Willothewisp

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You may have noticed that Willothewisp has been a little quiet of late, there is a reason for this. Judith has had to go back to hospital after she developed some problems with the area around one of the metal plates in her skull. She had been scheduled to go back later this year to have both the plates replaced with new ceramique ones after it was noticed that she was developing early signs of her body rejecting the original plates. A couple of weeks ago things suddenly started worsening and her vision was again in trouble so it was back into hospital with her. Given the amount of work already done inside her skull, and her reduced senses, we do not take any chances with her health, hence the swift hospitalisation. The timing was rather unfortunate with Joost so recently added to their family so we have been pooling resources to help out with the child care and as a result we have all been rather busy.

Judith was released today and is convalescing at the town house in Amsterdam. She is comfortable though she does get tired very easily. Happily it is clear that her vision is within her normal range again. Her scalp is sore where it was peeled back for the surgery but it is healing well with the help of Far Infrared Light Therapy.

A big concern for us is the impact on the children, especially Nicholas who has never quite recovered emotionally from the incident with the English tourist and seeing his mother unconscious and bleeding in the street. He finds seeing his mother hospitalised very tough going so we are investing a lot of time in him right now.

I expect things will return to normal by this time next weekend, until then we are forcing rest and inactivity on Judith while supporting Nina and the rest of the family.

Kind regards, Tyjardia vL

Breast Milk & The Creation Of The Universe, a story in which I am naked on the couch under the softest of blankets with two males tucked up against me as I recount the creation of the Milky Way.

At three am Nina was sound asleep as I sat in the rocking chair by the French windows of our bedroom nursing Joost. I had drawn the curtains back and could feel the slightly chillier air coming off the windows despite the triple glazing. I do not know why I still do this it is not like I can see out into the dark anymore so I am guessing that I just enjoy the slight chill and the memory of looking into the dark. It did give me an excuse to draw the cashmere blanket, a beautiful and expensive Christmas gift from Nina, around mine and Joost’s nakedness wrapping us both in its soft warmth. Around us both the house and the world slept, or so I hoped.

Sissi stirred from her basket beside our bed and came to tell me someone else in the house was awake, very little escapes her notice. Rather than disturb Joost I sat and waited and sure enough within a minute Nicholas’s head peaked around the bedroom door. I signed to him to come on in and asked him why he was awake. A dream, not a bad one, had woken him up and now he was restless, standing there in his PJs he looked cold and in need of some hugs so keeping Joost firmly supported in one arm I moved us and the blanket over to the bedroom couch. Once settled I was able to open up the blanket and envelop all three of us in its softness, then just for good measure Sissi decided she want to be part of it and came up as well.

There we all sat cuddled together. Joost continuing to suckle, fall asleep, wake, suckle and fall asleep again on one side, Nicholas resting tight up against my other side watching Joost closely while glancing up to see the snow falling outside and all under a soft blanket warmed by a dog. After a few minutes I signed with one hand and asked Nicholas what he was thinking.

“The snow flakes in the moonlight look like stars in the Milky Way” He signed back. Nicholas is fascinated by astronomy at the moment and is devouring every book and internet site he can find about the subject so I asked if his new studies were going well.

“Yes Moeder, but………….why is it called the MILKY way, it does not look like milk” as he said this his finger scooped up a dribble of milk that had escaped Joost’s mouth and run out over my breast and held the milk drop up to me. I could not have designed the moment if I had been trying, by happy chance it was a perfect lead into telling him a little story, so signing with my free hand I told him………………………………………..

“ Many, many years ago during the times of the Romans and Greeks there was a tale of one of their gods, Hercules. In fact he was a demigod, being the son of the god  Zeus, and the mortal Alcmena. Alcmena was the daughter of Electryon, king of Mycenae. Her mother was queen Anaxo. It was said that their daughter Alcmene was the most beautiful woman in the world with a wisdom surpassed by no person born of mortal parents. Her face and dark eyes were as charming as Aphrodite’s, and that she honoured her husband like no woman had before her. One day her brothers were ambushed and killed by worriers from two tribes, the Taphians and Teleboans. She loved her brothers dearly and swore their deaths would be avenged one day. She asked her future husband Amphitryon to be the one to avenge their deaths for her and he agreed so they married. Some time before her husband had accidently killed Alcemena’s father Electron so she first asked her husband to go to Thebes to be purified by Creon because he had accidentally killed her father Electryon. Alcmene said that she would marry Amphitryon once he had avenged the death of her brothers.

Amphitryon decided to mount an expedition against the Taphians and Teleboans to avenge the deaths of her brothers thus fulfilling his promise to his wife. While he was away fighting that the god  Zeus visited Alcmene disguised as Amphitryon. Zeus had heard about her great beauty and wanted to see Alcmene for himself. As soon as he saw her he was entranced by this mortal woman’s great beauty and decided that he wanted to be with her, so he took his evil deception further and bedded her. Such was his delight with her he stayed several nights and so Alcmene became pregnant with Hercules all the time believing that she had been with her husband.

When the real Amphitryon finally returned to Thebes, Alcmene told him that he had come the night before and slept with her but of course he had no idea of this and so eventually they learnt what Zeus had done. Knowing his dear wife was an honorable woman and would never knowingly have betrayed him with Zeus Amphitryon forgave her though it was not necessary.

When Alcmene was about to give birth to Hercules, Zeus announced to all the gods that on that day a child, descended from himself, would be born who would rule all those around him. Hera, Zeus’s wife, asked her husband Zeus swear an oath to that effect which he happily did. Then Hera, angry at her husband for bedding Alcmene descended from Mount Olympus, home of the gods, to Argos and made the wife of Sthenelus, a son of Perseus, tgive birth to Eurytheus, the baby she was expecting, two months early, while at the same time prevent she prevented Alcmene from birthing Heracles. This cruel trick resulted in the fulfillment of Zeus’s oath by Eurystheus rather than his own son Heracles.

When Alcmene was in labour she was having difficulty giving birth to such a large child. After seven days and nights in agony, Alcmene stretched out her arms and called upon Lucina, the goddess of childbirth to help. However, while Lucina did go to Alcmene, she was instructed by Juno to stop the delivery. With her hands clasped and legs crossed, Lucina muttered charms and spells, thereby preventing Alcmene from giving birth. Alcmene struggled in pain, she cursed the heavens, and became close to death. Galanthis, a devoted maid and doula to her mistress Alcmene observed Lucina’s actions and quickly deduced Juno’s plans. She decided to stop their devious plot and so announced that Alcmene had in fact safely delivered her child. This surprised Lucina so much that she immediately jumped up and unclenched her hands. As soon as Lucina leapt up, Alcmene was released from her spell and gave birth to Heracles. As punishment for deceiving Lucina, Galanthis was transformed into a weasel but ever faithful she continued to live with Alcmene for the rest of her life.

Alcmene was so exhausted after her long labour with Hercules that afterwards she slept deeply, during her sleep Zeus returned and took Hercules and put him to his own wife Juno’s breast while she also slept. He did this because he knew that if his son suckled from his wife who was a goddess then he would become instilled with the power of the gods. As Zeus suckled from Juno she woke and she took her breast from the baby Hercule’s mouth and her milk sprayed out across the heavens and in doing so the vast spray of goddess’s milk created the stars of what became the “Milky Way”. Some milk splashed to the earth and where the drops fell a new flower, white Lilies grew. This is how the stars above came to be called the Milky Way”

I had been hoping that the story would lull Nicholas off to sleep but when I looked to his face it was to see that he was now more awake than before, in fact his visage was one of the utterly fascinated and entranced !

“Wow !” he exclaimed “Of course mother it could not really happen but it’s a great story” He paused a few moments before adding “I don’t think you or Mama spray the heavens…….. just the other side of the room sometimes !”Naturally I did not mention that on occasion I certainly felt that I could spray the heavens, instead I just smiled.

There then followed a lot more questions about Alcmene, Zeus, Lucina and the rest until eventually his hands slowed down, and his body settled more against me and he was asleep. It was nearly five am and in an hour my day would start again, so under our blanket with my two sons pressed tightly to my skin and the soft beautiful smells of them both filling my head and my feet warmed by Sissi I dozed while snow continued to fall outside. Despite really needing to sleep I did not because that would mean missing that wonderful moment in my life. Too often we live our lives surrounded by so much noise and chaos that we miss the most precious of moments, but there and then I had time enough to see for what it was, a perfect moment in time and perfect moments are so rare.

So there I sat as on my feet Sissi rolled onto her back with her paws in the air as she enjoyed the warmth afforded by so much company on the couch. On my chest Joost had fallen asleep his cheek pressed deeply into the flesh of my bosom, his tiny little hands moving about in his sleep as though waving to us even as he was deeply away in his world of slumber.

On the other side Nicholas slept with his thumb in his mouth, his face a picture of utter contentment. My mind drifted to the time six or seven years ago when he came to us. Then he was a terribly traumatized and neglected child, he could not be left for a moment without becoming terrorized that I might not return. When I held him to me he would be rigid, his hands gripping me so tightly in constant fear of the moment I might put him down and not return that he left deep nail marks in my skin. He had been born into a world of silence an so he needed to be touched constantly, to be able to see a face and see your lips moving even though he could not hear the words. I spent long hours caressing his face and hands while talking to him, but still terror remained. So deeply embedded was his terror of being alone that after three months I often despaired in the cold dark hours of dawn that he would ever be normal but then one day my mother, after watching carefully the daily struggle with him told me what he needed.

A couple of weeks later, with my mother’s knowledgeable assistance, some herbs and some deft stimulation I was able to nurse Nicholas. Instantly, really, truly instantly he was calm regardless of how much milk he drew from me. Within days he learnt that even if I was out of his sight that I would be back and any panic he has would be washed away. After a few weeks as my milk supply came fully in he was starting to gain weight, then his skin problems improved along with his digestive problems. He no longer screamed or beat himself against the cot sides, he no longer scratched himself just to feel some sort of stimulation and he no longer removed flesh when in my arms. As I poured something of myself into him I watched his body and his spirit heal. Over the next two months he sweetened into the placid and gentle child he is today.

He still loves to have his hands and feet rubbed, and when he needs comfort his face also. Looking now at the child he was and the child he has become, I now do the same with Joost I wonder how he will look in six years time. I watch their sleeping faces happy to see them growing up while also wishing they wouldn’t, trying in my mind to freeze that moment in time again.

Foot Note

A few random thoughts……………

I feel I have an embarrassment of riches, but it is an embarrassment that I am happy to have.

I am still so overwhelmed by what Nina did for me, without her kindness I would not have been able to write about that lovely night above.

I think we have finally settled things and have Joost’s final name, just have to check with a dear friend first before announcing it.

Author: Judith

Gelukkig nieuwjaar aan alle Geelse lezers  -  Happy new year to all our readers!

What a wonderful way to start a new year……..

This morning at 08.30 CET Nina gave birth to a baby boy here at her home amongst her family. Baby is fit and well at 3284 grams, 50.7cm long. His name is most likely to be Joost Karl van der Roos, though this has not been fixed yet ! His birth was faultless and he nursed within a couple of minutes of emerging. Birth mother Nina is also well, displaying few signs of having given birth only this morning, she is in all ways a professional ! Two hours after delivering baby she was playing Monopoly with Nicholas, Hilke and grandparents.

Mother Judith has spent most of the day holding baby Joost, unable to talk without crying for much of the day, overwhelmed by the truly wonderful gift of her own child that Nina has made her. She has been a picture of utter contentment, and perhaps still a little overwhelmed. This afternoon exhaustion finally overcame them and their children and we got everyone to bed for a long afternoon nap.

I doubt that I could ever properly express how immensely proud we are of Nina, and how happy we are that she has so firmly established the family she wanted, and in doing so brought such happiness to our beloved Judith, but we are.

Author: Tyjardia.

It is hard to believe that it is Christmas already, the last couple of weeks have really rushed by and now here it is, the big day.

Last night we had a wonderful Christmas Eve Night having spent most of the day at Nina & Judith’s home where there was a full house crammed with four generations as well as god children, friends, guide dogs and several cats (one of which is theirs). As usual we were all well fed with some incredible treats springing from Judith’s kitchen, including a nougat ice cream that was d-e-v-i-n-e. Our adopted daughter Mia ate so much of the home made nougat that she was sick which slowed her down, but only very briefly. I also noticed that when our boys slipped out to go and meet their friends at the fair many of those sweet treats found their way into their pockets, no doubt to delight some young female friends ! We are of course waiting for the latest addition to our extended family but Nina appears to be laying down on the job, or at least her womb is ! For those thinking she would be having a Christmas baby I regret to report that it looks unlikely.

For all of our little group this last year has been difficult but it does seem to be finishing up on positive notes for us and we hope that all of you may be as fortunate as well. Where ever you are please accept our best wishes to you, may your Christmas day be spent in good company with people who care and love you.

Kindest Regards & Love from Willothewisp.

Author: Nonke

We are still waiting for the appearance of our new little one. I say “still” because I am now past my due date by a few days, but one should always takes due-dates with a large pinch of salt. I am now most certainly feeling “Great with child” and fit to burst, and for the first time I have some back ache which I had managed to escape until now. Baby turned yesterday and now appears to be bouncing it’s head on top of my bladder as a result I am in the wc every five minutes. My breasts are like a pair of spurting rocks strapped to my chest and I feel like a super milking mama already – as soon as baby is born they will settle down into their routine but right now they as tense as I am !

It looks like we are set for a white Christmas (Hooray !) with the whole of Limburg blanketed in snow, ice and temperatures so far below zero that the rivers, ponds and lakes have frozen enough to skate on. Do not worry, I am not skating on them though I did skate on the ice ring on the Vrijthof (the city square) here in Maastricht at the winter fair. It was rather nice to see the other skaters giving me space as I glided past like an over filled river barge.

At this late stage in my pregnancy I thought a few thoughts about the life of a gravid woman were in order:

• Pregnancy Massage: A partner who knows how to do proper Pregnancy Massage. If you are pregnant and have never had a real pregnancy massage then go send your spouse off on a massage course, you will not regret it.
• Pregnancy Corset: I LOVE my  hand made Lycia corsets, they should be given free to all pregnant women. They support your stomach muscles, take the strain off your pelvic floor and keep your skin from going all wrinkled. They work post-partum as well. Three weeks after having Mariaske my stomach was back to flat and three more weeks the muscles had fully regained their original tone – cool eh ! It is during pregnancy that they really help the most and can be supplemented by an adjustable support band under your belly bump.
• My bidet: Honestly I do not understand how the world outside Europe functions when they do not have bidets, I have spoken to some American women who have actually never seen a bidet let alone experienced the cleansing joy of using one ! How can any woman actually feel she has a properly clean undercarriage when she does not have access to a bidet ? A bidet comes into their own when we are menstruating but they really, really come into the < Absolutely Essential > category when you are knocked up.
• Pregnancy Sex, you cannot beat it, loved up on pregnancy hormones and an increased blood supply below the navel that puts everything there on a hair trigger all combined with a partner who really knows her way around the female body – Heaven !
• Digestive Enzymes: Any pregnant woman will tell you of experiencing heart burn of such strength that it can melt steel plate. Most will take  antacids or ranitidine, neither of which are very good for you . Digestive enzymes are a natural solution that actually work and treat the problem at it’s route, they are also cheap.

So we will continue to wait.

Author : Nina