It's Complicated

My original plan with this little sideline blog was to keep everyone updated on the joys of a first time pregnancy with hopefully a little humor tossed in as Matt & I fumbled our way towards parenthood. The problem is, we had this run of bummer news that I really didn't want to whine too much about. I mean - I did. Trust me, there was serious complaining, whining and a couple of tears thrown in for good measure, but I hesitated to write anything down.


Just as things were starting to look up, we have another teeny concern. I figured, I should just put it all out there and deal with being the whiner that I already kind of knew I was.

So, most of you know what leads up to this. First, Matt's back started bothering him. Soon he was unable to walk in a less than Simian manner. Next, I came down with the death cold and was super sick for a week or so. In this time, my Great Auntie Joy passed away - a loss I can't even begin to describe. I loved her so much and was in such a bewildered state that I could barely process the news. Meanwhile, Matt was slowly losing the ability to walk or exist without screeching pain.

After a few visits to the doctor and an MRI it was determined that Matt should have back surgery. In this time we were blessed by family and friends with a whole ton of help. We could barely function. Matt couldn't walk and I can't handle normal things like laundry or cooking. I just hope we didn't use up all of our food favors before the baby arrives. We got so much awesome food and helper stuffs.

A couple more weeks passed as Matt languished in his Howard Hughes like state popping pills, M&M's and watching hour after hour of the Simpson's. Finally, they got him in and operated on. As of today he's finally able to stand erect and can occasionally stand to leave the house. This weekend was the first time he drove himself anywhere in ages. He was drunk with power (and later cheap Budweiser as I was out of town and he was off the pain pills.)

So, yay - right? Things are getting better and we'll all be a-okay by the time the baby arrives. I can't reach to put on my shoes, but these things happen. I'm feeling healthy, Matt's functioning and starting to go back to school. Unfortunately, you can't be a bartender without the ability to lift very heavy things, so he's temporarily unemployed. We're really hopeful that something he's got cooking is going to pan out for this summer, but we'll see.

Then I have my doctor's appointment this morning. Turns out - baby Summers is breech. I thought what I felt under my rib was a head and not a butt, but having never done this before, I was unsure.

So, after my mid-wife bailed on me this morning and I was almost an hour into my wait in the lobby - I was seen by a new mid-wife - a man (not that there's anything wrong with that) who was able to determine that my boy is directionally confused. (Not unlike his father.) Next Wednesday we have to go in and I'm going to have a procedure called a "version" where the doctor will attempt to turn the baby around. I'm not holding out a lot of hope for this to work. From what I've read, it sounds rather unpleasant.

What I've read on WebMD isn't very optimistic and my kid is comfy where he is. I can tell. Unless made to move, he's sticking right where he is. It's like me and my sweet spot on the sofa I had to begrudgingly give up during Matt's handicapped period. Once I get it back, I am never moving again (unless I drop the remote.)

It looks like we're probably going to be scheduled for a c-section at some point. Ew. I have to have surgery. I've never even been a patient in a hospital much less had surgery before. I guess it'll be fine - that's how I was born. (I really could've done without the WebMD "reasons for breech" baby that include all manner of things from water on the brain to Down Syndrome. There was the toss away line, "Babies born with this condition are usually still born or die shortly after birth" but I couldn't tell what "this" referred to- grreeeaaaat.)

On the upside - I have a shower to go to this weekend! My wonderful sister in laws are throwing me one. I should really post a picture or something on here to show everyone my belly progress. It's... progressing. I think I officially weigh enough that movement down a river would require the assistance of a barge. Everything else looks healthy and did I mention Matt's finally stopped speaking in Simpson's quotes? I want to be - and mostly am - optimistic. I just need to limit my reading on the Internet.