Breathe in, breathe out.

I can’t believe I’m more than halfway through this pregnancy already. And we still have so much left to do!

We decided to move the furniture from our guest bedroom over to my parent’s house. I bought the bedroom set over 12 years ago (headboard, chest of drawers, & dresser with mirror), but the mattress is only 2 years old. I hate to put it in the basement, where it will no doubt absorb every musty smell & dust mite known to mankind. And I really don’t want to sell it – we’d be lucky to get $100 for everything, and buying new in a few years would cost over $1,000.

So, I whined and begged my parents graciously offered to let us put it in their spare bedroom. Then we have to move all of our office stuff into our guest bedroom, so we can strip the last of the hideous wallpaper border & paint the baby’s bedroom. Did I mention Dave is leaving for Brazil on Sunday, and won’t be back until May 18th? Guess what we’re doing Memorial Day weekend (in addition to registering for shower gifts)?????

And herein lies another problem. We need to keep a spare bed in the baby’s room, for the times when we have overnight guests. We’re tossing around the idea of getting a daybed – I like how they look kinda like a couch, but I don’t know if they’re strong enough to support a full-grown adult’s weight. This is one of my favorites, but it’s almost $600 without the trundle drawer underneath, plus the cost of a twin mattress:

If it’s not sturdy enough to hold my gargantuan butt, should we just buy a normal twin bed? It won’t be as pretty, but I think it will take up much less room. Or, should we go for a futon? I like the clean lines of a futon, too; but the dumb things only sit 13″ off the floor. That just seems so low! And again, we’d have to buy the frame and the mattress.

Actually, I love the look of this convertible sofa sleeper. It sits 17″ off the ground – more like a traditional sofa – and we wouldn’t have to buy a separate mattress.

Doesn’t it look like the most comfortable? And I like the under-cushion storage, for hiding all my Little Debbie snacks! )

It’s $620 delivered, which seems like a lot; yet it’s still cheaper than the daybed or the futon. And we could easily use it as a couch in a sunroom or office, if we ever move again or add onto this place.

So, that’s where my head is at these days. Preparing baby’s room, picking out furniture, and trying to plan for the next few months.

I also mentioned to one of my girlfriends: where the heck is this big “2nd trimester burst of energy” I was promised?!?!?! All I want to do is snack and snooze!!!

Things are starting to move upward in babyland. I’m having some issues with shortness of breath, especially when I lay down.

And the round ligament pain? Ohhhhhhh, the round ligament pain!!! You know that achy feeling you get in your side, after running too fast for too long? It feels like that, except on both sides of my belly and up & down my groin. Too bad it’s so painful – it’s the most excitement my groin has seen for a few months!

Not that I’m complaining … at least I’ve managed to avoid the hemorrhoids!!!!!

Staying Mum.

Sorry for the lag in posting – I didn’t mean to worry anyone!  I’m fine, and the baby is kicking up a storm.

Vegas was a nice little getaway.  We caught an afternoon nap every day, and basked in the sun for a few hours on Tuesday.  We walked a lot, relaxed even more, and enjoyed the time away from home.

We flew into some turbulence on the plane ride home, which upset the baby to no end.  We were shaking side-to-side like a ride on The Scrambler; and the little one voiced his/her displeasure with a wicked head butt to my bladder.

I’m definitely feeling the weight of this baby.  My lower back has been sore for a few days, and The Husband noticed that I’m starting to waddle.  I haven’t really gained much weight – I’ve been holding steady for a few weeks – but I think I’m losing in other places and gaining in my lower belly.

On Friday, my mom and I hit a few garage sales.  I snagged an adorable child’s wooden rocking chair for $5, and a big box of Duplo Lego’s for $2.  I’m heading out tomorrow in search of a Little Tyke’s picnic table or table/chairs set, and love the thrill of the chase.  I’ll try & get some pictures of my finds up in the next day or so.

I spent Saturday catching up on all the pre-and-post-vacation laundry and housecleaning.  Sunday morning, we met my parents for breakfast; then Dave and I drove down to Madison to visit my baby niece.  She’s such a peanut – a headful of hair and big, round, pudgy cheeks.  Gah!  I could eat her with a spoon!

Monday, I ran errands at Target, Walmart, and the grocery store.  It was a lovely, sunny, 70º day; and the stores still had their heat on full blast.  By the time I came home, I was tired and sweaty.  So much for the glow of pregnancy!

Tuesday, I did more laundry and visited with my dad for a few hours.  And today, I had a dentist’s appointment and a meeting with The Gynie God.

The dentist’s office was a disaster.  I haven’t had my teeth cleaned in over 2 years, and this pregnancy has been very hard on my gums.  I’m showing some early signs of gum disease, and need to schedule a deep cleaning for the first week in May.  Has anybody ever had this done?  They’re going to put on a topical anesthetic, then pull back my gum tissue and scrape/clean beneath the gum line.

Everything went fine at The Gynie God’s office, though.  My blood pressure was up slightly, but I neglected to mention the glass of coke I had at lunch.  Whoopsie.  It took him a few tries to find the baby’s heartbeat, but it’s strong and healthy as always.  I also got to hear the little one kicking and splashing around in there, like a baby dolphin in the ocean.

I’m feeling good – still a little tired – and my allergies are kicking into high gear.  It’s time to start back on the Claritin, before I pee myself while sneezing.  Again.  Yes, you read that right.  This afternoon, I actually peed myself during a particularly violent sneeze.  Lesson learned?  If you drink 40+oz of water in the car plus a glass of coke at noon, empty your bladder before you sneeze.  Or suffer the consequences.

And I’m still having strange s-e-x dreams.  Eddie Van Halen was last week’s guest star; and this week has brought a visit from Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers.  This is Ted Thompson.  Do you see why I’m so horrified?????

So, welcome to the half-way point in my pregnancy!  To recap, the last week has brought about peeing myself, geriatric nookie, and cravings for Cool Ranch Doritos dipped in sour cream.  If I had only known then what I know now.

Turning Somersaults.

I’m not sure if the baby is reacting to my anxiety over this trip or what, but I’ve been feeling a lot of movement over the last few days. Actually, it’s over the last few nights – usually when I get up for a potty run.

I wonder how much s/he can hear in there, floating around in the waters of my womb. Is it quieter for our baby, because of my excess layers of flab? I can’t tell you enough, how much I wish I had lost weight before this pregnancy. I hate that they have a harder time finding the heartbeat. And I hate that my ultrasound pictures won’t be as clear as a thin woman’s.

But fat or thin, there is an amazing baby growing inside me. And I wouldn’t change that for the world.

We’re heading out to Las Vegas at 6:00 tomorrow morning & won’t be back until late on Thursday. I’m not bringing my laptop, so there won’t be any updates here (or comments left on your blogs) for the next week. I’ll be thinking of you guys while I’m sat next to the pool, drinking my strawberry smoothie while reclining on an oversized chaise lounger.

Have a great week, with safe travels near or far. Viva Las Vegas! =)

Nothing to talk about.

I think I’m in another writing funk.  There seems to be a lot going on…… but I don’t feel like blogging about any of it.

I’m absolutely enamored with my baby niece.  She’s just so sweet and content and perfect.  We were there for about 3-1/2 hours, and she never made a peep.  Never fussed, never cried, nothing.  I can only hope that our little one will be half as good!

I only got to hold her for about 5 minutes, because I wanted both of my parents to have a turn.  I handed her over to my mom, who hogged her for over 90 minutes.  90 freaking minutes.  I finally had to pry the baby out of her hands and pass her over to my dad; or he wouldn’t have had a chance.  And HE held for almost 45 minutes.  I love my parents, but man, I was p*ssed.  I drove all the way down there and back (2-1/2 hours each way).  On the blasted 8-lane interstate.  And I only got to hold her for 5 lousy minutes.  Is this stupid and petty?  Yes, I know it is.  But I don’t care.  My parents are babyhog dictators.

And they didn’t even buy me dinner for lugging them all the way down there.  Sigh.  Sigh.  Sigh.  Oh, well.  Dave and I are going to go back down there next weekend, so he can get a chance to meet her, too.  And no, my parents will NOT be joining us. 

My catheterization yesterday was, well, painful.  On the good side?  My bladder infection seems to be clearing up.  But The Gynie God still put me on daily antibiotics to try & suppress any further UTI’s.

I’ve done a few things different this week, and I’m wondering if any of them are connected.  First, I stayed away from swimming at the Y.  Not because of the UTI, per se, but because of the cost.  With gas costs skyrocketing, it costs me about $15 every time I go swimming.  That’s $75 a week, for one 45-minute class each day.  Ouch!

Second, I’ve been drinking a ton of lemonade.  Would it be making my urine more acidic, and keeping the infection away?  And third, I’m back taking cranberry pills again.  I know these help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls.  I can’t stand swallowing pills (that whole “spoon full of sugar” thing is a crock of crap!); but I’ll do what I have to do to keep my bladder working properly.

And my ob/gyn staff keeps changing my appointments.  Our anatomy scan was originally scheduled for May 2nd, but they had to change it to April 30th because The Gynie God will be out of the office.  Then, this afternoon, I got another call saying that the 30th wasn’t going to work and they needed to change it to May 8th.

Dave will be in Brazil from May 4th until the 18th.  He’s going to miss it.  I tried to change it to May 19th, but they said that’s too late. 

The only thing I can think of?  I’ll have the ultrasound technician write the baby’s sex down on a piece of paper, and we’ll open it together when he gets home.  I’m disappointed; but what else can I do?

I can’t believe I’m almost half way there already.  Where have the first 18+ weeks gone?!?!?

 

You want to put what where???

Oy.  The saga of my chronic bladder infection has taken a new (and ugly) turn.

On Thursday, I have to go back to The Gynie God and be catheterized for a sterile urine catch.  They already warned me that it’s going to be painful because of the irritation from the current UTI.  And they want to do a vaginal wet mount test to check for cross-contamination of bacteria. 

Please send positive vibes to my peepee.  We leave for Las Vegas on Sunday, and I don’t want to spend the entire vacation miserable & tinkling every 15 minutes.  Or worse yet, have to postpone the trip.  It’s going to be a warm & wonderful 89° in Vegas next week; while we’re leaving behind rain & mid-40’s.

My parents & I are taking a little road trip to meet my new niece tomorrow.  In case you missed it on the other site, Baby Nina made her grand entrance on Saturday, and I’m dying to snoogle those adorable little cheeks!

My brother is worried, because she isn’t crying enough.  HA!!!!  How cute is that?!?  I bet he’ll have a slightly different perspective in a couple of nights. 

I’ve been trying to keep my very evil, very British mother-in-law out out of my thoughts, but she managed to infuriate me AGAIN on Sunday.  Dave called to tell her about Nina’s arrival; and before she could even utter “congratulations”, she said it was a dumb name.  And she wonders why I forced her out Christmas, and haven’t spoken to her since.

She is the most negative woman I have ever come across.  No, really.  She is.  She complained about my family’s Christmas dinner, because it wasn’t up to her standards.  The turkey was too dry, the potatoes were too bland, and heaven forbid, we used bottled gravy.  She constantly complains because we go to bed before midnight when she’s here.  We’re too lazy, and so are our dogs.  We eat too much (but she can polish off an entire bottle of wine in one sitting, and I don’t say a word).  We don’t go out enough (when it’s -20 and snowing like The North Pole).  We go to too many restaurants (because she doesn’t like our cooking).  And on and on and on.

She also asked Dave about what we’d like for a baby gift.  Off the top of my head, I couldn’t think of anything I really wanted, so I suggested she buy us a christening gown or set.  Why?  Because I’d only have to use it once; then put it away & never look at it again!

Now, of course, it’s turned into an epic battle.  She wants to come over here for the christening, because she’ll never be invited for another Christmas.  Princess Pissypants has ruined one too many holidays; and she’s not going to spoil our baby’s first Christmas.  No way.

And I refuse to let her stay in our home.  It’s non-negotiable.  I’ll have a 2-month-old infant to take care of, and I won’t have her staying up late every night, disrupting our schedule and criticizing my every move.

Right now, we have the baptism scheduled for November 23rd, which is the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  If she does end up flying over here, she’ll have to arrive on Saturday (the 22nd) and fly out on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day).  Sorry, Toots, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I want her gone before the turkey hits the deep fryer.

I won’t be her activities director.  I won’t be her meal planner.  And I sure as hell won’t be her chauffeur.  Why not?  Because the worst thing she ever said to me was that she comes here to see her son.  And not me.

So, I’m putting on my armor and preparing for war.  I.  Will.  Triumph.

Hey, Jealousy!

I had to go to the clinic this morning, for a routine blood pressure check & protein/urine test. Because The Gynie God wants to keep a close eye on my hypertension and weight, I’m now scheduled for biweekly appointments through the middle of September.

My blood pressure is great (110/70), as is my pee. I’m so worried about pre-eclampsia, and feel like I can breathe a little sigh of relief with each normal BP reading.

The nurse also decided to have me do a sterile urine check, so they could verify the latest round of antibiotics cleared up this lingering UTI. It didn’t. I’ve been on Macrobid antibiotics for 2 straight weeks, and I’m still testing +2 for bacteria in my urine.

When the nurse told me, I actually started to cry. They want to do one more round of the Macrobid (my 7th!), then switch to a daily antibiotic if it still isn’t gone. I’m so worried about this. Apparently, my body has built up a resistance to the Macrobid & it will take something stronger to get rid of these infections. And I still have a long, long, long way to go in this pregnancy. Sigh.

The other part of my drama saga? Even though I’m pregnant, I still get furious when I hear of someone getting pregnant when they “decide to”.

My vet’s daughter is knocked up, and due at the end of September. She and I took a real estate pre-licensing course together about 5 years ago, and we’ve kept tabs on each other through her Dad.

She got married in October. Oc-freaking-tober. Went off her birth control pills in November, and BAM, she’s pregnant in December. I don’t know why; but for some reason, I wanted to look her up and kick her in the shins!

How come some people get pregnant so easily, while so many of us struggle for years and years and years????? Dave and I are so lucky to even be having this baby, and I never, ever forget that. But it absolutely infuriates me to hear of someone “deciding” to have a baby and getting pregnant right away.

We “decided” to have a baby, and almost got divorced in the infertility fallout.

We “decided” to have a baby, and instead, lost an ovary and spent thousands of dollars on fertility drugs and blood tests and doctor’s appointments.

We “decided” to have a baby, and obsessed about temperatures and cervical mucous and fertility monitors.

We “decided” to have a baby, and cried rivers of tears when every month brought disappointment and feelings of failure and inadequacy.

Is it jealousy? Why does she get to lead such a charmed, happy little life; while I got bitter and angry and depressed over the last six years? Why do I feel like our baby will be more special and loved a little bit more, because of what we went through to get him or her here?

Why does she get to have a baby, and we had to have a miracle?

My arms are shrinking.

Today, I noticed something peculiar.

I can no longer reach into the cabinet in the laundry room without bumping my belly on the washing machine.

Or, as my husband put it …… “Hmph.  You’re getting rounder.”