She was nice and all, but seemed more focused on getting us good pictures of the face and feet on her non-high res ultrasound machine (believe me I have good ultrasound pictures from a high res machine) then getting good measurements of fluid and baby. Anyways, that didn’t inspire confidence in the scientist side of me. She said fluid levels were “about normal” and baby was about 4 lbs 13 oz (I saw the four measurements - they oscillated between 3 lbs 12 oz and 5 lbs 4 oz - also little confidence there), which is almost a half-pound over normal for 33 weeks. At the ultrasound he was head down, but he seems to swing between transverse and head down pretty regularly. I routinely wake up in the morning with a VERY transverse baby sticking out on both sides and sometime during the day he switches to head down. So I don’t know if it is my sleeping position that is prompting the transverse swap or what. Either way, I am not terribly concerned about it, he seems to routinely go to that head down position, so I suspect at some point he will go there and stay.
The nursery is about 90% done. Painted, nearly set up except for the crib – which needs a bit of work. And I need to clear out the closet and the many Rubbermaid bins scattered all over the floor. I have washed 80% of the stuff that needs washed. Nearly everything 0-9 mos has been washed and sorted into dresser drawers. Everything 12 mos and up is sorted into Rubbermaid bins that will be labeled and stacked in his cleaned out closet.
There are only a couple things - small things - I need to buy still. Basically a new hand pump (my old Avent Isis just looks nasty) and replacement pump parts for my electric. Neither is high on the “must have now” list.
Names… oh my. I don’t even know what to say. We had it narrowed down to #1 and #2. Then AB decided he wasn’t that into #1. I liked the name, but it was probably in reality my #2 name. It is amazing what this admission did… that poor name is nearly off our list now. The #2 name (the uber-popular non-Scandinavian name – uber-popular, in our world at least, means it made the top 300 boys’ names in the US in 2011) is now about top of the list and we have a whole other list of possible contenders including a couple that are a bit out there (thanks AB...). And don’t even get me started on middle names.
I mentioned the other day in Leif’s presence to someone that we didn’t have a name yet. Leif said, “I thought it was (insert prior #1 name)?” So maybe he does listen?
I have had a few people recently ask how I feel. I think I must be looking huge or something as I have had a few people jump on me about my plans and setting things in motion for my leave. With the last two kids I was just a peon working on projects for the most part. Taking 8 weeks off had little impact on what I was working. Not so this time around. Though one of my good friends and coworkers put it to me this way, “honestly, it may seem like 8-10 weeks is a long time to you, but it is going to fly by in the blink of an eye to us. Seriously you will be gone and then you will be back. Just like that!”
My role has changed at work in the last 5 years to Project Manager from Scientist. Which means I have responsibility for scope, schedule and budget of presently 6-7 projects. Not to mention that I have 9 proposals/white papers currently pending responses from potential clients who are likely sitting on their hands while we push through the current budget crisis. Anyways, it hasn’t been easy to find another me. In my reviews at work I am routinely hearing how my work is diverse - at first that was bad, now it is good. I am experiencing that right now – I have a number of really great people to tap, but I can hit each one with only one of the many diverse areas I am working in.
The other new aspect for me is that I actually lost out on the lead of a major program because of my pregnancy. And the managers weren’t shy about telling me, “I am sorry, but we need someone who can over the next 6 months nurture and care for this client since this relationship is already on the rocks.” I totally get it – I would say the same thing in their shoes. They had come to me and when I went to the meeting I could see their eyes bulge when they realized just how far along I was. But at the same time it bums me out a teensy bit to miss out on a big opportunity. One of the managers has made a few concessions to me – I can tell he feels bad about it. He has two things ready for me to lead in FY14… provided they get funded.
It’s the tradeoff being a professional working mom. A tradeoff I will deal with because while I really enjoy what I am doing right now at work, I love my family so much more.
So anyways, I started this section with how I feel. Honestly cruddy. I try not to complain and I try to remind myself how this is the last time I will feel a baby move within me and what a wonderful joy that is (even if times it brings tears to my eyes as he is whipping my insides into scrambled eggs). My back aches. I am having Braxton-Hicks contractions regularly and real contractions on occasion as well that stop me in my tracks and make me want to squeal. I never had these with my other two until I was in active labor. My heartburn is out of control and I have quit the pineapple and grapefruit for the most part. (And yes, we actually SAW hair on the last ultrasound – so the old wives tale is holding for me with three kids.) I am tired and grumpy. My appetite is actually returning. AB commented last night when I ate an entire meatball sandwich. I have spent 7 months basically picking at my food. This last week, food actually looks good again. Huge accomplishment!
No comments:
Post a Comment