Random Thoughts

H1N1:

The shit has really hit the fan in Toronto and I doubt I'll be getting my vaccine any time soon. I found this comment on The Star's website and it sums up what has happened PERFECTLY:

How to organize disaster: Step 1 - create a panic and convince people to get vaccinated, Step 2 - open 2 clinics for 4 million people, step 3 - make sure clinics are only open when people are working and kids are at school, step 4 - organize lineups outside in the rain, ensure there are no seats for pregnant women, step 5 - refuse to indulge in even the most rudimentary event planning techniques (e.g. handing out numbers) and step 6 - make sure you don't have enough vaccine to inoculate all the people you guilted into coming. Public sector bureaucratic incompetence at its absolute finest.

Essentials List:

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback! Extra Thank-you to Stacey who provided A LOT of valuable info. We have a lot to consider.

Baby Shampoo:

Stacey pointed out that Johnson & Johnson may not be the best products (although I love them for myself). This reminded me of my CRAZIER than I am co-worker who tested which tear free shampoo hurt your eyes the least. I'm not joking. She bought all of the different brands she could find and washed her face with them and PURPOSELY got some in her eyes. The result? AVEENO was the winner.

Gender Stereotyping:

During our prenatal class D and I discovered that we may actually be bad lesbians for liking PINK. Everyone there seemed to be dressing their kids in black onesies and were trying to avoid gender stereotyping. Um... I think D and I may be promoting it. Check out the cool bouncer I added to the registry!

Guilty as charged. I love garishly pink things!!


Stroller:
My step-mom called last night and they bought us our stroller! YAY! She said she'd wanted it to be a surprise but they only had 2 colours left (green or silver/grey). We opted for the silver/grey colour becuase the green would more accurately be described as "nuclear waste yellow". Our classmates would be proud. There isn't a hint of pink



Weekend:
TGIF!!! I'm off on Monday for my Biophysical Profile and OB appointment....!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Please forgive my purplish/pink skin tone!!!

$2791.43!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the grand total of items on our registry and that does not include our stroller, glider or taxes. We seriously need to take a look at what we’ve put on there since we will be VERY LUCKY to get 1/4 of it. What do we actually NEED? How many of those items are WANTS?

Forgive me, but this is going to be LONG. Here is a list of Baby Essentials (link is HERE ), it’s from Playtex. Items in PURPLE, we’ve purchased or plan on purchasing on our own. Items in GREEN are on our registry. Items in RED are up in the air – do we NEED these? Items in ORANGE we do not yet have. For the registry items I’ve put the COST associated to determine just how much we’ll need to spend to cover the essentials.

Nursery:
Crib – GOT IT
Crib Mattress & Liner – GOT IT (both Mattress but only the Liner for the Mini crib)
Bassinet – GOT IT Stokke Mini Crib
Bedding/Blankets – GOT IT 2 fitted sheets (1 blue, 1 pink).
Changing Table/Pad – GOT IT
Hamper – NEED IT
Glider – NEED IT (Step-Mom is currently striking a deal for one at cost, FX) $299.00
Mobile – Not sure if this is a WANT or a NEED? $69.99

Feeding:
Small Bottles – GOT IT
Large Bottles – GOT IT
Nipples – GOT IT
Pacifiers – GOT IT
Bottle Brush – GOT IT
Breast Pump – NEED IT $64.99 (Manual - Medela Harmony)
Nursing Pillow – GOT IT/WANT IT (we have our Boppy pillow but I want THIS one as well)
Nursing Pads – NEED IT
Nipple Relief – NEED IT

Diapering:
Diapers – NEED IT $21.99 x 2
Baby Wipes – NEED IT $14.99
Baby Powder – I thought you shouldn’t use this anymore?
Diaper Rash Ointment/Cream – NEED IT
Diaper Disposal System – GOT IT

Safety:
Nursery Monitory – NEED IT $149.99 (Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor)

Bathing:
Plastic Infant Tub – NEED IT $39.99 (could go cheaper if not purchased for us)
Towels & Wash Clothes – GOT IT
Hooded Towel – GOT IT
Brush and Comb – NEED IT $19.99 (Safety 1st 12 Piece all in one kit)
Baby Wash and Lotion – NEED IT $20.99 (J&J Bathtime Essentials)

Health
Medicine Dispenser – NEED IT $0 (Safety 1st 12 Piece all in one kit)
Thermometer – NEED IT $0 (Safety 1st 12 Piece all in one kit)
Nasal Aspirator – GOT IT
Nail Clippers – NEED IT $0 (Safety 1st 12 Piece all in one kit)
Humidifier – GOT IT

Travel:
Newborn Baby Carrier (Infant Car seat?) – WANT IT $299 (Peg Perego Primo Viaggio - Black Tie)
Car Seat – NEED IT $369.99 (Britax Boulevard)
Stroller – NEED IT $499 (Peg Perego Pliko Switch)
Diaper Bag – GOT IT
Hand & Face Wipes – Aren’t these the same as baby wipes?

Toys and Activities:
Bouncer Seat – Wasn’t planning on buying one. Is this necessary?
Stroller, Crib, Car seat toys – NEED IT $214.90 (Clearly this is an area where we can cut back!!!)
Swing – GOT IT (Plan on exchanging THIS for THIS since we’ve changed our minds since we bought it)
Gym or Playmat – WANT IT $74.97
Jumper or Stationary Entertainment – Wasn’t planning on buying one. Is this necessary?

Total left to purchase: $1797.49 (Includes the Stroller and Glider that were not on our Registry approx. value of $700)
In summary: I have $1693.94 more on my registry than we apparently NEED. I can't figure this out!!! WTH have we asked for that is so unnecessary??? This stuff really adds up but at least we'll now have a better idea of what we need to return/purchase or exchange to make up the essentials list.

NOTE to D: Stella McCartney for Baby Gap is not on the Essentials list. (;

H1N1 Vaccination

I called my OB today to ask if I would be able to get my vaccination at my appointment on Monday and they told me they would not be giving them out. Wouldn't it make sense for them to offer it since they have a captive audience? Instead, I have to go to a public health clinic.
This is going to be chaos.
Our plan of attack is to get the shot on Monday and we've booked VACATION days to do it! Crazy!!

OMG...

People are actually buying stuff off of our baby registry!! I don't know why I'm so surprised, but I am! Neato. 3 things so far and all stuff we want but wouldn't be excited to actually buy ourselves. Looks like our family members are being very practical shoppers.

Is it bad to check your registry to see what is being purchased? I guess it ruins the surprise but it is too hard to resist!

Shopping Envy

Since being pregnant I've found that there is a huge gap in availability of baby related products in Canada. It is so annoying!!!

My number one grievance has been with the Boppy Pillow. It is not sold in Canada, at all! We do have a rip-off, but I really wanted a Boppy and when I want something... I want it. There have been many other (equally frivolous) examples of items we've really liked but cannot get here. They are mostly available online and will not ship to Canada or store to pick-up. We've even considered using a mail forwarding service to access some of these cool things but gave up on that idea because it was going to be expensive and not worth it

When we complain about this people get "high and mighty" about it saying that safety standards are different in Canada. In some cases that's true but otherwise that is not the case. Plus different doesn't mean BETTER. I'm pretty sure a PILLOW is not a dangerous item to bring into the country! In reality it is because Canada is a small market compared to the US and investing in shipment and distribution here is not always profitable. Why do people always get so pissy when we say we love the states or are envious of things we can't have? Deal with it!!

Anyway....

D's mom came to the rescue and bought us our Boppy pillow when she was in the states this weekend. We haven't seen it yet but we asked for the Dwell Studio version sold at Target and she said she "didn't get the one that was on sale". I know this probably ate her up but since the regular Boppy is a lot cheaper, I'm pretty certain we got the one we wanted!

She also bought us the bookcase we wanted, as seen below. I've been wanting this bookcase for years!!

I'm very happy. Both items were available in store at Target. We could have gone down ourselves but time has been flying by and it just hasn't happened yet. This seems impossible but I'm pretty sure we will not leave Canada (or even the province) at all this year! Crazy!!

PS - The 3:00 am chat room could have been open this morning!!! It's now 4:30 and I'm heading back to bed.

Sleep is Overrated

How does a person, who is completely exhausted, spend the hours between approximately 10:00 pm and 6:30 am? Not sleeping. At least in my case.

The funny thing is that people were constantly asking me how I was sleeping. I never understood the question. I'm pregnant, exhausted and I love sleeping. Duh. I guess I'm eating that attitude now because every single night is turning into a battle. The heartburn and related nausea I'm suffering is unbearable. When I asked my OB about it he told me to try Maalox or Gaviscon. He said Tums would not longer work. No shit.

It doesn't seem like Gaviscon is working either.

I'm also so alert. Before I'd shuffle to the bathroom, pee, and return to bed in a fog. Now I see the time (it's ONLY 12:00 am? WTF?) and want to cry. I feel like I'm ready to get up and start my day on the hour, every hour, all night long and morning NEVER comes fast enough. Last night I got up and started watching Tivo'd shows at 2:30 am and surprisingly functioned normally at work.

I guess this is natures way of preparing my body to deal with Sadie once she's here?
I was thinking about that last night. Will this ability to function on no sleep last? Will it be the same as now except with a crying baby? No nausea, heartburn or sore parts? I hope so???? Maybe it will be even better and I'll get some sleep? Eventually?

Although I'm NOT sleeping and night time sucks I don't think I'm complaining, yet. My IRL friend is currently 36 weeks pregnant and she's wanted the baby out for a couple of weeks. Every time I read her facebook status complaining about "still being pregnant' I tell Sadie she is welcome to stay in for the full 10 weeks left. No pressure to vacate. I guess I'm judging her (just a tad) but I can't understand wanting a baby to come before 37 weeks????

I digress.

Can't sleep. I'm not really complaining about it because I feel like a super human but I could really deal without the freakin' heartburn!!!!

30 weeks and Prenatal Classes

I had my 30 week appointment yesterday. Things went well and I did not leave wanting to switch OB's like last time!! I contribute this to the fact that St. Mike's is a teaching hospital so there are often med students and I love it when there are. It means twice the attention for me and the doctor will explain everything in full detail. That was the case yesterday!

Now, I'm not sure if the following is good, bad or irrelevant news but at my next appointment (32 weeks) I will be having a Biophysical Profile (BBP) done. I've read up on this and it sounds like this ultrasound is normally done late in the 3rd trimester *unless* there is an issue. Hypertension was on the list of potential reasons for an early 3rd tri test so maybe that is it? He wrote on the requisition: "low weight gain", "position'. I haven't gained any new weight (still at 6 lbs total) but he said that was of no concern at all because my measurements are perfect. He also said that he wasn't concerned that Sadie was "frank breech" 2 weeks ago because there's still time for her to move. YET... look at the reasons on the requisition? I'm hoping he is just being cautious (which I appreciate).

I'm on my way to two more appointments today - my therapist and the High Risk specialist. I am so sick of doctors!! I can't imagine how hard this is going to be to maintain once the appointments are weekly! How do you even do it?

Anyway.... In other news, outside of Baby Shower drama,we also had our Prenatal class this past weekend. We had a good time and it certainly got us talking about what we want our birth plan to look like. The Queer Positive class was taught by a Homeopathic Physician & Doula. She was great if not slightly (completely) biased towards natural childbirth as were all of the participants in the class. The group was diverse and included a gay couple using a surrogate, an FTM trans couple carrying their child, and 5 lesbian couples. Aside from the couple using a surrogate, we were the ONLY couple using an OB! The others were all with midwives and all but one were doing home births. Great.

Where does that leave us? Prior to the class I thought I'd likely have an epidural. I wasn't keen on the idea after seeing this demonstration yet people kept telling me how amazing they were and how horrible it was BEFORE getting it. I'm a lot more apprehensive now that I've been flooded with anti-epidural propaganda. We were essentially told that an epidural can lead to a prolonged second stage of labor, vacuum extraction and/or forceps, an episiotomy and a c-section. Of course, since we're laboring in a hospital with an OB we'll likely be "pressured into those interventions" sooner than with a midwife . Needless to say I do not want a c-section but more specifically I really do not want a c-section after a 25 hour "failure to progress" labor. That would suck. A lot. Doula 911 - we need her now more than ever!

Aside from being confused we did learn a lot and we also met a lot of great people. Overall it was a good idea to take the class. I'm now really looking forward to the hospital tour. Initially I wasn't going to go on one since I'd had my time in L&D already however I have a lot of questions I need answered. I also want to see the birthing rooms to find out if showers or birthing tubs are available. I'm also interested in using a birthing chair (if no epidural).

30 weeks.... OMG.... all of sudden it feels like so little time and so much planning to do!!