Bed rest, baby, and me.

I had an ultrasound and an appointment today. It went well. Look at her chubby cheeks! She's 34 weeks along today and is measuring in the 58% percentile. Good baby! So that makes me feel better and it's good to know that she's right on track still despite the fact that I am measuring ahead. Her heartbeat was 147. It has stayed in the 140s the whole time. She wouldn't cooperate to get a 3D picture of her face, but that's fine. The 2D was surprisingly decent and she doesn't look like an alien anymore! Cute baby.

For the time being, I have been taken off of full bed rest. I am still on limited activity though. I have to lay down for at least an hour in the morning and afternoon and have to get at 8-10 hours of sleep each night. I'm allowed to go out and do things but have to limit any errands or shopping trips to an hour a day. I can do things around the house, but have to keep it really light. I can't vacuum or anything like that. So Husband can continue doing that stuff. He's so good.

I'm just so happy not to be on straight bed rest. I know that people can find ways to pass the time and I know I would have been able to do that, but even just the few short days was awful. I enjoy reading but even that gets to be old when I'm just laying around. I don't mind resting. I enjoy it. I just want the option to get up out of bed and go somewhere if need be. I may not even do much of anything, but to have the option makes me feel better. I know in the long run, everything I do is for babycake, which makes it much more tolerable. I think I was worried about her as well, so knowing that she is doing fine makes me feel much better. The upside to bed rest is that my feet look great. No swelling at all. I do need to accept the possibility that this can change though, and I could be placed back on bed rest if things start to look not-so-good again.

I"m excited to be able to work on her room a little bit now. I ordered a bunch of things online yesterday, including her dresser. I received notification that it shipped today. Once that comes, Husband can put that together and then I can wash all of her clothes and put her things away. Husband also put together her pack & play yesterday. The cat discovered the pack & play and Husband caught her sleeping in it last night. Husband also purchased a couple of wicker laundry hampers for our room. These now belong to her as well, of course.


Oh, since I'm not allowed to go back to work, I went today and turned in my FMLA paperwork. I miss everything while I'm gone. Yesterday, apparently there was a ruckus. There is an open position in office support - you know, shredding paper, making copies, mailing letters, etc. Since it's really more of a grunt position, apparently the screening process isn't as extensive as the one used to hire for a higher paid/skilled position. Well, perhaps the State should re-evaluate their standards.

An older lady showed up in the lobby yesterday to interview for the position. As the office coordinator came to the lobby to bring her back for her interview, some tattooed man runs in and yells, "Don't let her in there! The police are on their way!" The office person thought it was a bit shady, so she brought the lady in and had her sit in an empty cubicle while she collected the paperwork for the interview. The police did in fact show up and said they had to question the lady. They started asking her questions. She was uncooperative. She ended up being hauled away.

So here's the whole story.

The woman rode the city bus downtown for her interview. While on the bus, she steals this dude's cell phone. She gets off the bus and goes into a cafe. The guy follows her and has someone call his phone and the woman's purse starts to ring. So he knows she jacked his phone. She realizes she is caught and then barricades herself in the bathroom. While in the bathroom, she disposes of the phone in the garbage, but keeps the battery. She then bolts from the cafe and comes to our office and waits for her interview. The guy follows her in yelling. She is brought in from the lobby into the office and left unsupervised in an empty cubicle while things are being sorted out. While in the cubicle, she disposes of the cell phone battery in the garbage can. The police show up to question her. She is uncooperative. They find the cell phone battery in the garbage after searching. She is taken away and arrested, and is being charged with obstruction and theft.

It's so stupid and so funny. I hope it ends up in the paper so I can know what her name is.

The whole time, my supervisor had been waiting to interview her. The office person goes in there and says, "You won't be interviewing so-and-so as she was just arrested by the police."

I wonder if she will be sent a rejection letter. Thank goodness she never made it any further. I'd hate for her to work there and then steal from us. I leave my purse out all the time and I don't lock my drawers. I mean, I work for a state agency. You'd think you wouldn't have to worry about something like that. And I still don't think I have to. The people I work with are honest people and have integrity. I think this woman just slipped through somehow.

I miss everything when I'm gone. Nothing ever happens when I'm there.

Bed rest, part II

Uh...so I got my test results back on Saturday from my 24-hr pee collection.

If your protein levels are 300 or above, you are considered to have pre-eclampsia. Am I spelling that right? Anyway, my levels are 275. That, coupled with my slightly hypertensive blood pressure, means that I can't go back to work until after Sofia is born. This sucks, for a million reasons.

I can't just NOT go back to work, but I can't even do anything. I have to lay around all day long. I can't do any housework. I can't put the nursery together. I can't go anywhere unless wherever I am going is a the clinic or a place where I can lay down. That pretty much gives me the option of going to my parents house.

It's also going to mess things up with work. I didn't plan on going on maternity leave until I went into labor. Well, that's totally shot now. I have to call my boss tomorrow and explain that I can't come back to work until the end of August now. I hope very much that Sofie comes early because I will need 6-8 weeks with her after she is born, but I only have 12 weeks allowed per FMLA, which starts this week. I'll be 36 weeks as of June 29th. Part of me hopes that she comes that week. Maybe they can induce me. Of course, only if she's healthy. But the other part of me feels bad because I know the longer she stays in, the better it is for her. I'll be doing weekly ultrasounds now most likely so that they can check her growth, which is good anyway because she has been measuring ahead. Right now I'm measuring at 37 weeks, so maybe at 36 weeks she'll be all done and ready to come out. I know that all of this is totally out of my control, so I will just keep doing whatever I'm supposed to do. Which is, apparently....nothing.

All will be well.... I just hope I don't die of boredom. Husband put the TV in our bedroom. I can also lay on our couch. Good thing we have Netflix and Showtime on demand. I've been wanting to catch up on Season 5 of Dexter anyway. I have a blanket I'm knitting. I have to work on the thank-you cards from my baby shower last weekend. I have a ton of Sookie Stackhouse books that I borrowed from a co-worker. Husband starts his job on July 11th, so hopefully baby comes before then so I'm not home alone unable to do anything. I'm thinking that if I'm still pregnant when he goes to work, I'll just spend the days at my mom and dad's house in case I go into labor. I know my dad will be around to drive me to the hospital if need be.

Bed rest, FTW!!

Look. I gave myself a trophy.


I'm on bed rest for a couple of days. I had my 34 week appointment today. My blood pressure is still slightly high and my midwife doesn't like it. It was totally normal until I hit 27 weeks. Since then it has been consistently above normal. They are calling it "pregnancy induced hypertension" or "gestational hypertension." It's annoying. I thought I had been doing everything right, drinking water, watching my salt intake, drinking soy milk (yes, this helps your blood pressure). I've been checked for protein in the urine each time and each time it came back totally negative. Even when I got sick back in April and had to stay overnight in the hospital, they checked and it was fine. But now that we're in the last few week stretch, she wants to make sure I'm not developing pre-eclampsia. So I'm on bed rest until I hear from her Sunday. Also, for the next 24 hours, I get to collect my pee in a giant orange jug which I keep in my fridge and then I have to turn it into the lab tomorrow. This entails me peeing in this plastic hat thing that I put in my toilet and then proceeding to pour my pee into the jug. Gross. Going to the bathroom is becoming a chore because I have to go downstairs, get the jug, go back upstairs, pee, put the pee in the jug, rinse out the hat, go back downstairs and put the jug in the fridge. The fact that it has to be refrigerated grosses me out. The whole thing grosses me out. We could have kept a cooler in the bathroom with ice but that's too much work and we don't even have a cooler. The jug is really tall so it won't fit in the fridge unless I put it in the side of the door, which meant I had to move the bbq sauce and the ketchup to make room for the pee jug. I can't wait until this is done and I hope I don't have to do this pee thing again.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to take a picture of the pee jug. It's big and orange and it has my name on it and it's filling up with my pee.

If they find that the test comes back abnormal, it means bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. Which means I have to go on early maternity leave from work, which is not something I want to do because I didn't plan on going for at least another month. Husband starts a new job on July 11th (at my office..heeeheehee!!) so if I can at least ride this out until then, it would be much easier on us financially. I also feel bad for Husband because if I go on bed rest, he has even more on his shoulders as I would be unable to help him with anything. He already does so much. Look, he put together Sofie's changing table. He's so handy! I have to buy a changing pad. And some baskets to put in the cubby holes. He took these pictures.


The cat thinks that all of the new things we are getting belong to her.

See?


And this is from before...


Sofie gave me a scare yesterday. Yesterday morning, I was concerned because I hadn't felt her move much since the day before. I went into the clinic and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor. Heartbeat was good but she was being lazy. So they had me drink some apple juice. Apparently that's all it took for her to start moving around and being silly. It's okay Sofie, I like apple juice, too. :)

She's still measuring ahead, at 37 weeks. My midwife felt her today and estimated her at around 5 pounds. I have (another) ultrasound scheduled for the week after next to check her growth. Depending on how that goes, she may get an eviction notice at 39 weeks. The due date may be off somewhat which would explain her measuring ahead since I don't have gestational diabetes and don't have a history of big babies in our family. I know I was a week early, and was 8lbs at birth. My mom said that she knew I would be early because she felt the doctors were wrong on her due date. A mother always knows. I hit the jackpot on ultrasounds for this pregnancy. And my insurance has covered all of them. Most people only get one. I bet they'll get a 3D one this time so maybe I can see what her face looks like!

All will be well. I'm betting that I'll get a call Sunday telling me I don't have pre-e and to just make sure I'm staying hydrated and watching my sodium. Sofie, be good! 6 more weeks and you can come out. :)

Bad maternity photos III

You thought you had seen it all. So did I. We were both wrong. I'm starting to notice a couple of themes when I stumble upon these terrible photos. Guns, nudity, and shame.

Remember the girl pointing the gun from the last bad maternity photo post? Well, I don't know how, but I found another one from their photo shoot. It just never ends.


"Yeah! I did it! I put it in a lady!" VICTORY!! Obviously, she doesn't look as happy about the whole situation.


Have you guys played Plants vs. Zombies? I think that's what's going on here. The alternative is too horrible to continue.


The only thing that comes to mind, is "crotch dumpling."


I guess this is trying to make some deep seeded point about "bearing a burden" or something. But does she really need to be wearing that outfit? Is there any reason for the hat?


Dude needs to work on his posture.

Okay, seriously. Enough.


This is already setting up a very strange power dynamic to bring a new life into.


First, it was kung fu fighting. Then it was love. "I have mastered you in single combat, woman, and then I gained the right to plunder your womb by the code of Bushido. As the cherry blossoms fall, so did your maidenhead." That's probably what he said.


Yeah, lady. It's the sound of jackhammers that is going to make your unborn child a slope-browed mongoloid. Keep puffing that Virginia Slim and spending my tax money.


I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this photo. Some infomercial-driven pregnancy exercise program or something.


I suppose I could say about 200 words regarding this picture. But I won't. I just won't.


The last person to remove their hand gets to keep the baby. It's a Texas tradition.


Which is classier? The stomach tattoos or the proud dad taking the opportunity to flip a double bird over his woman's milk sacks? It's a toss-up.


Ah yes, a baby's best friend. Dogs are always freaked out by babies. It's like someone taught a big wad of hamburger meat to cry, yell, and poop. Which kind of ruins the appeal of hamburger meat.

This actually crosses the line into actual dementia.


I feel so bad for this poor, dumb animal. The horse doesn't have it too good either.


Well, it looks like David Bowie finally took things a little too far and crossed the line. I"m having problems right now. I'm having a micro-stroke.


This is classy though. Right....? It's not? Oh.


I'm not quite sure what exhibition of fantasy future weaponry this is exactly, but exposing an unborn baby to toxic levels of nerdery can result in them being born with a World of Warcraft account. My husband would like that. :)


I don't even have anything to say about this picture.


What kind of mental disorder do you need to have to think that taking these photographs would be a good idea? Look at that dude. He should not be passing his genetic information on. Even with her.

Tuesday

Today is Tuesday, and the last day of my 6-day weekend. Sad. I have to go back to work tomorrow. Which is fine, I have to go sometime. Besides, it won't be long before I'm off of work for quite a while anyway. I should probably try and work as much as possible before Sofie makes her appearance and I have to go on maternity leave. It's hard to work more than 9 hours a day though. I get so TIRED. I hit a wall around 2pm, so I have been going in extra early so that I can get my entire day in by that time and then some extra so I can leave early on Fridays.

I'm hungry. I want ice cream. I might get some after my pedicure.

Husband was supposed to go fishing today but... the weather forecast has strong storms and wind for the afternoon. Since he's still sound asleep, I think that by the time he gets up, fishing is going to be a no-go. He and his buddy will have to find something else to do. I hear it isn't safe to be out on a boat when there is wind and lightning.

I finally got my thank-you cards written out from my work-baby shower. I'll bring them to work tomorrow since I'm not there today.

Notes on the pregnancy...

So far I've been lucky enough to only have my feet swell up twice, both times from just being on them for too long. Now that the humid weather has started to set in, I know it's only a matter of time before my feet look bad. So I think today I'll go and get a pedicure so that they can look nice for at least a day or two. My polish is all peeling anyway. I tried to remove it myself the other day, and that was hilarious. I am glad nobody saw! My belly is in the way and if I bend over wrong or even try to reposition myself in bed, it's really painful. Just a few more weeks though!

My most recent appointment was last week Friday. She's measuring ahead still. I asked the midwife if this means that my uterus is just big or if it means that Sofie is bigger. She said it could be either one. There's no concern regarding the possibility of her being ahead because I don't have gestational diabetes, but it is possible that the due date may be slightly off, OR Sofie is just growing faster. She said they aren't wanting to check just yet, but if I haven't had her by 38 weeks, we'll have an ultrasound. If she's good sized, they'll induce me at 39 weeks if they feel it would be better for me. Which is good. I'm thinking she'll just come early on her own though.

She's super active all the time. She is head down as well, which is good. I figured she was based on where I was feeling most of her kicking, but they checked just to make sure, and she is definitely head down. I think she wants out. Sometimes I feel like her foot is going to bust right through my belly. She needs to cook a little longer. But I will be surprised if we make it to July 27th. Watch, now that I said that, I'll go until the first week of August...

I have my baby shower this upcoming Sunday. I'm really excited and happy that my friends and my mom are doing that for me.

Nothing much more to say right now. I need to find something to eat. Do you like wallpapers? I do. Here's one. I stole it off of Flickr. I have no idea who to give credit to. Sorry. But it's pretty.

it always turns toward food.

Conversations, that is. With pregnant women. I never really noticed it, but my friend is right. See e-mail thread:

Me: I stopped having dreams of Husband being gay. Now I've been dreaming of black musicians or movie stars delivering my baby. Last night it was Morgan Freeman. He was narrating the entire process like he does in nature documentaries. I wanted him to shut up and he wouldn't. Then he started narrating about ME and why I was so upset and agitated.

The night before it was Lenny Kravitz. And before that it was Prince. Does Prince count as a black guy? I think he does. The night before THAT was some black TV star with an afro, and I think I may have seen him on Grey's Anatomy or some other medical drama. Or maybe it was John Legend.

On top of that, each time they deliver the baby, they just hand it over to me and I don't know what to do. In one of those dreams I was wheeled into a closet and the lights were turned off and everyone went to lunch.

Friend #1: I think Prince counts as a black gay guy. Hopefully once Husband gets home, you will be able to sleep better. Stop watching the Discovery Channel or any other documentary with Morgan Freeman. That might help, too.

Friend #2: Is Prince gay?

Is there a 50/50 chance that your baby might be black? I mean, since you're getting close to the end, maybe you are subconsciously worrying and fretting that the baby will be black and Husband will demand answers.

I know a chick who did that. Her man didn't suspect a thing. Until what should have been a white baby came out half black. OMG! Can you imagine?

Friend #1: Seriously he wears higher heels than (coworker A and coworker B) combined. Prince HAS to be gay. Hey, how did that family situation turn out?

Friend #2: I think he walked out of the delivery room! I didn't really know her. I knew of her though. It happened to the brother of a guy I was dating. I met the girl a few times while she was pregnant. Never saw her again after the baby was born. Saw the brother a few times afterward and he wasn't a happy camper. Didn't have much good to say about her.

Me: No kidding. That's stuff that only happens in movies. I can't imagine what it would be like to have that happen or know someone who had that happen. I wouldn't know what to say. It would be an awkward conversation. What do you say? Do you tell them, "I'm sorry that happened to you" and then offer them a cookie? Cookies always make me feel better. I have a feeling that cookies might not help with this situation though. Especially if they were Oreos. I love Oreos...

Friend #2: Pregnant women are SO fun to have conversations with. It always turns to food.

I didn't die......

Yes. It has been a while. I'm sorry. I could say that it's because I am busy. Or that I'm lazy. Or just really tired. I think it's a combination of all of those things. But a lot of stuff happened!

The last time I posted was about the diaper bag and the shopping. That was on a Friday. The following Sunday I felt really sick. Flu-like sick, and nasty things were happening to me. Monday I went to work and went home right away because I felt sick. As soon as I got home, I spent 20 minutes in the bathroom throwing up in a garbage can while I sat on the toilet doing... other things. It was pretty terrible. The puking didn't get better later on in the day either, and I wasn't able to keep any food or liquids down.

Off to the emergency room!

Seriously, who gets hospitalized for the flu? Me, apparently. Don't get the flu when you are pregnant. It doesn't act like a normal flu. It acts like a radioactive flu on steroids. It's horrible. HORRIBLE! I spent the night in labor and delivery. It was nice to know that the baby was fine, and I got to hear her heartbeat a lot. That was fun. I discovered Zofran, which I still have a prescription for and it's a total lifesaver when it comes to nausea. It also tastes like oranges.

I only had to stay in the hospital overnight. I was released the following afternoon. I was sick for about a week. Then I got better.

The following week was back to normal. On April 29th, my coworkers threw a baby shower for me and two other girls in the office. It was nice. I got a lot of nice things. I still have to do thank-you cards.

The following week started a three-week hiatus of mine and Husband's marriage. Okay, not really. But he did leave on 5/1/11 for his annual deployment and will not be back until 5/20/11. I'm super lonely now. And super tired. I am well aware of how much Husband does to help me but I'm even more aware of it now that he is gone and I have to do everything myself! But, I am managing, and I find that if you are forced to do something, after a while it isn't so bad. I have been eating like a college student though - by going to my mom and dad's for supper most nights. I also baked a casserole and have been eating that since Thursday of last week and I should probably throw it out. The plan today after work is to go home, do some laundry, and clean the bathroom. Huge events, let me tell you. It should be interesting to see what it feels like to bend down on my hands and knees to scrub the bathtub. BUT, the bathtub will be clean so that's exciting. You should strap a basketball to your belly and try to do things. Fun times!

Oh, I went to the park with a friend of mine and her babies last Saturday. We saw animals. There were bears. I enjoyed it.

I've also done other things recently. I baked a tuna casserole. It was mediocre. I'm not posting the recipe. I was totally craving it, and have been forcing myself to eat it (see above regarding said casserole) but I just can't finish it and will be throwing the rest out today. It's probably getting old anyway.

I've also been reading about raw/live vegan food and recipes, and let me tell you - a lot of it sounds really good. I'm sort of focused on sweets right now though. I figure, if I am going to eat something chocolaty, I might as well make it healthy. So, I did. I found this recipe for raw chocolate fudge cookies. I will make them again and blog the recipe now that I know it actually tastes good. I have another recipe for raw lemon cookies which I will also try. No, it isn't raw cookie dough. You use fresh unprocessed ingredients and you do not cook it. When you cook fruits and vegetables, the enzymes break down you don't get the health benefits. So my new goal is to learn how to make yummy things totally raw and pass them off as normal food. And eat them. And make my friends eat them. Or at least make Husband eat them.

So, that's it for now. Sorry for the lapse in posting. But I'm alive, I swear.