Home
We're home, we're fine. I am extremely sore and mostly immobile from the post-birthing tubal ligation surgery. How do people function after c-sections? Damn. And now my milk is coming in. Boulder time! Ow ow ow. I will post more details later, but thanks to everyone for all your wonderful warm thoughts.
11.29.2004
11.27.2004
11.26.2004
Thoroughly Confused
I guess "every pregnancy is different," but WTF? This baby should have been here by now.
Although I am ever so grateful to have made it through the absolutely scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner that everyone else cooked while I sat by the odd stove insert in our fireplace and systematically incinerated a good chunk of the documents that the shredding people wanted $200 to dispose of. (When you're a crazy pregnant lady, people cut you lots of slack.)
We used all our china and crystal and silverware. The latter had never been used even though it was a wedding gift from almost a decade ago. Seymour's mom, the cutlery benefactress, was absolutely tickled that we finally busted it out. It'll probably be another decade before she sees it again (it all has to be hand-washed--right!), but there is no contesting how pretty it looked.
My mom and Seymour's parents were dishwashing angels. Bless them! But since we don't normally make food for 15 people when we're only entertaining six, they ran us out of every square inch of foil, tupperware, ziplok baggies, waxed paper, and every other storage-type device or material in the house. Time to target the store of the same name.
Off to enjoy a bonus day of extreme nesting.
I guess "every pregnancy is different," but WTF? This baby should have been here by now.
Although I am ever so grateful to have made it through the absolutely scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner that everyone else cooked while I sat by the odd stove insert in our fireplace and systematically incinerated a good chunk of the documents that the shredding people wanted $200 to dispose of. (When you're a crazy pregnant lady, people cut you lots of slack.)
We used all our china and crystal and silverware. The latter had never been used even though it was a wedding gift from almost a decade ago. Seymour's mom, the cutlery benefactress, was absolutely tickled that we finally busted it out. It'll probably be another decade before she sees it again (it all has to be hand-washed--right!), but there is no contesting how pretty it looked.
My mom and Seymour's parents were dishwashing angels. Bless them! But since we don't normally make food for 15 people when we're only entertaining six, they ran us out of every square inch of foil, tupperware, ziplok baggies, waxed paper, and every other storage-type device or material in the house. Time to target the store of the same name.
Off to enjoy a bonus day of extreme nesting.
11.25.2004
C'mon C'mon
No signs of anything yet. Damn it all. Had contractions every 15 minutes through dinner last night with my mom, family, and Seymour's folks, which made me none too chatty or fun. But, as I warned Seymour they might, they ceased when we got home and I went to bed.
Then Scabby decided she needed to sit on my head and have a good scratch-fest at 2:30 A.M. No going back to bed for me after that--I was up until 5:30 or so (good opportunity to catch up on the DS9 TeeVO backlog and complete the Leelo's Day books which were supposed to go out, oh, a year ago).
Now I am extra low-energy. And feeling cumbersomely big. Every day this baby decides to stick around my interior is a day for him or her to put on weight and thus rip me farther asunder (big babies arriving quickly do not leave much time for such things as wonderful, wonderful stretching and tear-avoiding perineal massage). I want it out now!
But it is Thanksgiving. My OB told me that I was under no circumstances to have this baby today (which, because I am contrary, just raised any odds in that event's favor). My auntie (my mom's sister and JP's mother-in-law) is in town but needs to leave tomorrow. She wants to see the baby before she leaves, dammit. Seymour says that, for work reasons, Saturday or later would work best for him.
I still want it out now. My dear little Heetachi Magic Waand didn't do a damn thing. I wonder if a double-shot of caffeine would do the trick?
Regardless, happy Thanksgiving to any U.S. passers-by, and a pleasant day to the rest of you.
No signs of anything yet. Damn it all. Had contractions every 15 minutes through dinner last night with my mom, family, and Seymour's folks, which made me none too chatty or fun. But, as I warned Seymour they might, they ceased when we got home and I went to bed.
Then Scabby decided she needed to sit on my head and have a good scratch-fest at 2:30 A.M. No going back to bed for me after that--I was up until 5:30 or so (good opportunity to catch up on the DS9 TeeVO backlog and complete the Leelo's Day books which were supposed to go out, oh, a year ago).
Now I am extra low-energy. And feeling cumbersomely big. Every day this baby decides to stick around my interior is a day for him or her to put on weight and thus rip me farther asunder (big babies arriving quickly do not leave much time for such things as wonderful, wonderful stretching and tear-avoiding perineal massage). I want it out now!
But it is Thanksgiving. My OB told me that I was under no circumstances to have this baby today (which, because I am contrary, just raised any odds in that event's favor). My auntie (my mom's sister and JP's mother-in-law) is in town but needs to leave tomorrow. She wants to see the baby before she leaves, dammit. Seymour says that, for work reasons, Saturday or later would work best for him.
I still want it out now. My dear little Heetachi Magic Waand didn't do a damn thing. I wonder if a double-shot of caffeine would do the trick?
Regardless, happy Thanksgiving to any U.S. passers-by, and a pleasant day to the rest of you.
11.24.2004
39 Weeks
Never made it this far before--first baby was 3 weeks early, Iz was 13 days early, Leelo was 10 days early. Most intriguing. Ready to go. Don't want to be responsible for anything about Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, and so am wondering how to get this little person motivated to appear and remove me from the scene. That way also I'll win the betting pool.
Suggestions so far:
-Sex (yeah...right)
-Spicy food
-Any others?
I was once again a whirling ball of energy last night, trying to complete all sorts of never-before-considered last minute tasks. My mom remarked that I must be getting that last pre-labor energy burst, and that the baby should definitely be coming soon! Didn't have the heart to tell her that I'd accidentally ordered a regular latte, right before dinner.
Never made it this far before--first baby was 3 weeks early, Iz was 13 days early, Leelo was 10 days early. Most intriguing. Ready to go. Don't want to be responsible for anything about Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, and so am wondering how to get this little person motivated to appear and remove me from the scene. That way also I'll win the betting pool.
Suggestions so far:
-Sex (yeah...right)
-Spicy food
-Any others?
I was once again a whirling ball of energy last night, trying to complete all sorts of never-before-considered last minute tasks. My mom remarked that I must be getting that last pre-labor energy burst, and that the baby should definitely be coming soon! Didn't have the heart to tell her that I'd accidentally ordered a regular latte, right before dinner.
11.23.2004
Carpetbaggers
Those of you who ride on the DAN! train, or are simply POA's (parents of autistics) trying to do the best you can by your child know that the associated therapy and treatment field is rife with people who are only too eager to use your grief as a direct line to your wallet.
We've definitely put Leelo through some procedures of questionable validity, but in each case they weren't that costly, were harmless if not effective, and we were apprised of the price beforehand.
However, thanks to a brain fart on the part of Dr. P or his staff, Leelo's blood was recently subjected to a test that we didn't ask for, at a cost we were never warned about. An $845 test. I am totally fucking livid, as Dr. P is not covered by our insurance--we pay for him 100% out of pocket.
I expected to pay about $800 total for the blood draws, testing, supplements, and office visits involved in Leelo's re-evaluation. That is what the lot cost 18 months ago; we budgeted for that. We did not double-budget for it.
Though I am not out to impugn Dr. P or his staff, I feel that not advising us of the cost of this test beforehand is certainly an egregious fucking oversight, and I will make sure that they know we are not pleased.
---
Addendum: I do not consider our initial diagnostic outlay of $800 to be anything other than costly, nor do I consider those same tests to be less than informative.
What I am complaining about (this time) is a tendency by some autism professionals to assume that parents will not only suck up any costs thrown at them, but will in fact bend over, thank them, and ask for more.
Those of you who ride on the DAN! train, or are simply POA's (parents of autistics) trying to do the best you can by your child know that the associated therapy and treatment field is rife with people who are only too eager to use your grief as a direct line to your wallet.
We've definitely put Leelo through some procedures of questionable validity, but in each case they weren't that costly, were harmless if not effective, and we were apprised of the price beforehand.
However, thanks to a brain fart on the part of Dr. P or his staff, Leelo's blood was recently subjected to a test that we didn't ask for, at a cost we were never warned about. An $845 test. I am totally fucking livid, as Dr. P is not covered by our insurance--we pay for him 100% out of pocket.
I expected to pay about $800 total for the blood draws, testing, supplements, and office visits involved in Leelo's re-evaluation. That is what the lot cost 18 months ago; we budgeted for that. We did not double-budget for it.
Though I am not out to impugn Dr. P or his staff, I feel that not advising us of the cost of this test beforehand is certainly an egregious fucking oversight, and I will make sure that they know we are not pleased.
---
Addendum: I do not consider our initial diagnostic outlay of $800 to be anything other than costly, nor do I consider those same tests to be less than informative.
What I am complaining about (this time) is a tendency by some autism professionals to assume that parents will not only suck up any costs thrown at them, but will in fact bend over, thank them, and ask for more.
Can't Deal!
I can't stand having all these people in my tiny house! Where there is only enough room for everything exactly and if you don't put things back precisely where they belong, it all starts erupting into this clutter miasma.
Where people don't understand that when I say "you need to be downstairs or outside when Leelo is working," that doesn't mean go upstairs and use the phone right next to him and Therapist F and talk very loudly so Leelo can't concentrate even one bit. Jesus Fricking Kee-RIST.
If I am this grouchy the baby must be coming soon. Or maybe it's just that it's Tuesday, our very worst day for busy-ness anyhow, I turned my alarm off this morning after the first blast and since Seymour has an only a tenuous grasp of the realities of alarm-setting vs. scheduling, we all woke up late late late, plus I've all sorts of gardening work scheduled for this morning with flaky people who don't always return my calls...why am I even bothering writing about all this! I have nesting to do.
Apologies for the boring domestic rantiness of everything lately, but if you come here for reality then, hey, that's what reality is these days.
I can't stand having all these people in my tiny house! Where there is only enough room for everything exactly and if you don't put things back precisely where they belong, it all starts erupting into this clutter miasma.
Where people don't understand that when I say "you need to be downstairs or outside when Leelo is working," that doesn't mean go upstairs and use the phone right next to him and Therapist F and talk very loudly so Leelo can't concentrate even one bit. Jesus Fricking Kee-RIST.
If I am this grouchy the baby must be coming soon. Or maybe it's just that it's Tuesday, our very worst day for busy-ness anyhow, I turned my alarm off this morning after the first blast and since Seymour has an only a tenuous grasp of the realities of alarm-setting vs. scheduling, we all woke up late late late, plus I've all sorts of gardening work scheduled for this morning with flaky people who don't always return my calls...why am I even bothering writing about all this! I have nesting to do.
Apologies for the boring domestic rantiness of everything lately, but if you come here for reality then, hey, that's what reality is these days.
11.22.2004
Twiddling Thumbs
My mom is here to help out with the squallers.
I've got most of the baby stuff done, and holiday stuff too.
The house is mostly ready, except for the laundry which I am trying to get completely done as I don't want anyone else touching it while I'm in the hospital (a documented neurosis, hopefully everyone will understand this time that I really do fucking mean it). Oh, and the office closet is a mess, but I've been ignoring it for three years and don't have a problem with tackling it post-partum. It's not a priority.
Turns out I didn't do anything with my Carfe Prisse store. The ideas I was considering have already been done, sort of. And as I was mostly thinking of them as present designs anyhow, I've simply ordered the existing items for the kids in question.
I didn't write a story as a holiday gift to torment all the kids with this year. Perhaps I'll write one for Iz's birthday. Most of the kids still got something home made, although much goofier and simpler than a book. Oh well.
Mostly I've been spacing through the last few days, working working working on nesting crap, and considering at each junction--dropping Leelo off at school, picking Iz up from school, taking Leelo to OT, just getting out of the car or getting the kids snacks or going up or down the stairs if I've forgotten something--how much more complicated each task will be with a tiny one in tow. On the flip side, I am grateful for the ease with which such tasks get accomplished in the here and now.
Also, I worry. Several of my friends have experienced horror and catastrophes in or right after leaving the hospital. I won't elaborate because already I am freaking myself out. But know that I take no step in this for granted, that I qualify everything with "if all goes well, then," but that I am still excited and am hoping for the best.
OB appointment tomorrow morning at 9:40. Will I make it? Lots more Braxton-Hicks today.
My mom is here to help out with the squallers.
I've got most of the baby stuff done, and holiday stuff too.
The house is mostly ready, except for the laundry which I am trying to get completely done as I don't want anyone else touching it while I'm in the hospital (a documented neurosis, hopefully everyone will understand this time that I really do fucking mean it). Oh, and the office closet is a mess, but I've been ignoring it for three years and don't have a problem with tackling it post-partum. It's not a priority.
Turns out I didn't do anything with my Carfe Prisse store. The ideas I was considering have already been done, sort of. And as I was mostly thinking of them as present designs anyhow, I've simply ordered the existing items for the kids in question.
I didn't write a story as a holiday gift to torment all the kids with this year. Perhaps I'll write one for Iz's birthday. Most of the kids still got something home made, although much goofier and simpler than a book. Oh well.
Mostly I've been spacing through the last few days, working working working on nesting crap, and considering at each junction--dropping Leelo off at school, picking Iz up from school, taking Leelo to OT, just getting out of the car or getting the kids snacks or going up or down the stairs if I've forgotten something--how much more complicated each task will be with a tiny one in tow. On the flip side, I am grateful for the ease with which such tasks get accomplished in the here and now.
Also, I worry. Several of my friends have experienced horror and catastrophes in or right after leaving the hospital. I won't elaborate because already I am freaking myself out. But know that I take no step in this for granted, that I qualify everything with "if all goes well, then," but that I am still excited and am hoping for the best.
OB appointment tomorrow morning at 9:40. Will I make it? Lots more Braxton-Hicks today.
Panic!
Things must be getting imminent as I'm embroiled in a frenzy of holiday gift-wrapping and sending-off and delivering. Recipients are encouraged to open and enjoy gifts now, why not? Individual items get so lost in the holiday crush.
Other than this panic, which is probably also due to the fact that my mother is arriving this afternoon to stay for 6 (six!) weeks and will be sleeping in the very same office/nursery that is currently covered in giftie detritus, no other signs of anything.
Things must be getting imminent as I'm embroiled in a frenzy of holiday gift-wrapping and sending-off and delivering. Recipients are encouraged to open and enjoy gifts now, why not? Individual items get so lost in the holiday crush.
Other than this panic, which is probably also due to the fact that my mother is arriving this afternoon to stay for 6 (six!) weeks and will be sleeping in the very same office/nursery that is currently covered in giftie detritus, no other signs of anything.
11.21.2004
Misery
I still am not sure why, as this didn't happen during my other pregnancies, but I spent yesterday in absolute misery. Absolute. The baby dropped, and in doing so crushed my bladder and rearranged my ligaments to the extent that any change in position was excruciating. Somehow I got all those errands done (except the books, which dear Seymour retrieved) even though all walking had to be done in teeny-tiny steps, as though my feet were bound.
The drop was accompanied by lots of nausea and malaise. Fun for my family! I spent the non-errand part of the day downstairs in the nursery/office, verrrrry sloooowly doing what needed to be done. As the discomfort increased, I contacted the OB on call. She was not in the least impressed, said that these were all typical late-pregnancy symptoms, and that I should go to bed. Which I did.
Today is better. Not 100%, but I am semi-functional. Or at least I feel reasonably certain that I won't spent the entirety of Baby Daniel's christening sporting a rictus grin.
I still am not sure why, as this didn't happen during my other pregnancies, but I spent yesterday in absolute misery. Absolute. The baby dropped, and in doing so crushed my bladder and rearranged my ligaments to the extent that any change in position was excruciating. Somehow I got all those errands done (except the books, which dear Seymour retrieved) even though all walking had to be done in teeny-tiny steps, as though my feet were bound.
The drop was accompanied by lots of nausea and malaise. Fun for my family! I spent the non-errand part of the day downstairs in the nursery/office, verrrrry sloooowly doing what needed to be done. As the discomfort increased, I contacted the OB on call. She was not in the least impressed, said that these were all typical late-pregnancy symptoms, and that I should go to bed. Which I did.
Today is better. Not 100%, but I am semi-functional. Or at least I feel reasonably certain that I won't spent the entirety of Baby Daniel's christening sporting a rictus grin.
11.20.2004
No, No, No
No, Jo, I am not in labor. But I am feeling disoriented and disorganized--five million things to do and can't concentrate on any of them.
Last-minute errands for today:
Baby Store: bassinet sheets, changing pad, changing pad covers, christening present for my nephew Daniel whose parents have chosen me (!) to be his Catholic godmother, and whose baptism is tomorrow. Heathen Seymour is to be the godfather. Hope the priest doesn't check his credentials. Or ask me if I've been to Mass in the last two years.
Bookstore: Holiday books for various folks. I think my brother who works for the DOD will like Stephenson's Quicksilver. Therapist L will like vegetarian cookbooks. Don't know what the heck to get Seymour's dad.
Waldorfy Store: Obnoxious presents for family babies whose parents will either appreciate such things, or who I snottily think chew on too much plastic.
Salon: Iz and I to get mom/daughter manicures/pedicures--reward for her for stopping chewing on her toenails (groooooosss!). I just like to have nice feet in the delivery room.
Baby/labor bags packed, need to go in the car. Reading: I am bringing some writing from a non-blogging friend, and Artemis Fowl even though the informal writing style is distracting and sets my teeth on edge. I can't bring the main book I'm reading as if I fall asleep while holding it and it falls on the baby, it'd crush the poor little bit.
Off to the cafe, hopefully to be joined by Badger and co.
Woke up this morning with bad gas pains that won't go away. Somewhat worrisome, as this is how Leelo's entrance into the world was precipitated.
No, Jo, I am not in labor. But I am feeling disoriented and disorganized--five million things to do and can't concentrate on any of them.
Last-minute errands for today:
Baby Store: bassinet sheets, changing pad, changing pad covers, christening present for my nephew Daniel whose parents have chosen me (!) to be his Catholic godmother, and whose baptism is tomorrow. Heathen Seymour is to be the godfather. Hope the priest doesn't check his credentials. Or ask me if I've been to Mass in the last two years.
Bookstore: Holiday books for various folks. I think my brother who works for the DOD will like Stephenson's Quicksilver. Therapist L will like vegetarian cookbooks. Don't know what the heck to get Seymour's dad.
Waldorfy Store: Obnoxious presents for family babies whose parents will either appreciate such things, or who I snottily think chew on too much plastic.
Salon: Iz and I to get mom/daughter manicures/pedicures--reward for her for stopping chewing on her toenails (groooooosss!). I just like to have nice feet in the delivery room.
Baby/labor bags packed, need to go in the car. Reading: I am bringing some writing from a non-blogging friend, and Artemis Fowl even though the informal writing style is distracting and sets my teeth on edge. I can't bring the main book I'm reading as if I fall asleep while holding it and it falls on the baby, it'd crush the poor little bit.
Off to the cafe, hopefully to be joined by Badger and co.
Woke up this morning with bad gas pains that won't go away. Somewhat worrisome, as this is how Leelo's entrance into the world was precipitated.
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