preparing for sick leave

I have decided that it's finally time to take my Dr's advice and go on sick leave.  She has been suggesting this for the past two months (actually, maybe it's been more than that).  And I have to say that for most of the 2nd trimester, I felt pretty good.  I didn't want to rush into the sick leave thing because getting out everyday and keeping busy with work has had some advantages.  Although I feel huge, I haven't gained as much as I did with my first pregnancy.  And it has helped pass the time more quickly.

However, it's time to rest.  Teaching young children requires a lot of physical energy.  And if I were one of the lucky ladies of this world who have healthy, normal pregnancies, I'd try to hang in there til the very end.  Or if I had an office job, I'd stay on longer.  But I'm not one of those women nor do I have one of those jobs.

Aside from a history of one preterm baby, I've had a lot of stuff going on this time around.  The spotting, the actual bleeding, the placenta problems, and some more spotting.  Yeah, these are the parts that have certainly not been fun. 

For example, I had some recent spotting.  Two seperate episodes, one brown and one pink.  Both causing a bit of concern, although I didn't panic.  I believe that I mentioned the brown spotting in the previous post.  My Dr. ordered an ultrasound for that (which was good) and told me that I need more rest.  The pink spotting I mentioned to the ER Dr. when I went to have an absess on my leg looked at (which btw, they didn't have to call the surgeon for, I was given a local antibiotic cream, told to continue the oral antibiotic I was already on for an infection, and it is healing on it's own....thank God...draining an absess can be very painful).  With my history, the ER OB/GYN informed me that everything MUST be investigated.  So, she ordered a CTG scan (which I'm a pro at bcuz I had to do this every 8 hours for 1/2 an hour each session for the whole week before little guy was born). 

This scan monitors baby's heart rate and checks for contractions.  Two sensors are strapped onto Mommy's belly, and she gets to relax in bed.  This time I was given a little switch and asked to pushed the button each time I felt the baby move.  For more info, click here.  p.s.  This is also where I got the above image.

My scan showed that baby was fine, but the Dr. still wanted an ultrasound done.  She was concerned about the placenta and the cervix.  So she was able to get me in for an "urgent" ultrasound, which thankfully showed that baby and everything else are fine.  And again I was told, "more rest".

So, it's that time.  To finally listen. 

image via

My priority is to keep this pregnancy going along for as long as possible, for baby's sake.  So, in less than 2 weeks, I'll be going on leave.  I hate to leave my students at this time, in the middle of the year, but they'll be fine.  My supervisor is in the process of hiring my sub, and if we find her in time, I can train her before I go on leave.

I'm just trying to get things all ready and organized for the sub and then I'll be on my way.  I won't return until after my maternity leave.  That's a weird feeling, but not a bad one.  I think I'll get more time with little guy and hubby, which is a great feeling.  :) 

And on a happy note, my friends are throwing me a baby shower this weekend, complete with a Thanksgiving dinner.  Yay!  I'm excited more about the food than the gifts or the games...lol.  Little guy is super excited.  On the same day he gets to have his Star of the Week party at school and then a party for "his baby" in the evening (where he'll get to play with 27 of his friends...yes, I have a lot of friends, who have a lot of kids...lol).

So, here's to less than 2 more weeks of work!