Woot I was at work for just over 6 hours Wednesday, and spent a lot of that time working, always bf'ing at the same time hehe, my "boss" is very encouraging and this was a deal we agreed to 3 1/2 years ago. I am a Landscape Architect, 5 years of Uni, 2 degrees and Honors. Finshed and got a F/T Permenant Gov job, after 18 months I became Senior LA, then by 3 years out I was managing 4 other designers and a few Million $ worth of design/construction work, it was great experiece, but I was getting bored as I had turned into a Manager.. wasn't doing design work anymore.
I did a Design Construct, of a $800,000 Japanese/Australian Garden, in the end due to staffing shortages I ended up being Site Supervisor and was working with a Lead Contractor from one of the major developers in the country. We got along really well - had been working together for a couple of years but not as close. I left site one day thinking I'd like to work for him one day! LOL!
6 months later some of the pipeline projects we had chatted about had come to fruition and he offered me an awesome opportunity. Start my own business, sub-contract to him (plus open to do my own work), he would pay for all equipment - cost about $30k to set up a design side of the business (laptops, large format printer, design programs) on top of that he bought a town house which we use as an office. Then we negotiated a good pay rate (hourly). I worked both Gov and for him for 6 months while we got established, but I had a lot of committments coming up in the ACT, and decided that after 5 years with the Gov that I'd had enough, so resigned and we FT my own business, and commuted to Canberra for 18 months, while we built a more local base. So I do the major design work and documentation, along with Site Supervision/Construction. And because we set the office up to be portable from the start it meant i could do what I liked really and W knew I was going to be trying for kids within a couple of years and set it up so I could work from anywhere - anytime
Our office started with the two of us, we now have 2 LA's, one Landscape designer and another Site Supervisor, plus the "boss". We have most of the design work for the major Land Developers in Adelaide - I have the best job!!!!
We cried, we were both in shock that is was all over so early and quickly, she was on my belly for quite a while (not sure how long) as her APGARS were 9 and 9 then after they took Nakita to Special Care and DH went with her I was getting stitched up, he did drop back to show me video and photos he had taken of her so that I could still see her, I then and then had a shower, I was just shaking my head, stunned.. After all of that it was about 3 hours after the birth that I got to see her again in the Humidi-Crib. I got pretty teary as she wasn't doing as well, her blood sugars were extremely low, she was on oxygen, IV drip was in and a heap of monitors plugged in, that was a lot scarier, we didn't take any photos at that time...but have others on our blog in the HC. The next day when I went down by myself, it felt like the longest walk and doing it alone was very scarry. When I saw her in the crib again it was pretty emotionalHey a question for you all I was curious about... when you gave birth, did you cry and get all emotional about your new baby? Or what was it that got you and/or your partners emotional (in a positive way!)?the tears just flowed and I could hardly say a word, until the nurse spoke to me and explained everything. I was still very emotional when I got to cuddle her for the first time after the birth, I couldn't believe it... the machines kept going off, and I didn't know what to do...
I also got really emotional while she was back in the humidi crib under lights, after being in an open crib, as she was so scared, she was screaming, and I felt such a terrible mother, because if I took her out to cuddle her it would increase the amount of time she would have to stay under, and it just broke my heart to be able on only hold her hand, or she would be in there even longer.
Also Nakita had a lot of blood tests which really upset her, they try to do most of them when the parents aren't around, especially when they are trying to squeeze blood out of their tiny bony feet, they are not nice to see, and hear bubs screaming! We had a another round of BT?s to get done, but I was due to try a BF so we spoke to the pathologist and she agreed that I would feed her, poke her legs out under my arm and she did the BT's, it was a brilliant was, and she didn't get stressed outthe boob was much more interesting!!
I think anytime see your child requiring assistance to keep them alive, get poked and prodded with needles (oh don?t remind me of the day I had to take her back and she had needles in both arms then the Heel pr1ck? aurrgghhh!!!), or is in a humidi-crib, very upset and the only thing you can do is hold a hand ? each of those moments make me very emotional....
Sorry that was long!
Wow Eli is doing fantastic Rachel!!! Growing so much!! Hooray for the sleep too. Yeah it was great to be back at work, for more than just a visit too!
Leasha, I am glad that you are seeing yourself as a mum, even if it is taking a little bit more time
Squidipa - glad to hear the smell has dissappated
Sunny blue skies here today Mel, think we will have to head outside!
MM, the Bear and the Pixie, it must have been a very scary time when bubs weren't breathing - I glad Nakita came out screaming!
Must run have a shower if Nakita will let me, sounds like she might be working up to a bit of a cry....
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