Another Random Update
#1 on the list of things you shouldn’t say to a pregnant woman after you haven’t seen her in awhile: “Wow, you are huge.” I wasn’t offended when I heard it; just thought, yup, that was about the worst thing to say to me.
In new pregnancy symptoms, my fingers were hurting a lot last week. Apparently has something to do with carpal tunnel syndrome and retaining fluid. Joy. But I’ve been drinking more water and trying to sleep with my hands flat, instead of the weird twisty things I do with them normally, and they seem to be getting better.
Last Friday we had some crazy tornado weather. The sky was green and about half a mile away there was a funnel cloud. We heard the power lines snapping. The next day, I felt really odd. Just off and zone-y and when we went to the grocery store I was having Braxton Hicks contractions. We got home, I went to bed, and had more contractions off and on for the next few hours, but they didn’t intensify or happen more frequently. Our birthing instructor told us that barometric pressure changes can sometimes cause women to go into labor.
We’ve had three of our birthing classes. In the first one, as I mentioned before, there was praying at the end. At the second class, the prayerful couple was late and I think they felt a little discombobulated that night, so no request to pray. Last night they wanted to pray again. Nate and I had already decided we would leave if that should happen, which is what we did. They were going to pray for someone specifically, so before we left I walked up to her and told her Nate and I would be thinking of her, and then we vamoosed.
The nursery, thanks to Edie and John, is complete! You should check out the pictures. I’ve gotten almost everything ready. I have a little bit of organizing left and we’d like to get a rug for the nursery, then I think we are done for a while.
I’m having a big debate in my head about cloth vs. disposable diapers. The cloth require a hefty investment upfront, which presumably pays off over time because you aren’t buying disposables. However, everyone I’ve spoken to who has used cloth diapers has said they are a pain. Some don’t like washing them and everyone has said they have problems with leaks and “explosive” situations. Also, I haven’t found a day care that will accept cloth diapers. I think there are difficulties storing the dirty diapers and it’s a hygiene issue. Does it make sense to try to invest in something I won’t be able to use in day care? I can’t decide. Right now I’m thinking I may buy only a few cloth diapers to test out the leakage thing, supplemented with Seventh Generation diapers. I was thinking I could use cloth at home and disposables at day care, but we’ll just have to see how they perform. I’ll let you know how this fascinating diaper debate concludes. I can’t believe I’m freaking writing about diapers. What’s next? Breast pumping?
I’ve been doing a nice amount of freelance work lately and am in the process of trying to wrap up my last few projects. My due date is May 27 (six weeks away!) so my cut off for turning everything in is May 15. I think most of my projects will be wrapped up before then, except possibly one, which would be turned in on the 15th, I hope. We’ll see. Then I’m taking some time off of freelancing to have a newborn and maybe work on my novel. (Hahahahaha. Seriously, I’m going to try to work on my novel. I’ve always done well while sleep deprived.)
Tuesday
Weekly Update
I'm now gained about 33 pounds and I have seven weeks to go. Not too bad.
I've been eating better the last couple of days (more veggies and whole grains, less junk food) and the swelling in my hands and feet seems to have gone down. I can wear my engagement ring again, for one thing, so that's good. I'll be interested to see if this means my blood pressure is lower next week when I go to my doctor's appointment.
I caught a nasty bug on Sunday. Not sure if I picked up a virus while we were traveling or if I ate something that didn't agree with me. Nate was a little sick, too, but not violently ill like I was. At one point when I was vomiting in the middle of the night, the baby was kicking really hard (she probably didn't appreciate all the heaving) and I was thinking, Okay, ready for this to be over. Nothing like getting kicked internally while you're puking to want your stomach back to yourself.
Our list of names is constantly evolving, but right now our favorites are: Samantha, Madeleine, Chloe, Maren, and Rosalyn.
It snowed in Midland while we were there for Easter. And I got some very nice baby gifts from family and friends for ze bebe.
Seven weeks!!!
Thursday
Interesting
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Normally, my blood pressure has been around 110/60. Two visits ago it was 120/70 and yesterday it was 120/78. Though still in the normal range, they are keeping an eye on this to see if my blood pressure continues to rise.
Last night I woke up a couple of times because I was moaning. I was having Braxton Hicks contractions in my sleep and I think a couple of them were strong enough to wake me up.
We're supposed to leave for Midland tomorrow for the Easter holiday. I think all will be fine, but it's interesting when things are happening with your body that are beyond your control. Wish me luck.
And, finally, Nate and I cannot seem to avoid Christians in Dallas. Let me give you an example. In our birthing class (very nice people and nice instructor), out of seven couples, three of them have jobs related to Christian enterprises. At the end of our class, they wanted to pray. They stressed that no one should feel pressured to participate, and Nate did not want to, but I felt a certain vibe in the room and that we would break it if we left since we would be the only ones to do so. I wanted the group to feel good and happy and joined and all those things, because I think those are positive feelings. I don't regret participating. However, I do not intend to pray again if they should choose to continue the practice after classes.
Here's the funny thing, these kinds of situations seem to happen to us often and when we tell native Dallasites about them, they act as though they are out of the norm. Some of the interactions we've had in the almost-three years we've lived in Dallas:
Approximately half of our neighbors, upon introduction, asked us where we go to church and invited us to go with them when we said we didn't. Nate started telling them I was raised Catholic and then they would change the subject.
When I first moved here, I had a very hard time filling my birth control perscription. The pharmacy claimed they could not get in touch with my doctor in Chicago to verify my RX and when I finally went to a local Planned Parenthood to get a local script, the pharmacist referred to them as my "abortion clinic."
We have had to navigate the wet/dry areas of town. This has been awkard in instances when, for instance, we take out-of-town guests to dinner and explain to them why the restaurant does not serve alcohol.
There was a liquor store we went to from time to time. One of the clerks there asked us if we intended to have children (I can't remember specifics, but she somehow referenced God/religion during this convo). When we said we didn't know (this was a couple of years ago), she said she was surprised I would have children with someone who drank and that she'd made her husband quit drinking. I know I mentioned this before, but she worked in a liquor store.
Nate's old dentist, in the middle of a procedure while she had implements in his mouth, asked Nate if he was saved. When he said he didn't go to church but thought he was a good person, she told him that wouldn't keep him out of hell.
I feel like there have been other instances but those are the ones that spring immediately to mind. I think people have every right to their beliefs and I'm glad they believe in God and find comfort in that. Whatever works for you. I just don't want to participate. If I ever change my mind, there are about seven churches only a few blocks away from our house. I know where to find you if I'm interested.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Normally, my blood pressure has been around 110/60. Two visits ago it was 120/70 and yesterday it was 120/78. Though still in the normal range, they are keeping an eye on this to see if my blood pressure continues to rise.
Last night I woke up a couple of times because I was moaning. I was having Braxton Hicks contractions in my sleep and I think a couple of them were strong enough to wake me up.
We're supposed to leave for Midland tomorrow for the Easter holiday. I think all will be fine, but it's interesting when things are happening with your body that are beyond your control. Wish me luck.
And, finally, Nate and I cannot seem to avoid Christians in Dallas. Let me give you an example. In our birthing class (very nice people and nice instructor), out of seven couples, three of them have jobs related to Christian enterprises. At the end of our class, they wanted to pray. They stressed that no one should feel pressured to participate, and Nate did not want to, but I felt a certain vibe in the room and that we would break it if we left since we would be the only ones to do so. I wanted the group to feel good and happy and joined and all those things, because I think those are positive feelings. I don't regret participating. However, I do not intend to pray again if they should choose to continue the practice after classes.
Here's the funny thing, these kinds of situations seem to happen to us often and when we tell native Dallasites about them, they act as though they are out of the norm. Some of the interactions we've had in the almost-three years we've lived in Dallas:
Approximately half of our neighbors, upon introduction, asked us where we go to church and invited us to go with them when we said we didn't. Nate started telling them I was raised Catholic and then they would change the subject.
When I first moved here, I had a very hard time filling my birth control perscription. The pharmacy claimed they could not get in touch with my doctor in Chicago to verify my RX and when I finally went to a local Planned Parenthood to get a local script, the pharmacist referred to them as my "abortion clinic."
We have had to navigate the wet/dry areas of town. This has been awkard in instances when, for instance, we take out-of-town guests to dinner and explain to them why the restaurant does not serve alcohol.
There was a liquor store we went to from time to time. One of the clerks there asked us if we intended to have children (I can't remember specifics, but she somehow referenced God/religion during this convo). When we said we didn't know (this was a couple of years ago), she said she was surprised I would have children with someone who drank and that she'd made her husband quit drinking. I know I mentioned this before, but she worked in a liquor store.
Nate's old dentist, in the middle of a procedure while she had implements in his mouth, asked Nate if he was saved. When he said he didn't go to church but thought he was a good person, she told him that wouldn't keep him out of hell.
I feel like there have been other instances but those are the ones that spring immediately to mind. I think people have every right to their beliefs and I'm glad they believe in God and find comfort in that. Whatever works for you. I just don't want to participate. If I ever change my mind, there are about seven churches only a few blocks away from our house. I know where to find you if I'm interested.
Wednesday
The Middle-Class Lament
I reread my last post and realized how whiny it sounded. Truth is, things are all good. I know I have a lot more than many people and there’s no need to get all stressed out about a few details. The details will get worked out. They always do.
I’ve entered a new phase. I am tired all the time. Also, I keep forgetting that I need to slow down because I can’t do as much as I used to. For instance, I went to a conference yesterday and it was in a downtown hotel. I used to work downtown and I would take the bus when I didn’t have a late-night event. I like taking public transportation, except after 10 p.m. downtown when there is no one walking the streets except you and the guys with liquor in a bag.
So yesterday I took the bus. I can either transfer and take two buses (which means very little walking, but a bit of a wait) or take one bus and walk about seven blocks. I used to do this walk all the time. So I did it. In the morning it was cool, so it was no big deal. After the conference, I did the same thing. Only by now it’s five-ish and extremely humid (we had some pretty wacky weather around here last night; severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado). About halfway through the walk, I started thinking it might not have been a good idea. I felt like I could be on the verge of fainting. And I kept thinking, but this is so ridiculous; it’s not even that far! I think it was the heat, though, and just being more tired in general these days. I eventually made it to the bus stop, the DART gods were kind because my bus pulled up immediately, and then I got to my neighborhood stop.
And here is where you will realize what a dumb ass I can be. Instead of getting off at the closest stop to my house, I got off a stop earlier so I could drop some bills of at the post office. Here’s the thing: it not only added to my walk, but I could have just put the bills in my own mailbox at home. I just had it in my mind that it would be more efficient to do them this way, and it’s not that far, right? About halfway up the first hill I realized I was dumb-dumb-dumb. I walked very slowly, tried to find shade when I could, but by the time I got home my stomach was very tight, like it was in the middle of a long Braxton Hicks contraction. One of the things that can trigger pre-term labor is dehydration so when I got home I took off all my clothes, drank a bunch of water, and then passed out for a couple of hours. I know I was exhausted because after I got up and ate dinner, I went to bed at 10 and struggled to wake up by 8. So there you go. Things are different with my body now; it’s my mind that can’t seem to accept that.
I’m learning a lot in our birthing class, which started on Monday. We had a “quiz” on the first day and I thought it was hilarious that Nate got the question with the answer “mucous plug.” He hesitated for an instant before answering, but I was very proud of him for not laughing, even though the instructor made a joke about mucous plugs right after.
So we’re moving along, dehydrated, mucous plug, and all.
I reread my last post and realized how whiny it sounded. Truth is, things are all good. I know I have a lot more than many people and there’s no need to get all stressed out about a few details. The details will get worked out. They always do.
I’ve entered a new phase. I am tired all the time. Also, I keep forgetting that I need to slow down because I can’t do as much as I used to. For instance, I went to a conference yesterday and it was in a downtown hotel. I used to work downtown and I would take the bus when I didn’t have a late-night event. I like taking public transportation, except after 10 p.m. downtown when there is no one walking the streets except you and the guys with liquor in a bag.
So yesterday I took the bus. I can either transfer and take two buses (which means very little walking, but a bit of a wait) or take one bus and walk about seven blocks. I used to do this walk all the time. So I did it. In the morning it was cool, so it was no big deal. After the conference, I did the same thing. Only by now it’s five-ish and extremely humid (we had some pretty wacky weather around here last night; severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado). About halfway through the walk, I started thinking it might not have been a good idea. I felt like I could be on the verge of fainting. And I kept thinking, but this is so ridiculous; it’s not even that far! I think it was the heat, though, and just being more tired in general these days. I eventually made it to the bus stop, the DART gods were kind because my bus pulled up immediately, and then I got to my neighborhood stop.
And here is where you will realize what a dumb ass I can be. Instead of getting off at the closest stop to my house, I got off a stop earlier so I could drop some bills of at the post office. Here’s the thing: it not only added to my walk, but I could have just put the bills in my own mailbox at home. I just had it in my mind that it would be more efficient to do them this way, and it’s not that far, right? About halfway up the first hill I realized I was dumb-dumb-dumb. I walked very slowly, tried to find shade when I could, but by the time I got home my stomach was very tight, like it was in the middle of a long Braxton Hicks contraction. One of the things that can trigger pre-term labor is dehydration so when I got home I took off all my clothes, drank a bunch of water, and then passed out for a couple of hours. I know I was exhausted because after I got up and ate dinner, I went to bed at 10 and struggled to wake up by 8. So there you go. Things are different with my body now; it’s my mind that can’t seem to accept that.
I’m learning a lot in our birthing class, which started on Monday. We had a “quiz” on the first day and I thought it was hilarious that Nate got the question with the answer “mucous plug.” He hesitated for an instant before answering, but I was very proud of him for not laughing, even though the instructor made a joke about mucous plugs right after.
So we’re moving along, dehydrated, mucous plug, and all.