When I first wrote this blog, I did a pretty good job. It was precise and explanatory and very factual. I even peppered it with a few opinions and some heartfelt sentiments. Truly, it was an A paper.
But y'know something? It just wasn't what I was trying to express. So I erased it.
Let's try this again...
Yesterday at our bi-monthly check up with Dr. John, he expressed his concern about my preterm labor. He explained that he was concerned about it and we were going to start preventative measures right away. He prescribed Procardia for my contractions. (I gotta take that pill every day.) He prescribed steroid shots to help develop Noodle's lungs, in case I go into labor in the next 3 weeks. And he prescribed bi-weekly NST's (non-stress tests) at the hospital to monitor that what we're doing is working and my contractions are actually gone. He also explained that he doesn't do "bedrest" anymore because most people aren't aware of the side effects of that, and he only does hospitalization when that becomes necessary. So if I don't continue to STRICTLY LIMIT MY ACTIVITY, my only other option is hospitalization. He assured us he doesn't want to do that and is confident our plan will work, but I have to do my part by not doing as much as possible.
Those are the facts, ma'am.
I'll be honest, I was upset for awhile. Not that I had to take pills or get shots or go for NST's, but because he wasn't UNconcerned. It truly bothered me that there was a problem and it wasn't nothing, like the nurses made it feel like when we were in L&D earlier this week. Dr. John is actually concerned about it. Dang it, that's not supposed to happen! He was supposed to tell me I was just being whiney and to keep doing massages, since those are making a difference with my contractions.
I spent the better part of last night praying, researching and crying. It doesn't matter what kind of positive spin I put on it, I just needed a night to be scared and concerned. So I was.
Today, however, I'm flipping the coin over! If I don't, I'll stress myself into oblivion. We know this.
So here's how I see it now:
Dr. John basically told me I'm not allowed to do my job. No chores, no shopping, no stairs, no lifting, no anything. I have to sit with my feet elevated as much as possible, only do the absolute ESSENTIALS, and leave the rest to others. He even explained that this pill I'm taking will make me pass out if I lift anything, making sudden movements, or bear down for any reason. So no picking up the toddler, or carrying my own groceries or anything crazy like that. Somebody else has to do it for me. Somebody else has to do my dishes, my laundry, my shopping, my sweeping, my EVERYTHING.
Aw, shucks.
And I have to go to the hospital twice a week to listen to Noodle's heart beat.
Darn it all, I tell ya! Not that!
Then to make matters worse, I need to remain relaxed. Which means that while my work is being done for me and my feet are up and I'm eating fruit, I have to laugh and have fun and not stress out about everyone else doing my job.
However will I cope?
*chuckle*
I could sit around feeling bad about it all, or I could bathe in the fact that I just got told I get the world's best paid vacation for the next 6-10 weeks. The shots are going to be terrible, but there are only 2, and what a great opportunity for me practice breathing through pain! The pills make it impossible for me to make any sudden moves or lift up the kicking, screaming toddler at bed time. And more to that point, I can't get up in the middle of the night when he wakes up because I can't go down the stairs that much and I certainly can't lift him up. Aww...more sleep...right before a new baby...that's the WORST. I have to sit around all day and can, in fact, get in trouble if I do the chores!
That's the best SAHM gig EVER!
I reached out last night and asked my family for help with the things I can no longer do. Someone else has to pick up my daughter from school. I need help shopping because I can't walk that much. And we worked out a few trades for getting some holiday stuff accomplished, so all of us are still getting stuff done. In all sincerity, it means EVERYTHING to me that my family is so willing to do whatever it takes to help me out. AND they won't let me sit around wallowing in fear and self pity, either. There's no question that I'll get whatever help I need. I am incredibly blessed to have such a close, loving and wonderful family. Thanks to each of you.
So...while I'm a little nervous about the chance of going into labor, I'm reassured that we're doing all we can to keep that from happening. I'm going to do my BEST to sit here and enjoy the fact that I'm a SAHM that is required to do nothing all day, and I'm going to breathe easy. I just gotta make this count for 6 weeks. After that, we stop all medication and testing and let Noodle do whatever Noodle wants to do.
On a quick side note, while I'm very sad about not going Trick or Treating with my kids tonight, I'm somewhat excited to see the craziness of the hospital. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Fourth of July are the funniest nights to be in a hospital. So, if I can't be with my kids, then at least I get a chance to see someone with a candy bar stuck up their nose, some crazy costumes and a lot more humor in the staff!
Well, I'd better go take my Procardia and put my feet up.
These Christmas projects aren't going to finish themselves!
Until next time...
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
T Minus Ten!!!
Well, it's official. I'm 30 weeks pregnant. That means there are only 10 weeks left, and that's IF I last to 40 weeks. 10. Just 10. And only 7 weeks until I'm considered "full term."
Now let's take a second to talk about that...
My doctor says I'm due on January 10th, 2014.
I say I'm due on January 6th, 2014.
That means, I'm "full term" on December 16th, 2013 (using my EDD of January 6th..)
Okay, we all know babies come out when they're good and ready. (Well, unless you schedule your delivery around convenience. But that's a whole different soap box...) We also know that Noodle hasn't exactly been cooperative about staying in the womb comfortably. It seems like every week there's another way Noodle is trying to convince me to go into labor. So for the last couple of weeks I've been listening to my body and I have to say that I now have BIG, LOUD instincts telling me that Noodle won't last to 40 weeks in there, and will make an appearance before either one of my EDD's.
My official guess is December 27th.
Any of my readers out there have a guess on Noodle's birthday?! I'd LOVE to hear them!
How Big is Noodle Now?
This week, Noodle is roughly 3lbs 12oz and somewhere around 17" long. They say that's the size of a large head of cabbage, but truthfully, it's as big as a 30 week baby! I don't think I've seen cabbage that was 17" long..
Maternity Clothes?
I purchased a long sleeve tee at Goodwill the other day, but it's not a good layering shirt. At least it's something. I'm seriously running out of clothes.
Stretch Marks?
Nope. Hooray!
Sleep?
Nope. None, really. Ugh.
Best Moment of the Week?
Going on a date with Mister.
It truly was a miserable party and we left early feeling older than we've ever felt. To make matters worse, we went home and planned on watching a movie, but fell almost immediately to sleep instead.
Needless to say, you know you're old when the music's too loud, the dresses are too short and 11pm is too late!
It was fun to dress up and hang out, though. And sleeping in was AWESOME.
Miss Anything?
SLEEP. Oh, I miss sleep!
And doing chores without feeling like I'm going to split in half.
And running.
And sleep.
Movement?
Noodle is still very active, which delights me to no end! It seems, however, that I may give birth to my first shy child. Noodle is absolutely quiet whenever we're around other people that may want to feel the movements...
Food Cravings?
Apples. Anything apples. It's kinda dumb.
Food Aversions?
Mayonnaise! Ugh!
Hot chicken!
Nacho cheese!
Labor Signs?
Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of contractions. Oh man.
Moderate cramping every now and then.
Pelvic pressure!
Belly Button?
It doesn't really look like a belly button anymore. It's all dented and shallow and weird.
Happy or Moody?
I've been emotional again this week. Everything seems to make me cry. I miss not crying...
Looking Forward To?
We have our glucose appointment this week. I'm looking forward to getting that done. I have no reason for concern, so it'll be nice to just have it out of the way. I'm 2 weeks behind schedule!
Symptoms to Note?
My poor feet are so swollen by the end of the day.
Or if I sit too long.
Or if I walk too long.
Or if I'm not laying down too long.
Or if they're elevated too long.
Yeah, like that.
Tee hee.
Random Stuff:
Last night we were watching TV when I realized I was having back to back contractions. They weren't necessarily painful, but they were definitely uncomfortable, and were accompanied by some very harsh back pain and scary pelvic and vaginal pressure.
I started to time them after the 3rd one.
When I had the 7th one, I got up and took a hot shower, asking Mister to keep timing for me.
When I noticed I'd had 14 in 90 minutes, I got nervous.
I drank water, changed positions, laid in a reclined, left-sided position, walked around...
When I realized I had 18 in 2 hours, I started making an urgent mental checklist to get us to the ER in a hurry at almost 1am.
I told myself if I they continued for 30 more minutes, I'd call L&D.
Full stop shortly after that.
I went to bed at the 3 hour mark, with no contractions at all for nearly 45 minutes.
That was pretty worrisome for me. While I'm confident they were BH contractions, I'll be calling Dr. John today (despite our appointment in 2 days) to alert him to this, just in case. I've had a few contractions this morning and early afternoon, but nothing like last night and none of the pressure.
Hopefully, Noodle is just making a comfortable home head-down.
In other news, my maternity belt is WONDERFUL for helping with the back pain while I'm out running errands, but TERRIBLE for back pain if I'm going to be doing more sitting than walking. Then it seems to hurt my back more than it helps.
I haven't been keeping up on our 30 Days of Halloween. It's been so, so hard to find the ability to do something in the evenings. That's when my symptoms are the worst. And I don't want to exclude Mister and BabyGirl, so I try not to do them during the afternoons when I'm feeling more capable...so, yeah. This year I've just completely missed it. I'm still hoping to make it a more steadfast tradition and I'm looking forward to making ALL 30 days next year. In the meantime, we ARE going to do caramel apples and pumpkins before Halloween, FOR SURE. Anything else will be a bonus. I hate that I've not followed through on this project for the kids, and I can tell I'm going to have to lower my expectations for crafts and treats for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. It's really bothering me that I couldn't accomplish what I'd set out to do for them. But I'm confident that they'll have good memories of what we HAVE been able to do this year and I'm hoping that they'll look even more forward to it next year!
Oh, and before I forget...
I'm still working on that surprise for all of you that I'd mentioned a few weeks ago. It's taking me longer than I'd planned because I wasn't as prepared for the entire project as I thought I was! But it IS being worked on, almost daily, and I'm VERY excited to roll it out ASAP.
Also, Nursery Corner is nearly as complete as it's going to be. I haven't forgotten about you, dear readers, and I'm looking forward to unveiling it to you just as soon as I finish one more project for it! Stay tuned!
Until next time...
Now let's take a second to talk about that...
My doctor says I'm due on January 10th, 2014.
I say I'm due on January 6th, 2014.
That means, I'm "full term" on December 16th, 2013 (using my EDD of January 6th..)
Okay, we all know babies come out when they're good and ready. (Well, unless you schedule your delivery around convenience. But that's a whole different soap box...) We also know that Noodle hasn't exactly been cooperative about staying in the womb comfortably. It seems like every week there's another way Noodle is trying to convince me to go into labor. So for the last couple of weeks I've been listening to my body and I have to say that I now have BIG, LOUD instincts telling me that Noodle won't last to 40 weeks in there, and will make an appearance before either one of my EDD's.
My official guess is December 27th.
Any of my readers out there have a guess on Noodle's birthday?! I'd LOVE to hear them!
 |
| 30 weeks! |
How Big is Noodle Now?
This week, Noodle is roughly 3lbs 12oz and somewhere around 17" long. They say that's the size of a large head of cabbage, but truthfully, it's as big as a 30 week baby! I don't think I've seen cabbage that was 17" long..
Maternity Clothes?
I purchased a long sleeve tee at Goodwill the other day, but it's not a good layering shirt. At least it's something. I'm seriously running out of clothes.
Stretch Marks?
Nope. Hooray!
Sleep?
Nope. None, really. Ugh.
Going on a date with Mister.
It truly was a miserable party and we left early feeling older than we've ever felt. To make matters worse, we went home and planned on watching a movie, but fell almost immediately to sleep instead.
Needless to say, you know you're old when the music's too loud, the dresses are too short and 11pm is too late!
It was fun to dress up and hang out, though. And sleeping in was AWESOME.
Miss Anything?
SLEEP. Oh, I miss sleep!
And doing chores without feeling like I'm going to split in half.
And running.
And sleep.
Movement?
Noodle is still very active, which delights me to no end! It seems, however, that I may give birth to my first shy child. Noodle is absolutely quiet whenever we're around other people that may want to feel the movements...
Food Cravings?
Apples. Anything apples. It's kinda dumb.
Food Aversions?
Mayonnaise! Ugh!
Hot chicken!
Nacho cheese!
Labor Signs?
Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of contractions. Oh man.
Moderate cramping every now and then.
Pelvic pressure!
Belly Button?
It doesn't really look like a belly button anymore. It's all dented and shallow and weird.
Happy or Moody?
Looking Forward To?
We have our glucose appointment this week. I'm looking forward to getting that done. I have no reason for concern, so it'll be nice to just have it out of the way. I'm 2 weeks behind schedule!
Symptoms to Note?
My poor feet are so swollen by the end of the day.
Or if I sit too long.
Or if I walk too long.
Or if I'm not laying down too long.
Or if they're elevated too long.
Yeah, like that.
Tee hee.
Random Stuff:
Last night we were watching TV when I realized I was having back to back contractions. They weren't necessarily painful, but they were definitely uncomfortable, and were accompanied by some very harsh back pain and scary pelvic and vaginal pressure.
I started to time them after the 3rd one.
When I had the 7th one, I got up and took a hot shower, asking Mister to keep timing for me.
When I noticed I'd had 14 in 90 minutes, I got nervous.
I drank water, changed positions, laid in a reclined, left-sided position, walked around...
When I realized I had 18 in 2 hours, I started making an urgent mental checklist to get us to the ER in a hurry at almost 1am.
I told myself if I they continued for 30 more minutes, I'd call L&D.
Full stop shortly after that.
I went to bed at the 3 hour mark, with no contractions at all for nearly 45 minutes.
That was pretty worrisome for me. While I'm confident they were BH contractions, I'll be calling Dr. John today (despite our appointment in 2 days) to alert him to this, just in case. I've had a few contractions this morning and early afternoon, but nothing like last night and none of the pressure.
Hopefully, Noodle is just making a comfortable home head-down.
In other news, my maternity belt is WONDERFUL for helping with the back pain while I'm out running errands, but TERRIBLE for back pain if I'm going to be doing more sitting than walking. Then it seems to hurt my back more than it helps.
I haven't been keeping up on our 30 Days of Halloween. It's been so, so hard to find the ability to do something in the evenings. That's when my symptoms are the worst. And I don't want to exclude Mister and BabyGirl, so I try not to do them during the afternoons when I'm feeling more capable...so, yeah. This year I've just completely missed it. I'm still hoping to make it a more steadfast tradition and I'm looking forward to making ALL 30 days next year. In the meantime, we ARE going to do caramel apples and pumpkins before Halloween, FOR SURE. Anything else will be a bonus. I hate that I've not followed through on this project for the kids, and I can tell I'm going to have to lower my expectations for crafts and treats for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. It's really bothering me that I couldn't accomplish what I'd set out to do for them. But I'm confident that they'll have good memories of what we HAVE been able to do this year and I'm hoping that they'll look even more forward to it next year!
Oh, and before I forget...
I'm still working on that surprise for all of you that I'd mentioned a few weeks ago. It's taking me longer than I'd planned because I wasn't as prepared for the entire project as I thought I was! But it IS being worked on, almost daily, and I'm VERY excited to roll it out ASAP.
Also, Nursery Corner is nearly as complete as it's going to be. I haven't forgotten about you, dear readers, and I'm looking forward to unveiling it to you just as soon as I finish one more project for it! Stay tuned!
Until next time...
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Catching up...
I apologize for being tardy with this week's update. It's been a crazy week. The holidays, friends, are upon us...
So, without further adieu...
How Far Along Am I?
We're looking down the barrel of week 29.
My bump continues to grow at a rapid pace. It seems everyday there's one less thing I can reach, one less shirt I can wear, one less thing I can do because my bump is even more in the way than the day before!
And I'm BREATHLESS. Oh my goodness! I can't catch my breath AT ALL anymore.
I'm also having a hard time eating. Not just the aversions, but now I take two or three bites and I'm full because Noodle is squishing my stomach so successfully with those little feet!
But I'm gonna miss it. I love my big bump!
How Big Is Noodle Now?
Well...let me begin by saying that it's obvious to me every pregnant woman gets tired during her third trimester because there's almost NO blogs or research papers done so I can find an ACCURATE vegetable or fruit assessment. And all the medical sites contradict each other. One says acorn squash, one says cabbage, one says something else entirely.
Here's what I think...
Noodle is approximately 17" long by now. ALMOST as big as he or she will be on delivery day. Woah.
And Noodle should weigh about 3lbs by now. That weight will double before delivery day. (It had better not triple!)
So...that's all I've got. No jazzy picture this time. So I'll add one of my own:
This is what I see when I look down. See the lack of feet? Or ground nearby? Yeah. It's just Noodle's bump. That's all I get. I don't even know what my thighs looks like anymore (not that I want to, I'm sure). That's how big Noodle is. Big enough to completely hinder my point of view.
Maternity Clothes?
I STILL haven't purchased any long sleeve tees, and I know, I know, I need to.
Stretch Marks?
Nope. None of these. I'm pretty sure the other two kids paved the way well enough. LOL. However, my bump is getting rather tight so...who knows?
Sleep?
Sleep is once again becoming difficult. I wake up several times a night for restroom breaks and whenever I roll onto my back in my sleep, I wake up unable to breathe and gasping desperately for air. My maternity pillow now gives me a backache and I find I'm only comfortable in one specific way...which is hard to maintain. So...meh. I sleep...kinda.
Best Moment of the Week?
This last weekend, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch to get our annual Halloween pumpkins. It's a tradition that started with extended family years ago, but has since just become something my little family does. We've gone to the same pumpkin patch since my 10 year old daughter was a baby and whenever I suggest a different one, she throws a fit. So...we go. This year they spent HOURS in the haypatch playing with other kids while we waiting for their father to come pick them up. We got some great carving pumpkins and a few little ones for decoration and they went for a hayride with Mister and a barn dog. All in all, it was a great trip!
Miss Anything?
Running and the ability to breathe freely. That's about it.
Movement?
Well, Noodle moves A LOT. But it's definitely getting cramped in there because the movement is becoming more roll and less kick and punch. This last week, Noodle started stretching out and doing that fun little push against my ribs AND my pelvic bone at the same time. That's a good time!
Food Cravings?
Lately I've been craving 7-up and Apple juice combined. I call it Magic Juice. It's delicious.
And apples. I'm still on the apple kick.
Food Aversions?
I still hate hot chicken. I don't know if that's going to change.
Labor Signs?
I'm continuing to have consistent contractions throughout the day and night. For two straight days, these contractions were painful enough that I couldn't sleep through them at night, and several times during the day I was unable to walk or talk through them. These strong, painful contractions weren't consistent enough to warrant a run to the hospital, but they did continue to nag me. The doctor warned us this could happen and I followed his instructions for safe management and eventually, they went away. Now I'm left with consistent, uncomfortable BH contractions.
I'm also experiencing the same back pain I was earlier, accompanying my contractions.
So far, so good, people. So far, so good.
Belly Button?
It's getting very, very shallow.
Happy or Moody?
This week I've been emotional. Not necessarily moody, just emotional. I cry at night. I'm overly anxious. I'm stressed out. I find myself scared and sobbing over nothing.
It's been awesome.
Looking Forward To?
I'm looking forward to our next appointment and doing the Glucose test. This is a little later than usual, but I'll be glad to have it out of the way. I'm super nervous about having a new needle lady, but she's apparently the best in the land...so...
Symptoms to Note:
Noodle is definitely staying head-down this week. That still may change, but I'm hoping not. There are quite a few little punches taking place in my lower abdomen, and lots of feet kicking my ribs.
This breathlessness is making me CRAZY. I hate feeling like I can't catch my breath.
I'm suffering through some pretty wicked fatigue through the day, but I think that's caused mostly by my lack of good sleep through the night.
Nesting is really kicking into high gear! I wish I could do more to prepare!
Random Stuff:
Well, there's not much to report, honestly. I've spent the better part of this week in some enormous pain and have had to put off a lot of things to cope, but it's enabled me more time to rest and spend some much-needed down time with my kids. I'm also getting quite a bit accomplished on some Christmas Projects that need my attention. That is a wonderful thing, in my book!
I'm getting incredibly anxious about labor and delivery this week, which is weird for me! Because I've not only had my own children, but been around so many, many others, it's odd for me to feel so...insecure...but I certainly am! I'm sure this anxiety will pass with time, but right now, it's keeping me up at night.
I'm also finding myself VERY VERY EXCITED! Even though I am having a hard time with the pain associated with this pregnancy, I keep getting distracted by pure joy and excitement! We're gonna have a baby soon! A BABY! I can not wait to snuggle that precious Noodle sooooo close!
Well, I'd better run off and get the stew in the crock pot. It's already afternoon, sheesh!
Until next time, friends...
So, without further adieu...
How Far Along Am I?
We're looking down the barrel of week 29.
My bump continues to grow at a rapid pace. It seems everyday there's one less thing I can reach, one less shirt I can wear, one less thing I can do because my bump is even more in the way than the day before!
And I'm BREATHLESS. Oh my goodness! I can't catch my breath AT ALL anymore.
I'm also having a hard time eating. Not just the aversions, but now I take two or three bites and I'm full because Noodle is squishing my stomach so successfully with those little feet!
But I'm gonna miss it. I love my big bump!
How Big Is Noodle Now?
Well...let me begin by saying that it's obvious to me every pregnant woman gets tired during her third trimester because there's almost NO blogs or research papers done so I can find an ACCURATE vegetable or fruit assessment. And all the medical sites contradict each other. One says acorn squash, one says cabbage, one says something else entirely.
Here's what I think...
Noodle is approximately 17" long by now. ALMOST as big as he or she will be on delivery day. Woah.
And Noodle should weigh about 3lbs by now. That weight will double before delivery day. (It had better not triple!)
So...that's all I've got. No jazzy picture this time. So I'll add one of my own:
This is what I see when I look down. See the lack of feet? Or ground nearby? Yeah. It's just Noodle's bump. That's all I get. I don't even know what my thighs looks like anymore (not that I want to, I'm sure). That's how big Noodle is. Big enough to completely hinder my point of view.
Maternity Clothes?
I STILL haven't purchased any long sleeve tees, and I know, I know, I need to.
Stretch Marks?
Nope. None of these. I'm pretty sure the other two kids paved the way well enough. LOL. However, my bump is getting rather tight so...who knows?
Sleep?
Sleep is once again becoming difficult. I wake up several times a night for restroom breaks and whenever I roll onto my back in my sleep, I wake up unable to breathe and gasping desperately for air. My maternity pillow now gives me a backache and I find I'm only comfortable in one specific way...which is hard to maintain. So...meh. I sleep...kinda.
Best Moment of the Week?
This last weekend, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch to get our annual Halloween pumpkins. It's a tradition that started with extended family years ago, but has since just become something my little family does. We've gone to the same pumpkin patch since my 10 year old daughter was a baby and whenever I suggest a different one, she throws a fit. So...we go. This year they spent HOURS in the haypatch playing with other kids while we waiting for their father to come pick them up. We got some great carving pumpkins and a few little ones for decoration and they went for a hayride with Mister and a barn dog. All in all, it was a great trip!
Miss Anything?
Running and the ability to breathe freely. That's about it.
Movement?
Well, Noodle moves A LOT. But it's definitely getting cramped in there because the movement is becoming more roll and less kick and punch. This last week, Noodle started stretching out and doing that fun little push against my ribs AND my pelvic bone at the same time. That's a good time!
Food Cravings?
Lately I've been craving 7-up and Apple juice combined. I call it Magic Juice. It's delicious.
And apples. I'm still on the apple kick.
Food Aversions?
I still hate hot chicken. I don't know if that's going to change.
Labor Signs?
I'm continuing to have consistent contractions throughout the day and night. For two straight days, these contractions were painful enough that I couldn't sleep through them at night, and several times during the day I was unable to walk or talk through them. These strong, painful contractions weren't consistent enough to warrant a run to the hospital, but they did continue to nag me. The doctor warned us this could happen and I followed his instructions for safe management and eventually, they went away. Now I'm left with consistent, uncomfortable BH contractions.
I'm also experiencing the same back pain I was earlier, accompanying my contractions.
So far, so good, people. So far, so good.
Belly Button?
It's getting very, very shallow.
Happy or Moody?
This week I've been emotional. Not necessarily moody, just emotional. I cry at night. I'm overly anxious. I'm stressed out. I find myself scared and sobbing over nothing.
It's been awesome.
Looking Forward To?
I'm looking forward to our next appointment and doing the Glucose test. This is a little later than usual, but I'll be glad to have it out of the way. I'm super nervous about having a new needle lady, but she's apparently the best in the land...so...
Symptoms to Note:
Noodle is definitely staying head-down this week. That still may change, but I'm hoping not. There are quite a few little punches taking place in my lower abdomen, and lots of feet kicking my ribs.
This breathlessness is making me CRAZY. I hate feeling like I can't catch my breath.
I'm suffering through some pretty wicked fatigue through the day, but I think that's caused mostly by my lack of good sleep through the night.
Nesting is really kicking into high gear! I wish I could do more to prepare!
Random Stuff:
Well, there's not much to report, honestly. I've spent the better part of this week in some enormous pain and have had to put off a lot of things to cope, but it's enabled me more time to rest and spend some much-needed down time with my kids. I'm also getting quite a bit accomplished on some Christmas Projects that need my attention. That is a wonderful thing, in my book!
I'm getting incredibly anxious about labor and delivery this week, which is weird for me! Because I've not only had my own children, but been around so many, many others, it's odd for me to feel so...insecure...but I certainly am! I'm sure this anxiety will pass with time, but right now, it's keeping me up at night.
I'm also finding myself VERY VERY EXCITED! Even though I am having a hard time with the pain associated with this pregnancy, I keep getting distracted by pure joy and excitement! We're gonna have a baby soon! A BABY! I can not wait to snuggle that precious Noodle sooooo close!
Well, I'd better run off and get the stew in the crock pot. It's already afternoon, sheesh!
Until next time, friends...
Thursday, October 17, 2013
A whole new world!
I wanted to fill all of you in on the latest from our new doctor. We'll call him Dr. John.
First of all, let me summarize a bit. Mister and I were nervous heading into this because of our total dissatisfaction with our experience up to date. You all know this pregnancy has been harder than my others, and despite our complaints or trips to the ER or numerous questions about pain management, we have always just been told, "You're pregnant. You're 30. This is your third pregnancy. It's going to hurt. You'll be fine." Over and over and over. They never once tried to do anything to help alleviate the pain and in some instances, would treat us like we were whining and needed to get over it. Needless to say, I've spent the better part of this pregnancy feeling belittled and stupid, like something was wrong with me for not being able to tolerate it as easily as my others, questioning if my role as a SAHM was causing this difficulty because I wasn't as active as I was when I was working, feeling weak and incapable and overall, just embarrassed that I wasn't strong and tough.
Gah, just talking about it makes me tear up a little.
Night after night taking hot shower after hot shower, losing sleep, waking Mister up because I had to cling to him to breathe through contractions that are supposed to be "painless", not being able to do my chores or run my errands. And ending each day feeling like a total failure because I've been unable to take care of my family the way I said I would, all because I'm 30 and pregnant and too weak and dumb to deal with it.
Folks, it's been hard. I can't tell you how many nights I've cried on Mister's shoulder.
To make matters worse, I continue to have contractions. They even caught them on the monitor in the last trip the to ER. More than 4 an hour, which is what put me in the "almost PTL" category. It was more like 7-8 an hour. And some of those contractions were more than uncomfortable. Some of the contractions I have make me cry out in pain and sob hysterically, having to breathe through them, doubled over, cradling my bump like a wound. Yes, they wrap from the back to front. Yes, they include pelvic and cervical pressure. Yes, they include rythmic back pain. Yes, these are all labor signs. NO, NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I'm 30. I'm pregnant. It's my 3rd baby. I gotta get over it.
*ahem*
So, back to meeting Dr. John. We were nervous, to say the least. He was either going to be awesome, or he was going to be fired. We were tired of having medical professionals brush us aside and make us feel like a number on a chart instead of a couple having a baby. And when he first walked in and shook our hand, we told him exactly that. We wanted a more personal experience. We didn't expect to be VIP's, but we did expect to be treated with humanity and kindness and for the love of all things, we expected a nicer office staff!
Folks, Dr. John did all of those things, and then some. At one point, he made fun of himself in order to make a point to us that he was able to understand something we were concerned about. He answered every question we had, in detail, with not just the what but the why and the how. And at no point during the entire appointment did we feel rushed, belittled or unimportant.
I'd also like to add he's one of those awesome doctors that will answer a call from a patient in the middle of a conversation with another patient, to be sure everything is okay! (That patient was in labor.) That was really, really reassuring for me. At one point, that's going to be ME on that phone and it's wonderful to know he's going to drop everything he's doing to make sure everything with ME is going alright. That's what a doctor SHOULD be doing.
Anyway...
After discussing the pain with Dr. John he became very disappointed that no one has even attempted to deal with my pain yet. He explained that what I'm feeling isn't "normal" and it doesn't matter how old I am or how many pregnancies I've had, unidentifiable pain, especially accompanied with continuing contractions, isn't normal, nor is it something that I just have to deal with. He got even more disappointed once he understood that all I've ever been instructed was to drink water and lay down, and no one has yet to try to take steps to keep me from bedrest. He went further to explain that he also has kids and can understand the hardship and strain bedrest would put on me and the family if it occurred. He agreed that my contractions were somewhat worrisome in the long run and we should be taking steps to better help my body cope, to be proactive about keeping bedrest at bay. He reiterated that while we won't "cure" it, there are things we CAN try to at least help and if they don't work, then we'll discuss more options at that point.
...wait...what? There are actual things we can do to help my body cope better and possibly keep from bedrest later in my pregnancy?! SERIOUSLY!?
Encouraged and excited, Mister and I readily agreed to try ANYTHING. We're both worried that bedrest is in my future. So, Dr. John explained that the first thing he's going to do is pay close attention to my contractions and my lab results. While my labs have been clear so far, he has yet to see any of my records and he's interested to see what's in there. He also said he's going to continue to monitor any and all changes or even the things that stay the same, in order to be sure we're making progress with coping better. Whew! Then he explained that he's sending me to physical therapy. Hopefully we can strengthen the muscles in my back, legs and around my uterus so that my body will cope better with the pain and contractions. While we can't make the contractions stop, necessarily, strengthening those muscles will hopefully keep me from succumbing to them or causing them to progress into actual labor. And if that doesn't do any good, we'll try some massage therapy.
SAY WHAT?! That's like...an option?! OKAY!
Then he said he's ordering me a special maternity belt. It's a bit stronger than the ones we can buy at the store and he'll have it sent straight to our house for me. It'll at least help keep the strain off my legs and hopefully my back, by being more supportive of my uterine weight as Noodle continues to grow.
YEEHAW! I'll wear whatever it takes, dang it!
He explained that while these things won't make it all go away, it might make it possible for me to avoid bedrest all together, not to mention, help strengthen my body for labor and delivery. He then said it might also help me get back to doing more normal daily things without fear and extreme pain.
A man after my own heart, I tell ya!
For the frosting on the awesome cake, he then told us that he believes in 3 ultrasounds. He likes to do a late-term ultrasound, around 34 weeks or so, to check for three things that may help us in delivery.
1. How big the baby is.
2. Kidney and heart function.
3. Current amniotic fluid levels.
He said these things are all too often over looked in late stages and while they're not necessary, if we can see how big the baby is that soon to delivery, and whether there are any fluid problems or renal problems, why aren't we? Those things can actually HELP with delivery. If we know the baby is bigger or smaller, the staff (and me!) can be better prepared through labor. If we understand the amniotic levels with greater accuracy, that can help us all be better prepared through labor and delivery as well. And...it's fun to see the baby that close to delivery.
HOORAY! Yes, I want another ultrasound! I've only ever had 2!
Now...on the devil's advocate side, some will say he's sure ordering a lot of extra things that cost money. And that's true. But in my case, he can order whatever he wants if it'll help keep this baby safe and inside me for as long as Noodle needs to be strong and healthy at delivery. I don't care how many ultrasounds, therapy sessions or special belts he wants me to wear. I've never been more afraid of PTL in my life and he's actually DOING something to help me. It's freakin' wonderful, people. It's freakin' WONDERFUL.
Oh..and the most impressive part, in my opinion? He laid me down to measure me and listen to Noodle on the doppler. Pretty standard. And any pregnant woman out there these days is familiar with the cold jelly and the doctor swirling that wand all around the belly until that soft woosh-woosh-woosh is found mysteriously somewhere in that bump.
*ahem*
Dr. John felt Noodle's position with his hands, confirming Noodle was currently head-down. (Good job, Noodle! Stay there!) Then he felt for Noodle's feet. He pushed on the sides of my belly with his hands, softly and smiled at me, making small talk. He picked up the doppler and put the jelly ON THE DOPPLER TIP. ...say what now?... Then he literally put the doppler to my skin and there was baby's heartbeat. Dr. John didn't move that doppler tip so much as one centimeter. I mean, he hit it DEAD ON.
That might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, that means he knows exactly what my baby is up to in that mysterious bump, by just feeling Noodle with his hands. That says experience to me. That shows me this guy ain't no joke, folks. He's got the inside scoop on babies.
Anyway, in the end, I am in love with our new doctor. He is kind and gentle and informative. He is jovial and just all around nice. He supports our decision to hopefully eliminate the need for an epidural, but also supports my decision to have one if I change my mind. (He explained this by referring to his need for an epidural when he himself gets a papercut. LOL.) He comforted our worries that I was nearing PTL by explaining that we have steps to take to keep that from happening. He was attentive and overall, he was just a swell dude.
Oh, and for you predictors out there, Noodle's heartrate was 140bpm this time.
Well, I suppose that's all the update you get this time. There'll be more on Monday. For now, I'm going to go put some chicken in the crock pot. Enjoy your day!
First of all, let me summarize a bit. Mister and I were nervous heading into this because of our total dissatisfaction with our experience up to date. You all know this pregnancy has been harder than my others, and despite our complaints or trips to the ER or numerous questions about pain management, we have always just been told, "You're pregnant. You're 30. This is your third pregnancy. It's going to hurt. You'll be fine." Over and over and over. They never once tried to do anything to help alleviate the pain and in some instances, would treat us like we were whining and needed to get over it. Needless to say, I've spent the better part of this pregnancy feeling belittled and stupid, like something was wrong with me for not being able to tolerate it as easily as my others, questioning if my role as a SAHM was causing this difficulty because I wasn't as active as I was when I was working, feeling weak and incapable and overall, just embarrassed that I wasn't strong and tough.
Gah, just talking about it makes me tear up a little.
Night after night taking hot shower after hot shower, losing sleep, waking Mister up because I had to cling to him to breathe through contractions that are supposed to be "painless", not being able to do my chores or run my errands. And ending each day feeling like a total failure because I've been unable to take care of my family the way I said I would, all because I'm 30 and pregnant and too weak and dumb to deal with it.
Folks, it's been hard. I can't tell you how many nights I've cried on Mister's shoulder.
To make matters worse, I continue to have contractions. They even caught them on the monitor in the last trip the to ER. More than 4 an hour, which is what put me in the "almost PTL" category. It was more like 7-8 an hour. And some of those contractions were more than uncomfortable. Some of the contractions I have make me cry out in pain and sob hysterically, having to breathe through them, doubled over, cradling my bump like a wound. Yes, they wrap from the back to front. Yes, they include pelvic and cervical pressure. Yes, they include rythmic back pain. Yes, these are all labor signs. NO, NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I'm 30. I'm pregnant. It's my 3rd baby. I gotta get over it.
*ahem*
So, back to meeting Dr. John. We were nervous, to say the least. He was either going to be awesome, or he was going to be fired. We were tired of having medical professionals brush us aside and make us feel like a number on a chart instead of a couple having a baby. And when he first walked in and shook our hand, we told him exactly that. We wanted a more personal experience. We didn't expect to be VIP's, but we did expect to be treated with humanity and kindness and for the love of all things, we expected a nicer office staff!
Folks, Dr. John did all of those things, and then some. At one point, he made fun of himself in order to make a point to us that he was able to understand something we were concerned about. He answered every question we had, in detail, with not just the what but the why and the how. And at no point during the entire appointment did we feel rushed, belittled or unimportant.
I'd also like to add he's one of those awesome doctors that will answer a call from a patient in the middle of a conversation with another patient, to be sure everything is okay! (That patient was in labor.) That was really, really reassuring for me. At one point, that's going to be ME on that phone and it's wonderful to know he's going to drop everything he's doing to make sure everything with ME is going alright. That's what a doctor SHOULD be doing.
Anyway...
After discussing the pain with Dr. John he became very disappointed that no one has even attempted to deal with my pain yet. He explained that what I'm feeling isn't "normal" and it doesn't matter how old I am or how many pregnancies I've had, unidentifiable pain, especially accompanied with continuing contractions, isn't normal, nor is it something that I just have to deal with. He got even more disappointed once he understood that all I've ever been instructed was to drink water and lay down, and no one has yet to try to take steps to keep me from bedrest. He went further to explain that he also has kids and can understand the hardship and strain bedrest would put on me and the family if it occurred. He agreed that my contractions were somewhat worrisome in the long run and we should be taking steps to better help my body cope, to be proactive about keeping bedrest at bay. He reiterated that while we won't "cure" it, there are things we CAN try to at least help and if they don't work, then we'll discuss more options at that point.
...wait...what? There are actual things we can do to help my body cope better and possibly keep from bedrest later in my pregnancy?! SERIOUSLY!?
Encouraged and excited, Mister and I readily agreed to try ANYTHING. We're both worried that bedrest is in my future. So, Dr. John explained that the first thing he's going to do is pay close attention to my contractions and my lab results. While my labs have been clear so far, he has yet to see any of my records and he's interested to see what's in there. He also said he's going to continue to monitor any and all changes or even the things that stay the same, in order to be sure we're making progress with coping better. Whew! Then he explained that he's sending me to physical therapy. Hopefully we can strengthen the muscles in my back, legs and around my uterus so that my body will cope better with the pain and contractions. While we can't make the contractions stop, necessarily, strengthening those muscles will hopefully keep me from succumbing to them or causing them to progress into actual labor. And if that doesn't do any good, we'll try some massage therapy.
SAY WHAT?! That's like...an option?! OKAY!
Then he said he's ordering me a special maternity belt. It's a bit stronger than the ones we can buy at the store and he'll have it sent straight to our house for me. It'll at least help keep the strain off my legs and hopefully my back, by being more supportive of my uterine weight as Noodle continues to grow.
YEEHAW! I'll wear whatever it takes, dang it!
He explained that while these things won't make it all go away, it might make it possible for me to avoid bedrest all together, not to mention, help strengthen my body for labor and delivery. He then said it might also help me get back to doing more normal daily things without fear and extreme pain.
A man after my own heart, I tell ya!
For the frosting on the awesome cake, he then told us that he believes in 3 ultrasounds. He likes to do a late-term ultrasound, around 34 weeks or so, to check for three things that may help us in delivery.
1. How big the baby is.
2. Kidney and heart function.
3. Current amniotic fluid levels.
He said these things are all too often over looked in late stages and while they're not necessary, if we can see how big the baby is that soon to delivery, and whether there are any fluid problems or renal problems, why aren't we? Those things can actually HELP with delivery. If we know the baby is bigger or smaller, the staff (and me!) can be better prepared through labor. If we understand the amniotic levels with greater accuracy, that can help us all be better prepared through labor and delivery as well. And...it's fun to see the baby that close to delivery.
HOORAY! Yes, I want another ultrasound! I've only ever had 2!
Now...on the devil's advocate side, some will say he's sure ordering a lot of extra things that cost money. And that's true. But in my case, he can order whatever he wants if it'll help keep this baby safe and inside me for as long as Noodle needs to be strong and healthy at delivery. I don't care how many ultrasounds, therapy sessions or special belts he wants me to wear. I've never been more afraid of PTL in my life and he's actually DOING something to help me. It's freakin' wonderful, people. It's freakin' WONDERFUL.
Oh..and the most impressive part, in my opinion? He laid me down to measure me and listen to Noodle on the doppler. Pretty standard. And any pregnant woman out there these days is familiar with the cold jelly and the doctor swirling that wand all around the belly until that soft woosh-woosh-woosh is found mysteriously somewhere in that bump.
*ahem*
Dr. John felt Noodle's position with his hands, confirming Noodle was currently head-down. (Good job, Noodle! Stay there!) Then he felt for Noodle's feet. He pushed on the sides of my belly with his hands, softly and smiled at me, making small talk. He picked up the doppler and put the jelly ON THE DOPPLER TIP. ...say what now?... Then he literally put the doppler to my skin and there was baby's heartbeat. Dr. John didn't move that doppler tip so much as one centimeter. I mean, he hit it DEAD ON.
That might not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, that means he knows exactly what my baby is up to in that mysterious bump, by just feeling Noodle with his hands. That says experience to me. That shows me this guy ain't no joke, folks. He's got the inside scoop on babies.
Anyway, in the end, I am in love with our new doctor. He is kind and gentle and informative. He is jovial and just all around nice. He supports our decision to hopefully eliminate the need for an epidural, but also supports my decision to have one if I change my mind. (He explained this by referring to his need for an epidural when he himself gets a papercut. LOL.) He comforted our worries that I was nearing PTL by explaining that we have steps to take to keep that from happening. He was attentive and overall, he was just a swell dude.
Oh, and for you predictors out there, Noodle's heartrate was 140bpm this time.
Well, I suppose that's all the update you get this time. There'll be more on Monday. For now, I'm going to go put some chicken in the crock pot. Enjoy your day!
 |
| Boo & I enjoyin' some us time! |
Monday, October 14, 2013
And another week done...
Ladies and gentlemen, I've spent the better part of two days working very hard on a big surprise for all of you. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete it in time for this blog post, but perhaps we'll find ourselves surprised by the next one!
In the meantime, let's see what's up this week!
How Far Along Am I?
This week is #28. It may not look it in the pic (bless my hoodie and it's wonderful large-body-hiding-quality) but I've gained another inch or so around my middle this week. Noodle is growing at a very rapid rate of speed and my bump is definitely feeling the pressure.
Although I'm not starting the official countdown until my 30 week mark, I do need to note that this week means there are only 12 weeks remaining, if I make it to 40 weeks. And in that time, there's Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Add a preteen and a toddler, and you've got one fast, fast last trimester.
Oh..that reminds me...WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER!!
Yep, you heard me; third trimester. Home stretch. Last inning. Final quarter. Whatever analogy you wanna throw at it, we're there. The last trimester. It's unbelievable to me. Straight up.
How Big Is Noodle Now?
Oh, my sweet, sweet Noodle...how you've grown this week!
Well, I'm finally having a hard time finding the right fruit or vegetable for this week's growth. We're going to go with a Kabocha Squash. It looks like this:
In other terms, Noodle is about 2 1/2 lbs. and almost 16 inches long, from head to heel. That is just...well it's just bananas. Or squash, rather.
Other notable things this week:
Noodle's eyes are opening and closing normally and baby is able to see light and shadows!
Noodle can cough, hiccup, suck and take practice breaths!
And more fascinating to me is the fact that Noodle has REM sleep cycles now! Which means, baby is DREAMING! What in the world is Noodle dreaming about?
I can also tell you that Noodle is a wonderful sleeper, so far. Noodle wakes up at midnight, 4-5am, 8am, 2pmish and 6pmish. If that keeps up after birth, I'll be the luckiest mom in the world. I'll take it!
Maternity Clothes?
I still have yet to purchase any long sleeve tees, much to Mister's despair. But I do live in his big sweatshirts nowadays, also much to his despair. Tee hee!
Stretch Marks?
So far, so good, people!
Sleep?
As always, I continue to struggle with this. Right now I'm not having trouble getting tired, that's for sure, but I am having trouble staying asleep.
...except the other day. I slept for almost 16 straight hours. Oh, goodness!
Best Moment of the Week?
We had a marvelous time! Absolute highlight of my week.
Miss Anything?
Running, of course. The Chicago Marathon was this week and I had several running friends to root for. It was hard to realize this was suppose to be my half marathon year, and 2014 is going to focus on me having to start my training from square one. Harumph.
Other than that, I just miss NOT hurting every single day.
Movement?
Lots and lots of movement!
It is getting smaller in there, however, and the painful kicks and squirms are evident of that.
This morning Mister was able to feel Noodle moving around, wide awake and kicking the crud outta me! It was a glorious moment, albeit painful at times. Hooray!
Food Cravings?
I'm in love with apples again, but they've got to be Pink Ladys, Jazz or that other weird one.
That's pretty much it.
Food Aversions?
Chicken is still making me super, duper nauseated. This baby does NOT like chicken.
Except General Tso's. Oh my. That sounds DELICIOUS right now!
....great...now I'm hungry....
Labor Signs?
After our eventful trip to the ER this past week, I've been on high alert for labor signs, as instructed.
I'm still having contractions. Any movement or exertion seems to make this intensify. But I am able to get them to simmer down with a hot shower, cold water and being still with my feet up. That's all a good sign!
My back is KILLING ME. And this pain definitely gets worse with contractions. Oh, the joy of back labor. I can tell this one is going to be a doozy, like my first was. Oh joy.
Belly Button?
Still an innie. It's hanging in there!
Rings?
Always.
Happy or Moody?
This week I've been feeling pretty happy, truth be told. Unless I'm in pain. Then I make whiney noises, cry a lot and curl as close to a ball as I can.
Looking Forward To?
This week we have our first appointment with our new doctor, and I'm pretty excited about that. I'm hoping beyond hope that he's as awesome as everyone tells me he is. Mister and I are both ready for a doctor that makes us feel a little bit less like a number and more like a couple having a baby.
Symptoms to note?
Well, Noodle is settling into the final birth position this week (head down, Noodle! head down!), but that means that I'm going to have even more pressure than I do now! Hooray! Let's hope this happens sooner rather than later, because the faster baby settles, the faster that pressure can change if it's going to!
Baby and uterus are already sitting squarely on my sciatic nerve, which is a fun and tingly way of not having leg function and a wild burning sensation down the back of my leg. It's so much fun!
Hip pain and back pain and head pain, oh my!
I'm so, so breathless. It's very hard for me to walk the tiniest bit without having to slow down or stop to catch my breath.
I also have an adorable waddle. Just ask. Anyone will tell you how ADORABLE it is. Right?!
Random Stuff:
Well, as I was sitting here writing this, my son threw an entire jar of peanut butter into the living room because it wouldn't fit in the back of his truck with his pencil. That was a crazy thing to witness.
We took our trip to the ER very, very seriously and we've been doing everything we can to keep me from overdoing it. It's been a very...strange...week, to say the least, while we all adjust to the new responsibilities and duties around the house.
This new lack of movement from me, however, has delayed several projects I've been meaning to get to. Mainly, Nursery Corner. I was able to hang some new pictures up, but the project is at a standstill for now, until I can reorganize my to-do list and enlist some help. I'll unveil it ASAP, friends. I'm so excited!
My inability to be very productive has also slowed my current Halloween project I've had with my children. This has made me very, very sad! I was enjoying doing a project with them every single night, but there have been a couple nights that I was in too much pain to be able to put it all together and build the moment with them. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of this trimester for me, already. However, I'm going to try to take the same tactic with this project, as with Nursery Corner, and perhaps a reorganization of my projects and a little more preparation with help do the trick. I don't want the kids to lose out on something we were all fiercely enjoying just because I'm unable to function at 100%.
Other than that, it's just a race into the holiday season around here. I'm doing my best to stay busy with holiday projects that require no movement from me, and I'm making ground. I'm also getting started on many projects for the other holidays this year, allowing me to accomplish things now instead of later. That's a wonderful feeling!
That's it for now, friends. Until next time...
In the meantime, let's see what's up this week!
How Far Along Am I?
Although I'm not starting the official countdown until my 30 week mark, I do need to note that this week means there are only 12 weeks remaining, if I make it to 40 weeks. And in that time, there's Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Add a preteen and a toddler, and you've got one fast, fast last trimester.
Oh..that reminds me...WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER!!
Yep, you heard me; third trimester. Home stretch. Last inning. Final quarter. Whatever analogy you wanna throw at it, we're there. The last trimester. It's unbelievable to me. Straight up.
How Big Is Noodle Now?
Oh, my sweet, sweet Noodle...how you've grown this week!
Well, I'm finally having a hard time finding the right fruit or vegetable for this week's growth. We're going to go with a Kabocha Squash. It looks like this:
In other terms, Noodle is about 2 1/2 lbs. and almost 16 inches long, from head to heel. That is just...well it's just bananas. Or squash, rather.
Other notable things this week:
Noodle's eyes are opening and closing normally and baby is able to see light and shadows!
Noodle can cough, hiccup, suck and take practice breaths!
And more fascinating to me is the fact that Noodle has REM sleep cycles now! Which means, baby is DREAMING! What in the world is Noodle dreaming about?
I can also tell you that Noodle is a wonderful sleeper, so far. Noodle wakes up at midnight, 4-5am, 8am, 2pmish and 6pmish. If that keeps up after birth, I'll be the luckiest mom in the world. I'll take it!
Maternity Clothes?
I still have yet to purchase any long sleeve tees, much to Mister's despair. But I do live in his big sweatshirts nowadays, also much to his despair. Tee hee!
Stretch Marks?
So far, so good, people!
Sleep?
As always, I continue to struggle with this. Right now I'm not having trouble getting tired, that's for sure, but I am having trouble staying asleep.
...except the other day. I slept for almost 16 straight hours. Oh, goodness!
Best Moment of the Week?
Going out to dinner with my boys was a very good time! It always amazes me just how easy my toddler is out in public. I'm fortunate to not have to struggle with tantrums, food throwing or screaming and crying. He does get a bit sassy from time to time, but if you can't speak toddler, you wouldn't know the difference. He's an absolute treasure to take out and enjoy things with. This dinner was no exception. He spent the entire evening flirting with the waitress, eating all of Mister's food (as well as his own) and singing silly songs!
Miss Anything?
Running, of course. The Chicago Marathon was this week and I had several running friends to root for. It was hard to realize this was suppose to be my half marathon year, and 2014 is going to focus on me having to start my training from square one. Harumph.
Other than that, I just miss NOT hurting every single day.
Movement?
Lots and lots of movement!
It is getting smaller in there, however, and the painful kicks and squirms are evident of that.
This morning Mister was able to feel Noodle moving around, wide awake and kicking the crud outta me! It was a glorious moment, albeit painful at times. Hooray!
Food Cravings?
I'm in love with apples again, but they've got to be Pink Ladys, Jazz or that other weird one.
That's pretty much it.
Food Aversions?
Except General Tso's. Oh my. That sounds DELICIOUS right now!
....great...now I'm hungry....
Labor Signs?
After our eventful trip to the ER this past week, I've been on high alert for labor signs, as instructed.
I'm still having contractions. Any movement or exertion seems to make this intensify. But I am able to get them to simmer down with a hot shower, cold water and being still with my feet up. That's all a good sign!
My back is KILLING ME. And this pain definitely gets worse with contractions. Oh, the joy of back labor. I can tell this one is going to be a doozy, like my first was. Oh joy.
Belly Button?
Still an innie. It's hanging in there!
Rings?
Always.
Happy or Moody?
This week I've been feeling pretty happy, truth be told. Unless I'm in pain. Then I make whiney noises, cry a lot and curl as close to a ball as I can.
Looking Forward To?
This week we have our first appointment with our new doctor, and I'm pretty excited about that. I'm hoping beyond hope that he's as awesome as everyone tells me he is. Mister and I are both ready for a doctor that makes us feel a little bit less like a number and more like a couple having a baby.
Symptoms to note?
Well, Noodle is settling into the final birth position this week (head down, Noodle! head down!), but that means that I'm going to have even more pressure than I do now! Hooray! Let's hope this happens sooner rather than later, because the faster baby settles, the faster that pressure can change if it's going to!
Baby and uterus are already sitting squarely on my sciatic nerve, which is a fun and tingly way of not having leg function and a wild burning sensation down the back of my leg. It's so much fun!
Hip pain and back pain and head pain, oh my!
I'm so, so breathless. It's very hard for me to walk the tiniest bit without having to slow down or stop to catch my breath.
I also have an adorable waddle. Just ask. Anyone will tell you how ADORABLE it is. Right?!
Random Stuff:
Well, as I was sitting here writing this, my son threw an entire jar of peanut butter into the living room because it wouldn't fit in the back of his truck with his pencil. That was a crazy thing to witness.
We took our trip to the ER very, very seriously and we've been doing everything we can to keep me from overdoing it. It's been a very...strange...week, to say the least, while we all adjust to the new responsibilities and duties around the house.
This new lack of movement from me, however, has delayed several projects I've been meaning to get to. Mainly, Nursery Corner. I was able to hang some new pictures up, but the project is at a standstill for now, until I can reorganize my to-do list and enlist some help. I'll unveil it ASAP, friends. I'm so excited!
My inability to be very productive has also slowed my current Halloween project I've had with my children. This has made me very, very sad! I was enjoying doing a project with them every single night, but there have been a couple nights that I was in too much pain to be able to put it all together and build the moment with them. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of this trimester for me, already. However, I'm going to try to take the same tactic with this project, as with Nursery Corner, and perhaps a reorganization of my projects and a little more preparation with help do the trick. I don't want the kids to lose out on something we were all fiercely enjoying just because I'm unable to function at 100%.
Other than that, it's just a race into the holiday season around here. I'm doing my best to stay busy with holiday projects that require no movement from me, and I'm making ground. I'm also getting started on many projects for the other holidays this year, allowing me to accomplish things now instead of later. That's a wonderful feeling!
That's it for now, friends. Until next time...
Friday, October 11, 2013
I'm whiney, but determined!
When I first discovered I was pregnant, my mind filled with images of me, largely pregnant, running easy miles downtown along my familiar "streetlight loop" and having a hard time finding maternity running gear.
After the severe nausea of the first trimester, my mind adjusted itself to images of me run/walking through the second and into the late third trimester, still griping about maternity running gear and putting at least 15 miles a week in. I even envisioned pushing the stroller so Boo could come along in the afternoons, come rain or shine.
Well, then I got some fairly terrible round ligament pain, accompanied by a warning from my nurse to "take it easy."
So...there went THAT idea.
But somewhere in the back of my mind I held on to hope that I could resume at least WALKING through some of these weeks, my body needing so badly to move and exercise.
*sigh*
As of yesterday's trip the L&D for evaluation due to unknown pain, I've been advised to take it EASIER. I'm tempting PTL (preterm labor). Not only can I never run OR walk through the end of this pregnancy, but now I can't sweep, go up and down stairs, do chores, run as many errands or really do anything. I realize it's what's best for me and Noodle, everyone knows the very last thing I want is for someone to tell me I'm grounded to bedrest, but I find myself grieving the loss of HOPE that I could at least walk for exercise at some point. Now I can't even walk to my own basement, unless it's absolutely necessary.
I come from a long line of women who absolutely do not just sit still. Even when we are sitting, we're typically either completing some sort of project, or busy making lists to plan the next. NOT doing the dishes sitting there, or cleaning up the toys on the floor, or throwing in that load of laundry...well, that's just not how we roll. How am I going to manage that?
I think the most challenging part for me is going to be learning how to do things while still doing less. It's not even a matter of efficiency, as much as priority. My mom made a good point that I need to be home more, not at the craft store or visiting my family and friends. I hate that, but it's wise and true. Mister has restricted me from doing absolutely anything unless completely necessary. I can cook dinner, as long as it's not very complicated. He said I could run my 3 errands today, but that's it. No chores. Nothing else. And he means it, folks. Yes, he's adorable and insanely thoughtful, but this is his child, too and I know he means business when he says I'm not allowed to do anything. He gets a say, too. And as his loving partner, I've got to respect his wishes. If he demands that I be still and allow him to pick up the slack, then as much as it makes me absolutely crazy, I'm going to. That's how he's participating in this pregnancy right now and darn it, he gets to.
The monitors confirmed I'm having quite a few contractions. They're irregular, but more than the 4 an hour that's recommended. However, they're smaller ones and aren't causing my cervix to dilate at all, so that's the good news. Had I been dilated at all, bedrest would've been in my future. The medical staff explained that I have to keep my contractions from increasing in strength or consistency, so rest, rest, rest. While I'm not as limited as a PTL patient would be, they strongly advise that I adhere to as many of those limitations as possible to keep from becoming a PTL patient, because that's where I'm headed if I don't.
The good news? Noodle has a great heartbeat, is wildly active and all of my other tests came out great. My blood pressure was perfect, I've got no proteins in my urine, I don't have a UTI or kidney infection, and no signs of blood sugar concerns. My swelling, while present, isn't concerning. Everything looks good. And their plan is to keep me cautious so it STAYS that way.
Noodle was pretty hilarious at that hospital, I'll be honest. When they started up the monitors and began strapping them to my belly, Noodle got upset almost instantly. It must have been the noise or something, but it was kick, kick, kick, roll, jab, kick the entire time. Mister even got to SEE Noodle kick the heartbeat monitor! That was a lot of fun. And the nurse kept losing Noodle's heartbeat because that baby was just NOT going to bit still. Beyond hilarious, it was wildly comforting. Our baby is doing really well. There are absolutely NO signs of distress whatsoever and they are confident we can keep it that way.
Oh...and for you prediction-minded people...Noodle's heartrate is still consistently 135 bpm. :)
I've had quite a few friends and mothers I've helped through pregnancy deal with PTL. It's not something to take lightly. And while it's comforting to know I'm not there yet, it is nerve-wracking to know I'm almost there. I spent my first two pregnancies working. With my daughter, I worked 2 jobs. With my son, I worked 50 hours a week until the day before my water broke, and that's only because my water broke on my day off. All of these jobs were on-my-feet-physical-type jobs, not office jobs or desk jobs. AND I maintained our homes, AND I still did the errands and the dinners and the blah, blah, blah. And at 5 months pregnant with my son, I moved my daughter and my pregnant self to our own apartment across town and handled all of that WHILE still maintaining a more than full time job, only to come home and night to being a fulltime single pregnant mom, too.
Medical staff continues to tell me it's my third pregnancy and I'm 30. I realize that's just a real part of all this. Third pregnancies are supposed to be harder than previous or subsequent pregnancies. For some reason, third pregnancies tend to just be miserable. I get that. I also get that I feel it more because I'm more aware of my body. I understand that my pelvic floor is weaker because of my age and previous pregnancies, and that my body "understand what to do" and is just doing it. Like spreading, cracking and expanding very well...and very easily. (And early...grr...) I get ALL of that. I know that what I'm experiencing isn't all that horrible, that I'm whining about taking it easy when so many other moms out there have it a hundred times more difficult than I do, or are on bedrest, or are currently dealing with PTL medications and procedures and all of that. I do, people, I seriously get it. But knowing it doesn't make it go away or easier to live with. I'm in freaking pain...every day. I'm already experiencing back pain associated with contractions. Rapid onset blinding headaches. Hip pain, and sometimes, hip disfunction that causes me to fall or be unable to walk or stand. Knowing that it's "normal" doesn't make those things just...poof...disappear. It makes them just as stupid, but unscary. That's about it.
It absolutely breaks my heart that I've gone from one of those women who barely allows pregnancy to disrupt her daily life, to being unable to do a load of laundry because there's a set of stairs between me and the washing machine. That makes me nuts.
In short, everything is okay and it will remain that way if I just...stop. I have to rest now, before I'm forced to. That's pretty much where we are. I thought I WAS resting, but apparently I need to get even more proactive about being inactive. Tee hee, that's a fun way of saying it. And I will. I am already. I will ask for help over things I normally do myself and I will smile while I do it. I won't venture out unless I need to, and I'll learn to be more efficient so when I do venture out I'm accomplishing more and doing less. I resolve to not let this get out of hand.
I'm just going to whine about it because I feel like a lazy bum...
Until then, I'll leave you with this updated picture of my gigantic self...
Until next time, friends...
After the severe nausea of the first trimester, my mind adjusted itself to images of me run/walking through the second and into the late third trimester, still griping about maternity running gear and putting at least 15 miles a week in. I even envisioned pushing the stroller so Boo could come along in the afternoons, come rain or shine.
Well, then I got some fairly terrible round ligament pain, accompanied by a warning from my nurse to "take it easy."
So...there went THAT idea.
But somewhere in the back of my mind I held on to hope that I could resume at least WALKING through some of these weeks, my body needing so badly to move and exercise.
*sigh*
As of yesterday's trip the L&D for evaluation due to unknown pain, I've been advised to take it EASIER. I'm tempting PTL (preterm labor). Not only can I never run OR walk through the end of this pregnancy, but now I can't sweep, go up and down stairs, do chores, run as many errands or really do anything. I realize it's what's best for me and Noodle, everyone knows the very last thing I want is for someone to tell me I'm grounded to bedrest, but I find myself grieving the loss of HOPE that I could at least walk for exercise at some point. Now I can't even walk to my own basement, unless it's absolutely necessary.
I come from a long line of women who absolutely do not just sit still. Even when we are sitting, we're typically either completing some sort of project, or busy making lists to plan the next. NOT doing the dishes sitting there, or cleaning up the toys on the floor, or throwing in that load of laundry...well, that's just not how we roll. How am I going to manage that?
I think the most challenging part for me is going to be learning how to do things while still doing less. It's not even a matter of efficiency, as much as priority. My mom made a good point that I need to be home more, not at the craft store or visiting my family and friends. I hate that, but it's wise and true. Mister has restricted me from doing absolutely anything unless completely necessary. I can cook dinner, as long as it's not very complicated. He said I could run my 3 errands today, but that's it. No chores. Nothing else. And he means it, folks. Yes, he's adorable and insanely thoughtful, but this is his child, too and I know he means business when he says I'm not allowed to do anything. He gets a say, too. And as his loving partner, I've got to respect his wishes. If he demands that I be still and allow him to pick up the slack, then as much as it makes me absolutely crazy, I'm going to. That's how he's participating in this pregnancy right now and darn it, he gets to.
The monitors confirmed I'm having quite a few contractions. They're irregular, but more than the 4 an hour that's recommended. However, they're smaller ones and aren't causing my cervix to dilate at all, so that's the good news. Had I been dilated at all, bedrest would've been in my future. The medical staff explained that I have to keep my contractions from increasing in strength or consistency, so rest, rest, rest. While I'm not as limited as a PTL patient would be, they strongly advise that I adhere to as many of those limitations as possible to keep from becoming a PTL patient, because that's where I'm headed if I don't.
The good news? Noodle has a great heartbeat, is wildly active and all of my other tests came out great. My blood pressure was perfect, I've got no proteins in my urine, I don't have a UTI or kidney infection, and no signs of blood sugar concerns. My swelling, while present, isn't concerning. Everything looks good. And their plan is to keep me cautious so it STAYS that way.
Noodle was pretty hilarious at that hospital, I'll be honest. When they started up the monitors and began strapping them to my belly, Noodle got upset almost instantly. It must have been the noise or something, but it was kick, kick, kick, roll, jab, kick the entire time. Mister even got to SEE Noodle kick the heartbeat monitor! That was a lot of fun. And the nurse kept losing Noodle's heartbeat because that baby was just NOT going to bit still. Beyond hilarious, it was wildly comforting. Our baby is doing really well. There are absolutely NO signs of distress whatsoever and they are confident we can keep it that way.
Oh...and for you prediction-minded people...Noodle's heartrate is still consistently 135 bpm. :)
I've had quite a few friends and mothers I've helped through pregnancy deal with PTL. It's not something to take lightly. And while it's comforting to know I'm not there yet, it is nerve-wracking to know I'm almost there. I spent my first two pregnancies working. With my daughter, I worked 2 jobs. With my son, I worked 50 hours a week until the day before my water broke, and that's only because my water broke on my day off. All of these jobs were on-my-feet-physical-type jobs, not office jobs or desk jobs. AND I maintained our homes, AND I still did the errands and the dinners and the blah, blah, blah. And at 5 months pregnant with my son, I moved my daughter and my pregnant self to our own apartment across town and handled all of that WHILE still maintaining a more than full time job, only to come home and night to being a fulltime single pregnant mom, too.
Medical staff continues to tell me it's my third pregnancy and I'm 30. I realize that's just a real part of all this. Third pregnancies are supposed to be harder than previous or subsequent pregnancies. For some reason, third pregnancies tend to just be miserable. I get that. I also get that I feel it more because I'm more aware of my body. I understand that my pelvic floor is weaker because of my age and previous pregnancies, and that my body "understand what to do" and is just doing it. Like spreading, cracking and expanding very well...and very easily. (And early...grr...) I get ALL of that. I know that what I'm experiencing isn't all that horrible, that I'm whining about taking it easy when so many other moms out there have it a hundred times more difficult than I do, or are on bedrest, or are currently dealing with PTL medications and procedures and all of that. I do, people, I seriously get it. But knowing it doesn't make it go away or easier to live with. I'm in freaking pain...every day. I'm already experiencing back pain associated with contractions. Rapid onset blinding headaches. Hip pain, and sometimes, hip disfunction that causes me to fall or be unable to walk or stand. Knowing that it's "normal" doesn't make those things just...poof...disappear. It makes them just as stupid, but unscary. That's about it.
It absolutely breaks my heart that I've gone from one of those women who barely allows pregnancy to disrupt her daily life, to being unable to do a load of laundry because there's a set of stairs between me and the washing machine. That makes me nuts.
In short, everything is okay and it will remain that way if I just...stop. I have to rest now, before I'm forced to. That's pretty much where we are. I thought I WAS resting, but apparently I need to get even more proactive about being inactive. Tee hee, that's a fun way of saying it. And I will. I am already. I will ask for help over things I normally do myself and I will smile while I do it. I won't venture out unless I need to, and I'll learn to be more efficient so when I do venture out I'm accomplishing more and doing less. I resolve to not let this get out of hand.
I'm just going to whine about it because I feel like a lazy bum...
Until then, I'll leave you with this updated picture of my gigantic self...
 | |||||
| 27 weeks... |
"Mama, can I take pitshur wif Noodle?"
"Sure, Boo. How do you wanna do it?"
"CHEESE!"
*click*
He's going to be an AWESOME big brother...
Until next time, friends...
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Hiccups, Heartburn and Heat.
It is absolutely amazing to me that I'm sitting here writing this blog at 27 weeks pregnant. Not because writing a blog is especially challenging, but because I'm actually 27 weeks along! (And right this second, Noodle has the hiccups, which is one of my favorite things about being pregnant in the first place. Hooray!) It's strange, but despite the challenging symptoms I've been battling for the duration of this pregnancy and their increasing limitations to my daily life, I'm still shocked when I look in the mirror and see myself so heavy with child.
He makes it look sooooo easy....
Best Moment of the Week?
One of my favorite moments this week was spending the afternoon with my nieces and nephew hanging out and making Halloween decorations. It's been so much fun to spend time with family this year and as the end of my pregnancy looms, I'm trying to take advantage of all the time I can spare. We had so much fun making spiders and playing football in the front yard with the neighbor kids! I'm looking forward to more moments like that over the next couple of holidays...
Miss Anything?
Honestly, I don't really miss anything except running. I think about running all the time and I spend a large part of my free time doing research on products and techniques so I'll be better prepared to run postpartum. Other than that, I don't miss anything. I'm thoroughly enjoying being pregnant.
Movement?
Well, as I said, Noodle has the hiccups this week. That's been a lot of fun.
Mister is still having a hard time catching any movement. Every single time I call him over to feel Noodle move, the movement stops. Mister's fairly convinced there's no baby in there and I'm just getting fat. Tee hee!
My son, Boo, got the feel Noodle move yesterday. At first, he didn't know what was going on. Then he started to push back and Noodle would kick back and it became an adorable little moment. Boo squealed every time Noodle would kick. By far, one of my all-time favorite pregnancy moments.
Food Cravings?
I've had no real cravings this week. And it's been super frustrating.
Food Aversions?
EVERYTHING. My nausea has started to return in full force this week, leaving me feeling ill and completely disinterested in food again. I've returned to cold cereal and Cream of Wheat in an attempt to keep things in.
And chocolate.
That's about it.
Labor Signs?
No real labor signs, of course, but I'm still having constant Braxton Hicks contractions and they like to play tricks on me every now and then. It's no fun.
And on a side note: I've been experiencing bad, bad, bad back pain this last week. While I'm not concerned about this being a PTL (preterm labor) sign, myself and my nurse are getting a bit worried about back labor once labor ensues. Oh joy.
Belly Button?
Still an innie. Thank goodness!
Rings?
I am still having to change my rings on an almost daily basis, but I always wear one.
Happy or Moody?
This week it's safe to say I've been an absolute hormonal and emotional basket case. Between the incredible pain caused from a housework project for a photographer, the stress and emotional tidal wave from said photography session, and an unfair amount of hormones raging in my system, I am teeter-tottering between crying at every single thing...and I mean full-on sobs...to yelling at my family for not getting along...to laughing with glee. Oh, yes. I'm awesome this week. You've been warned.
Looking Forward To?
Well, I'm looking very forward to meeting our new doctor on the 16th of this month. It's been very hard to find a doctor here in our local area, but after some well-received recommendations, I was able to schedule an appointment with a highly demanded doctor. We're pretty excited.
Random Stuff:
As I noted before, I've been experiencing some severe pain this week. After 3 straight days of deep cleaning housework, I found myself in tears with back spasms, leg cramps, and intense Braxton Hicks accompanied by pain. I spoke with my nurse who reiterated that I am supposed to be taking ample breaks as necessary and not over doing ANYTHING, then instructed me to take a couple DAYS of as much rest as possible, feet up, LOTS of fluids. If nothing improves, I need to see my OB/GYN. Well, it's been 2 days and my back pain is still very, very present. But the Braxton Hicks have calmed down and the cramping is gone, hooray! However, at times, it hurts so much to walk that I just can't do it without stretching every other step and crying a little. Mister has basically grounded me from any and all chores and he and my daughter have taken up as much slack as possible so I can rest. I hate to see them both having to do so, but it seems that I have to resign myself to the fact that I just simply can't keep up anymore. For whatever reason (my doctor swears it's because I'm older...*ahem*...) my body just isn't coping well this time around and I need to be doing less. So..here I am, trying my best to do as little possible. And as awesome as that may sound, for someone like me who is happiest when the house is clean and the laundry's done and the candles are lit, it's a difficult request to simply rest. My biggest fear, however, is pushing myself so far that my doctor sees fit to put me on some form of bedrest. I can tell you with no uncertainty that c-sections, gestational diabetes and bedrest (even modified) are my top three pregnancy fears. Those things scare me more than anything else! SO...I'm doing what I can to keep all three of those as far away from me as possible. I'll be bringing these concerns up with my new doctor in the first appointment (my current doctor seems to just say I'm aging and it's my 3rd pregnancy, then blows me off pretty much) to be sure I'm as healthy as can be and on the right path. And of course, I'll certainly keep everyone posted. In the meantime, I've just got to stop being so darn stubborn and be more careful.
That being said, I'm finding the joy in taking it easy, as much as I can. It's been nice to spend some extra time with my toddler during the day, playing blocks and watching TV together, instead of mopping and cleaning. And it's been an absolutely delight to spend time shopping for Noodle's Nursery Corner online or quietly working on Christmas projects without a feeling of constant guilt for not getting more done around the house.
It's been ridiculously amazing to be surrounded by as much support as I am. My family, even outside of my home, have been nothing short of awesome and understanding. I'm so very, very thankful. While I feel like a big wimp, it's been great to know they're there for me in any way. Even if it's just to whine about being a big wimp. LOL. And Mister has shown me that real teamwork does exist, it's not just a fairytale. To all of you, I am forever grateful.
Well...off I go to get dressed and take Boo to the craft store again! We need us some pretty fabric! Until next time...
I just can't believe it. And while I may whine on occasion, and make some complaints about my swollen feet or my blurred vision or my complete exhaustion, I'm still very aware of the beauty and miracle that's happening to me. And those aches and woes are a very small price to pay for the wonder and happiness that come from having a baby. I get the opportunity to do something so many other women out there can't do. What a blessing! Despite my uncomfortable circumstances, I'm thrilled. And this pregnancy especially! Knowing it's my last has really changed how I experience all the bumps along the way. (I made a joke there...ha ha...) I enjoy waddling around my house bumping into everything as I go, sitting in the quiet with my feet up, soliciting as much sympathy from Mister as I can to get a foot rub and a knowing smile from across the room. Yes, this pregnancy has been extra special AND extra hard. I suppose one begets the next. I just can't believe I'm already almost out of my second trimester and into the last phase of my last pregnancy. In the blink of an eye, we'll be holding Noodle close and relishing in that warm, soft, incredible baby. *sigh*
How Big is Noodle?
Well, my precious Noodle has had a growth spurt this last week, and will continue to do so throughout the third trimester.
At approximately 15 inches long and over 2 pounds, Noodle is now the size of......
...a head of cauliflower!
More exciting things about this week, you ask?
Well, Noodle can recognize our voices now so we'd better start breaking out the books and the lullabies. Right?
Hiccups have begun in earnest this week, signaling that Noodle's tastebuds and lungs are both developing wonderfully. And I've enjoyed every single minute of it!
And we're both gaining weight at a consistent pace every week going forward. (Or SHOULD be. Ha ha!)
Maternity Clothes?
I bought a couple more men's flannel shirts at Goodwill the other day, and I'm still determined to pick up a handful of long-sleeved tees for layering through the end of the pregnancy. That should just about do it. Let's hope, anyway!
Stretch Marks?
No new stretch marks yet, but my skin is definitely becoming itchy and red, so I expect new ones to show up any minute. *sigh*
Sleep?
Sleep is going alright this week. I only battled insomnia once. But I'm finding it even more difficult to get comfortable and stay there, so getting to sleep is becoming a chore. My magical maternity pillow is still great, though, until I have to get up to pee for the billionth time. Then it's like I'm wrestling a bear.
He makes it look sooooo easy....
Best Moment of the Week?
One of my favorite moments this week was spending the afternoon with my nieces and nephew hanging out and making Halloween decorations. It's been so much fun to spend time with family this year and as the end of my pregnancy looms, I'm trying to take advantage of all the time I can spare. We had so much fun making spiders and playing football in the front yard with the neighbor kids! I'm looking forward to more moments like that over the next couple of holidays...
Miss Anything?
Honestly, I don't really miss anything except running. I think about running all the time and I spend a large part of my free time doing research on products and techniques so I'll be better prepared to run postpartum. Other than that, I don't miss anything. I'm thoroughly enjoying being pregnant.
Movement?
Well, as I said, Noodle has the hiccups this week. That's been a lot of fun.
Mister is still having a hard time catching any movement. Every single time I call him over to feel Noodle move, the movement stops. Mister's fairly convinced there's no baby in there and I'm just getting fat. Tee hee!
My son, Boo, got the feel Noodle move yesterday. At first, he didn't know what was going on. Then he started to push back and Noodle would kick back and it became an adorable little moment. Boo squealed every time Noodle would kick. By far, one of my all-time favorite pregnancy moments.
Food Cravings?
I've had no real cravings this week. And it's been super frustrating.
Food Aversions?
EVERYTHING. My nausea has started to return in full force this week, leaving me feeling ill and completely disinterested in food again. I've returned to cold cereal and Cream of Wheat in an attempt to keep things in.
And chocolate.
That's about it.
Labor Signs?
No real labor signs, of course, but I'm still having constant Braxton Hicks contractions and they like to play tricks on me every now and then. It's no fun.
And on a side note: I've been experiencing bad, bad, bad back pain this last week. While I'm not concerned about this being a PTL (preterm labor) sign, myself and my nurse are getting a bit worried about back labor once labor ensues. Oh joy.
Belly Button?
Still an innie. Thank goodness!
Rings?
I am still having to change my rings on an almost daily basis, but I always wear one.
Happy or Moody?
This week it's safe to say I've been an absolute hormonal and emotional basket case. Between the incredible pain caused from a housework project for a photographer, the stress and emotional tidal wave from said photography session, and an unfair amount of hormones raging in my system, I am teeter-tottering between crying at every single thing...and I mean full-on sobs...to yelling at my family for not getting along...to laughing with glee. Oh, yes. I'm awesome this week. You've been warned.
Looking Forward To?
Well, I'm looking very forward to meeting our new doctor on the 16th of this month. It's been very hard to find a doctor here in our local area, but after some well-received recommendations, I was able to schedule an appointment with a highly demanded doctor. We're pretty excited.
Random Stuff:
As I noted before, I've been experiencing some severe pain this week. After 3 straight days of deep cleaning housework, I found myself in tears with back spasms, leg cramps, and intense Braxton Hicks accompanied by pain. I spoke with my nurse who reiterated that I am supposed to be taking ample breaks as necessary and not over doing ANYTHING, then instructed me to take a couple DAYS of as much rest as possible, feet up, LOTS of fluids. If nothing improves, I need to see my OB/GYN. Well, it's been 2 days and my back pain is still very, very present. But the Braxton Hicks have calmed down and the cramping is gone, hooray! However, at times, it hurts so much to walk that I just can't do it without stretching every other step and crying a little. Mister has basically grounded me from any and all chores and he and my daughter have taken up as much slack as possible so I can rest. I hate to see them both having to do so, but it seems that I have to resign myself to the fact that I just simply can't keep up anymore. For whatever reason (my doctor swears it's because I'm older...*ahem*...) my body just isn't coping well this time around and I need to be doing less. So..here I am, trying my best to do as little possible. And as awesome as that may sound, for someone like me who is happiest when the house is clean and the laundry's done and the candles are lit, it's a difficult request to simply rest. My biggest fear, however, is pushing myself so far that my doctor sees fit to put me on some form of bedrest. I can tell you with no uncertainty that c-sections, gestational diabetes and bedrest (even modified) are my top three pregnancy fears. Those things scare me more than anything else! SO...I'm doing what I can to keep all three of those as far away from me as possible. I'll be bringing these concerns up with my new doctor in the first appointment (my current doctor seems to just say I'm aging and it's my 3rd pregnancy, then blows me off pretty much) to be sure I'm as healthy as can be and on the right path. And of course, I'll certainly keep everyone posted. In the meantime, I've just got to stop being so darn stubborn and be more careful.
That being said, I'm finding the joy in taking it easy, as much as I can. It's been nice to spend some extra time with my toddler during the day, playing blocks and watching TV together, instead of mopping and cleaning. And it's been an absolutely delight to spend time shopping for Noodle's Nursery Corner online or quietly working on Christmas projects without a feeling of constant guilt for not getting more done around the house.
It's been ridiculously amazing to be surrounded by as much support as I am. My family, even outside of my home, have been nothing short of awesome and understanding. I'm so very, very thankful. While I feel like a big wimp, it's been great to know they're there for me in any way. Even if it's just to whine about being a big wimp. LOL. And Mister has shown me that real teamwork does exist, it's not just a fairytale. To all of you, I am forever grateful.
Well...off I go to get dressed and take Boo to the craft store again! We need us some pretty fabric! Until next time...
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