Here is Lily, getting acupuncture in the hopes it will induce labor. We just walked in to a clinic today and asked if they did such things and they said they did and if we could come back at two, the acupuncture guy had an opening.So we went and ran our errands: we got Ibuprofen and a thermometer and a velvet coloring thingee for Miss May, we got audio books for Mr. Moon, and then we came back and let the guy stick needles in Lily. He let her lay there for maybe forty-five minutes and the room was so pleasant and that Chinese bamboo flute music was so soothing that she and I both transcended total awakeness, to say the least. She was laying down and I was in a chair in the corner, my head on the wall.
It was so relaxing.
Then we went and had some lunch and then I took her home.
And then Jason got off work and took her bowling. Yes, bowling.
Look- she is TRYING.
She is having the sex, she is taking black and blue cohosh, she is having the sex, she has tried the acupuncture, she has been walking, she is having the sex, she went bowling and tomorrow (I think) she is going to take castor oil, early in the morning.
There's only so much you can do with a deadline looming over you. And believe me- she is doing it all and Jason is certainly playing his part.
I love watching these kids growing up and becoming parents. Both Jason and Lily had a lot of ya-ya's to get out as teenagers and here they are- responsible citizens with a home loan and jobs and a room filled with things for a baby and that baby on the way, zooming down the exit ramp, whether it feels like it to Lily or not.
And they are being so gracious and so loving. I was reading some of the things in the baby book Lily has for Owen and there was a page for each parent to write down advice for the child. Jason wrote, "Always listen to your mother. She is very wise."
That made me want to cry.
He is obviously very wise, too.
Owen is a lucky boy. I can't wait to tell him that. And some day, I will show him pictures of Lily getting acupuncture and say, "Look there, Owen! Your mother wanted to hold you so badly she let a doctor stick needles in her EAR to get you to come."
Yeah. I'm gonna scar that boy for life.
I can't wait.
wish i were having 'the sex'.
ReplyDeletepriceless.
I got one right under my eyeball. That was a doozy.
ReplyDeleteShe's not just having one session, is she? She should be going back in the morning.
Take care with that there castor oil. That and the acupuncture and the membrane stripping could result in a sudden birth, once it starts!
My friend did it recently, it didn't work (too soon,I think), but it traumatised her somewhat!
Very sweet. Has she tried eating the spicy food... May be more pleasant than Castor oil with similar effects..?
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Bowling... bless her pregnant little heart! She is also still working, no?
All I can say is that if she does "need" to get induced... if that's where it goes, it is not the worst thing in the world. It is not preferred and she can refuse to, but if that is what she decides, Harley is living proof that it can and will be ok.
Adrienne- She's going to hate me for that.
ReplyDeleteOh, maybe not.
Ms. Jo- No, he said nothing about coming back tomorrow. Plus, it was eighty dollars and insurance won't pay. I think at this point, she's not worried about things going too fast. We shall see....
Ms. Fleur- Yes. She has eaten the spicy food. And also drunk coffee. Nada.
And I remember Harley and how nicely he was born.
When Mr. Beaudreau (my southern nickname for my son) was an infant, Mother was holding him after one of his hissy fits. He had terrible colic. He mostly would not let anyone hold him but me. But he had screamed himself into submission and she had captured him up and was rocking him. I heard her whisper into his 3-month-old little ear, "You don't know it yet, but I am your very best friend."
ReplyDeleteAnd to this day, he will go up to her, laughing, saying, "Nanny I love you" and sweep her up in a big hug. This 16-year-old boy who doesn't remember and doesn't talk about it, but obviously knows that this grandmother is his very best friend.
And you are Owen's, I can tell. Tell him early and often so it permeates.
Glimmer- Oh, I hope so! We saw a little onesie today that said, "What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's." I sort of wanted to buy it.
ReplyDeleteMan, I wish I had the life of Lily... all that sex, pregnant bowling, eating spicy foods, acupuncture with Mommy in the room... well maybe not the castor oil part, or the being very, VERY pregnant.
ReplyDeleteThat was so sweet that Jason wrote that thing about Lily being wise. He's such a good husband.
That is the greatest grandma onesie I have ever heard of. You must buy it for him. Or put a bug in somebody's ear. I just love it!
ReplyDeleteHoneyLuna- Yeah. Lily is definitely living the life o' Riley now. Uh-huh. She should get a tiara, just to wear for tomorrow's fun with castor oil.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jason IS a sweet husband. Isn't he?
Glimmer- I should have bought it. It was at Walgreens for goodness sake.
I'm with Adrienne, gimme the sex. :D
ReplyDeleteSounds like Lily's doing all she can do, and bowling sounds like fun - just hope she didn't use a heavy ball!
I wish my boys had a grandma like you, and you know I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
The night before I was going to take castor oil to get my labor going, I went into labor on my own. I believe it was out of fear of the castor oil! I was going to do it though, because my doula was going out of town the next day, and I was 11 days past my "due date."
ReplyDeleteI wish Lily the best, and I hope she doesn't have to do anything more than relax to get that labor started.
Try massaging the backs of her heals. My husband, the massage therapist, always calls that spot the pregnancy button. He's never had a chance to try it, but his teachers swear it works.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you all.
Did you pick up witch hazel? I hope you picked up witch hazel so she can be soothed in the nether regions after the castor oil. It helps. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that in one of the South American countries women leave all drawers and cupboards open during their pregnancy, as a way to remind them to open up at the end, I suppose. I always thought about that at the end of my pregnancies, that sense of having to open myself up and let the way be cleared for baby. Maybe Lily can leave some drawers open, too.
ReplyDeleteMy waters say Thursday....
ReplyDeletePoor Lily! I remember too well those last weeks when I wanted the baby out and he was happy staying in. I cried daily in the doctor's parking lot. We walked and walked and walked, ate cajun and italian food and played gin rummy for hours. I sang him a secret song in the shower asking him to come into the world so we could meet. It took a few days, but my best boy finally arrived. Magical.
ReplyDeleteI'm wishing the best for you all, and hoping Lily isn't as weepy right now as I was back then.
You're going to be the best kind of Grandma, I can just tell.
Ginger- I have no idea how heavy the ball was. However, there were no immediate results from that either.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope I'm a good grandmama.
Lora- The Castor Oil procedure has now commenced. Sigh.
J- I will tell her.
Kori- I'll tell her that too.
Mwa- Can't hurt. Whenever I was in labor, I always thought about in Gone With The Wind where Prissy told Scarlett they should have a knife under Melanie's bed to "cut the pain." I always wanted to do that- why not?- but was too embarrassed.
Daddy X- What waters? Thursday would be fine with me.
Mel- I think Lily gets weepy on and off. She is singing Owen songs, too. He will be born and that's the truth but Lord, at the end it doesn't seem as if it will ever happen.
Ms. Moon-
ReplyDeleteRed raspberry tea. Put my wife into labor within 24 hours.
Hope it helps!
a good buddy of mine was born 13lbs2oz.
ReplyDelete(and all the women go, GASP!)
I know, but he turned out alright and he shooooorrre loves his mama.
Anon- She's been drinking raspberry leaf tea her entire pregnancy (raspberry is a uterine tonic) as did I when I was pregnant with all of mine so I don't think that's the answer although I am very glad it worked for your wife
ReplyDeleteMagnum- Golly gee. I bet he does love his mama. He sure should. I'm glad you can comment again.
Still no baby. Wow. I thought the weekend would magically bring Owen.
ReplyDeletePoor dear Lily. I hope she is able to plunk Owen out soon.
ReplyDeleteLove,
SB
Acupuncture and a big meal seemed to work for my youngest sister...
ReplyDeleteNo amount of castor oil, sex, spicy food, or walking miles in the August heat kicked labor in for me. Ever.
They just come when they come
Ugh... thinking about drinking that castor oil makes me feel like I'm gonna vomit
Sending good baby thoughts to Lily
Marsha- I did too. Honestly.
ReplyDeleteMs. Bastard- She's hanging in. Owen will be plunked soon. It will happen. Love you, dear....M
Michelle- That's what I think. They come when they come. But all that other stuff makes you feel like you're doing what you can, you know? I hope all is well with you, dear woman.