Life is a Banquet

Beta's Breakfast Order

I woke up at 6:30 a.m. (insanely early for me) b/c Beta was demanding breakfast. What did Beta want?

One piece of leftover gluten free lasagna (amazingly good!) and one piece no-sugar banana bread and two huge glasses ice water. 

I was of the impression that cravings were a first trimester thing!

29 Weeks Today

16 & 29 Week Comparision
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

And other than adding, "hasn't had hair cut in 13 weeks +" This picture pretty much says it all.  Beta has been very active last two days. And of course, because I can't leave well enough alone, I'm all curious as to WHY after so many days of sluggish day time behavior. Crowded? Enjoyed the midwife visit? Change in blood sugar meds??? Hmmm.

What's more curious is how my arms and behind also seem to be expecting large babies in September. But not my face. Weird.

Chicken Writer

Right now, I should be about 2 hours away from here, at a writers' retreat with some of my favorite people on earth.  Why am I still here? Because I'm chicken. No doctor has ordered to me to house-arrest or bed rest, no complications have given me unbearable pain . . . just chicken.  And tired. So tired. Beta prefers that I take 2 short naps during the day, and then sleep fitfully at night with frequent wakings. I believe that this is called sleep training. Also, the hot flashes and braxton hicks/ligament pain things don't help matters.

Taking a clue from Demented, I'm also going to ask about my Iron level at the doctor's next week. Perhaps that is contributing to this fatigue. But, the real truth is that my biggest pregnancy complaint is anxiety. Anxiety that Beta only wants to move at night. Anxiety over wonky blood sugar readings all week (not bad enough to call doctor, but not good either), Anxiety over the doctor switch, Anxiety over all we need to do to get ready . . . . Gee, I wonder if that's part of what's making me so tired?

Regardless, on Tuesday, I decided to bail on this weekend. Fatigue, wonky blood sugar, and nervousness about traveling seemed like good reasons. But, now, I'm a little sad that I didn't push myself to go--not sad enough to get in the car, mind you, but still a little depressed that I'm such a pregnancy wimp. Other pregnant women fly to Europe, climb mountains . . .etc.  Perhaps this urge to stay close to home is part of nesting?

I should be using this time to write up a storm, regardless of my physical location. But, I'm a different kind of chicken too. A writing chicken. I got a ton of good ideas on Tuesday at our meeting. I've got nothing BUT time on my hands. And still my WIP remains unopened. Yesterday, I washed the kitchen cabinets. If you know me, I'll wait while you hoist yourself off the floor. Yes. All the fronts of the cabinets are now clean. And my work is at the same word count as it was last week. And the week before that.

Perhaps I can't do anything about the pregnancy chicken right now, but by golly, I want to catch that writer chicken and wring her silly neck until she starts pecking at the keys! Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!

Good News is News That Can't Be Told

What? No one wants to comment on Baby Hugo? Everyone too afraid to mention how ginormous I look? Okay, I can deal because today I've FINALLY got writing news to share. But, I can't.  I've been doing the weekly updates for the MWVRWA blog for a while now, and I've recently appealed to people to not blast the listserve with news that could be shared on the blog. Thus, saving email clutter and enhancing our weekly column.  But, Tuesday is THREE whole days from now. Practically four.  I'm not sure I can sit on this that long.  EDITED: I didn't wait that long. Maybe an hour? I have no patience. None. One of my writer friends said I should go ahead and email the group. Didn't have to ask me twice. I'm such a hypocrite!!!!

Only, I'm too happy to care!

I just received notice that my YA novel is a Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Contest. This is my second year in a row as a finalist. Last year, my contemporary romance MS won second place in the Romance category.  Two years. Two different categories. I'm just so excited.

The contest had a record number of entries this year too!

Now, anyone want to discuss the feasibility of traveling to Seattle for the Conference at 33 weeks pregnant or so???? I missed it last year, and I really regret not following up my finalist win with some good networking.

Off to do my happy dance. Ginormous belly and all. This mama-to-be just might have some brain cells left after all. I've got new incentive to get back to writing now, so for all those of you who had given up hope of my ever mentioning writing again, you might want to lay in a fresh supply.  I've got HOPE in abundance right now!

Baby Hugo

27 Weeks!!!
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

Somehow I'm in the third trimester. Wow. I'm not sure when that happened. It seems like just yesterday that 12 weeks seemed like this really far off, distant dream. 37 feels that way now.  But seriously? 10-13 weeks from NOW, I could be having a baby. 

Yesterday, Freak and I met the new OB practice. We're both loving the vibe of the new place. The circumstances that caused us to switch are still sucky, and the drive is definitely a little more time, but I think it just may be worth it. And, hey, we got to park right by the door! It doesn't take much to impress me.

The midwife spent an hour and a half with us.  THIS is why I love getting the bulk of my care from midwives. Even with all the patients switching, they still gave us their standard new patient block of time. She kept back and forth between me and my chart and quizzing me about my EDD. Why yes, I do suppose I "popped" in the last week or so. And what do you know, Baby Hugo in there measured just over 29 weeks--2 weeks ahead. 

And, I'm just ridiculously happy about that. I find something really reassuring about having a big baby. It just makes all my worrying about Beta's laid back nature ("I'll kick when I want to kick, Woman") easier to deal with. Clearly something is growing in there. And, she felt the head! She palpated my belly and showed us where the head is, and where she thinks the back is. This was by far the most thorough and informative physical exam I've had thus far.

While my blood sugar has stayed stable, she did echo the other practice in that they won't let me go too far over dates, but she discussed several low-tech options for getting things started before that deadline.  To that end, we'll have an ultrasound at 32 weeks to check for growth and positioning with the OB on staff. They do their ultrasounds in office with the OB. AND it's a 3D one, so we don't need to pay out of pocket for the glamour ultrasound we were getting.  Money saved AND another ultrasound? It makes me almost giddy.

So, I guess I'm actually HAPPY now that we switched. Beta the Huge is in good hands. Now, if mama-to-baby hugo could just stop worrying . . . . . .

Bad Kitties Unite

Bad Kitties Unite
Originally uploaded by wavybrains.

At 28, one of life's remaining vestiges of youth is a profound delight in horrifying one's mother.  One of my students gave us a Graco Snug Ride Car Seat that she only used for about six months this year. Since it was FREE, I'm already scheming of ways to pimp it out with a new cover on Ebay. Which, as it turns out, is a really good thing. ETA at Chez Wavybrains: 3:00 p.m.  ETA of Cat: 3:07 p.m. And, yeah, I could have shooed him out, but then I would have missed a perfectly good opportunity to make Clanna cringe.

Although, we hope that we're not setting a bad precedent here. Note the new upholstery for my bench. We acquired a new changing table pad and decided that a good way to keep the cats off the table was to give them this one as a bed. (Go ahead and laugh at our naiveté. ) But, while Beta may have a constant coating of cat hair, we're pretty sure the cats won't actually try to sleep ON Beta. That's what we keep assuring Clanna of, anyway. And we're right, right???

Why I teach . . . Reason #318

I'm pretty sure that I can't quote student essays on here, which is a darn shame, because several finals have made me all misty (darn hormones). I ask students to write about the things they can do to continue to work on their writing.  While I sifted through 50 variations of "I need more time for writing" and "I need to make writing a priority" (essays that I could easily write myself right now), another interesting theme emerged: reading. Many students said that they planned to read more for pleasure to help improve their writing by studying other writers. A number mentioned that my enthusiastic recommendations of books from essays and my tireless cheerleading of the benefits of reading had convinced them to give reading a try.  One student said that he'd never read anything that wasn't assigned for a class, EVER, but that I'd convinced him to try. Another student gave me a handwritten thank-you note thanking me for the class.

That's why I do this. If I can help one student to find his or her inner writer or even just convince them to give reading a try, then all the grading is worth it. Because so many of them mentioned reading as a summer goal, I'm thinking of sending them an email with some super-fun book suggestions. What books are GUARANTEED to hook non-readers?  Does reading make YOU a better writer? (And speaking of writing, be sure to share your appliance horror stories below---I know there are more of you out there!)   

Financial Planning for Appliances and Animals

Babies are expensive. No doubt about it. Even after the car switch-over, we've still been making tentative lists and plans of what is needed, and how we will procure it. Unfortunately, we're not the only ones making plans.  The following transcript of a 3 a.m. closed door meeting was obtained:

Washer: I'm glad we could all make it today. As you are well aware, we've got to increase production people. Planned obsolescence is no longer cutting it. We need to go for all out break-down. We MUST reassert our place in the household!
Cell-phone: Shouldn't we take turns breaking?
Washer: Are you NUTS? Have you seen these people? They're looking at strollers! Doo-Dads! Gizmos! Things with straps!
Cell-phone: I suppose I could refuse to charge.
Washer: That's more like it! Who else has a plan!
Ants: We're here. All 10 zillion of us. 
Mungy: Who the heck invited you?
Ants: The locusts were busy. We got the call instead. We rode in with some strange moss. It's currently getting attached to the roof in key locations.
Laptop: I know I'm new here--
TV: Rub it in why don't you!
Laptop: But, I've got a doozy--the striped screen of death!
Everyone: OOOOOOOOOOOOh
Washer: That's what I'm talking about! Who else?
Honk. Honk.
Washer: Oh wait, I've got a memo here from the car. "Enjoyed meeting all of you at the Oil Bar last weekend. I've got some brake issues and a shoddy a/c to contribute."
Everyone: Cheer!
Washer: See, even the new guy can contribute. How about you animals? It's been 30 days since your last vet bill! I want to see some digits!
Mungy: We drew straws. I'm falling down the laundry chute tomorrow.   I don't have to actually break anything, but it's gonna take at least three x-rays to figure THAT out. We're talking serious money.
Washer: Is that really the best you can do? Inspire relief that your furry butt is okay?
Mungy: I can get so sick on the way to the vet that it leaks out the sides of my carrier and the people have to drive with the windows down in the pouring rain.
Ants: We're in awe.
TV: Seriously. Nice touch.
Washer: Okay, who else.
TV: I heard from the bed that it's planning some strange down-hill slope thing.
Washer: Always good to hear from our luddite members. I don't think this is quite enough--
Laptop: A huge unpaid bill was just discovered. Tears were shed.
Washer: Aw. Poor babies. Perfect. What else do you got in that tin brain of yours?
Laptop: The doctor switch isn't going to be free, you know. And, they took money out of savings to pay for a 4D ultrasound.
Washer: That does it! They're bringing in outsiders! This must stop! They've got to show respect to ALL of US first!
Freak's Computer: Sorry I'm late. I was too busy frying my back-up drives into crispy critters.
Mungy: Tasty.
Washer: Nice work!
Drill: You've inspired me. Instead of breaking, I'm going to go missing. Increase the agony level.
Washer: That's the kind of self-starter we all need.
Vacuum: You've inspired me. I'm going to start acting just slightly wonky, but I'm going to flood the house with vacuum ads.
Laptop: Hey, that's my usual gimmick!
Vacuum: Nothing stopping you from using it too!
Weed Eater: That ploy's for amateurs. I'm not breaking, but an expensive part is going to need replacing.
Washer: You whimp! That's nothing!
Weed Eater: They'll have to drive to 3 stores to find it!
Washer: Okay, okay, okay, you're trying here.
Weed eater: Well what do YOU have in store?
Everyone: Yeah! What are you going to do?
Washer: Just you wait and see! This is gonna be good.
Everyone (smelling immenient death): Oooooooh.

So how was your week? Hopefully cheaper and less stressful than mine? And cheer me up by sharing your stories of appliances breaking with awful timing, and cascading calamities.  I'll award the coveted Broken Remote to the best story!

Tour Sans Politics

The more I think about the whole switching doctor thing, the more frustrated I get at ALL the parties involved. So, it was probably a good thing that Freak and I went on a tour today of our new hospital choice. And, while I'm still frustrated, my jangled nerves were soothed by all the niceness we saw.  Instead of a 1/2 trek from a parking garage, parking is directly in front of the birthing wing, with ample free spaces. This alone was enough to make me smile. The whole building is laid out on one level, and the baby nursery greets you with a giant plate glass window in the lobby.

Barring a mad rush of laboring mothers, we'll be in the same room for labor, delivery, recovery, and going home.  Said room has a baby warmer right there, and a nice jetted tub, fridge, and best of all . . .a window.  I love the idea of being able to look outside! The "room service" menu featured things that I can actually eat, and the nurses encouraged Freak and I to bring whatever other low-sugar, gluten-free snacks I might need. The nurses also sung the praises of my new doctors, and since I haven't actually met them in person yet, that was also reassuring.

We made the drive in 15 minutes there, and a more leisurely 20 coming back.  Not bad. I figure I can keep my legs crossed THAT long :)  And Beta seemed to like the tour, rewarding me with an exceptionally active day (keep it up little bean!! Please!!).  So, I guess all this drama is for the best. This is by far, a nicer facility, and I'm excited to be giving birth in the same small town where Freak and I were married, and should the fates ever bless us with enough $$, we might even live there.  I'm STILL angry at the circumstances that led to us switching, but the end result is nice enough that it feels like a choice again. 

I hope everyone had a nice weekend, and that you too were able to leave the drama of your week behind!