tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-359118072024-03-23T04:31:31.882-04:00The Muse Has Left The Building......she was looking for some well-mannered frivolity.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-27492363376847104452012-05-18T23:26:00.002-04:002012-05-18T23:26:06.344-04:00"I Hate Americorps" "AmeriCorps sucks" Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After five! years and almost 200 comments on the original post, I'm hoping this entry will show up in searches as well.<br />
<br />
I feel the need to clarify about my own service experience. I did two terms with AmeriCorps state (Michigan), placed in a Federally Qualified Health Center. I was not part of HealthCorps, which is a National program, but part of MPCA (Michigan Primary Care Association). I helped medicaid clients understand the need for and made sure they knew they had access to preventive care (checkups, labs, vaccines, asthma proactiveness, etc). I also helped uninsured women of childbearing age find quality care. I think that my program was and is important, but I also realize many of you have had harrowing experiences.<br />
<br />
I was married at the time to another full-time wage earner and did not experience any undue financial hardship during my term of service; but it is laid out in the beginning what you will be paid. If you don't think you can make it on the stipend, you shouldn't commit to this sort of service. My comments were meant for those feeling mid-term malaise, those whose projects had stalled or met with problems from superiors.<br />
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I had no idea the post would attract so many who had truly horrid experiences. I hope those who have shared those experiences in the comments have also taken these stories to a venue that can actually assist them - I'm just a blogger, I don't have any special powers that my readers do not also possess. I don't have a wide range of influence - this is the first post and update on this blog in over three years.<br />
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The complaints posted on the original post comments are mostly VISTA related. I don't know anything about VISTA, and my original comments were never meant to address anything but my own feelings on the subject.<br />
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I feel mandatory national service should be required of every American citizen. We are a disconnected nation. There are many ways and means to serve your country and community, from the military, to AmeriCorps, to NCCC and beyond. Serving your country should give you a sense of pride and honor, not a feeling of being taken advantage of.<br />
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If you get nothing else from reading these two posts and the comments, I would hope you take away this:<br />
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There is no change without action. Sitting on your butt and complaining doesn't solve anything. If you want change, call your congressperson. Call your senator. Better yet, stop by their local office in your district. Sit down and talk to them. Speak to your peers. Write resolutions and proposals. Do SOMETHING beyond sharing your story on a blog that gets maybe 30 hits in a week. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-20886546646604661612009-05-07T21:42:00.001-04:002009-05-07T21:44:16.825-04:00Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Maeve!My baby is one today. She was born by c-section at 9:40pm after a 15 hour trial of labor for VBAC.<lj-cut text="read more..."><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/maevebirth/?action=view&current=maevebirth008640x479.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/maevebirth/maevebirth008640x479.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This past year has gone really fast - but in a wonderful way.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/june%202008/?action=view&current=june2008064640x479.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/june%202008/june2008064640x479.jpg" alt="Big Eyes!" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />She is a bright little ray of sunshine, very happy and calm.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/january%202009/?action=view&current=jan08063640x479.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/january%202009/jan08063640x479.jpg" alt="There's no ham in spaghetti" border="0" /></a><br /> </lj-cut><br /><br />Happy birthday, sweet girl. May the year ahead bring you joy.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/march2009/?action=view&current=DSCN2201.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/march2009/DSCN2201.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-1123997959502191142009-04-28T13:18:00.001-04:002009-04-28T13:18:50.947-04:00Equal Pay Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">April 28, 2009 is Equal Pay Day, the date in 2009 when the average woman's wages finally catches up with those paid to the average man in 2008. <br /><br />Yeah, you read that correctly. <br /><br />The average woman in the US has to work an extra 4 months to equal what a man doing the same job earns.<br /><br />If that woman is a mother, it takes even longer. A single mother, even longer than that. And women of color? They're even further behind.<br /><br />And with the same resume and qualifications, a mother is 78% less likely to be hired than a non-mother. <br /><br />Call or write your congressperson and tell them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.<br /><br /><br />For more information, check out: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pay-equity.org/info-time.html" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(75, 109, 159); ">http://www.pay-equity.org/info-time.html<br /><br /></a><a href="http://www.nwlc.org/fairpay/wagegapoverview2009.html" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(75, 109, 159); ">http://www.nwlc.org/fairpay/wagegapoverv<wbr>iew2009.html</a><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-63184334359524891912009-04-17T03:09:00.001-04:002009-04-17T03:09:53.531-04:00Stupid Commercials<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "> There are two commercials on lately that really peeve me. <br /><br />(no, not the BK commerical with Sir Mix-A-Lot. That one's hilarious.)<br /><br />First, there's a commercial for Chef Boyardee about how there's a full serving of vegetables in every can. The dad keeps trying to say it, and the mom keeps doing stupid shit like turning on the garbage disposal, banging pots and pans, etc, to keep the pwecious widdle bwoy from hearing that there might be VEGETABLES in his food. <br /><br />Fuck me sideways. For one thing, tomato sauce, IMO, does not freaking count as a "vegetable". For another thing, my kids eat vegetables. They love them. They can't be the only children on the face of the planet who do. If I were to serve my kids something as disgusting as Chef Boyardee, you can bet they're having a nice side of steamed broccoli with it, and liking every second of it. <br /><br /><br />Second, is a Verizon commercial for their new "Hub" phone - it's a PDA on steroids. There are a couple cute commercials featuring this new product - one with a teen shopping for prom dresses, for example - funny.<br /><p style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; ">But one of the commercials features a mom cooking paella. She's looking at the recipe on the souped up phone thing, and then uses it to send her family a text message about Paella night at 7pm!! Whoo! Her 16 year old son video messages her back:<br /><br />"Mom, I don't know what pah-ella is, but I'm not eating it. Ever".<br /><br />So this idiot, stereotypical, family-pleaser woman picks up the phone and orders PIZZA for her ungrateful little shit of a son. Are you fucking kidding me? <br /><br />Can I tell you what would happen at my house? (we'll leave out that I'd never make paella b/c I'm not a seafood fan) 16 year old would be making himself a peanut butter sandwich or pouring himself some cereal. Or, he can go get a job and buy his own pizza. <br /><br />I'd ask if there are people out there who actually do this - cater to their kids like mini-royalty - but since the advertising is there to pander to them, there must be.</p></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-82209487793133894532009-04-08T20:00:00.003-04:002009-04-08T20:13:37.767-04:00A lot of people are interested in how much AmeriCorps sucks, apparently...This post<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://amerimama.blogspot.com/2007/05/americorps-sucks-i-hate-americorps.html">http://amerimama.blogspot.com/2007/05/americorps-sucks-i-hate-americorps.html</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Has generated a lot of interest, discussion, and vitriol. </div><div><br /></div><div>Due to a lot of the comments, I started a YUKU board. People seem to want and need somewhere to talk about their National Service experiences and expectations. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://theserviceexperience.yuku.com">http://theserviceexperience.yuku.com</a></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-24555560232654992932008-07-18T11:20:00.005-04:002008-07-18T11:28:47.207-04:00Still Alive!Yes, I still exist!<br /><br />We're still adjusting to having two spawnlings around here, although Maeve is a delightfully mellow baby. I just haven't had much to write about beyond spawnlings, and although motherhood has been a big part of this blog I don't want it to be the only part. Other people have done it, and probably better than I.<br /><br />I've been writing HP fanfiction as well, and getting up the gumption to redo the outline on the YA Sci-Fi novel I've had kicking around in my head.<br /><br />If anybody's interested in reading the HP fanfiction I've written, I'm archived a couple of places:<br /><br /><a href="http://community.livejournal.com/grangersnape100/tag/voxangelus"><br />http://community.livejournal.com/grangersnape100/tag/voxangelus</a><br /><a href="http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewuser.php?uid=10622"><br />http://www.thepetulantpoetess.com/viewuser.php?uid=10622</a><br /><br />Some of it is smut, if that tickles your fancy.<br /><br />I hope to be back soon, with more interesting content!<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-65271879908041937532008-06-25T14:35:00.002-04:002008-06-25T14:35:53.856-04:00Listen, you pervertI have half a mind to report people who are searching for "child naked" "naked child" "naked kid" to their ISP's. I think I will.<br /><br />Fucking perverts.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-32014820368767040502008-06-14T00:48:00.001-04:002008-06-14T00:49:30.625-04:00Hermione Granger, The Pirate Queen<a href="http://filkertom-itom.blogspot.com/2006/09/008-hey-its-cannon.html">Download and listen here</a><br /><br />A filk is new words written to a preexisting song - it's a fandom thing. <br /><br />Hehe.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-74398129389937801142008-06-11T03:05:00.003-04:002008-06-25T14:48:31.587-04:00Happily Ever After<a href="http://www.espin.com/index.php?trip=833" title="eSpin the Bottle"><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_ext_title.gif" alt="Behold... My Future" title="Behold... My Future" border="0" height="150" width="350" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_crush.gif" height="50" width="50" /><br />I will marry <b>Severus Snape</b>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_live_city.gif" height="50" width="50" /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_live_house.gif" height="50" width="50" /><br />After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in <b>Munich</b> in our fabulous <b>House</b>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_kids.gif" height="50" width="50" /><br />We will have <b>6 kid(s)</b> together.<br /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_car.gif" height="50" width="50" /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_color.gif" height="50" width="50" /><br />Our family will zoom around in a <b>black Escalade</b>.<br /><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_money.gif" height="50" width="50" /><br />I will spend my days as a <b>princess</b>, and live happily ever after.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.espin.com/mash-game.php?trip=833" title="whats your future"><img src="http://www.espin.com/images/mash/mash_what_yours.gif" alt="whats your future" border="0" height="33" width="163" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /> <img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/bHQ9MTIxMzE2Nzg1NTIzNCZwdD*xMjEzMTY3OTQyNzY1JnA9MTEwOTkxJmQ9TWFzaCtHYW1lJm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTE=.jpg" border="0" height="0" width="0" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-68963728795375111902008-06-09T10:55:00.001-04:002008-06-09T10:55:53.290-04:00It's a Damn Good Thing its Not 1930<center><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="300"><tbody><tr><td><img src="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/wife.jpg" height="72" width="72" /></td><td><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:+3;">22</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">As a 1930s wife, I am<br /><strong><span style="font-size:+2;">Very Poor (Failure)</span></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/">Take the test!</a></small></p></td></tr></tbody></table></center><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-83909702783928065622008-06-05T14:16:00.002-04:002008-06-05T14:18:46.855-04:00Maeve at 4 Weeks<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/june%202008/?action=view&current=june2008041479x640.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/june%202008/june2008041479x640.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I think she weighs around nine pounds. She has great control of her head and neck, can roll from her front to her back, and from her back to her side. She's sleeping 5-6 hours at night (8 last night! whoo!) and is starting to give us just little hints of smiles.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-26434636730840163322008-06-01T11:03:00.002-04:002008-06-01T11:08:18.676-04:00AdjustmentThings are going really well here! I don't know if it's the zoloft or the fact that I feel that Maeve's birth went so much better than Freyja's, but there's no sign of PPD. <br /><br />Maeve is a really good baby, Freyja is acting like your typical 3 1/2 year old big sister (wants to help one minute, insanely jealous the next), Kerwin is back on 1st shift (amen), and I'm doing really well. <br /><br />Baby alarm - more later.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-26591380372073713732008-05-09T15:24:00.000-04:002008-05-09T15:26:48.059-04:00Ooo, a BABY!!Alas, the VBAC was not to be. I did get a fair trial of labor, however, which was what I wanted. Maeve was born on May 7th at 9:48 pm, weighing 7 pounds and 12 oz and measuring 19 inches long :)<br /><br />I got to about 6 cm and started having intense pain around my prior C/S incision - after talking with my doctors, we decided to go on to a repeat c-section. When they got in, my uterus was paper-thin near the scar. There's no guarantee that it would have ruptured, and I don't think my experience should in any way dissuade anyone else from attempting VBAC. I feel fine about the section - this hospital's post-op protocols are FAR superior to the hospital where I delivered Freyja.<br /><br />Instead of getting her out and whisking her away to the nursery to be brought back sterile and clean 2 hours later, they just rubbed her dry, let her hang out under the warmer, let Kerwin bring her over for me to give kisses to, and then when they were done suturing me up gave her to me and we went to recovery together. I was able to breastfeed her within 45 min after birth and before she had her first bath. Things are going remarkably well in that department, much better than they did with Freyja.<br /><br />Here's some pictures - hubby took them. I'll update with new ones once I unload the camera again, since all the rest of them are either screaming naked goo covered child or something equally odd. <br /><a target="_blank" href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/?action=view&current=DSCN1420.jpg"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/DSCN1420.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/?action=view&current=DSCN1416.jpg"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/voxangelus/DSCN1416.jpg" border="0" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-9833501778251352732008-05-07T12:25:00.002-04:002008-05-07T12:28:07.618-04:00Labor UpdateMy water broke on it's own after getting here to the hospital this morning :) <br /><br />I'm currently 4 cm, which is as far as I got with Freyja in 12 hours of pitocin labor. <br /><br />I have a VERY slow pitocin drip right now that is doing the trick, it's been in since about 10:30 this morning. <br /><br />So things are going very well, hopefully we'll have a baby this afternoon or evening :D<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-87236182703880280122008-05-06T22:44:00.002-04:002008-05-06T22:54:37.511-04:00Whaa :(I just packed my baby girl off to Grandma's to stay until we have her sister.<br /><br />I feel like I haven't made enough of our time with just her. She's not going to be our only baby anymore. The dynamic is going to be totally different, and I don't think I'm all right with that yet. <br /><br />It seems like I haven't given her enough kisses, and cuddles, and affection. She's been really independent since she learned to sit up and we've taken advantage of that instead of loving on her more, and playing with her more. Now I don't have any more time with her as my only baby. <br /><br />Now she has to share us. I didn't expect this to hit me so hard. <br /><br />And at the risk of sounding cliche, how can I possibly love another one as much as I love her? And how can I give her the attention and love she deserves while taking care of the new one? I'm sure it will all work out and I'll look back a while from now and feel silly about this - but right now I just don't know how I'll do it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-8299122470727036122008-05-05T19:45:00.002-04:002008-05-05T19:54:22.087-04:00All Systems GoMy doctor was back today, and I was happy to see her.<br /><br />She's concerned about my blood pressure and about the GD. She still wants to give me an honest shot at a vaginal delivery, however. She gave me the choice of an induction or scheduling the repeat c-section.<br /><br />My cervix is 90% effaced and 2 cm dialated, so I'm favorable for induction. They won't use drugs on a VBAC mama, so at 3 am Wednesday morning, I'm going in to have my water broken. She swept my membranes today and she thinks I have a good chance of going into labor before then anyway. <br /><br />I know a lot of hardcore VBAC people aren't going to agree with this. They'd be telling me to push for biophysical profile ultrasounds, etc. However, I trust my doctor. She has been completely upfront with me from the beginning about my chances, the risks, the benefits of VBAC. If it wasn't for the GD, she said she'd be happy letting me go to 42 weeks and probably a little longer. I can accept that. She could refuse to induce me at all, but she left the descision up to me (and said she'd prefer I do the induction b/c she'd much rather attend a vaginal delivery than a c-section).<br /><br />So that's the news here - I get 36-48 hours to go into active labor from the time they rupture me. I have no idea if I get to stay in the hospital that entire time or not. I'll keep the blog updated, since I'll have the laptop.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-72583164978751748782008-05-03T12:51:00.002-04:002008-05-03T12:54:26.815-04:00Never mind, then.My mom came to get Freyja and I decided to take a little nap while I still could. <br /><br />Yep, the second I laid down everything stopped except the pelvic pressure. I don't get it, b/c I was up and moving around, cooking, doing laundry, getting a few last things together and they didn't stop then, did they? <br /><br />I am really frustrated right now, going on two weeks of prodromal labor with nothing to show for it. I hope that my cervix is at least changing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-72413141462748578282008-05-02T21:18:00.002-04:002008-05-02T21:20:09.366-04:00Hospital-BoundThis is it, folks. Over the past two hours I've gone from general crampy feelings to regular contractions 4.5 min apart. My mom will be coming to pick up Freyja in a little over an hour and if things are still progressing then, we'll wait a little longer and then head to the hospital.<br /><br />Wish me luck! Yay, VBAC!<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-73623487485056533712008-04-28T02:01:00.003-04:002008-04-28T02:03:32.288-04:00Any Time NowMy back is killing me. I've been having cramps and contractions on and off for the past week. Nothing is happening. I've apparently developed sleep apnea as well. I'm tired.<br /><br />So, baby girl, you can come out any time now. Please. Before you hit ten pounds.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-6024615894123865762008-04-27T00:19:00.002-04:002008-04-27T00:21:30.080-04:00Mah Hubby Iz Famouse<a href="http://journal.neilgaiman.com/">http://journal.neilgaiman.com/</a><br /><br />Check out the entry called "pajamablog" - Kerwin's quite beside himself that he got his question answered. :D<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-71358487127336583952008-04-25T03:43:00.002-04:002008-04-25T03:49:16.732-04:00InsomniaIt's 3:43 am.<br /><br />I woke up around 3, decided sleep was over-rated, and took a shower. I know I should just go back to bed, but I'll probably toss and turn instead of sleeping. <br /><br />I wish I could report labor pains, but I can report the laptop bouncing from being kicked repeatedly by the unborn spawn. <br /><br />I sort of feel like cleaning up the house. Maybe I'm nesting. I don't feel enough like cleaning up the house to get out of the recliner, however. The recliner is comfy, and the only place my back doesn't feel like it has knives stabbing into it lately. <br /><br />It is rather peaceful sitting here in the dark with heavy rain coming down. I might actually call it a torrential downpour.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-17028850730254822732008-04-20T09:55:00.002-04:002008-04-20T10:00:56.794-04:00A WhineLower back, hips, thighs = lots of ow. <br /><br />Typical at 37 weeks? Yes.<br /><br />Doesn't mean I like it.<br /><br />I can't get anything done.<br /><br />I don't want to bring the baby home to a messy house.<br /><br />I forsee tylenol in my future today.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-72487067845104059702008-04-18T13:28:00.002-04:002008-04-18T13:44:57.658-04:00Still HereAnd still pregnant!<br /><br />Some perinatologist tried to play the dead baby card with me yesterday in regards to my diet-controlled gestational diabetes (which he thinks is not diet controlled because my fasting blood sugars occasionally run 5 points high - nothing any of my other docs have been concerned at all about) Stupid peri, you don't play the dead baby card with a mom who's done her research, especially if you've just looked at my chart for two minutes and decided you know more about my specific case than the doctors and midwives who have seen me my entire pregnancy. No, I will not be scheduling a c-section because you think I should. <br /><br />He prescribed a blood sugar medication that in the literature states should not be taken within two weeks of delivery to avoid extreme low blood sugar in the infant. I will not be taking it, as the risks outweigh the benefits at this point. I have a call in to my regular OB about it. I'd much rather adjust my carb intake if she thinks it's a problem (which she did NOT on monday).<br /><br />Thankfully I shouldn't have to see this guy again. I have no idea why I had to see him in the first place, b/c I thought I was just going in for an NST and an ultrasound.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-91479807110079287092008-04-10T04:38:00.002-04:002008-04-10T04:50:28.027-04:00Bad IdeaRemind me never to meditate before going to sleep ever again. <br /><br />I just woke up from a dream that's left me really shaken - shaken enough to have to get up, check the news, check the phone, check that Freyja is where she's supposed to be. I stopped short of calling Kerwin at work, but if I can't get back to sleep in a half hour or so, I might call him anyway.<br /><br />I have a cup of tea. <br /><br />I don't have nightmares often. The dream just started out as odd, but then I got mad about something pretty inconsequential during a family party (I believe I chewed a younger cousin out about how HER religion wasn't the only one in existence, so would she please shut up) . I went outside to take a breather and calm down, and all of a sudden people start pouring out of the house, looking for their family members and their belongings. Something about seventeen people being shot on the floor of a slaughterhouse not far from where we were, and the news said the apocalypse was upon us.<br /><br />I couldn't find Freyja. I couldn't find Kerwin. I couldn't find my socks. It was dark and they had turned out all the lights in the house, the light switches wouldn't work. Why I was worried about my socks is beyond me. I went into my mom's room (who knows why dream logic works) and got a pair of socks. She coudln't find hers either, so I handed her a pair. She kept screaming something over and over, and I couldn't understand her. As soon as I put the socks on (they were either 60's flower power flowers or stripes...I don't remember which pair I gave my mom), I woke up.<br /><br />My heart was racing. I had to get up and turn lights on, check on things. <br /><br />I don't remember the last time I had a serious nightmare bad enough to make me get up out of bed, make a cup of tea, and long desperately for someone to talk to at a quarter to five in the morning.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35911807.post-13366078652937341912008-04-10T00:48:00.003-04:002008-04-10T01:03:17.932-04:00Taking It EasyDue to my high blood pressure, midwife wants me to "take it easy" until my next appointment, which is Monday with the OB who is overseeing my VBAC.<br /><br />Easier than usual? To be honest, my hips and pelvis hurt so much that between fetching meals and snacks for Freyja and myself, going to the bathroom, and occasionally unloading the dishwasher or switching laundry loads, my butt stays in the recliner. Then every evening I do some of the spinningbabies.com postures to attempt to make up for the time in the recliner. From what I can tell, the baby is happily <a href="http://spinningbabies.com/index.php?Itemid=32&id=23&option=com_content&task=view">right occiput anterior,</a> so I must be doing something correctly. Left occiput anterior is the end-all-be-all of optimal fetal presentation, but I'll take what I can get.<br /><br />I'm not sure how much "easier" I can take it without becoming comatose. My blood pressure remains high, but I have zero other symptoms of pre-eclampsia. I'm still wearing my rings and I still have ankles. I am not at all puffy (erm...puffier than usual). In theory, we are still "only" talking pregnancy-induced hypertension (because my blood pressure is shockingly normal when I'm not incubating another human life).<br /><br />I'm supposed to lie on my left side a lot. I have a stupid uncomfortable couch and a three year old who requires constant supervision just due to her age. She is good about playing independently, which is nice for me - but I can't just hole up in my bedroom while she has run of the rest of the house. Let me tell you that this is probably not going to happen much. Comfortably ensconced in the recliner is the best I can hope for. I might be able to swing 15 min out of an hour on my left side on the couch. Any longer and I'd fall asleep. Not a good thing.<br /><br />Off to meditate before sleep and see if that helps the blood pressure any.<br /><br />One calendar month til my due date.<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13306636563912007809noreply@blogger.com0