Mysterious Medical Maladies

Why does pregnancy bring on such irritating and weird medical issues?

1. I bought Prilosec OTC today on a recommendation from a friend. I'm currently taking around 8-12 Tums a day, which I know can't be good for my system. Trying something new in hopes of having longer-term relief.

2. The bathroom and I have become great friends, due to my constipation. A friend suggested that the Tums I am taking is not helping, which prompted the switch.

3. I have a numb spot on my upper stomach, right in the center, below my bra line. I used to think it was something with my clothes or my bra, rubbing the spot and making it sensitive. But after doing some research, it seems to be a common problem. It's very irritating.

4. I got my first varicose vein, and BOY is it a doozy. Thankfully, I don't really have problems with them when I'm not pregnant, so I heard that they will go away. Also thankfully it doesn't hurt...yet.

5. My back hurts 99% of the time I am laying or sitting down. Ice and I are friends.

6. I have woken up the last 4 days with sharp aches in my back. The uncomfortable stage has begun.

7. My vision has been fuzzy lately. Which freaks me out, because I had Lasik surgery only 2 years ago.


There are also some bonuses:

1. My hair has stopped breaking off, and is thick and easy to style.

2. My nails grow at a ridiculous rate.

3. My skin is the clearest it has ever been. I think I have had one zit on my back in the last 4 months (and if you know ANYTHING about my history, you'll know this is a miracle). I still have my scars, but it's so nice to get a hug from someone, and not be in pain because they hit a particularly painful zit.


Oh, pregnancy, you are weird.

9 Months is perfect

This post is honesty.

When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn't ready.

I was happy with the life we created here. I was getting some wedding photography going. I was getting happy with my body, and losing weight. I was volunteering with Girls on the Run, and loving the impact I was able to make.

I wasn't ready for the changes, both to my body, and to my family.

And to be honest, I was happy, but I wasn't 100% happy.  I felt like I *should* be 1000% happy. After all, I had prayed for this child. This is what I said I wanted, and what my heart desired.  But I wasn't completely happy.

To top off these not-so-happy feelings, I was having a rough 1st trimester. Which just made me resent the little nugget even more. All of the emails and forums had these women who were saying over and over, "Oh, I just love my baby! I just love being pregnant!" and I was thinking, "I hate this baby--it's ruining my life and making me feel like s*#@."

God's design is perfect, though. There is a reason that we humans are pregnant for 9 months. Because He has been using that 9 months to change my heart and prepare me to be a mom. And recently, especially in the last few weeks as she has been kicking and moving, I really find myself growing in love more and more with each kick. I see how what I do is affecting her. We have kick/poke battles with each other, which are just these little moments of bonding that have softened my heart. I find myself talking to her when she kicks me extra strong, or when I can see her move back and forth.

Yesterday, I felt a strong movement on my left side, and when I went to nudge that area, it was very firm--like a head! My heart skipped a beat.

My little nugget is growing so quickly, and changing, and I am falling in love more and more. I can't wait to meet her.

Christmas Gift Cards!

It was SO nice to be able to plug in a bunch of Amazon gift cards today, and be able to purchase:

Our diaper pail:

A Storybook Bible:

Our Pack-n-Play:

A quilted sheet for the pack-n-play:

and our jogging stroller:

What a blessing!!

27 Week Photo

Letter to Baby

Hey baby girl,

Your daddy is out of town on business this week, which always makes me reflect on him. I really miss him when he is away. You've been kicking like crazy since he's been gone, which I am taking to mean that you miss him, too. You're letting me know that you're still with me!

Let me tell you a little bit about your daddy. You are the luckiest baby girl in the whole world. Your daddy is an amazing man. Did you know, that at one point, I didn't really like your daddy very much?  It's true! When we first met, I thought he was kind of mean--he wouldn't let me use his sweatshirt when it was cold! But very soon after that, I changed my mind about him. He was funny! We would play silly games with each other, and make each other laugh. Plus, we don't like coffee, which is really unusual for people when they get older.

Your daddy makes me laugh. Sometimes, he tries to make me laugh when I'm in a cranky mood, and it only makes me more cranky, until I tell him to stop, but I can't because he makes me laugh.

Your daddy is SO smart. He is always figuring out how to solve these puzzles--not, like crossword puzzles, but like, why the car is making a funny noise, or why one side of the house is warmer than another. And he is SO good at solving those kinds of puzzles! Your daddy can fix anything!! There are other people that are in awe of all the things he is able to do--and if he can't do it, he learns how to do it so he can do it!

Your daddy didn't have the easiest growing up. But that made him such a strong man. He loves me, and I know that he is 1000% committed to me--and now to you too!  He is a little nervous about becoming your daddy, because it's not something he has been taught how to do (of course, I haven't, either!), but just like everything else in his life, he will succeed at it because he is committed to doing the best job that he can. He is such a hard worker!

Your daddy can also be a bulldog. What I mean is that when he gets his mind on something, or believes something to be right, he will not give up on it. I saw this in action the other day when we were charged an unfair fee at the bank. But what makes your daddy so great is that he doesn't get mad! See, if I were trying to solve this problem, I would get frustrated and probably start to yell. But your daddy doesn't yell. I don't think he has ever yelled at me for anything in the years that we have been married. He is very patient, but also very firm. He sticks to his guns, and doesn't let anyone walk all over him. I am hoping that you will learn to trust this strength in him, and realize he is a man of integrity that you can always depend on. When you get older, you might resent this a little bit, because he'll probably not let you do something you want to do, but he wants the best for you at all times.

Your daddy is a cutie, too. He has beautiful blue eyes, and lovely blonde hair. His teeth are perfect (but you should listen to mommy about brushing your teeth), and he has never needed glasses. His sideburns are red, so mommy secretly hopes that you get a little bit of that red hair, too.

I love you, baby girl,
Mommy

Glucose Screening

I got my glucose screening test done today. People have really complained about it, but I didn't think it was that bad. I had the "lemon lime" version, and it really did taste like a flat Sprite or 7-Up. In and out, quick and easy. Didn't feel nauseous or anything. Here's hoping I don't have a high result, because I don't think I would do well having to fast in the morning. I've been so hungry all the time!

On the way home from work tonight, I got 3 tacos from Taco Bell (had to get home quickly to let the dogs out--poor boys had been inside all day!). Then, when I got home, I ate an entire bag of steamed peas. An entire bag. Ridiculous. But I was so hungry!!

Today at work, I had 2 different ladies comment on how good I looked. One of them said I was so tiny, and another one said how "stunning" I looked. It was a nice change after the people last week who kept saying how "huge" I was. It was nice to hear, and made me happy.

Catching up with weekly pics