Today we went out to my friend Michelle's house for a "Messy Party." It was great! The kids played w/ spaghetti, a whole pool of it, and oatmeal and powered sugar and bananas and whipped cream (at different stations) and the older kids painted their faces w/ chocolate and sprinkles. Michelle had a fun toddler sprinkler going and I brought our pool which was full of water and yellow water balloons. Tyler got spaghetti in his hair.
I got to chat w/ several moms, one of whom is preggers, and compare our searches for the right doctors/nurse midwives, and give each other recommendations, and share horror stories about past births. Pretty cool, huh? It really does the heart good!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Felt the Baby Really Move!
Last few nights when I'm going to bed and after a long day finally lying still, I've felt little rolls or bumps deep in my belly. Two nights ago it was defninite, and I tho I couldn't really feel it with my hand I cupped my belly and talked to "her" some.
But last night I was sitting on the couch reading Harry Potter (who isn't?) and "she" kicked me and I could see it! Thump thump... thump thump... thump-a thump. I was so excited! Ben came running over and put his hand right over "her" and he felt it too! So he talked to "her" and cooed while I teared up.
This is the sort of thing I live for, that makes all this sickness worth it. I'm just thrilled, and I want to feel "her" more!
But last night I was sitting on the couch reading Harry Potter (who isn't?) and "she" kicked me and I could see it! Thump thump... thump thump... thump-a thump. I was so excited! Ben came running over and put his hand right over "her" and he felt it too! So he talked to "her" and cooed while I teared up.
This is the sort of thing I live for, that makes all this sickness worth it. I'm just thrilled, and I want to feel "her" more!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Okay, This Is Weird...
...But I think I was just flirted with, or else, maybe he was just in a good mood? I had Jimmy Johns delivered for lunch today, and this guy, this young, young thing, like a Middle Eastern Keanu Reeves only shorter, delivered it, and made light chit chat, and even after I paid him he sort of stood around and smiled a lot at me giving me a lot of lovely brown eye contact from under the hair hanging in his eyes (Keanu style) and didn't leave until I did. I'm just stunned. I mean, here I am, this fat, pregnant, clearly married, older woman, who by the way needed a little face powder on her shiny nose (I looked afterward)! I'm completely baffled.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Nurturing the Greenery
This weekend was soooo beautiful, with temps in the mid to low 70s, that even with doctor tests and prenatal yoga kicking my butt, I really felt "up" about the weekend and the outside. We had a lovely time at our favorite local park, and Tyler loved being on the swing and climbing up to the slide all by himself, and I could waddle around and watch Ben chase him and play.
On Sunday I planted the geraniums, etc., that I'd bought on Friday. In the morning when the shade extended over our front yard I put in a line of "exotic" geraniums (that just means "big," ha ha) in the front of our landscaping, and pulled a bunch of weeds. Then I planted the rest of what I had planned over by the back door, so that when you walk out the back door instead of seeing dirt and weeds by our neighbor's air conditioner, right where our hedges end, you see flowers. Along the back, by their basement window, is a line of small pink geraniums, then you have purple "meadow sage" in the middle (a perennial) and purple salvia, then a line of low-growing blue "star creepers" (also perennial) that edge our back sidewalk. The blue is so pale it's almost white (and looks a lot like alissium) and flowers all summer to fall and is "foot friendly" so when workers work on the air conditioner (twice this summer) they can step on it. This fall I will plant bulbs of some kind of tall flowering something among the geraniums in the back.
So now when you step out the back door, you see these flowers in three colors and feel cheerful! And when you drive up to the house in the front, you'll see spots of color in among the overgrown front hedges. I'm so happy about this, and feel a great sense of accomplishment. It's not much compared to our green-thumbed neighbors perhaps, but I think it's great!
Opposite the front, in the back at the back line of the landscaping, Ben and I plan to put in a butterfly garden. Like magic on Friday when out for a walk, we passed a neighbor's flower grouping and a giant Monarch butterfly was flitting and Tyler was entranced. We let him get close and he reached out one finger and tried to touch it, it flitted to another flower. We followed, and it spread it's wings in the sun. This time it let Tyler touch the edge of it's wing and didn't fly away. We stood and watched, we three, and Tyler exclaimed "budufly!" I've been researching butterfly gardens. We want to put in purple coneflowers, brown-eyed susans, and queen ann's lace.
When Tyler was born in the Fall, I planted mums along the front. This summer while I'm pregnant I want to see colors and cheerful flowers, and to water them and feel that I am nurturing something, not just being sick all the time. You know what I mean? And once the baby is born in January, when Spring comes, I want to see bulbs sending up their flowers. Maybe some blue crocuses, which will bloom even in late snowfall. Doesn't that sound lovely? I will fill the front with bulbs!
On Sunday I planted the geraniums, etc., that I'd bought on Friday. In the morning when the shade extended over our front yard I put in a line of "exotic" geraniums (that just means "big," ha ha) in the front of our landscaping, and pulled a bunch of weeds. Then I planted the rest of what I had planned over by the back door, so that when you walk out the back door instead of seeing dirt and weeds by our neighbor's air conditioner, right where our hedges end, you see flowers. Along the back, by their basement window, is a line of small pink geraniums, then you have purple "meadow sage" in the middle (a perennial) and purple salvia, then a line of low-growing blue "star creepers" (also perennial) that edge our back sidewalk. The blue is so pale it's almost white (and looks a lot like alissium) and flowers all summer to fall and is "foot friendly" so when workers work on the air conditioner (twice this summer) they can step on it. This fall I will plant bulbs of some kind of tall flowering something among the geraniums in the back.
So now when you step out the back door, you see these flowers in three colors and feel cheerful! And when you drive up to the house in the front, you'll see spots of color in among the overgrown front hedges. I'm so happy about this, and feel a great sense of accomplishment. It's not much compared to our green-thumbed neighbors perhaps, but I think it's great!
Opposite the front, in the back at the back line of the landscaping, Ben and I plan to put in a butterfly garden. Like magic on Friday when out for a walk, we passed a neighbor's flower grouping and a giant Monarch butterfly was flitting and Tyler was entranced. We let him get close and he reached out one finger and tried to touch it, it flitted to another flower. We followed, and it spread it's wings in the sun. This time it let Tyler touch the edge of it's wing and didn't fly away. We stood and watched, we three, and Tyler exclaimed "budufly!" I've been researching butterfly gardens. We want to put in purple coneflowers, brown-eyed susans, and queen ann's lace.
When Tyler was born in the Fall, I planted mums along the front. This summer while I'm pregnant I want to see colors and cheerful flowers, and to water them and feel that I am nurturing something, not just being sick all the time. You know what I mean? And once the baby is born in January, when Spring comes, I want to see bulbs sending up their flowers. Maybe some blue crocuses, which will bloom even in late snowfall. Doesn't that sound lovely? I will fill the front with bulbs!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Prenatal Yoga Kicks My Butt
First, let me just say that I wasn't the LATEST person to get to class!
And secondly, let me say that I certainly UNDERSTOOD all of the instructions the teacher was giving us, the names of poses, etc. And in my defense I haven't done ANY yoga since Tyler was maybe 3 months old, and he's almost 2 years old now! So, admitedly, I'm a bit out of shape. AND very sore!!!!!!
Ouch! Well, I have 6 months (approx) left to get in shape!
Most embarrassing moment in class: Yes, it was me who brought violence into the peaceful yoga classroom. We partnered up by the walls for a modified downward dog (kind of upward instead) and this icky spider comes scooting down her line from a vent above toward my partner's back. So I interrupted her stretch to ask her to move over this way and then pointed out the spider. She was appreciative. But then the teacher was wondering what the problem was and I grabbed my folded blanket (one of our props) and was ready to kill it, then I said, doubtfully, realizing what I was doing, "Can I do violence in yoga class?" and she said "No. Spiders eat mosquitoes. Just find another spot." I was abashed, and my heart was pounding.
Yes, me, the one w/ violence in her heart!! ;-) Oh, well.
The only negative from the class was the inexplicable anger I felt afterward, instead of feeling "blissed out" as I used to always do. Somehow the class wasn't what I expected or wanted, and yoga has been so important to me, and yet even pregnant there were all these in-shape women showing no signs of trouble and I was the only one modifying my poses or stopping early. Like even in pregnancy I'm the fat one or the slow one. Half the poses felt like I was faking it, I wasn't "in" my body, and my attempt to meditate at the end of class was a total failure. I've been doing yoga for at least 5 years, I thought I was good at it, and it used to bring me peace. What's going on?
And I REALLY wanted to kill that spider. Some kind of Buddhist I am!
And secondly, let me say that I certainly UNDERSTOOD all of the instructions the teacher was giving us, the names of poses, etc. And in my defense I haven't done ANY yoga since Tyler was maybe 3 months old, and he's almost 2 years old now! So, admitedly, I'm a bit out of shape. AND very sore!!!!!!
Ouch! Well, I have 6 months (approx) left to get in shape!
Most embarrassing moment in class: Yes, it was me who brought violence into the peaceful yoga classroom. We partnered up by the walls for a modified downward dog (kind of upward instead) and this icky spider comes scooting down her line from a vent above toward my partner's back. So I interrupted her stretch to ask her to move over this way and then pointed out the spider. She was appreciative. But then the teacher was wondering what the problem was and I grabbed my folded blanket (one of our props) and was ready to kill it, then I said, doubtfully, realizing what I was doing, "Can I do violence in yoga class?" and she said "No. Spiders eat mosquitoes. Just find another spot." I was abashed, and my heart was pounding.
Yes, me, the one w/ violence in her heart!! ;-) Oh, well.
The only negative from the class was the inexplicable anger I felt afterward, instead of feeling "blissed out" as I used to always do. Somehow the class wasn't what I expected or wanted, and yoga has been so important to me, and yet even pregnant there were all these in-shape women showing no signs of trouble and I was the only one modifying my poses or stopping early. Like even in pregnancy I'm the fat one or the slow one. Half the poses felt like I was faking it, I wasn't "in" my body, and my attempt to meditate at the end of class was a total failure. I've been doing yoga for at least 5 years, I thought I was good at it, and it used to bring me peace. What's going on?
And I REALLY wanted to kill that spider. Some kind of Buddhist I am!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Strange Doctor Day
Friday was a "strange doctor day" for me. I already had an appointment for 3:15, and the doc was booked that day. Meanwhile, they asked me to come in first thing a.m. for a blood draw for a fasting blood glucose level. Sort of a baseline for a gestational diabetes test.
So, because I couldn't eat I went in all nauseated but didn't get sick or faint when they took blood at 9:30 a.m. Then they gave me the bottle of orange-flavored dextrose to take and report back in an hour, but there was confusion about whether I could eat anything. I thought I was supposed to stay fasting. The nurse didn't make any sense and seemed really uncertain. So we went home, and then called back for clarification. The bottle had fasting instructions. So anyway we got someone else who called the nurse-midwife who wrote up my instructions in the file originally, and they got back to us (I'm totally limp on the couch at this point) with the clarification that they used to do it fasting but as long as I didn't eat sugar I could have something w/ protein, like a scrambled egg. So Ben made me a scrambled egg w/ cheese in it. After that, I could take the sugar drink, and the countdown began.
And what do you know but that's when Tyler decided he really needed his nap. So I went back in by myself and they pricked me just a quarter of an inch from where they had pricked before, and drew two vials this time, one for the glucose test and one for the hemoglobin test (if I have the right word there) for a spectrum of sugar intake over the past weeks. So of course since I'm on my own this time I got sick. I'm not a good blood-giver. So they gave me grape juice (isn't that more sugar?) and a corn muffin top, which was yummy, and I got better and went out.
I felt so good--some kind of weird high maybe--I drove by and stopped at this plant nursery called Good Earth in River Forest nearby, and bought some geraniums and star creepers to plant. It was so sunny, breezy, and beautiful! And all annuals were 50% off!
So I got home to eat lunch and by this time a headache was growing. Not surprising, considering the bad eating and sugar intake and blood loss of the day! So had a good lunch w/ Ben and Tyler, who got up at the last minute, and then before we knew it I was due back for my real doctor appointment.
By this time I was crashing and really wanted to nap. I was exhausted. We went in and the staff were all saying "hey, we just saw you!" Which they'd said the last time. Heh. So finally to the doc who explained the protein results of the blood draw portion of that test I took on June 2nd (with the ultrasound) for downs syndrome and trisomy 13/17. Anyway, my PAPP-A protein levels are one percentage point beyond the allowable limit, which puts me in 1/155 chance of having a downs baby. The HPG levels were normal, and my age not so terribly advanced in MY mind anyway(!), and the ultrasound turned up no excess fluid on the neck spine, so I really don't think I'm in so much danger. But the doc keeps asking us how far we want to go with testing and how important is it to really know 100%, meaning, if we would want to terminate, we should test the heck out of me. Then there's all this talk about the dangers of amniocentesis. How do we answer that??? Jeez.
I'm doing one more blood draw for another protein at 16 weeks along to test in a new way for downs syndrome and also for spina bifida. She offered to take the blood right then and I said no way was I giving any more blood! Three vials already! But Ben and I are leaning toward "no" to the amnio test. I'm leaning toward no more testing at all! My family is worried, tho. Who can blame them. My poor mom. All this talk, all these tests, eat at her as much as they do me and Ben! We do have a 20-week ultrasound scheduled, however.
Best and weirdest part was hearing the heartbeat for the first time. I laid back and the doc got out the doppler. I have felt the baby move, at night while I'm trying to fall asleep, but just little movements. But man, she/he was really bouncing around, and the doc had to chase her all over my abdomen to get the heartbeat. We heard the woosh woosh of the placenta, and the galloping ba-thump-a-ba-thump-a of the heartbeat, which was wonderful and reasurring. Also I could feel her move as the doc chased her (I'm calling her a "her" for now, hoping it is true!), which was just wonderful.
Tyler, however, was very concerned about the procedure. He really worried about Mom-Mom and called out to me repeatedly and wanted to know if I was going night-night since I was laying down, and he really didn't like the doctor putting the staticy sounding doppler on my tummy, and he didn't understand the heartbeat, and he cried and said I was "broken" and the doppler was broken too. (Tyler has learned the word and concept of "broken" and is anxious about broken things in his world.) After we recorded the heartbeat and some of Tyler's comments in the background, I sat up and reassured him Mom-Mom was okay (he knows the word "okay" too) and he calmed down, but was still worked up and Ben took him outside for a stroller ride while I talked to the doc about my irritable bowel syndrome and other things. Fun fun fun.
Next time we're getting Tyler a baby-sitter. Even tho the doc said he is more than welcome to come to the ultrasound and see the baby on the TV. Maybe my mom would like to come. She's never seen one of my ultrasounds.
After the appointment I went home and crashed on the couch while Ben took Tyler to the park. I could have slept through the night from then on!
So, because I couldn't eat I went in all nauseated but didn't get sick or faint when they took blood at 9:30 a.m. Then they gave me the bottle of orange-flavored dextrose to take and report back in an hour, but there was confusion about whether I could eat anything. I thought I was supposed to stay fasting. The nurse didn't make any sense and seemed really uncertain. So we went home, and then called back for clarification. The bottle had fasting instructions. So anyway we got someone else who called the nurse-midwife who wrote up my instructions in the file originally, and they got back to us (I'm totally limp on the couch at this point) with the clarification that they used to do it fasting but as long as I didn't eat sugar I could have something w/ protein, like a scrambled egg. So Ben made me a scrambled egg w/ cheese in it. After that, I could take the sugar drink, and the countdown began.
And what do you know but that's when Tyler decided he really needed his nap. So I went back in by myself and they pricked me just a quarter of an inch from where they had pricked before, and drew two vials this time, one for the glucose test and one for the hemoglobin test (if I have the right word there) for a spectrum of sugar intake over the past weeks. So of course since I'm on my own this time I got sick. I'm not a good blood-giver. So they gave me grape juice (isn't that more sugar?) and a corn muffin top, which was yummy, and I got better and went out.
I felt so good--some kind of weird high maybe--I drove by and stopped at this plant nursery called Good Earth in River Forest nearby, and bought some geraniums and star creepers to plant. It was so sunny, breezy, and beautiful! And all annuals were 50% off!
So I got home to eat lunch and by this time a headache was growing. Not surprising, considering the bad eating and sugar intake and blood loss of the day! So had a good lunch w/ Ben and Tyler, who got up at the last minute, and then before we knew it I was due back for my real doctor appointment.
By this time I was crashing and really wanted to nap. I was exhausted. We went in and the staff were all saying "hey, we just saw you!" Which they'd said the last time. Heh. So finally to the doc who explained the protein results of the blood draw portion of that test I took on June 2nd (with the ultrasound) for downs syndrome and trisomy 13/17. Anyway, my PAPP-A protein levels are one percentage point beyond the allowable limit, which puts me in 1/155 chance of having a downs baby. The HPG levels were normal, and my age not so terribly advanced in MY mind anyway(!), and the ultrasound turned up no excess fluid on the neck spine, so I really don't think I'm in so much danger. But the doc keeps asking us how far we want to go with testing and how important is it to really know 100%, meaning, if we would want to terminate, we should test the heck out of me. Then there's all this talk about the dangers of amniocentesis. How do we answer that??? Jeez.
I'm doing one more blood draw for another protein at 16 weeks along to test in a new way for downs syndrome and also for spina bifida. She offered to take the blood right then and I said no way was I giving any more blood! Three vials already! But Ben and I are leaning toward "no" to the amnio test. I'm leaning toward no more testing at all! My family is worried, tho. Who can blame them. My poor mom. All this talk, all these tests, eat at her as much as they do me and Ben! We do have a 20-week ultrasound scheduled, however.
Best and weirdest part was hearing the heartbeat for the first time. I laid back and the doc got out the doppler. I have felt the baby move, at night while I'm trying to fall asleep, but just little movements. But man, she/he was really bouncing around, and the doc had to chase her all over my abdomen to get the heartbeat. We heard the woosh woosh of the placenta, and the galloping ba-thump-a-ba-thump-a of the heartbeat, which was wonderful and reasurring. Also I could feel her move as the doc chased her (I'm calling her a "her" for now, hoping it is true!), which was just wonderful.
Tyler, however, was very concerned about the procedure. He really worried about Mom-Mom and called out to me repeatedly and wanted to know if I was going night-night since I was laying down, and he really didn't like the doctor putting the staticy sounding doppler on my tummy, and he didn't understand the heartbeat, and he cried and said I was "broken" and the doppler was broken too. (Tyler has learned the word and concept of "broken" and is anxious about broken things in his world.) After we recorded the heartbeat and some of Tyler's comments in the background, I sat up and reassured him Mom-Mom was okay (he knows the word "okay" too) and he calmed down, but was still worked up and Ben took him outside for a stroller ride while I talked to the doc about my irritable bowel syndrome and other things. Fun fun fun.
Next time we're getting Tyler a baby-sitter. Even tho the doc said he is more than welcome to come to the ultrasound and see the baby on the TV. Maybe my mom would like to come. She's never seen one of my ultrasounds.
After the appointment I went home and crashed on the couch while Ben took Tyler to the park. I could have slept through the night from then on!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Nausea Medicine Update
My friend asked, in response to this blog, how it's going w/ the nausea medication. Well, it really helps. But it doesn't wipe out the symptoms altogether. (It's called Zofran by the name-brand name, and Ondensetron by the generic. It's very safe, and was originally used for patients undergoing chemotherapy.)
When I first wake up I haven't eaten all night and I get sick, it can't be helped. Then I take one of these, which melts on the tongue and has immediate effect, right before breakfast. (It doesn't prevent the morning sick, I'm too far gone by that point.) It lasts about 6 hours. It makes my morning commute less miserable, but still I find it helps to eat in the car. I take another after lunch. My evenings are bad, usually, despite the medicine. But sometimes I have good evenings.
The thing is that it really takes the edge off, but doesn't eliminate it entirely. And some days my hormones go thru what seems like a surge. It varies. When I'm having a bad day, if I don't get enuf sleep, if I don't eat well or don't get a nap when I really need one, well, there's only so much the medicine can do. And you can't double up on it. I tried once and got a terrible stomach pain for quite a while. While hormones fluctuate and how you take care of yourself varies, the medicine stays the same. Also, it is not in a time-release pill, so it fades over time.
Still, I'm grateful for it. Forgot to take it one afternoon and I was as miserable as I was in the beginning, pre-zofran. It was a reminder of how much help it really does give me!
When I first wake up I haven't eaten all night and I get sick, it can't be helped. Then I take one of these, which melts on the tongue and has immediate effect, right before breakfast. (It doesn't prevent the morning sick, I'm too far gone by that point.) It lasts about 6 hours. It makes my morning commute less miserable, but still I find it helps to eat in the car. I take another after lunch. My evenings are bad, usually, despite the medicine. But sometimes I have good evenings.
The thing is that it really takes the edge off, but doesn't eliminate it entirely. And some days my hormones go thru what seems like a surge. It varies. When I'm having a bad day, if I don't get enuf sleep, if I don't eat well or don't get a nap when I really need one, well, there's only so much the medicine can do. And you can't double up on it. I tried once and got a terrible stomach pain for quite a while. While hormones fluctuate and how you take care of yourself varies, the medicine stays the same. Also, it is not in a time-release pill, so it fades over time.
Still, I'm grateful for it. Forgot to take it one afternoon and I was as miserable as I was in the beginning, pre-zofran. It was a reminder of how much help it really does give me!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Pregnancy Brain
I just realized that my shirt has been inside-out all day! Here I am thinking "I thought this top was prettier than this . . ." By 3 p.m. I finally realized the hem is on the outside, tag outside, embroidery on the inside itching me all day . . . so THAT's what that was! Do you think I can claim to be doing the Britney Speers look? LOL
Other "Pregnancy Brain" symptoms:
* Forgetting to put on any makeup or brush my hair
* Totally forgetting to feed myself AND my toddler, despite his pestering me to eat various things (which I give to him without question--he got 3 cookies in a row!)
* Completely forgetting what I was saying mid-conversation
* Sitting bewildered wondering what I'm supposed to be doing . . . AT WORK!
* 5 minutes late to regular meetings
* Total feeling of unreality about a project being behind schedule whem I'm usually a task-master about these things
* Going out to the car for lunch and having to turn around and go back inside for my car keys. Repeatedly.
* Not just mispellings in e-mail, but entirely wrong words
* Disappointed there are no cookies left in the "food cube" only to discover a cookie I'd left in plain sight on my desk an hour later
* Neglecting to clean up after Tyler's dinner, leaving messy bibs and placements and baby plates for Ben to find in odd places around the kitchen and dining room, sippy cup wherever Tyler left it with his toys . . .
* Having difficulty concentrating on what other people are saying, and asking them to repeat things. Even when I asked them to tell me stuff. Even my own mother!
* Mood swings. Sudden fits of rage at Ben, or at inanimate objects
* Crying at parts in stories or movies that are actually supposed to be funny
* Desperate to call people, then in a panic to get off the phone
* Falling asleep everywhere
* Have to clear my head of fuzz and think hard a lot
* Having difficulty coming up with this list! This was hard work!
Other "Pregnancy Brain" symptoms:
* Forgetting to put on any makeup or brush my hair
* Totally forgetting to feed myself AND my toddler, despite his pestering me to eat various things (which I give to him without question--he got 3 cookies in a row!)
* Completely forgetting what I was saying mid-conversation
* Sitting bewildered wondering what I'm supposed to be doing . . . AT WORK!
* 5 minutes late to regular meetings
* Total feeling of unreality about a project being behind schedule whem I'm usually a task-master about these things
* Going out to the car for lunch and having to turn around and go back inside for my car keys. Repeatedly.
* Not just mispellings in e-mail, but entirely wrong words
* Disappointed there are no cookies left in the "food cube" only to discover a cookie I'd left in plain sight on my desk an hour later
* Neglecting to clean up after Tyler's dinner, leaving messy bibs and placements and baby plates for Ben to find in odd places around the kitchen and dining room, sippy cup wherever Tyler left it with his toys . . .
* Having difficulty concentrating on what other people are saying, and asking them to repeat things. Even when I asked them to tell me stuff. Even my own mother!
* Mood swings. Sudden fits of rage at Ben, or at inanimate objects
* Crying at parts in stories or movies that are actually supposed to be funny
* Desperate to call people, then in a panic to get off the phone
* Falling asleep everywhere
* Have to clear my head of fuzz and think hard a lot
* Having difficulty coming up with this list! This was hard work!
Oops, Nappiness Takes Over Again
I just woke up at work after sleeping at my desk accidentally--it's like passing out--and I think I snored! Man, I was trying to avoid this. I wonder if I'm in any kind of trouble!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Rough Days Back Home
Today and yesterday were two-puke days each. Yesterday it was the end of too much car travel. Tonight, poor Tyler was an angel when I left him in a hurry to go be sick in the middle of his dinner. He got quiet and said I was "coughing." He was so good all night. We watched Elmo's World all about singing so we sang some songs together, which he initiated-- he's such a smart boy. He went to bed no problem at all and slept all night. I crept back downstairs to try to eat something and spilled some of my home-made, salt- and sugar-free, garlic- and onion-free spaghetti sauce all over the couch and myself! Luckily had the forethought 2 years ago to buy a couch/chair combo that had removable, washable covers. Ben was very sweet and did the heavy laundry while I totally collapsed.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Tenth Anniversary Vacation is Great
So Ben's boss surprised us with a you-have-the-weekend-off-for-your-anniversary so-go-somewhere and so we did! Tyle spent Friday and Saturday nights with his grandparents for the first time without us, and we went to St. Charles, IL, where many bike trails meet and many quaint shops and old buildings need visiting. We enjoyed staying at a hotel and biking and poking around town.
Each day went like this: sleep in, wake up, puke, take morning nausea medicine, go down for free continental breakfast, come up to shower, strap bikes to car, go out to lunch, bike, stop for snack, bike, snack, shower, dinner, collapse. Saturday I biked for 5 miles and never got sick! Really beautiful. Our main route was the Fox River Trail. Was a bit hilly, and we tried out the super-granny-speed settings on our bikes for fun. I strained my knees a bit, not thinking about how my hormones have loosened my joints and didn't take care. (This is something they teach you in prenatal yoga.) Also tooled around the sculpture exhibit in the park, also on bikes.
By all accounts Tyler loved staying w/ his Nana and Granpa and was very demanding on his Granpa, who he would call to in the night. Ask me: Wasn't it great to sleep thru the night? Answer: Yes!
Each day went like this: sleep in, wake up, puke, take morning nausea medicine, go down for free continental breakfast, come up to shower, strap bikes to car, go out to lunch, bike, stop for snack, bike, snack, shower, dinner, collapse. Saturday I biked for 5 miles and never got sick! Really beautiful. Our main route was the Fox River Trail. Was a bit hilly, and we tried out the super-granny-speed settings on our bikes for fun. I strained my knees a bit, not thinking about how my hormones have loosened my joints and didn't take care. (This is something they teach you in prenatal yoga.) Also tooled around the sculpture exhibit in the park, also on bikes.
By all accounts Tyler loved staying w/ his Nana and Granpa and was very demanding on his Granpa, who he would call to in the night. Ask me: Wasn't it great to sleep thru the night? Answer: Yes!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Dizzy Spell - Suspect Gestational Diabetes Is Back
Full blown dizzy spell this afternoon, a super-nice coworker (she is so sweet to me) helped me sit on the couch in the ladies room. I strongly suspect I have to give up my afternoon strawberry smoothies from Panera. I'm addicted, so I want to figure out how to make a sugar-free version, AND how to do it at work. So now I'm 14 weeks and this was when it hit me last time, well, I think so anyway. But I think the gestational diabetes is back and this was a reaction to the sugar. The crashes last several afternoons might even be from Panera bread. (Have I mentioned this baby wants all Panera, unlike Tyler, who was all Jimmy Johns?) I'm calling my doc to get tested ASAP officially for GD, and will put in the new batteries in my home blood tester and start with the food diaries. I was hoping to put this off for longer. See above comment on the strawberry smoothies!
Onion! Oh no!
I picked off the onions from my veggie sandwich today, since I had onions all the sudden, and now my fingers smell like onions! Washed my hands three times already and no help!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sleepytime
Last few days I've been crashing in the afternoon. Don't know why, but irresistable. Today I tried sleeping thru lunch in the car in the shade, but still felt weak all afternoon. Difficult to cope with at work. (Actually nodded off yesterday, and I doubt coworkers would be forgiving. If they remember that I did it over a month ago, it will seem like yesterday to them.)
Maybe the baby is using energy on something important. This month she/he's working on fingers and toes!
Maybe the baby is using energy on something important. This month she/he's working on fingers and toes!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Cheering Up a Bit
I'm afraid my pregnancy has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for my husband Ben. Poor guy. Recently he have me a "snap out of it" talking-to that I think I had coming. Feeling so sick and helpless all the time, gets to me, and I've been feeling down. Of course mix in dealing with a toddler evenings alone while Ben works, and the recent blow about my Grandma, and you can see how this would happen. But it's true that I've been very, very negative. Last couple of days I dug out my prettier maternity tops I used to wear when preggers w/ Tyler, and have been doing my hair and make-up, and it does help me feel better. I've noticed at work people seem to expect my negativity so I'm making an effort there, too. And an effort to be at work on time, which is hard for me, but I feel better when I start the day "honestly" if you know what I mean! And it was nice to have the July 4th holiday to rest up over. Anyway, I'm hopeful to turn things around and start getting the help I need to get the house clean, which would also be better for my mental state, and also to prepare for this new baby. I have lots of ideas in my head about how I want things to be. Wish me luck getting them all done!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Ultrasound Results
Ben and I went to a special testing center in Chicago (connected to Northwestern University Medical Center) for our first ultrasound and a blood test. The blood test screens for two types of proteins, both of which, if high enough, indicate a possibility for Downs Syndrome or other more extreme forms of Trisomy (genetic disorders). The ultrasound was used to measure the amount of fluid in the neck tissue, which also if high enough indicates the possibility of Downs or other Trisomy (having to do with chromosomal abnormalities). Excessive fluid in a little pocket behind the spine is commonly present in such cases. The two screenings, when combined, provide about 90% accuracy in predicting any trouble.
Good news right away: The measurement of fluid is low, within normal measures, and does not indicate any trouble. The blood screening results will come back Friday, so I'll add any note if I hear anything. If bad news, I will get a call right away. No news is good news!
I was very nervous to go to the ultrasound, as if, if I go, it ups my chances of having a Downs baby. I know that's magical thinking, but, well, I admit to it! I know that Downs babies are happy kids who can be productive in society as adults but Ben and I don't feel prepared for such a thing--as if you are ever "prepared" for any such thing! Everyone hopes for a healthy baby.
Due to our ages our chances are higher for such things, including autism, which my aunt says is the "disability du jour" these days, as men are having more babies at later ages (40 is the catch age for men having autistic babies, while 35 is the age for women having Downs babies). Musing on the subject, we might be more "prepared" for an autistic child, since we know of resources and family members w/ austism who are another resource. Not to mention my CP cousin and his brave family. Is my thinking a little dark on the subject? Perhaps. Perhaps just being practical. The medical establishment does tend to freak out a little when you pass 35, and prompt you to think about things you might not have done otherwise. There is one more blood test I will undergo at 16 weeks, more on that when the time comes.
Anyway, the ultrasound on Monday was very quick and painless, and I felt so so so excited to see the little fetus wiggling around! Unlike Tyler, this one does not "run" away from every instrument like ultrasounds, dopplers, moniters, etc., but was quiet and cooperative. Hum... a different personality already! Despite the concerns about various disabilities, the ultrasound really gave me a boost and I feel I have my hopes up about it, and begin to feel excited to meet this little person and learn more about their new unique personality!
Good news right away: The measurement of fluid is low, within normal measures, and does not indicate any trouble. The blood screening results will come back Friday, so I'll add any note if I hear anything. If bad news, I will get a call right away. No news is good news!
I was very nervous to go to the ultrasound, as if, if I go, it ups my chances of having a Downs baby. I know that's magical thinking, but, well, I admit to it! I know that Downs babies are happy kids who can be productive in society as adults but Ben and I don't feel prepared for such a thing--as if you are ever "prepared" for any such thing! Everyone hopes for a healthy baby.
Due to our ages our chances are higher for such things, including autism, which my aunt says is the "disability du jour" these days, as men are having more babies at later ages (40 is the catch age for men having autistic babies, while 35 is the age for women having Downs babies). Musing on the subject, we might be more "prepared" for an autistic child, since we know of resources and family members w/ austism who are another resource. Not to mention my CP cousin and his brave family. Is my thinking a little dark on the subject? Perhaps. Perhaps just being practical. The medical establishment does tend to freak out a little when you pass 35, and prompt you to think about things you might not have done otherwise. There is one more blood test I will undergo at 16 weeks, more on that when the time comes.
Anyway, the ultrasound on Monday was very quick and painless, and I felt so so so excited to see the little fetus wiggling around! Unlike Tyler, this one does not "run" away from every instrument like ultrasounds, dopplers, moniters, etc., but was quiet and cooperative. Hum... a different personality already! Despite the concerns about various disabilities, the ultrasound really gave me a boost and I feel I have my hopes up about it, and begin to feel excited to meet this little person and learn more about their new unique personality!
Ultrasound Photos
The baby is now 13 weeks along, and 2-and-three-quarters inches long from crown to rump, as they say!
Click here to link back to the 20-week ultrasound photos
Monday, July 2, 2007
Nervous About Tests Today
Today I'm going into the city (Chicago) for some tests that involve an ultrasound and a blood draw. They measure the thickness of the skin on the back of the fetus's neck, takes like and hour and a half. This tests for Down's Syndrome and other more drastic forms of Trisomy. I'm 36, so they panic about stuff like this. These tests are 60% accurate at indicating whether the fetus might have some trouble, and if so, they recommend another test later in the pregnancy that, combined with this one, give a 90% picture of what to expect. This makes me all so nervous. I'd love to have an old-fashioned pregnancy, where I know nothing until the baby is born. I also wish, in this old-fashioned vision, that I could stay home and eat and sleep all day--be an invalid. I'm such a poor exhuse for a worker/driver/housekeeper (hah!)/mom! Anyway... It will be good to see the baby on the screen, and see/hear that it is okay. All I feel is sick and fat, I'm anxious to feel it kick or roll inside me, to feel that there is a real fetus in there, that I'm not just imagining everything! I'll give you an update after the test!
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