My OB looked at the blue sticky note dangling from my file this afternoon and remarked, “so, I guess we’ve got an appointment tomorrow, you and me.”
We do?
For what?
“For induction.”
Wh-a-a?
“You didn’t know?”
No, no one told me. I thought it was next week. Monday. Maybe Tuesday. But nope…tomorrow it is.
5/11/07
Weird to know the birthday in advance, isn’t it?
(On a side note, Nate was cute this morning. He said, “so, I know you’re a little worried about dealing with pitocin…would it be easier just to schedule a C-section instead? I mean, don’t people just do that?” My OB got a kick out of that one.)
So unless the cramping from today’s membrane stripping (not nearly as burlesque as it sounds) turns into contractions tonight, I will be induced tomorrow early morning in a sunny hospital room overlooking New York’s East River. Sorry to disappoint you but there will be no frantic rush to the hospital story. No water breaking in the middle of Haagen Daaz story. No pacing the Brooklyn Promenade at midnight in labor story.
Just a scheduled car trip across the Brooklyn Bridge and up the FDR drive in the traffic-light wee hours (5:30 is pretty wee to me) of the morning.
I’m grateful for the time to plan, actually. As my friend Hally says, it suits my anal Virgo ways.
What this plan-ahead Virgo hadn’t planned for however is just how hard it was to send Thalia off to Grandma’s for the night. Saying goodbye to her was unexpectedly heart crushing, knowing that the next time I see her, everything will have changed; she’s trading in her only child status for good. For better. For sisterhood and solidarity and all that good stuff. But I admit I’m mourning the end of this part of my journey with her. I will always remember this last week we had together, just the two of us–singing to videos, playing picnic with her animals (PARTY! she would scream, hands raised in the air, with every “cupcake” she served), knocking down towers of blocks, cuddling on the couch.
Above all, I’ll remember the moment that she pulled up my shirt, looked at my belly and said, “baby’s coming. Open the door.”
Indeed.
“Remember, no eating after midnight,” the nurse reminded me as I tried to contain my emotion and anxiety behind my sunglasses.
Which immediately made me think of what to have for my last meal. I was thinking pancakes. My friend Danielle suggested waffles. Either way, I know what I’ll be having tomorrow night.
94 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
Yay! I’m so excited for you. I’m sure it will be a breeze. Pitocin takes a few weeks to get out of your system, but hang in there- It is but a distant memory for me now.
And I had that sense of loss too for my little Punky, but it was totally unfounded. I still have plenty of time for her and she LOVES her little brother, maybe more than almost anyone in this house! He gave her his first smile. I’m sure Thalia will be the same way. And you’ll still have plenty of cuddle time- better cuddle time now that she’ll be able to fit on your lap again.Yay, Liz! I can’t wait to see pictures.
Good luck, Liz! You’re in my thoughts, today. I’m sending you some virtual hugs
Wowee! Congratulations in advance. I was induced too. I enjoy your blog – making a link on mine.
Here’s hoping everything goes/went smoothly!!
Good luck – May 11 is a <>wonderful<> day to have a baby!
ooh, Mom-101!! good luck! can’t wait to meet the new addition, even if her name is Clinton Portis.
Eagerly awaiting the announcement!! Good luck!
GOOOOOD LUCK!!!
Wow – are we there, yet – good luck, sweetie!
Yay, Liz!
Good luck tomorrow!
There is something surreal about driving to the hospital when you are not in labor knowing the baby will soon be here. However you “open the door” it is still exciting! Best of luck!
So excited for you all – good luck!
This WAS me 81/2 years ago when my 2nd (the induction) was on his (late) way. All I could think about was my oldest child and if he’d be okay. FYI: you probably didn’t bring the computer to the hospital . . . but on the off chance, my induction was textbook. Stripping of membranes prior day, pitocin in the early morning and baby by 7:11pm!!! I even had time to put on lipstick after the epidural kicked in.I hope youe experience goes as well as mine did, and I can’t wait to hear!Sending you lots of hugs and support on this, your birthing day!!!!!Carrie
That is the exact route I went: the stripping of the membranes (twice!); the walking and waiting and then the pitocin. It was wild! I hope all goes smoothly and as pain-free as possible! Best wishes to you and yours!
I can’t wait to hear about your new baby! Best of luck! xxxooo!
Good luck! Can’t wait to see a picture and find out her name.
Good luck! What an exciting time. You must be so psyched that it’s finally over!
Oh, I am so excited!!! I hope it goes very smoothly!!!I got a little teary thinking of you sending Thalia off. It’s OK to mourn that a little and it’s OK to always feel that you have a unique/special bond with her b/c she was your first.Can’t wait to see your beautiful baby!!!
Thinking of you! Love, Bossy.
If your little Thalia gets annoyed at having to share the spotlight, send her over to me!I’ve been jonesing for another one and goddammit, I’m tired of going to third world countries to grow the family. I tried to go shopping for a sexy pair of mules in Cambodia once (just killing time waiting for the adoption papers to come through) and the guy brought me some real, live, non-Jimmy Choo mules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It was Krazy! Good luck!
You’re probably having your baby right now! Happy early Mother’s Day and an early congratulations on what I hope is baby’s b-day!And this:<>Saying goodbye to her was unexpectedly heart crushing, knowing that the next time I see her, everything will have changed; she’s trading in her only child status for good.<>I felt exactly the same way. It almost broke my heart. But the upshot is that everything changed for the best and my daughter can’t imagine life without her brother. So Thalia loses only-child status and in return she’s getting the gift of a sister. How utterly awesome (from someone who always wanted a real sister)
Thinking of you!!! Happy Mother’s Day! Health, happiness, and good wishes!
BWAH! I knew I should have read my feeds last night! What with timezone, you’ve probably already had your lovely daughter, and I’m thinking of you all and wishing you all the best. We, too, knew the birthdate of my daughter (scheduled C)…an odd feeling, huh?So excited for you, you strong mama.
ACK! Hope you’re done by now…I had a pitocin birth with my daughter, and boy, it hurt. But it worked. And I was scared to spend the night in the hospital. What a wimp I was. Am.Good luck, and I’m rooting for you all!
Good Luck (if I am not too late)And welcome to Mom-101.2
Open the door indeed. Best wishes and thinking of you on this wonderful day.
Well, I hope by now you’ve had the baby.The best thing ever will be watching your kids (plural, can you believe it?!?) interact. I promise.
ooooooooooohhhh! I am SO excited thinking you have your new bubba now. A little Portis. Or Dahlia?I second lawyer mama up there. My boys are beginning to really interact already. It choke up the mummy, it do.(Congrats, Nate!)
I hope she’s snoozing right this second with Babygirl in a bassinet by her side.Good luck, Liz!
Eeek! We’re sharing a birthday.I wish you all the best!!!
Wow. I’m hoping you are already finished and your new daughter has been safely delivered. Good luck!
I keep checking back hoping everything went well and that you had a safe and sound delivery. Good luck! Congratulations!!!
I’m sending you a universe of best wishes for a happy and healthy baby!!
Good luck and congratulations!
Liz, I’m so excited for you! It’s 9:50 p.m. on Friday, so you’ve probably had the baby. Best Mother’s Day present EVER!!!
Best Mother’s Day present ever!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to hear about the first meeting of kids… I am already starting to dwell on my daughter’s end of only-ness. Three more months to go…
LOVING the picture.i came by way of amalah’s clubmom blog, so this is my first time. still, i have a feeling i’ll be refreshing for updates.hooray for babies!
Jennifer it’s not… congrats on Sage, the name is perfect!
Oooh, I’m so excited for you!!!!!
**taps fingers**Are we there, YET?**looks at watch**
Welcome Sage! I’m so glad you decided against Clinton Portis, because that’s the name we’re planning to use! Can’t wait to hear all about it. Take care, mama!
Congratulations!!! I hope you have a wonderful birth experience. I had a scheduled C-section in 2003 for the birth of my daughter, Lynda Elean, and I was able to get up early enough to put on makeup and fix my hair before heading to the hospital–I like those new mom pics so much better than the ones taken after seventeen hours of labor and then an emergency c section with my son in 97. In those I greatly resemble a crumpled rag.Again, congratulations. I am so happy for you!