pre-birth(unpaid) leave?

I had my first "I assume you are expecting." comment, I guess I really am showing(though I still think I look like I drink too much beer)...

I'll try and upload belly shots next week, when I get my NEW computer!!! I've been using an old hand-me-down computer, which has worked fairly well, and been a great help, but now that I am working online every day(teaching a summer online writing course) I am ready for the new, speedy one! It should arrive by next Friday.

I am having a quandary about time off next semester. I thought I'd be required to take the semester off, as it isn't like high school(etc) where they just bring in a substitute. But, I was told there is no set protocol.

I am currently scheduled to just teach one class, 2 days a week, class time is 1 hr. 10 minutes. The rest of the work is stuff I can do from home. Most weeks, that is just another 5 hours. So, less than 10 hrs a week of work.

I don't want to have to take off all of Sept. and Oct. for my Nov. due date, especially as I don't get paid, if I don't teach. Also, I love the class, and it is such a breeze to teach now(as I've taught this class, at this school, for 3 years).

If I did teach, I'd just set the class up to have a sub(I'd have to find one) for the week of the birth(whenever that may be) and/or make assignments and an online plan for that time period. The semester ends in the first week of Dec. and before that, we have thanksgiving break. I talked to a friend in academia who returned to classes the week after her son's birth and said it was fine, and that if I love teaching it, to do it(that she would)... The main worry: I don't want to cheat the students.

If I don't teach: we are out the money, but were expecting to be, so could manage, thriftily. I may be a bit stir-crazy those 2 months, or may like all the freedom. Either way, it will be nice to have the extra time, either not working at all, or such a reduced schedule.

Because the hour requirements are so minimal, I am seriously pondering it..
Thoughts?

The Folly of Early Testing

Today's line was faint, fainter than yesterday's(which still looks like a real line).
I am so annoyed at myself for testing early! I am only 10 dp"o" today, so I know it is ridiculously early. My original plan had been to start testing on Wed. or Thursday, but the POAS- bug bit me.

I'm finishing up the typing and moving onto arranging artwork for the kid's anthology. I love child drawings, the way they deal with trying to visually express what they perceive the world(or what is in their head) to be. Faces seem paramount, on people and animals. Arms and hands seem to cause a lot of uncertainty. Whatever is most important(or whomever) is largest in the drawing.

I sometimes do brief drawing lessons in amongst my writing lessons, and I love to see them using their new knowledge.

Example-
Me- "what shape is the head?"
2nd grade class- "ROUND!"
I draw a circle and ask them to look at the person next to them.
Someone asks, "Oval?"
Me- "Yes" I draw an oval.
Me- "Where do the eyes go?"
Class- "Top of the head!"
I draw two eyes on the top of the round head, and repeat the "look at someone near you" advice.
We progress from there, with proportions, and how the nose lines up with the ears, etc.
The next drawings are noticeably better, and still charming.