Birthday Fun

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Updates

The previous post was pictures of our new apartment. We really like it there. Our friends threw us a baby shower last weekend. We had a good time and got some baby loot. One more month of work and Jamie and I leave for New Hampshire. I am really looking forward to resting and relaxing once we get there. It is has been so hard to focus at work because I have not been able to sleep very well. I am up most of the night. Now we are close enough to the Solstice that it never gets dark. I never had this kind of pregnancy insomnia with Jamie, and I don't know how people function with it. I know it is not unusual though, and just part of it all.

I have been reading a lot. Strangely enough, I don't want to watch t.v. or movies, but I have an insatiable appetite to read anything printed. Anyone read any good books lately?

New Apartment

21 degrees and snowing

Enough already. We woke up to a snow covered ground this morning, which is a sight no one wants to see on April 23rd. At least it helps cover up the mud. Bethel is more attractive with the snow, it covers up a lot of dirt and junk. Hard to believe this is our second spring here. We should be in our new apartment by the end of the month, which will be nice. It has large windows and is by the park. Address and phone will be the same.

It's starting to feel real

And I suppose it should, since I am six months along. I am getting excited, but also overwhelmed. We have decided to deliver in New Hampshire. It was a tough choice because it would be nice to just be at home and avoid the complications of a transcontinental trip when I am huge/ with a newborn. However, my safety needs won out and I feel much better knowing that if we need obstetrical care it will be available. It will be great to be surrounded by family, it will have been almost two years! James is ecstatic that he will get to have a real summer vacation with his extended family. James and I will be in Fitzwilliam from July 2nd until August 27th, Terrence will be there from July 25 until August 27th, and it would be great to see everyone.

Everything is a little bit different...

The reality of having a baby while living in Bethel is starting to settle in. Like most things, having a baby in Bethel is different than having a baby most places. I have been trying to put together this particular puzzle, if anyone reading this knows more about having a baby here please feel free to fill in the blanks. The first thing is that we are extremely lucky to have double insurance. Finally, we did something smart financially and bought up the max insurance on both of our policies. This would be smart anywhere, but especially here, where health care costs are even higher. I have heard several horror stories about medical costs here, and while they may not all be 100% true, it is true that medical costs in the bush are higher.

There is a hospital in Bethel, and you can deliver your baby there. Lots of people do deliver there, but only if they are low risk and delivering naturally and they don't want an epidural. Hard to believe, but no elective epidurals in Bethel. They do have an anesthesiologist (not sure if it is a Dr. or nurse) but they are only available for emergencies. Now I had James without pain relief, but then again I was young and what is the the other word I am looking for-foolish?- naive? or maybe optimistic. Since I have had done it I know natural childbirth is not only possible, but sometimes preferable. However, not having an epidural available within 500 miles is a little scary.

A lot of women from Bethel choose to deliver in Anchorage. Anchorage is the big city and has two very nice hospitals with all modern amenities including epidurals and NICUs. For us it would mean a two week hotel stay before the birth during the height of tourist season, most likely an induced birth, and being separated from eachother. Anyone else want to agree with me that this doesn't sound like much fun? However, it may be reality, is reality for a lot of people out here, and if anything bumps me out of low risk it will be the only choice. I have heard that Providence Hospital has a campground attached to it, and that it may be possible to rent a R.V. and then we could stay there until I had to deliver. It would be cheaper than a hotel and just bizarre enough to be fun.

Anyway, I get to meet another one of the Dr.'s for my prenatal care next week, they have a women's clinic at the hospital (no private practices). I will write about the experience of seeing a Dr. in Bethel, which if you hadn't guessed by now, is a little bit different than seeing a Dr. other places.

Bethel winter, 2nd time around and apartment hunting

A lot of people told us that the 2nd winter here is worse than the first. They say that the novelty of being in such a different and dramatic place wears off and it is just cold and dark for a long time. I am glad to report that after a month into our second winter we are doing just fine. They are right that the novelty has worn off, but it is also not that bad. We are busy, so busy, with work and school and the day to day chores that we don't notice the cold and darkness so much. Also, a big, big, difference is that we did not have a car last winter. It makes things so much easier. In fact, I think we were nuts to go through a whole winter without one. How thankful I am for our Bethel Beater.

However, one thing that is causing frustration is our search for a new apartment or house. We really want a house that has a wood stove. There are lots of houses in Bethel that have wood stoves, but they are not rentals. Or maybe some of them are, we wouldn't know. As most of you probably remember it was extremely hard for us to find a place to rent when we moved here. You would think it would be easier to find a place once you are here, but we have not had much luck. Perhaps we haven't tried hard enough, but I did not realize that in order to find a new place we would have to devote ourselves to that sole purpose full time. We don't have access to FirstClass which is a network that most rentals are posted on (the only place rentals and classifieds are posted on-that is except the 2 or 3 rentals that are posted in the paper and are generally rented before the paper goes to press ). Our friend Kari is in a similar predicament, so if any renters are reading: We are very hard working and quiet, we will take excellent care of your property. And if you have a woodstove, please rent to us!