-beet and rainbow chard, which is being eaten all most every night some weeks. As I mentioned early in the Rhubarb post I am planning to set up a perennial vegetable garden down the back of the garden. I'm thinking about planting rhubarb, raspberries, aspargas and artichokes at the moment. I'm still going to plant in baths, but this time I am going to try putting sand and gravel down before I place the baths. I am hoping this will stop some of the weeds growing up around the baths.
So there are some of the projects I need to get started. I might start by looking into where I can buy sand and gravel for the perennial vegetable garden and potting mix for the African Violets.
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