Solstice

Hi! How are you? I am fine. We had some snow here this morning. It is very pretty. Yep. Definitely going to be a white Christmas in these parts. Steve is holding out hopes that Carolina will be able to beat Dallas tonight (speaking of two cities that will NOT be getting snow for the 25th as far as I know) because a Dallas loss will help the Packers during the Playoffs, but I am just not sanguine.

What?

Why are you... ?

Oh, right. The babies.

The 13s continue to lodge (comfortably, it is to be hoped) where they have been for weeks and weeks: little 13a nestled sweetly between my kneecaps and 13b ("b" for "big head") mixed up with my left lung and other points south. I had an appointment late yesterday and wound up, as per usual, in L&D for a few hours. This time (in an attempt to keep things fresh no doubt) I was vetted for possible preeclampsia, the atypical presentation kind. When I walked from the bathroom into the ultrasound room during my OB appointment, chattering like a squirrel as I do, I suddenly lost my ability to focus and there were five swimming ultrasound tech faces where only one should have been. Not wanting to lose a patient on her watch (who would) she called for backup and after a blood pressure check and a few minutes repose I was fine again. No worries. Later, however, the nurse noticed that I had gained five pounds. Since Tuesday. This seemed excessive by any standards and by the time I saw the doctor I was flushed and felt weird. So they sent me up for blood work and a couple of hours of baby monitoring. Blood work was fine and I started to feel better so I got to home. And here I am.

My most recent goal was 36 weeks but it turns out I am greedy and having achieved this milestone I have now set my sights on 37. What's another seven days? Surely I can stay pregnant for another seven measly days, right? I know I am supposed to be all anxious to get this over with and move on to the next stage, but I am just not. Not only do I think another week will give the babies a nice boost but once they show up I am pretty sure I will no longer be able to lie around on the couch watching Bridezilla every time Steve and Patrick leave the house (that's a secret by the way - I might have started this bed rest reading philosophy and feeling lofty but the situation has deteriorated since then). Speaking of Steve and Patrick, I wanted to murder them last night. They kept me company during my monitoring last night and all I wanted was for Steve to keep the child happy, quiet and contained. All Patrick wanted was to ride the wheeled stool as fast as possible from one side of the room to the other. Who knows what Steve wanted - he turned on the television (ostensibly to find something with which to sedate Patrick) and was instantly sucked into some random college basketball game; and it left him incapable of both speech and reason. I am seriously wondering whether I want either of them to come within a mile of me and a hospital ever again. I think there might be something in the ages old notion that childbirth is a womanly sphere. My nurse walked in, sized up the situation in about a millisecond (slack-jawed father, basketball, whooping child, squeaking stool, white knuckled mother) and promptly sent the Big and the Little down to the cafeteria to get pizza. She then said, "I think I will wait a few minutes before I take your blood pressure."

Ah... women.             

PS If not for the dismaying proximity to Christmas (I think four days after is infinitely preferable to three days before for some reason) and the whole 36 weeks thing, I would be tempted to favor a winter solstice birthday.  Not that anyone is asking me, but I confess that this terbutaline pump conveys the dizzying impression of both power and control. All I'd have to do, see, is pop this grommet out of my leg and... well, let's just say I STRONGLY suspect that labor would follow within a day or so. I might be delusional but it is pleasant to think it.

Comments

[Sandy]

I must refresh your page a couple of days a day, just checking to see if you've had the 13s yet. And I continue to say what an awesome job you have done carrying them!

[dee/otc]

You are such a trooper! I've been following your progress and am very excited for you. I'm just a few days behind you, 35 weeks 3 days pregnant with twins. I originally set these lofty goals of going all the way to 40 weeks, then ok, yeh 38 weeks would be fine. Now, I may pull these suckers through my nostrils before 37 weeks makes it here. Kudos to you! I don't know how much longer I can take it. :-)

[JuliaKB]

Yay for the (now) 36.5 weeks! You and your pump are total champs. 37 seems like a great mini-goal now. I am over the moon you get to set it as such, btw. Thrilled, positively thrilled the babies are still cooking, and you are in such great spirits.
Good luck, in case you, you know, need it.

[maggie]

Four days after is my birthday! So, I like the sound of that.

Merry Christmas!

[Bump Fairy]

So hey, are you still pregnant?

[Rhonda]

I am dying to find out when those babies are going to be born.

13A & B, be sweet to your mama. She deserves it.

[Christa]

De-lurking...I know its Christmas and everything, but you are going to give us updates, right? Good luck with everything and Merry Christmas.

[Tine]

I just read your Redbook post, and I'm responding here (because I am lazy), just to say: squeee! So exciting! Yes, I think today would be a great birthday for the 13s. I picked today in the great Hippogriffs baby pool. Oh, also a boy and a girl. Can't wait to see if I win the big jackpot. :)