Introducing...

Andrew Steven Flood

Arrived at 1:25 am Tuesday, June 29th.  

8 lbs. 6 oz.

20 inches

And yes he's got hair!

Proud Mommy

Proud but tired Daddy (he worked very hard last night too! I couldn't have done it without him!!)

Birth story to come later, but everything went as planned, if not better!

Let's get this party started

This birthday party, that is! Well... hopefully.

Floodling may be on his way.  I've been having contractions on and off since yesterday. They were pretty irregular, but they're getting more frequent.  I had my regular appointment today and was already 4-5 cm dilated.  The doctor wanted me to go ahead and go to the hospital, but I didn't feel like contractions were close enough yet so we came home to grab a few things and are debating what to do.

Hopefully the next post will have more news!

Awooo!!

I was picking up a prescription at the pharmacy yesterday.  My pharmacist (who is awesome) was surprised I hadn't had my baby yet.  Among other things she reminded me that last night was a full moon.  I had heard a couple of times before that supposedly more women go into labor during the full moon than any other night of the month- in fact, supposedly some maternity wards staff more nurses during full moons.   I was a little hopeful, though not fully convinced so I did some "research" (i.e. I ran to Google) and came across no "scholarly" articles to help me.  The one below is interesting, though still not convincing.

Did you know that some maternity units actually have more staff available during periods of full moon?  I’ve always been fascinated by the moon’s effect on nature, so when a friend’s wife conveyed to me what her midwife had told her during the birth of their daughter, I decided to find out more about childbirth, full moon and a possible link.

On speaking to various medical staff involved in natural childbirth, the first thing I learned was that expectant mothers often experience false signs of labor during full moon. Contractions known as “Braxton Hicks” — sometimes noticeable to the mother and sometimes not — become more pronounced and many travel to the maternity unit in the belief that “it’s time”. Disappointed — or perhaps relieved — they return home, the pains having subsided with no dilation of the cervix.

While these expectant mothers visiting the clinic with their mistaken signs of labor are part of the reason why extra staff are needed, the major difference is found in the number of women whose amniotic sac — the water — breaks.

Just as some women experience false labor pains, in cases where the water breaking marks the start of childbirth, full moon is the time when it’s most likely to happen. In order to discover for myself whether this could be true, I asked several female friends how their births had started. Those who responded with “the water breaking” were then asked the date of the birth. On checking this against a moon phase chart, I discovered that almost all had given birth on, or very close to, a full moon.

The theory is that the moon’s gravitational pull effects the amniotic fluid in much the same way as it effects the water in the sea, rivers and even the water that’s otherwise found in our bodies.

“There are published works that show that there is such a relationship. One study looked at 5,927,978 French births occurring between the months of January 1968 and the 31st December 1974. Using spectral analysis, it was shown that there are two different rhythms in birth frequencies: –a weekly rhythm characterized by the lowest number of births on a Sunday and the largest number on a Tuesday and an annual rhythm with the maximum number of births in May and the minimum in September-October. A statistical analysis of the distribution of births in the lunar month shows that more are born between the last quarter and the new moon, and fewer are born in the first quarter of the moon. The differences between the distribution observed during the lunar month and the theoretical distribution are statistically significant.” – Source: Full moon, Gravitational Pull and Childbirth, Birthsource.com

As a woman’s body prepares for natural childbirth, the amniotic sac becomes distended so the point where it will easily burst if put under pressure. Under normal circumstances, the pressure of labor contractions bursts the sac. During a full moon, the pressure caused by the moon’s effect on the water inside the sac can cause the same things to happen, but without the accompanying contractions.

When this happens, natural childbirth doesn’t always move forward and with no other signs of labor present, the obstetrician may decide to induce the birth. During my own study of this phenomenon I found that of 8 women whose births started with the water breaking at full moon, 5 of them had no accompanying contractions. A coincidence? Perhaps. But surely midwives wouldn’t prepare themselves for an increase in natural childbirth activity if there wasn’t some truth in this?

One midwife told me that when it comes to planning childbirth, full moons should always be looked for around the time of the expected delivery. If there’s one within a few days either side, the chances are your baby will be born on that day.

 You'd think if a full moon would "work", it would work best on someone who is 9 days "overdue", but alas, I'm still pregnant!

Get out, get out, get out, GET OUT!

No wories, I'm mostly just mimicking Rachel from Friends.  To pass some more time I decided to watch the last few Friends episodes of season 8 where Rachel is pregnant (I am a huge fan of Friends and have every season on DVD).  In the second-to-last episode Rachel ends up going at least 8 days overdue (more I think, but I'm not sure how far).

The opening scene shows the crew sitting on the sofas in Central Perk.  In response to attending Joey's movie premier Rachel says:

Well obviously I won’t be able to come, for those of you who haven’t checked their calendars today is my due date. Well y’know, I just want to take a moment and thank you guys for how great you’ve been during this time. I really couldn’t have done it without you. And I have loved these last nine months! And even though I am so looking forward to the next part, I am really gonna miss being pregnant.

(Sound familiar?)

Next scene: (Sorry, you'll have to click to watch, I couldn't find any videos that would allow me to embed them here.  Hold "Ctrl" while you click the link to open it in a new window)

That's right, still no baby

If you want to enjoy more funny scenes from the episode there is a longer clip here:

I have to pee.  If I don't come out in 5 minutes it's because I've choked on the potpourri stink.

Tick tock...

The time is still passing, slower and slower each day.  I'm trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind off the waiting...

I've been going for lots walks.  Jason has been taking me to various malls in our area because it is just too hot to walk outside unless it's very early or very late.  I did manage to get an early walk in one morning and was laughing at my shadow...

Side profile

 Front profile... I almost don't look pregnant!

And that's my dog Lucy at my side.

My mom, sister and best friend Stacey and I painted pottery at the mall.

Laura's beautiful bamboo saki jug

My mom painted the saki cups

Stacey's beachy mug

And my plate that turned out nothing like I wanted it to :-/

We went to a local baseball game.

My poor swollen feet (and diseased looking toes! :P)

We went to the laser show at Stone Mountain.

What else?  I'm thinking World of Coca-Cola today maybe...? Any other suggestions?

Pop!

Does it look like I'm going to explode yet? Especially in this position and with this bright pink shirt on I think I look like a big balloon.  Floodling seems to be nice and cozy, doesn't he?

Sorry for the late post if it got anyone excited.  I was being extremely lazy today!

Patience and Trust.... Part 3??

As my dad put it on Facebook, from country singer Clint Black.... "this killing time is killing me"!

Who knew I'd be here? Just short of a week overdue?  I didn't!  I tried not to listen to co-workers and friends telling me I'd never make it to my due date.  I tried not to pay attention to the fact that my mom was early (10 days and 7 days) with both her pregnancies.  I tried not to listen to the doctor when they told me I was already 1.5 cm dilated at 38 weeks and that if she had to guess she'd guess he'd be early.....

But I did.

And now I'm impatient.

I'm trying to be patient and trust that God has a plan and that this baby will be born "on his birthday" meaning when he is supposed to be born.  6 days overdue is really not bad.  Apparently the "average" for first time moms is to go about 10 days over.

But 10 days over means my dad and sister won't be here any more.  They have to leave on Friday (8 days over). I can't even explain how badly I want for them to be here.  How I want for them to be some of the first people to meet and hold our little Floodling. How I don't want for them to have to come back later and meet him after everyone else has.  It hurts.

On top of worrying that he won't arrive before my family leaves, I have the doctors hanging over my head too.  I'm not going to go into a lot of detail, but basically I have a "time limit" before my doctors will induce.  Two of my doctors are a little more open-minded and are willing to let me go to 42 weeks (you aren't technically considered "overdue" until you are 42 weeks), but the doctor I saw this past Monday went ahead and "tentatively" (by booking it with the hospital!!) scheduled an induction for next Tuesday (not even 2 weeks over yet).  When the receptionist called to tell me it was booked I was more than a little miffed and told her I would likely be canceling (she wouldn't cancel it for me, she said I have to talk to my doctors on Monday).

And even on top of that I'm simply bored to tears!  I normally go on vacation during summer break, but I can't do that right now. I normally clean and organize between those vacations, but all that's done! My to-do list is complete, and I have nothing I want to get started on.  I don't feel much like going out to do things, and we don't have the money to spend anyway.  A baby sure would give me plenty to do! :P

But babies make their own schedule.  And as much as I can try to encourage it along, Floodling will come when he is ready.

I actually just read yesterday that stress is a labor inhibitor.  Stress produces chemicals in our bodies, including adrenaline, which actually slow down or prevent labor. Why? So we don't give birth in an unsafe situation.  A woman can actually regress from 9 cm dilated to 6 cm dilated, for example, if under stress.  It makes sense, what if you were giving birth and suddenly you saw a tiger? You'd have to run for it! Well, our bodies are built to deal with that. 

I keep thinking now that all the stressing I did over my job situation probably didn't help move things along.  I'm over it (for now) and putting it out of my mind, but I've found that overall I've been in a "funk" and I think I need to get out of it.

So, I've decided that I'm going to enjoy my last little bit of time and I'm not going to worry about getting this baby here anymore.  I'm not going to feel guilty over being lazy and putting my feet up every once in a while (gravity can't help anything if you're feet are up!).  I've put it in God's hands.  Though I've been eating pineapple and basil, walking, bouncing on balls, and trying plenty of other things, I'm starting to think maybe the best thing I can do is simply relax to let my body know that I am ready, happy, and "safe"!

What I'm going to miss

As the days go on there are fewer and fewer things I'm going to miss about being pregnant, but this is certainly one:



Yup, that's Floodling moving around, not me breathing.  You would think that after 5 months or so of really feeling him kick I'd get tired of it, or at least not so excited by it...  I still often put my hands on my belly to feel him wiggle and roll around.  Before I was pregnant (and early on when I was pregnant) I often  scoffed at those women who couldn't seem to keep their hands off their belly.  It was as if they were saying "look at me! I'm pregnant! See my big belly!" (as if you can't see their big belly).  But now I know, at least for me, I just can't help it!  When he's squirming around in there it's like a magnet! I love imagining what he's doing and what body part I'm feeling.

Yes, it does hurt sometimes... I swear this kid is going to be looooooong because even though he's head down and "low" he does still manage to get into my ribs.  All I have to do is stretch out and it's fine, but it does still surprise me.  And there have been a few times now since he is "head down and low" that he's hit some interesting organs and/or nerves and caused some interesting sensations.... but I still love being able to feel him!

As much as I love it, and as much as I'm going to miss the sensation (what will it be like to eat a meal with a still belly!?), I'm ready to cuddle this little guy and feel him squirming in my arms!

P.S.  Thank you to my wonderful hubby for the new video camera!  It was my Mother's Day/Birthday gift (and a little Father's Day in there too....) so I can share videos of Floodling once he arrives!

It's time!

Sorry, just teasing... it's time for my 40 week photo, not that time yet.  I figure if I have to endure everyone asking me if the baby has arrived yet, then you can put up with a little mean humor from me. ;)

I have been trying to post daily though, if you haven't noticed, so you all will know that I'm not in labor.  If you don't hear from me for more than 48 hours you may have reason to assume something is going on.  Otherwise you should see frequent updates here (and on Facebook) meaning that nothing's happening....yet.

So, this is my last monthly photo!  I may try and get a photo before I go in to the hospital, if I think of it, but otherwise I KNOW I will not make it to 44 weeks, so this is the last one.  You can watch me grow from start to finish too!

And though I haven't been posting these all along, here's a bare belly one (I think the pink tee is a little restricting now!)

I made it to 40 weeks with no stretch  marks (except for some weird marks where my belly button was previously pierced...two separate times...).  I'm hoping Floodling will make his appearance sometime soon though because I don't know how much more my skin can take!!

Happy Father's Day!

 I was hoping my gift to my husband this Father's Day would be a son... but so far that's not looking so promising! :P

I can't wait to see what kind of Daddy he'll be... we have some great dads in our lives who have set some awesome examples!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there and all the dads-to-be! Yes, they count too!

Passing time

This is something else I've stolen from fellow "Due in June" blogger Penny in Pink.  A guessing game!  Since Floodling seems to be choosing to stay put still I figured we can have some fun while we wait and pass the time.  So... I want to know what you think...

1. How much will Floodling weigh?
2. How long will he be?
3. What time of day will he arrive?
4. Will he have hair?

Need some help?  Here are some stats about me and Jason:

Diane

7 lbs. 13 oz.

20 inches

Arrived at 6:35 am

Some hair

 Jason

9 lbs. 10 oz.

23 inches

Arrived at 10:50 am

Some hair

I wish I had pics of the two of us at the same age... I'm about 3 weeks old in mine, but Jason is about 9 months old.  Right now all my baby photos are in Chicago (but my parents are here), and we only seem to have the one of Jason!  Check back later, maybe I'll have more...

So, what do you think?  You can post your predictions in the comments section!  Just FYI, if you have a gmail account you can sign in using that login info.  There are other ways to sign in as well, but you can also choose to comment "anonymously" then sign your name.  If you don't sign your name, you can't win your prize!

Prize??? Of course there's an awesome prize... the satisfaction of knowing you were right! ;)  And, of course, all the bragging rights associated with that!

Why I AM Ready

Today (well, yesterday now...) is officially my due date! Whoa! Who knew I'd make it here?  Apparently enough of you because when I did a vote a few months ago most of you said Floodling would probably arrive late.  But since then I've been told by numerous people that I'd never make it to my due date. Though I tried not to listen I have to admit that I am surprised that he still seems to be staying firmly put.

About two weeks ago I told you why I was not ready for this baby to come yet.  I would have been fine if he came, but there were still some things that I wanted to get finished.  On top of that I wasn't feeling as miserable as most women seem to feel by this point.

Well, I've had plenty of time to complete my to-do list.  My bags are packed, car seat installed (it feels funny to drive around with a car seat in the car already!), the nursery is decorated... I've even had time to do plenty of other things! I've vacuumed couches, dusted fans, mopped floors, cleaned and sanitized bottles....

It's starting to look like there might be a baby around here!

Nesting?  Maybe... maybe not.  I generally do a lot of cleaning during summer break (I do summer cleaning, not spring cleaning).  A lot of things get left undone during the school year.  Jason is awesome about keeping up with daily things like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc. (I'm a really lucky gal!), but all those other things just have to wait until I have a little free time.  I haven't found any unusual amounts of energy, so it may just be my usual summer cleaning, so don't get too excited.

So my list is done... what about how I'm feeling?  While overall I still feel great, I'm starting to be plagued by more and more annoyances...

Tying my shoes?  It's getting quite difficult... and this is what they end up looking like...

Tied towards the inside of my feet because that's all I can reach!

My feet? Sigh... getting swollen.  Had to keep them propped up at my friend's wedding or they wouldn't fit in my (flip-flop style!) shoes...

And just moving around?  Well, I managed to fall yesterday.... no worries!  Floodling and I are both all right, if not a little ego-bruised.  How long has it been since I have actually fallen to the ground?  I was trying to step over a computer wire that was too high, tripped, hopped, then went plummeting to the ground (while twisting mid-air so as to not land on my belly).  Thankfully my trusty birth ball (or excercise ball for you normal people out there) actually broke my fall, what luck!  I do have a bruised leg and a sore back though.  Thanks belly for throwing off my balance! (And making me unable to see exactly where that cord was....)

Okay, I didn't look quite like this, but you get the picture. ;)

But seriously, I'm feeling good.  I just want to meet this little guy!  I can't wait to find out who'll he'll grow up to be.  And in the process I can't wait to snuggle him, and ooh and ahh over him, and just enjoy the little bundle of joy he'll be (when he's not waking me up....).

So Floodling... I'm ready to meet you and introduce you to the world!  Anytime you want to make your appearance.... ;)

Just Trust

Nope, not "patience and trust", now it's just "trust".  It's official... I am going to be a high school Spanish teacher next year.  I accepted the job with the high school instead of the middle school.  I had another post planned for today (it's officially D-day! Look at my "tickers"!), so you may see another post from me later on, but I thought I'd go ahead and update you all on the job status since I took a lot of space on here to vent about it.

I already told you how the interview at the middle school went, but I haven't said anything about the high school.

The interview at the high school went... well... they seemed very supportive of teachers (the principal said he's not proud of his high suspension rate, but it works well for them because he won't stand to have one student interrupt instruction for even 5 minutes).  I would be teaching only Spanish 1, so I would only have one "prep" to prepare for... and overall they seemed much more organized and professional.

After that interview I immediately got a call from the principal offering me the job (when I say immediately I mean Jason was driving out of the parking lot and I was checking my phone to find that I already had a message from him!  I'm a slow walker these days, so it took me a minute to get to the car, but wow!).  I wasn't sure what to do right away... I knew that I didn't want to work at the middle school, but...

I was waiting... waiting to see if I heard from any other schools... hoping that maybe I'd hear something from my school.... I wanted to talk to a lawyer about my options.... and I just wasn't ready to accept a position at a high school.

But then I checked my school e-mail and I had two unread messages.  One from the principal of the middle school apologizing for having lost my phone number (!) and welcoming me to her school.  The second from HR entitled "Priority Reassignment" to several people, including my current principal, stating my new assignment to the middle school and asking people to make the necessary adjustments.  I freaked out!

It suddenly became obvious that if I did have a choice, the high school was it.  I knew immediately after walking out of the middle school that I did not want to work there, but I hadn't been ready to accept becoming a high school teacher again.... but now it might be too late to have any say in the matter!

I jumped on the phone to HR, but couldn't get a hold of anyone.... until today!  I called all day Tuesday and all day yesterday.  Finally this morning I got through....

And now I am officially a high school teacher.

The sudden fear of being placed at the middle school made the choice obvious.  After I got off the phone with HR I was momentarily relieved... "phew, I won't be stuck at that horrible school!"  But it only took seconds before the tears started flowing... "I'm a high school teacher"... I still have horrible nightmares about teaching high school- I don't know if I'm ready for this.

But I'm trusting that this is where I was meant to be.  I prayed to God to make the right choice obvious to me, and that it was.  So I'm trusting the high school is right place, and I'm trusting that He will help me through the year.  I'm relieved that the waiting game is over. I'm happy that I was able to play a part in the decision making. I'm not happy that these were my choices, and I still feel angry about getting reassigned, but I know it will work out.

No news...

Is not good news, sorry.... even though I've been sort of quiet the past few days I have not gone into labor!  I've been admittedly in a crumby mood thanks to this job stuff.  Just not what I want to be doing right now... I did get offered both positions though so I guess it's decision time now (I think.... got a troubling e-mail yesterday so we'll see how that works out).

Here are some week 39 photos, just for fun...

Me and Jason at my friend Cassie's wedding! I made it! (And yes, I should have held my tongue... or maybe I should say fingers... my feet are beginning to get the "marshmallow" effect, thus them being propped up!)

How do you like my built in "lap-top"?

 Or the fact that I can hardly see the lap top?

This is what going on an interview at 39 weeks pregnant looks like... no suit, but it's the best I can do!

I look incredibly happy, don't I?  I was a little more smiley at the interviews.

And no worries, I will post a 40 week belly pic too!  My plan all along was to at least get one on my way to the hospital in case I didn't make it to 40 weeks, but it looks like I'm going to.  Oh, and cuz I'm sure you're curious, no, I really don't feel any different or feel like anything is going on these days.  This baby may be staying put a lot longer than expected! (I say that since every one seemed to think he was going to be early!). Just hoping he makes it here before my sister leaves!!! (She arrives tomorrow and stays for a week).

Vent

So I'm going to be completely grouchy and negative in the post, so if you don't want to read it, you don't have to.  But I need to vent and let out some of these feelings that are frustrating me.

I have mentioned before that I found out shortly before the end of the school year that I was being "reassigned" (displaced, moved, relocated.... whatever your word preference is, it's all the same thing).  I mentioned how very much I love the school I'm at, and love what I do.  There was some hope that possibly things would work out- that I'd end up being able to stay... but....

I got a call Thursday afternoon last week from a middle school principal in my county- asking if I was interested in teaching middle school (honestly, I'm not, read on...).  We chatted for a few minutes and agreed to do an interview.  The next morning I got a call from a high school principal, also wanting me to come in for an interview.  At this point I assume this means that I'm not staying at my school (the hope was that there would be no other opening for me and the county would be stuck "reassigning" me right back to my school).  I'm also pretty sure it means I will definitely not be teaching elementary school (the Language Coordinator I also mentioned before told me in our meetings that there are 5 other elementary Spanish teachers being displaced and no other openings in elementary schools).

First off, I have to say- I don't know what's worse.  Doing an interview while on summer vacation, when I already have a job with the county, and while 9 and a half months pregnant, or having to go to an interview for which I had to prepare a "5-10 minute lesson plan presentation" for a job I don't even want.

Why don't I want the job?  Some history: I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Foreign Language Education and certification to teach K-12.  My student teaching had been spent teaching high school Spanish so I naturally accepted a job teaching high school.  It was one of the most miserable years of my life, and I don't say that lightly, especially as I generally don't like to be a negative person.  Jason will tell you it was one of his worst years too simply because I was so miserable (and he did a lot of work for me!).  I hated it.  I hated just about everything about it.  I hated battling with kids to get them to do simple assignments, I hated the feeling of knowing they were constantly trying to get away with things behind my back, I hated the stacks and stacks of papers to grade, I hated writing tests then grading them and feeling like a failure as I gave Cs, Ds, and Fs, I hated calling parents to let them know their child was failing, and parents saying "yeah, we know, we don't care...." (and should have continued on "so he's just going to sit there and be a pain in your a** for the rest of the year"), I hated the lack of support from other teachers and especially from the administration.... I asked and asked and asked for help, and never got it. I even began seeing a counselor to help me through.  So after only a year I threw in the towel and started searching for something else.  I happily found my current job teaching Spanish in elementary school.

I look back at the experience and know that I did a lot of growing that year.  I learned a lot about myself.  I learned a lot about teaching.  And I think, even though I hated it as much as I did, I truly am better because of the experience.  I think most of all it really made me appreciate having found my "niche" teaching elementary school.

So the prospect of going back to teaching high school is not a happy one for me.  Nor is the idea of teaching middle school, though I was, and still am, keeping an open mind (though read on for more on this...).  Before you say anything about "but you've grown, and it would be different at a different school, and now that you have more experience you'd do better" I don't want to hear it.  I know.... I would probably do better. I feel more prepared for it.  At the very least I could survive the year....

BUT I don't want to (can I stomp my feet and start throwing a temper tantrum now?).  I am so happy doing what I'm doing right now it just seems so unfair to make me move from something I love doing to something I can simply "survive".  And yes, maybe I would come to love it, but I simply don't want to do this right now.  I don't want to spend my measly 6 weeks of "maternity leave" (which isn't even maternity leave, it's just summer vacation) trying to create lesson plans for a whole new level of students and learn the new curriculum.  I don't want to spend what little time I have off with my newborn child worrying about what the new year might bring.  I don't want to spend the first year of his life stressed with lesson planning, grading, writing tests, etc. (all of which I've been happily able to avoid the last few years).

I think what has me most upset is the timing.  I could have handled this last year... unwillingly then too, but it was different.  Now I'm thinking in terms of how much time and energy I'm going to be able to give to my son and how unfair it is that I will adjusting to life as a mom at the same time as life as a middle school or high school teacher.  I hate to say it, but it really just sucks.

Have I mentioned that I already don't want to go back to work?  I can't even imagine how much that feeling is going to be multiplied in August (even going back to where I want to be!).  I'd love to be able to stay at home to raise my children, and that is eventually our plan, but that currently is not an option financially.  Jason already has 2 jobs!

So the interview at the middle school?  I would be teaching 6 different levels of students- a 9 week "intro" course to 6th graders (that's 1), 7th graders (that's 2), and 8th graders (that's 3).  I'd also be teaching a "Spanish for native speakers" course (that's 4), a year-long course for 8th graders (that's 5) and a 2 year-long course for 7th then 8th graders (that's 6).  6 classes to plan for, 6 classes to keep track of... oh, and my planning period each day? I would have a duty at the school... so no, no planning time.  At least teaching high school they try not to give you more than 2 or 3 "preps" (classes that require different "lesson plans").  6?? Okay, so I teach 6 now (K, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), but they are easy to adapt from grade to grade, and I only see each class once a week, not every other day!  On top of that the school was in worse condition than the one I'm already at (and that's saying quite a bit), the assistant principals were discussing going out and getting drunk last weekend (so professional), and oh yeah- I'd probably get to help with all the translating and interpreting for the school (considering it's 75% Hispanic). Sigh............. I'm keeping an open mind but was overall unimpressed. So much for having energy (or time!!!) for Floodling when I get home!

I have the interview at the high school tomorrow.  I can't believe that I am hoping it goes better than this one.  My initial thoughts were that middle school would at least be better than high school, but I am starting to change my mind.

I am still trusting that God has a plan for me, and that it will work out.  Patience and trust, patience and trust, patience and trust..... the hormones flying around are making it a little hard right now though.

Saturday Substitute

Hello, I'm your substitute today, Señor Flood. Señora Flood has taken the morning off (she's not in labor though!).

I don't read this blog as much as I should, given the fact that Diane is carrying my offspring. But I've read it enough to know that she points out and talks about the differences between reality and perception and the different ways pregnancy is viewed.

These last couple weeks have been interesting for me, the father, as far as reaction from coworkers, family, and friends. I got a part time job a couple of months ago to help offset the future rising cost of living in June and to get me out of the house after working from home so long. This new job is at a golf course. One of the few places where a man can talk without worrying about offending anyone. My two bosses are around my age. One is single and not losing that moniker anytime soon he hopes, while the other is married but content with his two dogs. Pretty much everyone else that works there is single, or at least without children. But the club also has a volunteer program that gives the one-day-a-week volunteers free/cheap golf. Most of the volunteers are older, like my grandparents age, or at least old enough to have kids away at college. The difference between the two groups' ideas of a baby is completely opposite.

My bosses at work comment like "oh, man, I am just not ready to do that," or "glad it is you not me."  On the other hand, many of the volunteers who know are really excited for me. They tell me there is nothing better than having a baby. One of the older guys, Charles, has been asking me daily if Diane's started to go into labor yet (he was a doctor and has been calling for her to go early for like two weeks now). One said that you don't know unconditional love till you have your fist child.

This got me thinking of my friends in general. My friends that have kids see Floodling's birth as the coolest thing ever for me. I will get to experience all the cool things about having a baby. We can do all these great kid's events together. My friends without kids see this as the death of our friendship and getting to hang out. I will never again get to get drunk at their house and hang out till 2 am. I'll never get the opportunity to do the thing related to my Friday night Facebook status. They assume the joy being expressed by those who do have kids is just joy of them not being the only ones in misery.

I don't really think that this is the end of my friendship with my non-kidded friends.  I don't plan on being a homebody and not taking my boy anywhere.  I remember being dragged around with my parents when I was young to their friends' houses.  It will be good for him to get out of the house and be around other people.  I know that I have no idea what to expect though. I don't pretend to know what to expect. I'm sure I'll figure it out though and we'll all do just fine. Just don't go thinking we'll never hang out and that our lives are over. They are just getting started!

It's tee time!

Something I'm sure quite a few of you have been waiting for.... pics of the finished nursery!  It's been "ready" for a while, but we put the finishing touches on it today, which included hanging the curtains (that my mom so lovingly sewed!) and putting the dry cleaned cushions on the glider (it took the cleaners 5 days to get them done :-/ ).

This is the view when you come in the door.  Isn't the quilt my mom made lovely??

The cozy corner.  The book basket idea was stolen from fellow "Due in June" blogger "Penny in Pink" (who gave birth to Penny at home on Tuesday! Congrats!!)

The dresser and wall art (made by me).  The truck was made by Jason's grandfather and won 2nd place in a state fair.  Jason and his siblings used to play with it, and Jason's grandfather gave it to him as a graduation gift.

We joked that the minute we finally got the last thing in place I would stand and admire it for a second, then suddenly say "my water broke!" ('Cuz we know that's how it happens, right??)

"Glee"-full delivery

So it strikes again, the popularized by TV version of childbirth.  No wonder so many women say "no way" to natural childbirth when you see stuff like I just saw!

*GLEE SPOILER ALERT*

If you watch Glee, I am giving a heads up that I may be giving away some of the final episode!

I am going to start by saying that I am not a Gleek....yet... I have been interested in the show and know I would love it if I started watching it, but Jason and I simply do not watch TV.  Jason has SportsCenter on 24/7 if he's home, but we do not really watch TV shows.  We used to be hooked on Heroes, Chuck, and at one time Pushing Daisies but it seems this past year we just "don't have the time" to watch shows.... what we're busy doing I'm not sure... but we Tivo our shows then never get caught up.  I alone only turn on the TV once or twice a month.

But, my mom is here and she watches Glee, so we sat down to watch it last night.  I am not writing this to make fun of the show, I truly enjoyed it, I just had some "qualms" with the childbirth part.  And, as I don't watch it, I really don't know much about the characters and plot line, so bear with me...

One of the girls in the Glee club, a cheerleader, was 9 months pregnant.  In the episode they are in a big competition with other Glee clubs, so they get up on stage and put on a big singing and dancing performance.  After the performance preggo girl's mom shows up (they've apparently not been talking because of the pregnancy).  She wants preggo to come home, she'll fix up a nursery, etc.  Mom asks, "so what do you think?"  After a "pregnant" pause (hahaha.....) Preggo replies, "my water just broke!"

There's Pregnancy Myth #1: Your water breaks then you go into labor, so obviously DON'T go anywhere in the last few weeks because you might just make a mess somewhere! "Clean up on aisle 5!"  Truth: Only about 10% of women have their water break before any contractions begin. Even once contractions begin you may be well into active labor (hours after labor has begun) before the membranes rupture (or you may have a wonderful doctor decide to rupture them for you, with or without permission! See comments section of this post).

So everyone, entire Glee club included, rushes to the hospital.  Rushes being the key word.

Pregnancy Myth #2: The moment labor begins you must rush to the hospital because obviously that baby is going to pop out while you're still in the car!  Truth: Labor in fact lasts easily up to 12 hours.  That's a "text book" labor meaning it can last even longer than that!  Sound scary?  Well yeah, but in actual fact in the early stages of labor you're likely only having one or two contractions an hour, and they're not very intense (well, that's what I'm told anyway).  Don't get me wrong, there are "speedsters" as my Bradley Childbirth Method book calls them, who birth much faster than that, but most likely with a first baby there's no way you're going to be giving birth in a car.

So they get to the hospital and everyone except Preggo, Mom, and Baby Daddy are told to wait in the waiting room.... and the wait begins.... except they apparently only have to wait... what? Half an hour?  Preggo is taken back and by the time the other Glee club has finished its' performance back at the competition she has a beautiful bouncing baby girl.

Pregnancy Myth #3: Wait, I don't even know if this is a myth.... Does anyone believe baby's pop out in half an hour?  I wish it was that fast!!  Again, as stated above, it could easily be 12 hours before you see any sign of baby. It was somewhere around 24 hours in fact from the time my mom had her first contraction with me to the time I actually arrived.

And of course, for effect, the birth of said baby is accompanied by plenty of screaming and yelling at Baby Daddy "you suck, you suck, you suck!"  I'm not going to claim this as any kind of myth... I know women do get like this, but I think we think its commonplace thanks to "childbirth as seen on TV".  One of the main things we learned in our birthing class is that fear leads to tension leads to pain.  Meaning if we know what's going on we're more able to relax and hopefully not be in as much pain (no, I'm not going to claim childbirth will be painless).  We also learned screaming is a GREAT way to stay relaxed (note the sarcasm...)  Screaming actually makes you tense up more.

Basically, I think if people knew that labor is not an instantaneous plunge into torture they might be more likely to consider alternative options for managing pain.  Childbirth on TV is scary!

All my bags are packed...

I'm ready to go
They're standing there right by my door
I hate to....

Just kidding, I won't torture you with any other lyrics I may have come up with. :P

But my bags are finally packed and ready!  They've actually been ready since Sunday, I just now got around to getting on here as my mom arrived on Monday and I've been busy doing other baby things around the house (including getting the carpets cleaned!)

My bags include a "Labor and Delivery" bag, a "Recovery" bag, and a "Baby" bag.  Oh, and of course the birthing ball!  That's a must!

The labor and delivery bag is separate from the others so that when we first arrive we only have to bring in the one bag.  Especially since we'll be moving rooms later.  The bag includes snacks for Jason (including Diet soda!), a change of clothes for both of us (mine are clothes that I don't mind getting rid of later), a bathing suit for Jason in case I decide to get in the shower, my relaxation CDs, my binder full of tricks, our birth "preferences," and THE most important item- chapstick!

The recovery bag includes your typical "overnight hotel stay" type items.  Hopefully that's all it will be- one night!

And the baby bag includes 2 going home outfits complete with hat, socks and mittens (1 is in newborn size and the other 0-3 months, just in case), a receiving blanket, a pacifier, and well... that's about it, cuz really, how much does he need?

Oh, and the car already has pillows for some "comforts from home" and a towel and garbage bag, just in case.... you can figure out what those are for.

Getting back into "shape"

There are two products on the market that are designed to help pregnant women recover their pre-pregnancy look.  One is called the Belly Bandit, and the other is called Shrinkx Hips.

The first, the Belly Bandit, works to compress the abdominal area.  This is supposed to not only "reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling" but also "aids in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and gives additional support for Mommy’s weary legs & back."  Basically it's supposed to help shrink the belly post-birth.

The other, Shrinkx Hips, is designed to compress your hips back to their pre-pregnancy size.  This is supposed to work because during and after pregnancy a woman's body releases a hormone called Relaxin that allows ligaments (and therefore joints) to stretch. Shrinkx Hips is supposed to work because "Relaxin stays in your system up to 8 weeks before joints and ligaments harden in place. Wearing the Shrinkx Hips belt during this time gives you the opportunity to permanently narrow your hips."

I am somewhat interested in these products- who doesn't worry about what their body will look like post-pregnancy?  But do I really need them?

1.  Breastfeeding is supposed to reduce the size of the uterus because it releases oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract. If I'm breastfeeding, is the Belly Bandit really necessary? 
2. I'm afraid if I were to use Shrinkx Hips I might shrink my hips more narrow than they were in the first place, and let's face it- a curvy body can be nice to look at sometimes!  (Though just how curvy, I'm not sure...) 
3. I'm sure the main purpose for the products is to tap into a market of women who are already overly concerned with their body shape, and do I really want to feed into that?

What do you "been there, done that" Moms out there think? If you had had the chance, would you have used these products? What about you pregnant moms, are you considering these products? Why or why not?

Why I'm NOT ready

 At 38 weeks I know a lot of women are just "done" with pregnancy.  They're over the whole thing, tired of sharing their body and all the aches, pains, and side effects caused by it.

I, however, am apparently not at that point yet.  It could be partially due to my long "to-do" list which looks something like this:

1. PACK!
2. Install car seat!
3. Clean carpets
4. Get glider cleaned and moved
5. Make curtains
6. Hang wall art
7. Find a solution for bookshelves
8. Finish organizing nursery

I need more time!

I'm sure there's a "fear" element too.... fear of not being a good mom, not knowing what to do, not being able to handle things, not getting enough sleep, and overall life changing so drastically!  But I'm also super excited to meet this little guy and get to see who he looks like, what he'll be like, and who he'll grow up to be!

It could also be due to the fact that I'm simply not miserable.  What I'm about to write makes me nervous because I could be ruining everything, right here, right now, as I bring up all the things I have yet to suffer.  I could be "jinxing" myself to say these thing "out loud" (okay, in writing, but still...).  But here goes....

Overall I feel I've had a really good pregnancy.  Except for the pretty rocky beginning (see these posts: 1, 2, 3) I've skipped out on a lot of the typical complaints, as I've mentioned before.  I have been happy not to suffer from:

• Morning sickness- except for the one morning I actually threw up and an overall sense of "bleh" for a little while, I never really had a problem with morning sickness
• Itchiness- I don't know if it's been the stretch mark creams, or what, but I am thankful that my belly and skin haven't been driving me nuts!
• Moodiness- even ask Jason, he'd tell you overall I've probably been more level-headed than normal.  Until the last few weeks that is... I'm getting a little irritable and the stress of the unknown with my job is getting to me too... but still, I don't seem to have "whoa, watch out for the pregnant lady!" mood swings.
• Trouble sleeping- okay, this one is kind of surprising me.  I still only get up once, maybe twice, a night to go to the bathroom, then I go right back to sleep!  Sleeping is not as comfortable as it used to be, but it really doesn't take me long to fall asleep, nor do I wake up out of discomfort or from Floodling squirming around.  I used to be an incredibly light sleeper, but things have changed and now I sleep like a rock.  I swear this kid could kick me right between the ribs and I wouldn't even roll over.  Kind of makes me worry about when he arrives.... will I wake up when he cries!?
• Painful kicks- I've heard a lot of people complain about their little ones getting their hands or feet all tangled up in their ribs, or getting really painful kicks.  Every once in a while Floodling will do something that makes me go "oof" (especially if he hits my bladder) but it hasn't been bad at all!
• Swelling- unless I sit in a chair for too long I really haven't had any swelling!
• Food cravings/aversions- I've had a few things that I've had "hankerings" for- spicy pickles in the beginning, steak in the middle, and right now it seems to be s'mores, but I haven't sent Jason out in the middle of the night to grab me anything because I haven't needed anything "right now!!".  Nor is there anything that just completely turns me off.
• Weight gain- I've put on the appropriate amount of weight, not too much, not too little, so I feel good and mobile still! 
• Stretch marks- I know I still have 2 weeks to go, and he's going to grow a lot in those two weeks, so I really shouldn't say anything yet, but so far, so good!  My secret? Check here!
• Heat- I really haven't been overly hot at all. I think, though, that I've really just become more like a normal person.  I am usually always freezing cold and my husband and I would always argue over the house temperature.  I think he's fairly pleased that I am now happy to have the temperature set where he likes it!

Now I'm not going to say I haven't had my complaints....

• Back pain- if I move the wrong way, or sit in the wrong type of chair, my back gets so achey that the only thing I can do to make it go away is lay down.  I can't even do the stretches I love at the gym because they make my back hurt!  And spending more than an hour at a restaurant? No thanks!
• Bending- it's getting incredibly difficult these days, and so, of course, I seem to be dropping everything!  I can thankfully still tie my shoes, though that is a long and annoying process in and of itself!  I'm loving that it's summer break and I can wear flip flops all the time!
• Getting around- getting up off the couch, out of the car, out of bed.... everything takes a little extra effort these days and it's getting a little old.
• Exhaustion- trying to get my "to do" list finished seems impossible sometimes because I get half a task completed and am just too tired to keep going!
• Bras- This is probably THE one thing that is getting to me the most.... the pain I posted about earlier has still not gone away!  Even after giving the bra a break for a bit.... the doctor thinks Floodling must have a foot there or something and it's stretching the muscles or skin.  I don't know, but living with this stabbing/burning sensation constantly is one thing I am looking forward to getting rid of!
• Bathroom- for someone who used to go maybe 3 times a day, it's hard sometimes having to go 3 times in one hour!  But I do have to admit that's not the norm for me.  I think I went from peeing like a camel (hardly at all!) to peeing like an actual normal person.

But overall I don't have the feeling yet that I'm just ready for this to be over.  (Of course, nor do I feel like I want to do this forever!)

My grandmother said that her mom told her not to wish away the pregnancy because "they're easier to take care of on the inside than the outside!".  So for now I'm happy to go with the flow and not wish away my time. 

We'll see how I feel in another week or so........

Don't worry, be happy!

We had our last monthly ultrasound today!  This was our last peek at Floodling before we get to meet him in person!  It's kind of weird to think that this person growing inside of me that we've been "spying" on is so close to being here!  I truly can't wait to meet him!

Things seem to be perfectly fine in there.  Wait... you mean, I had no need to worry?  Gee, what a concept! :P  As usual, my worries yesterday were unfounded.  They said Floodling is growing just fine.  In fact he weighs approximately 7 lbs now!  (Technically they estimated 6 lbs. 15 oz.).  Of course, estimates can be very off (up to a pound in either direction) but my assumption is that if the measurements each month have been following a fairly steady path, as they have, that they're probably somewhat accurate.

I didn't get any pictures once again.  His head is right down in my pelvis (where it should be) and turned towards my back (also as it should be!) making it hard to get a good view...unless you want a picture of his butt as my friend Stacey suggested.  As I've said before, that's okay by me if it means no breech baby and no back labor!  The technician did comment on the size of his head though, yikes!  Unfortunately "Daddy" has quite a big noggin himself... in fitted baseball hats he wears next to the largest size you can get!  But Mother Nature knows what she is doing and knows "Mommy" ain't a big gal so I'm trusting things will fit just fine.

Since I have no ultrasound pic, here's another fun pic!

Curiosity killed the cat

I had another weekly OB appointment today.  Everything is looking good... in fact they're looking really good.  The doctor said his head is very low (she could feel it!) and I am apparently 1.5 cm dilated and 75% effaced!  For those that may not know, those number refer to the cervix- how much it has opened and how much it has thinned.  These are good signs that things are progressing well, however it doesn't necessarily mean labor is imminent.  In fact, it's very possible to be dilated even up to 3 cm. for weeks before giving birth.  It is good to know that things seem to be working properly so far though. The doctor said if she had to guess she'd say he'll be early but I'm still taking things day by day (though getting a little more serious about packing my bags and practicing my breathing and relaxation techniques!).

I was a little disappointed in myself for going ahead with the pelvic exam today... let me explain. They had told me last week that they really only do pelvic exams towards the end (weeks 39 and onwards).  I was kind of glad that they had this kind of "laissez-faire" approach because to me it signaled less medical intervention and more willingness on their part to let nature do what it does.  I've read that pelvic checks are unnecessary anyway seeing as how the numbers don't really mean a whole lot and on top of that, why disturb things? 

Well, the nurse today asked if I wanted to be "checked" and I said no, though I told Jason after she walked out that I was honestly kind of curious.  Then, instead of the doctor, a student came in next to do the preliminary stuff- she measured my uterus and checked Floodling's heart beat.  But when she wrote down the "size of my uterus" she said "hmm..." and came back and measured again.  The doctor then re-measured when she came in and asked when the next ultrasound was.  They didn't really say anything but I was suspecting they were concerned about his growth.  I was actually measuring at 35 cm.  Normally you measure just around the same number of weeks you are.... so I should measure around 37 cm.  Now, I have no idea at all what my measurements have been like all along, but I had that feeling that things weren't quite right so when she said she wanted to do a pelvic check I said ok.

My worry  is that when it comes to being in labor I'm going to be that easily swayed by small suspicions and worries.  In wanting to do an unmedicated birth I really can't allow myself to simply be "pushed" into what the doctors want.  I know they mean well, in fact, I know they mean to do what's best, but I don't feel that some options really are best at the times they are offered.  I'm scared I'm going to say "okay, give me the pitocin" if they suggest that the baby is getting stressed, or that I might say "okay, go ahead and break my water" if they suggest that the baby is getting too tired and breaking my water may move things along.  Neither of those are bad options, just not options I want to choose without the proper amount of thought and consideration.

I'm mostly blaming this one on "curiosity killed the cat" but I'm also taking it as an appropriate "warning" of how easily I do let my emotions get in the way and allowing it to make me think about how I want to respond when presented with "unwanted" options while in labor...