The big box

We got home today from a trip to the bridal shop to pick up my dress for my brother's wedding (Yay! It finally fits!) and the library to get some books to find a big box sitting on the front porch. Since the box has a baby on it I thought, "Oooh! Someone sent a baby gift!" It seems the huge parade of gifts that arrive before a couple has their first child simply doesn't happen the second time around. I've received a couple of outfits from my mom, an outfit from my stepbrother and his wife for Christmas, and a beautiful blanket knit by a longtime friend, but not the daily packages I received before my firstborn. I'm not complaining. I'd personally rather gifts to the kids' 529 accounts...but not everyone appreciates my Virgo sensibilities.

But no, it wasn't a present for the baby, it was the box we're supposed to bring with us to the hospital:
Well, that's a drawing, but pretty much that's what the box looks like. It's actually quite heavy for its size.

I've been an organ donor since I've been old enough to identify myself as one (I believe that the magic age was 18 when I lived in Connecticut). My husband doesn't agree with the idea of organ donation. He's fairly convinced that the toll to get into the Afterlife is part of one's liver, or left kidney...and what happens when we get there together, and I can't get in because they harvested my kidneys? Or my right cornea? I remind him at this point that Jews don't believe in an Afterlife. And if he wants to jump over to my side of the fence, I'm sure Jesus will forgive him -- he's just that kind of guy. My husband usually laughs heartily at this point...

Anyway, we actually AGREED about the idea of donating our baby's cord blood, which will either be used for medical research or for treatment of any number of diseases that can be treated with placenta-derived stem cells. There are only a few states right now that support donations, and though New Jersey does, the Catholic hospital we're delivering at does not. So, we had to find a private company that accepts donations and is willing to come and get it from my hospital room. My OB will do the actual collection, which he said "wasn't a big deal".

I admit, I feel a bit like Alice today. I want to open up the big box and see what's inside...but who knows how long it will actually be until we are on our way to the hospital with our big box? My various online calendars that remind me I'm 35 weeks pregnant are all reminding me to "pack a bag for the hospital this week! You never know..." We're off to the doctor tomorrow, so we'll see what he says. He will probably think the idea of carrying my hospital bag and cord donation kit around in the trunk of my hatchback is just plain goofy.