Stuff and Things

Our group at work is sponsoring a luncheon this Friday so I offered to put together a poster (see image on your left). It's loud and cheesy but it was fun to make, offering me a short break from monotonous tech manual land today. I also offered to help with the "Mexican Jumping Bean Counting Contest" which involves me purchasing jelly beans, counting them, and relocating them to a jar that I will decorate. Sure, I have plenty of time and energy to do this. You might also have detected my sarcasm there.


32 weeks along! Overall, I'm feeling ok, I noticed that I don't immediately gag from strong smells anymore. I'm still a little sensitive to odorous things but the ralph-reflex is not nearly as powerful as it was. And I think Izaak has dropped down a bit more. I can breathe somewhat more easily and my ribs aren't as terribly painful as they had been. Sometimes it feels like he's looking for an escape route through my belly-button, its very weird to watch my belly when he does this... actually he's doing it right now! The internet tells me that he probably weighs around 4 lbs already, wow!! So, how come I've gained WAY more than that?! Haha, I do know I'll have some work to do to get into normal-sized clothes again. I am very excited for Izaak's arrival but a bit anxious about knowing what to do with a newborn. The birth itself isn't stressing me out (though I still have time to get stressed about that!) and losing the weight afterward is a concern but mostly I'm nervous in regards to being a total imbecile about figuring out the kiddo and what he needs! There's a lot of conflicting info out there in terms of, well, everything. I know that every kid is different and it will involve a lot of trial and error to get things headed in the right direction. I still need to hit up Barnes & Noble, the clock is ticking!! 


To recap the weekend a bit: On Saturday morning, my neighbor, Jenn, and I went to the Farmer's Market in downtown Charleston to try out some yummy food from her friend's booth and checked out the other wares in the vicinity. Parking downtown is a nightmare but it's to be expected. It's frustrating how easily I get winded while walking. I just can't go very fast and I'm used to being a fancy-free speed-walking-wanderer kind of gal. Plus, I know I'm slowing Jenn way down but in my defense, I am carting around an extra passenger these days. Lately, I find myself tempted to stop mothers with young babies and ask them just how long it takes after birth until you start feeling somewhat normal again! I am beginning to feel more empathy for the severely obese; I've never been described as "skinny" but carting around all this excess baggage is brutal!! Jenn and I also did some other shopping later in the day and I was able to find diaper bag #2 so now the more I look at the first one I picked out, the less I like it. I knew there was a reason I left the price tag on it... what a fickle creature I am! [sigh.]

 

On Sunday, I was excited to find two things on Craigslist that I've been looking for. First: a black changer/dresser combo, ideal dimensions, constructed of solid wood, $30... but somebody else got it before I could coordinate transportation (it wouldn't fit in my Sentra). Second: the breast pump that I've been looking to pick up: brand-new, unopened Medela Pump-In-Style for $195 (rather than $279.99 + tax)... and that one got snagged too. This girl just wants a good deal, is that too much to ask for?! It wasn't my weekend for Craigslist I guess. The search goes on, on, on...

 

I guess that I had a semi-productive weekend. I think that I actually did accomplish a lot... but at the time, it felt like the more that I checked off of my list - the more I realized other things needing my attention. I did finally complete my taxes at very least. TurboTax's definition of "free tax preparation" is not the same as mine. A little over $80 later, my taxes are submitted at any rate, so hopefully the IRS won't be chasing me down this year. I got some gardening done (not much really but I did get the grass pulled out of the mini garden), did some laundry (a very minimal amount), and some light cleaning around the house (a fairly lackluster attempt overall). I also worked on a freelance graphic design project for about 8 hours but barely made a dent in it. At least I got a nap in on Sunday, that was productive, right?!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow: Joe finally returns! I watched the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks (i.e. the reason why Joe has been gone for over a week) live video feed online from the comfort of my couch this year. Experiencing it in person is decidedly more exhilirating but I have to admit that it was nice to be warm and comparatively comfortable this year. I would've been a miserable little monkey if I had to sit/stand outside for hours on end like the last two years. Joe and I will be heading to Myrtle Beach this weekend to see his family for Easter so I put some goodies together in baskets for the nephews. Nothing too elaborate and no sweets for the 15 month old, but I'm sure the mother - who works in a dentist's office (sorry, Michelle!) - is going to be thrilled about all the treats in her older son's basket :) Oh well, I'm sure he's stocked with toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Great News!

No gestational diabetes for me!! I had another routine appt at the dr today (I've been to the dr more in the past 6 months than the combined total of visits throughout my life so far I think) and Izaak and I are both doing great. The glucose test numbers were good, my blood pressure is 121 over 82 - a little high for me but not bad, Izaak's heart-rate was at 147, which the doctor said is good. I asked what the deal is with my crazy rib pains and she said that while it sucks, it's not uncommon or dangerous, probably some membrane tearing internally but luckily we're getting toward the end of the pregnancy so there's end in sight! Was that supposed to be comforting?? It's good to know it's not hurting the little squirt at least. And to celebrate the fact that my body can indeed process sugar, I stopped at Chick fil A on the way home for a banana pudding milkshake!! It even has Nilla wafers in it... heavenly ;)

My due date is 2 months away! As my mind was wandering today (me get distracted? what?!), I realized that even though it feels like I've been pregnant forever, it's really only occupied my every waking thought for the past 6 months. My sense of time is terrible. It seems like it should improve at some point but I've yet to have any success. I'm constantly on an unpredictable temporal roller-coaster, slow, slow slow, fast, crazy, upside down, slow, slow, fast!!, etc. I often wish I had a time-equalizer. That, and a self-cleaning litterbox. Man, those kitties of mine are poo-machines!

Upcoming things to look forward to (other than a new member of the family!)

1. Looks like my parents are going to be able to visit - for the first time since we moved to Charleston - from July 3-12!
2. I think we're going to Joe's parent's place in Myrtle Beach for Easter and Joe's sister's family will be there too!
3. Joe will be home on Tuesday!!

Speaking of time-warping, it's almost 8 o'clock and I still have freelance work to do and I need to finish my taxes. [sigh!]

Baby Book

Me + eBay app on my phone = DANGEROUS!!

Ok, my intention was to make a baby book. I wanted to design the cover, inside pages, etc., but I've got so many other projects in the works that I haven't even started (surprise, surprise) so I decided to see what the retail world had to offer in this realm. I happened upon this cute little number, pressed the Buy It Now button (so easy a caveman could do it!) and soon I should have another item waiting at my doorstep and ready to be checked off of the never ending Stuff-for-Izaak list :)

Kinda warm here today, a foggy morning morphed itself into a sunny day in the upper 80's. I was holed up in my cubicle at work not able to enjoy it for the most part but I'm sweating now, so that counts, right?? I think I might need to figure out turning on the A/C if this heatwave keeps up... where's Joe when you need him?! Truth be told, I miss him terribly but I know he's enjoying himself and that he'll be back soon - can't wait!

Sugar Test #2

I wrote this a couple days ago while suffering through a 3-hour glucose tolerance test:

"It’s Tuesday, 9:38am and I’m holed up in the doctor’s office again. I’ve got bandages on the inside creases of both my elbows a result of multiple blood draws. The glucose screening test I took a couple weeks ago came back a little elevated so now I’m being subjected to the 3-hour test to determine if I have developed gestational diabetes. Fasting began last night after dinner, I arrived at the doctor’s office around 8am and they took the first round of blood (left arm). I then had to drink a concentrated glucose solution that contains 100 grams of sugar (on an empty stomach - YIKES!), sat in the waiting room for an hour while feeling a bit queasy, then had more blood drawn (right arm). I’m now waiting another hour, they will take blood from the left arm again, wait one more hour… guess what happens after that? They take my blood! The samples are sent out so I won’t know if I have gestational diabetes until they get around to contacting me. On the upside of ingesting the syrupy concoction, it made Izaak squirm around and get out of my ribs for now, a very welcome reprieve. I brought with Joe’s laptop in order to help pass the time.

I’m currently 30 weeks pregnant. It is almost amusing that perfect strangers have no qualms about letting their eyes pop after they demand to know my due date and seem to take pleasure in exclaiming that I must be having quite a large baby! I don’t want to jinx it, but at least I haven’t been man-handled out in public yet. My-belly-being-groped is one of my main fears, right up there with having-my-water-break-at-work. I supposed it is comforting that I look pregnant rather than bloated; I really do have an excuse for the shape I'm in! I noticed yesterday that the overall roundness seems a little lower than it’s been and I think I’m having a little easier time breathing as result. I may have mentioned that my mini-squirmer takes great pleasure in sticking his toes in my ribs so a break from the rib tickling would be a treat.

I’ve been pretty low on energy again (wait, did I ever get any energy back?!) but still working on getting the nursery in order... slowly. I found some chair cushions for the rocking chair finally; they look great and didn’t break the bank- thank you, Ross Dress for Less! I also found an affordable diaper bag at Ross, nothing fancy but looks like it’ll accomplish its intended function. The cashier informed me that they had a Juicy Couture diaper bag if I was interested, only $119.99… I passed in favor of the $11.99 less-fun-but-more-practical bag. Do you know how many diapers I can buy with that?? Speaking of, I’ve been stocking up on boxes of diapers and assorted items here are there, in hopes of spreading the costs out and making things more manageable. Not to mention that it gives me a feeling of being in control, if only just a little bit!! I’m having a terrible time finding a dresser/changing table that: (a) goes with the nursery, (b) is affordable, and (c) isn’t a piece of garbage. I’ve checked all the usual suspects: Babies R Us, Target, Walmart, JC Penney, a couple furniture stores, Craigslist, hit up some garage sales, etc… No dice. There’s still more places to look though so I’ll keep on trucking. No rush really, he doesn’t have to have a dresser right away, and I think he’ll forgive us if that piece of furniture hasn’t arrived by the time he does. A breast-pump is another purchase that needs to happen soon. Looking at the Medela Pump-In-Style, big bucks but it's supposedly the one to get in terms of efficiency and whatnot.

I realized over the weekend that I’ve mentally prepared pretty well for pregnancy (finally!) but am still fairly clueless about what to do when the baby arrives! Where can I get a handbook?! After a mini-panic attack, I regained my composure (and remembered that breathing is a good idea), then tried to placate myself with the fact that we’ll figure things out as we go along and that I saved a gift card to Barnes & Noble from Christmastime with the intention of stocking up on some child-rearing tomes. “Worry” is another pregnancy by-product that I hadn’t quite factored in! Things will be fine, things will be fine, things will be fine…

Joe is heading to Kentucky with Zambelli Fireworks to help set up for Thunder Over Louisville starting on Friday. He’s scheduled to be gone for about 12 days. I’m not thrilled he’s going to be gone so long, regardless of being preggo or not. I think this will be the longest we’ve ever been apart, no fun! But he does enjoy doing the set up and it gives him a little vacay from his desk job so I’m doing my best to be gracious about it. I dragged him to a symphony performance of one of my favorite orchestral pieces, Gustav Holst’s The Planets, last Friday. Figured it would be a fun thing to do before the baby arrives, just guessing that we’ll be more inclined to stay home rather than set up a babysitter most of the time. It was a nice performance, though I think the guy with the cymbals was off at least half the time. It was at a church and we had balcony seats, pews actually. Not terribly comfortable but cushioned at least. I’ve got to get a full-sized keyboard one of these days, I miss “tinkling the ivories”.

My time is nearly up at the doctor’s office for today...yay!! Cross your fingers for good results! Off to work, I have hours to make up now so I’ll be there until about 7 this evening and will post this later on."

It's now Thursday, well Friday if you want to get technical since it's after midnight. Why am I still up, you ask? Exhausted? Yes, but I'm just not tired enough to sleep yet. Tossing and turning takes up a lot of energy when you're lugging around all this extra poundage in the middle of your body! I haven't heard back from the doctor's office yet, I'll try to call them tomorrow. I'm a little concerned about the results because Izaak has measured on the larger side and I felt like complete garbage after the test. "Sweating profusely" while driving with the window down on a 60-degree day isn't normal for me. We'll deal with whatever comes of the results. I've come to terms with the fact that "it isn't my fault" if gestational diabetes is in the picture and I'll have to adjust my diet and make more time for exercise if that's the case.

By the way, according to the lady that works behind the deli counter at the grocery store, Izaak should arrive sooner than the doctor has predicted, specifically "around May 5 or 6th". I'm sure her medical degree has been very useful at her current meat slicing/sandwich assembling job.