Week 29: Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Weight: 146 pounds
Symptoms: insomnia, edema (face, feet, and ankles), some back pain, frequent urination, fatigue, shortness of breath, random and fleeting aches and pains all over
Mood: exhausted, stressed out
Reading: What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel (again); The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp
Listening to: The Last Resort by Trentemoller


Today's picture is blurry. A coworker was coming into the bathroom as I was snapping the photo. I had to hurry because I didn't want her to think I'm nuts for taking a picture of myself in the office bathroom!

Well, it appears that I do have at least one stress fracture in my foot. The orthopedic surgeon gave me this haute couture boot at my visit on Monday:


I was advised that it might still be eight weeks before my foot is healed. Eight weeks! I'll be close to delivering my baby by then (assuming there's not a preemie in our future). Anyhow, it already feels a bit better, now that I have proper equipment.

I have a new pregnancy symptom to add to my repertoire, as you might have noticed above: shortness of breath. This symptom just started within the past week or so. It's bothersome and uncomfortable, to say the least. It seems worse in the shower. Add to it the sweltering Texas heat and the broken foot, and I've got myself a very challenging third trimester.

Deep breaths, deep breaths...

Weekend wrap-up.

We had a good time at the Lady Gaga concert on Friday, regardless of the fact that our seats were much worse than I had imagined. We could have taken a ceiling tile home with us as a memento. Oh, well, at least she sounded good, even if we couldn't really see her. Torin either really liked the concert or really hated it--he was active almost the entire time!

In the usual fashion, this weekend has gotten away from me. With my injured foot (for which I am seeing an orthopedic specialist tomorrow), I haven't been able to do much of anything around the house. I really need to move my clothes from the nursery closet into another closet, but my aching, swollen foot has impeded any progress I might have made in that regard.

And as if I'm not busy enough already, I have taken on a freelance editing assignment. I'll be helping an RN with her texts on narrative medicine and healing through poetry. It's interesting work, to be sure, and I look forward to including this experience on my resume and curriculum vitae. I just wonder when I am going to have time to rest and get the house ready for Torin. What have I gotten myself into?

Week 28: Thursday, July 22, 2010

Weight: 145 pounds
Symptoms: edema (ankles; a little bit in the face, Joey says), fatigue, insomnia
Mood: tired, hopeful, excited


Why am I excited? Well, first, because I'll be a mommy in less than three months. But also, Joey and I are going to see Lady Gaga in concert tomorrow night. Our seats aren't very good, but I don't care--it was so hard to get those tickets, I'm glad just to be able to go at all!

Last night, we had our last session of the childbirth preparation class. This session was all about breastfeeding. It looks like I've got my work cut out for me, what with the pumping and latching and positioning and all. Everything I've learned about breastfeeding so far has intimidated me, but I'm determined to make it work. The more challenging they tell me it is, the more I am driven to succeed. (I wonder if my son inherit my hardheadedness.)

Anyway, I'm sort of sad that our childbirth preparation classes are over. I was just starting to get into a Wednesday night groove and had been looking forward to visiting the hospital where Torin will enter the world. Oh, well. We have a one-day Lamaze class there next month, and then shortly after that, it will be time for The Big Event. I cannot wait!

Progress, finally.

Over this past weekend, we made our first big baby-related purchase (well, besides the furniture that we put a down payment on awhile back). We bought Torin's playard, the Chicco Lullaby LX Adventure:

Joey put it together in a matter of minutes (despite tons of consumer reviews saying this product is so difficult to assemble), and now it sits next to our bed, ready for Torin to lie in it. He will sleep in the bassinet portion of the playard, next to our bed, for the first several weeks, and then we will transition him to his crib. Afterward, it will serve as what was formerly called a playpen.

In other news, I had a routine doctor's visit today, with yet another of the four obstetricians in the practice. Joey and I liked this doctor, as we have all the other doctors and staff members in the practice. My foot is still hurting; I am being sent to an orthopedic specialist, whom I will see first thing next week. Otherwise, the baby and I are moving along nicely, and my measurements and test results are all good.

Week 27: Thursday, July 15, 2010

Weight: 145 pounds
Symptoms: edema (ankles only), back pain, insomnia, fatigue
Mood: anxious


Yesterday was Hump Day Bump Day, but because we had childbirth class last night, I am just now getting around to posting.

Class went well. Joey didn't seem to get as much out of it as I did. We practiced bathing, changing diapers, and swaddling. I guess Joey has already done these things (mostly with his nephew), but I have no experience in these matters at all. I need all the help I can get! Also, we learned about safety, mainly for the car and home, as well as postpartum/discharge hospital procedures. Next week, during the final session, we'll learn about breastfeeding.

These classes are informative, yes, but they also help reality settle in. They are very eye opening. I am just now beginning to understand how drastically our lives are about to change. I'm curious and intimidated, excited and shocked.

Photo: Week 26

And his name shall be...

Ta-DAH!

We chose Torin because it's not very common, yet it's not too far "out there" or strange. It is a Gaelic word meaning "chief." The middle name, Parker, is a family name on my father's side. One of my more famous relatives is Quanah Parker, the last Quahada Comanche chief.

So there you have it. Now I can start buying personalized stuff--yay!