February 2015 #4 - Scans, glows, and shopping galore!

[freneticfox]

Onwards we go, gals!

STATS

Bangon you make me laugh i have asked for a new changing bag for xmas a brown leather look one which looks like a (massive) handbag....I am twitching to buy it myself now so I can pack and unpack it over and over

Memphis - I thought it was only me that wanted a changing bag that looked like a normal handbag - found an amazing one but is nearly £200!!! Tried to convince dh that he could buy as part bday present so fingers crossed

Just catching up, will teach me to be offline for a couple of days!

Viper and HerRoyal - so sorry to hear you're both on bed rest, fingers crossed things improve soon. Sending love x

I'm mobile again after nearly two weeks of being off my feet - my back pain seems to make a comeback after I walk for a little while. My midwife is still trying to chase down an earlier physio appointment, but if we don't have any luck, I'm tempted to look into going private. I can justify the cost if it will help.

Also got a support belt on recommendation from MW, haven't figured out how to put it on yet, it looks a bit like a torture contraption.

Frenetic glad you are mobile again!

Mini last time dh made me get a generic blsck changing bag to match the pushchair and I hated it so this time I am getting one I like, it is only £40 though

Thanks bags will check that out. We're in Houston! Well in Katy, so close enough. A few of the expats here have offered some emergency help so feeling a lot better. MIL is psyching herself up for the journey, poor thing, but she will be fine once here and looking forward to seeing the boys.

I've made my lists and started on it. Cancelled NY . Get about 40% of airfare to put towards future tickets and DH got the taxes back on his UK flights for future ticket. Still have to sell the lion king tickets. I'm going to change DS1s after school club to DS2s preschool from November to make life a little easier

HerRoyal Yes, I know of Katy! My MIL lives in Downtown and my SIL is in Montrose so the furtherest west I've been in Memorial Park/Galleria, which I suppose isn't very far west at all. My husband told me that there are good outlets out Katy way but we've never been able to drive that far as DS has always been terribly car sick. He's old enough to take remedies for that now so if the next one is a better car traveller, we'll try and head out when we're over in May.

All the canceling of things sounds miserable - film and popcorn with your boys tonight? x

Ha yes memphis isn't it crazy how we obsess over it all and constantly repack the bags! My hospital bag is now packed and in order of when I'll need it all. Apart from a set of clothes to wear home as I still need to find some suitable ones. Totally regret my going home outfit last time...

Packed a flannel this time as last time the midwife resorted to holding a cold wet pad across my forehead

Bang I've gotta ask - What was your going home outfit last time?? (am picturing bodycon dress and killer heels )

Ha no bagofsnakes that would have been interesting! I chose 'drain pipe' jogging bottoms which of course fitted fine when I bought them at 26 weeks but I didn't try them on again so by the time I put them on to go home I struggled to get them passed my thighs! They were so tight you could actually see my pad line from behind should have just worn my pjs!

Oh, yeah that sounds pretty bad... though not quite as bad as I imagined .
A case of no one really explaining that you still look very pregnant for a couple of days after the birth. I was pretty surprised by that too, although it did seem to 'deflate' pretty quickly,
Last time I picked up some baggy harem-style trousers from H&M in a very soft material. I picked up a size bigger than usual and they fit at 39 weeks so thought they'd be fine after and indeed they were. Super comfy and they've lasted well, I'm wearing them during this pregnancy. I think they still do them, you know.

Yes bangon I do it for holidays to pack and re pack a million times.

I packed jeans for my trip home last time not thinking about the pad the size of a single mattress betwen my legs or that I would have over 30 stitches in my fanjolina....oh and the added plumbing I had fitted in the shape of a pee bag strapped to my leg luckily I had also packed black joggers to wear on the ward so wore them home but did put the jeans on to prove a point that they fit

I will be packing joggers this time and shoes, last time I went in flip flops and it was hammering down when we left the hospital.

Mil is coming up with some corkers of names, some that are okBut not what I want she says oh such and such had had a baby/grandchild called xyz.

bag DH works in the galleria. Katy has Katy mills outlet which is high street but I don't think it's good quality. It's made for outlet stuff generally. There is a premium outlets north of Katy that has higher end stuff and worth a look. Movie night cancelled, my dr sent me for admission today as she didn't want to wait 2 weeks, I'm here for the duration, so far have been here almost 5hrs and not been assessed so can't be admitted yet. It's heaving and nowhere to get comfortable. My dr is ringing to push them and they're trying to find something. I watched a woman with 2 min apart contractions crying in the waiting room chair and have her waters break in front of everyone waiting, and this is supposed to be an excellent hospital. I guess they are overloaded tonight. They just sent someone home that had been waiting the same time as us. Not sure why she was here, but they just told her to come back. Still one more non labour woman in front of me, we get bumped if someone comes in labouring. So far there are 6 serene pregnant women waiting here and various family members waiting for babies to be born. Had better service on the free NHS and Canada tbh.

Thinking of you viper and royal. I hope you can get some support royal. That is definitely one of the hardest things about being an expat.

It's going to be a long day here. Ds decided 4:30 was morning.

You'll all be tucked up in bed now, but 7hrs later, still waiting to be assessed before they can find me a bed. Beyond a joke now

Ugh, 4.30 things! I've been waking between 4 and 5, but at least I have peace until the DSs rouse themselves at 6.30. I was looking forward to the best night sleep tonight in forever, but as it's nearing midnight, well, maybe tomorrow

I don't believe you HerRoyal, that's shocking. 7 hours is ridiculous. Where are you in the queue now?

I think someone tore up the queue sheet blank. I nicely accosted asked the admin person what was going on and she said she'd find out, walked off and studiously ignored me thereafter. My dr texted me 3hrs ago and said they were looking for a bed anywhere in the hospital (she is at home as doesn't have privileges at this hospital). The charge nurse 10mins ago came to tell me they are looking for a bed in another unit in the hospital and will assess me there. I don't hold out much hope.

I thought she was going to tell me to go home, and would have ugly cried if she had.

My dr is kindly coming to visit me tomorrow, I hope she can find me. DH is joking I might wake up with a limb missing, but it's not funny, oh no. He's on his knees and has an hour drive home and 2 small boys to entertain tomorrow.

That really is crap herroyal. I've had US family exclaim and go on about their 'better' system, especially when I told them about my 6hr wait at A&E, on a Saturday night with a hard to spot fracture in my hand e.g. I didn't think I was high priority! But really what you're going through is rubbish and I hope they pull their fingers out soon.
I'm in the early waking club here, can't blame any existing kids, just this one tap dancing away. Another 10 mins or so and I should be able to read my kindle without turning a light on thus OH can sleep away. He's on lates though saying that I was still awake when he got in last night. Hey ho, I suppose it's all good prep for motherhood. Thinking of you herroyal.

My ob and consultant have been great, can't fault them. I just don't understand what's going on here. A load of woman have been through being induced, loads! I've been awake 21hrs, have sent DH home. Nurse just walked past with soda and said she'll come back to talk to me Ina minute...... So in all the hospital they can't find a bed, they have overflow from postpartum taking up beds where I should be. She will keep looking and get me a stretcher somewhere just so I can lay down as a last resort. Well that's grand then.

I was wrong about the inductions, they were all in labour, but there were just so quiet and serene sitting there waiting and waiting . There is another poor lady who is waiting for an induction who was here before me, poor thing hasn't slept and is curled up on a tiny sofa, she'll be knackered for labour

I'm guessing it's now 3am there. I do hope you get some sleep soon, nothing like stress / exhaustion combination to make you feel even worse. I think if it was me waiting to be induced I'd go home and come back when I'd rested. And as for the serene ones, they're not normal, I'm sure of it! My cousin with her first yelled profanities so much, including threatening to kill her husband, that they threatened to call social services That was CA btw. She's having her 4th in Dec

Morning all,

HerRoyal, I hope you have gotten a bed now, it's just terrible all that waiting especially in an essentially private healthcare system, they should be treating you like royalty (apt ) given that they get their money from your care!! I hope there are some abject apologies heading in your direction soon!

Hope everyone else is ok this morning? I'm heading off to my monthly knitting group, going to get some wool to make a voodoo doll for a secret santa, hoping my recipent likes it!

Started on collecting stuff for the hospital bag, after saying that I should be able to get an elective section last month the hospital are now saying only if it's necessary, so I am going to have to be very determined about it, it's what I want after last time and I don't want to be induced after the waste of time that was last time!

Getting quite excited about xmas now, my DS is three next week and it's my bday two days later, after that it's xmas time preparations! I have already taken xmas cake orders from my mum and MIL and I'm finishing up at work nine weeks on Friday too - happy days!!!

I've just got a triage bed after 11 hours!!! Now the head nurse is trying to rustle up a nurse from another dept to come do the assessment tests befor I get a room. Feels so good to lie down!! And a pillow too! So spoilt

Yay. Now get some sleep whilst you can!

Afternoon all,
Royal, hope you are having a well earned sleep!

The boiler guys are in and have been since 8 o clock- so no water, and for the last three hours, gah, no loo! Have already had to bail out to tescos to use their facilities, and its only a matter of time for the next one!