Saturday 5/25/13Today was an extremely busy day. Three of our kids had sports tournaments. They each had two games today, all at different locations. Rich and I divided and conquered. I took A.J. to his first baseball game, and I watched a little of that game. Then I had to leave to take Aislynn to her first soccer game. After that ended, I went home to eat something. Then I went back for Aislynn’s second soccer game. After that ended, I went back to A.J.’s field location to watch a little of A.J.’s second game. I had to leave that game while it was still playing so that I could go back home to pick up Alex to take him to his last game. Rich was busy, too. He came straight from work this morning and met us at A.J’s 8:00am game. Then he took Alex to his first soccer game, and after that he took A.J. to his second baseball game, and when that ended he drove to meet us at Alex’s last game.
Did you catch all that? Because I lived through this crazy day and even I’m lost right now. But yeah, that’s the way it happened today. My day started at 6:15am because A.J had to be at the field by 7:00am for his 8:00 game. And it ended at about 7:00pm when Alex’s last game finished.Such a busy day. It was hard on me, to be honest. The parking at these tournaments are NOT close to the fields. I had to walk SO far from the parking structure to Aislynn’s field. It took me about 10 to 15 minutes just to walk and actually find field #7 on the HUGE college campus where it was located. And I was carrying my purse, two water bottles, a chair and an umbrella. Oh, and a huge 39 week pregnant belly. Yeah, I was hauling that around, too. I kept having to stop for a minute and just stand because my belly would tighten up in a contraction – the Braxton Hicks “fake” contractions, not the real thing. But sometimes, I swear, you just have to stop during those fake ones, too. They can be very strong and uncomfortable. So that’s why it took me so long to walk to the field — and I did this twice today, at Aislynn’s games. Then twice today for A.J.’s games, and one last time for Alex’s game. I was so glad when the day was over! I was completely sore and exhausted. The bath never looked so good.
After the day I had, it’s not surprising that tonight I had pretty strong contractions while lying in bed. I couldn’t sleep. They came every 3 minutes or so. They were not painful, really, but they were strong, and I could definitely feel the familiarity of labor in each one. So after about a half hour of them, I got up and walked around. They say if you change positions or if you get up and walk, and they stop…then it’s not real labor.
Thankfully they stopped!
Not that it would be awful to have the baby tonight. It wouldn’t. He’s welcome to come any time he’s ready! I’m excited to meet him! But… well, we aren’t quite ready. Rich hasn’t even gotten the birthing pool inflated yet. It should be inflated and ready to go. And he needs to attach the hose hook-ups to our shower and get the hose up there, ready to fill the tub. He bought the attachments at Home Depot about a week ago, but guess what? He can’t find them now. Yep, they are lost somewhere in the house…because he did not put them upstairs where they belong. See, when things get left out on counters in this house, they end up getting stashed and hid away in the most random places when the kids “clean” up. I find things in drawers and cabinets, in the fire place, behind couch cushions, under the couch, under the piano bench, inside the piano bench, in the laundry pile, in the hall closet, under beds, etc — really, just anywhere out of sight so that the house looks clean. We “lose” more things that way! So it’s my best guess that we are never going to find those attachments.
We’ve had three home births (water births) — and EACH time something went wrong when filling up the birthing pool. I blame Rich, completely. Because he always tells me, “Yeah…it’s ready to go. Don’t worry.” and then labor will start, and he will begin filling the pool with water, and the water will leak from the attachment (where the hose is attached to the shower head) and he will try to hold it in place, and then the water will run all down his arm, which wastes all of the hot water (we have a very lame water heater!) and then guess what? The bigger kids spend their time running up the down the stairs carrying pots of hot water that are boiled on the kitchen stove. And I’ll sit in a birth pool that’s barely full, having intense contractions, trying to remain cheerful while inside I’m SO angry that the ONE thing he has to do…the one thing HE is in charge of…doesn’t work! For my first home birth, when the attachment didn’t work…he actually LEFT me and ran to Home Depot to get another attachment! I have quick labors – very quick! You don’t leave during my labor…or you risk missing the birth! I shouldn’t be stressed out during my laboring. I should be relaxed as much as possible, right? Well, it’s not so relaxing when you are at 8cm and your husband is at Home Depot.
And if he reads this (which he won’t because he doesn’t read my blog) he will say, “Hey, it’s not my fault!” or he will say, “Oh, it wasn’t that bad” or he will say, “The pool was filled eventually, right?” and yes, while it was eventually filled, it wasn’t by the HOSE that he was supposed to be in charge of! Thank goodness I have enough big kids around who can run buckets of hot water up and down the stairs.
So THIS time…this one LAST time…I was hoping that things would be READY. But again, they are not. And today was his ONE day off, and now he’s back to work for a few more days. GREAT! So that is why I’m still hoping to go late with this pregnancy. I just want things actually to work correctly this time around. We still need time to get these things ready!
And tomorrow….the tournaments continue. It will be a repeat of today. The only difference? Rich will be at work! So it’s all on me to take kids to their games, and walk the fields again ….
You know, if I don’t end up having this baby this weekend, it will be a miracle!
Man I’m exhausted just reading this post and I’m not the one pregnant! Slow down girl and try to take it easy, easier said than done I know! Hope all goes well for you and your hubby comes through!
Hang in there and good luck!
One word- Carpool. There have to be other parents that can help you out. Most parents would have a tough time with three kids playing 1 to 2 games in one day, without being 39 weeks pregnant. Take it easy and be kind to yourself.
Maybe one of your older kids can run to the hardware store and buy a backup attachment for the birthing tub, and be in charge of setting it up, so you can have one less worry on your mind.
Try to take it easy. We are all pulling for you.
I love kids sports, but don’t overdo, some things are more important…as if you would listen to that…you will overdo anyway.
Good luck, and don’t be too hard on your man, i’m pretty sure there is a halo over him!
Wow! I’m 28 weeks pregnant and couldn’t have done everything that you done yesterday!
I’m thinking about having a home birth this time around but I’m nervous! My first birth was very traumatic and I think I’d be more relaxed at home but in the back of my mind I’m worried about what would happen if something went wrong.. I’m so torn!
I’m hope you can get through today without having the baby! x