Week 22: Part 2

Around 10:30 a.m. today, I remembered why it is that I started eating a big cup of 4% cottage cheese every morning---it's so I can make it more than an hour without going blind. Being able to see the computer screen clearly and/or read the notes on my desk is a very good thing.

Darn that yogurt! Not enough fat in it. I guess I can forget about having something different now and again. I'm going to stick to my tried and true breakfast of 'pregnant' champions--a cup of 4% cottage cheese, a piece of fruit and an English muffin or tortilla with Marionberry jam. Couldn't ask for more than that on a workday.

So, I ate a hunk of the Hershey's extra dark chocolate I keep in my desk for such emergencies, took about 10 minutes to get myself back together and got back to work.

The rest of the day was much of the same. Work. Work. Work. I did have a great 40-minute stroll in the natural area next to my office, though. I went after lunch and soaked up as much sun as possible. (it seems to help my skin) It was a really beautiful day. I'm going to try to get over there a couple times a week. It's a nice release to get out and commune with nature, even if it is only for 20-40 minutes at a time.

Week 22: Part One

I'm having one of those days. While trying to get my breakfast and snacks together, a tub of nuts fell off the top of the fridge. Then, I went to grab the English muffins and pulled the entire tray of eggs out of the fridge. Of course, the dogs had to come investigate the pile of broken eggs. Two lived but the other four ended up in the trash. Guess I'll have to buy more.

One really cool thing is that I've finally started to feel the little squid moving around. At least, I think it's the baby...

Week 21: Part II

I probably should have clarified in my Week 20 post that the trip to Fla. was probably our last jaunt---on an airplane--before the "little squid" makes his or her appearance. We plan to keep traveling by car...or truck, as we usually do..and we have several trips planned in the next few months to see family in Houston, Austin and Corpus Christi. So, don't worry. Everybody will get to see my little pregnant belly at least once and possibly several tiems before the squid comes.

There's not much to report otherwise. The trip was great. I slept a LOT --until between 9 and 10 a.m. every day but the last one--and ate REALLY well. You can't beat freshly picked honeybell oranges! Yummy! Mark and I also picked fresh strawberries that were simply to die for. Again, you can't beat freshly picked stuff.

We came back from vacation rested, but now we're tired again. At least I am. I think I'm going to be tired for a very long time. And Mark and I both seem to have contacted scabies from a PETCO in Plano. Actually he got it and passed it to me. It's relegated to pretty tiny areas on both of us, but it's anything but lovely. We got some medication yesterday, though, so hopefully it'll go away soon.

Let's see, what else is going on with me. I guess there is a lot to report. Here's the rundown in an nutshell: I'm tired. My skin is still breaking out. My feet have started swelling. My breasts have gotten even bigger. I'm hot a lot of the time. I'm still craving sausage but I miss tuna. I've gotta ask my OB/GYN whether the mercury risk really exists. Maybe I could eat farm-raised??

I'm at work now (I have the 2-11 shift. hey, at least it's saturday and not sunday) so I have to go. Love you all.

Week 21--Part I

The squid's estimated age: 21 weeks, 2 days.

(According to the Due Date Calculator at www.idreamofbaby.com)

WEEK 20

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe that I'm actually to week 20, but here we are. Halfway through the most exhilarating and terrifying 40 weeks of my life. Thanks to those of you who checked up on me about not posting anything the past few weeks. All is well, I've just been busy with the rest of life and there actually hasn't been much to report.

That's no longer the case.

Mark and I went in for our third monthly check-up last Thursday and all's well with "the little squid." We didn't have a sonogram this time, but we heard the heartbeat. It's a whopping 160 beats a minute! I now completely understand why my own heartbeat has felt so elevated and why I lose my breath easier than ever before. The squid is taking all my energy. Our next sonogram is next month. Yippee! We get to see the squid again.

Speaking of energy, I keep waiting for this big burst of energy everybody says women have during their second trimester. I certainly haven't experienced that. I'm actually more tired than I was during the first trimester. (didn't think that was possible). I actually got up early this morning to do a prenatal yoga video but I've been struggling to climb out of bed by 8 a.m. And that's after going to bed between 10 and 10:30 p.m. at night.

Another thing I'm doing really well is eating. I'm constantly hungry. I was hungry during my first trimester but nothing like now. No unusual cravings to report. I'm still eating a lot of cottage cheese and sausage. Yummy. We had these amazing brats the other night!! Loved it. I'm working on a video for my grad class about pregnancy cravings/food habits. I'll be sure to post it once it's done.

The only other thing to report is that I definitely feel--and look--pregnant now.

Mark and I and the squid are headed to Florida early tomorrow morning for Daddy Bill's 70th birthday. It'll probably be our last jaunt without a baby in tow, so we're hoping to relax. I plan to take a couple of my pregnancy books and sleep as much as possible.

-K
(Obviously, we decided to stick with calling the baby "the little squid." The kid will probably hate us later for it, but we like it)