I went to my new doctor today. I think I like him. It was a little bit strange, though....at my old doctor, it was very quiet in the waiting room, and there were usually only a few people there. This doctor is part of a much larger practice, and there were patients of ALL ages there--more than half of the waiting room was over 60, no joke. And boy, was it packed! I was lucky to find a seat (and the room is pretty huge, so the fact that it was so packed is saying something). My old doctor was in an unassuming little building--you drive up, you park, you get out and you go to the second floor. This practice is right next to the hospital where I'll deliver, so there's crazy downtown traffic, you have to park in a parking garage, my doctor is way up on the eighth floor of the medical complex...it's much more hectic and not nearly as "secure" of a feeling as my old office was. My mom drove me today because Mr. ABC123 is out of town, so he couldn't come with me, and I didn't know where I was going. My mom happened to be very familiar with the building because it's where her ob/gyn used to be, so she's been there zillions of times. I have to say, I was glad not to have to try and navigate that traffic AND figure out where the heck I was going by myself.

I got information on how to pre-register at the hospital, and they also asked me about who I wanted the pediatrician to be. Um...I've only been back in town three days, and when I lived here before, the only pediatrician I paid any attention to was the one I went to. The nurse must've seen my deer in the headlights look because she gave me a list of local doctors who are accepting newborns, with her favorite starred and circled. I guess Mr. ABC123 and I will be going to interview the pediatrician when he gets back, because the paper says they want their patients to have decided by 33 weeks--not that far away.

They also gave me something I've never heard of before. Apparently to be eligible to deliver at this hospital, you have to go to the anesthesiologist's office and watch a ten minute "educational" video on epidurals, then pre-register with them, too. I was assured that registering does NOT obligate me to have an epidural, but I can't deliver at the hospital until I've been "educated" and registered. I guess that makes sense--at least if I choose to go that route, I'll be more informed about it. For the first few moments, I felt really pressured, but then I read all the material...so, red flag down, I guess.

Sorry this is such a long post. Can you tell I am absolutely bored to tears? My husband is away, my sister is practically knocked out from her lupus meds, and my parents don't get ANY channels on TV. I don't mean they don't have cable (which they don't)--I mean, FOX, NBC, ABC...nothing. Usually during the day I find things to keep myself busy, but after dinner...it's all downhill from there. I've been going to bed at 9 just because I have nothing better to do. At least tomorrow we're leaving for Mobile--that should spice life up for a few days! When I get back, hubby will be home, and that will help too.