mizarchivist

OK- my energy is pretty limited.
Here's what's up-
Started getting contractions pretty regularly Saturday night around 6-7. asciikitty and primal_pastry on hand. By 1-something it had gotten to the point of yeah hospital again. The ride over in the car was even more brutal than the day before.


I've been at BIDMC ever since 2am Sunday.
It's now 7pm and thanks to modern medicine, I've not lost my mind. Epidural? Don't mind if I do, thanks.
This means I've had some rest, but it's only about skin-deep. I zone out pretty easily.

QE and PP are having food. nap time again

Yesterday was the due date - despite middle of night shenanigans, no luck. Back to work today. I've cycled back to not so zen/resigned and firmly (not really) of the belief I will always be pregnant.
Went to see The Help with book club ladies last night. Not bad. Not awesome. They had to simplify some bits of plot which are inevitable if you want a movie less than 3 hours long.
FYI: Richardson's peach ice cream is made of awful and causes pregnant women (OK, just me probably) to cry. Mint chip/patty still safe if you were fond of mint in the first place.
I've been painting  when at home. You know, the decorative kind. That has defused some of my restlessness, but only gets me so far.
Tiger in the Well is done- ended fine. Proven Guilty (Dresden  Files #8) started only yesterday and already 3+ hours in. James Marsters reading is a very pleasant distraction indeed.
quiet_elegance  has hit a lull at work and gets a few weeks off- good timing. If they hadn't hit a lull, he wouldn't get a check (unemployment) for when he takes off for Crime Fighter's arrival and first days. This job has to be done by 11/11/11 and they're not close to done, so this isn't like previous under-employment moments. So.... whew.

I'm home today - further evidence of gestational progress, you see. Not active labor yet, but there's been a shot across the bow.  It still may be a few days, but having a nice, quiet day and re-evaluating to see if work Monday seems reasonable. (More days at work = longer time at home with the sprog)

In the meantime: actively wishing for an outdoor chair, chez long style. It's gorgeous out there and I lack a useful bit of furniture so I can enjoy it comfortably. If anyone has the capacity to fix this oversight today with a loaner, that would entirely kick ass.

+ I am happy with my new office arrangement
o it was weird having said office to myself today after 3 intensive days of Office Mate.
- desk has some features clearly not thought through
+ can be fixed with moderate alterations and some wrist rests for keyboard and mouse
- QE has, in fact, been discharged from the job site because their Steward (our friend, A) is going on site Monday
+ There's a list of job sites for QE to check out, and there's a good chance he will be the Steward at a job. It might only be a few days gap
+ He'll be able to come to the sonogram on Monday
+ Finished The Hunger Games- the last third- in one swell foop.
- Concerns for the anxiety dreams those will generate now. I hope they do justice to the movie next year.
+ I have cataloged the new kid books in Library Thing. I know of at least 2 people who wanted that list. If there are others who'd also like to know what books I've accumulated let me know and I'll send the link via email.  I did board books only. I have to backtrack on some of the standard paper ones. (When it's not 11:30 and I'm freezing) 
+ x infinity: congratulations NY State for joining the marriage equality club.

We are home!
It's what one might call "humid" 'round these parts. Eeeech. But home! 

I had my Ohio baby shower this afternoon- I got to see some dear old friends. catamy713  (Amy) and Gracie actually gave me a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme, with gorgeous cake, n' all. I have STUFF arriving by post within the week or by next week. Lots of onesies and my Indiana relatives quadrupled by board book collection.

Mom's party on Saturday was a bit of a 2-parter. My friends mostly showed up early, Mom's later, which meant I could bail out to bed when I needed to. My aunt- Carol- drove in from P'Burgh for the festivities, which was sooo sweet. My in-laws were a bit fish out of water amongst the bohemians, but what can you do. I don't think they'd been exposed to that much weird in a long long time. I was charmed that Amy's youngest girl (just turned 7 this week) was the most gracious creature on the face of the planet and made my 8 and 11 yr old nieces -then later my 11 yr old cousin- entirely included in play time. "Want to climb the tree? Want to see the hidy-hole?" (the mini attic that was my own domain at her age and was a graffiti friendly zone... also the current home of the barbies, I think) All 3 more lately arriving girls got similar looks on their faces- going from somewhat reserved and maybe a bit anxious to a bit relieved and glad for something to do that wasn't so ADULT and BORING.

Mom's brother's family headed out to Cali early today to meet up with the second oldest cousin from that troupe of 6. He's been in Afghanistan for his latest tour in the Marines. Same cousin who's getting married next month. The eldest- also a Marine- is getting promoted to Captain Tuesday, I believe. Wow- Catching up with my uncle and aunt was a true gift from yesterday. We've not had much interaction since I've grown up and our diametric opposite philosophy and politics has made for more awkward than anything. However, nothing like a shared experience of (impending) parenthood to start us on a very solid and extremely positive point- plus I got to hear about all the cousins, which is what I wanted.

I strongly suspect I will fail to be chill tomorrow, but at least I'm home and can theoretically sleep in. :)

[meta note]: OK- going off the opt-in filter for a moment. Cuts will be used to hide nattering about shopping n' stuff.

Today was the first day someone identified my state without being told. It was someone I know, at least. I think I may have hit the tipping point. Also, I realize I'd not posted any pictures to date and I don't see some of you very often.


This also gives my mum a chance to see the new clothes she sent this week. She keeps doing this shopping thing for me, for which I heartily approve.

Matters of shopping- ( necessary evil )

Matters of health- ( all's well )

Matters of house- We had a nasty dry spell with no new listings for almost 2 weeks, then things picked up over the weekend. I also got a lead from one of my commuter friends who knows someone (with a small kid, even) who is leaving their rental on Lake St in Arlington (my ideal neighborhood). I would really like to sign paper work by the end of the month, thanks. Fingers crossed.
ETA: BTW- our neighbors (the ones with the dog, not the ones with the million cats) are moving! Augh! I have this fun fantasy, a total pipe dream of them saying that they'd love to be landlords, that we should move in, that they'd confirm the water levels in the basement are wholly controlled by their excellent sump pump. Not only will they arrange for a 2 car garage with attic storage to be built to q_e's specs, but they'll leave their fantastic appliances in the kitchen. Also, they'll support us finishing the attic to be more useful.
Great dream. Not going to happen. I did get to check out the house top to bottom at the open house yesterday.

Matters of work- We're still putting the word out for my junior associate. I have acquired a replacement for the student position, though. One of our best volunteers of all time is joining the program this fall. She is an absolute darling of a young lady who is universally adored by the staff here. She will pick up where my current-soon-to-be-graduating assistant left off. Having that decided is a huge relief

quiet_elegance  is starting his second week of work in Needham. It's dusty and dealing with drywall and insulation, but it's good work and that's one less thing to be worried about. He even gets paid this Thursday, a real paycheck, zomg!

Matters of LJ meta- They finally figured out how to make rich text come back for updates. It's the little things sometimes. Happy.

My own personal hell: shopping for an affordable non-sucky bathing suit. That will fit me now.

Followup:
Mom suggests that I find a pair of lycra exercise shorts or something of the sort- which seems rather brilliant. I'd like something bigger than underwear for the bottom half of my suit for now, thanks. Also, something likely to be found for less than 40 bucks. Hey, let's try for 20. My suit tops still fit, so mix and match is a thing of goodness. I may also have better luck with variety in May. Maybe.

The antithesis of personal hell is when Mom proactively sends me grown-up clothes that fit. I now have a pair of black pants, 2 buttoned shirts and a pair of tanktops, all the tops being of correct (extra long) length.

ahf 's contribution to the humor/Tshirt collection (No Touching and Alien Inside)- turns out once on, it does seem long enough and not so horribly boxy. Win!

There's a ruder nickname for these pieces of furniture. I'm not using it on purpose.
I"m hoping to borrow a foam chair that coverts to a mattress so on days like this when I'm so entirely exhausted I just need to lie down for 10 or 20 minutes (not necessarily go home, because really it's fine, I'm just a little tired this second)- I do not expect to need one past this summer, though. Just for a bit.

Anyway- lemme know if you have an object such as this that you don't mind not using for the next few months.

[Poll #1670130]Simple as that. Obviously some details will spill into normal posts, but this Thing That Is New To Me will feel more noteworthy than kind of a lot of stuff. When I say "details"-  I maintain the notion that I won't be sharing such horrible bodily functions that would make, say, my father wince. He's not keen on hearing such things, so I keep that in mind when writing about health/medical. It's the rule that is paired with the one where if I can't tell my mom, I probably won't say it here.  I also understand that this, like weddings, is not a universally interesting topic.

The next post on this topic will probably mention food and emotional delicacy, for example. Possibly about knitting and art projects.

No, really- thank you. Love you guys. If I didn't feel the love and support of my community, I really do now. I lack the capacity to reply to all the comments I've gotten over the past two days.