36 WEEKS PREGGO!!

I am 36 weeks preggo now and so excited to meet minime!! I've had to start wearing those crazy compression socks, I bought for flying everyday now as gross varicose veins have appeared on my left ankle and foot. Turns out having a "standing" job and never sitting, ever, puts pressure on my veins, a few of which have blown right out! Ewwww! The doc said I need to start wearing my high compression socks every day and that they need to be hand washed every night as they loose elasticity after each wearing. She said if I have another pregnancy, I'll need to wear the socks from day one! If I'm lucky the veins may look a little LESS gross after the baby is born, but it is possible, I could end up a little old lady with fat, purple ankles...hey, as long as I end up an OLD lady, I will be happy! :)

So the varicose veins are new and so is the heart burn. Ugh, all the gross stuff seems to be happening now....and I hear it only gets grosser, awesome!!

BIRTHING CLASSES

Yesterday we had pre natal class again. This time, Marty and I were not as tired as we were the last time, after having just returned from Vegas, yet we still found ourselves immaturely giggling at inappropriate times.

We saw two birthing videos...do I really need to explain what two immature parents to be, could possibly find to nervously giggle about during those??

We practiced massage techniques, one involved Marty standing behind me, squeezing my hips with his knees while I was on all fours, also cause for giggling....all in all between our immaturity, we did learn a few things. We left, thankful for the chance to prepare in this way for our babies arrival. Oh, we also met another couple in the class who randomly lives 2 blocks from our house!!

Tonight, we met with our Doula, Leanne. She is fabulous, I am truly looking forward to having her in the hospital with us to help us be strong during the birth of our baby. She knows I've been nervous about the pain, so tonight she brought a few "contract" simulating games with her. She had me squeeze two ice cubes in each hand for a minute with no distractions, to see how that felt...it felt f-ing cold and uncomfortable, but I lasted the whole minute. Next she had me squeeze the ice while I breathed in and out and she and Marty rubbed my arms....the minute went by much quicker...there was a lesson for me to learn in that exercise, and I did. :)

She also brought this cool T-shirt, she got at a Doula conference. It said "Stand up for birth" on it. She had me put my feet through the sleeves and pull the shirt up over my belly. She stuck a baby doll down the front of the shirt and had me lie on my back and try to wiggle the doll out....ofcorse it wouldn't budge. When I squated or lunged, and rocked, the doll fell right out the arm sleeves...another lesson well demonstrated and more giggling. Damn, I sure hope the real birth involves so many giggles!! :)

34 WEEKS

It's been 2 weeks since my last post! I have been stupid busy, first recovering from a week in Quebec city with the gr.7 and 8's and this week, recovering from a long weekend in Las Vegas! I am slowly getting my energy back...slowly. We arrived home from Vegas at 11pm Monday night. Tuesday after a full day of work, we had our first pre-natal class. Wednesday, after a full day of work, we met with our Doula to begin the process of planning and preparing for our baby's birth. Tonight, after a putting on a huge Anti-bullying assembly at school and a dog walk in below zero weather, my feet were sooo swollen and purple (gross looking veins) that I simply sat with my feet up, watching crappy TV. It is 10:39pm and I feel energetic enough to post a couple of pics.

I've been running around like the energizer bunny, not realizing how tired i am until the last week. I got home from Vegas to find out that although, I had left sub plans, I had written in the Teacher's absence book, that I would be away and had Mrs. K subbing for me, and that I had told all the kids to expect Mrs. K to be their teacher Monday, I hadn't actually booked her!! I was soo tired and sooo convinced that I had, but I guess I hadn't! Then I spent all day yesterday wondering why the hell my undies were crawling up my ass, causing me to walk weird and be uncomfortable, only to realize at 3pm when i peed for the millionth time, that the tag was in the front! I had been wearing my little "boy short" undies backwards, all day!!!!!!! I gotta get it together, good grief!!

Marty and I were both stupid tired Tuesday night when we headed to our first pre-natal class. We both had the "I'm over tired" giggles during class, making us look, I'm sure, extremely immature! Seriously though, there were some funny things discussed and funny questions asked. The funniest was when the instructor was suggesting things we should pack in our hospital bag. She thought the "Dads" might want to bring swimming trunks as it is possible the "moms" will spend a lot of time in the shower and they might want to get in. The "dad to be" next to us, put up his hand. "Okay, so, she gets in the shower and she's naked right?? Then why would I put on a swim suit? Why wouldn't I just get in naked too?" We all laughed at that, I mean, the whole scenario seems funny, everyone naked in the shower at a birth. Then the instructor reminded him that there would be nurses checking on them, listening to the heartbeat and generally being present. Things like that just made us giggle uncontrollably for most of the two hours!

I am so greatful that tomorrow is a PD day and that it is a long weekend. I have zero plans, maybe do a little report card writing, but otherwise, priority one will be to sleep!!

33 WEEKS

According to the "Baby Bump" app on my ipod, we have 6 weeks and 4 days until we technically become "Mom and Dad!" We are curious and nervous and scared and sooo excited! This is how big my baby bump is now!

BABY IN THE AIRPORT?

Last night, I was pushed through the Montreal airport in a wheel chair at a ridiculously fast pace by a Ticket Agent. Now, what do you think when you see a pregnant woman being pushed at top speed anywhere? You think, "OMG, that woman is about to have her baby!!"

Well, I was NOT about to have my baby, I still have 7 weeks to go....at least. I was simply trying to catch my flight home from Quebec.

Our 5 day, whirl wind, super fun, school trip to Quebec City and Montreal was coming to a close. We only had 5 hours on a plane before the most fun, school trip I have ever been a part of would officially be over. All 72 of us were exhausted, excited and so ready to just be home, but because of a mix up at the ticket counter, a couple of students had troubles getting their boarding passes. 2 other adults, 2 students and myself were the only ones left at the ticket counter when we heard our last boarding call. The Ticket Agent tried frantically to call the gate to ask them to hold the flight for us, but she couldn't reach them! The last boarding passes were printed, and we were given an escort through security, though that did not mean special treatment. We still had to take off all our metal, get out bodies scanned and dress again. By this time panic had taken over the Ticket Agent. She insisted we needed to run, not walk, run to the gate. The other adults freaked out that I was pregnant and shouldn't run. I insisted I was fine, then to my horror, out of nowhere an abandoned wheel chair appeared out of nowhere in the hallway. I sat down in it, the Ticket Agent took the handles and the 6 of us raced through the airport!

We made our flight and now I'm home and though it looked like I was going to, I did not have my baby in the airport. :)

100 DOLLAR SOCKS!

I bought a pair of one hundred dollar socks today. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as it will sound when I tell you that I also bought a one hundred and fifty dollar pair of socks. Are you keeping track? I spent 250 dollars on two pairs of socks today!! Don't worry my benefits will cover the cost. These are prescription compression socks. My doctor wanted me to have them for my flight to Quebec next week. I had to go to a "Home Health Supply" store to find them. I had no idea what the process of getting socks like these would involve. Apparently you are supposed to make an appointment to get "fitted" for the socks before just showing up. Lucky for me, the ladies working there were super nice, they took me into the "fitting room" on the spot.

They asked me to take off my own socks and pants so they could measure me, fit me for the compression socks. There was a sarong tossed over the back of a chair that they wanted me to put on after I had removed my pants, but neither one of them made any attempt to leave the room. I was a little embarrassed, as I had not counted on having to strip half my clothing off. How ironic that this morning, I made a mental note to throw these panties out after today as they had a large hole in the crotch....great!

I pulled the sarong around me and sat in the chair while one of the ladies measured my leg in three places. After confirming the measurements a couple of times, she pulled two boxes off the shelf. One pair of knee highs and one pair of thigh highs. It became clear that she was going to put these socks on for me. Interesting, I can't remember the last time I had someone put socks on for me, talk about awkward. My foot was up on her lap, sock in her hand and then, she pulled on the rubber gloves! At first I thought, "okay, I guess, if I had to touch people's feet all day, maybe I'd wear gloves too, but rubber gloves?" Upon closer examination, I realized these were not the dish washing kind of rubber gloves, but a special, "sock putting on" kind of rubber gloves. Carefully and with the technique of someone who has done this more than once, she pulled the sock up to my knee on my left leg and then using the same technique, with the thigh high, she pulled it up, all the way up my left leg.

The socks were snug, but comfortable. I decided that since my prescription was good for 2 pairs, I'd take one each of the knee high and thigh high pairs. I left the store with two pairs of socks, my own special rubber gloves and 250 dollars poorer (here's hoping Great West Life covers both pairs!)

CAN'T SEE IT ANYMORE.....

I went to do a little "trimming" before my shower this evening and for the first time all pregnancy, I couldn't see it, I couldn't see anything lower than my belly button! I had heard this would happen, I just didn't believe it! How weird! I still turned on the clippers and tried to "tidy up" by feel...wow, what is this all gonna look like by the time minime is born??? Remind me to make a point of making sure there is no birth mirror! I do not want to see my baby come out of the jungle! LOL!!!!