Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The first kick

I had the strangest dream last night. I was dreaming that Taylor and I were on a hike, on our own, while she was at a Guide camp. There were tons of bears, everywhere. Sleeping in trees, wandering around. Odd enough, since I don't actually believe there are bears anywhere near the camp they go to, only an hour outside the city. Perhaps we were in Jasper or Banff, still somewhat odd as for all the times I have been to the Rockies I have yet to see an actual bear.

We were walking along singing at the top of our voices "Bears, bears, bears..." when what do we see by a baby cat. By cat I mean the sort of the large variety, not your average housecat. I couldn't tell you what it was but it was spotted and I am not sure that cats of a spotted variety are found in Alberta. I could look it up, but that would include a wee bit of research on my part and I can't quite be arsed.

Anyway, since we've seen a kitten and a few bear cubs, surely somewhere there must be a few mamas. And a mama who's baby is near humans surely must think that we are up to no good. Of course, I woke up right as mama cat came into the picture. That always happens. But I wonder what it meant? Obviously that mother is going to protect her baby, and obviously I am going to do my best to protect mine. Some strange nesting instinct coming out in me perhaps? I wonder.

Well, the whole point of writing out the dream, aside from questioning its possible maternal meaning is that the bloody dream, along with Liam, who had joined me in bed, was that I was now wide awake at 4.30 am. And while Liam kept kicking me, so did his wee brother or sister.

For the first time. And while you may look below and see that I may quite possibly be 20 weeks along, and should have been feeling movement for a good 5 or 6 weeks now, I would defend myself by saying that I had no idea I was so far along and was not feeling for movement. Any movement felt would have been put down to a lack of food or some such thing. Plus there's the fact that I am nowhere near as thin as I was when I was pregnant with the first two. Therefore there a quite a few more layers for this baby to kick his way past. Poor wee bugger.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The first appointment

I had my doctor's appointment today.

I was not long getting in at all, it was very quiet. A change, as it is usually madly busy.

I had to do all the prenatal stuff...how long were the previous pregnancies, family history and so on.

"Do you smoke?" the girls says.

"No." Never have, wee angel I am.

"Have you drank during this pregnancy?"

"No."

"Any drug use?"

"Mmmmm..."

What must this girl be thinking of me?

"...oh wait, I did have a few drinks on Christmas day, and I'm quite sure I was pregnant then. And no, no drugs."

That's another truth. I was always afraid of looking the eejit around my slightly more street wise friends.

"Ah good, I was sort of wondering there."

I'm sure she was, and probably thinks I am some mad addict.

We go into the room and she takes my blood pressure, not half bad at 118 over 68. Well, the 68's a bit low, but who worries about that one? I wait for the doctor.

Dreading it.

And it wasn't too bad, she looked at my stomach, briefly felt it and said "20 weeks." "What?????" I practically yelled. "No, no that must just be fat."

She wasn't buying it. She did say something about multiple pregnancies increase the chance of twins.

God forbid.

But she only heard one heartbeat. This baby is just like it's big sister. She told it to stop moving away from her, which is exactly what Saoirse used to do. Taylor and Liam could be found right away.

She says "You've had forceps, vaccum and a section...how do you think this one is going to go?"

"Probably a section." Honestly, I am not so sure I could go through 17 hours of labour again, just to have them tell me that the baby is not progressing. I'm not a fan of sections at all, so I'll have to do alot of thinking on this one.

"If it is a section do you want your tubes tied?"

Yes." Not a moment's hesitation from me. I don't think it's what William wants, though he said it was up to me but that he most certainly wouldn't be doing anything to his body. But four kids. That's enough for anyone I think. I'm not that good a Catholic.

She figures my due date is early July, I have it as early September. Someone is very very wrong. I have an ultrasound scheduled for March 6 so we won't know until then. And I think I'll find out the sex. It looks like we will not be agreeing on names, so we might as well eliminate some of the battle.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Finally...the first doctor's appointment

No, I've not been yet but I finally made an appointment to see my doctor. I think that's a step in the right direction.

Got a bit of attitude from the receptionist. God, I hate that girl. She made me feel very small for not calling sooner. Well, sorry but if your line wasn't constantly busy, I'd have been through ages ago. I think she just takes the phone off the hook when the doctor is at a delivery. Which seems to be quite often as I constantly see her at the hospital. And if memory serves correctly, I once had a two hour wait for her.

Ah the joys of pregnancy.