My OB's office called yesterday and wanted to know if I had a personal preference for which OB I wanted for delivery. I don't really have a preference, so they said they'll notify the hospital to contact me with an induction date. I can go as early as January 21st but no later than January 28th.
I'm hoping for the 22nd for a variety of reasons. The first is that I flat out love Thursdays. It's the day I've always picked to make changes to my girls' routines (such as removing the pacifier for my oldest, starting "Cry it Out" with my second, etc) and a new sister is absolutely the start of a new routine.
Everything looks good on a Thursday, because the next day is always Friday and who doesn't love Fridays?
In addition, that gives me 3 days of work that week, one of which should be an easier-than-normal day because it's both a federal holiday and a school holiday, then 2-3 days in the hospital, and I can come home most likely on Saturday and have all day Sunday to be with local family/friends who may want to visit if I'm up to it.
I'll be taking the following week off from work and returning to work February 2nd. In an ideal world, I could take 8-12 weeks off but that would royally stink for all of my clients and for my own bank account. Lifting will be limited to the weight of my baby for 6 weeks or so and to help with that, my friend and back-up provider will be around extensively to help me out. She'll take the lion's load for the first week or two and then we can taper it off from there.
My recovery from my previous 3 deliveries was incredibly fast and I have every reason to hope and believe that this recovery will be just as easy.
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| The day after I delivered my second |
It's the lack of sleep I am most worried about. I've been through the "so tired you hurt" bit a couple times before and it's not much fun! But again, it only lasts a few weeks and then my babies start sleeping for longer stretches and I can feel human again.
In theory, that is.
With an induction date in the works, I contacted Alicia, the nurse who was so wonderful during Jackson's delivery. Her children are both grown and I hoped that her schedule would be pretty flexible so she could attend to me during Dash's delivery. This was her response to my email yesterday:
Talia,I am so excited for you! I can't believe how fast time has gone by. Yes I will come in whichever day you want that week. Just let me know when your induction is scheduled, or I'll keep a lookout. My week is open, so feel free to pick whatever day you want. It's going to be a wonderful birthday and thank you so much for letting me part of your family's special day. Let me know if there is anything I can do as well to help ahead of time:)Looking forward to seeing you again,
Alicia is right: Time really has gone by quickly. It was only a year ago that I had my ultrasound with Jackson to confirm that my pregnancy was located where it needed to be and was a singleton. So much has happened since then!
Yesterday while the children were napping, I was overcome with emotions. Each of the last 4 nights I have dreamt of my mother and I know that's because she was in the delivery room with us when our other daughters were born and this time she can't be there in the same sense. When I mentioned this to my husband, he said, "She'll still be there."
He's right. I know he's right. And I think these dreams may be preparing me in some way to be ready for her. It has been a while since I felt her as strongly as I used to but I know she wouldn't miss the delivery of her granddaughter for anything.
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| Mom holding my second while we're still in the delivery room. |
If you knew my mother, you'd know that not even death can stop that woman when she wants to be somewhere!
A picture of her from her senior recital at BYU sits on the shelf in what will be Dash's room, right in my line of site from the chair where I intend to spend hours upon hours nursing my baby girl.
I have roughly 43 days to finish getting that room ready and at the rate I've been going, it will take every single one of those days. . .
31 weeks down, about 6 to go.
