Blood Pressure Update

So on Friday I went to my appointment after having a quiet morning at home. I had to have another urine test which came back normal which is good. My blood pressure test was still up though so I had to sit and wait for 15 mins before having another test. Rhonda is really lovely. She was just very casual in her discussions and very positive. She gave me another blood pressure test which came back again high. (I really should note down the bp results, but as it doesn't make sense to me, I don't remember the numbers). Dr sent me for a blood test to make sure that the high blood pressure isn't a sign of something more going on inside me. I returned to the dr and waited again. Rhonda was going to give me another bp test but instead Booker came and spoke with me. As the results are being consistent he will just check my bp again next week at Wednesday's appointment. I asked if it was ok for me to still go to work next week and he said that is should be fine, especially when I told him it will mostly be team teaching so I can take it easier. After a couple of hours Rhonda called me up and told me that my blood tests came back normal so that was a very positive thing.

I called up Lyn to fill her in and she was again very supportive. She said I don't have to stay for staff meeting on Monday. Monday is going to be a planning day for my new replacement (Mel) and I which will be nice. Tuesday will be Grandparents' Day so that will be a bit more active but should be ok. Wednesday is another appointment and then on class from recess, team teaching. Thursday is team teaching and Friday is team teaching and my last day! So it should be a good week. Lyn is happy for me to come in late any days and leave early if I need to. I don't think I will do that but it is nice to know I have the option. When I thanked her for being so supportive and understanding she was very sweet and said that this is one baby she is looking forward to having cuddles with. Very sweet.

So yay that most things are good and I am trying to be good and not do too much each day.

God is Good!

Yesterday was a great day. I woke at 4:30 (not so great) and couldn't get back to sleep. At 5:15 I gave in and got up to do some work. It was quite productive. I got homework sheets and spelling sheets done. I then got ready for school. When I arrived at school my stage co-ordinator asked if my boss had spoken to me. I said no and she was being all funny about how my day off was going to pan out. I was to go and talk to my boss at 9:15 about Friday being off (I'm thinking at this stage that the person taking my class was going to be Carina - my replacement - or I wasn't allowed to take it off). When I went into my boss she told me that Carina had called up and told her that she was not wanting the position any more. WOW! That was a big shock! But I felt such a relief when I was told that. I know that you shouldn't judge on first impressions, but I was a bit worried about how she would go with the kids but especially how she would work with my awesome colleagues. Our school is very much a collaborative environment and she just didn't seem like she would work that way (which is fine, but just not how my grade works). My boss spoke to me about it a bit and she was actually relieved too. Then she told me that a different teacher is going to take my class instead. This teacher has been at my school for casual days and was going to be taking my class on Friday (today). Then next week she will be employed for the whole week as we don't know what the dr is going to say today about my blood pressure and if I need to take more time off work. The bonus is that this teacher is less experienced, so she will be open to advice. I feel more comfortable doing team teaching with her as I feel she will be willing to listen to me and also happy for me to say 'take this lesson'. My boss said that if I need to come in later for whatever reason then that can happen and the teacher will just start the day off with my class (again, an awesome option!). I felt such a relief again when I heard the change and really feel that it is God answering prayer - both for my class and for my teaching buddies. It is amazing how he can see the bigger picture! 

So I'm now off to get my blood pressure tested again and see how things go there. Will update you on how I am. But I know that God is good and whatever the results are, He will be looking after me as he is looking after my school buddies :-) 

Thanks God!

Silly Blood Pressure

Today I went to the Dr for my 35th week check up. I am starting weekly check ups as it's now the last month. I went into it thinking 'Ok, I have my appointment at 8:50, should be 10mins in and out and then I will get to school with an hour to do some different things.' This is the first week that I have thought that and I shouldn't have.

When I arrived Tanya, the training midwife, was there and we sat down and had a chat about everything. We spoke about my birth plan (keeping in mind that things often don't go to plan) but it is good for her to be aware of our plan to also encourage and support me effectively. It was nice chatting with her (I haven't seen her for a month because I needed to change to Tuesdays for the lat 2 appointments and she is only in on Wednesday).

When chatting with the Dr he took my blood pressure and then looked a bit puzzled. He decided to take it again. He said that it was a bit high so he wanted me to wait for Rhonda to take my blood pressure after as well as a urine test. He measured Bubble and said that was looking good. It was hard for him and Tanya to work out what parts of Bubble they could feel but it is facing the right way which is good. 

After taking the test Rhonda told me that it came back clear - they needed to check that there was no protein in my urine as that can lead to preclampsia (I think it was that). She took my blood pressure again and also said that it was high. After about 10 more minutes and her having a chat with Booker she came back and tested it again - again it was still high. They want me to go back on Friday to have another test, around 4 blood pressure tests to see if the results are lower and if they are still high I will get a blood test. They are just wanting to check that my kidneys and liver are still functioning properly. They kept saying that it is common to have a high blood pressure in your first pregnancy - 15% of women experience it (which even though to me that's not much, it is when you think how many women get pregnant). At this point I was a bit upset because I expected everything to be fine and in and out, but that didn't happen. They were very lovely though and very caring and reassuring.

I went to work and arrived at recess time - just in time to teach. I poked my head into Lyn's office and said I'm here, all is good but I need Friday off - and then I started crying again. She was so lovely! I really am blessed. She spoke through it with me, was totally fine about me having Friday off, offered that if I need to leave school at 3:30 to rest then I can and the same as she is ok for me to arrive at 9am in the morning. She re-assured me that I am still doing a good job and am coping very well. And she also gave me release after fruit break so that I still get it, as I miss out having appointments in the morning. So I am very blessed!

The day went well and I was a lot more aware about how I was teaching, trying to sit down more, having the students come to me, not me bending over them. Hopefully everything will be ok on Friday.

I am feeling quite big and am having a bit of back pain when I wake in the morning. Am trying a pillow between my legs, as well as the one under my tummy to make it feel better. Hopefully it helps. Will wait and see.

Psychologists, Showers and School

Last Saturday I went to a session with a psychologist which looked at how life will change when the baby comes out. It is a session which is totally endorsed by my obstetrician and so is paid for by him and they recommend it to prepare yourself for the transition from a working class person to a stay at home mum. The lady who ran it started it up because she felt very out of her depth when she had her babies and so started talking to Booker and Keo about doing sessions with women both before they have their baby and then after having their baby.

There were 9 other ladies in the group (one of which I knew from church a few years ago - Libby Fraser). It was sort of awkward at the start and then people started to warm up to the chats which we were having. She spoke about the initial changes that will happen and expectations in the first few moments with the baby. It was a lot of 'what have you been told?' and 'what are you expecting' as well as building upon that of 'how will you feel' and 'is it normal to feel that way'. So very much a discussion based time. It was nice to hear that other women are in the same situation as me with being unsure of what to expect and expecting the unexpected. From the session I took from it trying to live in the moment and reminding yourself 'this too will pass', particularly during the hard times. But to also enjoy and soak up the good times and deliberately focus on the moment, not letting your head thoughts get in the way. It was quite good to hear and be reminded about. So a couple of weeks after the baby is due we will meet up again with her in smaller groups - around 4 people - and chat about how things are going, what have you noticed and learnt, etc. I'm glad that Booker allowed me to have this opportunity as I probably wouldn't have gone if I had to pay for it, etc.

This morning I had my baby shower. It was quite nice to be able to hang out with a wonderful bunch of girls. It was fun too to have 3 babies around too - so cute! I was really happy that everyone seemed to be able to chat and hang out, even though quite a few people were from different stages at church and school. It was only small with 11 girls but I think that worked well so everyone chatted. That's pretty much all we did - eat, chat, hang out. But that was the way I wanted it. James was wonderful and was a barista for us so was working hard in the kitchen making coffees and hot chocolates to orders as well as putting together teas. All in all I think everyone had a lovely time just hanging out. It was sad that Jens got sick so wasn't able to make it (but totally understand) and Rach from school wasn't able to make it in the end because of family commitments with her husband preaching at church - again totally understand. As well as Jenny and Julie not being able to make it down (also totally understand) but it was nice to see those who could make it. Bubble was quite spoilt too which was very lucky getting lots of little soft toys, blankets, wraps, etc. as you can see in this picture.

Pressies for Bubble

It is nice to know that Bubble and James and I are so loved by those around us. It was also very lovely to get a beautiful handmade quilt from Julie! What a lovely surprise (thanks mums for working together!) and such a special gift for Bubble. I love handmade things!

The amazing quilt

and my special husband. :-)

 This week at school I have been finding it a lot harder than other weeks. Just feeling very tired and run down a lot faster than I have before. Around 2pm each day I'm hitting a wall but need to keep going to 3:30. Fortunately I finished my reports (well round 1 of the process) so hopefully they won't have too many changes this week. I'm worried I'm going to be told that they are all too long (after last year being told they were all too short) and will be really upset if that comment comes back as I need to change every comment then. But hopefully they will be fine in length and it will just be a couple of changes to make. I have also marked all of my learning journal work which is nice to have done. Hopefully I will be able to remain on top of my marking. It's pretty crazy to think that this week is my last full week of teaching by myself. Next week I have from Wednesday team teaching with my replacement teacher.

I met the replacement teacher this week on Wednesday and she seemed nice. I am really hoping and praying that she will fit in fine and get along really well with my other Year 1 buddies. We will see how it goes. I'm sure it's quite hard to come into a close knit group of people so hopefully she will be fine. On Thursday we were supposed to have a planning day but she called up sick. My boss is keen for that to still happen, but it will depend on her availability. I hope she makes it a priority as there are a few unique children in my class and it would be good to explain some different things I have implemented this year like Maths Rotations and how I do Literacy Groups.

So I'm now at 34 and a half weeks. Crazy that I have only 2 more weeks of school, 6 more weeks until I get to meet Bubble. So surreal all that is going to happen in the next couple of months! It is very exciting but also quite daunting!

My tummy is getting bigger too! Last night I woke up and it felt like Bubble had broken one of my ribs. I was in so much pain as I rolled over. Fortunately that went down this morning. I hope that doesn't happen each night. Not so much fun!

Me in my new feeding top after the Baby Shower. Feeling big.

But I do still have an inny belly button! I'm hoping it stays that way!

 

Another Dr Appointment

This morning James and I went to see Dr Booker for the regular check up. He said that everything is going well. I asked if he wanted me to go and get another ultrasound. He asked if I wanted to, to which I replied no because I don't like the idea of a full bladder. He has decided that because Bubble is facing the right way and I haven't had any bleeding or bad pains we'll leave it for now and just keep an eye on it so yay. I also told him that I'd been put on antibiotics from being sick and he said that it can be good to take something after the antibiotics are finished, like inner health plus, but it isn't necessary so that's good to know. So all in all he's happy with how everything is going.

James and I then went and spoke with Rhonda the midwife about the week which we missed at the prenatal class. It was good to go through all the notes and talk about how birth is a natural thing and it is possible to do it without drugs help (but to still be open to it). She was very kind and friendly and just painted a clear picture of what to do to be able to work through each of the stages. It was nice too to know that James and I have already talked about a lot of these things. So this morning has been quite nice.

At the moment I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all that I need to do before I finish up at school but I know that it will be ok and that I will get it done. Reports are half done, hopefully will be finished at the end of this week as they are due next Thursday. Cleaning up my classroom needs to be done, but I think I will just stay back one afternoon in the next couple of weeks so that I can do that. 33 weeks tomorrow! Crazy.

Sick again

This week I have started to cough a bit. As the week has gone by it has progressively become worse and my tummy has started to hurt as the muscles are tighter or weaker or something like that. So after being told all week by my Year 1 buddies to take a day off I saw my boss yesterday and said that I wasn't going to be in tomorrow (Friday) as I was wanting to avoid this cough moving to a chest infection. She was again totally supportive. The coughing has continued both last night and this morning (fortunately not when I've been sleeping) so the sensible girl I am booked an appointment with the Dr (thanks Jens for telling me to do that today). I got in early which was nice. The Dr thinks that I have tracheitis, whatever that is. I think it's clogged up in the throat/chest but I really don't know. He gave me some antibiotics which I can take and said I should be fine for Monday, but if not to let him know.

So I'm at home today doing different school stuff and watching dvds. This weekend we are going on our Young Adults camp. I'm hoping by body will be ok with that, but I'm sure it will be. Both James and I really felt that it would be good to go.

Last night we had another prenatal course. Our regular midwife wasn't able to make it so we had a lady called Kerrie who was lovely! She was so friendly and approachable. I really liked having her. We had a tour of the SAN maternity ward and birthing units which was good to see all the different bits and pieces. I asked about how long a contraction lasts for, roughly, and she said up to a minute, but sometimes 90 seconds. I am wanting to try and not use drugs, but am open to trying gas (hoping it doesn't make me sick) and open to an epidural if I feel I honestly need it. We were told a bit about pethidine and I don't think I want to use it at all as it didn't sound very appealing. It was good to start chatting about our thoughts and expectations and reasoning with each other. Seeing all the different things too made it a big reality. Next week we have off and then we have one more session to go to. I'm also planning on going to a breastfeeding session and a caring for baby session too just so I can have a bit of an idea before Bubble comes.

Bubble is doing well. Being very active but, as I was saying to mum last night, doesn't want to perform on cue. But I am enjoying the sudden movements, even the ones into my ribs. I think Bubble has grown more too. Crazy that I am now 32 weeks... only 8 more weeks to go! Only 4 more weeks of school left! Oh my!

32 weeks. My singlet tops don't stay down anymore! They keep slipping up above Bubble.

A daggy self shot but look at Bubble!