Wonders from the Womb

Sorry it has been a while since my last post. I have had two really bad back-to-back colds that started two days after Christmas. In other words, I have been existing as one big fat germ collector for the past few weeks.  

As I mentioned in my last post "Battle of the Bulge," I had an ultrasound on January 8 (32 weeks) to see why I was measuring big. The good news is that I am on track with my size and nothing is out of the ordinary. 

Lydia is also at the size she should be, weighing in at 4 pounds, 7 ounces. I recently read that she is to gain approximately a half a pound of week until delivery, which would put her around 8.5 pounds by February 28. Yikes! Good thing I did not spend a lot of money on newborn-sized clothes. 

This was my fifth ultrasound, and it was definitely the coolest. Randy and I got to see her lips moving and she had her thumb by her mouth. We even got a good look at one of her feet, which seemed rather large on screen. The fact of the matter is the poor kid is destined to have big feet as Randy wears a size 15 shoe, while I wear an 8.5 to 9.  

Let's just hope her feet are proportionate with her height and she doesn't inherit my long finger-like toes. I remember how disappointed I was when I was a kid that my feet were always too big for the princess dress-up shoes. I also hated that I couldn't get Punky Brewster sneakers because they did not make them in my size.  

As my delivery date gets closer and closer, I find myself wondering more and more about what type of person she will be and who she will look like. But ultimately, I hope she is healthy and happy ... and shows mercy on me coming out the birth canal. 

Christmas is over as I know it

This past Christmas was very different for me to say the least.  There is a list of differences that I have not had to deal with in the 36 Christmas's I have celebrated. The biggest was that I did not wake up or go to bed in Highland, IN.  I have never spent a Christmas morning not waking up at my parents home.  That was a big one.  Another was that my dad was not here.  Even to type it is crazy.  But he was not here to wake us Christmas morning blaring some horrible Bruce Springsteen Christmas song.  Yes I said that correct for the last 20 years he was up before me blaring his music excited to see us open gifts. Oh and it was always between 5 and 6 AM.  I think last year we listened to it but it definitely was not blaring.  I was sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I have never been sick on Christmas.  I was not even able to celebrate with my family. My mom was in town for the holiday weekend staying at Jody's to watch Jack and Izzy enjoy the holiday.  I saw nobody on Christmas day.  That was a first for me.  My wife was in the "region" to celebrate with her family. This was the first Christmas in 11 years that we did not see each other.  There were lots of things this Christmas that were first for me or not like the past history or memory's that I remember.  All that just helped add fuel the fire of my dislike for Christmas.  I know this is my last year that I can express that dislike because I am going to be forced ( in a good way) to enjoy all holidays again.

This is what it is about, kids and their toys.  This is Adelyn enjoying her large obnoxious space taking up toy we got her for Christmas.  Hopefully big enough to make parents uncomfortable but kids happy.

The good news is that next years Christmas will be Lydia's first Christmas.  She should be about 10 months old at that time.  Probably just the right age to enjoy gifts, being afraid of santa, wanting to get into everything, and being as cute as I am.  This is about how old Adelyn is this year and I didn't get to see her act a fool on Christmas. I can just imagine how much fun it could have been to watch. I remember Jack and Izzy at 10 months.  It's going to fun again for me at Christmas and I can't wait.  I mean we didn't even put a tree up this year.  That won't fly for us next year.  Next year we get to start our own traditions.  Those things that I can remember doing every year like clock work can now be started with my family.  That's going to be a big deal for us. I want to instill some traditions with Lydia so she can have those great years of memories that I have had over the years.  I want her to know that no matter what happens through the year that on December 25th we are going to wake up at out house, the three of us, and enjoy some time together.  That's not to say that Christmas day or Christmas eve may change from  year to year with Sarah's family being in the "region' and my family being here in Indy. And if Sarah's dad and his wife ever move closer to us that will also change it. But we will always go to bed on 24th at our house and wake up the 25th at our house.  That's the tradition I want to start. I am sure Sarah and Lydia will have others that will come up over the years but that one is going to start in one year!  I can't wait to see that joy she is going to have for the holiday. I know that will make me feel like a kid again getting excited for the holiday.  For me it is about the giving and celebration of family and I can't wait to share that with Lydia.  I am not going to act like it means anything else for me because it doesn't. And it will not have to mean anything else for her. Just as long as she knows it means tradition and family. 

Battle of the Bulge

This week marks my 30th week of pregnancy, which means 10 more weeks until D-Day. If you're thinking delivery day, I am thinking more along the lines of added destruction to my body. It seems my battle of the bulge is becoming a harder fight every day.

In fact, my doctor shows I am measuring bigger than I should, so I have to get an ultrasound on January 8. My doctor isn't really concerned because it could just be extra amniotic fluid or Lydia could have been laying funny, but it's better to be safe than sorry.  

Looks like somebody has a bigger bowl full of jelly than Santa.

While I have only gained 13 pounds to date (the average is typically 19 to 25 pounds), Lydia often feels like a ton of bricks. I am literally all belly, and there are times where my belly is so taut, I feel like I could pop it with a needle. 

I am also at the point where I often cradle my lower stomach as I walk as well as breathe like a bull dog. I often get sharp pains and tingling sensations in my lower abdomen but the doctor says it's normal. It's just my muscles pulling apart, which is what every woman loves to hear.

Even better is I look like I have cat scratch fever to the right and left of my belly button where I have vertical stretch marks. And if that isn't sexy enough, Lydia sits on my bladder a lot, especially in the evenings, causing me to leak a little pee at times. Plus, nothing is worse than going pee and then still feeling like your bladder is still full. 

I also have bouts of insomnia because I can't get comfortable while laying in bed. My extra weight makes my sides and butt cheeks hurt, but the good news is that my doctor said I can try to sleep on my back, which is typically a no-no because the weight is supposed to put pressure on a vein that goes to your legs. But the doctor says if that happens, I will wake up feeling like crap.

Plus, Lydia is nocturnal, and I think she thinks she is in an ultimate fighting championship every night between 9 and 10 pm because I get a lot of kicks and jabs. Or she just hates me already. I thought I had a least until she became a teenager. 

And while my hormones have not gotten the best of me yet, I think they are starting to surface. I have cried a few times out of frustration for the way I feel. Furthermore,  I recently lost my temper with Randy and threw a can of Pledge towards him for him not wanting me to dust near his side of the bed. While I missed him on purpose, he swears I missed his head because I am a bad aim. Lord give me strength!

I realize that while my pregnancy has not been easy, there are a lot of women out there who have it much worse. But I'll admit it, I am a wimp and told my doctor the other day I feel like I am going to die at times, and she assured me I will get through it. 

All is Better in the Parking Universe

In my November 8 post titled "Hello, Psycho Pregnancy Symptoms," I showed disdain for a new co-worker who had "stolen" my parking space. Well, those of you who were concerned on whether or not I got my parking space back, you'll be glad to know that all is better in the parking universe ... but it came with me embarrassing myself.

Let me start by saying that some people I work with knew how losing the space gave me anxiety. And the reason they knew is because they too noticed an impostor in my spot and asked me how I felt about it. I responded by referring them to this blog. However, no one dared say anything because the new guy is in fact a very nice guy.    

I thought about humorously sharing my psycho, irrational pregnancy symptoms with the new guy to hint at him about taking my spot. However, I just couldn't muster up the courage because I know how ridiculous it all sounds. Then, my sweet, supportive husband was even willing to go to Kroger and steal one of the "Expecting Mom" parking signs and put it in my space. While I really appreciated the gesture, I did not want to have to bail him out of jail.  

I got to the point where I accepted defeat, but then came time for my work Christmas party. Randy kept telling me he was going to jokingly say something to the new guy. At first I was ok with the idea but as time got closer, I begged him to just leave it be.

When we were at the party, I didn't introduce Randy to the new guy for fear he would say something. But I later noticed Randy talking and laughing with him and his girlfriend, and I was sure he said something. However, when we left the party, Randy said he didn't say anything. 

So, when I got to work the following Monday, my parking spot was free and the new guy was parking in another co-worker's spot who was out for surgery. I immediately texted Randy and asked if he had said anything and he responded "love you," which I took as meaning "yes."

Therefore, I felt it was my duty to thank the new guy for relinquishing the space.  I approached him and told him I was mortified that my husband said anything, but I appreciated my parking spot back. He responded, "I've been taking your parking spot? Your husband didn't say a thing to me." After turning 30 shades of red, I then had to share my silliness with him, and thankfully he laughed and said "I totally get why you love that spot."

It is amazing how much more balanced I feel during the work day now. I should have listened to Randy from the beginning and just talked to the new guy when all of this started. After all, who is really going to want to argue or upset a pregnant woman?

Before and After

Here is a slide show of what the room started out at and turned into.

Finally Done

The nursery is done. Now I don't think it is fair for me to say finally. We still have about 3 months till Lydia is due to be here.  So maybe I am ahead of schedule. I guess it depends who you ask. Sarah thinks we are ahead of schedule.  I feel that this project took me to long to get done. But never the less it is done and I feel looks great.  It's probably the best decorated room in our house, but why wouldn't it be?  Here are a few pics of the finished room.  We still have a few things we need to add for decoration but it is 90% done.

The Beauty of Birth, Not!

In my last blog post, I mentioned Randy and I were starting childbirth prep classes. Well, we had our first class last Wednesday, and I am now even more scared and anxious about Lydia's delivery than ever.   

First off, Randy and I were slightly annoyed by the forced introduction strategy that kicked off the class, where we had to say our name and five things about ourself. I realize getting to know one another helps break the ice, but I doubt anyone will remember my name come tomorrow and no stranger really cares to know five things about me. The introduction, however, was a chance for Randy to plug his business and me to vent about being tired of pregnancy and missing wine and blue cheese.    

Secondly, I found it surprising that the first class got straight to the punch, showing us a video of the labor and birthing process. I thought that horror would at least be shared during week two or three. And let me tell you, they could not have used more unattractive women in the video. The labor pain faces these women displayed have scarred me for life. Plus, I think I was the only wimpy person in the class who had to look away during the birthing scene because of fear. Good ol' Randy, however, was nice enough to share with me the woman's who-ha reminded him of an Arby's roast beef sandwich. If that isn't morale support, I don't know what is!

Furthermore, I was the only person who did not raise their hand when asked by the instructor who planned on breast feeding (the jury is still out on that for me). So yep, moving forward I will most likely be known as the Hester Prynne of the class so maybe I should show up tomorrow with the letter "A" on my belly.  

I was so bothered by what I experienced during the class that at my doctor's appointment the following day, I asked my OBGYN if I could request a C-section. I told her about my class experience and said I didn't think I was strong enough to take natural birth. She laughed and said I made her day because I was being too funny. Thanks, lady. She said I could do it and it is often better when things aren't so planned out. Heck, even Randy doesn't think the two of us are strong enough to get through the natural birthing process, and believes if we can get through it and still love each other, everything else in life will be a piece of cake.