Kitty Trouble

The day we got our keys to our new house we were in the living room looking around and all of a sudden we heard the sweetest meow at the window and we turned to find an adorable little kitty peering in the window at us. I have never had a cat and have always wanted a nice one (Mark's sister has a cat but she's bipolar). I think it would be really cute if Afton had a pet kitty that she was responsible for in the future but I do enjoy a fur free home.

We have been in the new home for a month now and at first we would only see the kitty occasionally but now she seems to stop by more and more frequently and the cuteness has worn off. I could understand the kitty's increased obsession with us if we feed her or made friends with her but I have never once fed or et her. There was the Saturday morning we awoke to Mark's car alarm because said kitty had jumped onto the car. And the very, very early morning or two that we have listened to her cry (She sounds like a distraught women). With the weather being as cold as it has been she has been exceptionally desperate for human attention. Lately if she sees me from the backyard she comes to the door and meows and scratches at the window. Last week I put a roll of extra carpet on the patio that is to eventually go to Mark's parents house. I thought that since we have a covered patio that the carpet would be fine. Well I never considered the cat, who I keep catching trying to crawl into the carpet roll. Now I am wondering if the carpet has been ruined, has she pee'd on or in it, does she have fleas etc?

She seems to belong to our neighbors but every night and when they are not home she comes around our place. I know she's locked out at night, but I kind of wonder if she's allowed in sometimes because she keeps trying to dash into our house. When they come home from somewhere they talk to her really sweetly and she dissapears with them.

I think it is incredibly cruel that she be locked out at night when it's freezing. If she does in fact belong to the neighbors, how do they sleep at night? If we can hear her at night then can't they? Who locks an animal outside when it's frezzing without providing a warm place for them. My parents have outdoor dogs but they are provided insulated dog houses. When the temperatures are exceptionally cold my mom has been known to tuck them in with blankets and hot water bottles. And when the temperatures are super hot they are allowed to sleep on the garage floor.

With the cat getting more and more annoying I am wondering what my rights are. I know she's a cat so she can't be confined to a yard but why do I have to put up with her? The ruined roll of carpet? Her scratching at my windows (she has claws, what if she damages our screens), loss of sleep when she cries. Now with the baby arriving I had planned to lock the gate and occasionally put her on the patio for fresh air and sunshine when weather permits..now I have to worry about a cat coming around. What if the cat leaves droppings on our patio? Another thing I don't want the baby finding/getting into.

Big Bummer

So last week the doctor was really surprised by my progress, so surprised that since my last appointment she called the hospital twice to check on my status because she was certain I would have delivered by now. Unfortunately when she checked my cervix today there was not much change. The baby had changed positioning in the birth canal but I was still not completely effaced. I was forced to make another appointment, on Monday they will check my cervix one last time and schedule an induction.

Tomorrow will be quiet as Mark has a midterm. The doctor told me today how to hold off labor due to Finals.

-I have read it quite a few times lately and am now a true believer that you cannot make a baby come until the exact moment they are ready and not a moment sooner. From now on and in subsequent pregnancies I am going to do my best to relax and let Afton come when she is ready. All of my antics to bring on labor have caused more harm than good! When I started to develop a cold last week I should have laid low and beat it with sleep, but because I was so into running around and being busy I have been affected by a full blown cold. I kind of think that the cold might be what is holding off Afton's arrival...I have been drinking a lot of fluids because my throat is so irritated and excessive fluids is exactly what my doctor recommended to hold off labor for Mark's finals.

Still Waiting

I snapped Saturday night, I was having some good contractions and wanted to run with them. Unfortunately instead of sitting on the couch where I was I got a sudden burst of energy and jumped up off the couch and took my in-laws dogs out for a walk. On the walk the contractions faded so I thought it necessary to run, thinking that running might bring them back. The dogs decided they did not want to run so I was dragging down the street because I really wanted to run. I finally gave up on them and took them home and continued running on my own. I ran home because I was going to get a car and drive to my parents because I know my brother's puppy would run with me but upon arriving at home I noticed I had shin splints so I called off any additional running plans and opted just to sit on my birth ball and pray and cry in the dark. I climbed in bed around 8pm and did not climb out and start my Sunday until 1:40pm. It really got to me that Saturday was December 5 and one month to the day earlier I had gone to Labor and Delivery for pre-term labor. I recall sitting at my desk timing my contractions. A month ago they were 10 minutes apart for a bit. I have been practicing, practicing, practicing ever since.

I officially give up my odd attempts to start labor i.e. a hot bath, jumping on the trampoline, running, walking etc. From now on I am just going to try to relax. Last night when I was experiencing contractions I tried not to let myself get my hopes up and just kept busy. I made cookies, watched tv, continued Christmas decorating, did laundry, dishes, re-arranged a few of my husband's clothing drawers etc.

Mark and my schedule has been pretty permitting of her arrival up until now. But we're entering finals and I fear that this is when she will choose to come. As luck would have it Mark has a final on Wednesday...and I have been pre-warned that if my labor or Afton's birth interfere with finals Mark will not be at my side (which I understand).

Progress

So at the doctor's today she gave me the option to have or not have a cervical exam. I opted to go for it and I am glad I did. She imediately felt Afton's
head and within a few seconds the doctor stated that I was 3 centimeters, 75-80% thinned out. She said I am what they call "favorable" and she told me to have fun at Ikea tomorrow (because I had told her of my intention to walk Ikea on Thursday).

Following my appointment I imediately drove to my parents to walk their dogs. When I got home from my parents Mark and I walked to his parents to steal dinner. While at the in-laws I walked/half-jumped on their trampoline, I paced and then walked on their treadmill for a few minutes. Mark discovered the King's game so we hankered down to watch it. I tried to stretch and harass my cervix while watching the game and at halftime we walked home to fetch my birth ball so I could feel like I was further helping the cause while watching the game.

So my efforts did not work today, but there's always tomorrow...I have a class, a peaceful protest, a haircut and an appointment to walk Ikea.

SO CLOSE

I truly cannot believe how close to motherhood I am. These past 39 weeks seem to in general, to have gone by really slowly, with the exception of last week. Last night Mark sat down to watch Castle and I was taken a back, it felt like we sat down to watch Castle just a few days ago. And when I woke up today I was really surprised that it was another Tuesday, that it has already been a week since my ultrasound.

And to think in the next week,(or two at worst) I could be holding my little baby girl. I go to the doctor tomorrow, which is always exciting! Last week I found out that Afton is 7lbs 8 ounces, give or take a pound, she is sizing a week older, with a December 5 due date. She is swallowing amniotic fluid as her stomach and bladder are both full of fluid. She is head down and a happy little girl.

I have gone into "induce labor" overdrive! Last Thursday I did the Run to Feed the Hungry with Mark and his family. We walked between 4-5 miles! I was hoping it would make her drop...but no such luck. I had a lot of energy a few days back and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned...still pregnant! I think/hope she has dropped as the urge to urinate has changed and when I climb our stairs there seems to be more of her between my legs. I am unsure of this though because my walk has not changed and I do not feel like there is a bowling ball between my legs. It could just be that she is packing on the pounds and weighs more.

The pressure has really been on for Afton to arrive because today, December 1st was her namesakes birthday. Last night Mark and I went on a walk to his parents, and I attempted to jog on two occasions-it did not last long. Today I had intended to run laps on our stairs, but after one trip up the stairs I scratched that idea. I do not have much energy today and prefer to eat and sit. I ate mexican food for lunch today and included salsa. I was thinking I should turn up the heat and have some curry for 2 reasons. One-I find curry to be spicy and two-I have not had any Indian food with my pregnancy and it might throw Afton off.

With all of my attempts to induce labor I get a lot of pain to the cervix but nothing happens beyond that. I am curious to know how my labor will be start? Will it build from painless contractions or will it just "poof" start?