Archive for May, 2010

Me: Did you lock the door?

Mark: Yes.

Me: I don’t just mean put your keys in it, but you actually locked it, right?

Mark: Yes.

Me: Are you sure?

Mark: No. It’s unlocked. In fact, it’s wide open… and all these strange people are going to come in to watch us cuddle.

Me: *fit of laughter*

*pause*

Me: But you did lock it, right?

Mark: O.o

Yesterday Mark and I went for a three hour labor and breastfeeding workshop.  We were sat in a circle with maybe ten other couples whilst a midwife went through the stages of labor and what to expect.  I had read about these stages in great detail over the last few weeks, finding any information I could online as to what was normal, not normal, what can happen, and what I can do to cope.  The thing I enjoyed most about the class was that the information was presented from a natural birth perspective.  And, while pain relief options were touched on, it wasn’t the main focus of the course.

Then, a lactation consultant went through the basics of getting the baby to latch on properly whilst feeding.  She also really promoted the benefits of breastfeeding, and why it is leagues better than formula feeding.   For this bit, we were instructed to bring in a baby doll or stuffed animal, which we brought in Little Doodle’s bear (which was dressed in Little Doodle’s clothes hehe) and proceeded to pretend breastfeed.

Overall, the course made me feel more empowered to try the natural childbirth option.  I can remember at various points in my life, whenever I thought about what it would be like to grow up and be pregnant and be in this moment, on the brink of motherhood, I had always thought of the labor bit as something to be feared.  I knew it was to be the most painful thing I, or any woman, could ever go through, and because of that I had always planned to get as many pain relief options as possible.

Now I am almost 33 weeks pregnant and I am not scared anymore;  I don’t think I have been at any point during my pregnancy.  Labor is going to be a beautiful, intense experience that I get to share with my husband as we, together, bring our baby into the world.  I think (or would like to think) that I am strong enough to do this on my own, without any unnecessary medical intervention or help.  I hope I am right.

Oh Little Doodle, not long now.

practicing nappy changing on Little Doodle’s bear

I am off Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of every week and I must say this particular midweek weekend has been about indulgence.  It started Tuesday whereby my normal whole grain cereal and fruit breakfast was inexplicably replaced by the desire to have cheesecake instead and it only went downhill from there.

I’ve been avoiding my end of year assignment.  Next up is chemistry and I really do not like chemistry (despite it, ironically, being the best grade I’ve received for any unit assignment).  I am, however, fortunate enough to be sister to 18 year old Chris-the-boy-wonder who can not only understand but also correct any mistakes I’ve made on my university level Chemistry and Physics.  He checks my work.

So instead of working on that on Tuesday I cleaned the flat and did laundry (and then suffered with subsequent back pain because I am really not used to these new pregnancy limitations) and  I sat down to watch one episode of Hoarders before starting my coursework and this turned into a day long Hoarders marathon of episodes I had downloaded.  I also napped, very important, as growing a new human being is, by no means, an easy feat.

(as a side note Mark refuses to watch Hoarders with me, and sticks my episodes into a folder called “Nicky’s Guilty Pleasures” on our drive).

I then somehow managed to convince Mark we needed (or, the baby needed, rather) McGangBangs for dinner.  If you don’t know what that is, it’s quite possibly the only way to make the McDonald’s menu any more unhealthy. Click here.

Wednesday I meant to work on the schoolwork after my 9am doctors appointment, but instead I napped.  We had a lovely lunch in the countryside with Jen and even grabbed coffee, which was supposed to fuel me through the next few hours I set aside for schoolwork… but instead, I napped.  And then hung out with Alicja in the evening.

Now we are at Thursday, I slept until 11am this morning and have, thus far, managed only breakfast.  I am writing this blog instead of working on Chemistry. Ughhhhhh. And I am tired already.  I’ve lost the mojo I had just a few weeks prior, and now this pregnancy thing is getting hard again. I feel like I am back to the first trimester where, if I wasn’t complaining about how crap I felt, I was sleeping… all. the. time.

I guess it’s time to go work on Chemistry.

I need a nap.

(ps.  it’s a caffeine molecule)

- What’s up this week?  My blood pressure (hahahaha oh I slay me).  I’m now being monitored weekly from here until D-Day ever since, two weeks ago, it was found my blood pressure was on the rise.  My blood pressure has always been smack dab on FREAKING PERFECT at 110/70 all my life and really, most of my pregnancy as well.  Now it’s at 136/89 and I am not pleased.  The doctor is not worried yet as I have no other signs of  pre-eclampsia, but I tend to worry about most things.  I am (crazy as this sounds) looking forward to labor and I really don’t want this interfering with my plans… I don’t want a C-section above all else!

-Due to the above, I may need to go on maternity leave earlier than expected.  Currently, I am scheduled to leave work June 15th.  I hate the idea of spending some of my leave (39 weeks paid) before the baby is born, but I would rather do that then blow a vein in my head over stress.

- This month marks 7 months since sending my visa application off.  I still have nothing back, our passports (yep, Mark’s included) are effectively held hostage by the Home Office.  Today we posted a letter of formal complaint about the timeframes, especially given that the indefinite leave processing time is 14 weeks.  Failing this, we will go to the local MP about it.

-I am proud to say I am 2/5 of the way finished with the final course assignment, due June 3rd.  Out of the 5 sections, I’ve completed Biology and Geosciences… leaving Chemistry, Quantum Physics, and a section on the universe to go.  Once this course is completed, I will have roughly 1/7 of my required credit hours for my bachelors.

-Everything is proceeding with the property sale and we should be looking to move in mid June. I wonder if we will actually pack this time or wing it as we did last time ie. arm-fulls and car loads. The idea of packing and unpacking is so unappealing, not to mention exhausting.  I am hoping we will have time to paint the walls in the new place and add our touches before Little Doodle dominates our lives.  The nursery will be the very first thing getting done, and I have ordered some very cute things that fit in with the jungle theme we are going with.  I cannot wait to get in there and get everything perfect for when Little Doodle is born. Yeah, I’ve become one of THOSE women.

-My birthday is at the end of the month (May 25)  and I will be 25 years old.  I am not a big celebrator of my own birthday, not due to some inherent belief that my chronological age has any real impact on my life, merely because I don’t really enjoy being the center of attention.  The one thought that has occurred to me this year is I never thought I would be having my first baby so young, but I certainly have no regrets.

- Last scan on May 28th…. last chance for Little Doodle to show us the goods!

-60 more days!!!