Part of the last class was to visit the birthing suite, and it was very strange being up there. Seeing the bed and all of the equipment like incubators, stirrups, etc. made me feel like an alien, completely out of place. I didn’t feel like I belonged there, I looked at all of the other women and their partners and thought ah yes, they’re all having babies, but I didn’t feel like that myself. I’m a pilot, I’m not one of these! It was very surreal.
A slightly funny note was during the class when we were all instructed to dress and swaddle dolls, which was very easy (it was demonstrated first) and I was joking around as usual (and finished first) and the midwife asked “so, Kate, what do you do for a job?” It was quite amusing to reply “I’m a pilot,” and see the stunned faces! “I was not expecting that!” she said. I’m not sure if it was the joking around that prompted the question, or the quick and efficient dressing of the doll, but it was amusing!
We have also had lots of practise swaddling the dog (this photo is from August!)
From next Monday, I apparently have to get doctors’ certificates to say I could work, if work wanted me to work (which they don’t), in other words, to ensure that I keep getting paid. I’m hoping to get paid for another 3 weeks (up to 37 weeks) at least before going on official ‘maternity leave.’ So 3 exceedingly pointless trips to the doctor! I haven’t worked since Christmas, when I stopped flying, but work didn’t have any office work (‘safe work’) for me to do, so they have just been paying me to sit at home.
I have, however, managed to use my sitting at home usefully! I am currently working on filling a chest freezer with meals. It’s not a large freezer - 146L I believe - but we got it secondhand off FB marketplace and it is very satisfying to fill. So far, I have made enchiladas, lasagne, tuna fish pie and cottage pie. Not sure what the next recipe will be, but I accept ideas! These meals are for when Joey comes home from the hospital, although with Dave home the first couple of weeks, I will probably try to save most for when he starts his new job on 14 April.
So many cottage pies!
On the subject of Dave’s new job, that is also news. Dave was asked to interview at a company last year - probably in May or June, if memory serves me right. He never even applied for the job - but after interviewing, they said he did really well but they didn’t actually know if they needed him! In November, he suddenly got a call saying “can you start on Monday” and obviously the answer was no, as he had way too much work (and responsibilities) at the current job. He replied saying that he did want to work for them, but that with commitments plus the new baby due 22 March, it was likely to be April before he could realistically start. Everything went deathly quiet.
And then, in late January, they contacted him again, asking him to come in for a meeting, and offered him a start date of 14 April. This gives him time (hopefully) to wrap everything up at his current place, and finish up around the time that Joey is due. And even if she is late, he should still be able to have around 2 weeks at home with us.
It is going to be quite an adjustment for Dave, of course. Having been an aircraft engineer for 25 years, it is not a small thing to walk away from. He is now going to be instructing engineering, and that is going to be a challenge for him, as standing in front of a group of people isn’t exactly something with which he is comfortable!
So it is going to be a big year for all of us... new year, new baby, new job, no flying for me, etc etc. hopefully we will come through it :)
And for now... I must clean the house a bit in preparation for our visitors tonight!
