Personal Style

Katie has her own unique sense of style, as demonstrated here.

Fun at the Farm

We spent a morning at the Beacon Hill Children's Farm with Katie. She was in love with all the little goats. There are brushes available for the kids to brush the goats. I think Katie could have spent the entire day there.

Welcome Jacob!

Name: Jacob Murray Freilinger DOB: July 14, 2010, 9:45am Weight: 9lb 1oz Height: 20.8" Jacob’s birth story:

Well, after three weeks of false labour, our boy decided to arrive in a great big hurry! On Tuesday, I started getting some more serious contractions (though still very spaced out) and had some bleeding. At our doctor’s appointment that day, he felt that labour was starting and we should see a baby before the end of the week. Yeah! Wednesday morning about 4:30, the contractions finally became regular and were about 10 minutes apart and fairly painful. When Dean was ready to leave for work at 6:00, they were still 10 minutes apart, so I figured he could start his day and I would call him as I progressed. For the next hour and a half, I hung out with Katie and timed contractions. When mom (staying with us to help out around the house and take care of Katie) got up at 7:30, they were still 8 minutes apart. At 8:00 I decided to go back to bed for a bit to get some rest. Now the ‘fun’ part!

At 8:45 I was up because the contractions were becoming VERY painful and I started to groan through them. At 9:00, I called Dean to come home and get me. He called back 5 minutes later and I had suddenly gone from 8-minute intervals to 1-minute intervals and was yelling/screaming through each contraction. The problem was that we live 30 minutes from the hospital! Dean talked to my mom, who then called our doctor and 911 (she did a good job though she was pretty panicked!). I managed a call to my friend, Mandi, down the street to get Katie as I thought mom and I might deliver by ourselves. The paramedics arrived 15 minutes later and I was fully dilated and ready to push. Next person in was Dean (thankfully) and then my doctor and one of his nurses arrived (hallelujah!) At this point, I hadn’t pushed yet and we were still waiting for a second ambulance that was equipped for Advanced Life Support (if something went wrong with babe or I). The doctor asked me to push once (they were trying to decide if they needed to transport me or deliver where I was) and baby’s head came down. Fifteen minutes later, Jacob arrived. It was scary, shocking, exciting and awesome all at the same time. I never expected to deliver anywhere but the hospital. I never thought I would scream and yell so loud that neighbours several houses away could hear me. I never thought I could have the stupidest, happiest grin on my face as they wheeled baby and I into the ambulance. The whole thing still seems a bit unreal.

Here's Jacob with one of our paramedics - about 10 minutes after birth.

Because I was under a doctor’s care, I was transported to hospital after the birth. I had delivered the placenta a couple minutes after the baby and everything looked good, though I still needed some stitches. My doctor met me in labour and delivery (I was the talk of the ward!), stitched me up, Jacob was weighed (9lb 1oz) and measured (20.8 inches) and then we were transferred to the maternity ward until I was ready to go home. I stayed a couple days to get some rest and keep an eye on Jacob (he was quite mucousy from such a quick delivery). I got a bit of ribbing from my doctor for not calling him sooner (he suggested I should have gone to the hospital once my contractions were regular, even though they were 8 or 10 minutes apart) but he was happy that everything had gone so well (when he practiced in the UK, he did home births on a regular basis, so it wasn’t totally strange for him). We have since heard from a neighbour who was timing my contractions based on the screams (kind of funny) and was getting ready to come over and help when the paramedics arrived. She was concerned because she never heard baby cry (he just wasn’t as loud as his momma) and was hoping I was all right and wanted to let the other neighbours know (yeah, I was THAT loud! I was totally quiet when in labour the first time so had no idea I would end up screaming and yelling like that!)

First pic with Mommy and snuggled up at the hospital. Look at that scrunchy face!

My TWO babies!

With Grandma, who was the first person to hold him! Jacob is now five days old and Dean and I are loving our expanded family. Katie is thrilled with her little brother (even though she was SURE she was getting a little sister) and loves to hold him and give hugs and kisses. His nickname is Squeaker (he even squeaks when he eats) and he makes the greatest angry faces – all wrinkled up and scrunchy. I had forgotten just how sweet a newborn can be. I could stare at him a ll day. And Katie seems so big to me now! I’m glad she is adjusting well (so far!) and has been a great little helper to me. Dean’s parents are staying with us for a couple weeks to help out and bond with their grandchildren.