Babblings of a Pregnant Chick

OK, here we go with part deux, finally.  I have internet at home now, hallelujah.

So I'm laying there on the triage table, it has been determined that the baby is breech, and I'm still bleeding.  G is standing there at the curtain, holding Caleb, who's wearing his dog pajamas.  It's an image burned in my memory until I die, because I had this feeling of being scared, disappointed, and relieved all in one.  And I also remember thinking, Please get Caleb out of here, please let your folks get here soon, I don't want him seeing me like this.  Fortunately, they arrived very shortly thereafter, which was good because the on-call doctor had pronounced that I definitely needed a c-section and ASAP.  As soon as G walked out to go deliver Caleb and Deuce to his folks, they loaded me on the wheeled table thing and rolled me to the c-section room.  At this point I was mostly disappointed/dismayed, but also relieved that I didn't have to worry about the bleeding thing anymore, since they'd strapped the heartbeat monitor on and baby was just fine.  They also posited that my placenta had abrupted which was causing the bloody mess.  Which brings to mind...what is it with me, delivering babies, placenta problems, and bleeding?!   In the surgery room, they brought in the anesthesia dude, who was a nice young resident guy who was really calm and reassuring.   He chatted with me about the spinal, explained it all.  I was like, Yep, sure, let's get this show on the road.   I had to sit up and bend over just like when I got my epidural.  It didn't hurt, just a burn.  Now, when I had to give a blood sample, THAT was bad, it took 3 tries.  Also at this time they had me sign the consent form to put the birth announcement in the paper...WTF?  Anyway, so I'm chilling there on the table, waiting for the nice numb of the spinal.  It went up to my chest and all the way to my toes....after a few minutes of poking and asking me if I could feel it.  Finally I could not and they were ready to rock.  During this time G got his scrubs on and joined the party.  He hung out by my head but did get a glimpse of my innards when he went over to see H for the first time.  It was weird as they rooted around in there and pulled baby out...it wasn't just slice open and lift baby out, as I'd expected.  It was a couple minutes of tugging and yanking before she was finally out.  But then she was out, and Haley Laurelen Gard officially entered this world at 3:24AM.  Mind you, we'd arrived at the hospital at about 2:15AM, and my water had broke at home at 1AM!  I remember hearing her cry and feeling utter relief, and G went over and peeked at her, and said, "She's beautiful."  But that isn't the end of the story.  Now they had to sew me up, and they whisked Haley off to check her over, wash her, etc.  I was lying under this giant warming lamp and feeling pretty good - I wasn't pleased about having a c-section, but the birth was all over in an amazingly short time, and we were both fine.  Then, all of sudden, I was extremely nauseous.  I didn't do anything for a minute or two...I figured it would pass.  After all, I have a sensitive stomach which I've abused countless times with outlandish alcohol consumption; I'm an expert at keeping myself from puking.  Not this time.  I turned my head to the nurse and said, "I think I'm going to be sick."  She said, "Do you need a pan?"  I managed to squeak "yes" and she got the pan there just in time.  I yakked for the next couple minutes.  What an awful feeling to get sick when you're lying down AND numb from the neck down!  G witnessed it, as he was still hanging out by me...I made some feeble joke about his customer appreciation meal coming back up.  After some time, he went to watch them wash Haley, and after more time, he brought her over to me, there in the surgery room still.  I was pretty groggy and obviously couldn't hold her.  I think it was around 5:30AM I was transferred to my room, away from the bright fluorescent lights and odd sterility of the c-section room.  And that is my birth story.  If I remember more details I'll try to add them....gotta go attend to a crying baby now. 

Well, I'm not pregnant anymore, so I guess I either need to shut this thing down or rename it.  My little peanut was born September 19, just as her father predicted.  I had a few contractions on my drive home from work - first one was around 5:30PM as I drove through Morrisonville.  But they subsided and I figured it was a false alarm...went to G's customer appreciation supper, and nothing that whole time.  Got home around 8PM and they started up again.  I began timing them just before 9pm, after I put Caleb to bed.  I was sitting on the floor putting on his pajamas and just doubled over...he thought I was joking around at first and then said, "Ma-ma?  Ma-ma?"  all concerned.  They hurt, but not so much that I was going to, like, pee my pants, as I felt with the induced contractions with Caleb.  Plus were still 8-10 minutes apart.  I texted G at 9:15 and asked if he'd be home soon, because it was dawning on me that this wasn't fake, I wasn't dehydrated, etc.  He arrived home a bit before 10 and I told him to go to bed and get some rest in case we had to leave in the night.  I prowled the house, trying to find a position that was comfortable - couch downstairs, living room carpet upstairs, finally ended up on the toilet because I felt like "bearing down"...gush, my water broke.  This was about 1AM.  I knew immediately...here we go!  Then I looked in the toilet and saw blood everywhere, so I started shaking as I knew that wasn't right.  I tried to calm and called out to G, "Babe?  My water just broke."  I was bleeding everywhere so I got out a pad and tried to not make a huge mess.  G called the hospital and told them what was up, they told us to come in.  At that point, my sweet little son is sleeping in his bed, so we scooped up him and his bag and put him in the truck.  G called his folks and asked them to meet us at the hospital.  (Conversation--G:  Hello, Dad?  How are you?  Dad: I was sleeping.)  The whole ride in my contractions were coming closer together and I was still bleeding all over.  But I was mostly thinking about if I wanted to request an epidural or not, because I still felt like I was in control and could maybe do it.  When G dropped me off at the emergency room door I got out and blood dripped all down my legs.  He got out to help me and another contraction came on so I had to hug him right there at the door, people inside watching.  I went in and got a wheelchair ride upstairs while G parked the truck.  He then brought Caleb up to triage where they'd quickly had a resident examine me....her first words were, I think the baby's head is up here."  pointing by my right ribcage.  Whaaat?  They got the doctor on-call and the ultrasound machine out and sure enough....she's upside down.  I looked over at G who was standing by the curtain, holding Caleb, who was wearing his dog pajamas and wide awake, although he seemed pretty calm..."Ma-ma?" 

...to be continued!

 

Two years ago today, at 8:58AM, I gave birth to my little son.  I looked at the "timeline" that G kept in the hospital...so odd to see it, and realize how much I don't even remember.  Man, I hope my experience is a total 180 this time. 

Also, I was looking at the birthing class book, and I have several of the "pre-labor" symptoms.  Increased discharge, downward pressure, nausea.  Not to mention I am waddling like a duck because of that pressure.  I don't want to get my hopes up that it will be tomorrow and then it's two more weeks.  But then if I ignore "signs" and I'm not ready, that's just as bad. 

OK, going to crank out some serious work now....a little stressed on this stupid BPA project, especially after yesterday's meeting where it was a hot discussion topic. 

38 weeks and still rollin'.   The weekend flew by.  We attended Charlie & Leigh's wedding on Sat.  I wore the same dress I wore at the end of April to G's dad's retirement party.  Let's just say I filled it out much more.  I even got a comment from Rachel about my "cleavage".  Yah, whatev.  I also wore the 3" Nine West heels again which looked sexy but had me limping at the end of the night.  I may never forget stopping in Cross Plains at Kwik Trip at 11:30PM and hobbling in to pee, 9 months pregnant and all.  On Sunday we just kinda hung out....I made C's cake which was so utterly cute...G helped me decorate it.  The grandparents showed up and helped us celebrate.  I determined that the carpet in the basement is damaged beyond help.  Sigh.

I'm tossing and turning quite a bit at night.  My neck and shoulders do not like how I'm sleeping for my belly.  At the wedding I didn't dance because I stood alot of the night, socializing, and after awhile I had to sit down or the Braxton-Hicks started up.  I don't like B-H.  They are like being teased mercilessly. 

I should also note that Deuce was extremely mopey and clingy this weekend. 

It just occurred to me, 4 hours later, that I had an appt. today so I should post the thrilling results of it.  I had an internal exam, and I'm dilated 2 cm and 50% effaced.  I think that's Dr. Skinny's generic pronouncement from her internals, cause it seems like that's what I had with Caleb.  I realize that it's just a sign of progress, not a prediction that labor will start tomorrow.  I'm still chill and not in a big hurry.  It looks like I'll finish this week at work and that's exciting.  One more week and I'll be very happy, so hang in there, Firecracker.   Weight gain is at 37 lbs. on the dr. chart. 

Dr. Skinny also asked me if I'm thinking epidural.  I honestly replied....that if I get Pitocin again, then yes, fo' sho'.  But, if I manage to labor naturally, I'd like to see how it goes.  I think it would be freaking awesome to go med-free.  Then she mentioned that it probably "kept my sanity" during my placenta problem last time, that I was numbed from an epidural, because the pushing on the uterus is very painful, as well as the manual placenta removal.  Which of course I don't recall feeling a thing.  The epidural is a strange sensation after the labor pains are done...I remember the nurse helping me walk to the bathroom. 

I bought a huge bag of wipes today, as well as a package of pads.  I just might start packing bags for the hospital.  Myself, Garry, and little gal.  Then Caleb may need his travel bag also.  I guess I should pick out what she's gonna wear for her hospital pic, going home, etc. 

Also glad she's not going to have a 9/11 birthday.  Now to get by 9/17 so my 2 kids don't have the same birthday.  G is still insistent that she's showing up 9/19. 

OK, so Kid Rock is extremely white trash, ugly, etc. but I love this song and I don't care!  I also like the video which is where I originally heard the song.  G was watching with me and he seemed to already know the song.  Sometimes I think he must listen to the teeny bop radio station at work. 

My Dr. appt. on Fri. was fabulous!  1.  I didn't gain any weight!  I attribute this to dropping some water weight since it's not hot anymore.  I don't even care that I'm rounding the corner to 40 lbs. total.  It's almost over.   2.  I'm NOT group B positive this time!  No fucking IV attached to me as soon as I get to the hospital!  SWEET!  3.  Firecracker's position was just fine!  She isn't dropped head-down, but she was only tilted sideways a bit, not a huge deal!  I do wish she'd drop because I've had some heartburn and trouble catching my breath.  But, I'd rather she stay put for a couple more weeks.  Mommy needs to earn a little more money to pay her bills...like the Vegas plane tickets. 

I think my hormones surged over the weekend.  My boobs hurt again.  The bird-dog nose is back.  And I was pretty crabby yesterday.  G took C to the bow club and left me alone for about 5 hours which helped.  I was able to leisurely shop at Goodwill, Walgreens, and the grocery store.  But after a couple hours of shopping, I was freaking TIRED.  The 9th month is not fun....so many things I want to do and no physical stamina to do them.  Not to mention, I'm finally having trouble sleeping.  For some reason I got a big crink in my neck a few days back and my shoulders/neck/arms have been angry since then....plus it's a delicate balance to find that exact spot to sleep on my left side where I can breathe normally.  I remember very clearly, shortly after having C, thinking to myself, "Thank god, I can lay on my back again."  And it will be like that again. 

Digable Planets....so groovy.  So it's 3:28pm and I've basically done no work today.  I just haven't felt like it and haven't had anything pressing.  I had my "baby lunch" today and got a pile of clothes....very nice of my co-workers.  I felt a little weird having a "baby shower" with my second kid when I was also pregnant last time I worked here.  But whatever.  Despite my abhorrence of organized religion, general agnostic viewpoint, etc. I still can say very assuredly that I feel blessed that this job came along.  Good girls get good things. 

I wonder what Dr. Skinny is going to say tomorrow about this baby position business.  All is well with baby weight - the nurse called me the other day to say that the 5 lbs. 12 oz. was only 63rd percentile, so no worries.  I feel fine except for the occasional ass problem.  Last Sat./Sun. it was bad again, but I ate a ton of fiber stuff and things are OK now.  I take 1 freaking iron pill and it binds me like I cannot believe.  In good news, it's now cold and rainy so I'm not puffy anymore. 

I am in nesting financial mode.  I froze my Discover card and my hubby's Cabela's card.  He was mad, but I had to do it that way or he would have never agreed to it.  He was so dependent on the stupid thing....I looked at his bill and he was paying for stuff like snacks at the gas station ($7.33) with it.  Silly!  He will thank me next month when he has little or no bill to pay.  His original argument was, I put things that I'm going to buy anyway on it, and get rewards.  To some extent, yes, but there is ALOT of fat to trim off there, and he did calm down and admit that. 

My little son is now peeing in the potty fairly regularly.  He also goes to bed like an angel.  I just love him at these times, I feel like my heart could burst with pride.  Then when he is screeching for 20 minutes in the car, or running circles around the couch in a screaming tantrum, it takes every cell of my being to compose myself.  Actually, I sometimes tell him to "shut the fuck up" under my breath, because A) he can't hear me B) he wouldn't know what that means C) wouldn't listen anyway if he did D) it relieves a bit of my tension.  Heheh.

Back tomorrow with update from Dr. appt. 

 

First person to identify the origin of that subject line gets a free $3 coupon to Petsmart.  Hey, all the other mom blogs have these "giveaways", so I figure the 2 people that read my own mom blog can have one too.   Besides, if either of my readers cannot identify that line, I was a huge failure as a big sister exposing the younger ones to fine music.  Or their brains have lost serious capacity since moving to Savannah.

Anyway, things are going good.  It's Friday, I'm feelin fine, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  My little son woke up in a decent mood, did not cry in the car, happily sat in his chair at daycare and started eating his breakfast.  AND, peed in the potty to start his day.  After peeing in it twice last night.  This is a fairly new development over the last week and oddly, it's not like we've been pushing him to do it.  He'll say "pee" and we'll ask if he wants to pee in the potty and he says yes.  And then he actually goes!  Now, pooping, that could be an entirely different game.  Also, I bought him Pull-Ups on the Walgreens racket this week, but I accidentally grabbed the girl package.  So last night he wore his first Pull-Up....pink with Cinderella on it.  Haha.

I have also had some work to do the last couple days, so I haven't been climbing the walls at work.  I read enough personal finance and cheapskate Mom blogs...I may be a little sick of them.  My savings log, after one week, is at $96.  I doubt I will continue such a blistering pace, plus the Walgreens diaper sale probably inflates my totals.  I guess it's kinda surprising how much money you can save if you pay attention and put a bit of effort into it.  Previously, I thought I was doing great if I remembered to use a $1 coupon on a pack of diapers at Wal-mart because I just assumed their prices were the lowest.  And usually my mother sent me that coupon in the mail or Spacey happened to cut it out of the Sunday paper.  Even now I look at some coupons and find them worthless.  Like the P&G insert had a 35 cent Tide coupon that I cut.  OK, Tide is $10 or more...what the hell is 35 cents there? 

I blame all this on my 3rd trimester nesting instincts.  Also the fact that I don't want to feel rushed back to work. 

Long weekend....yeah!  Carpet cleaning here I come.  Fucking filthy carpets piss me off...I'd like to smack those previous owners for being such pigs.  It also makes me want to rattle my own parents' cages and tell them to get their damn carpets cleaned....they've lived in Plover for 3 years now.  Yuck! 

 Sarah Maclachlan has this new song out that keeps coming on my Launchcast.  I kinda like it.  Am I mellowing out, or has she returned to her early 90's form after her schmaltzy late 90's stuff?  Is this the same vein as *almost* purchasing a pair of Jessica Simpson shoes?  

Anyway, little miss Firecracker looked divine yesterday....weighing in at 5 lbs. 12 oz., which only measured about 5 days ahead...yippee!  I noted that she has a giant head - I'd bet a ton of cash that measurement skewed the entire results.  So I think I can relax about her being more than 10 lbs.  But, she was not head-down...she was reclining sideways.  I don't remember exactly how long it is until Dr. Skinny gets concerned and tries to flip her and all that....but I think I have a couple weeks?  Oh please little miss, get in the right position so Mommy can squeeze your melon out properly and not need surgery.  I remember freaking out about this with C and reading all the stuff on the internet about trying to turn the baby, but then he was head-down when we went in and checked, so I kinda forgot it all.  

This week's fruit comparison is a honeydew melon.  

I have been doing work this AM, I guess I got sick of sitting here doing nothing, so I've found work to do.  I was up from about 3AM-5AM with Big Beeps...he appeared at my bedside as if it was 7AM, so I hoisted him into our bed, where he then thrashed about forever.  I took him back into his room and it was freezing...I think it got down to upper 40's last night!  So I shut the window and snuggled into bed with him and who shows up?  Mr. Gus, purring and looking for some cuddling warmth himself.  C loved it, he kept petting Gus and trying to bring him closer like a stuffed animal.  

3rd bathroom and upstairs hallway are both painted, thanks to G's mom.  Sweet!  Next up is the master bedroom.  I have chosen a comforter set from Cabela's because G will get it for free after he buys his gun safe.  I'm OK with a mild wildlife theme...it's just brown and green with some pinecones....no camo or deer silhouettes or similar "cabin" crap.  

My nesting instincts have been focused on finances lately.  I'm trying to correct the mistakes from my first SAHM gig, or at least not make the same ones again.  Bratley has sucked me into the drugstore savings game, initially for my diaper stockpile but now slightly expanded.s  Yesterday I sent G to Walgreen for 4 tubes of toothpaste because my net cost is $0.14 each.  Haha!

 I wasn't going to post until I got my 35-week email with its fruit/vegetable comparison, but I just ate the most delicious salad from the cafeteria, so I wanted to wax poetic about it.  Fresh spinach, cilantro, diced grilled chicken, cucumber slices, diced tomatoes, fresh bean sprouts, some sort of honey-mustard dressing.  Damn!  

It was a strange but relaxing weekend....sort of like it was 2006 again, because C went to Cobb on Sat. AM and doesn't return until tonight.  I miss the little bugger, but dang I don't realize how much work he is until he's gone.  It's odd to do whatever I want without having to attend to him....like when we went to the BBQ on Sat., I didn't have to chase him around like several of my co-workers with their young'uns.  I could socialize as I pleased, move about as I pleased.  Yesterday we went to BD for G's draft, and when I was done at Fleet Farm, I didn't feel like shopping anymore.  So I went to Tim's and hung out there, and eventually G showed up there too, and again,we just hung out for awhile....so strange to not have to take C home, go home to see him, or whatever.  It may be the calm before the storm, since I'll have him plus an infant very soon....I don't know if I'm looking forward to it, to get away from work, or if I should be scared shitless?  But whenever I think I should be scared, I think of the millions of women who've had more than one kid, and closer together than this....it's not impossible.  

I watched two entire movies this weekend, and I haven't seen either of them before.  We have Starz and some other movie channels for free for a couple months, so I've been recording movies.  Including:  Down in the Delta, Ulee's Gold, Sixteen Candles, Bull Durham, Superbad, Employee of the Month.  The last two are the ones G and I watched.  I give Employee of the Month one star because Jessica Simpson was absolutely awful - how can one person be so vacuous and why did her hair look lank and greasy the whole time and you could see her acne so screw her Proactiv commercials.  The premise was silly, which was okay by me, but Dane Cook wasn't all that great either.  I give Superbad three stars because it is entertaining, but isn't as funny or captivating to American Pie or Dazed & Confused (which it's obviously trying to emulate).  I also was sort of weirded out by the homosexual overtones between the two main guys...I honestly kept thinking that Evan was going to blurt out that he's gay.   I did enjoy the ridiculous antics of McLovin and the police dudes.  That's my movie review for now...I may have more soon; I can't wait to watch Down in the Delta & Ulee's Gold.

Umm, not much preggo news....I have an ultrasound tomorrow afternoon.  I have pretty much gotten to the stage where I feel like a moose.  Lumbering around, wishing to wear XXL elastic shorts to work. 

 It may be the most overused phrase in America today....but I'm tired.  Not only that, but completely disinterested in work.  I want to take the day off.  I could take the day off.  I probably should take the day off.  But I'm chasing the almighty dollar.  Not Cleflo Dollar, who is still on TV.  I watched a TV show last night....I recorded Intervention In-Depth and viewed it sans commercials.  Good program, but didn't address the root cause and was somewhat sensational.  Firecracker was hopping yesterday.  I woke up at 2:30AM to pee and she was jumping around then.  
Also, I felt bloated/swollen yesterday when I got home.  Today it's much cooler outside which will hopefully help.

34-week email....baby is size of a cantaloupe.  When is it gonna be a watermelon?!  

Tired, tired, tired.  (said like Chris Rock)

 Today's visit with Dr. Skinny was more eventful than I expected.  As I went in, I was ruminating on many times you visit the Dr. at the end, and how it always seems the same.  But today I got the Group B swab, plus she reached up to try and determine little gal's position.  As with C, she couldn't tell if baby was head down or not.  I'm already going for an ultrasound next Tues. to check weight again, so we'll see how she's pointing too.  I remember with C this made me all nervous and this time I'm totally chill.  I also got the breastfeeding diaper bag sponsored by Enfamil..if that isn't a strange contradiction....plus all the standard brochures on labor, breastfeeding, etc.  It sort of took me by surprise....I thought I'd get all this next time.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I was asked over the weekend....When are you due? And another dollar for every person who was visibly shocked that I'm due within days of G's cousin.  So she is giant....so what?  She's a big gal anyway.  It is kind of funny how every time I see her, her due date seems to move up.  Why doesn't Dr. Skinny offer me early induction if I'm humongous?  Never mind that, that fucking Pitocin needs to stay far away from me. 

Full nesting mode is on!  I did more painting last night...I'll have that hallway done this week.  If only I could magically find $1000 lying on the ground to purchase the carpet....it will look so fabulous.  But, good things come to those who wait.  And save their pennies to pay in cash. 

34 weeks y'all

I am starting to feel the squeeze on my lungs...I had to sleep on 3 pillows last night to get sufficient oxygen.  Plus my trusty body pillow on my back.  But since the baby is the size of a pineapple (the fruit comparison continued in the 33-week email!), it's not a shock.  I think it took longer this time to get uncomfortable.  Although there's still plenty of time (7 weeks, give or take) to sleep poorly...not to mention add on to my love handles and butt squish.  

I think C knows something is up.  He is pretty clingy to Ma-ma and Da-da these days.  He spent the day yesterday with my folks after the babysitter had pinkeye.  I made a delicious meal for my folks when they brought him back.  I'm totally in nesting mode now...sweet!  If only I could paint.  Patience, patience.  I really want new carpet too....I hate that blue stuff, it seems to get uglier every day.

This weekend I stuff myself into the red dress and totter on the 3" heels!  Woo-hoo!

 What is the dilly-o?  All of a sudden I'm the most popular person at GE Healthcare...everyone needs my freakin' help.  So I'm a machine this morning....except for this small chronic break right here on WBALLS.  So I visited Dr. Skinny yesterday and she is looking bonier than ever.  Meanwhile, I gained 2 lbs. so they have me as up 28 lbs., and I say 32 lbs. because I count back to the day of my preggo test.  Again, I don't particularly enjoy seeing "167" as my weight, but at least I'm going to achieve my goal of not outweighing my hubby.

Let's see....another ultrasound on Aug. 26 to see how Firecracker hath grown.  If it appears she will be 10 lbs.+, I have a c-section.  (boo, hiss) But I doubt that will happen unless I go on a donut-only diet.  

We bought plane tix to go to Vegas Jan 16-19!  Going with at least 5 other folks....sweet!!!

Undele undele Mami, E.I. E.I.

St. Louis yall

 

Dammit, I just typed an entire paragraph and somehow managed to lose it thanks to my laptop mousepad.  OK, my 32-week email said the baby is the size of a "large jicama".  I can't identify a jicama in a produce quiz, but the fruit & veggie comparison continues.  

Down down baby, your street in a Range Rover

Obviously I'm currently jamming to Nelly.  Anyway, I was a stellar wife on Sunday and accompanied hubby to an archery shoot in Sparta.  50 targets = 3 hrs of shooting = 3 hrs of me entertaining Caleb.  This entailed lots of walking around the course, plus visiting McDonald's and the local playground.  So my calves are on fire today.  

My son dragged the bathroom scale out today, put it on the floor, pointed to it, and said "Ma-ma".  So I got on it.  33 lbs. since taking the pg test.   I guess my body just wants to gain upper 30's for pregnancy.  Happily, there is no freaking way I'll weigh as much at the end as I did with C.  THAT was a scary fucking number, and I'd have to put on 20 lbs. to see it again.  Phew!  

Yesterday C's daycare called in sick, so G stayed home with him while I went to work.  An odd role reversal, but it felt good that C was with his dad.  Even though I don't worry about him at daycare (well hardly), I still miss him when I'm here.  It was comforting to know he was with a parent.  So I guess I know how G feels when I'm home with the kiddos.  

Street sweeper baby cocked ready to let it go.

The last couple days I've felt nauseous after eating, like I'm so full and need to puke.  I think things are getting pretty crowded in that region.  Some days she digs into my ribs, other days there's tons of downward pressure.  Time marches on, though, and there isn't much time left.  Dr. Skinny, whom I visit tomorrow, informed me that I won't go more than a week overdue due to my GD, and that was before she saw Firecracker's ultrasound. 

I bought some high-ass Nine West strappy sandals for the wedding.  Pure vanity.  Eyes to my legs, not my belly.  I'll probably fall on my ass, but damn they look good.  Just need to get my pedi next week and slap some self-tanner on!

Oh I forgot one more pg detail....I have some serious ass problems going on right now.  Last night I tried to go, achieved a rabbit poop, and couldn't sit down the rest of the night.  I downed some Metamucil and will drink a ton of water today...goddammit I hate fucking hem'roids.  I('m spelling it ghetto because I always get it wrong)

I just spoke with my Dr. office....how anticlimactic.  Firecracker is 75th percentile with that 4 lbs. 3 oz. weight....so it's OK for now.  Also, her organs and such all look perfect.   She is sending some growth vibes to her cousins in Georgia.

How strange...while typing this, "Firecracker" came on my Launchcast.  We got a good thing going and it feels so right; she's a firecracker, she's the light of my life.....


 

 Since confirming that I am having a girl, I've had some random thoughts about how I'd like to raise my daughter differently than I was raised.  Probably some things apply to my son also, but I'm not getting into nature vs. nurture now.  

1.  Instill some fricking self-confidence in her before the junior high years.  Not just general shit like encourage her abilities, participation in activities, etc.  Teach her how to properly fix her hair, wear makeup if she wants, buy stylish clothes that look good, exercise to keep a healthy shape.  Maybe this sounds Stepford, but I got little or no guidance in this area from my own mother, who either A) didn't know herself or B) didn't have time.  I'm not really bitter about it, because it means I'm not obsessed with my appearance.  But I've learned that appearance means ALOT in this world, and the more attractive you make yourself, the more successful you will be.  

2.  Talk to her about the squeamish things.  Wearing a bra should not be embarrassing.  Getting your first period is not cause for denial.  Sex is everywhere and needs to be addressed beyond "It's something that a husband and wife do."  Drugs and alcohol, same thing.

3.  Do NOT instill shame in her through negative comments.  My dad was world-class at this.  I was probably 25 before I could admit that I have a skin condition called psoriasis...how dumb is that?  I was constantly ashamed of my "spots" or my flaky scalp showing.  It made it worse that I tried to hide it and then suffered humiliation when people would notice it.   Thank god I was never overweight or I'd probably have some serious disordered eating today.  So if my daughter isn't 100% perfect....which is pretty likely...I am going to teach her to say, This is me, the way I am, and I am proud of myself.  

4.  Don't fucking force her to go to church (when she obviously hates it )and act like she has no choice.  It will backfire when she gets away and realizes it was all BS.

5.  Appreciate your family.  Enjoy them despite their idiosyncrasies.  Don't sugarcoat illness.  Don't fucking lie about it/hide the truth when a loved one is terminally ill.  And death....for god's sake, talk about it, because if it happens suddenly to a loved one, it's the most crushing blow an adolescent can take when there's NO preparation. 

There were lots of awesome things about my upbringing....I don't mean to sound like I had such an awful childhood or whatever.  I just want to spare my daughter some agony because we all know there will be enough of it in today's messed-up world.

 Ultrasound this AM.  So I am 31 weeks today, and measured about 2 weeks ahead....little miss weighs about 4 lbs. 3 oz. according to the measurements.   Eek!  So we'll see what Dr. Skinny says about this.  Deliver early?  Try to slow down the weight gain?  Induce?  Let me go to my due date even if baby is 10 lbs.?!?  Man oh man!

She looked great...and we saw her labia, so there's no question on gender.   I loved watching her flip around and feeling her move at the same time.  She already has hair!  We got a pic of that, as well as a foot, a fist, half her face, and a couple profile pics.  It's too bad Livejournal doesn't let you just post pics on here....I don't wish to mess around with Photobucket.

Decent weekend....spent some moolah, as I got my hair did, purchased some home items, went to an estate sale for my brother and got him some train items for his bday.  Caleb's room is now painted, and we ripped out a trailerful of branches and bushes in the yard. 

 I have started the 2-week Dr. appts, as of today.  Dr. Skinny didn't sing praises of my diabetes management, but she said my numbers look fine and I only have to check twice a day.  She did point out that I am somewhat glucose intolerant, according to the 119 and 120 post-meal numbers I had.  I informed her that I'm feeling pretty good with the new plan.  I only gained 1 lb. since the last appt. which didn't surprise me....I've noticed my clothes fit better already.  I didn't realize how out of control my carb consumption was.  Even a noted dietitian like myself can overeat.  Plus, pregnancy is too good of an excuse.  That reminds me, the dietitian visit was splendid.  She was a nice lady and we talked job market for awhile.  She was a WIC dietitian for 15 years!  I got my meal plan - ie how many servings of carbs to spread out over the day.  

I have also started my arms workout, so I don't have jiggly flab in that dress for the wedding.  

Another ultrasound on Mon....ostensibly to check on weight, but I'll be scanning for any signs of male organs!  That will be weird if I do spot a penis after thinking girl for so long.  But I doubt it. 

I haven't posted the vegetable comparison from my Babycenter weekly email lately....so the 30-week comparison is, "Your baby weighs as much as a head of cabbage."  I think it was 28 weeks where the baby was a head of cauliflower.   I wonder if there will be any more fruit/vegs....watermelon perhaps?

I have been at work for 2 hours and have done absolutely nothing.....I cannot focus and don't have anything urgent to do.  My boss is in Puerto Vallarta.  

Dietitian visit today....I predict she will tell me to eat more protein and less carbs as % of my total calories.  I already bought an 18-pak of eggs in anticipation.