Strain on Marriage

Marriage: DH working 2nd shift. It is getting tough. Really the only time I talked to him all week was on the phone. Now he is outside doing yard work, so our week end is shot with him doing yard work, and me doing house work. Even though we are in the same vicinity, I miss him. It is so hard to want to do my chores on the week end, because I want to be spending the time with him. It is a definite strain, but it is best for our child and finances in the long run if she is not in daycare all day.

He did rent movies for us to watch tonight. I hope it gives us a chance to be close this week end. One movie I will not watch, as it is a horror movie, but that is something he can do when I am not around. Then I know he is staying out of trouble :P I have noticed that we are having a harder time communicating. I feel like I have so much to tell him in a little bit of time.

I am supposed to be cleaning the house. Anyway, I am finally getting around to changing my last name legally, and now I am upset about the process. I could have sworn someone told me I needed the official marriage license to do so. Reading the form, I only need the marriage certificate (and some other documents that I already have). Had I known that I would have done this 10 months ago. Now, I am trying to figure out if I need to sign the form with my maiden name or my desired married name….

Writers Block!?!?

I really want to write, but once I sit down I get severe writers block. I even write down topics at through out the day. Then when I look at the paper I wrote them on, I can’t remember what I truly wanted to say about the topic. Is this preggo brain? Maybe, I will give you updates on various topics in my life. Now, that I have jotted down more detailed notes, I realize I do have a lot to blog about. I will try to put them into smaller sections so it is not so overwhelming to read.

Digging through poo...

All week end our 9 month old puppy hasn't been herself. She was lethargic, not eating, peeing on the floor. She had puss and blood coming out of her girl parts, and has lost a lot of weight. I was able to get her into the vet today. I was thinking the worst. Since we got her 7 months ago she has had a whole aray of health problems. She has incontinence. She had several bladder infections/UTI. She had some sores on her belly. She had 2 types of worms. Basically, since we have had her she has had something.

Today, I had myself convinced that this time it was severe enough that she would have to be put to sleep. DH called me at work, and said that her intestines from her stomach on were filled with toys, bones, and other stuff she managed to eat. She is on a stool softener with an antibiotic to clear up an infection that she got as a result of being filled with toys. DH could clearly see in the Xray they took what was in her intestines. So, everytime I let her out I have to dig through her poo, to make sure everything passes.

The positive side of this is it is forcing DH and I to make sure there is nothing small laying around or foriegn objects that could be stuck into a little one's mouth. Our adult dog is mad, because we had to take away a lot of her favorite toys.

Breastfeeding Class

I took a breastfeeding class, today. I am really glad I took it. I was slightly disappointed though. It was a full class--with younger looking mothers. I was suspecting this is the first child for most of us, and not a lot of questions were asked. I was really impressed with one father--he seemed more involved and interested than the mother.

We were told that the hospital does rent breast pumps, but there is a limited number. The instructor reccomended to breast feed only for the first week and then purchase a pump we would be comfortable with. The hospital also will get you a manual pump/kit when you are discharged. They bill it to you, but the lacation specialist said it is cheaper than buying it in the store.

It was really interesting to find out that there are many more benefits for the baby's health to breastfeeding. I knew breastfed kids have stronger immune systems, but I never imagined the overall cost savings in health care or formula. Also, they said that breastfed kids generally do better on tests.

I hope when I deliver the lacation specialist is at the hospital if I have more questions or have trouble. I am not sure if I will remember the positions then. She also reccomended using two pillows instead of a Boppy. This lady was all about pillows. She said put two under the baby, one under your arm that is supporting your breast and lean back. I guess we will see what works best for us. I got a pregnancy pillow, that is suposed to help with the breastfeeding positions. I am sure if I have any struggles, I will post them here.

MIL

Mother-in-Law (MIL). I was stressed out that there might be some rough water between MIL and me. I believe she thought we were trying to exclude her from the Meadow's life. I let her know that I want her here when I give birth (well, just not in the room). She asked if she could stay awhile after the baby is born. I was actually relieved she asked. MIL doesn't work, but I feel bad expecting her to help us out.

I actually called to tell her that DH is doing well at his job. He never calls when there is good news, only bad. I hope I can get him to change that. It really bothered me that they were in this fight over Meadow's name. They are both very stubborn people too. I am not going to be the peace maker between them.

I feel really good about the things we discussed. MIL has a flair for decorating, so she gave me some good tips (that I will actually use) for Meadow's room. We talked about the birthing plan and breastfeeding. Of course her coming here. She gave me advice on finding daycare. I am not really concerned about finding daycare though. I let her know that DH is very involved in preparing for Meadow. I think she feels at ease with us being parents now.

I know we will have good and bad times with the ILs but I am glad this is turning into a positive experience.

She is Dreaming

I am watching a movie. Dazie is laying next to me on the couch. As I am getting in the into the movie, I feel taps on my leg. I look at the dog, and all for legs are moving. She has been doing this for like 10 minutes. I am really wondering what she is dreaming about.

She either knows I am talking about her, or her dream ended. He eyes opened, and lifted her hed up. She looked at me. I couldn't tell from the look in her eyes what she was thinking. I wish I knew what she was thinking. Now she is searching for a new place to sleep. I wonder if it is bothering her taht I am blogging about her...

Or maybe she just wants to sleep peacefully.

BTW, pregnant women shouldn't be able watch dramas.

About my Darling Husband

Last night DH got to feel the baby move for the first time. He thought it was really cool. I am so excited he finally got to feel her. I was getting upset, because her most active times are when I am at work or he is at work.

This year he forgot to get me a cake for my birthday. Really, that is the ONLY thing I want every year. Everything else I ask for takes me weeks to come up with. A week after my birthday, I realized I didn't get a cake. I told asked him about my cake. He forgot, because he doesn't do any grocery shopping anymore. I told him he needed to get me one from DQ because of interest due on the cake. Last night he was late coming home from work...and he showed up with the DQ cake. I was only joking. I never expected him to get the ice cream cake.

Appointment Update

I had a doctor appointment at 9 this morning. I recall before CC had her baby she blogged about how at every routine appointment you get to pee in a cup. From the post, I am/was not looking forward to going to the doctor and trying to pee in a cup with a huge stomach in the way. My fears about this came true today. The bathroom the put me in today was horrible. I practically had to sit on the toilet paper dispenser, because the toilet was so close to the wall. Then, I had to try to aim around my belly and pee into a cup the size of those little Dixie paper cups. Needless, to say I got more all over my hand than in the cup. Thank you, CC for preparing me for peeing in the cup.

Next, they took my vitals. I have only gained two pounds in the last three weeks. My BP was great. They drew blood to send to the lab, because I had to get the rhogam shot. Then we listened to the baby's heartbeat-160 bpm. The doctor measured my stomach, and I am measuring perfectly for 28 weeks. This morning my ankles were not swollen, so I didn't have to worry about that this appointment.

For those of you who do not know what the rhogam shot is:
I have a negative blood type. Negative blood types are recessive and rare. Because, there is like a 99.9% chance the Meadow will have a positive blood type, my body may have something like an allergic reaction to her blood (since our bloods will mix during birth). The shot helps counter that reaction. I will also get one after giving birth. Good thing is, they gave it to me in the fatty part of my hip. It didn't really hurt. And the nurse had very good aim today!

Oh the Heat

My house is so hot! Gas is very expensive. Therefore, I am refusing to turn on the A/C. The guy who bought our house while it was being built neglected to but ceiling fans in the room we are using for the office and the room we will be using for the baby. Now it seems greedy to me. He thought since he wasn't going to spend much time in those rooms why put ceiling fans in them? Well, what about the families who will live in the house after you?

Anyway, I think I am going to try to talk to DH to see if we can get one in the office and next month put one in the baby's room. I can tell you already it is going to be a hot summer. The builder was smart and put in the wiring so if one day some one wanted a ceiling fan and a light they could hook it up.

It is so hot in here, I am having problems breathing. The air is sooooo thick!

I am supposed to be cleaning the office, but I just can't with the heat and humidity.

As Requested

I am trying to figure out what I can blame this on. Lately, I have been losing my posts. Anyway, I am attempting this a second time. As Heather's request (and I think this has been a multiple request of hers): here are some photos:

First a wedding picture to gauge by:
About 13 weeks at my friend's mom's wedding: (I am wearing the red colored top)About 15 weeks:About 17 weeks:About 20 weeks About 24 weeks27 weeks2/10/06 Ultra Sound Pictures Hope you enjoyed!

Holy Active Baby.

I have a whole list of topics to write about. Now, I don't feel like writing about those topics. They don't seem appropriate for my current mood. I am really not in the mood to write, but it has been so long.

I really don't have an update. Well, except I can see my stomach move. It started on Sunday. I was sitting in a meeting, and looked down just as she started moving! It was the coolest thing. I thought I would freak out when I saw it. I wish DH could see it or feel it. He is never around when she is active. I find when I lay on my left side she is really active. When I do kick counts I lose counts. I don't even have to consume sugar to feel her move anymore.

I am becoming a Firefighter

About a month ago I got a assigned to a big project. The project was a result of a big mistake someone who is no longer at the company made. I basically had to figure out how to correct the problem.

Now, I am working on another project...that is a result of somebody trying to cover up a mistake. This one actually has to due with Federal regualtions.

I must be good at what I do, otherwise why would I be putting out all these fires?

I did get slightly upset with my boss about the project today, because she misguided me. When I was almost done, she realized her mistake, so I had to start over :(

I guess I know what I am working on tomorrow.

Week ends like this :)

The weather has been gorgeous. Friday, night we went to a couple of differnt neighbors' houses. We had such great conversation. It is the type of conversation I yearn for--Adult intellictual conversation. Across the street we had the best chocolate cake I had ever had. MMMMM.... OK, back to reality. Yesterday, we got the crib and dresser ordered. I can't wait to get it in. I really wish we could have the nursey done by now...and I guess that is more work DH will have to do on his own. I am praying that we get it in before the baby is born.

BIL came over for lunch yesterday. DH and BIL have never been close in the past, but now that they are both out of the house they get along great. I have yet to meet his GF. She didn't come yesterday, because she had to study.

I feel so great after this week end. I got to spend good quality time with good quality people.

Really!?

DH and I went today to pick out a crib for the baby. USA Baby is having their Once a Trimester sale, so I thought we should go look to see what we would like. DH found something he really liked. I like it too, but it actually met all of his standards. Which are very high. MIL and FIL offered to buy the crib and dresser for us awhile ago. Once, he found something he liked he called MIL. Here is the crib we would like to ge
While we were checking out (mind you DH is on the phone) MIL brings up our choice of name. She HATES it. I knew that is what she was saying when I heard him say the following things, "Let's talk about this later." (we were in a public place) and "Now, it's really not your decision now is it?"

She thinks Meadow will get picked on, because of her name. I was so proud of DH, because he stood up to her for himself. He has liked the name since before we were dating. We have even talked about other options, but Meadow is what we feel is right. DH had a very good point though. Kids are cruel, and if they want to pick on you they will find something to pick on you for. MIL said to DH that she never got picked on. Later in the conversation he said she even picked on him. No wonder she never got picked on, she was probably the bully.

Both DH and I got picked on growing up. DH has a very common first name...and he got picked on for that. I got picked on for various things. Once my peers realized that what they were saying was not bothering me they tried to find a new topic. I have found that many times kids get picked on because the bully is jealous of the kid they are picking on.