From 11:30 p.m. until 3:30 a.m.!
And from 4:15 a.m. until 7:00 a.m.!
Mommy got about 5 hours of sleep! It would have been slightly more, but due to the cruel ironies of breastfeeding, I had to pump at 4:30 a.m. because my breasts were still quite full, even after feeding him (probably because he slept so long initially). And I didn't want to end up with mastitis again. I really REALLY don't want to end up with mastitis again.
But hey, Daddy and Aunt K and Nan and Andrew are out walking the dogs, I got to take a long hot shower, they're bringing me back Starbucks, and it's only 10:30 a.m.! We've got a whole day ahead of us -- the grocery store and maybe the mall if we're feeling adventurous. Hooray for small miracles :-D
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
One Month Old!
Andrew is one month old today! In some ways, it doesn't seem possible, and in others it seems like he's been around for longer than that (especially when he's up at 3:30 a.m. screaming). ;-)
He's starting to get a personality: especially in the mornings, we get lots of smiles when we sing to him after his first morning meal. He loves riding in his car seat (instant snooze-fest!), he likes his new swing and activity mat from Nan, and he LOVES being held -- ALL of the TIME. In fact, he very much dislikes being put down, on his back, at night. We went back to swaddling him last night, after not swaddling him for a week or so, and while he still woke up every 2 hours, there was considerably less screaming (unlike the 2 or 3 nights before).
We weighed him (unscientifically) the other day on Nan's scale -- the difference between his weight and "his-weight-plus-Dad's" was 10.8 lbs! And Mommy is back to only 4 lbs over her pre-pregnancy weight -- and Dad says that each boob must be at least 2 lbs heavier than before Andrew, so hallelujah, I think I've lost all of the baby weight!
He's slowly spacing out his daytime feedings to more like every 3 hours (instead of 2 hours). I do wish he would decide to do that at night!
This morning Daddy took Andrew and the border collies to the park for a walk while I caught up on some sleep (a half-hour feeding every 2 hours during the night -- you do the math...), then he dropped the dogs off and went to Starbucks (again with Andrew, who slept the whole time) and brought me back a latte and a scone! I felt very special and pampered. :-)
So...happy one-month birthday, my sweet boy!
He's starting to get a personality: especially in the mornings, we get lots of smiles when we sing to him after his first morning meal. He loves riding in his car seat (instant snooze-fest!), he likes his new swing and activity mat from Nan, and he LOVES being held -- ALL of the TIME. In fact, he very much dislikes being put down, on his back, at night. We went back to swaddling him last night, after not swaddling him for a week or so, and while he still woke up every 2 hours, there was considerably less screaming (unlike the 2 or 3 nights before).
We weighed him (unscientifically) the other day on Nan's scale -- the difference between his weight and "his-weight-plus-Dad's" was 10.8 lbs! And Mommy is back to only 4 lbs over her pre-pregnancy weight -- and Dad says that each boob must be at least 2 lbs heavier than before Andrew, so hallelujah, I think I've lost all of the baby weight!
He's slowly spacing out his daytime feedings to more like every 3 hours (instead of 2 hours). I do wish he would decide to do that at night!
This morning Daddy took Andrew and the border collies to the park for a walk while I caught up on some sleep (a half-hour feeding every 2 hours during the night -- you do the math...), then he dropped the dogs off and went to Starbucks (again with Andrew, who slept the whole time) and brought me back a latte and a scone! I felt very special and pampered. :-)
So...happy one-month birthday, my sweet boy!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Pumping in Style
MDad's mom very nicely gave us the Medela Pump In Style Advanced breast pump, and last night we got to try it out for the first time (after MDad sterilized everything in boiling water). Bearing in mind that the nice lady who taught the breastfeeding class I attended said that we should only expect "a few drops" the first few times we pumped, I got 1.5 oz! Not anywhere close to a whole feeding, but enough for Daddy to give bottle-feeding a try. Andrew took to it well, with only a minimum of fussing and confusion. I must give uber-thanks to my friend K and her husband C for the extremely helpful advice on bottles (yay, Avent!), nipples (yay, Avent Newborn -- although I think the flow is still much faster than the breast), Dad-feeding-baby (yay, skin-to-skin!), etc. -- it worked like a charm. Earlier tonight I managed to pump about 2.5 ounces, and I plan on pumping again after Andrew's next feeding, so I hope to get a good amount stored up for Dad to use. Maybe at 3:30 a.m., heh heh heh.
Any of you out there who plan on having a baby, breastfeeding, and pumping: be prepared for extreme distortion of your nipples in the breast pump! I lectured MDad before starting last night: "Don't laugh." I did this not because I expected his ridicule, but because I fully expected to start giggling myself. Which is exactly what I did. I never knew my body could contort that way, and so rhythmically! Moo! The things we do for our children...and frankly, after giving birth, all modesty is out the window anyway. I never expected to have dinner-table conversations about breast engorgement and vaginal bleeding with MDad's mom, but that's exactly what happened at our last visit. During pregnancy, your body is not your own, but little do you know that it's pretty much going to stay that way permanently.
We've been very busy out and about with Andrew the past few days. I took him to work on Tuesday, where he was fawned upon by dozens of women (and I got to eat a hot, full sit-down meal at the staff holiday luncheon). Yesterday we got out and did some errands and shopping for the greater part of the day, and today we actually went to the mall (keeping Andrew shielded from germs with his stroller visor, of course). It feels really good to get out of the house, especially since it gets dark at 4:00 p.m., it seems, so those daylight hours of activity are precious.
Andrew is loving his Sleep Sheep (and I apologize, because I can't remember if it was a gift from Auntie H or Auntie J, both of whom are high-school friends). Anyway, he's a big fan of ambient noise: the Sleep Sheep has ocean sounds, rain sounds, etc. Harvey Karp is right about loud shushing-type noises: they really do soothe newborns. However, Andrew is no longer interested in being swaddled at night. Last night we dressed him in a sleep sack for the first time, and he didn't seem to miss his arms being swaddled at all (he never did care for swaddled legs). Fine with me -- it was a big pain in the ass, after feeding him in the middle of the night, to get him re-swaddled, with no loose blanket ends, and without waking him up and pissing him off.
Any of you out there who plan on having a baby, breastfeeding, and pumping: be prepared for extreme distortion of your nipples in the breast pump! I lectured MDad before starting last night: "Don't laugh." I did this not because I expected his ridicule, but because I fully expected to start giggling myself. Which is exactly what I did. I never knew my body could contort that way, and so rhythmically! Moo! The things we do for our children...and frankly, after giving birth, all modesty is out the window anyway. I never expected to have dinner-table conversations about breast engorgement and vaginal bleeding with MDad's mom, but that's exactly what happened at our last visit. During pregnancy, your body is not your own, but little do you know that it's pretty much going to stay that way permanently.
We've been very busy out and about with Andrew the past few days. I took him to work on Tuesday, where he was fawned upon by dozens of women (and I got to eat a hot, full sit-down meal at the staff holiday luncheon). Yesterday we got out and did some errands and shopping for the greater part of the day, and today we actually went to the mall (keeping Andrew shielded from germs with his stroller visor, of course). It feels really good to get out of the house, especially since it gets dark at 4:00 p.m., it seems, so those daylight hours of activity are precious.
Andrew is loving his Sleep Sheep (and I apologize, because I can't remember if it was a gift from Auntie H or Auntie J, both of whom are high-school friends). Anyway, he's a big fan of ambient noise: the Sleep Sheep has ocean sounds, rain sounds, etc. Harvey Karp is right about loud shushing-type noises: they really do soothe newborns. However, Andrew is no longer interested in being swaddled at night. Last night we dressed him in a sleep sack for the first time, and he didn't seem to miss his arms being swaddled at all (he never did care for swaddled legs). Fine with me -- it was a big pain in the ass, after feeding him in the middle of the night, to get him re-swaddled, with no loose blanket ends, and without waking him up and pissing him off.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Double Whammy
Okay, taking care of a newborn is hard work. But taking care of a newborn when you're sick just plain SUCKS.
Last night we finally called my OB (at around 8 p.m.), since I'd been having chills, body aches, headaches, sweats, and fever (101+) every day starting mid- to late afternoon -- it really felt like I had the flu. Over the phone, my doc speculated that I'd developed an infection secondary to mastitis and called in a prescription for Cipro. It was either that or admit me to the ER and put me on a Cipro drip. Let me tell you, that was about the last place I wanted to be. They couldn't admit me to the maternity ward because I was sick. So it was nice that he was willing to call in the prescription.
I honestly don't know what I would do without MDad right now. He's been force-feeding me Advil for the fever, taking my temperature regularly, giving me cold compresses (brings back memories of the delivery room!), and making sure I take my Cipro on schedule. I love that he worries about me (a little too much, if you ask me). Today Andrew went about 12 hours without pooping, and MDad was worried about that, too. I can tell that I'm going to be the more laissez-faire parent (not that that's necessarily a good thing)!
We're really trying to get Andrew to move towards a more adult-centric sleep schedule, i.e. not being awake from midnight to 6 a.m. It's hard though -- have you ever tried to rouse a sleeping baby? God, I wish I could sleep that soundly. At noon.
I'm hemming and hawing about when to start pumping -- MurkyGrammy works in a hospital and bought us the Medela Pump in Style Advanced at a big discount. It sure would be great to let Daddy take over a feeding or two in the night, but of course all the breastfeeding lore cautions that "Your baby will immediately give up the breast in favor of the bottle if you start bottle-feeding too soon!!!!" Sigh.
We never got around to giving Andrew a bath last night, but tonight we will. It's really calmed him down the couple of times we've done it. Daddy is napping right now, and I'm thinking of cooking something special (but simple) for supper. I was very excited to get to the grocery store this afternoon, even though it took forever to shop since everyone and his brother was preparing for the next Nor'Easter. I made a point to explain to the couple of people I befriended in the deli line that no, in fact, I was not stocking up because of the storm, but rather because I'd had a baby a couple of weeks ago and the house was out of food. Let them think I'm a "trooper," braving the crusty cold parking lot and crowds in the supermarket only days after giving birth, rather than some wimpy "flatlander" who stocks up on 24-packs of paper towels when there's only a couple of inches of snow forecast!
Last night we finally called my OB (at around 8 p.m.), since I'd been having chills, body aches, headaches, sweats, and fever (101+) every day starting mid- to late afternoon -- it really felt like I had the flu. Over the phone, my doc speculated that I'd developed an infection secondary to mastitis and called in a prescription for Cipro. It was either that or admit me to the ER and put me on a Cipro drip. Let me tell you, that was about the last place I wanted to be. They couldn't admit me to the maternity ward because I was sick. So it was nice that he was willing to call in the prescription.
I honestly don't know what I would do without MDad right now. He's been force-feeding me Advil for the fever, taking my temperature regularly, giving me cold compresses (brings back memories of the delivery room!), and making sure I take my Cipro on schedule. I love that he worries about me (a little too much, if you ask me). Today Andrew went about 12 hours without pooping, and MDad was worried about that, too. I can tell that I'm going to be the more laissez-faire parent (not that that's necessarily a good thing)!
We're really trying to get Andrew to move towards a more adult-centric sleep schedule, i.e. not being awake from midnight to 6 a.m. It's hard though -- have you ever tried to rouse a sleeping baby? God, I wish I could sleep that soundly. At noon.
I'm hemming and hawing about when to start pumping -- MurkyGrammy works in a hospital and bought us the Medela Pump in Style Advanced at a big discount. It sure would be great to let Daddy take over a feeding or two in the night, but of course all the breastfeeding lore cautions that "Your baby will immediately give up the breast in favor of the bottle if you start bottle-feeding too soon!!!!" Sigh.
We never got around to giving Andrew a bath last night, but tonight we will. It's really calmed him down the couple of times we've done it. Daddy is napping right now, and I'm thinking of cooking something special (but simple) for supper. I was very excited to get to the grocery store this afternoon, even though it took forever to shop since everyone and his brother was preparing for the next Nor'Easter. I made a point to explain to the couple of people I befriended in the deli line that no, in fact, I was not stocking up because of the storm, but rather because I'd had a baby a couple of weeks ago and the house was out of food. Let them think I'm a "trooper," braving the crusty cold parking lot and crowds in the supermarket only days after giving birth, rather than some wimpy "flatlander" who stocks up on 24-packs of paper towels when there's only a couple of inches of snow forecast!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Mnurrrrrghhhhhh....
No bones about it. Caring for a newborn is HARD WORK.
Our little guy likes to eat every 2 hours or so, around the clock, although in the past couple of days he's taken to having a longer snooze right after we put him to bed for the night: 3 - 3.5 hours at a stretch. Then we're up every 2 hours with diaper changes and feedings after that. He's becoming more of an efficient nurser, and no longer takes 20-25 minutes on each breast; rather, it's closer to 10-15 minutes. Still, I'm looking forward to his stomach becoming larger and more mature, so that he sleeps for longer stretches and with less gas and discomfort (it takes a good 5 minutes to burp him!). After burping him in the middle of the night, I typically rock him back to sleep for about 5 minutes -- it has the added benefit of helping me to get back to sleep, too! He sleeps particularly well after a bath, so tonight we'll probably bathe him again, even though he's not dirty.
Some more details: His umbilical cord stump fell off exactly 2 weeks after he was born (Wednesday, 12/12/07). Today the scab from his intravaginal monitor (which was screwed into his scalp during labor) finally fell off. He is now officially perfect.
He still doesn't do much besides sleep, eat, cry and poop. But, I swear he smiled at me today.
My recovery has been, for me, surprisingly slow. I mean, I knew it would take some time for my body to recoup, and I was very excited to see that I'd lost nearly 30 lbs soon after delivery, but I've had some very irritating episodes of feverishness, engorgement, headache, body aches and lots of trouble regulating my body temperature (chills and then feeling way too hot). My bleeding took longer than I'd expected it to slow down, and I think I'm dealing with the aftereffects of too much blood loss, and perhaps some dehydration. Am going to make more of an effort to drink water (and only water), but it's soooo hard when all I want is a nice cup of (caffeinated) tea after a long night of waking every couple of hours...
Our dogs are adjusting well to Andrew; when the baby cries, they typically come over and try to "lick it all better." Gotta love dogs.
Our little guy likes to eat every 2 hours or so, around the clock, although in the past couple of days he's taken to having a longer snooze right after we put him to bed for the night: 3 - 3.5 hours at a stretch. Then we're up every 2 hours with diaper changes and feedings after that. He's becoming more of an efficient nurser, and no longer takes 20-25 minutes on each breast; rather, it's closer to 10-15 minutes. Still, I'm looking forward to his stomach becoming larger and more mature, so that he sleeps for longer stretches and with less gas and discomfort (it takes a good 5 minutes to burp him!). After burping him in the middle of the night, I typically rock him back to sleep for about 5 minutes -- it has the added benefit of helping me to get back to sleep, too! He sleeps particularly well after a bath, so tonight we'll probably bathe him again, even though he's not dirty.
Some more details: His umbilical cord stump fell off exactly 2 weeks after he was born (Wednesday, 12/12/07). Today the scab from his intravaginal monitor (which was screwed into his scalp during labor) finally fell off. He is now officially perfect.
He still doesn't do much besides sleep, eat, cry and poop. But, I swear he smiled at me today.
My recovery has been, for me, surprisingly slow. I mean, I knew it would take some time for my body to recoup, and I was very excited to see that I'd lost nearly 30 lbs soon after delivery, but I've had some very irritating episodes of feverishness, engorgement, headache, body aches and lots of trouble regulating my body temperature (chills and then feeling way too hot). My bleeding took longer than I'd expected it to slow down, and I think I'm dealing with the aftereffects of too much blood loss, and perhaps some dehydration. Am going to make more of an effort to drink water (and only water), but it's soooo hard when all I want is a nice cup of (caffeinated) tea after a long night of waking every couple of hours...
Our dogs are adjusting well to Andrew; when the baby cries, they typically come over and try to "lick it all better." Gotta love dogs.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Life with newborn
Things have been pretty calm, all told, here in MurkyFamilyLand. Andrew is a great eater and an even better sleeper. In fact, I've had to put us on a strict(ish) schedule of nursing every two hours, since at his two-day checkup he was down a pound from his birth weight. I want to make sure my milk supply is well-established: Apparently, if newborns consistently sleep through feedings it can have a devastating effect on your supply, since milk is produced as a direct response to the baby's demand. Sure, it must be great to have a newborn who sleeps for four hours at a stretch -- but not at the cost of serious breastfeeding problems later. So, needless to say, I'm up many times each night. Dad gets to do the diapers, though ;-)
Took this photo this morning during one of Andrew's "alert" periods:
I mean, really. How much cuter does it get?
Some facts about our 'Roo:
1. He hates having his diaper changed.
2. He loves being swaddled.
3. He loves being carried in the sling.
4. He has long blond peach fuzz on his earlobes (the nurses said it will fall out, but I think it's adorable).
5. He has the same birthday as Jon Stewart. He's a Sagittarius.
6. He still hasn't figured out that milk won't come out of his fist, no matter how hard he sucks.
7. He loves Dad's singing.
8. He has two grammies, an aunt, and hordes of other folks who just think he's the cat's meow!
Took this photo this morning during one of Andrew's "alert" periods:
I mean, really. How much cuter does it get?
Some facts about our 'Roo:
1. He hates having his diaper changed.
2. He loves being swaddled.
3. He loves being carried in the sling.
4. He has long blond peach fuzz on his earlobes (the nurses said it will fall out, but I think it's adorable).
5. He has the same birthday as Jon Stewart. He's a Sagittarius.
6. He still hasn't figured out that milk won't come out of his fist, no matter how hard he sucks.
7. He loves Dad's singing.
8. He has two grammies, an aunt, and hordes of other folks who just think he's the cat's meow!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Andrew's Birth Story
OK, I've got to start writing this down before the New Mom Fatigue and Fuzziness make me forget the details.
Because my fetal non-stress test on Tuesday morning (11/27) showed some "variables," and since I was already a day overdue, my OB decided to induce me. At 6:30 that night, I was given a misoprostol suppository, which was supposed to prepare my cervix (which at the time was not dilated at all, but was 50% effaced). I spent the night relatively comfortably, with increasing contractions, which we handled with Stadol, a lovely drug that makes you feel just a little drunk. I could still tell that I was having pains, but I was just one step removed from the pain (and a little bit silly at times). At this point I still wanted to try and go through labor without the epidural (heck, this Stadol stuff is pretty good, right?).
On Wednesday morning, my OB checked my cervix, which was about 80 percent effaced but still not dilated at all, despite the fact that my pains were getting worse. I had another dose of Stadol and kept working until around 1 p.m., when my OB told me I was 4 centimeters dilated; she then broke my waters. About an hour later is when I finally asked for the epidural. I honestly can't imagine how women go through labor without pain medication. The epidural block is probably the single most merciful medical advancement in history.
I labored pain-free (and even slept a little) between 2 p.m. and about 6 p.m., when my OB informed me that I was 10 centimeters and could start pushing. Daddy was great -- despite the fact that we hadn't planned on having him view everything happening "down there," he ended up holding my left leg back for each push, saw Andrew's head progress down the birth canal, gave me ice chips and cold compresses, and of course cut the umbilical cord. The look on his face as Andrew emerged was priceless: sheer joy and other overwhelming emotions. I'll never forget it.
I ended up with a small midline episiotomy, which is not hurting much at all. What actually has hurt the most has been the huge, horrible hemorrhoids that just multiplied in number and severity with each push. I haven't really been able to walk or move around well since Andrew was born, which has been really annoying when trying to take care of him. The uber-nice nurses gave me a donut pillow, a sitz bath, hemorrhoid cream, and Tucks pads, though. Today I've noticed an improvement.
Andrew weighed in at 8 lbs, 10 oz at birth. His head presented asynclitically, which means it tried to come out sideways. That just doesn't work, and explains why I was pushing for almost 2.5 hours but just couldn't get him that last few millimeters and had to have the episiotomy. Poor Andrew had a big purple bruise on that part of his head, since it had been banging against my pubic bone as he tried to descend. It's fading now, though.
Some other stats: He measured in at 19 inches, and his 1- and 5- minuted Apgar scores were 8 and 9, respectively.
Andrew's a champion nurser -- in fact, a bit too much of a champ. MDad's mom, who's a nurse, gave us some good tips; seems he might be using me as a human pacifier, and I should try and take him off the breast after 25-30 minutes (he's been falling asleep on the breast and taking up to an hour to feed). My mom has also been helping us not suck at being new parents; she gave us some helpful advice on swaddling this morning that allowed MDad to get some casserole- and cookie-making done in the kitchen while I got 3 hours of much needed rest upstairs.
About halfway through the pregnancy I blogged about the Slingezee sling and how I wanted to give babywearing a try. I've got to say, this is a great device. Andrew's been sleeping in it for almost 90 minutes! And a peaceful sleep it is. I just hope that tonight, when he can't be physically strapped to me, he sleeps as well in his bassinet. That didn't really happen last night. But hey, it's all a learning process, right?
I'll post more about the emotional aspects of becoming a mother when I have more time; he's looking like he might wake up right now. In the meantime, I will say that it's the most amazing experience I've ever had. I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. And the scary thing is that it gets stronger every day.
Because my fetal non-stress test on Tuesday morning (11/27) showed some "variables," and since I was already a day overdue, my OB decided to induce me. At 6:30 that night, I was given a misoprostol suppository, which was supposed to prepare my cervix (which at the time was not dilated at all, but was 50% effaced). I spent the night relatively comfortably, with increasing contractions, which we handled with Stadol, a lovely drug that makes you feel just a little drunk. I could still tell that I was having pains, but I was just one step removed from the pain (and a little bit silly at times). At this point I still wanted to try and go through labor without the epidural (heck, this Stadol stuff is pretty good, right?).
On Wednesday morning, my OB checked my cervix, which was about 80 percent effaced but still not dilated at all, despite the fact that my pains were getting worse. I had another dose of Stadol and kept working until around 1 p.m., when my OB told me I was 4 centimeters dilated; she then broke my waters. About an hour later is when I finally asked for the epidural. I honestly can't imagine how women go through labor without pain medication. The epidural block is probably the single most merciful medical advancement in history.
I labored pain-free (and even slept a little) between 2 p.m. and about 6 p.m., when my OB informed me that I was 10 centimeters and could start pushing. Daddy was great -- despite the fact that we hadn't planned on having him view everything happening "down there," he ended up holding my left leg back for each push, saw Andrew's head progress down the birth canal, gave me ice chips and cold compresses, and of course cut the umbilical cord. The look on his face as Andrew emerged was priceless: sheer joy and other overwhelming emotions. I'll never forget it.
I ended up with a small midline episiotomy, which is not hurting much at all. What actually has hurt the most has been the huge, horrible hemorrhoids that just multiplied in number and severity with each push. I haven't really been able to walk or move around well since Andrew was born, which has been really annoying when trying to take care of him. The uber-nice nurses gave me a donut pillow, a sitz bath, hemorrhoid cream, and Tucks pads, though. Today I've noticed an improvement.
Andrew weighed in at 8 lbs, 10 oz at birth. His head presented asynclitically, which means it tried to come out sideways. That just doesn't work, and explains why I was pushing for almost 2.5 hours but just couldn't get him that last few millimeters and had to have the episiotomy. Poor Andrew had a big purple bruise on that part of his head, since it had been banging against my pubic bone as he tried to descend. It's fading now, though.
Some other stats: He measured in at 19 inches, and his 1- and 5- minuted Apgar scores were 8 and 9, respectively.
Andrew's a champion nurser -- in fact, a bit too much of a champ. MDad's mom, who's a nurse, gave us some good tips; seems he might be using me as a human pacifier, and I should try and take him off the breast after 25-30 minutes (he's been falling asleep on the breast and taking up to an hour to feed). My mom has also been helping us not suck at being new parents; she gave us some helpful advice on swaddling this morning that allowed MDad to get some casserole- and cookie-making done in the kitchen while I got 3 hours of much needed rest upstairs.
About halfway through the pregnancy I blogged about the Slingezee sling and how I wanted to give babywearing a try. I've got to say, this is a great device. Andrew's been sleeping in it for almost 90 minutes! And a peaceful sleep it is. I just hope that tonight, when he can't be physically strapped to me, he sleeps as well in his bassinet. That didn't really happen last night. But hey, it's all a learning process, right?
I'll post more about the emotional aspects of becoming a mother when I have more time; he's looking like he might wake up right now. In the meantime, I will say that it's the most amazing experience I've ever had. I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much. And the scary thing is that it gets stronger every day.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Here He Is!
Here he is! The name will be forthcoming as we have a chance to meet him and settle in a little bit.
Mom and baby are doing fine. After about 2.5 hours worth of pushing, Junior was born at 8:06 PM, and clocked in at a hefty 8 lbs 10 oz (big like his dad was!). 19 inches long, and good Apgar scores all around.
Mom and baby are doing fine. After about 2.5 hours worth of pushing, Junior was born at 8:06 PM, and clocked in at a hefty 8 lbs 10 oz (big like his dad was!). 19 inches long, and good Apgar scores all around.
Update from the front...
A rare post from MurkyDad...
MurkyMom and Murky are doing fine so far. As of 1PM-ish the assessment was 4 cm dilation and 90% effaced, with Murky at -1 station. At this point they went ahead and ruptured the amniotic sac.
MurkyMom had an epidural at around 2 PM and is resting comfortably now in anticipation of the big push. Contractions are nice and regular at about 2.5-3 minutes apart.
MurkyMom is hoping for a pre-dinner delivery, as she is hungry, but I have my doubts. I will be happy if he shows up before midnight tonight. If he does, GrandmaMurky on MurkyDad's side wins the pool.
Further updates as they happen...
MDad
MurkyMom and Murky are doing fine so far. As of 1PM-ish the assessment was 4 cm dilation and 90% effaced, with Murky at -1 station. At this point they went ahead and ruptured the amniotic sac.
MurkyMom had an epidural at around 2 PM and is resting comfortably now in anticipation of the big push. Contractions are nice and regular at about 2.5-3 minutes apart.
MurkyMom is hoping for a pre-dinner delivery, as she is hungry, but I have my doubts. I will be happy if he shows up before midnight tonight. If he does, GrandmaMurky on MurkyDad's side wins the pool.
Further updates as they happen...
MDad
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Here we are
Well, it looks like this is it!
This morning at my office visit, the doctor noticed some downward spikes in the baby's heartbeat (even though Murky did a great job of getting his heart rate up when moving). And my fluid was only "adequate." "Better out than in," said Doc, but first he sent me to the hospital for a more in-depth non-stress test which, while absolutely fine, led the docs to want to keep me at the hospital and induce me. So at some point this afternoon or evening, I'll be given misoprostol, which may put me into labor. If not, it's pitocin after that. We'll probably have a baby tomorrow!
Murky is at 0 station, and while I'm not dilated at all yet, I'm 50% effaced.
Here I am in my stylish hospital couture:
And they even fed me lunch -- Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, etc!
This morning at my office visit, the doctor noticed some downward spikes in the baby's heartbeat (even though Murky did a great job of getting his heart rate up when moving). And my fluid was only "adequate." "Better out than in," said Doc, but first he sent me to the hospital for a more in-depth non-stress test which, while absolutely fine, led the docs to want to keep me at the hospital and induce me. So at some point this afternoon or evening, I'll be given misoprostol, which may put me into labor. If not, it's pitocin after that. We'll probably have a baby tomorrow!
Murky is at 0 station, and while I'm not dilated at all yet, I'm 50% effaced.
Here I am in my stylish hospital couture:
And they even fed me lunch -- Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, etc!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Tuesday??
According to BabyCenter.com, "You're 14 percent more likely to give birth on a Tuesday than on any other day of the week — and least likely to deliver on the weekend."
So, maybe tomorrow's the day!
So, maybe tomorrow's the day!
40 Weeks
We're officially 40 weeks today. As in, if I don't have this baby tonight, he's officially overdue as of tomorrow morning. I think that's pretty likely.
Today Mom and I did a bunch of Christmas shopping (both of us) and apartment-supplies (for her) shopping. I held out pretty well for about 4 hours, but by the end of it my back was tired and I was very cranky. What is it with people? Are they really in so much of a hurry that they have to cut off the pregnant lady in the housewares aisle at K-Mart? It's not like I can stop on a dime!
We ran into Mom's friend Maria, a little old Italian lady, who took one look at me and said "You having a boy, yes?" (I'm not making up her accent, by the way. It was awesome.). When Mom asked her how she knew, she said "Of course she have-a the boy -- she don't a-hava no butt! He's all out in front!" It was a pretty hilarious interaction. Later on, at another store, a checkout girl took one look at me and said "You're having a boy, right?" Turns out she has 3 boys, so I'll take her word that she's the authority on it. Apparently, since I'm carrying compactly and all out in front (looks like like I'm carrying a basketball), it's quite obvious that my child is male. Okay then!
I thought about making homemade macaroni and cheese tonight, but I'm kind of tired, and there's already a lot of food left over in the fridge. Maybe tomorrow. I really love homemade mac and cheese.
Today Mom and I did a bunch of Christmas shopping (both of us) and apartment-supplies (for her) shopping. I held out pretty well for about 4 hours, but by the end of it my back was tired and I was very cranky. What is it with people? Are they really in so much of a hurry that they have to cut off the pregnant lady in the housewares aisle at K-Mart? It's not like I can stop on a dime!
We ran into Mom's friend Maria, a little old Italian lady, who took one look at me and said "You having a boy, yes?" (I'm not making up her accent, by the way. It was awesome.). When Mom asked her how she knew, she said "Of course she have-a the boy -- she don't a-hava no butt! He's all out in front!" It was a pretty hilarious interaction. Later on, at another store, a checkout girl took one look at me and said "You're having a boy, right?" Turns out she has 3 boys, so I'll take her word that she's the authority on it. Apparently, since I'm carrying compactly and all out in front (looks like like I'm carrying a basketball), it's quite obvious that my child is male. Okay then!
I thought about making homemade macaroni and cheese tonight, but I'm kind of tired, and there's already a lot of food left over in the fridge. Maybe tomorrow. I really love homemade mac and cheese.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thankful...for rest
We had a very restful weekend -- played some WoW, got new glasses at LensCrafters, ate holiday leftovers, played with the dogs, and watched some movies. We felt a little lazy at times, but then we realized that soon -- very soon -- we'll appreciate every little moment of rest we can get!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Yep, still pregnant
We got through Thanksgiving -- and a lovely Thanksgiving it was, with all the fixins and family we could want. Now it's just a waiting game...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tick Tick Tick...
Today was my last day of work for at least 12 weeks. Thank god. I woke up in the middle of the night last night feeling like I was swallowing razor blades, but luckily the sore throat didn't stick around -- just the extraordinarily irritating Faucet Face, postnasal drip, cough, etc.
By midmorning I was feeling some contractions, but they weren't often or regular, and my back didn't hurt, so I'm assuming they were just Braxton Hicks. It was nice just to lie down on the couch for a while and watch HGTV and the Food Network this afternoon. I want Paula Deen to be my grammy.
Tonight MDad and I prepared the pumpkin pie ingredients: He insists on hand-baked (non-canned) pumpkin, and I insist on homemade crusts, so we made both of those things, and tomorrow we can assemble them and get the pie done ahead of time.
Either that or we'll have a baby. ;-)
By midmorning I was feeling some contractions, but they weren't often or regular, and my back didn't hurt, so I'm assuming they were just Braxton Hicks. It was nice just to lie down on the couch for a while and watch HGTV and the Food Network this afternoon. I want Paula Deen to be my grammy.
Tonight MDad and I prepared the pumpkin pie ingredients: He insists on hand-baked (non-canned) pumpkin, and I insist on homemade crusts, so we made both of those things, and tomorrow we can assemble them and get the pie done ahead of time.
Either that or we'll have a baby. ;-)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sick
Yep, you guessed it. I'm sick.
I'd been fighting off a cold since around Veterans' Day, but it's winning now. I didn't go in to work until about 5:00 p.m. today, and then only because I had a board meeting. I'm going in tomorrow morning, unless I'm significantly worse, and then that's it. I'm on maternity leave.
So right now I'll be going to bed with my saline nasal spray, my Vicks VapoRub, the ice pack for my swollen hands, my bottle of water, and my Puffs Plus. My OB told me this morning that I can take any medication I want at this point, but that it probably wouldn't work (I love how frank Dr. S is). So right now I'm not taking any druggies, just natural remedies. I've consumed about 2 gallons of liquids today, most of which has then come out of my nostrils or my left eye (why is my right eye not watering?)
Tonight when I got home from the board meeting I made cream of wheat. I love cream of wheat. I could have eaten three large bowls of cream of wheat. But I only had one.
We're having MDad's mom and sis, plus my mom, over for Thanksgiving. That way we're pretty much guaranteeing I'll go into labor (as an aside, my "job" for Thanksgiving is to do the heavy looking-on, and not any turkey-lifting, etc.) Can't wait to see what actually happens!
Under today's "Too Much Information" header: I've been, um...going to the bathroom a lot today. I've heard this is common as labor approaches: your body tries to "clean you out." It's a little weird.
I'd been fighting off a cold since around Veterans' Day, but it's winning now. I didn't go in to work until about 5:00 p.m. today, and then only because I had a board meeting. I'm going in tomorrow morning, unless I'm significantly worse, and then that's it. I'm on maternity leave.
So right now I'll be going to bed with my saline nasal spray, my Vicks VapoRub, the ice pack for my swollen hands, my bottle of water, and my Puffs Plus. My OB told me this morning that I can take any medication I want at this point, but that it probably wouldn't work (I love how frank Dr. S is). So right now I'm not taking any druggies, just natural remedies. I've consumed about 2 gallons of liquids today, most of which has then come out of my nostrils or my left eye (why is my right eye not watering?)
Tonight when I got home from the board meeting I made cream of wheat. I love cream of wheat. I could have eaten three large bowls of cream of wheat. But I only had one.
We're having MDad's mom and sis, plus my mom, over for Thanksgiving. That way we're pretty much guaranteeing I'll go into labor (as an aside, my "job" for Thanksgiving is to do the heavy looking-on, and not any turkey-lifting, etc.) Can't wait to see what actually happens!
Under today's "Too Much Information" header: I've been, um...going to the bathroom a lot today. I've heard this is common as labor approaches: your body tries to "clean you out." It's a little weird.
39 Weeks
Still pregnant. Still very, very pregnant:
This morning's checkup went fine - a nice, reactive non-stress test. The monitor even showed some contractions this time (which I couldn't feel, and the doc says that anything the mom can't detect is not significant). My next appointment is scheduled for Tuesday morning, the 27th, a day after my due date. Doc says that if I haven't given birth by 41 weeks (Dec. 3), he'll induce. They don't let you go past 41 weeks these days, I guess.
I gotta say, the thought of going to work this afternoon/evening and tomorrow is less than appealing.
This morning's checkup went fine - a nice, reactive non-stress test. The monitor even showed some contractions this time (which I couldn't feel, and the doc says that anything the mom can't detect is not significant). My next appointment is scheduled for Tuesday morning, the 27th, a day after my due date. Doc says that if I haven't given birth by 41 weeks (Dec. 3), he'll induce. They don't let you go past 41 weeks these days, I guess.
I gotta say, the thought of going to work this afternoon/evening and tomorrow is less than appealing.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Random Restless Pregnant Post
I'm restless today. I took the day off because yesterday I felt like I was coming down with a cold, and I really didn't want to push it. But of course today I get up and, after blowing out some gross stuff, I feel fine and proceed to pay bills and do yet more laundry...
I also decided to tackle the kitchen floor grout -- a sign of impending labor??? Anyway, here's a photo:
You can clearly see where I've scrubbed, versus where I haven't scrubbed yet. Pretty grody, eh? Well, after much experimentation, I've found the perfect grout cleaner: a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Cheap and non-toxic! However, it does make me crave fish and chips! Now that I know this works, I'm going to "paste" the floor in the half-bath next to the kitchen and leave the paste on while I do some other chores, thereby (I hope) minimizing my scrubbing time. I'm also pretty sure I wouldn't be able to wedge myself out of and up off the floor of the half-bath...
Here's a wicked cute outfit that I'm dying to get for Murky, even though he has wayyy to many clothes already (hence the laundry I'm doing today). "Professor Dad" and I fell in love with it at Babies "R" Us last weekend:
How fricken handsome is that???
I also decided to tackle the kitchen floor grout -- a sign of impending labor??? Anyway, here's a photo:
You can clearly see where I've scrubbed, versus where I haven't scrubbed yet. Pretty grody, eh? Well, after much experimentation, I've found the perfect grout cleaner: a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Cheap and non-toxic! However, it does make me crave fish and chips! Now that I know this works, I'm going to "paste" the floor in the half-bath next to the kitchen and leave the paste on while I do some other chores, thereby (I hope) minimizing my scrubbing time. I'm also pretty sure I wouldn't be able to wedge myself out of and up off the floor of the half-bath...
Here's a wicked cute outfit that I'm dying to get for Murky, even though he has wayyy to many clothes already (hence the laundry I'm doing today). "Professor Dad" and I fell in love with it at Babies "R" Us last weekend:
How fricken handsome is that???
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
When is this baby coming?
The answer is, we have no idea. I have no idea, at least. And I'm fortunate to have an OB who does not routinely do internal exams in late pregnancy "just to see" -- how dilated/effaced I may be, what station the baby's at, etc. From what I've read, this information has no bearing on predicting when the baby will arrive, but internal exams do have the potential to introduce nasty germs into the womb, or even to rupture my membranes, forcing an induction, which would be likely to cause me to have a caesarean.
So, no thanks. No need to know -- at least not yet -- how dilated I am, or how far down the baby's head is, etc. He'll come out when he's ready.
But that doesn't mean I'm not still freaking unbelievably tired. It's exhausting growing a person.
So, no thanks. No need to know -- at least not yet -- how dilated I am, or how far down the baby's head is, etc. He'll come out when he's ready.
But that doesn't mean I'm not still freaking unbelievably tired. It's exhausting growing a person.
Still pregnant...
...and vastly unproductive at work. Oh, well. Don't think anyone expects someone who's 12 days away from her due date to be tackling large projects right now. Except for me, that is. But I'll have to get over that. Still, it is hard being the normally driven and accomplishment-oriented person that I am, and not having any drive or wanting to accomplish anything.
This afternoon I went to the dentist for a cleaning, and then I attended a 2-hour breastfeeding class at the hospital. It was very informative, but I'm still prepared for the reality of breastfeeding to be somewhat (or significantly) different from what the pro-lactation evangelists assure me will happen. I'm trying to go into this whole Mommy thing with the expectation that I will get exactly zero sleep, the house will be a stinking, festering disaster area, that no one will come round to help us, that we'll tear one another's eyes out with frustration, that the baby will cry all the time and eat none of the time, etc. That way, if and when something does go right, we'll feel like the World's Best Parents. Hey, at least we can dream. And really, the baby does have to sleep sometime, right?
This afternoon I went to the dentist for a cleaning, and then I attended a 2-hour breastfeeding class at the hospital. It was very informative, but I'm still prepared for the reality of breastfeeding to be somewhat (or significantly) different from what the pro-lactation evangelists assure me will happen. I'm trying to go into this whole Mommy thing with the expectation that I will get exactly zero sleep, the house will be a stinking, festering disaster area, that no one will come round to help us, that we'll tear one another's eyes out with frustration, that the baby will cry all the time and eat none of the time, etc. That way, if and when something does go right, we'll feel like the World's Best Parents. Hey, at least we can dream. And really, the baby does have to sleep sometime, right?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
5 Days
Five more work days. I'm not sure I can make it. I now officially have zero motivation, and even if I did feel like doing actual work, I wouldn't be able to because of my numb Balloon Hands.
I'd really much rather stay at home and scrub the grout on the kitchen floor. I'm not kidding.
I'd really much rather stay at home and scrub the grout on the kitchen floor. I'm not kidding.
38 Weeks
Good news; since our amniotic fluid has been "great" for weeks now, I don't have to keep going to the doctor twice a week anymore. Just once a week from now on.
Baby is estimated at 7 lbs 3 oz right now -- give or take 2 lbs either way, of course. He's head down, but "posterior," which means that if I went into labor right now, it's likely I'd be in "back labor," with the boniest, hardest (back) part of the baby's head pressing on my tailbone. Let's hope he turns around before labor...
Blood pressure was something like 122/78 this morning. I'm 4 lbs heavier than last week, and I'm pretty sure that's all fluid retention.
Here's a really gross photo of my left hand as I try to type:
Isn't it disgusting? Ice tends to work well, but as soon as I stop icing my hands, they balloon up again. And yes, I'm drinking copious amounts of water and trying to cut down on sodium. I can probably do better with the sodium, to be perfectly honest. But what the hell am I supposed to eat? Plain rice and fruit? The horror!!
Baby is estimated at 7 lbs 3 oz right now -- give or take 2 lbs either way, of course. He's head down, but "posterior," which means that if I went into labor right now, it's likely I'd be in "back labor," with the boniest, hardest (back) part of the baby's head pressing on my tailbone. Let's hope he turns around before labor...
Blood pressure was something like 122/78 this morning. I'm 4 lbs heavier than last week, and I'm pretty sure that's all fluid retention.
Here's a really gross photo of my left hand as I try to type:
Isn't it disgusting? Ice tends to work well, but as soon as I stop icing my hands, they balloon up again. And yes, I'm drinking copious amounts of water and trying to cut down on sodium. I can probably do better with the sodium, to be perfectly honest. But what the hell am I supposed to eat? Plain rice and fruit? The horror!!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
All's Right WIth the World
Still pregnant! And MDad made it home from the conference none the worse for wear (well, except for a head cold, from which he has mostly recovered).
Yesterday we did lots of shopping, the "big" purchase being a 42" LCD TV! It was a bit of a splurge, but as I'd mentioned a few days ago, Mom's taking the old TV with her to her new apartment, and we might as well invest in a nice new set. We watched it with awe last night.
Today we're moving Mom's "big stuff" to her place -- bed, armoire, table and chairs, etc., with the help of friend D's truck. More updates later!
Yesterday we did lots of shopping, the "big" purchase being a 42" LCD TV! It was a bit of a splurge, but as I'd mentioned a few days ago, Mom's taking the old TV with her to her new apartment, and we might as well invest in a nice new set. We watched it with awe last night.
Today we're moving Mom's "big stuff" to her place -- bed, armoire, table and chairs, etc., with the help of friend D's truck. More updates later!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Thank-yous
After 3 hours, thousands of calories worth of chips-and-dip, and 36 thank-you notes, I'm done! My fingers are completely numb, but I'm finally caught up after last weekend's and this afternoon's baby showers.
Going to ice the wrists now, then bed.
Yay, it's almost the weekend!
Going to ice the wrists now, then bed.
Yay, it's almost the weekend!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Britney pregnant again?
Good lord, rumor has it that Britney Spears is pregnant for the third time, this time by who-knows-whom, since she's divorced from K-Fed.
You know, I worry about being a good mother, about doing or saying the right things, modeling the right behaviors, etc. And then I look at Britney. And my worries fade away. The poor dear -- it would be hard to be a worse mother than she is.
FYI, the arm brace did work last night, and today I visited the CVS in the town where I work and got a second one for my other arm, so I think we're good to go! I also looked up some carpal tunnel exercises on ye olde internet.
Mom and I went to Wal-Mart tonight (I needed cheap saline and a bottle of cheap shower spray refill, among other things). I am so proud of myself for working a full day and then coming home and not just flopping on the couch! Tomorrow night will have to be Night of a Thousand Thank-You Notes, though... Perhaps I will get some pizza for the occasion. It's the little things.
You know, I worry about being a good mother, about doing or saying the right things, modeling the right behaviors, etc. And then I look at Britney. And my worries fade away. The poor dear -- it would be hard to be a worse mother than she is.
FYI, the arm brace did work last night, and today I visited the CVS in the town where I work and got a second one for my other arm, so I think we're good to go! I also looked up some carpal tunnel exercises on ye olde internet.
Mom and I went to Wal-Mart tonight (I needed cheap saline and a bottle of cheap shower spray refill, among other things). I am so proud of myself for working a full day and then coming home and not just flopping on the couch! Tomorrow night will have to be Night of a Thousand Thank-You Notes, though... Perhaps I will get some pizza for the occasion. It's the little things.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Blob
I'm swollen.
My hands are swollen. My ankles are swollen. My face is fat.
In the mornings, I can barely make a fist because of the carpal tunnel symptoms, and my fingers are very numb. Tonight Mom and I went to the pharmacy and bought one of these to try:
It's very cushy and doesn't tear away at my skin like the one I borrowed from a coworker does. Let's see how the hands feel in the morning.
My nights look something like this:
Midnight: Wake up with searing heartburn (let's see if the old wives' tale holds true and the baby is born with lots of hair).
2:00 a.m. Wake up to pee.
3:30 a.m. Wake up because my hands are numb.
5:00 a.m. Wake up because my back hurts.
6:00 a.m. Wake up to pee.
MDad and I just had our nightly "computer date" -- we were talking about how scary it is that we'll be having a baby right around the time of the writers' guild strike -- omigod! No new TV shows!
Tonight I managed to vacuum the living room and even heat up some dinner, in addition to making the above-mentioned trip to the drugstore with Mom. I wish I'd had the energy to dust, too, and I must say that I can't stand looking at my dirty kitchen floor. I want everything cleeeeannnnnnn...yet I feel like such a failure because I can barely even drag my ass out of bed in the morning to go to work, much less come home at night and do all the chores that need to be done. What happened to the "old me?" I guess she's gone, or she's got to change her priorities now, at least.
Murky is poking something (an elbow? a knee? a foot?) straight out in the middle of my abdomen. I really hope he stays head-down and decides to come out facing backwards (so as to avoid back labor).
Oh lord. How am I going to manage to write 25-odd thank-you notes to my coworkers for Sunday's shower if I can't feel my fingers???
My hands are swollen. My ankles are swollen. My face is fat.
In the mornings, I can barely make a fist because of the carpal tunnel symptoms, and my fingers are very numb. Tonight Mom and I went to the pharmacy and bought one of these to try:
It's very cushy and doesn't tear away at my skin like the one I borrowed from a coworker does. Let's see how the hands feel in the morning.
My nights look something like this:
Midnight: Wake up with searing heartburn (let's see if the old wives' tale holds true and the baby is born with lots of hair).
2:00 a.m. Wake up to pee.
3:30 a.m. Wake up because my hands are numb.
5:00 a.m. Wake up because my back hurts.
6:00 a.m. Wake up to pee.
MDad and I just had our nightly "computer date" -- we were talking about how scary it is that we'll be having a baby right around the time of the writers' guild strike -- omigod! No new TV shows!
Tonight I managed to vacuum the living room and even heat up some dinner, in addition to making the above-mentioned trip to the drugstore with Mom. I wish I'd had the energy to dust, too, and I must say that I can't stand looking at my dirty kitchen floor. I want everything cleeeeannnnnnn...yet I feel like such a failure because I can barely even drag my ass out of bed in the morning to go to work, much less come home at night and do all the chores that need to be done. What happened to the "old me?" I guess she's gone, or she's got to change her priorities now, at least.
Murky is poking something (an elbow? a knee? a foot?) straight out in the middle of my abdomen. I really hope he stays head-down and decides to come out facing backwards (so as to avoid back labor).
Oh lord. How am I going to manage to write 25-odd thank-you notes to my coworkers for Sunday's shower if I can't feel my fingers???
The Year of Boys
Just got an email from friends of ours from childbirth class -- they had a boy. Everyone we know is having or has had a boy. Weird!
Monday, November 5, 2007
37 Weeks Today
Amniotic fluid holding steady at "9.2" -- whatever that means. 50th percentile, which is good.
Baby's heartbeat was 152 this morning.
Weight gain: 31 lbs (was 32 lbs last week, so I'm assuming that means I'm holding steady, and the fluctuation is due to fluid retention, etc. Some women actually lose weight in the last few weeks of pregnancy).
Blood pressure: 110/60. Woo hoo!
Group B Strep test results: Negative. Yay, no penicillin I.V. during labor!
This morning I had an ultrasound and got to see The Boy making hand movements and lots of breathing movements. The tech said this means his lungs are probably mature, which makes sense, because the baby is officially considered "full term" today. Oy! We could have a baby any day now -- but please, not until after this Thursday.
Most of my fingers are numb and/or tingly now. I never heard back from the physical therapist's office about my carpal tunnel, and I don't necessarily care to. What are they going to do, tell me to do the stretches that I already know how to do? To ice my wrists and hands at night, which I already do? To give me a wrist brace, which I've actually already borrowed from a coworker? All that just to burn up more sick time, of which I have precious little to spend right now? No thanks. I'll just bitch about it continuously instead.
This is what's frustrating. I thought a few weeks ago that I had no motivation to be at work. Now, I have about 100 times less motivation than a few weeks ago. I can't sleep at night, so I wake up exhausted. My hands bother me, and I have a desk job, so writing or typing are very uncomfortable. I am hungry all the time. I am cranky most of the time. I just want to stay home and clean my house and get ready for Murky.
A couple of interesting pregnancy-related observations:
1. The ice packs I've been using for my wrists were actually included in the free "goodie bag" that was given to us at our first prenatal visit, lo those many months ago. They're industrial-strength ice packs...are they for my boobs? Because they're from Enfamil. Is Enfamil trying to tell me that breastfeeding will hurt? Or am I supposed to keep bottles of formula cool with them? Mental note: buy a head of cabbage soon; cabbage leaves from the fridge are supposed to soothe painful nursing boobs. But will it make my milk taste like cabbage?
2. My belly button sticks out (along with most of the rest of me -- my boobs, my ass, my stomach, etc.). But hey, the upside of this is that, since it's now convex instead of concave, the inside of my navel has never been cleaner!
As usual when I lie down in bed at night, Murky has the hiccups :-) Tonight at dinner I made the dog bark (by scolding the cat -- this dog has a hyped-up sense of justice when it comes to cats). My hand happened to be on my belly, and I felt the baby jump. So I made the dog bark again -- and there was another itty bitty baby startle jump. Then I put Mom's hand on my belly and made the dog bark -- another jump! We could go on the road with this show, I swear! It's nice right now, because the dog can startle the baby all he wants, but the baby can't cry yet.
Yesterday was my "coworkers" shower at a colleague's beautiful home. We ate, we talked, we shared stories, and, of course, I opened presents. I can't even begin to say how much baby stuff we've received over the past couple of months -- people are way too generous and sweet. I would have been happy just getting together and eating food and talking to people!
I must say that (knock wood) we've pretty much been "textbook" thus far in the pregnancy...*WARNING: "TOO MUCH INFORMATION" ALERT* -- right down to today's helpful reminder on babycenter.com that I "may be experiencing increased vaginal discharge." Yeah; that's definitely true. (And sorry if that's too much information, but there's really not a lot of dignity involved in the whole pregnancy/childbirth process anyway).
I have several "profile" shots of Murky from the past few weeks, but they are all sucky pictures. They're like when you're lying on the grass in the summertime looking up at clouds, and all of a sudden someone is like, "Hey, look, it's President Lincoln on a unicorn wearing an apron and playing the bassoon!" Yeah, right. Today the ultrasound tech said "See, he just moved his hand!" That's his hand??? Or, "that's the bottom of his foot." WTF? Is he a duck?? All I can say is that ultrasound technicians are either extremely underpaid or extremely overpaid for what they do.
Baby's heartbeat was 152 this morning.
Weight gain: 31 lbs (was 32 lbs last week, so I'm assuming that means I'm holding steady, and the fluctuation is due to fluid retention, etc. Some women actually lose weight in the last few weeks of pregnancy).
Blood pressure: 110/60. Woo hoo!
Group B Strep test results: Negative. Yay, no penicillin I.V. during labor!
This morning I had an ultrasound and got to see The Boy making hand movements and lots of breathing movements. The tech said this means his lungs are probably mature, which makes sense, because the baby is officially considered "full term" today. Oy! We could have a baby any day now -- but please, not until after this Thursday.
Most of my fingers are numb and/or tingly now. I never heard back from the physical therapist's office about my carpal tunnel, and I don't necessarily care to. What are they going to do, tell me to do the stretches that I already know how to do? To ice my wrists and hands at night, which I already do? To give me a wrist brace, which I've actually already borrowed from a coworker? All that just to burn up more sick time, of which I have precious little to spend right now? No thanks. I'll just bitch about it continuously instead.
This is what's frustrating. I thought a few weeks ago that I had no motivation to be at work. Now, I have about 100 times less motivation than a few weeks ago. I can't sleep at night, so I wake up exhausted. My hands bother me, and I have a desk job, so writing or typing are very uncomfortable. I am hungry all the time. I am cranky most of the time. I just want to stay home and clean my house and get ready for Murky.
A couple of interesting pregnancy-related observations:
1. The ice packs I've been using for my wrists were actually included in the free "goodie bag" that was given to us at our first prenatal visit, lo those many months ago. They're industrial-strength ice packs...are they for my boobs? Because they're from Enfamil. Is Enfamil trying to tell me that breastfeeding will hurt? Or am I supposed to keep bottles of formula cool with them? Mental note: buy a head of cabbage soon; cabbage leaves from the fridge are supposed to soothe painful nursing boobs. But will it make my milk taste like cabbage?
2. My belly button sticks out (along with most of the rest of me -- my boobs, my ass, my stomach, etc.). But hey, the upside of this is that, since it's now convex instead of concave, the inside of my navel has never been cleaner!
As usual when I lie down in bed at night, Murky has the hiccups :-) Tonight at dinner I made the dog bark (by scolding the cat -- this dog has a hyped-up sense of justice when it comes to cats). My hand happened to be on my belly, and I felt the baby jump. So I made the dog bark again -- and there was another itty bitty baby startle jump. Then I put Mom's hand on my belly and made the dog bark -- another jump! We could go on the road with this show, I swear! It's nice right now, because the dog can startle the baby all he wants, but the baby can't cry yet.
Yesterday was my "coworkers" shower at a colleague's beautiful home. We ate, we talked, we shared stories, and, of course, I opened presents. I can't even begin to say how much baby stuff we've received over the past couple of months -- people are way too generous and sweet. I would have been happy just getting together and eating food and talking to people!
I must say that (knock wood) we've pretty much been "textbook" thus far in the pregnancy...*WARNING: "TOO MUCH INFORMATION" ALERT* -- right down to today's helpful reminder on babycenter.com that I "may be experiencing increased vaginal discharge." Yeah; that's definitely true. (And sorry if that's too much information, but there's really not a lot of dignity involved in the whole pregnancy/childbirth process anyway).
I have several "profile" shots of Murky from the past few weeks, but they are all sucky pictures. They're like when you're lying on the grass in the summertime looking up at clouds, and all of a sudden someone is like, "Hey, look, it's President Lincoln on a unicorn wearing an apron and playing the bassoon!" Yeah, right. Today the ultrasound tech said "See, he just moved his hand!" That's his hand??? Or, "that's the bottom of his foot." WTF? Is he a duck?? All I can say is that ultrasound technicians are either extremely underpaid or extremely overpaid for what they do.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Rainy (Un)productive Day
This morning I slept in (hallelujah) until 8:30 a.m., made a quick bowl of oatmeal with Craisins, which I ate with a banana and a huge glass of milk, put in some mommy laundry (baby laundry came later), and tidied up the living room a bit. I made a grocery list. I took the cat to the vet (she had a gross ingrown dewclaw).
My friend D came down for a visit; theoretically he was supposed to help move Mom to her new apartment today, but for various reasons we're going to wait until next weekend: the maintenance man is still finishing up some projects and the place needs a thorough scrubbing; D didn't have his pickup truck today; MurkyDad is away at a conference and he's going to get one of the two business ends of Mom's couch, bed, etc. when the time comes to move; and, finally, I'd really like Mom to stay with me until MDad gets back from the conference. We all did take a trip down to see the progress on the apartment, though, and I'm happier with it than I was when I first saw it. The maintenance man has painted, replaced linoleum, replaced switchplates and the medicine cabinet and the lighting fixture, replaced the stove and vent, and replaced the mini-blinds and all the interior doors. Like I said, all the place needs right now is a thorough cleaning (and a shower head that doesn't spray water all over the bathroom when you turn it on ...)
So, instead of working, D and Mom and I made Maine-style Italian sandwiches, ate fudge cake, and shot the shit for a few hours. D and I investigated 1080p LCD TV reviews. You see, Mom is planning on taking the TV when she moves, so I just have to buy a new TV. And why buy something sub-par? After all, if we're up with a newborn at 3:00 a.m., we want to be able to watch QVC on the best possible set, right???
I'm finishing up the second of two loads of baby laundry now. Murky's dresser and armoire are now officially full of newborn/0-3 months, 3-6 month, 6-9 month, and even some 9-12 month duds. It is scary how many clothes he has -- many have been purchased by family or friends, and many have been donated by a coworker who's done having kids. What they all have in common is that they are Too Damn Cute for Words.
The cord blood collection kit is ensconced in the hospital bag, as is the Boppy pillow, as is virtually everything else we'll need (I hope). But seeing as how the house is literally 2 minutes away from the hospital, it's not such a huge deal if we forget something.
The last load of laundry just stopped, and I have to get ready for a video chat with MDad at 9:00, so TTFN...
My friend D came down for a visit; theoretically he was supposed to help move Mom to her new apartment today, but for various reasons we're going to wait until next weekend: the maintenance man is still finishing up some projects and the place needs a thorough scrubbing; D didn't have his pickup truck today; MurkyDad is away at a conference and he's going to get one of the two business ends of Mom's couch, bed, etc. when the time comes to move; and, finally, I'd really like Mom to stay with me until MDad gets back from the conference. We all did take a trip down to see the progress on the apartment, though, and I'm happier with it than I was when I first saw it. The maintenance man has painted, replaced linoleum, replaced switchplates and the medicine cabinet and the lighting fixture, replaced the stove and vent, and replaced the mini-blinds and all the interior doors. Like I said, all the place needs right now is a thorough cleaning (and a shower head that doesn't spray water all over the bathroom when you turn it on ...)
So, instead of working, D and Mom and I made Maine-style Italian sandwiches, ate fudge cake, and shot the shit for a few hours. D and I investigated 1080p LCD TV reviews. You see, Mom is planning on taking the TV when she moves, so I just have to buy a new TV. And why buy something sub-par? After all, if we're up with a newborn at 3:00 a.m., we want to be able to watch QVC on the best possible set, right???
I'm finishing up the second of two loads of baby laundry now. Murky's dresser and armoire are now officially full of newborn/0-3 months, 3-6 month, 6-9 month, and even some 9-12 month duds. It is scary how many clothes he has -- many have been purchased by family or friends, and many have been donated by a coworker who's done having kids. What they all have in common is that they are Too Damn Cute for Words.
The cord blood collection kit is ensconced in the hospital bag, as is the Boppy pillow, as is virtually everything else we'll need (I hope). But seeing as how the house is literally 2 minutes away from the hospital, it's not such a huge deal if we forget something.
The last load of laundry just stopped, and I have to get ready for a video chat with MDad at 9:00, so TTFN...
Friday, November 2, 2007
Baby hiccups
Murky gets the hiccups quite often these days, sometimes for 10 minutes or more. From what I've read and been told, it's actually a good sign -- it means he's practicing breathing and swallowing. Good baby!
I miss MDad. I love how I can be bopping along through my day, preoccupied with work and other crap, and then suddenly I'll think of MDad, and as though by magic, up will pop a text message from him on my cell phone. It happened just now -- a "good night" text, just as I was texting him, from all the way across the country.
I miss MDad. I love how I can be bopping along through my day, preoccupied with work and other crap, and then suddenly I'll think of MDad, and as though by magic, up will pop a text message from him on my cell phone. It happened just now -- a "good night" text, just as I was texting him, from all the way across the country.
36 and 4/7 - week checkup
Today's non-stress test went fine. I have gained 32 lbs. My doctor would make no predictions as to when I might deliver, which was frustrating, because MurkyDad will be at a conference from now until next Thursday. So let's hope Murky decides to stay put until at least next Friday!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I am my own Macy's parade
I feel like a balloon. And not a beautiful, rainbow-striped, buoyant hot-air balloon like you see on office motivational posters. Oh no, I am a soggy water balloon, filled to near-bursting with stagnant grody pond water.
(not me)
Despite drinking vast amounts (up to 100 oz) of water daily, which I began doing to increase our amniotic fluid levels -- and it seems to have worked -- I'm still retaining water like crazy. I'm usually a leg-sitter: i.e. I like to tuck one leg up under my butt when sitting in a chair. I can't do that now (feels like my leg skin is going to split open). My face is puffy like a marshmallow. I've had to move rings to smaller fingers. And of course I have the carpal tunnel problem, caused by what else but fluid retention. The physical therapist's office has yet to call me back for an appointment, though. Argh.
I've reduced my salt and caffeine intake (only 1 small cup of coffee a day, and that's mostly milk). If I don't have just a little jolt of caffeine each morning, I'll end up with a migraine, which will send me home to bed, which would waste a precious day of sick time that I'm saving up for maternity leave. So I need the one cup of coffee.
I guess I can try and reduce salt even more. I've heard that calcium supplements help reduce swelling, too. Also potassium. So, yogurt and bananas and potatoes-with-the-skins-on, here I come! Hide your women and children!
Ironically, despite the huge quantities of water that I'm consuming, the skin on my hands is still dry and scaly. This has been a lifelong problem with me; it doesn't seem to have anything to do with hydration levels. I think it's my thyroid, though that's been tested a few times over the past several months.
Pregnancy is a fascinating physiological process. As a coworker said to me, though, the other day: "The last month is what gives pregnancy a bad rap." ;-)
We had 65 trick-or-treaters tonight! Mom and I sat outside, since it was such a nice night. Halfway through the evening, my black (outdoor) male cat decided to sit on the stoop next to us, glowing yellow eyes and all -- how seasonally appropriate! Bob had to stay inside most of the evening, but a few preschoolers did ask to "pet" him, and he was very sweet while they proceeded to whack him on his sensitive little nose (as it seems all preschoolers are wont to do when "petting" animals). He is such a good boy!
(not me)
Despite drinking vast amounts (up to 100 oz) of water daily, which I began doing to increase our amniotic fluid levels -- and it seems to have worked -- I'm still retaining water like crazy. I'm usually a leg-sitter: i.e. I like to tuck one leg up under my butt when sitting in a chair. I can't do that now (feels like my leg skin is going to split open). My face is puffy like a marshmallow. I've had to move rings to smaller fingers. And of course I have the carpal tunnel problem, caused by what else but fluid retention. The physical therapist's office has yet to call me back for an appointment, though. Argh.
I've reduced my salt and caffeine intake (only 1 small cup of coffee a day, and that's mostly milk). If I don't have just a little jolt of caffeine each morning, I'll end up with a migraine, which will send me home to bed, which would waste a precious day of sick time that I'm saving up for maternity leave. So I need the one cup of coffee.
I guess I can try and reduce salt even more. I've heard that calcium supplements help reduce swelling, too. Also potassium. So, yogurt and bananas and potatoes-with-the-skins-on, here I come! Hide your women and children!
Ironically, despite the huge quantities of water that I'm consuming, the skin on my hands is still dry and scaly. This has been a lifelong problem with me; it doesn't seem to have anything to do with hydration levels. I think it's my thyroid, though that's been tested a few times over the past several months.
Pregnancy is a fascinating physiological process. As a coworker said to me, though, the other day: "The last month is what gives pregnancy a bad rap." ;-)
We had 65 trick-or-treaters tonight! Mom and I sat outside, since it was such a nice night. Halfway through the evening, my black (outdoor) male cat decided to sit on the stoop next to us, glowing yellow eyes and all -- how seasonally appropriate! Bob had to stay inside most of the evening, but a few preschoolers did ask to "pet" him, and he was very sweet while they proceeded to whack him on his sensitive little nose (as it seems all preschoolers are wont to do when "petting" animals). He is such a good boy!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
36 Weeks, 1 Day - Checkup
Dr. S said pleasantly today, "Officially, if you go into labor now, no one will try and stop you." Oy!
We are up to the 50th percentile for amniotic fluid! -- which is damn near perfect, since you don't want to be in the upper echelons, either (equally dangereuse). Today's ultrasound tech estimated Murky at around 5 lbs. 15 oz, and Dr. S said we're on track for a not-too huge, just-right-sized baby. Unless I go overdue...
My coworkers have started a due date/weight/length pool -- any guesses out there? Had a couple of Braxton Hicks contractions last night, but nothing "serious."
I've gained 30 lbs so far. I'm supposed to get a call from a physical therapist today so I can be fitted for wrist braces for the carpal tunnel syndrome...so I can get some sleep at night. Which would be lovely.
I really have absolutely, positively no motivation to come to work anymore. I want to nest, to be home with Murky, to be safe and cozy and focus all of my energy on him (not the whiny babies I have to deal with at work). Alas, I still have that mortgage...
We are up to the 50th percentile for amniotic fluid! -- which is damn near perfect, since you don't want to be in the upper echelons, either (equally dangereuse). Today's ultrasound tech estimated Murky at around 5 lbs. 15 oz, and Dr. S said we're on track for a not-too huge, just-right-sized baby. Unless I go overdue...
My coworkers have started a due date/weight/length pool -- any guesses out there? Had a couple of Braxton Hicks contractions last night, but nothing "serious."
I've gained 30 lbs so far. I'm supposed to get a call from a physical therapist today so I can be fitted for wrist braces for the carpal tunnel syndrome...so I can get some sleep at night. Which would be lovely.
I really have absolutely, positively no motivation to come to work anymore. I want to nest, to be home with Murky, to be safe and cozy and focus all of my energy on him (not the whiny babies I have to deal with at work). Alas, I still have that mortgage...
Monday, October 29, 2007
New Episode of "Fun With Pregnancy!"
That's right, folks, here's a new symptom:
Pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome.
Apparently, water retention irritates the carpal tunnel, which causes tingling, numbness and pain. Which is exactly what's been waking me up, several times a night, for the last several nights. I'll ask my doctor about it tomorrow, but I have to say it's extremely annoying.
To spare my carpal tunnels, I'm going to stop typing now!
Pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome.
Apparently, water retention irritates the carpal tunnel, which causes tingling, numbness and pain. Which is exactly what's been waking me up, several times a night, for the last several nights. I'll ask my doctor about it tomorrow, but I have to say it's extremely annoying.
To spare my carpal tunnels, I'm going to stop typing now!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Oh, and...
...and my hair is really oily and limp these days. Gross. Hormones.
Gotta start using a clarifying shampoo.
Gotta start using a clarifying shampoo.
Full Circle
They're not kidding when they say that the second trimester is the "honeymoon" period of pregnancy -- the exhaustion goes away, you're still not too big to do normal things (like roll over in bed or wipe yourself easily after using the toilet), the nosebleeds subside...
I'm officially not enjoying this last month of pregnancy, at least not 100%. Tonight I had the worst nosebleed of the past 8 months, and my feet have ballooned up. I can't sit comfortably on the couch anymore -- hell, I can't sit anywhere comfortably anymore. And sitting and standing aren't so hot, either. My legs are swollen; I normally like to sit with a leg tucked under my butt. Now it feels like my leg skin is going to split open when I do that.
Oh, and the tiredness. Now that I'm drinking upwards of 100 oz of water a day, in hopes that Murky's amniotic fluid will stay at acceptable levels, I'm back to peeing at least twice during the night. And when I first lie down in bed at night, I get this weird desire to make lists of things that still have to be done before Murky arrives. We still haven't written the birth plan (even though we know they usually go out the window when "the real thing" is happening). We have to sign and fax back the cord blood registry paperwork. And my god, there still aren't any blinds in the nursery!!! We must not love our child! He's going to feel like he's sleeping on the sun!
I think I'm nesting. What I'd most like to spend the weekend doing is scrubbing my bathrooms, putting away cluttery items, deep-cleaning cupboards, floors, cabinets, and other crevices in the house. I want all of Murky's clothes washed, sorted by size and type (sleepers, long-sleeved, short-sleeved, etc.), and put away. I want the windows washed. I want to clean out the refrigerator. I want to put up wall shelves in the nursery and I want to put Murky's little board books on them -- alphabetically, of course.
Trouble is, all of that takes so damn much energy! All I managed to do tonight was 1 load of (my own) laundry and balance my checkbook. I didn't even pay any bills. I was supposed to go grocery shopping, but Grammy ended up doing that (even though she has a cold and doesn't feel very well). That was nice of her -- now we have enough Halloween candy for next week. That is, if the Pregnant Elephant doesn't eat it all before then...
Murky's been very busy today. All in all, he's been good to Mama, despite a few ninja kicks to the ribs and multiple head twists on the cervix and/or bladder. I still can't fathom that, within a few weeks, there's going to be this little person in my arms. Right now he's a fuzzy image on an ultrasound, a foot or knee or hand bulging out of my belly, a heartbeat on the Doppler. But he's going to be a person, with a name and a personality and a cry, and maybe Daddy's pretty green eyes or Mommy's chipmunk cheeks. We are all looking forward to meeting him!
I'm officially not enjoying this last month of pregnancy, at least not 100%. Tonight I had the worst nosebleed of the past 8 months, and my feet have ballooned up. I can't sit comfortably on the couch anymore -- hell, I can't sit anywhere comfortably anymore. And sitting and standing aren't so hot, either. My legs are swollen; I normally like to sit with a leg tucked under my butt. Now it feels like my leg skin is going to split open when I do that.
Oh, and the tiredness. Now that I'm drinking upwards of 100 oz of water a day, in hopes that Murky's amniotic fluid will stay at acceptable levels, I'm back to peeing at least twice during the night. And when I first lie down in bed at night, I get this weird desire to make lists of things that still have to be done before Murky arrives. We still haven't written the birth plan (even though we know they usually go out the window when "the real thing" is happening). We have to sign and fax back the cord blood registry paperwork. And my god, there still aren't any blinds in the nursery!!! We must not love our child! He's going to feel like he's sleeping on the sun!
I think I'm nesting. What I'd most like to spend the weekend doing is scrubbing my bathrooms, putting away cluttery items, deep-cleaning cupboards, floors, cabinets, and other crevices in the house. I want all of Murky's clothes washed, sorted by size and type (sleepers, long-sleeved, short-sleeved, etc.), and put away. I want the windows washed. I want to clean out the refrigerator. I want to put up wall shelves in the nursery and I want to put Murky's little board books on them -- alphabetically, of course.
Trouble is, all of that takes so damn much energy! All I managed to do tonight was 1 load of (my own) laundry and balance my checkbook. I didn't even pay any bills. I was supposed to go grocery shopping, but Grammy ended up doing that (even though she has a cold and doesn't feel very well). That was nice of her -- now we have enough Halloween candy for next week. That is, if the Pregnant Elephant doesn't eat it all before then...
Murky's been very busy today. All in all, he's been good to Mama, despite a few ninja kicks to the ribs and multiple head twists on the cervix and/or bladder. I still can't fathom that, within a few weeks, there's going to be this little person in my arms. Right now he's a fuzzy image on an ultrasound, a foot or knee or hand bulging out of my belly, a heartbeat on the Doppler. But he's going to be a person, with a name and a personality and a cry, and maybe Daddy's pretty green eyes or Mommy's chipmunk cheeks. We are all looking forward to meeting him!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Big Life Changes
It's interesting how one's life changes with pregnancy and, of course, the birth of a child. I don't have experience as to the latter, but I do with the former.
One big change: It's really not about you anymore. Not that I mind; given the last several years of my life in particular, I'm happy to fade into the background. It seems that MDad and I have easily done so, at least with regard to some people that we considered close friends. I suppose it's natural, considering the timing and nature of how our relationship came to be. But it has been interesting noting the differences in how our group of friends has handled one another's ups and downs, changes in life circumstances, and changes in life partners, in person and "though the grapevine" (which have, in many cases, been 180 degrees different). Talk gets around, I suppose.
But anyway, it's not about me anymore. It's about us. The three of us and our life together. I am blessed with a wonderful man who loves me enough to put up with our crazy set of geographical/job/mortgage circumstances right now, with my crazy mother, and with my crazy mood swings. I know how much he loves our son by the look in his eyes when he picked out Murky's first Christmas outfit last weekend, or by the sadness he feels when we talk about the reality of living separately, even temporarily, after the baby is born. He has spent countless hours these past months mowing my lawn, doing repairs at my house and working on the nursery, shopping for baby things, attending childbirth and newborn care classes and doctor's appointments with me, and holding me when I cry uncontrollably for no known reason. At last Friday's ultrasound, he tenderly wiped the ultrasound gel from my belly when the tech was done, a gesture that nearly made me weep.
I love this good, good man. He is my best friend.
One big change: It's really not about you anymore. Not that I mind; given the last several years of my life in particular, I'm happy to fade into the background. It seems that MDad and I have easily done so, at least with regard to some people that we considered close friends. I suppose it's natural, considering the timing and nature of how our relationship came to be. But it has been interesting noting the differences in how our group of friends has handled one another's ups and downs, changes in life circumstances, and changes in life partners, in person and "though the grapevine" (which have, in many cases, been 180 degrees different). Talk gets around, I suppose.
But anyway, it's not about me anymore. It's about us. The three of us and our life together. I am blessed with a wonderful man who loves me enough to put up with our crazy set of geographical/job/mortgage circumstances right now, with my crazy mother, and with my crazy mood swings. I know how much he loves our son by the look in his eyes when he picked out Murky's first Christmas outfit last weekend, or by the sadness he feels when we talk about the reality of living separately, even temporarily, after the baby is born. He has spent countless hours these past months mowing my lawn, doing repairs at my house and working on the nursery, shopping for baby things, attending childbirth and newborn care classes and doctor's appointments with me, and holding me when I cry uncontrollably for no known reason. At last Friday's ultrasound, he tenderly wiped the ultrasound gel from my belly when the tech was done, a gesture that nearly made me weep.
I love this good, good man. He is my best friend.
Not a happy camper
What the hell is wrong with people today? Has everyone decided to jump on the Cranky Train??? Work is a nightmare today.
Today has been a steady stream of people with problems, demands, issues, bad moods, etc. -- most of which are their own damn fault. Not mine. Sorry guys; I'm walking around with an extra 30 pounds, I'm tired from waking up several times in the middle of the night, I have swollen ankles, heartburn, vomit burps, and a nonexistent bladder, and I still manage to keep from having temper tantrums at work. Do you think you could maybe try and do the same? Is that really too much to ask? Grow the hell up.
I would love to go home and go to bed early tonight, but I have to do laundry and housecleaning and at least make up a grocery list so I can go shopping tomorrow night. And it turns out I have to be in earlier than usual tomorrow morning to meet with a flooring guy to go over carpet samples before I then have to spend the rest of the morning doing preliminary interviews with 5 job candidates. Then I have a working lunch with 2 staff members, and then at some point my whiniest (emotionally retarded) staff member is going to show up in my office to discuss "some things." Ugh.
At last night's pediatrician open house, one of the couples that was in our childbirth class was also in attendance. The mom-to-be is due in 9 days, and she has recently stopped working (she's going back in March). Oh, how lovely that would be. Her ankles, which she had put up all day (including during her naps), were sleek and slender. I have angry red dents in my calves where my socks have become too tight for my bloated legs and feet. It is so attractive. And despite the fact that I consumed about 100 oz of liquids (mostly water) yesterday, my hands are still dry and papery, and my ring still doesn't fit onto its usual finger. How is that possible? Isn't drinking vast amounts of water supposed to reduce fluid retention?
Today has been a steady stream of people with problems, demands, issues, bad moods, etc. -- most of which are their own damn fault. Not mine. Sorry guys; I'm walking around with an extra 30 pounds, I'm tired from waking up several times in the middle of the night, I have swollen ankles, heartburn, vomit burps, and a nonexistent bladder, and I still manage to keep from having temper tantrums at work. Do you think you could maybe try and do the same? Is that really too much to ask? Grow the hell up.
I would love to go home and go to bed early tonight, but I have to do laundry and housecleaning and at least make up a grocery list so I can go shopping tomorrow night. And it turns out I have to be in earlier than usual tomorrow morning to meet with a flooring guy to go over carpet samples before I then have to spend the rest of the morning doing preliminary interviews with 5 job candidates. Then I have a working lunch with 2 staff members, and then at some point my whiniest (emotionally retarded) staff member is going to show up in my office to discuss "some things." Ugh.
At last night's pediatrician open house, one of the couples that was in our childbirth class was also in attendance. The mom-to-be is due in 9 days, and she has recently stopped working (she's going back in March). Oh, how lovely that would be. Her ankles, which she had put up all day (including during her naps), were sleek and slender. I have angry red dents in my calves where my socks have become too tight for my bloated legs and feet. It is so attractive. And despite the fact that I consumed about 100 oz of liquids (mostly water) yesterday, my hands are still dry and papery, and my ring still doesn't fit onto its usual finger. How is that possible? Isn't drinking vast amounts of water supposed to reduce fluid retention?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Strap Me Down and Swab Me
This morning's fetal non-stress test (our first of many, apparently, for the remainder of the pregnancy) went very well. The nice nurses strapped two monitors to my belly and gave me a "Jeopardy!" buzzer to click whenever I felt Murky move. The idea is that the baby's heartbeat is supposed to accelerate when he moves, then decelerate when he calms down. Which is exactly what he did. Good baby!
The doctor also tested me for Group B strep, a yucky-sounding thing (at least for newborns) that, if I carry it, I'll have to cure with penicillin before the birth. It's found in 15-40% of women, is not translated sexually, and most women who have it don't have any symptoms. So, good thing I was tested. Apparently GBS kills up to 50% of the newborns it affects in third-world countries, mostly because the moms there don't have access to prenatal care or antibiotics. How sad -- it's the biggest killer of infants and it could be prevented.
Grammy is signing a lease on Friday morning! She's very excited about her new place, and she's even offered to come around to the house and check on my pets when I'm at work or out of town. Hallelujah -- my mother and I may be working toward some semblance of a normal relationship, after all these years!
Tonight I'm going to an "open house" at the pediatric practice just downstairs from my OB. I hope to snag a pediatrician and get that all set up before Murky is born.
Many things are getting checked off the list!
The doctor also tested me for Group B strep, a yucky-sounding thing (at least for newborns) that, if I carry it, I'll have to cure with penicillin before the birth. It's found in 15-40% of women, is not translated sexually, and most women who have it don't have any symptoms. So, good thing I was tested. Apparently GBS kills up to 50% of the newborns it affects in third-world countries, mostly because the moms there don't have access to prenatal care or antibiotics. How sad -- it's the biggest killer of infants and it could be prevented.
Grammy is signing a lease on Friday morning! She's very excited about her new place, and she's even offered to come around to the house and check on my pets when I'm at work or out of town. Hallelujah -- my mother and I may be working toward some semblance of a normal relationship, after all these years!
Tonight I'm going to an "open house" at the pediatric practice just downstairs from my OB. I hope to snag a pediatrician and get that all set up before Murky is born.
Many things are getting checked off the list!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Hello Doppler, My Old Friend...
I'm soooo glad I rented the fetal Doppler machine way back when I was only, what, 15 weeks?
A big part of the fetal non-stress test is monitoring the baby's heartbeat while he's quiet and then while he's active. Just like a "regular" person, a fetus's heart rate should increase when active, and decrease when his movement decreases. It gives me some peace of mind to be able to listen to Murky's heartbeat a couple of times a day - once before work, and once before bed. About 5 minutes ago, his heartbeat was 148 -- just right! If I hadn't rented the Doppler, I'd have to wait agonizing days in between monitorings at the doctor's office.
Here's the link to lots of great baby shower photos by Auntie K -- can you believe she did those baby bootie flower arrangements herself???
MDad and I installed the car seat bases in our vehicles this weekend, and we registered for cord blood banking. Aside from the steep initial fee, I was surprised; I thought the annual fee would be a lot higher. It's probably one of those things that we'll spend money on and never have to use...but hey, it would be a good thing not to have to use it, right???
We also made a Target run for non-perishable snacks for the hospital bag, just in case we get hungry in the middle of the night during labor (Dad, that is -- Mommy's not allowed to nosh before the baby is born); and for after the birth (Mommy especially -- birth and lactation, etc. will take it out of her!). We also bought a small package of disposable newborn diapers, because Mommy is anal (no pun intended), as well as some hair bands to keep my hair out of my face, and an extra package of thank-you notes (people have been wayyyyy too generous!).
The only other thing I can think of to pack is a robe and comfy jammies. Trouble is, I don't have anything that I wouldn't mind...um...staining. Moms out there: did you bring anything special to the hospital with you? Did you bring special clothes? Is there anything you feel you should have brought but didn't?
On the MurkyGrammy front, she is getting excited about having her own place! Let's see if it lasts...
A big part of the fetal non-stress test is monitoring the baby's heartbeat while he's quiet and then while he's active. Just like a "regular" person, a fetus's heart rate should increase when active, and decrease when his movement decreases. It gives me some peace of mind to be able to listen to Murky's heartbeat a couple of times a day - once before work, and once before bed. About 5 minutes ago, his heartbeat was 148 -- just right! If I hadn't rented the Doppler, I'd have to wait agonizing days in between monitorings at the doctor's office.
Here's the link to lots of great baby shower photos by Auntie K -- can you believe she did those baby bootie flower arrangements herself???
MDad and I installed the car seat bases in our vehicles this weekend, and we registered for cord blood banking. Aside from the steep initial fee, I was surprised; I thought the annual fee would be a lot higher. It's probably one of those things that we'll spend money on and never have to use...but hey, it would be a good thing not to have to use it, right???
We also made a Target run for non-perishable snacks for the hospital bag, just in case we get hungry in the middle of the night during labor (Dad, that is -- Mommy's not allowed to nosh before the baby is born); and for after the birth (Mommy especially -- birth and lactation, etc. will take it out of her!). We also bought a small package of disposable newborn diapers, because Mommy is anal (no pun intended), as well as some hair bands to keep my hair out of my face, and an extra package of thank-you notes (people have been wayyyyy too generous!).
The only other thing I can think of to pack is a robe and comfy jammies. Trouble is, I don't have anything that I wouldn't mind...um...staining. Moms out there: did you bring anything special to the hospital with you? Did you bring special clothes? Is there anything you feel you should have brought but didn't?
On the MurkyGrammy front, she is getting excited about having her own place! Let's see if it lasts...
Saturday, October 20, 2007
34.5 Week Checkup; Baby Shower
Yesterday we had a checkup and an ultrasound to "check for growth."
Murky is certainly growing -- the ultrasound tech estimated his weight at around 5 lbs, 10 oz, although who knows how accurate that is; I've heard that estimates can vary by as much as 2 lbs each way!
Weight gain so far: 28 lbs.
The only slightly concerning thing is that the doctor determined that we're only in the 5th percentile of normal for amniotic fluid levels. What that means is that I have to go in for fetal nonstress tests twice a week for the rest of the pregnancy. Once a week, I'll get an ultrasound. The doctor didn't seem too worried, since the baby is growing just fine (one side effect of too little amniotic fluid can be poor growth). It is a little scary if you do some googling (always a bad idea for pregnant women, by the way) and type in "low amniotic fluid." Apparently if your fluid gets too low, it can cause compression of the cord, which can cut off blood flow and nutrients to the baby, especially during labor. So if my fluid gets too low over the next few weeks, they may induce me or do a c-section. Which is why I'm currently OD'ing on water and cranberry juice -- maybe hydration will help.
Today was my baby shower, thrown by MDad's sister K and my college friend J. A splendid time was had by all -- we played Baby Jeopardy, hand-painted a bunch of onesies, ate vast quantities of food (and there were vast quantities left over -- anyone want some quiche?), chatted, and of course I was inundated with wonderful gifts and good wishes. I'll post pictures as soon as I've got them all. Thank you, everyone! I have such wonderful friends.
Murky is certainly growing -- the ultrasound tech estimated his weight at around 5 lbs, 10 oz, although who knows how accurate that is; I've heard that estimates can vary by as much as 2 lbs each way!
Weight gain so far: 28 lbs.
The only slightly concerning thing is that the doctor determined that we're only in the 5th percentile of normal for amniotic fluid levels. What that means is that I have to go in for fetal nonstress tests twice a week for the rest of the pregnancy. Once a week, I'll get an ultrasound. The doctor didn't seem too worried, since the baby is growing just fine (one side effect of too little amniotic fluid can be poor growth). It is a little scary if you do some googling (always a bad idea for pregnant women, by the way) and type in "low amniotic fluid." Apparently if your fluid gets too low, it can cause compression of the cord, which can cut off blood flow and nutrients to the baby, especially during labor. So if my fluid gets too low over the next few weeks, they may induce me or do a c-section. Which is why I'm currently OD'ing on water and cranberry juice -- maybe hydration will help.
Today was my baby shower, thrown by MDad's sister K and my college friend J. A splendid time was had by all -- we played Baby Jeopardy, hand-painted a bunch of onesies, ate vast quantities of food (and there were vast quantities left over -- anyone want some quiche?), chatted, and of course I was inundated with wonderful gifts and good wishes. I'll post pictures as soon as I've got them all. Thank you, everyone! I have such wonderful friends.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Nursery (Almost) Done!
Today we hammered out just about all of the rest of the nursery! (See below). Must've been that yummy oatmeal that MurkyDad made for us for breakfast this morning...
We put up the wallpaper border, cleaned the floor, arranged the furniture, put together the crib (including mattress, bumper, mobile, etc.), put up curtains and valances, hung photos on the wall, and moved in a glider rocker from our friend D.
Only a couple of things left to do: measure and put up blinds, put up floating wall shelves, get a rug...oh, and have a baby!
I have a lot of baby clothes to wash (get used to it, right???). That'll be my project this week after work -- that, and packing the hospital bag. We've still got to put the car seat bases into our cars and put the Pack 'n Play together, but I think we're in pretty durn good shape!
I love the nursery. I love that it's got lambies and bunnies and border collies and the perfect shade of green on the walls. I love that Daddy and I picked out the furniture and pattern together and that we both love them. We agree that the nursery is now the nicest room in the house. Only the best for our little man!
We put up the wallpaper border, cleaned the floor, arranged the furniture, put together the crib (including mattress, bumper, mobile, etc.), put up curtains and valances, hung photos on the wall, and moved in a glider rocker from our friend D.
Only a couple of things left to do: measure and put up blinds, put up floating wall shelves, get a rug...oh, and have a baby!
I have a lot of baby clothes to wash (get used to it, right???). That'll be my project this week after work -- that, and packing the hospital bag. We've still got to put the car seat bases into our cars and put the Pack 'n Play together, but I think we're in pretty durn good shape!
I love the nursery. I love that it's got lambies and bunnies and border collies and the perfect shade of green on the walls. I love that Daddy and I picked out the furniture and pattern together and that we both love them. We agree that the nursery is now the nicest room in the house. Only the best for our little man!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Broken Open
Today, after 32+ years of dealing with my (probably) bipolar mother, I told her she needs to leave my house. By next Friday.
With everything else that's going on in my life, I just can't deal with her undiagnosed, untreated illness anymore. And I simply cannot bring a child into that kind of environment. She has been rapid-cycling this year, which "conveniently" coincides with my pregnancy. But I'll tell you, it's been anything but convenient. In fact, it's been a living hell.
I always thought that my first pregnancy would be a super-happy time, filled with well-wishing loved ones and, especially, family members. And especially my mom. But the fact is that the stress has done nothing but exacerbate her illness, and she's been downright awful throughout the last 7 and a half months. I know that her hurtful words and actions are most likely caused by her bipolar disorder, but that still doesn't change the fact that they fucking hurt.
So I'm experiencing a big loss here, right before a huge life change. My daily BeliefNet email, as so often happens lately, couldn't have come at a better time.
It's like someone (or something) just knows, man. You know?
With everything else that's going on in my life, I just can't deal with her undiagnosed, untreated illness anymore. And I simply cannot bring a child into that kind of environment. She has been rapid-cycling this year, which "conveniently" coincides with my pregnancy. But I'll tell you, it's been anything but convenient. In fact, it's been a living hell.
I always thought that my first pregnancy would be a super-happy time, filled with well-wishing loved ones and, especially, family members. And especially my mom. But the fact is that the stress has done nothing but exacerbate her illness, and she's been downright awful throughout the last 7 and a half months. I know that her hurtful words and actions are most likely caused by her bipolar disorder, but that still doesn't change the fact that they fucking hurt.
So I'm experiencing a big loss here, right before a huge life change. My daily BeliefNet email, as so often happens lately, couldn't have come at a better time.
It's like someone (or something) just knows, man. You know?
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Getting ready?
I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions all morning, I'm pretty sure. They feel like menstrual cramps (woo hoo! just when you thought you wouldn't have to deal with anything menstrual for the better part of a year!).
I'm assuming it's because I haven't had anything to drink since I woke up -- naughty me. So I've filled my trusty Nalgene bottle with water and am dutifully sucking it down. Dehydration can cause BH contractions. Trouble is, a full bladder can cause them, too. So, you just can't win!
I'm assuming it's because I haven't had anything to drink since I woke up -- naughty me. So I've filled my trusty Nalgene bottle with water and am dutifully sucking it down. Dehydration can cause BH contractions. Trouble is, a full bladder can cause them, too. So, you just can't win!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
More Nursery Pics; "Professional" Reading
We're very happy with the color we chose ("Rejuvenate" by Behr), and with how the room looks after 2 coats of paint!
Now we just have to put up the wallpaper border above the chair rail, clean up the floor, assemble the crib, replace the door handles, replace the electrical outlets and light switch (and cover plates), put up curtain rods (and curtains and valances)...but we're getting close!
Here's what I've been reading lately:
Baby Bargains
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
What to Expect the First Year
Now we just have to put up the wallpaper border above the chair rail, clean up the floor, assemble the crib, replace the door handles, replace the electrical outlets and light switch (and cover plates), put up curtain rods (and curtains and valances)...but we're getting close!
Here's what I've been reading lately:
Baby Bargains
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
What to Expect the First Year
32 Week Update
Two weekends ago, my high school friends C, H, and J visited. C is a master cake-maker and brought this masterpiece, shaped like a Gerber baby food jar:
Yes, it says "smoked salmon and espresso cheesecake..." C is weird.
Mmmm, pumpkin spice cake...
Last weekend, MurkyDad and I continued working on the nursery. Here it is with 2 of the 3 pieces of furniture we picked up on Saturday, still covered in plastic. The crib is still in its flat-pack in the upstairs hallway.
We even washed the windows inside and out, and scraped off all the extra paint from the glass from when we'd painted them white.
It's coming along! More photos soon...
Yes, it says "smoked salmon and espresso cheesecake..." C is weird.
Mmmm, pumpkin spice cake...
Last weekend, MurkyDad and I continued working on the nursery. Here it is with 2 of the 3 pieces of furniture we picked up on Saturday, still covered in plastic. The crib is still in its flat-pack in the upstairs hallway.
We even washed the windows inside and out, and scraped off all the extra paint from the glass from when we'd painted them white.
It's coming along! More photos soon...
Monday, October 1, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
What not to say to a pregnant woman
"Wow, you don't look 7 months pregnant! You don't even look 5 months pregnant!" (from a colleague this morning)
As someone who has suffered a miscarriage in the past, I'm not able to handle this comment rationally. What do you mean I don't look pregnant? I certainly feel pregnant. My baby is moving around vigorously and frequently. My OB seems to think everything is going fine. Just because I'm not a huge fat elephant doesn't mean that I'm not experiencing any of the "joys" of being pregnant -- sleeplessness, swollen feet, backache, greasy hair, headaches, nosebleeds, heartburn, frequent urination -- the list goes on and on.
I'm 5'7". My baby is spread out inside my belly. My belly doesn't stick out 2 feet, but neither is it nonexistent.
Instead of telling me that I don't look very pregnant, how about offering me a chair or a glass of water? How about a kind word? God knows I'm not getting any of those from my mother lately.
This is supposed to be a happy time, and I am miserable.
As someone who has suffered a miscarriage in the past, I'm not able to handle this comment rationally. What do you mean I don't look pregnant? I certainly feel pregnant. My baby is moving around vigorously and frequently. My OB seems to think everything is going fine. Just because I'm not a huge fat elephant doesn't mean that I'm not experiencing any of the "joys" of being pregnant -- sleeplessness, swollen feet, backache, greasy hair, headaches, nosebleeds, heartburn, frequent urination -- the list goes on and on.
I'm 5'7". My baby is spread out inside my belly. My belly doesn't stick out 2 feet, but neither is it nonexistent.
Instead of telling me that I don't look very pregnant, how about offering me a chair or a glass of water? How about a kind word? God knows I'm not getting any of those from my mother lately.
This is supposed to be a happy time, and I am miserable.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Parent Drama
You may or may not know that my mother has some severe emotional issues, which I won't detail here. Anyway, we've been going through another bad spell for the last few days, and I must say that it's very, very tough.
Just please remember, anyone who's reading this right now, that anything you say to your loved ones -- for whatever reason and no matter whether or not you mean it -- those words can never, ever be unsaid. I pledge to spend the rest of my life NOT saying or doing to my child the things my mother has said or done to me over the last 32 years.
Several weeks ago, I subscribed to daily inspirational messages from BeliefNet.com. Nothing too religious, just general pick-me-ups and tips for dealing with life. In my email inbox today are messages with the following subject headings:
"Child Abuse and Karma"
"Are You Ready for the Struggles Ahead?"
It's eerie. I can't wait to read them.
Just please remember, anyone who's reading this right now, that anything you say to your loved ones -- for whatever reason and no matter whether or not you mean it -- those words can never, ever be unsaid. I pledge to spend the rest of my life NOT saying or doing to my child the things my mother has said or done to me over the last 32 years.
Several weeks ago, I subscribed to daily inspirational messages from BeliefNet.com. Nothing too religious, just general pick-me-ups and tips for dealing with life. In my email inbox today are messages with the following subject headings:
"Child Abuse and Karma"
"Are You Ready for the Struggles Ahead?"
It's eerie. I can't wait to read them.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Another coffee break update: 29.5 week checkup
Total weight gain: 22 lbs.
Blood sugar (from Aug. 20 glucose tolerance test): 110 (v. good!)
Blood pressure: 100/58 or something low like that
Learning that the baby is head-down: priceless -- and let's hope he stays head down. They're awfully hard to deliver ass-first!
Daddy's home working on the nursery while I, regretfully, have to stay at work until 7:30 p.m.-ish. Then I'm going to use the pregnancy as an excuse to beg off. I really just can't work until 9 p.m. anymore -- especially on a Friday!
We visited our top-choice daycare today so Daddy could check it out. It seems neat, clean and well-run. I think neither of us really wants to think too much about me returning to work and putting Murky in daycare, though. This morning while I was in a meeting, I felt a jab in my right side, reached down to pat it, and am pretty sure I felt a hard little foot protruding outward. I know we're going to fall head-over-heels in love with this child, and while we try to keep positive about our life circumstances right now (commuter relationship in adjoining states; two houses with big mortgages but no equity; how to face relocating my mother, who is currently living with me and has severe emotional issues), it just gets really tough sometimes. This is not how either of us thought it would be, and I know we'll work through it and make the best of it, but it would be nice to get to a point where we can say "Phew! Glad we got through that!" But I guess the only way is through, day by day, chipping away at what needs to be done a little at a time. I guess life doesn't give us anything that we can't handle.
Blood sugar (from Aug. 20 glucose tolerance test): 110 (v. good!)
Blood pressure: 100/58 or something low like that
Learning that the baby is head-down: priceless -- and let's hope he stays head down. They're awfully hard to deliver ass-first!
Daddy's home working on the nursery while I, regretfully, have to stay at work until 7:30 p.m.-ish. Then I'm going to use the pregnancy as an excuse to beg off. I really just can't work until 9 p.m. anymore -- especially on a Friday!
We visited our top-choice daycare today so Daddy could check it out. It seems neat, clean and well-run. I think neither of us really wants to think too much about me returning to work and putting Murky in daycare, though. This morning while I was in a meeting, I felt a jab in my right side, reached down to pat it, and am pretty sure I felt a hard little foot protruding outward. I know we're going to fall head-over-heels in love with this child, and while we try to keep positive about our life circumstances right now (commuter relationship in adjoining states; two houses with big mortgages but no equity; how to face relocating my mother, who is currently living with me and has severe emotional issues), it just gets really tough sometimes. This is not how either of us thought it would be, and I know we'll work through it and make the best of it, but it would be nice to get to a point where we can say "Phew! Glad we got through that!" But I guess the only way is through, day by day, chipping away at what needs to be done a little at a time. I guess life doesn't give us anything that we can't handle.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Preparation for motherhood
I am cranky.
These days, everything takes at least 3 times the effort, and makes me 3 times as tired.
I know, I know. You say "you just wait until the baby gets here." But at least the tiredness at that time will have a point and a purpose, and I'll be taking care of our child. Right now, except for the melon-belly, I don't look any different and from an outsider's point of view I shouldn't be acting any differently. At least, that's how I feel -- that I should be able to work my usual now-and-again 12-hour days, then go back to work the next day, then come home and do chores for several hours, then repeat.
But I can't. I left work at 6:30 on Monday night and let coworkers handle a meeting that would go until 9:00. Today I left at 4:30, stopped by the grocery store on the way home, fixed some lame takeout on a plate, threw a couple of loads of laundry in, and spent the rest of the time on the couch. It damn near killed me. During the usual struggle getting the fitted sheet back onto the bed, I nearly started to cry. I am hugely disappointed in myself because I'm missing a black sock.
I really need to chill.
These days, everything takes at least 3 times the effort, and makes me 3 times as tired.
I know, I know. You say "you just wait until the baby gets here." But at least the tiredness at that time will have a point and a purpose, and I'll be taking care of our child. Right now, except for the melon-belly, I don't look any different and from an outsider's point of view I shouldn't be acting any differently. At least, that's how I feel -- that I should be able to work my usual now-and-again 12-hour days, then go back to work the next day, then come home and do chores for several hours, then repeat.
But I can't. I left work at 6:30 on Monday night and let coworkers handle a meeting that would go until 9:00. Today I left at 4:30, stopped by the grocery store on the way home, fixed some lame takeout on a plate, threw a couple of loads of laundry in, and spent the rest of the time on the couch. It damn near killed me. During the usual struggle getting the fitted sheet back onto the bed, I nearly started to cry. I am hugely disappointed in myself because I'm missing a black sock.
I really need to chill.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Baby-Slinger-To-Be; Nursery-In-Progress Photos
Today I splurged and ordered myself a SlingEZee baby sling. I know, I know -- one can't be completely sure one will like the whole "babywearing," "sling thing" in general, but the SlingEZee gets consistently excellent reviews no matter where you look. Plus I liked the pretty patterns it's available in. Hey, I'm pregnant and able to indulge in, like, no vices these days (except ice cream), so forgive me this one thing.
Murky is definitely going through a growth spurt. He's done this before -- his usual activity level slows for a couple of days, and Mommy's tummy subsequently grows noticeably larger!
Photos of the nursery in progress:
The obligatory "before" (i.e. mess) picture.
Look at those sexy mitered corners and seams! Oh, wait -- you can't see the seams? That's because they're mitered so well! The walls are going to be sage green, and all of the trim, windows, and doors will be painted white.
We held up the wallpaper border just to give us hope that, someday, the nursery will be done. Isn't it cute? It has lambies! If you look closely enough, you'll notice that the lambies don't have knees, yet they're jumping. This is cause for no end of hilarity in MurkyWorld. Hey, we never pretended it was called NormalWorld.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Busy, Busy Baby
Murky, I think it's really cute how you make the laptop jump and roll when it's resting on my belly!
Last weekend, Dad and I had the first of two all-day Saturday childbirth preparation classes. We learned the typical breathing exercises, labor positions, how to recognize the stages of labor, etc. Next week we get to tour the birth center. We also ordered the nursery furniture, bought the bedding and accessories, and worked on the nursery some more. I must say, I greatly admire Dad's mitering skills!
The hospital offers a breastfeeding class; I hope to sign up for one in the near future -- probably in October.
Tonight, I watched some MSNBC stuff about the state of the world and politics, and then there was a Dateline special on a horrible home invasion/triple murder that took place recently. How can we possibly hope to raise a normal, well-adjusted kid with so much crap going on all around us? I guess every generation of parents feels that way, but sometimes it just seems like the odds are stacked against this new crop of little ones. Global warming, overpopulation, pollution, corruption...it goes on and on. I know they'll somehow find a way to overcome, or at least deal with, all of it, but I personally want to do everything I can in the meantime to make the world a happier, more human place. I want to remember, on a daily basis, that I am fortunate to have so many blessings, and that I should cherish them: my partner, my family, my friends, my work, my environment, my health, and, of course, my little boy (ETA: TBA, of course!).
A lot of people have few, or even none, of those things.
Last weekend, Dad and I had the first of two all-day Saturday childbirth preparation classes. We learned the typical breathing exercises, labor positions, how to recognize the stages of labor, etc. Next week we get to tour the birth center. We also ordered the nursery furniture, bought the bedding and accessories, and worked on the nursery some more. I must say, I greatly admire Dad's mitering skills!
The hospital offers a breastfeeding class; I hope to sign up for one in the near future -- probably in October.
Tonight, I watched some MSNBC stuff about the state of the world and politics, and then there was a Dateline special on a horrible home invasion/triple murder that took place recently. How can we possibly hope to raise a normal, well-adjusted kid with so much crap going on all around us? I guess every generation of parents feels that way, but sometimes it just seems like the odds are stacked against this new crop of little ones. Global warming, overpopulation, pollution, corruption...it goes on and on. I know they'll somehow find a way to overcome, or at least deal with, all of it, but I personally want to do everything I can in the meantime to make the world a happier, more human place. I want to remember, on a daily basis, that I am fortunate to have so many blessings, and that I should cherish them: my partner, my family, my friends, my work, my environment, my health, and, of course, my little boy (ETA: TBA, of course!).
A lot of people have few, or even none, of those things.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
New Car Adventures (or, Gotta Love CT Taxes!)
Registration Fee: $75.00
Non-Emissions Fee: $40.00
Title Search Fee: $25.00
Federal Clean Air Act Fee: $10.00
Lien Fee: $10.00
License Plate Fee: $5.00
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fee: $5.00
Plus 6% CT sales tax on the purchase price of the vehicle, paid in full, all due when I register my car at the DMV.
I particularly love the "Non-Emissions Fee" -- they're charging me $40.00 because I am registering a new car, which is not subject to an emissions test (which costs $40.00). Guess they have to get their $40.00 either way, even though they don't actually have to do anything to my car.
As for the Clean Air Act and Greenhouse Gas Reduction fees: What, exactly, is my $15.00 going to? The federal government? Planting trees? How does my money directly clean the air and reduce greenhouse gases?
Non-Emissions Fee: $40.00
Title Search Fee: $25.00
Federal Clean Air Act Fee: $10.00
Lien Fee: $10.00
License Plate Fee: $5.00
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fee: $5.00
Plus 6% CT sales tax on the purchase price of the vehicle, paid in full, all due when I register my car at the DMV.
I particularly love the "Non-Emissions Fee" -- they're charging me $40.00 because I am registering a new car, which is not subject to an emissions test (which costs $40.00). Guess they have to get their $40.00 either way, even though they don't actually have to do anything to my car.
As for the Clean Air Act and Greenhouse Gas Reduction fees: What, exactly, is my $15.00 going to? The federal government? Planting trees? How does my money directly clean the air and reduce greenhouse gases?
Monday, September 3, 2007
New Addition to the Murky Family!
No, Murky hasn't decided to make an early appearance, thank goodness -- but here's a picture of Mama's new car, which we'll be picking up on Saturday:
Just think -- we'll be able to heft little Murky around in a 4-door, safe, convenient auto that fits all of his accoutrements (stroller, diaper bags, Chinese nanny -- just kidding)! As you know, I'm currently driving an Acura sport coupe. It is...shall we say...less than practical: sucks in the snow (new car is 4wd), sits low to the ground, and only has 2 doors (ever tried to get a baby in a car seat in and out of a low-slung coupe?).
I'm very excited. I know MurkyDad is excited too, but probably he's just excited to be done with the whole agonizing car-shopping process. But he was very sweet and helpful throughout the whole process. And who knows? He may be buying a sweet Honda Fit in the next year or so! I think he fell in love at the dealership...
Just think -- we'll be able to heft little Murky around in a 4-door, safe, convenient auto that fits all of his accoutrements (stroller, diaper bags, Chinese nanny -- just kidding)! As you know, I'm currently driving an Acura sport coupe. It is...shall we say...less than practical: sucks in the snow (new car is 4wd), sits low to the ground, and only has 2 doors (ever tried to get a baby in a car seat in and out of a low-slung coupe?).
I'm very excited. I know MurkyDad is excited too, but probably he's just excited to be done with the whole agonizing car-shopping process. But he was very sweet and helpful throughout the whole process. And who knows? He may be buying a sweet Honda Fit in the next year or so! I think he fell in love at the dealership...
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Coffee Break Post: Suburban Homesteading
I'll post more about this later, but I just wanted to chronicle, as much for my own memory as for anyone else's edification, what I've been reading lately (or would like to read in the near future). Most of them are offshoots of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver:
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan -- this and Kingsolver's book are primarily responsible for my recent and dramatic conversion, as much as is practical, to purchasing and consuming locally-produced organic foods. More on that later (when I'm not at work).
Two books by Wendell Berry: The Art of the Commonplace and The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture.
The Good Life and other books by Helen and Scott Nearing.
Marion Nestle's What to Eat.
John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It.
David E. Robinson's The Complete Homesteading Book.
And, for fun, Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. ;-)
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan -- this and Kingsolver's book are primarily responsible for my recent and dramatic conversion, as much as is practical, to purchasing and consuming locally-produced organic foods. More on that later (when I'm not at work).
Two books by Wendell Berry: The Art of the Commonplace and The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture.
The Good Life and other books by Helen and Scott Nearing.
Marion Nestle's What to Eat.
John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It.
David E. Robinson's The Complete Homesteading Book.
And, for fun, Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. ;-)
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Nothing to it!
I don't know what the heck is wrong with me lately -- work is just as tiring as ever, but somehow the tiredness isn't bothering me as much. I guess maybe part of me has decided to accept tiredness/exhaustion as par for the course for the next umpteen years, and this is my subconscious's way of preparing me for it. Anyway, today after work I stopped by the local organic farm market near work and picked up some in-season veggies (plum tomatoes, a zucchini and a yellow squash), and then I went to the "regular" store and bought organic flour and yeast and cornmeal. I brought all of this home, whipped up a double batch of homemade pizza dough (made with whey from the batch of homemade mozzarella I made last night -- more on that later), and assembled the veggies I'd bought, plus olive oil, fresh basil from the garden, the rest of a roasted red pepper from the jar in the fridge, and, of course, some Parmesan and what remained of the fresh mozz on the pizza dough. My friends, let me tell you -- this pizza was fantastic, if I may say so myself. I even had some sliced veggies left over that wouldn't fit on the pizza crust, so I stuck them in the oven in a crock next to the pizza while it baked, layered with olive oil and cheeses and herbs. So I had an action- and veggie-packed evening!
Yes, you heard me correctly: I made homemade mozzarella cheese last night. It's ridiculously easy to do. Of course, it takes about an hour, plus one gallon of whole milk (and I bought the expensive organic kind for my first experiment, which cost $6.99!) and some cheesemaking supplies (I purchased a kit that makes 40 batches of mozz or ricotta for $25 plus shipping). But that's beside the point. The point is that I made my own cheese! And it was really, really good! And we actually ate all of it!
So yeah, I've been a little manic lately. Not only did I shop and then cook from scratch tonight, I also did a load of laundry and worked on Daddy's afghan. Oh yeah, and I whipped up a homemade batch of dog biscuits in the oven, to boot. This is despite the fact that my dog woke me up with a sort of sneezing/coughing/gagging attack at 5 a.m. in the crate next to my bed, and of course after he recovered he had to go out and pee, and of course by then it was light out, so....you get the picture. Not much sleep for MurkyMama today. But what do I do? I work all day and then play the role of Suburban Homesteader!
This is bound to catch up with me soon. ;-)
Yes, you heard me correctly: I made homemade mozzarella cheese last night. It's ridiculously easy to do. Of course, it takes about an hour, plus one gallon of whole milk (and I bought the expensive organic kind for my first experiment, which cost $6.99!) and some cheesemaking supplies (I purchased a kit that makes 40 batches of mozz or ricotta for $25 plus shipping). But that's beside the point. The point is that I made my own cheese! And it was really, really good! And we actually ate all of it!
So yeah, I've been a little manic lately. Not only did I shop and then cook from scratch tonight, I also did a load of laundry and worked on Daddy's afghan. Oh yeah, and I whipped up a homemade batch of dog biscuits in the oven, to boot. This is despite the fact that my dog woke me up with a sort of sneezing/coughing/gagging attack at 5 a.m. in the crate next to my bed, and of course after he recovered he had to go out and pee, and of course by then it was light out, so....you get the picture. Not much sleep for MurkyMama today. But what do I do? I work all day and then play the role of Suburban Homesteader!
This is bound to catch up with me soon. ;-)
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Birthday weekend
I had a lovely, if eclectic, birthday weekend -- a day in Boston for MurkyDad's alumni softball game on Saturday (he can tell you how much "fun" it was), then down to CT, where we spent the afternoon/evening preparing a delicious homemade lobster risotto from scratch -- including homemade lobster stock made from simmering real lobster shells with wine, onions, garlic, and herbs. I won't go into detail about trying to grind the shells in the Cuisinart before boiling them in the stock, which is what the recipe suggested, but suffice it to say that 1) there was Massive Cuisinart Leakage, and 2) MDad was extraordinarily sweet and even wiped down my fishy-guts kitchen for me.
Sunday night we had delicious risotto and local corn on the cob and ice cream and cake with a thousand candles (it seemed) on it. MDad gave me sweet, sweet earrings shaped like dragonflies with my birthstone on them, and I'm also going to be treated to a prenatal spa day this weekend when we're down visiting his mom. My mom, ever the practical Yankee, gave me a day's worth of work from our local landscaper (some of my trees have grown to Lord of the Rings proportions), gift cards to Motherhood Maternity stores, and a new travel mug that can be microwaved and washed in the dishwasher (both qualities my former mug lacked; but hey, it was a free gift from the guy who sold me my car). We ended the evening on a quiet note, as Daddy worked on his computer and I worked on Daddy's afghan -- which I've been working on since January-ish...
On Monday I ate breakfast and then fasted for 3 hours for my Glucose Tolerance Test. While fasting, MDad and I worked on measuring and cutting ceiling moulding and chair rail for the nursery. After the three-hour fast, we headed to the lab so they could draw the usual 5 vials of blood (sheesh). I don't know if I passed the test or not, but the phlebotomist did tell me that my doctor should have the results today at the latest, and I didn't hear anything from him today, so I hope that's good news. I've had friends with gestational diabetes, and it doesn't sound like fun.
After the lab, we came back and put up all the chair rail and got started on the ceiling moulding -- brad nailers are fun! Then we headed down to New Haven for dinner at a fabulous Indian restaurant, where they serve, rather incongruously if you ask me, Giant Vats of Mojitos. It's really the only way I can describe it. You kind of had to be there. This was no normal mojito.
In all, a lovely, lovely birthday weekend. Oh, and Murky gave me a present, too: On Saturday morning, Daddy was able to feel him kick for the first time. What more could a girl ask for?
Sunday night we had delicious risotto and local corn on the cob and ice cream and cake with a thousand candles (it seemed) on it. MDad gave me sweet, sweet earrings shaped like dragonflies with my birthstone on them, and I'm also going to be treated to a prenatal spa day this weekend when we're down visiting his mom. My mom, ever the practical Yankee, gave me a day's worth of work from our local landscaper (some of my trees have grown to Lord of the Rings proportions), gift cards to Motherhood Maternity stores, and a new travel mug that can be microwaved and washed in the dishwasher (both qualities my former mug lacked; but hey, it was a free gift from the guy who sold me my car). We ended the evening on a quiet note, as Daddy worked on his computer and I worked on Daddy's afghan -- which I've been working on since January-ish...
On Monday I ate breakfast and then fasted for 3 hours for my Glucose Tolerance Test. While fasting, MDad and I worked on measuring and cutting ceiling moulding and chair rail for the nursery. After the three-hour fast, we headed to the lab so they could draw the usual 5 vials of blood (sheesh). I don't know if I passed the test or not, but the phlebotomist did tell me that my doctor should have the results today at the latest, and I didn't hear anything from him today, so I hope that's good news. I've had friends with gestational diabetes, and it doesn't sound like fun.
After the lab, we came back and put up all the chair rail and got started on the ceiling moulding -- brad nailers are fun! Then we headed down to New Haven for dinner at a fabulous Indian restaurant, where they serve, rather incongruously if you ask me, Giant Vats of Mojitos. It's really the only way I can describe it. You kind of had to be there. This was no normal mojito.
In all, a lovely, lovely birthday weekend. Oh, and Murky gave me a present, too: On Saturday morning, Daddy was able to feel him kick for the first time. What more could a girl ask for?
6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast
"I can't believe that!" said Alice.
"Can't you?" the queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes."
Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
"Can't you?" the queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes."
Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Friday, August 17, 2007
Vege-tainment
I've been listening to Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle in the car. My book group is discussing it next week. In a departure from her usual fictional format, Kingsolver, her husband and two daughters chronicle a year spent growing, buying, and consuming as many locally-grown items as possible. It's unbelievable how much petroleum it costs to grow and ship foods around the world the way we do. I also didn't know that the American Broad-Breasted White turkey -- the one with which most of us are familiar, from supermarkets to our Thanksgiving tables -- has been inbred so instensely (to ensure fat, meaty birds), that the mature birds are fully incapable of foraging for their own food or even of mating. That's right, folks: the chick that grew into your Turkey Day meal started out as the product of Artificial Turkey Insemination. There are people whose actual job it is to collect turkey sperm from live turkeys and inject it into live turkey hens.
Oh, Murky -- I promise Daddy and I will take you to real farms, where real food is grown and harvested (and where the turkeys are able to have actual sex). Or, even better, that we'll try to grow some food of our own. Not sure we're up to raising turkeys, but you get the point...
Oh, Murky -- I promise Daddy and I will take you to real farms, where real food is grown and harvested (and where the turkeys are able to have actual sex). Or, even better, that we'll try to grow some food of our own. Not sure we're up to raising turkeys, but you get the point...
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