37 Weeks

I don't have a lot to write this week.  Or maybe I do, but I don't want to write it.


The week started out pretty crappy and then got unimaginably worse when my sister in law, my husband's only sibling, died suddenly at the age of 38.  We are devastated and in shock. I don't know what else to say about it. Life is really just cruel and unfair sometimes.  She leaves behind a husband and two small children.

For some reason I have an ominous feeling this pregnancy is nearing its end so I wanted to document Week 37, as shitty as it is.  I honestly want to be pregnant for at least two more weeks no matter how uncomfortable it gets just to put some mental distance between the two events.

How Far Along: 37 weeks.  I've reached "term" even though according to March of Dimes "full term" isn't until 39 weeks.  Oh well, close enough.
Size of baby: Baby is the size of a winter melon, or, you know, the size of a six pound infant.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: No change.
Workouts: I think I overdid it walking around at a concert yesterday and now I'm miserable.
Maternity Clothes: Sure.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: All the friggen time.  He's clawing his way out.
Sleep: Fine when I'm not puking or peeing or anxious.
What I miss: .....
Cravings: Nothing.
Symptoms: Pain, pressure, general discomfort.
Anxiety Level: Can't even go there this week.
Best Moment this week: .....
Reading: ....
Dad is: ......

In other news, I have a job interview on Wednesday.  Yeah, at 37 weeks, 2 days.  As I mentioned before, I knew it was a possibility but it seems a little crazy at this point.  On the one hand, I pretty much loathe my job lately and I'm anxious for a change/salary boost.  On the other hand, I don't know how it would work out even if I did get the job.  I know I wouldn't be able to take the 18 weeks off I currently have planned, but would they let me take 12?  Anything less than that I would feel pretty guilty.  So here goes nothing I guess.

I'm also dumping my OB's office.  Or trying to anyway.  Stay tuned for news about this.  It is another reason why I don't want to go into labor anytime soon.  I need to straighten this mess out and soon.

But, in happier news, my tiny cat loves the new infant seat.

36 Weeks

I am making a ridiculous face in this bump photo but since I literally could not stand wearing this outfit for one more minute, I only allowed one take.  This dress was the one I had originally wanted to wear to my shower this past weekend, but it got vetoed because it was too short.  After wearing it to work today, I can now verify that is is, in fact, too short.  Lucky for me, no one can really notice when I'm sitting in my cubicle.  I like the dress so much I bought two of them and plan to wear them post-delivery, yet walking home in the sweltering heat today made me hate the thick interior lining.

Yes, that's right.  It went from low 40's last week to over eighty degrees today. And it was SO muggy.  I'm glad I only have four more weeks of pregnancy left because I am not cut out for being hugely pregnant in the summer. I think I would show up to work in a tank top and boxer shorts every day until I got fired.

But speaking of getting fired, I GOT MY MATERNITY LEAVE APPROVED! It was such a non-event at my joke of a job.  My boss called me into his office late last week and just handed me a form to sign with no discussion.  I placed said form back on his desk a few minutes later while he was away.  Today I got a copy of said form signed by the Powers That Be.  I guess no one has anything to say to me about transitioning my work to another attorney, notifying the clients I'm responsible for about my planned absence, or my offer to start back on a part time basis?  Well okay then, see you in late October losers!  Eighteen weeks of freedom!  Oh and taking care of a newborn.

How Far Along: 36 weeks. Officially nine months pregnant.
Size of baby: Baby is the size of a honeydew.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: No change.
Workouts: I returned presents and did some shopping today at Buy Buy Baby and nearly passed out.
Maternity Clothes: If I must, though it's officially too hot for pants so I'm just trying to wear dresses now.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Yes he's pretty active lately.  He gets pissed if I don't eat at the usual times.
Sleep: Sucky.  I go to hang out in bed early in the night because I need to stretch my joints and end up falling asleep and being wide awake later in the night and unable to get back to sleep.  Also getting out of bed to pee is really hard now.
What I miss: Not peeing ten times a night.
Cravings: Food is gross.  I would just like to drink water all day long and maybe have soft serve ice cream.
Symptoms: Ankles of doom!
Anxiety Level: Only a one or a two this week.
Best Moment this week: My shower!
Reading: I'm working on Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds.
Dad is: Nesting a little.

This weekend was my shower thrown by my mom and sisters.  It was pretty awesome.  My mom rented a room at an Italian restaurant in my hometown.  The food was so yummy and she decorated the room with baby pictures of DH and I, plus a handmade diaper motorcycle and other jungle accessories to match the theme we chose for the baby's room/office.  

We got almost everything we need for Gizmo's arrival, minus the swing I purchased today and some other miscellaneous things.  Now we just need to put everything away, wash the baby's clothes, hang up some shelves, get the car seat installed and hire someone to do a deep cleaning of the apartment.

New in pregnancy symptoms this week is the demise of my ankles.  It all started a few days ago.  I had a busy night at a charity event and then came home and was running around.  I went to put pajamas on and wanted socks because my feet were cold.  All of a sudden my sock wouldn't fit on my foot.  I freaked out!  DH took my blood pressure and it was a little high.  The next morning I went to the nurse at work to show her my ankles and have her take my blood pressure.  The latter was totally fine and she said the swelling wasn't so bad.  It gets a tad better if I elevate my feet for ninety minutes but I pretty much haven't seen my ankle bones since then.  I was so looking forward to not being a big bloated mess at my shower but I guess nature finally caught up with me.

Oh well, at least my hair looked fabulous!

35 Weeks

Today I'm 35 weeks pregnant, which means I have 35 days to go! I tried to explain to DH the concept of "35/35" as it is known to pregnant ladies everywhere but he was less enthusiastic.  He should try walking around with a baby in his pelvic region for a week or two and then see how he feels about celebrating milestones.

We had my "first" Mother's Day this weekend.  I mean, I'm not a mother to an "outside baby" just yet but the day was special because it was the first time since my first year of law school I haven't gone to see my parents and/or in laws.  Don't get me wrong, I missed being with my family, but after a lot of travel lately, everything at work, plus traveling again next weekend for Shower #2, it was nice to have a weekend to ourselves.

Saturday we attended a day long crash course on using our DSLR camera.  It was really cool!  I'm still very much a novice when it comes to taking pictures but at least I understand all the concepts behind it and what most of the buttons do.

Sunday there was a festival in the park across the street from our apartment.  The tulips were all blooming and it was really nice, despite the iffy weather.  We saw an up and coming band we like and ate yummy carnival food.


Speaking of iffy weather, it was 45 degrees today.  In May!  So this is a rare belly shot of me in my one pair of maternity pants.  I loathe them.  Despite the fact that I'm wearing an undershirt you can totally see the entire panel of the pants in this picture.  It's okay though, since I wore a cardigan to work over this shirt.  I took the cardigan off so that you can see the bump better.  My hair is also a hot mess because DH was on a conference call this morning so he didn't get to take this picture until I got home at 7 p.m.


How Far Along: 35 weeks.
Size of baby: Baby is the size of a coconut!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: No real change.  Though I weighed in at the doctor in the afternoon this week and was up like five pounds but I usually have morning appointments so I think it was just water weight.  Who knows. Three below BFP weight on my bedroom scale this morning.
Workouts: Anytime I walk anywhere I feel like I deserve a medal.
Maternity Clothes: Screw maternity clothes.  I just bought three potential shower dresses. One of them was maternity and cost $130.  The other two were non maternity and came out to $72 for both.  I'm hoping to return the first one but I still haven't made up my mind.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Yes!  This week my son discovered The Black Eyed Peas and he is a fan.
Sleep: Yes please.  I love sleep.  I'd sleep all day if I could, just like the cats.
What I miss: Not peeing ten times a night.
Cravings: Went to a carnival yesterday and wanted kettle corn if that counts.  Otherwise, none.
Symptoms: Feels like a baby is about to fall out of my vagina.
Anxiety Level: Only a one or a two this week.
Best Moment this week: My first Mother's Day!
Reading: Sigh.  I had so many lofty reading goals for this pregnancy but tiredness and work has just gotten in my way.

Dad is: Becoming an expert with our new DSLR.

So much on my mind to write about right now, but I'm going to save some stuff for later posts and just focus on work. I submitted my maternity leave plan on Tuesday. so nearly a week ago and still haven't heard word back on it yet.  As frustrating as that is, I'm just going to have to assume it will be accepted and, if so, my last day of full time employment will be Friday, June 7th.  I will be 38 weeks, 4 days by that point.  The following week I will work half days until my last day, June 14th when I will be 39 weeks, 4 days.  After that I'm hoping the baby is a few days late so I can just chillax at home for a while and watch Netflix.  Now that I've written that out, of course, he will likely come on June 7th.

Further assuming that my maternity leave plan is accepted AND I don't get a new job in the meantime, I will have 18 weeks off!  I decided to combine my six week paid maternity leave with six weeks sick time and six weeks of saved vacation time.  This would put me back at the office on October 21st, though I indicated that I would be open to the possibility of returning several days a week starting after we get back from our planned Cape Cod vacation on September 16th (after 13 weeks).

But these are all BIG IFS because I have every expectation I will find a better job in the next five months.  On Friday, yet another attorney at my office gave her notice.  There are apparently better paying jobs out there we're qualified for and it's just a matter of time before one of them is mine. Ideally this would all work out just as my leave is ending but I'll trade a few weeks of leave for a less toxic work environment and a fifty percent pay increase.

That's all for now!

34 Weeks

So, first things first, I'm not wearing the dress I promised I'd wear every six weeks, as last seen in my Week 28 check in. What I failed to consider at 28 weeks was that it would be 75 degrees today and a long sleeve dress would look dumb.  Next pregnancy I must think of a better theme.  I've seen some people do the same top once a week but the idea of having to put on a special outfit just for the picture exhausts me already and I am still not a parent.  And since I only dress up three (sometimes four) days a week for work it would be silly to try to plan on wearing the same thing on the same day every week.  Maybe next time I'll be due on a Saturday?  Fingers crossed!

And now, this week's dress appeared in a few of my recent posts but never as my official check in dress.  I wore it to our Jack and Jill party and to my nephew's baptism.  I've only worn it once or twice to work so I was happy to get it out today for the nice weather.  It wasn't until four hours after this picture was taken that I realized MY DRESS WAS ON BACKWARDS.  So anyway, I think it still works, right?  LOL. The neckline is supposed to be a lot higher but I doubt anyone at work noticed.

I can't believe I'm 34 weeks already.  I think DH is finally getting used to the idea that there will be an actual baby coming into our lives NEXT MONTH.


How Far Along: 34 weeks.

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a butternut squash, which I think is the third different variety of squash he's been. Who knew there were that many?

Total Weight Gain/Loss: About the same?  It's actually been fluctuating a lot this week but as of today I'm three or four pounds over pre-IVF weight and two or three below BFP weight.
Workouts: Just walking at lunch.
Maternity Clothes: About 50/50.  Now that the weather is nice I'm just throwing on stretchy t-shirts more often.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Yes, he is a little dancer this week.  I also think he smells food but my husband assures me that can't be true.
Sleep: Yes please.  I love sleep.  I'd sleep all day if I could, just like the cats.
What I miss: Really wanted a margarita for Cinco de Mayo.
Cravings: None. Food is gross and who wants to eat it?
Symptoms: Another nighttime acid induced puke fest!
Anxiety Level: Only a one or a two this week.
Best Moment this week: Another prenatal massage. Redecorating the bedroom.

Reading: Almost done with Instinctive Parenting (which I'm really enjoying).  I've been such a slow reader this pregnancy but I attribute that mostly to work being so busy.

Dad is: My hero because he rented a moving van to bring us all our "new" furniture and moved most of it all by himself (with his busted back).

Two hair loss related stories, one TMI and one not:

I went yesterday for only my second ever bikini wax in my 33 years of life.  Everyone told me I was NUTS for scheduling my first while pregnant (before we went on our cruise) but it was no big deal and I resolved I would return every four weeks throughout the pregnancy. It didn't hurt at all!

Well, fast forward about 16 weeks and I finally get back to the salon.  OMG.  Seriously it hurt more than when I dislocated my shoulder.  Why am I planning a natural birth?  I was dying.  I actually didn't let her finish the top part so there is just a random spot of hair hanging out.  I look like a freak.  She said to come back in three weeks and take Tylenol first and promises it will hurt less.  I'm not sure I can do it.

Now, about my other pussy.  My poor cat has been chewing his hair off.  We don't know what to do.  The vet diagnosed him as having seasonal allergies but I think it may be anxiety related.  We moved things around in the bedroom yesterday and (since I was worried he would be anxious) I bought two new cat beds to try to cheer him up. But no, he has been waging war with the other cat ever since.  I'm afraid he's going to be bald by the time the baby gets here.  Stay tuned for (hopefully) some progress as we tackle this problem.

Our breastfeeding class was this past Saturday and I thought it sucked.  It had some good videos but the nurse teaching it relied way too much on her Power Point and I feel like I didn't learn anything I didn't already know.  DH seemed to learn some things so I guess it wasn't a total waste.  I'm going to have to do some more breastfeeding preparation on my own in the next couple of weeks.

DH and I had long crazy days today so we skipped our Infant Care class.  We fail as parents already.  I think there's another one we can go to.

So that's it for now.  Here's a picture of the cats.  I'm feeling mostly good this week except for some late night puking.  I bought new sheets yesterday in the name of "nesting."

33 Weeks

It's week 33 and SO much is happening!

First, we got dumped by our second team of doulas and had to scramble to find a replacement.  Long story short but I think we have finally found the perfect match.  We signed an actual contract with this one too so I'm hoping they don't flake out like the last two.

Second, I am officially on the Job Hunt!  Yes, applying to jobs in the third trimester.  Holy crap!  I never really expected to be doing anything career wise at this point except counting down the days to my extended maternity leave, but I really can't ignore my current job woes anymore and decided to be proactive about my professional satisfaction.  Part of me is nervous about so many life changes occurring at the same time but most of me is just excited that there seems to be good opportunities out there for me.

How Far Along: 33 weeks.

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a honey dew.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained another pound or two this week.  It was Administrative Professionals Day so, with leftovers, I had eggplant parm and ziti three times this week for lunch.  Three or four pounds over pre-IVF weight and two or three below BFP weight.
Workouts: I started walking on my lunch break with the nice weather.
Maternity Clothes: I bought another dress yesterday (see above) even though I told myself I was done spending money.  Oh well, it was on clearance.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Yes, he's been active this week.
Sleep: Yes please.  I love sleep.  I'd sleep all day if I could, just like the cats.
What I miss: Nada.
Cravings: I have recently picked up an affinity for frosted donuts.  I don't usually like sweet things but man are they good.  See above about weight gain.  LOL.
Symptoms: A little acid.
Anxiety Level: Only a one or a two this week.
Best Moment this week: Meeting our third (and final?!) doula team.  Date night with H.

Reading: What to Expect The First Year.

Dad is: Still recovering from his back injury but doing a lot better.

 

On Saturday we had the second part of our hospital birth class.  It was very reassuring to hear how much our hospital (seemingly) supports an unmedicated childbirth.  I was a little put off by the recovery rooms and how cold and clinical they look, but it's only one day I guess.  The actual delivery rooms are nice but you have to change rooms two hours after you give birth.  I think we've decided to rent a birth tub to bring with us so that I can labor in water. It's not something I ever would have predicted I would be interested in a year ago but the idea is very appealing to me (and DH!).

 

I think I've written before about how most pregnancy books are awful and should be avoided, but in case you needed proof, check out this page from Your Pregnancy Week by Week.  There's only three pages in the book devoted to Week 33 and 1.5 of them are about Placental Abruption.  Lovely.  In Week 34 it explains how epistomies are better than tearing naturally.  Terrible terrible book.  I didn't buy it, for the record, but it was in the library at my office so I've had it on my desk forever and bring it out every time my computer crashes.

 

Tonight I went to a Red Tent event where women discussed their birth stories and childbirth options.  It was a mix of college students who were there for class, midwives and natural birth veterans.  I really enjoyed it.  Part of me wishes I was working with a midwife for this pregnancy (and DH thinks I should switch) but I am thinking it's just too late in the game to make such a major change.  Maybe next pregnancy (ha!).

32 Weeks

32 weeks pregnant!  Less than two months to go!  My coworker keeps telling me (wrongly) that 34 weeks is full term so "after that, the baby can come anytime."  So even though I still have a ways to go (56 days) I'm close to what one random woman (with two grown children, mind you) consider full term, that weirdly makes me feel like I'm close to the end.

Also, we had our Prepared Childbirth class at the hospital on Saturday and I can safely say that my husband and I are Birth Experts.  He was such a knowitall, answering all the questions the teacher asked.  I was surprised he had actually absorbed as much as he has, but he has been to four other birth classes and watched The Business of Being Born, so I guess he was paying attention.  In fact, he's SO into natural birth now, that I sort of hope I don't let him down.

But, speaking of pain, why is my picture a selfie this week?  Because my husband, the fearless natural birth advocate, threw out his back yesterday during Spring Cleaning and is laid up on the couch. I insisted on taking him to the Urgent Care today after he had been immobile and complaining for over twenty four hours, marking this as the second time in six weeks he's needed emergency medical care.  So now he's got the good drugs and hopefully he's on the mend.

We also took one of our cats to the vet last week.  He's fine.  Suffering from seasonal allergies, which is making him over-groom and develop a bald spot.  We just don't know how to treat it because he won't take the medicine, even covered in yummy medicine masking goo.

So I give up, man.  I'M VERY VERY PREGNANT AND I NEED EVERYONE ELSE TO NOT GET SICK RIGHT NOW.  Not to make everything all about me but, you know, bowling ball on my bladder and all.

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a squash

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +2!  So two pounds over pre-IVF weight, four pounds below BFP weight.
Workouts: Nada.
Maternity Clothes: Today I wore my rehearsal dinner dress so that was nice.  And regular pantyhose.  But maternity clothes work too.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Not as much as I expected but he loves mealtime and when I lay on my left side.
Sleep: Yes please.  I love sleep.  I'd sleep all day if I could, just like the cats.
What I miss: Nada.
Cravings: None. Most food tastes really gross.

Symptoms: Morning sickness?  Isn't that weird at this point?  But I've thrown up twice recently right after I got dressed for the day.  Other days I felt like almost throwing up.  Not acid reflux throw up either.  Actual gross vomit that stayed in the back of my throat all day.

Anxiety Level: Much better this week.  I drove on the highway!

Best Moment this week: Prenatal massage and also coming home to discover someone had sent us our car seat.

Reading: What to Expect The First Year.

Dad is: Recovering from the back pain but still pondering going out to Boston tomorrow for a meeting.

I'm excited to report that Gizmo has a friend!  DH and I heard a baby cry in our hallway for ten days before we finally came to the conclusion that our neighbors (who we barely ever see) may have actually added a baby to their family.  I still waited a few more days before I went out and got them a small gift and left it outside the door.  Today they came over to say thank you.  I was working late but DH reports that the baby is indeed here to stay and he's three weeks old.  Also, he's not adopted, so I had a pregnant woman living four feet from me for nine months and I never even noticed.  LOL.

I'm starting to think more about my birth plan and have a meeting with my doulas on Friday to talk about it.  I want to make a playlist too but I can't decide what type of music I'll be in the mood for.  Awesome 80's birth? Enya? I need to ponder this for a bit.  Speaking of music, we went to a show on Friday and so many people were staring at me.  I wanted to say "what?  How do you think you got here? I have eight more weeks and I refuse to be a hermit!"
Coming up we have the second part of our hospital birth class.  I'm also going to finish my bedroom declutter project and sort all of the baby's things so I can figure out what we will need to get.

31 Weeks

I wore the same dress you see on the left in Week 18.  Sadly, I've had it since I was twelve weeks and it's only now starting to look good on me (it looks a little silly in the Week 18 picture).  It's Liz Lange for Target so luckily it wasn't a million dollars, but I've learned my lesson not to splurge on lots of maternity clothes when you're newly pregnant because some of them are made for a humungous belly you won't have until nearly the end AND all of my pre-pregnancy wrap dresses still fit.

Thirty one weeks and I am getting some presents and other fun stuff, yay! We had a Jack and Jill (coed shower) at my in-law's this weekend and got some nice stuff we didn't have to pay for!  And a dose of "we know everything about babies and you know nothing, you stupid fool," but whatever, free stuff!  Included in our booty was a Sleep Giraffe, an Ubbi diaper pail, and our Skip Hop Versa diaper bag.  H actually picked out the bag and I'm glad I listened to him instead of spending my Fun Money on a pricey Petunia Picklebottom.  It's roomy, stylish and practical.

Here I am at the party sporting my only other maternity dress, which, yes, I did just wear last weekend but it was a different crowd and I friggen love that dress (Pea in the Pod, bought at full price only to see it discounted on the web site several days later).

How Far Along: 31 weeks

Size of baby: Baby is the size of a pineapple, OMG!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Haters gonna hate, still at pre-IVF weight.
Workouts: Nada.
Maternity Clothes: Pretty much.
Gender: It's a boy!
Movement: Hardly any this week.  I think he gave me a break because I was sick.  Doctor said he's very active and I just can't feel it.
Sleep: Fine when I am able to fall asleep.
What I miss: Nada.
Cravings: None.  I'm off cheese now, which is odd.

Symptoms: I HAVE CURED MY ACID REFLUX WITH PREVACID.

Anxiety Level: Not gonna lie, it's pretty bad at night.  I started sleeping with the Rock N Play next to my bed for some reason so maybe I'm freaking myself out.

Best Moment this week: Our party was the highlight of an otherwise crappy week.

Reading: Still reading Bringing Up Bebe and occasionally Instinctive Parenting.

Dad is: In desperate need of new jeans!  He's lost several inches on his waist due to his new fitness regime.  He refuses to buy any because he wants to lose more.  He even refuses to go to Marshall's and get "transition jeans" to appease me.  So he will just look ridiculous (but thinner!) for now.

So the good news is I don't have ANY acid reflux anymore.  Hallelujah!

 

The bad news is I was sick as a dog all week.  Monday and Tuesday I felt my scratchy throat getting worse and by the time I woke up Wednesday I felt like death.  I called in sick to work and slept all day.  Thursday morning I woke up feeling worse so off to Urgent Care I went.  My rapid strep culture came back negative but I got prescribed antibiotics because the doctor said it looked like strep.  In the meantime, however, he was concerned it could also be mono.  I was sent for a blood test and told to follow up with my OB the next day.

Friday I woke up feeling better but since I already had to go to the OB and since I was worried I could have mono I called in sick for a third day.  I never ever miss three days of work!  But anyway, not mono, not even strep according to the cultures but my white blood cell count was off so I'm just gonna finish taking the antibiotics and let them kill off whatever infection I had.

So, sort of a crappy week except for our party and I got to go to a poetry reading last night which was fun.  I've got tons of catching up at work to do this week to make up for last week.  I also have a class where we learn how to take care of babies tomorrow, a massage Friday followed by a concert and then a daylong Prepared Childbirth class at the hospital  It's all happening!