January 25, 2007

32 weeks now... and I feel like I'm climbing the giant grand finale hill of a roller coaster, waiting to plummet down the other side! My emotions are all over the place, as are my aches and pains. I cannot get comfortable to sleep. It is terrible! One night this week, after flopping and turning every hour and still getting shooting pains in my hips and legs, I started crying out of frustration at 5:00am. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful husband though, he let me lay on him while he stroked my hair, which he knows always makes me sleepy. That quieted my racing mind, my tears, and enabled me to go back to sleep. He's such a good guy. Little things like that just demonstrate too what a great daddy he's going to be too!

Seeing as I'm feeling rather large and frumpy these days, I decided to treat myself to a salon outing this week. I got lovely highlights (my first salon highlighting experience) and a very cute cut, and I must say, I was feeling fabulous for a good day and a half. I wanted to look nice for my baby shower this weekend. I told the stylist it was very important to me to be a hot mom, not a frumpy mom!

That good feeling lasted until my biweekly doctor's appointment yesterday, where I found out I have packed on four pounds in two weeks! Seven in a month! Holy cripes! it didn't help either that I saw the doctor with the worst bedside manner in the practice. Abrupt and sarcastic, she said they'll monitor my weight gain and there's no need to go on a diet yet. I told her I watch my diet already and exercise regularly, to which she replied, "well, you could get out and walk more." ARGH! I already exercise FIVE DAYS A WEEK which is far more than most pregnant women do. I swim, I do the elliptical glider, I power walk, I lift light weights to tone, what the heck else am I supposed to do? I can't be out walking 24/7! Needless to say, that was a big blow to my ego and perception of my progress.  I reiterated again that I don't eat a lot of junk, to which she said that people are always trying to give pregnant women food, which to me said that she didn't believe me. Oh and of course, Dr. Compassionate says it's important that I keep my weight in check because of my size (ie shortness I believe) so that I don't have a 9 lb baby. Great doc, while you're already making me feel like crap, twist the knife a little more by implying that my apparently etrocious health habits are also putting my baby at risk. I sure do hope this isn't the doctor on call when I deliver!! I can imagine how supportive she'll be... Geez Chantel, don't you understand what I mean when I say PUSH??

Here I am with my balloon deflated, feeling overly emotional and fat as a manatee. Adam tried to talk me out of my blahs by telling me that I'm doing good, I look beautiful, etc. which is very sweet of course but falling on deaf ears. The fact is I don't feel pretty anymore and probably won't until well after the baby is born. I love this baby with all of my heart but I sure do wish the journey to get him was a little easier! I also wish the road was lined with people that had a little more sensitivity to the plight of the pregnant woman (especially doctors!)

At least I do have a small element of control... I'm planning to cut out sugar from this point on. No more smoothies or leftover Christmas chocolate. It's not like I've been all out indulging, but I have allowed myself the occasional treat, feeling that I was pregnant and deserved it, but no more. Apparently my body wants to store every extra calorie I eat, so I'd better stick to carrots, apples, and other tasties like that.

Well at least I have the shower to look forward to this weekend. I am very excited about that. My baby boy should receive lots of wonderful gifts from the friends and family that love him! I also had the good news this week of working things out with my boss so I can return to work only part time this summer. I'll be working 12-4 Monday-Friday for the summer, working our kids computer camps. I also contacted the arts and sciences chair at Southwest Florida College, where I taught before, and she said she'd love to have me return this summer for an evening or weekend class. I'm going to hire Gayle's daughters to watch the baby while I am working, and they'll be able to do it here at work, so he'll be just down the hall from me. This is an ideal situation and should lessen the separation anxiety I was bound to feel when I go back to work.

Until next time, I'd better stay away from those cookies baking in the oven. Just kidding!

Chantel

January 16, 2007

I had a realization today as I sat bored at work... I'll be starting my maternity leave 2 months from today! Hooray! I haven't had 3 consecutive months off of work since the day I took my first job when I turned 16. I realize that taking care of a newborn will be twice as taxing as any deskjob (particularly mine), but I'm looking forward to the change of scenery and meeting the completely new challenge of raising my son.

We had our second of five birthing classes last night. The week we talked about the stages of labor and got to see "the film". Happily, the film did not bother me, and I felt more anticipation and emotional about it than grossed out or scared. I can only imagine what it'll feel like to deliver this baby and see him for the first time. I'm sure I'll be so exhausted and drained that I'll cry louder than he is! I was also happy to see that Adam handled it quite well. He even said afterwards that he thinks he can handle cutting the cord. We'll see if that holds true, but I hope he'll be so caught up in the moment as well that his squeamishness will disappear.

I'm still very anxious about the occurrence of events though. Sounds like it doesn't happen the way it does in the movies! I had no idea there was such thing as "early labor" where apparently you have mild, 15 min+ apart contractions that occur a day or two before active labor begins. I was also surprised to learn you're not supposed to hop in the car and rush to the hospital at the first contraction. All of this encourages me though that my mom will have plenty of time to make it down here before the actual active labor phase begins.

It's so strange to think of our baby joining the world. Take the car seat, for example. We know we're supposed to get the base all strapped in and ready in the car. When we leave for the hospital, it'll be empty. When we come back, we'll have a baby in it. Same thing with bringing a baby outfit to the hospital. he has lots of clothes already that are just hanging there, waiting for him. When I take an outfit to the hospital, he'll be wearing it when we come back. All of that seems so obvious but it's mind blowing at the same time.

I passed my glucose tolerance screening, which means I do not have to do the wretched 3 hour test. Thank goodness for that. The doctor said everything looked great, and he's not even changing my vitamins at this point (I'm a Flinstones kid, thank you very much!) My weight gain is right on target, I'm still exercising 4-5 days a week, and still feeling decently good. Plus, the baby moves all of the time now. At the last appointment the doctor felt my stomach to see what position the baby was in. Turned out he was head down, and the lump I kept feeling to the left of my belly button was his little butt! The doctor also pointed out an arm, which I could feel through my skin. Amazing.

In two months, the cookie will emerge from the oven!

Chantel

January 8, 2006

Ah, the third trimester. A time of anticipation, hope, joy... and heartburn. ACH!! Did I mention how much this ssssuuuccckkkkksssss?? Every day, every night, I feel like my chest and throat have been lit on fire! Not only am I belching constantly, but every now and then I'm treated to the lovely "vurp" where I get a second taste of dinner. Nice. I guess no one ever said pregnancy was elegant!

If Anthony is like his daddy, he'll enter this world right on time and right when everyone expects him, which is almost exactly 10 weeks from now. If he's like his mommy, he'll probably get impatient and will decide to come in his own time. Either way, it's getting very close now!! I just wonder how much bigger this belly can get! I lost my shoes and everything below the waist a while ago. Now as I anticipate his arrival, I can also see regaining visual of my shoes in the not-so-distant future!

I've had lots of gripes so far in the third trimester. In addition to the heartburn, I've been very short of breath as well. It's not constant, but usually in the mornings before lunch. My heart is not beating any faster but I'm breathing hard, as if I had just run around the block. My prenantal yoga class taught us lots of poses for expanding lung space and deep breathing exercises, which do help to a certain extent. Let's see, what else... ah yes, swollen appendages! When I sit down I can see the fat little stumps that my feet become at times, and as I prop my feet up on several pillows I mourn the loss of my ankle bones. I finally had to take off my toe rings out of fear they would otherwise need to be sawed off!

Adam and I started our birthing classes last night. I was surprised at how old the other couples attending were. I thought we were starting late, but apparently there are many who start much later! I'd say the average age in the room was 35 or so. It was pretty informative, and we have four more weeks to go. We talked about the anatomy and physiology of labor, warning signs of preterm labor, and other risks and factors to be aware of. We also started lamaze techniques, including deep breathing and relaxation. Much of it is very similar to what I've learned practicing yoga for the past year and a half so I'm ahead of the game. Actually I felt like the class goody-goody because I knew (and contributed) all of the answers to the instructor's questions. Well, as an instructor myself, I can't stand it when you ask a question to a room of people and only hear the crickets in reply. I felt bad for the lady, so I decided to pipe up.

Only two months to go!! Until then, the cookie's in the oven!

Chantel

January 3, 2007

The year 2007 is here... my Anthony's birth year! It was very exciting ringing in the new year, knowing we're about to receive the most wonderful gift in the world. Now that the holidays are over we are focused 100% on the arrival of our baby. It was a great Christmas and New Year's. Anthony received many clothes and gifts from his loving family of course, including the Mickey Mouse crib set from Grandma Chris and the latest in fashionable baby attire from Grandmommy Janie. As soon as we got back home after visiting the family I couldn't wait to start decorating his room. It was really bothering me that his room was in disarray. I mean, how can I really start getting mentally prepared for my baby if he doesn't even have a room to call his own?

We remedied that over the weekend. We cleaned out the closet and bought organizers to store his things, and I hung up and organized all of his clothes. We also got a glider and ottoman for rocking and nursing, and a bookcase to hold all of his books. We threw out the old mattress and are keeping the futon in that room for guests. It's really starting to come together nicely.

As for me, I'm doing fine still. I had my glucose screening last Friday, which I hopefully passed so I don't have to do the three hour test. This screening involved me having to drink 12 ouces of thick, uber-sweet sugar water in under 3 minutes, then having my blood drawn an hour later. My doc visits go to every two weeks now, which means we're really coming down to the wire! I've gained 22 lbs to this point (YEA!) which the nurse said was excellent. Considering how quickly I packed it on to begin with, I'm very pleased it's evened out. I'm still exercising and being careful not to overindulge. Hopefully I should end up gaining a total of 30-35 lbs (exactly what they recommend. Go me).

I'm getting really tired again and having to sleep 9-10 hour nights, but turning from one side to the other pretty much every hour. My belly has gotten HUGE! I'm amazed at how much it's sticking out and wondering how much bigger it will get still!

It was a wonderful holiday season, but I'm happy we're over that hump and are looking towards March now!

Until later, the cookie's in the oven!

Chantel