Holidays, hot spots, hiders, oh my.

We're leaving for Kansas in two weeks and all of my Christmas decorations are sitting on the dining room table, patiently waiting for me to get around to decking the halls. I will do it. I will. Maybe tomorrow.

Olive has what the vet thinks might be a hot spot on her neck. She's now on antibiotics and a steroid treatment, which make her have to pee all the time. Like, at 3 AM. So between Olive and Baby B and my ever expanding and aching hips, I'm lucky to get 2 uninterrupted hours of sleep at a time these days. I'm actually looking forward to boarding the beasts while we're in Kansas because I'll get to sleep past their usual 6 AM wakeup calls.

I bought my second baby-related thing today... I suppose the rate of baby-related shopping should probably increase at some point but I've been taking it easy what with Christmas and my school fees due and all that jazz. But today I found out that a breastfeeding privacy cover was FREE and all I'd have to pay was shipping and handling, so I typed in my 'christmas' promo code over at Udder Covers and shazam, the order is done.

Oh, and in school-related news... tomorrow night brings the celebratory dinner for surviving another semester. I'm super excited to eat what I hear is the world's best pita at Sitti in Raleigh. Not sure if they have my beloved spinach pies, but I'm sure whatever I get will be good. Also, if you're interested in learning more about the reading fluency intervention I've been doing here and there, or if you know an educator who might be interested, the HELPs website is now live and has all the information you need for this evidence-based, excellent intervention developed by a faculty member in my program.

24 Weeks

It's been a while since the planets aligned enough for a belly photo, but this afternoon it was finally time again! The last photo came at 19 weeks, which was 5 weeks ago. So here's a trip down memory lane:


... and here's where the belly stands today....


The funny thing is, as Jonathan was taking the pictures, I told him that there wasn't going to be any difference. I guess I was wrong! People have been telling me that they see a little bump but I always just think it's because I'm not holding in my tummy when they look or something. Perhaps they're correct, though?

The baby is at 24 weeks today, about the length of an ear of corn and weighing in at around one pound. I feel him/her moving around quite a bit but still no dice for Jonathan. I told him one of these days I'm just going to make him keep his hand on my belly until he feels something. I can even see my belly move just a tiny bit every now and then if Baby B is especially active.

We're looking forward to spending the day with our nephew Linus tomorrow. I'm glad that I get to enjoy the time now that my courses are pretty much done for the semester. I still have a few meetings and I'm spending time at my practicum site for the next couple weeks, but the hard work is over for the semester! Survived another one!

I try.

Man, I'm falling behind at the blogging deal lately. And the photo deal. I actually do have something of a baby bump - finally - confirmed by family over Thanksgiving. Yay!

Today is World AIDS Day. Always makes me want to see the quilt again. Always reminds me that even though it's not at the forefront of the media, AIDS is still around in a big way worldwide.

Today is also the day the new Wake County Board of Education is sworn in. They have vowed to dismantle the WCPSS Diversity Policy. In other words, they plan to kill magnet schools. And make people just go to the closest school. And I really don't think that work, because they're mixing diversity issues with overcrowding issues. At least I hope it won't work. I spent a good deal of time researching the issues and making a documentary about the policy and the new board this semester, but I don't have the energy to fill you in right now. But suffice to say I'm against these new board members and their naivety.

Last night we had our fifth birth class. It was time to bust out he blue striped knitted uterus and see what happens with contractions in early first stage and first stage labor. Looks a wee bit uncomfortable to me. And the very idea of back labor? Let's not talk about that. I need some time to process the notion of such pain. The good news was we got to talk about marathon runners again! Who knew that marathons would prepare me for the mental and physical pain of childbirth? At least that's what I'm being told because we talk about martahon runners every week at some point!

At our 23-week checkup yesterday, we finally met Maureen. She's the head midwife at the clinic, and she was so warm and kind and calm. Calm is my number one need in medical staff. My blood pressure was fine, my uterus was at 23 centimeters (I think centimeters... not inches, right?), which was perfect because it should be as tall as the number of weeks you are. I also gained a couple pounds in the past month but I'm still 1/2 lb. below my pre-pregnancy weight. Oh and baby's heart rate was holding steady at 160, as usual! (S)he's consistent. Jonathan got to go along to this one but come January I have to start going in every 2 weeks so he won't be taking off work so often for those. I'm feeling the baby regularly, but Jonathan is still waiting to feel a little kick from the outside.

We also found a pediatrician. The search was made easier since I worked for a family over the summer and the dad happens to be a pediatrician. So I got to know him as a parent and employer and completely funny and calm guy. And I think that's probably more experience than most people get to have with peds when choosing them, so I trust him. Jonathan's also met him since we went out to dinner with the family over the summer and such. We'll still go in to Triangle Pediatrics to meet formally and learn more about the practice before the wee one arrives. But I think (s)he'll be in good hands.

Alright back to work for me. So close to the end of the semester... so close!

You're already doing it.

Birth class number four. We met an absolutely adorable little baby and heard the story of her birth from the new parents. It was good to hear. We also learned about epidurals, spinals, and narcotic pain relief during labor. Holy medications and long needles to the spine, Batman! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and doing what's in my control to try for a drug-free birth but it's also important to understand what the drugs are should I wind up taking them.

Anyway, what I really wanted to share with you is one of the "lines" that the coaches (husbands) learn each week in class. So far, Jonathan has learned to say "You're doing great" and he's learned to remind me to take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Oh, and he's learned to match his mood to mine (no cracking jokes if I'm getting snippy, etc.). And he's learned where I carry my stress (lower back) and how to massage that. So I guess some of them aren't really "lines"... but there is one line that I love and I'm going to make him say over and over again:

You're already doing it.

Because I've been told that almost every woman says, at some point in labor, "I can't do this." And my favorite response to that so far is: "You're already doing it."

It applies to so many things, even beyond labor. It definitely applies to grad school. To parenting (I think?), to coping with grief and loss and stress and frustration. So, if you're feeling like you can't stay afloat today, just remember that you're already doing it.

Pregmotional

You know you're an emotional pregnant lady when you look at your sleeping puppy and start to pet her and she licks your hand...


...and you cry and tell her love her.


It could also be the sleep deprivation and 300 pages of journal articles I've been wading through since yesterday contributing to my space-cadetedness.


So I'm counting down the hours and minutes and seconds until I'm sitting on the porch of this cabin the Smoky Mountains. It's the Thanksgiving plan for the year, which definitely tops last year's "just had my wisdom teeth removed" Thanksgiving. I just have to survive until 8:30 Tuesday night when we arrive at said cabin. Like I said, I'm counting down.

Spaghetti Squash

That's the size of the baby these days. 22 weeks down.

The books tell me that Baby B is a fully-formed little person now! (S)he just needs some time to give all the organs and muscles a chance to mature and get some meat on those bones.

I'm still surprised that I can have anything the size of a spaghetti squash inside me without, well, looking like I have one taped to my belly. But there is evidence that I'm expanding. Evidence, you ask? Yep.

Stretch marks.

I knew I'd get them, because they're mostly genetic and my mom gave me lots of pretty fantastic traits so why not throw in a propensity for stretch marks just to add character? I also knew because I've gotten them before. But seeing new ones on the top of my belly (above the belly button) was a bit alarming nonetheless. I really will update you with some photos. I just need to remember to do it before the sun goes down.

I'm kinda dreading this weekend - so, so, so much work to do. Profs who make stuff due right before Thanksgiving are nice in a way because then you're not fully swamped over the Thanksgiving "break", but it also means I'm going to spend the weekend with my eyes glued to the laptop. Such is life.

Jonathan is feeling somewhat better after a run-in with what we hope is just a head cold. I've been frantically making him take his temperature to rule out H1N1. Even though I'm vaccinated against H1N1 and the seasonal flu, I'm still not thrilled about the possibility of contracting whatever stuffy-head condition he has. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Boys

These are two of my favorite boys in the whole entire world. My nephews.



They make me wonder if my kiddo can even compete in the cuteness department! And the feisty department. And adorable giggles. And loud screams.

I love these kids and I'm continually impressed with their parents. What great models to learn from! I can't wait for our shorty to have such awesome cousins.