Triumph!

I'm feeling triumphant right now, having finished teaching my last class for the school year. Before I got pregnant, I was worried that I might have trouble keeping up with my work if I was sick or had any health problems. But today I can say that I taught for a whole academic year while pregnant, without canceling class once. Yay! I was tempted to cancel class a few times, even when I was driving to work during my first trimester and felt nauseated, but my adrenaline always kicked in and helped me to get through each class session.

And now, I'm done. I don't have to worry about throwing up from morning sickness in front of my class, or being able to stand on my feet for 1.5 hours, or, as of late, worrying that my water might break in the middle of lecture. Phew!

Really, all in all, these past nine months have been really great for me. I've been able to be a little bit more indulgent and do things "for me," since Sam has been in kindergarten. I've had time to work during the day and spent time with J in the evenings - a luxury which has been rare over the past several years, since I usually would watch Sam during the day (if I wasn't in the classroom) and working at night. I've also had time to sing in two university choirs and start a training program to be a docent at a local art museum. And, you know, grow a baby on the side.

It's been rejuvenating for me to do a lot of the extra activities, particularly singing. I realize that I won't be able to be so selfish and indulgent with my time for the next few years, particularly with a new baby in the house. But I hope to look back on this period of free time during the day with fondness. And I know that this indulgent phase will likely happen again one day, once Baby #2 starts kindergarten! And, hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with some of these activities in the meantime. I plan to keep up with the docent program, and I hope to continue with choir (even if I'm not as involved as I was over this past year).