Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Hobbit Feet and Sausages
We have had a wonderful week this week. Monday we found out that we're having a boy AND a girl! It's so exciting! I'm almost 21 weeks along and my body is getting heavier by the day. It's unreal that I can't just take this tummy off and put it on a shelf for a couple of hours. I'm finding myself to be more and more limited in physical activity. Yesterday I took a walk for ten minutes, sat down for an hour for lunch and then walked another ten back to work, and it totally took me out. My legs looked like sausages, my feet were of the Hobbit kind (wide and puffy) and I had a major headache. Who knew that something so simple would take me out for the rest of the day. Knowing my bodies signals for the most part at this point, I went home and zonked out for two and a half hours. Only to wake up with more of a headache, feeling less rested. So, lesson learned. No more 10 minute walks for me, till the babies come. By then it will be a privilege to exercise and not such a chore.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
I’m Missing My Hinge!
Before I was pregnant I used to love watching pregnant women walk around. There’s a certain waddle that every women acquires, whether it’s slight or obvious. All you can think when you see them is, “WOW, that looks heavy, they should sit down”. The best part is when they do sit down. Instead of squatting down a bit and leading themselves into the chair with their backside, they must now lead with their arms. It’s like their playing one of those team building games when you stand with your back to another person and cross your arms in front of you in order that the person behind you will catch you when you lean back…remember those? It’s awful! It’s a toss up every time they reach back for the seat. Of course some seats are easier to get into than others, and getting onto a stool is just laughable. (I’m laughing out loud to myself right now.)
Now, of course I’m in the same boat and it goes beyond just sitting down. Any time I can’t reach down to get something or get my shoes on without contorting my leg into some acrobatic pose, I just thing “I’m missing my hinge” (a.k.a. my waist). It’s hilarious! (I’m still laughing out loud.) The best one yet for me is when I’m in a public restroom that has a low toilet. Sitting down on one of those is always a gamble. It’s literally either a hit or a miss. And if there is nothing to hang onto on your way down towards it…you sure aren’t going to be leading with your hands like you would in a normal chair. I’m not touching that. If it wasn’t so crude and inappropriate someone should video that scenario and send it into America’s Funniest Home Videos. That would win the 100K.
Getting out of a chair is a whole other story. Getting out of or off of anything (a bed, a car, a couch etc.) is a feat. Each one takes it’s own system for each stage of development. Right now I’m still getting by with scooting to the edge of whatever it is I’m on and using the momentum from leaning back and pushing off with my arms behind or beside me. I take more of the beached whale approach when getting out of bed (just role and tumble). Asking for assistance anytime someone is near is another strategy. But I can just picture, toward the end of my pregnancy when I’m huge, running errands and being in a public parking lot, having to wait in my car until some stranger passes by who is nice enough to help a pregnant lady get out of her car. That is, if I can even fit behind the steering wheel by then.
Now, of course I’m in the same boat and it goes beyond just sitting down. Any time I can’t reach down to get something or get my shoes on without contorting my leg into some acrobatic pose, I just thing “I’m missing my hinge” (a.k.a. my waist). It’s hilarious! (I’m still laughing out loud.) The best one yet for me is when I’m in a public restroom that has a low toilet. Sitting down on one of those is always a gamble. It’s literally either a hit or a miss. And if there is nothing to hang onto on your way down towards it…you sure aren’t going to be leading with your hands like you would in a normal chair. I’m not touching that. If it wasn’t so crude and inappropriate someone should video that scenario and send it into America’s Funniest Home Videos. That would win the 100K.
Getting out of a chair is a whole other story. Getting out of or off of anything (a bed, a car, a couch etc.) is a feat. Each one takes it’s own system for each stage of development. Right now I’m still getting by with scooting to the edge of whatever it is I’m on and using the momentum from leaning back and pushing off with my arms behind or beside me. I take more of the beached whale approach when getting out of bed (just role and tumble). Asking for assistance anytime someone is near is another strategy. But I can just picture, toward the end of my pregnancy when I’m huge, running errands and being in a public parking lot, having to wait in my car until some stranger passes by who is nice enough to help a pregnant lady get out of her car. That is, if I can even fit behind the steering wheel by then.
Opposite Day
Remember when you were a kid and you and your friends would decide that it
was “Opposite Day”? Then you would pester other people who weren’t clued into your little secret. If they would answer a question with yes, you would say, “you mean no…IT’S OPPOSITE DAY”, and so on. As a kid, it was fun and mind stimulating to try to be clever with all of your opposites. As an adult, it’s just nagging and annoying.
Being a pregnant woman with twins means that opposite day is everyday. I feel the opposite of what I normally would in most situations, and therefore sense that at times I am that kid, nagging and annoying everyone around me. It takes quite a bit of mental discipline to act rational when my emotions are irrational. I feel sorry for crazy people, no joke. What a crappy life to live in delusion and have little or no hope of a glimpse back into reality. At least from time to time I enter back into reality and it reminds me of my irrational moments. Otherwise, I would be tempted to consider my moods swings as the new reality. They are SO STRONG!
You know how they make those kitchy T-shirts that pregnant women can wear that say, “Baby On Board”, “Oh BOY I’m Pregnant” and so on? Typically I’m not a fan of stuff like that. However, if they would make a shirt that said “I’m Sorry…I’m Hormonal” or “ Caution…Mood Swings May Occur at Any Time”, I’d buy one if every color for each day of the week.
was “Opposite Day”? Then you would pester other people who weren’t clued into your little secret. If they would answer a question with yes, you would say, “you mean no…IT’S OPPOSITE DAY”, and so on. As a kid, it was fun and mind stimulating to try to be clever with all of your opposites. As an adult, it’s just nagging and annoying.
Being a pregnant woman with twins means that opposite day is everyday. I feel the opposite of what I normally would in most situations, and therefore sense that at times I am that kid, nagging and annoying everyone around me. It takes quite a bit of mental discipline to act rational when my emotions are irrational. I feel sorry for crazy people, no joke. What a crappy life to live in delusion and have little or no hope of a glimpse back into reality. At least from time to time I enter back into reality and it reminds me of my irrational moments. Otherwise, I would be tempted to consider my moods swings as the new reality. They are SO STRONG!
You know how they make those kitchy T-shirts that pregnant women can wear that say, “Baby On Board”, “Oh BOY I’m Pregnant” and so on? Typically I’m not a fan of stuff like that. However, if they would make a shirt that said “I’m Sorry…I’m Hormonal” or “ Caution…Mood Swings May Occur at Any Time”, I’d buy one if every color for each day of the week.
Pregnant in the Summer
So, sporting stretch marks at the beach and squeezing the last bit of wear out of clothes that fit you a week ago in the summer is kind of a bummer. Along with being the hottest I’ve ever been in my life (I’m typically cold by nature), and drinking insane amounts of water which inevitably sends me trekkin’ to my “second home” (the bathroom) more often than I’d like. Oh, and how ‘bout that swelling!
But, the upside is, I get tan…I LOVE to be tan. It’s one of my favorite things. Not only do you get the happy vitamin from the sun, but also tan skin is so pretty. Now that I’m pregnant and tan, the acne is going away and people say that I’m just “glowing”. Thank you Palm Beach Florida sun!
(A shout out to my friends who spent a week of their vacation with me in Florida. Thank you for being so wonderful and accommodating. I felt so cared for.)
But, the upside is, I get tan…I LOVE to be tan. It’s one of my favorite things. Not only do you get the happy vitamin from the sun, but also tan skin is so pretty. Now that I’m pregnant and tan, the acne is going away and people say that I’m just “glowing”. Thank you Palm Beach Florida sun!
(A shout out to my friends who spent a week of their vacation with me in Florida. Thank you for being so wonderful and accommodating. I felt so cared for.)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Hankering
So, I'm sitting at home, Nate's not here and I leave for Florida tomorrow. I have plenty of things to do, but all I can think about is soft serve, twist ice cream with Butterfinger on it. I'd go get some at my local ice cream shop but THEY DON'T HAVE BUTTERFINGER! Are they serious, no Butterfinger! What is that about!!!
I tried cereal, chocolate pudding and old freezer burned ice cream with chocolate syrup. That's what I had in the house. Of course a couple bites in I gave up and knew they wouldn't satisfy. I could go to Dairy Queen, but it's in kind of a shady area. So that's a no go. My friend sent me a site that delivers ice cream, but not within the hour. So, here I am, sitting at home, Nate's not here and I leave for Florida tomorrow. I have plenty of things to do, but all I can think about is...
I tried cereal, chocolate pudding and old freezer burned ice cream with chocolate syrup. That's what I had in the house. Of course a couple bites in I gave up and knew they wouldn't satisfy. I could go to Dairy Queen, but it's in kind of a shady area. So that's a no go. My friend sent me a site that delivers ice cream, but not within the hour. So, here I am, sitting at home, Nate's not here and I leave for Florida tomorrow. I have plenty of things to do, but all I can think about is...
Monday, June 7, 2010
Breakdown...
Have you ever felt like a cartoon character? Yesterday I felt like the Abominable Snowman from the claymation cartoon Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (If you haven't ever seen it, put it on your schedule for viewing this Christmas.) The day started off like any normal Sunday, going to work from 8am-2pm and coming home for a 30 minute nap that was rudely interrupted by the urge to pee...AGAIN (I practically live in the bathroom). As soon as I woke up, it began. I was on a war path to get things done and I was CRANKY. Nate and I worked on getting the whole house cleaned and the rest of the nursery painted. My fuse was short and I was determined to finish what I wanted to accomplish in just a few short hours. I had a lot on my mind and I carried it around with me as we worked. Everything was adding up to what would be one big breakdown.
My butt seems to continue to grow daily (which creates quite the profile for a 5'3" short-waisted pregnant woman), I have this nagging, underlying fear that at any moment something could happen to the babies, I hadn't felt them in three days (today is going on four), I had heard one too many times about how much paint I had gotten on the floor while painting, every dustball and fur-ball I swept up made me increasingly irritated, every item that was not mine that I had to put away lessened my patience and I was missing the connection that Nate and I had before my mind and body had become all consumed by pregnancy. Oh, and to top it all off, after all of that I watched the ending of the movie Juno and balled my eyes out. I just want the babies to be okay. I just want to meet them. When I look back on it, I remind myself of the 2,000 pound fat, furry monster that waddles around after his prey with his arms raised, screeching at the top of his lungs.
Then we went to dinner and I took a small breath.
When we got home and it was time for bed, I lost it. I was reenacting the point in Rudolph where the Abominable Snowman softens his heart, cries big giant claymation tears and becomes friends with all the villagers. He even puts the star on the top of the Christmas tree because none of the elves or reindeer can reach it (sorry if I ruined the end for you). I apologized for getting paint on the floor, I told Nate about the anxiety about my butt and the babies, and I decided that if anything goes wrong with the pregnancy that I would go to the Gulf and help clean the poor oil soaked animals (that's been on my mind too). Nate was calm and kind as usual, assured me that I could go clean the animals if something goes wrong, and commended me for being so good at doing such an important job, carrying our babies. The phrase "Coo Coo for Coa Coa Puffs" comes to mind. I was (am) completely OUT of my mind. I could've cried for hours, but I made myself fall asleep.
The funny thing is, I still feel like I could cry at any moment today. A good friend continues to remind me that "It's just one of many (breakdowns) to come", so at least I know it's normal.
On the up-side, my house is clean, the nursery is finished, Nate is organizing the basement, I went to the store, baked cookies, started mapping out our financial future, took two naps today, wrote this blog and some dear friends are coming over for dinner on the patio in an hour. I'm still waddling around, but I have yet to raise my arms and screech at the top of my lungs...it's a good day for the villagers.
My butt seems to continue to grow daily (which creates quite the profile for a 5'3" short-waisted pregnant woman), I have this nagging, underlying fear that at any moment something could happen to the babies, I hadn't felt them in three days (today is going on four), I had heard one too many times about how much paint I had gotten on the floor while painting, every dustball and fur-ball I swept up made me increasingly irritated, every item that was not mine that I had to put away lessened my patience and I was missing the connection that Nate and I had before my mind and body had become all consumed by pregnancy. Oh, and to top it all off, after all of that I watched the ending of the movie Juno and balled my eyes out. I just want the babies to be okay. I just want to meet them. When I look back on it, I remind myself of the 2,000 pound fat, furry monster that waddles around after his prey with his arms raised, screeching at the top of his lungs.
Then we went to dinner and I took a small breath.
When we got home and it was time for bed, I lost it. I was reenacting the point in Rudolph where the Abominable Snowman softens his heart, cries big giant claymation tears and becomes friends with all the villagers. He even puts the star on the top of the Christmas tree because none of the elves or reindeer can reach it (sorry if I ruined the end for you). I apologized for getting paint on the floor, I told Nate about the anxiety about my butt and the babies, and I decided that if anything goes wrong with the pregnancy that I would go to the Gulf and help clean the poor oil soaked animals (that's been on my mind too). Nate was calm and kind as usual, assured me that I could go clean the animals if something goes wrong, and commended me for being so good at doing such an important job, carrying our babies. The phrase "Coo Coo for Coa Coa Puffs" comes to mind. I was (am) completely OUT of my mind. I could've cried for hours, but I made myself fall asleep.
The funny thing is, I still feel like I could cry at any moment today. A good friend continues to remind me that "It's just one of many (breakdowns) to come", so at least I know it's normal.
On the up-side, my house is clean, the nursery is finished, Nate is organizing the basement, I went to the store, baked cookies, started mapping out our financial future, took two naps today, wrote this blog and some dear friends are coming over for dinner on the patio in an hour. I'm still waddling around, but I have yet to raise my arms and screech at the top of my lungs...it's a good day for the villagers.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Blog About the Good Stuff
My friend Beckie and I painted the nursery today. It's going to be so nice and serene. This trimester has been great, just like everyone said it would be. I love to feel the babies flutter around. The other day, I had a little caffeine and they were going crazy in there. I felt bad though after that and try not to have it everyday. (Doctor says "two or fewer" a day.) It was super fun to feel them though.
I heard their heart beats two weeks ago and we find out the sexes on June 21st. Things seem to have slowed down (in terms of the pregnancy) quite a bit. Nate is such a good dad already, checking in during the day to make sure I'm resting as much as I can, especially after work. I have my real appetite back and getting things done around the house is totally doable in short little spurts. I'm still just as neurotic about every little pain I experience, but even that is subsiding. It takes discipline.
I can't wait to meet our babies!
I heard their heart beats two weeks ago and we find out the sexes on June 21st. Things seem to have slowed down (in terms of the pregnancy) quite a bit. Nate is such a good dad already, checking in during the day to make sure I'm resting as much as I can, especially after work. I have my real appetite back and getting things done around the house is totally doable in short little spurts. I'm still just as neurotic about every little pain I experience, but even that is subsiding. It takes discipline.
I can't wait to meet our babies!
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