Why I would have been on time...

I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. Two nights ago, I woke up at 2:00, and didn’t fall back asleep until 6:00. Yesterday, I was a zombie. A nurse friend and two formerly pregnant women told me that Tylenol PM is safe during pregnancy, so I took it last night. It was amazing. I only got up twice during the night to go to the bathroom, and I woke this morning feeling great. I even made it to the parking lot of work on time!

Here’s the funny part: as I was getting out of my car to head into the office, I got a call from Q, who was stranded on the side of the road with a dead batttery. Now, we’re sitting here trying to fix it (Q thinks we’ll just have to replace it). By the time we’re done, it will be time for my Dr’s appt, so there’s no point in going in at all (I was already scheduled for a 1/2 day).

I think I get an A for effort, right?

Waiting!

No matter the frequency of my Dr’s appts (4 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week…), throughout my pregnancy, time between appointments always feels like an eternity!  I’m so curious about every little development, that I can barely keep myself occupied with pregnancy books, baby development iPhone apps (yes, I have 2), babycenter.com, etc.  It’s even worse that the past 4 Dr’s appointments have been pretty uneventful.  Each week, I hear the same thing:  weight gain, BP, baby’s heart rate (only fun part!), and the inevitable question from Dr. Lee, “Are you walking every day?”  I respond, half shamefully, “no.”  I’m sorry, I know there are tons of women who get out there in the heat and walk every day, and I admire them, I truly do.  Dr. Lee even suggested mall walking to beat the heat.  I am sure Dr. Lee was a champ during her pregnancies, zipping around the hospital, being a Dr, going home to her other children, being a mom, etc, which is why I don’t offer excuses to her, but I’ll offer some to you:  I get home from work, and I have things to do!  Grocery shopping, dinner preparation, laundry, cleaning, etc.  By the time all that is done, I am exhausted.  Don’t they also tell pregnant women to rest?  Earlier on in pregnancy, Q and I swam in the evenings, but now even that’s too much of a pain (because then I have to shower at night, which doesn’t work well for the next day’s hair, and the thought of showering at night and in the morning is too exhausting to think of).  Anyway, enough explanation.  I promise that after I have the baby and am cleared to exercise, I will be back in the gym paying for this, just please don’t ask me to do it now!!

The good news is that my appt on Friday should be informative, because they are going to check me, which is great!  I might not be dilated, but at least I’ll know that I’m not.  Even better, the appt NEXT Friday is my ultrasound!!  I CANNOT WAIT!  WOO!  The Friday after that, I meet with the LifeShare people to sign all of the paperwork for the cord blood donation.  That should be pretty neat.  27 days to go!

Why I Was Late

I woke up and got out of bed at 6:30, ate breakfast, then checked email and made a grocery list.  After that, I realized I had some extra time, so I got back into bed (mistake) to lie down for a little while.  Naturally, I fell asleep.  I woke up at 9:07, showered, and amazingly, managed to be dressed and ready by 9:50.  I thought I might make it on time, but then I remembered that I told Q I’d drop off all of his dress pants at the cleaners on my way to work (had to be done this morning, because he only kept two pairs at home: one for today, and one for tomorrow).  So, I dropped off the clothes, then headed to work.  I was 20 minutes late.  Not too shabby!

Why I was Late

I was 30 minutes late today because I am EXHAUSTED!  I went to bed last night feeling like I was going to throw up.  I awoke several times during the night to acid reflux that hurt so badly I thought I’d start spitting fire.  Anyway, this morning, I got up in plenty of time to make it here for 8:30, but I kept stopping the getting ready process to just sit and stare off into space.  I sat in the parking lot here for 10 minutes just sitting and resting in my car.  I know, pathetic.

I still feel nauseous, and my stomach is really tight.  I am also about to fall asleep.  I would go home, but the idea of going down the elevator, walking to my car, and driving anywhere is too exhausting to comprehend.  I guess I’m stuck.

Call Social Services!!

Last night, I was boiling pasta, and I was in kind of a hurry because my cousins’ kids were coming over to help me make recycled jewelry for this Junior League thing I have this weekend.  Anyway, I lifted the large pot off of the stove, and started walking to the sink.  At that moment, Q walked in and insisted that I let him do it, but stubbornly, I wouldn’t.  While trying to display my autonomy, I poured the boiling water and noodles into the colander too quickly, and as a result, half of the water spilled over the side of the sink and counter, and onto my stomach.   I spent the next 20 minutes with a cold rag over my midsection to cool it off and to hopefully slow down the burning.  This child hasn’t even been born and she already has a first degree burn!  Seriously, report me!

This dream is for Lacey

Last night, I dreamt that Q and I were in a cab, and the driver had been a PA for Law and Order, and Law and Order SVU (sadly, not CI).  Anyway, we asked her tons of questions about the show, the actors, etc.  I even texted Lacey to see if there was anything she wanted us to ask.  Ha!

Why I was Late

I got up at 6:00 this morning, and miraculously got dressed in time to be on time for work.  I decided to drop off a prescription at Walgreen’s on the way, but while dropping it off, discovered that the medicine is on backorder (almost universally) and that lots of pharmacies were having a hard time getting it.  I pulled out of the drive through and into the parking lot, and made a list of all of the Walgreen’s in BR, then started calling them one-by-one (for some reason, the medicine locator doesn’t work for this particular prescription).  At the bottom of the list, I found it!  It was at a pharmacy far, far, away.  I drove there and decided to wait on it, since it was so far, but then they said it would be over an hour.  My mom called to tell me my rug was ready, so I figured I’d pick it up and get back in time to get the medicine.  As usual, my trip to mom’s shop lasted longer than planned, but I made it out around when I wanted to.  I got back to Walgreen’s and I had to wait 15 more minutes.  By this time, it was 11:30, and traffic was starting to pick up on Airline Hwy.  I got stuck waiting for a train that never materialized, which was no fun.  I got to work at noon.

Funny or not?

So, my mom and her husband have two careers:

1. They own a custom rug design/binding business
2. They teach cajun dance lessons

Being the daughter of people with a custom rug business has its perks.  Last night, I brought a piece of carpet home to lay down in the living room to make sure I liked it before giving my mom the go ahead to cut it to size and bind it for me.  When I asked Q to get it out of the back of my car yesterday evening, he commented on its size, and asked why I didn’t just get a sample.  I told him that I didn’t want to ask Roland to cut the rug, before I knew whether or not it would work for us (especially if it didn’t, because then someone else might not be able to use it. [They are doing this for us for free, so I like to be as accommodating as possible]).  

Anyway, at that moment, I realized that in 10 years, not one of my brothers, Wes, or I have made the joke that BOTH of their careers involve cutting rugs!  The thought of this cracked Q and me up for at least 20 minutes.  I called my mom, and it had never occurred to her either.  I relayed the story to Mills, Frank, CEB, and Glenn, who all had lukewarm responses.  (CEB’s was better than the others though).  Douggie Pop, one of my other brothers, liked it (although I sent it to him in an email, so I am not sure if he chuckled as much as I like to imagine he did).  Anyway, I thought I’d ask all of you:  Do you think this is funny?

Torture!

I am bringing cookies to work today for Derek’s birthday, so I’ve been baking this morning.  I decided to claim pregnancy exemption from “from scratch” cookies.  I told them I was too fat to stand in the kitchen rolling out dough for hours, so I bought pre-made dough.  The problem is, pre-made dough is actually more delicious than the cookies it produces (in my opinion), but since I’m pregnant, I can’t eat any of it (raw eggs).  Seriously, it’s torture.  I’ve avoided the cookie dough section of the grocery store for months, and have been fine, but it’s just there, in the kitchen, taunting me.  To make it worse, of course Q got to eat some.  He tried to be sneaky about it, but I’m no fool!!

Pregnancy Update/Dr's appt recap

35 weeks today (8 3/4 months)

Feeling: Great, although I am pretty sure the acid reflux that showed up last week is here to stay.  It’s the worst when I haven’t eaten in a while and drink water.  (Maybe everyone already knows that, but I’m new to the heartburn/acid reflux game).

Weight: 181lbs - WHOA!

Bra size: Didn’t move.  All those new lbs, and maybe only 1 went to the chest area.  Cruel.

Baby’s heartbeat: 150bpm

My blood pressure: 104/60

Next appt: August 21st.  That will be my last 2 week appt, then I move to weekly appts.  On August 28th, I have an ultrasound and appt.  I can’t wait!  Also, I think that on the 21st (I’ll be 36 weeks, 4 days) they start checking for dilation, which will be exciting, although I know it doesn’t mean that much (some people walk around dilated for weeks, and some people aren’t dilated at all then have their water break the next day).  It will still be fun to have more info than just my weight, BP, and baby’s HR.

Things to do:  iron baby’s first picture outfit, steam carpet in baby’s room, cook and freeze meals, finish putting necessary items in diaper bag (don’t need this for the hospital, I just want it to be done).  Other than that, not much!  My bags are packed, the car seat is in the car, and all of her clothes are washed and put away.

Emily gave me a fun timer yesterday that measures time between feedings, naps, diaper changes, etc.  It even has a L and R switch on the front so you can remember which breast you used first at the last feeding.  Perfect for the stressed, forgetful, overwhelmed new mom.  It also has a clip on the back so I can fashionably wear it around the house. ;)

All the way up?

Today is going to be a pretty good day.  I have a Dr’s appt, a prenatal massage, then a haircut.  The only downside to this wonderful day is that I realized in the middle of my bath that I should shave my legs to the top, as a courtesy to the massage therapist.  My reaction to this realization was similar to that of Rose on the Golden Girls episode where Blanche reveals that she shaves above the knee.  Ha!  I got through it, but pregnancy sure does complicate things that were once no big deal!!