So I made it to 32 weeks! I feel a bit like a kid learning to swim. I doggy paddle to Mommy and then Mommy takes three steps back. First the goal was 28 weeks. Then 30. Then 32. Now 34. But I'm excited to have made it this far.
Sloan and I celebrated by eating PF Chang's and I ate way too much. About halfway through my lemon pepper shrimp I said, "Ugh. I'm full, but it tastes so good." I even ate so much that my blood sugar was a bit high. I'm now nursing feeling grotesque and bloated with a Diet Ginger Ale. I'm so full an hour later that I'm a bit winded. From eating. It is like Henry's heiny and my giant lettuce wrap filled stomach have moved into the neighborhood where my lungs used to live.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Happy 12th Birthday Caleb!
First, I want to send a big birthday shout out to my nephew, Caleb. Happy Birthday!
I am in much better spirits today. I spoke with Dr. Murray and she had thought I had been only having 2 showers a week thus far and wanted me to go back to that. When I told her, no, I'd been having three a week since week 27, she gave me back my third shower. So today, I have smooth legs and clean curly hair. She also has given me strict orders to eat cake at my baby shower in two weeks.
Dietary has also been getting my meals correct today. Usually about three times a week my meal gets messed up and they send me something carborific and slathered in sugar that I can't eat. Well, adding fuel to the fire yesterday was that every meal was messed up. And when they send the wrong thing it usually takes about 45 minutes for my nurse to remind the cafeteria of my order and then receive. And I've always been snippy when hungry and pregnancy doesn't help. So at 6:45 last night, when she brought my correct dinner, the cafeteria worker tried to explain to me how it was my fault my meals were messed up.
"Maybe you don't understand how to fill out the menu or how it works. Are you new?"
"Umm, no. I've been here 2 months."
"Wow. That's a long time."
"Yeah. And I figure it's about time for y'all to get my meals right."
"You are filling them out wrong. Even though the first day is Sunday, we don't look at it until Monday so the Sunday is actually next Sunday."
I paused. "Hmm. First of all, that is asinine--which means it's stupid. In the Western Hemisphere, we read from top to bottom and left to right. You have Sunday at the beginning of this menu. If you mean for Monday to be the beginning of the week, Monday should be at the top. Secondly, by your backwards logic, I should be receiving today last week's menu's Sunday's meals." I pull out that menu. "This is not what you sent. I'm diabetic. I'd never order French Toast with maple syrup. Or macaroni and cheese."
"Oh. Well. You need to learn to write the menu."
Now, in my mind, I want to say to her Listen you greasy haired tongue ringed cafeteria worker, I've been stuck here in bed for 2 months. You work in the cafeteria. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who is at fault here. Instead I said, "Um, no. I don't think it's that."
Yeah, I know. It wasn't very Christian of me. But it felt great to be a bit snippy. I also finally cracked open my bar of Sugar Free Dark Chocolate. It rocked! So if you happen to be at Westbury Pharmacy and see the GuyLian fine Belgian dark chocolate No Sugar Added--feel free to bring me some chocolate. Studies show that dark chocolate reduces your risk for heart attacks, strokes, and in my case, mental breakdowns.
I am in much better spirits today. I spoke with Dr. Murray and she had thought I had been only having 2 showers a week thus far and wanted me to go back to that. When I told her, no, I'd been having three a week since week 27, she gave me back my third shower. So today, I have smooth legs and clean curly hair. She also has given me strict orders to eat cake at my baby shower in two weeks.
Dietary has also been getting my meals correct today. Usually about three times a week my meal gets messed up and they send me something carborific and slathered in sugar that I can't eat. Well, adding fuel to the fire yesterday was that every meal was messed up. And when they send the wrong thing it usually takes about 45 minutes for my nurse to remind the cafeteria of my order and then receive. And I've always been snippy when hungry and pregnancy doesn't help. So at 6:45 last night, when she brought my correct dinner, the cafeteria worker tried to explain to me how it was my fault my meals were messed up.
"Maybe you don't understand how to fill out the menu or how it works. Are you new?"
"Umm, no. I've been here 2 months."
"Wow. That's a long time."
"Yeah. And I figure it's about time for y'all to get my meals right."
"You are filling them out wrong. Even though the first day is Sunday, we don't look at it until Monday so the Sunday is actually next Sunday."
I paused. "Hmm. First of all, that is asinine--which means it's stupid. In the Western Hemisphere, we read from top to bottom and left to right. You have Sunday at the beginning of this menu. If you mean for Monday to be the beginning of the week, Monday should be at the top. Secondly, by your backwards logic, I should be receiving today last week's menu's Sunday's meals." I pull out that menu. "This is not what you sent. I'm diabetic. I'd never order French Toast with maple syrup. Or macaroni and cheese."
"Oh. Well. You need to learn to write the menu."
Now, in my mind, I want to say to her Listen you greasy haired tongue ringed cafeteria worker, I've been stuck here in bed for 2 months. You work in the cafeteria. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who is at fault here. Instead I said, "Um, no. I don't think it's that."
Yeah, I know. It wasn't very Christian of me. But it felt great to be a bit snippy. I also finally cracked open my bar of Sugar Free Dark Chocolate. It rocked! So if you happen to be at Westbury Pharmacy and see the GuyLian fine Belgian dark chocolate No Sugar Added--feel free to bring me some chocolate. Studies show that dark chocolate reduces your risk for heart attacks, strokes, and in my case, mental breakdowns.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
not so Happy Easter
Put simply, this weekend sucked. My exam revealed that I'm now 3 cm dilated and my amniotic sac is bulging out. My doctor tried to alleviate my disappointment by telling me I could have some chocolate for an Easter treat, but some things even chocolate can't help.
So there is no more talk of me going home at 34 weeks. There is no more talk of getting wheelchair privileges. No more hopes of going to the potty. And my shower privileges have gone from 4 'normal' length to two 2 minute showers. This is the worst it has been in a month, and to be honest--I'm pretty ticked off. I hadn't even gotten my extra shower and it is now gone. And I still won't have any more ultrasounds for awhile.
I didn't find out about the shower thing until this morning, so when Sloan (who was still asleep on the floor when Dr. Murray was here) said, "Happy Easter"--my response was, "Yeah. Happy *#@& Easter." This morning, I suppose, I replaced my desire to go to the potty with a potty mouth.
On a brighter note, I had been craving Doritos so Sloan brought me a snack bag to have as my Easter treat. I realized that Doritos have fewer carbs than Baked Lays (which I can have). Sloan is buying my some more Doritos this evening.
I know that Henry is still safe and for that I'm thankful. I also know that I've made it further than anyone expected. I know that none of this is my fault and that at some point I'll get to sleep in my own bed, shave my legs, eat whatever I want, not be woken up by someone with a needle, and, oh yeah, have a son. I also know that this is still the easiest Henry will ever be to take care of and that there are people starving in the Sudan. So I don't need any Hallmark cards with rainbows and daffodils reminding of these things. I just need some time and permission to take a day or two to be pissed off, cry, and talk like a sailor.
So there is no more talk of me going home at 34 weeks. There is no more talk of getting wheelchair privileges. No more hopes of going to the potty. And my shower privileges have gone from 4 'normal' length to two 2 minute showers. This is the worst it has been in a month, and to be honest--I'm pretty ticked off. I hadn't even gotten my extra shower and it is now gone. And I still won't have any more ultrasounds for awhile.
I didn't find out about the shower thing until this morning, so when Sloan (who was still asleep on the floor when Dr. Murray was here) said, "Happy Easter"--my response was, "Yeah. Happy *#@& Easter." This morning, I suppose, I replaced my desire to go to the potty with a potty mouth.
On a brighter note, I had been craving Doritos so Sloan brought me a snack bag to have as my Easter treat. I realized that Doritos have fewer carbs than Baked Lays (which I can have). Sloan is buying my some more Doritos this evening.
I know that Henry is still safe and for that I'm thankful. I also know that I've made it further than anyone expected. I know that none of this is my fault and that at some point I'll get to sleep in my own bed, shave my legs, eat whatever I want, not be woken up by someone with a needle, and, oh yeah, have a son. I also know that this is still the easiest Henry will ever be to take care of and that there are people starving in the Sudan. So I don't need any Hallmark cards with rainbows and daffodils reminding of these things. I just need some time and permission to take a day or two to be pissed off, cry, and talk like a sailor.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Very Good Friday
Fridays rock. Massage. Shower. My sweet Sloan spends the night.
I think Henry is going through a growth spurt as I am now constantly hungry and tired. And he has begun waking me up in the middle of the night with his incessant, but sweet, wiggling. He is not so much a kicker lately, rather he shakes his little heiny which is lodged under my ribs on the right side. OK, so his is dancing and kicking now. I have the TV's speaker right by my belly and it's the beginning of Ellen. So they are dancing together. He also tends to be wigglier on the days I have young, pretty nurses.
I had my first regular length seated shower today and it feels fabulous to be clean. Tomorrow my doctor is going to wheel me down the hall to an exam room for my checkup, so that should be a fun too.
I think Henry is going through a growth spurt as I am now constantly hungry and tired. And he has begun waking me up in the middle of the night with his incessant, but sweet, wiggling. He is not so much a kicker lately, rather he shakes his little heiny which is lodged under my ribs on the right side. OK, so his is dancing and kicking now. I have the TV's speaker right by my belly and it's the beginning of Ellen. So they are dancing together. He also tends to be wigglier on the days I have young, pretty nurses.
I had my first regular length seated shower today and it feels fabulous to be clean. Tomorrow my doctor is going to wheel me down the hall to an exam room for my checkup, so that should be a fun too.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Potty Talk
I had another ultrasound and things are looking good. They didn't do measurements this week, but Henry's heart looks lovely; he is in the perfect position, and he appears to be sprouting some hair! Dr. Troyer printed out a picture of it for me, but I only know it's his hair because she printed the word "HAIR" on the screen.
After a week of laying flat, my cervix is only dilated 1.3 cm! This is the smallest I've been since being admitted 7 weeks ago. Also, I was informed that this would be my last in-room hospital ultrasound as next week I will get to take a wheelchair ride across the hospital parking lot to my doctor's office! I also get to take normal length showers (still seated) and now get to take 4 a week (as opposed to three 2 minute showers). I look forward to shaving my legs with a regular razor. Electric razors just don't get you smooth.
Dr. Murray, my normal OB/GYN, is on call this weekend, and she will give me a regular exam. Depending upon that, I may be able to use the regular potty as early as Saturday! Getting to go to the regular potty opens up a whole new world for me. I get to brush my teeth and wash my face without the aid of nurses. I'll start wearing pants. Maybe even put a pair of flip-flops on from time to time. I may also dabble in getting Sloan to bring me make-up.
So tomorrow morning, when you wake up at 5 am and those voices in your head start fighting--you know the fight--"Go back to sleep." "No. I've got to pee." "You can make it to 7." "The bathroom is not that far." "You may have to turn on the light." "I could've already peed by now....." So when you have that fight--JUST GET UP AND GO!!!! Be thankful for that porcelain seat. It could be a bucket.
After a week of laying flat, my cervix is only dilated 1.3 cm! This is the smallest I've been since being admitted 7 weeks ago. Also, I was informed that this would be my last in-room hospital ultrasound as next week I will get to take a wheelchair ride across the hospital parking lot to my doctor's office! I also get to take normal length showers (still seated) and now get to take 4 a week (as opposed to three 2 minute showers). I look forward to shaving my legs with a regular razor. Electric razors just don't get you smooth.
Dr. Murray, my normal OB/GYN, is on call this weekend, and she will give me a regular exam. Depending upon that, I may be able to use the regular potty as early as Saturday! Getting to go to the regular potty opens up a whole new world for me. I get to brush my teeth and wash my face without the aid of nurses. I'll start wearing pants. Maybe even put a pair of flip-flops on from time to time. I may also dabble in getting Sloan to bring me make-up.
So tomorrow morning, when you wake up at 5 am and those voices in your head start fighting--you know the fight--"Go back to sleep." "No. I've got to pee." "You can make it to 7." "The bathroom is not that far." "You may have to turn on the light." "I could've already peed by now....." So when you have that fight--JUST GET UP AND GO!!!! Be thankful for that porcelain seat. It could be a bucket.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Save the Crabs. Then Eat Them.
So today I am 31 weeks pregnant. I am still waiting for my ultrasound, but I am almost certain that I will have another steroid shot for Henry's lungs this evening. Yippee. Dr. Murray is hopeful that I'll get to graduate to the real potty next week as 32 weeks is another big milestone, so I am not expecting any new privileges this week.
I am also excited today because my friend (and former boss), Red, brought me some peeps. But wait, you are thinking--don't you still have gestational diabetes? Yes. But there is nothing I love more than stale Peeps, so I have opened the package so that when Henry is born, they will be nice and crunchy. You know who else loves stale Peeps? Al Roker.
I have also developed aversions to certain commercials. Apparently, it is a new trend to use the muppet song. I blame my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper for this. It is in the Big Lots & Saturn commercials. And often these commercials run back to back so I am stuck with that crazy "Monomona Doo Doo Do Doo Do" in my head all day. Thank God for the mute button. I do, however, have a couple commercials I actually enjoy. The Jimmy Dean commercials with the sunshine are great. There are also these local commercials that talk about not using fertilizer on your lawns because they contaminate Virginia and Maryland's rivers and hurt the crabs. The tag line is "Save the Crabs. Then eat them."
I am also excited today because my friend (and former boss), Red, brought me some peeps. But wait, you are thinking--don't you still have gestational diabetes? Yes. But there is nothing I love more than stale Peeps, so I have opened the package so that when Henry is born, they will be nice and crunchy. You know who else loves stale Peeps? Al Roker.
I have also developed aversions to certain commercials. Apparently, it is a new trend to use the muppet song. I blame my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper for this. It is in the Big Lots & Saturn commercials. And often these commercials run back to back so I am stuck with that crazy "Monomona Doo Doo Do Doo Do" in my head all day. Thank God for the mute button. I do, however, have a couple commercials I actually enjoy. The Jimmy Dean commercials with the sunshine are great. There are also these local commercials that talk about not using fertilizer on your lawns because they contaminate Virginia and Maryland's rivers and hurt the crabs. The tag line is "Save the Crabs. Then eat them."
Sunday, April 1, 2007
More Ninja Warrior
I think rather than a soccer player, Henry is working out in utero to be a Ninja Warrior Champion. When Sloan and I watched it today, he went crazy. When my vitals were being checked, he even had an accelerated heart rate for awhile before it went back down once we muted the TV. Maybe the Japanese shouting confused him?
When Sloan was moving between Houston and Chadsford, PA for the third or fourth time, his family lived in a Holiday Inn for a long time as their house was being finished. During this time, he and his brother, Marshall, came up with a long list of foods they wanted Mom to cook after they moved as eating out grew old quickly. Like them, I too have come up with a list of foods--except I want to do the cooking.
1. Mustard Glazed Pork tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes and wilted spinach
2. Shrimp fried rice
3. Steak au poivre
4. Greensboro chicken with curry rice
5. Good Eats' meatloaf
6. Pesto gnocchi
7. Chicken Parmesan
8. My mother-in-law's Chicken divan
9. Blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup
When Sloan was moving between Houston and Chadsford, PA for the third or fourth time, his family lived in a Holiday Inn for a long time as their house was being finished. During this time, he and his brother, Marshall, came up with a long list of foods they wanted Mom to cook after they moved as eating out grew old quickly. Like them, I too have come up with a list of foods--except I want to do the cooking.
1. Mustard Glazed Pork tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes and wilted spinach
2. Shrimp fried rice
3. Steak au poivre
4. Greensboro chicken with curry rice
5. Good Eats' meatloaf
6. Pesto gnocchi
7. Chicken Parmesan
8. My mother-in-law's Chicken divan
9. Blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup
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