Saturday, July 29, 2006

The worst week ever

All is well with baby, just so you know. We moved last weekend, it has been a week from hell. I will probably blog about it over at the other site, but not until I am a little less pissed off. I was getting over it, but today was my move out and that started it anew. So it's been a stressful week. However, I did learn that I have some great friends. And some horrid enemies, apparently.

My last doctor's appointment was Tuesday. I have lost 6 lbs. My uterus was measuring 39 weeks and the baby was at minus 1 and a fingertip dilated. It'll never arrive on its own. My doctor said that I can wait if I want, she was feeling generous. With the amount of stuff we still needed to do in both the old and new places, it was best to wait. No rush at all, baby.

I had contractions from 3.30 on Thursday until about 4.30am. They were regular for a while, every 20 minutes or so, but then started going crazy...every 5...then 45...15...25...10. Braxton Hicks, then, not much you can do. They have just started again in the last little bit, so I'll time them and see. It would be very nice to go into labour on my own, but I don't see it happening.

I am trying to convince William to see if he can feel the baby's head, I am going for all the cheap thrills I can get. He's not biting so far. There's not much of anything going on to be honest, which has me in a bit of a funk.

I don't see the doctor again until Thursday, which is only 3 days away from my due date. I guess the receptionist was to busy fighting on the phone with her boyfriend to pay attention to the fact that I said one week, not 9 days, but whatever. I was to tired after waiting for an hour and a half to argue the point.

If it weren't for the fact that our dressers are still in the garage and I don't know where three quarters of the baby's clothes are, I'd call my doctor tonight and ask for an induction or the section.

I am so very, very, very done.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Whinge, whingier, whingiest...

...oh, who is the Queen of Whinging?

Why me of course.

I am sick, sick as a dog. I have been since Thursday. I have, of all bloody things, undiagnosed smoker's hacking cough. Which is sort of funny, seeing as a cigarette has never crossed these pristine lips.

So tell me why I sound as though I have emphysma and am going to hack up a lung any moment? Why is it that I wake up between 3.30 and 4 every single morning to cough up phlegm which feels as though it is shreding my throats to bits? And why is it that when I cough I pee myself? And why, oh why, can I not fall back asleep after I have blown my nose for 10 minutes, peed some more, and coughed up enough phlegm to make an old barrel chested man jealous and changed my pajamas? Is it because the moment I lie down the whole process begins again? It might have something to do with it. And because I have discovered that it is impossible to clear your throat and cough quietly I end up getting up so I don't wake up the other two in the bed. I slept an extra half hour this morning, from 7.30- 8.00 and then Saoirse was up. And so was I as I had a shit load of packing to do. Did I do it? No, not really...I put most of it off until this evening.

I had my 37 week appointment today, I left Saoirse at home with Taylor; it was rather pleasant having that hour to myself. HA...how said is that? Anyway, she sort of freaked me out. She said "You're okay for this week, but we'll see what happens next week." By the time that sank in she was gone. I'm very slow on the uptake. I think she was saying that I might want to consider being induced next week. Soooooo against my plans. First off, I will be in the midst of both cleaning this house and unpacking the new one. Second, I don't want to be induced. As my mother very sensibly pointed out however, I am not sleeping and I am a bit of a miserable bitch. Not that she called me a miserable bitch, but she hinted. My doctor said that the longer I go, the harder the labour will be. I suppose labour is meant to be hard and there is a reason women often choose drugs. I did tell her that I don't want to be induced and if it's late I want a section. Wimp? Yes I am.

Gained 3 lbs this week. That's what I get for bragging about losing the previous weeks. My uterus is measuring 38 weeks still, so that means no change since week 34. Odd. Baby is at -2, cervix is closed tight. You see, if it was up to my body the baby would stay there forever more.

Back next Tuesday, the day after moving day. I may just say "Rip it out now."

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

36 week appointment

# weeks pregnant: 36 and 2 days
Weight lost: 1 lb
Current weight: Not quite as high as I thought, but too high to admit to you all just how fat I am. Just a note that I started this pregnancy out weighing 10lbs MORE than I did at 9 months pregnant with Saoirse. Sad, sad, sad.
Total weight gain thus far: 10 lbs, minus 3 lost = 7 lbs.
Blood pressure: 132/68
Uterus measuring: 38 (same as 2 weeks ago)
Test results: negative for Group B Strep.

So the baby has dropped. None of my others had dropped by this point so this is a pleasant surprise. The doctor estimates about 8lbs, but I am leaning more towards 9. We will see. Back again next Tuesday.

It has been a totally crappy week. I am pretty sure I have hemorrhoids, which would be another first. I was too embarassed to ask her to check. Packing and trying to keep the house at any level of cleanliness is almost impossible, and the whole move has both William and I stressed out and snapping at each other constantly. Ah well, hopefully the move will go well and we can enjoy the last few weeks of this pregnancy. Which I have decided will definitely be my last. I can not do this again.

We will have her by August 18th at the latest. Because I don't want to be induced I am hoping to go into labour before the 2 weeks are up. However, because my 42 weeks falls on a Sunday and because my doctor only does scheduled sections on Thursday and Fridays, I would have the section at 12 days post 40 weeks. I really don't want to go over the 42 weeks, after reading up on it, there is potentially alot that could go wrong.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Maternity leave benefits

Happy days!

I once wrote that I was worried about how small my EI payments would be, as I had only worked 8 months between Saoirse and this baby. I was hoping for between $200-250 every 2 weeks.

Last Thursday I checked my bank account and there was a deposit of $238. So that was OK, pretty much right in the middle of what I was hoping to get. Enough to pay 4 bills a month and with the other incomes coming in, we should have an extra $1000 per month. (Reality of course, is totally different and somehow that extra money seems to disappear, mostly spent on foolish purhases, most often by myself.)

Yesterday I received an EI statement benefit, and that payment of $238 was only a weekly one! So really I am due $476 or so every 2 weeks. This is a great thing, as if I can stop spending money we could actually bank $1500 a month. It will never happen but the thought is nice.

Again, I have lucked out with my EI payments as even $400 every 2 weeks is more than I would have made at work in months like October and November when sometimes I could go with a shift only once a pay period. So although to most people this is a very small amount for me it works out very well. Who can complain about getting paid to stay home with two lovely little girls? Not I.

There are days I am very grateful to live in Canada.