The Future of the Gamgee Clan (PAIL Monthly Theme Post)

Hey Humble Readers...

When I first saw the theme for this month for the PAIL bloggers... "so when are you going to have another baby", I honestly thought I didn't have much to say on the subject. 

My Beloved and I have always, from before we were even engaged, agreed that two children was going to be it for us.  Of course, if we had been blessed with twins the second time around, after the initial freak out was over, we would have been thrilled.  But as far as it was within our control, we wanted two. 

And now we have our two precious wee-lings. 

And I had a tubal ligation. 

And my Beloved is going to get 'snipped' later this summer. 

And then I realized that I do have something to say on the topic. 

Some of our friends and family think it overkill for both my Beloved and I to take steps toward permanent contraception.  And some in the ALI/PAIL/IF/RPL worlds might wonder why we are taking such drastic measures when we tried so hard for so long to get our take-home babies. 

And that's exactly the point. 

We tried hard.  We went through our own personal hell to get to this point.  After two losses, and two not-so-easy pregnancies, we are ready to be done with the family building portion of our lives.  (This doesn't mean that I feel I have outgrown the ALI/PAIL community.  But that's a different post, for a different day.) 

Add in the fact that my Beloved is soon to be 41 and I'm soon to be 38.  We aren't what you would call spring chickens.  With the added challenge of my high blood pressure, the surety of gestational diabetes being even worse a third time around, the increased anxiety that would be sure to haunt me again, and the horrible c-section experience I had with Pip... let's just say that I'm not ready to walk down that road again.

I confess there are selfish reasons too. I enjoy not feeling the need to restrict myself from things like taking ibuprophen when my back hurts, a glass of wine after dinner, or colouring my hair.  I like the idea of not having to take my temperature every day, of not having to be a toilet paper inspector, of not having that constant debate to pee on a stick or not, and not always living in the calendar 40 weeks from now.  I won't miss worrying about the length of my luteal phase, and analyzing every little twinge in my body.  And I refuse to be taking hormonal birth control for the next twenty years. 

Will I ever be able to note my period's arrival without a twinge of sadness?  I hope so.  I hope that someday it will be just the normal inconvenience it is for millions of women.  I hope that cramps become something to bitch about and not something to worry about. 

There's also a family history that we had to take into account.  There were 'surprises' in both our families many years ago.  The fact that my Beloved even exists is due to the fact that his father's vasectomy reversed itself.  And my bio-mom had two miscarraiges after her tubes were supposedly tied.  Even though both situations were likely the result of shoddy medical procedures, I don't think I could face another miscarraige and while an oops-baby would be just as loved and cherished, I know that it wouldn't be good for my physical or mental health to be pregnant again. 

That's why we chose to go with two such permanent solutions to birth control.

So, when some of the little old ladies at church ask when we're going to have our next one, or when my Grandpa jokes about 'number three', I tell them that we've stopped at two.  And there is almost ALWAYS that little grin that says 'ahh, but accidents happen'.  Yes, accidents do happen.  But my Beloved and I have done everything we can to ensure that it won't happen to us. 

My biological clock has officially been stopped. 

And I'm totally okay with that. 

Week 24: Opinions Needed

Hey Humble Readers...

Greetings from the not so frozen flatland!  This has been the weirdest winter I have ever seen on the prairies.  I swear the weather forecasters are just sitting in their studios flipping coins, because they have a fifty-fifty shot of getting it right.  Either it will be snappin' a$$holes cold or it will feel like the beginning of spring.  By Thursday it's supposed to be around 7C here.  Our regular temps for this time of year are in the -7 to -10 range.  I'm not complaining... I'm just confused.  We'll probably end up with snow in May and June. 

So I had a revelation the other day.  Being 24 weeks pregnant sounds like I've still got a long way to go, but given the GD and everything, I am very likely only going to be pregnant for another 13 or maybe 14 weeks (assuming that they don't want me to go much past 38 weeks).  And that sounds a whole heck of a lot shorter.  Nesting instincts are starting to set in... I really need to be making some progress on my to do lists.  I have much organizing and cleaning to do, and rearranging in the nursery to accomplish.  I also want to have the carpets steam cleaned before Easter.  I want to get Ginny's baby book up to date, and make a few casseroles and other meals to freeze like I did last time. 

I finally got a call from my new OB's office last week.  My first appointment with her is next week Tuesday.  One of the things I'm contemplating asking about is, assuming that I will be having a C-section again, how possible is it to get a tubal ligation done at the same time?  My Beloved and I have always discussed him being the one to get 'snipped' but if they have me open anyway, wouldn't it make sense to just get it done and over with?  Our goal has always been to have two children, and given everything the last four years have brought, I don't think an oops pregnancy (wouldn't that be a kick in the pants?) a year or two down the road would be wise for us.  And I DO NOT want to be on bcps for the rest of my life.  What do you all think?

On to the update...

How far along? 24w0d

Maternity clothes? Yup...

Body Oddities? VERY dry skin, alternating constipation and IBS flares, acne, bruises from insulin injections, back ache, cracking joints, super sore & slightly leaky boobs, increased earwax, dry/itchy eyes, leg cramps, round ligament pain, heartburn is much worse, tingly fingertips

Sleep? Good for the most part.  I have been pretty tired the last few days, but I'm still mostly sleeping okay at night.

Best moment this week? when my Beloved felt the halfling move.  He was sooo happy and excited.

Worst moment? When I woke up on Thursday with the buggered up neck and shoulder.  As soon as I opened my eyes I knew that something was wrong.

Movement? Lots and lots.  He/she tends to be quiet in the afternoons, but other than that he/she is a little soccer player... kicking at my belly button all the time.

Food cravings/aversions? Still wanting milk like crazy.  This week I want chocolate milk like nobody's business.  Nausea is still showing up on occasion, but no specific foods are triggering it. 

Rings?  Still on.

Gender? Still think it's a girl.

Intense Dreams? I had one the other night in which Ginny was meeting her little sister (yes, the Halfling was a girl in my dream).  I was still worried about Ginny's lack of talking, but when she saw her sister she said "Baby ____!" (baby's name).  After that, Ginny talked non-stop. 

Medical Concerns? Gestational Diabetes (insulin 5 times a day), High blood pressure (on 100mg of lobetalol 3x daily), continued heartburn (on 150mg of zan.tac 2x daily), kidney stones, low lying placenta.

What I miss?  Sushi, orange juice, maple syrup.

What I look forward to? Meeting my new OB (FINALLY!!) next week.

Emtional State? Pretty good for the most part.  Pain makes me bitchy, tho.