It was a chilly day outside. Possibly even to be described as cold. Okay, it was actually so cold, in fact, that it should have frozen my nose off just for sticking my head outside to test the weather. It, however, did not. It also did not make the baby be born.
Nothing seems to work on this baby. Not freezing cold, boiling heat, climbing stairs, lifting weights, walking malls, eating spicy food, guzzling water, having a glass of wine, or any of the other millions of old wives tales that abound. Not even ignoring the baby, or attempting to apply Murphy's Law (ie going to a restaurant, going to a movie, or unpacking the clothes in my hospital bag to use them). Nothing.
Currently only maternity clothes actually fit, and even some of those do not encompass the enormity that is my belly. I may have misguidedly made the offhanded comment a month or so ago that I did not see how my stomach could stretch any further. It did. I believe I was also was silly enough to joke that I did not see how I could possibly fit in another stretch mark. I could. At some point I think I let slip that I did not see how I could stand another week of being pregnant. Silly me. We are now one week and counting.
Fortunately I have my husband to keep me sane, my friends and family to keep me encouraged, and my cats to keep me entertained. Also, there is a library nearby that keeps me well stocked with books. I thank the good Lord every day for these things, without which I would surely have killed someone by now.
If all else fails, there is one last ray of hope I hold on to: Monday at 7am I have an appointment at the hospital where they will induce me to labor. Resist THAT little baby!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Rachel's New Due Date
I have officially decided to change my due date to Dec 1st, 2009. That way I don't have the stress of my first child being late, right? Of course right! That way my head isn't asking me how many more days I have left to go and people aren't trying to express their condolences on a late child.
So far it's working out well! I no longer am stressed the way I was on Saturday and Sunday wondering if "today" would be "the day". Now I am relaxed. If my daughter appears today, well great. Otherwise I have an appointment for Monday, Nov 30th at 7am to induce labor. Wait..so why did I set my new due date as Dec 1st? Easy enough - that way she is still not "late" !
Technically speaking, due dates in general, and mine in specific are all guesses. Educated guesses though they may be, they are still just guesses. On my initial visit to the OBGYN they asked me when my last menstrual cycle was. Umm..... not sure? Mine is not the most predictable of cycles to begin with, and honestly I had just moved across country, started a new job, setup a new household and I wasn't really paying attention. So I guesstimated based on what I remembered. Based on that, they guesstimated a due date until I could have an ultrasound. Based on the ultrasound they said the OLDEST she could be was 13 weeks and 4 days at the time of the visit. Obviously one of those guesstimates went awry.
So it doesn't seem to be a travesty if I change my due date, does it? Under 15% of babies are born on their due date... and technically "full term" is anywhere between 38 - 42 weeks. What? 42 weeks? That's more than 9 months, you may be thinking! Well yes, sir, it is! So if due dates are all estimates, and full term is a range, than what have you been told about pregnancy that IS true? The gory details of pregnant women with terrible morning sickness, mood swings, and disgusting cravings? For some, but I did not encounter any of these. Oh granted, many women do have these symptoms, but what I have learned about pregnancy is this: Nothing and everything you hear about pregnancy is true.
In case that is too cynical a note to end on, I wanted to leave you on a positive note: With an eye to being the day before Thanksgiving, and being thankful, here are some more things I am thankful for.
So far it's working out well! I no longer am stressed the way I was on Saturday and Sunday wondering if "today" would be "the day". Now I am relaxed. If my daughter appears today, well great. Otherwise I have an appointment for Monday, Nov 30th at 7am to induce labor. Wait..so why did I set my new due date as Dec 1st? Easy enough - that way she is still not "late" !
Technically speaking, due dates in general, and mine in specific are all guesses. Educated guesses though they may be, they are still just guesses. On my initial visit to the OBGYN they asked me when my last menstrual cycle was. Umm..... not sure? Mine is not the most predictable of cycles to begin with, and honestly I had just moved across country, started a new job, setup a new household and I wasn't really paying attention. So I guesstimated based on what I remembered. Based on that, they guesstimated a due date until I could have an ultrasound. Based on the ultrasound they said the OLDEST she could be was 13 weeks and 4 days at the time of the visit. Obviously one of those guesstimates went awry.
So it doesn't seem to be a travesty if I change my due date, does it? Under 15% of babies are born on their due date... and technically "full term" is anywhere between 38 - 42 weeks. What? 42 weeks? That's more than 9 months, you may be thinking! Well yes, sir, it is! So if due dates are all estimates, and full term is a range, than what have you been told about pregnancy that IS true? The gory details of pregnant women with terrible morning sickness, mood swings, and disgusting cravings? For some, but I did not encounter any of these. Oh granted, many women do have these symptoms, but what I have learned about pregnancy is this: Nothing and everything you hear about pregnancy is true.
In case that is too cynical a note to end on, I wanted to leave you on a positive note: With an eye to being the day before Thanksgiving, and being thankful, here are some more things I am thankful for.
- Soon I will be able to hold and interact with my daughter.
- My in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving and, bless them, are taking care of the meal!
- My husband and I are both gainfully employed (though I am on leave right now).
- I am making new friends here after a long time of not knowing people and am very happy!
- My grandmother is coming to visit after Thanksgiving to help with the baby.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Ignoring the Inevitable
November 22nd, 2009. It was a dark and stormy night... and at the end of it there was still no baby born to Mike & Elisa Auffhammer. *Sigh. Another baby with little interest in joining the "real world". I know that I usually procrastinate on things, but did the baby have to turn out like me? Really? Not even a twinge of a make believe contraction or ANYthing!
Well, today is the 23rd, and so far everything has been quite. Since no baby was forthcoming yesterday, it would appear that sitting around doing nothing but hoping does not induce labor. Similarly, neither does walking, stairs, eating spicy food, rubbing the belly downwards, squats, laughing, or even the option involving a husband. So. Maybe ignoring the pot will make it boil? I guess that will be today's tactic.
So in the spirit of ignoring the inevitably LATE baby... I decided with Thanksgiving coming up I should start a list of things I am thankful for.
Well, today is the 23rd, and so far everything has been quite. Since no baby was forthcoming yesterday, it would appear that sitting around doing nothing but hoping does not induce labor. Similarly, neither does walking, stairs, eating spicy food, rubbing the belly downwards, squats, laughing, or even the option involving a husband. So. Maybe ignoring the pot will make it boil? I guess that will be today's tactic.
So in the spirit of ignoring the inevitably LATE baby... I decided with Thanksgiving coming up I should start a list of things I am thankful for.
- Another day to enjoy my baby's squirms inside me.
- My husband letting me sleep in, even though he has to get up to go to work.
- My husband!!
- The wonderful people in my life, both recently met and long standing!
- (Believe it or not) Facebook, which allows me to connect with everyone.
- My cats love me unconditionally (even if they are exasperating at times)
- The fact that I have an apartment to clean, and that I can clean it.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Last minute still counts!
There are so many things that I have either been putting off till the last moment, or trying to get away with not doing. I'm sure it's driving Mike nuts, but I can't help it. This is not my usual procrastinating either. After some serious pondering I've decided that I am trying to postpone the inevitable by just not doing things.
For example, we just went to the hospital yesterday to do the tour of the Women's Birth Pavilion. Yes, I know.. I am due on Sunday.. it would probably have behooved us to do this earlier. Today I just went to the local Fire Department to have them help me install the carseat. Yes...I know... should have done that earlier too. I put off packing my hospital bag until last Sunday also. The whole "nesting" thing never happened to me. We got things setup because Mike would do it, not because I had any motivation to!
I know that I say I am ready to be done being pregnant, but all the signs are that I am not! Crazy, eh? I hope that my reluctance does not influence my daughter, because I really don't want her to be late, and I really don't want to be in the hospital over Thanksgiving, or be weeks late. I am just a bundle of contradictions! Hopefully she has the sense to override me.
Regardless of the signs, however, I am so excited to be able to see my "Tiny Baby" as I have been calling her. Be able to see her, and hold her, and take care of her. Hard to believe that you can fall so in love with someone you have never met. I never thought this could be the case, either, but unborn and tiny as she is, she has made me fall even more in love with my husband! Just watching how he talks about her and to her in my tummy reaffirms what a great choice I made. :)
Well... I need to stop procrastinating and get some dinner made up. Until next time!
For example, we just went to the hospital yesterday to do the tour of the Women's Birth Pavilion. Yes, I know.. I am due on Sunday.. it would probably have behooved us to do this earlier. Today I just went to the local Fire Department to have them help me install the carseat. Yes...I know... should have done that earlier too. I put off packing my hospital bag until last Sunday also. The whole "nesting" thing never happened to me. We got things setup because Mike would do it, not because I had any motivation to!
I know that I say I am ready to be done being pregnant, but all the signs are that I am not! Crazy, eh? I hope that my reluctance does not influence my daughter, because I really don't want her to be late, and I really don't want to be in the hospital over Thanksgiving, or be weeks late. I am just a bundle of contradictions! Hopefully she has the sense to override me.
Regardless of the signs, however, I am so excited to be able to see my "Tiny Baby" as I have been calling her. Be able to see her, and hold her, and take care of her. Hard to believe that you can fall so in love with someone you have never met. I never thought this could be the case, either, but unborn and tiny as she is, she has made me fall even more in love with my husband! Just watching how he talks about her and to her in my tummy reaffirms what a great choice I made. :)
Well... I need to stop procrastinating and get some dinner made up. Until next time!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Ready or not...
Well so much for keeping up with the updates. The ironic thing is that there are a couple of blogs that I do follow consistently, and some that I follow not-so consistently, however though I look for updates from my friends, I am not so great at my own.
So for some updates.. it is currently Nov 18th, and I have stopped working in prep for the baby's arrival. Hopefully she decides to be on time, because I'm really praying not to be in the hospital for Thanksgiving! She shows no indication of wanting to come out, tho. We will see - I was 4 days late, Mike was 3 days early - maybe that means she will be on time, or at most 1 day late? One can only hope!
It's strange being at home and sending Mike off to work. I haven't been out of work for this long in a while. Granted, I only took my leave starting this week, but I was actually out sick the entire week last week (ugh!) so it seems like longer. Last time I was without a job was when we moved here to NC, but I was putting in resumes and applications everywhere at least once a day. So this, for me, is strange. I'm sure once I have the baby I won't have time to think about it!
Looking around there seems to be so much to do, and I really have no motivation right now to do any of it. Is that wrong? Those of you who know me know that while I am at work I am very organized, but that it does not always translate over to my home. My home feels lived in, and I like it that way. Somewhat messy is better than sterile clean I feel. At least, it's a good excuse, right? I wish the dishes and laundry would do themselves, but I guess I'll become accustomed to doing that more often. Getting home tired used to be a good excuse, now it's not as much of one since I'm not at work.
Well, so... ready or not this baby is coming soon. I cannot begin to fathom how our lives will change with this new addition, but we are eagerly anticipating her arrival. Eagerly, but somewhat terrified. There is so much to learn, but a million plus parents have done it before us, as evidenced by.. well... us!... but still. Now WE are the ones who will be learning everything, and having to sort through all the "tips" people give us to see what we really want to teach our children. What have we gotten ourselves into?
So for some updates.. it is currently Nov 18th, and I have stopped working in prep for the baby's arrival. Hopefully she decides to be on time, because I'm really praying not to be in the hospital for Thanksgiving! She shows no indication of wanting to come out, tho. We will see - I was 4 days late, Mike was 3 days early - maybe that means she will be on time, or at most 1 day late? One can only hope!
It's strange being at home and sending Mike off to work. I haven't been out of work for this long in a while. Granted, I only took my leave starting this week, but I was actually out sick the entire week last week (ugh!) so it seems like longer. Last time I was without a job was when we moved here to NC, but I was putting in resumes and applications everywhere at least once a day. So this, for me, is strange. I'm sure once I have the baby I won't have time to think about it!
Looking around there seems to be so much to do, and I really have no motivation right now to do any of it. Is that wrong? Those of you who know me know that while I am at work I am very organized, but that it does not always translate over to my home. My home feels lived in, and I like it that way. Somewhat messy is better than sterile clean I feel. At least, it's a good excuse, right? I wish the dishes and laundry would do themselves, but I guess I'll become accustomed to doing that more often. Getting home tired used to be a good excuse, now it's not as much of one since I'm not at work.
Well, so... ready or not this baby is coming soon. I cannot begin to fathom how our lives will change with this new addition, but we are eagerly anticipating her arrival. Eagerly, but somewhat terrified. There is so much to learn, but a million plus parents have done it before us, as evidenced by.. well... us!... but still. Now WE are the ones who will be learning everything, and having to sort through all the "tips" people give us to see what we really want to teach our children. What have we gotten ourselves into?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
