chit chat October!! - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[franjapany]

finnegansmom - I know exactly how you feel: welcome to the club. I've had this cold for almost three weeks now and it sucks! I just want to not be coughing anymore. Good thing my due date is still four weeks away, so I might stand a chance to actually get well before I need to give birth. Because, honestly, if I went into labour now I really don't see how I would be strong enough to give birth. My sinuses are blocked too, ugh. Anyhow, fingers crossed that you'll both be better soon!

guen - your midwife sounds truely annoying! I am so glad to have found an amazing midwife in these parts. Also, we are insured with Securvita and they pay the 250€ Bereitschaftsgeld because they support midwives and homebirths. We are also tight on money and should we need to go to the hospital our mw doesn't get payed a thing and normally it would cost us 650-700€ out of our own pockets. But our mw knows about our situation and has offered to trade her services for DH doing some work in her garden and helping her mother move etc. I feel so lucky to have arrived in an amazing community where these kinds of deals are possible.

SO, we are going to move next sunday. There still is loads to do, DH spent the whole day in the new flat to put up wallpaper in our bedroom which he hopefully will be able to finish tomorrow, so he can paint the room on thursday. I still haven't packed many boxes yet and the whole move is going to be really chaotic. But I am trying to be relaxed about it. It is just sooo hard to get anything done with DD around and both kids in the afternoon and the normal chores still needing to be done. The days are just too short. Ah well, I'll probably give you an update once the whole thing is more or less over. Wish me luck and health and lots of energy :)

[tekcez]

ugh, franjapany and finnegansmom, I can't imagine having a persistent cough right now.  I choked on some water (smooth) and peed on myself and felt like I sprained a rib trying to cough it up.  hope you guys feel 100% better soon.  Sending big nesting vibes for your move your way, franjapany.  

Sarah!!  What is the phase of the moon right now?? Could it be barometric pressure, the direction of the wind, some sort of magical sleep wave happening?  Because last night DS slept in his room from 7:15 to 4!!!!!!  I can't believe it.  We put him to bed on a futon in the nursery for the beginning of the night before one of us goes to bed.  He usually wakes up several times before we go to bed and then as soon as our heads hit the pillow or we are about to doze off.  Last night I heard him stir several times and went in to check on him, but he was still fast asleep.  At 4 he crawled off the futon and fussed a bit and then fell asleep as soon as I put him in bed with me, no screaming, no asking for milk or water, no fussing at all.  Totally out of character.  I'm not getting excited about it, though.  I'll gratefully take the peaceful night and not press the universe for more blessings ;)

Today I got a glimpse of that really intense end of pregnancy, let's-get-this-over-with feeling.  DS just wants to play and play and play in the afternoons, and I am feeling soooooo done by then.  We spent 2 hours at the park after his nap and was still going strong after dinner.  He wants me to carry him and he loves to be right on top of my belly if I'm sitting down.  I feel for him and am really looking forward to being able to carry him around and rough house with him a bit instead of trying to redirect his attention constantly, which doesn't really ever work.  But then of course I'll be nursing a newborn...

[guen]

franjapany-- Yes, I think Secutiva is the only insurance that does pay the Bereitschaftsgeld.  I'm with TK and I really can't complain, for the most part, they're great.  But it doesn't sound like they pay the Bereitschaftsgeld, from what they told DH when he went in and asked.  I forget what the reason was that they gave him.

Your midwife does not get paid at all if you end up birthing in hospital?  Would she not get paid for the Vor- und Nachsorge/Wochenbett?  It's wonderful that you can barter for services.  I wish that was more common these days.  I think it is a wonderful and practical solution.

 

[fayebond]

Anyone else feel equal parts tired and restless?  Its like I want a nap but can't get it, I need to get stuff done but can't think through it.  Grrr.

At least the weather has been awesome lately!  Warm, not cold, cool at night but not too bad.  About time for the space heaters to emerge....

guen, oh gads the prepayment thing makes it harder over here too.  Insurance technically pays for it all, but by "all" they mean all at one place. Going to multiple places is risky because they might or might not pay for it, so the whole time I was looking at CPs, I had to try and make it as small and informal an appointment as possible in hopes of not arousing the whole well-we-only-cover-the-rpenatal-package thing.  Usually US insurance pays for the entire prenatal package, then the birth separately.  So multiple prenatal options, while technically allowed, can be a financial pain.  We were blessed that no one seems to have noticed the five different hospitals I went to...  I'll be praying for you guys, that's really hard.  IF you go with the young midwife, I hope she is busy tweeting while you give birth :).

[kateaton]

Originally Posted by fayebond 

Anyone else feel equal parts tired and restless?  Its like I want a nap but can't get it, I need to get stuff done but can't think through it.  Grrr.

Oh my gosh, this describes it exactly!  I feel insane some days (and nights too).  I never know when I go to bed if I'll get a decent night sleep or not.  I could wake up to pee and then think about how I need to clean out my car and my mind is off... there's no hope after that.  I'm so stinking tired today.

[faithsstuff]

I just wanted to pop my head in and say hello.  We're getting to the end!  

I had a major hormonal meltdown this weekend and locked dh out of the house.  He thought that going to the community garden took precedence over getting things done at our house.  I was a mess.  Then I scrubbed all the tile floors (2 bathrooms and the kitchen) on my hands and knees with a scrub brush.  Ended up with contractions and throwing my back out of alignment again, dh thought I'd gone loony, and I truly think I did for a few hours.    I have to say that dh accomplished a ton during the rest of the weekend :)

My blood sugar levels are still all over the place, I'm taking over 100 cc's of insulin a day, the midwives mentioned an insulin pump, this is such a pain.  It's just hormones, and with the lack of sleep and nausea, I just can't keep them stable.  I"m at the specialists once a week now and at this point, I'd be surprised if I make it to due date.  I also gained 7 pounds in 2 weeks which is more then I've gained the entirety of the pregnancy, I'm eating less and no 'good stuff' at all.  I am so over this!

The weather however is gorgeous!  I love Fall, but it seems like the shortest season of them all here in Atlanta.  I can barely walk 2 blocks without those icky bh but I spend alot of time in the yard and hammock and just trying to soak it all in.  Our neighborhood is doing a scarecrow contest so every couple days we tour the area looking for new scarecrows and Halloween decorations, so much fun.

[abouttobe5]

I'm feeling so blah.  I was up from 4:30-6 this morning thinking of all the crap I had to do.  Then with C was off to school and B was off to swim lessons with my DH, I scooted out to Starbucks to get it all down on paper and think it through.  Mostly work stuff.  I"m acutely aware that next Thursday will be my last day in office and I just don't feel content right now in practice.  Kinda bored (less people to adjust because I can't adjust manually without getting contractions or abdominal pain).  Kinda restless.  Kinda nervous about how it will all unfold, although at peace with it all too.  Strange feelings! I think sometimes I just feel useless.  

I'm also very nervous that if this baby does come naturally well into November, that I will have stayed home for 2 weeks prior without adjusting or seeing anyone in practice.  It just feels strange to do that!  I've never ever took time before my babies were born....always worked up until the day they were.  So to have an official date that I"m stopping working is very very weird.  

I will get some QT with my son during the day but my level of exhaustion is such that I don't know what we will do.  Maybe lots of reading, movies, easy walks around our neighbourhood, drawing, etc.  

And damn, I have got to buy a baby carseat!!!

[sere234]

Faithstuff- My DH says I'm more emotional lately too. Kinda told him off while trying to listen and understand.... And, well, I guess I do agree with him. Life is pretty busy lately and DH and I haevn't been taking enough time for each other so I guess it does make me more emotional. \\

Fayebond and Kateaton- Yep, I'm there with you! I really want to work all the time to get stuff done but part of me thinks, RELAX. You've only got a few more weeks with one kid, maybe you should enjoy it! And then I think: only one kid means more time to work!!  I haven't napped in weeks, saving all of those for when the baby keeps me awake all night! 

Tekcez- Lets hope our boys adjust well to having a sibling soon! Certainly it won't give them MORE bad dreams to wake up to at night! Hehehe. And yes, I've been thinking it'll be nice to not have this big belly in my way all the time! Last night DH asked me if I was ready to have this kiddo and yep, mentally, I think I am. Physically I still feel pretty good until evening even though crawling after and playing with DS is tough! However, project-wise, I still have LOTS to do!

So we're dog-sitting my sister's big ol' German Shepard while she's on vacation. And dang, that dog peed in my upstairs hallway! Made a lovely mess.... Glad it was on the wood floor at least.

Made a bunch of homemade Lara bars for when Baby comes. They are chilling in the fridge, hopefully they taste okay. I'll pop them in the freezer tonight!

Speaking of tonight, DS hasn't yet napped today which means he'll go to bed early tonight! Yay! I plan on cuddling with DH and watching a movie. We need a night off!

[faithsstuff]

Abouttobe5- Take the time when you need it!  I hope you get some chill time.

sere-I kept ds up today, I'm hoping he gets to bed alright.  Also, can you share your Lara bar recipe?  Enjoy movie night!  Redbox just got Snow white and the Huntsman (or whatever the title is) and I can't wait to snag it, but not tonight, it's X Factor night ;)

[tekcez]

Definitely feeling the agitation, emotional roller coaster trip today. Yikes.  I was not super nice and patient with ds this morning.  He woke before 5 and wouldn't go back to sleep.  We were both so cranky that I had to put him down for a nap by 9.  He was up by 10:30.  DH was a magician getting him to take another little nap at 2:30 during my perinatolgist appointment.  I was feeling so guilty about my frustration level with DS that I cried all the way to the appointment. Then, while I waited for the nurse practitioner, one of the midwives called me to tell me that she was concerned about some of my blood sugar levels.  Meanwhile I've only had 2 values out of range for the entire month.  5 total since I began charting.  I'm glad she called while I was at the perinatologist, because she would have really freaked me out.  This baby girl is measuring exactly as she should.  The np said I was one of her most tightly controlled patients.  The Dr. said he was not remotely worried about my levels, that I had zero chance of needing medication, that I can stop testing completely if I want as long as I don't go carb crazy, and that he only wants to see me one more time between now and delivery.  I felt so relieved, but then soooooo angry with this midwife for blowing those few values out of proportion.  She's a midwife!  Does she not know what women go through in the last month of pregnancy.  Right now I'm really dreading the possibility that she might be on call when birthing time comes.  Now there are 2 of 4 midwives that I don't really want attending my birth.  Those are not good odds.  I'm trying to tell myself that it really doesn't matter who is on call, I will be in control, blah blah blah.  But it would be nice to have like a nurturing, supportive presence at this birth.  Part of me really wants to find a last minute midwife for a home birth. Part of me thinks I need to just chill out.  

[Bmorefarmgirl]

Originally Posted by tekcez 

Now there are 2 of 4 midwives that I don't really want attending my birth. 

uggghhh...  me too!  i'm trying to keep everything in perspective and tell myself that most of my laboring will be done at home, and i'll have my family there to support me, and mostly be dealing with the nurses, and when the stuff hit the fan with my son, i couldn't even tell you WHO was in the room, let alone whether i liked them or not.  but then....there are these appointments...soon to be weekly!  just...uggghhh...

i'm sorry you're going through all the sleep deprivation and blood sugar issues on top of everything! 

i totally have insomnia.  in the middle of the afternoon when ds is asking me 10000 questions about everything, i have no patience or energy and just want to lay down.  now it's 12:15am and i rediscovered bejeweled blitz on facebook (bad idea!!!) and i'm totally wired!  last night DH came home from work with a stomach bug and went straight to bed to leave me with a sick and cranky DS for the evening.  it was a bad night.  very short tempered.  everyone is feeling better today, but man, that just makes me really nervous for how things will be with a newborn in this house....i feel like the work load for mama is going to more than double...  my sister said the reason you have to get up and pee all the time when you're pregnant is so you get used to waking up for a new baby.  i hope this insomnia is not foretelling my nights to come.

i wrote a birth plan tonight. it made me simultaneously excited and angry.  excited to be actually getting prepared for a birth.  angry that i have to write down a list of things to fight about in the hospital.  i started to pack my hospital bag, but the things i need to put in it are mostly things like toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, bra and underwear. things that i will need in the meantime.  i can probably find travel size toothpaste, but i don't think i will go buy a new toothbrush for what will hopefully be a very short hospital stay just so i have one packed at 36 weeks like babycenter dot com says i should. 

[sere234]

DS went to bed at 7 and my brain was fried from a day of wrangling him without a break. Then, instead of cuddling with DH and watching a movie we had an emotional barf-fest on each other. Turns out being super busy and not taking time to talk about life, impending birth, and feelings for weeks isn't good for us. Who woulda thought?!?!  It was nice to reconnect with him and just talk for a couple of hours. Well, some tears and lots of emotions but mostly talk! So glad some of you here understand all the craziness that inevitably seems to accompany the last month or two of pregnancy! 

I think we all need a little vacation away this weekend to relax before our babies come! We seem to have lots of little stressers adding up around us! But then we wouldn't be getting all those last minute/before the baby comes tasks done at home!  Here's hoping the last few weeks in our DDC calm down and we can rest and reflect somewhat!

[OceansEve]

Originally Posted by Bmorefarmgirl 

i wrote a birth plan tonight. it made me simultaneously excited and angry.  excited to be actually getting prepared for a birth.  angry that i have to write down a list of things to fight about in the hospital.  i started to pack my hospital bag, but the things i need to put in it are mostly things like toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, bra and underwear. things that i will need in the meantime.  i can probably find travel size toothpaste, but i don't think i will go buy a new toothbrush for what will hopefully be a very short hospital stay just so i have one packed at 36 weeks like babycenter dot com says i should. 

with my first I had a bag packed and ready (then again I also had problems and a very fast trip to the hospital happened a few times). I justified getting stuff for the bag by saying, this is stuff I replace regularly anyway and it's not like I won't use it once I'm back home.

Originally Posted by sere234 

DS went to bed at 7 and my brain was fried from a day of wrangling him without a break. Then, instead of cuddling with DH and watching a movie we had an emotional barf-fest on each other. Turns out being super busy and not taking time to talk about life, impending birth, and feelings for weeks isn't good for us. Who woulda thought?!?!  It was nice to reconnect with him and just talk for a couple of hours. Well, some tears and lots of emotions but mostly talk! So glad some of you here understand all the craziness that inevitably seems to accompany the last month or two of pregnancy! 

I think we all need a little vacation away this weekend to relax before our babies come! We seem to have lots of little stressers adding up around us! But then we wouldn't be getting all those last minute/before the baby comes tasks done at home!  Here's hoping the last few weeks in our DDC calm down and we can rest and reflect somewhat!

I need a staycation. Wait first I need telepathy so I will know exactly when babe is coming. Then someone to watch the kids the two days before hand so DH and I can get the house in shape for the new arrival. I hear you on the emotional barf fest :( I was sick this weekend, DH opened the dishwasher and had the nerve to ask me why I washed sippy cups, but managed to not put any lids in. Wooo..... it wasn't pretty :p Commence one of the biggest arguements we've had in months.

[OceansEve]

Originally Posted by tekcez 

Definitely feeling the agitation, emotional roller coaster trip today. Yikes.  I was not super nice and patient with ds this morning.  He woke before 5 and wouldn't go back to sleep.  We were both so cranky that I had to put him down for a nap by 9.  He was up by 10:30.  DH was a magician getting him to take another little nap at 2:30 during my perinatolgist appointment.  I was feeling so guilty about my frustration level with DS that I cried all the way to the appointment. Then, while I waited for the nurse practitioner, one of the midwives called me to tell me that she was concerned about some of my blood sugar levels.  Meanwhile I've only had 2 values out of range for the entire month.  5 total since I began charting.  I'm glad she called while I was at the perinatologist, because she would have really freaked me out.  This baby girl is measuring exactly as she should.  The np said I was one of her most tightly controlled patients.  The Dr. said he was not remotely worried about my levels, that I had zero chance of needing medication, that I can stop testing completely if I want as long as I don't go carb crazy, and that he only wants to see me one more time between now and delivery.  I felt so relieved, but then soooooo angry with this midwife for blowing those few values out of proportion.  She's a midwife!  Does she not know what women go through in the last month of pregnancy.  Right now I'm really dreading the possibility that she might be on call when birthing time comes.  Now there are 2 of 4 midwives that I don't really want attending my birth.  Those are not good odds.  I'm trying to tell myself that it really doesn't matter who is on call, I will be in control, blah blah blah.  But it would be nice to have like a nurturing, supportive presence at this birth.  Part of me really wants to find a last minute midwife for a home birth. Part of me thinks I need to just chill out.  

:( I'm sorry you're having GD problems. I hear you on the who's attending thing. When I went in to have DD2 the BIGGEST ASS was on call, I pissed him off just right that he didn't even come into my room again before shift change. I was so worried I would end up with him when I went in for DD3. I've been very lucky, we'll see if my luck holds this time.

[abouttobe5]

Originally Posted by Bmorefarmgirl 

 i started to pack my hospital bag, but the things i need to put in it are mostly things like toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, bra and underwear. things that i will need in the meantime.  i can probably find travel size toothpaste, but i don't think i will go buy a new toothbrush for what will hopefully be a very short hospital stay just so i have one packed at 36 weeks like babycenter dot com says i should. 

I've started putting mine together already.  I'm past 37 weeks at this point but honestly, it's for peace of mind.  The last two times we went to the hospital were last minute and I had to leave it up to my DH to pack it for me after I was already there.  BIG mistake.  Wrong underwear.  Yoga pants that were too uncomfortable after just having had a c-section.  Tops that didn't fit right.  Plus, missing things I really wanted like a cell phone charger, extra change for TV access (we have to pay for it at our hospital), a book, camera, etc.  

Sooooo, this time it's packed and ready to go.  :)  With a list on top of things to pop in at the last minute as you mentioned - bra, phone charger, camera, etc.  This way there is no mistaking what I need.  Hopefully I won't need a lot of stuff to stay (thumbs up for a natural birth!) but realistically I want to be prepared for whatever happens!  

Don't feel guilty or silly about it...feel prepared.  :)

[fayebond]

bmoreofafarmgirl. I feel the same way about my birth plan!  I want to start every sentence with, "this being the 21st century"... but I wrote "please" instead.  My birth plan is really only going to be relevant if we have a hospital transfer, but it feels good to have it down.  

faithsstuff, aww, sorry your hormones are out of whack.  Mine are too, but mostly they just seem to engage to make me a zombie.  My face gets all slack and I just want to lean on something and be still for a few minutes.  Wierd.

Hugs to all the mamas with CP problems.  I am so thankful that I'm finally clicking with both my midwives, and kinda looking forward to the extra appointments.  Big difference from the first half of the pregnancy for me.  They are kinda pushing the waterbirth idea, but its a popular thing around here I guess.

Now I really better get off the computer...

[finnegansmom]

I actually need to think about packing a bag too.  I kind of don't want to this early but I just need to get it over and done with and checked off the list. 

I'll have enough to worry about with the kids once labor starts, don't want to be rushing around trying to find nursing bras and some sort of pant that might fit me that I can wear in public. I'll be 37 weeks in a few days. 

I also need to pack what the baby will wear.  I will bring some cloth diapers but not sure what else...we don't know what we're having.  I do know enough to bring soft cotton hats...the ones at the hospital barely fit over the head since my babes tend to have rather robust noggins.

In other news, I'm still coughing my head off.  I think I tore a muscle in my uterus or belly button.  I just can't shake whatever it is I have.  I hope it's not pneumonia, I've never had that but my lungs are making some seriously crazy noises when I breath in.

[sere234]

I think packing a hospital bag at this point is pretty reasonable! Plus I just love crossing things off my to do list so I'd do it now too :) I need to pack my JIC bag since we're having a homebirth but I think I might just set out the list instead of packing it.... I WILL pack DS's bag in the next week or 2 in case we decide to ship him off to grandma's if he gets disruptive during the birth. 

All my other farmer-ish friends out there: I'm wondering how I'm going to feed and water the chickens in the winter with a toddler and a newborn. Any tips? I guess I'll set DS in front of the TV and take newbie out with me? Or wait until newbie is sleeping and take toddler out with me? Dang, feeding and watering chickens when it's cold outside and snowy. Fun! 

Yesterday DS learned the word diarrhea and told it to everyone we saw alllllll day long. We're watching my sister's dog for a week while she's on vacation and he apparently has separation anxiety! Made a giant mess in his giant crate (he's a German Shepard) and my big pregnant butt had to haul that huge crate outside to spray it off. Then lug a bucket of water to the garage to clean the floor. I complained and cursed a lot in my head.  Then we went and ran errands and came back to find another mess! Cleaned everything up again and chained the sick dog outside under a tree. Remind me never to get a big dog and stick with ONE TINY dog. Our dog barks a lot but dang is she containable. 

Have a good day everyone!

[OceansEve]

Any chance you can get your husband to do farm chores? That's what I've done the last few months since I've been so miserable. I am kinda excited to get back out there again after the birth! I miss taking care of our animals. I would try to do it when both are napping.... depending on how far your coop/barn is from the house. If it's further away than feels safe to leave them inside maybe give ds the job of throwing out scratch and sling the new babe?

[fayebond]

Originally Posted by sere234 

All my other farmer-ish friends out there: I'm wondering how I'm going to feed and water the chickens in the winter with a toddler and a newborn. Any tips? I guess I'll set DS in front of the TV and take newbie out with me? Or wait until newbie is sleeping and take toddler out with me? Dang, feeding and watering chickens when it's cold outside and snowy. Fun! 

Well, my newbie loved the moby, and chickens are the biggest game to her now that she is a toddle, so I'd probably go with #1, or take DS too, all bundled up and make a fun game out of it. I'd be tired out at the end! I don't have my own chickens though, its at Gramma's twice a week that she sees them,  so every day would probably be different...

Its cold again today.  I have been enjoying all this warm fall weather so much, its easy to forget that cold and rainy is the norm around this time of year.  Lovely weather for a cup of tea and a book... at least DD likes books.  :)