I was awake several extra hours last night. And that’s okay. With the colds we have been fighing around here, I finally succumbed to an earache. I have always been a little prone to them due to how my ear tubes grew, or actually didn’t grow, and sometimes when a cold gets a mind to, I end up with an earache. So hubby sent me to bed with a movie and heating pad to put my ear on.
I slept great until about 1:30 this morning. Then I drifted in and out for awhile. I realized at some point that hubby was not upstairs, so I went looking for him. He had crashed on the couch after putting Caitlyn to bed. I told him to go to bed (poor guy had to get up at 4:30 to go to work today). Only problem was, he fell asleep before I did and I was awake enough that his snoring kept me up. I ended up on the couch. Then the littlest family member decided to practice his/her kickboxing.
It, by itself, while very distinct and noticable, is not enough to keep me awake, but enjoying it, is.
This baby is the most active of any I have carried. My Sue was a good kicker, but this one makes her look lazy. And a baby that kicks good is a great reassurance to me. So Thursday, the little one decided to have a rest day. So not fair to mama. I freaked. I had woken up with a headache, and since I have a history of blood pressure issues in pregnancy, I checked my BP right away. It was great! So I chalked the headache up to the weather. But I just could not shake my unease of the day. Things just didn’t seem right with the babys’ activity.
I e-mailed a friend that I knew would understand more than anyone should have to. She encouraged me to contact my midwife. I waited a while, but I just could not settle down. So I finally e-mailed my midwife (everyone should have a midwife with a blackberry!). She was her normal wonderful self. She e-mailed me right back and reassured me that many of her mamas that have children contact her with the same concerns “I hear this often from women who have children. [You] just want everything to be fine. You really understand and are thankful for what you have.” And told me to come see her the next day. That by itself calmed me as I knew in less than 24 hours I would have concrete reassurance (hearing the heartbeat) that things were progressing.
Then the braxton hicks contractions set in. Yes, I know they are on the early side, at 21 weeks 3 days, but they are right on time for when I got them with Sue. That was wonderfully reassuring, though it reminded me how long the next trimester plus is going to be. Those contractions may not hurt at this point, but man, they are distracting. It is hard to think about anything else when being reminded that the much more important work of baking a baby is happening. “Oh, and littlest Cole, this better mean you are going to be a quick delivery like Sue. I am more than willing to pay my dues for the rest of the pregnancy if you do your part and make it quick in the end!”
Friday morning I got some good activity from the baby and that had me feeling much better, and knowing now I was just hours from hearing my little one was added comfort. And I was excited about Caitlyn and Sue getting to hear him/her as they were going with me to the midwife.
My midwife found the heartbeat right away, so clear and strong. I got Caitlyn’s attention and she heard it to. When it sped up a couple beats, Caitlyn said, “I hear it kicking.” And she might have. Regardless, this mama heard what she needed to, the music of a heartbeat.
I asked my questions, which for once I had remembered to write down, she gave me some tips, like drinking cranberry juice to help drain fluid stuffing up my ear, and much reassurance. It was so nice. It was exactly what I needed. Just thinking about it as I type brings me to tears. She didn’t ignore me or dismiss my concerns, she cared, reassured me and was more than a midwife, she was a friend.
And my kids, were themselves, their funny, funny selves. Sue sang her ABCs for everyone. Both of them quizzed me on why I was peeing in a cup. Ummm, ever tried to explain that to a 2 year old and 3 year old?
Sue said, “are you going to drink it?” No, they are going to test it to make sure everything is okay with the baby. “Is the baby gonna drink it?” No, they are just going to check it. “Are they going to pour it on the baby?” Nope, just check it. “Are they gonna pour it on their heads?” Nope. “On their feet?” Nope. “All over their body?” Nope, just check it honey. Mama doesn’t quite know how to explain it.
Catilyn insisted to the midwife the baby is a boy. As you might remember, we chose not to find out at the ultrasound. But Caitlyn is adamant it is a boy. She asks me over and over what the name is if it is a boy. She couldn’t care less what the girl name is. When the midwife said, “whether it is a girl or boy you will love it.” Caitlyn responded, “it’s a boy.” Several times. My midwife said, “well you could use a boy in your family.”
We may have some disappointment to deal with if Caitlyn gets another sister, but a good friend of mine, who has twin boys, offered some playdates so Caitlyn can get a dose of boys if she needs it. Whew, we might need to have that plan in place.
Then when I was asking my midwife several questions, I asked Caitlyn if she had any, and she did. She wanted to know why the baby kicks and moves in mama’s belly. So we explained the baby is exercising to get stronger and likes to dance, just like she does. Caitlyn did not ask anymore, but the child has some concerns about that, which we have talked about many times.
Every time she asks me why the baby is still in my belly, I tell her it needs to grow and get strong. She says, “no, I don’t want it to get big and strong. I want it to be little.” Sue loves to torment her sister, maybe Caitlyn is afraid this baby will ‘get big and strong’ and join Sue in torturing her…
After the appointment, Caitlyn saw this big poster near the reception desk that had views of women carrying their babies differently. She pointed to one and said, “that lady’s belly is REALLY big!” To the next, “that lady’s belly is smaller big. And that one’s belly is little big.” I thought the lady at the desk was going to fall off her chair laughing.
It, all in all, was probably the best midwife appointment I have ever had. It was reassuring, informative and, thanks to my kidlets, hysterical!
And then about 12 hours later, the littlest family member decided to add it’s 2 cents worth, by kicking up a storm. I think it was baby morse code for, “see I’m in here and okay. Be careful what you wish for, I might decide to reassure you when you would rather be sleeping.” Oh trust me little one, that is okay by this mama!
And just so you don’t forget how cute my little comedians are:
Please, oh please, ignore my terribly messy kitchen. Here is how it looks today:
Much better, wouldn’t you say? Though not as fun as the girls had using an entire container of “stickies” to make their daddy a present last week.
