Diary of a Real Pregnancy - Week 26: Doc Appointment & Baby To-Do List

So as many have gathered from reading about How to Pee in a Cup, I had a doctor's appointment this week. That's pretty much the most exciting thing that happened, other than more annoying heartburn and back pain, both of which I plan to put an end to soon!

I've gained like 24 lbs already. Trying not to worry about the number much. I just hope it's not 60 lb like with The Boy. Egad...

Blood pressure was 110/55... pretty low still. Pee looked good (the few drops I could squeeze out, haha), asked about heartburn, got a Rx for Zantac. Confirmed it will either be my doc or the other doc in the office delivering (it will be). Asked about back pain, and I plan to get a referral for an RMT, found one in my neighbourhood who does prenatal massage, so YAY! She asked if I wanted a note for the RMT and I *stupidly* said I didn't need it yet, I'd get one next time. WHY?? So of course this week was wrought with back pain galore and I was left cursing myself and my lack-of-a-noteness. Moron.

I also got a requisition for the glucose test. Asked the doc if it was really necessary, as I passed without issue both times before... she said no test is mandatory. So, not sure if I will even do it. Would be good to know if I have gestational diabetes, but I have no reason to think I do... so... meh.

That's about it! Oh and I mentioned some 'yucky' camps I'd had the previous weekend and she didn't seem alarmed but said if they happen again, to go to the hospital. They can't do the fibronectin (sp) test in her office, and don't like to manually check the cervix as it can mess up the test. Honestly, I was halfway hoping she'd check me, I'd be 1 cm dilated and she'd order me off work, lol. No go. Oh well :)

On my Baby To Do list currently:

• Order baby book. We have the same one for both of our other kiddos, and of course I can't buy this particular style anywhere here (of course!), so need to order online.
• Register at the hospital. We're already signed up for labour & delivery classes in December so may just register then...
• Make an appointment for a prenatal massage.
• Make a contingency plan for when we head to the hospital... As my parents have callously decided to jet off to Africa and aren't planning to return until 2 days before our due date. How could they! ;)
• Start some prenatal yoga. No, really. I have to do this. I'm achy and creaky and starting to walk funny.
• Start stocking up on little diapers. Have to keep my eye out for sales!
• Paint & set up The Girl's room and get her moved in there so we can start setting up the nursery (her current room).

OH... and this is my last week of the second trimester (depending on how you count - some say third trimester starts week 27). And I am totally not freaking out about that. At ALL.

Previous: Week 25 - Heartburn, hobbling, and denial

How to Pee in a Cup

Yes... you must. Now, let's get started, shall we?

1. Empty bladder immediately before appointment so as to have nothing left in the tank. Realize too late that you will once again need to provide a "sample". Start mentally preparing bladder to squeeze out a few drops during walk to washroom.
2. Drop empty cup on the floor and/or in sink so as to alert everyone in the vicinity what you are about to do in there.
3. Sit and hold cup awkwardly somewhere in the general area, waiting for precious few drops to emerge. Coax drops out with closed eyes and good thoughts.
4. Circle cup wildly trying to capture drops, while not being able to actually see anything as belly is obscuring view. Attempt to push belly out of the way to be able to see down there - fail.
5. Use sound to guide the pee into the cup. Curse to yourself when you hear dripping into toilet instead of cup.
6. Pee all over your hand and outside of cup. Curse some more. For added bonus, get a few drops on pants and/or floor.
7. Curse the geniuses who never invented a better way to do this. Think about inventing a pee cup with a funnel.
8. Gently, gingerly, raise cup and put on lid. Carefully!
9. Spend 5 minutes trying to clean up mess. Try not to dwell on the fact that you're holding a warm cup of your own pee.
10. If you're one of the lucky ones: hand over warm bottle to receptionist in person. Try not to make eye contact. Otherwise leave said bottle in inconspicuous place and hope it's found by the appropriate person. 

Good job, you did it. Jesus approves.

Diary of a Real Pregnancy - Week 25: Heartburn, hobbling, and denial

Alright peeps... I am back! I crawled out of the sick hole like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Waaa-laaaa! Holy heck I hope I don't get sick like that again....

Again with the Gaviscon love!

Heartburn

Now at 25 weeks, and a full 6 months pregnant (whut!), I am left dealing with the awful, awful burning of the heart. Heartburn may not be the worst pregnancy symptom (not by a long shot), but it's so, so annoying. It's just always there. Not bad enough to require actual medication -- and I know some preggos do have to go that route -- but just... always.... THERE. Lurking. Brewing. Burning.

Before this point in pregnancy I could count on a few things that would lead to heartburn (chocolate, garlic, coffee...), but now it doesn't matter what I eat or drink or do, it's there. Annoying. Thank goodness Gaviscon still seems to be working, for now at least. Though when the heartburn went up into my ears this morning, I did have to push aside my half-full coffee. I repeat: I could not finish my coffee. Fair warning: it's about to get bitchy up in this place. (More-so than usual, I mean.) I feel twitchy.


Hobbling

Hey guess what? A huge belly throws off your center of gravity. Heck even a medium-sized belly (*cough*denial*cough*) throws things off. Your back curves in ways that it just shouldn't in order to compensate for the shift. You can't lift things in quite the same way, you move funny. And doing things the way you normally would have before pregnancy means you're in for some pain. I know these things. Everyone knows these things. And yet, either in denial *cough* about my size or just ignoring it because let's face it, crap just needs to get done, I find myself in pain, hobbling around with a sore back once again.

Sigh. I think I really am starting to look like a pregnant lady. No no, not those beautiful glowy upright with-child goddesses. Haaaa hahaha, no. I mean the ones waddling or holding their back and wincing. Yep. That's me.

Which brings me to my next point.


Denial

I guess it's not so much denial but... okay it's denial. I sort of forget that other people can tell I'm pregnant. I work under the general assumption that strangers don't know / can't tell, until they make a comment indicating that they CAN, and then I'm like, Wha-aa? It's not like I'm trying to hide it, just that I try not to look in the mirror much. Or when I do, I think I'm seeing something others can't. What's that called? Body polymorphism? Just plain forgetfulness? Denial?

Case in point: we were at the pool for swimming lessons, I'm sitting by the side. (Thank-you swimming lesson gods for lessons where parents do NOT have to put on a torture bathing suit and parade their lumpy bodies around a damn pool at yuck-o'clock on a Sunday morning! But I digress.) Another parent strikes up a conversation, as they do:
Other Parent: "blah blah my kids blah"
Me: "blah blah kid one, kid two, blah blah"
OP: "Oh so you are having your third?"
Me: HOW DOES HE KNOW? Oh right. Belly. "Yup."

I took a belly picture this week just so I could see for myself what others see.

Bazinga.

Previous: Week 24 - Sick...
Next: Week 26: Doctor's Appointment and Baby To-Do List

Stupid Things That Made Me Laugh This Week

1. I am still giggling about the whole Binder thing and I just wanted share a couple of my favourites...
   
   (If you haven't heard about the Binders Full of Women... go have a read and a giggle and then come back here!)
   
   
   
   
   And my #1 favourite (because I am still giggling about the ERMAHGERD meme... heheheeeee!):
   
2. THIS guy. Hahaha. "My Ahhss!!" *snort*
   
   
   
   
   

If I Had Some Time to Blog...

As a good friend often and eloquently puts it: "no time".

I often think of things I could write about... if only I had more time. Sooo many ideas floating in my head and nowhere to put them! Here's a quick list of topics I WOULD cover, if I had the time:

1. The End of an Era: when your kid stops napping (and your world comes crashing down)
2. All the crafty things I'd like to have time to do and blog about, like cute Halloween decorations, and Advent calendar ideas
3. Ten reasons why I'm NOT doing 'elf on a shelf'
4. Potty-training your headstrong toddler
5. Things to do when you have insommnia
6. The Angry Birds birthday party we did for our 5-yr-old (it was awesome!)
7. My thoughts on the Amanda Todd situation
8. Kids' lunch ideas
9. Learning how to use my camera, one poorly-taken photo at a time
10. Veggie Gardening: lessons learned by a first-timer

If I had some more time, I'd also learn about how to increase readership and get more blog members... how to spread the word about my blog... how to break into the coveted inner circle of the mommy blogger world.

Alas, for now you are all stuck with my weekly pregnancy posts and the occasional drive-by about random stuff! Although, if you have any tips for how to increase readership and/or time, please share :)

Diary of a Real Pregnancy - Week 24: SICK

I took this week off from posting, as I found myself quite ill right around when I'd normally write (Sunday or Monday night). Some kind of stomach bug or possibly eating something bad meant not being able to keep any food down for about 24 hours. FUN!!

Thank GOODNESS I have an amazing and awesome Hubby, who took over everything with the house and kids, and just let me sleep and puke. (sorry... TMI..) Thanks Hubs. Smooches.

There's something really strange and UGH about sharing your abdomen when you feel so ill. At least baby didn't seem the least bit phased by it, as evidenced by lots of kicking and squirming (much to my chagrin).


I honestly do NOT know how women handle morning sickness throughout their pregnancies or hyperemesis, the 'extreme' version of morning sickness. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die, and that was only after a few hours!! To those who have dealt (or are still dealing) with severe illness throughout your pregnancy: I salute you.

Rock on, sickos.

 
Previous: Week 23 - Back pain, but Eating Well Again!
Next: Week 25 - Heartburn, hobbling, and denial



 

Tired Spiral & Self-imposed Screen Ban

This morning, The Boy was talking about how he had a black eye (a couple of weeks ago, Frisbee mishap), but now it was gone. Then he looked at me and said, "But Mommy YOU have TWO black eyes!" pointing to just below his lower lids.

Sigh.

"No honey... those are just my 'mom eyes'."

I'm tired. Always tired. Sure, two small kids and one in the works will tire anyone out... but I admit... I do it to myself too.

I'm caught in the Tired Spiral right now...

Wake up late - morning is thrown off - stressed out - late for work - not productive at work - late leaving work - late getting home with kids - dragging tired self and family upstairs to do the bedtime routine - takes longer than it should because I'm tired - back down to kitchen to clean up, repack bags, make lunch, set up coffee maker...

So by this point it's 9:30 pm or so. What happens next?

Plunk tired self on couch, open laptop, turn on TV. Zone out.

By the time I drag myself up to bed it's 11 pm. If a kid doesn't wake up through the night, one or both will be up early. Turns out, this isn't enough sleep for me! Hit snooze three times, wake up late...

And, repeat. Tired Spiral.

Given that I need to be at work 8 hours of the day and kids need to eat a few times a day, and preferably be dressed before leaving the house, there are some things that just can't go. But screen time? That can go.

There are still things I need to do on my computer on a regular basis (like this!) but what I DON'T need to do is sit down and veg out for several hours. Not only is it a waste of time, it's causing me to lose sleep (once I'm down, it's very hard to get back up!), and that's not good for anyone.

So... I'm thinking about a self-imposed screen ban.

I'll be honest, I'm a bit scared about this. These are habits that are hard to break, especially when you are already so tired (but 9:00 pm seems way, way too early to just... go to bed). How can I cut out something like TV...? All the good shows just started again! Am I really that hooked on TV and my nightly online time that I can't just... turn it off?

No, I can do this. It's really not that big of a deal. But I need a few ground rules.

1. No screen time (TV, phone, laptop) after 9:00 pm
2. Only watch shows that I know I want to watch. None of this 'channel surfing'.
3. If I'm too tired to do anything but watch TV, I need to GO TO BED
4. No phones in the bedroom
5. Free-for-all Friday & Saturday nights. Woo! 
6. No snooze button! I have my alarm set for 6:35 am right now. I should be able to get up at that time.

And YES, before anyone jumps on me, I know... this will all change in a few short months when there's a newborn in the house! Believe me, I'm equally terrified about that, haha.

In the meantime, if anyone has any tips for me for how to just TUNE OUT and TURN OFF and get to bed at a reasonable time of day... please share.

Diary of a Real Pregnancy - Week 23: Back pain, but Eating Well Again!

Week 23 - Back pain, but Eating Well Again!


So I finally implemented the healthy eating plan and I can tell you it's going very well so far. Shocked?? Me too!

I still snack on things I shouldn't (who doesn't have a weakness for chips and chocolate??) but having a drawer / fridge full of healthy snacks at work means I get a lot more of the good stuff and a lot less  of the bad. My mid-afternoon treat is a cup of Greek yogurt, instead of a chocolate bar. And, lo and behold, I am actually feeling better too! DUH moment of the week -- eat well = feel well. Genius.

My appetite hasn't decreased ANY yet, in fact I think the baby must be gowing through a growth spurt lately because I can eat and eat and eat and just not. get. full. I really have to take a belly pic one of these days since I've totally popped out (especially after I eat, haha).

I like the way this guy thinks.

This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada... such a lovely time of year. Mostly because of the food! As an example of my insatiable appetite (which is SO strange for me... I usually eat a little bit and I'm full), I had a FULL plate of Thanksgiving dinner *drool* and a big piece of pumpkin cheesecake *drool* and when everyone else at the table was bemoaning the amount of food they just consumed, I skipped out to the kitchen and came back with a plate of cookies. Hee!

Being over-5-months-pregnant and over-the-hill means I can't do what I used to be able to, though. Reality sets in when an afternoon of cooking and then planting bulbs in the garden the next day = exhaustion, stiffness and screaming back pain. Woe is me! At this point I can find relief with a magic bag and a Tylenol, but you bet your bottom dollar I'll be booking a pregnancy massage soon. Really just an excuse to be pampered for an hour, but I remember the sweet, sweet relief that it brought last time, and I'm all ready for that kind of attention :)

In the meantime we're trying to come up with some inventive Halloween costumes for the Hubs and I this year. We have a few ideas but would love more. Anything really unique out there for a preggo and her hubby? Share your ideas and if we pick one of them, I'll post pics and give you full credit!
 
Previous: Week 22 - Crackerjacking, and Other Pregnancy Woes
Next: Week 24 - SICK

Diary of a Real Pregnancy: Week 22 - Crackerjacking and Other Pregnancy Woes

What happens when willpower decreases to 'less than none' and appetite increases to 'lumberjack on crack'? (Heh... Lumbercrack? Crackerjack?...) [Sidebar: Do crackheads have a big appetite? Anyone know? Let's assume they do.]

You get what I like to call Pregnancy-Induced Out of Control Snacking, aka Crackerjacking. I'm there... I'm SO there.

The issue really is my snack drawer at work. Yes... I have a whole drawer. Yes... I'm the one who fills it with tasty delights. I told you - I have NO will power! I go into the store with a list like this... looks pretty good right? (if you ignore the glaring grammatical error... ahem):

And come out of the store with these instead:
- chocolate & caramel pudding cups
- 8-pack of mini Oh Henry bars
- bag of mini doughnuts (do they count as 'mini' if you eat 4 at a time?)
- yogurt-covered raisins
- bag of Hickory Sticks

Um. Yes. Yummy. And sadly none of these delights lasts very long in the Drawer O' Plenty.

SO... that's why this week I've vowed to change my eating habits. I'm starting over in the snack department. I'm determined to feel better, try to clear up my skin (damn you pregnacne*!), and provide this baby with some actual nutrients and stuff. Not that chocolate isn't good. It is. (please don't be mad at me chocolate, I didn't mean it!) But it's not cutting it -- so, if anyone has any great ideas for healthy snacks that I can have at work with minimal prep, please share!

Onward and upward...

Other happenings this week:
- I had a doctor's appointment. I am up nearly 20 lbs now... WOW. I know... you're supposed to gain weight when you're pregnant, but... wow. Yes, snack revision needed! Other than that she said things look great - baby's heart rate was 140 bpm, my blood pressure was 105/55, and fundal height measured 22 so right on track.
- Back pain. Oh, dudeness. I had forgotten about this, somehow, but was slapped in the face with it on Sunday after an afternoon of cooking (two lasagnas and a big pot of pasta sauce - yes! Back pain - doh!). I hobbled around the rest of the evening cursing my short-lived burst of energy and cuddled up with my new BFF, Mr. Hot Water Bottle.
- Have I mentioned pregnacne? Awful. Just awful. That is all.
- Heartburn. Hello, my other BFF Mr. Gaviscon!
- Suddenly and without warning (heh), my coat has shrunk. Sure, this happened the last two pregnancies, but it's a surprise every time -- I go to do up my coat and, What the hell? Why won't it reach? It's caught in the back?... *yank*... No? Oh.... Yes. Shrinking coats - just another side-effect of pregnancy.

*pregnancy acne, obviously.
 
Previous: Week 21 - Anger Management
Next: Week 23 - Back pain, But Eating Well Again