It's Started!

Well, our new beginning is on it's way! I started my new job just over a week ago. Today was my 6th full day of actual training on what I will be doing and learning how to do everything.

It's been a rollercoaster of a week though. My first nephew was born last weekend on Nov 16 :) I'm so excited to be an Auntie! However my advice and suggestions feel like they are falling on deaf ears. My nephew is a preemie and his parents are already being told to make him get used to sleeping alone, in a crib/bassinet without anyone beside him to comfort him. And I'm totally against this :( This is something I've done a lot of research on and for a child, let alone an infant of his age to be put in a crib/bassinet all by himself when he can barely maintain his body temperature it breaks my heart. All the myths from years ago - "if you pick up your baby everytime they cry, you are spoiling them" "dont hold your baby while they sleep" just to name a few, are just that - Myths. And a great way to teach children to be cold and not have empathy. Holding your baby (especially a 35 week preemie) while he sleeps does so much more help then it can ever do harm.  He can still hear your heartbeat, and that will calm him if he's scared or fussy. He can feel your skin and help him maintain his body temperature. He can smell you and know that you are safe and love him. If you are breastfeeding, it's a learning process. It's not going to happen overnight. You have to learn how to do it, and so does he. It's going to take time. Lots of skin to skin time. Offer him the breast often. If he suckles ALL DAY LONG that will help with so many things! If it's right after birth, it will help your breast milk come in, if it's around the 3 week mark it's because he's having a growth spurt. Let him nurse. You can never over feed a nursing baby. However, if you feed him a bottle after EVERY nursing session then you will overfed him and he will get sick. all. over. you!

DH has been laid off now too. Now is the wait for the paperwork from his former employer so that he can go to the Employment Insurance and get his claim going. He's going to go talk to them and see what his options are and whats the best route for him to take.

C has enjoyed having her cousin home :) She always wants to hold him and no one else is allowed to hold him! However she just cant support his head yet in her lap so an adult sits beside her and holds his neck/head for support while the rest of his body rests against her legs. She then "pets" him, she's gentle most of the time, but there is the occasional time that she is too hard and then he gets upset - more from being startled then anything.

Hoping for answers on our new place soon! It would be great if we could be in our own place in time for Christmas :) I'd really love to celebrate C's first real Christmas by making memories of our little family together alone in our own place! It would be even better if DH's other kids could be there too, and if they could meet their sister but that doesnt look to be happening any time soon. It's the kids (all of them) that are suffering - K (he's 11), D (he's 9) and A (she's a month shy of being 7) and C (17 months) that are suffering because they dont get to have a relationship.

And there's another can of worms - their mom seems to have a grudge against my MIL because she hasnt returned a call regarding K's birthday (back in August), What to get the kids for Christmas/Birthday, Halloween, When they are getting together to exchange gifts during the holidays. My MIL is so hurt by her actions and there is not a damn thing any of us can do. The last time MIL spoke to her, was shortly after her wedding back in July. She's so jealous over DH moving on from her. Something that she's supposedly  have done, having found someone to marry and taking about having kids with him. But you cant move on, if the fact that DH and I have a child together sends you into such a tizzy that spurn the children's grandmother whether it's out of jealousy or spite. Mine or C's name cant be said around her or the other kids or she goes off on whomever mentions them. I feel so bad for the kids and wish that there was something more that could be done. But without a lot of $ there is nothing we can do :( Our hands are tied.

Really hoping that things continue to move forward for us :) Get back on our feet, enjoy our daughter, enjoy watching her grow and teaching her new things, but also us growing as adults and partners - supporting each other and doing our best to provide for our family.

K, D and A never forget that no matter what we love you and always will. One day you will get to meet your sister C :) And your cousin J!

I leave you with one of my favorite performances from tonight's AMA's 2013 :) Pitbull featuring Keisha - Timber (hope the link work's, it's the YouTube video)

Pitbull Featuring Keisha - Timber LIVE AMA 2013