Post-Purim Blues
I always feel a let-down after this holiday. Maybe because the run-up to it is so intense. At least it is in our house. We LOVE this holiday. I mean in a major way. For weeks in advance, we plan our costumes and wait daily for Ebay packages to bring the bits and pieces that make the outfits just right. No baking this year, sadly, due to my ever-creasing girth and inability to fit comfortably in our galley kitchen. The many hours spent preparing the Purim Shpiel and the Megillah reading — and then poof…over in just the flash of an eye. This year, thanks to timing, it was a weekend full of festivities. Services on Saturday night, carnival on Sunday morning, and an adult-only costume party on Sunday night. It was a fantastic weekend. One celebrating our ongoing survival against enemies who would rather do away with us.
And so it was particularly upsetting for me to discover that for many of the non-Jews in our area, their awareness of Purim was informed by an article which ran in the LA Times this past weekend. An article entitled “A More Sober Marking of Purim?” While it is true that drinking to excess present real problems and underage drinking is both illegal and dangerous, this is not a story that should have landed in the secular press. This is an internal issue that we must deal with — within our community and not before the eyes of the secular public. Furthermore, there is so much more to Purim than drinking. And how very sad that the real message of this holiday had to be obscured behind what some editor felt was newsworthy.
Water, water everywhere
So it’s been an interesting week!
My first appointment was on Monday and they delivered the alarming news that my amniotic fluid was on the low side. The parametres are between 5 and 25 cm — and I was at around 8.4. Nisht gut! But looking on the bright side, not as bad as it could have been 😉
I was sent home with the strict orders to build serious rest time into my schedule and drink water.
Working at my computer, as it turns out, does not qualify as rest time. They mean horizontal time. So I have made it a point to leave work for a few hours each day to really lie down and rest. It turns out that this allows for all blood flow to go directly to the placenta, which in turn will get to the baby, whose kidneys will then output the amniotic fluid.
As for water, it’s not like I wasn’t drinking before. However, I am now to be drinking 3 litres a day. 3 LITRES A DAY!!! That is a heck-of-a-lot of water. Just over 100 ounces, if you really want to know. Juice is off-limits, of course, as it interferes with my blood sugar numbers. Tea is a diuretic so that won’t help. Apparently the more liquid I drink, the denser my blood pressure is and that increased flow is good for the baby.
So now — I am totally obsessed about water. I play little games with myself. 40 ounces before noon and I know I’m doing well. Another 40 by 4:00pm. Then it’s just over 20 to go. Silly, I know. But it seems to be working because….
When I returned to the hospital on Thursday, good news!! Baby’s reactivity was good and the fluid numbers had risen to 15.24. They are happy with anything about 12 cm so this is good.
Of course, I am not to return to my evil ways of working 13 hours straight and being lax about the water. But I remain hopeful that with a continued aggressive approach to the water and rest, things will stay in the safe zone.
Chag Purim Sameach…
Rolling Right Along
Week 32 commences today! This is a good thing for the following reasons:
1. The end is in sight.
I know at this point that no matter what happens, this baby will be delivered sometime between now and when taxes are due — which is 7 more weeks for those of you still getting your tax info organized! This is a precaution set down by my my perinatalogist who won’t let me go past 39 weeks. Babies of diabetic moms run an increased risk of getting too large (though this does not seem to be an issue given the tight control we’ve kept through 3x/daily insulin injections) as well as a high risk of stillbirth. Contrary to a recent rumour I heard, a delivery by April 15 has NOTHING to do with the fact that Rebgiraffe and MrsGiraffe are leaving for Israel on April 23. Anyone who knows me and family clearly knows that induction would never have been an option for any reason other than a medical one.
2. I start going to the hospital 2x/week for testing.
I get much more relaxed once I get to this point because I am under regular surveillance! This decreases the possibility that the baby could get into trouble without someone noticing. I am very old-fashioned in this respect. I like being in the hospital environment, surrounded by medical experts, who assume the responsibility for my welfare and that of my unborn child.
So that being said — for those of you who have seen me recently:
* Yes I know I look huge.
* No, I am not carrying twins.
* No, I am not “about ready to pop.”
I am exactly right on target for a 32 week pregnant woman. A bit tired. Still getting sick most days. But overall, grateful for the opportunity to join in partnership with God in the creation of new life.
Awesome!
OK — personally I do not observe the mitzvah of t’fillin. But I just love this doll!! Barbie really can do anything 😉
For more info — you can check out her website.
The Irony of it All
I love this country…and for so many reasons. Here is just one example:
At some point in the not so distant past, I was the victim of a crime. A minor crime. Some goniff stole the registration sticker from my rear license plate and the very nice Highway Patrolman brought it to my attention. All I needed to do was get a replacement sticker, have a police officer verify that I had placed it on my license plate, and send it back to the courthouse — accompanied by a $10.00 processing fee, of course. Not too bad. Of course, that did not take into account the $15 fee that the police station charged as a verification fee. So — being a victim cost me $25.00.
And if they were to catch the guy and he was unable to afford a lawyer, my tax money would provide him with legal representation.
And that, my friends, is just one of the things that I love about this country!!
Au Pair Update
So here’s the news that’s fit to print:
Au Pair (A/P) is here until January 5th. Apparently we have to house her for two weeks after the exit interview. We are not letting her drive since (a) she dinged our car and (b) never got us the paperwork that we need to insure her. So the kids will be spending a lot of time at home over the next two weeks.
We’ll start getting applications tomorrow. One thing that we’ve made very clear — the new A/P must bring driving record WITH HER!
So for now, we are looking for someone to do the pick-ups two afternoon a week until the new A/P arrives (which, God-willing, will be in February). My parents are being awesome and will do the schlepping the other two days. And, of course, I’ll do it on my day off. Quite a change from the nice consistency we’ve had the past two months. But this is temporary. Just hoping that we’ll be able to find someone who is willing to do the driving — and is only looking for a temporary job.
We’re not prepared to write off the entire au pair process yet. It has been discouraging, to be sure. However, I’ve known many families who have had a wonderful experience. Hopefully we’ll be one of those families.
In the meantime, we just soldier on. It’s a little awkward having someone live in your home who doesn’t really want to be there anymore. But, as the story goes, it could always be worse! (Pooh-pooh-pooh)
Au Pairadise??
Things are nisht gut in au pairadise! Our au pair has given notice. Apparently she doesn’t care for being an au pair. Too stressful. Too much work. Making her sick. And what she really wants to do is go to college. She’s been unhappy, it turns out, for about four weeks. Never mentioned a thing because “there was no point in saying anything until I made up my mind.” One way to approach a problem, I suppose. She has been accepted to a community college in a different part of the county and arranged to move in with two friends — classes begin on January 8th!
As for us? We go back into the system and begin again. We are a little gun-shy, but feel better prepared this time. And though in any situation both sides are responsible, it is clear to us and to the agency that at least 95% of the blame lies with the au pair and not with us. 8% of au pairs are just not suitable and somehow get through the whole process before anyone figures that out. We’ll start looking at candidates and hopefully will find a good match in the next couple of weeks. It will then take about 6 weeks for the new one to arrive in our home.
It’s a darn good thing that I’m a calm person by nature or else I’d be totally freaking out right now 😉
All Jewish All the Time
at least during the 8 days of Chanukah. That’s right. XM Satellite Radio has a channel devoted entirely to Jewish music. And for those who do not subscribe to XM, it is available online for free this entire week. Much of the music has absolutely nothing to do with the Festival of Lights. It is just Jewish in nature — and sometimes the only thing Jewish has been the artist. But it has been fun to hear such a wide variety of Jewish tunes coming from my computer speakers as well as being introduced to new composers and artists. It will continue through the end of Chanukah so go ahead and take a listen.
A lichtegeh and freilichin Chanukah!
Hello World!
Frume Sarah is back in the saddle. As some of you know, it’s been a crazy few months with the anticipated arrival of “Peach” sometime after Pesach. The morning sickness was just unbelievable this time ’round. It was never just in the morning — and it lasted about 21 weeks!! I still get a bit queasy in the morning and late at night as well. But very little throwing up now (sorry for the graphics here) and that is a very good thing. I’ve finally gained a little weight — which is also a very good thing.
And it isn’t as if I haven’t had opinions and musings that I longed to share with you. I just lacked the koyach (strength) to type.
However, I am committed to push aside the exhaustion in order to share my innermost thoughts and rants with you.
Happy reading!!
You Know You’ve Made It — Part II
We were in the LA times last week!!! Really! It was a great article and a lot of fun to wake up and read about my life in the paper.
Enjoy!
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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