Week 34: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Weight: 151 pounds

Symptoms: acid reflux/heartburn, insomnia, very frequent urination, edema (still just the ankles and calves), back and hip pain, extreme exhaustion

Mood: lethargic

Reading: What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff, Sharon Mazel, and Arlene Eisenberg

By now, the Braxton Hicks contractions (fake, practice contractions) have increased a little bit in frequency. However, they don't hurt. They just feel strange. It's like my lower abdomen and groin area tightens up for a few seconds. That's all--for now.

My sleepless nights are definitely getting the best of me. My sleep apnea, which I've had for as long as I can remember, has worsened, which is bad news for eyelids during the day. I'm lucky my boss hasn't caught me dozing off at my desk yet! I get so sleepy when I'm sitting down that I have to occasionally stand up to do my work (try typing on a keyboard while you're standing up--it's not easy!). Another temporary fix is a brief, brisk walk around the perimeter of my office suite. But nothing can adequately keep me awake and alert for long.

My routine doctor's visit went well yesterday. My measurements, urine, and blood work are all just fine. Next time, I have to have a group B strep test and a non-stress test. This means we're getting ever so close to finally meeting our son...Just six short weeks away--or fewer!

Baggage.

It never occurred to me just how difficult it could be to pack a diaper bag. I've been a bundle of nerves, scouring the Internet and trying to find THE definitive list of diaper bag essentials. Luckily, most lists I've found contain many of the same items, so my tensions have been eased a bit in that regard.

But then there's the hospital bag for Mommy. What goes in it? Everyone has a different opinion: You definitely need your Boppy. No, leave the Boppy at home. I would have died without my night gown. Don't bring a gown--it'll just get ruined. Bring tons of diapers and wipes! No, the hospital will provide you with diapers and wipes.

You see where I'm going?

I bought some new soft and sporty slippers, two nursing camisoles, one pair of comfy yoga-ish pants, a light robe, and some cheap and spacious underwear last night. I know I'll pack those. But will they fit in six weeks? Let's hope so. I also bought some travel toiletries at the store today, as well as some mega-ultra-extreme maxi pads and lanolin.

And then I need to include items for Joey: his toiletries, money for snacks, some clean clothes, a pillow and some sheets for the fold-out sofa bed, the fancy camera...

I guess Mommy will be bringing her rolling carry-on luggage bag to the hospital.

Week 33: Thursday, August 26, 2010

Weight: 150 pounds

Symptoms: insomnia, acid/heartburn, back and hip pain, edema (ankles and calves), extreme exhaustion, frequent urination

Mood: exhausted, motivated

Watching: Breaking Bad, season 3

Listening to: 80s on 8 (channel 8 on XM Radio)

Despite not having had a good night's sleep in weeks, a wave of motivation hit me today. As I was sitting at my desk, trying to concentrate on my work, I felt Torin making some major changes in his position. He was on the go pretty much all afternoon. Now that I feel his hiccups in my upper abdomen rather than in my crotch, I am guessing that he has flipped from a head-down position to a breech position. That's okay, though--we still have several weeks during which he could flip back to the "correct" position. But today, I felt...weird. I began having strange lower-back pains, and I became increasingly irritable. I'm not sure whether it's my body or my imagination trying to tell me something.

Regardless of Torin's current position, I decided that I need to forget the fact that I am so astoundingly tired and forge ahead with preparations for his arrival. So, when I got home from work today, I started my first loads of baby laundry: playard mattress covers, my Boppy cover, changing pad covers, burp cloths, and a couple of swaddling blankets. Next, I'll wash some of his little clothes and socks and begin organizing his dresser. Better late than never, right?

With each passing day, I long a little bit more for my son to finally be in my arms. In a few short weeks, I'll finally get my wish.

Another Sunday Funday--without the alcohol.

So we took the car seat, stroller, and adapter to the store, and yep--we were doing it correctly. It just seems strange that the car seat is secured to the stroller by only a strap. Hmmm. Okay...

I just finished writing my thank-you notes for the gifts we received at the baby shower. I feel sort of bad because general etiquette states that you should sent out the thank-yous no more than two weeks after the event. Well, it will be two weeks and two days before I get the notes in the mail. I hope no one is thinking I'm ungrateful because he or she hasn't received a note from me yet. I am far from ungrateful! In fact, every time I'm in Torin's nursery, I am overcome with gratitude for all that's in there, most of which was given to us by very kind, thoughtful friends and family members.

Joey is grilling hamburgers this evening, and we're going to kick it in front of the television. A new episode of True Blood airs tonight, and we have Breaking Bad episodes to catch up on. This mommy-to-be can't wait to vegetate.

...And the baby contraption confusion begins.

We picked up Torin's stroller the other day, the Baby Jogger City Select:

We also bought his first car seat, the Chicco Keyfit 30, which he'll probably be able to use until he's at least 12 months old:

Now, with the appropriate adapter, the car seat is supposed to attach to the frame of the stroller. We bought the adapter, and Joey has read the (rather vague) instructions dozens of times. He cannot figure out how to secure the car seat into the stroller. He's a smart guy, so I'm blaming this one on the adapter manufacturer.

Looks like we get to take both contraptions and the adapter back to the store this weekend to see if someone can school us or get us the right part(s), if necessary.

(The whole time I was writing this post, Torin had the hiccups. I wish I were able to help him, but at the same time, it's just so darn adorable.)

Week 32: Thursday, August 19, 2010

Weight: 147 pounds

Symptoms: extreme fatigue, exhaustion, edema (ankles and calves), acid reflux/heartburn, back and rib pain, insomnia

Mood: nervous, disappointed

Watching: Breaking Bad, season 2

Reading: My World by Margaret Wise Brown

The road trip to South Texas went well--better than I had expected. I managed the long hours in the car just fine. Every now and then I would nod off for a few minutes--which is new for me, considering how I've never been able to sleep in a moving car before--and then I would be refreshed. I got out of the car and stretched periodically, and I kept my right foot elevated on the dashboard to alleviate the swelling (my left foot is still in the "robo-boot").

While we were in the Victoria area, we got to pay long-overdue visits to friends and family members. And, importantly, I finally got to go to T-N-T and eat a real breakfast taco again:

You see, Dallas, this is what a breakfast taco should look like. Suck it.

Trips away from home make me realize how much I dislike Dallas, hence my disappointed mood. Other places have much more to offer, it seems, in terms of scenery, entertainment, dining, hospitality, and overall quality of life. I hope that Torin gets to experience life outside of this miserable sinkhole in North Texas.

I'm also disappointed in myself. Even though we've made progress on Torin's nursery, we still have a long way to go. There are still so many must-have items that I need to buy, such as sheets for the playard bassinet Torin will initially be sleeping in, bottles, diapers, burp cloths, and sundry other items. I am so...unorganized and scattered and unprepared. If Torin were to arrive today, we'd be screwed.

I guess the previous paragraph also explains my nervous mood as well.

For now, I'll continue to choke down water, so as to stay hydrated in the incessant triple-digit heat, and hope that this supposed "nesting instinct" kicks in sometime soon.

Southbound.

This evening, we're about to embark on our last road trip before our life with Torin begins. We're headed down to South Texas, specifically, the Victoria area. We're going to see some friends and Joey's family, and we're going to enjoy being away from the city one last time for a good while. I'm not particularly looking forward to the facing the humidity, but I am eager to see palm trees and eat real breakfast tacos, among other things.

I'm curious to see how I hold up during this road trip. With my aching back and my swollen feet and calves, I hope I am able to withstand being in the car for a few hours.

My doctor advised me that I cannot travel past week 32, so here we are, at the last minute, packing our stuff in the car. I hope Torin doesn't inherit our procrastination!