I have it.
For week seventeen, I actually am nowhere near a computer, much less an internet connection. This week I have been enjoying spending quality time with my husband on a cruise. It’s been extremely nice to escape the hectic world, talk about life for a while, and of course, not having to cook or clean all week has been pretty nice. Today we are soaking up the warm sunshine in Key West, Florida, munching on conch fritters, eating Kermit’s chocolate covered frozen key lime pie, drinking beer (I only indulged in a sip) at the original Sloppy Joe’s, now named Captain Tony’s Saloon, shopping for some Kino sandals and taking a tour of the Ernest Hemingway house. Throughout the week I have noticed I get winded much easier than before, especially when hiking up the stairs on the cruise ship or walking through Key West. I guess pumping blood for two people take a little more effort than pumping just for one. I’m still having weird numbness in my leg, and only this week have I started having numbness in the heel of my foot as well, which is strange. My appetite hasn’t increased and unfortunately, I am finding that the cruise ship cuisine is not what everybody makes it out to be. So, we survive yet another week of pregnancy with the eclectic mix of people in Key West.
It’s been a crazy week in our household, hence the lack of posts, and be forewarned that next week I will be somewhat on hiatus. However, I am doing fine. I’ve been to the doctor this week for a routine checkup, we heard the heartbeat (yeah!) and had a battery of blood tests (glucose screening, spinal bifida testing and a cystic fibrosis test) where we should have the results in seven days or so. For those of you who routinely check this blog, I just wanted you to know that everything is fine and will be posting more later…for now, I am taking a much needed break from reality to spend time with the hubby.
Everybody has told me how the second trimester rocks. I am patiently waiting for it to rock. However, this week I’ve had a better outlook and have been in a upbeat mood (well, maybe not early on in the week, but definitely later on). After two weeks of allergy medicine, I’m still going through snotty tissues, though I seriously think it’s not as many. According to my doctor (and the ever trusty, reliable Internet) my leg numbness seems to be normal and I think that a chiropractic visit early on in the week might just do the trick. My appetite isn’t completely normal, but I’m starting to enjoy food a little bit more than before. I really need to take a picture of my belly, because it has really started to stick out now. Not that anybody on the street would know I was pregnant, but those of you who know me would see the bump. I’ve joined another new moms group, where I will be in a group of other pregnant women due about the same time I am. Not only will it be wonderful to have pregnant women to talk to over the next six months, it will then be an instantaneous play group once the babies are born! I have a doctor’s appointment next week for another battery of blood tests and of course, to hear the heartbeat!
Tomorrow night is a full moon and for those of you who follow celestial calendars, there is a full moon on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 21:18 and another full moon on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 9:15. I doubt that I will deliver on either of those dates, but then again, you never know.
The question I have been asked the most so far whenever I tell people I’m pregnant is, “Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?” After several weeks to seriously ponder this, and talking it through with my husband, the answer is no, because:
1. I would prefer people to purchase gender neutral clothing. Once you know the sex (from what my friends have told me and from my own observations), you tend to get all blue or all pink newborn clothes, and let’s face it…do you want your second child to be wearing the wrong gender onesies?
2. I want to keep it a secret. This totally contrasts my “planning” personality, but what’s another few more months to wait to find out? I like the idea of being surprised on the baby’s birthday. It’s kind of like opening up a package.
3. If I find out, I won’t be able to keep it a secret. I pretty much suck at keeping secrets.
4. I can be a little old fashioned about some things.
5. Once people know the sex, they start asking about names. I know this for a fact, because I have done it myself, thinking it was a completely harmless question, when in fact it really wasn’t any of my business. Now that I am pregnant myself, I don’t really want to share my name choices with the whole world.
6. I’m counter-culture. This really isn’t a good reason, but I do like to be different from the mainstream.
So, for now, our plans are not to find out the sex of our baby.
This is just one of several controversial questions will be addressed and potentially discussed in further detail. Feel free to respond, but before you do, read the fine print.
Early on in pregnancy I developed a separate blog dedicated entirely to pregnancy topics. My intentions were to let loose a little bit. I wanted to chronicle how I was feeling (emotionally and physically) so that I could reflect back on this time in my life as well as discuss why we came to certain decisions. Because I am much better at blogging than I am journaling, I felt this was the best format for me. However, keeping multiple blogs became exhausting, so I incorporated the pregnancy posts into this blog. Bottom line : I’m/we’re going to speak my/our mind. If you agree with me/us, great. If you disagree, feel free to do so. But, be willing to back up your story. I’m/we’re opinionated but open-minded. If we share, we can all benefit and learn. However, hateful comments get us nowhere.
And, I’m not saying my/our beliefs will stay the same. These are uncharted waters for me/us and while I/we have great aspirations, I/we very well might change my/our mind at some point in time. I/we reserve that right, as do you. But, again. If I/we change my mind, there’s going to be a pretty good reason behind the transition.
Bottom line is this. When it comes to making decisions involving babies and children, everyone has their own experience and there’s a multitude of ways that healthy babies come into and are raised in this world.
This is a disclaimer and disclosure.
Last revised 7/24/2008.
I had hoped that the first trimester symptoms would be gone by now, but they are still lingering. I’m still waking up in the middle of the night to urinate and sleeping is still rather uncomfortable. I seriously need to consider a body pillow and a thicker mattress pad for the bed. My moodiness is out the roof and little things can set me over the edge these days. I have started having some numbness on the left front of my leg when I stand still for a considerable amount of time. I had noticed it once before, a couple of weeks ago, but quickly dismissed it. I think that my sciatic nerve is beginning to get inflamed and will continue to pay closer attention in the future. I have read that as the uterus grows the baby can aggravate the sciatic nerve and it is not uncommon to feel numbness, even this early on in pregnancy. I’ve also read that the symptoms can come and go as the body makes way for the baby to grow. I’m sorry for yet another boring, somewhat negative, pregnancy status report. I definitely need to spice it up a bit…if only I had enough energy!
I’m currently enjoying a weekend at the beach with my girlfriends for Girls Weekend 2008 and having a blast. Honestly, a status update is probably the farthest thing from my mind, but here’s what’s been happening.
As I’ve mentioned before I’ve started taking allergy medication to calm my sneezing fits. It’s unknown if things will get better, but I’m optimistic that I will see an improvement. I am giving it two weeks, then will reassess my situation. Clothes are continuing to get more and more uncomfortably tight. I have only gained about 2-3 lbs. so far, which is encouraging, especially when considering the foods I’ve been eating. I’m having some minor incontinence is sues when I have a hard sneeze, so I’ve been diligently practicing my kegel exercises to prevent leakage. My boobs have continued to explode…’nuf said. Sleeping (one of my most favorite activities) has become more restless and at times uncomfortable. I’m waking up more often than I would like, especially now that I can no longer sleep on my stomach. I’m gracious for the warmer weather, as I have been freezing throughout the majority of the winter. My moodiness has increased significantly, and I’ve not yet kicked the pregnancy exhaustion, but I am hoping that as I enter the second trimester I gain more energy and momentum.
Reflecting back on the first trimester, I have to say that I am grateful that my head wasn’t permanently praying to the porcelain god. Food aversions, nasal drainage and fatigue sucked, but I can’t imagine having puked my way throughout these first three months. It is also nice that the pregnancy is beginning to be more “real” and we keep reaching crucial periods. I’ve also begun to think about when to make our news fully public. At this point in time our close friends and family are aware of my pregnancy, but we haven’t made an announcement. We are wondering when (and how) would be suitable and also representative to our style.