So, I took my last pregnancy drive yesterday. My belly is literally one inch away from the steering wheel, and doc says that once I can no longer fit behind the steering wheel comfortably, I can no longer drive. *sigh* What a trapped feeling- it is like I am 15 again, with no way of going where I need/want to go, when I want to go. Or like when I broke my ankle 7 years ago. I have to rely on the kindness of a scheduled chauffer. Silliness.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday. It went well. My personal OBGYN is back from maternity leave and she and I have now switched places! She is thin again and I am...well...not thin. My face is puffy and my tummy is big and hard- filled with a perfectly sized baby boy. My blood pressure is good, all my tests have come out well, my weight is on track, and (with the exception of the many little pregnancy complaints- not sleeping, leg & back cramps, daily tummy troubles, Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, irritability and frustration, nesting) I am a healthy pregnant woman. The baby is great as well, from what the doc saw: he is measuring right on target, his heartbeat is strong and regular, and he moves often. *whew*
We have a new Baby Bump photo up. You can check it out in the Photos section of this website. Click on the Photos tab in the upper left, then click on Baby Bump and click on the arrows- it is like playing with one of those old-fashioned cartoon flip books you did in art class as a kid. You get to watch my belly (and face and boobs) grow as the pregnancy progresses. Hilarious. We will be posting Nursery pics after the Baby Showers my friends and family have planned, so stay tuned to that Photo tab in the next few weeks.
For this week: 1) Michael and I are having an Anniversary!!! Yay! We had our big costume weddin g on Halloween years ago and are still going strong. We have received many sweet Anniversary gifts (thank you Aunt Marty and Aunt Tracy and Mom Kathy) and well-wishes from family and friends for our Anniversary and thank everyone so much for the love and support we have received over the years in our marriage. As a bonus, my Mom volunteered to stop smoking as an Anniversary gift to us and the baby! How cool is that? I can't wait to hug my smoke-free Mommy. 2) We are attending the annual Halloween Bash thrown by our good friends Leon and Elaine. Still not sure what our costumes are gonna be! We are thinking of recycling some costumes from the past (whatever will fit over my ever-growing belly will work just fine!). 3) Michael installed the car seat. Now we have to get it inspected. 4) I had my monthly lunch and gab-fest with my friend Meagan yesterday. It is always such a treasure to be able to vent and talk and decompress with a girlfriend about everything that bugs me, as well as everything that makes me happy. It is also nice to have the company of someone who feels just as comfortable to do it back. 5) We had our on-going Birthing Class yesterday. We learned about pediatricians and a little basic baby info. 6) We have pediatrician interviews (FYI: to interview them during prenatal time is free) with some doctors who are in our insurance network. The OBGYN recommends that we interview a couple of pediatricians and make a decision as to which one would be best for us and the care of our baby. 7) Michael and I will be picking up my Mom from my brother's house on Sunday after my haircut. She is gonna help for a week with all the heavier things I can't do around the house any more and I, therefore, have been putting off for the last few weeks. It is so nice that my bro and his gal have had her in Tucson available for me during the pregnancy. Mom will also be here for about a week during Thanksgiving.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Masked Mommy
Sorry it has been a few weeks since our last blog. Here are the updates on life, liberty, and the pursuit of (pregnant) happiness in the Boyd-Martin household:
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fun Vegas, High Hormones, and 2 Months to Go!!!
The Boys (Michael and my brothers) are happy to report that they had a fun time in Las Vegas! They saw the Cirque Du Soliel: Ka show at the MGM, went to a Circus Circus Haunted House, ate at the Bellagio buffet, and got free drinks while gambling for 3 days/2 nights. While the boys played, the girls relaxed. We (Me, my Mom, and Adam's fiance) went to museums and high tea at Tohono Chul Park while the boys were away. Mom bought the baby a cute shirt from the International Wildlife Museum that reads "Wild Thing" on it. My Mom stayed the rest of the weekend with me and she and I had a relaxing time, complete with dinner at Lookout Bar and Grill, brunch at Gold Restaurant, and a little bit of lovely pampering- something every pregnant woman and her Mom needs. Pictures will be posted very soon in the Family Photos section of our respective weekend. The only downside to the weekend was that there was mass confusion as to who would pick the boys up at the airport- which got this already weepy pregnant woman very frazzled.
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
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