"But that's ok. We enjoy them." These were the words my doctor's appointment this morning ended with. Max said he didn't have a thing to say to me. Baby is growing well. Diabetes is in excellent control with the help of 10 units of NPH at night. Weight is good. Blood pressure is good. Heartbeat is good. Just couldn't find a thing to talk about. So I asked him about going past 40 weeks. He had mentioned really not wanting me to do this and of course my goal is to have a non-induced labor. I really want to go naturally this one last time. When I first interviewed Max about my gestational diabetes he was in agreement with me going to 42 weeks if my diabetes was in control. This was before he knew that my labors were so short, that my husband works two hours away and before I started on insulin so early. He does have some points that I will have to consider.
Would it be so awful if Michael weren't home for this? Probably not, but I do so want him there to share this joy with me. Even if he left work immediately upon learning that I was in labor, he wouldn't get there in time. If I scheduled an induction I could make sure that it was for a day that Michael is going to be home for a few days in a row. Induction for convenience goes against every thing I believe in. But I have also never been in this situation before . . . Knowing that there is no way he could get here in time makes me very sad.
Then there is the whole kids issue . . . To be able to say to a friend that I am having a baby on a certain day and I need you to take the kids for that day is a luxury. This wasn't a big deal when my mother was alive when Caitlyn was born. We just drove over to her house and dropped Stuart off in bed. No biggie. Making arrangements when I was induced with Brigid was also no big deal. We got a sitter to take them to a movie and by the time the movie was over, they had a little sister. But this is all still induction for convenience and just not the way I want to go.
Even with induction my labor was fairly short and not too painful. I know that I could get through it again with no problem and no epidural. I can't be sure, but feel pretty good that I won't have to deal with any c-section issues. But as soon as I agree to it, I am committed to an IV, monitoring, a nurse in constant attendance and very little mobility. Not my idea of a good time.
This is going to take a lot to come to grips with. I never thought I would even be considering this as a viable alternative. But what Max said makes a lot of sense. In addition, he handles most of the higher risk pregnancies in the office, so it would be great to be able to have him do my delivery. I don't think I am high risk but unfortunately because of my age and the diabetes, I do fall into that category.
I guess I really need to pray that I go naturally on my own before my scheduled date. That way Max is happy and so am I as I get to experience natural labor one last time.
Spring may finally be close to arriving in the Shenandoah Mountains and not a day too soon. This winter has been horrible for us and everyone has been getting cabin fever. This week with the warmer temperatures and the sunshine, everyone is so much happier. Brigid hasn't asked to nurse during the day for a week. Our afternoons are still a little hairy, but I can throw the kids outside and she gets worn out. Makes bedtimes much easier too. And she has now figured out that she can nap without nursing so she is getting an hour nap every day. Stuart is manager of his school soccer team (since our School Board has a silly rule which prohibits 6th graders from playing team sports) which keeps him busy every day from 3:30 to 5:30. Then two nights a week he goes and plays travel soccer as well. Caitlyn goes out to the barn almost every day to groom the horses. It is so nice to have everyone getting some sunlight and outdoor air. Now if it would just get warm enough for me to start cleaning out the old flower beds while I am still in the second trimester energy bursts . . .
All the kids have managed to feel their little sister moving around. She is in constant motion all the time . . . something I treasure so much. When Stuart felt it the other day he saw my stomach move at the same time. He wondered how on earth I could sleep through it. Maybe I am weird or something but I just love every movement I feel. These twinges and kicks and thumps are something that I relish… I look at every one of them as just another sign that all is right with the Hickey Household.
Today, as I awoke 20 minute early so that I could have 10 minutes of prayer time without interruptions, I handed my day over to God for His control and I have felt His hand in everything I have done today. What a remarkable day this has been. Despite our financial issues because of Michael not working through March, despite the fears of war, despite the frustrations of dealing with a 3, 10 and 12 year old, despite the amount of straightening and organizing and cleaning I have to face in this house prior to June, despite all the issues that pop up every day which are thrown in front of us to make us stumble . . . Despite all of this . . . and so many other things I haven't even mentioned, life just doesn't get any better.
