I got my hair cut yesterday. I liked having long hair, and it was pretty, but it wasn't practical for someone with my new profession. Each night I'd take out my ponytail and find it still damp in the middle, and after Emily grabbed a fistful and wouldn't let go, I made the appointment. It's chin-length now, so my weird curls are making it look very jouvenile, but whatever - I can still pull it back and it's not so gross and damp now.
Emily is 3 weeks old today. It's amazing what she can do already, for still being an infant! We were having some tummy time the other day and she was able to lift her head and face the opposite direction! She's done that while holding her, but she can do it flat on the floor too. She can track objects, which my What To Expect the First Year book says that most babies may be able to do after two months. (*sigh* Look at me - I'm already one of "those" moms.) She loves her black and white pictures so much that the other night - although she was screaming in hunger - she was captivated enough to push me away so she could look at her pictures over my shoulder. As a result, she got milk sprayed up her nose. Life is tough, girlie!
We're doing a little better for nights these days. Last night she slept from 4 AM until 8:30, and although I was really really ready for her breakfast when I woke up, it wasn't the agony of the first few days. I learned the hard way that I shouldn't eat salsa that has beans and jalapenos in it, because it makes Emily's tummy hurt. I feel like I inadvertently tortured my little girl, the poor thing! But even when she's upset, she's still pretty pleasant and would much rather be looking around at things... except that then she remembers she's upset and wails a little more. I can hardly complain, considering babies are known to scream all the time for no reason.
Well, I should use my two-handed time wisely, because I'm never sure when Emily will need me. It's weird that I've been looking forward to October of this year ever since... well, October of last year, pretty much, when we started seriously planning this adventure. And now it's October 31, and I am moving onto the true Motherhood stage of things. It feels like a turning point, especially now that all the Grandma's visits are through and it's just me and her for the next few weeks. Who knows what fun adventures we will have! I just heard an explosive poo from the pack'n'play, though, so I think I know what adventure awaits me when she wakes up...
Pictures are updated: http://picasaweb.google.com/sullyjava/EmilyClaire
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Two weeks old!
Emily had her 2-week checkup today, and she has grown an inch since she was born! She's two ounces shy of 10 lbs, although a few ounces here and there are accounted for by the massive pooping she likes to do. She's blown out 3 outfits now, and Travis thinks it's hilarious to be holding her while business is going down. Apparently it's her oblivion to what the other end is doing that really cracks him up.
I have been updating pictures on her picasa webpage, so you can see for yourself how beautiful she is. She has slept for as much as 3.5 hours in a stretch at night, but also can be awake for that same length of time. It's frustrating when that stretch is 2:30 AM until 6 AM, but nice when it's in the afternoon and she is awake to charm her grandparents and uncles. I think she gets bored, and wants to eat for lack of ability to do anything else. She likes gazing at the bears on a mobile that hang over the pack'n'play, or the fascinating black-framed photos on the wall of the living room. Sometimes she's bored with them, sometimes she gets overwhelmed - can you imagine being overwhelmed by a 3-inch stuffed bear? :) Fortunately, my supply has regulated itself a bit so I can handle the snacking better, and my chest is no longer in constant agony.
Travis's mom was here to help me through my long Monday. Trav still has 3 classes left before he's officially done with grad school, so that's 3 more weeks of him leaving at 7 AM for work and home at 10 PM from class. It's so much better when he comes home from work at 5 like normal! And he misses his girl, too, being gone all day. I can't even fathom leaving her for a few hours, much less going to work all day. How on earth am I supposed to figure out going back to work?!?!?
I have been updating pictures on her picasa webpage, so you can see for yourself how beautiful she is. She has slept for as much as 3.5 hours in a stretch at night, but also can be awake for that same length of time. It's frustrating when that stretch is 2:30 AM until 6 AM, but nice when it's in the afternoon and she is awake to charm her grandparents and uncles. I think she gets bored, and wants to eat for lack of ability to do anything else. She likes gazing at the bears on a mobile that hang over the pack'n'play, or the fascinating black-framed photos on the wall of the living room. Sometimes she's bored with them, sometimes she gets overwhelmed - can you imagine being overwhelmed by a 3-inch stuffed bear? :) Fortunately, my supply has regulated itself a bit so I can handle the snacking better, and my chest is no longer in constant agony.
Travis's mom was here to help me through my long Monday. Trav still has 3 classes left before he's officially done with grad school, so that's 3 more weeks of him leaving at 7 AM for work and home at 10 PM from class. It's so much better when he comes home from work at 5 like normal! And he misses his girl, too, being gone all day. I can't even fathom leaving her for a few hours, much less going to work all day. How on earth am I supposed to figure out going back to work?!?!?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
E-Claire
She is definitely cream-filled, from the rate she's been growing!! we are alreadyputting away 0-3 month things, and dressing her up in other things that we've been given, taking pictures and packing them away. not only are her legs long and gorgeous, but she likes them out straight much of the time, so length is the main issue. considering her parents, are you surprised?? :) And, she almost smiles. She will make the most pleasant faces when she's dreaming, and it won't be soon before that nice expression bursts into full smile. I can't wait - though can't imagine how she could look any more gorgeous to me.
Emily and I are both just rousing from naptime. Grandma Nancy is here making us a big batch of chicken noodles for supper tonight and next week. It's a beautiful fall Iowa day, so windows are open and sunshine pouring in with a breeze that's almost too cool, really, but it smells so good I'm just wrapping Emily up a little tighter and enjoying it.
I'm feeling better and better each day as things heal and my milk supply gets a little regulated. Engorgement is an experience that's almost indescribable, but a close approximation would be if somebody surgically inserted softballs into your existing boobskin, then pummeled all around for an overall bruised feeling. I don't know if there's a trick to feeding her the right amount from each side, but I must be a little slow on it if there is because generally every 2 hours, night or day, I have at least one side aching to feed her - or anything - something, please release the pressure!! Then when i do hook her up, she sputters as if she's drinking from a firehose. Poor girl! Over the past few days she has discovered how to be fussy, which is frustrating since I'm still not able to differentiate what cry means what. My list of what could be wrong is expanding - gas, hot, cold, burp, bored, overstimulated, overtired, poopy, or just plain feeling fussy - so hopefully my troubleshooting will improve soon.
One thing that I left out of my story of childbirth was how hungry I got throughout the day. They consider every laboring woman to be a potential C-section, which is surgery, which requires anaesthesia which means empty tummy. I was used to eating about every 4 hours or so going into the induction, so I spent a lot of the day begging for food, thinking I should just sneak some crackers or something. They gave me popsicles, which helped a little but not much. That's another reason I was so annoyed with them being so concerned with her blood sugar after birth - maybe if they'd let ME eat something, she'd have been better off!
I keep updating the pictures at the picasa website below, so check back for updates. She just gets more and more bright-eyed every day. :)
Emily and I are both just rousing from naptime. Grandma Nancy is here making us a big batch of chicken noodles for supper tonight and next week. It's a beautiful fall Iowa day, so windows are open and sunshine pouring in with a breeze that's almost too cool, really, but it smells so good I'm just wrapping Emily up a little tighter and enjoying it.
I'm feeling better and better each day as things heal and my milk supply gets a little regulated. Engorgement is an experience that's almost indescribable, but a close approximation would be if somebody surgically inserted softballs into your existing boobskin, then pummeled all around for an overall bruised feeling. I don't know if there's a trick to feeding her the right amount from each side, but I must be a little slow on it if there is because generally every 2 hours, night or day, I have at least one side aching to feed her - or anything - something, please release the pressure!! Then when i do hook her up, she sputters as if she's drinking from a firehose. Poor girl! Over the past few days she has discovered how to be fussy, which is frustrating since I'm still not able to differentiate what cry means what. My list of what could be wrong is expanding - gas, hot, cold, burp, bored, overstimulated, overtired, poopy, or just plain feeling fussy - so hopefully my troubleshooting will improve soon.
One thing that I left out of my story of childbirth was how hungry I got throughout the day. They consider every laboring woman to be a potential C-section, which is surgery, which requires anaesthesia which means empty tummy. I was used to eating about every 4 hours or so going into the induction, so I spent a lot of the day begging for food, thinking I should just sneak some crackers or something. They gave me popsicles, which helped a little but not much. That's another reason I was so annoyed with them being so concerned with her blood sugar after birth - maybe if they'd let ME eat something, she'd have been better off!
I keep updating the pictures at the picasa website below, so check back for updates. She just gets more and more bright-eyed every day. :)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The story of Emily Claire
In case you haven't gotten an email from us (or we sent it to an address you don't check often - sorry!), we are the proud parents of Emily Claire Sullivan. Pictures are posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/sullyjava/EmilyClaire
Stats: 9 lbs, 5 oz, 21 1/4" long. (BIG girl) Born October 10 at 5:50 in the afternoon.
Story (the gory details that Travis didn't email out):
We checked into our delivery room at about 9:30 Tuesday night, and after all the paperwork and initial talking, they started labor artificially by putting a dose of something (can't think of the name of the stuff) right by my cervix to get it started ripening. They also gave me Ambien to help me sleep through the pain as it started going. I slept from 10:30 to 1:30, when they checked me again to see if it had done any good. I had gone from basically nothing to 1 cm, negligibly effaced. Unfortunately, they said my contractions were less than 5 min apart and they didn't like that, so they wouldn't give me another dose and instead started me on pitocin at about 2. From 2 until 6, I didn't sleep much, just laid there in drowsy pain. At 6 AM, the doctor came in to check on me, and said I was 1 cm, 40% effaced, and said it was time to start ramping up the pitocin. He also broke my water, which you'd think would be a one-time event but actually lasted all morning. Every time a contraction came on, I'd feel the gush first, then the pain. Having been housebroken for 25 years, it was definitely a weird sensation for me.
Trav woke up about this time, and we put in the movie "Knocked Up," thinking we were pretty funny for renting and bringing that. About the time the end of the movie came around, maybe 9:00 or so, I was actually hurting as much as the main character as she gave birth, so the irony was not so funny anymore. About 10:00, I asked the nurse when I might be checked again, and she said whenever I thought about taking something for the pain. I had been doing pretty well to that point - don't get me wrong, I was hurting a LOT, but fighting through it fine - so I figured I'd just relax and give it some more time.
But first - let me tell you about pitocin-induced contractions. They tell you in childbirth class that contractions last 45 - 60 seconds, and you should be able to feel them coming soon enough that you can help cope with a "cleansing breath". Pitocin-induced contractions mercifully last about 15 seconds, but hit with only a second of warning or so, so all that cleansing breath crap is totally out of the question because it can catch you mid-breath and leave you with no coping mechanism. And because they only last 15 seconds, it takes 3 times as many to do the good of one natural contraction, so it's 3 times the sudden, stabbing pain. And, the doctors control their frequency, so even though 3 minutes apart is sometimes all the more frequent they come during natural childbirth, I had them 3 minutes apart the entire morning.
So by 10:30 I'd had enough, and the nurse checked me. In four hours, I had worked my way up to 2 cm, fully effaced. I can't tell you the kind of mental effect this had on me, because at this point I was swimming in pain. If it had been 4 or 5 cm, I would've considered trying to tough it out, but, TWO?? Seriously, all that, and I was at TWO?? I thought I already had been at 2, because my last check had been "1 to 2 cm". Couldn't take it - asked for the epidural.
The anaesthesiologist came in by 11, and I was fully comfortable by 11:30. I wasn't so concerned at the time, but I asked later about the person who had performed the epidural, because all I remembered was that he had an accent I couldn't place - and since I couldn't see straight his appearance didn't give me any clues. Not that that really mattered, anyway, but Travis was curious about placing the accent, and asked the nurse about him. She said he was the very best in the hospital - the one you really want for an epidural because he's so good at them. And he's retiring soon, so if I have to go through induction with any of Emily's future siblings, I'll be sure to research ahead of time because I think I just lucked out. My back still has a bruise from the epidural site, but it's really not that bad. (there are other more painful things that generally have my attention now). And the nurse also thought he was from an island off of Spain, for those who are curious.
So, I spent the afternoon quite comfortable. I could still feel contractions, but they were only as uncomfortable as all the unproductive ones I had had prior to being induced. I still got the "gush" prior to them, and the slight tightening, but I was at least human again. I got a nice nap in the afternoon, and even had visitors who happened to be at the hospital for unrelated appointments. (Thanks, Sara!! That really was awesome of you and Ryan to stop by. :) )
Around 4:00, I checked at 8 cm, so the nurse started pulling out the delivery equipment. The "birthing suite" at Mercy are really awesome. Each room is twice the size of my living room, which when it's just me in a bed seems pretty silly. But come delivery time, all the unassuming cabinetry opens up and explodes with medical equipment, and the room is actually pretty full. Shortly before 5, I started feeling pressure with each contraction, and told the nurse, who said later that she figured I was fully dilated but she wanted to get her stuff set up first, although she did have the forsight to call the doctor so he was on his way. She checked me and I was at 10, so she had me do a couple "practice" pushes. After 3 contractions of pushing, she had me stop because I was making such good progress (yeah! go me!), so I had some final moments to rest up for actual delivery.
The doctor who delivered me is the one who had been so dismissive of my family history of big babies with big heads, not the one who was a jerk about Ragbrai. I'm glad I had him, because I guess the other doctor suggests every baby be named "Barney" or "Barnette" - and the nurses said it's hilarious every time.
So I started pushing. They had told me most first-time moms push for 1 to 3 hours, but I was apparently an excellent pusher for a first-time mom. Hey, everybody has a talent. Even though my cervix is completely retarded, I can sure push 'em out. I told everyone after the first few pushes that "I'm NOT pushing for an hour!!", and even though it did take 45 minutes, a lot of that was rest and recovery because my contractions were 3 minutes apart - just like they had been all day. For about 3 of the last few contractions I wasn't making any progress, so the doctor called for the vacuum to help her come out. I wasn't going to protest, because I really did want my baby out at any expense by that point, but picture, he had been trying to get her head out with each push by stretching me around. That wasn't working, so using the vacuum on her head he was able to just pull her through. You can imagine the condition that left me in, and he spent a good 10 minutes stitching me up afterwards. "Little scrapes," he called them, although the nurses said they were 2nd-degree lacerations. I don't know how many stitches there are, but there are enough that they HURT now.
Anyway, the doctor lifted my daughter up, announced that it's a girl, and put her on a blanket on my belly. She seemed really big to me, but what do I know about newborns? I figured I'd wait to see what her weight was, and then the doctor said, as though he had no idea, "She's a big baby!" I was too overwhelmed at the time to point out just how much I ALREADY KNEW that she's a big baby, and that I'd tried to tell him for a month how she's a big baby!! *sigh*
Travis went with her to the warming table where the nurse did all the cleanup and everything, weighed her, cleaned out her lungs. Then he brought her to me, and the nurse had said it might be a while before she felt like eating. She was already moving her mouth like she would eat, and when I hooked her up, she figured it out right away and ate for 45 minutes!! I was glad she did, because the nurses said a lot of times big babies (over 9 lbs) have a dangerous blood sugar drop right after birth, and they need to supplement with formula. Even though I specifically told the nurse I didn't want that, she poo-pooed my concerns and said it wouldn't affect breastfeeding. I am so glad her blood sugar was okay and they didn't need to, because everything I've read said that's an opening for lots of problems with feeding later.
Emily doesn't have any problems eating, though, and in fact it's time for her lunch now. I hope she doesn't mind her dad in the background, who is quite excited watching ISU play (lose to) Texas while she eats. My milk came in last night, and I am feeling like a fully-swollen breast-implant recipient. It's insane, but at least my big girl has plenty of calories to grow on. She's so beautiful, that even though most of my body feels like it's been through the ringer, it's so worth it. She is just amazing, and I can't wait for you all to meet her!!
Stats: 9 lbs, 5 oz, 21 1/4" long. (BIG girl) Born October 10 at 5:50 in the afternoon.
Story (the gory details that Travis didn't email out):
We checked into our delivery room at about 9:30 Tuesday night, and after all the paperwork and initial talking, they started labor artificially by putting a dose of something (can't think of the name of the stuff) right by my cervix to get it started ripening. They also gave me Ambien to help me sleep through the pain as it started going. I slept from 10:30 to 1:30, when they checked me again to see if it had done any good. I had gone from basically nothing to 1 cm, negligibly effaced. Unfortunately, they said my contractions were less than 5 min apart and they didn't like that, so they wouldn't give me another dose and instead started me on pitocin at about 2. From 2 until 6, I didn't sleep much, just laid there in drowsy pain. At 6 AM, the doctor came in to check on me, and said I was 1 cm, 40% effaced, and said it was time to start ramping up the pitocin. He also broke my water, which you'd think would be a one-time event but actually lasted all morning. Every time a contraction came on, I'd feel the gush first, then the pain. Having been housebroken for 25 years, it was definitely a weird sensation for me.
Trav woke up about this time, and we put in the movie "Knocked Up," thinking we were pretty funny for renting and bringing that. About the time the end of the movie came around, maybe 9:00 or so, I was actually hurting as much as the main character as she gave birth, so the irony was not so funny anymore. About 10:00, I asked the nurse when I might be checked again, and she said whenever I thought about taking something for the pain. I had been doing pretty well to that point - don't get me wrong, I was hurting a LOT, but fighting through it fine - so I figured I'd just relax and give it some more time.
But first - let me tell you about pitocin-induced contractions. They tell you in childbirth class that contractions last 45 - 60 seconds, and you should be able to feel them coming soon enough that you can help cope with a "cleansing breath". Pitocin-induced contractions mercifully last about 15 seconds, but hit with only a second of warning or so, so all that cleansing breath crap is totally out of the question because it can catch you mid-breath and leave you with no coping mechanism. And because they only last 15 seconds, it takes 3 times as many to do the good of one natural contraction, so it's 3 times the sudden, stabbing pain. And, the doctors control their frequency, so even though 3 minutes apart is sometimes all the more frequent they come during natural childbirth, I had them 3 minutes apart the entire morning.
So by 10:30 I'd had enough, and the nurse checked me. In four hours, I had worked my way up to 2 cm, fully effaced. I can't tell you the kind of mental effect this had on me, because at this point I was swimming in pain. If it had been 4 or 5 cm, I would've considered trying to tough it out, but, TWO?? Seriously, all that, and I was at TWO?? I thought I already had been at 2, because my last check had been "1 to 2 cm". Couldn't take it - asked for the epidural.
The anaesthesiologist came in by 11, and I was fully comfortable by 11:30. I wasn't so concerned at the time, but I asked later about the person who had performed the epidural, because all I remembered was that he had an accent I couldn't place - and since I couldn't see straight his appearance didn't give me any clues. Not that that really mattered, anyway, but Travis was curious about placing the accent, and asked the nurse about him. She said he was the very best in the hospital - the one you really want for an epidural because he's so good at them. And he's retiring soon, so if I have to go through induction with any of Emily's future siblings, I'll be sure to research ahead of time because I think I just lucked out. My back still has a bruise from the epidural site, but it's really not that bad. (there are other more painful things that generally have my attention now). And the nurse also thought he was from an island off of Spain, for those who are curious.
So, I spent the afternoon quite comfortable. I could still feel contractions, but they were only as uncomfortable as all the unproductive ones I had had prior to being induced. I still got the "gush" prior to them, and the slight tightening, but I was at least human again. I got a nice nap in the afternoon, and even had visitors who happened to be at the hospital for unrelated appointments. (Thanks, Sara!! That really was awesome of you and Ryan to stop by. :) )
Around 4:00, I checked at 8 cm, so the nurse started pulling out the delivery equipment. The "birthing suite" at Mercy are really awesome. Each room is twice the size of my living room, which when it's just me in a bed seems pretty silly. But come delivery time, all the unassuming cabinetry opens up and explodes with medical equipment, and the room is actually pretty full. Shortly before 5, I started feeling pressure with each contraction, and told the nurse, who said later that she figured I was fully dilated but she wanted to get her stuff set up first, although she did have the forsight to call the doctor so he was on his way. She checked me and I was at 10, so she had me do a couple "practice" pushes. After 3 contractions of pushing, she had me stop because I was making such good progress (yeah! go me!), so I had some final moments to rest up for actual delivery.
The doctor who delivered me is the one who had been so dismissive of my family history of big babies with big heads, not the one who was a jerk about Ragbrai. I'm glad I had him, because I guess the other doctor suggests every baby be named "Barney" or "Barnette" - and the nurses said it's hilarious every time.
So I started pushing. They had told me most first-time moms push for 1 to 3 hours, but I was apparently an excellent pusher for a first-time mom. Hey, everybody has a talent. Even though my cervix is completely retarded, I can sure push 'em out. I told everyone after the first few pushes that "I'm NOT pushing for an hour!!", and even though it did take 45 minutes, a lot of that was rest and recovery because my contractions were 3 minutes apart - just like they had been all day. For about 3 of the last few contractions I wasn't making any progress, so the doctor called for the vacuum to help her come out. I wasn't going to protest, because I really did want my baby out at any expense by that point, but picture, he had been trying to get her head out with each push by stretching me around. That wasn't working, so using the vacuum on her head he was able to just pull her through. You can imagine the condition that left me in, and he spent a good 10 minutes stitching me up afterwards. "Little scrapes," he called them, although the nurses said they were 2nd-degree lacerations. I don't know how many stitches there are, but there are enough that they HURT now.
Anyway, the doctor lifted my daughter up, announced that it's a girl, and put her on a blanket on my belly. She seemed really big to me, but what do I know about newborns? I figured I'd wait to see what her weight was, and then the doctor said, as though he had no idea, "She's a big baby!" I was too overwhelmed at the time to point out just how much I ALREADY KNEW that she's a big baby, and that I'd tried to tell him for a month how she's a big baby!! *sigh*
Travis went with her to the warming table where the nurse did all the cleanup and everything, weighed her, cleaned out her lungs. Then he brought her to me, and the nurse had said it might be a while before she felt like eating. She was already moving her mouth like she would eat, and when I hooked her up, she figured it out right away and ate for 45 minutes!! I was glad she did, because the nurses said a lot of times big babies (over 9 lbs) have a dangerous blood sugar drop right after birth, and they need to supplement with formula. Even though I specifically told the nurse I didn't want that, she poo-pooed my concerns and said it wouldn't affect breastfeeding. I am so glad her blood sugar was okay and they didn't need to, because everything I've read said that's an opening for lots of problems with feeding later.
Emily doesn't have any problems eating, though, and in fact it's time for her lunch now. I hope she doesn't mind her dad in the background, who is quite excited watching ISU play (lose to) Texas while she eats. My milk came in last night, and I am feeling like a fully-swollen breast-implant recipient. It's insane, but at least my big girl has plenty of calories to grow on. She's so beautiful, that even though most of my body feels like it's been through the ringer, it's so worth it. She is just amazing, and I can't wait for you all to meet her!!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
here we go...
Travis and I are headed to the hospital soon. I think we're as ready as we can be for being clueless. The house looks okay, we've got everything ready to load into the car, and I guess anything else we'll just wing. My body isn't any more ready to deliver than it was a week ago, but it's not for lack of effort. I went for walks yesterday and today, and while it got a few mild contractions going, I doubt they did any good. So, tonight, I start from scratch. Baby was jumping around about an hour ago, and I wonder if he/she has any idea what's in store for the next few days.
It's very weird to realize that when I come back home, it won't just be me and Travis; we'll be a family. I'll be a mom! That's a permanent status change. I don't think I've had one of those since I became a wife. Hmm. Wild!
It's very weird to realize that when I come back home, it won't just be me and Travis; we'll be a family. I'll be a mom! That's a permanent status change. I don't think I've had one of those since I became a wife. Hmm. Wild!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Induction, revised
I called this morning and they were able to move my induction up to Tuesday night instead of Wednesday night! I hope my kid doesn't mind a birthday of 10/10.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
trip photos
Travis has started a google photos website, and you are welcome to view our public galleries. Nothing too incredibly incriminating there, I don't think. He's working on putting up pictures from trips going all the way back to 2003, too.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sullyjava
http://picasaweb.google.com/sullyjava
Friday, October 5, 2007
Induction
So I'm looking at October 11th to be my kid's birthday.
Another appointment, and still no change. Stupid cervix. They put me on the calendar to be induced on the evening of the 10th (Wednesday) and that usually gets progressing through the night so they can break the water the next day, if they need to, then have the baby during the day. I'm so glad I get to stay up all night suffering through drug-induced contractions so the birth is convenient for the hospital staff. I mean, it's all about them, right? I'm just a tiny bit bitter because if I had made my appointment for yesterday morning, they probably could've scheduled my induction that much sooner. But I guess I'll take it. It's better than later. And having that on the calendar after 41 weeks means I can't get bumped, so I'm all set. Unless every preggo in Des Moines decides to go into labor that night, in which case they might run out of rooms and then I guess I'd get to deliver in a closet or something.
My last day at work yesterday was really pretty fun. I had a lot of people wish me well, and it was neat to realize just how many really great people I work with. And they seem to genuinely enjoy me, so that's a nice feeling also. I am now officially on maternity leave, and I'm trying to pace out my activities so that I'll have enough to do during these 5 days off, but if I do go sooner (which I won't) at least the critical stuff will be done first. I've stocked up on groceries and cleaning supplies, so if anybody wants to come by and cook or clean for me they will be well supplied to do so. And with the baby dropped, I am comfortable to sit now, so things like reading books and writing thank-yous can get done easily. I can tell when I stand or walk that there are ligaments underneath my belly that are straining from carrying the weight that's shifted in me, so that's not so pleasant, but easily accounted for by sitting on my butt all day.
So that's the latest. It would be wonderful if my next post was a birth announcement, but I am quite certain I'll have more to say before then, since it's most likely almost a week away. There is a bit of comfort in that resignation.
Another appointment, and still no change. Stupid cervix. They put me on the calendar to be induced on the evening of the 10th (Wednesday) and that usually gets progressing through the night so they can break the water the next day, if they need to, then have the baby during the day. I'm so glad I get to stay up all night suffering through drug-induced contractions so the birth is convenient for the hospital staff. I mean, it's all about them, right? I'm just a tiny bit bitter because if I had made my appointment for yesterday morning, they probably could've scheduled my induction that much sooner. But I guess I'll take it. It's better than later. And having that on the calendar after 41 weeks means I can't get bumped, so I'm all set. Unless every preggo in Des Moines decides to go into labor that night, in which case they might run out of rooms and then I guess I'd get to deliver in a closet or something.
My last day at work yesterday was really pretty fun. I had a lot of people wish me well, and it was neat to realize just how many really great people I work with. And they seem to genuinely enjoy me, so that's a nice feeling also. I am now officially on maternity leave, and I'm trying to pace out my activities so that I'll have enough to do during these 5 days off, but if I do go sooner (which I won't) at least the critical stuff will be done first. I've stocked up on groceries and cleaning supplies, so if anybody wants to come by and cook or clean for me they will be well supplied to do so. And with the baby dropped, I am comfortable to sit now, so things like reading books and writing thank-yous can get done easily. I can tell when I stand or walk that there are ligaments underneath my belly that are straining from carrying the weight that's shifted in me, so that's not so pleasant, but easily accounted for by sitting on my butt all day.
So that's the latest. It would be wonderful if my next post was a birth announcement, but I am quite certain I'll have more to say before then, since it's most likely almost a week away. There is a bit of comfort in that resignation.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
ahhhh...
The baby dropped!! :)
I have been complaining since May about how much my ribs hurt from being stretched from the inside, and it just got worse as the baby got bigger. But now it has dropped about 2 inches, and my ribs have only a happy ache of relief for being back in the right place again. I can exhale fully, which feels fabulous. My ribs are so relieved that I even can clasp my bra a step tighter. And I actually felt real hunger for the first time in months!! My stomach had room to be empty, and I'll admit it felt pretty good to be hungry for a little while - and then also to fill it right up again :)
Travis has found that he likes to drum on my tummy, as we're standing face to face, because right up near my ribs it sounds more hollow (my standard chest cavity) and lower it's all solid (BABY). He noticed last night that my "drumming area" is bigger, so that baby really is sitting lower. I can tell that there are some ligaments underneath my belly that are a bit strained, but I don't care. I feel so much better now that I can breathe and eat that I really care a lot less whether I deliver tomorrow or a week from tomorrow. This is fantastic. I guess this is why women start nesting!
I am taking tomorrow morning off to sleep in a bit, and then in the afternoon I'll go in for what will be my last time at work until the end of December. I feel so much better that I could go to work and probably be productive up until I deliver, but I really want to get stuff done at home. Not projects in particular, but just a thorough cleaning. I know I won't get back to doing any serious cleaning for a few months, so it'd be nice to start the decline of my house from a decent state. I suppose I can call it standard fall cleaning, anyway, right?
My next appointment is Friday. Baby is still moving around a lot, which is more enjoyable now that it's not so painful. :) I've had a few contractions that are just about getting to be painful, but they're mostly just uncomfortable. So, who knows how much change he will see, or how far out an induction date might be set, but like I said, I feel so much better that I don't much care!!
Ahhhh.... :)
I have been complaining since May about how much my ribs hurt from being stretched from the inside, and it just got worse as the baby got bigger. But now it has dropped about 2 inches, and my ribs have only a happy ache of relief for being back in the right place again. I can exhale fully, which feels fabulous. My ribs are so relieved that I even can clasp my bra a step tighter. And I actually felt real hunger for the first time in months!! My stomach had room to be empty, and I'll admit it felt pretty good to be hungry for a little while - and then also to fill it right up again :)
Travis has found that he likes to drum on my tummy, as we're standing face to face, because right up near my ribs it sounds more hollow (my standard chest cavity) and lower it's all solid (BABY). He noticed last night that my "drumming area" is bigger, so that baby really is sitting lower. I can tell that there are some ligaments underneath my belly that are a bit strained, but I don't care. I feel so much better now that I can breathe and eat that I really care a lot less whether I deliver tomorrow or a week from tomorrow. This is fantastic. I guess this is why women start nesting!
I am taking tomorrow morning off to sleep in a bit, and then in the afternoon I'll go in for what will be my last time at work until the end of December. I feel so much better that I could go to work and probably be productive up until I deliver, but I really want to get stuff done at home. Not projects in particular, but just a thorough cleaning. I know I won't get back to doing any serious cleaning for a few months, so it'd be nice to start the decline of my house from a decent state. I suppose I can call it standard fall cleaning, anyway, right?
My next appointment is Friday. Baby is still moving around a lot, which is more enjoyable now that it's not so painful. :) I've had a few contractions that are just about getting to be painful, but they're mostly just uncomfortable. So, who knows how much change he will see, or how far out an induction date might be set, but like I said, I feel so much better that I don't much care!!
Ahhhh.... :)
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