Baby 3 update

I've now hit the 40 week mark.  Forty weeks of being pregnant.  Yes, I am grateful don't get me wrong.  I know there are some who would do anything to be in my shoes.  I hope everyone who wants to be pregnant gets that chance at least once in her lifetime.

But for those of you who have been here, you know what I mean.

Can we commiserate for just a minute?





It's not just me. 

Jeff has been beside himself for days now as this baby decides whether he wants to come out "early" or not.  We had some false alarms over the weekend when I suddenly started having massive contractions in the middle of a restaurant.



No, these aren't the famous Georgetown steps from The Exorcist.  This is Chancery Lane, in Hamilton where a new Indian restaurant opened up.



This is the location of the former Fresco's restaurant.  Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to comment on how good the food was at Ruby Murrays.  Everyone at the table was raving about it (try the lamb chops!) Service was impeccable, and the menu looked solid. 

 Unfortunately, I decided to have a preggo moment.

It started out with the feeling of being incredibly hot.  No matter how close I could get to the AC blasting, I was sweating.  Like a flop sweat that just came over me.  Then I decided to stand up and go to the loo, to stretch.  When you are as wide as I am right now, you attract a lot of attention as you make your way between the chairs.  I tried to avoid the eyes staring at the belly.  Oddly, there was another pregnant woman seated by us who looked very concerned.  She probably had the same thought I did - get some spicy food to get the baby out.

After climbing up the stairs (warning for those patrons who will require assistance) I returned to the table and tried to eat something.  For whatever reason, I could barely eat a bite.  I had specifically avoided eating much during the day in anticipation of the meal, but my body was not cooperating.  I squirmed in my seat, unable to get comfortable as I began to notice the discomfort I was feeling was actually contractions.

I tried to ignore them, continued sweating, stood up again to stretch, walked around the foyer while concerned waiters shot me glances.  I got back to the table and told Jeff I had to go home.  Apologizing profusely to our friends, he walked me to Front St to hail a cab.

On the way there, I had to sit several times as contractions passed through me and I groaned.  The steps were not very comfortable.

Once in the cab, Jeff went back to the restaurant to settle up while the driver brought me home.  He asked me several times if I was sure we were going in the right direction.  "The hospital is back that way ma'am." 

"I'll be ok... get me home!  I have to lay down."

It was a very quick ride.

Jeff got home quickly and we began a long night of monitoring contractions.  My midwife was out of town, but had arranged back up who arrived and helped ease me through wave after wave of pain.  She drew a bath, massaged me, applied hip pressure to ease the lower back pain, and guided me through the crests of pain that ebbed and flowed.  After about two hours, I said it was time to go to the hospital.  I couldn't take it anymore, and I was in tears.

Once there, Jeff pulled up to the ER, because the main entrance where the elevator to maternity is located, was closed.  I don't know what happened to me, but I burst into irrational tears and refused to get out.  Jeff started screaming at me, but my mind was telling me this was the wrong door.  I didn't want to stand in line at triage while someone determined who should be seen first.  Having been through this process in the ER before, I just couldn't make myself go through it again in this state.  Jeff finally convinced me to get out of the car, and we were waived through quickly.

I got up to maternity, checked in, and was eventually put on a monitor.  And then the baby decided he was just kidding. 

Contractions slowed down, then stopped completely. 

THEY JUST STOPPED.  All those hours in pain, and they just stopped.

After an hour of being monitored by the nurses, and only being 2 cm dilated, I opted to go home and wait it out. 

From midnight to 3, he continued playing with us.  He gave us a few good contractions, then nothing, some minor little Braxton Hicks type things, then nothing.  He moved around to let me know he was still in there, then silence.

I passed out.

The next night (Saturday) was more of the same.

Sunday, I woke up well rested.  He hadn't moved at all!  I worried till after breakfast, at which point he woke up and began kicking.  He was having a little party in there.  Nothing warranting attention, just a little "Hi!  I'm still here," kind of uterus kicking.

Monday was another calm day.  The kids were back from the US and spent the day with Jeff at the beach.  I laid on the couch staring at my belly and half-heartedly folded clothes.  What was this baby doing??

It's Tuesday now, and my other two are in school.  I'm doing last minute things like adjusting the stroller, working out the mechanics of the breast pump I bought, paying bills, and organizing the meal plan for the next couple weeks.

I got some prep done earlier over the weekend.

Suvair Saran's meatloaf.  My absolute favorite.



Cook's Illustrated Simple lasagna - adore.



I just don't know what to think about these preterm labor contractions.  I've never been through this before with either Jordan or Mina.  Both of them were induced for various reasons, but neither was preceded by long nights of crushing pain.

Jeff has his own share of complaints.  Apart from the restless nights of me getting up, he is suffering through the coldest house in Bermuda.  I don't dare look at the Belco bill.  I just can't stop sweating. 



How he feels.



How I feel.

So tired.

Bermuda snippets - Has the hurricane passed?

Woke up Wednesday morning to the first clear, sunny skies I have seen in days.  Is it possible the storm has passed us by?

I hope so.

Like a seasoned islander,  I prepared for all possibilities, stocking up on water, food, ensuring window shutters work, viewing what outdoor furniture needed securing.  I would say "stock up on alcohol" but since I'm still pregnant, I took that off the list. We had flashlights, candles and batteries. The car had gas, the outdoor grill had a full tank.

What I had no control over was what the recent weeks of rain did to our house.

Came upon this in the basement:



Rain water has been soaking through foundation and accumulating in the ceiling.  It all came down yesterday in a wet pile of grit and drywall. 

To the credit of the landlords, they came out this morning with a crew and immediately cleaned it up.  As the owner and the property manager of the complex battle it out with the insurance company, I am reminded that this isn't the first time we've dealt with ceiling collapses.




This happened in 2006, while we were in our home in NJ. 



Big chunks of this, soaked through from our attic air conditioning unit, collapsed the ceiling drywall atop our bed.



Debris and reinforced concrete also landed on top of the bassinet, which was located right next to our bed. Luckily, by some strange fluke, I had kept Mina next to me in a different room that evening while I watched tv. Had she been sleeping at her normal time, that concrete would have landed right on top of her. 

Flash forward to this morning - thanks to the hard work of the homeowners, the mess is temporarily dealt with.  (On a completely unrelated note, I learned that as tenants here, we are referred to as "the occupiers."  That just makes me laugh.)



While I await more rain ahead. Hurricane Cristobal is bypassing us to the west for now.  Although rain is expected this evening.



I finally got outside long enough to give Oscar a walk and admire the Fairyland Pond. Little ripples drift across the water as the wind breezes through the mangroves and Palmetto trees.

Baby continues to relax as the final day approaches.

Awaiting Cristobal

Hurricane season continues in BDA.  These past two weeks have been such a wash out.  Rain, grey skies and wind continue to dampen the island.  Generally, living in Bermuda is a very nice thing - when the weather cooperates.  It is a veritable paradise of colors and sunshine and beautiful beaches.  When it doesn't though, it kind of feels like you are stuck on a rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with no help in sight.

This week looks no different and we are currently tracking the progress of tropical storm Cristobal.  He may make landfall by this Wednesday with expected high winds of up to 50 mph.

That means the causeway to the airport is closed, electricity will likely be out and I will be a nervous wreck praying I don't go into labor.  I'm sure even if I do the hospital will manage the delivery just fine ... but for once I really wish I could deliver a child drama free.



Drippy window view from the balcony.

Glimpses of summer 2014

Our pictorial summer.  Starting with my ever expanding belly.  Bermuda summers and pregnancy do not mix well.  Mental note to self.



It was a milestone summer for other reasons too - both kids went to sleep away camp for the first time.  It was only a two week session, but it felt like a major moment for me.  Were they too young?  Would they be ok?  What if one of them got sick?  Would Jordan remember to take his medication?

Not sure if sleep away camp is something common in other parts of the US.  I grew up in upstate NY, and I can't say it was a big thing.  I did sports camps, but they only lasted a week or two.  Jeff says they are very common among the city kids he grew up with in Brooklyn. 

Everyone he knew went away for most of the summer.  Oddly he did not, but his mom confirmed that she did the same growing up.  My desire to do it stemmed first from wanting Jordan to have the gymnastics experience that he can't get here.  So when we discovered IGC, and realized it was in the Poconos, it seemed a no-brainer.  The challenge was finding a short program for Mina, close by.  I researched it, and we settled on Camp Lohikan, after getting some positive feedback from friends.

But, being the helicopter mom that I am, I felt it was important that one of us be in the US during the two week period.... just in case.

I packed.  A lot.



They had fun!



Jordan had a fantastic experience at International Gymnastics Camp in Stroudsburg, PA.  He finally perfected his spins on the mushroom and got to meet other boys equally dedicated to gymnastics.  He met Olympic visiting coaches, got to stay up really late, and discovered the joys of a canteen account.

I had the briefest glimpse of what it would be like when both kids were no longer home. 



When they returned to Bermuda, it was time to try new things.  Mina spent two weeks sailing with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.  And Jordan spent one week playing golf at Tucker's Point.  After that, it was all gymnastics training with the boys team out in St. David's.  Every. Single. Day.  And to his credit, he did not complain once.  So proud of him.



Mina learns about the boats she will sail at orientation.






While the kids were in the States, I stayed on the east coast to be close by.  I got to hang out for a bit with my niece and nephews!  Shake Shack anyone?



One of our neighbors here in BDA left the island, and to commemorate, all of the neighbors bought a photo package as a send off.  Here are the Fairpoint kids hamming it up in the backyard (or as we say here - the garden.)



Mina's birthday was a big deal, and since it occurs the same week as her dad's, we spent the week celebrating.



Which obviously includes chocolate covered pancakes.



A slight blip in the radar occurred this week when Jordan came down with a bad fever.  It lasted so long, he had to be admitted to the local hospital for IV fluids and antibiotics.  Three days later, he was ready for discharge.  Thanks again to the fantastic nursing team we had at King Edward Memorial Hospital.  They went above and beyond. 

Two weeks left before school starts, and the kids are looking forward to one last adventure with Grandma H.



And I am looking forward to  something too.  Couple weeks left.....

Final countdown to school!

While it seems the rest of the world has already begun, here in Bermuda, our school start has yet to kick off. At long last, there is hope on the horizon.

The kids go back on Monday!

I think I am ready...

My checklist.

• Uniforms in order
• school shoes ready
• hallway cubbies organized and labelled
• backpacks purchased
• lunchboxes cleaned
• waterbottles ready
• lunchbox treat for first day made
• extracurriculars organized
• car pools arranged

The kids are not quite as enthused about school resuming, but that's understandable. We have had a wonderful summer. Getting back into the drudgery of school routines pales in comparison to the lazy, luxurious days we've had.



But, I do love a good routine.

Our Eve of School dinner:



Cooking Illustrated Baked ziti (great for leftovers tomorrow! Part of my cook once/eat twice plan.)
Garden Salad
Sweetnick's Garlic bread Fantastique, Jordan's favorite!
Peanut butter blondies
Banana crumb muffins for breakfast tomorrow




I am so excited for the start of a brand new school year!

Destination Florida - the last leg of our trip.

Deciding to spend a month "off island" was easy.

How to make it work was another story. To maximize our time away, and do it cost-effectively, we relied on the generosity of the Grandparents Parvez, who let us stay at their vacation place in Florida.

We love it here!

Welcome to Land O'Lakes!



By the way, I was informed, that the proper way to pronounce this is "Landa Lakes" - not LAND O Lakes.. with the emphasis on the O sound. It should roll smoothly off your tongue, like, well... butter.



My parents' place is close to Tampa, which is a fabulous city that boasts many kid friendly attractions. This year, we visited the Museum of Science and Industry, a/k/a MOSI! (We also learned what an acronym means.)

MOSI is an amazing place to spend the morning. In addition to several floors of hands on exhibits, a butterfly garden, and a dome IMAX theater, there is also a separate facility for kids designed to introduce basic science principles.

 Oh.. and there's an enormous bounce house, slider, and zip line.



Yeah.. we spent a lot of time here.  Their family membership plan is a great deal.



This season, they are hosting a very cool special exhibit called "Sea Monsters!"

 The kids were speechless. Or maybe they were just scared. Meet the jaws of the Megaladon shark.



On another occasion, we hit Tampa to tour the Big Cat Rescue . This place is gorgeous. Although they limit children's tours to Saturday and Sunday morning at 9:00, it is worth it to make the trip. Seeing these beautiful animals up close in a way that respects their natural instincts was very touching.

It is such an off the beaten path kind of Florida adventure, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. Contrary to what some might think, Florida isn't all about Disney and amusement parks. It's an amazing state when it comes to wildlife and nature. The birds alone have Jordan fixated every time we visit.



We had plenty of downtime as well. Gotta have a pool in August!



Of course, kids being kids, we can't escape Florida without hitting an amusement park. (sigh)

We justify it primarily because places like this do not exist in Bermuda. Not even close. This year, we went to Leggo Land. These buildings just kill me! I chuckle thinking of my pathetic Leggo building attempts when I look at this detail.



Leggo Land also has a splash zone, which is pretty key in August.

Although the kids had a blast there, I don't think we'll go again. It's expensive and was just too far a drive from the house. Most of the amusements seem geared toward younger children.



That being said, Jordan spent at least two hours in the model race car test track. Building those cars and racing them down tracks with other kids (and grown men, who really seemed to enjoy Leggo racing) might have justified the cost of this place.



We became annual ticket holders at Busch Gardens last year, so we went again. The kids on the skyline.





One of our favorite parts of visiting Florida is spending time with our friends. They joined us at Busch Gardens. Here Jordan rides with them and his buddy on water log flume. Look at the terror. But also check out how Mama Kristen is protecting Jordan! It just melts my heart.



Another thing that does not exist in Bermuda is ice skating. Florida, however, has an amazing ability to create venues for this sport in every conceivable place. Here, the kids try it out at the Westfield Mall, in Clearwater. I love it because it's a super energetic sport that they can work on by themselves. Oh.. and there is tons of shopping! Instructors can be hired to provide very affordable lessons and skates are available for rental as well. The kids had two lessons while we were there, and they loved it.



Simple thing make them so happy. Fro Yo at the "You Say When Yogurt Shoppe" is a no-brainer. 

It was hard saying good bye to the U.S.A once again.

 It's such a great feeling being home and understanding how everything works, "getting" the people, fitting in and the ease of life here. Not that BDA is a bad place, by any stretch of the imagination. It's just hard sometimes being a stranger and knowing that no matter what, you will never fit, that your time is limited, your friends come and go depending on their work permits, etc.

But, all good things must come to an end!

AND IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR SCHOOL!!! Hurray!!!

Destination NYC.. via BDA.

Before the kids get back to school.. before the drudgery of early mornings and schedules take over our lives again, I must recollect this summer and how quickly it went by.

This year, we spent one month "off island" touring familiar sites along the east coast. Among them were NYC.

A week in Brooklyn and Manhattan was the perfect antidote to life on the Rock. There's something quite fun about being a "tourist" in a city you once were a part of.

Behold:



The tastiest oysters for our midday lunch, right before an indie movie in the Village.



Sheepshead Bay view, the night of Jeff's Brooklyn suprise party.



Celebrating 40 with old friends.



Gotham Ave cruising.



Munchkins on parade - Brooklyn block parties!



Jordan balances cotton candy while sunflowers grow in Brooklyn.



The best pizza in the world.



Dockside fishing on the canal.



Munchkins discover the Donut Plant in the Lower East side.



Starry nights at MOMA - a great place for a rainy afternoon.



The big kids run free at Victorian Gardens in Central Park. What a treat it was coming here again when they managed all the rides by themselves. We were the parents lounging in the shade, catching up with our old friend, Nataliya.



A long day spent in the city!



Pondering food choices in NYC - endless possibilities. I began my research early!



Among other things, we decided on an Indian night. Oh Tiffinwallah.. you hurt so good.



View from the M&M store, in Times Square. The kids saw their first Broadway show, "Annie!"



NYC is like no other place in the world.

Books read: "Friday Night Lights," H.G. Bissinger; "The Shining," Stephen King.

Miles ran: 5

city blocks walked: countless

Best meal: Tiffinwallah, Curry Hill.

Worst service despite great food: Ouest, Upper West Side

Best location for a hotel: The Essex House, Central Park South. Love this place, and Marriot Rewards friendly! Their new concierge lounge was a dream. Despite lacking a gym, they offered reciprosity with the Ritz down the street. I enjoyed a lovely, rainy morning working out there! Much needed after eating as we did!