[lilac]

Kathryn, yay 36 weeks! Woohoo, less than a month to go. Where has the time gone? Does your doc think you might go early? They won't let you go late, will they, given the gd?

Ona, I find that occasional self-medication (i.e. a glass of wine or the like) is necessary. Since this option will (hopefully!) not be available to me for many months, I figure I will enjoy the benefits of not ttc for a little longer.

And I suppose I should get dressed and go to work. I am SO looking forward to this weekend! Blessed relaxation, ah!

Happy Friday all!

[silverbrumby]

Hooray Kathryn!!! 36 weeks! Almost there! I can't wait to see little Davis!

Viv, thanks so much for your advice. I am trying to stay busy and distracted. I was supposed to have friends come stay over this weekend but those plans fell through because my friend has to work so now I am faced with a rather empty weekend.

Jen, unfortunately, I don't drink so recreational self-medication isn't really an option. I would take a weekend away, but finances are tight because of my company's delay in paying me this month.

Next weekend should be busier as I've a friend coming in from out of town and she is staying with me for a few days. Her husband and her 16 month old son are staying too so it should be fun and very distracting!

Ok, back to work... just have to make it through today and then it'll be the weekend!

[lilac]

Originally Posted by silverbrumby

Jen, unfortunately, I don't drink so recreational self-medication isn't really an option. I would take a weekend away, but finances are tight because of my company's delay in paying me this month.

Well, that would not work for you then. Though honestly, it doesn't actually kill a lot of time (unless you are getting plastered, which I do NOT do, ever). Is there anything you do that you'll stop doing once pregnant? If so, enjoy it now, as you'll soon be sprogged up! In the meantime, make yourself busy! There must be something inexpensive and fun and interesting you can do this weekend...

[Mindi_IUI]

Finally, it's Friday

Viv, How cute that you are having a baby girl. Like you, I totally want a boy, but I know that I have keep my mind open to having a girl. So, I just think about how much fun I have with my 5 year old neice and I start thinking how much fun it would be to have a girl.

[silverbrumby]

Jen, I'm sure I'll think of something...hehe. Can't really think of anything I'd have to quit while pregnant... well, maybe the ice hockey (can you imagine, pregnant and skating!) but I'm on a break from that this season anyway cuz I had figured I'd be getting pregnant back in APRIL and didn't want to pay dues if I was going to leave midseason!!!! Grr.

I'll probably just hang with my horses and do a massive clean of my house in prep for next week's guests. Aren't I the adventurer?

Viv, I think that our nature's are similar which is why we all are here looking to be single parents by choice. So, I was just guessing how you'd feel and why based on how I'd feel. I don't have a gender preference but I know that when I imagine holding my child, it is a girl. I have had a few path changes during my journey so far and each time it takes a while for me to reset my thinking and embrace the new direction. I'm glad my ramblings were helpful.

On the subject of circumcision I actually have a funny story that happened just this week.

My friend Katie (future godmom) has been having her honorary nephew staying with her for two weeks over the summer. He's now 5 and was circumcised as a baby. His case was one of those that made me decide there's no way I am circumcising my boy if I have one. The doc that did his circumcision cut off the foreskin too deep and caused a scar that makes his little wangdoodle stick straight out all the time because the skin where the scar is, is too tight. It also caused some growing issues with that part. Well, Katie's boy is two and he is not circumcised... so their little boy parts look very different. Anyway, the older boy, Liam, was teaching Katie's son, Dmitri, how to pee in the potty like a big boy...standing up. So whenever he'd go potty, Dmitri had to follow and they'd both stand around the potty peeing together... well, Dmitri noticed that they looked different so he made up a song that goes "My penis is a big penis, Liam's Penis is a small Penis. My penis is bigger than Liams!" BOYS! Seems this stuff starts at birth. LOL!

[lilac]

Ona, funny story! Though the idea of anything being cut off too deep is making me cross my legs! And I don't even have the equipment...

I don't have a preference either (I would be thrilled with any baby!) but I admit that when I imagine it, my child is a girl.

A massive clean of the house is on my agenda too, Ona (I know, the excitement...). Though I do hope to get outside for a while too. It is so nice and I've been trapped inside working all week. How are the horse babies?

[Mindi_IUI]

Well, since we are on the topic of circumcision I am going to put my 2 cents in on the Pro side of doing it.

Since I am Jewish, it's pretty much a given that all of our boys are circumcised. However, it is a practice that many other religions and cultures around the world do as well. So, I wouldn't stamp it a religious thing, but more of a cultural thing. Personallly, the men I have dated have not been Jewish (to my mom's shegrin) and all of them have been circumcised expect for two. One was American, but his parents were English and the other was also American, but his parents where Austrian. Ask any guy and I am sure that they will tell you that they don't remember a thing about getting cut. It's pretty much the parent's who have the problem with it. They just don't like seeing their son getting cut and feel pain. (BTW, the penis is numbed for the procedure) So, if that is the issue I'd say just don't watch. There is no residual pain and the healing time is a matter of days. In the end (no pun intended) you have a penis that is much more attractive and easier to keep clean.

Here is story that goes along my Pro reasoning for circumcision. My brother and SIL adopted thier twins from the Ukraine almost 4 years ago. Ava and Austin were 22 months. Austin wasn't circumcised and my brother and SIL weren't in a hurry to do it as they wanted Austin to get acclimated in his new home and then figure out when to do it. Well, when my SIL found out that they'd have to put Austin under general anethesia she got worried and decided against it. My brother was okay with her decision. Well, Austin started getting urinary infection after urinary infection all throughout his 3 years here. He was uncomfortable and in pain. So, it was time to get him circumcised. It was simple, painless, he never made a big deal about it. Now Austin looks like his daddy and has never had another urinary infection.

It all boils down to what the parents want to do. I have never heard a man complain about being circumcised, but I have heard from guys who weren't. They definitely were teased by other boys. I remember one time being with some friends (guys and girls) who were talking about this very subject. When Benji said he wasn't "cut" he got riled for it from the guys. He got pretty pissed at them and walked away. We laughed at him for getting so upset and then continued with our conversation.

Anywho, that's my opinion on the topic. And Kathryn, if you are undecided on what to do maybe asking some of male friends what they think. Isn't getting information straight from the source (isn't that the saying?) they best way to go?

Deej, Your cousin and her son are in my prayers. What a blessing it is that she is a match to be his donor. He is sure to become a happy and healthy boy after he gets his new kidney.

[lilac]

Mindi, thanks for the alternate perspective on circumcision. I agree with you that it's very much a cultural practice, though more than one religion promotes it as well. I expect my culture and the norms in my area are influencing my opinion on it a great deal...

Interesting about the other boys teasing the uncut guys... I'm not surprised at the teasing (guys, after all). I guess it would depend a lot on how many boys are generally being circumcized in the society at the time. For me living where I do, it wouldn't be surprising to find that the teasing was the other way around! I have never dated a guy who had been circumcized. None of my friends have had their sons circumcized. From what I remember, my brother wasn't. I read one source that said less than 10% of newborns in Canada is now circumcized. I thought it would be a bit higher than that, but it's certainly not a majority by any means.

I have a guy friend who was circumcized as an adult and describes it as the worst mistake of his life. He says he lost much of the sensation and his sex life has suffered. I think the sensation thing is a matter still under debate though isn't it? So I'm not going to make any decision based on one guy's story.

I don't intend to have it done if I have a son, but I think I would still ask a guy before making the final decision. You are quite right that it's all about what the parents want to do. I'm not going to worry too much about it until I find out I've got a boy on the way, anyway!

I love the way I can hear so many different opinions just listening to you ladies... thanks for chiming in with a different one Mindi!

[silverbrumby]

I second that Jen. It's good to get lots of different perspectives. I also like the idea of asking men friends what they think.

I'm having sleep issues lately... very tired during the day and then up all night. Ever since taking that metformin my sleep patterns have been totally wonky.

So, I found something to do this weekend but not sure if I will do it. An old friend invited me to go see his hurling match (gaelic sport kinda close to lacrosse) but he and I have this really phenomenal chemistry and he has a girlfriend now so I don't want to go and make things weird, if that makes any sense. Plus, I am just feeling really fat and unattractive lately and don't want him seeing me like this. Plus it's all the way out in DC and I can't leave my puppy home alone that long...

Anyway, off to surf the net or watch a film and hope I get tired.

[Deej]

Originally Posted by silverbrumby

So, I found something to do this weekend but not sure if I will do it. An old friend invited me to go see his hurling match (gaelic sport kinda close to lacrosse) but he and I have this really phenomenal chemistry and he has a girlfriend now so I don't want to go and make things weird, if that makes any sense. Plus, I am just feeling really fat and unattractive lately and don't want him seeing me like this. Plus it's all the way out in DC and I can't leave my puppy home alone that long...Anyway, off to surf the net or watch a film and hope I get tired.

Ona - I hope that you go! It may be nice to get out and do something different ( i have been following everybody else's suggestions and am taking a younger cousin to the wnba game tonight!) You are not fat or unattractive, and we all have days where we feel like that UGH... Can somebody puppy-sit for you?
So were you able to sleep last night? Is that a side effect from meds you had taken?
Thank you ladies for keeping Max in your thoughts and prayers! He will be 7 on Sept.4. He is having a quick procedure this monday to take a look inside, check on the bladder and valves, and see if they are good enough to keep his new kidney healthy!
Viv - have you been checking out baby girl stuff to get excited? I feel so lousy I have not been able to get excited about much. My boobs hurt constantly and I have a queasy stomach often! When I ask my friends and family when pregnancy gets 'fun' they inform me they never felt it was and that they had nervous/scared/ambivalent feelings often!

[jencat215]

Holy crap DeeDee! I just saw you post and came over to see how you were doing and I had NO idea that you were pg! Congratulations hun!!!

guess I gotta go dig around for the details

[silverbrumby]

Ahhh the big lie...that pregnancy is "fun"! Hehe

Ok, so of the many many many people I know who've had kids, only ONE said it was "fun" being pregnant. And she was lucky...had little/no morning sickness, only gained weight where the basketball sat, was a bit tired the first trimester but then got seriously peppy for the rest of the pregnancy, and the $#@!@ somehow managed to get away with NO stretch marks!!! But everyone else said they felt like they were getting the life sucked out of them. One of my friends said her son was trying to kill her...and he actually was because she had placenta previa and was bleeding the whole pregnancy and very anemic. A few of them said things eased up a bit in the third trimester and they felt good physically and emotionally for about a month and a half until the dawning realization of fear regarding giving birth and actually having a baby hit them. Then it was a battle between fear and feeling really uncomfortable, swollen, achy and wanting it "OUT".

Wish I could offer happier news but I really do think women lie about how "beautiful" pregnancy is because they're afraid they'll sound like a monster if they say it was the worst thing ever. PLus, I think that labour hormones have an amnesic affect and women forget just how sucky it was so they'll want to have more babies.

[silverbrumby]

PS Decided to stay home and clean and then go shopping when it cools down a bit. Don't have a puppy sitter and I really do need to do some major cleaning. Yes, I know I am such a party pooper.

[Deej]

Ona - you crack me up! I am laughing, but not too hard as the food I just swallowed feels like it wants to come back. I hate feeling nauseated. Oh well, such is life! I had read that if bcp made you ill, being pregnant probably will also. So much for my hopeful and wishful and positive thinking! UGH. I am now starting to have questions (the spotting made me worry this bean was not sticking, but the spotting has almost stopped) like when can I work out again? In my head, I think if I move around I will feel better???? Or is that more wishful thinking??
Happy Saturday Ladies! Kathryn - how I would love to trade places with you... you are almost done and i have just begun.