Friday, February 29, 2008
Belly
This is my huge belly. Beneath belly (somewhere) are my feet. The little tiny legs and stripy socks belong to Rebecca - who insisted on being in the photo.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
30 weeks: time to switch over
Just got back from my last appointment with my GP. After this, all my prenatal appointments are with my obstetrician. The nurse gave me some very helpful advice about how to survive being home with a newborn and a toddler. She suggested that once the newborn was about 2 months (when the routine is more settled), having a daily walk between breakfast and lunch is a good idea for everyone, and helps wear down the toddler. Also, she gave her toddler the opportunity (not forcing) to help by bringing necessary items (for example, when the baby needs a change). She made sure to have lots of simple meals frozen and prepared in advanced (something I had bought supplies to do last time, but never got to execute due to Becca's early arrival). In addition, she had a basket of goodies for her toddler to play with during baby feeding times (the basket only came out at that time). In the afternoon, everyone took a nap - even if they didn't sleep, they got quiet restful time to themselves. I think this is a particularly good approach. I hope that I can remember to use all these ideas.
My lungs are now clear of crackling and other nastiness. I have not finished my course of antibiotics yet - and I intend to take things slowly at first. The last thing I want to do is catch someone's cold at work and wind up in the same situation. So, for today, I will be going to work in the afternoon and not stressing too much. I plan to try to take better care of myself and make sure my immune system is in good shape. My lungs feel tired, but I don't feel like there is a little demon sitting in there anymore. Unfortunately, I am now starting to feel the side effects of the antibiotics - nausea and diarrhea hooray. But, it is certainly preferable to a lung infection - so I'm not complaining.
As I anticipated, it turns out that I've actually lost weight since my last appointment due to my lack of appetite, illness, etc. So, no one gave me a hard time today! Losing weight in the third trimester is a feat - but not something I want to see continue. After all - Lucy is still putting on pounds. I'm supposed to meet my energy needs and hers - plus whatever I need to get back to 100% health.
As for Lucy, she continues to have a nice strong heartbeat, she remains head down, and I am measuring accurately for her stage of gestation.
My lungs are now clear of crackling and other nastiness. I have not finished my course of antibiotics yet - and I intend to take things slowly at first. The last thing I want to do is catch someone's cold at work and wind up in the same situation. So, for today, I will be going to work in the afternoon and not stressing too much. I plan to try to take better care of myself and make sure my immune system is in good shape. My lungs feel tired, but I don't feel like there is a little demon sitting in there anymore. Unfortunately, I am now starting to feel the side effects of the antibiotics - nausea and diarrhea hooray. But, it is certainly preferable to a lung infection - so I'm not complaining.
As I anticipated, it turns out that I've actually lost weight since my last appointment due to my lack of appetite, illness, etc. So, no one gave me a hard time today! Losing weight in the third trimester is a feat - but not something I want to see continue. After all - Lucy is still putting on pounds. I'm supposed to meet my energy needs and hers - plus whatever I need to get back to 100% health.
As for Lucy, she continues to have a nice strong heartbeat, she remains head down, and I am measuring accurately for her stage of gestation.
Nononononono yes
Viewers of the Vicar of Dibley will recognize the quote.
Others will have to trust me that Rebecca didn't invent one of her newest favorite sayings, instead she got it through genetic memory or something from her parents (she's never seen the show).
What else is new?
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10.... YAY! Clap!
(Yeah, that's a quote, something which is heard frequently while Rebecca is amusing herself)
She still hasn't seen fit to grace us with full sentences yet, but she definitely can express herself pretty well.
She gives kisses more willingly now, asks for hugs (especially when someone's upset, which is really sweet), says "I love you" occasionally, and is amazingly cute when going to bed.
Usually I carry her to her room, and she puts up a little fuss on the way. "Nonononono.... down please" We then get to her room and she asks to be put down in bed. "A hug? Snuggle bed?" I lie down with her and she requests a song or five. "Blaaa blaaa sheep? A Spider? ABC?" When she feels like she's had enough, she rolls onto her side, gathers up a handful of blankie in anticipation of sucking on it, and announces "Bye" and blows a couple kisses.
Mom's been home for a few days after her lingering cold turned out to be pneumonia. Rebecca had a bit of a gurgly cough, so we took her to a clinic, but she was fine, and it has since cleared up. Both mom and Rebecca enjoyed the time together (in spite of the hacking coughs from mom). Mom's on antibiotics now and has gotten her appetite back and some of her energy, though she's still doing her frequent walrus impression. Hopefully she'll have it licked completely soon.
Others will have to trust me that Rebecca didn't invent one of her newest favorite sayings, instead she got it through genetic memory or something from her parents (she's never seen the show).
What else is new?
1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10.... YAY! Clap!
(Yeah, that's a quote, something which is heard frequently while Rebecca is amusing herself)
She still hasn't seen fit to grace us with full sentences yet, but she definitely can express herself pretty well.
She gives kisses more willingly now, asks for hugs (especially when someone's upset, which is really sweet), says "I love you" occasionally, and is amazingly cute when going to bed.
Usually I carry her to her room, and she puts up a little fuss on the way. "Nonononono.... down please" We then get to her room and she asks to be put down in bed. "A hug? Snuggle bed?" I lie down with her and she requests a song or five. "Blaaa blaaa sheep? A Spider? ABC?" When she feels like she's had enough, she rolls onto her side, gathers up a handful of blankie in anticipation of sucking on it, and announces "Bye" and blows a couple kisses.
Mom's been home for a few days after her lingering cold turned out to be pneumonia. Rebecca had a bit of a gurgly cough, so we took her to a clinic, but she was fine, and it has since cleared up. Both mom and Rebecca enjoyed the time together (in spite of the hacking coughs from mom). Mom's on antibiotics now and has gotten her appetite back and some of her energy, though she's still doing her frequent walrus impression. Hopefully she'll have it licked completely soon.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Update: Could be better
I've been sick since last Friday evening. I caught Rebecca's whatever, and now here we are - Thursday. I haven't been to work all week.
I finally took myself into the doctor's office because I had reason to suspect I was getting worse - and I was right. Looks like pneumonia (except, naturally the "looking" part - the chest x-ray, can't actually be performed on pregnant women due to risks to the baby). You might wonder how diagnosis is possible without the x-ray - well, by the nature of symptoms, and aural cues received subsequent to examination by stethoscope (I have the "crackling"). The upside is that at this time, it sounds like only one lung is affected. That being said, this is nevertheless going to get added to my list of "things that are worse when you're pregnant". As if I wasn't tired enough already!!! To say nothing of the fact that my lungs are already being squashed. Anyhow, I was pleased to discover that there *are* antibiotics available to pregnant women, and I've embarked on a course of said drugs.
There is online information on respiratory illness during pregnancy - of course, it is not common enough to have entered the mainstream prego websites. Fortunately, my years in graduate school have made me quite comfortable reading medical/scientific abstracts and papers, so I can be as informed as I would like to be. My major concern is increasingly my chances for preterm labour, which are already above average due to the circumstances of Rebecca's birth. But frankly, beyond focusing on resting, drinking liquids, and healing, there is precious little for me to do beyond what I've already done. So I guess I will be at home for a little while longer (eating up my precious sick leave I had earmarked for April).
I finally took myself into the doctor's office because I had reason to suspect I was getting worse - and I was right. Looks like pneumonia (except, naturally the "looking" part - the chest x-ray, can't actually be performed on pregnant women due to risks to the baby). You might wonder how diagnosis is possible without the x-ray - well, by the nature of symptoms, and aural cues received subsequent to examination by stethoscope (I have the "crackling"). The upside is that at this time, it sounds like only one lung is affected. That being said, this is nevertheless going to get added to my list of "things that are worse when you're pregnant". As if I wasn't tired enough already!!! To say nothing of the fact that my lungs are already being squashed. Anyhow, I was pleased to discover that there *are* antibiotics available to pregnant women, and I've embarked on a course of said drugs.
There is online information on respiratory illness during pregnancy - of course, it is not common enough to have entered the mainstream prego websites. Fortunately, my years in graduate school have made me quite comfortable reading medical/scientific abstracts and papers, so I can be as informed as I would like to be. My major concern is increasingly my chances for preterm labour, which are already above average due to the circumstances of Rebecca's birth. But frankly, beyond focusing on resting, drinking liquids, and healing, there is precious little for me to do beyond what I've already done. So I guess I will be at home for a little while longer (eating up my precious sick leave I had earmarked for April).
Monday, February 4, 2008
All clear
My GP and OB had a discussion, and decided that since the first and last samples from the glucose tolerance test looked fine, there is no need for me to redo the test, and I don't have gestational diabetes. Hooray!!!
Lesson learned from this past weekend: I am beyond the point of being able to cross-country ski.
I think I can still manage snowshoes though.
Greg picked me up some Yaktraks so that I don't need to worry about slipping on the ice. They're wonderful!
Lesson learned from this past weekend: I am beyond the point of being able to cross-country ski.
I think I can still manage snowshoes though.
Greg picked me up some Yaktraks so that I don't need to worry about slipping on the ice. They're wonderful!
Friday, February 1, 2008
I *do* actually know how to spell my last name
All joking aside, I could not get the meter to say Rebecca looked more like me than Greg, no matter how hard I tried. One picture of Rebecca gave me a 5% edge, but to me, that's rather weak sauce.
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