Saturday, April 26, 2014

Travel blog? Why not?

Oh hey there. It has been months and months since I have logged on here. No excuses really, I have just been dedicating my days to our son Mylo and my nights to sleeping..!
I am pumped to say - I am back! And this time around I am going to do my very best to dedicate time and energy to this blog.


In the past year we have traveled to 11 countries across five continents, moved house and made a life changing decision to move to London for an un-defined period of time this Fall. 

Throughout our travels to dozens of cities I have had random conversations with many people, this is how it generally takes place - Mylo strikes up the conversation with a stranger by throwing them his ball, playing peek-a-boo or just walking over to them and once he has their attention, BAM. He points at the ceiling, says "da" and he instantly has their full attention. At this point, I have to awkwardly step in as he only knows around 15 words and they don't string together, yet... 

Many of these people have asked about us, our family and what we are doing - how old is your son? 15 months. Whats his name? Mylo. Myler? Mylo. Mylos? No, Mylo. Oh Mylo. Yep. Where is that from? We made it up, its short for My Love. Ohhhh thats so sweet! Thanks :) Where do you live? Boston. What do you do in Boston? My husband is going to school there (we try not to get in to the which school, business school, MIT? No, Harvard. Oh Harvard? Yeh, Harvard). What do you do? Nothing really, hang out with Mylo and our friends. Where are you traveling? *insert (generally warm) destination here*. 

Often these conversations end in us revealing that Mylo is extremely well travelled and that we have many exciting adventures planned. Dozens of people ask if they can add me to Facebook to *follow* us, which always gets me thinking about this blog, and what I intended it to be before I realized how little time a baby leaves you to think, let alone write, let alone write things on the internet that you think people will actually want to read.

The introduction to motherhood at 24 years of age and two years away from the workplace has been a source of the greatest understanding, strength and joy for me as well as a time to reflect, worry and and doubt myself - some days I am riddled with self doubt it is overwhelming. Writing this blog about our travel has been something I have been putting off because I have been scared. Scared that no one will read it, scared that it won't be interesting, scared that is wouldn't be relevant. Well, I have decided that I am going to put all of those worries aside and write it anyway, and if no one reads it besides my Dad and my Grandma - that is OK. 

In the upcoming months we will take a three week trip West Coast of the USA and Canada, my Husband will graduate from Harvard Business School and we are planning to travel to Italy, Turkey, UAE, Brazil and Peru. 
It will be fun. We will be adventurous. I would love to take you along for the ride!


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Mylo Mylo/ve My Love


Life with Mylo is – fun, exhausting and exciting. Simple things take hours. Complicated things don’t get done… Well they do, just late and that is my first and only excuse for taking five (FIVE!) weeks to write this very short post.

The Harvard Business School (HBS) Global Experience Office funded a dinner that was organized by the partners club on Thursday the 10th of January. This was a great opportunity for me to get out of the house and my first social event without Mylo. I felt empty walking down to Harvard Square without my baby boy, although, realized how important it is to have some ‘me’ time, especially while my Mum is here.

The 18th of January I had the opportunity to sit on a panel to discuss life as a HBS Partner to the partners of admitted students for the class of 2015. I was honored to be selected to share my experiences and I hope that I was able to provide some valuable insights to the incoming partners (if any of you end up reading this – welcome!)

Michael spent the first weekend of February in London and was offered a position for his summer internship; we are very excited about spending eleven weeks in London from June to August and catching up with old friends, as well as making new ones.

Mylo is still a very content little man, he has adapted very well to our busy lifestyle. 

The blog has taken a back seat to life for now, no excuses, I just haven't had it on the top of my list of priorities, although promise that it is still on the list, and as soon as I can I will dedicate plenty of time and energy to this little project.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Week 1 - Running on Adrenaline and Love


I have been surprised at how well I can function on such little sleep. One of the advantages (there aren't too many!) of having a c-section is that you stay in hospital for four nights following the delivery. Mt Auburn isn't a typical hospital, the rooms are private and very comfortable and the food is delicious – it is like being in a hotel. Every day we were visited by a ward nurse, attending nurse, midwife, pediatrician, lactation consultant and mental health counselor... And had access to them around the clock.

The very best thing - the nurses are angels. Having access to them 24/7 had been extremely helpful and reassuring. We have had demonstrations from several people on all of the important things: feeding, burping, swaddling, soothing and changing diapers although I think for me, the best thing has been the understanding and compassion from all of them. Calling them to the room at 3am to offer guidance, always started with me being frantic, Mylo getting fussy and ends both of us being content. Often, they would just coach from the entry way and let us find our way. Leaving hospital I felt positive and confident - thank-you to the nurses in postpartum care at Mt Auburn Hospital.

Michael has been an in-valuable support, especially in the first few days where he had to help me do absolutely everything and care for Mylo. I am usually extremely independent, so it was an adjustment to accept help, especially for basic functions.

In the days after Mylo’s birth we were visited by some very special friends and classmates of Michaels. It was really nice to see them, they all adored Mylo and we look forward to sharing plenty of unforgettable memories throughout our time in Boston - and beyond!

We spent New Years Eve sitting together watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV. It was a far cry from what we were doing last year – where we were in Kathmandu, Nepal after spending the previous twelve days trekking to Everest Base Camp. This celebration was different, it was just the three of us, and it was perfect.

My Mum arrived on the 2nd of January after a mammoth journey from Australia. It was so nice to have her here as we haven’t seen her since August. Mylo loves his Grandma and since arriving home Mum has been ‘night shift’ allowing me to have a few hours on uninterrupted sleep.

My precious friend has been cooking and keeping us company, I will be forever in her debt for the support she is providing us.

It felt very strange driving away from the hospital as a family of three. It was just relieving to be at home, back in our own space and to properly welcome Mylo.  On the 4th of January we saw the pediatrician, who said Mylo is perfect (but we already knew that!). We then had brunch at one of my favourite cafes in Harvard Square and ran some errands. It felt like we had been doing this ‘parent’ thing for ever. Mylo is a very content little man, he has been sleeping for four hour blocks overnight (11pm to 7am with a feed in the middle) and 2 to three hour naps during the day. He is happy with a tummy full of milk and will fall into his ‘mooky comas’ as we refer to them. We have had a lot of visitors come to meet him, and looking forward to many more in the coming weeks.

Michael left for Chile on the 5th, a trip that is part of his course. He will be away for 12 days. It was tough to say good-bye to him after spending so much time together not only in the past week and month - we haven’t been apart for more than a few days for the whole of 2012! Mylo is going to miss his Daddy cuddles, especially in the mornings and I know that I am going to miss Michael for his support, company and humour. Oh and did I mention Michael was the chief diaper changer? Yep, he is going to be missed!!

Today, the 6th of January was Mylo’s due date, and he is one week old. It is hard to believe that it has only been a week… He is a part of my life that I never knew was missing...


First morning cuddles with Daddy
Leaving hospital


Brunch
Helping Dad..?
Mylo in a 'mooky coma'

Boston in January

The Labour and Delivery of Mylo Antonio D'Onofrio


It wasn't a stalk that delivered our little baby boy, it was an Obstetrician…

To start, I had always had a funny feeling about the 28th of December, I had told a few people I had dreamt about it. I wanted the baby to be born in the Chinese year of the Dragon and 8 is a very lucky number.

On the 28th of December 2012, Michael and I spent the day much like we had all of the others for the past week that he had been finished with school. We woke at around 10am, lounged around eating avocado on toast, reading and joking that we really should get out of our PJs and do something. At lunchtime we decided to drive to target to get a lamp for our room, we stopped in at Kelly's an American diner and shared a cheese burger and seafood plate while we chatted and played games on our phones. We went to Target for that 'one thing' we needed and bought the lamp... Along with some other items that we never knew we needed until we saw them on sale (for anyone who knows us, this would have made you laugh). We went over to Babies R' Us and wandered around dazed at the plethora of baby items on display and left with yet another sheet for the bassinet and some liners for the change pad. On our way home we stopped in at our friends house to water her plants and take in the mail (while her and her partner soak up the Australian sunshine, they generously let us borrow their car).

Arriving home I cooked tacos and we spoke to my family on Skype where I told my Dad I was having some cramps but feeling good... When I think about the phone call I think I must have sensed something, I spoke to everyone individually, and my sister in law for almost 40 minutes about the birth of my Nephew (the most handsome little man you have ever seen!).
I sat back in my chair and looked around, wow, we had done so much in the apartment that past week, the place was looking great. I had a batch of 'skinny Mommy' lactation muffins in the freezer, plenty of frozen food and dry snacks, all of the babies clothes were washed and put away, hospital bag packed, birth plan complete and I thought - crazy lady - you are not even 39 weeks (I was 38+5) along. At about 8pm I started having 'cramps' that were about 8 minutes apart so I went into Michaels office, slumped on the bed we had set up for my Mum (complete with welcome care package) and said casually "I think I'm in labour" and explained my cramps (extremely sore lower back, wrapping around my sides and lower stomach which would come and then go), he asked if I felt pain at the top of my belly, I said no and he said 'ah well then it's not a contraction' and proceeded to explain, with much conviction, what a contraction actually felt like (...). I went back out to the lounge and started watching toddlers and tiaras thinking, I know my husband is a very intelligent man. First of all - he married me :) then there is everything else... The endless academic and extra curricular achievements that would take pages to detail… Besides, he is an MBA student at Harvard Business School. I was bewildered that he had dismissed my claims...! It was almost midnight when I lost my mucous plug (for those that don't know what that is, I don't advise googling it, just wait until it's time to know, like, when your pregnant). I called Michael over who diligently compared it to pictures on google and then ran into the bedroom, frantically taking clothes from his drawers and cupboard and putting them in a pile muttering "what else do we need..." he then looked up at me and said "oh my gosh, wow, I think you're in labour" **thanks hunny**.
I called the midwife to give her an update and let her know.

I proceeded to labour in the bath and lounge using a heat pack, fit ball and the side of the couch whilst Michael got some much needed sleep. There wasn't 'value' in both of us being awake (sound advice from an MBA student). At 5am my contractions were around 5min apart and lasting from 45-60 seconds. I called the midwife for another update and she advised that once they get to around 3min apart to come down to the hospital. I called my parents to let them know and to make sure that it was ok for me to call in the middle of the night if we had news (for anyone who has seen my Dad when the phone rings at an odd time, you would understand). Michael was up at about 6am and my confections were getting longer, stronger and closer together. At 8am I called the midwife again to let her know that they were around 3-4min apart lasting 60-80 seconds (using a contraction counter app is dangerous, the timing is to the second that it doesn't quite look like a solid pattern) and she said to come down and we could see if there was any progress. This time, Michael went into our room to get the labour bag and was flapping around in a panic. It was hillarious. We walked to the car and had a contraction in the lobby, then three in the car whilst we were temporarily dis-orientated (not lost, we never get lost, sometimes just take the 'other way').

They checked me and I was only 3cm. I thought that would mean going home although they suspected that my water had ruptured and a test confirmed this (there was no Hollywood style gush and I hadn't really noticed, they guessimated it would have happened at around 6am) so they admitted me... This was stressful because of the increased risk of infection, most providers prefer to deliver the baby within 24 hours of the water breaking to minimise the risk of infection. I felt like someone had started a stopwatch that had been running for 3 hours and I had absolutely no control over how fast my labour would progress. My birth plan was to have an active water birth with Michael as my coach (yes he had done plenty of research and study) and the midwives assisting.

I labored all day in the jacuzzi, on the ball, walking around etc. I had a progress check at 5pm and was only 4cm (so dis-heartening, at this point I had been awake for around 31 hours and laboring for 21).

I had an IV medication in the hope of getting some rest and continuing on, I slept for two hours and woke up still feeling exhausted, even more so because of the medication and started to get stressed and anxious, I was not handling the contractions very well. At 8pm I was checked and was barely 5cm, at this point, we (me, Michael and the midwife) decided to go ahead with an epidural. Instant relief, you can feel and slightly lift your hips etc but cannot feel the pain of the contractions. I slept and at 10pm I was 6-7cm, they checked at midnight and I was still 6-7cm and we decided to start pitocin. I rationlised this third 'intervention' with 'I’ll be pushing soon'.

At 5am, I was 8cm and had been getting a fever/temp all night so they had started IV antibiotics as they thought I might be getting an infection (remember the 24 hour stopwatch?)

Around 10am I was 9.5cm. The baby's head was low (-1) so looking good but still not ready.

I could eat with the epidural, so now nearly 26 hours without food and I am so hungry. I have IV fluids which really helps and means that I don't have to drink. Michael has been talking with me, making jokes, inspecting every piece of medical equipment in the room (yes there was a few 'where do they put THAT?!'). He was making me watered down cranberry juice with heaps of ice chips, (my mouth was so dry), getting the lip balm, giving me hand massages.

I was extremely happy that I was not feeling rushed by the staff, the only pressure to get going is coming from me!

My Husband, the nurses and midwives are amazing!

At 10:30am the midwife came back in and said we should start pushing, push we did, for just over 1.5hrs. Michael on one side and the nurse on the other (we all watched snippets of American Pie 2 in between contractions). This part makes me feel sad writing about, I can barely see the screen through my tears as I think about it (as I wrote this in draft in the hospital, I climbed our of my hospital bed, (at 5am) and crawled into the pull out chair bed that Michael is on and had a good cry, he is the best, cuddling me as I once again re-lived out loud this part of the experience, he has patiently listened to it tens of times, and he was there, not once seeming bored of hearing about it or rushing me. I am blessed to have him). 
I tried so, so hard… So hard, I cannot even explain the effort that I gave to this stage - with the greatest encouragement from Michael the nurse.

The midwife checked me as I was pushing and the baby had not moved, she advised that he was not coming vaginally. My midwife has been midwife for many, many years, delivering hundreds of babies. Mt Auburn has one of the lowest c-section and highest successful VBAC rates in the country, they refuse to conduct them without a medically necessary need. I used this as a solace and rational as I put on a strong face and was introduced to the OB, saw the anesthesiologist again and signed on the dotted line (yes, they have you sign a form, dosed up on pain killers, this is America after all!)

When they all left the room, I broke down, and sobbed into Michaels chest, this isn't how it was supposed to be… I was living my ‘worst case scenario’ and that was tough, really tough.

We were prepped and taken into theatre, the baby was transverse (sideways) and stuck. 

Mylo Antonio D'Onofrio announced his arrival into this world with three big crys at 12:51pm on the 30th of December 2012.

He is the most precious little thing.


*A quick note on the 8's, we figured this out afterwards I *knew* I was in labour on the 28th at 8pm when my contractions were 8min apart and Mylo was born weighing 8 pounds and 8 ounces, he is our little good luck charm!

We are ready!

First cuddles with Mum

Holding onto Daddy

Welcome Mylo!

Our little family.

The last 'belly pic' -  In Labour at 38+5