Author: Phoebe Gleeson

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Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

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Gloria and Trixie haven't ever really explored the rods. I got rid of ours when Dorothy became mobile and that wasn't anywhere to keep them without baby interference. I just bought a new set – to be used upstairs only – and they are deep in, even refusing offers of Minecraft from Gil and their friend Asha. Next week I'll bring out the lab sheets. #unschooling #homeschooling #miquon #math
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second OB visit

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

mande

Today was the second OB visit. She was totally unconcerned that I had declined the early ultrasound. Didn’t bat an eye. I said I had decided against it since it was for dating purposes only and I had good dates anyway. She was all, “Oh, yeah, that’s totally fine, no problem. Still on for the 20 week scan though, right?” To which I concurred. She’s very chill.

But guys, guys! Why didn’t anyone tell me hospital births were so expensive?!? (Ok you probably told me.) Our insurance covers 80% and we are still looking at like $1500 out of pocket. Holy cow. And that’s an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. That’s like, the minimum. And doesn’t cover labs or ultrasounds. I’m not sure about making it to the next visit, let alone the 20 week scan. That’s an awful lot of money for a contingency plan. But then, it can be pretty scary to give birth in a hospital with no documented prenatal care, which is how homebirth transfers are seen here. I did it once (Gloria) and we lucked out. We got to the hospital, she was born less than a minute after I got to triage and then we left before it could go pear-shaped. I hear horror stories about parents getting tangled up with social services for refusal to submit to hospital procedure.

I don’t know. I’ll sit on it for a while.

But the baby’s heart beat was audible, yay! Pew pew pew. He was 146 bpm. Still kinda getting used to that “he” stuff. I may have bought a few tiny things for him already…

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Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

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A prayer for safety from storms. Jesus Christ the King of Glory has come in Peace. † God became man, † and the Word was made flesh. † Christ was born of a Virgin. † Christ suffered. † Christ was crucified. † Christ died. † Christ rose from the dead. † Christ ascended into Heaven. † Christ conquers. † Christ reigns. † Christ orders. † May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning † Christ went through their midst in Peace, † and the Word was made Flesh. † Christ is with us with Mary. † Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Judah, the Root of David, has won. † Holy God! † Holy Powerful God! † Holy Immortal God! † Have mercy on us. Amen!
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ultrasound update, sorta

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

L0038225 Stages in pregnancy as represented by the growth of the womb Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images images@wellcome.ac.uk http://wellcomeimages.org Stages in pregnancy as represented by the growth of the womb from normal state through to 3, 6 and 9 months. (Side view) 19th Century Nouvelles démonstrations d'accouchemens. Avec des planches en taille-donee, accompagnées d'un texte raisonné, propre à en faciliter l'explication Jacques-Pierre Maygrier Published: 1822 Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I never called the doctor. Coward’s way out!

I did call the ultrasound lab to tell them I wasn’t going to get one. They had called and asked me to schedule it, and I thought that was the courteous thing to do.

I’ll see the doctor in about two weeks and I’ll discuss it with her then. I loathe the phone for conversations of note. My cell signal is not great, and I feel like I miss the nuances of communication so much when it’s not face to face. It’s a last resort for me. I bet it won’t be a big deal at all, that she’ll just be all “Oh, sure, that’s fine. Still on for the anatomy scan at 20 weeks, though, right?”

Which is cool.

(Wellcome Library, London. Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

It’s a…

Posted on by Phoebe Gleeson

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BOY!

I called the OB today and asked if my Harmony test results were in. The office manager/clerical person, a sweet and slightly breathless woman named Jessica, answered the phone.

“Oh! Sure! Um let me see if those are here… No, I’m so sorry they aren’t on your chart. But I can totally go ask the nurse if they like faxed them over and they just aren’t in the system yet!”

“That would be great, Jessica! Thank you so much!”

“Oh, um, okay! So, um, I’ll call you or have the nurse call you back.”

We hung up, and I waited. I didn’t have high hopes that I would get a callback soon, it being Friday and all. But I was wrong!

“Hello?”

“Um, hi this is Jessica from Dr. OB’s office! I checked with the nurse and your results were there! Do you want to hear them?”

“YES! Yes please!”

“Oh my gosh this is so exciting! OK, um, well the sex is… You want to know the sex, right?”

“Yes!”

“The sex is male.”

“Wh – wh – did you say male? It’s a boy!?!”

“Yes, a little boy!”

“Oh wow! We have eight kids and we have’t had a boy in 11 years! Oh that’s just GREAT!”

“Oh my gosh really? I am so so excited for you! And the other results all have normal numbers, no trisomy.”

“Oh good! I bet you just love making these calls, huh?”

“Um, well, actually this is the first time for me! But yes!”

And there you have it. I could barely contain myself but managed to keep the secret. I wrote it down on the paper above and sealed it up for Sean to open and announce to the kids. They were all THRILLED. They would have been happy for another sister, of course, but a little brother is just a delight after all this time.

Yay, babies!