Good Things
- 3 a.m. – realizing there is a warm little body burrowed against mine, even though he was soundly sleeping in his own bed at last recollection. I do want him to feel safe, secure, and confident, and I do want him to develop healthy independence, but I also want to savor the snuggle time for as long as I can.
- coffee at 4 a.m. when I’m all swollen and can’t sleep (not so much the swollen and can’t sleep part, though)
- colostrum. 34 weeks and it’s here – my body is working! This pleases me immensely.
- a peaceful quiet house, all to myself (even though I’ll be paying for it in a few hours). Not so much the rude awakening that I’m not alone, and sharing the otherwise tranquility with a monstrously large moth, and where the hell did it come from anyway? (Swearing, although a rarity with me, is not uncommon when monstrously large flying creatures invade one’s space.)
- broccoli, steamed and smothered in butter. Normally I wouldn’t indulge in the decadence of butter, but when I do, oh my. Yesterday’s dinner.
- sweet corn. Miraculously enough, it doesn’t wreak havoc on the blood sugar. The broccoli wasn’t enough, so I had corn too. Yes, we’re all about fine and lovingly prepared meals around here.
- the prospect of a healthy baby
Not so Good Things
- insomnia
- bladder capacity (lack thereof)
- monstrously large flying creatures invading one’s space
- edema
- full body aches
- muscle cramps
- insulin resistance; diabetes
- employer changed medical insurance plans mid-year requiring more out of pocket expenses, additional paperwork, deductibles, and higher copays
- the strange numb and unpleasant but not so much painful feeling on the surface of my skin at the peak of my belly (by my navel, which somehow remains an innie) when my belly inadvertently but invariably brushes against anything
Things to Do
- buy newborn size diapers. I have a case of size 1, but they may be a bit big for the first couple of weeks.
- set up the baby hammock
- unpack baby items – bibs, burp cloths, breast pump, all that good stuff
- preregister at the hospital
- pack my hospital bag
- discuss leave of absence and return to work plans with my boss
- make daycare arrangements – the babysitter is going to Poland on August 20th, without consulting me first. Imagine.
- wrap up work projects. HAHAHAHAAHAHAAHHAHAHAHH. Actually, I probably will leave things in good shape for my backups. I’m responsible and considerate that way.
- clean and organize the fridge and freezer
- get more rest
