AVO - AMOR VINCIT OMNIA

Twins by surprise

2011-03-04T10:46:00.006+01:00

As the title says it was a surprise, a big one considering not only I got to know about the twins around 21 weeks but there was no chance of this happening since there are no cases in my family or my husband's. It was in fact a big shock and it took me nearly a week to get over it.

These are a couple of pictures of my belly a couple of weeks ago and then what can be seen of my babies (last Monday). Hopefully they will not come out before Easter but any time after that will be fine.

My plans for an HWBAC (Home water birth after cesarean) went out the window of course as it's too risky for anybody in Italy to consider such a thing happening, but at least I found an awesome obstetrician which will help me with the labor at home until 4-5cm and then take me to the only hospital near us (one hour of travel more or less) where the chief of Gynecology agreed to let me have my babies naturally if no serious problem arises.

I really don't know if I will have any time to update after they are born but I really hope so.

Dreamy houses

2010-11-21T12:07:00.002+01:00

Out of curiosity I checked some Uk properties and after looking at lots and lots of them I found 3 that were particularly beautiful to my eyes and If I had the money I would certainly buy them all =)!

The first one is a 5 bedroom semi detached house at the end of a road, near a field, so a quiet safe road for kids, in Shirebrook, Derbyshire selling for the price of £189,500 which is not bad considering it's a beautiful house in a relatively quiet location not far from Langwith-WhaleyThorns railway station and Mansfield.

(http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=6983676)

The second one is much pricier at £575,000 in New Romney, Kent. It is a 5 bedroom detached house although I would call it a mansion as it's huge! The price is higher not just because of the dimension, but because of the location, overlooking a golf course and near Folkstone, therefore it gives easy access to the Channel Tunnel. Not to mention the relatively closeness to London and Dover.

(http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=7283372)

The third one is the priciest at £1,290,000 in New Romney, Kent. It is a 6 bedroom detached house although bigger than the previous one therefore once again a mansion, same area as the previous one but with a lot more to offer.

(http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=4918458)

I enclosed the links to each poroperty so you can dream (or buy if you cxan afford it!) about these 3 beauties. Enjoy.

FORGOTTEN THINGS ABOUT MY (NOT)GIVING BIRTH - AKA C-SECTION

2010-01-07T00:22:00.002+01:00

In progress, soon the post.

VBAC facts and statistics to use against lies

2010-01-05T01:41:00.007+01:00

or those doctors who lie to you about the risks of uterine rupture statistics, here it is the official one from:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/351/25/2581/T3

And for all the Vbac and Hbac infos this great website that tells it all, here you'll find everything you're looking for:

http://vbacfacts.com

Have a nice reading and be informed to fight for the natural freedom every mother should have! Information is the key to win people that lie to us for their convenience.

ABOUT MY BOY

2009-07-06T17:04:00.002+02:00

I breastfed my boy for 2 years, 4 months and 1 week =)

Our breastfeeding ended in a very quick and painless way: one day I realized he was not swallowing milk anymore and the same day we stopped and it was never a big deal luckily.

UPDATES!

2009-05-16T16:29:00.004+02:00

Robert in the sling for the first time, it's amazing how much he calms down when I'm using it =)

It's been a long time since my last post, I've been busy with my boy, work and lately I caught "bronco pneumonia", a stage below pneumonia. I started being ill on Easter Monday and got a bad cough and a general ill state, I was given antibiotic and bed/house rest as outside it was still quite chilly. I did so and I felt recovered since I had also finished the antibiotic. But I was obviously wrong as I started coughing again after a few days (maybe I went out with too light clothing?) and when I finally managed to go to the doctor (that lazy woman didn't come to visit me) she gave me an urgent prescription for a lungs X-ray that showed a shadow and so I'm back to bed /house rest (although now I'm allowed to go out a little since the weather is much hotter) and antibiotic (a different kind that I have to take on a full stomach and still gives me a long-lasting nausea).
My boy is now just over 10 months old, he is eating lunch and dinner and I still breastfeed him 4 times a day on this order: 1 full breast for breakfast around 8-8.30, 1 other full breast 3 hours later and then 3 hours later is lunch, then 4 hours later 1 full breast as a snack and then around 9-9.30 2 brests (not so full at night time) and dinner. He is happy, I am happy, he sleeps from 10.30pm till 8.30am and I couldn't be more satisfied. He now has 5 teeth (2 down, 3 up) and is able to walk assisted very well and does steps too. He's chewed the bed end instead of his special teeth toys and now likes to detach the dummy from his clothes and swing it around... of course this means I often have to look for it when he then wants it back.
After getting informed about vaccinations and all the risks we decided no more vaccines for him and none whatsoever for the next one we'll have in the future. I'm getting more and more adamant about home birth for the next time even if it means high risks for a lot of things. It's not impossible to have a Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) and a Home Birth After Caesarean (HBAC) is what I want and will try and have at all costs. Information is accessible to all women nowadays and they must get informed about what is giving birth for real, it's got nothing to do with hospitals and operations, it's the most natural thing since the birth of humanity and the truth about it must be spread again. Things like giving birth naturally and breastfeeding are seen as abnormal when they are the normality. Billions of women don't know what breastfeeding is, how to do it, how to solve the problems to it related and how to recognize the lies that "the man" tell them such as "the milk went away", "you have not enough milk" or "your milk is like water and doesn't feed your baby properly". Women wake up! They are lies! You can find all the infos about breastfeeding on the net so use it! So many lies are said so that Artificial milk companies can prosper, don't allow this! As the less women breastfeed ,the less healthy a baby is likely to be and the higher the chances that women can risk getting breast cancer.
Anyway if, even after doing all the research and gather all the information about breastfeeding, you still feel that it is not for you, nobody can force you. Just know that the natural way is always the best and don't believe everything you are told by a doctor, they are people too and can make mistakes. Always research something you don't know about and you'll never have any regrets.

Second Tooth, spider scare and possible job

2009-02-01T01:05:00.003+01:00

Here you can see the first tooth, the second one is next to it and had just cut trough.

Yesterday was a horrible screaming afternoon, the second tooth had cut trough but I did not recognize the problem as he vomited twice and every time I or Colin was picking him up he was burping so we thought he had a sore belly. Today he had a long moment of cry again, knackering
himself to sleep eventually as we tried and nothing would help. Last week Colin got the biggest spider that ever set leg in the house, it was my horrific discovery in a corner of Robert's bedroom, MY! What a scare!! Good news though since we did not kill it and just threw it out from the veranda I suppose it brought us good luck as Colin had a job interview and succeeded. Tuesday he will start a trial and training in a school as an English mother tongue teacher's assistant. Fingers crossed that all goes well.
A picture of the first tooth will follow, here is one of some hot chocolate we had in my special mugs bought in Scotland in 2003 and one of the spider (please tell me what species it is and how dangerous if you know!).
By the way Cute Purses is my new project, let's see if it flies =).

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I LOVE HELLO KITTY AND PINK

2009-01-22T01:35:00.004+01:00

Lately my pink and Hello Kitty obsession had to subside a little, after all I am a mom and I have to think of my son first. But no objection can be made if I just look at things. Things like these:

AAAHHH Marvellous.

New Year, first tooth and first "solids"

2009-01-12T14:33:00.004+01:00

Yes it's there, the first tooth finally cut trough and what screams, what sore! Poor baby. We started giving him some mashed pear on the 6th of Jan and he just threw himself on it, 3 days later (+1 travelling with no solids for practical reasons) it was rice cream with my milk, then mashed apple, then today rice cream again, so far he loved it all. This new year started quite well, a maybe work for my love in sight, a nappy contest win for my baby, wedding invitations being sent soon. It's a pity on the 1st we did absolutely nothing (in Scotland at his mum and dad) but lie in our pijamas. I was really looking forward to do something special. Never mind. I also had a beautiful goddes-related dream since we came back home. Lovely.

17 minutes and 30 seconds wasted

2008-12-13T23:20:00.001+01:00

I was watching Disaster Movie and walked out on it after 17 minutes and 30 seconds. What a waste of time. I watch lots of spoofs like superhero movie and so on and normally end up with "It was entertaining, it made me laugh a couple of times" but this one? Oh no not this one. Utter garbage if you ask me, don't recommend watching it.

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BUBBLING AND SQUEALING

2008-11-30T01:09:00.003+01:00

It's been a busy month, started working again, luckily from home so I can still breastfeed easily my little big boy (he's now 7.5kg by 66cm, like a 6 month old and he's not yet 5 LOL). Work is not bad as usual but hearing him crying nearby and not being able to do anything about it is really frustrating. This month he started grabbing more, squealing and chatting through bubbling as in making cute bubbles with his lips. Lips that have also been very busy sucking the bottom lip as the gums are bothering him and he's also been sticking his tongue out a lot too. The most weird thing is that he pulls his dummy sometimes and then complains because he did it... mah? Sometimes he puts it back and sometimes he doesn't manage and I help but then he pulls it out again and looks at it like if he was in a trance and then starts crying... He also loves the mobile now more than ever and wants music on almost all the time (he loves music! In this he definately took from me, I love it too =) )
Ah yes and he also attemped the first steps when we hold him standing up. My big baby =*)
Still not doing anything like rolling or sitting by himself but he is folding more by himself in the attempt... he'll get there eventually... for the moment the most he does is moving slightly on his side when he is sleeping.
Oh the mornings... after at least 7-8 hours of sleep he wakes up almost everytime making a clear call for me: Ah! or Mah! and as soon as I hear the imperative monosillable I know he wants breakfasts, his majesty called!
I had a couple of days or more where he would not like staying too much on one boob as according to his feelings it was empty or nearly empty, so my trick in the end was to tell him to "use the titty as a dummy" as he knows the boob by the name of titty (easyer to say and to remember) and after a couple of minutes of complaints and looks that surely meant to say "sure mum? Did I understand right?", he latched back on while lying down in bed near me and did exactly that. After all the dummy is a surrogate of the boob not vice versa. This not only stimulated my breast to produce more milk but also gave him time to understand that even if it feels empty he has to still suck or he will get nothing more.

One last thing: it pisses me off, LIDL here stopped getting CIEN nappies, they are the best ever made with a yellow stripe changing colour with pee or poo and keep it all in with no spilling. They changed them with TOUJOURS, not that good, surely less good than any other trademark apart from the worse that in my opinion is Pampers as I only had spillings of pee and poo with those. The problem is that TOUJOURS are still the cheapest, sob sob.

Halloween and Boyle family Look-alike Meter

2008-11-01T00:35:00.000+01:00

The Yoda hat-head I slaved on for a few days... (be understanding it was my first time with star wars costumes) and the suit I slaved on.... All for you and us! He's doing such a Yoda face!!

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Teething and talking

2008-10-24T21:33:00.003+02:00

Since he started talking more last saturday 18 at my Grandma's, so his Greatgranma, he hardly stopped, with great joy of me and his dad... It's mainly a lot of aahh, uuhh, oohh, quealings, little laughters and rarely he uses consonants such as guuhh, gahh... yesterday it was the first time of something undefined including a T. In all this he's been suffering at least once every other day for his first tooth coming out and complains quite often. He's also been overall an angel, he definately enjoys the TV (he only watches clever stuff and music!!) and he's getting better at holding himself sitting for a couple of seconds before trailing off to a side LOL. He enjoys tickle but tries to resist it as he gets the hiccups otherwise after a while. And he's not been hiccuping in the last few days which tells something i suppose. He's also been eating quite regularly apart from today when he must have been either hungrier or thirstier. I wish I had a videocamera to record all the time he chats, he's so amusing!

Meanwhile i've been busy starting arrangements for the wedding, gosh so many things to do! Today i started sewing the small sachets that will contain the chocolate-heart-shaped-sugar-covered sweeties for the guests. Previously I sewed a new portable changing mat for Robert and I completed it with his initials. Yesterday I finished the last drawer (finally!) of his chest of drawers and completed the first hand of stain on the shelf I decided to put in his bedroom. Busy busy week? Not really that is almost all I've been doing... Most of the time I sat at the computer navigating for stuff about the Wedding... my bottom is flattening!! LOL

First temperature

2008-10-09T20:00:00.003+02:00

Thanks to our friends Ami and Leon we were able just a few minutes ago to check on our warm boy with a dummy thermometer and soon found out that he has his first temperature: 37.3. This afternoon we had been at the pediatrician for a check and she revealed what i suspected since a couple of days ago, he has a bit of a sore throath which lead to a bit of coughing and less chitty chatting, nothing to worry about as she said it will soon be gone and she confirmed that the teeth started their journey out of the gums. The weight was 6.700 kg and he is now 63 cm tall. He is a big boy, she said comparable to a 5 months old and is growing fine.

ABOUT ARTIFICIAL MILK - FORMULA

2008-10-05T17:00:00.006+02:00

Did you know how bad artificial milk is?
99% of women can breastfeed and a good lot fails due to not believing that they can do it and giving up too easy!
Try harder! Don't use Formula!
Most leading health organizations today recommend breastfeeding for newborns through 12 months of age, and some through 24 months due to the infant's need for Omega 3, a nutrient that is ordinarily found in breast milk but not in formula, also mother's antibodies cannot be found in formula, stop buying formula it's bad for the babies' health and leads to many problems:
studies have found infants in developed countries who consume formula are at increased risk for:

acute otitis media
non-specific gastroenteritis
severe lower respiratory tract infections
atopic dermatitis
asthma
obesity
type 1 and 2 diabetes
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
eczema
necrotizing enterocolitis and
autism (SOMEBODY SAID IT'S GENETIC BUT GAVE NO INFO ABOUT WHERE THIS INFORMATION WAS FOUND SO I STILL BELIEVE WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE ON WIKIPEDIA AND I ADD THAT ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CAN BE ADDED TO THIS LIST)

when compared to infants who are breastfed.

It has been discovered that iron supplementation in baby formula is linked to:

lowered I.Q.
other neurodevelopmental delays.

also some early studies have found an association between infant formula and lower cognitive development.
So you just need to have confidence, no mother can "lose" the milk or "not have enough". For starters do not believe when anybody says that to you.

Tell yourself that you, like millions of women, can do it
DRINK A LOT (water, milk, juices, no alcohol of course)
make sure your baby latches on properly
If you think your baby is not getting enough because of a low increase of weight compared with other babies check all the things that can cause this problem and help your milk production with the use of a BREAST PUMP, the electric ones are faster and more effective than the hand ones and save you the hassle of spending a lot of time and effort. (I use a hand one because I couldn't afford otherwise)
If your breasts get so full that they are sore or you get a lump under your armpit you should pump the milk out until either problem is solved and try hot water to help the ducts to open.
If you are stressed drink camomile and fennel as they help relax and increase the production as they are still liquids. Obviously try to rest, being stressed and nervous does not help.
Don't drink too much tea or coffee, it's bad mainly for the baby and for you too.
Use a wetnurse or pump and freeze your milk in case of absence.
Consult with your doctor in case the hormones for breastfeeding are lacking in order to have a prescription for these hormones.
DON'T GET STRESSED AS STRESS IS NUMBER ONE ENEMY OF MILK, I MYSELF EXPERIENCED 3 TIMES WHERE THE MILK WAS LATE TO COME BECAUSE OF STRESS AND MY POOR BOY WAS SCREAMING FOR HUNGER.
For any questions and advice please don't hesitate to email me.

There are very few real cases when a mother cannot breastfeed and most women don't know that, they just get in the spiral of convincing lies that push them to buy formula.
Here are those reasons:

Because of the mother's health:

The mother is infected with HIVor tuberculosis
She has had breast surgery. In this case the ducts will be blocked.
She is taking any kind of drug or alcohol that could harm the baby.
The mother is extremely ill or malnourished, in this case once she reaches a good state she could try with the help of a doctor

Other reasons why a baby cannot be breastfed:

The baby is unable to breastfeed: birth defects and inborn metabolism errors such as galactosemia make breastfeeding difficult or impossible.

Absence of the mother: adoption (although nowadays with hormones the new mother can still breastfeed), the baby is orphaned or in the sole custody of a man. The mother is separated from her child by being in prison or a mental hospital. The mother has abandoned the child. In most cases the use of a wet-nurse when possible would be better of course. The mother has left the child in the care of another person for an extended period of time, such as while traveling or working abroad.There is the possibility to pump and freeze the mother's milk that will then last up to 6 months in the freezer.

Family pressures: Family members, such as mother's husband or boyfriend encourage use of infant formula without knowing how bad it is or just because they think it's easier.

Lack of education: The mother believes that her breast milk is of low quality or in low supply, or that breastfeeding will decrease her energy, health, or attractiveness. The mother is not trained sufficiently to breastfeed without pain and to produce enough milk.

Financial pressures: Maternity leave is unpaid, insufficient, or lacking. The mother's employment interferes with breastfeeding.

Societal structure: Breastfeeding is difficult or forbidden at the mother's job, school, place of worship or while commuting. The mother feels infant formula is socially preferable.

Personal beliefs: The mother feels that breasts are too sexual for a baby or feels uncomfortable breastfeeding around other people. Nursing by a relative or paid wet-nurse is socially unsupported, believed to be unhygienic, or too expensive. Also, the mother does not want to breastfeed or prefers to use both breast milk and infant formula.

Dietary concerns: The contents of breastmilk are influenced by the dietary habits of the mother. If the mother consumes a food that contains an allergen breastfeeding may, for a brief period after consumption, provoke an allergic reaction in the infant.

Fount: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SO MANY THINGS...

2008-10-04T12:54:00.010+02:00

Where to start... I've been very busy, so busy infact that I didn't have time to post anything for the last 2 weeks.

So here is a summary of what happened in this time:

I've been seeing friends, some of them at the Italian Pagan Pride where I went with my love Colin and Robert. In this occasion Robert used his pushchair and enjoyed it, it was cold so we dressed him up really nice and cosy with a lovely blue handmade jumper.

Robert with the blue jumper

One of the friends i've been seeing is Marina, my hospital room mate with her daughter Vittoria and for the occasion I made her a handmade, by me, present that will hopefully last until she is older: it consists of a blanket for the pram (with a ribbon that can be used as a dummy holder) that can later on become a sheet for the changing mat/doll sheet/table centerpiece. There is also a pillowcase in the same fabric that turns into a bag as there is a strap that can be put inside when used as a pillowcase.

The multiporpose sheet

The pillowcase-bag

I have also done other things since the sewing machine was finally out of its table one year after being repaired so I started sewing a few things. Because a textile shop gifted me a big bag of fabrics I was able, among them, to find a suitable pair to do Robert's Halloween costume: baby Yoda! I'm still working on that, although I had almost done the head part, because my lovely grandma's Singer 401 broke again (it cuts the thread when it goes down inside, any idea what it is?)so I had to switch to the other granma's Pfaff Gritzner 4220, not as beautiful or with as many fancy points but still very reliable and since I had also started a dressing pillow for Robert's high chair (made of wood)

Robert's first time on the high chair, still too small for it =)

which has a white base, I stuck with white and did as many things as I could and still am doing. My amazing son sleeps during the sewing sessions. So I sew a cover for his cot that is still waiting to be placed as we're keeping him in the Mose's basket for as long as he fits in; doing 2 sheets to use on the changing table and done some sewing on an interesting piece:

among the fabrics I was gifted there was an unfinished dress, missing a collar and various sewings, almost done now as you can see but needs still some dark sewing on the sleeves that I will do later on. Then it will be on sale, the size is unknown but looks like a European 44-46.

Make your offers ladies and gentlemens!

Obviously I had to leave something aside to do all this so the last drawer of Robert's chest of drawers is not yet done, also thank to my love Colin that did an awful job at staining a few centimitres left that I could not do as I had to run breasfeed my little Robert ... it will be redone and finished in a few days for sure. My next project after finishing the baby Yoda costume and the dress will be a black cat shaped bag for one of my best friend and then we'll see... I might restart the door of the spare house that i left aside or do the front door or the 2 ottomans... It's getting rainy and cold and I only have this month left to do all this before going back to work for real and Gods knows what it will be like with Robert... Until Colin doesn't work I can rely on him but I also hope he gets a job in order to have a better life...
Since 2 days ago we ran out of gas and don't have the money to buy another bottle so we've been cooking on the fire at night and had a sandwitch for lunch, the thing is not bothering me as the food comes out really good, but it takes more time than usual.

Meat, Mais and Minestrina (small starshaped pasta in stock cube broth)

Anyway I had to go trough my little possessions and decide to sell some silver and gold items I had left in order to get some money before my next payment. Among my items I found my old fake Granma's ring. She bought it through a post service because it looked so beautiful even if fake and I can now thank her as I'm using it as an engagement ring since the silver one my Love bought for me doesn't fit anymore and since, well, he couldn't afford a real diamond anyway so far...

My old fake Grandma's engagement-looking-like ring

Another amazing new event was Robert starting to complain about sore gums: not so soon I hope, we'll be seeing teeth.

Robert with his first ice lolly for teething

ROBERT'S ROOM

2008-09-21T20:49:00.008+02:00

After many discussions on where to put what and when, we finally moved the furniture around in our livingroom/Robert's future bedroom and started putting his stuff where it will be and moved stuff out that will go somewherelse. It's all a big mess in the whole house as I still have a mountain of ironing to do and I have still to finish the drawers of the piece of furniture I've been working on instead of continuing with the old door, also I did not have yet time to make a picture of the other night table, but it can wait. So I've been doing this piece of furniture for Robert's bedroom and it will be not only his changing table but his personal storage, for all his clothes, towels etc...

Here is the result so far.

It's already in the room acting as changing tabel, since i miss some screws for the drawer handles and therefore I'll have to wait to finish all when I've got them I also worked on this lovely (and full of holes) coat hanger that is from the spare house (the one that needs restored). It was a must keep for me, an antique of the house that has its own hooks on the wall since ages ago.

THE DOOR'S TURN

2008-09-15T13:47:00.003+02:00

After finishing the other night table (picture will follow in the next post) we started together (my Love and I) on the antique next door door (part of the house that needs done up), this is the result after stripping the paint and sanding so far...

FIRST VACCINATIONS

2008-09-12T19:27:00.003+02:00

Robert the day before the vaccinations

I must say I did not think it would have been like this...
Since my fiancee' has no simpathy for needles I was the one that had to keep our little Robert still by holding his legs down on the doctor's table...
Up until just a second before the injection he was smiling away, which mad it even more difficult for me, then the first needle went in and he looked at me with a face like "what was that?" and a few seconds later he started crying, the doctor encouraged me to pick him up and hold him and then put him back down for the second shot at which he screamed horribly and I felt so helpless and mortified...
I was crying too, I had to put my baby through that pain!
After 10 minutes he had stopped crying and I was still going on even though I was smiling at him pretending all was fine.
CONCLUSION: Gods forbid he hurts himself as I'll be the one in pieces...I'm such a crybaby!
I strongly recommend information about vaccines is read before taking your baby for vaccinations, they can be dangerous (encephalitis etc.)and even fatal (sids, allergic reactions, intossications etc.)if certain circumstances are present (premature babies, flu, colds, etc.) and most countries still use harmful chemicals in them so watch what you do... I'll never vaccinate my son again nor my next offspring after I came to know the truth that revolves around vaccinations, the risks are far too high than the benefits. This said I breastfeed so his immune system will always be better than a formula fed baby. Everyone is different.

WHAT CHANGES WITH MOTHERHOOD

2008-08-31T14:12:00.004+02:00

Personally I can say my life did not change that much as I've never been a disco-maniac or going-out-for-a-drink girl. I like quiet nights, chinese restaurants, simple things, can't afford much shopping in general, don't go to the cinema that often because of the language barrier for my fiancee', love ice creams. When we go out for anything, baby Robert comes with us, since the first days of his life, after hospital, we never spared him a trip to the supermarket or else and he likes the car trips, he usually falls asleep with motion in general. I spend more time with him and less on my computer, I have a very high pile of ironing to do since the pregnancy (I don't enjoy ironing), I breastfeed every 2-3-4-5 or 6 hours depending on the events and time of the day, so this keeps me rather busy, I therefore get sore boobs when they're full and ready to fullfill his hunger. I have nappies to change, altough my fiancee' does most of it at the moment since it's his unwritten job, in my kitchen ther are a few more items than before (sterilizer, bottle warmer and a box with sterilized things when they are not in use) and I have a lot of baby clothes, toys and baby sheets filling a few drawers, I fill more washing machines, use my towels more (very good to have one draped around his neck and going under his bottom in case he spills milk or poo) and finally I have one more bag to carry around, his bag (nappies, cream, solar protection, water bottle, fennel powder to mix with the water in case he has a sore belly, towel and changing mat, 3 or 4 clothes for emergency changes, socks, a hat and a wee long sleeved cardigan for when it gets cold). Overall I don't feel these changes as bad, the only thing is that sometimes I sleep less than I should and it's not really good, and when he gets a sore belly I have a hard time. But it's all worth it when you realize what a miracle he is.

JAM AND LOVE

2008-08-26T14:34:00.009+02:00

This is the first of hopefully many happy jam-making years. After I got the plums from the trees with a specific tool, lots of sweating, panting and avoiding insects, even tough I had insect repellent on, I cleaned and chose the right fruits with the help of a neighbour and then boiled them for a while, then I passed them through a "passaverdure" and I then added sugar and let boil for the necessary time. When the jam looked ok I put it in jars that I then boiled in water up to their halves in order to produce the under pressure vacuum. I then proudly printed the labels, cover them in transparent tape and glued them on the jars. TA-DAAAA!

It came out delicious. Unfortunately after 2 jars for my uncles, one big jar for the helpful neighbours and one mini jar for a friend, we only had one left for us and none to sell this year, hopefully next year we'll do more. And I still have to make jam from the selvatic mini apples I found in our land, that should come out a bit more generous. I wanted to make blackberry jam too but after a very hard picking and cleaning I realized I didn't have enough and gifted it to the neighbours (I don't like blackeberries by themselves and in order to take off the seeds you need a special kitchen tool. Since I started this adventure I tought I might make more Jam with all the fruits that I like, starting from the pears. Yum Yum.

*********************************************************
Our son meanwhile is starting to see further away and has noticed the Tv...
We were watching "My name is Earl" from the bed and he was so cute, sitting there trying to get what was that thing with lights and colours and people talking... and we are almost sure he repeated "Earl" many times or so it seemed by the sound he made after watching it. It was more of and "Eaw" but we tought he meant Earl. Here is another picture in which I see my father:
P.S. Today was the day of his first real laughter, a very small and short one but still... and the first day he pronounced a consonant other than M (he usually cries MMMaaaaa) and it was Ba-ho.

TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN

2008-08-23T21:56:00.005+02:00

Our baby is growing fine, now up to 5.320 kg and starting to make sounds (sometimes like making a whole small chat with us) and grabbing the first things (rattlers and dummy, but the second one he could grab since the first day) altough not that often yet, also I had to put mitts on his little hands as he had started a strange silly habit of poking his eyes...with consequent crying. I've been taking tons of pictures in order to have a wide collection of memories for the future to come and one in particular was amazing as I managed to get a picture in the exact moment he was regurgitating... LOL it was a total coincidence. We've introduced him to bathing at least every 2 days and he likes it a lot as much as he doesn't like being taken out and dried. He's funny and charming and sooooo cuute! We totally love him even when he screams for practically no other reason than complaining. He's very italian in this. But he is also very Scottish looking and has nothing to do with italian screaming babies, his screaming is definately different. Altough I must admit sometimes he reminds me of my dad in some faces he does, like this one. He now also definately smiles for sure (he's got 2 dimples!!), can see us better and does quite a lot of gymnastic moving his legs and arms up and down when he feels like it.

Antiques back in shape

2008-08-19T21:46:00.005+02:00

This week I managed to finish something I started 2 weeks ago (I'm slow at these things now i've got my baby boy), and so I went from this:

to this:
I sanded, stained, filled the crack, sanded again the crack, stained again on top, nourished and finally painted it. The second one still hasn't been done, but I will do it asap. Then I'll do one of the 2 ottomans and maybe after that I'll do something else. We'll see. At the moment I am quite satisfied with these 2 night tables. =)

MY TWO BOYS

2008-08-17T21:13:00.003+02:00

Aren't they gorgeous? I love them sooo much. Robert is now over 5 kilos. Will know better the 20th at the check up.

Gaining weight and fitting new shower

2008-08-05T21:26:00.011+02:00

Lately he established his own sleeping routine, usually falling asleep between 11 and 12 and lasting from 4 to 6 hours depending on the heat, the first 2 morning feeds also are approximately 4 hrs apart giving us a total sleep of more or less 8 to 9 hours which is good. So far he had a skin allergic reaction to some herbal pills i was taking to help me produce more milk so i had to stop them and he got neonatal acne and swollen nipples caused by the hormones in my milk, nothing to worry about since he did not complain about it, not too much nappy rash either as we are very careful. He's been gaining weight and he's now around 4.5 kilograms.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°##################****************<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>

Last saturday we finally got the old bath replaced with a shower tray and we then finished the job ourselves by tiling in the best way we could. The total cost approximatively adds like this:

10 euros of fuel for all the trips to the various stores
95 euros for the shower tray
20 euros for various bits
20 euros for an acrilic side panel
13 euros for the shower head, tube and bar
30 euros for the new tap
20 euros for tiling material and silicon
200 euros for the plumbers to fit it all

TOTAL: 408 euros cent more, cent less
This is the result... obviously it still needs a few touches where the silicon has been applied but i'm proud and happy of it.

IT COULD BE HARDER

2008-07-26T18:22:00.004+02:00

But so far it's fine, breastfeeding is fine, the baby sleeps fine, sometimes he gets a sore tummy but i have already learnt a few tricks and made up a soothing song to go along with the achieved technique. =) He's so far been a good boy, getting hungrier every day, a bit of a lazy feeder start that now has changed. Before knowing what was right and wrong he was sucking up to 2 hours per time without really getting much more than there was, a bit cause the left boob was blocked a bit cause he just enjoyed sucking i suppose. Now he latches on no more than 15-20 minutes per side and gets burped every time as soon as i notice he stops sucking and has a sleepy mouth. We had a bit of an anxious time with the hospital check as they said he was not gaining enough weigh and that some formula might have been needed in addition, we were told to weigh him before and after each feed and if he did not get 100 g of milk minimum we should have gave him formula as a top up, after trying with a breast pump to see if there was more of mine to give him. Luckyly it was needed only twice but later on the pediatrician said to forget the hospital rules as they are old and just interfere with natural breastfeeding, as long as the baby eats, sleeps, gains weight and is not showing signs of illness, all is fine. He should anyway feed a minimum of 6 times a day meaning every 3.30 hrs or so during the day with a longer pause at night. He should be fed no later than every 4 hrs during the day so wake him up if he sleeps altough it's heartbreaking!!

FIRST SMILE?

2008-07-13T14:26:00.003+02:00

Last night he latched off while feeding and he looked at me, then it seemed like he said "thank you mummy" and smiled at me! I can swear i saw a dimple but we'll have to see...

HERE WITH US FINALLY!

2008-07-11T14:44:00.005+02:00

HERE HE IS!!!

Finally he was born. It was 0.45, 6th of July 2008, his weight was 3.710kg and he smelled like he had a perfume, I was later on told that it was the scent of the vernix that smells nice.
Labour started by itself in hospital saturday 5th night. That morning they had decided after the last heart beat monitoring and because I was 41 weeks, to keep me in and stimulate my labour the next morning. But I asked for something to go for a poo as that day i never had one and the syrup they gave me must have help stimulate me. So contractions started softly but close together and i was doubting the whole time it was bowel pains until i went for the routine evening heart beat monitoring (they do one every few hours if they keep you in hospital). There i saw for the first time how contractions are shown on that machine and i was in awe as they were so close (every 5 or less minutes) and they did not feel at all that painful, they then intensified more and more...
I saw him for very little immediately after he was taken out my womb as i had to have an urgent cesarean after 6cm dilation with natural labour as his heartbeat was slowing down in waves and they feared complications. I cried my eyes off. I was scared and upset. I had managed so well up to that point, altough the contractions were as painful as you sometimes see in films... let me explain this better: from the start until i was 3cm i managed to bear them very well, singing loud and/or breathing and i tought "if all goes like this i have no problems". Then all of a sudden they started being so closer together and so strong that in a few minutes i was up to 6cm screaming my lungs off as i found myself unable not to scream, and i could hardly breathe, but his heartbeat was going up and down all this time...150-90 then up then down... after he was out i was told the waters were a bit green and he was starwatching but no chocking luckily had been occurring, he was just in a position that would have been difficult for him to come out and he was possibly squeezing his cord against a bone of my pelvis or so...
The overall experience with the hospital was bad, saved for some doctors and some nurses.
They did all the possible things I did not want, starting from the pre-labour shaving, the pre-possible-cesarean intravenous needle "in case you may need it it will be there already", not only that but they tried to put in 2 different places like last time even tough i told them i did not want them to and they had previously done the same error, they did not listen to me until the third time when they put it in the elbow inside like it's normal. And they added a second one on my hand later one before the cesarean. I felt like treated like a piece of meat. I am still upset now. In this hospital I went to, after 4 days they expect you to be out of the hospital fully recovered or so, I took an extra day only because I insisted. I was and still am in a lot of pain from the cut even tough the stitches have been taken off yesterday morning. I take paracetamol twice a day and feel like crying and cry everytime I think of all the psicological violence imposed on me. They forced me up the second day and i felt like everything was ripping and on fire, they pressed on my belly so many times i lost count "in order to help the cleaning process" and to check on my uterus size, they refused painkillers as often as they could after the operation and if they gave anything it was totally useless. A small bottle via drip twice that did absolutely no difference. Then when the needle was off i asked and asked for paracetamol until i finally got it. They gave me a medicine to take 3 times a day (that one is not supposed to take when breastfeeding cause it could cause milk production to reduce) to make my uterus contract more to clean it better... Now that I'm at home I am no longer taking it as I think it's useless. When the baby latches on he does the same thing naturally. And i have to take 10 days worth of injections for avoiding air bubbles in my blood because of the operation. I also had 3 blood tests so between my 2 arms i have a total of 7 holes and 2 minor bruises. Plus 2 holes per leg so far beacuse of those injections that will total as 7 per leg when i am done. 21 holes in my body plus a scar. Pain and painkillers, a horrible nightmare that i'll always remember. I can't sob, bend, laugh, sneeze as any sees me folded in 2 with pain. I can only cry as softly as i can. Some of the nurses were harsh or stupid, some were nice. The doctor that injected me with the spinal block was very nice and spoke to me during the operation, he gave me oxigen and told me things that would happen there and there... Overall i would not go there again if i could. Overall i would have had my baby the month before if i could have helped it.
But what counts now is that my baby is healthy and beautiful and that he's doing fine, the milk came and is satisfing him so i'm happy... even if I would have been happier with a better labour obviously. I found out I'm totally not up for any pain. Call me a whimp maybe that is what I am. But I would never want to go through such pain ever again.

UPDATE 4th January 2010, please bear in mind this was written when my memory was not at its best, an update of what is missing here can be soon find at the top of my posts.

FILMS CRITIC

2008-07-04T19:00:00.006+02:00

I recently saw a lot of films as being on maternity leave gives you a lot of extra time... especially a couple of them needed to be "reviewed" as i think they are not suitable for everybody.

1. Alien versus predator 2 (AVP2): apart from the fact it clearly fits into those that are considered a crap sequel it has scenes with pregnant women that are unnecessary, totally out of place, disgusting and of bad taste. And I'm not saying this just cause i happen to be pregnant. It's really unrespectful and just not right for anybody to be putting such scenes in any films. It's free psicological violence. I'm sure i'm missing other films that have had similar bad taste and I would surely think the same about them if I happened to watch them.

2. Disturbia: a good film overall, altough the beginning is unnecessary to what follows, infact it's a crap excuse for what follows, they could have had anything else happening to justify the rest of the film and they would have not made me cry (it's a sad beginning that has nothing to do with the spirit of the rest of the film). Since it's a bit of a thriller and has a bit of gruesome things in it, i advice watching it if you have no problems with general thrillers and general murder films (or if you watch CSI no problem).

LAZY BOY

2008-07-03T00:51:00.003+02:00

And we're still waiting for our baby to pop, my belly, as huge as it could be, feels very heavy and about to burst. Stretchmarks exploded and started itching too, making my belly look like it's got a web tattoed on it... few, sparce contractions... and i hoped he would come sooner, or at least within the 3rd as it's a new moon... the day is still long, in fact it just started so you can never say... but if all keeps going i'll have to get induced the 7th. Not a bad day either but still, i would have preferred an all natural...oh what a lazy baby. LOL

Coming soon

2008-06-29T14:00:00.001+02:00

41 WEEKS OF PREGNANCY THE 5TH OF JULY

SUMMER SOLSTICE - LITHA

2008-06-22T14:51:00.002+02:00

As some of you may know, midsummer day - aka Litha - is a pagan holiday in wich passion, love and the successes of harvests are celebrated. Longest day and shortest night of the year, it's the day in wich magic is at its peak.
But it's not just this day that is used to celebrate, people sometimes start from midnight of the 20th to finish the 23rd, so technically we have the possibility to celebrate for a total of 4 days. When a full moon occurs during this period it's a blessed time as you get even more magic in the air. Partying, music, dancing and bonefires with lovers jumping them together usually are part of the celebration, along with magical plants harvesting (now at their peak, they are then dried for winter use).
The Sun God and his Goddess wife are the center of attention, having had their Wedding during Beltane and being her now pregnant and heavy like the earth is full of fruits that will then mature in the next few months.
Celebrations are also about babies, work and pleasure, dreams that are dreamt in these nights are said to become true and faeries are supposed to be more easily seen as the veil between our worlds becomes momentarily thinner.
Animal blessing and taking extra care of your familiar are also part of this special occasion.
There are various items and colours associated with this holiday, to find out more you can go at the top of the page and use the Google search engine that I installed =).

Pinkie: my cat's page

2008-06-16T00:58:00.002+02:00

Come and pat my cat
Unitedcats.com - cats, kittens, kitties - cats' home on the web

Mysteries of pains

2008-06-15T11:14:00.003+02:00

A cracking sound and then sore like i had my period... no water braking, no loss of anything, just a constant mild to high, very bearable menstrual-like pain.
So i wondered, this is nothing like contractions, what is it?
And i can barely move without feeling it, so i phoned the hospital and they told me to go for a check, so i did.
All in place, no modifications, nothing to report apart the fact i have visibly swollen ankles and hands... but my blood pressure is fine, my urine tests are fine, my little one is fine thank goodness (wasn't worried anyway as he kept moving about), everything else is fine, the machine does not detects any contractions, still... my pain continues, it subsides a little without disappearing then comes back stronger, especially sitting in the car or at home.
And i wonder.
What is it?
Why did i hear a cracking noise?
I tought maybe the baby slipped further down my pelvis, but the doctor said no modifications in my cervix... what is it then?
I maybe didn't suffer enough at the beginning of the pregnancy and making up for it alltogether???
Mah, another check awaits me on monday as they would like to find out why i am swollen, as they have no clue of this either.
Then another check on wednesday for monitoring all things once more... i so wish i give birth that same day since it's a full moon. Ah...who knows how much they'll say my baby weights then? It sure feels a lot, but i know i can't wait to hold my little giant.

AND WAITING...

2008-06-11T16:08:00.003+02:00

Another check at the hospital, all fine...

Had some sparce contractions, lots of dreams about giving birth and breastfeeding my baby and playing with him.

Been nesting the past few days (finally) but then got really depressed, easily angered and very stressed.

I want to hold him and I simply can't get to accept the fact that i have to wait more time, every hour that passes by is a torture and suffering. I prey to the Gods not to have a C-section and I am so scared the more time that passes, the more possibilities there are.

I want to be a mummy but i want a natural birth very very much.

Baby feet

2008-06-03T17:53:00.002+02:00

No wonder the pain in my rib or in my belly when he moves is so strong, today at the check, his feet have been reported to be 8cm long (and i'm at 36 weeks plus 3 days) and his weigh a healthy 3.340 kg... meaning the sooner he gets out the better for both of us!
I pray night and day to the gods to have a natural birth, i wish i was able to have a water or at home one but in italy it's just impossible... i mean we do have water births but each place is too far from us and we do have the possibility to have it at home with a private obstetrician but it costs money and it is not reinbursed by the government.
Some days i wish i could just fly to the Uk and have my baby there knowing there would have been these 2 possibilities a lot easier.

THE WAIT

2008-06-01T12:58:00.005+02:00

4 Days in Hospital: a false labour (contractions were up to 20 mins apart and i felt rather painful) ended pretty much soon after i got to the hospital.
I had not, at that point yet, lost the mucous plug that protects the cervix but when i was examined there it was, all over the glove and speculum they used... not a nice view considering it is often mixed with a bit of blood and could be seen as something bad if you didn't read enough about the subject, but a definate sign that it will not be long now anyway. They kept me there a total of 4 days with a drip (then pills) of Miolene, a drug that is supposed to stop you from having any contractions, because they insisted the baby needed at least another couple of weeks more or less, inside my womb, altough at the scan they gave me the same night i arrived, the baby was already a healthy 2.7 kilos and would have surely had no problems even if he had decided to be born for real.
The most unpleasant part of the stay was the 2 big bruises they gave me by trying twice to put the drip on my forearm without succeding and the third one by succeding in putting the drip in the fold of my arm as it's common, obviously the fact of having the drip itself was very uncomfortable and unpleasant...
On the other hand, i shared the room with a younger girl that had had a cute boy via emergency C-section and i got to see how she recovered and dealt with her baby (with the help of her mum and husband as at first she could hardly move). The food was good too but i did have my love to bring me some stuff that was needed and craved for, among these things the toilet rolls as they do not supply the bathrooms with it (preferring to spend more money on trademark nappies for the babies) and water as they don't supply you with that either.
I got to rest a lot, read a novel book i had long left aside, finish to read a pregnancy magazine i got from my future siter in law and kept on reading a book about pregnancy she supplied me with too. Overall i cannot complain and i even got a better picture of my baby at that last scan, a beautiful profile. Now we have but to wait, maybe with this coming new moon, who knows... he will definately be a June and Gemini baby.

INDUCING LABOUR WHEN IT'S NEEDED

2008-05-20T19:17:00.005+02:00

Many times women go past the due date without having any signs tha Labour is close and they will so need to either wait and wait or try starting inducing labour naturally, medically or give birth with a Cesarean in the worse case scenario.

In rare cases (and mine is one of these) it might be ok to start trying to naturally induce labour before the due date for various reasons:

If the baby is already fully formed and big enough (you will be sure of this through scans and checks with your gynecologist obviously);
If the baby keeps growing further you might risk either a Cesarean or a very difficult and hard delivery;
If you are swelling up and are experiencing Gestosis;
If you experience other problems or your baby might be in distress.

I am 34(+some days) weeks pregnant and started trying natural methods as my baby is very big already and i want to really avoid a Cesarean, i made sure all was allright obviously by speaking with my Gynecologist and various Obstetricians inside and outside the hospital where i plan on giving birth.
They said that using natural methods cannot harm me or the baby and if they are meant to work they will, otherwise i will just have to wait, see and hope.

The most common and heard of are these:

Having your partner leaving his seed in you by making love (not possible for us as he needs antibiotics for a virus at the moment)
Walking a lot (trying that but it's easier said than done, i get tired very quickly)
Walking up and down the stairs (trying that but it's easier said than done, i get tired very quickly)
Eating Liquorice (do not try if your blood pressure is high, mine is low so i tried that, altough the wrong kind... you need pure not candy)
Eating chilly and spicy food (the one that burns your mouth... tried today for lunch, still nothing so far)
Eating pineapple (i drank a whole carton of non added sugar pineapple juice and i'm wondering if it is at all similar since it hasn't worked so far...)
Taking a certain amount of Castor Oil (Olio di Ricino) (not tried so far i'd rather leave it last given its not nice taste and effects on your bowels)
Cleaning the floors or doing any other tiring activity (trying that but it's easier said than done, i get tired very quickly)
Acupressure (intend to try ASAP with the help of my partner) a good few examples are given on this Youtube video

I've been having quite a lot of Braxton contractions lately and my cervix has been last declared closed but in "opening mode" by my gynecologist at the last visit so i'm hopeful to give birth sooner than later. I'm planning on an active birth plan, sitting or squatting on a "hollandaise stool" with my love behind me (don't want him traumatized by the sight of what is happening), an mp3 player, hopefully a kind obstetrician and hopefully i'll be given my baby immediately after to latch on my breast and start the bonding.

ALMOST THERE...SIGNS LABOUR IS NOT FAR

2008-05-14T22:02:00.003+02:00

Curiosity, anxiety, excitement and so many questions...
How to understand that it's almost time for your baby to pop out?
Many are the signs that lead to the possible or mistaken labour start.
But some signs of certain labour to come are for sure pains, the loss of "the plug" (it can happen up to 3 weeks prior to labour) and the "waters" breaking.
Certain women never experience the second and third signs (sometimes the waters are broken by the ostetrician in hospital) and just go straight to the so clear pains, menstrual-like, stronger than what one can imagine, some women describe them as 100 times more powerful, not from the start obviously, they increase the closer they get.
At least it is said by many women that it is the worst part of labour because once the expulsion of the baby starts the pains decrease and the birth itself is generally less painful... surely cause one is so excited to see the baby within minutes ^_^
Sometimes, quite commonly, these pains can start weeks before labour, they are less intense than the real thing and they are called Braxtons-Hicks preparation contractions. To prepare the body to the real thing infact, they too will feel like menstrual pains but they will be very infrequent and they last approximately 30 to 45 seconds, giving your uterus-belly a tightening feeling, if you touch your belly it will feel very hard.
So far i experienced 2 B-H contractions i was fully aware of, in 2 different days, i might have had more by night without realizing i suppose.
Lately i've been getting up 3 to 4 times at night for a pee and been every half an hour more or less during the day, constipation seems to have been so far avoided also thanks to the amzing amount of movements of the baby (strong and sometimes painful one i might add) and the fact i've been drinking like a camel LOL.
I've been told at the last scan (6th May)the baby seems healthy and all ready, esitmated hight 44cm and 2.4 kg weight... 2 weeks bigger than an average baby... but the doc said it does not mean he'll be early, altough if you add i'm quite short (1.52 cm), the belly has "dropped" already and all in my feelings tells me i'm going to have this baby sooner (no risks apparently since i'm at 33 weeks going on 34)... we'll see if my instinct was right or not soon.
I wonder if I'll experience the plug loss and water breaking...

A little visit from the Frog Prince

2008-04-27T20:32:00.004+02:00

A few nights ago, coming back home from Rome where i had to work for the day, near the steps of the house, i found this rather big and lazy Frog/Toad that barely moved even when i picked him up with the use of a plastic plate, because i was scared that if i touched i could have got either a sort of poison that some of these animals secrete or just plain germs and since i am pregnant and wanted to avoid any of the above, i just used the plastic plate and with no effort pick him up to have a better look and take a picture for future memory since i have such a bad one LOL.

PREGNANCY IS NOT ALL FUN 3

2008-03-26T23:44:00.003+01:00

Another serie of lovely "side effects" can be:
-Reflux and gastric acidity (had and keep having, mild and rare), mostly appearing during the third trimester due to the dislocation of the stomach...due to the enlarging of the uterus and thus the belly, that might seem to become huge and heavy and also
-Stretch and itch... (had and keep having)
These last two symptoms can be trated with daily applications of a moisturizing and/or anti-stretch marks cream/oil (if you are lucky you'll get no marks... so far i've noticed none...Finger crossed)
-You might experience abundant salivation as well altough is not very common.
Much more common are:
-Back ache (had and keep having)
-Constipation (had and rarely still have on occasions)
-Vaginal discharge (sometimes so abundant to make you worry the baby might be on its way already) caused by estrogen hormones (did not have this problem so far luckily)
-Ipotension and Faintness (never had so far), usually appear at the beginning of the pregnancy

To be continued....

HAPPY EASTER!!

2008-03-23T20:56:00.004+01:00

NEW WEBSITE =)

2008-03-12T01:14:00.005+01:00

http://utenti.lycos.it/shinypassion/

There it is, not perfect for sure, but it was a royal pain in the butt to create it and upload it right... "what website do i use to host it?"
"where do i store the pictures?"
"why does it not work with this and that?" and a night spent crying because each and every one of the websites of free hosting i was trying to use was F****ing me up... I finally managed with lycos, simple, very easy to use.
I hope you enjoy it at least a little, it took me a while...maybe more...let's say a week to have it all done. And the index page was the most difficult and painful, not knowing much html and being a first time user with dreamweaver i was going nuts to try and get the results i wanted so i ended up making one big picture with all the things you see on it and then just hotspotting over the right places... hope i made it clear... LOL sorry... Goodnight for now.

JOIN UP IT'S COOL AND FREE!

2008-02-29T21:34:00.002+01:00

	I'm Guest_PINKLUNAMOON on

PREGNANCY IS NOT ALL FUN 2

2008-02-27T23:11:00.006+01:00

During the first trimester you will need to do a serie of blood tests and urine tests in order to establish whether you and your baby are going to have any problems or if everything is fine (ah needles!!).

Among them it is important to determine your blood type or group, unless you already know it, as a woman with a RH- combined with a male partner's RH+ can be very dangerous for the first or next child and a blood test that in italy we call COOMBS' TEST must be repeated each month if this is the case, in order to exclude problems for the first or next baby. The danger consists in having a baby with "Hemolytic disease of the newborn" or "HDN" (click on the link to find out more about this subject).

Other common tests are checking for Toxoplasmosis antibodies, glucose levels, a check for liver and heart important proteins, a complete blood count, Rubella antibodies, HIV test, Syphilis test and the Complement fixation test.

A common problem during pregnancy is a possible iron deficiency that will need to be treated appropriately with integrators and daily iron-rich food intakes, most commonly meat (veal, beef, turkey, horse) but also eggs, spinach, artichokes, egg-based pasta, legumes, green radish and walnuts.

A daily intake of FOLIC ACID is very important from the beginning of the pregnancy on all the way till you are breastfeeding or wanting to conceive another child. Folic acid is normally sold as an integrator but can also be found in foods such as: spinach, broccoli, asparagus, lettuce, oranges, concentrated orange juice, cereals, lemons, kiwis, strawberries and legumes.

To be continued...

PREGNANCY IS NOT ALL FUN...

2008-02-21T22:17:00.004+01:00

What people don't tell you before you get pregnant is that there is about a billion things going on during pregnancy that are not fun... some of them are, in fact, quite annoying.

But it's all worth the baby you will see at the end of this amazing adventure.

First of all there is the well-known sickness, that, thank Gods, i never experienced, but i did have nausea and it could lead to sickness if you don't manage to get out of the range of the hideous smell in time so that you don't get overwhelmed by it;
Then something you don't expect: you smell everything different, taste everything different, everything is amplified, smell, taste, sounds; hunger makes you feel like starving in a few minutes (a minute before you were feeling ok, then suddenly you could kill for a piece of bread);
Hormones can cause a serie of problems, obviously it's different from person to person... for me they had a devastating effect...if i got irritated i was often mutating into a red version of Hulk, if i wasn't getting out of anger rapidly enough;
Then your nipples get so sore you think they are cutting them out and sometimes the only way to calm the pain is massaging the whole breasts which can be annoying too. Or you keep the pain and suffer in silence (or cursing...);
There are also back aches (had and keep having), sciatica aches (had and have sometimes still), pelvic aches due to the expansion of your uterus (had), gums and teeth aches (had), gums bleeding (have occasionally), headaches (not had much), dizziness (had very little), problems with excessive secretions (not had), nose bleeding (almost had)...

The first trimester is usually the most difficult part. And with the second trimester some of the stuff that has been bothering you leaves you in peace...

During the second trimester is when you:

Start feeling the baby's movements;
Get to know the sex of your baby
and more

In my case since it's a boy i had, and keep having, a clear amount of strong kicks, punches and pokings here and there, some were so strong they made me jump back in my seat when i was at the chinese restaurant, LOL

An amazing phenomenon may take place already: the production of the first milk, also called Colostrum. This may happen not only at the end of the pregnancy and/or after you gave birth but also during pregnancy in a period that changes from woman to woman. Sometimes some women never even manage to get milk unfortunately. So far i got it already and feel very happy about it altough i have to wear protective cotton disks to avoid wetting and/or staining my clothes (it's a yellow colour because of tehe betacarotene it contains).

To be continued...

20th week!!!

2008-02-16T22:15:00.001+01:00

20 Weeks Pregnant

2007-02-15T03:37:00.000+01:00

My new ebay logo, yippie =)!

LIFE TOGETHER

2007-01-20T23:38:00.000+01:00

After a wonderful trip passing from Newcastle in England, Ijmuinden near Amsterdam in Holland, Osnabruck in Germany, Innsbruck in Austria, Vipiteno in Italy and then arriving in Albano, in November we started our new life together. Putting order among my stuff and adding his to mine was not easy and took a long time (we are practically almost finished tidying now...). Dealing with the new tasks was not bad, i wash the clothes , he hangs, i cook, he does the dishes, we hoover every 2 days once each and the rest we do together (ironing is my duty as he hates it lol but is not very often because it makes my back ache a lot...). He started studying italian but he wants to do it at his own pace... so no school althoug there is one free and no intense studying... sigh he will take ages... But hey, at least now we are together and we have a lot of time to spend =). Xmas was not the best but we enjoyed ourselves at the evil xmas eve dinner with relatives and the more nice xmas lunch at my dad's girlfriend's home with a wonderful meal. New year's eve was spent in Germany at his brother's house and it was nice... until it turned new year and he got too drunk despite my advice to stop as he was already happyly wasted and did not need to be sick... he wanted to be sick... instead of keeping the promise to make love to me and he ended up fucking the toilet's floor after puking his whole stupidity and skittering all the rest... LOL i have a picture for documentation... LOL LOL ...hope this is the first and last drunk-till-i-puke experience that i have to assist to.
Last weekend we had the first dinner together with a couple of friends in our house (for rent...sigh) and it went very well, the language barrier was overtaken and the food i cooked was a success (satisfaction runs through my veins).
As it can be understood we do have arguments, but it is normal as we are still adjusting and we never go to sleep angry or upset as this would make it worse so we always make peace and, if possible, love. There is nothing like make-up sex they say, well it might be true but i still have the best anyway even without arguing ;-P

EXCITED OVER THE MOON - FROM UK TO ITALY BY CAR!!!

2006-09-19T00:12:00.000+02:00

Yes, you read well! My Love is selling his flat to join me in Italy and he wants me to fly over, when it will be all sorted, to travel by car from Dundee to Rome passing via ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, then through Germany where we will meet and stop at his brother's house before heading to Italy. I can't wait for it! It's something I never dared of hoping ever! I never took a ferry for such a long distance, never been to Newcastle or Amsterdam (well I twice stopped in Amsterdam's Airport flying with KLM but that is nothing...) never been to Holland, Germany, Switzerland! All places we will have to pass through! Oh my Gods it will be like a (very tiring) honey moon with no marriage... AWESOME!!! I am so excited!
Finger crossed for this to happen ASAP. LOVE YOU MY AWESOME COLIN!

Charmy Kitty

2006-09-15T21:45:00.000+02:00

AMORE MIO - MY LOVE

2006-05-13T16:53:00.000+02:00

Chosen by destiny or by our own free will? It does not matter as long as i know i do choose him today and tomorrow, to make his dreams come true and hoping he will make my other dreams come true, he did already make some of my dreams come true and made me happy, a new woman full of hope in the future.
Thank you Janette and William for this beautiful boy. Thank you Gods for all you gave me. Thank you Love for all your kindness.
I Love you.
Ti Amo.

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2006-05-09T01:11:00.000+02:00

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CUUUUTE!!!!

2006-04-25T12:37:00.000+02:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE

2006-04-15T01:01:00.000+02:00

Love is great. My sweet angel is getting more and more into my life but i still wonder what it will be of us. We have the best intentions and like each other a lot, this is sure. I can't wait to be again in his arms at the end of the month.

My Love finds me beautiful and this test says:

2006-01-29T19:59:00.000+01:00

You are too innocent and sweet for your own good.

Which Ultimate Beautiful Woman are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

IF IT IS A DREAM DON'T WAKE ME UP

2006-01-08T03:34:00.000+01:00

If it is a dream, leave me to it, may i never wake up from it. I feel good and i did not feel this good in a long time, i am serene, calm, in peace with the world. Even tough i am far from home and from everything and everybody and i miss all my friends and things, i feel essentially wonderful. And it does not happen often. And it hadn't been happening for a long time. And i hope it is going to happen more often. Because i like it, oh boy i like it. I like HIM a lot, i am crazy for him. As all humans he is he not perfect, but his look and his soul looks stunning in my eyes. If i am not in love yet i am falling in love. And even if it will not go as i can hope i will know how much i am happy just now and will be in the future.

LEAVING TODAY

2006-01-04T14:23:00.000+01:00

I'm leaving today... going at his place, I'll be back in a few days and I wonder if it will seem all just a beautiful dream or if I will realise it is real. I am nervous, anxious, happy, worried, scared and confident. A new experience, a new environment, everything is new and different. Still I think it is going to be wonderful.

SINKING OR FLYING?

2005-12-22T01:47:00.000+01:00

I did something new without feeling too bad for once. I was taken by my own happiness and got a bit crazy but in a good way =) he knows what I mean. He makes me feel that scaryness I forgot could exist. He drives me crazy with passion yet fearfull... The line between sinking or flying is thin at this point. One day soon I will know =) now I just know I feel high and happy and it's all because of him and his sexy smile. Awwwwwwwwww!

2005-12-17T00:05:00.000+01:00

Kitty ^_^

2005-12-17T00:03:00.000+01:00

Witch ^_^

HOW NOT TO GET FOND OF HIM?

2005-12-13T22:20:00.000+01:00

How does one resist the temptation of his lusty smile, his sincere eyes, his sweet words, his pure honesty? I am fond of him and long to see what will go on. I am scared of my feelings and pleased as well. I feel alive and happy, scared and tortured by the fear of not being able to love as I want. I want to love, care and feel the way one feels in a warm embrace... Am I still able? Am I still spontaneus or am I stopping myself already from thinking, hoping and wishing all my dreams become reality?

LIKE A BUTTERFLY

2005-11-18T03:27:00.000+01:00

She came and rest upon my life as a butterfly upon a flower. And now she flies again free. Farewell. Merry we met, may we marry part, at least in our hearts.

This is for you.

2005-11-13T23:30:00.000+01:00

Pink Moon Girl

9 October 2005 - THE FIRST TUNING COMPETITION I SAW

2005-10-12T00:24:00.000+02:00

TUNING FINAL- MY FAIR LADY

With no doubt one of the most stunning car I have ever seen with my own eyes... extremely beautiful.

I also met a wonderful guy. I hope we will become friends.

NOTHING

2005-10-08T15:17:00.000+02:00

I can't do anything. I can't go to the police and say "he was making fun out of me thus I slapped him and he hit me back and grabbed my wrists till pain saying he would break my neck if I did it again". I can't go to the police and say " I am worn out, fed up with him messing the house leaving dirt everywhere. And if i complain he laughs at me." I can't kick him out. I am alone and noone can do it for me. I feel like killing him. I want him out. I cannot bear all this anyomore. I cannot bear him saying he hopes I die. I cannot bear him anymore at all.

Tears fall down in silence. In silence I scream, In silence I cry.

2005-10-01T15:33:00.000+02:00

Hope in my heart...

Yesterday i went With Malit and Vanilla to a pub that is soo cool, like a wild forest, with King Kong and all! ^_^ I enjoyed myself sooo much! But it was also quite expensive... oh well never mind!

2005-09-30T02:13:00.000+02:00

Sweet September : at my side one of my best friends :)

Long to go?

2005-09-06T02:09:00.000+02:00

Another delusion. Someone looked very interested and then, once more, was not. This time harder for me to understand because I started having a hope that should have never come out. Rob has been too cruel to show me something I guess it was not. Once again I find myself sad and waiting, hopelessly depressed today, tonight. Will he find me? Will I find him? Will we find each other finally someday soon? Or are we doomed to stay apart forever in this life? I must say I do long for some love and affection so much now that I would have accepted it even for a while only... to remember the taste of a kiss and the warmth of a cuddle, but still I know that while would have not been enough anymore. Luke was even more cruel by saying he would have give me that "while" I wanted to then refuse it to me. I don't deserve that. I deserve my Twin Soul, True Love, affection, kisses and everything else. I deserve to have something too. I need to love, my twin soul, before I get too old. I need to find him. He needs me too.

My 3 Babyladies Cats

2005-06-29T22:35:00.000+02:00

My 3 BabyLadies ^_^

Almost a year

2005-06-16T22:51:00.000+02:00

Almost a year has gone since I first wrote this blog. Since I said that I felt that love was on the way. I am beginning to think I was a bit too optimistic. How much more do they want us to wait for, long for, suffer for? How much more do we, twin soul, have to wait to meet?

All of a sudden

2005-06-16T00:00:00.000+02:00

Finding myself suddenly like this....waiting for something... not fair. Not fair at all that my heart is pounding with no knowledge. Not fair that my heart jumps at some words.... Not fair that the future is far. Not fair that the present is not making anything happen.

2005-06-12T01:20:00.000+02:00

A classic picture. Ayez's Kiss. Oh so much I long foryour kisses, Twin Soul...

2005-06-12T00:13:00.000+02:00

Crescent Moon 11 June 2005 night

Changes after changes

2005-04-05T02:01:00.000+02:00

Gods made me know via their means. Part of that past is not part of my future as well. The past is past. I will not go in a part of Italy I have never been to. Not for that reason and not soon. It was fantasy, gone in the past, something but nothing. It was all in my mind and I felt what I wanted to feel, it was something different.

I said what i had to and I feel relieved and ready for a new start. Ready again to wait for my twin soul to appear sometimes somewhere.

Ready to change more, grow more.

Decisions of a woman

2005-04-03T22:52:00.000+02:00

I decided something had to change since my feelings changed so many times I don't even remember. I will cut with the past, all the past soon. But first I must be sure that part of that past is not part of my future as well. I also decided to keep a special friendship but to change the kind of "special" part to a less complicate and bonding thing. I will go in a part of Italy I have never been to. I will go alone but I will meet someone part of my past to understand what makes me think about incences and musics, constant eyes in my mind as well as rememberings. Is it a special bond or a fantasy? Is it gone or yet to come? Was it nothing but something or something but nothing? Is it all in my mind or is it in our souls?Do I feel what I want to feel or what we both feel?With the help of the Goddes I will find out if it was destiny or something different.
I am sure this post will cause confusion and surprise to my special friend but he will understand that life and feelings are like diamonds, never perfect, always showing new shiny faces.

GODDESS, KEEP ME QUIET

2005-01-26T01:13:00.000+01:00

Relived. High. Can't wait. I talk too much, don't I? Less fear but still some.

2005-01-24T23:55:00.000+01:00

Diana's Temple in Nemi - The inside and Altar

2005-01-24T23:54:00.000+01:00

Diana's Temple in Nemi - The Road

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

2005-01-24T23:00:00.000+01:00

Burning cheeks. Head everywhere but here. Awakening of things I forgot about....questions, questions, questions, continuously that I try to kill instantly since they are not welcome now. Extasy and hell. Missing something I can't have. Am I going insane again? If yes I hope this time I pay more attention. To every small detail. I should try not to focus since it's not sane. But then that's not how I used to be... not that one cannot change... but one should change for the best, not change otherwise...

TEST

2005-01-12T11:45:00.000+01:00

You speak eloquently and have seemingly read every
book ever published. You are a fountain of
endless (sometimes useless) knowledge, and
never fail to impress at a party.
What people love: You can answer almost any
question people ask, and have thus been
nicknamed Jeeves.
What people hate: You constantly correct their
grammar and insult their paperbacks.

What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Far and away

2004-10-02T14:22:00.000+02:00

There is a film with this title, altough this is nothing much to do with it. This is just the title for today. Because I feel I woul like to be far and away from here and just in my Love's arms, safe and secure, calm and serene. Happy. But i am not. I am angry, nervous, i hate the problems i am having just now and I feel ill and sick of all this. It's a bad day, a bad moment.

Wait...

2004-09-14T11:30:00.000+02:00

Since it seems I "can't hurry love" and I "just have to wait", I will wait. I'll try to be patient even if it's hard, very hard. But I know he is doing the same so I will be stronger. Ah if only i could now when or where, any small detail would help me bear the time that divide us still. But i know nothing apart the fact that we will meet.

Lies in the past, hope in the future

2004-08-22T22:43:00.000+02:00

It's days i can't help but feeling weak. And everyday weaker. Like a dying plant with no whater. I need that whater that is named Love, i need you, twin soul, wherever you are. Lies were in my past so many times, hope is still with me though, uncertain if to leave or stay, every day struggling with hurt and tears, an invisible pain in my heart, an invisible bleeding scar. Waiting to be healed by Love. Shall i die before being reborn in you arms? Shall i loose hope before finding you? Come, my dear, and fly me to the shining moon.

2004-08-19T01:39:00.001+02:00

THE VIEW
Posted by Hello

2004-08-19T01:39:00.000+02:00

TEMPLE OF JUNO (Giunone)
Posted by Hello

2004-08-19T00:49:00.000+02:00

The plate of Piazza Borromini in Lanuvio, Rome, italy

Today i went to Lanuvio, a very nice small Comune close to Albano Laziale, strangely there were tourists! Maybe some clever ones that know how to really enjoy being around discovering stuff ^_^
What fascinated me most was Giunone's Temple's Ruins and The View!!!!

Posted by Hello

I know

2004-08-14T17:30:00.000+02:00

I know in the world there is my twin soul.

He is waiting for me as i am for him.

He is sad sometimes, not finding me, and so I am.

He is hopeful, looking for, then resting, taking time, thinking.

Patient and anxious like a groom waiting his bride.

Calm and nervous, looking all around with his sight.

Smiling and pondering.

Where is She? How much more time will I have to wait?

Don't worry, my dear i feel it will be soon.

I can't tell you that you won't loose hope and be desperate sometimes.

I can't tell you that you will not mistake what you see sometimes.

But I can tell you that our love is endless and even fearfull and insicure we will finally find each other and feel that nothing has really changed from a life to another.

Drunk?

2004-08-08T01:58:00.000+02:00

Today i couldn't stop worrying to know why someone did not contact me: am i this, am i that? Is he this, is he that? Thinking about someone that doesn't show up (if not in real at least in other ways) is quite bad.
I had my cousin's party and, besides all, i drunk 2 glasses of red wine. TWO, that was a record for me and it was noticed quite soon... by everyone when i started laughting after saying i was seeing everything in slow motion and my head started turning like on a flying octopus... if i was drunk i was not so much. I was lucid but not quite standing properly and even now my head is turning but less, infact i can stand and walk on a straight line touching my nose with my finger ^_^
The climax of stupidity and fun was when i was thrown water and changed my shirt in a bikini bra... everyone was just amazed to see me like that, doesn't happen everyday ^_^! But it was fun looking guys impressed to see a girl in a normal bikini bra and a skirt. Then i had to find a tshirt 'cause my mum was there too and did not agree with my clothes....ancient mother!!!
And now i feel i need sleep. Goodnight world.^_^

I opened a new blog only for...

2004-08-05T01:15:00.000+02:00

...trying to sort out a kind of job while i wait for the good one. Lately a friend has been so busy that i have been missing something. Tomorrow i have the famous job interview and before i have to pass through my father's advices...arg. After the job interview i have to drive up to Vigne in Umbria where the birthday party of a friend of mine is happening...and where is the gift? I have no money... i guess i will find a way...sigh. And tomorrow morning i will meet for the first time the owner of this beautiful but old flat. So i had to clean all day and i am knackered. Goodnight world.

A beautiful day and a night of hell

2004-08-01T23:58:00.000+02:00

Today was a lovely day, hot, sunny, i went around with my ex, discovering places, amazing views, a very nice restaurant where we ate lovely. Everything was quite nice, the day infact was ok. Too much it seems. Tonight he ruined everything again. He always did it, spoiling a nice, peaceful, happy day is his favourite hobby. He started by calling me over and over to go in his room. He said he wanted a hug. I was busy and kept saying i couldn't. I was having problems with pop ups on my pc. I said no, once, twice, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times, he was never stopping. I got stressed, i got angry and finally i went crazy. I hate him. He made me have an attack of nerves, he made me angry, sad, screaming, he called me crazy when he knows i hate it, making me furious. He seems to love it, and i couldn't help being involved in it. And then to give the final touch he denied, he denied and interrupt my speaking saying he didn't know why I suddenly became like that, he started talking over and over again the same things showing he was calm, interrupting my rage, telling me I was crazy and I even scared him with my behaviour!!! He spoke over me, telling lies, saying he did nothing and saying that I was crazy, and that I had problems, and that I needed to see a doctor! Insults, lies, calm face, like a psicho in a film. And I could do nothing but cry, ask why he was behaving like that, asking him why he was doing that to me, why does he always have to ruin my happiness. And I felt abused. Then he suddenly came back to me, he hugged me wanting me to stop crying. But that doesn't change what happened, neither tonight nor the other times, is this not psychological violence?

PINKIE

2004-07-31T16:18:00.000+02:00

She is Pinkie, daughter of Lilly ( the mother, my cat) and of Grisu', the father. She has other 2 brothers and one sister.
Posted by Hello

"Rosolio" sweeties and liquorice fishes!!! Delightful!

2004-07-30T22:30:00.000+02:00

Today i ate very early (dinner) at the chinese restaurant in Albano and after that i went to a very nice bar where i found these sweeties... the "rosolio" liqueur contained in the small sugar sweeties is fantastic and reminds me of when i was a child and someone took me those sweeties. I am addicted already, they are just lovely!

My Japanese Name!

2004-07-27T23:11:00.000+02:00

My japanese name is 清水 Shimizu (clear water) 弓美 Yumi (beautiful bow, as in bow and arrow).

And if i add my surname it becomes:

My japanese name is 清水 Shimizu (clear water) 明日香 Asuka (fragrance of the bright day).

Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

A Dream

2004-07-27T16:41:00.000+02:00

Soft, as a feather, your smile in my eyes
Sweet and tender your voice and laughter
Full of passion your hands on my shoulders
Desire in your burning look upon me
I felt lost in your eyes and weak under your touch
...your lips on mine, your hug...
In a dream i lost myself with you...

Bad luck or nerves?

2004-07-25T14:53:00.000+02:00

I cut my finger. To open a tin of white asparagus. I did it because my ex ate all the Ravioli with meat that were supposed to be for both. I was very angry, and of course hungry. I tried to open the tin with a scout opener. Don't do it ever if you don't have the experience. Bam! And a deep cut. Cazzo. Its very painful.

STUPID WHITE MAN

2004-07-24T18:14:00.000+02:00

This is exactly what he is. I creamed and oiled his back when he got sunburnt, i made him breakfast, lunch, dinner, cleaned his clothes, ironed, cleaned the house, peel his back when the skin was falling, took him around, got the email address of the girl he likes, did everything i could for make him feel less trapped, lost or dependent. Fucking bastard! This is how he repays me: by insulting me and offending my intelligence, by saqying i am lazy and do nothing all day! FUCK OFF! YOU! YOU DIRTY PIG!YOU STUPID MAN!YOU DESERVE NOTHING EVER!!!!!! He can FORGET anything else from me, including being taken around. I hope he cries all the tears he has as i did when we were still a couple, i cried so much i cannot anymore, and i really want to.

Me

2004-07-23T14:21:00.000+02:00

A picture of me

Love is on the way

2004-07-23T14:13:00.000+02:00

I feel it.
Far away but close to me.
The ginger kitty today started climbing the box: i guess he'll be out by tomorrow.

Plans for today:

change the room furnirture's disposition
quarrel i guess...again, like always...uff

Blogging around...

2004-07-22T23:09:00.000+02:00

Which Ariel are you?
~ a quiz by Clear Black Lines ~