@gusgus14 I bet that is a huuuuge relief. I have a meeting w. my boss tomorrow to talk about maternity leave and my transition plan back, I asked to WFH part time and ease back in gradually, I am crossing my fingers and so nervous about the meeting.
I went with Baby Bling Bows after reading all the reviews saying they don’t leave a mark and are quickly becoming the only trusted headbands by mamas. Clearly she won’t be in one all day everyday, but if we are going out or something I’ll definitelt put one on her. And @cyanope I can’t. Absolutely adorable!
@mindaa Lol! What is it with our dreaming about extra appendages? I wonder if there's some sort of hidden meaning to it.
@lmmjd What's funny is we're Team Green and don't know what we're having! The first half of my pregnancy, I could swear up and down that it was a girl. Now I'm not so sure. I've had three friends/coworkers tell me they think it's a boy; two of them based it off how low I'm "carrying." I carried low with DS, too, but I figured that's just how my body is built to grow babies. Lol. So, we'll see if the tales are true!
@Mudge85 K, obviously you have awesome co-workers but you must be an amazing employee/co-worker yourself! I'm sure you deserve it and I'm so glad you're getting so much PTO!
@peepster I carried really low with DS and we were team green (I was convinced it was a boy, but almost everyone else thought girl). This time around I’m carrying soooo different, and we know it’s a girl. She’s sitting low with her head in my pelvis, but my uterus is already in my ribs. It’s so weird.
Hi, totally random, but this just makes me laugh. I ordered so much Chinese food last night they threw in all these free entrees and sodas. There was so much food it didn't fit in a bag, they sent it in a fortune cookie box lololol. #pregnancy
@lmmjd@Cricket99 I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that it might be a boy, because I sort of secretly (not so secretly?) hope it's a girl.
ETA: I've almost caved multiple times recently and looked at my Panorama results, just so that I would have time to process the result before baby gets here.
@ryannenikole I'm already there... I took DS to a Halloween party when he was 1 month old, and again to the same friends' party when he was 1yr and 2yrs. Un-baby-proofed houses are rough. Now those friends have split up so I guess I don't have to decide if we're going to attempt it this year... We did a little trick-or-treat last year but he's actually excited for it this year, since he kind of remembers it and has watched some tv shows (and has figured out that candy is awesome).
I had a whole day of baby shopping today. My MIL drove me up to a baby expo where I scored a few cute winter outfits for $15 total. Then we went to Ikea to get a dresser for the nursery. I had a budget in find and couldn't find what I needed/ wanted. My MIL informed me to get the one that I wanted ($100 over budget) bc she was buying it. I tried to refuse several times and she informed me "fine then I'll just buy $____ amount of stuff you still need then". She is the sweetest, so I let her buy the dresser.
In the past two days I've input all of my appointments through the end of December into our household calendar, put in those final time off requests for work, and scheduled our pre-admissions appointment at the hospital (on December 4th). Childbirth classes start in a week.
I'm staring at our calendar for December and it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that we are having a baby soon, and I'm a little bit freaked out. (Also, that everything I'd planned for "after school" is fast, fast approaching -- and now I have to hope all the planning and spreadsheeting pays off, lol.)
I just had to sit through a 30 minute meeting that had absolutely nothing to do with me and was a complete waste of time and I'm super annoyed about it. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's almost the weekend.
I was lurking around on other boards, and saw a post in April about what people were planning for the delivery room. I thought it was interesting, and would love to hear what other people are planning because I think I am going to try and vastly change what I did, but don't remember if we already had a post about that or if anyone else would be interested.
@lmmjd there has been some discussions, here is one thread, personally, I'm having a repeat c-section and I'm going planning to wear nursing tanks, pj pants, and a zip up hoodie. Last time I had a robe and it was long and would get annoying when I wanted to turn over.
@lmmjd Are you talking about clothing or the environment in general? I'm attempting a VBAC and I'll likely be all over the place, in the shower, in the birthing tub, etc. Probably half naked lol.
@missblaze@supercoolstephy Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant the environment. The questions they asked were things like FTM, STM+, who would be in the room during delivery, whether you would delay visitors, and if there was anything you would do differently if a STM+ (pulling this from the top of my head, but along those lines). I REALLY want to delay visitors if possible (Possible *TW* DD caught a nasty virus right after she was born, and it could have killed her, but thankfully she is fine now. *END TW*). I just don't know how to handle delaying people without causing any issues, so I was interested in hearing if people had done so, and how they had handled it.
@lmmjd My plan is to have DH and my doula in the room during delivery. The hospital I deliver in has a mandatory "quiet hour (or two)" after delivery for bonding with baby and parents, skin-to-skin, initiation of breastfeeding, etc. Depending on the time of day, I'll probably have visitors at that point, but I'm really hoping to leave and go home as soon as I can (as long as everything goes smoothly). I had a C-section last time and was in the hospital for 4 days and it was hell. If I felt differently and wanted visitors to wait until I was home, I would just tell people that the hospital will be for healing and solo bonding time with baby, and visitors will be welcome at home on X day.
@lmmjd that might be a good thread to stand alone.
I don't have family nearby, so it'll just be DH and I for the planned c-section. DS will be picked up from daycare by a friend. I've checked with my OB and the hospital does not require a support person to stay with me at night, I'll be there 3 overnights, so DH will go home to be with DS at night, and will then drop DS off at daycare in the morning and will then come back to see us in the hospital. I don't know if friends will come by the hospital, last time no one came, so I don't figure anyone will this time.
Last time my dad surprised me the day we got home from the hospital, and I wanted to lose my sh** on him. He constant made comments about things I was doing wrong, and didn't change diapers, it really just felt like I had a nagging guest who I had to entertain all while trying to be a first time mom. So this time I have told my father/stepmom and my mom that I don't want any surprise visits and I don't want anyone visiting till she's 2 weeks old while we try to figure out this 2 kids thing. Plus, DH will go back to work at 2 weeks so if they decide to come that will help out.
@missblaze I could see that being hell I want to go home as soon as possible, too. I am fine with some people coming, but SO (not DD's dad) thinks I am being dramatic about all of it and said his plan is to basically post about it on fb with our room number and whoever wants to come, can. NOPE.
@supercoolstephy I just have never made a thread, so I didn't want to make one if it had already been discussed and I just missed it. I think I will make it. I couldn't handle a surprise visit either... particularly if they made comments. It is such an emotional time, anyway without any added stress.
oh hell no @lmmjd I don't even want DH or my family posting anything about me having the baby till I can post it first. I'm the one who's carried this kid this entire time, I get to post the first picture of this kid who's invaded my personal space.
@missblaze it was a party for me and my belly. Hahaha
Funny that delivery room was brought up, I just saw an ad on facebook for labor and delivery gowns. LULZ like I wouldn't pay $36 for something I planned to discard.
I don't have any special plans. Hoping to go in Labor on my own this time and not get induced. Like last time, though, the room will only include DH and my doula (and staff etc. obviously). I didn't bother with a playlist last time and I was honestly so in the zone I didn't need it. My must haves for Labor are massage oil, and a big ole yoga ball to Labor on.
Why does autocorrect keep capitalizing Labor... annoying
We have the same plan that we had with DD, and if things go as they should, we'll stick to that same plan. It worked well the first time! I will have DH and my mom in the room with me. My mom has been at the births of all seven of her grandchildren (this will be her eighth), so it's kind of expected. Plus, I wouldn't be able to do it without her. She's the labor coach and DH is the emotional support. They're a good team! I plan to have an epidural. I went as long as I could last time (I had hoped to have an unmedicated birth), but I don't do well with pain, so I was kind of out of control with it (despite doing all of the breathing/meditating strategies that I had practiced beforehand...not to discourage others, I just couldn't do it). Once I got that epidural, things went wonderfully, so I plan to get it again. I didn't have time with DD to worry about things like playlists (it went too quickly), but I'll probably have DH make one just in case. Music calms me down. I also want to diffuse essential oils, but I'll have to talk to the hospital first. One difference this time around is what to do with DD. Both my sister and my SIL have volunteered to take her when we go into labor and while we're at the hospital, so she'll go with one of them. Thankfully, both of them are also in education, so if I deliver when I'm supposed to, they'll be on Winter break too, so they won't be working. As far as visitors go: DH and I both have MASSIVE families (I'm one of five and he's one of eight), and they ALL visit us while we're in the hospital (at different times of course). We also have several friends who stop by. I wouldn't have it any other way. They all know the routine (flu shots, no sickness, washed hands), and I get bored when I'm in the hospital, so I welcome the visits. I know this probably sounds like a nightmare to some, but DH and I are "the more the merrier" kind of people, and this dynamic works for us.
My company released our new benefits for 2018, and as I suspected they eliminated our EPO plan in favor of a selection of high deductible plans with HSAs. Even the "Premium" plan has deductibles three times as high as my old one, and everything else is coinsurance based, even prescriptions are 80/20. The lowest possible premium is still higher than what I paid last year and the benefits are craptastic.
Terrible time to have a huge predictable medical expense.
I can transition onto hubby's plan when the baby is born and get good coverage back, but I don't think I can do it in time to cover the actual birth. So basically I'll pay two deductibles out of pocket in 2018 no matter what, one for the crappy plan and one (blessedly small one) for hubby's plan after baby comes. Freaking awful.
@bainidhedub his was in July. But he thinks that his employer would count my drastic change in coverage as a qualifying event so I might be able to go directly into his plan for January 1st!
I got my Tdap vaccine at my Centering appointment yesterday. I always get my vaccines in my left arm because I am right handed and I remember how much the Tdap hurts (not during, but after - for days). Well, I (in)conveniently didn't think about the fact that I can only sleep on my left side at this point and I literally could not lay on my arm last night. I barely slept. Grrrrr pregnancy. Grrrrr.
@missblaze So sorry you're experiencing that! How annoying! Thank you for bringing it up, though, because I'm literally sitting in the waiting room right now for my 28 week appointment. I'm getting my Tdap today and hadn't given any thought to which arm I should use!
@Peepster It helps if you move your arm around a lot despite the pain, and use warm compresses tonight. But I remember last time that my arm was useless for a few days.
Ugh I got my tdap and flu shot at the same time, tdap in my left since I knew it would hurt after, flu in my right arm. They both freaking hurt for days after!! It was like a really bad weights workout lol.
Re: Randoms Week of 10/23
@lmmjd What's funny is we're Team Green and don't know what we're having! The first half of my pregnancy, I could swear up and down that it was a girl. Now I'm not so sure. I've had three friends/coworkers tell me they think it's a boy; two of them based it off how low I'm "carrying." I carried low with DS, too, but I figured that's just how my body is built to grow babies. Lol. So, we'll see if the tales are true!
@agalvarado JEALOUS! Enjoy yourself!
@auntieraindrop That is sweet of your coworker! Also, I love your next door cubicle's Christmas decor. LOL
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
ETA: I've almost caved multiple times recently and looked at my Panorama results, just so that I would have time to process the result before baby gets here.
Jan 18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
I'm staring at our calendar for December and it is becoming increasingly obvious to me that we are having a baby soon, and I'm a little bit freaked out. (Also, that everything I'd planned for "after school" is fast, fast approaching -- and now I have to hope all the planning and spreadsheeting pays off, lol.)
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
I don't have family nearby, so it'll just be DH and I for the planned c-section. DS will be picked up from daycare by a friend. I've checked with my OB and the hospital does not require a support person to stay with me at night, I'll be there 3 overnights, so DH will go home to be with DS at night, and will then drop DS off at daycare in the morning and will then come back to see us in the hospital. I don't know if friends will come by the hospital, last time no one came, so I don't figure anyone will this time.
Last time my dad surprised me the day we got home from the hospital, and I wanted to lose my sh** on him. He constant made comments about things I was doing wrong, and didn't change diapers, it really just felt like I had a nagging guest who I had to entertain all while trying to be a first time mom. So this time I have told my father/stepmom and my mom that I don't want any surprise visits and I don't want anyone visiting till she's 2 weeks old while we try to figure out this 2 kids thing. Plus, DH will go back to work at 2 weeks so if they decide to come that will help out.
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
@supercoolstephy I just have never made a thread, so I didn't want to make one if it had already been discussed
and I just missed it. I think I will make it. I couldn't handle a surprise visit either... particularly if they made comments. It is such an emotional time, anyway without any added stress.
ETA: spelling.
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
Funny that delivery room was brought up, I just saw an ad on facebook for labor and delivery gowns. LULZ like I wouldn't pay $36 for something I planned to discard.
I don't have any special plans. Hoping to go in Labor on my own this time and not get induced. Like last time, though, the room will only include DH and my doula (and staff etc. obviously). I didn't bother with a playlist last time and I was honestly so in the zone I didn't need it. My must haves for Labor are massage oil, and a big ole yoga ball to Labor on.
Why does autocorrect keep capitalizing Labor... annoying
I will have DH and my mom in the room with me. My mom has been at the births of all seven of her grandchildren (this will be her eighth), so it's kind of expected. Plus, I wouldn't be able to do it without her. She's the labor coach and DH is the emotional support. They're a good team!
I plan to have an epidural. I went as long as I could last time (I had hoped to have an unmedicated birth), but I don't do well with pain, so I was kind of out of control with it (despite doing all of the breathing/meditating strategies that I had practiced beforehand...not to discourage others, I just couldn't do it). Once I got that epidural, things went wonderfully, so I plan to get it again.
I didn't have time with DD to worry about things like playlists (it went too quickly), but I'll probably have DH make one just in case. Music calms me down. I also want to diffuse essential oils, but I'll have to talk to the hospital first.
One difference this time around is what to do with DD. Both my sister and my SIL have volunteered to take her when we go into labor and while we're at the hospital, so she'll go with one of them. Thankfully, both of them are also in education, so if I deliver when I'm supposed to, they'll be on Winter break too, so they won't be working.
As far as visitors go: DH and I both have MASSIVE families (I'm one of five and he's one of eight), and they ALL visit us while we're in the hospital (at different times of course). We also have several friends who stop by. I wouldn't have it any other way. They all know the routine (flu shots, no sickness, washed hands), and I get bored when I'm in the hospital, so I welcome the visits. I know this probably sounds like a nightmare to some, but DH and I are "the more the merrier" kind of people, and this dynamic works for us.
My company released our new benefits for 2018, and as I suspected they eliminated our EPO plan in favor of a selection of high deductible plans with HSAs. Even the "Premium" plan has deductibles three times as high as my old one, and everything else is coinsurance based, even prescriptions are 80/20. The lowest possible premium is still higher than what I paid last year and the benefits are craptastic.
Terrible time to have a huge predictable medical expense.
I can transition onto hubby's plan when the baby is born and get good coverage back, but I don't think I can do it in time to cover the actual birth. So basically I'll pay two deductibles out of pocket in 2018 no matter what, one for the crappy plan and one (blessedly small one) for hubby's plan after baby comes. Freaking awful.
DS2: Jan. 2016
DS3: Dec. 2017
Baby #4 on the way!
Jan 18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
DS2: Jan. 2016
DS3: Dec. 2017
Baby #4 on the way!
I use Hypnobabies! http://www.hypnobabies-store.com/link.cgi?affiliateID=472
J18 December Siggy Challenge: Christmas Movies!
EDD: 1/6/2018
Eva Jane: 7/23/2014
Together Let Us Seek the Heights