So I emailed Sue Bitler from HSTA to ask her what, contractually, we are allowed in terms of maternity leave...and here's what she said...

• We are allowed FOUR weeks of maternity leave which comes out of our accumulated sick leave days.
• Holidays, intersessions, and breaks do NOT count toward this four week period...sick leave days are only deducted for WORK days.
  
• We are entitled to 20 days of Family Leave which will be deducted out of accumulated sick leave days.
  
• You are also entitled to your five Personal Leave days (if you have not used them for the year).
  
• Maternity and Family Leave are not contract leaves...they are state leaves available to all state employees. Personal Leave is a contract leave.
  

Goodness gracious, thank GOD for knowledgeable people who are willing to help me out!!!!

So I still gotta go look at my calendar and figure it all out, but that makes me feel a LOT better knowing that the break isn't being wasted time for me.