Pregnancy Journal: Louis October 2005

October: 

02nd: (37weeks) Went to the market and bought Louis a cute Santa hat, booties and bib.

03rd: Woke up to cramps overnight.  Went for a walk.

04th: Work up to more cramps overnight.  Felt nauseous.  Went for a walk.

05th: Dr appt. Ultrasound to check size which was all fine.  Louis engages when I sit down only due to a large pelvis?  Measured 32cm only.

06th: Bad pains at 6.45am and crampy pain in the afternoon.  Felt uncomfortable while teaching and very heavy in my pelvis.

It is here where I'll begin the birth story of my little boy...

Pregnancy Journal: Louis September 2005

September: 

02nd: Feeling heavy.  Painful kicks in side.  Belly cramps.


04th: (33weeks) Fathers Day.  Michael got breakfast in bed.  Packed my bags.  Started washing baby clothes. 

06th: Walk.  Antenatal class.

07th: Dr appt.  Measuring 30weeks only.  Measuring 97cm around!  Heartburn.

08th: Quite uncomfortable walking but I was determined anyway.  Leaky colostrum.

09th: The first dreaded stretchmark!

11th: (34weeks) Spent the weekend at Bonnie Doon.

15th: Slept in past 10am!

16th: Getting puffed easily.

17th: Baby shower.  So nice to have everyone excited about our little baby's arrival.  Some very nice gifts.   Bad migraine, numb fingers.

18th: (35weeks)

19th:  Still going on my walks.  Trying to stay healthy.


20th: Have planned out my business and lined up lots of teachers and helpers.  (not sure what planet I was on and how I made this all work!)

21st: Dr appt.  Measuring a little small. Just waiting for him to engage.


25th: (36weeks) Lunch at Mums for her birthday.


26th: Feeling very heavy and tired.  Hard to move and breathe at times.  Starting to feel impatient to meet our little man.

27th: Itchy stretchmarks - getting lots now.  Last antenatal class.  Strange, crampy braxton hicks.  9kg weight gain. 

30th: Niggly pains

Pregnancy Journal: Louis August 2005

August: 

07th: (29weeks)

12th: When Michael puts his head on my belly Louis kicks.  My belly button was looking really odd and Luke and Kelly have taken to poking it which feels horrible!! 


14th: (30weeks)

15th: Lots of kicks.  Colostrum leaking everywhere.  Tired and cranky.  I can feel Louis having hiccups.  Carpets have been cleaned.  Excitement is building.  Teachers and helpers have been arranged for most dance classes so I don't have to do as much jumping around. 


17th: Heartburn.  Achy hips if I lie on my side too long.  Achy back if I sit on the computer too long.

21st: (31weeks)

23rd: Antenatal class

24th: Dr appt.  Blood pressure was good.  Head down ready to go.  Fundal height was 30 weeks.  The sciatic pain/pinched nerve was from his head in my pelvis.

25th: 7kg gain.

27th.  Beautiful Melbourne day.  Painting nearly finished and curtains have been hung.  

28th: (32weeks) Another cold.

29th: The cot was put up.  

30th: Antenatal class. 

Pregnancy Journal: Louis July 2005

July: 

03rd: (24weeks) Weekend at Bonnie Doon with Oma and Opa.  Oma cooked up a storm of yummo food. 

04th: Placenta is at the back which is why I could feel most of the kicks at the front.

05th: Gained 5kg.  Skin is feeling tighter. Worried about stretch marks. 

07th: Visited our neighbours 6 week old baby at Monash.  He has Spina bifida.  Was so emotional seeing him and a lot of other premature or ill babies.  My heart ached for these babies and I determined never to take for granted the health of my baby. 

10th: (25weeks)

11th: Nesting and cleaning the linen closet.  Planning on using cloth nappies unless heading out. 

17th: (26weeks)

19th: Pains when walking, zinging from my belly button.  Starting to feel tired again.

22nd: Belly's getting big!

24th: (27 weeks)

26th: Tired.  Lots of stitches when walking.

27th: Dr Appt.  Iron and diabetes test.  Belly measuring 25 weeks.  Louis was already head down in my pelvis.  Belly goes hard sometimes - braxton hicks.  Felt so queasy after having the diabetes solution.  Gross.  6kg weight gain.
/cast prospecting

29th: No diabetes but iron is low.

30th: Erica took me shopping for some maternity clothes which was so nice. 

31st: (28weeks) Spent the weekend painting Louis's nursery after moving computers and desks out.  So exciting preparing for our little mans arrival! 

Pregnancy Journal: Louis June 2005

June: 

01st: Dr Appt.  Heart heartbeat and Louis gave a big kick.  Tummy measuring spot on.

02nd: Heartburn.

03rd: Eating too much junk food.

04th: Taught, shopped and then slept all afternoon.

05th: (20weeks) Half way mark!

06th: Looking stocky, not overly pregnant although could see the bottom of my belly button! Can feel much bigger kicks.

08th: It's a BOY! I was so excited I was up at 5.20am! Ultrasound went really well and bubba looks perfect.  So excited!  We already had decided on a name for a boy.  Louis Robert Visser. 

(Seriously, this was me half way through my first pregnancy?  Crazy!)  

09th: 3 - 3.5kg gain. Slept in until 10am!


11th: Michael and I headed down to the Great Ocean Road for a getaway.  We were both laying on the bed in our little cabin and we could see my tummy moving.  Michael also felt Louis kicking for the first time.

12th: (21weeks) It was so great to have a getaway before we became parents.  A beautiful weekend.

15th: Colostrum already!

19th: (22weeks)

21st: Getting lots of kicks and belly was growing bigger.  Leaking colostrum.

23rd: Loving watching my belly move when Louis kicks.  Was busy with the dance school.  Starting to wonder how I'll manage with a new baby and a dance concert only weeks afterwards. 

24th: The beginnings of sciatic pain.

26th: (23weeks)

29th: Dr Appt.  All good. Nothing beats hearing that heart beat.

Pregnancy Journal: Louis May 2005

May: 

01st: (15weeks)

02nd: More bad dreams.

04th: Dr Appt.  Blood pressure is all good.  60/105.  Heard heart beat and baby giving little kicks.

06th: Was lying down after a shower and felt a "pop".  Was it the first little kick?

08th: (16weeks) Mothers Day. Conned Michael into breakfast in bed.  Feeling more "pops" in my tummy when I lie down.  Went for a walk.

09th: Feeling so much better.  No more movements.

12th: Woke up in a panic to think my belly was gone.

13th: Better dreams.  2kg weight gain so far.

14th: Sore back.  Sick with a cold.

15th: (17weeks) 

16th: Still sick with a cold.  Belly pocking out a little more.

17th: Feeling little pops again.

21st: Felt a big thud.

22nd: (18weeks)

23rd: My 24th Birthday.  7 year anniversary of togetherness with Michael. 

24th: Our 2 year wedding anniversary.  Felt a big kick.  I had a dream it was going to be a boy.  I ate so many choc mint bikkies I needed to sleep half upright so I didn't throw up.  Hahaha.

25th: Give my little belly a rub each morning, very excited for it to be growing.  Felt movements while watching TV and sitting at the computer.  Had heartburn.

27th: Woke up dizzy and headachy but felt better after breakfast.

29th: (19weeks)

Pregnancy Journal: Louis April 2005

April: 

3rd: (11weeks) Family BBQ for Michael's birthday. 

4th: Feeling better - skin is clearing and not feeling as tired.  I can just feel my uterus.

7th: Bloated and had a little scare with some spotting.  Michael was super thoughtful and looked through my pile of magazines to find some information to try and put my mind at ease. 

10th: (12weeks) Every week we read a new entry in "up the duff" by Kaz Cooke.  Getting back on the healthy food with lots of veggies. 

12th: Pregnancy brain has kicked in.  Couldn't find my referral to the Dr so called for a new one and then had to call back when I later found it in my diary.  At this stage I'd put on half a kg.

13th: Ultrasound #2.  Baby gave us a wave and a kick.  He was 6cm long and we could hear his heartbeat. We decided not to do any further testing.  Michael came along again...I was so lucky to have him be able to take time off work to make it to the ultrasounds.  Such an exciting time! Pa came around for a visit and saw all of the latest pictures and video. 

17th: (13weeks) Pants are tight!

18th: Prelim Ante-natal class.  Bounty bag.  I found it a little boring.  Probably because it reminded me of being back at school.  Haha. 

19th: Sharp belly pains while teaching.

21st: 1kg weight gain.

24th: (14weeks)

27th: Bought size 12 jeans to fit my expanding tummy.  Gain of 1.5kg.

28th: People had made comments asking where my belly is.  Which freaked me out thinking that maybe my baby isn't growing.  Or sometimes I would wake up skinnier in the morning and feel like it was gone altogether.  (geez...didn't stress out much did I?)

29th: I could feel a little belly!  Woohoo!

Pregnancy Journal: Louis March 2005

March 2005:

01st: Feeling good, not many symptoms, which of course I worry about.

02nd: Bloating after meals.

03rd: Strange dreams. 

06th: (7weeks)

07th: Cramps, tired.

09th: Ultrasound as I was unsure of dates.  I was told I had a retroverted uterus which of course made me worry.  So unbelievably nervous and excited to see our little baby on the screen and to get pictures and a video!  Also so thankful to have Michael at the ultrasound to meet our baby for the first time and be so supportive. 

10th: Eating a heap - craving carbs, dairy and sweets. (Bakers delight choc chip hot cross buns, KFC chips, scalloped potato)  Staying active by walking and teaching dance classes. 
 
13th: (8weeks)

18th: Sleeping well - over 9 hours a night!  

20th: (9weeks) Skin breaking out

22nd: Emotional and blah. Still having bad dreams.  Bloated.

24th: Nauseous, seedy and lethargic.  Emotional.

25th: Slept in until 11.30am. 

26th: Started clearing garage and rearranging so that our spare room/office can be our babies bedroom

27th: (10weeks)

29th: Dr appointment.  Starting to feel like my pants aren't fitting so well!  

30th: Michael's 24th Birthday. Took Luke (8yo) and Kelly (6yo) to the movies.  I was so tired it made me question my Mummy stamina. 

Pregnancy Journal: Louis February 2005

Written in 2014 and backdated...(not many photos...so sad about that now) I kept a basic calender and also wrote a lot in a forum called www.bellybelly.com.au which I have luckily been able to look into some of the archives).  I  made some beautiful online friends, who became friends in real life and it was such an amazing place to connect, especially when I didn't have any other friends or family having babies at the time)

February 2005: 

Oh how I wanted to be pregnant.  The first month of trying was a no go and I had such a strong desire to fall pregnant.  I had been buying pregnancy and baby magazines for months and wanted nothing more than to become a mother.

10th: I tested negative on cycle day 31.  Bugger.

17th: Sick with flu

18th: Sick with flu, off my food.

19th: A few other symptoms are popping up...

20th: (5weeks) I am cleaning the bathroom and empty the bin which still has the old test in it.  I notice that there is the faintest of faint positives showing up.  I re-test and a super strong line appears!! I'm pregnant!!!! I cried happy tears and called Michael!  So excited! I decided I should probably wait before I tell anyone.

21st: I've told all of my family and my best friend.  Haha.  That didn't last long at all.  I go for a walk.

22nd: Dr appt - Blood test

23rd: Moody and off my food.  Everything tastes funny. 

24th: Blood test results back.  All good - even Iron.  (Which I was happy about because I'm vegetarian)

25th: Couldn't help myself and went shopping and bought baby socks, singlets and jumpsuits.  I'm vague and forgetful (so that's when it started...haha)

27th: (6weeks) Tour of the Angliss hospital (I was in super planning mode obviously!)

28th: Bought a new car (It was a Ford Fairmont - you know a real family car!  I really didn't mess around back then!) Waves of nausea.

Vintage: Setting the scene for 2005...

So we started off in 2005 doing the same old same old.

Michael working as a landscaper and me running my dance school.  I had finished at Bakers Delight and was focussed only on my business.

Oh...I know what the difference was...

This was the time I was hoping to become a Mum.  Oh my I had high hopes.  Like most women before they actually have children I had all of these things I was going to do or not do as the case may be.  It's quite humorous to think about now.

We do all start off with the best of intentions but life does get in the way and trip us up sometimes.

Anyway, I started off the year with excitement and hope...ready to start a new chapter in my life.

We were young, yet we had been together at this point for nearly 7 years and married for nearly 2, so if you think of it like that it makes sense that starting a family would be our next step.

I guess it's from here that our new journey began...
 

 I wanted to get a photo of the two of us before we had kids and funnily enough I was pregnant without knowing at this stage.  I do want to note that neither of us had many wrinkles or grey hair at this point! Haha. 

Vintage: Sydney Holiday

 Our second trip for 2004 and we were just as excited!

We slept in on Friday morning and nearly missed our flight which was a bit of a stress.  Our friend Ben picked us up from the airport and we went and had breakfast in Glebe.

We were definitely not used to the city/cafe lifestyle.  Fun for a weekend but not really something we're into.   We headed to Bondi beach which was great.  The people were very interesting and strange! haha. 

We checked into our hotel which was OK.  We went and had dinner and then went to Bens' gig.  First impressions of Sydney were great!

Saturday we drove Ben's car back and had some breakfast.  We went to the car show which the boys thoroughly enjoyed!!

We went to another gig with Ben and had a tour of Kings Cross.  It was a huge day Ben dropped us off at the hotel and we crashed.

Sunday, Ben picked us up again and we had breakfast and a stroll around Glebe market.  I think we did a few other bits and pieces that I can't recall and then we went back to the hotel to get ready for the Arias.

Silly me thought it started at 7.30 but that's when it must have started on TV so when we got there everyone was already seated and it had begun!! Whoops!  It was fun watching the performances.

Sunday we drove back to Ben's, had brekky again and went to and watched a movie.  It was a bit rainy and it took us a fair while to get to the airport so we nearly missed our flight home.  Luckily it was delayed so we made it.

It was huge weekend and we as much as we had an amazing time there really is no place like home!

Vintage: QLD holiday...May 2004

We were so excited for this holiday!  We got great prices on flights and amazingly I kept a brief journal of our adventures.  Unfortunately, our photos turned out pretty terrible due to some moisture or something on the lens so they all look a little fuzzy but it tells the story well enough!

Wednesday 26th May:
Up early at Beans house ready to travel to the airport.  I had butterflies the whole way.  Dropped off the car a the Holiday Inn where Bean got us free parking.  She drove us over to the airport in the shuttle bus.  We checked in and dropped off our bags and grabbed some brekky from Hudsons.  We headed down to gate 1 and just waited.  We asked for window seats so we got seat 1A and 1B which meant we had leg room as well.  It was all a bit exciting.

The takeoff was so fast and it was a bit scary!  I was surprised how quick the flight actually was.  It was great to see everything from so high up.  We flew into Brisbane airport at 9am.  We purchased tickets for the airtrain and it took us 90 minutes to Helensvale.

We then caught the bus to Treasure Island holiday park.  We were a little early but they let us check in.

The park was great with a tennis court, pools and spas.  We settled in and headed over to the shopping centre which was full of discount shopping.  The weather was humid and warm.

Thursday 27th May: We caught the bus to Surfers Paradise and decided to hire a car.  We ended up with a great little Hyundai Getz.  We went down to the beach and had lunch at Pizza Hut.  We had a sunbake at the beach but didn't swim.  It was a little cooler today. We had a nice spa back at the park.

Friday 28th May:  We had a sleep in and went for drive.  We had some lunch and had a swim at Surfers.  The water was so warm.

Saturday 29th May: Wet N Wild!   So much fun.  We came home, grabbed some dinner and headed down to Tweed Heads and saw some amazing fireworks.

Sunday 30th May: We had a sleep in, had a shop, lunch, hit of tennis, swim and spa.   A relaxing day.

Monday 31st May: We dropped off our hire car and caught the bus to Sea World.  I was so excited to swim with the dolphins.  It was amazing!  

Michael went snorkelling with the sharks which he enjoyed also. 

We both went on the corkscrew and got an instant headache!  I don't know if either of us were built for rollercoasters! 

It was a huge day and we went home and had an early night.  Our last night...sigh.

Tuesday 01st June: We slowly got organised and packed our gear up and headed to the station.  We did not want to go home!
Had a great flight home and when we picked up my car the lights weren't working so Michael luckily was clever enough to fix them somehow.
We drove home via Mums house to pick up our pet rats.  Yes, we had pet rats at the time.  (It was fun, but I highly doubt we'll ever get them again).

Such a fun holiday! 

Vintage: 2004 overview...

We had a great year in 2004 settled into our home.  I was working in my dance school and Michael continued as a landscaper.  We booked our belated honeymoon to the Gold Coast and a mini getaway to Sydney (will post later).

I was feeling very clucky and spent a heap of time convincing Michael to have a baby.  I had been clucky evey since I was around 21 years old so now that we were married and had our home I was so looking forward to becoming a Mum.

Here's a few photos from the year...

I had a birthday - the big 23! 

My gorgeous nieces...Kelly, Ruby and April

Bean got married!

I took Luke and Kelly for a day into Melbourne.  We caught the train in and went and looked at the Myer windows. 

It was around this time that I officially went of the pill as well.  I was beyond excited trying for a baby and so very nervous at the same time.  I was reading everything I could get my hands onto.  Books, magazines, forums.   Of course, I convinced Michael that it could take 6-12 months to fall pregnant so he didn't have to worry about it all just yet.  Ha. 

After Christmas, we went camping at Eildon.  Unfortunately while we were there we heard the very sad news that Michael's Oma Visser had passed away.  So very sad.

Vintage: Our first home!! September 2003

We scrimped and saved (and borrowed) to purchase our first home.  It was a unit in Croydon North and we were SO excited!

Michael arrived there first...

Beautiful purple hallway...haha...

Our room...

Lounge room looking a little better...

We had to cut the top out of that cupboard because the fridge wouldn't fit! 

 

 It was instantly "home" for us.  It wasn't perfect but we loved that little place and we were so excited to be out on our own again.  Exciting days!

Vintage: Our wedding day...the reception

 We had our reception at Donovans restaurant in St Kilda.  It was so much fun and the food was amazing.

After such a beautiful, amazing day we said farewell to our family and friends and headed to the Hilton hotel in East Melbourne.

The next morning we had a beautiful buffet breakfast and then massages in the day spa.

We checked out and headed to Crown for a browse and a movie.  Our first day as a married couple.  It was so exciting and strange.

Then we headed back to my brothers house.  Bugger!  No honeymoon for us as we were busy saving for a house.

Which, luckily for us was just around the corner... 

Vintage: Our wedding day...after ceremony photos

 On the beach...