After Delivery

On the day, Heloisa was born, we kindly asked for no
visitors at the hospital.
Since my parents weren't coming, we decided to ask for
no visitors at all at the hospital on Feb 11th.
My parents weren't coming because my doctor thought it
was my Mom's best interest not to stay at a hospital,
since she is in remission and doing really well.
Heloisa had jaundice. Her billirubin levels were really high,
before she was 24 hours old.
So she had to take light baths.
On Sunday and Monday, we had plenty of visitors,
but most of them only saw her on the nursery window.
On Tuesday, we were both released and we went home.
My Mom arrived that afternoon. She was a God's send.
I don't know how I would have survived without her help.
She stayed over a week. I learned so much with her.
She helped overcome my fears of caring for Heloisa.
Giving Heloisa a bath was (is) by far the most
freighthening task for me.
It seemed she was a toy with a new set of batteries.
She was restless, she cleaned, she cooked,
she did our laundry, she worked on my backyard
and she bossed around my housekeeper.
Since, Heloisa was born a week before Mardi Gras,
my Dad came over the long weekend
to meet her.
It was really nice to have them at my house sharing
such a especial moment with us.
But what is good come to an end.
On Monday, they flew back home.
And it was only Paulo, Heloisa and I at home.
I was really scared and overwhelmed.
I had so many doubts.
I was basically convinced I wouldn't be capable
to take care of Heloisa
Heloisa was born on the small side,
due to my preeclampsia.
She was born with 2,560kg or 5lb, 4oz (given or taken).
But, once again, I had to face my fears.
I will never forget the stress to give her a bath
without my Mom on my side.

After a month and a half, I can tell you
 I am not feeling as overwhelmed as I was.
But to give her a bath,
it still is the most freightening task ; )

Ramblings of a New Mom

You can find bellow my rambling thougts about my experience as a new older Mom ; )

One. I completely underestimated the amount of laundry a baby creates.

Two. I had no idea breast feeding would be so hard.

Three. I never imagine I would feel sleep deprived, since I am a person who can survive with 06 hours a night.

Four. I never imagine I would be so content to be locked inside my house (or my parents’) with Baby H and I wouldn’t have the urge to get out of the house.

Five. I never thought this cutie would be a colicky baby : (

Six. I never thought Hubby and I could become closer than we already were.

Seven. I never thought I would be so in love with someone so quick.

Eight. I didn't have a clue about how hard is to travel with a baby.

Nine. I didn't have a clue how many things you must carry when you go out with a baby ; )

I hope y’all have a great weekend.

Something blue by Emily Giffin

When I was at the hospital, I read Something Blue by Emily Giffin. This book is a sequel to Something Borrowed. I didn’t read Something Borrowed, but it was really nice anyway.

When I started the book, I hated Darcy Rhone. I felt she was the most selfish person in the world.

As the book develops, you can see the changes in Darcy Rhone character and you start to root for Darcy.

The end of the book is magical and happy.

It was a fun and quick read during my hospital stay.

Have you read this book? If you did, what do you think?

Miscellany monday

Welcome to another edition of Miscellany Monday!

One. I am slowly starting to get the grip of things when it comes to baby h.
Two. We drove to my parents house last Thursday.
Three. between both of them and my bother, I don't have the oportunity to hold baby H that much.
Four. My parents dispute to hold her.
Five. when ny niece and my nephew are here there are no dispute. There are pelnty of babies to hold ; )
Six. I am enjoying the fall weather here. I woke up to wonderful 55°F.
Seven. I went a little over board and I bought a lot of easter decoration.
Eight. Hubby is not going back to France.
Nine. I am extremely happy and so is he.
Ten. To celebrate my return to the blog world, a little phone picture of baby H.

Heloisa’s birth story

*** This is a really long post and it is for me to preserve my memories. ***

As I reached the 35 weeks mark, I diagnosed with preeclampsia.

But what is Pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension) in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.

Pre-eclampsia refers to a set of symptoms rather than any causative factor, and there are many different causes for the condition. It appears likely that there are substances from the placenta that can cause endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels of susceptible women.^] While blood pressure elevation is the most visible sign of the disease, it involves generalized damage to the maternal endothelium, kidneys, and liver, with the release of vasoconstrictive factors being secondary to the original damage.

Pre-eclampsia may develop from 20 weeks gestation (it is considered early onset before 32 weeks, which is associated with increased morbidity). Its progress differs among patients; most cases are diagnosed pre-term. Pre-eclampsia may also occur up to six weeks post-partum. Apart from Caesarean section or induction of labor (and therefore delivery of the placenta), there is no known cure. It is the most common of the dangerous pregnancy complications; it may affect both the mother and the unborn child.

Since my blood pressure was under control, my doctor decided to wait until I reached 38 weeks to deliver Heloisa. But when I reached 36 weeks, my protein levels were extremely HIGH, so my doctor changes his approach and changed our target to 37 weeks.

I completed 37 weeks on February 9^th and he scheduled my C-Section for Feb 11^th at 10am.

To say we were excited, scary and over the moon is an understatement.

By 9:30 am, on Feb 11^th, the nurses came to take me to the OR and to take Paulo to the changing room. Since, they had 18 scheduled births for that day, they were running late. (Great!)

So, as I sat on my wheel chair on the Recovery room, for those moms who just had their babies, I could not believe that in less than two hours my baby would be with in my arms. And our family of two would become a family of three.

As I waited, I had so many thoughts racing through my mind. Most of them where not joyful thoughts, they were “What if” thoughts, What if she doesn’t breath?, what if she doesn’t cry when she is born, what if, what if…..

After 20 minutes, which it looked like much more, a sweet nurse came to take me to the OR. While they prepared me for the C-Section, I was so nervous, that I can’t remember anything that we talked while we were there. I remember my doctor and the anesthesiologist talked with me nonstop, but for me it is all a blur.

When they were ready, a nurse went out to pick up Paulo and then the show began.

At 11:20 am, our sweet Heloisa came into this world. She cried right away, they showed her to me. Paulo went with the doctors to see all the tests on her. Since she cried right away, they put her on a sling and gave her to Paulo. She stayed with us until the surgery finished.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any picture of Paulo and her with the sling. But it is a true memory for us to share.

Truth to be told, the rest of the day is a blur and I can only say, it was the most tense and yet the best moment of my life.

Heloisa's Baby Shower

It is a shame that it took me almost two months to share with you Heloisa's Baby Shower.

But, it is better later than never ; )

I invited only a few friends and family to share this especial moment.

Since I am not from São Paulo, I don't have a lot of friends here, but the ones I have, are really good friends ; )

My parents came and they stayed for the weekend.

I got most of my ideas from Pinterest, decoration and stationary wise.

As for the food, I did half the cooking and the other half I ordered.

Salty Food: Cheese Quiche, Cheese Ball , Chicken Salad – Thanks Jenna for the recipe, Tuna Salad and Bread and Crackers

Desserts: Strawberry Pies, Mousse au Chocolate and Coconut Mousse.

It was fun to prepare all the little details for Heloisa's shower and to celebrate her little life with such amazing friends and family ; )

Mid-week randoms

• I am having a writer’s block ever since Heloisa was born;
• I don’t like it, because I am missing to record a lot of tiny details of her life.
• I noticed I didn’t even share the pictures of her baby shower.
• I didn’t acknowledge our 11^th Anniversary on February 28^th.
• Shame on me.
• Even though Hubby is on vacation, his boss called him to go to a meeting today.
• He couldn’t say no, but he isn’t happy about it either
• We still don’t know if he is going back to France in mid-March.
• Heloisa’s nursery is not done yet.
• We still have a few details to work on.
• I feel discourage about it;
• But I didn’t plan for her to come early or for me to be admitted to the hospital at 35 weeks pregnant.
• Taking care of Heloisa doesn’t stress me out as much as having undone house work.
• I am happy I have a house keeper, but there are days I wish I have a full time maid.
• It is time to feed the baby.

Xoxo,