Third Time's a Charm

Maybe you have guessed? I have received the precious piece of paper today, "avis favorable" for my driving permit today.  Now I will have to wait approximatly 4 months to have the real permit.  I don't understand why the Prefecture would take that long to print me out a piece of plastic.  So for now, driving outside France is  not allowed.  I went straight away to purchase my "A" magnet to put it on the back on the car. No more driving courses, no more painful checks to sign.  I admit, I don't feel comfortable driving alone just yet.  It will take me weeks to be confident to drive alone but I have finally reached my goal.      

A quick update

I have finally bought the tickets for Canada.  I'll be in Montreal this Friday.  Our suitcases are not even packed yet.  I'll throw some basics and 1 or 2 pants, and buy new clothes in Canada. I've done a lot of clothing stores in Lille, and I haven't found anything that I like.  Eight years in France, and I never found women clothes here that suit my taste.  When I boooked the tickets, I have only checked for the dates that are affordable, but didn't noticed it was 25 days on vacation.  I hope we won't get bored.  We are planning on visiting Boston and New York.  My husband never went.  

On Monday, I also took AGAIN my driving test, and I failed.  I try not to be annoyed by this, but I had insomnia after I took the test.  I did an overtake and the examiner grabbed the wheel.  He let me continue the rest of the exam, and I didn't think it was a big deal.  The next day, on the comments he made : Queue de poisson dangereux.  I feel such like a failure.  But then again, a lot of people I know in France took the test 3 times.  Don't know how is this productive.  I also learned that examiners are on strike today, because the government will ask polimen and some retired examiners to monitor the theory tests, instead of regular examiners.  They will keep the same amount of examiners, no more hiring.  So of course, those fonctionnaires are against any reform.  If they let me pass the test again, I'll be at 5 or 6 months of my pregnancy.  I really hope I can deal with this without too much stress. 

Also, I have other visits to the hospital, one with dietician and one a the diabetes specialist.  The dietician told me not to eat fruit outside meals and insisted I eat more carbs, i.e. bread, and 6 full table spoons of rice and I am allowed to 150 g of meat, which is only once per day.   She also said that tofu and soy products should be avoided.  I have cut down on these already, and researched about it a little, but then again, Asian women have been eating soy products for ages and I don't think their babies have health issues.  Ever heard of this?

I don't know how to handle my eating habbits when I'll be in Canada.  There's so much food and restaurants that I want to try.  Oh well, I will need willpower.  I will have to see the dietician and diabetes specialist every month.  I really don't know how much it costs, but I find that France is really intense when it comes to prenatal care.  I'm sure they would prefer babies in good health than babies with health problems, which could costs a lot more to the government.

An unexpected visit

Couple of days ago, a person from the Interior ministry called to set up an appointment at my house, for my naturalization application.  He didn't say his name and when I asked what was the purpose of the interview, the man answered vaguely that he wanted to ask me some questions.  He didn't say what documents I would have to provide.  Luckily, I kept every document in a binder and just needed to have it nearby.  He showed this morning, and he showed his police badge.  Gulp.  He stayed 30 minutes, and asked roughly the same questions as the other policeman in April.  This one though, is from another service.  More like "secret agent" or something, he asked about a petition that I signed on the net in 2003, about Ca m b o d i a.  He said your parents and your sister signed it too.  Then asked if I were involved in some political party, I said I couldn't even vote, why? lol  I guess he doesn't want a trouble maker in the country.  He also asked how I met my husband, where my parents and sister live.  He went into more details than the other policeman.  He really wants to see if I was a suitable candidate for French citizenship.  That was pretty much it. I guess that he found it suspicious that my home address is the same as my work address.  I have applied in February, and heard from the Interior ministry only in June.  The préfecture said they have one year to give me an answer.  At least, I know they have treated my dossier.

 I freaked out the whole morning.  Not only because of the interview, but also I was waiting for the results from my doctor, I decided to take the screening test for down syndrom, and the doctor told me this morning that it was all fine.  I was more preoccupied by this than the policeman.  Next week, I will have an appoitment with the midwife, and only then I would purchase my  tickets for Canada. 

Pregnancy part 2

My intention is not to talk about baby stuff all the time in this blog (and annnoy the hell of those who are not interested in babies), but bear with me, it's been only 2 weeks since I really "understood" that I am having a baby.  

It's been a whirlwind of medical appointments since.  I have contacted the hospital where I would give birth.  They gave me an appointment with a midwife.  My cousin who lives in the States is shocked that I have been followed by a GP only.  She said that in the U.S. it is an OB/Gyn from the start of the pregnancy.  I was annoyed and scared when she told me that.  But France is baby-land and it is not the first time they deliver babies.  I think that specialists are way more expensive than midwives and GP's, so specialists are not a necessity at this point.  Besides all the medical expenses are covered by the social security in France, so this must be a way to cut down on costs.  I really don't know how it would be if I were pregnant in Canada. 

 In the past 2 weeks, I've done a little research on pregnacy.  The doc told me I was not immunized to Rubella and Toxoplamosis.    Those diseases aren't not dangerous for "normal" people, but for pregnant women, it could cause harm to the unborn baby.  I was wondering at first why in hell can't the doc just give me a vaccine already, it seems that once you get pregnant, you can't get vaccinated.  They can only monitor with blood tests each month.  

Last week, I also had my first echography.  At only 2 months and a half, I saw the baby swimming in my belly, rotating and it was a challenge for the doc to take pictures, because he/she can't stay still.  With the baby on the tv screen, and pictures in hand, this is for real.  There is a real baby in there.

I also learned that I needed to watch my glucose, if it gets high, I could have gestational diabetes which can also lead to complication, a baby that would grow too fast and prematurely. I don't have anyone around in France to tell me what to do with a baby.  I am clueless.  I rather not have my French mother-in-law around me to tell me what to do.  Mothers-in-law are what they are....annoying. 

I think my trip to Canada would be a great break from all this.  Besides, most of my friends had babies, they will give me some advices I hope.

Having kids was not my priority in life, plus I was constantly nagged by my MIL for not being pregnant.  Because of her, I was even more reluctant. I thought I wasn't made to be a mom, and my periods were not the most regular. (is it TMI? lol).  I guess things happen for a reason.  I have to ajust to this now, and prepare to be less selfish and less careless. lol  If things go as planned, by mid-December I would finally meet the baby.  I admit I can't wait.

36

I just turned 36, and also "learned" that I was pregnant.  I was in denial for a couple of weeks, but the tests were positive.  At that age, I feel I was too old to have children, plus after being married 8 years, this came as a shock.  The doc said I was at 2 months and a half.  I am not prepared for this, and my husband and I are freaking the hell out.  I have always wanted to keep my blog semi-private, but I guess this is too big news to keep it a secret.   I was planning on going back to Canada for summer, but I am concerned about flying in my condition.  Any thoughts and advices to share?