Oliver's Journal
For the first time in a long time, we all had a pretty quiet weekend. I'd originally planned with Sirius to have a surprise party for Ali's birthday on the weekend. The plans had been all set in place, but fate stepped in. I think Ali had overdone it during the week with her trip to the spa and probably just the dramas of late in general catching up with her. She had another couple of fainting spells on Thursday and Friday night, and quick check over of her told me she had low blood pressure. She has such a thin build, so it's not uncommon. She just needs to bloody learn to take it easy. So, I called the party off without her even knowing it had been planned. Thank Merlin, too. It meant I dodged the death glares of cancelling her party because she didn't actually know it was happening. I thought she would've picked up on it, because frankly, no one in our family are the best secret keepers, obviously. But she didn't have a clue. We're aiming to have it next week if all goes according to plan.
Whether Ali admits it or not, she's tired more often than not, but again, this is normal for the late stages of pregnancy. Obviously, I'm touching her all the time, so I would be able to feel if anything too worriesome was amiss. It's not. Other than the fainting, which can be controlled with rest, she is actually experiencing a very normal and healthy pregnancy. But we all do know she thinks its a nightmare! Merlin love her. She says she isn't made to be a girl, but I think she pulls it off better than most of the really feminine girls I've ever known.
It's not too late at night, but she fell asleep hours ago, so I made my way to bed early to be with her. She is snuggling right into my side and doesn't seem to want to let go anytime soon. She keeps trying to cuddle her arm tighter around my stomach and waist in her sleep, and I have to keep moving it up and away from my wound. It's healing well, but any pressure still hurts quite a bit.
I'm actually aiming to get back to work either next week or the week after. When I mentioned this to Sirius, he wasn't happy. Still, I'm much better now and they need me at work. It makes sense to start thinking about going back. Siri slipped a note under our door a wee while ago and told me that Molly and Hermione are taking Ali out clothes shopping for the day tomorrow, so he wants us to have a father and son day together. I'm looking forward to it. It will be nice to spend Wednesday with Siri. We haven't really done that since quite awhile before I got sick. I mean, I obviously won't be able to go riding with him, or drink with him, or anything like that. Probably a good thing, considering our track record, but I'm sure we can find something to do to occupy our time while Ali, Molly and Mione do all that girly stuff.
Getting Ali to remain inactive and still is almost impossible. She just will not - or can not - I'm not sure which, yet. Everytime we tell her to sit and rest, she will do it, but it's accompanied by crankiness and glaring. Sirius and I agree unanimously that we are fucking lucky she has no use of magic! I told Siri the other night that Ali is almost six months pregnant now, and he was really surprised. The time has flown by and it's going to be over before we know it. The funny thing is, she really does look six months pregnant, but of course, no one is going to dare tell her that! Bump is getting bigger every day and Ali is complaining of more and more sore backs and sore feet. Her stomach is also itchy, but she doesn't believe me when I tell her its just from the stretching. I just find it absolutely adorable when she sits there rubbing her stomach and talking to Bump. Sirius keeps catching me with the sappy looks on my face, which leads to piss-pulling!
We start our birthing classes later in the week. Why am I fucking nervous about these? I have delivered many, many babies. I really sort of know what is involved there, how a women should breathe, etc. BUT, this is my wife. My baby. And Ali can have very stubborn moments. She may not like me telling her what to do. Then, I also have a feeling she is going to want me right there next to her doing any and all of the required exercises. Now, I'm sure that would be an amusing sight to anyone watching, and I would do anything for her, but... a bloke doing birthing exercises? She gets that look in her eye when anyone mentions them. The same look she got when she told me I was drinking the two litres of water with her for the baby scan and wasn't allowed a pee until she was! I do understand how hard it is to be pregnant, and I think I'm a supportive husband. At least, I really hope I am. I haven't been all that much recently because of the operation, but I'm getting better now. I just don't know how I am going to sit on a beanbag in a room full of people in the same position as Ali and myself doing birthing exercises without laughing my arse off! Especially not if none of the other partners have to do it! And then there is the whole other realm that will no doubt follow with Harry and Draco pulling the piss!
And it all brings me back to the actual birth. This pregnancy seems to have flown by. At the end of July, Ali is 37 weeks and technically full-term, so baby could come anytime around then. That isn't very far away! Ali is having waves of feeling completely overwhelmed by everything which usually leads to tears. It's getting closer and closer everyday and I think she is going to need to be wrapped in cotton wool more than she likes to admit it. I'm just glad I'm able to take care of her and protect her, and that if I can't for some reason, our family will be here to help us get through it.