Four and a half years on...................

So here is that little baby on his first day at School.

Sam is now just over 4.5 years old and as you can see has turned in to a bit of a Joker!!!

He is generally a very good boy and we are very lucky!!

Samuel Joshua Scoggins

So here we are - five weeks after Sam's birth on 20th January 2006. I have no idea what went on in the last few weeks of the pregnancy but Sam was delivered at 38 weeks by elective C section. He weighed 7lb 3oz and is fab. The first few days were a bit fuzzy, probably due to the Morphine in the epidural but we only had to stay in hospital 3 days. Clive had to keep coming up to visit us in London and had to wash all Sams clothes every night, as we had completely underestimated how many he would go through.
The first time it really hit me that I was a mum was when we left hospital and I saw Sam in his car seat for the first time. The trip home was surreal.
I slept in the same room as Sam for the first few days but now he sleeps on his own (he has already grown out of his carry cot and is in his cot). He is quite a long baby and growing by the minute!!

I have just had to sort Sam out as he is a little bit "fractious" this afternoon but it was good timing as it is snowing here and he has now seen his first snow!!

Clive had 3 weeks off work, which was a great help. We were able to get out and about a little and I only have a week left before I can drive. We are getting out with his pram and going to clinic etc by bus.

Sam has now grown out of some of his newborn clothes and weighed 9lbs yesterday at the post natal group.

Anyway, this is the first chance that I have had to update this blog and Clive will probably tell me off now, as I should be sleeping when Sam does!!!

One or two problems.........

So, I just thought I should add some more information before D Day. I am still only 34 weeks but I may be delivering young Scoggins earlier than anticipated!!

I am having scans every 2 weeks and last week, they found low amniotic fluid levels and a reduced abdominal growth velocity. The first thing the Obstetrician said was "well we won't deliver you today"! Panic. Therefore, I have been seen in the Day Assessment Unit every 2 days for CTG (heart rate monitoring).

I have just tried to upload his heartbeat (Clive recorded it on his phone last week) but no luck.

Baby Scoggins seems to be doing OK and his amniotic fluid levels have come up into the low end of the normal range. However, they have not done another growth scan yet (too early). I have been resting and drinking and eating lots to help him grow (and it certainly feels as if he is growing as I have a very taught tummy!).

More tests on Friday and Wed. If any problems are found I will be taken into hosptial, given steroids for 2 days to build up his lungs and induced / have a C section so we my have a Christmas baby (Jesus Scoggins perhaps - or perhaps not).

One day at a time........................

Throbbing tummy!

Gosh - I can't believe its been a month since my last post. Time flies when you are making a baby! Well, I am now 31 weeks pregnant and our boy is certainly moving around quite a bit - especially now. He doesn't seem to kick as much but does move about and occasionally goes into rhythmical punching type movements!!! I am sure he is trying to break out early. He is actually not in the same position as the picture but has his head down. The last scan I had also showed that his spine was pointing outwards, which gives me a very pointy bump!!!

All still seems to be going well. My diabetes control is very good (HbA1c = 5.4%) and babe is growing at a "constant velocity".

I was doing a talk this morning for some post-grad nurses at TVU and one of them asked me if I was scared about macrosomia (large babies - that are associated with poor control in diabetes). To be honest, I am probably a little scared about everything but happy that I am doing my best to try to prevent any diabetes related problems by staying in good control. I hope he will be OK :)

Its all just rock and roll, baby!

For the last 2 days, young baby Scoggins has been learning to move around. Whilst I was having a bath yesterday he seemed to do a dramatic maneuver just under my naval. It was possible to see my skin shift an inch or so in a rolling movement!!! He has been kicking for the last few weeks but this was something totally different. It really made me laugh. If you have seen the film "Alien" then you have an idea what I mean. At least he didn't burst out - phew.

I have just arrived back from helping a really sweet young girl start on an insulin pump. She had her first insulin dose today and I hope she does well. She has a lovely family, so I am sure she will. I started on my pump 5 years ago and it gave me a whole new life. I hope it helps her too.

Bump picture!

Well then. Yesterday I was given the mission of asking Clive to take some photos of me using my insulin pump!! I work for Medtronic UK in the diabetes division and we are producing some guidelines for the use of pumps during pregnancy. I was asked for a "natural" pose and when I asked Clive to help lots of ideas came to mind!!! This is probably the best of a pretty depressing bunch - I didn't realize that I was quite so big.

Anyway, as it comes to pass it is unlikely that the pictures will be used in the brochure now. We may have to use some that were developed in the US. If nothing else, it gave us a chance to take some piccys of the boy still in situ!

He is still kicking happily and I am certainly beginning to wind down at work. For the first time since I started here, I am now taking a lunch break. Admittedly, it is still in front of computer but its a start.

Lunch time at work

Hi there.
I have just been trying to upload a picture of Clive and I to add to my profile but no luck so I'll stick one in here.

This was our wedding day in June. Five days before this we found out that I was "with child", so consequently the actual day was very calm! Much greater things on the horizon to worry about.

It was good to know that our boy came to the wedding too. It was very difficult not telling anyone but it was definitely the best thing to do at the time.

Well back to work then. I have just found out that my lovely boss Morag has resigned, which is a complete shame as she was one of the main reasons that I am doing this job now. Oh well life goes on.