In transition

Latest advice from the doc:

Don’t wait until you know you are in labor, come in if you think you MIGHT possibly be in labor.

Eyes glued to the clock.

Are they picking up or slowing down?  Just another sleepless night or is it time to call grandma to babysit.?  I told Tim it’s like having a hammer hanging over my head.  I know it’s going to hurt when it falls.  I know it won’t be for long, but knowing it’s unpleasant does put some damper on the excitement.  Like many  pregnant women I have a developed a minor obsession with birth stories.  I enjoy reading the midwifery blogs. Occasionally I stumble upon one that is tragic and yet I can’t tear myself away.  At other times I read the ones by those who believe themselves to be the embodiment of a goddess while giving birth and I laugh until I cry.  A positive outlook is helpful, but there is a line where you cross into the absurd.

I ‘ve done it both ways and I plan on trying to go natural once again, simply because the recovery was so much easier.  I will take a few hours of pain over weeks of discomfort any time.   You won’t hear me speaking of dancing on rainbows envisioning flowers during the expansions.  Contractions hurt, about that I have no illusions.

I think we’re down to days, but my house is clean and my freezer is nearly full.  I’m ready.

My birthday is tomorrow, I want to spend the day curled up with Harry Potter.  Hopefully I can.

Vera tagged me as a Rockin’ Girl Blogger. The deal is to tag five other people for it. I’m generally not good at these things, but here are five more…

BadbadIvy – Without her, there’d be no Home Ec 101, Moncks Corner Moments, nor would I be writing for Lowcountry Blogs.  Thanks for turning me on to the whole thing.   I owe ya one.

Margo – I’ve enjoyed watching her love of photography grow over the last year.

April – although she’s been very quiet, as of late.

KathyT – Another nashvillian, but I don’t hold it against her.  I enjoy her zest for life.

Kat Coble – like myself, I’m sure she’ll object to the title Rockin’  but. . . There have been times where I can’t separate her writing from my own internal monologue.  This frightens and intrigues me.

Even though I’ve hardly left the couch the past few weeks, I’ve managed to become behind in almost every venture.  I’m not even counting housework, as my doctor said, “I don’t care if it collapses, ignore it.”

Tuesday the restrictions are lifted and I can herd the dustbunnies, negotiate a truce with the laundry, and wipe out anything that may be growing in the bathrooms.  It’s probably telling that these things weigh so heavily on my mind.

It won’t be long.

Last night I skirted doctor’s orders and headed down to the beach with Margo for some pictures.  I didn’t want to miss what will be my last opportunity for maternity pictures.  It’s a closing chapter in my life, bittersweet with relief and very little regret.

These two are my favorites, but check out her post for more.

What’s blooming and why does it hate me so?

Once there was a husband who complained of a wicked sore throat.  He moaned and groaned, sweating and pale.

“Go to the doctor!”

“It’s just a cold.”

One by one we’re succumbing to spiking fevers and glassy eyes.   Expensive trips to Urgent Care, throat swabs, shots, and antibiotics.

I’m the last one standing.  A few more sleepless nights and nothing will save me.  I swear, if I go into labor with strep throat, there will be Hell to pay.

Aidan and Mark like to play with my old student trumpet.  Eventually we may have to get a second.

Aidan was pestering my stepdaughter incessantly. After a lot of jabber on his part one particular exchange left me nearly in tears with laughter.

A: Does Jesus live in your heart?

M: mmhmm

A: Well, how’s he doing?

I don’t exactly like touring the labor and delivery ward at 32 weeks.  I had been hoping the midwife would pat me on the head and send me home with a lecture to rest.   Instead I was sent to Trident for some testing, fluids (they pushed them so hard my fingers are swollen), and some medication to stop contractions.

In your teens, did you ever drink as much coffee as you could, just to see what it felt like? That’s what these shots do, but they stop contractions and I’ll take that over a preemie.

I’m under orders to rest and not pick up my toddler if I can help it.  Friends and ladies from church are taking these orders quite seriously and pitching in to make sure I can live up to the resting part while Tim is at work.   I’m very, very grateful.

5 more weeks to cook and I will happily welcome the arrival, now let’s just make it there.

I love my hometown and it hurts my heart to see her shaken with grief.  She’s an old soul though and has weathered many tragedies, wars, earthquakes, fires, and hurricanes.  Her citizens will once again come together and carry each other through this troubled time.

Not me… oh no, it’s Tim.

He’s building shelves and caulking the shower.   I would like to think it has nothing to do with Blizzard taking down the realms of World of Warcraft for a patch.