Month 5

Month 5: Half way there!!

                                                     Me at 20 weeks (while still in Rome)

So, here we are at the halfway point.  It still seems as though I have been pregnant forever, and I will continue to be so for the rest of my natural life.  The good news is, its not because I'm miserable.  Its more like when you are a kid and its summertime.  Christmas seems like it will never come.  Only, I have to look at my present everyday and wonder what's in there.

I must admit that this is the best I have felt in a long time.  Those awful few weeks in the beginning are in the distant.  And mush like you forget the pain after the tattoo is done, I don't remember what it was like to be so nauseous and tired.  I could totally do this again.....

I'm still not having any crazy bizarre cravings.  I have become very susceptible to the power of suggestion.  If I see an image of something delicious (i.e. everything on Pinterest) I want said item.  I did pursue the need for an oatmeal cookie in the pouring rain, for 10 minutes, only to be bitterly disappointed by my go to bakery.  I did drag Robbie along on this adventure, and he was not a fan.  He kept asking me how important it was, really.  Really??!! You are going to ask a pregnant woman how important her undying need for a single, specific cookie is?!?! Well, you better get ready, cause this is just the beginning, I'm sure.  I have been pretty easy on him, foodwise, thus far.  (I can't say the same in any other way)  THEN, he had the audacity to ask me for a BITE!!!!  Have you not met me?!  I don't like to share dessert on a good day, unless its with a child bc they don't take big bites.  I had even asked him what he wanted to avoid such an instance.  Only because of the rain did I break off a small piece for him, but next time, I'll be taking a small piece out of him!

After returning from Italy, it was back to the real word, such as endless doctor appointments.  Not just for me, Robbie has a few of his own.  In the mix, I ended up at an appointment by meyself.  Of course its the one time that its with a sage femme who doesn't speak any English.  Its ok, I can, relatively, carry on a simple conversation, especially when its one where I know the answers to all the questions!  So, we get to the part where I have to get on the scale.  So, I started to take off my boots, yes I need to clarify that I was wearing boots, jeans and other such clothing.  I'm still a girl, and we like to make the scale say the smallest number possible.  So, I get on and it says 70 kg.  Now, I started off my pregnancy at 62kg.  A kg is roughly 2.2 lbs.  Yes, I was not skinny to begin with, but I was far from obese.  So, she starts talking about the weight thing.  She asked me "tu monges beacoup?" which means, do you eat a lot, but I took it to mean do you eat well.  So I said yes.  Which is no the right, or accurate, answer.  I eat 3 meals a day, normal sized.  I keep sweets to a minimum and I am hardly ever in McDonalds, unless its for the occasional egg mcmuffin.  So then she starts in on me about how much I've gained and that I'm not eating for 2, and all that.  Now, this is a time when I lose my French, when I get flustered and nervous.  I knew what she was saying, but I couldn't find the words to defend myself.   So I just let it go, but I still felt the pain of having just been told I'm fat.  (If you are a woman, you understand the leap there from words said to what I heard.  Robbie doesn't)    As we are having this discussion, I'm getting up on the table to have a listen to the heartbeat.  So by this time, I don't want to lift my shirt, as she is judging me, the skinny French twat.  She takes the measurements. quietly.  Then asks if I can feel the baby yet.  Since I have no idea what exactly I'm waiting for, I don't think I have.  I also sometimes think I can, but without any definitive definition of what the quickening feels like, I have no idea.  Then she essentially asked me what was wrong with me.  She took my hands and put them on my belly, as if I don't do that same freaking movement a thousand times a day, and started pressing my hands down.  Then she was like, nothing?  No, but you staring at me with those judging eyes aren't really helping, now, are they.  So, in the span of 10 minutes, she has informed that I'm an overweight, bad mother who can't connect with her baby.  At this point I wanted to cry and run away, but I need to hear the heartbeat, as I have those irrational fears that something has actually gone wrong and the worst case scenario has happened.  So when she finally put the wand on my belly, I did let out a few tears.  But as she was not the warm, fuzzy source of comfort I would want for this moment, I held back.  At this point, I needed Robbie to be there as he IS my warm, fuzzy sense of comfort.  But, instead, he was sitting at home waiting for me to call to tell him to meet me.  Needless to say, I nearly lost my mind at this point.  So that makes for a bad situation.  It did all work out, but it was a bad 30 minutes or so for me.

AS you may recall, I had a bit of an issue with my sugar level before, so I now had to deal with that.  The following week, I went to my appointment at another hospital.  I was thinking that I was going to be retested or somehow further examined.  But instead, I was there to deal with my diabetes.  What?!  No second opinion?  I get a bad grade on one test and they jsut cast me off as diabetic?  I'm not really happy with this.  In the interview part, she is asking about the test, and even asked if I had been retested.  When I said no, she looked confused, but carried on anyway.  I was there to take a little class on gestational diabetes and how to work the new machine that will be a part of my life 7 times a day for the rest of my pregnancy.  So as I go through everything, I begin to think about what happening.  This can't be true.  I don't agree.  Then, I start to realize what happened with my first test.  I was given a script, written in French doctor, telling me how to do the test.  I read, give blood, eat breakfast, come back at 1:30.  It said, give blood, eat breakfast and come back 1 hour 30 minutes later.  So, I give blood, eat breakfast, go have tea with a friend, eat a pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins and a piece of cake, then go directly back for my test.  Well no wonder I have a high sugar level!  But by the time I make my realization its really too late.  So, I decide to play along with this for a bit.  I have to test my sugar before each meal and then 1 hour and 30 minutes after, as well as at bedtime.  The good news is, as this is France, all the things I need for this (the testing machine, little needles and testing strips) are all free.  So at least I am not paying for their mistake.  I then send my results once a week to the nurse.  So, I've been doing the testing for a few days, and I will send my results, but I will also include a note explaining what happened the first time and ask for a second kind of test.  The testing is annoying, especially yesterday while at the horse races.  But, the new "diet" I have to follow is not horrible.  The other big restriction is that I can't have things with added sugar, like desserts.  Which is fine, I've really been a salty girl through this pregnancy.  I get to eat a good amount of food and I even get to eat a dessert once a week.  I get 3 meals, and have the option for small snacks up to 3 times a day.  I haven't really needed the snacks.  It won't hurt me to eat healthy for a while.  And like I said, its not like I was eating shit before.  So, I'll show them!!  :)

Also on the healthy front, I have started doing prenatal yoga.  I take a class outside my house once a week, and only because I got a groupon for them.  Yoga classes average around 25 Euros per class.  You can buy cards, but if a place offers prenatal, its only once a aweek, so the cards aren't really cost effective either.  The good news is there are always groupons.  Also, I have found a couple of good routines on Youtube and A friend gave me a good video.  So I do it 2x at home, in addition to my Saturday classes.  One of the classes on Youtube was doing the usual soothing talk and was referring to how great it will be to deliver your child and meet them and I about lost it.  Its not very relaxing to start crying about how sentimental it will be to meet your unborn child.  That's the only time I cry these days.  Anything I read, hear or see about actually delivering and holding my baby sets me off.  Normally I hover more on the angry side of the emotional scale (good times for Robbie!)  But the thought of meeting Spud, waterworks.

I have also started to attend some events sponsored by the Message group that Robbie found for me here.  I went to a great talk by a GP and a nutritionist about allergies and about vaccinations.  I met some women and even made a coffee date with a girl named Kelly.  She's about a month behind me, but also has a small son.  I also have connected with an old friend's friend who lives here.  She is due a month before me.  We are going to dinner next week.  I figure I need to start building my mom network here.  I have also had some lunches, and that fateful tea, with other moms here.  It feels good to be getting the input and advice.  I know I have been there for the births of my nieces and the children of my friends, but I never thought I'd be on this end of it.  I know that I have learned a lot watching my sister and helping with the girls.  But now everyone is so far away  This is the time when I miss family and friends the most.  I have such an amazing support system back home, even including 2 of those girls being pregnant, but I'm over here.  I know its the decision I made and I don't regret it, but its a frequent night when I wake up to pee and I can't get back to sleep because I'm wishing I was back there, if only for a little while.  (Cause its still way cheaper to have a baby here!)  Know that you all are in my forethoughts and in my heart.  I wish I could do more to make you all a part of this wonderful experience.  Thank you all for being there for me and for reading this blog.

Until next time.... :)

Spud's first holiday!! Italy

A few years ago, I (and Robbie) got sucked into getting a time share.  Yes, I know, I know.  But we use have used it the 2 years we had a week coming to us, so is not horrible.  But I digress.  So, we had to use a week this year, so we decided before we got pregnant to take a big. proper, French holiday.  (You get 5 weeks holiday with any full time contract here, I get 2+ with my part time contract)  So we had a trip planned to go stay at a friend's place in Croatia, visit with a friend and his family in Turkey and then finish with selecting a timeshare somewhere in the Mediterranean.  We didn't have many options by the time we went to book, so we found a place in southern Italy, that was convenient (by ferry) to where we would be staying in Croatia.   Then I got pregnant.  Robbie had a moment of rationality, and thought enough to save his holiday time to add onto the 2 weeks paternity leave he gets.  So, our trip went from weeks to 10 days.  I know, cry me  river, but disappointment is disappointment.  So, I called it our Babymoon, and decided to make the best of it, as it is still a holiday!

Fastforward to September.  We pack our bags and head off to Rome.  Back to the land of my ancestors.   I didn't do much research, so we just played it by ear.  I had a map and comfy shoes.  What more do you need?!

We land and make our way to the hotel.  Its quaint and quiet and breakfast is included (Annie booked it for us)  So we get up and head down to our free breakfast.  Well, let's just say that each country has a different idea of what breakfast should be.  Italy has an....... eclectic idea.  It was a big spread, if nothing else.  We had a choice of pasteries (most of them stuffed with cream or nutella), lunch meat and cheese, sliced bread to toast, yogurt, rolls, muesli (not the crusty kind, the kind like raw oatmeal) corn flake-ish cereal, fresh fruit, pineapple juice and bloodorange juice.   There were a few other bits and bobs that I didn't eat.  We left stuffed, if not satisfied (bc of course I was expecting eggs and bacon and the usual American deliciousness)

Off we head into town, to be good, old tourists.  First stop, the Colosseum.  We get there and see a small line and figured it didn't look so bad, let's do it.  When we get to the head of that line, the guard ushers us into the reserved lane, seeing as how I'm stuffed. :) Thank god for that, as the line on the inside was forever long!  Spud coming through to save the day!!  We snapped some phoy=tos, and headed off to our next stop, the Forum.

  Just across the way from the Colosseum is the Forum.  It was absolutely massive! To be fair, it was more than just the Forum, it was a huge site with dozens of buildings and sites.  We spent a large part of the morning exploring in there.  It was pretty cool to be somewhere so ancient. I realized at this point that sunscreen would have been a good idea, but it was nice to be in the sun, so I figued I'd muddle through.  We were starting to get hungry and found our way out of there.  Our next destination was going to be the Vatican, and in between the Forum and there was the place I was most looking forward to, the cat sanctuary!!

To me, that was the highlight of Rome.  The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary is a site of ancient temples form before Cesar, that is now home to hundreds of cats.  They are taken in, spayed and neutered, and, in some cases, nursed back to health.  Then they are released in the ruins and are free to wander around and make it their home.  The ruins are recessed and not open to the public.  But you can visit the sanctuary and play with the cats and see how the whole operation works.  You can also buy cat related gifts, all proceeds going to the site, which is run by volunteers.  We chose to buy something and give a donation.  It was a beautiful place that I would love to call home!!

After spending a good bit of time with the cats of Rome, we found a tiny little restaurant, tucked away, and packed with locals.  We fueled up and headed for the Vatican.  An interesting thing about Rome is that you can not go thirsty.  There are free drinking water fountains EVERYWHERE!  Inside the ruins, on the side of buildings, everywhere.  Which was good, because it was hot.  

At the St Peter's Basilica, we hit a small road block.  I was dressed for the weather, which was hot, and not for the Church, which has a dress code.  So my tank top and skirt weren't going to cut it.  After looking at souvenirs and sending off postcards, all done on premises, I spied another tourist buy scarves to wrap around herself.  So I followed suit and bought 2 scarves to cover my shoulders and legs.  We breezed right in.  It was breathtaking and we spent time looking around.  By the time we were done, the Sistene Chapel was closed, so we headed to the hotel to freshen up and head off to dinner  

The next day we picked up our rental car and headed south for the coast.  We learned a few things on the road:

1. on every road there is a special Italian lane, which exists between the other existing lanes on the road, much like platform 9 3/4 in Harry Potter.  

2. turn signals are an optional feature on Italian cars, and they must be expensive, because no one opted for them

3. the speed limits are mere suggestions, so pay them no mind.  If it is 130KPH, which you only know because your GPS tells you (signs must be expensive too), it is not uncommon for someone to pass you as if you were standing still

4. if they are not busy speeding past you at 160+ KPH, they are in the opposite lane doing 80kph, so when you move to let the Alfa Romeo on your ass pass you, you have to then slam on your brake sto avoid ending up in the passenger seat of the Fiat in the slow lane.

5. lighting roads at night isn't a necessity, even in the mountains on windy roads in the pitch black. Its not like there are any road works coming up that you have no forewarning about, while dealing with all the above mentioned items

To sum up, do not drive in Italy, ever

Our first stop was in an ancient town called Maters.  In this town, thousands of years ago, the people carved their dwellings out of the side of mountains.  People still ust these dwellings today, after some updating, of course.  I found us a hotel in these dwellings and it was amazing.  Its hard to say whether it was more gorgeous at night or in the early morning sunrise.  

Next stop, Metaponto, to our "resort" holiday.  Once we finally found it, due to the horrific lack of signage, we were a little wary.  It looked as if it was a great place to stay, in 1985.  It wasn't the worst place on the world, but once again, disappointment is disappointment.  If you have seen photos of a resort, you want a resort.  We got an outdated, sad place in an economically depressed region of Italy.  There was no town to speak of, and what little there was looked deserted and abandoned.  There were real estate projects stopped mid build.  Roads that lead no where.  No real restaurants or shops to speak of.  Just sad.  There are more trees growing olives and limes and grape vines than humans.  The beach was mainly private secyions belonging to the other "resorts" and campsites (most of which were closed)  in the area, sprinkled with sections of public beaches, which were not maintained, but had nice sand.  The water was gorgeous and calm.  It was apparently jellyfish season there as well, but the good thing is the water is crystal clear and the jellyfish have a dark purple ring around them, so you can spot them.  

Back at the apartment, we had a kitchen, living/dining room and 2 bedrooms. We had a TV with about 800 channels, all but 2 were in Italian.  The other 2 were a French news channel and a resort run channel that showed movies 2 times a day, most in English.  If you were lucky enough to flip to that channel at the right time, we could hear Enlgish and enjoy the TV.  Otherwise, we watched the 24 hour poker channel.  

Now, I don't want you to think it was all bad. There was a nice pool, which we had to pay extra for and then buy bathing to wear to be allowed in it.  There was internet, but you were allowed 10 hours for the week and had to sit outside the office in the wifi spot.  There was a little shop, which was open 3 hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening.  There was a bus to the beach, also included in the extra fee, which ran 3 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the afternoon.  And the was a restaurant, which was not expensive, but you get what you pay for.  We spent a lot of quality time together, as 97% of the other guests were Italian.  It was a great place for kids, as there were many things catering to them.  So I would go there with a family, but seeing as how I'm a self contained family as for now, it wasn't meant for a couple on holiday.  

We were lucky to have a car and went exploring.  We found Taranto, 45 minutes away.  Which was a big town.  We spent an afternoon, early evening there.  We visited a mall and some other shopping canters.  We used the excuse of grocery shopping, but we were really trying to fight off the boredom.  We spent a day in Bari, which is where my father's side of the family is from.  It was a big city surrounding a tiny medieval center.  We spent a day getting lost in the little tiny streets.  We visited Santa Claus' Church, well, St Nicholas, but yes, they are one in the same.  My scarves came in handy again! 

The upside is we ate VERY. very well. Thank god I was pregnant!!  I could eat all I wanted and not worry about looking fat.  We cooked a lot, so it wasn't a very expensive trip.  We spent every day on the beach and got great tans.  Robbie called it lying on the ground, but we had a great time.  There were loads of shells, some of them occupied by hermit crabs.  We laughed a lot, especially when we tried to get into the shower in our apartment.  We relaxed, whether we wanted to or not.  We realized that relaxing vacations are not our thing, so we know better for next to to do more research.  Here are some highlights form the south:

Trying to get into the shower:

Spud at the beach

Robbie in Bari

So after our week was up, we jumped into the car at 4am and got the hell out of dodge!  We went back to Rome for another full day.  We spent the day wandering around the city, eating everything we saw.  We visited the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona and went back to the cat sanctuary, and every nook and cranny in between.  

All in all, we had a great time, Spud included.  The food was amazing, the people were kind (not on the road) and the weather was gorgeous.  And most importantly, it was a holiday where we got to spend some quality together, because i Know I'll  be kisssing that goodbye in February!  :)

Sure glad THAT's over!!!

So, here we are in the second trimester.  I tell you I am glad that first bit is behind me!  I really was beginning to wonder what is was that women love so much about being pregnant.  But now, I am beginning to get it.  Just within the last week, my belly has popped out.  I am assuming it is mostly baby, as I am not a big person with little torso room to spare.  I won't question it and will just go with my "gut" (couldn't resist the pun) thinking that it is all baby poking out.

This is the bit I have been waiting for!!  I can start wearing clothes that show off the bump!  I can walk around proudly having my belly out farther than my boobs and know that those are looks of love and understanding.  Well, that's what I thought I'd be getting, anyway.  Most people just don't bother to notice and pay me all the lavish attention.  I would even be happy with the knowing smile and nod.  But I have gotten more than one blatent stares.  Not just standing and staring, oh no, one girl was walking past me as I waited for the metro and could NOT take her eyes off my midsection.  As if I had an advertisement written there!  Same thing a few days later.  I was getting on the metro and another girl watched me walk past her and continued to turn in her seat and watch me take a seat behind her.  Have these women never seen a pregnant woman in their lives?  Could that not at least follow the stare with an acknowledging smile and nod?   Nope!  I'll let them go.  Because the flip side, I have now had to men get up on the metro to give me their seats.  Not the first men to see me on the metro, but they got up anyway, without me having to ask.  So that was cool.  One guy waved me down from across the train!  I'll take that!  Here is what my adorable belly looks like at 4 months:

We had our first appointment with the midwife yesterday.  So it looks as though I will be seeing them once a month for the rest of the time.  I get to choose whether or not I want my GP to follow me as well.  I just figure its easier for me to keep it all in one place so there is no question as to whether I forgot to bring this result or that measurement, or whatever.  That's the other thing I am not sure I mentioned yet.  Here, you are responsible for your medical records as much as the doctor is.  You are expected to keep your own records of everything.  When I get blood work done, they give me 2 sets of results, one for me and one for the doc.  Same with any other tests, such as lady "exams".  Which to sidetrack even more,  the funniest thing happened the first time I had one of those done here.  She took the sample, put it in the little vial, popped it into an envelope and handed it to me!!  Yup!  If this was CSI, we would be concerned about possible contamination of evidence and the evidence wouldn't be admissible in court.  But, nope, its all good.  You add your check to the envelope and send it off to the lab.  You then get the results back in a couple of days.  Takes some getting used to.  So, back to the record keeping.  I have my own dossier of all my test results and prescriptions and such.  I just keep them in a folder and take them around with me.  I like it because if there is ever a question, or I need to see another doctor, I have all my stuff and don't have to go back to my doc to ask for and pay for copies.

So, back to the midwife (sage femme) appointment.  Since this was the first one, it was mostly all background info for me and Robbie.  I am so glad he can come to these appointments.  Then, after the question and answer, I got on the table and got to hear Spud's heart beat again!  Its funny, becasue just that morning I started to have those thoughts like "How do I know if everything is ok in there if I can't feel any kicking?"  I didn't even have to say that, she just went for a listen.  That was cool!!  We schedules my next scan for mid October.  So Spud will be making another appearance then.  We asked her about our upcoming trip, just to make sure it was ok for me to travel.  (Not that I would have cancelled!!)  But she said its fine, I just have to wear those silly socks while on the plane.  What?!  I don't want to roll up into the airport in Rome wearing those things! Looks like I'll be wearing a maxi dress on the plane!  I know, I know!! Its very important and I will wear them, just hidden under a very long dress.  The good about living here, I have a prescription for them, so I will not have to pay for it all myself!!  I will get reimbursed for the money I spend on them.  I love France!

The only bit of bad news I got actually came today.  She forgot to mention that my sugar levels were a bit high from my blood test, so I have to take another appointment this week.  I really hope I don't have gestational diabetes.  I know its not the end of the world, but the last thing I want to deal with is yet another food restriction.  BOOOOO!!!!

Speaking of food, I love food.  I haven't had any particularly weird food cravings.  Unless you count the cravings for food I can not possibly procure here in France.  I really want a pit beef sandwich.  Like I can taste it, I want it so bad.  I can see the smoke from Boog's grill and smell the inside of the Canopy shop in Catonsville.  But there is no substitute.  Same goes for the fresh cut fries.  I have found a way to duplicate the Taco Bell bean burrito, thanks to a little help from Annie on her last visit.  She brought me refried beans and Taco Bell hot sauce, which I am happy to see they sell in stores now.  I also can't get a good, ole MD crab, smothered in Oldbay  with a side of corn on the cob oozing with butter.  Not gonna happen.  Give up the dream.  I also have had a hankerin for some fried chicken.  Good thing there are KFC's here.  I know what you are thinking, but look, a pregnant woman has gots to eat what she wants to eat, so there you go.  And, I must say, the quality of food here is a bit better than back home.  I think they have higher standards here.  The colonel's recipe does the trick.  Other than that, I haven't sent Robbie out at 3 am for pickles and ice cream.  I actually haven't had any cravings for sweets at all!  Which is super odd for me.  I can't get enough of salt.  I also am really diggin on cherry tomatoes and apples.

All in all, so far so good.  The second trimester is going better than the first.  My only ailments now are headaches and I was woken up the other morning by a massive leg cramp.  I have heard I have more of those to look forward to, especially since I work on my feet.   I can take it, especially if they all time themselves with my physical therapy appointments, like this one did!!  I figured, if I'm going to be woken up like that, at least its on a day I can have someone work it out.  I am going to start the prenatal yoga when we get back from Italy.  I think that should help a lot with my legs.  I also have cut down the amount of full days that I work.  I'm down to 3 full days, with the possibility of working a few hours on other days, as needed.

That's all I have for you now.  Hope everyone is doing well!!  Thanks for reading!!

First Trimester "Fun":

So, as anyone who has been pregnant knows, the first trimester is an exciting ride thru new areas of uncomfortability and exhaustion.  Also peppered with occasional bouts of insanity and emotion.  For me, the fun began the morning of week 6.  I woke up feeling much like I felt the first time I experienced sea sickness.  My stomach was pitching and turning.  I was just waiting for the blessed moment when the gag reflex would trigger and I would get the strange 'relief' that comes when nausea turns to release.  But, alas, that moment would never come.  Not at all for the entirety of my nausea.  Everyday began the same, opening y eyes and waiting for it to hit, reaching for whatever snack I had put near the bed and slowly trying to chew the nausea away.  It would take me about 30 minutes each day to get to a place where I could get out of bed.  Needless to say, I wasn't taking to well to this whole pregnancy thing at the start.  I was getting at least 9-10 hours of sleep a night, between pee breaks, yet, I was exhausted to the point of tears by midway thru my shift at work.  I would come home and collapse on the couch as if I had just worked a 12 hour sift doing heavy construction.  Mind you, being a bartender is no easy business, especially since most days I am on my own, but this was a bit ridiculous.  The days crawled by.  I just kept hearing, "the second trimester will be better."  Well thats all well and good, but I'm miserable NOW!  But, as you can tell, I made it thru and am here to report, it actually wasn't so bad.  I'd rather my version than some I've read about.

As for the rest of the stuff that went on.  As I have a job that requires a bit of physical labor, I had to tell my immediate coworkers pretty much right away.  There is a bit of heavy lifting and a lot of running around that I need to do.  And, not to mention the new diet restrictions and the need to eat small meals more frequently to help with the nausea.  I had to tell the chef and my manager.  Then, the chef went on holiday, so I had to tell another cook.  Then, I work with others on 2 days, so I had to tell them, so they didn't think I was lazy and just sitting down and eating bc I'm a fat slob.  Then, I thought that another person overheard me talking with a friend of mine, so I thought it wise that the owners heard it from me and not the rumor mill.  So by week 6-7, pretty much most people in the pub knew.  That wasn't so bad.  I know why they say not to tell people right away in the beginning, and I was willing to take that risk.  The only bad thing that came out of telling people is that it feels like I've been pregnant forever already, but don't really have a lot of time under my belt.  (A lot of belly, now, though!!)

Slowly but surely the I expanded the circle of people who knew.  In the first week I emailed my familt back home.  I told my closest friends.  I wanted to tell each person individually.  I told my girlfriends who are also pregnant.  Then as the time went by, I told another person here and another person there.  Then it got to the point where I am now where I am ready to tell the world, but don't really have the time to tell each person individually, so I figured I would do this instead.  That way, I can keep my friends and family back home updated with me and they can read about it at their leisure.  Then I'm not announcing on Facebook every little detail of my pregnancy.

As for the healthcare side of pregnancy here, I am not an expert.  Most of what I know I have heard from other people.  I am far from being fluent in French so I can't even read the websites.  But I can Google translate them.  For the most part, I am winging it.  First and foremost, I made an appointment with my GP.  She sent me for bloodtests and we went from there.  In France, every woman gets screened for toxoplasmosis.  The incidence of toxo is very common here, so they test everyone.  I was 'lucky' enough to somehow never have come in contact with it, so I get the pleasure of monthly blood tests and an even more restricted diet.  No big deal, so long as I avoid fresh fruit and veg I haven't washed myself, I should be good.  And no gardening or cleaning up cat poop.

So, next step is to get the declaration of grossesse (pregnancy).  This is an official sheet of paper that states you are pregnant.  You take said piece of paper to the insurance office, so that they know, and you take it to the CAF, which is similar to ......the welfare office, I guess, but without all the bad connotations.  It is my understanding that once pregnant, everything that is required for your pregnancy is 100% covered.  The state insurance normally covers a percentage, and you can have a mutuelle (you pay for usually thru work) that covers another percentage of health care costs.  Robbie has such a mutuelle and his is very good.  Most things are covered 100%, like prescriptions, lab work, blood work, etc.  The CAF, they give you money once you are in your 7th month.  This is available to everyone, not just people who make under a certain amount.  I believe there are benefits from the CAF that are dependant upon what you make, such as housing assistance, but the mother and child coverage is standard (I think).

Next, you have to pick where you want to give birth and register there.  Yes, I essentially had to pick a good place and make a reservation.  It sounds weird, but its how its done here.  You can choose any hospital or maternity center in the city, or outside the city.  If you already have a gyn, you can go to one of the places they work with.  Or, you can do what I did, and pick the place and let them decide on the doctor.  I only have the one GP and she won't be deliviering the baby, so i decided not to go to the 2 places she recommended.  She is very nice, but I had my own ideas (sound familiar!)  RObbie did his research and I had my ideas and together we decided to start with one of the best children's hospitals in the city, Necker.  Its the place where, God forbid, if any thing goes wrong, you and the baby would be sent to anyway.  They are actually bulding the maternity section as we speak, so it will be all shiny and new for me.  (Because that's why they are doing, it right?)  We figured, worst case, there wouldn't be a spot and we would go to the other places on our list.  Luck would have it that we got in and registered there.  Now, seeing as how there is no where in the actual hospital to go right now, all my appointments will be at another facility.  It actually works out better for me, as the other facility is easier to get to from our current apartment.  So, we booked our first scan and the first appointment iwth the sage femme (literally wise woman) or midwife , as we know them to be called.

The scan was set for Augusrt 3rd.  Robbie is really excited to be present at everything, and it works out that he works half days on Fridays, so we can make all our appointments for Friday afternoons.  Except this one, we somehow made it for 9 am.  But we made sure everything else was put on hold.  We were going to see Spud for the first time!!  Robbie missed work and I ended up being a bit late, so be it.  Nothing in the world could have prepared me for what I was about to see.  I've seen dozens of thee on Tv.  I was even there at one of Jennifer's scans.  But once it is your baby up on that screen....... I don't have words.  The tears were straeaming down my face.  To see our baby...... and with the hiccups to boot!!  Robbie tried to make me laugh,but I only got yelled at for that by  the tech.  She also noticed, by the poor quality, that I had been using lotion on my belly.  I didn't know not to for the week leading up to the scan.  Not to worry, she says, I have another way to see your baby (I'm sure she didn't say that, but I wasn't even trying to translate at this point)  Out comes the wand, on goes the condom and in goes to other method.  Remember to breathe and not tense up is all I can think, over and over.  Well, the fun really started, as this method does not provide the best angle for her to view Spud.  So, she begins to tap my belly quite hard to get Spud to turn around.  Well, being the product of Robbie and I, he was a bit stubborn, so she continued to tap.  I bagen to worry about the possibility of her giving my poor fetus brain injuries, as gentle she WAS NOT!  But, alls well that ends well, it turns out we are having a human!!  Spud has the correct number of arms, legs and heads.  Spud is big for 'his' age, fantastic.  Hope that doesn't keep up!  And we do not know the sex, nor are we going to find out.  Yes, yes, I hear the groans of "what  about shopping?"  But you only get one great surprise in life.  And I am 100% percent certain that my baby will not be adversely effected by wearing the wrong shade of any color onesie or blanket.

Now, I would like to introduce you all to my baby, Spud:

So it looks like we are having a baby!!

Some time last year, I got an idea into my head.  As most people who know me know, we were VERY decided that we were not going to have kids.  Nope, not us.  No thank you.  But then, I started to approach 35.  I am here in France, with health coverage, and an idea came to me.  So, one night as we were laying in bed, I mentioned to Robbie "Maybe we could think about possibly thinking about maybe having a baby in like 3 years...."  Well, that went over like a ton of bricks!  There was a big huff and puff discussion endimg in a near heated discussion, so I let it rest and went to bed.  3 days later, same situation, sitting in bed.  Robbie looks at me and says "Right, so we will get you pregnant in April and have the baby in the beginning of 2013....."  WHAT?!  So I go from possibly being divorced, to being told when I will actually conceive?  Who are you and what did you do with my husband?

Apparently, after some careful consideration, Robbie had come to a few conclusions.  And it looks like it was all systems go for operation Baby Dever in the spring.  I was so excited!  The idea is so fun.  We would talk about all the things we would do.  All the things we need to get ready.  Where we would want to live, in Paris of course.  The time seemed to pass so slowly.  Let's get to this baby making business!

Then along comes April.  I have an app for tracking my periods on my phone and it also tells me when I'm fertile and when I'm ovulating.  So using this as our guide, we set to "work."  We did all the things you are supposed to do and then waited.  We even did things you don't need to do.  Such as go to the cemetarie Pere Lachaise and visit the grave of one Victor Noir.  Now, I don't remember the story as to why, but the statue on his grave marker is said to help women who are trying to have a baby.  You rub his member for fertility and then rub his feet for .... I don't know, but I just did it, as pictured below.

My aunt Deb and her husband Bill were visiting at the time.  They then head off to Rome for a week.  Upon returning, they brought me a charm they found in Rome.  It is a gorgeous glass charm with a tree in it.  The detail in it is stunning.  Its Italian glass.  The tree is said to promote fertility.  I'll take it!! I'll take all the help I can get!! So then we wait.  The time comes, I am 2 days late, excitement ensues.  Then, no.  Not this time.  That's ok, its fun to try!

So May comes.  Perfect timing, our wedding anniversary falls during the week of fun.  We take no prisoners and step up our game a bit this time.  I go buy a proper necklace for the charm my aunt gives me.  I tell, the minut i put that chain over my head, I felt something.  I am a mildly superstitious girl.  I buy into those pit of your stomach type things.  And when I tell you I felt something, I mean it.  So, we go about this round and continue on with life.  We take a long weekend and visit Barcelona.  I am potentially due for my monthlies, so I stock up like it was going to be the worst.  We have a blast, I let down my guard about the whole lower caffeine intake.  Then I'm 2 days late, then 3.  We get back to Paris, I think maybe its nerves or just readjusting to life after birth control.  I go back to work on the Mona=day and end up working an 11 hour shift.  I'm tired.  Delirious, even.  I had bought a test that morning so, at midnight, I go in to pee on the stick.  That bad boy turned purple before I had even really hit it!  It couldn't say positive fast enough.  It was too much for me at first.  I couldn't even call Robbie into the room.  I was afraid if I stopped looking at it, the color would change.  As if it was positive simply from the sheer force of my will.  So I eventually call him in.  We just look at each other.  We look at the test and back at each other.  Oh My God We Are Having A Baby!

At this point we don't know what to do.  Who do we call?  Do we call anyone?  What do we do?  SO, we take pictures with the test:

                                                                                             

Then we decide to call his parents.  We tell them the good news.  They are delighted! We then go to bed and start to make all the plans that you do when you find out.  We download the Babycenter app to find out the due date and all the fun stuff that they have to tell us about the baby growing inside of me.  We get our projected due date of February 13th.  So now shit just got real!

Follow up:

So, as a follow up to my post about the French administration, I did eventually get my carte vitale and my carte de sejour.  I am good and legally covered to live here and receive health care for at least the next 5 years.  I am currently working on transferring my US drivers license for my French one.  I am all good except for one, pesky little detail.  I had laser eye surgery in 2004.  Seeing as how most of my life I had worn glasses, my license says I need corrective lenses to drive.  Not thinking at all about this little detail after the surgery, I never thought to change said item on my license.  Well, it came back to bite me in the ass.   Not too bad, I just have to wait (the KEY to administration here) for them to make an appointment for me to see their doctor.  Then, I should be good to go.  Since nothing occurs in the administrative world from the middle of July until September, I just have to trust that I will receive a letter with an appointment.  I beat them once, I will do it again!!