A long overdue update (Part 2)

2009 so far has pretty much been focused on the pregnancy, with a few exceptions.

Our beautiful Drusilla

On Easter Saturday, we lost our beautiful girl Drusilla to cancer.  It was very quick ~ only a week and a half between diagnosis & her death.  We are all devastated (Brock & Dibley included) ~ she was such a sweet, beautiful girl.  She loved everyone & wouldn't harm a fly.  Brock has been so very lost, it's been just awful to watch.  Dibley has been very sweet with him, and smooches up to him & shares his sleeping mat to keep him company.  He obviously knows he's lonely.

Rest peacefully our sweet girl, we miss you every day.  We like to think you are happily sunning yourself somewhere, just as you used to do when you were with us.  We will always love you & miss you.

Germany

Matthew had a trip to Germany for work at the end of May.  Very exciting for him (although bittersweet to have gone without me).  He did enjoy himself & saw some amazing things ~ hopefully one day we will all get to go back!

Bachelor of Viniculture & Viticulture

Well, Matthew has set his 10 year plan into action!  His dream is to own our own winery, so has started his studies at NMIT to set things in motion.  He is loving it so far, and has just received his first semester's results ~ a credit & a distinction!  I'm so very proud of him, he has a very demanding full-time job, he works part-time at the wine shop, and has been an absolute dream looking after me while I've been pregnant.  He's been the most supportive partner a person could ever dream of.  And on top of all that, he's managed to complete two subjects at university.  And pass them, and pass them well!

Pregnancy

The 23rd of January saw us hit the magical 12 week mark, and we also got our first glimpse of Baby Bell looking like a baby!  Our early scan at around 7 weeks showed us a little blob with a heartbeat (and what a beautiful sight that was!).  However seeing a little human in there was something altogether different ~ it really started to drive home the fact that we were really having a baby.  After so many years, so much pain & so much disappointment, this was it.  We got the first inkling that this was an active little one, as there were arms & legs flailing about the whole time.  This has proven to be very accurate ~ Baby Bell has barely stopped moving since I first felt him/her move!  I felt flutters from about 14 weeks, and felt my first real movement on Valentine's Day, but that was only because I was lying on my belly briefly, and he/she let me know quick smart that was not welcomed!  I think if the in utero activity of this little one continues once he/she is outside, we are going to have our hands full!

I have absolutely loved being pregnant.  I've definitely had my share of pregnancy-related problems (Low BP, borderline anaemia, insomnia, constant light-headedness, occasional near-fainting episodes, Gestational Diabetes) but I've found it quite easy to deal with.  I think perhaps because of the journey we've had to get here, I'm able to appreciate it that much more than if we'd had an easy road.  I'm so very aware of how incredibly lucky we are (and in all likelihood, this may be our one & only child) so that gives me a bit of a mental kick in the butt if I'm ever feeling a bit sorry for myself!  I've really only had a handful of bad days, which I'm very thankful for!

I was supposed to be working up until last Friday (37 weeks), however after a slip & fall I ended up having to finish up at 32 weeks.  No harm done to the baby at all, but I strained my groin, which 5 weeks later is still nowhere near healed, despite much resting (and boredom on my part!).  I'm only just now getting mobile again ~ and being housebound and not able to do anything has not been fun!

While Matthew was in Germany, I flew up to Brisbane for a weekend to catch up with family & friends.  I had a surprise 3D/4D scan ... well, not a surprise to me, but a surprise to the two nannas, Aunty Karmen and my cousin Nichole.  It was so wonderful to share the experience with them ~ they haven't been able to participate much in the pregnancy, so it was so special to have them there.  Everyone loved it!

While I was up there, my cousin Nichole & my Mum threw me a baby shower!  It was just fantastic.  I had such an amazing time, and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone who has been so supportive of us & following our pregnancy journey over the past months.  We were spoilt rotten, and ended up with about 20kg of excess baggage!  Let me tell you, that was fun trying to wrangle 2 heavy suitcases off the conveyer belt at the airport.  With everyone watching, mind you.  Chivalry is well & truly dead, I believe.

So now, I am sitting here 37 weeks & 3 days pregnant, and Baby Bell could come any time now.  It's still very surreal.  The nursery is ready, the car seat is installed, hospital bag is mostly packed.  The one thing that remains to get ready is me!