Friday, August 31, 2007
Q: How Do You Cheer Up a Hormonal Pregnant Lady?
A: Give her a free $60 haircut because you changed her appointment from Thursday to Friday. Also, still honor her 20% coupon that expired yesterday because you changed the appointment, not her. |Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I'm Famous
Two, count them two, pictures of me in the newspaper!(I'm the short-haired one in a black swim suit.) |
Saturday, August 25, 2007
What I've Been Up To
1. Buying loads of things at Target with all the gift certificates we received from our first shower. I picked up a lamp base (to go with the red shade my Mom bought last weekend), a Boppy pillow, a play gym, a Diaper Champ, a changing pad, etc. etc.2. Clipping all the tags off of Cletus' clothes and starting to wash them all.
3. Continuing to do water aerobics at least once a week and attending a fun pre-natal yoga class last weekend. (Someone buy my Mom a digital camera! Her old school 35mm sucks.)
4. Napping whenever I can (which is hardly ever, I'm afraid) and enduring Ms. Personal Space Disrespecter every time.
5. Asking Santa for a baby.
6. Opening presents.
Getting expert opinions on them.
Modeling them.
Liking them.
7. Growing! (But, strangely, I haven't gained any weight in 5 weeks. I'm up 18 pounds so far and I guess everything I eat goes to her. Cool by me.)
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Because He's Proud of How I'm Handling the Pregnancy
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Grateful
I'm so grateful for my Mom. Huz and I had a lovely weekend visiting with her. She took good care of me (getting pedicures together, buying her granddaughter things, making me rest, etc.) and helping us get some things done so that nesting could begin (including buying a matching dresser to the one we purchased on Saturday so now Cletus's room will actually MATCH. Wow.). The low dresser that will also serve as her changing station arrived yesterday and already makes the room look so much better. The taller dresser (that my Mom bought) will arrive in probably 4 weeks or so. I'll take pictures after I finish up the final decorations of the room for your viewing enjoyment.I'm so grateful for my friends. They threw us a lovely shower on Sunday, making us both feel blessed and honored to be surrounded by a loving, giving community. The three couples who organized the shower went in on a gift that Huz was very excited about. Now he'll sport Cletus in S.T.Y.L.E. Another gift of note was a handmade growth chart that my lovely friend painted herself (I'll post pictures once it's hung in the nursery). Finally, another friend researched unique gift ideas and gave it to us at the end of the shower. It was a photo book filled with pictures from the party and with birthday greetings from all of the guests to Cletus through her 15th birthday. Huz and I both cried. It was so touching and reality-invoking: we're having a child; a child who will grow up and become a teenager and then an adult. The responsibility is heavy, but thrilling.
Mmm. Baby food tastes good (not).
My Mommy
My prayer for my baby girl is simple: I pray that she'll be a happy, joyful person who loves others and is loved in return. Amen. |
Friday, August 17, 2007
Surprise Visit
The one who gave me my great legs and loud,
*Because of the heat, stress from my new job, gestational diabetes, and now a diagnosis of a hole in my heart. (Sounds worse than it is. I freaked out at first, but have doctor friends who have reassured me that it's benign and very common.) |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
I Think I'm Going to Die
…Heat wave continues with near record temperatures…Temperatures this afternoon will climb to the 100 to 103 range…We expect temperatures in Nashville to top out near the record high for this date…of 102 degrees…set back in 1954.
Today will be the 14th day in a row in which the temperature has reached 95 degrees and above in Nashville. |
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Consumer's Corner
(See previous Consumer Corners here and here.)I remember I was once asked by a British friend of mine what brand of makeup I used and I told her, "oh, all sorts" to which she said, "I've never heard of that kind before."
Skin Care
A friend sells Arbonne, so I bought some for my birthday last year. I loved the cleanser, balancing toner, and serum , but they are too expensive for me. I'm currently trying Cetaphil and am still trying to use up some Clinique moisturizer I've had for a few years (who knew it would last so long!).
Makeup
I can't live without this mascara or this eyeliner (which I have found to be the softest, most easy to apply and that stays all day). I only have one eyeshadow by Clinique (Lucky Penny), but I really like it because it stays put and has a nice shimmer, plus you can't beat MAC's eye shadows for depth of color and longevity.
I'm not a lipstick wearer because Huz won't kiss me when I wear it and it's just too dolled up for my tastes, but I do have one by MAC that's really nice.
Lotion
Right now I'm using this body butter for my expanding belly (I know you can't prevent stretch marks with creams because it's all in the genes, but this helps moisturize and prevent itching - plus, you never know if it'll dissuade stretch marks so you might as well try, right?) and I use this lotion for the rest of me.
What do you use and recommend?
[I forgot to mention foundation. I use MAC's liquid with 15 SPF.] |
Friday, August 10, 2007
Catching Up
Sorry I've been silencio of late. I cannot tell you just how busy I am at my new job. The other day I wasn't able to check my personal email until 4:25p.m.! Good grief. It's such a better job for me, but right now I'm in this temporary office (still no phone) and the a/c is paltry at best, and I'm right next to some major (read: loud) construction. I run up and down the stairs at least a dozen times a day and I have averaged at least one 2-hour meeting every day for the last two weeks. It's been insane.I went to the follow-up endocrinologist appointment on Wednesday and the Dr. was pleased with my blood sugar levels with my new diet. So that's good - means no drugs for me. And I'm down to taking my levels four times a day instead of six. Only problem is? Yesterday I got some really high levels and it wasn't due to diet, because I haven't changed anything. I went home last night after work (skipped water aerobics) and was all flushed (read: beet red in the cheeks) and exhausted. I was in bed from 5:00 - 8:00 and forced myself to get up to eat a little something and spend some time with Huz (which resulted in me sitting next to him watching TV while he read a book - oh well). I called the Dr. this morning to tell her about all of this and she hasn't called back yet, but the nurse thinks (as do I) that my blood sugars are out of whack due to all of the stress at the new job, plus some overheating and dehydration (yesterday was the third day in a row with 3-digit temperatures in Nashville and I had walked several blocks with a co-worker in the heat to buy my new Palm Treo for work*).
I tried to work today, but left after only two hours because of the construction noise, the hot office, and the tears that wouldn't stop rolling down my face. I had just had enough. So now I'm at home - working a little, drinking and chilling out a lot.
Here's to a cooler future!
*SWEET! |
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Thank God for Air Conditioning
Tue, August 79am
Sunny
86°F
91°F
10am
Sunny
90°F
96°F
11am
Sunny
93°F
99°F
12pm
Mostly Sunny
95°F
101°F
1pm
Mostly Sunny
96°F
101°F
2pm
Mostly Sunny
97°F
102°F
3pm
Mostly Sunny
98°F
103°F |
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Self Portrait Saturday
Tomorrow is a big day. While I have no big plans, other than to relax after a very hectic week of starting a new job and getting diagnosis after diagnosis from various medical professionals, Sunday is going to be a big day. It marks the beginning of my third trimester. I can hardly believe it. Like most things (marriage, living in Nashville, how long I've had my current group of friends) time becomes meaningless. It seems to have been both a very long time ago that I got pregnant and just yesterday too. I feel like it was forever ago that we were trying (every!other!day!) to conceive and all the disappointment and frustration that brought over a ten month period. I feel like I just peed on that stick and with tearful shock ran into the bedroom to show Huz. I feel like it was forever ago that I was drugged on progesterone pills, going to sleep at 8:30 at night and having to wake up at 2:00a.m. to take another dose. I feel like it was forever ago that I had a waist and felt sexy. I feel like I've always had that special smile on my face when I feel my child kick me from within, even though it's only been 7 weeks since she's been doing it everyday. I feel like I still have to tell people that I'm expecting, as I forget that it's now obvious. I feel like it's been forever since I've been able to sleep stretched out on my back in blissful slumber. It's both been forever and just yesterday since my body has become something other than my own: a different person's body, a body of it's own. It's been both scary and magical.To celebrate the beginning of this final trimester, I share some self-portraits with you. Enjoy.
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On Sucking it In
It's impossible, but I thought it'd be fun to at least try.Here's me last weekend at the end of my 26th week.
Before:
After:
Really effective, huh? |
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Just Call Me Pin Cushion
So the endocrinologist appointment took FOREVER yesterday - mostly waiting - first for the triage nurse, then for the intern, then for the doctor, then for an RN to show me how to use a glucometer. I didn't have time to wait for the RN, though, because I had a meeting to get to and told them I could read the instructions and figure it out myself (it's not exactly rocket science - you prick your finger and put the blood drop on the machine for the reading. Duh.). I was there nearly 2 hours and then had to come back for a nutritionist appointment later in the afternoon. I had already done my research and was keeping a food diary, so she was impressed (Yay me. It's the small things these days, folks.). I know how many carbs to have with each meal and each snack now and am closely monitoring them (talk about advance planning - no more reaching into the fridge on a whim for me). I have to stick my finger 6 times a day to check my blood sugar before and 2 hours after each meal to see if my body is taking it okay. I have a follow-up appointment with the endocrinologist next week.What else? During my exam she found a nodule on my thyroid, so I had to get a blood test (more needles) for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to see if they are normal AND an ultrasound of my thyroid. Talk about uncomfortable - push on your neck for about 10 minutes and try not to swallow.
What a day.
Then Huz and I went to birth class from 6:30-8:30 and I was ready to crash after that.
Signing off for now,
Harry Potter Pin Cushion Winters |
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Call my Harry Potter
No, this has nothing to do with the book, or spoilers, or anything. I'm in my new position, which is great, but for the next 2-3 weeks I'm in a temporary office - i.e., the copy room closet. Seriously. And there's construction just behind the wall I'm facing at the tiny desk. (Hammer, hammer. Drill, drill. Loud men talking and dropping things.) I have no phone. But, thank God, I have a computer now and can finally print. That's something. To my immediate right is an abandoned computer and printer that I don't use and to my immediate left is a dolly and cardboard boxes. I have no trashcan so I'm using a grocery bag. I will have a real office, just as soon as the construction is finished and the woman who's office I'm taking moves into the new space. I can't wait. So, call me Harry Potter in my broom closet for now.I have my endocrinologist appointment in a half an hour. I hope it goes well and that she begins me on a diet right away to take care of this (my fear is that I'll have to make yet ANOTHER appointment with a dietitian, but we'll see).
That's it for now, my pretties. |
