Rants and Raves

First the rave.  I guess I consider raving something that's positive because I'm going to start this off with positive thoughts and information.

First positive.  My husband.  My soldier.  My hero.  And this isn't just because he is going above anything I expected a man who is so freakishly masculine to do.  It's because he does it with grace, love and gratitude.  I mean, he treats me like a princess even when I am acting like a wicked witch.  That doesn't happen often but it has a couple of times and he takes it all in stride.

He's my hero because he has always treated me like this.  The pregnancy has magnified his protectiveness of me, and he often tells me that he looks at me in complete awe, but even before I managed to sprout and grow his child, he's loved me so real it's simply mind blowing for someone who was so messed up in my youth.

It's a new thing for him to look after someone.  He's a manly man, never really been around kids, and his previous relationships seemed to be some pretty tough and independent women who were perfectly happy to look after themselves and expected their men to do the same.  Me... I'm a nurturer from the heart and love to be pampered in return.  It's taken a while... I admit it... but this morning when putting on my socks and shoes was taking me forever and I was in pain from trying to reach my feet... and he sat and helped me... well it made me realize two things.  One, I am getting pretty freaking huge; and two, I am pretty freaking lucky to have this man in my life.

He makes me dinner.  He does the laundry.  He picks up things for me and he helps me up when I'm struggling to get my balance.  I love him for who he is, and I love how I feel because he loves me.

Okay... can I rant now?

I'm getting big!!!!!   Went to the doctor yesterday and the baby has dropped.. his head is down but not engaged, and his body is laying on the right side of my body.  His butt is this hard bulge that somehow exceeds the boundary of my ribs.  I push it back into place throughout the day, and he pushes it right back out.

I can breathe easier now since he's lowered, and I am not sucking back gulps of disgusting, evil, chalky heartburn gunk throughout the day.  The first time I tried it I spewed it all over myself it was so gross.  I gagged and had to force myself to sip it between sips of water just to get some of the vile stuff in me.  I'm getting a lot better with it now, but only take it once a day or so, instead of every three hours.

I'm also sleeping better but the baby refuses to allow me to sleep on my left side.  He freaks right out.  Kicking and pushing and wiggling with all he's got if I dare turn onto my left side.  It's very cute that he sleeps all night (unless I flip to my left side) and wakes up in the morning when I start to talk to David.  Let's hope the baby keeps this schedule... LOL

My entire pelvic region aches most of the day.  I'm not sure why, but all my research says it's normal.  The muscles relaxing, preparing to release a giant baby in a few weeks.  It's nice that my body is doing it's job, but it sure feels like crap.

Now don't think for a moment that I am regretting this pregnancy.  I would have it no other way and most of the time I am regarding myself in complete awe that I am able to experience this.  Watching and feeling my body open and accommodate a separate being growing within itself... I would not trade this for the world.

I was pregnant twice before.  But as all things that happened as a young girl, the experience has faded and warped itself in my mind and only moments are clear and memorable to me.  I remember the births clearly, but the pregnancies are vague glimpses of a time over twenty years ago.  So this all seems exceptionally bright to me - as clear and crisp as the air, just before it snows in the fall.

8 Months and Counting Down

Okay.  I suck at blogging when things are going well.   Other than the heartburn (constant for the past two months), the peeing myself every time I sneeze or cough, and the rather strong Braxon Hicks contractions I am just peachy!

The baby seems to be exceptionally strong and has been for a very long time, according to ultrasound techs and my doctor.   It is slightly more than very uncomfortable when he bunches up and then pushes with all his might against my already strained and pulled stomach muscles.  For two hours.  Straight.  And I feel the kicks all over somehow.  I wonder if I'm giving birth to an octopus.  How he kicks under my right rib and then along my left hip is kind of a mystery, unless he's kicking by his head and then tucking his feet under his bum to kick again.

I have to admit that even though the movements are close to painful and distracting, even to the point of near annoyance at times, I would not trade them for the world.  I feel tremendously full, wrapped around him, as if my body has trapped him deeply inside with no way out.  At least not yet.

I've found it easier to breathe lately, and it doesn't hurt so much to walk.  I never realized how important drinking water is when you're pregnant.  I've been threatened with premature labour twice because of dehydration.  So I drink a couple more glasses of water each day.  I try to walk a little more than I want to, and I put in eight hour days instead of ten hour ones.  The doctor keeps threatening me with bed rest, but each passing week makes a possible early delivery a lot less risky, and the doctor a lot less grouchy.

I haven't gained a lot of weight.  About 20 lbs in total.  I had set myself a goal of 35 and there's no way I am going to gain more weight at this point besides that which the baby puts on, so I'm rather thrilled about that.  Hopefully I'll only have a few pounds to get rid of this summer.

Renos are beginning to take shape of rebuilding the house instead of tearing it apart.  We literally had nothing but hanging wires, exposed rafters and open framing along the entire first floor of the house.  Living in our downstairs den has been a challenge but my amazing husband put a lot of work and effort into making it clean and functional.  It's still... a challenge.  My kitchen is a tarped in section on our back deck - water is available down at the far end of the house from a rough pipe going to my bathtub!  It all works, but after nearly seven weeks I am starting to really look forward to my home being livable again.

The other bit of news is that David's new employers have asked him to report to work a little early.  Beginning of June early.  It's awesome that he found work without even looking, but a little difficult to digest that he will be seven hours away during my last month of pregnancy.  I know it's horrible to consider but we are going to inquire with our doctor about a possible scheduled induction so David can be here for sure.  I know there are some risks (mostly that labor will not progress and a C-Section will be needed).  However, we know the exact time of conception so there's no issue with a premature delivery and we know baby is super strong and healthy.  I've been induced before with no issues.  We'll know more on Wednesday when we get our 34 week check up.