Dear Flash,
You are freaking out everyone but me. You've been breech (butt down, legs piked up near your face) for about 10 weeks now, with no sign of wanting to flip head-down. Everyone else is wanting me to be in body positions that have my head lower than my hips, go to acupuncture/moxibustion/chiropractics, turn everything in the apartment upside down, pray, and do all sorts of things to get you to turn NOW. In fact, if you haven't turned head-down by next Thursday, they're going to schedule a version, which is when the dr physically puts his hands on my belly and pushes hard to move you around so you're facing the right way. Not comfortable for me, and not comfortable for you. In fact, "not comfortable" is an understatement.
While everyone else is wanting me to do this stuff on a nearly constant basis, I would like to sleep and not obsess over your position. You seem pretty comfortable where you are. I figure that you'll move when you're ready. If you don't, though, they'll be scheduling a c-section, which we'd all like to avoid. Wouldn't you rather come out on your own time and your own terms instead of having a doctor yank you out by the butt through the hidden side exit? I mean, I wouldn't be traumatized by a (planned) c-section, but it sounds like everyone else in the family would be.
The other little bit of excitement was your first visit to the ER/ Childbirth Center today. I was in a car accident, and even though I felt okay, I needed to go get checked out to be sure that you were okay too. I was a little worried that you wanted to make an appearance early, but the midwife said that you look "awesome". Excellent. :)
The only other major stressor on my plate (aside from your grandparents on my side, but that's another story, and fairly chronic) is The Move. We're supposed to move to a different apartment next week, but the university hasn't given us a move date. So it may be the week after. Which is making me extremely nervous, as I'd like to be settled in before you arrive. All your clothes, diapers, and gear are still in boxes and bags, and the vast majority isn't even here yet - it's at the grandparents'. Hopefully we'll get word that we can move in on a certain day and I can feel more confident about packing and asking for help settling once we move.
I am so excited for you to get here! I keep picturing what life will be like when I can see your face and hug and kiss you and play with you.
Love,
Your Mom
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Hurricane Irene
Dear Flash,
You've been getting bigger. And moving more. I think I've felt your head (or your butt. Hard to tell.) You like music but don't like when I put my laptop or a book on my belly. The other day you gave me an extremely violent push when I was resting on my stomach.
Tomorrow we are going to see your first hurricane. We're living in an apartment on the university campus, and the university is taking care of a lot of things, like where to park the car so a tree won't fall on it and where we can live if we lose power for a long time. I really love storms, so I'm excited. I have plenty to knit and read, and your Daddy will be here too.
Medically, you're measuring a bit big, according to the midwife's tape measure. You'll be getting another ultrasound on Tuesday to check. I'm not too worried. Worst-case scenarios aren't that bad. And I'm glad I'll get to see you again. :)
Keep growing (but not too much or too fast!) and enjoy the hurricane!
Love you,
Mommy
You've been getting bigger. And moving more. I think I've felt your head (or your butt. Hard to tell.) You like music but don't like when I put my laptop or a book on my belly. The other day you gave me an extremely violent push when I was resting on my stomach.
Tomorrow we are going to see your first hurricane. We're living in an apartment on the university campus, and the university is taking care of a lot of things, like where to park the car so a tree won't fall on it and where we can live if we lose power for a long time. I really love storms, so I'm excited. I have plenty to knit and read, and your Daddy will be here too.
Medically, you're measuring a bit big, according to the midwife's tape measure. You'll be getting another ultrasound on Tuesday to check. I'm not too worried. Worst-case scenarios aren't that bad. And I'm glad I'll get to see you again. :)
Keep growing (but not too much or too fast!) and enjoy the hurricane!
Love you,
Mommy
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
To Viability and beyond!
Dear Flash,
You've gone from an impossible dream to an enigma to a squirmy little "thing" that keeps poking my belly button. In the past month/6 weeks, you've been all over Europe, kissed, rubbed, spoken to, and lectured. Today, you came with us on a very short-distance move across campus to a temporary apartment. I like the apartment, and that I didn't have to do any of the lifting or moving, but the loss of control is tough to deal with. There's a table in the middle of the living room, for example, that I would really like in the second bedroom. Also, as the second, more permanent, move is scheduled (tentatively) for early October. You're due in early November. Even with a best case scenario where you're late and Thanksgiving is all at Nana's house, that gives me only 4 or 5 weeks to get not only the nursery set up but also the ENTIRE APARTMENT. While enormously pregnant.
I'm also enormously pleased that we've made it to 25 weeks. That means that if you decide to come early, you have a pretty high chance of surviving, even if you have to spend a long time in a NICU. I have a feeling you're going to come too early, but since I was wrong about being pregnant at all, it's entirely possible you'll continue to be contrary and wait until mid/ late November to decide to make your debut.
I really like being pregnant with you. Getting you conceived was a long, hard process (to say the very least!), but I'm glad that part of this whole "get a baby" thing is easy for me.
I love you and love to know you're doing well in there. Just...please stop using my bladder as a trampoline.
Love,
~Mommy
You've gone from an impossible dream to an enigma to a squirmy little "thing" that keeps poking my belly button. In the past month/6 weeks, you've been all over Europe, kissed, rubbed, spoken to, and lectured. Today, you came with us on a very short-distance move across campus to a temporary apartment. I like the apartment, and that I didn't have to do any of the lifting or moving, but the loss of control is tough to deal with. There's a table in the middle of the living room, for example, that I would really like in the second bedroom. Also, as the second, more permanent, move is scheduled (tentatively) for early October. You're due in early November. Even with a best case scenario where you're late and Thanksgiving is all at Nana's house, that gives me only 4 or 5 weeks to get not only the nursery set up but also the ENTIRE APARTMENT. While enormously pregnant.
I'm also enormously pleased that we've made it to 25 weeks. That means that if you decide to come early, you have a pretty high chance of surviving, even if you have to spend a long time in a NICU. I have a feeling you're going to come too early, but since I was wrong about being pregnant at all, it's entirely possible you'll continue to be contrary and wait until mid/ late November to decide to make your debut.
I really like being pregnant with you. Getting you conceived was a long, hard process (to say the very least!), but I'm glad that part of this whole "get a baby" thing is easy for me.
I love you and love to know you're doing well in there. Just...please stop using my bladder as a trampoline.
Love,
~Mommy
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Movement
Dear Flash,
For the past few days, I have been able to feel you move a few times. It feels like a heartbeat in my tummy. It's really cool. :) We're trying to decide now whether to find out if you have boy-bits or girl-bits at the ultrasound on Wednesday. We don't want a ton of gender-specific clothes, so if we find out, we're not telling anybody. I just want to know what to call you, instead of Flash. The day after the ultrasound, I'm off to Europe! (Daddy's been there for about a month already). We're also moving to a new apartment, where we'll be living when you're born. There's a LOT going on right now, little one. I'm almost glad you're not here yet, since if you were, there would be no trip to Europe and the move would be a lot more complicated.
I'm doing lots of reading and preparation for your birth. I have no idea what it's going to be like, but I know what I don't want, and that's about as much as can actually be planned. I like reading stories about natural births, because it gives me confidence that I can do this without a ton of interventions and medications.
There are only two days left in this school year. I'm glad it's almost over. Very soon I can concentrate on you, and the new apartment, and setting up how things will be for the next couple of years. The trip to Europe isn't going to be too bad either! :) I'll be researching family history and seeing the premiere of the last Harry Potter movie.
I love you and can't wait to meet you. Life is going to get calmer in the next couple months, and then you're going to explode into the middle of it like a comet. :) It's going to be terrifying and amazing all at once.
Keep growing in there!
Love,
Mom
For the past few days, I have been able to feel you move a few times. It feels like a heartbeat in my tummy. It's really cool. :) We're trying to decide now whether to find out if you have boy-bits or girl-bits at the ultrasound on Wednesday. We don't want a ton of gender-specific clothes, so if we find out, we're not telling anybody. I just want to know what to call you, instead of Flash. The day after the ultrasound, I'm off to Europe! (Daddy's been there for about a month already). We're also moving to a new apartment, where we'll be living when you're born. There's a LOT going on right now, little one. I'm almost glad you're not here yet, since if you were, there would be no trip to Europe and the move would be a lot more complicated.
I'm doing lots of reading and preparation for your birth. I have no idea what it's going to be like, but I know what I don't want, and that's about as much as can actually be planned. I like reading stories about natural births, because it gives me confidence that I can do this without a ton of interventions and medications.
There are only two days left in this school year. I'm glad it's almost over. Very soon I can concentrate on you, and the new apartment, and setting up how things will be for the next couple of years. The trip to Europe isn't going to be too bad either! :) I'll be researching family history and seeing the premiere of the last Harry Potter movie.
I love you and can't wait to meet you. Life is going to get calmer in the next couple months, and then you're going to explode into the middle of it like a comet. :) It's going to be terrifying and amazing all at once.
Keep growing in there!
Love,
Mom
Thursday, June 2, 2011
You've Got Superpowers!
Dear Flash,
I'm not sure how you did it, but you managed to get me two free days off work without losing any sick days. You did it with a TORNADO. It made the national news. Every day that I've been at work or doing exercise, my heart rate has been shooting up extremely quickly. So I went to the doctor, who said it would be a good idea to rest for Thursday and Friday (I was planning on calling out on Friday anyway.) Just as I was making the decision to go to the doctor that night, and was considering taking two days off anyway, you managed, somehow, to form a funnel cloud in Westfield, then West Springfield. The cloud jumped the Connecticut River and traveled up the hill through Springfield, spreading destruction over more than a dozen communities. I was driving back from work when all this was going on, and although I got caught in some spectacular lightning (nice work on that, btw) and an insane downpour, I was far out of harm's way. Around the same time as my doctor was telling me to take two days off, Springfield canceled school. And today, just now, I found out that we're closed tomorrow too! If you happen to pull something like this again, child, keep in mind that loss of life is NOT acceptable. At least four people died. I'd rather use the sick days than have people die.
I'm still impressed with your power, though. I'm going to have my hands full after you're born, I see.
I love you anyway,
~Mom
I'm not sure how you did it, but you managed to get me two free days off work without losing any sick days. You did it with a TORNADO. It made the national news. Every day that I've been at work or doing exercise, my heart rate has been shooting up extremely quickly. So I went to the doctor, who said it would be a good idea to rest for Thursday and Friday (I was planning on calling out on Friday anyway.) Just as I was making the decision to go to the doctor that night, and was considering taking two days off anyway, you managed, somehow, to form a funnel cloud in Westfield, then West Springfield. The cloud jumped the Connecticut River and traveled up the hill through Springfield, spreading destruction over more than a dozen communities. I was driving back from work when all this was going on, and although I got caught in some spectacular lightning (nice work on that, btw) and an insane downpour, I was far out of harm's way. Around the same time as my doctor was telling me to take two days off, Springfield canceled school. And today, just now, I found out that we're closed tomorrow too! If you happen to pull something like this again, child, keep in mind that loss of life is NOT acceptable. At least four people died. I'd rather use the sick days than have people die.
I'm still impressed with your power, though. I'm going to have my hands full after you're born, I see.
I love you anyway,
~Mom
Monday, May 23, 2011
16 Weeks
Dear Flash,
Tomorrow you'll be 16 weeks. You've been a pretty good fetus so far. I've forgiven you for your early transgressions (nausea, loss of appetite, aversion to chocolate, etc) and am enjoying some extra energy, better appetite, and all around better feeling. I can't wait to feel you move and see you making my belly bigger.
Tomorrow night your Daddy leaves for Europe for awhile. In a month you and I will join him. I'm really hoping for the movement and showing by the time we get back, so I'll have some good stories about feeling you move in Europe. :)
I can't wait to meet you. I love you.
~Mom
Tomorrow you'll be 16 weeks. You've been a pretty good fetus so far. I've forgiven you for your early transgressions (nausea, loss of appetite, aversion to chocolate, etc) and am enjoying some extra energy, better appetite, and all around better feeling. I can't wait to feel you move and see you making my belly bigger.
Tomorrow night your Daddy leaves for Europe for awhile. In a month you and I will join him. I'm really hoping for the movement and showing by the time we get back, so I'll have some good stories about feeling you move in Europe. :)
I can't wait to meet you. I love you.
~Mom
Friday, April 1, 2011
Gummi Bear
Dear Flash,
I got to see you today - you look funny. Like a gummy bear with a really creepy, skeletal-looking face. You have a head that's just as big as the rest of your body, tiny little flippers for arms and legs, and a heart that's taking up a bunch of room. You're kinda cute, in a gruesome sort of way. I'm positive you'll get cuter as you grow. (When you see the pictures, you'll know what I'm talking about.)
I'm getting nauseous less often, but other symptoms are kicking in, although I'm still really tired. I love you so much and can't wait to have you out here (fully formed and at maximum cuteness) instead of making me have to pee every half hour.
I love you,
~Mommy
I got to see you today - you look funny. Like a gummy bear with a really creepy, skeletal-looking face. You have a head that's just as big as the rest of your body, tiny little flippers for arms and legs, and a heart that's taking up a bunch of room. You're kinda cute, in a gruesome sort of way. I'm positive you'll get cuter as you grow. (When you see the pictures, you'll know what I'm talking about.)
I'm getting nauseous less often, but other symptoms are kicking in, although I'm still really tired. I love you so much and can't wait to have you out here (fully formed and at maximum cuteness) instead of making me have to pee every half hour.
I love you,
~Mommy
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