I packed a bag for the hospital tonight, thereby guaranteeing at least another week of agony for me. I'm so smart.
I've had a rough couple of days, mentally. First, the baby has dropped, which means its head is putting constant pressure on my pelvic bones, creating the sensation that I have been sitting on a bike seat for too long. The pain sometimes radiates down my left leg, about halfway down my thigh, even if I sleep on my right side all night. I don't do well with chronic pain, even though I keep telling myself that at least the ribcage stretching only lasted a couple of weeks this time. Still, this is a literal pain in my ass and it's really getting me down.
I wanted to talk to my doctor about it at my last appointment, in conjunction with the ultrasound results, but I didn't even get to see a doctor. One of the doctors in the group is on her maternity leave now, so they have a nurse practitioner from outside the group filling in. She basically said that she had had a 10 pound baby so suck it up. Okay she said more than that, but it was all unhelpful so that's what stuck with me. My belly isn't measuring too big anymore because the baby is so far down that it's not getting measured, so she wasn't at all concerned. Get this - at 38 1/2 weeks, they didn't even check me for dilation!!!! Couldn't believe it. I really don't think I'm dilated anyway, so it's just as well I didn't experience the letdown from having that confirmed. It was a really rotten appointment, and of course when I mentioned scheduling an induction I was basically laughed at.
So to top it all off, I found out last night as I was going to bed that all hospitals in Iowa are refusing any visitor under the age of 18 due to H1N1 fears, and restricting the number of visitors at a time to two people. I can't think how to adequately describe the stupidity of this policy. First of all, people under 18 are the ones who qualify to get H1N1 shots, and therefore are less likely to be carrying it into the hospital. They also are less likely to try to tough it out or mask symptoms than an adult. And, if I'm only allowed two visitors at a time and Travis is one of them, does that mean that only one other person is allowed in the room at a time? And I really don't get to see Emily for 2 days?? I can't even fathom that!! I've never been away from her that long!! How is she supposed to make any sense at all of me disappearing for two days and coming home with a baby?? After contacting the maternity ward directly, I've decided that Emily's coming to see me and meet her little sibling. If somebody raises a stink, I will raise a bigger one. New moms get what they want!! So there!!!
Emily has decided that she's totally cool with peeing on the potty now. If you ask if she has to go, she'll say no, but if you tell her it's time to go, or command that she "run run run" to the potty, she does! She wore underpants for most of the day, although the first pair of Doras ran into a very messy demise early on in the day. She still has to figure out the whole pooping side of things, but since she goes twice a day (at least) she has plenty of opportunities to learn! Only once today did she suggest going, and she really did have to go, so I'm hoping that the more she gets used to only peeing in the potty the more she'll suggest it instead of me having to watch the clock. And of course I'm fully prepared to go back to diapers full-time once the baby is here, but it sure was nice to have a one-diaper day today!! I have her all day tomorrow, too, so we'll see who wears down first - me or her.
My daycare provider and her daughter have come down with something nasty - possibly H1N1 but it could be anything. Fortunately, even though Emily was there all day Tuesday, she seems to be doing fine. I was able to go to work and get most of the transition work completed so I can feel good about not showing up for work. I was hoping I would be missing work because of going into labor, but instead it's the sick daycare situation. I still have to figure something out for Emily for Friday, but it's not critical because I'm assuming that any time I show up at work now is a bonus. Now, if I can convince a doctor to schedule an induction for Nov 5 or 6, I think I'll be okay. But I can't even get an appointment scheduled at a halfway convenient time, nor meet with the doctors I am paying to see, so who knows.
I thought I had learned enough from my birth experience with Emily to not be in a situation with frustrating and flippant healthcare-givers, but here I am again. What am I doing wrong?!?!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Projections
At my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, the nurse practitioner who measured my belly said I was measuring a little bit small. She figured it was either that the baby was sitting too low to be measured (which is considerably more comfortable than too high, as Emily was), or there may be low amniotic fluid or a problem with growth. So she scheduled me for an ultrasound on Wednesday, and Emily came with me. She's so protective - didn't want me to put her down and insisted on snuggling up next to me throughout the whole procedure. She was really good, once we convinced her that everything was really okay!
The ultrasound tech did a couple of measurements, and asked me, "They said you were measuring small?" I didn't see any individual measurements that were in the 37-week gestational age, most were about 39 weeks. She said everything is fine with the amniotic fluid, and that the baby is sitting very low. She also predicted the baby's weight, as of today, as 8 lbs 6 oz. There's a one-pound tolerance on that, but still, even a 7 lb 6 oz baby is a decent size baby to deliver, and 9 lbs 6 oz is bigger than Emily was!! I'm glad to have this data point to talk to my doctor about at my next appointment on Tuesday, so at least we can discuss scheduling me for induction during the 39th week. I'm excited to not have to be overdue this time, but I've got a lot to get done before the baby's born!!
The ultrasound tech did a couple of measurements, and asked me, "They said you were measuring small?" I didn't see any individual measurements that were in the 37-week gestational age, most were about 39 weeks. She said everything is fine with the amniotic fluid, and that the baby is sitting very low. She also predicted the baby's weight, as of today, as 8 lbs 6 oz. There's a one-pound tolerance on that, but still, even a 7 lb 6 oz baby is a decent size baby to deliver, and 9 lbs 6 oz is bigger than Emily was!! I'm glad to have this data point to talk to my doctor about at my next appointment on Tuesday, so at least we can discuss scheduling me for induction during the 39th week. I'm excited to not have to be overdue this time, but I've got a lot to get done before the baby's born!!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sweet memory
Before I forget, I want to write this down. Tonight, Travis and Emily and I were at a wedding reception, and Emily and I went out to the entryway where it was quieter so she could burn off some steam. She was happily running around some chairs, and then came over to me saying, "Hug, hug" so I gave her a big hug. Then, "kiss!!" and she kissed both my cheeks, so I kissed her on the cheek, too (several times, probably; her cheeks are irresistable!). Then she says "I laauu you" and wiggled out of my arms. It was so spontaneous, and so brief, that I am sitting here just enjoying that moment, trying to make it last forever in my mind.
The bride may have been beautiful, but Emily was the most brilliant, gorgeous thing in the room tonight. She danced, she spun, she bounced along on her tiptoes, she said cute things, she smiled at me, and she danced with her dad. There just aren't words to describe how amazing she is, and how much I love her!
The bride may have been beautiful, but Emily was the most brilliant, gorgeous thing in the room tonight. She danced, she spun, she bounced along on her tiptoes, she said cute things, she smiled at me, and she danced with her dad. There just aren't words to describe how amazing she is, and how much I love her!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Busted!!
So last night I slept the entire night without having to get up to go to the bathroom, and it was fabulous. The only time i woke was when Emily was crying, and I have no idea what time that was. I kicked Travis and asked him to go check on her, and he said "what?" I had to repeat myself 3 times before he figured it out. I was SO annoyed because there's a child crying - why do you think I'm kicking you?!?! But he took care of it and I think i was back asleep before he was even out of bed.
This morning I asked how that all went down, and he said he had to take his earplugs out to hear what I was saying!!! I told him earplugs are off limits once the baby is born. If he isn't so tired that he falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow no matter what kind of noise is going on, then he's not helping me enough! :) He didn't exactly agree, but I will have my way. He says i just have to kick him and he'll help, but I told him there's nothing about this that should begin with me having to do something. I'll be up with baby - he has to be up with Emily. End of story!
So, I called my mom this morning and was venting about the situation telling her how I had laid down the law. Emily was playing with her kitchenette while we were talking, and I guess she was listening more than I thought. Tonight at supper, I said something about the new baby, and she said "Baby wake up dad!!" Travis looked at me incredulously, asking if I had been talking about the waking-in-the-night situation with her. I said no... and he knew she'd been listening while I talked on the phone about it. Man!! I can't believe she got me like that!! Amazing what little ears can hear and retain.
This morning I asked how that all went down, and he said he had to take his earplugs out to hear what I was saying!!! I told him earplugs are off limits once the baby is born. If he isn't so tired that he falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow no matter what kind of noise is going on, then he's not helping me enough! :) He didn't exactly agree, but I will have my way. He says i just have to kick him and he'll help, but I told him there's nothing about this that should begin with me having to do something. I'll be up with baby - he has to be up with Emily. End of story!
So, I called my mom this morning and was venting about the situation telling her how I had laid down the law. Emily was playing with her kitchenette while we were talking, and I guess she was listening more than I thought. Tonight at supper, I said something about the new baby, and she said "Baby wake up dad!!" Travis looked at me incredulously, asking if I had been talking about the waking-in-the-night situation with her. I said no... and he knew she'd been listening while I talked on the phone about it. Man!! I can't believe she got me like that!! Amazing what little ears can hear and retain.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The big 0-2
Emily is now a two-year-old. Wow!
We had a great birthday here, with "just" family to celebrate Saturday morning with her. My grandparents, my aunt and uncle, my parents, my sister and her family, my brother and sister-in-law, and Travis's parents came to our house for brunch and present-opening, plus a little playtime before Emily crashed for her nap. We had pancakes, egg casserole, and fruit salad, since those things (roughly) are some of Emily's favorite foods. All she ate was the pancakes, but she's the birthday girl - I didn't push it. :)
The gift opening was hilarious. She wasn't quite understanding that there were lots of things for her, and once she opened something and liked it, she didn't know why we'd try to take it away from her to give her another mysterious package. Her cousins tried their very best not to be impatient with this!! She was particularly fond of the things she picked out for herself when we had gone shopping at the toy store a couple weeks ago (I hid them when we got home). There's a stuffed pig that she really likes that has three buckles across its tummy - it looks ridiculous but apparently it's very entertaining! She also enjoyed getting new clothes from her Grandma Sullivan - immediately stripped off the clothes that she was so excited to put on in the morning, and put on her new outfit. And wore it the rest of the day! She got a kitchenette and set of play food from her Johannsen Grandparents (a steal from a garage sale of course - I can't imagine what this would've cost new!!). She was one very, very happy birthday girl. She LOVED having "two grammas!!" to dote on her, and they were delighted when she let loose and sang some kind of aria just for them. She loved her schoolbus cake, which I might say I was pretty proud of, and blowing out the candles. She dove right in and started eating the skittles off of it, then went in to take two big bites out of the cake itself. So funny!! All this on top of a celebration the day before at Ms. Amanda's! We were glad to have today just to relax and unwind a little, although Travis was pretty productive today doing little projects around the house.
The things Emily can say now are just amazing! Over the past month her ability to form sentences has really cemented, everything from "I did it!" to complex thoughts about things that happened several days ago. She had a lot to say last night about her birthday as we were going to bed and talking about what had gone on that day (as a way to get her to lie still and unwind a little!). I can really ask her what's wrong and what happened if she's crying, so I plan to continue to combat any whining with telling her to use her words, because she really does a good job with it. I am amazed at my own ability to heal any minor owie with a kiss, which now comes requested as the offended body part is brought rapidly to my face for remedy. My favorite kisses are those for chins, I think. :)
Baby is re-approaching my ribs again, just out of sheer size, I think. I haven't had to take any tums at all for a couple of weeks now because s/he's sitting so much lower than Emily did. I am glad to be a little bit sore in my lower abdomen rather than feeling stretched from the inside!! And wow am I sore from yesterday's activities, and tired, too! Slept a full night plus an hour nap today. I don't have much for contractions, which is nice because knowing my first experience they don't do me any good anyway. I'm really easily out of breath, though, carrying Emily up a flight of stairs or getting up and down off the floor, which I seem to do a lot of these days. It gets to be overwhelming if I think that my current physical state will continue after the baby is born, but I know that this isn't forever. And even the post-partum healing will end, and I'll be probably more brainless but at least physically feel better! I just keep telling myself these things. If I can get through Halloween, everything will be all right!
I think I forgot to mention that my doctor said I am measuring a little bit big. She marveled that I could have a 9+lb baby without any stretch marks, and I said it's because ribcages don't stretch! I'm glad to know that my hunch about Emily's mismeasured size was right, and that my doctors are really taking her size into account when considering my care this time around. I may not need to cry at every appointment this time around!!
We sure are one lucky little family. :)
We had a great birthday here, with "just" family to celebrate Saturday morning with her. My grandparents, my aunt and uncle, my parents, my sister and her family, my brother and sister-in-law, and Travis's parents came to our house for brunch and present-opening, plus a little playtime before Emily crashed for her nap. We had pancakes, egg casserole, and fruit salad, since those things (roughly) are some of Emily's favorite foods. All she ate was the pancakes, but she's the birthday girl - I didn't push it. :)
The gift opening was hilarious. She wasn't quite understanding that there were lots of things for her, and once she opened something and liked it, she didn't know why we'd try to take it away from her to give her another mysterious package. Her cousins tried their very best not to be impatient with this!! She was particularly fond of the things she picked out for herself when we had gone shopping at the toy store a couple weeks ago (I hid them when we got home). There's a stuffed pig that she really likes that has three buckles across its tummy - it looks ridiculous but apparently it's very entertaining! She also enjoyed getting new clothes from her Grandma Sullivan - immediately stripped off the clothes that she was so excited to put on in the morning, and put on her new outfit. And wore it the rest of the day! She got a kitchenette and set of play food from her Johannsen Grandparents (a steal from a garage sale of course - I can't imagine what this would've cost new!!). She was one very, very happy birthday girl. She LOVED having "two grammas!!" to dote on her, and they were delighted when she let loose and sang some kind of aria just for them. She loved her schoolbus cake, which I might say I was pretty proud of, and blowing out the candles. She dove right in and started eating the skittles off of it, then went in to take two big bites out of the cake itself. So funny!! All this on top of a celebration the day before at Ms. Amanda's! We were glad to have today just to relax and unwind a little, although Travis was pretty productive today doing little projects around the house.
The things Emily can say now are just amazing! Over the past month her ability to form sentences has really cemented, everything from "I did it!" to complex thoughts about things that happened several days ago. She had a lot to say last night about her birthday as we were going to bed and talking about what had gone on that day (as a way to get her to lie still and unwind a little!). I can really ask her what's wrong and what happened if she's crying, so I plan to continue to combat any whining with telling her to use her words, because she really does a good job with it. I am amazed at my own ability to heal any minor owie with a kiss, which now comes requested as the offended body part is brought rapidly to my face for remedy. My favorite kisses are those for chins, I think. :)
Baby is re-approaching my ribs again, just out of sheer size, I think. I haven't had to take any tums at all for a couple of weeks now because s/he's sitting so much lower than Emily did. I am glad to be a little bit sore in my lower abdomen rather than feeling stretched from the inside!! And wow am I sore from yesterday's activities, and tired, too! Slept a full night plus an hour nap today. I don't have much for contractions, which is nice because knowing my first experience they don't do me any good anyway. I'm really easily out of breath, though, carrying Emily up a flight of stairs or getting up and down off the floor, which I seem to do a lot of these days. It gets to be overwhelming if I think that my current physical state will continue after the baby is born, but I know that this isn't forever. And even the post-partum healing will end, and I'll be probably more brainless but at least physically feel better! I just keep telling myself these things. If I can get through Halloween, everything will be all right!
I think I forgot to mention that my doctor said I am measuring a little bit big. She marveled that I could have a 9+lb baby without any stretch marks, and I said it's because ribcages don't stretch! I'm glad to know that my hunch about Emily's mismeasured size was right, and that my doctors are really taking her size into account when considering my care this time around. I may not need to cry at every appointment this time around!!
We sure are one lucky little family. :)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
battling bedtime
Emily has all kinds of reasons to get out of bed, and tonight she had me fooled. I thought Travis was still upstairs when I heard the toilet flush, and realized that Travis was actually in the basement, where there is no toilet. I found Emily at the top of the stairs wearing nothing at all!! Going potty is her favorite excuse to get out of bed, followed by blowing her nose, getting a drink, and then no particular reason at all. I've been trying to walk the line between hard-nosed "get in bed you don't need whatever it is you think you do" and "Goodnight, I love you, sweetheart!" I don't want her to be upset trying to go to sleep, but I don't want her to think I'm any fun to be around after I say goodnight. It's tough.
Guess I'll post this now, since I got halfway through it the other night and then got called away... to put a girl back in bed!!
Guess I'll post this now, since I got halfway through it the other night and then got called away... to put a girl back in bed!!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
"Baby Sister Coming"
Emily had a good time today getting to know her little sibling. This afternoon, I was laying on the couch, and Travis was trying to show her how to put her ear on my tummy to hear the baby's heartbeat. She didn't really get it, but it was sure fun to watch her rub her face and her head on my tummy. Then she started talking about "Baby sister comin'." I told her it could be her little brother, but she preferred to say sister. Pretty cute!
I've caught a cold in the past week, which may explain my bad attitude lately. It's hard to feel good when you're getting sick, and the worst part of that is that I usually don't understand my horrible mood until the actual symptoms set in, and by then I've been ornery to everyone around me. It is also hard to remain in good spirits while experiencing a stuffy head, sore throat, and occasional wooziness. I took a 90-min nap today and it was fabulous, but it was still hard to get up and fix dinner later on. I am so glad we had no plans for this weekend. Next weekend is going to be exciting enough for us!!
I've caught a cold in the past week, which may explain my bad attitude lately. It's hard to feel good when you're getting sick, and the worst part of that is that I usually don't understand my horrible mood until the actual symptoms set in, and by then I've been ornery to everyone around me. It is also hard to remain in good spirits while experiencing a stuffy head, sore throat, and occasional wooziness. I took a 90-min nap today and it was fabulous, but it was still hard to get up and fix dinner later on. I am so glad we had no plans for this weekend. Next weekend is going to be exciting enough for us!!
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