Thursday, January 29, 2009
An Update
I had an appointment yesterday with my midwife. She came highly recommended by my sister-in-law. And with good reason. She is sooo sweet! And answered all my questions thoroughly and put me at ease about the concerns I was having. It was just a consultation, so ... no tests or "fun stuff" like ultrasounds or heartbeats or anything. But I have an appointment on February 25. I'll be at 14 weeks, and we'll hear the heartbeat for the first time.
The biggest outcome of yesterday's meeting was a prescription that has proven (already) to be quite handy. Reglan is my new drug of choice. No more nausea!! I feel a ton better already! I haven't been very faithful on the ol' blog lately because I feel like all I would've done was complain. I've been pretty sick this whole time. So hopefully that's behind me and we can move forward now.
In some ways, it feels like time is creeeeeeeeping by. I'm sure I'll be surprised how quickly my 14-week appointment will come up when it does get here. But, gosh! February 25 seems soooo far away!!! And August!?! A lifetime. I try not to get overwhelmed by all this, but in so many ways, I just want the baby to be here. I don't want the process.
I don't want the aches and pains and sickness. I certainly don't want the labor and delivery! (OUCH!)
But I've already learned that there's a reason for this preparation time. Every part of the process is developing Kyle and me into a team that is working together and making plans and learning to appreciate each other on whole new levels. I'm sure this will come in handy over the next few months (years?) of my hormonally-challenged-ness. :)
The biggest outcome of yesterday's meeting was a prescription that has proven (already) to be quite handy. Reglan is my new drug of choice. No more nausea!! I feel a ton better already! I haven't been very faithful on the ol' blog lately because I feel like all I would've done was complain. I've been pretty sick this whole time. So hopefully that's behind me and we can move forward now.
In some ways, it feels like time is creeeeeeeeping by. I'm sure I'll be surprised how quickly my 14-week appointment will come up when it does get here. But, gosh! February 25 seems soooo far away!!! And August!?! A lifetime. I try not to get overwhelmed by all this, but in so many ways, I just want the baby to be here. I don't want the process.
I don't want the aches and pains and sickness. I certainly don't want the labor and delivery! (OUCH!)
But I've already learned that there's a reason for this preparation time. Every part of the process is developing Kyle and me into a team that is working together and making plans and learning to appreciate each other on whole new levels. I'm sure this will come in handy over the next few months (years?) of my hormonally-challenged-ness. :)
Labels: pregnancy
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Why does the date not show up on my blogs? Anybody got a clue?
Friday, January 23, 2009
This is Awesome.
I got a phone call last night from an "Unavailable" number. You know the ones you always ignore? Yeh, well I ignored it. And a few minutes later, I checked my voicemail and there was a message from our insurance company. The message was, "This is Kendra at ICI [indistinguishable] calling to talk to Rita about [indistinguishable]. Please return this call at 866-761-[indistinguishable]." She spoke SO FAST!!!! It made me MAD. I listened to it at least ten times trying to get the phone number and finally took the phone to Kyle. I wrote down the numbers I could figure out and he finally, through trial and error, figured out what the last four numbers were.
As it turns out, the call was totally worth the struggle to get the number. It was someone calling with information about a particular program that the insurance company offers to expectant mothers. I had to answer a lot of questions and they're sending me some "educational materials" - probably similar to the ones I'll be getting from the doctor's office. But I also get two $150 gift cards to Babies R Us!
As it turns out, the call was totally worth the struggle to get the number. It was someone calling with information about a particular program that the insurance company offers to expectant mothers. I had to answer a lot of questions and they're sending me some "educational materials" - probably similar to the ones I'll be getting from the doctor's office. But I also get two $150 gift cards to Babies R Us!
Labels: pregnancy
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Random Inauguration Day Thoughts
Today is an historical day. Barack Obama, a (partially) black man will become the leader of the free world. I have a couple of thoughts on this.
- Today is a day for celebration. America has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time to elect a black man as its leader. Yes, black. Partially so ... but black enough. It's monumental. And celebration-worthy.
- Even if you didn't vote for him. Even if you don't like him. He's your leader and you're obligated to pray for him. So just shutup and do it.
- Yesterday, a friend posted a comment on my facebook that an "Obama baby boom" is anticipated. And this makes me scratch my head and say, "For real?" I mean, the political timing of our first child's birth has not escaped our notice, though it was not related to the results of an election in the least. I am really excited about our new president and the hope and inspiration that he has, thus far, ignited in people - particularly in my generation and those younger than me. BUT HE IS NOT GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD! I'm glad our new President puts an intelligent face forward for America on a global scale. But my hope is in something higher. And the fact that people are willing to have children during his presidency moreso than any other presidency ... that's a little ludicrous. Really. (I digress.) (Though I could ramble listlessly about how retarded this is.) (sigh.)
Labels: politics
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ahhh ... the joys of Pregnancy
In the interest of full disclosure and remembering this stage of pregnancy as well as possible, I will put this information on the record: Omigosh, it sucks.
I made the comment to my friend, Jenny, a couple of months ago that "I'd much rather be stomach-sick than cold/flu-sick." My reasoning, at the time, was that a stomach bug will usually pass pretty quickly and with a cold/flu, you never know how long it'll stick around.
This weekend, I ate those words. So, to Jenny: I changed my mind. Stomach-sick is the PITS!
I try to keep my outlook brightly on the END of the process rather than getting bogged down in the yuckies that can be quite consuming at times. But sometimes the "yuckies" become the I-Can't-Get-Out-Of-Beds and the Constant-Pukies that take your whole weekend and flush it down the toilet.
Friday night, in a heap of end-of-the-week exhaustion, I laid in bed while Kyle entertained some friends of his. I stuck my head out of the room enough to be friendly, and they were very understanding.
At around 2:30 AM, I woke up, and very quickly realized that I wasn't going to be able to "wait out" the feeling in my stomach. Something was coming up. (Full disclosure, remember?) And so it started at 2:30 AM and continued til about midnight the next night. Every single thing I put on my stomach came right back up. And I was SO THIRSTY, but couldn't drink anything because it'd kick-off the gag reflex and ... oh boy.
By 8 PM on Saturday, I was sitting in the bathroom floor rocking and crying like an insane person, begging Kyle to make it stop. "I don't want to throw up anymore. I'm tired! This SUCKS!" (Not my finest moment, admittedly.)
Sunday morning was better. I was able to move around much more freely and was only sick twice (and not nearly as severely) and ate a lot more without being sick.
Amy, my sister-in-law, shared some of her B6 vitamins with me. And I don't know if that did the trick or if it was just that the "bug" had finally passed, but I spent the afternoon with my family and was mostly ok for the whole afternoon.
And this post is sure to start a round of "Have you tried ... ?" recommendations. So, let me share this list of things I've already tried with you, so you know not to recommend them again! :)
I made the comment to my friend, Jenny, a couple of months ago that "I'd much rather be stomach-sick than cold/flu-sick." My reasoning, at the time, was that a stomach bug will usually pass pretty quickly and with a cold/flu, you never know how long it'll stick around.
This weekend, I ate those words. So, to Jenny: I changed my mind. Stomach-sick is the PITS!
I try to keep my outlook brightly on the END of the process rather than getting bogged down in the yuckies that can be quite consuming at times. But sometimes the "yuckies" become the I-Can't-Get-Out-Of-Beds and the Constant-Pukies that take your whole weekend and flush it down the toilet.
Friday night, in a heap of end-of-the-week exhaustion, I laid in bed while Kyle entertained some friends of his. I stuck my head out of the room enough to be friendly, and they were very understanding.
At around 2:30 AM, I woke up, and very quickly realized that I wasn't going to be able to "wait out" the feeling in my stomach. Something was coming up. (Full disclosure, remember?) And so it started at 2:30 AM and continued til about midnight the next night. Every single thing I put on my stomach came right back up. And I was SO THIRSTY, but couldn't drink anything because it'd kick-off the gag reflex and ... oh boy.
By 8 PM on Saturday, I was sitting in the bathroom floor rocking and crying like an insane person, begging Kyle to make it stop. "I don't want to throw up anymore. I'm tired! This SUCKS!" (Not my finest moment, admittedly.)
Sunday morning was better. I was able to move around much more freely and was only sick twice (and not nearly as severely) and ate a lot more without being sick.
Amy, my sister-in-law, shared some of her B6 vitamins with me. And I don't know if that did the trick or if it was just that the "bug" had finally passed, but I spent the afternoon with my family and was mostly ok for the whole afternoon.
And this post is sure to start a round of "Have you tried ... ?" recommendations. So, let me share this list of things I've already tried with you, so you know not to recommend them again! :)
- Preggie Pops/Preggie Pop Drops - check
- Crackers beside the bed - check
- Eating small meals every two hours - check
- Vitamin B6 - check
- Ginger snaps - check
- Ginger ale - check
- Changing prenatals to Flintstones vitamins - check
- Waiting for the end of first trimester while praying for relief from constant nausea - CHECK!!
Labels: pregnancy
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Two Nephews!!
Amy & Craig found out today that they're "95% sure" they're having a boy. Really, they're only at 13 weeks, so it's "too soon to tell" for 100% sure, but supposedly you can tell sooner when it's a boy?? And there's an ultrasound picture with an arrow pointing to a designated area that says "boy parts" ... so, there ya have it. It's a boy.
So, two nephews. And a few nights ago, I dreamed I was having a girl. Time will tell, I suppose.
So, two nephews. And a few nights ago, I dreamed I was having a girl. Time will tell, I suppose.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Christmas 2008
Kyle and I were in Hampton for Christmas and I'd been thinking that a pregnancy test was probably in order for a few days, at that point. But for some reason -- let's call it Holiday Distraction -- I hadn't. So when his mom needed to run some errands, I said I'd go along. I tried, and I think I succeeded in hiding the test from her under some unnecessary items also tossed into the basket. But it made for a rather tense few moments in the ol' CVS.
Back at the house, Kyle was in the shower and I knew I couldn't possibly wait a moment longer. So I didn't. I tested while he showered and:
Back at the house, Kyle was in the shower and I knew I couldn't possibly wait a moment longer. So I didn't. I tested while he showered and:
...dun, dun, dun...
I held the test stick up over the shower door and said, "Um ... Merry Christmas?"
Kyle is such a pro. He said, "Cool" and seemed genuinely excited. My first reaction was not quite as calm and collected. My hands started shaking and sweating, and I had to go lay down. I was very excited, but also shocked! A few minutes later, Kyle came out of the shower and said, "What's next?" I told him I wanted to get one of the tests that says "PREGNANT" or "NOT PREGNANT".
So I chugged a couple bottles of water (you know, so I could pee again) and drove back to the store.
Confirmation.
And we told his mom. We showed her the test pictured above. She squealed a little and hugged Kyle. Then, turning to me, she said, "You're ok, right? You're going to be ok!" Guess I was still a little shell-shocked. And it showed.
We told his brother later on that evening. We wrapped up another pregnancy test and put it under the tree for him. When he opened it, he acted confused. And I finally had to say, "John. Do I need to spell it out for you? Kyle and I are going to have a baby."
He looked at his friend, Kari, and she said, "I think you should give her what you bought for her."
That's right. He'd bought me a pregnancy test. No wonder he was confused. We'd given him, basically, the same thing!
I knew the first thing I wanted to do was to call my brother, Craig. He and his wife, Amy, had been trying to conceive for several months and, if I was going to tell my family on Christmas morning (which I what I really wanted to do), I didn't want her to be completely broadsided and get upset. I wanted Craig to know so he could "warn" her if he felt like he needed to.
Craig called me about 20 minutes later and asked me to hold my announcement until the day after Christmas. Disappointed, I said, "I guess I could. Why?"
As it turns out, he and Amy had their own news to share and had been holding it for almost a month and a half.
I jumped up and down (don't tell the doctor!) and squealed and cried and acted COMPLETELY girly and then told Craig to have Amy to call me so we could talk -- and maybe break the news to my parents together.
And, thus, a plot was conceived. (pun completely intended)
Amy and Craig went to Walmart that night and purchased stockings and wrapped them in separate boxes. After all the other gifts were unwrapped, Craig gave one box to each of my parents and instructed my dad to go first.
And after a few minutes, my mom remembered that she had an unopened box to return to.
"I wonder what it is!!"
And I was too busy laughing to get her first reaction. But it went something like this:
"Hahaha. Baby Polk."
(realizes, wide-eyed, what she'd just read out loud)
(re-reads in silence)
(looking at me) "Is this for REAL?!"
And then my dad cried again, while my mom laughed. A lot.
My mom excitedly purchases gifts in the months leading up to Christmas in order to "Wow" all of her kids on Christmas morning. And while we were all still wowed this year, Christmas 2008 will forever be branded in our family memory as "The Christmas She Was Outdone".
Kyle is such a pro. He said, "Cool" and seemed genuinely excited. My first reaction was not quite as calm and collected. My hands started shaking and sweating, and I had to go lay down. I was very excited, but also shocked! A few minutes later, Kyle came out of the shower and said, "What's next?" I told him I wanted to get one of the tests that says "PREGNANT" or "NOT PREGNANT".
So I chugged a couple bottles of water (you know, so I could pee again) and drove back to the store.
Confirmation.
And we told his mom. We showed her the test pictured above. She squealed a little and hugged Kyle. Then, turning to me, she said, "You're ok, right? You're going to be ok!" Guess I was still a little shell-shocked. And it showed.
We told his brother later on that evening. We wrapped up another pregnancy test and put it under the tree for him. When he opened it, he acted confused. And I finally had to say, "John. Do I need to spell it out for you? Kyle and I are going to have a baby."
He looked at his friend, Kari, and she said, "I think you should give her what you bought for her."
That's right. He'd bought me a pregnancy test. No wonder he was confused. We'd given him, basically, the same thing!
I knew the first thing I wanted to do was to call my brother, Craig. He and his wife, Amy, had been trying to conceive for several months and, if I was going to tell my family on Christmas morning (which I what I really wanted to do), I didn't want her to be completely broadsided and get upset. I wanted Craig to know so he could "warn" her if he felt like he needed to.
Craig called me about 20 minutes later and asked me to hold my announcement until the day after Christmas. Disappointed, I said, "I guess I could. Why?"
As it turns out, he and Amy had their own news to share and had been holding it for almost a month and a half.
I jumped up and down (don't tell the doctor!) and squealed and cried and acted COMPLETELY girly and then told Craig to have Amy to call me so we could talk -- and maybe break the news to my parents together.
And, thus, a plot was conceived. (pun completely intended)
Amy and Craig went to Walmart that night and purchased stockings and wrapped them in separate boxes. After all the other gifts were unwrapped, Craig gave one box to each of my parents and instructed my dad to go first.
He opened it.
And he cried.
And there were many hugs.
And after a few minutes, my mom remembered that she had an unopened box to return to.
"I wonder what it is!!"
And I was too busy laughing to get her first reaction. But it went something like this:
"Hahaha. Baby Polk."
(realizes, wide-eyed, what she'd just read out loud)
(re-reads in silence)
(looking at me) "Is this for REAL?!"
And then my dad cried again, while my mom laughed. A lot.
My mom excitedly purchases gifts in the months leading up to Christmas in order to "Wow" all of her kids on Christmas morning. And while we were all still wowed this year, Christmas 2008 will forever be branded in our family memory as "The Christmas She Was Outdone".
Labels: family, holidays, photo, pregnancy
The Rest of the Christmas Story
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