Some Days I Dislike Being a Woman.....

...that would be about 10-12 days out of the month..... yep, almost 1/3 of the month I hate Mother Nature. For those same reasons I am blessed with a wonderful little girl (who I hope never has to suffer through PMS symptoms like I had as a teenager, nor those that are even more random now.)
     So if you haven't caught on yet, this post is going to be about my period. Probably falls under the TMI category, but since most of my faithful readers are women who might be able to relate or commiserate, I am simply whining venting.
     I remember hearing at some point during my pregnancy that my monthly cycle was going to get easier after I had a baby- lucky for them I don't remember who the source of this large red lie came from otherwise I might have to hunt them down and whack them with a tampon (unused) because the were oh so wrong. It has not been easier- quite the opposite- and also unpredictable and unbearable. I was 'normal' perhaps for a month or two post-baby and since then I've had the joy of experiencing crazy ass symptoms ranging from sometimes bi-monthly cycles to debilitating headaches, fatigue, mood swings and more. Sounds a bit like pregnancy symptoms, right? Not. Just the 'luck' of the draw I guess. And I might be going out on a limb here, but I think that it all boils down to the main reason that we had fertility issues in the first place- my progesterone. I've talked to my OB/GYN and he says that losing weight and being on birth control will help and suggested an IUD. I clearly hear what you're saying Mr. Man but you don't understand.... when you have boobs and these hips, I'll feel like you're understanding me. (Yes, I know, for the love of lattes, just change doctors... I really like Dr. V.... um, never noticed that correlation, ha ha....  I'm a bit on the sheepish side when it comes to speculum and paper gowns that trying out a new doc makes me cringe)
     I read up on the IUD and even with a copper one, I think it will still whack my system out- and have you read all those side effects? I don't need anymore help retaining/ gaining weight or with my mood swings.... and the pill, well, finding one with a dose that doesn't make me look or eat like a stoned teenager or act like a psycho bitch would be good--- it's riding out the experimental period (no pun intended) that is difficult. 
     This last cycle was about the last straw- I was so incredibly emotional with a short (is there a word that describes shorter than short) fuse that it pushed me over the edge.  Combine that with a precocious little toddler who didn't nap for two days and you can cue up the soundtrack from Psycho.... seriously, I had to lock myself in the bathroom and give myself a timeout- with a king size package of Reese's and a bottle glass of wine. At 11:30 a.m.  (just kidding, the wine was an afterthought- I will be sure to put it in the emergency stash for next month) It was unreal and unfair. I have a great little girl, my uterus has served it's purpose and it can go away now.
      And today my nose looks like Rudolph.... really? Hi, I'm fifteen. Cool, just one more little symptom that I can throw into my iPeriod app.  Yep, there's an app for that- why not? 
So I'm game for some supplements or vitamins to help, but not anymore hormone based anything--- my family will probably start locking me in the garage for five days out of the month pretty soon. At least there's a fridge and wine in there....  

OMG- I've Been Preggers for Half a Year!!!!

Wow. What a thought. Today's post is completely random- but that's why I call it random musings....





Taurus Horoscope for Today on iGoogle: “It's tough for you to overcome the inertia of being at rest (read: Pregnant!), so you may get off to a very slow start today.” Oh you have no idea. We (me + BabyW, as it’s all about her now….LOL) have hit another patch of fatigue. Even in my college days where my motto, “You can sleep when you’re dead” applied have I been as tired as I’ve felt the past two days.... that is until I get to experience the first few months after BabyW’s arrival as Leah, Jenn and Paige have informed me (hey, good friends don’t sugar-coat it!) The fatigue has also been accompanied by another new symptom- fleas. Just kidding- but it feels like it. My legs itch like crazy and when that strikes along with my nerves falling asleep, it’s a very strange feeling, or should I say, lack there of! But I think I found some temporary relief in Bath & Body Work’s “Shea Butter.” Although it reminds me of Crisco, it’s been four hours without so much as a little itch! Unfortunately the jar is almost empty- damn- looks like I’ll have to go there tonight… and a little birdie told me that it’s the semi-annual sale. (Hi, Honey! LOL) Now, if only I could get BabyW to shift to the right so my left leg quits falling asleep!







I had to take the mid-point glucose tolerance test over the weekend. It seems like I did this not too long ago but my OB is extra careful about me developing gestational diabetes. Any level over 140 means that you have to take the 3-hour test and then get put on a bland diet. With the baby’s cravings for popcorn, M&M’s, choco-covered raisins and Milk Duds at Saturday’s movie (hey, we shared with Jason!) Sunday was probably not the optimal time to take the test, but it had to be done. We go to the closest lab to our house- and the crotchety lady says they don’t do prenatal glucose over the weekend there as they don’t have medical staff- I guess “any” lab is subjective then. Thanks for making a hungry, tired (BabyW had a party all night long- Mommy wasn't invited) pregnant girl cry, you hag! Dear, dear husband is trying to console me the whole long 7-minute drive to the hospital- and “!!!I don’t freakin’ know!!!” is not really sufficing for “What’s wrong?….”







At the lab they administer a 50g dose of said nasty crap- great, at least this time it’s lime-flavored humming bird food. The tech wasn’t amused when I asked for my shot of tequila as a chaser…. “Come back in an hour to have your blood drawn and oh yeah, don’t leave the hospital.” Fun. And I didn’t even get a Scooby band-aid or lollipop. But, it’s amazing what pancakes can do to elevate my mood!
…and I passed the test- phew- no 3-hour one for me this time. YAY. Excuse me as I go have a Snickers….

Dream Interpretation

I'm going through another one of my insomnia stages- last night I awoke at 5 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep and then at 3 a.m. the night prior. Sometimes the dogs wake me up (have you ever heard a dog, make that two dogs, snore and shake the walls???); sometimes BabyW is kicking; my back hurts; I get a leg cramp (yes, I'm eating bananas- but those mothers hurt!); or the usual potty shuffle. Most of the time, I can go back to sleep right away, but the past few nights no. I'm thinking it's because I have a huge project at work right now, the baby is getting bigger and I'm just generally uncomfortable- already.




I fell asleep on the couch while reading Patterson's newest novel (it's really good, but sleep prevails!) and had a bizarre dream: There was a huge orange snake in the bathtub! I called the hubby to come and get it- despite the fact that he hates snakes- and tried to keep Mr. Jenxie from 'playing' with the slithering, hissing creature. So Jason comes in and is more worried about the mouse that is also in the tub- not a pet mouse, just a mouse. So he grabs the mouse; and then the snake. But not by the head, so it's trying to bite me- it misses twice and the third time, it gets my soft and comfy PJs and..... I wake up.....




so I open Internet Explorer today and my iGoogle page's horoscope says: You may wake up from one of those really strange dreams where everything appears so vivid, yet it seems to make no sense, however you try to interpret it. If you are reminded of the nonsensical symbols during the day when something odd happens, it instantaneously brings the entire sequence back into awareness. Don't try to force meaning onto the mysterious messages from your subconscious. They will work their magic if you simply remember them.

Apparently, odd and vivid dreams are yet another side effect of pregnancy! This isn't the first one of this dreams that I've had, just the most recent, but others that I remember have been weird or scary! So, I can't just let this one go, so what does it mean? The internet is so cool- you can find anything- so I found a dream dictionary and here's what some of the symbols mean:




"To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. As a positive symbol, snakes represent healing, transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive changes."





"To see a mouse in your dream indicates fear, meekness, insignificance and a lack of assertiveness. You are experiencing feelings of inadequacy and fears that you are not measuring up. The dream may also be telling you that you are spending too much time hiding in the shadows. Alternatively, it may symbolize minor irritations and annoyances. The dream may also be a pun on a computer mouse and your connection to work or to the virtual world."





How Odd! I was having an e-mail exchange with my friend Jennifer about not knowing the first thing about taking care of a newborn recently; I also had a recent pregzilla freak-out about not being a good mom. I went to bed pregzilla annoyed with dear hubby. Makes perfect sense! On the other hand, I like the reference to the positive changes- BabyW is definitely that! ( : Also, the connection to the virtual world- my fascination with blogging, Twitter and the very reason why hubby and I are together (we met on-line through a dating website nearly 10 years ago, thanks to some urging from my step-momster, GrammaL)! Very interesting, and problem solved. I can go on with my day now.... lol.




Cheers,
Preggers Chick

I Could Probably Sleep Standing Up!!

I had to drive to the Bay Area today for a meeting; actually had to wake up to an alarm clock (oh- the horror!) and be there by 9 a.m. Okay, in a *normal* world, piece of cake! In a preggo world, not so much- right now it's mostly because I feel so fatigued- later, I'm sure it will be because I'm impersonating a Macy's T'giving Day Parade Balloon! Doh!

Luckily my drive home was quick (can I say that preggers hormones makes it very hard to tolerate idiot drivers) but, sans daily afternoon siesta, and this pregnant chick is wiped out! I pull up in my driveway and try to muster up the energy to get out of the car and go into the house (first clue); the thought of cooking dinner (corned beef and cabbage and all of the trimmings, but insert chicken for the corned beef! LOL- you ever smelled corned beef while preggers???) was a challenge. Fast forward to me sitting at the desk checking e-mail while I wait for DH to return from a jog; and I'm startled awake by him coming in the front door! WTH? This makes the second time that I've fallen asleep at the computer!

I have had to start taking my afternoon nappys in my car at work- I've never been so tired- even in my college hey days (Katie?- sleep when you're dead?!), I can't remember sleep so welcoming!

Although I do have to say that I am so thankful for the morning sickness subsiding to a non-existent level- the fatigue seems to be elevated.

My DH just giggled when he woke me up and said, "you're going to be sleeping standing up pretty soon!" Maybe so.... LOL. Just another day in the life of Pregnant Chick!

Oh, Happy St. Patrick's Day- drink one for me, will ya?

Spin the Wheel and Win....

... a random symptom or two! So, here we are at nearly 7 weeks and I've had the pleasure of experiencing a wide range of pregnancy-related symptoms. Seriously, it's like a new part of "The Price is Right!" Ladies and dear husband, what random symptom shall we deal Carol today???? Personally, I'd settle for the $1,000 bonus round, but the outcome of this little experiment will be a priceless bundle of joy, right? Yeah.

So, I've been fortunate enough to not have morning (or noon or night) sickness to the extent that I've heard others have had. Mine is more like an unexplainable little feeling in my stomach that goes away if I eat a cracker or two, or whole package for that matter. I'm hoping that that is the bulk of it. But, I'm prepared- with toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and gum in my purse just in case; and of course the box of Nilla Wafers is patiently sitting by my bed (hoping to be turned into a trifle in about 6 more weeks!) This little feeling hit last Saturday, just about exactly at the 6 week mark. I felt like I was constantly eating- it might have also been the altitude as I was attending a conference in Denver! Speaking of food....

So the first two weeks, I couldn't get enough to eat- and I was ravenous when I did eat. Now, the thought of food turns my stomach. What sounded good two minutes ago doesn't so much anymore! Cereal is my trusty friend. I was almost in tears the other night when my dear husband (DH) tried to force me to eat. Oh, and I am a morning-cup 'o joe- fiend- my usual Venti Sugar Free Vanilla Latte is no more. Partially because of cutting down on the caffeine- the doctor says to keep the intake as low as possible, but I can have a minimal amount- but also because coffee just doesn't always taste good. Now, this is to the bewilderment of my DH who thought he would never see the day that he is the Star-biz-uck's regular, not I! (Me too!) Also helps in saving a little $$, but c'mon- that's my only vice left! (Should I trade it in for weekly pedis???) So, there have been a few cravings- ice cream, an In-N-Out cheesburger once (extra pickles!), and lots of veggies. I love veggies right now. Mostly, I've been relying on cereal and PB&J sandwiches- anything that is easy on the tummy! I think this child is going to be a picky eater... LOL.

I would have to say that fatigue is the worst thing to deal with- it makes everything just a tiny bit harder to accomplish. (And alas, no caffeine to help with energy!) Well, there is alot going on at work- moving into a new office with absolutely no help, launching a two-week long training class, and trying to juggle four new projects on top of a daily commute that had doubled- so absolutely nothing is getting done at home. I have a reserve of energy only about two hours long once I get home, and it quickly fades. Mind you, I was a night owl before- not so much anymore- I'm in PJ's once I hit the door and in bed fast asleep by 9:30 tops! Thank goodness for my DH who is taking over so much of the responsibilty for right now- I awoke to a sparkling clean kitchen the other night- yay! Oh, and let's not even talk about the two days within the past few weeks that were spent sleeping- all day! Not a marching band nor a forest fire kept me awake! It's amazing how this little being takes control of your body- oh how we'll see when BabyW actaully arrives!

So aside from above, the occasional headache or sore back, the tendency to cry when someone just says hello, my favorite random symptom has been the cold sores and dealing with the 'girls' if you know what I mean! I've suffered from cold sores as long as I can remember but for crying out loud hormones- do you have to unleash your wrath on my lips all at the same dang time! Oh but I fight back- Abreva and this new kick-a$$ topical medicine I found at Safeway, along with rubbing alcohol- it hurts crazy, but these cold sores are so wrong.... anyways, I've pretty much had one non-stop since I found out we were expecting. Probably the hormones, the fatigue, stress, you name it. Note to self to ask the doctor if lysine and acyclovir is safe. ... oh, and about the 'girls,' I've had to wear a bra non-stop to help alleviate some of the tenderness which has led to a rash. See what I mean- random stuff? I know that once lil Baby W comes, none of this will matter, but it's so much fun to reminice on!

I'm also noting all of this in my Belly Book- the cartoon on the cover says Hello Belly, Good Bye Feet! Cute! So, until the Wheel 'o Symptoms spins again.....