Still sick. Sometimes I can breathe through one nostril just fine, and other times – like right now – I can’t breathe at all. And I despise breathing through my mouth. It creeps me out. I have no other symptoms, however…. just clogged sinuses. No cough, no aches. Just frequent sneezing (because this all tickles my nose!) and of course a really raw nose from blowing so very much. :(

I felt so sexy tonight, trying to sleep. I’m wearing socks (I tried that “put vaporub on your feet and then put socks on” thing – didn’t seem to help anything except my feet were warmer), underwear with a panty liner (just in case I sneeze really hard), no shirt because I have vaporub smeared all over my chest, chapstick all over my lips to help with the dryness from the mouth breathing, and some petroleum under my nose to help the soreness. Just lovely right? I am the picture of SEXY.

I do think it’s on it’s way out, though, which is a good thing. I’ve just tried to remain positive, knowing that my body will kick this virus out soon enough and this is all just a short-term issue. If I had to work full-time I’d be far more miserable, since sleep is kind of an on-again off-again thing. I gave up on the sleep idea for tonight, by the way. Highly overrated. So not working for me right now. As it is I do have to go pick up an order at 8am, but from there I can decide if I want to come back home to sleep or go to work and get it over with so I can come home early. It depends how I feel at the time.

I will say, however, that sleeping with your mouth open under blankets that are covered in dog fur is really not all that pleasant. I spent half my time plucking stray hairs off my [sticky from chapstick] lips. Blech.

::

On a very happy note, I have been unisom-free for 3 days now, and no puking!! Because I wasn’t feeling sick while on the unisom I couldn’t really tell you when it went away. The last time I tried going off it was a failure, but it was SO brutal that I really do suspect that something else was going on at the time because of the other aches and pains I had. So who really knows when the actual morning sickness declined. Sometime after 20 weeks for sure. Maybe by 24 weeks, maybe not. But here I am, 27 weeks and feeling good!! Only had morning sickness through my first two trimesters. lol

Oh plus? I can drink orange juice now!! I started while I was away for Christmas, as my parents had some. It’s still not my favorite drink, but it’s definitely something that is good for me to consume, and it’s something I can have with my stupid iron pill. Cheer!

Sometimes I think that if I hadn’t had a really bad time with morning sickness that I’d be feeling really guilty for getting off easy. Sometimes I still think that. I feel so good! Even having a sinus thingie right now, the rest of me feels fine. I read of some of the other girls in my groups dealing with atrocious hip and pelvic pain or frequent kicks to the cervix and I am just so thankful. Hell I still don’t even wake up to pee. (The benefits of carrying high!) My fingers and feet aren’t swollen, my boobs aren’t all that sore, my hip pain is completely manageable just with a couple of pillows in bed. My face has completely cleared up. And my belly, it’s so round! It has this perfect round shape to it that I just adore.

Although that whole “my belly button isn’t sensitive at all!” thing? Today it was kind of feeling weird. So we’ll see what happens with that!

3 months left to go! Plenty of time for the aches and pains to hit. But still, 3 months seems so damn SHORT. Crap, we have so much to do.

::

Someone on a forum became an aunt yesterday and she posted pics of the newborn (she was there for the birth). Newborn pics never really affected me much (except Kel’s Eric, I bawled like a baby when I saw his first pictures!), but boy does it hit home now. I look at that small, pink, naked little creature and I just want to cuddle it close. I imagine it being my Devin after going through labor with him. How amazing is it going to be? I’m sure I can’t even imagine. I am so looking forward to meeting him, to being his mommy. What an honor it will be.

::

I am really good at making lists. I like making lists…. it gives me a sense of control and confidence about situations. I have a list or chart for everything: the baby’s layette (what we’ve bought/received so far), all the baby gear (all priced and color-coded according to what store it’s available at, categorized and prioritized), all the diaper supplies (what’s needed and how much it’s estimated to cost, then another sheet with everything I’ve purchased to date, how much I paid, the standard price, how much I saved, and how far off budget I was); lists and documents for what to bring to the hospital, who to invite to the baby shower, who to call/text/email when the baby’s born, what books I have yet to buy, my birth preferences, and of course a giant to-do list. That’s the biggie.

I posted that to-do list on one of my forums where we were all sharing “what we have left to do.” The other girls responded with, “Holy crap!” Apparently I reminded them of stuff they’d forgotten. A couple girls said they were using my list as a template. LOL! At first I was a little intimidated by how much is on my list, and shouldn’t it be shorter? But then I started crossing things off and I realized how much of a positive tool it can be. I love checking things off my to-do lists. Plus it shows me how much I’ve already accomplished, so I can look back and feel good about myself, instead of thinking that I haven’t gotten anything done. I’ve already made a pretty good dent on my January list. I’m feeling good.

One thing, however, is that I tend to get so caught up in the planning aspect of things (I love to plan!) and kind of forget about the present. My big belly and kicking child in-utero are a sharp reminder to me to not just focus on where I’m going, but where I am. I can plan plan plan how Devin’s room is going to look and how I’m going to decorate and which gear I’m going to get and how he’s going to look dressed in his cute clothes… but, ummm, in order to get there I still have to actually clean the house and put stuff together and get off my ass. I’m am giving myself a temporary “out” while I’m sick… though I still find myself doing weird things like rifling through the hall closet and moving things around without a real purpose in mind… just moving stuff and making it look tidier while I was chatting to Den yesterday morning. o.O Must be one of those nesting things. I am also keeping up with the kitchen… the dishes, the wiping-things-down and putting-things-away. Things that I tend to slip up on. I like having a clean kitchen.

::

The kid is getting stronger. During my failed attempt at sleeping he was moving around a little – not a lot, but there was quite a bit of recurrent movement going on in my belly. (It’s funny how the movement shifts when I roll over.) A couple of times he kicked me pretty good though. It startles me when he does that, it shakes my whole belly and feels so weird inside. I think back to when all I could feel were tiny little flutters… how much it has changed!

He is certainly developing some sleeping/awake patterns, like the development notices say they will. He’s of course still very active in the evening, but he also tends to be awake in the early morning hours, as well… like right now.

::

Oh it figures that I have to be up in half an hour and NOW I get tired!

Just putting this all here so I don’t lose it. From the Mass Gov website.

:::

Chapter 111: Section 110A. Tests of newborn children for treatable disorders or diseases

Section 110A. The physician attending a newborn child shall cause said child to be subjected to tests for phenylketonuria, cretinism and such other specifically treatable genetic or biochemical disorders or treatable infectious diseases which may be determined by testing as specified by the commissioner. The commissioner may convene an advisory committee on newborn screening to assist him in determining which tests are necessary.

The department shall make such rules pertaining to such tests as accepted medical practice shall indicate.

The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of such child object thereto on the grounds that such test conflicts with their religious tenets and practices.

* *

Chapter 111: Section 109A. Treatment of infants’ eyes at time of birth

Section 109A. The physician, or hospital medical officer registered under section nine of chapter one hundred and twelve, if any, personally attending the birth of a child shall treat his eyes within two hours after birth with a prophylactic remedy furnished or approved by the department. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.

* *

Chapter 111: Section 67F. Newborn hearing screening tests

Section 67F. For the purposes of this section, the words “newborn infant” shall mean an infant under three months of age, and the words “hearing screening test” shall mean a test to detect hearing thresholds of 30 decibels or greater in either ear in the speech frequency range.

A hearing screening test shall be performed on all newborn infants in the commonwealth in the birthing hospital or birthing center, or in the hospital from which the newborn infant is discharged to home. Such test shall be performed before the newborn infant is discharged from the birthing center or hospital to the care of the parent or guardian, or as the department may by regulation provide; provided, however, that such test shall not be performed if the parents or guardian of the newborn infant object to the test based upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent or guardian. The hospital or birthing center shall inform a parent or guardian of the newborn infant and the newborn infant’s primary care physician of such infant’s failure to pass the test, or if such infant was not successfully tested. Such notification shall occur prior to discharge whenever possible, and in any case no later than ten days following discharge. The hospital or birthing center so informing the parent and physician shall provide information regarding appropriate follow-up for a screening failure or a missed screening.

[snip]

* *

Note that I cannot find ANY mention of regulation of giving newborns Vitamin K.

Well, I took pictures this morning. I feel like dog doo, so they certainly aren’t the best photos of me, maternity or not. At least you can’t really tell the glowing red around my nose. I don’t really need a photo of that memorialized forever.

You can, however, notice a tiny bump where my belly button is starting to push out.

And if you scroll down through the last few weeks you can see how weird my hair is. Some days it’s straight with a little wave… some days it’s wicked curly. Cool huh?

A friend linked me to this storage collection by Ikea. Very affordable!!
Antonius

I still need to stop by the Salvation Army a few times to see if there’s any dressers there we can pick up. A brand new $300 chest of drawers is NOT in our budget… but we’re going to need something for storage. It’s either I find something second-hand or get some plastic stuff at Ikea or Walmart. Blah.

::

I read my new American Baby magazine (pretty darn short, if you ask me – not much substance, a good amount of ads in it) and saw another ad from Fisher-Price. Yet again, it showed a product that I really liked… and that I not only cannot find on the Fisher-Price website, but I can’t find it ANYWHERE online. Mounting frustration. Then I found this: “The Zen collection from Fisher Price is the company’s product offering exclusively for independent, specialty retailers.” Those bastards! I bet the high chair I saw in another ad is something else I can’t find anywhere. Bugger it. I canNOT find a high chair that I like. Guess we won’t be getting one for a while. (At least it’s not a necessity for a newborn!) (To see the one I want, view their highchairs and click on “Comparison Chart.” I want the Healthy Care High Chair – not the Rainforest one, the other one… I really dislike the Rainforest print!)

::

Some simple canvas totes that aren’t ugly and are cheap. Walmart!
Brown
Whitmore, Cappuccino

Plus I have a few of these storage baskets already in my house, they look nice enough, maybe I’ll just get a bunch to use for Devin’s room. I’d still need shelves, but still.

Window shopping is bad. Bad bad bad.

Wouldn’t one of these two be a great coming-home outfit??
Gymboree Toy Train Stripe Velour One-Piece
and
Gymboree Toy Train Stripe Two-Piece

And oh my, Kohls has some cute jackets!! Our boy will need a little jacket, don’t you think? In April?

Carters Bear Jacket – Brown/Cream
and
Carters Bear Jacket – Blue

I haven’t bought anything yet. Yet. Deenniissss, our son needs cute clothes! Lots of them!! *twitch*

Update: Last night I considered buying the jacket thing, at $12 it’s not too bad. Then I added it to my cart and saw that shipping was going to be nearly $7! Ummm, no. So I walked away. This morning I started twitching and thinking, “Am I going to regret not getting that? I probaly am, aren’t I…” so I went back to the Kohl’s website. And the website has changed on the front page, different “sale”. I checked the jackets, they’re at the same price they were yesterday. But there’s now a sign saying “$.99 standard shipping on every item!” Sweeeeet. That wasn’t there yesterday. Unfortunately the cart is still showing the same shipping price, but I’m willing to bet they just haven’t updated everything yet. ;) So I watch and wait, ready to pounce. Rawr!

Update2: Got the jacket for $.99 shipping! Yippee!! I’m so happy by this I can almost forget that I can’t breathe. ;)

When on the phone with Den (he’s at work today) I told him about my most awesome score. There was silence.
Him: “But did you get ME anything?”
Me: “No, but you said you don’t like the generic sports stuff.”
Him: “Well no. But what about ME? I want something shiny!”
Me: “Okay honey… I’ll buy you a jacket with bear ears on it too!”

And now to contrast all the happy stuff… I am feeling really freakin’ irritated right now. You see, yesterday when I called Den from work to moan that I felt cruddy he made me call the Midwife office to ask if there’s anything I can take for this damn congestion. So I did. And they said, Sudafed! I was surprized by that, I really thought they were going to tell me I was SOL and would just have to suffer through.

The problem is that it made me think I would feel better. I’m not really a huge fan of medications on the whole, but when you have to still work and clean the house you tend to really like to sleep sometimes in between days. So yes, when I’m sick sometimes I can be coaxed into taking something. (Yes coaxed… hubby generally has to convince me to. Even that time I had the flu really bad, he was really forcing me to take some gross nasty stuff, because I wouldn’t on my own.)

So I got home and took some Sudafed. In the middle of the night I took another. This morning another. And you know what? I still feel just as crappy. I don’t notice any difference at all. WTF? I realize it’s not going to miraculously “cure” me, but I thought I would see some kind of improvement. Drinking a hot chocolate helped far more than this so-called decongestant. (This is not the first time that a drug failed to do anything to me. I remember taking some medication, it was supposed to make me drowsy, it apparently knocks Den righ tout. Yeah. It didn’t do a thing.)

One nostril is totally stuffed, and the other is irritated and bleeding a little bit. It’s lovely. I mean, I’m thankful that both aren’t totally stuffed, but I would love to lay on my left side without suffocating. I don’t like sleeping on my right side nearly as much.

So yeah. I’m not horribly sick, it’s not like I’m dying or anything. I’m not in pain (well, my nose is raw, but it’s nothing bad), I’m just tired and irritated. I hope my body kicks this out quickly or I’m going to be one crabby pregnant woman.

(Tell that to the cats. They’ve decided I’m already a crabby pregnant woman. They were SULKING at me because I kept tossing them off the kitchen counter. I am threatening to buy scat mats if they don’t stay the eff off my counter. Apparently me grousing and tossing them off 12 times in 5 minutes is not getting through their stubborn little cat heads of theirs. I have enough fur in my food as it is, without having a cat walking over my dish five times! Damn!)

4:15am Saturday morning, sleeping isn’t going so well (every time I lay down I feel like my head balloons). But it’s technically Saturday. 27 weeks. Third trimester.

Holy %!$#!%#.

It doesn’t even feel possible, really. How is my second tri already over? Where did that time go?

Now we’re coming to crunch time. Lists time. Gotta-get-stuff-done time. I have a pretty extensive to-do list, and hopefully we’ll actually get through it before the baby joins the party of life outside the womb. I’m not quite panicking yet… just feeling bound and determined. And I’m writing a lot of lists. List-Therapy. Yeah. Like I said to someone else, I kind of suck at the follow-through, but I am awesome at writing lists.

I look forward to purchasing the items I have bookmarked all across the web as “to buy before baby comes.” The money scares me a little, though.

Yesterday I was researching and comparing prefold diaper prices online and ended up staring at the wet bags I have had bookmarked for months and months. Lo and behold, this time they had a fabric that I really liked available (the blue watercolor flowers one, if you’re curious). So I bookmarked it in my mind and reminded myself to go buy what I need “later.” 10 minutes later I’m sitting here thinking, wait a minute. Why don’t I just order them now, while they have what I like in stock? It costs around $20. I mean duh. So I ordered them. Now I’m inquiring about the cloth wipes I want…. made by a SAHM for cheaper than anything from a “name brand”, and they come in a ton of really really cute fabric choices! I’ll probably be ordering the prefolds soonish, too.

::

To kind of commemorate my finishing my second trimester, I wrote this for one of my forums. I kind of want to keep it.

* * *

I have a sinus cold. I frequently pee my pants when I sneeze. My legs are super sore from travelling. My house is freezing cold… and it’s absolutely fridgid outside. The cats just knocked over the stupid baby gate YET AGAIN, and the dog won’t stop whining (he’s in time-out after eating some of my tissues). In short, I have a lot I could complain about.

And yet all I can think about tonight is how very lucky and blessed that I am. We went through so much to get pregnant… we had run out of insurance and I had literally given up hope when the last IVF worked. Our last chance. Our one embryo. And he decided to stick around.

I am contantly reminded of how lucky I am, every day when I feel him kick and wiggle in my belly. Even when he kicks something uncomfortable, I still have to laugh and pat my stomach and tell him thank you for reminding me you’re still there.

I am just in awe at what my body knows how to do naturally. I feel like I was made to be pregnant… like this is what I’ve been waiting my whole life for. I’ve never felt more comfortable in my body. I feel gorgeous. I look in the mirror and just stare in amazement at my beautiful baby belly. I think it is just perfect. Even how my belly button has started to pop out, and the blue veins all over my belly and boobs. I love how my body is changing.

My baby shower has been booked for February 16. Hubby helped MIL find the location (where he works – he got it for free!) and the only “cost” of the use of the club is that we have to pay for a bartender… who happens to be my hubby. So we get the place for free, AND my hubby will be there and get to share in the excitement! I am SO excited. I’m positively giddy that we get to have a party for MY BABY. My wonderful, beautiful little boy. I am so so happy to be able to celebrate this with family and friends.

AND my hubby told me today that my best friend in the whole entire world has booked flights to come to my shower!!!! Of course it still rides on her and her baby being healthy enough to fly, but we don’t anticipate any issues. I am SO excited!!

I have 3 months left in this pregnancy, and I’m scared and excited and anxious and everything in between. I’m nervous about becoming a mommy in truth, having a newborn to take care of. I’m so so excited to get to meet this little child that I’ve been growing, to discover his personality and see what he looks like and watch him learn and grow. I’m very sad that I have only 3 months left of being pregnant before I go back to being “just me” again. And I’m a little anxious about getting everything done in time! Time has just flown by, even though I have tried my utmost to enjoy every single second.

Life is far from perfect, but there is SO much to be thankful for. This pregnancy is the biggest blessing I could ever have received.

Doing something on my baby to-do list: researching college savings plans. I need to open one to attach to my new credit card, specifically a 529 plan. So I’m looking up what my options are and what this consists of. Here’s one that I’ve found for MA.

Head spinning. I know NOTHING about investing. NOTHING. The most I’ve ever done is “invest” in my old credit union at a pretty good interest rate. I was paid at the end of the year. I don’t have a retirement plan, we don’t have mutual funds, we don’t have stock. I am a total n00b at this. Index Funds? Portfolios?? Translation required!! Holy shit, the application “kit” is 73 pages long! But apparently I could get an out-of-state plan. Arg. Choices.

Bugger this, it’s all greek. I’ll have to get Den to look at it. And it appears we can’t actually apply until Devin is a real person with social security number, so I guess I’m safe for now. I’ll check this off my to-do list and put it aside until he’s been born.

Yep, so today confirms it: I’m sick. All that stuffiness and not being able to breathe? Apparently not just pregnancy. I slept in today – not really on purpose, but I was feeling pretty cruddy and not wanting to get up – and woke up to a sore throat. Joy. It’s not bad yet, but I can definitely feel that something’s off in my body. Probably due to the really cold weather here and, like Den pointed out, the crappy eating habits of the past two weeks have probably not helped my immune system out any.

Here’s hoping it’s a short-lived thing and I can get over it quickly. Den’s going to make me soup when I get home from work (though at this pace I may be there all freakin’ night!). I wanna just crawl back into bed and try to sleep some more… even though my sleep was very broken because I was cold and my legs are still hurting a bit (though not as much as they were).

Looks like it’s going to be a fun weekend.

Here’s one thing I really don’t understand: baby-proofing your home BEFORE your baby is born. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for baby-proofing your home and making sure it’s safe. But, ummm, newborns aren’t mobile. In fact… they pretty much stay in one place and poop and pee a lot. It’s not like you’re bringing home a puppy who is going to want to immediately chew everything in sight (been there, done that). These checklists I’m reading, they make it sound like you can’t possibly bring home a newborn until you have all cords put away and all electric outlets plugged. Me, I’ll be happy if we have a fur-free, safe place to put the baby. I’ll do the rest when it’s needed. (That, and freaking out. Mobile kid… yikes!)