This is what I tell my parents every time I call them these days. Because when they pick up the phone, you can just hear the anticipation on the other end.
Last night I had 3 hours of Braxton-Hicks contractions lasting 60-90 seconds each 3-4 minutes apart. Not painful at all. Just annoying. They went away after I ate some dinner and watched a little tv. I actually slept reasonably well last night.
This morning, I texted my husband at about 7:45 after I'd showered and eaten breakfast.
Him: Did you get my note?
Me: What note?
Him: That I took your cellphone charger to work with me. My battery was low and I needed to charge my phone. I wanted to make sure I didn't miss your text if you end up needing to go to the hospital today.
Me: Aw you're so considerate, honey! Just so you know, this means I will definitely NOT be going into labor today. Thanks A LOT!
Him: Well, you know if I hadn't brought the charger then you definitely WOULD have gone into labor, and I would have missed your call.
We both agreed that the probability that I will go into labor tomorrow is higher than today because Philadelphia is scheduled to receive snow.
I swear we are both scientists and we never ever engage in magical thinking.
*****
Yesterday I found out that my abstract had been accepted for an oral presentation at my May conference.
On the plus side: Yay! Oral presentation > Poster only!
On the minus side: F-ME! More work to do before May!
On the plus side: Maybe having to do this extra little bit of work will mean that I'll actually be motivated enough to get this paper out.
The reality of what I have to accomplish between now and this time next year has recently hit me. In order for me to graduate by 5/2014, I need to defend my dissertation by 3/2013. Since my biostatistician will be out of the country on sabbatical starting 3/7/2013, I officially have my oh-shit date.
Between now and then I have to:
1. Complete Aim 2 of my dissertation (which I only just started working on last week)
2. Do above oral presentation for other project, write manuscript, and submit
3. Design from scratch Aim 3 of my dissertation
4. DO Aim 3
5. Write up my dissertation
I love it when people tell me that I really should just be relaxing right now. That now is the time to be taking it easy, and relishing the unencumbered life of a not-yet-parent. But I can't afford to -- I have too much to do!
Because really? #1-3 need to happen before 6/1/2012 in order for me to realistically have a shot of completing everything by 3/7/2013. Ok, Aim 2 doesn't have to be completely done and submitted, but it needs to be pretty close. Subtract out 8 weeks of maternity leave, and that doesn't leave much time at all for getting this stuff done.
All this with the little booger refusing to be expelled from my uterus. My concentration levels are not at their finest right now. Today, I'm trying to make myself learn how to write loops in STATA. It's coming along, but OF COURSE not as fast as I'd like it to.
Now the painless contractions have started up again. No, no, they're not distracting at all! Maybe at next week's appointment they'll strip my membranes and I will go into labor, and we can at LAST get this show on the road.
11 Pearls of Wisdom:
You are a rock star! You will get it all done. And, I also agree with your powers of prediction. If snow's coming, I bet the baby will too...probably when it's at its heaviest. It's just the way it goes, right? :) Good luck!
With my 2nd kid I didn't give birth until 4 days after my due date. Not at all telling you this to piss on your day (and in fact, my 1st kid was born 3 days early and my 3rd kid was born 3 WEEKS early, so there's no telling). Anyway, with the 2nd kid I had that prodromal labor at night (contractions going nowhere, not painful but annoying enough not to sleep). I know in theory there is a pretty wide berth around that due date but I did kind of think of that due date as a final possible date for that kid to be born, and you don't know how pissy I was, getting calls from EVERYONE on the daily asking if I had had the baby yet. Like, even my mom. By day 3 post due date I started telling family members, "Yeah, we had the baby already. We just decided not to tell you about it". Dummies.
@Kara -- That's too funny. I totally just called my dad again, since I haven't spoken to a sole all day. This time at least he didn't ask, but I could still hear the anticipation. :-P I'm thinking my final possible day is 2/5 or something like that. It's hard imagining that is over 2 whole weeks away!!
RS -- Thanks! Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who believes Murphy's Law is the one true way of the universe.
I really need some of your motivation to rub off on me, as I'm way less productive than you even without a little booger in my uterus.
@SD -- I guess I did say "little booger." I retract that. He/she is a freaking huge booger at this point.
It helps that I like programming (too bad I'm not any good at it and have a low frustration threshold). Reading the literature on the other hand -- BLEGH!! Can I have some of YOUR motivation on that one?
Good luck with everything! You will totally get everything done in time to graduate - you've already come so far and you get work done like nobody's business! And I don't think I've ever seen a lack of motivation stop you from doing something...
ps: I call my mom's dog a little booger :P
My little cutie was born @ 40 weeks & 5days. I was laboring at home got 15 hours before going to the hospital with contractions 3-5 minutes apart. She then decided to take her time, she wasn't born until 24 hours later, after my hospital admission! But you know, your bundle is totally worth the wait! And after you have him, all you are going through now will be a distant memory. Besides maybe he's holding out until after Monday so he can be born in the year of the dragon!
One foot in front of the other. One step at a time. Do the next right thing. You can do the one after it when you have completed the thing you are doing now. The child will sleep for 22 hours a day...but only minutes at a time. The stress is causing the Braxton Hicks and they suck for both you and the child. Live right now in the now. Let the next minute take care of itself.
Unknown -- Ooh the year of the dragon! That sounds exciting.
Emmy -- Stress? Meh. Everything has been going great these days, and I haven't been this happy in years. I really doubt stress has much to do with the contractions.
I'm not a mother and I have never been pregnant, so I can't imagine what is going on right now. I do hope that your baby come sin enough time for you to get your work done. Just a little thought, maybe the baby enjoy working with you and would like to stay around for some time to stay with you as much as possible. I don't know I like to think happy thoughts like that. Plus they're learning work ethics from you right now, even though they may not understand but I think times and moments like this are engraved in a baby's being/head. No I am not a physician, but those are my happy thoughts about things like this. Plus I hope it makes you chuckle and smile as it just did for me.
So.. are you in labor? LOL Haven't seen a fresh post from you in a couple days (which is the first time in quite a bit!) so I'm now assuming you're pushing that babe out! :)
Either way, looking forward to your next post.
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