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36 Weeks

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36 weeks 2 days
If there is one way I would describe myself at 36 weeks, it's tired! Another routine appointment yesterday with the doctor. I've gained 30 pounds and blood pressure remains low. I got a flu shot, which is the second during the pregnancy (the first was at my first prenatal appointment back in March). The fact that this pregnancy has now encompassed two flu seasons is telling of how long pregnancy feels. Of course, Dr. Williams wanted to make sure Jeff and Nathan would soon get theirs, lest new Baby become ill. :) Baby continues to be busy and is actively moving most when I sit for a few minutes during my prep period and at the end of the day.

It was been very different to be this pregnant and still working. With my other pregnancy, I was going on four weeks of bed rest by the time I hit 36 weeks. Having that extra time off was sure a luxury I crave at times.

I would feel confident in saying the last week of August and the first few weeks of September are the most stressful of the year, as a teacher. It's a long list of meetings, trainings, room preparation, lesson preparation, evaluating what changes to implement to positively impact classroom management and student learning, some new leadership roles I've accepted this year and so on. Enduring all that stress while being 8 months pregnant has left me more tired than I ever recall being. Even since classes have started, busy days at school, busy evenings at home with Nathan and insomnia filled nights have left me leaning on Jeff without really asking his consent (which I know can be stressful for him since he's also adjusting to his new full time working schedule). While I would love for Baby to make it longer than Nathan, sometimes I daydream about an early arrival of Baby just so I could take school off my list.

Not that it would be that easy to transition away from school either. We are nine days into the school year and I have yet to complete the formal notes I need to pass along to a potential long term sub. Instead, I'm busy taking care of the day to day needs, just as I would in any other year. I am no more prepared to be gone for three months than I would be at any other time. This week, I thought I had secured a substitute who has had extensive experience in our school, yet, HR had reasons to prevent that. So, again I'm still at square one with just three weeks left.

As things at work start to settle into routine, and the few weekends prior to Baby's debut are generally free of scheduling needs, I'm hoping to catch up on both the work commitments busily fluttering around my head and the rest my body is desperately craving.

Coming up:

  • My next appointment is on Thursday, September 19th (along with a building leadership team meeting, a full day of teaching, and two hours of open house). 
  • I'll have one last appointment on September 25th and then the countdown is really on!

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