The Sisterhood of the Blue Stilettos

[FionaA]

Good one, I just need a bit of encouragement, a sickie tomorrow is definatley on the cards. what shall my illness be. I'm thinking of a migrane, that way I don't have to sound like I have a cold or sore throat, I just have to sound tense. I shall start practising.

Golden Rule Number One when chucking a sickie is that you must not speak at all until you have made the call to work calling in sick. That way you still have that croaky morning voice to add credibility to the story.

As far as 24 hours goes, that is barbaric. I think another sisterhood march on Washington is in order. I may have to go and see that movie Sicko to get myself worked up...

Fee

[meg12]

Fabulous advice about the not talking. In fact, I'll stop talking right now, that way I'll have a good 10 hours or so of not talking before I call in. Do you think it is bad to call in sick when you only have 3 days of work left? Maybe that's not the most responsible thing....oh well, I'm not a mother yet--I can still go wild

Yeah, 24 hours is pretty barbaric. And since my husband is self employed (he's a computer geek) we don't have health insurance so we're paying ourselves. Luckily, the hospital and the doc negotiates their fees way down since we paid in advance. Still, for the 24 hour stay, it's costing us $2700---and that does not include the epidural should I choose to get one (um, which is a definite yes so that's another $1200). Plus, we had to pay the doc around $2000 too. Still, that's with 30% of the fees cut off for cash payment. It is crazy. We're just lucky that we can (somewhat) afford it and don't have to go into debt to have this baby....But I'm preaching to the choir here with the costs of IVF. Grrrrrrrrrrr......

[FionaA]

No, not irresponsible at all. In fact it is your duty to use your sick leave prior to your final curtain at work. A sickie is on the cards.

Geez those medical costs are astronomical. Given those charges I would be sprinting out of hospital after 24 hours. I don't think I could afford to extend my stay by another night.

We are very lucky here in Oz, if you don't have private health insurance (which I do) then you can go to the public hospital which will cost you pretty much nothing. Plus our IVF is mostly covered by the government as well, I think I was about $1,000 out of pocket all up....I think the Sisterhood needs to reside in Australia so that we can have all the IVF we want for free (almost).

Fee

PS. I'm very scared of the epidural. I went to a class on them on the weekend and I'm still scared. I need to toughen up for sure.

[sassynlv]

So... did either of you chuck a sickie today???

Just twiddling my thumbs here, waiting for AF to show up.

Fee: finding (shockingly, of course) there isn't much in the way of office-themed baby goods out there... and believe me, I looked! So I did my best.

first of all... for bedding... this looked the most office-like http://www.polkatotdesigns.com/images/c ... ng_003.jpg

Are you a fan of the show The Office? If so, I don't know if you get the British or American version. In the American version Dwight has his own bobblehead. So I thought nogs should have a ducky one... http://www.getodd.com/Merchant2/merchan ... _Code=duck

Last but not least... in honor of The *******, I would get Nogs his very own baby C.adillac E.scalade for future use... http://www.showeryourbaby.com/fecaesritoy.html

Hope you enjoy your virtual shower presents!!!

Meg: Still sitting on Sweet Pea's head??? 6 more days to go!

Hope you are all well...

[amy]

Great ideas Sassy.

You can store Nogs' clothes in filing cabinets and change him on the desk. It is a win win for everyone.

Meg - How are you feeling? Any movement? Eat some chili - it has worked for several of my friends. They all don't know whether they are having bowel issues or labor, but either way they are totally cleaned out

Sass - AF is never around when you need her, and always around when you don't want her. What a biat%$.

I am finally caught up from the first week of school. It kicked my bum. I want to chuck a sickie too. Too bad we don't get sick days.

As for the discussion on the healthcare in the US - don't get mama started. It is ridiculous here. Let's hope Angie doesn't need to try it out as she will be thoroughly disappointed. I definitely am thinking of doing some sort of work exchange program there so I can get some virtually free IVF. You Aussies have it all - beautiful weather, great beaches, your own continent, and cheap IVF - not too mention the great vernacular. I am so jealous. Off to rest - I am whipped.

[FionaA]

Well gutless here is at work. After much thoght I decided that it would not be smart to chuck a sickie before being advised of what my paid maternity leave entitlement is. The sickie will have to wait, I'm devasted.

I hope that Mego managed to pull it off though.

Sassy thank you for the links re accessorising my nursery. I particularly like the car one and agree that there should be something BIL related in there. I think the beauty of the office theme is that I can get most of my decorating ideas from the office stationary cupboard and for free. I like the bobble head too. We get the Office here (both varieties) but I have only managed to catch the UK one. very funny.

Sorry to hear that AF is mucking you about. Oh well at least you have the likes of Britney Spears to entertain you out there in Vegas, that should take your mind of your troubles...

I think Amy's ideas are also winners. I have a filing cabinet and a desk so no need to outlay any cash there. Perhaps Nogs can sleep in a desk drawer? I think you should come to live in Oz. I suppose the main drawback where I am from is that our city is known as Dullsville. So whilst we get all our important stuff for free we could well die of boredom. Oh well can't have it all I spose.

OK here's a question for the sisters. At my work in the past other lawyers have been given 4 weeks paid maternity leave. But they have had to ask for it. I hate hate hate talking about money stuff with my bosses and am really struggling to work out how to approach them. I'm thinking a Memo??? Anyone got some ideas?

Fee

[amy]

I am going to defer this one to Sassy, Fee. I am not sure four weeks is enough. Lets get you eight. Maybe start negotiations high and then meet in the middle. Ask for 8 - they come back with 4 - settle with 6 - but Sassy knows the lawyer scene.

[FionaA]

I am SURE that 4 is not enough! Good one, I'll get fired up now. I just took a memo into my boss outlining how much time I would be wanting off and indicating that I would provide a medical certificate next week that I can keep working (we have to do that by law). He started screaming "Lara has returned" at the top of his voice (Lara being a recently resigned stroppy lawyer who was always demanding stuff). I felt that it was not a great time to be asking about my pay entitlements. Why are people so unbalanced around here??? Fee

[meg12]

I hate asking people about money, too, Fee so I can relate. However, you must stand firm and think about how badly you're going to want to be with Nogs and not be worried about money. Definitely shoot for 8....that would be fabulous.

Sorry to say I did not chuck a sickie today. I also chickened out. Still, I'm off tomorrow and then only 2 days left. Woo-hoo. We are going to see the doc tomorrow and I'm hoping to set up a day to induce late next week if I haven't gone into labor.

I love both versions of The Office. At first, I preferred the UK one, but I have to admit that the US version has grown on me. Season premiere in 2 weeks, so that's very exciting! I can't wait for all of the new shows to start--I'm such a tv junkie. I don't know how I've made it through the summer! It's pretty sad. I did let myself get sucked into Big Brother (very embarrassed to admit that!) so at least I've had that.

Oh well, I think my dog's run away so I must be off to go find him and get his little brown butt (and my big white butt) off to bed!

[sassynlv]

Mego: 2 days left of work??? That is fab! you can then sit on the couch and eat Natural White Cheddar Cheetos (can you tell that is my new obsession?) and watch soap operas. Right on . Hmmm, will be waiting to hear how OB appt goes tomorrow. I am right with you on The Office. I watch the American version during the year, and rent the British version dvds. Rad.

Fee: Ummmm. You have a really odd boss. Really odd. Like, belongs-in-The-Office-tv-show odd. I'm all for 8 weeks. I mean for heaven's sake... you will be completely sleep deprived AT LEAST until then. So work it, Fee. Use those finely honed attorney negotiating skills!!!

Amy: what do you mean you "don't get sick days"? What happens if you are sick???

AF is still nowhere to be found. No migraine has even developed to signal her arrival in the next 24 hours. Honestly wouldn't be expecting her until at the earliest today... more likely in the next 4 days. Just twiddling my thumbs...

[meg12]

Sassy--I've never tried those Cheetos, but will get right on it as I love regular Cheetos in general....Plus, I gained 7 pounds this week so what the hell, might as well add some more. Yep. 7 lbs.

My visit was okay. My blood pressure was a little elevated--definitely still in normal ranges just high for what mine normally is. I was still 80% effaced and dilated 1-2 so she "stripped my membranes" for me. What joy. I just googled that phrase for more info and found it described as a "rough cervical exam". And oh, yeah, did it hurt. Definitely convinced me that I'm going to need an epidural!!!!!!!! Anyway, we're hoping that helps kick start the labor process. If not, I'm scheduled to be induced next Wednesday, so the end is in sight! My poor dh kind of freaked---that really made it real for him!

Well, I'm going to go soak my sore cervix....hope everyone is good. And I'm doing and AF dance for you, Sass!

[amy]

Oh Girls - the Natural Cheetos are a gift from the gods. No orange finger residue. Definitely worth your time.

DH had a birthday on Monday so we hit Sushi - hadn't had it in awhile and we ordered the party platter. The lady wanted to clarify that it was just going to be the two of us... and we politely nodded. Best time of my life. Hit a Coldstone cake pretty hard when we got home - I might be keeping up with you on the 7 pounds Meg.

Meg - Just to make you feel better, I lost 10 pounds in 24 hours when I stopped working due to my elevated blood pressure and water retention - so eat the cheetos - the weight gain is pure water. It will come out. The cheetos are for the baby. She needs them.
As for the scraping of the membranes - had it three times. Always went home and packed a bag thinking that this would be the time, but didn't work for me. Try the Cheetos, they didn't make those when I was knocked up - they might work.

Sass - No sick days because we create our own schedule so they figure we can fit it in when we have time or feel better. The sucky thing is if we miss a teacher meeting, we get fined our daily rate of $350. I will puke at the teacher meetings if I have too. Never miss one. I also don't mind seeing my kids sick as I am sure their dirty homes gave me the illness.

Fee - You seriously need to submit a script - your office just MIGHT be funnier than the TV show. When I move to Oz for my free IVF, I will be your secretary - while the one is in rehab, and start using my California connections to make that into a show. That situation is a win win. Oh, and Nogs room needs an "In" box and an "Out" box - in for clean diapers out for the dirties. The mobile can be made out of paper clips, and postage notes. It will play the Office theme song. Watch out Martha Stewart - she has NOTHING on the sisterhood.

[FionaA]

Stripping membranes???? O my word I have come over all faint at the thought of that one. Bloody hell, I've never heard of such a practice. Is this some sort of peculiar US thing? It certainly hasn't come up in my child birth clases...although they did show us the "claw" which they use to rupture membranes....

Geez Mego I'm a bit worried about this accelerated weight gain....I mean I haven't exactly held back on the eating and was hoping for weight gain to slow down in the last few weeks....apparently I'm deluding myself. Too bad this ephiphany came after I've had my morning muffin....

Amy, don't you love it when you order stuff at the restaurant and they ask you if more people will be coming, we get that a lot. I think that people underestimate how much food can be consumed by two people in a marathon session...And as far as my secretary goes, she has just told me she will be resigning tomorrow to pursue her dream to become a make up artist. I think it has more to do with the partner that she was bonking ignoring her. So there's a vacancy for ya, come over and we will write the office script...PS love the decorating ideas, Noggin is going to be just like a little Alex P Keaton in his nerdy nursery.

Sass sorry to hear that AF is being such a cow. How about getting torrid chick flick out on DVD, that should stir up the old female hormones a bit. Altneratively the couch time with those delicious sounding Cheetos sounds like a pretty good fall back plan. Yes my boss is very strange. Some times he irks me and sometimes I like the wierdness....I don't think I will miss him when I'm on leave. He did redeem himself today by thanking me for not chucking too many sickies during my pregnancy. If only he knew how close I came to one yesterday...

As far as my negotiations go, I have decided that I will collar the office manager about it next Tuesday. He is much more normal than my boss and I won't have to put up with the shrieking.

Fee

[sassynlv]

Ok, first things first...

Natural Cheetos: I am very relieved to hear, Amy, that there is another sista who truly appreciates a good white cheddar cheeto. See, like Amy said, no orange finger (no, you get a creme colored finger instead), and they are supposedly healthier. Bonus. They are usually found in the aisle with other "natural" snack foods. A must-have for long couch stints.

Mego: Right on! Sounds like all is well. Hopefully the stripping will thow things into gear--- there is only 4 more days until the 17th. Sweet pea is right on track

Fee: Perfect-- the Alex P. Keaton nursery collection. During my OB rotation of med school I "got" to strip the membranes of a few women. Supposedly it causes the release of hormones and often helps move things along. As Amy mentioned, it doesn't always work...

Amy: sushi is one thing dh and I can consume in massive quantities. Good sushi and C.oldstone cake. Is there a better birthday dinner? I'm thinking not.

AF appears to be sneaking in. Meg's dance worked (oh, and Meg--- I would PAY MONEY to see you do an AF dance right now ), or was it the chick flick I saw with my friend yesterday afternoon? (good suggestion, Fee!) Either way, spotting has officially started (I was thinking TMI--- but then I realized we have been talking about periods, cervical mucus, dildocams and boobs for 9 months now ) so I am thinking today will be CD1 and will call my clinic as soon as everthing really starts. Yeeehah!

[meg12]

Yeah, Sassy. Congrats on AF. And yes, my dance was pretty entertaining...Britney Spears watch out. (Sorry, I know that's been overdone but couldn't help myself.)

Fee--I always thought Alex P Keaton was hot. So that's okay if Nogs ends up like him! There are a lot of worse things out there! Sorry you're losing your receptionist, we'll def. miss the entertainment factor! Don't worry about the weight thing---it seemed like some weeks I gain a ton and others nada. I think a lot of it this week was water retention--I'm suddenly swollen up like a tick:)

Hope Angie is having a good time on her trip....wherever she is.

Amy--I can't believe they "stripped" you 3 times. I'm in so much pain even today---I think it's worse because her head is so low and everytime she moves she hits that tender spot. Not cool. Luckily, they are having a pot luck at work today in honor of my last day so there's lots of good food to smother my pain with. I'm going for 10 pounds this week!