update on not much and other thrilling things

I have a handful of blogs I read, mostly other infertiles (though most now are happily pregnant, we're still infertiles). And when I go to check on them, I freely admit that I get somewhat miffed that they haven't been updated.

How hypocritical and irrational is THAT??? :p  Since I'm probably one of the most non-updating, lazy, slow-to-post blogger in the entire blog-o-sphere, it's extremely hypocritical…

So in an effort to not be quite so lazy and hypocritical, I'm posting.

Even though I really have nothing much to update.

The most exciting news I have is that I went out last weekend and bought some maternity clothes at Mo.ther.hood - two shirts and a pair of shorts. Yes, after trying on about 5 different pairs of pants and jeans and at least 20 shirts, I bought everything that fit me and looked decent. 2 shirts and a pair of shorts. That's it.

Why buy shorts? Because I'm going on a CRUISE! We leave TOMORROW! Waaahhoooo!!!!!!!!!! (I'm excited, can you tell?)  I've never been on a cruise before. I'm a bit worried about getting sea sick, so I bought some seabands - little accupressure wrist bands that are supposed to keep you from losing your lunch. I've also got some pedia.lyte, that drink you usually give sick kids to keep them from dehydrating. Not really sure how it's different from gator.ade, but the CDC says preggo people should drink pedialyte if they get the norovirus - you know, that nasty stomach bug that sometimes gives everybody on an entire ship the runs - since the CDC doesn't recommend immodiu.m or pep.to, even though I'm not sure my doctor would object to me taking that. (note to self: find list of approved drugs the OB gave me, might come in handy) Anyway, despite these little precautions I've taken, I'm excited and very hopeful that I won't get sick/feel bad on the trip.

I even found something to wear for the formal dinner on the ship. A pair of slinky black pants (rayon- knit-stuff I think) and a pink long-sleeved gauzy shirt. Now I'd wear this to work, so it's not over-the-top glam or anything, but I think with the right jewelry and makeup that it'll be formal enough. I haven't been to a formal anything since I got engaged 4 years ago, so I definitly wanted to dress up even though R didn't mind skipping it.

In other news, I bought a bassinet today. A second-hand one, since bassinets tend to be pricy and don't get used very long it just seemed too frivolous to buy one or even to register for one. But you know, most baby things are used only for a few months, so why does a bassinet seem frivolous to me? Maybe because they tend to be so frilly and cute. (Mine's a greyish beige, but still frilly and cute).

the big ultrasound

Well we had the big ultrasound on Friday and everything was fine. We do not want to know the gender, so that is still a suprise. But everything looked good and the baby was so cute! It had its legs crossed and one hand tucked under its head... it wiggled its other hand like it was waving. I was laying there leaking tears :) R was with me, holding my hand. We also got to hear the heartbeat again while they did the scan, but I didn't have the recorder with me this time. We had the ultrasound taped, but we haven't watched it yet, so I don't know if that's on there.

We met the OB afterwards, but she didn't really have much to say other than to report that the radiologist's report said everything was fine. We were able to ask a few questions and get a note that says I'm fit to travel for the cruise we're taking in 2 weeks.

I also asked her about swimming in salt water, since Shop Girl's doctor told her not to do it. Myt doctor said she thought that was being overly cautious and to go have fun. (Of course our different medical histories and different stages of pregnancy probably have a lot to do with the different advice from our doctors.)

Oh, and I also asked about the horrible headaches I've been having - she thinks I should go see my eye doctor, which is what I kinda figured she'd say. My blood pressure, which could have been a cause for headaches, is fine, so no worries there. She also endorsed drinking a little caffiene if it helps with the headaches - which it usually does.

In other news, my back feels like hell. I have a long history of putting my back out. There's nothing quite so fun as a slipped disk. I had about 6 months of physical therapy last year to help me strengthen my back, so I do know what to do to make it feel better. The problem is that the stretch that helps the most involves laying on your stomach - which I can't do. I can lay down in comfort and I can get comfortable standing up, but sitting is very tricky. So I'm really trying to take it easy this weekend and hope it feels a lot better by Monday when I have to go sit at my desk again.

Getting ready for baby furniture and other Important News

This weekend we did a lot of cleaning. We took the Christmas tree down on Saturday and got all the stuff up into the attic on Sunday - and that's good because all the empty boxes were piled up in the nursery.  I started going through some memorabilia stuff that's been stored in the closet and weeded some of it out. Didn't really finish that because we decided that getting the room ready for furniture was more important than reclaiming the closet right now. So, we moved out a huge cabinet full of porcelain dolls and a really heavy iron bakers rack that had been holding all of our serving platters and such. Don't worry, I didn't lift anything heavier than a porcelain doll! The cabinet was on rollers and made the move into the living room with no problem. The iron bookcase we put on those magic glider thingamajigs and so were able to slide that as well. It now sits next to the TV holding pictures, plants, knickknacks and the stereo (which previously sat on the floor, so this is a good thing). The pictures and knickknacks came from the living room bookshelf which I intend to have moved into the nursery as soon as R repaints it since it's a bluish-green that clashes horribly with the nursery's sage green paint.

So the only things left in the nursery are things that I intend to stay in there (closet junk not included!). There's a chair and footrest, a single bed, and a little school desk thing. Next weekend we'll go get the crib and dresser/changing table with my dad's help. We're buying that stuff from a friend. And almost every day she calls or emails to tell me about the other baby stuff she has for me if I want it! A changing pad, a high chair, decorative items, a fancy curtain rod, and so much more! Today she asked me about her stroller! So it sounds like I'll be fully stocked - I'm starting to wonder if I need to have a shower at all!

Anyway, here's my big news of the day…

I think I felt the baby move.

Just a tiny little sensation, a little flutter, so small I only half believe I felt it. But I think I felt the baby move.

holiday re-cap

Oh geez, it's been a month since I posted?! Sorry! I blame it on the holidays.

Things that have happened in the last month:

• I can only wear maternity pants. Although I can fit into some of my husband's jeans just fine, they only feel good when I'm standing up and are uncomfortable to sit down in for long periods of time. So I gave them up.
• Haven't been back to the doctor yet - that's coming up  next week.
• My belly sticks out as much as my boobs! I don't know why this is such a milestone for me, but it just tickles me to no end.
• Most nausea is over with. I still don't like the smell of chicken very much, although I've successfully eaten it once. I still feel the need to eat often, but most of the time a glass of milk will do just fine.

We spent Christmas up in north Texas in a tiny little town where my mom was born. She's bought an old historic house there and is in the process of fixing it up. We drove up (7 hour trip!) the Friday before Christmas and mom got there Saturday night. We bought a tree on Christmas eve and put it up (decorated with stuff R and I hauled up from Houston plus popcorn that we strung).  I had a bit of an accident Saturday night when I was trying to toss out some burnt popcorn for the birds… I put my foot through a rotten porch board. My leg went in to the top of my calf and I fell down hard on my butt. R was inside and didn't hear me calling him at first, but by the time I broke down in tears he heard me and came out. I didn't even break the skin on my leg and there was no sign of injury to the baby - it just scared me to death! So R had me lay in the recliner and he waited on me all evening.

Well, R had to go back to work on Wednesday, so late Tuesday we drove down to Dallas so he could fly home :(  I stayed with my mom until Saturday and then drove home by myself. We hadn't had Christmas with A yet (R's son), so we did that on New Year's Eve morning and then had a nice fondue dinner that night (fondue is usually our Christmas eve tradition)

Anyway, the baby furniture I'm buying from a friend is now available and my dad is going to help us pick it up weekend after next. Guess we better get moving on getting the room ready to hold it all!

I'm still getting a lot of headaches, but other than that I'm feeling pretty good most of the time. I think I'll make an appointment with my eye doctor as I'm long overdue for a checkup.