Graduates

   We passed our childbirth class! Well, I don't think you can actually fail, although I worry about a few of the couples in our class. This week we learned about options for pain medication, C-sections, and birth plans. We saw a video of a C-section and a woman giving birth without medication, and she was unbelievably calm. I had previously ruled out not getting medication, but I am more encouraged to see how I am doing without it. I definitely still want the epidural as an option. I'm not going into this situation saying "Don't let me have an epidural, no matter what I say." I don't think it's wise to go into a situation I've never faced before and hold myself to standards that might be unreasonable for me. When it's all over, I think I will feel pretty proud of myself either way. 

   Saturday night we went out with friends for dinner and ice cream at Cold Stone. People seem to associate pregnancy with ice cream, but I could take it or leave it. I don't think I've ever been obsessed with ice cream. Ryan treated me to a nice Mother's Day weekend beginning with a card on the front porch Friday afternoon. Saturday we finished painting Tamale's room. Sunday morning we went to breakfast and he helped with my weekend chores that I hate. 

   I have a shower at work on Wednesday afternoon that I'm excited about. It's for me and another teacher. Unfortunately, she has been on bed rest in the hospital for 3 weeks since she went into labor at 33 weeks. Her doctors have been able to delay the labor and took her off all the medications today. Their goal was to get her to 36 weeks, which is tomorrow. If the labor starts again they will not try to stop it, and if it doesn't start right away, she is planning to come to the shower. I was looking forward to having her there, but I know she is nervous about her labor now. 

   My mom will be here on Friday and stay until Monday morning. She is going to help us put the finishing touches on the nursery, then I promise to post pictures of it soon. We are looking forward to the premier of "Angels and Demons" on Friday. I read the book twice and can't wait to see the movie. It's the prequel to "The Da Vinci Code." Nine days of work left!!!