Monday, February 20, 2012
Lent
Last year for Lent I was deciding what to give up and I felt the Lord say, "Baby Making". Now I took that to mean everything I was doing to try to get pregnant...not the act of sex itself. Which made my husband much happier. :o) (I know TMI...)
No counting days, no peeing on ovulation tests, no feeling the pressure to have sex every night for a week (because it "might be the night"), no laying there for 30 minutes afterwards on a pillow to help the little swimmers get where they needed to be...I know, I know TMI! No pregnancy tests. It was a long 40 days.
For more than a year before my mind had been and was consumed with making a baby. At that point we had just started taking medication, that you are usually only supposed to take for 6 months. So you can imagine I really struggled with "wasting" a month. But looking back it is exactly what my mind and body needed. Obviously I didn't get pregnant that month, but it gave me a much needed mental breather. And I fully believe the Lord knew Justin & I needed that!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Ups, Downs, and In Betweens
In the past week I find myself watching my belly more closely. You should not be surprised to find me staring at it at any point during the day. I feel a kick and when it's up higher I like to watch my whole belly move. I'm totally fascinated by it! Sometimes it's more of a slower movement like a hand stretching up high and then I can put my finger there and I feel something hard! It's baby!
I ran a lot up until 21 weeks. At 20 weeks I ran 3 miles at 21 weeks I could barely make it through1 mile. But it wasn't for lack of trying, it was just uncomfortable and I could walk faster than I was running. So I got a maternity belt to use when exercising. It fits around your waist and supports your belly when you are exercising. It's totally sexy! Not! Anyway I've had it for a couple weeks now and I have been able to run about a mile with it each time before I move on to something else. This past weekend I went for another run. I ran about a mile out and then tried to run back, but my belly was uncomfortable so I had to walk. My groin/leg muscles were so sore the rest of the day that walking turned more into waddling...and I'm not even to the waddle stage yet! Guess it's time to switch to swimming!
I've had difficulty with two things during my pregnancy. One of which I totally expected, the other not so much. The expected: indigestion. Therefore I eat Tums like candy. The unexpected: leg cramps at night (as in every night). Why did no one tell me about these! All night long I get leg cramps. They hurt so bad...I can not put into words how bad they hurt. All I can do is get out of bed and put pressure on it until it goes away. Then I lay back down and usually once it starts it just continues all night long. Most mornings when I wake up my calf muscles feel like they just ran a marathon they are so sore. Then today I read an article about being 27 weeks (I can't believe I'm that far along!) and this is what it said...
The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.
Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief.
Are you kidding me?!? I've been having leg cramps since the beginning and they are only going to get worse! Good grief! But I'm not complaining! I love every minute of it!
P.S. I'm still living in ignorant bliss when it comes to labor and delivery. I'd like to stay that way for a little while longer, so if anyone reads this don't ask me about my birth plan because my "plan" is to go to the hospital and have a baby. And please don't tell me your birthing horror story. I can remain ignorant for another 2 months. That's when I go to my "Childbirth Preparation Class." And yes I know this could totally backfire on me... Baby stay in until at least 36 weeks, so Mommy and daddy know what to do!
I ran a lot up until 21 weeks. At 20 weeks I ran 3 miles at 21 weeks I could barely make it through1 mile. But it wasn't for lack of trying, it was just uncomfortable and I could walk faster than I was running. So I got a maternity belt to use when exercising. It fits around your waist and supports your belly when you are exercising. It's totally sexy! Not! Anyway I've had it for a couple weeks now and I have been able to run about a mile with it each time before I move on to something else. This past weekend I went for another run. I ran about a mile out and then tried to run back, but my belly was uncomfortable so I had to walk. My groin/leg muscles were so sore the rest of the day that walking turned more into waddling...and I'm not even to the waddle stage yet! Guess it's time to switch to swimming!
I've had difficulty with two things during my pregnancy. One of which I totally expected, the other not so much. The expected: indigestion. Therefore I eat Tums like candy. The unexpected: leg cramps at night (as in every night). Why did no one tell me about these! All night long I get leg cramps. They hurt so bad...I can not put into words how bad they hurt. All I can do is get out of bed and put pressure on it until it goes away. Then I lay back down and usually once it starts it just continues all night long. Most mornings when I wake up my calf muscles feel like they just ran a marathon they are so sore. Then today I read an article about being 27 weeks (I can't believe I'm that far along!) and this is what it said...
The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs.
Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief.
Are you kidding me?!? I've been having leg cramps since the beginning and they are only going to get worse! Good grief! But I'm not complaining! I love every minute of it!
P.S. I'm still living in ignorant bliss when it comes to labor and delivery. I'd like to stay that way for a little while longer, so if anyone reads this don't ask me about my birth plan because my "plan" is to go to the hospital and have a baby. And please don't tell me your birthing horror story. I can remain ignorant for another 2 months. That's when I go to my "Childbirth Preparation Class." And yes I know this could totally backfire on me... Baby stay in until at least 36 weeks, so Mommy and daddy know what to do!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Reflections on the past couple weeks...
After the water disaster we moved out of our condo for a couple weeks, so that the bathroom and kitchen walls could be demolished, repaired, and repainted. So we moved into a basement apartment of the Gregory's (family friends of ours). The finished basement is twice the size of our condo and has tons of windows, so it's very sunny and opens to a big backyard. So it really wasn't a sacrifice to live there for two weeks.
Justin lived with the Gregory's before we got married for about 2 months. They have kids, one in college and one just graduating from high school. They also have a Huskie named Timber. They are about to become empty nesters and live in a very large house in the Trailmark area. Trailmark is right at the base of the mountains and has tons of trails, parks, and open space. It's also right beside Chatfield State Park. It's a development that we would dream about living in, but would NEVER be able to.
Before we headed back to our condo this weekend, they asked us if we would want to move into the basement permanently. We were like, you do remember that we are having a baby, right? (I mean it is pretty obvious, if you look at me...but we just needed to clarify.) We didn't think they would want to have a newborn there. We sat down with them and talked about what it would look like and any concern that I had they put to rest. We're taking the week to mull it over some more, but I'm pretty sure that we'll be moving in with them for at least a year. We will save a lot of money and after the curve ball that my boss threw at us last week (more about that in a minute...) it will help us to be more financially stable and Justin to be less stressed about budgeting for baby when we have no idea what that really looks like.
I fully believe that the condo water disaster was the Lord blessing us with this opportunity, because if it hadn't happened we probably wouldn't be moving in with them. I wouldn't have minded some other gentler nudge instead of the stress that the water caused, but the Lord works in mysterious ways!
Back to the work curve ball...to make a loooooong story short I emailed my boss two weeks ago to set up a time to talk to her about my work hours after the baby and what our daycare situation looks like. I sent her an email to explain a little of what we were thinking and we set up a time to meet on Monday. To make a long story short she pretty much talked about letting me go after the baby comes, so I can "focus on being a Mom". I felt more like she was manipulating the situation to get me to quit. Justin and I sent her an email on Monday night explaining that I had no intention in quitting, so she would have to let me go among some other points. She has not responded to the email. I spoke with a law professor on Thursday. Our nonprofit does not fall under FMLA protection because we only have 3 employees. So legally she could let me go, but it would be highly hypocritical coming from a women's organization. So now work is just awkward and part of me hopes she does let me go, so I can collect unemployment for a few months and stay home with the baby a little longer. But at the same time it's scary to be out of work for an extended time with a newborn. To be continued...who knows what will happen. Some time this week I'll have to bring it up again if she doesn't respond to my email. It would be nice to just know what is going to happen.
During these two weeks I also celebrated my birthday! Which unfortunately was slightly lame (except for dinner with Ashley at my favorite restaurant). Justin was supposed to be leaving for Phoenix to go to his best friend Christian's wedding on Friday afternoon. So we were planning to go to dinner Thursday night to celebrate and we would have Friday morning to hangout before he left. Instead the weather did not cooperate and a blizzard moved into CO on Thursday afternoon. The airport was expecting cancellations on Friday, so he had to leave Thursday night. So I left work and came home, saw him for about 15 minutes, and off he went to the airport. Then I proceeded to go to the grocery store and get gas. Ashley did take me to dinner, which was yummy & fun! But that was my birthday...on a positive note, it will probably never be that lame again! :o)
Justin lived with the Gregory's before we got married for about 2 months. They have kids, one in college and one just graduating from high school. They also have a Huskie named Timber. They are about to become empty nesters and live in a very large house in the Trailmark area. Trailmark is right at the base of the mountains and has tons of trails, parks, and open space. It's also right beside Chatfield State Park. It's a development that we would dream about living in, but would NEVER be able to.
Before we headed back to our condo this weekend, they asked us if we would want to move into the basement permanently. We were like, you do remember that we are having a baby, right? (I mean it is pretty obvious, if you look at me...but we just needed to clarify.) We didn't think they would want to have a newborn there. We sat down with them and talked about what it would look like and any concern that I had they put to rest. We're taking the week to mull it over some more, but I'm pretty sure that we'll be moving in with them for at least a year. We will save a lot of money and after the curve ball that my boss threw at us last week (more about that in a minute...) it will help us to be more financially stable and Justin to be less stressed about budgeting for baby when we have no idea what that really looks like.
I fully believe that the condo water disaster was the Lord blessing us with this opportunity, because if it hadn't happened we probably wouldn't be moving in with them. I wouldn't have minded some other gentler nudge instead of the stress that the water caused, but the Lord works in mysterious ways!
Back to the work curve ball...to make a loooooong story short I emailed my boss two weeks ago to set up a time to talk to her about my work hours after the baby and what our daycare situation looks like. I sent her an email to explain a little of what we were thinking and we set up a time to meet on Monday. To make a long story short she pretty much talked about letting me go after the baby comes, so I can "focus on being a Mom". I felt more like she was manipulating the situation to get me to quit. Justin and I sent her an email on Monday night explaining that I had no intention in quitting, so she would have to let me go among some other points. She has not responded to the email. I spoke with a law professor on Thursday. Our nonprofit does not fall under FMLA protection because we only have 3 employees. So legally she could let me go, but it would be highly hypocritical coming from a women's organization. So now work is just awkward and part of me hopes she does let me go, so I can collect unemployment for a few months and stay home with the baby a little longer. But at the same time it's scary to be out of work for an extended time with a newborn. To be continued...who knows what will happen. Some time this week I'll have to bring it up again if she doesn't respond to my email. It would be nice to just know what is going to happen.
During these two weeks I also celebrated my birthday! Which unfortunately was slightly lame (except for dinner with Ashley at my favorite restaurant). Justin was supposed to be leaving for Phoenix to go to his best friend Christian's wedding on Friday afternoon. So we were planning to go to dinner Thursday night to celebrate and we would have Friday morning to hangout before he left. Instead the weather did not cooperate and a blizzard moved into CO on Thursday afternoon. The airport was expecting cancellations on Friday, so he had to leave Thursday night. So I left work and came home, saw him for about 15 minutes, and off he went to the airport. Then I proceeded to go to the grocery store and get gas. Ashley did take me to dinner, which was yummy & fun! But that was my birthday...on a positive note, it will probably never be that lame again! :o)
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