Monday, March 31, 2008

Powering Through the Work

I got up early. The trick to getting up early to to take my phenergan around 5 or 6 p.m. instead of right before I go to bed. It's late enough that I don't throw up in the morning, but early enough that I don't wake up feeling groggy. It still causes restless leg syndrome, bad, but it's better than waking up with restless legs at midnight. At least at 8 0r 9 p.m., I can reasonably get up and walk ou the pain.

I was at the office by 8:15 a.m. and am getting through the backlog from not being here all last week. Hopefully, I will get caught up or even ahead. I have a bunch of pleadings to file, and it would be terrific if I got them out this week.

My colitis is acting up again. The pregnancy had put it in remission, but the dehydration/food poisoning episode restarted it. It sucks, because it's really, really hard to stay hydrated right now. I've had one bottled water (16 oz.), a 90 calorie cereal snack pack, and four crackers with cheese. Not exactly healthy, but something's in my tummy, at least. I'll keep eating every three hours, since that's the only thing that seems to work.

Etcetera.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Alan Lies

He's says I'm not taking out the pregnancy on him. Ha ha ha. I really am trying not to. But I'm queasy, and sleep-deprived, and feel like I've been in the first trimester since last September (which, in a way, considering the miscarriage, the colitis, and this pregnancy, I have).

But Friday will mark week 13. That magical number when morning sickness and tiredness stops. That magical number when my belly starts to look like baby belly and not like an extra roll of fat. That magical number when you can go to work all day, and not fall asleep sitting up, at your desk. Week 13, people!

What if the magic doesn't work for me? Oh crap.

Etcetera.

What I've Learned In Life

JUNIOR HIGH

Don't kiss a boy just 'cause he likes you. Stop and think whether you actually like him back.

Avoid trends. Even if you get them right, you'll regret the pictures.

Being intelligent will not hurt your position in society, no matter how dumb society happens to be.

HIGH SCHOOL

Your friends don't have to share all the same interests and perspectives as you. They can be very different, and you can still be friends.

Learn to deal with practical jokes. They are not that big a deal.

COLLEGE

Get a map of campus before day one, and study it.

Skip class ocassionally. You'll make priceless memories.

MARRIAGE

Spend more on the dress and the honeymoon, and less on the food.

Invite only people you actually know, no matter what your mom says.

Play nice. It'll make your marriage easier and better.

Stop and enjoy each other, even when you are busy and stressed.

BABY

Don't let others' opinions make you change yours.

Discipline does make a baby happier.

You are not going to burn just because you use disposables. Even if the liberal in you cringes everytime you buy diapers. Just have the hubby buy the diapers.

People are weird about their kids. They believe they are right even when it's obvious they are making a huge mistake. But it's not your kid - and it's not your mistake. Stay out of it!

Just because a doctor/government sponsored commercial/book says it, doesn't mean it's right.

Crying's not that big a deal most of the time.

Etcetera.

Not Sleeping Well

It's probably a pregnancy symptom. Or maybe it's stress. Possibly, I've just watched Cars one too many times. Last night, we let Ander stay up until 10 p.m. because it was Saturday, he had napped late, and Cars was on. Note how none of those are good reasons.

Whatever it is, it is Sunday morning and I feel like I haven't sleep in months.

Etcetera.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

The Book Meme

I've been tagged by Being Refined. So...

The Book Meme:
1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

1: Your Pregnancy Week By Week (It was on the nightstand near Alan's side of the bed, making it the nearest book to the computer. There was a book that was nearer, but Cookie's Guessing Book About Food was NOT the requisite 123 pages.)

2-4:
Some protein sources you might choose, and their serving sizes, include the following [I'm going to skip typing in the long list, including chickpeas and cheese]. Choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can help build baby's brain cells during fetal development and after birth, if baby breastfeeds. Choline is found in milk , egg yolks, poultry, meat, canola oil, walnuts and wheat germ.

5: Dana (PW), Paca, Alan, Stac Cole, and Krumply, YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!

Etcetera.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Tired So Easily

I am so tired. We went on a playdate to the zoo. Brendan (my godchild) helped out, which was WONDERFUL. But I am wiped out. It was just a leisurely two hour stroll, in the breeze, but it made me so tired. I guess it's the whole pregnancy thing. It was nice to actually spend some time with Ander, though. I feel like I haven't seen him in days.

Etcetera.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Oh, and...

The baby's heartrate was 162 and my blood pressure was high - again.

Hospital Trip #1

By noon yesterday, I still couldn't eat anything, and if I drank any liquids, I threw up. I called my doctor's office and left a message with my symptoms on the nurse's voicemail. I knew when the phone rang, calling me back, that they would send me to the hospital, because instead of the usual 2-3 hour wait, they called back in five minutes.

My sister picked me up (since I was at my mom's house) and drove me to the hospital. It's a long drive at lunchtime. We arrived around 2 p.m. There was literally a line of women in labor in front of me. They assessed me immediately, but it was clear these ladies needed to be admitted before me, and all the beds were full, so I got to sit in the waiting area. They checked on me a couple of times, and at 4 p.m., they finally got me a bed.

WARNING: TMI AHEAD

They decided I needed fluids because I had moderate ketones (whatever that means) and my pee was the color of coca-cola. (Hey, I warned there'd be TMI. Next time, don't read the TMI if you don't want to hear it. ;)) No problem. I am fine with getting an IV. I'm an easy stick.

Um, not dehydrated.

Between three different nurses, they "blew" (their word, not mine) my vein in my left hand, my left inner elbow, and my right hand. Eventually, I got an IV in my right inner elbow. And a shot in my butt. And despite believing one bag of fluids would do it, it tok two.

By 7 p.m., Alan and I were eating supper. I couldn't eat much, but actual food tasted SO GOOD.

I went to bed at 8 p.m., and since Ander spent the night with his cousins, I slept until 9 a.m. The meds were powerful; I still feel high and woozy. My blown IV sites are bumpy and sore and slightly bruised. I won't get to work today, because I'm too high to do legal work. And I'll probably take another phenergan, even though it makes me drowsy and high, because I don't want to slip back into the cycle of not eating. Apparently, the food poisoning/virus/whatever-I-had restarted my colitis, which was in remission. So I'm still in the bathroom constantly, which means I really need to push eating.

I'm a 1000% better today. (I hate when people say 1000%. D'uh.) But I'm not sure how I'll get back to work feeling like this. I guess I'll concentrate on getting well today, and worry about work over the weekend.

Etcetera.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Better

I'm not great, but better. I did get sick again this morning, twice already, but it's not with the continuity or force of yesterday. I *probably* should stay home, but I'm going to work because there are things that need to be done. I will work as long as I can, then likely take off early.

My throat is sore (from the vomiting) and so is my upper chest. I don't have the energy to wear makeup or do my hair, but I managed a bath and to brush my teeth. That's something, right?

Poor Ander just keeps saying, "feel better Mommy?" :(

Etcetera.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

All I Had Was A Sierra Mist...

...but that came up, too.



At least my sister, Wendy, volunteered to pick up Ander and take him to the city. They are going to McDonald's and do some shopping. Yah! He was very excited to go with my niece and nephew. And I get to rest. Not nap, though, because apparently lying down is on the list of things that make me puke right now.



Etcetera.

Um...

See previous two posts.

It hasn't ended. It's coming out both ways. I ate some hashbrowns that tasted like rotten fish yesterday. The first couple of bites had ketchup, so I didn't really notice. By the third bite, I couldn't ignore the horrible tastes. I threw what was left away, but assumed it tasted bad because I was pregnant.

Now I've been throwing up and other stuff :( for two hours, and it doesn't seem to be stopping. I'm thinking maybe it's not morning sickness, but food poisoning.

How bad is it for an 11 weeks pregnant person to have food poisoning?

Etcetera.

Morning Update

See previous post for details of how the morning started.

Suffice to say, it ended BADLY.

:(

Etcetera.

Good Morning

The rest of you are probably out of bed already. Not me. Oh, I need a shower. And to go to work. And my kid is up. Sitting next to me, chit chatting and playing with blocks. But I'm still in bed.

It's this damn morning sickness. It really is horrible in the morning. It gets bad ocassionally during the day, but in the morning, I need to throw up so bad. With Ander, morning sickness was always in the evening, so this weirds me out. The feeling that you must throw up, or you'll die, but you really, really don't want to throw up...it's a horrible, miserable, evil feeling.

So I'll be getting out of bed - as soon as I am convinced that I won't puke. Or if I have to pee again for the fifth time this morning. Whcihever comes first.

Etcetera.

Monday, March 24, 2008

The Problem With Blogger

Blogger doesn't email follow-up comments. And since I read my blogs through Google Reader, I never get to see any comments unless they are on my blog. That sucks. All good debate just doesn't happen. Is there a solution? Hmmm.

Etcetera.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

A Case Against Co-sleeping

Ugh. We had to co-sleep all weekend. First, in the camper, where the kids (7 year old nephew, 5 year old niece, and Ander) could NOT go to sleep all together, so Ander had to come to bed with Alan and I so we could sleep. Then again at my mom's during this afternoon's nap, because we NEEDED Ander to sleep at the same time as us.

Now, we do ocassionally co-sleep. At 5:30 a.m. every single morning, Ander wakes up and joins me in bed, but it's either on Alan's side, or Alan gets up and it's just the two of us. And I'm not exactly anti-co-sleeping. I would not and do not co-sleep with itty babies without a hard sided co-sleeper, and even then, I always put Ander in the bassinet first and only co-slept in the early morning hours. It was important to me that he learn to sleep alone and that I not squish or overheat him. I have an uncle that died of SIDS, and am very cautious. But I don't worry at all about squishing a two year old. And our co-sleeper was an in-bed one, so he was really close.

It's just that I don't sleep when I co-sleep. I dreamed Misty stole him away from me. (Boy, Misty, I was irrationally mad at you Saturday morning...'til I realized it was a dream. LOL.) I woke and watched him sleep. I tried to warm his cheek with my hand without moving him. I lost the fight for my pillow and my cover, in the cold camper. And it went on and on, as we co-slept over the weekend for various reasons. I'm just not a gifted co-sleeper. Ander kicks my boobs (sore from pregnancy) and my stomach (big from pregnancy). It hurts. I'm tired and grumpy, and though I usually try to be calm and rationale with Ander, I lose it and scream. And he cries, because "Mommy mean!!!" Gre-ate. Sigh.

This baby will be different to raise, in a way, because I'll likely be breastfeeding. But the baby will still have to learn to sleep alone. Because mommy can't share.

Etcetera.

Little Black Creek

On Friday, we left to camp overnight in Mississippi. Let me start by saying that it is really nice to camp in a camper with a twin bed, with people who do all the fire-making/cooking/packing boiled crawfish on ice for you, and with built-in sitters, including grandma and assorted aunts. Plus, two whole days (three if you count Easter) WITH ALAN. I could cry; it's so great hanging with Alan.

I ate about 10-15 pounds of crawfish all by my pregnant self, including once for breakfast. And maybe it was being outside, in the beautiful weather, right near a million places where I could throw up without consequence, but I felt much better. I felt bad here, and a few times out there, but being outside helped.

My mom had a bathroom emergency on the interstate in Mississippi. You never seen my hubby drive so fast as when his MIL said, "don't speed, Alan. I'm not going to make it to the bathroom anyway." She did; he made CERTAIN she did. LOL.

Etcetera.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Easter Shopping

It's done. As soon as Ander falls asleep, which should be any minute now, I'll put the baskets together (except for one for Ander to "put out"). Poor hubby's probably not done, but I'll give him some time tonight, along with a short grocery list. ;)

Etcetera.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

March 12, 2008 Baton Rouge LSMSAAA Meeting Minutes

These are the minutes of the meeting that I am mailing out to all signed up members. Let me know if you are in the Baton Rouge area and an alum and would like to join to group.

LSMSA Alumni Association – Baton Rouge Chapter (Informal)

Minutes of March 12, 2008 Meeting

Location: D’Angelo’s on Jefferson Highway
Time: 11:30 a.m.
*LSMSA Update
Lowe’s Greenhouse Grant day is May 3 for all alumni who are interested in helping out in Natchitoches. Interested persons who can help with construction should contact the school.
Teacher Appreciation Week is April 28 through May 2. If a particular faculty member has touched your life, be sure to drop them and e-mail or card. The school’s current address is 715 University Parkway, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457.
Louisiana School has an updated website at http://www.lsmsa.edu complete with an updated alumni database. Please check the database and make sure your contact information is up-to-date.
The Louisiana School Foundation is coming to Baton Rouge for a training on April 12, 2008. The Friday night before, April 11, 2008, there will possibly be a social for interested alumni and Foundation members.
J.C. Wells distributed copies of the PALS (Parents of Louisiana School) newsletter to attendees.
*LSMSAAA Elections
Elections for the statewide LSMSAAA are coming up. Nominations for statewide officers closed on Friday, March 14, 2008. In order to vote in the elections, you must pay your alumni dues of $12 by a certain date. You can send your dues to LSMSA Alumni Association, 715 University Parkway, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457.
*Local Goals
Sarah Neau volunteered to assist the group and the school in targeting private schools in the area as a source of potential LSMSA students. Anyone who has an ability to help with getting private schools in the area to allow LSMSA staff to visit and speak to the students should let us know if they are interested in helping out.
Individual alumni can help out by educating their local state officials about the value of Louisiana School.
Individual alumni can help out by being available to Dr. Sharon Williams to educate parents and potential students are recruiting meetings at local schools. Contact the school if you are available to help. The Baton Rouge group will ask Dr. Sharon to consider always having at least one male and one female graduate of LSMSA at each meeting.
*Nominations of Local Leaders
The group decided to temporarily appoint the following people to leadership positions, pending the formal establishment of a Baton Rouge chapter of the LSMSAAA:
J.C. Wells – President
Emily Black Grey – Vice President
Kristy Boxberger – Secretary
*New Business
Emily Grey will draft a sample constitution.
Foundation board seats are available. Contact Dr. Pat Widhalm is you are available and interested.
Emily Grey will draft a word document for getting LSMSA Alumni signed up for the Baton Rouge chapter.
The next meeting will be announced via e-mail. If you live in the Baton Rouge area and are interested in attending, but have not attended before, send your address to kzblaw@kzblaw.com so it can be added to the mailing list.

Etcetera.

Queasy Overdrive

I was better last night than I have been in a while. I went for a leisurely walk. I ate. I felt okay.

Big mistake.

At about 10 p.m., I started to think I might vomit. I took meds and slept. The electricity knocked out our power, and with no alarm set, I depend on Ander to wake me. For the first time ever, he slept until 8:15 a.m. Opps! And since I've been up, I've been gagging and running to the bathroom.

I would feel better if I threw up, but it's not that simple. It doesn't always happen, and then I just feel crappy. I have a client coming in at 1:30 p.m., so I'd better feel better by then.

Etcetera.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ode To Lorna

Lorna's such a sweetie. She takes care of animals, and she takes care of her friends. She works hard, but she plays hard, too. And she's calm and collected and all the things I want to be.

Happy birthday, Lorna!

Etcetera.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Not A Lazy Person

It's difficult to think of myself as lazy. I am so busy, with work, taking care of Ander, and being pregnant ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME WITH NO END IN SIGHT (ahem...okay, I'm calming down), that it's laughable that anyone would say I'm lazy. I push myself to exhaustion, collapse and sleep, and wake up and do it again.

So when I say that it's driving me insane that certain people continue to tell me I'm not working enough or hard enough...well, I am not the murdering type, so that's a good thing.

ROAR.

(It's the hormones talking, I swear!!!)

Etcetera.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Blissful Morning

Yesterday, at 3 p.m., BA rolled into town.

I so needed that.

We have coffee (decaf, obviously) at Starbucks. Then, when the kids got restful, we took a two hour stroll through Highland Road Park. Finally, we went to a nice dinner.

I've had so much stress lately, between the miscarriage, the pregnancy, work struggles, and Alan working overtime. It was all I could do to not cry when I saw her.

And she worked her magic. She made me feel okay about feeling sad. She made me laugh. I hope I made her feel okay, too. But I don't have her gift for erasing troubles.

Why oh why is she an economist and not a therapist?

But this morning, with my hubby home ALL WEEKEND (!) and social events planned and plenty of sleep, and of course my BA time, I feel like the weight of the world is lifted off of my shoulders.

Etcetera.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Ander Tried To Run Off

Just now, a Jehovah's Witness lady knocked on our door. I opened the door, and she invited me to some service on Saturday and said goodbye. She wasn't pushy at all.



Then Ander got involved.



He pushed past me and out the door. He was wearing his monkey pjs. He took the stranger lady's hand, and told her, "we go bye-bye in mommy's car" and headed towards her car, which, like Mommy's, was blue.



I think he scared her, just a little.



Etcetera.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Proof My Mom Is Wrong

She claims that Alan must be having an affair, since he gets home so late every night. ;)

But tonight, he came home at a very reasonable hour for the first time all week. He made Ander and me supper, and he played basketball outside with Ander while I rested. And now he's snoring in bed next to me.
It makes me happy.

By the way, want to see what he did at work today? Check him out at http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Video/2008/Mar2008.htm and scroll down to the March 13 Appropriations Sub On Infrastructure. He starts speaking about a minute in.

Fair warning, though...it'll put you to sleep.

Etcetera.

Home Sick - Again

Ander coughed all night. His nose is running like a faucet. If he was the only kid with my mom, I'd take him in, but I'm not risking getting all the other kids sick. So we are hanging out at home. I do have to run into the office for about 20 minutes at some point, to sign and pick up some papers, but I'll just bring Ander with me.

I am also having a bad day. It seems like this always happens on Thursdays. I think I just pushed and pushed myself so hard Monday through Wednesday, that by Thursday I'm beat. My back hurts, I woke up about 10 times last night with the runs (thank you, colitis...dammit), and I can't open the fridge or pantry without gagging. I have some Zofran, but I only have a few pills, and I just want to save those for when Beth Anne visits in town this weekend. I am desperate for some friend time.

Alan got home at 8:15 last night, which was exciting. It's the first time he's been home before 10 p.m. this week. That means that I really am not getting much rest, because Ander needs diapers, playtime (although I have to limit it a little right now), food, and drink. Every 20 minutes or so, he needs something. He naps at my mom's house, so I don't get a break. Alan did the dishes and the laundry and the trash, thank God, but I still have to do some housework. Normally, I do most of the housework during his overtime times, but I have severe backache this pregnancy and throw up anytime I stand up for too long.

I guess I'll spend today resting, cleaning up a little, wrapping presents for the baby shower Sunday and birthday party Monday, popping into work for a few minutes, and going out to lunch, because frankly, I will puke if I open the fridge again. I hope to also get a bit of office work done, but if I don't no big deal. I've been really working hard the past three days, so I'm okay.

There are rumors that the session will end this weekend. Oh, I hope so. If I could just have Alan take over (make dinner, do bath) when I get off of work, I could rest a little. It's really hard to be a single parent, pregnant, and run an office. I am overcommitted. And the baby inside of me is a nonnegotiable obligation (not just morally, but also in that it really punishes me if I don't rest and eat right), so other things are suffering.

Etcetera.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

And giftie and giftie and etcetera...

Apparently, lots of gifties (persons who attended the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts) read my blog, including a bunch of people I'm only just meeting. Somehow, I got linked from the official LSMSA website. At a meeting of the (in process of being established) Baton Rouge Chapter of the LSMSAAA, several people told me that read my weird rants. Wow. I guess, half the time, I assume no one is listening.

Anyway, I hope some of my local peeps gets involved in the local chapter. There was a mix up, so you probably didn't get the e-mail about today's meeting (though I think J C Wells will be at the D'Angelos on Jefferson at 6 p.m. for anyone who wants a recap).

Anyway, I'll post the meeting minutes and the date and time of the next meeting here once I know them, so you can be in the know.

And for my internet stalker who commented that I didn't throw up during lunch (you know who you are, Joseph Dunn ;)), I'll take care of that right now.

Etcetera.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Other People Sleep Alone

They go to their beds. They tuck under the covers. And they go to sleep.



I don't even like to touch Alan when we are sleeping.



So why can't I just take my tired butt to bed and sleep instead of sitting up, waiting for him to come home? At which point I'm sure we'll both fall promptly asleep.



Etcetera.

Maternity Clothes

I'm wearing a maternity top today. I certainly don't need maternity tops yet, as my belly has barely expanded from it's usual swollen state. But I've lost so much weight that my regular clothes are all too big. So I found this cute maternity top on sale, and it fits, so that's what I'm wearing.



I guess I'm still pretty small, though, because no strangers have yet dared to ask when I am due.



Etcetera.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Coffee Shop Ramblings

Before I say anything else, a word to the NY governor accused of getting involved with a prostitution ring. Girlfriend. As in, get one instead of paying one. Seriously.

On to why I'm at a coffeeshop. I'm not sure why, but I get so much more done at PJ's (15 minutes from my office) than my office. I am plowing through a pile of work that should have been done last week, had I been feeling better. The phone doesn't ring every two seconds. I can return calls all at once. And I can drink oj and hot cocoa, which seems to, combined with the Zofran, keep the pukeys away. (It helps that I threw up before work this morning. Once I actually throw up, I always feel better.) And since I have no appetite, I have plenty of allowance to spend on overpriced oj.

Etcetera.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Bad Dreams

The bad pregnancy dreams have started. I've heard rumors that others have sexy dreams. Not me. :(



I dreamed Alan had invited me to his wedding. He was marrying someone else. It's this nice girl from my home town whose name, I think, is Angela. I only vaguely remember her, but she's realy, really nice. Which sucks, because I'm in love with Alan, and I knew I was going to destroy her wedding day or get my heart broken.



In the end of the dream, Alan left her for me, but no one would speak to us and he felt so guilty that we couldn't enjoy being together.



It sucked all the good out of my morning when I finally woke up.



Etcetera.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Phillip Can Work Miracles

Right? Because Ander had a photo session this morning, and he looked, well, droopy. It's his eyes. He has his daddy's eyes. Other kids have a sparkle in their eyes. Ander has one spark. Boom, it's over.

Saturday tv sucks. There's What Not To Wear, but only reruns that I've already seen.

And Zofran is an amazing drug, but it also makes me sleep.

Etcetera.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Staying Hydrated

I am managing to keep down water and Sierra Mist. And I ate a pb&j (though, gag). I took a nap. Overall, I feel much better. There will be no doctor's visit today. Yah.



Etcetera.

New Purse

Can you tell from all my blogging that I'm at home today? And can I say that I've done all I can take of work, so now I'm blogging instead. {sticks out tongue}

I had to get rid of my much loved $10 Payless purse. It was grey and the perfect size, but the trim was peeling off, because I've had it forever. So I needed a replacement.

Normally, I get a mid-sized purse. But right now, I HAVE to carry around bottled water and a snack everywhere, or I get sick. Plus, I'll probably have to carry around diabetes stuff soon. So I needed a tote. But I cannot lug a tote everywhere. That's just too much. So I got a tiny black bag for the essentials. It's got my pda, cell, wallet, and keys. That's it. It slips into my work bag for court. It slips into my tote. I put my backup makeup in my tote, along with a couple of diapers and wipes. I'm liking the set-up so far.

Etcetera.

Maybe I'm Just In A Sucktacular Mood

But seriously, work is driving me crazy. No new clients are calling, at all. However...

A very distant cousin called this morning. So distant, in fact, that I would not recognize her on the street. I haven't seen her in years, and when I did ocassionally see her at a funeral or something, she's never so much as smiled in my direction.

She's getting a divorce, has no access to cash, and wants to know if I can help.

Do people not realize that lawyers actually work? That this is how I feed my family and pay my student loans? I just can't imagine callin someone I barely know, just because our parents are distantly related, and asking that they do work for me for free. I wouldn't call her and ask for $2,000, just to get me through a tough time, now would I?

Plus, any bad advice I give could result in malpractice. And who's to say she wouldn't sue me? I don't even know her.

SCREAM!!!

Why can't people just be nice and fair?

Etcetera.

Ugh

Being pregnant sucks.

I think I'll start all blogs that way from now on.

I took my strong meds last night at 8 p.m. I feel asleep instantly, as phenergan knocks me out. I slept until 7 a.m. this morning. I don't feel rested, exactly, but I feel less like I'll puke at any minute. Though I did almost puke once this morning, so that sucked. I think I'll work from home today. I brought my files home, and that just seems like the best thing for now.

At least I am certain that I am not currently dehydrated (though I was in danger yesterday). So there won't be any IVs for me today. I cancelled Ander's playdate at the zoo for this morning. It's going to be very cool and windy and I feel crappy, so getting out seems like a bad idea.

Etcetera.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Woo Hoo

Well, I ate 100 calories worth of potato chips, about 2 oz. of pecans, and a little debbie snack cake. I've had 10 ounces of water and half a can of Sierra Mist. So at least I got something in me so far today.

My muscles are really sore, so I know I need to get more in me so I don't dehydrate. Sore muscles are always my key sign. My lips are also chapped now. If I do need IVs, my mom and dad say they'll come get Ander. But, wow, how much do I not want to be "eating" through an IV, even if I do get to stay at my house.

Etcetera.

Not At Work

I need to be at work. As little work as I have to do now, I do have some work to do. And it needs to be done.

I got dressed. I drove down here. I was an hour late, because of much time spent sitting still so I wouldn't throw up, but still I made it here.

I ever went to the office. Where I spent 10 freakin' minutes in the bathroom. I returned to my mom's house, where she pronounced me green. And I am green. I feel like death.

I can't take my nauseau meds, because I changed purses this morning and left them at home accidentally.

I've eaten 100 calories and drank 8 ounces of water so far today, and that is not going to do it.

I really, really, really don't want to end up in the hospital. :(

Etcetera.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

The Lonely Truth About Early Pregnancy

When you first find out you are pregnant, there's no one to tell expect your husband. And in my case, he doesn't believe it until there's a heartbeat, anyway. :( I took a pregnancy test three days early. I didn't think I could have been pregnant, as I ovulated the same day as a medical procedure that made baby-making an impossiblity. But I had a backache. Lower right hand side - exactly where it hurt the entire time I was pregnant with Ander.

My doctor had me come in the next morning, Friday February 1, for an Hcg test. And then again on Monday. The next week, Ander had Fifth's disease and I had to be tested for that. Do you know how hard it is to miss that much work and to drag a toddler, time and time again, to get bloodwork done. He's gotten to the point that he thinks it's cool that mommy gets shots.

Of course, this is Alan's busiest season. Which means my day typically goes like this - puke, get dressed, puke, get Ander dressed, give Ander cereal because anything else will make me puke, bring Ander to mom's, drive back to Baton Rouge for ultrasound/doctor/bloodwork (if I'm lucky enough that it's late enough not to bring Ander), grab lunch and don't eat it because I will puke, go to work, cram a day's worth of work into three exhausting hours, pick up Ander, drive home, puke, have a light supper - if I can, let Ander watch tv, wait for Alan to stumble in around 7:30 or 8 p.m. It see-yucks big time.

And of course, I can't go out with friends, because 1) I might puke and 2) I don't have the energy. So I sit alone and moan and try to rest. Early pregnancy sucks. Have I said that already?

But now you know. So I shall feel free to whine. Feel free to ignore me. My doctor says I'll feel better at the beginning of April. We shall see.

Etcetera.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

My Doctor's Visit

Since the miscarriage, I've seen the doctors so many times, it's exhausting. From the day of the positive test (January 31), I've had blood drawn 6 times, peed in 2 cups, had 3 ultrasounds, and one doctor's visit. The nurses have my cell number memorized. Sigh. I never get to go to work. When would I possibly fit that in?

My EED (estimated due date, for those not in the know) was October 10. Then, the first ultrasound showed I was a week behind. So it got changed to October 17. As a person who has been puking since February 1, the extra week of "morning" (ha) sickness was not cool. The next week showed the same thing, a full week behind, but a heartbeat. So that was nice.

Today, the baby caught up to my original due date. Yah!!! So the doctor moved my due date back to October 10. Excellent.

As usual, I cannot eat. The doctor gave me phenagran (sp?) and Zofran (a medicine they use with chemo patients). He warned me that insurance often doesn't cover Zofran, but mine does, so it was quite affordable!

If I get dehydrated, I am to call him and he will order a home health nurse to come out and give me IV fluids. Otherwise, I will be hospitalized. And, of course, I need to see him in two weeks instead of the usual four. Gre-ate. But I took the Zofran, and so far I've eaten 1/2 an apple, 2/3 of a grilled cheese sandwich, a glass of water, and 15 oz. of orange juice. That's more than I eat some entire days, and although I've thrown up twice today, it was before I ate, so that's decent news.

Once I hit 20 weeks, I'll have to take shots so to minimize a repeat premature birth.

I know y'all are only just hearing about it, but I've been thinking it since February 1, so here goes: PREGNANCY SUCKS MONKEY BUTT!

Etcetera.

167 Times A Minute

That's how often our baby's heart is beating! I have pictures to prove it.

;)

Etcetera.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Oh Holy Moses

So I managed to get into a discussion of religion with MIL and Alan's aunt. Not the brightest thing to do, but I was tired and cranky at the time, and it just happened.

They were SHOCKED, and I mean SHOCKED, to hear that I don't think accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is what gets you into heaven. What I believe is that anyone, an athiest (which would make many an athiest scoff, I'm sure ;)), a Wiccan watcher of the Discovery Channel, a Mormon - you know, the big three "foolish" groups, according to MIL's pastor (except that I added the Wiccan part for emphasis) - can get into heaven. I think being good in spirit and action and avoiding sin is the path to heaven.

The discussion arose because we were watching a news report saying that a televangelist paster (Hague, I think) who Catholic-bashes endorsed John McCain, and many Catholics took offense. My in-laws commented that he shouldn't "bash" anyone, and I commented that their pastor does all the time. Look, you are free to believe that acceptance of Jesus is the ticket to heaven, and the rest of us are going to hell. You are free to secretly pray for my soul. Whatever. But to mock other religions...for a pastor of a church to get up and call Mormonism "foolishness"...to preach to young girls that their husbands do make the rules and to not cause their husbands to raise a hand to strike them...all irresponsible, unChrist-like, and morally reprehensable (sp?).

I think I made them angry. Ah, well. I used to follow the *don't discuss religion or politics rule* with them, but since I heard my MIL's dramatic (and very evangelistic, Southern Baptist) reading and interpretation of Veggie Tales to my son, I think it's time I make it clear that we will be teaching Ander what we believe and not what they do, thank you very much.

I'm in a mood. Can you tell? :)

Etcetera.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

The Party

I must say, what could have been an incredibly stressful kid's birthday party last night was, well, fun. Thanks to some totally cool and polite guests, all the mess was picked up during the party, leaving us less than ten minutes worth of cleaning up to do this morning. All the food was eaten and all the drinks were consumed. Ander says he had fun. Of course, that means nothing. But he looked like he had a blast, and that means a lot.

The most popular gift, of course, is the one with "adult supervision required." (A fishing pole, BTW.)

And the cooler grown-ups stayed up past 11 p.m., as did the birthday boy. So he basically woke up this morning tired and cranky. But whatever. That's what fun does - gives you a hangover. Even if you're two.

Etcetera.