Monday, August 18, 2008

Well. THAT didn't go well at all.

So today was the first day of the first week of school. I laid out my clothes last night, set the alarm for 5:15 am, and did a few other things to make the morning run smoothly.

A-hem.

I woke up at 7:00 am, somehow having slept through my alarm, and was backing out of the driveway at 7:10 am. I didn't want anyone getting too close to me today as I hadn't had time for a shower (picture a liberal use of deodorant and my Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir-- using the latter of which on an unwashed body felt like the basest sacrilege). I had stuffed my makeup bag and my insulin pen in my purse and made use of the makeup at Atlanta's infinitely long traffic lights. Amazingly, it still only took me about 40 minutes to drive to work, and I made it to my homeroom with about 4 minutes to spare. My girls got a good laugh out of it, and afterwards I went off campus to grab some breakfast so that I could take my insulin. Now, if this isn't a compelling case for why my employer and so many others should just offer paid maternity leave, then I don't know what is! I mean, when you're so tired that you sleep through your ALARM?? Plus, I guarantee you that I was barely coherent for the first hour or so that I was at work so not a whole lot was accomplished. Luckily my day turned around and I was fairly productive (at least, that's how I remember it), but still.

Oh, and can we take a moment to discuss how I have the feet and ankles of a baby elephant? I cannot get the swelling to go down, no matter how much water I drink and subsequently get rid of. I slept with my feet elevated last night and they looked a bit better when I dashed (ok, ambled awkwardly) out to my car, but by the time I got to work they looked as bad as ever. Plus, they don't bend the same way they used to which makes walking even more awkward.

My colleagues are really sweet, and everybody's been telling me how great I look (thanks to the gestational diabetes I've been dropping weight like crazy, which is not altogether a good thing), but I'm just at That Point. You know, That Point where you can't really sleep, or get comfortable, and you just feel hideous. I called my parents on Friday to announce that I Was Done. After smothering their laughter, they explained that it doesn't work that way. I said I didn't care, that I Was Done, and hadn't they been listening?

Please hold the rotten tomatoes. Of course I want Liam to go full-term (especially because he's due on my dad's birthday and it would be SO COOL were he to be born that day), and of course I wouldn't ask for an induction or schedule a C-section for some non emergency reason. I'm just talking trash because I am at That Point ;)

In other news, I got another item checked off my list of Things to Do Before I Go into Labor. I stopped at the friendly neighborhood fire station in Virginia-Highlands and this super-nice fireman installed Liam's carseat (complete with Cowmooflage cover) for me. It was a relief to know that it was done by someone who knows what he's doing AND I watched the whole time and feel confident that I could do it by myself. I'm somewhat of a visual learner, and I learn better by seeing something done than by reading instructions.

Other items remaining on that list include: getting my bag packed for the hospital; planning what will go in the cooler that we're taking (I refuse to eat the stuff they serve in the hospital-- I tried a couple of years ago when I had my breast reduction, and then last week when I had to spend the night because of the kidney stone I was passing-- yes, friends, that was LOADS of fun); finishing the valances in Liam's room (I need to get the apple green ribbon attached); having the slipcovers on the couch in his room dry cleaned; getting together the lists of contact information (2 of them: one a list of folks who want to be notified when I go into labor, and one of folks who want to know when Liam's born), and several other things that I can't remember at the moment. I've just about given up on accomplishing the housecleaning tasks I outlined in my post before last, as I think they're not going to happen. At this point I'll be thrilled if there isn't dog hair all over the floor and two inches of dust on everything :)

Well, it's off to bed for me. Here's hoping that I don't sleep through the alarm again!
Kimberley

Friday, August 1, 2008

Ho-hum and Wooohoooo!

Ugh, no update since 14 July, that is just sad. Lots has been going on that I've wanted to share, but you'll read why I haven't in a minute.

My next post was SUPPOSED to be titled "The Shower to End All Showers", about the completely over-the-top baby shower that my aunt and uncle threw for me... but I still have no pictures (hint, hint to the people who DO have them-- you know who you are so send those along, please, when you get a minute. Thanks.) For now, just know that it was amazing and overwhelming and Chris and I won't need to buy any clothes for Liam until he's about 9 months old ;)

While I was visiting my parents in South Carolina for the STEAS, my mom had the distinct pleasure of taking me to the emergency room for what we found out was a urinary tract infection (oh, and let's not forget my dad, supporting me on their deck at 4:30 in the morning, whilst I vomited into a bucket on the way to the car). Suffice it to say, it was just good times all around. As I said to my mom when we finally got back from the ER later that morning, "Wow. Aren't you glad that I came to visit?". Of course she replied in typical Mom fashion, "I'm glad that you were here so that I could take care of you". My parents. Have I mentioned lately how I don't deserve them?

In other news, I found out about a month ago that I have gestational diabetes and have been dealing with that. Just yesterday I began taking insulin twice a day because it became obvious that I could either keep my blood glucose in the accepted parameters, or I could have lots of ketones. Ketones apparently mean that you're not getting enough calories (and the rate that I've been losing weight backs that up) and can lead to ketosis, which can be bad for the baby. The other issue that was REALLY plaguing me was my heart arrhythmia. This is a condition that I've had all my life, and that I never really notice 1) because I gave up caffeine almost 10 years ago, and 2) because I've had some success with stress management... ok, a little success ;) The point is that carrying Liam has naturally made my heart work harder, and it obviously resented that and is bucking for a pay raise!

The latest physical challenge has been the nasty upper respiratory infection that seized me last weekend. I have a nasty cough, and an even worse ear infection that is painful and has rendered me unable to hear out of one ear. It's also thrown my balance off, and I've just been waiting for someone to call DSS to report the drunken pregnant woman who is lurching down the Whole Foods aisle. The doctor prescribed a ZPac, and that leads me to our discussion topic: ZPacs. They are utterly worthless, do absolutely nothing, and yet doctors keep prescribing them. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Another doctor in that same practice prescribed Omnicef, God bless him, and I'm hoping that will actually DO something to solve the problem.

So, that's the "Ho-hum" part of the post. Now for the "Wooohooo!" part.

(Is anybody still reading this? I don't blame you if you gave up and went to read something cheerful and uplifting like Bleak House instead. Really.)

I'm really excited because tomorrow morning I'm headed to Borders to pick up my reserved copy of Breaking Dawn!

breakingdawn

This is the fourth and final installment of Stephenie Meyer's immensely popular Twilight series, which focuses on the love story and trials and tribulations of Bella Swan, human, and Edward Cullen, vegetarian vampire (he and his vampire family only drink animal blood, believing that killing humans is wrong). I, along with the teenaged girls at the school where I work, have been obsessed with this series for years! There are thousands of midnight release parties being held tonight all over America, and I would LOVE to go to one (I had lots of fun at the midnight release party for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last year, thank you very much. See below:

deathlyhallowsparty

Errr, question: do I have to stop doing this stuff now that I'm going to be someone's mom? Would it just be wrong to continue? Someone please consult the handbook and let me know. Another question: May we just ignore how round my face is in that picture? Thanks, I knew that I could count on you to do the right thing.)

Where was I? Oh, right. I just don't feel up to going to a midnight release party so I'm going to nip off to the bookstore tomorrow morning, get my copy, and come home to read all the 700 odd pages of deliciousness.

Now, that was an update worth waiting for, right? Right??

Have a great weekend,
Kimberley