First trimester progress

Now that I've broken my two-week posting hiatus, consequently relieving myself of the pressure to come back with an entry of Shakespearean-like proportions, I can give you a real update.

I am still sick. I am still scared. I am still spending the majority of my waking, non-working hours curled up in a ball on the couch in sweatpants.

But also, some progress has been made.

For starters, I have already ironed out the logistics of my maternity leave. I will take 12 weeks off just like I did with Kara and sorely wished I could have done with Nathan. The first six will be paid by my employer, and the second will be partially covered under short-term disability. I will also have almost a month's worth of vacation time at my disposal, and originally I asked about tacking on a week or two of PTO to my leave, but two members of my department's senior strategy team are also expecting, and their leave will overlap with mine, and I was told it was too much time to be out of the office. For a while I was a little frustrated about this, not to mention the U.S.'s overall attitude on maternity leave in general, but there are many women in this country who could never take advantage of even the 12 weeks protected by law, so I am just grateful that my company provides paid time off to begin with and that I can be out the full three months without completely wrecking our finances.

On another work-related note, I have already spoken to my boss about travel arrangements for next year, and she has assured me that my trips should be few and far between. Not that I ever traveled a whole lot, anyway, but the mere possibility of being asked to hop on a plane and leave behind a baby for multiple days at a time was enough to bring me to tears. I had to evaluate an industry conference in Chicago a couple of months ago and I was gone for three nights, and it wasn't terrible, but for me, it was still too long. I couldn't imagine doing that with an infant at home. Luckily, I was told that if I have to go to another conference, it can be scheduled for while I'm still pregnant. Thank goodness my boss is so understanding.

Luke and I have also worked out childcare for my hospital stay. Luke's parents, who graciously watched Kara for us when I had Nathan, will actually be site-seeing in Wales when I deliver in June, so good ole Molly has offered to step up to the plate - VOLUNTARILY, without being asked or anything. How she will handle five children ranging in age from eight to two for three days is...not something I want to spend too much time thinking about. Hopefully, she won't, either.

(Thanks again, friend!)

Lastly, I've started doing a little research on lactation consultants and have information for two different resources near my area, so I'm starting to feel a tiny bit more confident that I will have adequate support for nursing this time around. (There is an entire post brewing inside of me on this very subject, don't you worry.)

Other than that, I've been trying to focus on life after Number Three's arrival: incorporating the baby into our family routines, moving forward with plans to sell the house, and getting through the difficulty of yet another First Year with my sanity still intact. I have visions of baby-wearing and jogger-strollering and baby-sittering and various other ways to keep life moving. With Kara and even Nathan, Luke and I kind of allowed our lives to stop, because with Kara everything was so shell-shockingly new and with Nathan they were both so damn young - both in cribs, both in diapers, both demanding so much attention that all we could do was manage day by day. We also didn't have a clear picture of where we were headed or how to get there, so being at a standstill didn't affect our big-picture timeline one way or the other. This time, we will have two rambunctious toddlers who like to do things like go to school and play trains at the library and dig sand at the beach, and I don't want them to lose their summer just because we add another person into the mix. Also, we DO have goals now, and a long-term vision for our future, and we are the only ones who can make that vision happen. So we'll have to start doing that, too, even in the face of constant feedings, night wakings, and growth spurts.

So, to sum up: things kind of suck right now. But come next June, it will be all good, just mark my words.

Comments

[Bethany]

I was just at Molly's blog marveling over how great she is. I come her and see that her greatness is even more than I thought.

I think that having a vision will really help you guys with all of the changes that come with a new baby. You know what you are aiming for and that's half the battle.

[eva]

I hugely applaud your planning and vision-ing. And am frustrated on your behalf for the too-short American maternity leave...but you are SO SO lucky to have an understanding boss. And I have a hunch that is partly because you are a great employee:)

[rkmama]

That Molly, she's good people.

And I wish I could just come over and hug you. That overwhelming feeling of tiredness and ick can really drag you down and takes the joy out of pregnancy (and for me, life in general!). I hope it passes soon!

[daddyd]

Sorry about the sick part. Soon it could be over. Time will make it better. Keep working on it. Love.

[Jen L.]

Molly is a saint. It's the truth. I'm so glad you two have each other.

Sorry you're feeling funky. If your boss needs to send you to my neck of the woods, you can stay with me and I'll cook for you and bring you gingerale.