TWO MEN & A LADY

This is Our Life ~ Our Photo Book ~ Our Journal that will never sit on a shelf, be placed in a chest or find its spot in the attic but instead put on display for all of you so you can share in our joy and sorrows that come complete with life. Learn from our mistakes (THERE ARE MANY) or give advice when needed. Welcome!
Clint ~Teri & Dax
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Did they have "Newborn Classes" in Biblical Times?

Two weeks ago, they tested my sugar, and I failed – miserably! Man was I shocked; I generally hate sweets. Not to mention I lost a lb again! So, had to go back and take the 3-hour test to make sure I did not have the nasty GD word - Gestational Diabetes – I didn't. That's right - I had to drink several ounces of the grossest orange syrupy drink w/ nothing on my stomach then sit around that spectacular (not really) waiting room for 3 whole hours (w/ an ice pack on my head b/c I had the worst headache) - for nothing! – Why did they [nurses] not get the cruel and unusual punishment comment?? Guess they hear their share of gripes and groans. So good news No. 1 – No GD.

The bad news is, that for the last three (if not longer) weeks have been absolutely miserable! b/c of the tension headaches I've been having (I have the habit of calling them migraines, but they're not – they're tension headaches and in my opinion (or at least the ones I'm having) are worse!!!! Way worse! At one point the doctor thought I might have meningitis b/c the pains in my neck and that it was stiff and they were making me so nauseated and had a fever at one point. Well, it wasn't meningitis – but they do have me going to see a chiropractor so there may be hope for me yet.

Which brings me to my next live and learn situation. I somehow got it in my head that since Clint had never been around babies b/f, it might be a good idea for us to go to newborn classes or new parent classes (whatever they're called) that the hospital offers. I had friends that went to them when they were on the verge of having their 1st child and thought – "well hey, why not take advantage of that??" And even though I've been around newborns, I've never had one w/ me around the clock 24/7 so I was all excited about it. When I asked (okay… told) Clint that we were going to do this, his reply was… "What did they do way back in biblical times!? They didn't have newborn classes!" I just ignored him completely and thought to myself – no matter – "he's going whether he likes it or not. I'll be fun and good for us." That is until I finally get around to calling St.V. today to find out exactly when these classes are, and I thought I might need to go to a b/feeding class myself b/c I really do want to do this or at least put my best foot forward. On top of what all the doctors say and everyone else about it being the best thing for your baby, I can't take one look at me and my brother and there is my whole argument in a nut shell. Brian my brother (b/fed as a child) = super smart, just all around good soul, never got in trouble –okay, just every parents dream…never got sick compared to me (not b/fed b/c she couldn't get me to) = smart enough but nothing in comparison to Brian, good soul when it suits me, ALWAYS in to something = not every parents nightmare, but I had my moments. I catch every cold that comes my way… I really think that our personalities were/are the result of just being the older/younger child. But for now it's enough to motivate me to at lease give b/feeding my best.

So, I'm on the phone w/ Dial-a-nurse at St.V. and she's checking availability (while I think she's just informing me on what they have) – after she explains when the classes will be and when I need to have them completed she says "how will you be paying the $60 fee?" I'm like "oh there's a $60 fee? – can't I just pay when I attend the class?" "she said no, you have to pay now so a spot can be held for you" (which was understandable). Since I wasn't ready to register yet b/c I hadn't checked w/ Clint to make sure those dates and times were okay w/ him I told her I would have to "call her back" Then the woman said "You don't have a credit card?" Me: "Yes I have a credit card, but I'll have to call you back later today or maybe tomorrow." What was going through my mind: Got to check w/ Clint to make sure those dates are okay and that we really want to do this… Her mind: "This young woman doesn't have a credit card" (I clearly do not have a black belt in communication!). So next the woman says to me "do you have a problem with the money?" She asked me in such a way that she might as well have said "Are you too poor to pay the fee?"

Instead of explaining to her that I wanted to check w/ my husband to make sure it was all right. The ever "as a matter of fact" person that I am said... "well YEAH [Duh] I have a problem with the $60" ($120 for both classes I assume), especially since St.V. will get several grand for me having my baby there from my insurance company and "the fact that the La Leche League and Babies R Us has classes of that nature for free." I was like "that's a whole month of diapers." LOL! "The woman very kindly said "okay hun, you call back when you get ready." I hung up the phone so tickled. I could have gone on and on – like "that's week's worth of gasoline – we're in a recession here lady!" I couldn't resist – however it really did make me think. Did I want to pay $60 per class to learn something that's instinct and problem free ¾ of the time? Clint was on to something. I mean did Egyptians have b/feeding classes. Besides, my mother – Clint's mother and plenty others will be there to make sure we don't mess up – too bad anyways. Jennifer is around newborns 24/7. I think I'll just move her in for a couple of weeks. I'd rather do that then go to one of those classes anyways.

I decided if anything, I could bounce my happy prego self over to the Bham public library and pick up DVDs. Which was a lot cooler anyways b/c they had a glass display of what an escalator will do to a toddler's shoe (scary!!). And the guy at the check out counter was so up tight about where I stood when I renewed my library card that I got to mess w/ him a bit. All that info – just a block away and for free.

So I was at the doctor yesterday morning, and everything looks good and I finally put on more weight - 5 lbs. It happened to be in the short period of 2 weeks which really isn't good, but I didn't get in trouble. Then b/c Dax had not been moving NO where near as much in the past several days, Dr. Goolsby wanted me to pay very close attention and do kick counts along w/ several other things and call him back after 5 hours to let him know how many times Dax had moved. So, about 6 hours later I call him back and tell him that he'd kicked three times – maybe four. Dr. Goolsby told me I want you to go to labor and delivery and have them check you out. I was like "right now?" He said "yeah, right now – I'm going to call them and tell them you are coming." Wrong thing for me to hear! Especially after the crazy weekend I had! Several hours of the BH contractions and the fact that I went from having to pee every 5-10 mins to like every 1-2 mins. – now he wasn't moving as much… "go to labor and delivery" translated to "oh crap some thing's wrong!"

So I went there – surprisingly calm and scared to death at the same time. As soon as they put the contraction monitor on him – he kicked it four times – hard (like even Clint saw it bump up and down). There was my four movements right there in a period of not even one minute. I had to stay for two hours, but everything was fine – his heart rate stayed around 120 and went down to 90 at one point but he didn't sit still the whole time. Either he hates having his heart rate amplified, or he likes it. Who knows. But either way he must of come out of the funk he was in b/c this morning he's already moved 10 times in the last 45 minutes. And can I tell you how much I hated being on that floor (Labor and Delivery). It was too soon – I kept thinking I don't like this at all – I'm sooo not supposed to be here yet.

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