We've now been in California for 11 days and I can safely say that I am finally over my jet lag. Hooray! The girls were pretty fantastic and managed to sleep through the night from the get-go... but I had a wee bit of trouble. I could barely keep my eyes open starting around 2pm every afternoon and struggled to stay awake the rest of the day. Then, I'd immediately crash on the couch mere seconds after I got the girls to bed, and be wide awake at 4 am, getting a solid 8 hours of sleep (though they weren't always the most helpful 8 hours...).
The girls are now both officially enrolled in their respective schools, and I could not be happier how everything worked out. Sheridan is going to preschool at the JCC, and Riley was accepted to the elementary school that's right around the corner from both our hotel AND the JCC. It's awesome. Of course, it will be even better when Riley actually goes to school... they're still on spring break! Sheridan has gone to school for a week now and aside from it not offering the most academic curriculum (or any for that matter), it does have wide variety of activities in a very clean and inviting environment. And it all comes with the low, low price of almost $1000 a month. I'm obviously in minor shell shock over the prices, which are at least 4 times what I'm used to paying overseas. Holy nickel and dime batman!
On the positive side, along with the high price tag of the JCC comes the plethora of after school activities for the kids. They have everything from chess, rock climbing, gymnastics, swimming, hip hop to Hebrew classes, yoga, and puppetry. We decided to just sign up for swimming and Sheridan is now taking weekly private swim lessons, while Riley has joined the non-competitive swim team. They practice daily from 3:30 - 4:15 pm, and focus on everything we wanted to accomplish in private lessons for a fraction of the price.
The girls have even had a few opportunities to see their cousins and meet some new friends. Earlier this week we hung out with two sorority sisters who I haven't seen since 1994 and had a super fun play date with all our girlies. One of them even sends her girls to the same JCC with Sheridan. We also went to two Passover Seders where the girls stayed up way too late having too much fun with all their cousins. Let the re-connection begin!
As for me at almost 34 weeks pregnant, I'm feeling good and ever so thankful that we came back to the States when we did. Upon seeing my real OB/GYN, who reviewed my blood work and last three months of information, he immediately agreed that we have some problems and sent me to see several different specialists. So in addition to my twice weekly non-stress tests, bi-weekly OB appointments, I'm also seeing a perinatologist, hematologist, vascular surgeon, and endocrinologist. The very short version of the long story is that my platelets have dropped to disturbingly low levels, and with all the medication I'm on, they need to be monitored very closely, with plans in place for the day of delivery. No worries though... because for once I have faith in the medical personnel and am confident that all will turn out exactly the way it's supposed to. Five more weeks and definitely counting!
I'm off now to park my tushy on the couch, watch some garbage TV, and wish that Matt was here with us, waking me up and sending me to bed after sleeping through yet another show. And maybe offering a little help with the girlies would be nice too! Happy Friday.
17 comments:
Jill, it's lovely to visit you at last...I'm starting to 'step out' and wanted to come here :) I had no idea you were pregnant, and glad you're getting comfortable and on the end of some good care :)
xxx
Isn't preschool ridiculously expensive here? Yikes! In Sept. I'll have 2 going at once and although it will only be for 2 days a week it's going to cost an arm and a leg but soooo worth it for my sanity. I'll have 3 1/2 hours to do everything I need to ALONE!! Yippee.
So happy everyone is settling in. We started Spring Break yesterday. My hubby leaves for Cali on Monday and won't be back for a week. I sooo wanted to bring the whole family being that we're all off. The weather is so nice and warm and here it's still icky and yucky but at least it's 50 degrees. Better than colder and snowing.
Are your platelets low only when you're preggo? I ask b/c I have a platelet incompatability with my kids when I'm preggo. It's called neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT for short). I had to see all the perinatologists/hematologists when I was preggo too. Not the vascular or endocrinologists tho. Brady's platelets were 7,000 when he was born and he had a Grade 1 ICH (brain hemorrhage). Peyton's were 60,000 when she was born b/c I was smarter the 3rd time around & had all of the invasive and risky procedures I should've w/ the second baby but was too STUPID and naive to think I needed. I don't know how you kept your sanity being in a third world country. I live in the country in NEW JERSEY and if I had delivered here 2 of my 3 kids would have surely not survived. I had to trekk it to Livingston and NYC but it was so worth it. They saved my kids' lives. Sorry to write such a long-winded response. I get so curious about platelets. I'm not your average Mom as far as that's concerned. Looks like neither are you! :-) I hope you're feeling ok and that you have a lot of help so you can get to all of your doctor's appts. stress free. Kids weren't allowed at the perinatologist's office where I live.
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
{{{Hugs Jill}}}
I'm so sorry that everything's not peachy keen and easy, but I am also thankful that you're here where you can have confidence you'll get good medical care. Hopefully your in-laws can help with the girls--if they offer, take it. :-)
I'll be thinking and praying for you.
Glad the girls have adjusted well and are having fun. The JCC sounds wonderful...though pricey. Preschool here, for only three mornings a week though, was $160 a month. Our community center is $565/year although all classes are extra. I'd be shell-shocked about the prices too.
If it helps, I can barely stay awake at 2:00 either, and am almost always awake at 4. I don't have your reasons. lol
Take care.
I'm so glad you're in good hands now. Matt's hands would be nice, too, but you'll have his eventually :)
Whew! As always your posts tend to tire me out!! You are so busy...I don't know how you do it (and I'm not 34 weeks pregnant!). Biggest thing I can say is Thank God, you are back in the States and in good hands in regards to your medical care!!!
Enjoy your brief respite from India and the last part of your pregnancy!!!
Love,
Kelly
What the heck, lady? I thought you were doing good? What's this about platelets? I didn't even know there was such a problem that could be had....what does it mean exactly...and are you okay? *hugs*
Glad to hear you guys are settling in. Only 5 weeks to go?! Wow!
I am glad that you are settled and glad that you have a good doctor seeing you. I wish you a speedy 5 weeks.
You sound fairly settled. I'm thrilled for you. I'm sorry that you have to face these complications, but I'm thrilled that you are so confident in the doctors caring for you. That is worth every thing! Five weeks - yikes! I'll be watching.
Every time I've lived abroad, I loved that feeling of coming home to the familiar. There's just something about the air, lol.
It must be such a relief to be back in the hands of doctors you trust! Glad you got the girls settled in, too. They seem so adaptable. Though it sounds like they're having a lot of fun, so that must help!
It seems that no matter where you are, or what you're doing, you are having an adventure.
Well, I'm glad to hear that everything worked out well for the girls' schools--that's always the tricky part. But, $1000 a month?! I think that's expensive by any standard! Maybe because it's California?
I'm sorry you have so many medical things to deal with, but it does sound like you have lots of people (doctors) to help take care of you.)
Enjoy the time home reconnecting!
~Christy
(Heavy on the Caffeine)
Welcome Back Home! The land of expensive everything! I am sure it seems overly expensive compared to India!
Glad your Dr's have caught everything and are keeping a close eye on you!
Hope you get some rest and get adjusted to the time change. Sounds like you have been super busy already with the girls. Phew slow down and rest!
Welcome back home.. I don't know how you do it all.. how do you do it all??
And please keep us updated on the doctors and stuff..
Thinking of you..now get some rest.
i am so glad to hear that you are doing good... my lil sis and i talked about you this weekend. i told her i wanted to go to india next year. heh.... want some visitors?
When does Matt get there? I am always so impressed with your ENERGY... send some my way, won't yà?
I want to take the hip hop to Hebrew Class! That sounds like fun- should be implemented in FSI!
I'm glad to hear you're getting settled and everything is going smoothly - especially having an OB/GYN who is following you very closely and staying on top of things!
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