Let’s see I left off with ’I have an appointment with the new doctor at 8:30 (yes in the morning!) on Tuesday.’ Well, we went to see the Dr. on Tuesday and all with Jr. is going fine, pelvic exam showed however that there was no progress in that area and so I was to come back in a week.
Then he took my blood pressure and that’s sort of where the wheels came off of that plan. It was high, too high. He sent me over to the Obstetric Bloc where they would monitor it for a few minutes to see if a little rest and change of venue would bring it down. It did but only marginally. So, I was told to come back in two days for more monitoring.
Well, we have been over to the clinic every other day since last Tuesday. Every other day I go to the Obstetric Bloc where they hook me to monitors for about an hour or so, do a pelvic exam and take some blood. Always the same thing, the cervix is not yet ready for delivery so they don’t want to induce yet, however my blood pressure and blood tests are bordering on ‘bad’ and ‘not good’. So I get the same instructions each time ‘come back in two days and we’ll check again’ if you develop a headache, see spots or have ringing ears, come in right away.
On the bright side I’m getting to meet all the Sage Femmes (Midwives) and some of the trainees too. I don’t remember their names but I remember them as ‘The heavy smoker’, ‘The nice one who speaks ‘a leetle’ English’, ‘The scared looking trainee’, ‘The Crabby One’, and today’s version ‘The unnecessary roughness wench’. Let’s hope I don’t get ‘The unnecessary roughness wench’ for the delivery because we may have to have words. I go back again on Thursday, Thursday, however will be my last visit for monitoring, ready or not they will induce labor on Monday the 30th, which by the way is the actual due date. So Jr. will arrive on Monday, on schedule, which seems weird after all of this craziness.
So, we’ll get you some news on Monday just as soon as there’s anything to report.
In related news, we have decided on a name… you don’t seriously think I’m going to tell you what it is right now do you? No, you’ll just have to wait for the full announcement post birth. And don’t try that ‘but I’m your mom – sister – brother – best friend – etc.’ routine cause it won’t work. You already have the benefit of knowing the sex of the child, something has to be a surprise. Suffice it to say it isn’t ANY of the names ANY of you have heard or suggested.
Ok, so that’s all the news for now. More news and possibly photos to follow.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Count Down Continues
The moon has waxed to full and is on the wane and no luck. 15 days to go and still here, still huge and getting crabby. If you ask S he'll say I've been crabby so maybe just getting crabbier.
On the bright side, looks like my sciatic problems have eased up and I'm sleeping a little better at night, and at nap time and any other time of the day I doze off for a bit.
I have an appointment with the new doctor at 8:30 (yes in the morning!) on Tuesday. Who scheduled that appointment? Man I really have to pay closer attention when French people talk to me. I'll post more news after that, if there is any.
The semi annual sales started last Wednesday and so this weekend while driving over some of the bumpiest roads we know, we went out and bought the stroller that matches the car seat we bought before. It's made so that the car seat un-locks from the car base and then locks into the stroller. Pretty cool to not have to keep moving the kid, though I'm thinking that the whole thing will get a bit heavy after a while. Anyway, with discounts and sale prices and other circumstances beyond our understanding we got a 298€ stroller for 125€, we stole that stroller. S and I just kept looking at each other with that 'something’s not quite right' look as we paid and then booked it out of the store as quickly as possible.
The glider that we ordered (from the same store) and were supposed to have by Christmas Eve has yet to arrive though. We asked about it at the store and were told that yes technically we should have had it within 4 weeks but that since the factory gave its employees three weeks off for the holidays, they're running a bit behind on orders. So now we have 3 more weeks before it will arrive. Mind it was probably a 3 week PAID holiday too. Doesn't it just make you want to move here?
That's all the news for now.
On the bright side, looks like my sciatic problems have eased up and I'm sleeping a little better at night, and at nap time and any other time of the day I doze off for a bit.
I have an appointment with the new doctor at 8:30 (yes in the morning!) on Tuesday. Who scheduled that appointment? Man I really have to pay closer attention when French people talk to me. I'll post more news after that, if there is any.
The semi annual sales started last Wednesday and so this weekend while driving over some of the bumpiest roads we know, we went out and bought the stroller that matches the car seat we bought before. It's made so that the car seat un-locks from the car base and then locks into the stroller. Pretty cool to not have to keep moving the kid, though I'm thinking that the whole thing will get a bit heavy after a while. Anyway, with discounts and sale prices and other circumstances beyond our understanding we got a 298€ stroller for 125€, we stole that stroller. S and I just kept looking at each other with that 'something’s not quite right' look as we paid and then booked it out of the store as quickly as possible.
The glider that we ordered (from the same store) and were supposed to have by Christmas Eve has yet to arrive though. We asked about it at the store and were told that yes technically we should have had it within 4 weeks but that since the factory gave its employees three weeks off for the holidays, they're running a bit behind on orders. So now we have 3 more weeks before it will arrive. Mind it was probably a 3 week PAID holiday too. Doesn't it just make you want to move here?
That's all the news for now.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Conversations in my head.
See, you all have no idea how many times I’ve pulled the computer over and started to blog. I mean seriously it’s no mean feat. It requires heating pads, perfect and strategic placement of pillows, moving the cord to keep the laptop plugged in as the battery only has a two hour life and blogging takes longer than that. After all that is the reason I have a laptop isn’t it, so that I can work comfortably anywhere.
Then when all is ready and I have the laptop and I’m sitting comfortably, all I manage to do is mindlessly surf the web for an hour or two and then I’m completely zapped of all energy and motivation.
I have a series of blogs started and in various states of completion that you all may never see. They start out as conversations in my head, things I‘d share with you all if I had the energy and motivation to sit down and write for you, and then I do start writing and half way through the story, the thought train is derailed and there they sit in half finished word documents, scattered across my desktop like broken and abandoned toys that even Santa has forgotten about.
So now I’m sitting here, with season 5 of the Gilmore Girls on for background sound (thanks Ky) while I type this and simultaneously browse eBags for a fun look at new purses… Seriously when did that happen anyway, I used to NEVER be a purse girl, backpacks were more my speed and now I just love them, shoes and purses, when did I turn into a girl?....See what I mean, I’m so easily distracted.
First I wanted to, yes a little late I realize, say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. I didn’t make Christmas cards this year, but that’s not different from the previous couple of years, I haven’t made cards for a few years. But this year we found some French Christmas cards and we bought them, and there they sit on the counter in front of me, knowingly mocking me, waiting to be written and addressed. Let’s face it, they know what I know, that those cards are most likely destined to be packed away and come back to the states with us.
Then I would like to thank you all for the great birthday wishes left on our phone machine…
(Yes the answering message is in French, just trust you got the right number and leave a message. The message is still in French because the instructions to the phone are in French and I haven’t felt compelled to spend an entire day translating said instructions just so I can figure out how to record my own message, so we use the message that came with the phone. Yes the height of laziness, but hey, think of it as very exotic and metropolitan.)
Anyway thank you Gudino’s for the truly great birthday message and wishes, it was very nice to hear all of your voices. And thanks also to the Barbers for the song, seriously, the Barber family does the best singing of the birthday song I’ve ever heard, all on key and in harmony and everything, really guys, I’d record it and sell it. It was fabulous.
…………………………
My car is in the garage and hasn’t been moved in a few weeks, hence why I really have nothing to write about. Not to say that I haven’t left the house in weeks, but S drives me places. The manual transmission in the Mercedes absolutely kills my back. So I make grocery lists and we go to the store together.
The shopping goes something like this. I point S in the direction of the first 3 or 4 items on the list and say “I’ll meet you by the eggs” I proceed in the direction of the eggs and when I arrive S has pretty much completed the shopping. He then goes toward the bread, or whatever few items he has left to grab, and I waddle toward the checkouts where I arrive to find S waiting for me at the handicapped checkout lane. So why do I go with him? Well in case there is a question about a brand or something (men must be carefully supervised when grocery shopping is involved) and besides it’s my exercise for the day. (How pathetic is that!)
…………………………
Anyway, the due date is January 30th but I know for certain, I will not go that long. I know it’s going to be sooner than that. Don’t ask how I know, I just know. Actually yesterday S’s mom told us that when she worked in the maternity ward in a hospital there was always a baby boom right around the full moon. So next fool moon for us is January 14th, that’s next Saturday. So I’ve pinned my hopes on that date and that knowledge has also gotten me in gear to get the last thing I needed for the hospital stay. I was required to purchase a hair dryer, I don’t own a hair dryer because I NEVER blow dry my hair, so I had to go out and buy a cheap one just because it is on my list of things to bring. Do not even ask why I’m required to have one, just trust me, they have their reasons and you really do not want to know.
I filled a whole regular sized suitcase with all the things on the list. I have to tell you that I’m going to feel rather silly taking a suitcase that size to the hospital, like a typical woman that always over packs, but in this case I have no choice, everything in that suitcase is on my list and it’s required. I will be kept there anywhere from 4 to 6 days, depending on how everything goes and how everyone is doing. I think I can opt out at the end of 3 days if Jr. and I are stellar patients and if I can prove that the nursing staff is making me insane.
…………………………
S has some very important meetings all this week, there are people coming in from all over the stinkin planet for this and he’s in charge. Needless to say he’s a bit stressed about what will happen if I go into labor during the week. He has provided me with a long list of phone numbers just in case he doesn’t hear his cell phone ring. But I told him not to sweat it, it’ll be the 14th. God, I hope it’s the 14th, I’m tired of this. Although, I have yet to meet my new doctor and I don’t have an appointment to meet him until the 17th. So, yeah a bit of a down side to this whole having the kid on the 14th thing.
I swear though, if I go to the 30th (or later……Oh my god!) I’ll be absolutely bonkers by then!!!!
Last visit to my old doctor was on December 27th and measurements at that point brought the baby’s weight to 3.6Kg (7lbs 14.9ozs.). All is well with Jr. and he has made the turn and is in position. I speak to him regularly and try to convince him that it’s time but apparently he is not quite ready yet. He’d like to put a little more meat on his skinny little frame no doubt.
…………………………
Well, that’s all the news from here, just more boring pregnancy and baby news, but that’s my life these days. Wait until the baby is born and all I post is cutesy anecdotal baby stuff that will drive you all to quit reading my blog all together.
Then when all is ready and I have the laptop and I’m sitting comfortably, all I manage to do is mindlessly surf the web for an hour or two and then I’m completely zapped of all energy and motivation.
I have a series of blogs started and in various states of completion that you all may never see. They start out as conversations in my head, things I‘d share with you all if I had the energy and motivation to sit down and write for you, and then I do start writing and half way through the story, the thought train is derailed and there they sit in half finished word documents, scattered across my desktop like broken and abandoned toys that even Santa has forgotten about.
So now I’m sitting here, with season 5 of the Gilmore Girls on for background sound (thanks Ky) while I type this and simultaneously browse eBags for a fun look at new purses… Seriously when did that happen anyway, I used to NEVER be a purse girl, backpacks were more my speed and now I just love them, shoes and purses, when did I turn into a girl?....See what I mean, I’m so easily distracted.
First I wanted to, yes a little late I realize, say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. I didn’t make Christmas cards this year, but that’s not different from the previous couple of years, I haven’t made cards for a few years. But this year we found some French Christmas cards and we bought them, and there they sit on the counter in front of me, knowingly mocking me, waiting to be written and addressed. Let’s face it, they know what I know, that those cards are most likely destined to be packed away and come back to the states with us.
Then I would like to thank you all for the great birthday wishes left on our phone machine…
(Yes the answering message is in French, just trust you got the right number and leave a message. The message is still in French because the instructions to the phone are in French and I haven’t felt compelled to spend an entire day translating said instructions just so I can figure out how to record my own message, so we use the message that came with the phone. Yes the height of laziness, but hey, think of it as very exotic and metropolitan.)
Anyway thank you Gudino’s for the truly great birthday message and wishes, it was very nice to hear all of your voices. And thanks also to the Barbers for the song, seriously, the Barber family does the best singing of the birthday song I’ve ever heard, all on key and in harmony and everything, really guys, I’d record it and sell it. It was fabulous.
…………………………
My car is in the garage and hasn’t been moved in a few weeks, hence why I really have nothing to write about. Not to say that I haven’t left the house in weeks, but S drives me places. The manual transmission in the Mercedes absolutely kills my back. So I make grocery lists and we go to the store together.
The shopping goes something like this. I point S in the direction of the first 3 or 4 items on the list and say “I’ll meet you by the eggs” I proceed in the direction of the eggs and when I arrive S has pretty much completed the shopping. He then goes toward the bread, or whatever few items he has left to grab, and I waddle toward the checkouts where I arrive to find S waiting for me at the handicapped checkout lane. So why do I go with him? Well in case there is a question about a brand or something (men must be carefully supervised when grocery shopping is involved) and besides it’s my exercise for the day. (How pathetic is that!)
…………………………
Anyway, the due date is January 30th but I know for certain, I will not go that long. I know it’s going to be sooner than that. Don’t ask how I know, I just know. Actually yesterday S’s mom told us that when she worked in the maternity ward in a hospital there was always a baby boom right around the full moon. So next fool moon for us is January 14th, that’s next Saturday. So I’ve pinned my hopes on that date and that knowledge has also gotten me in gear to get the last thing I needed for the hospital stay. I was required to purchase a hair dryer, I don’t own a hair dryer because I NEVER blow dry my hair, so I had to go out and buy a cheap one just because it is on my list of things to bring. Do not even ask why I’m required to have one, just trust me, they have their reasons and you really do not want to know.
I filled a whole regular sized suitcase with all the things on the list. I have to tell you that I’m going to feel rather silly taking a suitcase that size to the hospital, like a typical woman that always over packs, but in this case I have no choice, everything in that suitcase is on my list and it’s required. I will be kept there anywhere from 4 to 6 days, depending on how everything goes and how everyone is doing. I think I can opt out at the end of 3 days if Jr. and I are stellar patients and if I can prove that the nursing staff is making me insane.
…………………………
S has some very important meetings all this week, there are people coming in from all over the stinkin planet for this and he’s in charge. Needless to say he’s a bit stressed about what will happen if I go into labor during the week. He has provided me with a long list of phone numbers just in case he doesn’t hear his cell phone ring. But I told him not to sweat it, it’ll be the 14th. God, I hope it’s the 14th, I’m tired of this. Although, I have yet to meet my new doctor and I don’t have an appointment to meet him until the 17th. So, yeah a bit of a down side to this whole having the kid on the 14th thing.
I swear though, if I go to the 30th (or later……Oh my god!) I’ll be absolutely bonkers by then!!!!
Last visit to my old doctor was on December 27th and measurements at that point brought the baby’s weight to 3.6Kg (7lbs 14.9ozs.). All is well with Jr. and he has made the turn and is in position. I speak to him regularly and try to convince him that it’s time but apparently he is not quite ready yet. He’d like to put a little more meat on his skinny little frame no doubt.
…………………………
Well, that’s all the news from here, just more boring pregnancy and baby news, but that’s my life these days. Wait until the baby is born and all I post is cutesy anecdotal baby stuff that will drive you all to quit reading my blog all together.
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