Okay, my kid has been notorious for kicking the heck out of me these past months...recently, it's gotten kind of painful. (Still humorous though, to see a lump that's obviously a foot suddenly poke out and then start traveling across my abdomen!) Anyhow, I found this online yesterday and it keeps making me laugh...not only is it funny, I've always found it amusing when moms sit around and talking about, say, percentile ranking of their kids' head sizes, etc. (I know, I'll probably do it too, but it's still amusing!)
I'm also feeling like a big moron because at the beginning of my pregnancy, I would read about or hear people talking about "pregnancy brain" or being super clumsy while pregnant, and I thought they were probably full of crap. The humidifier I broke last night suggests otherwise...and I'm keeping my mouth shut from now on!
Yes, that's right...since my last appointment, I have dilated 3cm! We're on labor watch! Of course, the doctor seems pretty confident that it'll still be at least another week, but whatever! I'm just excited things are happening! (So, you all thought I was a basket case before, huh? I'm about to go into REAL psycho mode now!) That means that tonight I have to finish cleaning the house, I have to groom the cats, hang up the pictures Jamie made us for the baby's room...oh, and I guess I'll be shaving my legs every night too, just in case. I don't want to be stuck in the hospital with stubbly legs...yes, I know the doctors don't care, but I do. Stubble drives me nuts. If I'm not in labor tomorrow morning I think I'll go get a pedicure, too...the swelling in my feet is pretty much gone AND since my previous trip to the doctor I've lost two pounds! Yay! And I guess I should go to the school tomorrow and set up those desks too...
Also--this baby better know how much I love her--today I actually consented to receive a flu shot. I know, you would assume someone who was going to give birth at any given moment would be less of a wimp about needles, but not me, shots scare the daylights out of me. The nurse did an AWESOME job...I hardly felt it at all! It's a little sore now but I don't care...it's the actual process of receiving the shot that freaks me out. So. That's that. I'm off to clean!
I went to the Mixing Bowl today and have added six more meals to the collection already in the freezer: beef stew, pork loin with cranberry stuffing, mini pizzas, mexican lasagna, herb stuffing crusted chicken breasts, and balsamic plum glazed pork chops. It wasn't as fun going by myself, but I wanted the meals so it was fine...plus, there's something relaxing about just being silent and putting the meals together. Ahhh yes...the freezer bunker is fully stocked! (I know, I'm so weird. It's not as though once the baby is born, all the grocery stores will disappear or Craig and I will be physically incapable of buying or making food, it just makes me feel better to be ridiculously prepared. I'm like this when I travel, too...making sure I have everything I could possibly need. Riiight....as though forgetting my toothbrush on a trip up to my parents' house would be a real disaster, they *do* sell those things in Chicago! ;o)
I also went back to work to serve the last hour of my workday, but of course, they were getting ready to clean the floor in my room so I could not put it back in order. I swear, this happens every single time I go in...I really have a way of being inconvenient I guess! I did work for an hour but I'm going to go back in a few more days so I can put the desks back where they belong so my sub doesn't have to do it if I go early.
That is pretty much all that's going on here...slept horrible last night, but it was just because I was irritated by work-related things and not cramps, so that's both good and bad. Craig comes home tomorrow and I can't wait to see him again! I can't believe I've been without him for nearly a week, and over a vacation too...it's gone by remarkably fast, and I've been able to stay fairly busy the whole time. Ava's moving around has gone from cute and amusing to downright painful...poor kid is so squished. Not much longer! I've decided that when I go into labor, I'm going to try to stick with I.V. drugs for awhile and avoid the epidural for as long as possible. It has nothing to do with being noble and tough and wanting to go as natural as possible, and it has everything to do with wanting to retain my mobility and avoid tubes up the urethra and needles in the spine for as long as possible. ;o) Maybe I'll last five minutes, maybe five hours, who knows? It's worth a shot...the anesthesiologist is there 24/7 so the option is there whenever I want to take it.
Last night I slept like crap...I think I'm fighting a cold and I had cramps on and off all night (that was kind of scary, as much as I've wanted the baby to come early I've been praying that she doesn't come in the next two days while Craig is gone). Oh well, at least I'm on vacation and don't have to throw work on top of everything else! Off to the pediatric urologist and the eye doctor today, then I'm spending the rest of the afternoon on the couch, in front of the fire, pretending it's not 23 degrees outside. :o)
For once, I'm not complaining...I have now racked up not one but TWO good nights of sleep! I've slept at least nine hours each the past two nights, with only two bathroom breaks each night...and each time I've fallen right back asleep. It's been WONDERFUL. I think my body knows that it needs to go into hibernation mode while it still can. Anyhow, today I also--miracle of miracles--actually made it to church! I have the best of intentions when it comes to going, but while my heart is in the right place it's hard to get the rest of my body to follow. I was doing pretty good in the spring until I got knocked on my butt by the morning sickness from you-know-where, and would like to get back in the habit. So consider today the first step...I wish I'd been going the past few weeks because the pastor was apparently doing a series on having a good day every day, and today was a really good sermon: just one little point he made about finding the positive in every situation really meant a lot to me. I'm trying to apply that to my fear of having the baby, so that I can try to get myself to focus more on the fact that when it's all said and done I get to meet the little person who's been kicking my guts these past nine months, and focus less on the fear of the unknown, the pain, and the lack of dignity of the situation. It is NOT easy to not be afraid of what's coming, and I don't think I'm doing anything wrong by being afraid, but I don't want that to be all I am thinking about.
Anyhow, after church I went to Target to stock up on more things we don't really need--the bunker is filled to capacity but I can't help it! I'm probably prepared not only for a baby, but for any number of natural disasters or nuclear war as well. Aside from my outings, I've spent the rest of the day relaxing on the couch. Tomorrow I'm taking in the car for the yearly state inspection, an oil change, and a much needed wash. That's about it! My dad sent a few pictures so here's one of Craig and I at Thanksgiving....the original picture has my brothers in it as well but I cropped them out so it could fit...and because one of them was making a really weird face. ;o) My face just looks exhausted. Carrying around the spawn will do that, I guess....
I've had some cramps today...feels like normal monthly cramps only sharper, and they last for a little while and then go away. From what I've read, it's just my body warming up and practicing for the real thing. Interesting.
Went in to work today and got one of my inservice days out of the way (and put the finishing touches on my maternity leave preparation), still have swollen feet though not as bad, and my hands started swelling more. Thank goodness for vacation! I'm just taking it easy from now on...I have one or two things planned for each day while Craig is out of town, such as getting the car inspected and the oil changed, seeing various doctors, etc. Slept very well last night so that is definitely helping, and I guess I'll just make sure to keep the house clean from now on so that at any given moment I can leave for the hospital and not feel that there's unfinished business to take care of. :o)
Went to the doctor yesterday for the first of my once-a-week appointments...he checked to see if I was dilated and though things are progressing, nothing yet. Not that I expected anything this early...but I have decided it's about time to get this thing over with. The baby can come next Friday or later, that way Craig will be home from his business trip and the few things I have to do will be done. Oh yeah, and apparently my birth center does not do the walking epidural. So, if I get one, I'm confined to the bed and doomed to be catheterized. You know, these options are not very appealing...basically I'm being told that I'm going to be in such excruciating pain, that a needle to the spine and a tube up the urethra are going to be preferable to it. WONDERFUL!
Ah well...it's not all bad. The doctor *did* say that with way I'm built, I shouldn't have trouble with the labor or delivery (doctors aren't allowed to lie, right?). And, today kicks off track-out! Woohoo! I can turn off the alarm clock, put my giant swollen sausage-looking feet up, and relax! Even if I don't deliver early and return in January, it will only be for a few days and then I'm out until April...and sleep deprivation and dirty diapers seem a LOT more appealing than dealing with a couple of the parents I've dealt with lately. (Come to think of it, the excruciating pain/needle in the spine/tube up the urethra all sound more appealing as well....) Seriously. I'll keep out the details but I have a few suggestions:
1.) If you have an issue with something, please speak to me about it when it happens. Not months later.
2.) I am so organized it's almost pathetic. If your child is not, and something goes missing, guess what probably happened...
3.) I'm not speaking Chinese. I can assure you, I am speaking in plain English. So when I explain something to you using that plain English, please pay attention so I don't end up repeating the same thing over and over.
4.) Taking on a bossy, entitled tone and giving me orders gets you nowhere.
5.) Neither does going above my head (especially for something petty)...I am a cautious person and I cover my butt, which means before I've made a decision, I've already talked to the powers that be about that decision.
I should start teaching orphans...that would make my job so much easier!
