I called the doctor’s office this morning, and arranged the next set of steps.  I had some blood drawn today, the Rhogam has been ordered, and I’ll pick that up tomorrow morning and take it to the doctor at 9 for my injection.  I’m still spotting, essentially, and just waiting for the intense part to happen.  I’m called out for tomorrow as well, but my coteacher is going to pick up the Sam’s card and a check so that I can buy the concessions for Friday’s semi-formal.  So, at least I’m doing SOMETHING for work.  I think I’ll be able to do the graduations, with the accommodation of my mom doing all the driving.  I will be sitting for most of it, only standing to shoot during actual conferral.  I can probably handle that.  I also have backup for the dance, if I need help setting up or tearing down, last year’s advisor had offered to take charge, so that’s nice.  Honestly, the biggest bitch is getting the concessions.

After I arranged things with the doc, Andy and I went to campus.  I saw Marilyn, who looked at me funny when she realized I was there on a school day, and I told her what was going on (I had JUST told her on Tuesday that I was pregnant) and she was great, as usual.  I was filling out my GA application, and none of the categories to fill out matched "lab assistant – IT", so I ended up in the lab talking to the current and outgoing GA about what I should put.  She told me to just write a paragraph describing what she does (which, seriously, this is the PERFECT GA job for me, ever: anyone who read back in the Americorps days, or about my private clients, it’s all that.  Helping people use the computers, basically.) and then said "It doesn’t matter, really, I mean, you HAVE THE JOB, you know."  Which, I had a strong feeling I did, due to the "Wink, Wink"ing of last week, but it was nice to hear such a vote of "Duuuuhhh" confidence.

I also noticed on the app that in addition to my (granted, small, just over 9k) stipend, I will get 9 credits in the Fall semester, 9 in the spring, and 6 in the summer following my service.  That, m’dears, means that I will be DONE in Fall 06, having to only (MAYBE) pay for……. ONE class. Three credits. That’s it.

I’ve had the first 12 paid by my school as a benefit for teachers, the next 24 are through the GA position, and then I take one class in Fall 06, and I’m… done. Whoa.

I may loan ~ 10k, on top of my stipend, for cost of living.  I’m also awaiting word on the scholarship, but if I do need to loan some living money (esp if I get pregnant again) to finish my M. Ed with less than 15k in loans (from undergrad and grad) isn’t so bad.  Especially when I talk to princessjeanne.  AND, I will be done with my degree quicker than part time, so able to reap the benefits of the advanced education more quickly. Which means I may have a more mama-friendly job/income/schedule when the inevitable baby arrives. So, yay!

After being on campus, Andy and I went for sushi (mmmmmm, sushi!) and I went home and my coteacher called and took me to my blood draw, and then for a chai latte at Starbucks.  We walked around the mall, daring a parent to see us (Debbie had scheduled these days as personal days weeks ago), and then went to Sprague’s nursery and looked at plants.  I came home and atemy sushi leftovers (MMMMMMM) and took a nap and talked to Amy, and my parents showed up and dropped off the Outback’s summer tires, and talked for a bit, and then Dave came home and drew caricatures of me while I made dinner, and now I’m camped out on the couch  . . . . waiting.

I was hoping this would be more like a period, that the spotting that started yesterday would increase gradually, that Day 2 would be the worst, and I would be. .. manageable by Wednesday.  Since I have to take tomorrow for the RHogam shot, I’m hoping the worst comes sooner rather than later.  Many people have said it’s labor-like, with waves of cramping, and perhaps more emotional as it intensifies.  I really don’t want that to be at school. Call me crazy.  If I were in an office setting, it might be more manageable, but not with 40 kids and a sub (Deb isn’t back til Thursday.)

One of the weirdest things I’m mourning in this, is that I’d been sharing this experience with some of my favorite bloggers…. when I read that Lulu was pregnant, I called her and squealed into her ear, and her mother’s, I think, while she was driving on the 405.  "How weird is that! Our birthdays are a week apart, and our kids’ will be too!"  Bizarrogirl and Moominmolly I’d been reading quietly for years, and pregnancy was a way to come out of the closet and say "Wheee, me too! How’re you feeling?"  And now I’m like, "Oh, shit, this is my stop.  I got my tickets on Priceline, so I have a weird layover, but I’ll see you at the destination, y’all!"   And when I do get to the destination, I hope I have Persephone on my flight, too, with any of the other silent readers that are going through the same thing.  I’m saving you all seats.