12/31/2003
28wk
Yesterday was the first time that I felt big. In fact, I felt baby pushing out more, as if he was running out of room. It was an interesting feeling. There are no more flutters. Instead, it's more like a bed partner, squirming around for more room and pushing you out of the way. It's kind of comical! Maybe I'll see a foot or a fist soon!
Just found out about another pregnancy! A former work colleague, who also took the package, is also expecting his first child with his wife. I'm telling you, pregnancy is contagious!
I got a nice surprise this Christmas weekend with a baby shower! DH and family have been in on it since Labor Day!! Those sly dogs! I thought it was a birthday party for my niece. I even came with a gift for her! We were late to the party because DH went to IKEA with BIL and bought a dresser for my nephew before the party started. It took them a long time. For once, I can say that it was not my fault that we were late!!! LOL! DH even created an online registry for us. How sweet!
I got to sit in "the chair" and unwrap all our presents, and boy, was there a lot! I've loaded them into the spare room, which will be the nursery, but now I can't close the door!! So, now, it is imperative that I move the old computer monitor, the guest mattress, and all those boxes I've kept in "storage". I decluttered the closet and it is almost empty.
It is really weird having baby stuff in the house. When I got some baby things as Christmas gifts, it hit me again that this is really happening. Now, DH and I are talking about baby's room, and shelving, etc, and it is just amazing. I never envisioned us having these conversations, but it is awesome! It's another compelling reminder that pregnancy is only the beginning of this whole ride!
The neat thing is that the spare room is already set up as a little boy's room, thanks to the previous homeowners. The walls are blue with a nice sports motif as a chair-rail height border. Also, the closet has 2 clothes racks, with the lower one at kid level. There's also 3 shelves, but we may add more to better utilize the space in closet. I'm getting excited just thinking about the organizing possibilities! We'd left that room alone, "just in case", and I'm glad we did!
You don't want to know about my weight! Christmas was tough, eating-wise, because I stayed at my oldest DS's house for 4 days. Hey, when you are being treated to home cooked food and being offered eggs for breakfast and my other sister's homemade ziti and potato salad, it's pointless to say no! I gained 4.5 lbs since the week before, which now puts me at 7 lbs over plan. Ughhhh..... There is a ray of hope though. I weighed myself today and am half a lb lighter. Foodwise, all I have to do is survive New Year's!!! Now, before you all beat me to death for trying to "lose weight", I'm just hoping to slow down my weight gain. Trust me, I'm not starving myself or the baby! I've been too hungry to do that! My appetite for the third trimester has really spiked! Besides, I'm hoping that 3 of those extra lbs is water weight.
My outie is being stretched enough that it is not protruding as much. My little basketball of a belly is now transforming into a small watermelon. DH still says it's cute though. He got to feel baby kick around yesterday as we watched TV.
I'm getting lots of sleep, but still took a nap yesterday. So, I'm slowing down and taking it in stride. I am 7 months along, so I shouldn't feel too bad about needing more sleep!!
Speaking of which.... it's early, and I thought I'd jot down this quick update. I'm going back to bed! Hope you are enjoying the Holidays (I sure am!) and that you have a wonderful New Year!
Yesterday was the first time that I felt big. In fact, I felt baby pushing out more, as if he was running out of room. It was an interesting feeling. There are no more flutters. Instead, it's more like a bed partner, squirming around for more room and pushing you out of the way. It's kind of comical! Maybe I'll see a foot or a fist soon!
Just found out about another pregnancy! A former work colleague, who also took the package, is also expecting his first child with his wife. I'm telling you, pregnancy is contagious!
I got a nice surprise this Christmas weekend with a baby shower! DH and family have been in on it since Labor Day!! Those sly dogs! I thought it was a birthday party for my niece. I even came with a gift for her! We were late to the party because DH went to IKEA with BIL and bought a dresser for my nephew before the party started. It took them a long time. For once, I can say that it was not my fault that we were late!!! LOL! DH even created an online registry for us. How sweet!
I got to sit in "the chair" and unwrap all our presents, and boy, was there a lot! I've loaded them into the spare room, which will be the nursery, but now I can't close the door!! So, now, it is imperative that I move the old computer monitor, the guest mattress, and all those boxes I've kept in "storage". I decluttered the closet and it is almost empty.
It is really weird having baby stuff in the house. When I got some baby things as Christmas gifts, it hit me again that this is really happening. Now, DH and I are talking about baby's room, and shelving, etc, and it is just amazing. I never envisioned us having these conversations, but it is awesome! It's another compelling reminder that pregnancy is only the beginning of this whole ride!
The neat thing is that the spare room is already set up as a little boy's room, thanks to the previous homeowners. The walls are blue with a nice sports motif as a chair-rail height border. Also, the closet has 2 clothes racks, with the lower one at kid level. There's also 3 shelves, but we may add more to better utilize the space in closet. I'm getting excited just thinking about the organizing possibilities! We'd left that room alone, "just in case", and I'm glad we did!
You don't want to know about my weight! Christmas was tough, eating-wise, because I stayed at my oldest DS's house for 4 days. Hey, when you are being treated to home cooked food and being offered eggs for breakfast and my other sister's homemade ziti and potato salad, it's pointless to say no! I gained 4.5 lbs since the week before, which now puts me at 7 lbs over plan. Ughhhh..... There is a ray of hope though. I weighed myself today and am half a lb lighter. Foodwise, all I have to do is survive New Year's!!! Now, before you all beat me to death for trying to "lose weight", I'm just hoping to slow down my weight gain. Trust me, I'm not starving myself or the baby! I've been too hungry to do that! My appetite for the third trimester has really spiked! Besides, I'm hoping that 3 of those extra lbs is water weight.
My outie is being stretched enough that it is not protruding as much. My little basketball of a belly is now transforming into a small watermelon. DH still says it's cute though. He got to feel baby kick around yesterday as we watched TV.
I'm getting lots of sleep, but still took a nap yesterday. So, I'm slowing down and taking it in stride. I am 7 months along, so I shouldn't feel too bad about needing more sleep!!
Speaking of which.... it's early, and I thought I'd jot down this quick update. I'm going back to bed! Hope you are enjoying the Holidays (I sure am!) and that you have a wonderful New Year!
12/21/2003
27wk
I can't believe I didn't mention this before.... I found out this past week that my CIL (cousin-in-law) is expecting also! She and I both went to my MIL's retirement party, so she must have caught the bug then. That was 3 weeks ago, and now she's preggers! Hmmmm.... Coincidence? Maybe not... The running joke at my church is that if you are 35+ and go to the 9:30 service, you will get pregnant. I'm preggers number #4 since last March and we all fit the same criteria! Go figure!
Anyway, I now sit on the other side of the advice spectrum. CIL's pregnancy news was the first one I'd heard about since becoming pregnant myself. I was amazed at my initial reaction! I just wanted to tell her everything! I wanted to make lists for her, recommend books, give her my notes and tell her what she needed to do next.... It was weird. Now, I know firsthand why other mothers go nuts when you announce you're pregnant. It's such an amazing event, that you just want to share what you know about it, especially since you've had the same doubts and questions that mommy-to-be will have.
I had to hold back though, since I generally don't like unsolicited advice. I didn't want to eat crow. But, boy, it was hard!!! Talk about being on both sides of the fence!!! How ironic! I promise that I will only share advice in a positive light (no horror stories!) and that I will wait to be asked! Most of the time, anyway. :-)
I can't believe I didn't mention this before.... I found out this past week that my CIL (cousin-in-law) is expecting also! She and I both went to my MIL's retirement party, so she must have caught the bug then. That was 3 weeks ago, and now she's preggers! Hmmmm.... Coincidence? Maybe not... The running joke at my church is that if you are 35+ and go to the 9:30 service, you will get pregnant. I'm preggers number #4 since last March and we all fit the same criteria! Go figure!
Anyway, I now sit on the other side of the advice spectrum. CIL's pregnancy news was the first one I'd heard about since becoming pregnant myself. I was amazed at my initial reaction! I just wanted to tell her everything! I wanted to make lists for her, recommend books, give her my notes and tell her what she needed to do next.... It was weird. Now, I know firsthand why other mothers go nuts when you announce you're pregnant. It's such an amazing event, that you just want to share what you know about it, especially since you've had the same doubts and questions that mommy-to-be will have.
I had to hold back though, since I generally don't like unsolicited advice. I didn't want to eat crow. But, boy, it was hard!!! Talk about being on both sides of the fence!!! How ironic! I promise that I will only share advice in a positive light (no horror stories!) and that I will wait to be asked! Most of the time, anyway. :-)
27wk
Well, it's official, I am now entering my 3rd trimester!!! Things are still going pretty smooth. I'm not waddling yet, I have no swelling anywhere (except my boobs and belly!), still no stretch marks and baby is kicking quite a bit. My complexion is getting better, but makeup has become my friend! (Neutrogena Skin Care Cover - it's actually flesh toned zit cream!)
DH helps me up when I'm sitting, which is nice. It's instinctive for him now. Getting up and out of the car is a little more work and when the phone rings, it takes me more rings than normal to pick it up. (No more running to the phone!) I squat to pick things up, instead of bending over, and I never realized how hard it is to tie shoe laces sideways!!! God bless slip on shoes!!
Baby has been wonderful with me. Christmas has also taken on significant meaning for me, since Mary, the mother of Jesus was pregnant around this time! Now, I have a small glimpse of what she went through.
I'm happy to report that I've made some decent finds on eBay for maternity jeans (and 1 more nursing bra!). eBay is a wonderful thing. It's like an online yard sale! I even posted a few items for sale myself and established my eBay online presence!! You can check it out here: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/omibrahim/
I've been enjoying Christmas with a lot less stress this year. This is the first Christmas in 7 years that I have not had to work a mile a minute until Christmas Day, so I have a lot more time! I'm so impressed with myself, I'm 90% done with Christmas shopping and gift wrapping and I actually sent out Christmas cards this year! Woo Hoo!
We were going to get a tree this year, and think about lights outside, but it didn't happen. I'm not stressing over it though. I decided that it was more important to have calm than to "check the box" and do more "stuff". Remember, the only person that can make Christmas stressful for you is you. Alright, maybe your MIL, if you're not as lucky as I am, but you can control your response and attitude and stress less.
That is the key for me for Christmas. Are you taking time to enjoy the Holiday? Are you visiting with friends and family that mean a lot to you? Whatever you do, don't do something because "you're supposed to". Be sure to cruise around town and check out your neighbor's lights. That's what I've been doing. They've done all the work, so I might as well enjoy it!! Tomorrow, I will be dropping by a neighbor's for tea. That's much better than running around like a madman trying to find a parking spot, avoiding road rage attacks and waiting in line in a crowded store! DH and I hit the Best Buy, but it was swamped. We didn't even go in the store!
Healthwise, I'm doing well. Had my first endocrinologist appointment on Friday with Dr. N. She is very nice. She upped my meds to 200 mcgs. We'll see what that does. Thankfully, they are just making sure my thyroid hormones are regulated. Baby and I are not having any major symptoms, praise God!
Monday I see the midwives, then in 3 weeks, I go for my 30wk ultrasound. Thank goodness for my planner. Otherwise, I'd have issues keeping all these appointments straight!! I feel for working women if they have to try and squeeze in all these appointments while trying to work!
I'm enjoying being home. I could get real used to this. I take time and don't push myself too much, but I'm getting more freelance writing work and working on organizing the house. So, I am keeping busy, just not killing myself. I haven't had time to get "bored". Ahhhh.... Believe it or not, I wake up at 6:30am, even though I could sleep in if I wanted to. I guess I'm just so used to getting up early (got up at 5:30am for work, so I feel like I'm sleeping in). It's like a good start to the day. I'm up late now, but that is because I took a 2.5 hour nap earlier this afternoon.
My belly is moving now, which is really cool. I can't wait to see my family for Christmas and show off my belly. They are looking forward to seeing me too. Well, until the next time...
May the Lord bless you with the real meaning of Christmas this year, the gift and hope of Jesus!
Well, it's official, I am now entering my 3rd trimester!!! Things are still going pretty smooth. I'm not waddling yet, I have no swelling anywhere (except my boobs and belly!), still no stretch marks and baby is kicking quite a bit. My complexion is getting better, but makeup has become my friend! (Neutrogena Skin Care Cover - it's actually flesh toned zit cream!)
DH helps me up when I'm sitting, which is nice. It's instinctive for him now. Getting up and out of the car is a little more work and when the phone rings, it takes me more rings than normal to pick it up. (No more running to the phone!) I squat to pick things up, instead of bending over, and I never realized how hard it is to tie shoe laces sideways!!! God bless slip on shoes!!
Baby has been wonderful with me. Christmas has also taken on significant meaning for me, since Mary, the mother of Jesus was pregnant around this time! Now, I have a small glimpse of what she went through.
I'm happy to report that I've made some decent finds on eBay for maternity jeans (and 1 more nursing bra!). eBay is a wonderful thing. It's like an online yard sale! I even posted a few items for sale myself and established my eBay online presence!! You can check it out here: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/omibrahim/
I've been enjoying Christmas with a lot less stress this year. This is the first Christmas in 7 years that I have not had to work a mile a minute until Christmas Day, so I have a lot more time! I'm so impressed with myself, I'm 90% done with Christmas shopping and gift wrapping and I actually sent out Christmas cards this year! Woo Hoo!
We were going to get a tree this year, and think about lights outside, but it didn't happen. I'm not stressing over it though. I decided that it was more important to have calm than to "check the box" and do more "stuff". Remember, the only person that can make Christmas stressful for you is you. Alright, maybe your MIL, if you're not as lucky as I am, but you can control your response and attitude and stress less.
That is the key for me for Christmas. Are you taking time to enjoy the Holiday? Are you visiting with friends and family that mean a lot to you? Whatever you do, don't do something because "you're supposed to". Be sure to cruise around town and check out your neighbor's lights. That's what I've been doing. They've done all the work, so I might as well enjoy it!! Tomorrow, I will be dropping by a neighbor's for tea. That's much better than running around like a madman trying to find a parking spot, avoiding road rage attacks and waiting in line in a crowded store! DH and I hit the Best Buy, but it was swamped. We didn't even go in the store!
Healthwise, I'm doing well. Had my first endocrinologist appointment on Friday with Dr. N. She is very nice. She upped my meds to 200 mcgs. We'll see what that does. Thankfully, they are just making sure my thyroid hormones are regulated. Baby and I are not having any major symptoms, praise God!
Monday I see the midwives, then in 3 weeks, I go for my 30wk ultrasound. Thank goodness for my planner. Otherwise, I'd have issues keeping all these appointments straight!! I feel for working women if they have to try and squeeze in all these appointments while trying to work!
I'm enjoying being home. I could get real used to this. I take time and don't push myself too much, but I'm getting more freelance writing work and working on organizing the house. So, I am keeping busy, just not killing myself. I haven't had time to get "bored". Ahhhh.... Believe it or not, I wake up at 6:30am, even though I could sleep in if I wanted to. I guess I'm just so used to getting up early (got up at 5:30am for work, so I feel like I'm sleeping in). It's like a good start to the day. I'm up late now, but that is because I took a 2.5 hour nap earlier this afternoon.
My belly is moving now, which is really cool. I can't wait to see my family for Christmas and show off my belly. They are looking forward to seeing me too. Well, until the next time...
May the Lord bless you with the real meaning of Christmas this year, the gift and hope of Jesus!
12/12/2003
26wk
Buck Wild:
I'm back (wow, 2 entries in one day!)
Anyway, just before the dinner alarm sounded, I wanted to post about my latest experience at my Dr's office this past Tuesday, 12/9. (I know, midwives, doctors.... who can keep it straight!) Anyway, I needed to see my primary care physician because my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is way high and it keeps climbing. My T4 (thyroid hormone) is just borderline, but the TSH is the more critical one to manage. So, back at the Dr's office....
Since I have left work, we changed and enrolled in DH's health insurance effective 12/1/03. Of course, prenatal care waits for no one, so I needed to go to the Dr. before I had my new insurance card. I knew that was going to be pleasant.... anywho....
The receptionist at the office asks me for my insurance card. I explain to her that I do not have a card yet, but that I have a 1-800 number and my group policy number that she can use to verify my insurance information.
Here's what the dialogue went like:
Receptionist: "What kind of insurance is it?"
Me: "Oh, Blue Cross, Blue Shield - Carefirst."
R: "Yeah, OK, but there are different kinds of Blue Cross Blue Shields. Which one is it?"
(huh?)
Me: "I'm not sure. But if you call the 800 number, I'm sure they can give you all that information".
R: "Well, if you don't have a card, we are going to have to bill you for your visit today".
Me: "If you just call the 800 number that I have, I'm sure they can give you all the information you need".
R: "OK, you're not listening to what I'm saying: If you don't have a card, we have no way of billing the insurance".
By this point, I'm just really dumbfounded. I really don't understand why she can't call the number (my midwives did and had no problem charging the insurance), so I offer to call them myself. At which point, she repeats her mantra about billing me (while I'm on the phone, mind you). Then, she really fires me up:
"M'am, it's been 20 minutes, and I have to put up your chart unless you agree to the charges".
So, I fired back: "Fine, you do whatever you need to do. I will not be charged a cancellation fee and I need to see the doctor. So do whatever you have to do. I will tell you this though, I will not pay these charges, I will not pay a late fee for these charges, and I will not pay a cancellation charge. Go ahead and bill me if you want". Other people are looking at me by now, but I didn't care. I walk away, still wondering aloud why the receptionist would not call the 800 number I wanted to give her.
Some of you compassionate souls will want to attribute my outburst to the pregnancy hormones. But no, if you ask my DH, I will not be cheated or taken advantage of. When people get stupid on me, I'm clearly not afraid of confronting the issue. So, no, this was not a hormonal thing, just my "assertive" side coming out.
I sat back in my seat in the waiting room and proceeded to call the 800 number. I knew 2 things were happening that day: 1) I was going to see the Dr. and 2) I was not leaving until they accurately charged my insurance.
So I get Shelly from Blue Cross on the phone and explained my situation. Shelly was hilarious. She was like, "Do you have a number where I can call them directly?" Oh, do I.....
Now, an administrator taps me on the shoulder to get my insurance information (d'uh, why couldn't we do this before?) I'm still on the phone, so I walk with her while still having my conversation with Shelly. While Shelly has me on hold, the administrator is keying in all the information she needed. It was hilarious! Then Shelly came back and said it was all taken care of. She also said, "Now, if they try to charge you anything else besides your $20 copay, you call me right back." Ol' Shelly kills me. You go girl!
Now I'm back at the receptionist, and miraculously, she is now able to accept my insurance. I could have said something, but I chose not to. She had a sort of beaten, sheepish look as she accepted my $20 copay. I could have asked for her name and written a letter of complaint, but I decided not to. Frankly, it wasn't worth the stress. I just don't think she understood that I had an 800 number that I was willing to give her even though I explained this 3 times. So, see, I'm not such a villain after all. But I did have to go buck wild to conquer stupidity.
Even Jesus was assertive at times. How about when He overturned the tables of the moneychangers that were selling sacrifices at the temple? Jesus had to go buck wild to make a point. So, yes, even though I am a Christian, I do not feel the need to be walked upon or treated badly. Jesus wants us to turn the other cheek, but He does not want us to be door mats. Don't let those doctor's offices intimidate you when they say they "can't" do something.
Amazingly, after all that, the nurse took my blood pressure, and it was something low, like 90/50. It's usually like 100/60. I was surprised that my heart rate was not accelerated! Must be those thyroid hormones....
Buck Wild:
I'm back (wow, 2 entries in one day!)
Anyway, just before the dinner alarm sounded, I wanted to post about my latest experience at my Dr's office this past Tuesday, 12/9. (I know, midwives, doctors.... who can keep it straight!) Anyway, I needed to see my primary care physician because my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is way high and it keeps climbing. My T4 (thyroid hormone) is just borderline, but the TSH is the more critical one to manage. So, back at the Dr's office....
Since I have left work, we changed and enrolled in DH's health insurance effective 12/1/03. Of course, prenatal care waits for no one, so I needed to go to the Dr. before I had my new insurance card. I knew that was going to be pleasant.... anywho....
The receptionist at the office asks me for my insurance card. I explain to her that I do not have a card yet, but that I have a 1-800 number and my group policy number that she can use to verify my insurance information.
Here's what the dialogue went like:
Receptionist: "What kind of insurance is it?"
Me: "Oh, Blue Cross, Blue Shield - Carefirst."
R: "Yeah, OK, but there are different kinds of Blue Cross Blue Shields. Which one is it?"
(huh?)
Me: "I'm not sure. But if you call the 800 number, I'm sure they can give you all that information".
R: "Well, if you don't have a card, we are going to have to bill you for your visit today".
Me: "If you just call the 800 number that I have, I'm sure they can give you all the information you need".
R: "OK, you're not listening to what I'm saying: If you don't have a card, we have no way of billing the insurance".
By this point, I'm just really dumbfounded. I really don't understand why she can't call the number (my midwives did and had no problem charging the insurance), so I offer to call them myself. At which point, she repeats her mantra about billing me (while I'm on the phone, mind you). Then, she really fires me up:
"M'am, it's been 20 minutes, and I have to put up your chart unless you agree to the charges".
So, I fired back: "Fine, you do whatever you need to do. I will not be charged a cancellation fee and I need to see the doctor. So do whatever you have to do. I will tell you this though, I will not pay these charges, I will not pay a late fee for these charges, and I will not pay a cancellation charge. Go ahead and bill me if you want". Other people are looking at me by now, but I didn't care. I walk away, still wondering aloud why the receptionist would not call the 800 number I wanted to give her.
Some of you compassionate souls will want to attribute my outburst to the pregnancy hormones. But no, if you ask my DH, I will not be cheated or taken advantage of. When people get stupid on me, I'm clearly not afraid of confronting the issue. So, no, this was not a hormonal thing, just my "assertive" side coming out.
I sat back in my seat in the waiting room and proceeded to call the 800 number. I knew 2 things were happening that day: 1) I was going to see the Dr. and 2) I was not leaving until they accurately charged my insurance.
So I get Shelly from Blue Cross on the phone and explained my situation. Shelly was hilarious. She was like, "Do you have a number where I can call them directly?" Oh, do I.....
Now, an administrator taps me on the shoulder to get my insurance information (d'uh, why couldn't we do this before?) I'm still on the phone, so I walk with her while still having my conversation with Shelly. While Shelly has me on hold, the administrator is keying in all the information she needed. It was hilarious! Then Shelly came back and said it was all taken care of. She also said, "Now, if they try to charge you anything else besides your $20 copay, you call me right back." Ol' Shelly kills me. You go girl!
Now I'm back at the receptionist, and miraculously, she is now able to accept my insurance. I could have said something, but I chose not to. She had a sort of beaten, sheepish look as she accepted my $20 copay. I could have asked for her name and written a letter of complaint, but I decided not to. Frankly, it wasn't worth the stress. I just don't think she understood that I had an 800 number that I was willing to give her even though I explained this 3 times. So, see, I'm not such a villain after all. But I did have to go buck wild to conquer stupidity.
Even Jesus was assertive at times. How about when He overturned the tables of the moneychangers that were selling sacrifices at the temple? Jesus had to go buck wild to make a point. So, yes, even though I am a Christian, I do not feel the need to be walked upon or treated badly. Jesus wants us to turn the other cheek, but He does not want us to be door mats. Don't let those doctor's offices intimidate you when they say they "can't" do something.
Amazingly, after all that, the nurse took my blood pressure, and it was something low, like 90/50. It's usually like 100/60. I was surprised that my heart rate was not accelerated! Must be those thyroid hormones....
26wks
A moment of silence, please....
Sniff, sniff.... ok, I'm trying really hard to regain my composure, but it's tough. I just found out that Pettitte has signed on with the Houston Astros. The Astros!!!! The Yankees threw away a good pitcher, and despite all of Joe Torre's efforts, Steinbrenner is still able to screw up the team. Get this: all Pettitte was looking for was to be needed. A phone call. He signed for less money with the Astros and willl give them a great performance. Unbelievable!!!! I wallow in my tears and have little hope for a World Series title next year. Sniff, sniff....
I just had to post that, because it was something I wanted to remember for the record. Anyway, I digress....
After all, this starting a family business somehow manages to overshadow the sadness of the Pettitte move a bit.(LOL)
First, I'd like to say for the record that I have been blessed thus far with no stretch marks! Zilch! Now, I know it's way to early to start the victory march, but I'm 2/3's of the way through and have high hopes. I make sure to rub my belly every day and night with vitamin E and Aloe based lotion. (My DS swears by Cocoa Butter, but I keep forgetting to buy the real stuff!) I know that stretch marks are generally unavoidable because they start from the inside. But, I also know that you can lessen your chance of stretch marks if you gain weight steadily and are blessed with good skin. I know stretch marks are not the end of the world, but boy, it would be nice to avoid them if I could!
I updated my pregnancy weight tracker on my website. I pigged out on vacation in Cancun and went hog wild for Thanksgiving, but managed to maintain a steady pace for the last 2 weeks. I'm only 3 lbs over my planned weight gain, so I'm feeling pretty good. Baby is also a good size (25cm fundus at 24wk6d) according to my midwife, so I'm feeling good. I've been really trying to keep up with the water intake and shoot for 8 glasses a day. Thankfully, my ankles are not swollen and I'm still feeling pretty darn good!
I still crave sweets, so I allow myself something small each day. I figure, as long as I'm not going too crazy with the weight gain, I should be OK. I also made WW's famous garden veggie soup and have been enjoying that. It's filling, gives me a water and veggie exchange and is 0 points!!
I'm going to try and not eat too much for Christmas, even though I know I'll splurge just a bit. Maybe I'll splurge, but not as bad as Thanksgiving....
A moment of silence, please....
Sniff, sniff.... ok, I'm trying really hard to regain my composure, but it's tough. I just found out that Pettitte has signed on with the Houston Astros. The Astros!!!! The Yankees threw away a good pitcher, and despite all of Joe Torre's efforts, Steinbrenner is still able to screw up the team. Get this: all Pettitte was looking for was to be needed. A phone call. He signed for less money with the Astros and willl give them a great performance. Unbelievable!!!! I wallow in my tears and have little hope for a World Series title next year. Sniff, sniff....
I just had to post that, because it was something I wanted to remember for the record. Anyway, I digress....
After all, this starting a family business somehow manages to overshadow the sadness of the Pettitte move a bit.(LOL)
First, I'd like to say for the record that I have been blessed thus far with no stretch marks! Zilch! Now, I know it's way to early to start the victory march, but I'm 2/3's of the way through and have high hopes. I make sure to rub my belly every day and night with vitamin E and Aloe based lotion. (My DS swears by Cocoa Butter, but I keep forgetting to buy the real stuff!) I know that stretch marks are generally unavoidable because they start from the inside. But, I also know that you can lessen your chance of stretch marks if you gain weight steadily and are blessed with good skin. I know stretch marks are not the end of the world, but boy, it would be nice to avoid them if I could!
I updated my pregnancy weight tracker on my website. I pigged out on vacation in Cancun and went hog wild for Thanksgiving, but managed to maintain a steady pace for the last 2 weeks. I'm only 3 lbs over my planned weight gain, so I'm feeling pretty good. Baby is also a good size (25cm fundus at 24wk6d) according to my midwife, so I'm feeling good. I've been really trying to keep up with the water intake and shoot for 8 glasses a day. Thankfully, my ankles are not swollen and I'm still feeling pretty darn good!
I still crave sweets, so I allow myself something small each day. I figure, as long as I'm not going too crazy with the weight gain, I should be OK. I also made WW's famous garden veggie soup and have been enjoying that. It's filling, gives me a water and veggie exchange and is 0 points!!
I'm going to try and not eat too much for Christmas, even though I know I'll splurge just a bit. Maybe I'll splurge, but not as bad as Thanksgiving....
12/06/2003
25wks
Just wanted to post in and let you know we got our first snow of the year. Actually, we had a light dusting yesterday, but as I sit next to my window, I am enjoying the snow falling on this beautiful morning. We probably have about 4" on the ground. It's a beautiful winter wonderland. Time to break out the hot cocoa (Chocolate Cortez for us Ricans)!
I love it. I'll be pregnant all winter, so baby will keep me warm!! Also, I'll be able to get away with wearing my oversized sweaters and DH's sweatshirts!! I'm looking forward to some serious nesting today. No need to go too far, (although I'll probably take a walk in the snow!!), so hopefully, I can work on the house organization. I'm not even going to deal with the nursery until at least January. I just want to relax for Christmas and make the house presentable enough for visitors. Even though I'll be going home to family for Christmas, I'd like to have some folks over since I'm home full-time now.
My midwives are concerned about my TSH levels. My TSH has been steadily increasing, which indicated thyroid underactivity, but my thyroid (T4) hormone level is normal. Time to visit the doc and get a handle on this. The great news though, is that my fundus measured 25cm at my last appointment. This is just the right size. After about 22 wks, the fundus (external measurement of uterus) should correspond in centimeters to the number of weeks. So, at 30 weeks, I should be at 30cm. So far so good!!
Baby is kicking quite a bit now and I relish every rumble! He's actually getting into a schedule now. He kicks a lot in the morning, quiets down during the day and before dinner, gropes around after meals and really gets moving when I lay down to sleep at night. Last night, DH got to feel a couple of kicks as we spooned for the night. It's cool. My belly moves occasionally, which trips me out! Well, until the next time.... It's Saturday morning and it's snowing. Sounds like a good time for a nap!
Just wanted to post in and let you know we got our first snow of the year. Actually, we had a light dusting yesterday, but as I sit next to my window, I am enjoying the snow falling on this beautiful morning. We probably have about 4" on the ground. It's a beautiful winter wonderland. Time to break out the hot cocoa (Chocolate Cortez for us Ricans)!
I love it. I'll be pregnant all winter, so baby will keep me warm!! Also, I'll be able to get away with wearing my oversized sweaters and DH's sweatshirts!! I'm looking forward to some serious nesting today. No need to go too far, (although I'll probably take a walk in the snow!!), so hopefully, I can work on the house organization. I'm not even going to deal with the nursery until at least January. I just want to relax for Christmas and make the house presentable enough for visitors. Even though I'll be going home to family for Christmas, I'd like to have some folks over since I'm home full-time now.
My midwives are concerned about my TSH levels. My TSH has been steadily increasing, which indicated thyroid underactivity, but my thyroid (T4) hormone level is normal. Time to visit the doc and get a handle on this. The great news though, is that my fundus measured 25cm at my last appointment. This is just the right size. After about 22 wks, the fundus (external measurement of uterus) should correspond in centimeters to the number of weeks. So, at 30 weeks, I should be at 30cm. So far so good!!
Baby is kicking quite a bit now and I relish every rumble! He's actually getting into a schedule now. He kicks a lot in the morning, quiets down during the day and before dinner, gropes around after meals and really gets moving when I lay down to sleep at night. Last night, DH got to feel a couple of kicks as we spooned for the night. It's cool. My belly moves occasionally, which trips me out! Well, until the next time.... It's Saturday morning and it's snowing. Sounds like a good time for a nap!
12/02/2003
24wks
Well Gang,
It is late and I am running out of gas. However, I thought I'd post a quick update since it's been a while....
Went to my first midwife appointment on Monday, 11/17 (just after vacation!) and I was really impressed. These guys asked me about my last dental check up and to keep a 2 day food journal. I knew, based on my reading, that tooth and gum health can suffer if a pregnant woman does not get enough calcium. I also know (but am not doing as good a job managing) how important nutrition is. However, the doctors don't even mention that kind of stuff. I find that hospitals are reactive in their care. They are basically looking to see if anything is wrong. As long as you are "in range", you are OK. I can't help but think that you'd stay "in range" much easier if you had a preventative approach to health. So, rather than waiting for a tooth to get loose or depending on an artificial source of vitamins for nutrients, why not recommend a dental cleaning and better nutrition?
I'm not knocking the medical institution; there is a need for hospitals and medical intervention. However, I believe that hospitals are conditioned to respond or react once a patient is already sick. Hospitals are not really good at preventing sickly conditions. And frankly, being pregnant is not a sickly condition. It is (or can be) a wonderful state of health and an incredible testimony of the female body.
Anyway, before I rant on too long, I am very excited about my care at the birthing center. Trust me, I'll be the first one screaming about how I need to go to the hospital when anything is wrong, but if there's nothing wrong, I'm into the holistic approach of health maintenance. I've taken a lot of grief over this position, but my heart and my gut tell me that I'm getting a more thorough examination of my overall well-being and the health of my baby at the birthing center. If you want someone else to take charge of your health, go to the hospital. But, if you view yourself as your primary advocate for health, in partnership with your doctor, a birthing center is a lot more open to your inquiries, questions and philosophy.
Today is my 2nd official full day at home. I must admit guilty pleasure at being a career loafer. I haven't had a break from work in 13 years (since graduating from college) and this break is a wonderful treat. I'm working to get myself organized again, since the wheels fell off after my first trimester, but I'm also taking it easy. I will not have this magical time of "No Work, No Kids" ever again, so I'm relishing every minute. DH is very supportive of me staying home. I'm getting errands done, cleaning up, writing freelance articles and having dinner ready every night. Nothing glamorous, it's just that now I have time to do the things I really want to do.
Before you sigh and think I'm watching soaps and eating bon-bons, I'm actually not. Yesterday, I ran errands, did 5 loads of laundry, reconciled the checkbook and credit card statements and processed the mail. I'm not psychotic though, I did get in a few episodes of ER and Clean Sweep!!
Today, I updated my pregnancy gallery (finally!), wrote a freelance article covering a local concert (www.madagnes.com), processed mail, made phone calls and got my tickler files and mail under better control. However, I did catch a few West Wing episodes and more ER (I love TiVo!)!! I don't mind a little work, but I'm not trying to kill myself! Believe it or not, I'm also waking up early with DH so I can spend some morning hours with him and see him off to work. Maybe I'll be "bored" in a couple of weeks. Somehow, I doubt it...
Baby is kicking quite a bit. I can actually see my tummy moving now when he kicks. The kicks still feel neat and I try to say a prayer for someone every time I feel a kick. (Been praying a lot lately!!!) I marvel at this creation growing inside of me! I praise God for giving me this amazing blessing! Every once in a while, I'll feel a slight pain, like baby's gotten a hold of something internally or kicked something good, but it's not too bad. I still haven't seen elbows or feet sticking out yet. I'll probably freak when that happens.
Next post, I'll have to update you on my search for a birthing instructor....
Well Gang,
It is late and I am running out of gas. However, I thought I'd post a quick update since it's been a while....
Went to my first midwife appointment on Monday, 11/17 (just after vacation!) and I was really impressed. These guys asked me about my last dental check up and to keep a 2 day food journal. I knew, based on my reading, that tooth and gum health can suffer if a pregnant woman does not get enough calcium. I also know (but am not doing as good a job managing) how important nutrition is. However, the doctors don't even mention that kind of stuff. I find that hospitals are reactive in their care. They are basically looking to see if anything is wrong. As long as you are "in range", you are OK. I can't help but think that you'd stay "in range" much easier if you had a preventative approach to health. So, rather than waiting for a tooth to get loose or depending on an artificial source of vitamins for nutrients, why not recommend a dental cleaning and better nutrition?
I'm not knocking the medical institution; there is a need for hospitals and medical intervention. However, I believe that hospitals are conditioned to respond or react once a patient is already sick. Hospitals are not really good at preventing sickly conditions. And frankly, being pregnant is not a sickly condition. It is (or can be) a wonderful state of health and an incredible testimony of the female body.
Anyway, before I rant on too long, I am very excited about my care at the birthing center. Trust me, I'll be the first one screaming about how I need to go to the hospital when anything is wrong, but if there's nothing wrong, I'm into the holistic approach of health maintenance. I've taken a lot of grief over this position, but my heart and my gut tell me that I'm getting a more thorough examination of my overall well-being and the health of my baby at the birthing center. If you want someone else to take charge of your health, go to the hospital. But, if you view yourself as your primary advocate for health, in partnership with your doctor, a birthing center is a lot more open to your inquiries, questions and philosophy.
Today is my 2nd official full day at home. I must admit guilty pleasure at being a career loafer. I haven't had a break from work in 13 years (since graduating from college) and this break is a wonderful treat. I'm working to get myself organized again, since the wheels fell off after my first trimester, but I'm also taking it easy. I will not have this magical time of "No Work, No Kids" ever again, so I'm relishing every minute. DH is very supportive of me staying home. I'm getting errands done, cleaning up, writing freelance articles and having dinner ready every night. Nothing glamorous, it's just that now I have time to do the things I really want to do.
Before you sigh and think I'm watching soaps and eating bon-bons, I'm actually not. Yesterday, I ran errands, did 5 loads of laundry, reconciled the checkbook and credit card statements and processed the mail. I'm not psychotic though, I did get in a few episodes of ER and Clean Sweep!!
Today, I updated my pregnancy gallery (finally!), wrote a freelance article covering a local concert (www.madagnes.com), processed mail, made phone calls and got my tickler files and mail under better control. However, I did catch a few West Wing episodes and more ER (I love TiVo!)!! I don't mind a little work, but I'm not trying to kill myself! Believe it or not, I'm also waking up early with DH so I can spend some morning hours with him and see him off to work. Maybe I'll be "bored" in a couple of weeks. Somehow, I doubt it...
Baby is kicking quite a bit. I can actually see my tummy moving now when he kicks. The kicks still feel neat and I try to say a prayer for someone every time I feel a kick. (Been praying a lot lately!!!) I marvel at this creation growing inside of me! I praise God for giving me this amazing blessing! Every once in a while, I'll feel a slight pain, like baby's gotten a hold of something internally or kicked something good, but it's not too bad. I still haven't seen elbows or feet sticking out yet. I'll probably freak when that happens.
Next post, I'll have to update you on my search for a birthing instructor....
