Friday, July 6, 2012

meet our newest family member

Well, it has been a crazy, exciting, scary, frustrating, emotional, painful, wonderful, exhausting, tiring, long 6 and half weeks, and we are slowly settling into family life with a new baby.

It all started 6 and half weeks ago when on one fateful Sunday morning, I rolled over in bed, and my lower back had ceased up, and my sciatic nerve was not being friendly at all. I could not move, and if I tried, I was in a whole lot of pain, so much so that my body went into shock. So by 10am we were at hospital, thinking it was just a little check up and send me home affair. However, I spent the next 4 days, drugged up on a lot of pain killers. The pain hadn't eased all that much, so the doctors came in to tell me that the new plan was to induce me that next Sunday, some 3 weeks early, in the hope that by having the baby, the pressure on my sciatic nerve would ease. I was discharged for a few days, and for that few days all I could really do was lay in bed. Connor coped relatively well with the new 'mum can't walk or do much', and we spent a few days reading books, colouring in pictures and snuggling in bed together.

Then came Sunday 27th May, time to go in to be induced. I was feeling rather apprehensive about what was about to happen. My previous birth experience was not pleasant, but I tried to remain positive that this was going to be so much better. Doctors had assured me that an early epidural was on standby (due to the amount of sciatic pain I was still having) so I had that comfort. Within half hour of the Cervidol going in, I started getting period pain like cramps. By the time an hour had ticked past I was having 1 -2 minute contractions. My body must love the stuff!!!! After a few hours, the doctors decided to remove the Cervidol in the hope that it would stop or slow down the contractions, however, it didn't. 7am came around, and they broke my waters. The epidural arrived, and not soon enough I might add, however, it took about 45 minutes, and 2 doctors to get it in. (They said I have very small spaces between my vertebra, hence the difficulty in getting it in... plus the fact that they made me SIT when I actually couldn't due to the sciatic issue.... arrgghhhh!!! OUCHY). The second Doctor allowed me to lay down off the painful leg and within 5 minutes he had it in!!!Happy that it was in, I found myself blissfully unaware of contractions for a couple of hours... until I started feeling things again!!! I felt the need to push, yet I was only 4 -5 cm dilated! They gave me a booster epidural, yet, again, it didn't seem to work. This happened with Connor too. I obviously don't take well to epidurals.

By 3:30pm, after a very very painful examination (I shudder at the memories!!), the Doctors came in to tell me that the baby's heart rate was all over the place and that it was now time for them to intervene and get the baby out quickly. I couldn't help but feel like I had let everyone down, but in the end it was about the health of our new baby. Within minutes of them telling me, they were running me down the corridors of the hospital to the theatre for a Caesarean.

At 4pm, 28th May, we welcomed a healthy 8 pound, 49cm baby boy, Isaac Jared. He was perfect. Even heathy enough to come into recovery with me, and not have to go into special care.



Isaac was a very calm baby... which was nice, because, unfortunately, my sciatic issues had not got any better, if anything, slightly worse. I spent 5 days in hospital, on lots of drugs yet again. By the end of it, being in hospital became my down fall. I needed to get home to get treatment (physio). The drugs were just a temporary bandaid. The longer I stayed it seemed the worse my pain got and the more drugs they pumped in.

 
Couple days old


 Connors first cuddle... smitten by him!! His first reaction when he saw him was
 "oh he is beautiful". Brought tears to my eyes!!!

It is now 5 1/2 weeks since I had Isaac. I have recovered very well from the C-Section as I've had lots of bed/couch rest due to the sciatic issues. I can now stand and walk around, but still needing to put my feet up when the pain really grabs. I'm finally drug free (apart from the odd panadol and Voltaran) but things are improving.

 Happy dreams

 
1 1/2 weeks of age

5 weeks of age - Baptism
Isaac has been perfect, however this past week or 2 he has been getting fussier and presenting more and more tummy cramps etc. Given both sides of the family have lactose intolerance, including Connor, we have now switched to lactose free formula and we have seen great results.

Connor is totally in love with his baby brother, and every morning he still gets super excited to see him. Isaac too... responds to Connor with smiles every time he hears his voice or Connor talks to him. It's beautiful to see.



5 weeks old.

He truly has been a wonderful blessing to our little family. And yes... it has been a trying hard 6 weeks, but all I have to do is look at this gorgeous little man, and I am reminded of the wonderful precious gift we have received from God, and the rest tends to fade away to the back of my mind.


Friday, February 17, 2012

the big THREE

Our little boy is 3!!!!

We decided to redo his bedroom into a 'big boy room' a couple weeks before his birthday. He loves tractors and ride on mowers etc, so what better way then to do a 'John Deere' tractor theme. He loves it... and shows me his stickers on the wall almost every day.




Then on the 11th February, our once little baby boy (I swear it only feels like the other day we were the proud new parents of a little 6lb 11o baby boy) had his 3rd birthday. He came running into our room in the morning excited because he noticed that there was balloon and 'ribbons' in the living room. "Is it my birthday mum?.... yes it IS my birthday mum!!"

So with bed hair and pj's on, we had to 'wake up' and open presents.

ooohh what is it!!

Proud owner of a new 'big boy' bike

Connor sporting his birthday tshirt I made for him

His farm cake I made ( I LOVE making kids birthday cakes!! so much fun!)

After our little family birthday celebrations, we packed the car with party bags, birthday cake, drinks and his new bike and made our way to the park for Connors 'bike riding' party.

He all of a sudden looks so grown up!!

Loving his new wheels

Telling great Opa Kroeze just how old he is! (I love this photo!! Special moment!)
Happy Birthday time!!

The big blow!!

Kids waiting for the cake to get cut up!

Connor got spoilt rotten!!!

It was such a lovely day of celebrating our little mans birthday. We couldn't be prouder of him. He is such a blessing and joy to have around and we can only pray that God grants him a long happy and healthy life.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Wedding Bells

Saturday the 19th November marked a special day for us Brouwer family as Raouls little sister got married to the one and only Mr Daniel Mitchell-Collins. It was a beautiful day filled with lots of love, joy and tears... mainly by the groom!! :-)

Our little man was in the bridal party as the little best man, and he sure did a great job walking his older cousin, Ahliya (3) down the aisle. On the way out of the church he even managed a wave and thumbs up to his Aunty and cousins he spotted walking out.

Here are some pictures of the wonderful day... and to the newly weds... Mr and Mrs Mitchell-Collins, we wish you a life time of love, a lifetime of happiness and we wish you Gods richest blessings and may He always guide your paths.



Connor and Raoul... they scrub up alright don't they!!

Connor and me... he was a little excited about wearing his big boy suit

The little best man himself

Walking Ahliya down the aisle. I almost thought this wouldn't happen, as he was beside himself before we left to go to church (super tired), but he pulled himself together... and didn't they get a lot of "ohhhhh's" when they walked down the aisle.

With Hannah at the front of the church... decorated in a fantastic display of roses!!

The new Mr and Mrs Daniel Mitchell-Collins

The bridal party (left to right... Luke (grooms brother) Nathan Kroeze, Daniel Coote, Daniel and Alyssa Mitchell-Collins, Hannah Coote, Robin Kroeze, Matilda Kroeze... and at the front, Ahliya Coote and Connor Brouwer.

The girls

The Brouwer siblings

The Brouwer family

Then after the photo shoot, we went the Josef Chromy winery for a Cocktail reception. The little man didn't last too long here... but was still able to enjoy a run around and some play time till he got picked up.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Bloomin' spring!



Spring has sprung and so have the flowers.











So... time to get busy in the garden???

Sunday, September 4, 2011

JCS School Fair

Saturday, 3rd Sept, was the John Calvin School fair. What a magic day. The sun was out, the wind stayed away, and everyone helped raise about $19,000 for the school!! Great effort and truly another blessing. :-) Part of the tradition of our school fairs is the 'Peddlers Parade'. It was open to all ages this time, so Connor took part.

He loves all things tools so we dressed him up at a builder. I made 'Nuts 'n Bolts' for him to sell out of his tool box. Here are some photos of our (very cute) builder.

Connor the Builder


Connor and Ahliya (as Snow White selling 'Apple Treats')


Connor and his boy cousins, Mack Hidding and Bohdan Buist, both dresses as 'Cool Dudes' selling tongue painter lolly pops our of caps. :-)

Connor had a lot of fun, but in saying that was also very over it when he discovered the 'petting farm'. He spent most of the afternoon in there!!! :-)




Connor on the stairs, where he spent most of the afternoon in his own little world. :-)


Great day had by all, a few bargains bagged, but most of all, money raised for a great cause.


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Stickers



One of Connor's favorite things to do at the moment is put stickers on his face (don't ask me why!)