Oh me oh my....,

I am not posting as often as I would like - WHY? I think largely because I am experiencing that 'pregnant stupidness' I have heard other women talk about. I do not feel very inspired or smart or able to easily convey what I am thinking...

I am tired. I am tired of a lot of things.

I am tired of the back support I am wearing - even though it really does make a difference.
I am tired of it chaffing my sides and wearing on moles that happen to be exactly where the support chaffs.
I am tired of not having hot water.
I am tired of worrying every time it rains that the basement will flood especially when we just paid a contractor to come in a light the pilot lights - only to learn he could only get the furnace lit - which is not yet needed... But the hot water tank - needs first aid from a plumber and will not light.

I am tired of worrying.

Worrying about children and their lack of progress in certain areas and wondering how to help them do better and meet their goals.
Worrying about the tree from which HUGE limbs broke off without an apparent reason and is hanging over my bedroom ceiling... and could lose those limbs at anytime....
Worrying about money and how quickly our retirement fund is disappearing as Hugo studies and works towards his Certification in hopes htat this will help get back into the job market.
Worrying that maybe the certification won't make a difference at all
Worrying I was gaining too much weight because I was stressed and eating lots of chocolate.
Worrying because in reality I only gained .5 lbs last month (because I ate less junk food and more healthy food) that maybe that meant that the baby is not growing as she should.
Worrying about the electricity in this house and how the fuses blow often and sometimes without an apparent reason.
Worrying that I worry too much.

Do you see a pattern here?

I think I need a cup of tea and a little less worry. What do you think?



I need to either learn how to use the feature of read more - again. Or, take the time to find the code and remove it. In the meantime please ignore Read more!

Too funny not to share

Given that this blog is, for now, all about babies I thought you would enjoy this funny story that was sent to me tonight. Thank you Pat.

The Middle Wife

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

IGNORE Read more!

Midwife day...

I can't believe how close I am to the biweekly visits. Too soon those will be upon me! The back roads we drive to get there make me grateful that we rarely have snow. Should I still be in Canada, I think I would be asking Hugo to be putting chains on the back tires!

Which reminds me of a rather colourful story of regular wintery night in Canada oh so many years ago. But I will share that in a different post... later. So be sure to tune in, eh?

But back to baby to be.

Growth is right on target and her heart rate was about 144. It is hard to get a really good reading of her heart rate as she has always runs away from the Doppler. She really does not like to be prodded and poked but when she is born she will need to get used to it as I am sure there will be lots of little hands poking and prodding in an attempt to help with the new baby. We have pictures a plenty of only slightly older siblings trying to help new babies with their soothers - and usually missing the target by, oh say, an eye or nostril.

I ( drum roll please) gained only 1/2 a pound! But I can't brag more than that though as I more than gained my fair share the previous months.

My BP is my typical 108/66. However - I am not doing so well in the drinking of plenty of water as I have slight edema so I need to pick up in that area.

Yesterday I saw the Chiropractor and will see him again tomorrow. I have my support belt on (almost 24/7) and I thinkI am seeing some improvement although I have moments when the pain gets so bad that I feel absolutely terrified at the thought of another 3 - 4 months of this!

Well - it is late and I must toddle off to bed now. Good Night and God Bless!


IGNORE Read more!

looking for

... a new chiropractor and this and reading these, in hopes of beating this back pain. Requesting prayers and offering apologies for lack of posts and updates. Seeing the midwife this week. I have lost track of how far along I am. I think I am 24 weeks or 6 months.... Guess I need to read my own blog as I know I posted last week how far along I am...

Off to take a peek at last weeks posts to see just where I am.

(Yup - took a peek and I am indeed 6 months.... so this intense pain is only about 6 weeks ahead of itself, I am thinking I will be hitting Babies R Us asap tomorrow. Please pray for me when I call my (midwife's back up) OBGYN in hopes of a prescription for some more pain meds as my purse was stolen - and guess what life line I had in it???) Read more!

Whew!

Had a scare a few days ago when my back ache was so bad that I could not distinguish between the back pain and the reflective pain that was spreading around the front of my stomach and felt like contractions. It was a little scary as I have had premature labour before, the first time meant five says in hospital and bed rest, the second was arrested just with bed rest at home. I don't want to repeat either of those scenarios.

On a more positive note - we have entered the stage of 'football', you know when baby to be starts playing football with... your bladder! Sometimes you can just see, or should I say feel her tap dancing in celebration after a goal!




IGNORE Read more!

Baby to be is ...

...twenty three weeks. She weighs a mere 1 lb (tell that to my complaining ligaments) and is about 11 inches long. She enjoys quiet music when we play it to my tummy, and appears to love to dance in between songs. (This photo is from prolifeamerica.com and is not of my baby, but is a good representative of what she currently looks like. ) Read more!

Oh BOY!

Just got back from getting the groceries with Hugo. We hit Aldis first and then Wal-mart and you don't want to know the total. Let's just say - even I was dismayed. However we were out of quite a few staples like sugar - just a mere 2.09 a bag at ALDIS!

I also needed to satisfy that craving for a cup dark hot chocolate and so snared a hefty container of cocoa powder and a can of whipped cream. When we got home the kids cheered over the pizza while I clasped the cocoa and whipped cream and headed straight to the stove. I had also purchased a bag of white sour dough bread as my craving would not be satisfied without toast drenched in butter and dipped in the steaming hot chocolate. Yum.

But besides worrying about the total cost of this outing - I am also lamenting that we did not stock up on water. But then we are no longer on a well - so even if we were to lose the power as the tip of the weather front slides over us the next few hours - we will still have water. Hopefully! But then I did not expect to be flooded with the last storm front that passed over us and we are still without hot water from that episode. So who knows what the next 24 hours will bring.

Already I hear the soft patter of rain drops on the roof and the swish of tires on the wet pavement outside our windows. I just hope I am not also treated to the sound of cracking wood and ripping branches, as I was last week.

This will post tomorrow (Saturday) as I have already posted twice today and there is the slight chance of losing the power. In this way - I can assure my readers of something new to read in the morning. And now I must rest my very tired and cranky back that began to complain bitterly in the pasta and gravy mix isle. The muscle spasms were starting just below my tummy and stretching all the way around into my spine. I stood there thinking that icing my back would be such a GOOD idea, but stupidly I did not think to ask Hugo to grab an icepack. Instead, as I hobbled to the nearest bench and Hugo hurried through the isles grabbing the last of our needs off the shelves, I wondered how long it would take to chill my sock of rice. I quickly gave up on that idea though as I figured it would be too hard and bunchy to be of any relief.

Ah well - there is always tomorrow, eh?
Read more!

Go figure...

... despite that it is a mere 26.3 Celsius (or 79 f) I am dying for a cup of home made hot chocolate topped with fresh whipping cream. I must be pregnant - that is the only explanation I can come up with in this heat.


IGNORE Read more!

Today...

... my back is aching so much - that I cried. I am just a little over halfway there and it is such an exciting time for one's pregnancy. The baby is moving so much that you can not but be aware almost 24/7 of its presence.

Sadly for me though from here on in - I can expect the back pain to begin to cramp my style - severely. It is the price I pay for the honour of so many blessings.

Baby to be now weighs close to 1 pound and my back is clearly objecting to this weight. Still - it is thrilling to be where I am and I ask only for prayers for the grace to continue on and if possible some relief from the pain.






IGNORE Read more!

Navel Gazing

... takes on a whole new meaning while pregnant. I find myself easily distracted from reading, writing or even watching an exciting movie by the little bumps and kicks coming from within. I have to stop and gaze at my protruding tummy and watch for the slightest ripple or other movement that is visible. And of course, as soon as I fix my eye on my tummy - all movement stops. So I tried a little trick last night. I pretended to keep reading while actually casting my eye below the book - and caught her in action!


IGNORE Read more!

A Benchmark

I was actually able to catch sight of the baby moving and so did Hugo last night. Until now I have only been able to feel her move - not actually see a ripple across my tummy. The little ones are so eager to feel her move. So upon hearing Hugo and I laugh over seeing her movements - Emma and Elsa were by my side in a flash - poking and pushing my tummy calling 'Baby - wake up! Wake up baby!'

I finally had to stop them as I could feel my ligaments threatening to spasm, a trick they love to pull often throughout the day, without rhyme nor reason. Hence I can not predict what will cause it and avoid that behaviour or type of movement, but obviously poking my tummy is a no no!

IGNORE
Read more!