No surprises

It's been a crazy holiday.  No surprises, eh?  I wanted to get everything done before Christmas Eve, but my worn-out body took over.  I can't even say I've been doing anything strenuous.  But when I'm staying up all hours attempting to put together this 1000-piece murder mystery puzzle, PLUS I'm carrying a baby around, then yeah, I tend to get tired quicker.

Christmas Eve was the worst as I spent most of the day cleaning, doing laundry, and baking--and then I had to finish wrapping presents.  Thankfully, I got most of the presents done ahead of time, so I was NOT up until 3:30 in the morning like last year!  I was only up until 1:30.  It wouldn't have been that late, but I spent the last 45 minutes or so in the bathtub trying to ease away the fatigue of the day.  I was just plain WIPED.

Yes, about a week ago, the third trimester decided to kick in (slightly early compared to SOME pregnancy calendars).  The baby started making big waves with her movements--with knees and elbows poking out.  The girls have been fascinated to watch and feel the baby do all these somersaults in their mom's belly.  My son is kinda like his father--sorta amazed, but mostly weirded out about it (there is no "honey, can I feel your tummy?" around here, and I'm fine with that--I mean, it IS kind of weird!).  

Anyway, in addition to the tummy gymnastics, I've also been getting the lovely joint pain and more frequent bathroom breaks.  The bathroom breaks aren't too annoying yet.  The joint pain is.  The day after Christmas I could barely walk because my right hip hurt so badly.  I tried not to make a big deal out of it.  We went out to spend some Christmas gift cards and cash, and the kids couldn't help but notice my limp.  After every inquiry, I would just tell them that it's just my hip, and it's nothing to worry about.  After the second store, DH subtly said that he would drop the girls and I back off to the house while he and DS finished their shopping.  Later, when I was trying to get comfortable on my couch, I just couldn't do it plus watch the movie we had on.  So, I asked DS if he wanted to trade couches with me.  It took a gentle reminder from DH to get him to do it.  "Um, son, when Mom wants to switch places with you, then you DO it."  DH takes care of me in his own quiet ways.

I went in for another tummy check yesterday and got my results back from my glucose test.  No gestational diabetes, but...I'm slightly anemic.  No surprises.  I get that way every pregnancy.  I did try to prevent it this time by taking prenatal vitamins that included the iron from the beginning, but frankly, that whole second trimester, I just kept forgetting to take them.  The doctor mentioned that the vitamins with the iron already there aren't very helpful anyway as the calcium in them counters the body's ability to absorb the iron.  *sigh*  But...I have to take them both anyway, so, what? take them at different times?  And remember not to take the iron pill with the calcium?  I'm having enough problems remembering to take the one vitamin--with food!--how am I supposed to remember THAT? 

Anyway, my BP and tummy are fine.  I think I gained another two pounds.  I'm not sure if I'm recording all the weight correctly here, but I have now gained a total of 20 pounds.  Gee...and I've only got a whole trimester to go?!  Well, I usually don't gain much the last trimester, so maybe if I lay off these darn Christmas cookies and fudge, I won't end up a huge balloon.

I took the kids and two of their friends to the Y today to get out of the house (and get them--and me--off their new DSs).  So, this is now the second time I've actually worn the $20 maternity bathing suit.  I still mostly like the way the suit fits, but now that my belly is two months bigger than the last time I wore it, I noticed that the top part is not really hugging it right, and the suit kept trying to ride up on me.  I finally started tucking the top piece into the bottom.  If I hadn't seen a very similar pattern on one of the dear old ladies doing the water aerobics, I would probably like the style of the suit just a smidgen better!

Now that the holidays are (mostly) over, and I'm in my third trimester, the hubs and I have to get some serious work into getting the house ready for baby.  It would be nice to at least have a place to store all those baby clothes I got at my shower, as the bags and boxes cluttering up my bedroom are making it difficult to get around in there (at least it's a little easier now that the Christmas gifts are no longer in there!).  At least DH has been taking time this week to attempt to figure out the plumbing problem which is preventing the dishwasher and the downstairs toilet from draining properly.  It looks as if an actual professional will have to be called--really not looking forward to that.  But, once the plumbing is fixed (and I'm not longer doing dishes by hand), THEN we can get to work on a room for baby....

I got showered

Last night was my GS Service Team meeting.  For December, we always do a white elephant and cookie exchange.  I baked my six dozen cookies and wrapped up a set of holiday candles and went on my merry way.

Well, we did the number exchange for choosing gifts, but the hostess said that this time instead of stealing AFTER we open, we'll be stealing before--kind of put a little bit of fun/risk into the process.  Ironically, I got first pick.  Everyone else picked accordingly, and there were some steals, and we were laughing and having fun.  THEN we opened, and I got to start since I got #1.  Oh!  Baby clothes!  Wow!  What a coincidence!  (I'm thinking...did someone bring me a baby gift and put it in the white elephant swap on accident?  Did my friend steal my present on purpose to place THIS baby gift in front of me?  Huh!)  Person #2 goes:  Hey!  Baby stuff!  Here, C, I don't need this!

By now I've caught on that EVERY SINGLE gift in the pile is a baby gift for ME--except of course for my cheesy cinnamon candles!  HOLY CRAP!

I think I turned about a million shades of red, but what a wonderful surprise!  My friends said they've been planning this since AUGUST.  I didn't even catch on to the fact that a co-leader NOT on Service Team came--I completely fell for the "we're trying to get her to join, so she came to a meeting" line.  And...what a great idea to put the gifts in X-mas paper and go through the whole drawing numbers thing just to keep me fooled! 

The hostess then brings out a trio of baby shower cakes and even shower plates, napkins, and party favors.  The cakes were all different flavors with different fillings and absolutely adorable.

This is the best surprise shower I've ever received.  I've had other showers from my other babies at my old job, but only one truly ended up being a surprise--and I ended up ruining it because my oldest had a fever, and I had to stay home from work that day!  THIS was beyond awesome as I got completely hosed. 

I've learned my lesson.  My friends are not to be trusted!

I'm pregnant, not disabled!

I understand that the girls in my younger daughter’s GS troop are only 7 and that some may not be ready for some activities—such as overnights.  I also understand that it’s not actually the GIRLS in many of those circumstances who are not ready—it’s their parents.  I guess I am trying too much too soon as I want to take the girls on activities that THEY want to do, and I just thought as a leader I would try to make it happen.  And if the parent is too uncertain about a sleepover, then the parent can also come.  Or we can arrange the girl to be picked up before the actual sleepover.  BUT what kills me is having not one but TWO people (and one as an envoy of other moms) say to me that I need to keep in mind that I’m also PREGNANT and maybe should take a step back and not push myself so much.  Um...?  Are you telling me now that your excuse for not wanting your daughter to do any of the fun stuff I’m trying to plan is MY pregnancy?  I feel FINE.  In fact, I feel GREAT.  I am still at the edge of the honeymoon phase of pregnancy.  I’m not too huge yet.  I am getting plenty of sleep (when I make the effort to go to bed at a decent hour).  I’m breezing right through my tummy, urine, and ankle checks at the doctor’s.  Really, the only difference between me now and last year (besides the ginormous belly) is that yes, I do get tired a bit more easily—especially if I have to stand/walk for really long periods of time.  But, hello! I’m pregnant, NOT disabled!  (And what are we teaching our girls anyway if we have a dull, no activities year because the leader just can’t handle a NORMAL pregnancy.  Girls!  When you get pregnant, don’t do ANYTHING extra!  Stay home and put your feet up, you just can’t handle the fun stuff!  You don't want to push yourself!)  Mom, if you are unsure about overnights for your daughters yet, then that’s fine—perfectly understandable.  But telling me to slow down due to my pregnancy, even if not intended that way, is actually kind of insulting.

(Then there was the veiled insult from one mom that she would prefer the “organized” sleepovers [which are highly overpriced] to a simple pajama party that I’m trying to put together [with projects and badges worked in—just like those organized ones!].  Basically what you’re telling me here is that you don’t trust ME and how I can keep 13 girls entertained for more than an hour and a half.  This despite the really well-run meetings we’ve had this year.  Not to mention my experience with several sleepovers with my older daughter’s troop.  Not to mention the town-wide fun day I’ve planned for younger girls for the last two years.  And not to mention the training that I was required to take as a leader just so that I would know how to do those things.  Grrrr….)

Hmmm...maybe this pregnancy IS making me just a tad too cranky?

24+ week pic!

25 weeks, really?

Yesterday I had my monthly checkup.  The doctor had to go out of town, so I got to see the nurse practitioner, who is most definitely my most favorite person at the practice.  In fact, when I found out my OB had started a new practice last year, I wasn’t sure whether or not to move with her (I really liked a lot of the other doctors at the old practice also) until I found out that the NP had moved, too—that clinched it!  So now I have to drive 15 minutes instead of 7, but it’s worth it!

Anyway, Katie the NP says that my BP, weight, measurements, and ankles are just perfect.  I gained about two pounds.  I guess I’m leveling out after gaining more than normal the first four months.

Next week is orange cola time!  That is always a big milestone—the end of the pregnancy is near!  My next appointment will be in three weeks to get me in at 28 weeks, and then I start going bi-weekly.  Oh!  Yay!  Almost done!  Oh!  Dear!  I’m not ready!

No progress has been made in the hopeful nursery.  But DH and I are taking baby steps.  We actually ordered a CRIB.  We didn’t think our old one was worth trying to fix and certainly didn’t have all the hardware for it.  We then got one as a hand-me-down, but after I explained that we would have to find the locking mechanism for it (it’s a drop-down), and after DH looked at it, he said, “Meh, let’s just get a new one.”  DH found one online that was recommended to him, PLUS it was on sale, PLUS it had free shipping.  I’m actually surprised at how cheap it was.  And…it even converts to a toddler bed.  I told him we can get rid of our plastic toddler bed that’s in the basement!  (He thought we already had.)  I actually didn’t mind our old plastic toddler bed.  It suited its purpose just fine for the three kids and the only reason why it hadn’t been hauled to Goodwill yet (um, except for the fact that I hadn’t bothered calling them to see if they’ll actually TAKE a toddler bed) is because it was in such nice shape, I wondered if maybe I shouldn't just try to sell it—and never got around to it.  Anyway, I’m pretty excited about a NEW crib for our NEW kid.  Now we just have to buy a new mattress. 

Bedding:  With all three kids, we have used the same Sesame Street bedding.  I LOVE it and still want to use it.  But I can’t help but look online at all the adorable PINK stuff...!  This is the first time we’ll actually get to decorate a WHOLE nursery since all other babies were born in apartments.  Since Sesame Street is so rare, I keep going back to the PINK (Especially the owls!  And lady bugs!  So cute!), but I have managed to find some SSwall decals and with those, a good paint job, and the SS stuff I have kept (a lamp, lots of stuff animals), I think we can pull this off pretty nicely.  I would like to get a spare sheet or two, but there are very few SS sheets to be found now.  I did find a toddler bed set, so I put it on our baby registry. 

The baby registry I started is really more a checklist for me.  Anytime I have the “Oh!  I need…!” I put it on the registry to purge it out of my brain.  The biggest item on the list right now is a new travel system.  Other items:  new pack ‘n’ play (we have a hand-me-down, but I won’t say no to a new one!), umbrella stroller, new breast pump, bottles, bottle brush and drying rack, hooded towels, sponge insert for the baby bathtub (can’t believe we hung on to our old bathtub!), and a baby monitor.  It’s funny because we never really used our other baby monitor.  Our apartments were small enough that I could always hear the baby.  I remember using it a couple of times when I went outside to play with the other kids, and the baby was still inside sleeping.  It’s one thing I got rid of that NOW I feel we’ll need.  The nursery is going in a room that’s off our den.  With our split level house, I may not hear the baby if she’s in her room sleeping while I am upstairs  in the living room watching TV or something.  

No more progress has been made with the Naming.  Knowing us, this will probably sit out there until the baby is actually born and then we’re finally forced to fill out the paperwork for her.  But DH keeps going back on names we’ve already discussed/partially agreed on, so it’s anyone’s guess what name this kid might finally get. 

I will probably go more into this on my other blog, but ohmygoodness, my youngest two kids are just turning into DEMONS lately—and we think part of it (with the youngest, anyway) is an early reaction to our audacity for bringing a fourth child into their lives.  She screams and yells and stomps around the house.  She and her brother are constantly arguing and picking on and poking each other.  She got herself really wound up the other day while DH was with her at a department store and was actually ROLLING ON THE FLOOR while he was in line waiting to pay.  EVERYTHING gets the extreme reaction.  DH and I are trying to figure out ways to get more one-on-one time with her—while trying to juggle all the kids’ busy schedules.  I worry what’s going to happen when baby gets here.  HOW on earth are we going to manage then?  I am picturing me in my sleep-deprived haze in March trying to keep I and K from killing each other while I’m trapped on the couch nursing the baby.  THIS will be quite the challenge.