Bed bugs

So, the bay area is supposed to magically be free of pesky bugs like mosquitoes. We snobbishly believe we are immune to such pesks. No one here has screens on their windows- we just open them right out to the ocean air.

We have left our windows wide open off and on since we moved here last June without incident. I've never seen a bug enter during the day. But the past week or so, I'm apparently emitting some scent or pheromone or something that screams 'Juicy pregnant woman! Bon apetit!!' and brings every lonely mosquito statewide racing over here in the middle of the night. I currently have eleven- eleven- mosquito bites on various parts on my body- including my ring finger for crying out loud! What twisted mosquito goes for a finger? I've tried covering up more when I sleep, but they finagle their way into whatever spot they want to snack on.

The worst part about it is I'm a human buffet, while Gerard sleeps right next to me and doesn't have one little bite.

Asshole.

I've become so lazy....

... that I've resorted to sticking pieces of paper/trash/etc. in Kota's collar and sending her off to Gerard rather than having to get up.

And I think it's pretty genius.

Here you'll see Kota gently reminding Gerard that this FedEx envelope belongs in the recycling- not the trash- and can he please try again?

By the way, my first NST (nonstress test) went well enough. Everything looked fine, but I wasn't especially pleased with what the Dr. had to say. My regular OB was on vacation, so I had to be signed up with some new chick. Contrary what they told me at the hospital, she sat there and told me I couldn't do anything that kept me on my feet for more than 30 minutes, no yoga, nothing. I can't even do a grocery trip in that kinda time frame. She told me lots of other things that seem way strict. And, despite the laziness I depicted above, I'm not very happy about all this. I know some people get on real bedrest and have it way worse, but up to 5 weeks doing virtually nothing seems horrendous... Not to mention the fact that everyone seemed to think that the end of my pregnancy was the perfect time to come visit SF... so I have a slew of visitors back to back starting Monday. This is well enough for me to keep me company- as long as ninja baby stays on the inside- but I'm not sure how pleased they will be playing cards and doing (my new obsession) Kakuro puzzles instead of adventuring through the Bay...

Here are my 35 week pictures... are you as excited about my long overdue haircut this Saturday as I am??

35 weeks

Today, I am 35 weeks... this is significant, because according to the neonatologist, any baby born before today has an automatic ticket to the NICU. But, if the baby is born today or later, he can negotiate his way out of the NICU by being heavy and healthy enough. So I'm glad I made it to today!

Since the scare the other day, we've gone ahead and packed our hospital bag, since we know anything can happen. Because I'm considered high-risk now, I have to go in for nonstress tests every week. I'm sure they will be reassuring, but I'm already nervouse about my first tomorrow, because with each doctor's visit they have the potential to say something is not reassuring, and whisk me off to be induced...

Graphic, part ii

PS- Being as I have none of the general risk factors of placental abruption, and didn't face any abdominal trauma, I'm blaming this episode entirely on ninja baby who, in the past 3 days, has gotten even stronger than I previously complained about. Things in there have definitely shifted from a dance party to a boxing match, and I think my placenta took the brunt of it.

No, I don't care that my proposed situation isn't actually rational.