I went to my midwife for the first time yesterday. Delightfully, I was not chewed out for not going in sooner, and in fact, they didn't say a word about it. They did all the gross, icky girl stuff that would have made Adam uncomfortable, so I had him wait in the lobby. The only thing that was fun that he missed was the baby's heartbeat (which was really strong and completely normal!). No worries, though, for I am scheduling a sonogram soon where he will be able to hear and see all the cool stuff.
I still have to have all my blood work done, but I am unconcerned because they are mostly checking for diseases that I know I don't have. The only one that I don't know about is the glucose screening test, and the only reason I'm worried about that one is because gestational diabetes is almost symptomless. Fortunately, no one in my family has had it (that I know of), and I'm not in the demographic that's generally at risk for it.
It was great news all around, and hopefully we'll be ready for incoming in 12 short weeks (third trimester starts tomorrow).
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
How Pregnancy is Making My Job Easier
I have learned that when I am pregnant, people are really nice to me. Students don't put up an unnecessary fuss over my tutoring. People don't aggravate me as much. Everyone tip-toes around me and doesn't complain that I have to eat and pee all the time. No one wants to upset the pregnant lady. It's kind of nice.
I also have students making a fuss over me in some of the cutest ways. I dropped a pencil the other day and this girl practically dove under the table to get it for me. People are letting me go through doors first and all manner of other chivalrous acts. It's really funny, but it's also basically awesome. After throwing up 10 times a day in the first part of my pregnancy, it's really nice to enjoy some of pregnancy's perks.
I am gigantic, though, which is less of a perk. I have gained 20 pounds so far. Only 2 of those is baby. Uh oh. So I have engaged in Pilates again, which is at least making me feel better, and it's also good for all that labor stuff I keep hearing about. I wish I could just fall asleep and wake up and find the baby already out and lying next to me, like a bear. That would be nice. I've also been thinking about how nice it would be if I could just lay an egg. Unfortunately, as a human mammal, this is the way it's done, so I'll just have to continue to grin and bear it.
I have an appointment with my mid-wife on Tuesday, which is nice because I'm almost 7 months pregnant and it's about time to make sure we're gonna be ready for take-off when the time comes.
Baby is getting really strong. 'Bout punched a hole in my liver the other day while I was tutoring. The sensation was so strong that I completely lost my train of thought in the middle of my sentence. So if anything else, we have a mighty baby.
I also have students making a fuss over me in some of the cutest ways. I dropped a pencil the other day and this girl practically dove under the table to get it for me. People are letting me go through doors first and all manner of other chivalrous acts. It's really funny, but it's also basically awesome. After throwing up 10 times a day in the first part of my pregnancy, it's really nice to enjoy some of pregnancy's perks.
I am gigantic, though, which is less of a perk. I have gained 20 pounds so far. Only 2 of those is baby. Uh oh. So I have engaged in Pilates again, which is at least making me feel better, and it's also good for all that labor stuff I keep hearing about. I wish I could just fall asleep and wake up and find the baby already out and lying next to me, like a bear. That would be nice. I've also been thinking about how nice it would be if I could just lay an egg. Unfortunately, as a human mammal, this is the way it's done, so I'll just have to continue to grin and bear it.
I have an appointment with my mid-wife on Tuesday, which is nice because I'm almost 7 months pregnant and it's about time to make sure we're gonna be ready for take-off when the time comes.
Baby is getting really strong. 'Bout punched a hole in my liver the other day while I was tutoring. The sensation was so strong that I completely lost my train of thought in the middle of my sentence. So if anything else, we have a mighty baby.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Adventures in the Department of Children and Families pt 2
So here's the rest of the story on the DCF.
I faxed those documents on a Monday, so I sat around for a few days waiting for something to happen. I began to realize that nothing was going to happen, so I took matters into my own hands that Thursday morning. I went online again and still couldn't get into the website. Not wanting to deal with the phone menu again, I called a woman I know who happens to be a social worker at the mission I sometimes volunteer at.
This very sweet lady guided me through the phone menu options at DCF, trying to get me in touch with a representative I could talk to. 20 minutes into the menu, I finally heard the sweet sound of a ring tone. A lady picked up: "Sunco office, how may I help you?"
Sunco? "Yes, I can't get into my Access account online."
"The menu options have changed, you are in the wrong department. Click."
I would like it to be noted that this was the only point in the ordeal where I almost cried.
I had to call the sweet lady at the mission again.
She suggested to me another back door.
I couldn't get through.
I called her back.
She tried one last thing to see if I could get in, and it worked! From the time I called my friend to the time I talked to a representative, the entire thing took an hour and a half, and I never would have made it through if I hadn't known a social worker.
Now, let me back up a second and explain something to you: In order to get through the phone menu to talk to someone, you must enter your SSN and your birthdate; then they draw up your file automatically and, if they find your file, send you through to a representative. Every time I entered my number and birthdate, the automatic lady informed me that they had no file with those numbers.
Ok, moving forward again. I finally got through to talk to a representative. She asked me for my social and my birthdate. Turns out that instead of having me on file for a February birthday, they entered my birthday as June. Now, this happened because, apparently, they gave the job of data entry to a neutered opossum, who also mistyped both my middle name and my husband's (who knew you could spell "Helen" with a "J" and "Adam" with an "E"?).
Now, I wouldn't be angry if this was less important information, but I needed these FLIPPING numbers to be right or I couldn't get into the GD PHONE SYSTEM OR MY ONLINE ACCOUNT.
I typed in the June birthday to get into my online account (because it was going to take a while to correct my birthday), and it turns out that we are eligible and approved (hurray).
I have an appointment with my midwife on Valentine's day. Yippee :-)
---------------
In other news, the baby is about 13 inches long from head to toe and weighs around 2 pounds. It's kicking really hard and wakes me up at night (a preview of things to come, I'm sure). It's getting big enough for me to feel it not only kick, but also turn around as it's starting to slide against the walls. I was starting to get confused about what I was feeling, so I looked it up to see what babies do in there. It seems that the baby gets hiccups, which I find hilariously adorable, and the other cute thing is that it's practicing walking. It just kind of soft-pedals in there against my sides, which feels weird, but if it means I'm growing a track star, then I say go for it, Tiny Human. It's supposed to open it's eyes soon, too, and supposedly it will be able to sense light when that happens.
I am going to eat food now because that's my favorite thing to do these days.
I faxed those documents on a Monday, so I sat around for a few days waiting for something to happen. I began to realize that nothing was going to happen, so I took matters into my own hands that Thursday morning. I went online again and still couldn't get into the website. Not wanting to deal with the phone menu again, I called a woman I know who happens to be a social worker at the mission I sometimes volunteer at.
This very sweet lady guided me through the phone menu options at DCF, trying to get me in touch with a representative I could talk to. 20 minutes into the menu, I finally heard the sweet sound of a ring tone. A lady picked up: "Sunco office, how may I help you?"
Sunco? "Yes, I can't get into my Access account online."
"The menu options have changed, you are in the wrong department. Click."
I would like it to be noted that this was the only point in the ordeal where I almost cried.
I had to call the sweet lady at the mission again.
She suggested to me another back door.
I couldn't get through.
I called her back.
She tried one last thing to see if I could get in, and it worked! From the time I called my friend to the time I talked to a representative, the entire thing took an hour and a half, and I never would have made it through if I hadn't known a social worker.
Now, let me back up a second and explain something to you: In order to get through the phone menu to talk to someone, you must enter your SSN and your birthdate; then they draw up your file automatically and, if they find your file, send you through to a representative. Every time I entered my number and birthdate, the automatic lady informed me that they had no file with those numbers.
Ok, moving forward again. I finally got through to talk to a representative. She asked me for my social and my birthdate. Turns out that instead of having me on file for a February birthday, they entered my birthday as June. Now, this happened because, apparently, they gave the job of data entry to a neutered opossum, who also mistyped both my middle name and my husband's (who knew you could spell "Helen" with a "J" and "Adam" with an "E"?).
Now, I wouldn't be angry if this was less important information, but I needed these FLIPPING numbers to be right or I couldn't get into the GD PHONE SYSTEM OR MY ONLINE ACCOUNT.
I typed in the June birthday to get into my online account (because it was going to take a while to correct my birthday), and it turns out that we are eligible and approved (hurray).
I have an appointment with my midwife on Valentine's day. Yippee :-)
---------------
In other news, the baby is about 13 inches long from head to toe and weighs around 2 pounds. It's kicking really hard and wakes me up at night (a preview of things to come, I'm sure). It's getting big enough for me to feel it not only kick, but also turn around as it's starting to slide against the walls. I was starting to get confused about what I was feeling, so I looked it up to see what babies do in there. It seems that the baby gets hiccups, which I find hilariously adorable, and the other cute thing is that it's practicing walking. It just kind of soft-pedals in there against my sides, which feels weird, but if it means I'm growing a track star, then I say go for it, Tiny Human. It's supposed to open it's eyes soon, too, and supposedly it will be able to sense light when that happens.
I am going to eat food now because that's my favorite thing to do these days.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Adventures in the Department of Children and Families
I have been in the process of applying for Medicaid, which is unfortunately a necessity in order to be able to afford hospital bills with junior. We are hoping that we don't have to use public assistance with Junior # 2.
Anyway, I have been stressed out because I did not understand how difficult and painful this process can be. First, I went online, as per instruction, to download and print a PDF of the form I had to fill out, which included our income, SSN, address, age, etc. Then, I had to go to a non-profit health center to pee in a cup and get a piece of paper signed by a doctor that I am, indeed, pregnant. I printed off paystubs, packed my filled-out form, birth certificate, marriage license, and every other document I could imagine that proved that I am who I say I am and headed off to the Department of Children and Families (a.k.a., DCF).
Now, we are all familiar with the DMV. Everyone has to go to the DMV. It is a frustration of waiting, of long lines, coughing people, and whatnot. The DMV is a cake walk compared to the DCF. First of all, the people who work there did not turn down jobs at NASA in order to be there. I'm sure there was a system for when they would help and who they would help next and how to properly apply for your selected type of assistance, but such a system was a mystery to me. Anyway, I jumped ahead, so let me back up.
I walked up to the desk with all my paper work in my fancy folder. I asked, "Hello, I need to apply for Medicaid for my pregnancy. Where do I need to go?"
"Did you already fill out your application?"
"Yes, here it is."
She does not even look at it. "No, the online application."
"What online application?"
"The one you where supposed to fill out."
"The DCF website only had this PDF, so I printed it and filled it out and here it is."
"You have to go online and fill out the application."
"Ok, can I do that here?"
"Yes. Then, when you are done, put your proof of pregnancy and a copy of your driver's license in that drop box." Here she indicates to a suspicious looking box with a hand-written sign that says "Drop box."
Oh brother.
So, I got myself a computer in their little computer lab and spent thirty minutes doing something next to an illiterate, coughing man who needed a DCF assistant to walk him through every step of the process that I could have done in my own bedroom at home. (When I picture how it could have been, I'm usually drinking hot chocolate while Adam rubs my shoulders and tells me I'm pretty, smart, and industrious.)
I finished up, sanitized my hands, and went to the desk again to make sure I knew exactly what was supposed to go into that little box. Proof of pregnancy, driver's license, AND social security number? Ok, but now I'm suspicious because just a minute ago she said only Proof of pregnancy and driver's license. Do these people really know what they're doing? I make copies of everything, fighting for the machine with an Eastern European couple. I put my documents in the drop box that was about as official-looking as a shoebox and scurried my way out of there as fast as I could.
This Friday (the 20th), I got a letter that said that I had to send in my paystubs by today (the 23rd), or my application would be rejected. Because they were so clear about how I was also supposed to put copies of my paystubs in the box, and what fool wouldn't know that that's what they meant when they said proof of pregnancy, driver's license, and social security number?
So I faxed them on Saturday and started to call the number to see if anyone was there to check on their arrival.
An automatic message picked up. "Welcome to the Department of Children and Families help menu. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"6****..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"6*****..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"#. ##. ######."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
Here I hung up as forcefully as one can on a cell phone.
I decided to go online and check my status there, because I'm supposed to be able to. I got routed to a registration page where I had to enter my name, date of birth, and zip code. That's all I had to enter. I got an error message that the information I entered did not match up with what they had on file. So, either my name, my birthday, or my zip code is wrong. Or maybe they are just a Department of Incompetent Morons and Second-rate Technology.
I got about 5 hours of sleep last night because I kept waking up thinking about this. I'm about to fax them and then call them again. Wish me luck.
*UPDATE*
I faxed, which the computer says was successful. I called. "Due to high call volume, all of our agents are currently busy. Please call again at a later time. Click." (WARGARBLE!)
Anyway, I have been stressed out because I did not understand how difficult and painful this process can be. First, I went online, as per instruction, to download and print a PDF of the form I had to fill out, which included our income, SSN, address, age, etc. Then, I had to go to a non-profit health center to pee in a cup and get a piece of paper signed by a doctor that I am, indeed, pregnant. I printed off paystubs, packed my filled-out form, birth certificate, marriage license, and every other document I could imagine that proved that I am who I say I am and headed off to the Department of Children and Families (a.k.a., DCF).
Now, we are all familiar with the DMV. Everyone has to go to the DMV. It is a frustration of waiting, of long lines, coughing people, and whatnot. The DMV is a cake walk compared to the DCF. First of all, the people who work there did not turn down jobs at NASA in order to be there. I'm sure there was a system for when they would help and who they would help next and how to properly apply for your selected type of assistance, but such a system was a mystery to me. Anyway, I jumped ahead, so let me back up.
I walked up to the desk with all my paper work in my fancy folder. I asked, "Hello, I need to apply for Medicaid for my pregnancy. Where do I need to go?"
"Did you already fill out your application?"
"Yes, here it is."
She does not even look at it. "No, the online application."
"What online application?"
"The one you where supposed to fill out."
"The DCF website only had this PDF, so I printed it and filled it out and here it is."
"You have to go online and fill out the application."
"Ok, can I do that here?"
"Yes. Then, when you are done, put your proof of pregnancy and a copy of your driver's license in that drop box." Here she indicates to a suspicious looking box with a hand-written sign that says "Drop box."
Oh brother.
So, I got myself a computer in their little computer lab and spent thirty minutes doing something next to an illiterate, coughing man who needed a DCF assistant to walk him through every step of the process that I could have done in my own bedroom at home. (When I picture how it could have been, I'm usually drinking hot chocolate while Adam rubs my shoulders and tells me I'm pretty, smart, and industrious.)
I finished up, sanitized my hands, and went to the desk again to make sure I knew exactly what was supposed to go into that little box. Proof of pregnancy, driver's license, AND social security number? Ok, but now I'm suspicious because just a minute ago she said only Proof of pregnancy and driver's license. Do these people really know what they're doing? I make copies of everything, fighting for the machine with an Eastern European couple. I put my documents in the drop box that was about as official-looking as a shoebox and scurried my way out of there as fast as I could.
This Friday (the 20th), I got a letter that said that I had to send in my paystubs by today (the 23rd), or my application would be rejected. Because they were so clear about how I was also supposed to put copies of my paystubs in the box, and what fool wouldn't know that that's what they meant when they said proof of pregnancy, driver's license, and social security number?
So I faxed them on Saturday and started to call the number to see if anyone was there to check on their arrival.
An automatic message picked up. "Welcome to the Department of Children and Families help menu. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"6****..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"6*****..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
"#. ##. ######."
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. For faster service, please enter your social security number or access code now. For general information, press the 'pound' key."
Here I hung up as forcefully as one can on a cell phone.
I decided to go online and check my status there, because I'm supposed to be able to. I got routed to a registration page where I had to enter my name, date of birth, and zip code. That's all I had to enter. I got an error message that the information I entered did not match up with what they had on file. So, either my name, my birthday, or my zip code is wrong. Or maybe they are just a Department of Incompetent Morons and Second-rate Technology.
I got about 5 hours of sleep last night because I kept waking up thinking about this. I'm about to fax them and then call them again. Wish me luck.
*UPDATE*
I faxed, which the computer says was successful. I called. "Due to high call volume, all of our agents are currently busy. Please call again at a later time. Click." (WARGARBLE!)
Friday, January 6, 2012
All About the Belly
Well, I have finally popped out with regards to the pregnancy belly. I'm sure it was gradual, but it really seemed to happen overnight. I have been told that the first pregnancy takes longer to show because my uterus is taking longer to make room for itself. It's got to push all the other organs out of the way, you know. I think my small intestines are somewhere in my throat. At the next pregnancy, my organs will already know their places, and they'll move out of the way readily (*sirens* "Battle stations, everyone, all hands on deck! Liver, you're over here; pancreas, down there; stomach, stop trying to turn inside out - you know the drill here, people!" At this point the boatswain notices the colon trying to sneak out the back door wearing a hat and carrying a suitcase, so he drags it back into formation). I have a lively imagination these days.
Anyway, I'm also at the point where people are tempted to touch the tummy. I mean, like, complete strangers. It's reenforcing my notion that my size is reaching planetary proportions and that I'm developing my own gravitational pull.
I am completely over morning sickness! YAHOO!!! I have never felt so relieved. It's been replaced with heartburn and insomnia, but I can totally live with that. I've started to feel, not just human, but kind of wonderful. I have a bunch of energy coming back, and I get surges of elation that I'm sure are coming from some magical, hitherto inactive hormone. I have not had the mood swings as badly, either, so things are generally really nice right now.
I think the gods drank orange juice, by the way. And ate cantaloupe. Fruit has never tasted this good.
I am at 22 weeks with 18 to go. My baby is the length of a spaghetti squash and weighs about a pound. It punched me so hard that it woke me up the other night, so it seems really eager to get out into the world. My official due date is May 10, and I have a feeling it will be here before I know it.
Anyway, I'm also at the point where people are tempted to touch the tummy. I mean, like, complete strangers. It's reenforcing my notion that my size is reaching planetary proportions and that I'm developing my own gravitational pull.
I am completely over morning sickness! YAHOO!!! I have never felt so relieved. It's been replaced with heartburn and insomnia, but I can totally live with that. I've started to feel, not just human, but kind of wonderful. I have a bunch of energy coming back, and I get surges of elation that I'm sure are coming from some magical, hitherto inactive hormone. I have not had the mood swings as badly, either, so things are generally really nice right now.
I think the gods drank orange juice, by the way. And ate cantaloupe. Fruit has never tasted this good.
I am at 22 weeks with 18 to go. My baby is the length of a spaghetti squash and weighs about a pound. It punched me so hard that it woke me up the other night, so it seems really eager to get out into the world. My official due date is May 10, and I have a feeling it will be here before I know it.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
All About Christmas
Well, I am 19 weeks pregnant...almost halfway. I have started to be able to feel the baby kicking with my hand, which means it won't be long until Adam will be able to feel it if I catch it in time. I have been less sick with more energy, and that's good news becaaaause...
...We're driving to Arkansas next week. That's about a 20 hour drive. Spread out over two days, the trip will be about 10 hours a day in a car, 12.5 hours if you factor in all the potty breaks I'm going to have to take. I have never wanted to fly so badly in my life. I hate airplanes, but I would take a plane any day over the grueling road trip we are about to endure. I am praying for no motion sickness, no swelling, and no throwing up - not necessarily in that order.
We will be visiting all the aunts and uncles and grandparents in Little Rock and areas nearby. I have never been to Little Rock, so that's sort of exciting, but I understand it will be very cold, and that's less exciting. It's been in the 70s and 80s everyday here in Florida, and I don't adapt well to the cold. I think I'm like a lizard now - anything under 50 degrees makes my body shut down. Maybe the baby will be a little heater for me.
...We're driving to Arkansas next week. That's about a 20 hour drive. Spread out over two days, the trip will be about 10 hours a day in a car, 12.5 hours if you factor in all the potty breaks I'm going to have to take. I have never wanted to fly so badly in my life. I hate airplanes, but I would take a plane any day over the grueling road trip we are about to endure. I am praying for no motion sickness, no swelling, and no throwing up - not necessarily in that order.
We will be visiting all the aunts and uncles and grandparents in Little Rock and areas nearby. I have never been to Little Rock, so that's sort of exciting, but I understand it will be very cold, and that's less exciting. It's been in the 70s and 80s everyday here in Florida, and I don't adapt well to the cold. I think I'm like a lizard now - anything under 50 degrees makes my body shut down. Maybe the baby will be a little heater for me.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Balancing Acts and Other Weirdness
I have been having even more new-and-exciting symptoms from my pregnancy that I will share for those of who how eagerly await hearing about my experiences (i.e. Becky).
First, I am still vomiting. A lot. That can't be good. I'm having a hard time staying hydrated, and I have been limited on the sorts of foods I can eat, so I simply don't think I'm getting enough nutrients. So that part is kind of scary. I'm terrified of taking a drug that makes my kid sterile or retarded or have extra limbs just because I'm a wimp, but the alternative is making me nervous. ANYWAY, enough scary stuff.
Last weekend I felt the baby move for the first time. It is a very strange sensation that is almost impossible to describe. Imagine someone filled a water balloon to about the size of a cantaloupe and placed it between your hip-bones. Then imagine that there is pop-corn popping inside the water balloon. That's as close as I can come to describing it. Lately, Pop-corn has started to activate during writing conferences at work, which is very distracting. There's no great way to explain to the student why I suddenly stared off into space with my hand on my belly. "Oh, sorry, there's just a tiny person banging on the walls of my uterus."
I have lately become front-load heavy. That means that everything on the front of my torso is way bigger than usual. This is very problematic with clothes. Nothing but maternity stuff fits, but I don't have much of a bump yet, so I just look pudgy. Sad face. The other weird thing is that I have begun to spontaneously lose my balance. At first I thought it was just dizziness, but now I'm starting to think that I actually have begun to shift my center of gravity, and this panda bear is not used to that. I have always had a firm, hip-based center of gravity, but now it's starting to move upwards.
I am looking forward to having a month off, starting next Thursday, and I will spend it getting things done and sleeping. Oh, and driving to Arkansas for Christmas. I will be meeting all of the Cartwrights that I didn't have a chance to meet before.
First, I am still vomiting. A lot. That can't be good. I'm having a hard time staying hydrated, and I have been limited on the sorts of foods I can eat, so I simply don't think I'm getting enough nutrients. So that part is kind of scary. I'm terrified of taking a drug that makes my kid sterile or retarded or have extra limbs just because I'm a wimp, but the alternative is making me nervous. ANYWAY, enough scary stuff.
Last weekend I felt the baby move for the first time. It is a very strange sensation that is almost impossible to describe. Imagine someone filled a water balloon to about the size of a cantaloupe and placed it between your hip-bones. Then imagine that there is pop-corn popping inside the water balloon. That's as close as I can come to describing it. Lately, Pop-corn has started to activate during writing conferences at work, which is very distracting. There's no great way to explain to the student why I suddenly stared off into space with my hand on my belly. "Oh, sorry, there's just a tiny person banging on the walls of my uterus."
I have lately become front-load heavy. That means that everything on the front of my torso is way bigger than usual. This is very problematic with clothes. Nothing but maternity stuff fits, but I don't have much of a bump yet, so I just look pudgy. Sad face. The other weird thing is that I have begun to spontaneously lose my balance. At first I thought it was just dizziness, but now I'm starting to think that I actually have begun to shift my center of gravity, and this panda bear is not used to that. I have always had a firm, hip-based center of gravity, but now it's starting to move upwards.
I am looking forward to having a month off, starting next Thursday, and I will spend it getting things done and sleeping. Oh, and driving to Arkansas for Christmas. I will be meeting all of the Cartwrights that I didn't have a chance to meet before.
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