Well I said earlier that I like roller coasters, and I do! I am looking forward to trying out the new one they are building at the amusement park near our home (after baby is born not before!). However, I am not as keen on the emotional roller coaster rides. Well today was one of those days. You would think I would have started out the day in a relaxed, refreshed manner since I had a 4 day weekend (Thurs-Sun) and then had a very good night's sleep (over 11 hours!). When we came home from Shawn's bday party I had a really upset stomach, so I went straight to bed (at 7:15 pm!). Well the "down" part of my day came early this morning. Before 8am I was having a total meltdown - sobbing hysterically to the point I was almost having an asthma attack. Paul had to leave for classes; I could tell he felt awful to leave me in such a state. I wasn't upset that he was leaving. I don't want to make this post any longer than it will likely be anyhow, but this upsetting email had to do with a journal manuscript.
This email would have upset me normally, but I think I was even more upset than usual because #1 I am a bit more hormonal than normal and #2 I was already stressed out and this was the "final straw." For awhile I had been dealing pretty well with the suspense of not knowing where we'll be living next fall, but I had been struggling lately. I'll give two examples. Earlier this month I received a letter from Compassion. I have sponosored Cristy through that program for 13 years, and she was graduating from the program. So they were going to assign me a new child to sponsor. I didn't know whether we could afford to sponsor another child as it depended on if I would be working come August or not. Similarly, I was feeling pressured to figure out what my schedule would be in the fall before the deadline for making changes had passed. I felt like everything was in limbo. On Sunday the sermon was on peace. It was just what I needed. Our pastor reminded us that peace is confidence in the Lord's Providence; it has nothing to do with our circumstances. I knew that my getting all stressed out was not helping at all but was just making me crazy.
Anyhow following the email that really upset me, there were three VERY good things that happened today. First, I got an email from an editor regarding another article. I wasn't expecting to hear from her this week, and I took the timing as a gift from the Lord in light of the upsetting one. Second, the BEST news of the day was that Paul called PSU to check on the status of his application, and he found out that on Thursday he was accepted! She said the letter was mailed on Friday. YAHOOOOOO! The letter didn't arrive today; I am very glad Paul called!!! This is a HUGE relief. We will be so much better off financially, we don't have to move right away, I can keep working at my same school (could cut back to PT), and I don't have to find a new church either. PTL!!!!! We don't know the details yet of the stipend, etc., but likely it won't change our decision to accept their offer and turn down the offers from Pitt and UD. The third happy thing was that I am almost positive I felt baby move this afternoon!! I have wondered at times over the last couple of weeks but kept second guessing myself an thinking it was my stomach or something else. Well I was sitting in a mtg at work this afternoon and felt a little flutter tickling me inside my belly. I smiled and another prof asked me what was funny, and since there were just 3 other people in the room and they all know I'm pg, I said "I just felt my baby move." They all smiled at the reason for my smile. I still am not 100% sure, but I feel pretty certain that I finally felt baby move at 19w3d!
Well it's time to scoot to handbells. They will be sooo happy to hear that Paul was accepted at PSU! Many at my church have been praying to that end as they don't want me to leave. It's nice to feel wanted! Now, I have to decide how many hours to work this fall. My mom had a good idea that I could hire a college student to babysit for 3 hours in my office 3 days a week instead of at home (would mean I wouldn't need a babysitter for my driving time and my office hours as I'd just watch the baby myself during those times). I asked my dept chair today if that would be allowed, and he said he had no problem with it. In fact, he said he was fine with me having the baby in the classroom while I teach. I thought he was joking when he had told me earlier that I could teach with the baby strapped to me, but he was serious. I am not sure about that... I was thinking of how Lynn said that if I was going to be working in the mornings it would be better to do so when baby was younger than older so I was thinking maybe I should work FT and then cut back to PT later? Keeping in mind by "FT" I mean I would hire a babysitter for 9 hours a week for the fall semester (to watch baby in my office). Paul could watch baby during my night class. I think I'd want to switch the day of my night class though as otherwise Monday would be a long day. I think I might ask my dept chair to move that class to Tues or Thurs. Well now I really must scoot or I'll be late. Good thing I'm a fast typist, LOL! Sorry for the long post!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
In Memory
In June 2005 I became pregnant (after inj #4/iui #2), and our baby's EDD was 2-24-06. Today marks the day that if we hadn't lost this little one, he/she would be about 2 years old. I still get reminders in the mail. Earlier in the month I got one for pull-ups that said "for your 2 year old." I wish there was a way to let the marketing companies know that we do NOT have a 2 year old. Well in Heaven we do, but we don't here on earth. I didn't sign up for those freebies this time until I was in the 2nd trimester. I learned from my previous mistake. This is the 3rd time that 2-24 has rolled around since that BFP (which came after ttc 3 years). The first time was definitely the hardest especially as quite a few babies were born right around that time (at church mostly). Last year was a little easier because I had such high hopes that we'd adopt from Ukraine during the summer or early fall. This year I still feel grief when I think of that precious life we lost, but it's much easier since there's another little one growing inside me. However, this child doesn't replace that one. I sometimes wonder what he/she would have looked like, etc. I wonder if the siblings who joined this child in Heaven in August know each other? I don't mean to sound ungrateful for this precious life whom we hopefully will meet in July, but I don't think this child's life takes away all the sadness for the seven babies we lost in 2005 & 2007. When you lose a baby through miscarriage, it's a private grief. So I just wanted to say a few words in memory of our little one that we lost on July 5, 2005 (6w4d). From the moment I knew that little one existed (at 12dpo), I loved him/her so very much. I wish I could have held him/her in my arms and shown him/her my love. I hope to meet him/her in Heaven some day. I don't often shed tears over this loss any more, but today the tears have flown once again.
On a much lighter note, I wanted to share my sister's happy news that a recording she was a part of won a 2008 Grammy Award! The recording was made in 2005 when they lived in Vancouver and she was playing in the Vancouver Symphony, but the CD wasn't released until last year. The award was for the "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with Orchestra)." She wasn't the soloist, but she was one of the violinists in the orchestra! So congrats to Wendy (and all the other members of the VSO)!!!
On a much lighter note, I wanted to share my sister's happy news that a recording she was a part of won a 2008 Grammy Award! The recording was made in 2005 when they lived in Vancouver and she was playing in the Vancouver Symphony, but the CD wasn't released until last year. The award was for the "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with Orchestra)." She wasn't the soloist, but she was one of the violinists in the orchestra! So congrats to Wendy (and all the other members of the VSO)!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Best Nest
I thought I'd share a pic of my "nest" in case you haven't seen one of these total body pgcy pillows before. There are several different ways to use this pillow. This is the arrangement they recommend for the 2nd tri, so that's what I've been using. For example, the one for the 3rd tri gives more belly support. It is SO nice to lie down and not be greeted immediately with pain. I still have some lower back issues during the day, but even my lower back pain has been decreased due to sleeping with this pillow. It was worth every penny! The only bad part is that it makes cuddling very difficult since the pillow is in between us.
Speaking of nests, I think I have experienced some of that "nesting" that people say is common during pgcy. I think it is due in part to the fact that I did cancel my classes yesterday so I'm having a four day weekend since I always am at home on Thursdays. Anyhow yesterday I kept feeling this need to be cleaning/sorting. I did go through most of the closet in the room that will be baby's room. I have a big pile of stuff to give away - a lot of which is perfectly good stuff but just stuff we haven't used. Some were wedding presents. I figure if we haven't used the stuff in 7 years, we aren't likely to use it in the next few years either. Last spring the MOPS group at church had a yard sale. If they do that again, I'll donate this stuff to their yard sale. If not, I'll take it all to Goodwill or Salvation Army. I also was throwing some stuff away like I had several cans of formula which were expired (some were free samples that I'd received since the pgcy in 2005 and a couple of cans I had purchased to be prepared to adopt). I think my desire to do some "spring cleaning" also stems from the fact that we will probably be moving sometime this year.I finished hemming my one pair of mat pants on Thursday. I am absolutely not a seamstress, but I managed to take them up about 2 inches. The bottom is wider than I'd like. I am just not into that style, but I wasn't about to try to figure out how to alter them in that way as well. I was planning to wear them with a l/s mat shirt on Friday, but I didn't since I stayed home. The mat shirts actually look really good with those pants. I have 4 l/s mat shirts and 3 could be worn with these pants so that gives me several new outfits.
I also had a bit of cabin fever since I didn't leave the house on Thurs or Fri; so dh and I went out this morning to have a late breakfast at Perkins (we treated it as brunch) and also did some shopping. I have to say I just cannot wait until this little one is in my arms. It would have been a lot more fun to have two days at home if I had a little one to love and play with and read books like The Best Nest to.
Friday, February 22, 2008
19 weeks!
Well according to that ticker I've been using, baby now is in the double digits as far as weight goes (in ounces of course, LOL). I imagine at the u/s (in just 11 days!) they'll give us that info on baby (length, weight). Just one more week and baby will be half-baked (presuming he/she goes full term).
It snowed Wednesday night, and it's supposed to snow again today. All the school districts (in a large radius around us) are closed today. Paul's school is on a regular schedule. If it weren't for the fact that he has an exam at 9:00, I believe he'd stay home today. He's taking my cell phone and leaving a lot of extra time to get there, and he's going to come home right after the exam is over as it's supposed to turn to sleet/ice this afternoon (and then back to snow again this evening). My school is on a compressed schedule which frankly makes NO sense to me. They are going to have more people driving in the sleet/ice??? There are 4 of us in my dept who teach on MWF (the others teach on T/Th). I emailed the other 3 to see what they are doing. One (who has a 2 hour commute to work as she lives near King of Prussia) has already cancelled. One said she's waiting to see what I decide (she has about the same commute as I do; she cancelled that one Wednesday when I didn't cancel). I haven't heard back from the 4th yet. I have some time to decide as this means my classes wouldn't start until 1:20. I did cancel once this semester, but it was my Tuesday night class. So this would be my first time to cancel my 3 MWF classes for snow/ice if I decide to go that route today.
Speaking of schedules, the fall schedule has now been posted online. I see I am scheduled to teach 3 sections of undergrad LA from 8:00-10:50 MWF and one grad class from 5:00-8:00 Monday nights. The part of this that pleases me is that the grad classes are back to 5-8pm (they are 6-9pm this semester and I definitely prefer 5-8 as do many of the students). The perplexing part is that I asked my chair to keep M&M I open for me in case I opt to teach 2 night classes (part-time schedule). I have taught M&M I the last 8 semesters. He has someone else scheduled to teach it, someone who has never taught it before (I know this because he started the same semester I did and I've taught it every semester I've been here). That is scheduled for Wed pm. Well if we find out that I will be working PT in the fall, I will ask if I can still teach it. I can't see why the other prof would mind since he's never taught it before. There is an evening section of Social Studies that no one has been assigned yet on Tuesday nights 5-8 that he could teach if I do the Wed pm one OR I could teach if he doesn't agree to the switch. I have taught SS before (but not since spring 2005). I have to say I've liked my schedule this semester better than last. Last semester I taught MWF 8:00-10:50 and MW 5:00-8:00. My schedule for the fall looks virtually the same minus the W 5:00-8:00 as I wouldn't be on overload like I was this last fall. This semester I've been teaching MWF 12:00-2:50 and T 6:00-9:00. I wonder though, which is better in light of a baby's schedule? Of course I have no idea what I'll be doing in the fall. I will be a SAHM if we move out of the area. If we stay in the area I was planning to teach PT not FT. But if for some reason I am teaching FT in the fall, which do you think would be better - for me to arrange for someone to watch the baby (in our house) from say 7:00-11:30 (that includes office hours and driving time) MWF or would some other time of day be better? Here again is why it would be so nice if we knew where Paul was going in the fall. The students start registering in about 4 weeks. At that point the day/time a course is offered can't be changed (although I could still switch to teaching a different class or cut back to PT).
Lastly, for those of you who don't know me IRL, I should say that I am a person who goes to the bathroom frequently even when not pg. I'd say I rarely go more than one hour during the day without going. I am sure I'd be a good candidate for Detrol, but I've opted just to go a million times rather than pop a pill every day. If I know I'll need to go an hour or longer w/o going then I don't drink anything or eat any fruit. During the night (when not pg) I get up a few times to go but not every hour. Well I've been getting up to go during the night more than usual while pg (even in the first tri). I was guessing maybe about 6 times a night, but I hadn't actually counted. Well last night I kept track and that's about right. It seems I need to go every 90 minutes. For example I went at 3:00, 4:30, and 6:00 am. Thankfully I can usually fall right back to sleep very easily (well not at 6:00am but prior to that I mean). I wonder if I'm going to have to go MORE often during the night in the 3rd tri?
It snowed Wednesday night, and it's supposed to snow again today. All the school districts (in a large radius around us) are closed today. Paul's school is on a regular schedule. If it weren't for the fact that he has an exam at 9:00, I believe he'd stay home today. He's taking my cell phone and leaving a lot of extra time to get there, and he's going to come home right after the exam is over as it's supposed to turn to sleet/ice this afternoon (and then back to snow again this evening). My school is on a compressed schedule which frankly makes NO sense to me. They are going to have more people driving in the sleet/ice??? There are 4 of us in my dept who teach on MWF (the others teach on T/Th). I emailed the other 3 to see what they are doing. One (who has a 2 hour commute to work as she lives near King of Prussia) has already cancelled. One said she's waiting to see what I decide (she has about the same commute as I do; she cancelled that one Wednesday when I didn't cancel). I haven't heard back from the 4th yet. I have some time to decide as this means my classes wouldn't start until 1:20. I did cancel once this semester, but it was my Tuesday night class. So this would be my first time to cancel my 3 MWF classes for snow/ice if I decide to go that route today.
Speaking of schedules, the fall schedule has now been posted online. I see I am scheduled to teach 3 sections of undergrad LA from 8:00-10:50 MWF and one grad class from 5:00-8:00 Monday nights. The part of this that pleases me is that the grad classes are back to 5-8pm (they are 6-9pm this semester and I definitely prefer 5-8 as do many of the students). The perplexing part is that I asked my chair to keep M&M I open for me in case I opt to teach 2 night classes (part-time schedule). I have taught M&M I the last 8 semesters. He has someone else scheduled to teach it, someone who has never taught it before (I know this because he started the same semester I did and I've taught it every semester I've been here). That is scheduled for Wed pm. Well if we find out that I will be working PT in the fall, I will ask if I can still teach it. I can't see why the other prof would mind since he's never taught it before. There is an evening section of Social Studies that no one has been assigned yet on Tuesday nights 5-8 that he could teach if I do the Wed pm one OR I could teach if he doesn't agree to the switch. I have taught SS before (but not since spring 2005). I have to say I've liked my schedule this semester better than last. Last semester I taught MWF 8:00-10:50 and MW 5:00-8:00. My schedule for the fall looks virtually the same minus the W 5:00-8:00 as I wouldn't be on overload like I was this last fall. This semester I've been teaching MWF 12:00-2:50 and T 6:00-9:00. I wonder though, which is better in light of a baby's schedule? Of course I have no idea what I'll be doing in the fall. I will be a SAHM if we move out of the area. If we stay in the area I was planning to teach PT not FT. But if for some reason I am teaching FT in the fall, which do you think would be better - for me to arrange for someone to watch the baby (in our house) from say 7:00-11:30 (that includes office hours and driving time) MWF or would some other time of day be better? Here again is why it would be so nice if we knew where Paul was going in the fall. The students start registering in about 4 weeks. At that point the day/time a course is offered can't be changed (although I could still switch to teaching a different class or cut back to PT).
Lastly, for those of you who don't know me IRL, I should say that I am a person who goes to the bathroom frequently even when not pg. I'd say I rarely go more than one hour during the day without going. I am sure I'd be a good candidate for Detrol, but I've opted just to go a million times rather than pop a pill every day. If I know I'll need to go an hour or longer w/o going then I don't drink anything or eat any fruit. During the night (when not pg) I get up a few times to go but not every hour. Well I've been getting up to go during the night more than usual while pg (even in the first tri). I was guessing maybe about 6 times a night, but I hadn't actually counted. Well last night I kept track and that's about right. It seems I need to go every 90 minutes. For example I went at 3:00, 4:30, and 6:00 am. Thankfully I can usually fall right back to sleep very easily (well not at 6:00am but prior to that I mean). I wonder if I'm going to have to go MORE often during the night in the 3rd tri?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
149
We're down to 149 days til baby's EDD!! When I found out I was pg, there were 252 days left so I've known I've been pg for over 100 days now. Of course baby will most likely not come exactly on the EDD, but still it shows that we're getting closer! In just 9 days baby will be half-baked (280 days is the total amount based on 40 weeks). That also means we're getting closer to the u/s...just 13 more days!
Yesterday I wore a skirt I bought on eBay a few weeks ago, but it was too big. Well it was still really too big but I was just very tired of recycling through the few outfits I have at this point. I had to wear a maternity top with it, not that I really need to wear maternity tops yet, but the skirt kept sliding down it was so big (XL without a spandex type tummy panel) so I needed a top that was really long in case it went sliding on me. Well I looked fine, but I felt ridiculous so I am not wearing that skirt again until my tummy is significantly bigger. I was wearing a l/s black mat shirt, and I have a sleeveless black sleeve shirt so I can save this outfit for the latter stages of pgcy. The other reason I wore the mat shirt was I got several l/s mat shirts for Christmas (size L) and well if I don't start wearing them soon I'll never use them since hopefully in April it will be time for short sleeve clothes. My tummy shows LESS in those type shirts though since they are like big tents.
Monday I wore my black mat skirt (definitely the one I've gotten the most use of thus far since I can wear all different tops with it) with a turtleneck. It wasn't a mat turtleneck but it did go down long enough to almost completely cover the tummy panel. Well that is probably the outfit that BEST shows my tummy. I wore it on Monday on purpose bc a guy at church (who is in the handbell choir) every time he sees me has been checking out my baby belly (since Dec!) and the previous Sunday (10th) he commented that I still didn't look very pg. Well this Monday with that outfit he agreed that my baby belly is now more visible. Actually quite a few people noticed the baby belly that day. I still say it's not enough that a stranger would be sure I was pg (they might just think I'm a bit overweight) but in the right outfit those who know me can definitely see my baby belly. I can also still wear a non-mat outfit in which you can't see my belly At All. It really depends on what I am wearing and also whether the person sees me sitting or standing (far more visible when sitting).
Yesterday 2 more skirts came in the mail through eBay. I've only been buying skirts that way as I find I need to try pants on so I haven't tried to buy them through eBay. Today I plan to hem the pants my Mom got me for Christmas that fit well but are WAY too long. They are black so again I should get good use out of them. Last week I had bought 3 skirts on eBay. Turns out the cheapest one ($5.50 including s/h) is my favorite! It's really pretty (at least I think so!) and fits great but still has room for growth. I am going to wear it today. :-) One of the others is a little big now (although not as big as the one I wore yesterday!) so I'll wait a bit on that one. The third is actually a little snug in the belly panel area. It fits now, but it's not going to last very long. So I'd better wear that one soon also. So between these new skirts and hemming the pants, now I should have more options and not feel like I'm cycling between the same 3 skirts all the time.
I have never bought clothes for myself on eBay before aside from mat clothes, but since most women don't wear the mat clothes long and I don't plan to wear them long myself, it seems like a good place to shop for them. I do need to make a shopping trip once to Motherhood in the spring, but in our area the only option is Walmart for mat clothes and all they have are pants and shirts (no skirts or dresses). I had bought 2 mat skirts on eBay in 2005 when I was pg, but I had given them away in 2006 I think it was so I never wore those. I also gave away the 2 pgcy books I bought then (one was What to Expect when you're Expecting) and since I bought them and then gave them away I just didn't feel like buying them again. I did NOT give away my copy of What to Expect the First Year as I assumed I'd use that w/ an adopted baby so I still have that on hand.
Yesterday I wore a skirt I bought on eBay a few weeks ago, but it was too big. Well it was still really too big but I was just very tired of recycling through the few outfits I have at this point. I had to wear a maternity top with it, not that I really need to wear maternity tops yet, but the skirt kept sliding down it was so big (XL without a spandex type tummy panel) so I needed a top that was really long in case it went sliding on me. Well I looked fine, but I felt ridiculous so I am not wearing that skirt again until my tummy is significantly bigger. I was wearing a l/s black mat shirt, and I have a sleeveless black sleeve shirt so I can save this outfit for the latter stages of pgcy. The other reason I wore the mat shirt was I got several l/s mat shirts for Christmas (size L) and well if I don't start wearing them soon I'll never use them since hopefully in April it will be time for short sleeve clothes. My tummy shows LESS in those type shirts though since they are like big tents.
Monday I wore my black mat skirt (definitely the one I've gotten the most use of thus far since I can wear all different tops with it) with a turtleneck. It wasn't a mat turtleneck but it did go down long enough to almost completely cover the tummy panel. Well that is probably the outfit that BEST shows my tummy. I wore it on Monday on purpose bc a guy at church (who is in the handbell choir) every time he sees me has been checking out my baby belly (since Dec!) and the previous Sunday (10th) he commented that I still didn't look very pg. Well this Monday with that outfit he agreed that my baby belly is now more visible. Actually quite a few people noticed the baby belly that day. I still say it's not enough that a stranger would be sure I was pg (they might just think I'm a bit overweight) but in the right outfit those who know me can definitely see my baby belly. I can also still wear a non-mat outfit in which you can't see my belly At All. It really depends on what I am wearing and also whether the person sees me sitting or standing (far more visible when sitting).
Yesterday 2 more skirts came in the mail through eBay. I've only been buying skirts that way as I find I need to try pants on so I haven't tried to buy them through eBay. Today I plan to hem the pants my Mom got me for Christmas that fit well but are WAY too long. They are black so again I should get good use out of them. Last week I had bought 3 skirts on eBay. Turns out the cheapest one ($5.50 including s/h) is my favorite! It's really pretty (at least I think so!) and fits great but still has room for growth. I am going to wear it today. :-) One of the others is a little big now (although not as big as the one I wore yesterday!) so I'll wait a bit on that one. The third is actually a little snug in the belly panel area. It fits now, but it's not going to last very long. So I'd better wear that one soon also. So between these new skirts and hemming the pants, now I should have more options and not feel like I'm cycling between the same 3 skirts all the time.
I have never bought clothes for myself on eBay before aside from mat clothes, but since most women don't wear the mat clothes long and I don't plan to wear them long myself, it seems like a good place to shop for them. I do need to make a shopping trip once to Motherhood in the spring, but in our area the only option is Walmart for mat clothes and all they have are pants and shirts (no skirts or dresses). I had bought 2 mat skirts on eBay in 2005 when I was pg, but I had given them away in 2006 I think it was so I never wore those. I also gave away the 2 pgcy books I bought then (one was What to Expect when you're Expecting) and since I bought them and then gave them away I just didn't feel like buying them again. I did NOT give away my copy of What to Expect the First Year as I assumed I'd use that w/ an adopted baby so I still have that on hand.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Akan
On Tuesday as I was looking at Dr. O's diploma on the wall, I was wondering what country he was from. His full name is Samuel Kwapong Owusu. Well today I noticed on his website that it says he speaks the Akan language. Any of you know in which countries Akan is spoken? I didn't until I looked it up. The answer is Ghana and Suriname. My guess is that he's from Ghana.
Yesterday a prof commented that I am starting to show a little. So at least for those who are *looking* (as they already know I am pg) my belly is starting to show a little. Trust me, I am no where near the place yet where a stranger would figure it out. I look forward to that day though! I think part of it is that I have a long torso. I can actually wear petite pants even though I am 5'7" as my length is not in my legs. If I had a shorter torso, I think my belly would be popping out sooner. To me my belly is more noticeable when I am sitting down than standing up.
Another prof brought brownies to our faculty meeting yesterday. I hadn't had a brownie in about 2 months as the last time I ate one I had a horrible case of heartburn. I am happy to say that it didn't give me heartburn yesterday! Well maybe I was better off thinking I should stay away from chocolate, LOL. Normally I am one who craves sweets, but aside from fruit I haven't been craving sweets. Ice cream and such doesn't appeal to me anywhere near as much as usual. On the other hand, I've been craving salty foods like Doritos. I've been restraining myself from buying such junk food as I know the pounds would be going on too quickly if I had something like that in the house. Normally I can go many months without craving chips of any kind. I will say though eating that brownie yesterday is making me want to have a Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard from Dairy Queen. That is one of my most favorite things to eat in the whole wide world! :-)
Yesterday a prof commented that I am starting to show a little. So at least for those who are *looking* (as they already know I am pg) my belly is starting to show a little. Trust me, I am no where near the place yet where a stranger would figure it out. I look forward to that day though! I think part of it is that I have a long torso. I can actually wear petite pants even though I am 5'7" as my length is not in my legs. If I had a shorter torso, I think my belly would be popping out sooner. To me my belly is more noticeable when I am sitting down than standing up.
Another prof brought brownies to our faculty meeting yesterday. I hadn't had a brownie in about 2 months as the last time I ate one I had a horrible case of heartburn. I am happy to say that it didn't give me heartburn yesterday! Well maybe I was better off thinking I should stay away from chocolate, LOL. Normally I am one who craves sweets, but aside from fruit I haven't been craving sweets. Ice cream and such doesn't appeal to me anywhere near as much as usual. On the other hand, I've been craving salty foods like Doritos. I've been restraining myself from buying such junk food as I know the pounds would be going on too quickly if I had something like that in the house. Normally I can go many months without craving chips of any kind. I will say though eating that brownie yesterday is making me want to have a Georgia Mud Fudge Blizzard from Dairy Queen. That is one of my most favorite things to eat in the whole wide world! :-)
Friday, February 15, 2008
18
I am 18 weeks pg today. YAHOO! The BIG ultrasound is in 18 days. I looked online, and I have an appt that day at 2:00 (I presume the level 2 u/s) and then another appt at 3:00 with an OB. So I guess we'll be there awhile that day. I can't wait to start referring to baby as "son" or "daughter" instead of "baby" and even better referring to him or her by NAME. Of course if baby is a girl then there will likely be a delay in referring to her by name than if baby is a boy since we only have a boy's name picked out thus far. At that point I can also finish up the baby registries. On Sunday night, the church choir director asked if I had made a baby registry yet. I'm working on it, but I want to know the gender before I totally finish that project. :-)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
March 4
I called the OB this morning, and the MFM clinic just called to set up my u/s. She asked me if March 4 at 2pm would work. It will work just fine as I don't go to work until 4pm that day, and it's also a day Paul can go with me. This appt will be at the hospital where my RE is; I will be seen by Dr. Maslow. I'll be 20w4d pg, and I'll be seen by Dr. O exactly one week later at 21w4d for my 3rd prenatal appt. Of course I wish it could be sooner. Dr. O said they do these between 18-22 weeks, and I was hoping for 18 weeks (next week), but at least I don't have to wait until 22w! Just 19 more days til we get to see baby again. YAHOO! I can't wait. I hope the next 19 days just FLY by!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Childbirth classes
Well my school is on a 2 hour delay today. The secretary in my dept told me that most of the profs in my dept cancelled their classes today, but I am not planning on canceling as it's raining now. She said to be careful on the sidewalks as they are just sheets of ice and many have fallen. Paul emailed me from his school and said he fell a few times walking from his car to class as it was icy there also. Hopefully I won't fall. Too bad I don't own any ice skates, LOL.
Yesterday, the nurse at the OB gave me a brochure describing the classes we can sign up for. The childbirth class can be taken as 4 evenings (2 hours each night) or 8 hours on one Saturday. It costs $50. I am not sure if that is per couple or per person. The cost is the final clincher. I think I'll just stick with reading the book I got and discussing it with Paul. The breastfeeding class is $10 for one two hour session. I think I'll do that on May 15 (they offer it 6 times a year). I am toying with the basic skills for new parents class (on bathing, feeding, taking baby's temperature, car seats, etc.). It takes place for 2 hours a night for 2 nights and is $30. I might learn something, but I am certain Paul would learn quite a lot so it might be good to do that together. The others I am toying with are Infant/child CPR (free) and Infant Massage (I've seen that one advertised at the hospital but it's not in the brochure so I don't know how much it costs or how long it is). Any thoughts or opinions on these classes? I know some of you already shared your thoughts about the childbirth classes, but I just wondered if any of you took a basic skills course or breastfeeding, etc. Oh and one other option that is free is a 45 minute tour of the L&D area of the hospital. Is that worth doing? We could do that one on March 11.
Today my dad gets the results of his prostate biopsy, and tomorrow he gets his colon polyp biopsy results. Praying for good news! Of lesser importance, I am hoping the MFM clinic calls me today to tell me when my u/s will be! :-)
I have to say how VERY reassuring it was yesterday to hear the h/b. I kept saying to Paul the rest of the day - we're having a baby!! It seems more "real" when you see an u/s or hear a h/b and that hadn't happened for 4 weeks so I needed the reassurance. :-)
Yesterday, the nurse at the OB gave me a brochure describing the classes we can sign up for. The childbirth class can be taken as 4 evenings (2 hours each night) or 8 hours on one Saturday. It costs $50. I am not sure if that is per couple or per person. The cost is the final clincher. I think I'll just stick with reading the book I got and discussing it with Paul. The breastfeeding class is $10 for one two hour session. I think I'll do that on May 15 (they offer it 6 times a year). I am toying with the basic skills for new parents class (on bathing, feeding, taking baby's temperature, car seats, etc.). It takes place for 2 hours a night for 2 nights and is $30. I might learn something, but I am certain Paul would learn quite a lot so it might be good to do that together. The others I am toying with are Infant/child CPR (free) and Infant Massage (I've seen that one advertised at the hospital but it's not in the brochure so I don't know how much it costs or how long it is). Any thoughts or opinions on these classes? I know some of you already shared your thoughts about the childbirth classes, but I just wondered if any of you took a basic skills course or breastfeeding, etc. Oh and one other option that is free is a 45 minute tour of the L&D area of the hospital. Is that worth doing? We could do that one on March 11.
Today my dad gets the results of his prostate biopsy, and tomorrow he gets his colon polyp biopsy results. Praying for good news! Of lesser importance, I am hoping the MFM clinic calls me today to tell me when my u/s will be! :-)
I have to say how VERY reassuring it was yesterday to hear the h/b. I kept saying to Paul the rest of the day - we're having a baby!! It seems more "real" when you see an u/s or hear a h/b and that hadn't happened for 4 weeks so I needed the reassurance. :-)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Camera came!
Here are two belly photos taken tonight (17w4d)
. The photo at left shows the belly panel of the maternity skirt (of course in public the panel is hidden by whatever top I am wearing). The photo at right is in non-maternity pants, and in that outfit I don't look pg *at all*, but I pulled the shirt taut to try to make my belly more visible. I am looking forward to the day when it's obvious I'm pg even to those who don't know me. I'm not there yet, but my belly is growing! This is certainly the ONLY time in life when a woman wants to have a big belly, LOL! Paul still thinks it's nuts to take these photos, but at least he is willing to do so anyhow. :-)
. The photo at left shows the belly panel of the maternity skirt (of course in public the panel is hidden by whatever top I am wearing). The photo at right is in non-maternity pants, and in that outfit I don't look pg *at all*, but I pulled the shirt taut to try to make my belly more visible. I am looking forward to the day when it's obvious I'm pg even to those who don't know me. I'm not there yet, but my belly is growing! This is certainly the ONLY time in life when a woman wants to have a big belly, LOL! Paul still thinks it's nuts to take these photos, but at least he is willing to do so anyhow. :-)
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