One Year Later . . .

Well yesterday was our one-year anniversary of arriving in Istanbul.  A year ago, we packed up all of our worldly belongings and moved it all to Istanbul.  We had quite a rocky start, especially living with his mother, but now things are much better in our own home.  The home itself has some real issues and now we are looking for another nest, but anything is better than living with MIL.

In other news, I attended my first Pregnant Mums and Newborns group last week.  There were about a dozen women in attendance, in various stages of pregnancy and with newborns up to 3 months old.  I tried to keep my mouth shut, I really did, but I'm not very good at that.  The subject of hospitals and doctors came up and I shared a little bit of my plans of birthing at home, no doctor, but didn't mention the midwife (due to previously stated reasons).  I got the usual bit of, "You're so brave to be doing this at home without medication," etc., etc., ad nauseum.  Of course, I had my usual response: "Are you kidding?  I'm scared sh*tless, that's why I'm staying home.  You're the one who's brave--willing to risk an 8 in 10 chance of getting cut open."  All the mums with babies were breastfeeding, though, and I was happy to see that.  No need to pull out my "risks of artificial baby milks" speech.

I'm usually the oldest expectant mum in any group, but there was one woman there who was 39 and pregnant with her first.  She mentioned that her first doctor (she has since switched) said that with 39-year-old mums, they generally go straight for a cesarean.  I couldn't believe it!  Your vagina doesn't have an expiration date!  Neither does your uterus!  What are these doctors thinking?  ARGH!

We are going to try a housecleaner next week.  This woman was referred to me by a woman in the neighboring village.  The housecleaner lives within walking distance from us, so that's good.  I think she is coming just for a meet-and-greet, I don't know if she's planning to clean yet or not.  We need to discuss duties, price, etc.  She told Ekrem that if she doesn't work out for us (schedule conflicts, price, etc), that she knows other housecleaners in this area and may be able to refer us to someone else.  Right now I just want someone for half a day, two days a week.  But after the baby comes, I know I will need more help than that, probably every day.

Baby is doing well.  He is kicking up a storm these days.  We think he may be a football player and Ekrem is ready to sign him up for Galatasaray already.  He has been using my bladder for a ball today.  And to think that we are not even halfway through--there is much more to come!  Meg wasn't this active so early, that I remember anyway, so I'm surprised at the amount of movement of this little fella.  Nineteen weeks now--almost halfway there!