The two-week wait

Albeit of another sort entirely. Barring birth, I go back to the doc in two weeks.

I had another doc appointment today, with the first internal exam of this pregnancy. Not much news – BeeGee is locked and loaded “down there.” The doc says she’s in a perfect position for delivery and hovering around a zero position (I can’t remember offhand if positive or negative is further down, but zero must be smack dab in the middle).

No dilation or effacement of the Big C. I had my Group B Strep test (!) and go in tomorrow for bloodwork to check platelets to make sure an epidural will be okay. And I have to keep taking the iron pills. Or, umm, you know, start taking the iron pills. One of those two.

Otherwise nothing to report. I go for another growth scan in two weeks and then it’s back to the good doctor. I am feeling really good, although I must admit walking is getting a bit harder some days. It all depends on how well I sleep the night before – some nights I sleep like a log, others I toss and turn. Some I appear to sleep through only to wake up with a very sore abdomen and feeling like I haven’t gotten a wink – my guess is that I’m having some contractions while I sleep and that, while I can sleep through them, I can’t sleep through them that well. If that’s my only complaint at 37 weeks (and really, that’s it – even my cankles are doing better), then I’ve got it pretty darn good.

Bitten by the bug

The siren song of triathlon is playing again for me. No, I’m not planning on doing anything stupid between now and delivery day. I am saving all my stupidity for shortly thereafter.

You see, Israel has very few triathlons that aren’t on Shabbos. As in, two. Of the two, only one of them is held at a time of the year when one would actually want to exercise outside in Israel (February). And that one is an amazing “long course” race in Eilat in late February. So the only real question is:

Do I try to train for a long-course race (1.2 mile/2 km swim, 56 mile/90 km bike, and a half-marathon – 13.1 mile/21 km run) for February 2009?

Or do I try and train for my first iron-distance race (double the numbers above) for February 2010?

Or both? Or neither? Do we plan a trip to Europe just to race there instead? Have I mentioned how hilly Europe is?

One year later

A year ago yesterday we boarded a charter flight to move to Israel. We were a little sad and a little scared and mostly just exhausted.

What a difference a year makes. The hubby has learned a ton of Hebrew and Arabic (and English, but that’s just because he has to write highfalutin papers now). I have a new career that I really enjoy and that offers me a perfect balance between compensation and flexibility. The hubby and I see each other everyday and eat many dinners together – something that didn’t happen when I was in journalism.

And we’re about to add to the family. We’re surrounded by friends who are like family. And we’re happier than we’ve ever been.

Even if we do miss Target.

That sinking feeling

Last Friday night, the baby dropped. She’s a good 4-5 inches lower in me than she was before. I wasn’t quite sure at first – it’s a very strange feeling. I feel like I have a head stuck between my legs, which isn’t entirely incorrect. But I also have new stretch marks to match where she is now lower and rounder than before, so I think “lightening” has occured (talk about a crap name for a biological occurrence – there is nothing “light” about it).

As the hubby put it, “she fell down. On her head.”

There is now constant pressure against what I think must be the bones “down there,” though I’m not entirely certain where there is. And while my ribs hurt a good deal less and the bruising is healing nicely, I now pee constantly.

As in, seven times a night constantly. Ah well. At least I’m well hydrated.

Saturday night I made the mistake of trying to run a block and a half to catch a city bus. I caught the bus but appear to have done something funny to my left hip. It’s not painful per se, just a little looser than the other side. I hadn’t had any complaints at all prior to this, so I’m more upset with myself for ruining a good thing than I am in actual misery. Really, I’m feeling quite good. The heat still sucks and the feet are still swollen, but I get the feeling that comes with the territory and I can still do most of what I need to.

Other than that, no more contractions or signs of impending labor. I did have a little pinkish residue on some TP that gave me pause, but there were no signs of popped cork, so I’m not worried. She’ll come when she comes and we’ll be happy to meet her then.

As the family and friends who have hoped to be in Israel for the birth finish arriving back home this week (yay! we missed you so much!), I’m ready whenever they are.

Since we’re about a month away, now’s probably the time to put in your guesses. When do you think Kirby will give birth to BeeGee? Post your date (and am/pm for any tie breakers) in the comments and I’ll send a small prize to whoever gets closest without going past the due date (which should dissuade anyone from picking past our due date – August 28).

When thighs attack

I’m sporting this summer’s hottest anatomical feature. Thalves! When your thighs attack your calves, kind of like cankles — only higher up.

I had a growth scan today — we’re technically 34w3d, but measuring roughly 35w3d. BeeGee has lots of hair (mostly on her head, thank goodness) and weighs approximately 2.5 kilo (give or take 300 grams) or 5.5 pounds. She is still head down and in a great position for delivery. The tech also checked her umbilical arteries and all looks good. She has enough room to grow a bit more and there’s no indication of any early arrivals — which is great, because, to sound like a jerk, I have way too much work to do between now and then.

Afterward, I had the world’s shortest doctor appointment (roughly 90 seconds) to check my blood pressure (“Perfect!”), get another prescription for iron (“You’re taking them everyday, right?” “Uh huh. Yeah.”) and be told that everything looks good.

Back to the good doctor in two weeks!

A must read

Two! Count’em two posts today! Don’t forget to check out my lame update below!

This, however, is a must read.

Guilty

I am a bad blogger. After receiving a couple comments and a few emails asking me if I had fallen off the face of the earth, I thought it was only right to post some sort of update.

If only there were something to update! My life is very boring, and for once, I kind of like it that way.

I’m still here. Still preggers. Chugging along nicely at 34 and some odd weeks. I get a little bigger everyday, but for the most part, I’m still able to do all the things I need to do.

I have gotten permission to work the remainder of the pregnancy from home, mostly in an attempt to prevent cankles. At home I can keep my footsies up and take a nap here and there as needed. By 9 a.m. or so here it’s about 85-90 degrees outside, so chilling at home in the A/C has been a real boon for me.

I went golfing on Tuesday (okay, not a proper round but a couple hours at the driving range, chipping area and putting green). Despite a little soreness in my shoulders (which likely has much more to do with having not golfed in a year and less to do with pregnancy), I’m no worse for wear. It was great to get out of the house and do something vaguely athletic. The hardest part was putting the ball on the tee each time. You get some really great looks when you’re rather rotund and insist on carrying your own bag of clubs around.

I had the pleasure of welcoming another blogger to Israel last week. ProjGen made aliyah to our little town of Modiin, Israel, and it’s been great fun to help out where we can. It’s amazing how much difference a year makes.

In our free time, we’ve been trying to prepare for the upheaval that is bringing home a newborn. The nursery is finished and I’ll try and get it together enough to post a photo soon. All the baby gear is assembled and in working order. The kitties have already laid claim to the pack and play and the crib, while the dog is quite fond of the rug in the baby’s room. We have a name picked out. And I’m registered at Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. All of her laundry, blankets and diapers have been laundered and are ready to go.

I have yet to pack a bag. Tips welcome. Part of the problem is that I fit into relatively few pieces of clothing right now, so I’m reluctant to stow any of them away. I might stuff some toiletries and a couple magazines in a bag soon though.

I have an appointment and growth scan next Monday, when I’ll be 35 weeks. To the best of my knowledge, I’m not having any contractions (Braxton Hicks or otherwise) and I’m guzzling the water to keep early labor at bay. I try to be good about taking my iron pills. And most nights, I’m still able to get a good night’s sleep.

Let’s hope it stays this easy to the very end. Given how badly things started, this is so much more than I could have ever hoped for.

All quiet on the southern front

Edited to add: I suck at math and am on codeine. I meant just under two kilo or roughly four pounds.

I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday – 31 weeks and counting. Although four weeks seemed like an inordinately long time to go between appointments, the time really flew by. Here’s to hoping the next few weeks go as easily.

In a nutshell, everything is fine. My glucose test was perfect. All my other blood work is fine, but I have to keep taking my iron pills through the remainder of the pregnancy. My extremities show no signs of edema. My blood pressure went up a bit (100/65), which is a good thing given how low it was (90/50). And the baby appears to have ample fluid to play around in.

The doc did a quick scan and said the baby is already head down and a bit lower than usual – she hasn’t dropped, per se, but he said she probably would drop a bit earlier than usual. She has an “unusual presentation” since her spine is facing my left side. He said he thinks this is because the placenta is attached on my right side toward the front.

All of this is a good thing; he said it’s unlikely she will shift much from this position before delivery, which means we have one less thing to worry about (aka – even less likely than in normal pregnancies that we will have to contend with a breech). She’s a healthy good-sized girl and is quickly running out of space to do acrobatics. He estimates that she weighs just under two kilos, or roughly 4 pounds.

He also said I might consider sleeping on my right side if she kicks too much when I’m on my left. Since she’s facing up when I’m on my left side, that gives her the most room to fuss about. This explains the creepy crawly feelings I have on my right side. He said giving her a little squish by sleeping on my right side might actually lull her to sleep.

I go back in a month for a growth scan and another check up.

Other than that, very little to report. I’m feeling really good. I never thought I’d be able to do some of the things I’m doing this late into the pregnancy. I walked to my doctor’s appointment yesterday at 4 – it’s about a mile walk and it was in the 80s here yesterday. I took a big bottle of water and drank most of it, but I’m still able to get around and feel no worse for wear. Given that we don’t have a car, it’s been a real boon for me.

Just no. Never.

Topping the list of things I would never let my daughter have…

Heelarious: Her first high heels

Not even if she asks nicely. Not even if she masters language at three months just to beg.

Especially since that would mean she got her first pair before I did. I’m more of a crocs – tevas – uggs kinda girl myself, depending on the season.

In other news, 30 weeks.

Have had bronchitis for three weeks now. Also pee a little when I cough too hard. Not a good combination. I never thought seven months pregnant would find me relying on maxi pads.

just testing

this is a test to see if I can post a photo