Before we could leave, we needed to get her permission slip signed by her doctor, have some awkward and more difficult Nurse->Translator->Us->Translator->Nurse converations than were really necessary, and Cara needed some lunch. Mama needs those calories to pass on.

A quick drive across town in the most comfortable seat Cara has sat upon in 2 days and we were at the NICU. We were able to go in pretty quickly, and while we were washing our hands for the first of many times, we met our new translator. Unlike last night, this one was a nurse so she could help us if there were any real questions. Fortunately the doctor, who was also there for Viv’s admission last night, speaks enough English that only a little bit of translation was required (typically when I got on a bit of a rant about the two hospital’s inability to coordinate on their own).

At the conclusion of the business portion of the visit we got to what was important, having some quality time with our daughter. They brought her out of the incubator, and C was able to feed her for the first time since yesterday afternoon. She was on an IV, so she wasn’t without nourishment, but mother’s milk is always better. After she ate a good lunch we got to proceed to cuddle time, my favorite time since I can’t exactly feed her right now. All told, we had about an hour and a half with her, including celebrating her 1 day old milestone. It was awesome, and I can’t wait to have that much more time with her.

So now for that good news I promised in the lede: Everything seems to be going very well. Her numbers are all getting better, or steady in places where it is expected. If they all stay good through tonight, we should be able to pick her up and bring her back to the Byouin with mom tomorrow afternoon. From then on, she will be able to stay in the room with Cara except for trips to the photo therapy incubator, or to the testing she will have to undergo for the next few days to make sure her levels keep on improving.

We delivered C back to the byouin, everyone is now a bit happier than we were last night, and we all actually feel like in the coming days we may get to the position we should have been in all along. I was going to say back to normal there, but I think we all know that there is no going back to our old normal. Time to make a new normal!

Does this method of administering insulin seem a bit strange??

the way, She shouts an ‘OLE!!!’ and does her impersonation of Charrrro….”Tceeeeeeee-yow!!  Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang—Aiiiiii  yiiiii…” ♪  ♫

Today was “I” day. And for you who know not what “I” Day is, It’s Insulin day! The day when we all dump what’s left of our saline out in the parking lot flower beds and fill our reservoirs with Pure sparkley drops of insulin, jab the big needle into our tummys and set that cannula. Then we are plugged in and ready to go. I have to call her within 24 hrs. (by 8:30 tomorrow morning) and let  her know I am still alive and kicking and read her my numbers and times. For the first few days she wants me to take readings 10 times during the night and day. What’s that…Uh, Before meals and two hours after is 6 so that means 4 times during the night. With my sleep and pain problems that means no sleep for 4 days. Yep. That’s do-able. Sure… And Terry usually has to help me because those non-functioning numb hands look like they are massaging something and getting nowhere. How that is going to play out during the night and when he is at work is anyone’s guess. And yes, feel free to guess if you want. I will check in periodically and let you know how I’m doing with the  cannula in me delivering what I need to survive, the numb hands and the most perplexing thing of all, the numb head. That one wouldn’t surprise Dad however. Oka y, time to check the blood. Over and out. Kath

Addendum:

Well, the numb hands are wo rse (right one swelling) and now the right side of my head wanted to get in on the fun and it is numb. Right arm and hand are now swollen. The neurologist has set a brain MRI for Wednesday to see what it shows. If nothing we will chase down the nerve endings that are involved.  Some days it’s a little harder to get to the humor. Wednesday – brain scan Thursday – diabetes appt. (pump is doing well and seems to be keeping the numbers lower.)

You would have heard about it otherwise. The frequent updates from a week ago tapered partly because I’ve been having some tech problems… but I indulged myself yesterday with a new laptop (after all, I’ll need to manage all the baby photos somehow), so all is well again in that regard. If there had been anything to share, I would have tapped out something from my phone if it came to that. I just haven’t particularly had any changes to report. I feel slightly silly, a week and a half after going “This is it!” and still no baby.

The contractions are still happening, but they continue to be very irregular, mostly infrequent, and not painful.  The baby has definitely dropped, another good sign. So no more heartburn and my ribs are feeling much less abused, but in exchange I’m now having hip trouble. Blah. Oh, and in other news, my mom made it here safe and sound for her crash course in grandmothering.

Friday’s doctor’s appointment was uneventful. The monitoring went well; her heart rate was great and my BP was okay. She’s estimated at 7.8 lbs. Assuming nothing exciting on the agenda tonight, I’ll visit the byouin again tomorrow morning, and I’ll let you all know how that goes.

Dad assumes this lack of a bill is because the services provided are covered 100% under our insurance plan, even though it is a high-deductible plan. 

Dad appreciates the fact that our plan covers Mom and Baby! Dad still has a tiny fear that there is actually a bill out there somewhere than just hasn’t gotten printed out and mailed yet.

The first doctor visit was like this: When Mom came in for her doctor visit (a few minutes late), the nurse drew five tubes of blood, then performed the first ultrasound test. The experience was hurried, and Mom was embarrassed about being late, but everyone was reasonably polite during all of this. After the 30-minute ultrasound, Mom had a visit with a genetic counselor, who recommended that another standard test be performed that would assess the risk for Down’s Syndrome. This was because of Mom’s age. The nurse took Mom back to the original location to draw one more tube of blood so that this additional test could be done.

Of course, none of this is apparent from the bill that we ultimately received. Nor was Mom ever asked about or provided even an estimate of the prices for these tests below. Mom still doesn’t understand why they couldn’t just draw all of the blood at once, instead of having to stick her arm twice with a needle. Mom also was surprised that there were three healthcare providers involved in the process that day, none of whom were the actual doctor that Mom met and selected during the Ob “speed dating” event.

Our first bill arrived more than a month after the visit. Mom and Dad agree that it is nice to not have to pay anything when you arrive for the visit, but stress for Mom and Dad isn’t reduced, only delayed. The lack of clarity on the price of the entire visit and the long, one-month delay before receiving the bill, both led to a bit of sticker shock for Mom and Dad.

Tests administered and Procedures performed

1. Procedure Code 76801 – The First Ultrasound
   1. Charges: $673.00
   2. Contractual Adjustments: $201.90
   3. The discounted price with our insurance: $471.10
2. Procedure Code 76813 – Nuchal Translucency
   • Charges: $733.00
   • Contractual Adjustments: $219.90
   • The discounted price with our insurance: $513.10
3. Laboratory Tests (We never received a separate insurance statement on these, strangely enough…so itemized discounts can’t be determined right off the bat. Dollar amounts below are the charges.)
   • Procedure Code 36415 –  Blood Draw Fee: $30.00
   • Procedure Code 85027 – CBC/Plt-Preg: $39.88
   • Procedure Code 86592 – RPR: $35.91
   • Procedure Code 86695 – HSV-1 IgG: $81.77
   • Procedure Code 86696 – HSV-2 IgG: $115.67
   • Procedure Code 86703 – HIV Reflex: $155.57
   • Procedure Code 86762 – Rubella Ab, IgG: $65.81
   • Procedure Code 86850 – Ab Scrn (Ind Coombs): $51.85
   • Procedure Code 86900 – ABO: $41.89
   • Procedure Code 86901 – Rh, Blood: $39.88
   • Procedure Code 87086 – Urine Culture: $72.00
   • Procedure Code 87088 – Urine Culture Presumpt Ident: $21.50
   • Procedure Code 87340 – HepB Surf Ag: $81.77
   • Procedure Code 87510 – Affirm Gard-C: $113.01
   • Procedure Code 87660 – Affirm Tric-C: $112.98
   • Procedure Code 87480.90 – Affirm DNA Probe: $113.01
   • Procedure Code 87491.90 – Chlamydia NAAT: $117.00
   • Procedure Code 36415 – Blood Draw Fee: $30.00 (denied by insurance as a duplicate charge)
   • Procedure Code 84163 – PAPP-A, PRPT1: $188.31
   • Procedure Code 84702 – Beta HCG, PRPT1: $120.69
   • Procedure Code 87591 – GC NAAT: $129.00

This is where unravelling the bills starts to get hard. The first step in understanding all of this is to recall that the Lab is a separate company from the doctor’s office or the hospital (at least in this case). Because we haven’t visited the hospital yet, and because we chose to visit an Ob/Gyn doctor who is fully in-network for our high deductible health plan, we haven’t received any bills from them. The only bills we’ve received so far are from the Lab for the tests Mom and Baby have received, as well as from a couple of out-of-network doctors and providers that Mom’s Ob/Gyn referred us to. The out-of-network doctors interpreted some of the lab test results for us and provided the ultrasounds…and so they sent us the top two bills above–the ultrasound and the nuchal translucency. The tests listed above were all on the bills from the Lab.

The Lab Bills

A lot of tests were administered to Mom. Some were standard blood tests, including red blood cell counts and other counts, blood type (ABO/Rh). There were also a number of urine tests for infections that might be passed to baby during birth. There were also blood and/or urine based tests for common sexually transmitted diseases. NAAT in the name of some of the tests indicates the type of test, “nucleic acid amplification.” IgG is an abbreviation of Immunoglobulin antibody test, the type of test performed. “Reflex” in the name of the test means that, if the test comes back positive, a second type of test will automatically be performed. “Ab” is an abbreviation of antibody, specific molecules the body produces in response to different types of infections. “Affirm” is a brand name of a certain type of test.

There are four pages of bills we received from the Lab, but confusingly there are two pages labeled “page 1″. The second “page 1″ appears to be charges from a different physician than the items on the first three pages. We later determined that the first three pages of bills were for tests ordered or performed by Provider #1 (actually, a nurse practitioner). The second “page 1″ is for the items ordered by a different physician (a perinatologist, which is a type of Ob/Gyn doctor with extra training and credentials).

Pages 2 and 3 of the bill include a number of itemized “PI1 INS ADJUSTMNT” and “PI1 PAYMENT” lines. These look just like more charges on the bill, but the dollar amounts are negative, so they must represent either payments by our insurance or discounts to the amount due. There is no description or indication on the bill, but Dad assumes these are based on the contract signed between the doctor’s office and our insurance plan. The actual amount we ultimately had to pay was split between these two ordering providers: $250.38 for the first, and $60.14 for the second.

Confusingly, it appears that our insurance automatically paid some of the items, even though we are on a high deductible health plan. Perhaps they were covered as “preventive” services? There’s no specific indication on our insurance plan’s website what particular procedures or tests are covered, beyond a notice that some preventive and prenatal services are covered 100%.

The “.90″ on the end of some of the procedure codes above is what is called a “procedure code modifier.” In particular, modifier 90 indicates that a particular lab test was referred to an outside provider. It’s not clear if this means the lab doesn’t do that test and had to send it to another lab, or if it refers to which doctor is interpreting the test. Dad assumes it’s the first case. In either case, we are asked to pay the Lab itself, rather than the doctor or a different lab.

To make it even more confusing, the next day we received another insurance statement from yet another provider for $104.50, for a procedure provided during that same visit…but it noted that the claim was denied as “services not authorized, prov. responsibility on covered services,” so apparently we don’t have to pay that one. We haven’t gotten a bill for it yet, anyway.

Our total out of pocket obligation for the visit that day, including the ultrasound and all of the tests above, even after our insurance discount, was $1,294.72. Whew…quite a pricy doctor visit.

One minute away on Corso Vanucci is Farmacia Lemmi

Signora Laura and Signor Antonio help us find the right cold medicine, cough syrup, and antibiotics.   They also rent nebulizers for 50 cents a day.  And Signor Antonio offers off-road adventure tours around Umbria in his jeep when he’s not working here.

A table full of Italian flu remedies

We’ve been holed up in the apartment for days. Tom and Ray have missed a week of school.  It’s easy to feel vulnerable in a foreign country when you’re sick.  All the usual comforts are thousands of miles away. I don’t recognize the brands of medicine. I don’t know all the right words in Italian for our symptoms.  And we hadn’t even met a doctor.

Until today.  We dug up the number that Matt had found way back in August and gave him a ring.

The doctor answered the phone and listened to my attempts at describing everyone’s problems: coughs, sore throats, congestion, night sweat, fatigue, etc.  He concluded that we all have the flu and recommended a symptom reducer called Paracetamolo, and then asked me to call back in four days if we weren’t better.  So Matt ran across the street to pick it up.  Ten minutes after taking it, Ray had a stomach ache, Tom had a headache and I felt vertigo.  So I called him back to ask if this was all a normal reaction to the medicine.  He said it has nothing to do with the medicine and that these were all classic flu symptoms.

I kept asking questions.  He sensed my apprehension.  He finally agreed to see us.

There are several differences between doctor visits in Italy and the US.  The biggest is obviously the fact that Italy has a universal healthcare system; every citizen is entitled see a doctor,  and it doesn’t cost anything for an appointment.  And anyone, including an Italian, a tourist, or an undocumented immigrant, gets free emergency room treatment as long as he or she needs while in Italy.  Another difference is that doctors make house calls when a patient is sick.  So today, we didn’t even need to leave the apartment.

We liked this doctor a lot except for the fact that he closed his eyes when the flash went off. It does give him a very calm and reassured look though.

He arrived at our door with his satchel and notebook.  We took turns breathing for him while he listened to our lungs for signs of pneumonia or bronchitis.  After a few other tests, he recommended that we continue with the medicine and stay put in the apartment with lots of warmth until Monday.  Perugia is just full of the flu right now, he said.  He stayed for a little while and told us about his relatives who live in New York.   He will check on us again Saturday if we want.

In the meantime, I’m in pajamas on the couch listening to tiny, whiney violins playing in my head.  Italy is right out our door, but the energy to walk down and up the 89 stairs is too much.  To pass the time and escape the frustrations of confinement and isolation, we’ve been renting lighthearted movies set in modern Italy (but only those that are available on iTunes, which is very limiting).  Here are a few we’ve seen, in order from good to horrible:  Mid August Lunch; To Rome with Love; Under the Tuscan Sun; Eat, Pray, Love; Salt of Life; and Letters from Juliet (really dumb).  We’ve also watched all six of the Star Wars movies. (Scenes from Epsiode I and II were filmed in Italy.)

The prognosis is for three more days under covers.  Please send movie recommendations.

“In their report on cervical cancer screening released yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) startlingly estimated that 22 million women in the United States may have undergone such screening unnecessarily, because they had already had hysterectomies… and with the guidelines changed for women 18-69″

This is news to me with many doctors and insurance companies pushing annually for everyone.

 Why Annually?

Annually for people who are high risk (who have/carry HPV) and who have a high risk of cervical cancer.

Every 3 Years

For the rest of the population 25 to 69, require routine screening every three years, especially those over 30. With women under 25 not needing a reguar screeening.

There should still be regular testing for STD’s. But this can be done with or without getting a Pap test.

From Medscape:

“..Although there had been some variation in recommendations made by different organizations in the past, updated guidelines released last year saw a convergence of opinions and very similar recommendations issued by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the US Preventive Services Task Force…

“….Another finding from the CDC survey was data suggesting that women in the 22- to 30-year-old age group were undergoing Pap tests annually instead of every 3 years, as per the new, updated guidelines.

This as well as some of the other findings suggest that it is taking some time for recommendations in the guidelines to filter through to clinical practice. Dr. Harper offers a few suggestions as to why this is the case: physicians may not be understanding the evidence for the change in the screening recommendations; reimbursement for the test still occurs; the patient feels at risk and requests frequent testing (“or the same testing as my sisters had…”); and nursing staff may set up the clinic rooms not understanding or accepting the change in guidelines.”

How does birth control fit in if I’m on the Pill?

If you are on birth control, such as the Pill. You would still need to see your doctor every year for your prescription refilled, at least in the US and Canada.

However worldwide doctors and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are pushing to dispense birth control pills over the counter. This is due to health care costs and insurance.

But what if I’m on the Pill and have to get my yearly exam with my Pill prescription refill? What then? What if birth control pills were sold over the counter? There would be no need to see your doctor every year. Sure, there is risk associated with any drugs. But the rate of unplanned pregnancies, abortions would surely go down with wider access to more widespread and affordable access to the Pill. Not to mention less visits to the doctor. Why is there such a large gap between condoms /other contraceptives and then abortion?

The Morning After Pill is dispensed without a prescription, so why not the pill?

Will this change how often you go to the doctor?

I am sorry to admit that I slept the morning away! I was so  tired last night after grabbing a bite to eat I just went to the recliner, eased myself into it and promptly found myself in dream land. I won’t bore or thrill you with my dreams (at least not this time) and I awoke a few times and dropped back to the streets of Chicago and my partner, Mickey Spillane. Ooops, almost gave that one away!

To the matter at hand… the neurologist was happy i gave myself a little stroke test each time something went numb, but unhappy with the head numbness over the hand numbness it seemed. She aksi wasn’t thrilled with the spasms. I had forgotten those, but Terry kindly reminded me and told her about them. If I have neglected to inform you, I am sorry, I really thought I had. It consists of an arm or leg taking off in a huge spasm and slamming down on the desk or the floor and hitting it hard. It hurts like fire and I holler. End of story. Can’t tell when one is coming but they sure can wreak havoc.

Bottom line, off to a brain MRI on the 15th and an appt again for the results on Feb 5th.  I will definiely keep you all finom

From her exam and tape measurement she deduced that the baby is petite, she guessed 6.5-7 pounds. I think that sounds like a perfect size. Lyla’s heartbeat is still strong and steady, in the 130 bpm range. I’ve gained about 23 pounds and my blood pressure is now 117/70. Aaron said my bp probably went up because of the spicy curry and pound of french fries I ate last night when I was trying to induce labor with spicy foods.

I have one more appointment scheduled for next week. If I haven’t delivered by then, the doctor will schedule me for an induction between weeks 41 and 42 (January 20-27). I really, really don’t want to be induced.

Things keep piling on at work, so I still feel like I can’t have the baby yet, I need to finish things up. I see how this cycle could perpetuate, so I am going to work on setting some boundaries and getting to a point past which I will feel mentally ready for Lyla to come on down.

It’s been a long time and that’s my fault. In fact, I am going to do it to you again. Only because I have an appointment with my neurologist today at 4 and I will report in after that again. I have stupidly developed numb fingers, hands and now the right side of my head. A little numbness is not bad, it can help with the pain. But these are  particularly annoying since they also brought a friend with them who thinks it’s funny to cause me to stumble a lot and lose my equilibrium  It’s just a barrel of laughs around here, and so I must go or I’ll be late.

Until later this evening….

Kath

I did go in to see the doctor this morning, per previously scheduled appointment. They plugged us in to the fetal monitors again, and baby’s heart rate was still averaging just slightly above where it’s supposed to be, like it was on Friday. By “slightly” I mean, like, 5-10 beats per minute fast. The doctor mentioned that it’s a little high, but she didn’t suggest why that might be or what we ought to do about it or otherwise seem very concerned. My BP was a little elevated the first time they took it, and then normal for me the second time, and then just plain normal the third time. And… that’s about all that happened. Well, sure, I gave a urine sample and got weighed and had my ankles felt for swelling, and I described my nonpainful irregular contractions. However, there was no ultrasound (for the first time! out of all the times I’ve been there!). More surprisingly, she didn’t check my cervical condition.

I suppose that means that the weekend’s contractions aren’t to be taken very seriously.

We made a new appointment to do another regular checkup Friday, which seems to support that theory. I take it to mean that the doctor has no immediate concerns, and that there is some likelihood that it will still be greater than four days before Azuki Bean will make her debut. Which is totally fine. The contractions – when I feel them – are really pretty unintrusive, and anyhow we’re just at 39 weeks today. Honestly, she is not genetically disposed to being early.

Bubbles! Tastes better than champagne, anyway.

(And here’s to my easiest year ever for keeping a weight loss resolution.)

Last week’s appointment was again almost entirely uneventful. There was 30 minutes of fetal monitoring and yet another ultrasound, and baby still looks great! So I was caught off guard when my doctor told me that the byouin’s chief doctor wants to send me to Sogo Hospital to deliver. I guess she was reviewing cases with him, since he’s the boss, and he thinks my blood pressure makes me high-risk enough to be sent to the big general hospital instead of staying at their byouin, which is a small specialized obstetrical clinic and birthing center. Now, I would certainly deliver at the big hospital if it’s medically necessary, but as far as I know nothing has changed to make it medically necessary. My blood pressure has actually been pretty darn good for the last several appointments. For now, my doctor has convinced the boss to let me stay as planned, as long as my BP readings don’t creep up in the next, well, however many weeks/appointments I get before I go into labor.

Here’s the appointment’s ultrasound video. If you’re watching the numbers, it’s funny how all the measurements put the gestational age as “OOR,” which I assume means out of range, as Japanese fetuses go; when I enter the numbers in my trusty American website, she appears to be around the 48th percentile. It doesn’t get much more average than that. The byouin’s formula says she’s 7.1 lbs, while the American webiste’s formula says 6.8.

As much as everything has gone and continues to go super smoothly, there are a growing number of little pregnancy quirks that I am really ready to have finished. And I’m not referring to the lack of alcohol (though a beer would taste awesome right now), but to all the aches and pains and annoyances (I snore now!) caused by a combination of gaining close to forty pounds and being flooded with the hormones currently prepping my body for the upcoming event. Essentially, I still feel huge. And next week, I will feel even more huge, and I’ll look back on this week and wish I’d known how good I had it.

38 weeks

“That’s no moon” – it’s a seven pound fetus!

Meanwhile, it’s hard to say if the compelling drive to clean my house from top to bottom is because of a) genuine nesting instinct; b) subconscious acknowledgement of societal pressure to engage in nesting-type behavior; or c) the realization that my house is filthy and I’ve got loads more time for cleaning it now than I will once baby is here. The point is, today I scrubbed every inch of the “shower room” (because Japanese houses have a different approach to the whole bathroom setup), and then after that we walked a few blocks to have lunch… and then after that I never wanted to move again. So I guess I will be pacing myself in my cleaning and organizing projects.

I’m knitting my way through a generous pile of baby yarn, which takes up considerably less energy than cleaning. Both of us have been thumbing through the baby books. And just about all the stuff I ordered from Amazon and other places has arrived, so I guess we’re “ready.” Ha.

Practice baby.

It started with an earache. If you read my blog post about Magnetic Island, I walked to the chemist’s (pharmacy) to get some hydrogen peroxide and ended up running back to the bus station in the noonday sun. The results of that were not only near prostration for this non-runner, but that I lost my library book, which has never ceased to irk me. The symptoms went away, and then returned with a vengeance on Christmas Eve Day. Who wants to be at the after-hours clinic on Christmas Eve? Not me. But my friend’s mom cheerfully called every doctor in town and then took me to the hospital.

At that point, I was willing to take anything to get rid of the pain, because it hurt so badly, I couldn’t move my jaw. Despite the delicious Christmas dinner my friends cooked, I wasn’t able to enjoy it properly. I slept the afternoon away and then talked to my family on Skype, during their Christmas morning.

Over the next two weeks, I regretted that medication like I’ve never regretted anything before. I wanted my earache back, because the side effects… caused everything to go through my system quickly, leaving nothing to sustain me. I had to eat and drink every few hours and I didn’t want to eat or drink. Over the next two weeks, I visited another doctor on New Year’s Eve, and he wasn’t able to help, and I ended up flying back to Emerald early, because Aussie roads don’t have regular rest stops, like in the U.S. That’s the only plane ride where I ever got motion sick, and I finally understood what my friends regularly go through.

I arrived back in Emerald and went to my local doctor, immediately. I trusted him to fix this problem, because I knew him from my last several illnesses AND since I didn’t think I could take much more. I lost ten pounds in two weeks and was starting to think that going on a drip sounded good.

When I arrived back at my Aussie family’s house, they were all delighted to see me, and there is something to be said about going on a trip, in order to make those you love excited to see you when you return. My Bub’s face, when she saw me, made it worth it to come back. The adults helped me haul my luggage upstairs, because I didn’t have the strength to do it. And once inside my room, I found two boxes from the United States waiting for me.

On Christmas morning, when I spoke to my mom, I joked with her that she should fill my stocking and hang onto it until I arrived home in May. She gave some sort of noncommittal answer, but I never really picked up on it. So, when I opened my Christmas box, I was unprepared to find my stocking in that box. There were other gifts, but for some time, I saw nothing else. That stocking had been mine since I was a baby, and while my brain could not be convinced by the calendar that it was Christmas, that stocking certainly could.

I picked that stocking up and hugged it like it was my only hope of survival, while I bawled like a baby. I had nothing left, no energy, no defenses against those tears. Being sick had taken it out of me, and if I couldn’t have my mom or my entire family, that stocking was the next best thing. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything breakable in it, because it was a while before I could let it go. But, of course, between opening all my gifts in that box, and the other box my friends had sent me, I did a lot of crying.

This story ends happily. The medicine finally kicked in, and my bosses stopped worrying that I wasn’t going to make it. My mom stopped trying to figure out whether she could get overnight plane tickets to Australia. I started to like the idea of eating and drinking again, and hope I never take it for granted again.

Maybe this seems like an odd story to share on New Year’s Eve, but I’ve been thinking about it for some time. Not only because I was too embarrassed to tell it LAST year, but because of the memories that surfaced this year, when I saw my Christmas stocking. Such a little thing to break through the walls to being homesick or being overly emotional. But then again, it’s not really a little thing. This year, my mom’s gift of two children’s books that I remember from Australia almost made me crack again, but I held it together. I hugged those two books hard, instead of crying on them.

I hope you all have memories of both recent Christmases and far distant New Years, memories that touch you to the core. Memories of family and friends, loved ones present and presently-in-heaven. And if you don’t have any of these memories that you treasure close to your heart, I hope that you’ll make some to share with those you love, in the future. Everyone should have those moments that they cherish and remember.

Now, I can see the humor in my episodes of illness. I can treasure the memory of my Aussie friends that took care of me while I was sick (and I was sick several times, while I was over there). I can even stand the inevitable teasing over getting mono, while in Australia. And I can cherish the reminder of how dear my family is to me, no matter where we are, at home or overseas.

As you celebrate this New Year, make some good new memories to share with your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, or share some happy remembrances with your friends of many years. Don’t forget to tell them all how much you love them. Be thankful for them all, and may your New Year truly be blessed.

The Potamus weighs in at a whopping 21lbs, putting him in something like the 25th percentile for weight. Doc said its cause our stubborn little champ refuses any liquids (which is also contributing to being backed up). He has grown 4 inches since last time, which puts him at 30 inches tall, which seems long, but is only the 55th percentile. No medical worries and the little guy took his shots like a champ. Fingers crossed we won’t have to see our doc again until the 18 month check!

As of this week (37), even though the due date is still a few weeks off, she is considered full term and can safely arrive at any time. But listen up, Baby: that’s not an invitation to show up early. You stay put for now, okay? Besides, you don’t want a birthday this close to Christmas. Think of all the presents you’ll miss out on over the years.

Since my last post, I finished up with my job and have been happily lazing about the house, sleeping as much as possible while I still can, watching Netflix, reading, and knitting small adorable things. Meanwhile there’s been some unexpected tumult with B’s job, too. We shall see how it all plays out over the coming months, but he’s off the ship – although we remain stuck in Japan for now. At least selfishly, there are several positive aspects, including less daily stress and misery for him, less underway time in the first half of 2013, and a much easier time getting approved for the paternity leave he’s entitled to.

I visited the byouin last week, and I’ll be going every week from now on. At last week’s appointment, they took the 400 mL of blood for storage, as I mentioned a couple of posts ago. That was a slightly bizarre experience, involving three nurses with only about a dozen English words among them, a Red Cross representative in a suit to oversee everything, and one surprisingly large needle. They set me up in one of the delivery rooms, so I got to see what those are like (small but tidy, private, and reasonably comfortable). I was hooked up to a fetal monitor the whole time – which, including waiting before and after, wound up being almost 2 hours. It was fascinating to see how every movement I make affects the baby’s heart rate, and now I’m all self conscious about that. Playing games on my phone, though, produces very few changes in her rhythms. Apparently somewhere along the way, I was supposed to get myself a sports drink and nobody told me, so after getting hooked up to the monitor I had to fish out 150 yen from my wallet for a nurse to go visit the vending machine for me. I learned the word “daijoubu,” which means something along the lines of “everything’s fine.” Oh, and some of my blood got on the bed.

After my blood was removed, I did get a regular checkup downstairs with Dr. A, which was short and sweet and uneventful. She did an ultrasound, but it was another black-and-white, measurements-only one with no glamor shots. And the measurements seemed hasty, which I suspect explains why they are slightly lower than the trend (but still higher than the curve).

Baby Azuki is over six pounds and still oriented the right way. My GBS test was negative (which is a good thing). My blood pressure was fine; in fact, they took it at least 4 different times throughout the morning, and after the unit of blood was removed, my BP was downright awesome. I know the major warning signs for preeclampsia, so I can be extra vigilant about that at this late stage, but so far we’re still okay.

36 week belly photo below. I no longer have a belly button and I think I finally have a stretch mark or two. Not pictured is the constant squirming ball of knees and elbows that keeps me alternately uncomfortable and entertained.

36 weeks

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

Now faith is trust in God in what we hope  for and certain about what we do not see.

Confidence and assurance by the, “Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary Revised Edition”, can be translated with many words and phrases.  However, “trust in God” and “certain” are words I hold onto.

Pocono Mountians, PA

At the end of next week, Lyla will be full term at 37 weeks. I just want to make it into January.

A faint line appeared down the middle of my stomach this week. It’s slightly crooked.

My upper back/core hurts often, especially after a large meal. Lyla has gotten big enough that sometimes her kicks and position hurt me when her legs reach up under my ribs. The muscles connecting my lower abdomen and pelvis hurt and are tender all the time. It feels like I’m straining these muscles when I walk or move my legs, so getting out of bed is pretty uncomfortable.

I am more stressed/worried about getting things in order at work before my maternity leave than anything else at home or having to do with labor and delivery. I keep trying to get enough work done so I don’t have to think about work at all during the beginning of my maternity leave. So far it’s not working out the way I had planned.