This morning I called my clinic because I have been having spotting since yesterday morning. I had a feeling it was from Wednesday's appointment and the lovely cervix check. Sure enough, the nurse said that is what it sounds like and it should resolve itself by tomorrow night.
While I had her on the phone, I asked about the flu situation at the hospital. She said that the OB ward is currently on strict lock down in regards to visitors. So, it looks like we won't get any visitors unless the flu somehow starts to simmer down (unlikely, since it usually peaks in February). Hopefully our moms can come. I am sort of glad that the hospital is saying no visitors, even though it makes me sad that we won't get to experience the hospital stay we imagined. This way, at least we know our family and friends aren't going to contract the flu while visiting the hospital because of us! I would feel terrible if anyone visited us and then got sick as a result.
So, it looks like it will be me, The Bee, and Ponyo those first few days.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Influenza :(
Thankfully, I am healthy. I got the vaccine early in the school year and, although it is not 100% effective, the medical community is saying that 92% of the flu cases they have seen are strains that are included in the current vaccine. I live in Minnesota and we currently have the highest national death count for flu victims this season. Twenty-seven in all. Of those, 23 have been in the last 12 days.
The hospital where Ponyo is supposed to be born was featured on the news tonight because they are maximum capacity due to flu patients. The hospital is so full that they have flu patients sharing rooms, which they normally don't do. I know the maternity ward is separate from the flu area, but I am also concerned about visitors. Hopefully our friends and family will be responsible and thoughtful enough to wait to meet Ponyo if they have any symptoms. I am sad that most of our nieces and nephews may need to wait to meet her...several hospitals in Minnesota are not currently allowing visitors who are under the age of five. Of our 4 nephews and 4 nieces, only 2 of them are over the age of five.
Also weighing on me is the fact that The Bee has not been vaccinated. I don't want him to 1. get sick or 2. get Ponyo sick. I am sure his immune system is compromised thanks to his lack of sleep and terrible diet (he has been eating out for lunch and dinner for the last 2 weeks or so...today was the first day in 2 weeks that I had time to pack his lunch and he is still not home at 11:15pm, which means his company ordered dinner for any employees who are still there).
Blah.
Oh, and to add to the fun...it has been raining all day, has turned to freezing rain as the night has gone on and is supposed to do the same for the next two days. On Ponyo's due date, it is supposed to rain until about 9am and then the temperature is supposed to drop to 12 degrees and everything will be covered in ice! Not ideal for driving to the hospital when in labor!
Thank God that I have tomorrow off of work. Hopefully I can get a lot accomplished and feel less stressed!
The hospital where Ponyo is supposed to be born was featured on the news tonight because they are maximum capacity due to flu patients. The hospital is so full that they have flu patients sharing rooms, which they normally don't do. I know the maternity ward is separate from the flu area, but I am also concerned about visitors. Hopefully our friends and family will be responsible and thoughtful enough to wait to meet Ponyo if they have any symptoms. I am sad that most of our nieces and nephews may need to wait to meet her...several hospitals in Minnesota are not currently allowing visitors who are under the age of five. Of our 4 nephews and 4 nieces, only 2 of them are over the age of five.
Also weighing on me is the fact that The Bee has not been vaccinated. I don't want him to 1. get sick or 2. get Ponyo sick. I am sure his immune system is compromised thanks to his lack of sleep and terrible diet (he has been eating out for lunch and dinner for the last 2 weeks or so...today was the first day in 2 weeks that I had time to pack his lunch and he is still not home at 11:15pm, which means his company ordered dinner for any employees who are still there).
Blah.
Oh, and to add to the fun...it has been raining all day, has turned to freezing rain as the night has gone on and is supposed to do the same for the next two days. On Ponyo's due date, it is supposed to rain until about 9am and then the temperature is supposed to drop to 12 degrees and everything will be covered in ice! Not ideal for driving to the hospital when in labor!
Thank God that I have tomorrow off of work. Hopefully I can get a lot accomplished and feel less stressed!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Update 39 weeks + 4 days
- Ponyo's heart rate was 164 - she was being a wiggle worm per usual.
- She is still head down...there is practically zero chance that she'll be able to flip into any other position at this point. She is too big and cramped!
- I am 2.5 cm dilated and still 60-70% effaced. My doctor said that is good progress and if I continue to walk and spend time on my feet, she thinks labor could start on its own within the next week. She did have me keep my appointment for next Wednesday, just in case, though. And she told me to get a pedicure if I want try and help things along. She also told me to take naps because she can tell I haven't been sleeping well. So, lots of walking (grocery shopping), standing (preparing some freezer meals), and napping are on the agenda for tomorrow!
- If Ponyo isn't seeming like she'll come on her own, the earliest we'd talk about inducing would be Friday, 01/18/13.
In other news:
- I am done teaching! I painted with my kindergartners today before heading to my appointment and now I won't be back to teach until next August! I'll still be doing school stuff, just from home or infrequently at school (i.e. attending some meetings, doing activities for the auction, helping my sub pack up the room in June!). I am so glad to be done, especially after learning that strep, head lice and influenza are moving through the school. We had 3 confirmed cases of influenza today and several more students were going in for testing. Scary stuff - apparently the vaccine is only 63% effective. Yesterday a 15-year-old girl from a suburb right outside of my city passed away from influenza.
- The Bee got home at 4:45am this morning. Ugh. I need that man to get more sleep. Not sure how he is supposed to help me and Ponyo at the hospital if he is so worn down! Plus, I just worry about his health in general. He is losing weight and looks so tired!
- We plan to go and see The Hobbit (that was The Bee's idea) on Saturday if Ponyo hasn't joined us yet. He found a theater right by the hospital, just in case...haha!
Now I'm off to switch the laundry. On my way home from the appointment I stopped at Target for some odds and ends, including underpants for me and The Bee. My mom advised me to do that...buy a week's worth of new underwear for both of us and keep them in a separate drawer from all the others so if we find ourselves too tired/overwhelmed to do laundry, we'll at least have a week of clean underwear before we have to panic! I'll be stashing some of The Bee's undershirts and socks there, too!
Monday, January 7, 2013
2 days until leave!
I talked to my principal this morning and he was supportive of my decision to start leave on Thursday. I suppose it is 2 fewer days to pay both me and my sub. I had one of my 6th grade classes, both of my first grade classes, and both of my second grade classes for the last time today. I will see both of my kindergarten, third, fourth, fifth grade classes and one of my sixth grades one more time each. It seems unreal. My partner teacher was not at school and won't be back until Thursday at the earliest because his 4-month-old is in the hospital with RSV. So, I won't work with him again until August!
I am not sure if it is the pre-labor energy burst, the fact that I squeezed into my compression tights this morning (quite a feat at 39 weeks + 2 days, holy cow!), or that I have a definite end to my time at school before Ponyo's arrival, but I am feeling alright tonight. Tired, yes. Achy, yes. But not nearly as tense or freaked out. My sub is set for this week and next and I am making progress on my maps. As long as Ponyo doesn't come within the next few days, I plan to grocery shop and tidy up at home on Thursday. I will also try to rest a bit, but I want to spend a decent amount of time on my feet as long as I am comfortable. We need to encourage her not to want to stay in my belly for TOO long! The Bee would still prefer that Ponyo waits until her due date, but we are both feeling so ready to meet her! Surprisingly, The Bee will get more sleep with a newborn than he has the past several months due to his work schedule! I am thankful that his employer gives 1 week paid paternity leave on top of any PTO he decides to use when Ponyo is brand new. That is better than my benefits, which only pays me for any time I have saved in sick leave!
So, tomorrow I paint 4 times, do paper mache twice, and work with charcoal and soft pastels once. Wednesday, I paint once and then my sub teaches solo as I head out for my doctor's appointment at 1pm...then I am finished teaching for the school year. I will still attend meetings and professional development opportunities starting in February, but I won't be a teacher until next September. Weird. I have crazy mixed emotions about it all...I have been told by many that my concern for my job and the guilt I feel for taking so much time off will melt away once Ponyo is here. My partner teacher's sub (who is also the mother of 2 of my students) came and talked to me today. When I told her it was a hard decision to make about staying home for the rest of the year, she told me that I won't regret it...she stayed home with her sons for 14 years! That made me feel more confident about taking 7 months!
Two days from now, on January 9th, is the anniversary of me finding out that I have endometriosis. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would teaching my last day of school and starting maternity leave a year after that doctor's appointment!
We feel very, very lucky.
Extremely lucky.
And so thankful for this child.
I am not sure if it is the pre-labor energy burst, the fact that I squeezed into my compression tights this morning (quite a feat at 39 weeks + 2 days, holy cow!), or that I have a definite end to my time at school before Ponyo's arrival, but I am feeling alright tonight. Tired, yes. Achy, yes. But not nearly as tense or freaked out. My sub is set for this week and next and I am making progress on my maps. As long as Ponyo doesn't come within the next few days, I plan to grocery shop and tidy up at home on Thursday. I will also try to rest a bit, but I want to spend a decent amount of time on my feet as long as I am comfortable. We need to encourage her not to want to stay in my belly for TOO long! The Bee would still prefer that Ponyo waits until her due date, but we are both feeling so ready to meet her! Surprisingly, The Bee will get more sleep with a newborn than he has the past several months due to his work schedule! I am thankful that his employer gives 1 week paid paternity leave on top of any PTO he decides to use when Ponyo is brand new. That is better than my benefits, which only pays me for any time I have saved in sick leave!
So, tomorrow I paint 4 times, do paper mache twice, and work with charcoal and soft pastels once. Wednesday, I paint once and then my sub teaches solo as I head out for my doctor's appointment at 1pm...then I am finished teaching for the school year. I will still attend meetings and professional development opportunities starting in February, but I won't be a teacher until next September. Weird. I have crazy mixed emotions about it all...I have been told by many that my concern for my job and the guilt I feel for taking so much time off will melt away once Ponyo is here. My partner teacher's sub (who is also the mother of 2 of my students) came and talked to me today. When I told her it was a hard decision to make about staying home for the rest of the year, she told me that I won't regret it...she stayed home with her sons for 14 years! That made me feel more confident about taking 7 months!
Two days from now, on January 9th, is the anniversary of me finding out that I have endometriosis. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would teaching my last day of school and starting maternity leave a year after that doctor's appointment!
We feel very, very lucky.
Extremely lucky.
And so thankful for this child.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
39 weeks + 1 day
Today we are driving an hour outside of the cities to visit my best friend, her husband, and new baby boy! He was born very early Friday morning after my friend was induced at 41 weeks + 1 day Thursday morning. As you may (or may not) recall, my best friend and her husband started trying to conceive about 3 months before The Bee and I did. We didn't talk much about our struggles in the very beginning because neither of us wanted to believe that there was actually something preventing us from successfully getting pregnant, even though we were both secretly worried. By the summer and fall of 2011, we talked A LOT about what we were going through. We both started seeing specialists and we started e-mailing each other happy thoughts everyday to help us get through the tough times (usually these thoughts were things that we were thankful for or just silly things that brightened our days). I am so excited to finally meet her little miracle baby!
Yesterday I reached 39 weeks*. A co-worker of The Bee's, who has a 4-month-old, recently told him that the last month really, really sucks, so be prepared! That was about 4 weeks ago. I kind of laughed because I had been feeling pretty well still, but now I know what his co-worker meant! Ponyo is still moving a lot but there are fewer kicks and a lot more big stretches. Her space is becoming so limited. I am progressively becoming more uncomfortable. After not too many Braxton Hicks contractions Thursday and Friday (I am wondering if I was having them but was just too busy at work to really notice) I started having a ton again yesterday after The Bee and I got home from working in my classroom for a few hours. I am seriously considering talking to my principal tomorrow about starting my leave on Thursday.
That's cutting my teaching days short by 2 days of what I had planned. In reality, she could be born before then, but I think Wednesday is a perfect day to end on...I have school mass in the morning and then will teach one kindergarten class before my long term sub comes in and finishes the day solo so I can get to my doctor's appointment on time. That will have given us almost 5 full days in the art room together for her to ask questions and for me to give her any inside info on students and techniques that I use to keep things running smoothly. She is very competent, so I know she will be fine even if Ponyo decides to come tonight! My goal is Wednesday, though, because of the nice short day and because my sub has an appointment in the morning and can't come in until after the first class of the day. I feel like I am being sort of a weakling by considering starting leave before my due date, but it is hard to even make it to the bathroom easily at this point (I walk so slow and it is all the way on the other side of the school! I waddle there at the pace of a snail!) and I am not getting very much sleep lately. I am sorry for being a whiner...I am thankful for these aches and pains because I know the end result will be so worth it! I still ache, though, and I still don't like having to waddle across the school just to use the bathroom during the school day! Regarding the bathroom, I am so incredibly lucky that my sub started shadowing me last week because on Friday I was able to take a bathroom break during a class that I normally couldn't have trusted alone!
*39 week photo posted under pregnancy tab
Yesterday I reached 39 weeks*. A co-worker of The Bee's, who has a 4-month-old, recently told him that the last month really, really sucks, so be prepared! That was about 4 weeks ago. I kind of laughed because I had been feeling pretty well still, but now I know what his co-worker meant! Ponyo is still moving a lot but there are fewer kicks and a lot more big stretches. Her space is becoming so limited. I am progressively becoming more uncomfortable. After not too many Braxton Hicks contractions Thursday and Friday (I am wondering if I was having them but was just too busy at work to really notice) I started having a ton again yesterday after The Bee and I got home from working in my classroom for a few hours. I am seriously considering talking to my principal tomorrow about starting my leave on Thursday.
That's cutting my teaching days short by 2 days of what I had planned. In reality, she could be born before then, but I think Wednesday is a perfect day to end on...I have school mass in the morning and then will teach one kindergarten class before my long term sub comes in and finishes the day solo so I can get to my doctor's appointment on time. That will have given us almost 5 full days in the art room together for her to ask questions and for me to give her any inside info on students and techniques that I use to keep things running smoothly. She is very competent, so I know she will be fine even if Ponyo decides to come tonight! My goal is Wednesday, though, because of the nice short day and because my sub has an appointment in the morning and can't come in until after the first class of the day. I feel like I am being sort of a weakling by considering starting leave before my due date, but it is hard to even make it to the bathroom easily at this point (I walk so slow and it is all the way on the other side of the school! I waddle there at the pace of a snail!) and I am not getting very much sleep lately. I am sorry for being a whiner...I am thankful for these aches and pains because I know the end result will be so worth it! I still ache, though, and I still don't like having to waddle across the school just to use the bathroom during the school day! Regarding the bathroom, I am so incredibly lucky that my sub started shadowing me last week because on Friday I was able to take a bathroom break during a class that I normally couldn't have trusted alone!
*39 week photo posted under pregnancy tab
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
38 weeks + 4 days
At my appointment today:
- I weighed 142 lbs (How did I gain 3 lbs in one week?! Must have been all my recent couch time + the ridiculous amount of fudge and peppermint bark I consumed over Christmas break)
- My blood pressure was good
- My hemoglobin was 12.1
- Ponyo's heart rate was 153
- I was 1.5 cm dilated
- I was 60-70% effaced
My doctor said I am making slow but steady progress and she wouldn't be surprised to see me at my regular appointment next Wednesday. She said that it is no wonder I am uncomfortable at this point, Ponyo's head is really low. That made me feel better because I have been trying to act like I feel fine...I mean I have wanted this for so long and I am not about to start complaining now! Truth is, pain is pain, discomfort is discomfort, crappy sleep is crappy sleep no matter if you vocalize it or not and no matter how much you want the end result of such ailments. I was glad to be validated so I don't feel like a wuss anymore!
In other news:
- My sub starts shadowing me tomorrow! I am nervous but also glad...the transition will (hopefully) be a smooth one for everybody. The number of students and teachers that found ridiculous reasons to come by the art room today to see if I was there/how I am doing was both heartwarming and hilarious. I only have 7 teaching days left before I start leave (unless Ponyo comes early).
- I am missing The Bee tonight, and will continue to do so all week. His "busy season" officially started at work today. That means coming home midnight or later M-F and possibly Saturday, too. We are hoping Ponyo waits so that things aren't too stressful for him. His teams at work have set up back-ups for him so he can leave to be with me at a moment's notice, but without him there things will be a bit crazy until the first big deadline is met this Saturday.
- If you have a spare moment, hop on over to Megan's blog A journey through weightloss, dealing with PCOS, and life and leave her a nice comment. She and her husband conceived a little girl last April and after some monitoring this morning, she had a c-section scheduled for this afternoon due to blood pressure concerns.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Hospital bags
Seems like Ponyo is starting to get some ideas about wanting to meet us. Nothing telling us that labor is imminent, but things that are definitely signs that my body is preparing for her arrival. Frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, feeling her movements much lower than before, and possibly (sorry, this is gross) the loss of parts of my mucus plug over the last few days. So I thought I'd share what is in the hospital bags. I am getting very anxious (both in the excited way and the super nervous way) and want to make sure that leaving for the hospital is as smooth as possible.
We have 3 bags packed for the hospital. One (the smallest) is to come with us immediately as we check in and spend time in the delivery room. The other 2 can stay in the car until we move to the post delivery room. The highlighted things are items that I'll hopefully remember to pack on the way out the door (camera and makeup).
Small carry-on type bag (to come with us upon check-in at hospital):
Snacks for The Bee (and for me postpartum)
Book for The Bee
Book for me
Baby book (in case we can get the doctor to do the hand and foot prints at the hospital)
Juice boxes (apple)
Bendy straws
Knit maternity skirt for laboring
Knit robe for laboring (not full length)
Sports bra for laboring
2 pair grippy socks (for walking in delivery room/hallways)
Chapstick
Phone charger
Hard candy
Gum
Insurance cards
Makeup
Camera
Suitcase (to be left in car until after delivery)
For Ponyo:
2 long sleeved onesies
1 going home outfit (layette with convertible gown/pant outfit, socks, hat, bib)
1 gown
1 pair of footed pants (to go with a onesie in case she is too big for her going home outfit)
2 burp cloths
For me:
2 pair underwear (a size bigger than I normally wear)
2 nursing tanks*
1 nursing bra
1 pair loose fitting sweatpants*
1 zippered hoodie*
1 boyfriend cardigan
1 pair maternity leggings
Toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, brush)
TUCKS pads with witch hazel (my sister gave these to me and said to bring them, I'd rather not imagine why)
Breast pads
Lanolin
Heavy flow pads
Flip flops
1 pair grippy socks
1 pair normal socks*
1 button front nightgown
*these will be my going home outfit
Duffel bag for The Bee (to be left in car until after delivery):
1 blanket
1 travel pillow
2 undershirts
1 t-shirt
2 pairs boxer shorts
2 pairs socks
1 pair sweatpants
1 pair jeans
1 zippered hoodie
Toiletries (toothbrush, contact solution, etc)
To leave in the car until the day we get to go home:
1 car seat (obviously!)
2 car seat safe, fleece snowsuits for Ponyo (one from my Mom, and one from a family at my school. I think the one from my Mom may be too big, so I am bringing both)
1 minky blanket that matches the car seat canopy
1 empty duffel bag for any extra items we need to bring home (i.e. the extra diapers and the lovely mesh panties I have read so much about)
I also want to get some chocolates and fruit to bring for the hospital staff, but honestly I don't know if I'll remember to grab that on the way out the door!
Any other suggestions?
Megan, Scarlett, TheRedHead...what did you pack?
We have 3 bags packed for the hospital. One (the smallest) is to come with us immediately as we check in and spend time in the delivery room. The other 2 can stay in the car until we move to the post delivery room. The highlighted things are items that I'll hopefully remember to pack on the way out the door (camera and makeup).
Small carry-on type bag (to come with us upon check-in at hospital):
Snacks for The Bee (and for me postpartum)
Book for The Bee
Book for me
Baby book (in case we can get the doctor to do the hand and foot prints at the hospital)
Juice boxes (apple)
Bendy straws
Knit maternity skirt for laboring
Knit robe for laboring (not full length)
Sports bra for laboring
2 pair grippy socks (for walking in delivery room/hallways)
Chapstick
Phone charger
Hard candy
Gum
Insurance cards
Makeup
Camera
Suitcase (to be left in car until after delivery)
For Ponyo:
2 long sleeved onesies
1 going home outfit (layette with convertible gown/pant outfit, socks, hat, bib)
1 gown
1 pair of footed pants (to go with a onesie in case she is too big for her going home outfit)
2 burp cloths
For me:
2 pair underwear (a size bigger than I normally wear)
2 nursing tanks*
1 nursing bra
1 pair loose fitting sweatpants*
1 zippered hoodie*
1 boyfriend cardigan
1 pair maternity leggings
Toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, brush)
TUCKS pads with witch hazel (my sister gave these to me and said to bring them, I'd rather not imagine why)
Breast pads
Lanolin
Heavy flow pads
Flip flops
1 pair grippy socks
1 pair normal socks*
1 button front nightgown
*these will be my going home outfit
Duffel bag for The Bee (to be left in car until after delivery):
1 blanket
1 travel pillow
2 undershirts
1 t-shirt
2 pairs boxer shorts
2 pairs socks
1 pair sweatpants
1 pair jeans
1 zippered hoodie
Toiletries (toothbrush, contact solution, etc)
To leave in the car until the day we get to go home:
1 car seat (obviously!)
2 car seat safe, fleece snowsuits for Ponyo (one from my Mom, and one from a family at my school. I think the one from my Mom may be too big, so I am bringing both)
1 minky blanket that matches the car seat canopy
1 empty duffel bag for any extra items we need to bring home (i.e. the extra diapers and the lovely mesh panties I have read so much about)
I also want to get some chocolates and fruit to bring for the hospital staff, but honestly I don't know if I'll remember to grab that on the way out the door!
Any other suggestions?
Megan, Scarlett, TheRedHead...what did you pack?
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