Uncomfortable

I woke up this morning having some Braxton Hicks contractions. No big deal, right?
The truth is that it really wasn't that painful, just more uncomfortable than anything, and not a very fun way to start the day. The bummer is that I stayed uncomfortable for most of the morning.
This poses a problem.
At work, or in public, or wherever I may happen to be, when people ask me how I am feeling, I can answer one of two ways: 1. I can tell the truth. 2. I can say I am fine. To be fair, #2 is usually the truth. I'm not a total liar.
If I say I am fine, people are thrilled.
If I say I am feeling a little uncomfortable, every. single. person (except Mrs. Gray). says, "If you think you're uncomfortable now..."
In the same vein as Carla's post, I'd like to change this phrase. No, I'd like to obliterate it.
Stop saying that to me. Stop telling me "this is nothing." I really don't have a lot to complain about, I know. Some girls have really hard pregnancies, and I'm so thankful I'm not one of them.
But sometimes, I am uncomfortable.
You asked.

The same goes for, "If you think you're tired now..."
That one's almost worse.

Week 29

Today officially marks my first day of Week 30, but I thought I'd share my pictures from Week 29.

Richard and I went to Target the other night to spend our gift cards. I purchased some infant pacifiers. For what it's worth, I am planning to teach my baby to suck its thumb, if it doesn't come out doing it already, but I've been dreaming about spending $3 on some infant pacifiers, just in case.

Poor Richard.

The idea that I would want to spend my Christmas money on pacifiers for a baby "we don't even have yet," completely baffled him.

"What would your mom say if she knew you were doing this?" (I think he thought my mom would have been on his side.)

"I think she would say, 'If spending $3 on pacifiers makes you feel more ready, then go ahead.'"

He didn't look convinced. In fact, he teased me all the way to the check out.

Finally, I asked the cashier for her opinion, "Did you buy things to get ready for the baby that your husband didn't understand?"

"Like pacifiers?"

"Yeah!"

"My kids all sucked their thumbs."

Ugh.

I still think my mom would have taken my side.

Hunka, hunka burnin' love...

Dear Brett Favre,
Please stop.
You are a married man.
You have a family.
I am a married woman! I'm about to be a mother!
This simply cannot go on any longer.
I will not sit in the stands at your games, no matter how many winks, waves, or dashing smiles you send my way (anymore).
I will not visit you and your mother in Louisiana (ever again).
I will not run away with you (again) while my husband who loves me is out getting me a strawberry shake from McDonald's (again, again).
I love you, too, just not in the same way.
Sure, you're incredibly handsome, wealthy and an all around good guy, but so. is. my. husband., Richard. Remember Richard? Your biggest fan? He would be crushed if he saw me riding your shoulders to victory at the Super Bowl (like last time).
Please just stop.
I'm sorry, but this affair must end.
Sincerely,
Erin


p.s. Will you please pass this message on to Prince William? Thanks!


p.p.s. Dang.

Major General Meltdown

My name is Major General Meltdown, but you can just call me Erin.

I am a highly decorated veteran and known for such meltdowns as, "Why Won't You Get a Manicure for the Wedding?!" "The Dog Ate My Cole Haans!" "The Dog Ate my Scott Sandals!" "What Do You Mean You Threw Away an Entire Set of Dishes?" and most recently "Please Stop Leaving Your Boots at the Bottom of the Stairs Where I Trip on Them Every Time I Come in the House."

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I feel that my career is reaching its zenith at this point in my life. Without pregnancy, the "Boots Incident" never would have happened. Neither would have the "Your Dad Will Love This Christmas Present, What are You Talking About?!"

With each brilliant career, it happens occasionally that innocent bystanders get hurt. Toes get stepped on. Shadows fall over shining faces.

It is at this time that I would like to offer a Purple Heart for Valor to Richard J. Desvousges for barrelling headlong into crisis after crisis, even in the face of insurmountable odds, as was particularly the case with "Please Change the Garage Lightbulb," and "You NEVER Take the Garbage Out," coupled with "You are SO Inconsiderate!" Never shying away from a meltdown and choosing the best option for resolution, whether it be hiding out until the storm has passed or confronting the situation as it stands. Richard, please accept this medal as a token of my deep appreciation for the services you have provided and will continue to provide. Your commitment is honorable.

Well done, son. Well done.

This is Major General Meltdown, signing off.

Week 28

Kitty is bonding with DesvousJunior already!

This week, my baby has eyelashes (I hope they're like Richard's!) and will turn its head toward a continuous light from the outside. The baby is starting to put on weight for life outside the womb. It weighs 2.5lbs this week, and measures 15.75 inches from crown to heel. (Sophia was 20.25 inches long--baby won't get much longer! Just chubbier! In the last four weeks alone, Baby's weight has doubled.)
At this point, I find it necessary to tell you all that in the amount of time it's taken me to write this much, I finished off an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie. I have never been a chocolate--or ice cream--lover, but let's put it this way: Pedro has given up on even looking my way while I'm eating.
Anyhow, Rich and I are signed up to take a weekend childbirth preparation class the second weekend in January and I am looking forward to it.
Other than the fact that I require food every two hours on the dot or I turn into a shaking mess, I don't have a whole lot else to report. : )
Next doctor visit: January 4, 2008.
Time flies when you're having fun!
I keep imagining what our baby will look like, especially since Richard and I look so different. Our features are absolutely nothing alike. Will the baby be dark or fair? Will it have freckles or a beard (only kidding...sort of)? Will it have hair? What color will it be? It's so fun to daydream about this little child poking me in the ribs. It makes the discomfort of not being able to put my shoes and socks on in the morning a little more bearable! More on that later.

Glucose Update

Another post?! I know!

I just got off the phone with Fern's nurse, Alex. She said that my numbers came back perfect, though a little on the low side. (Not sure how that qualifies as perfect...)
She said that I measured at 95, which is a little low, which may explain why I have been having dizzy spells (cue Scarlett O'Hara). She said that I really can't go more than a couple of hours without some sort of sugar like carbs or juice, but that my hemoglobin levels are fine and the fact that my glucose measured at 95 is not cause for concern.

I think I got all the terminology right here. Let me know if you see something off.

In Dreams

On Saturday night, Fern came to me in a dream.
She was at our house with us, helping get the nursery ready. Dad was insisting that the baby is a girl, and mom was insisting that no way, it's a boy!
Fern laughed and said, "Show me your belly."
I obliged.
She said, "It's clearly presenting a triangle. It's a girl."

What the crap?!
I have to wonder if she's right...
We shall see.

27 Again

Can this count as my
27 week photo? I think it's as good as any!

The Nursery Weekend

What a wonderful weekend!
My parents came to spend the weekend with me while Richard was out of town, and to help me get the nursery ready for DesvousJunior.
It was an entire weekend of baby! I couldn't be happier than when all the conversation revolves around me. : ) Just kidding. We talked about other stuff, too.
The only thing we still need is a crib, which Dad and Richard will hopefully be able to refinish over Christmas weekend.
I am so thankful to Dad who worked incredibly hard on the paint, and to Kristi who came over to help tape and spackle, and to my mom for keeping us all moving!
I couldn't be more pleased with the results (click on any image to enlarge):


Huh?

Lauren "helping" by occupying Pedro.

Dad (The Painting Guru) working on the first coat.

Kristi & Erin spackling between coats.

Papa Duffert & Erin consolidating paint.

The changing table and ever-present Diaper Genie.
Lamp and dresser that will either turn cherry or lime green sometime in the near future...

You can see that the room is a nursery / Mandi / Papa & Grandma Duffert's room... Note the twin beds on either side of the window.

Week 27

I went in for my glucose test today.
It's funny that everybody talks about how everybody talks about how bad it is, but it's really not that bad.
Well, I'm not going to do that.
I didn't mind the drink. What I minded was that everybody wanted to chat while I was trying to drink it. The nurse and lab tech wanted to know all about my Christmas plans, how I'm feeling, etc., so that I felt rude trying to drink something in front of them. Go figure.
About an hour after I finished the beverage, I started feeling light-headed and dizzy, along with the same tunnel vision and sweaty shakiness that I experienced on Wednesday night. No one seemed concerned and as soon as I stuffed. my. face. for lunch I started feeling better. I'm interested to find out the results of the test. If I had to guess, I'd say I seem to be having some blood sugar issues...
My stats from today's visit:
BP: 122/72
Fundal Height: 27.5cm (perfect!)
Baby's heartrate: 156--much higher than last month!
Total weight gain: (drumroll please!) 13 pounds!! Yahoo!



This week, DesvousJunior can open and close its eyes. Its retinas detect and process light (that little thing we call sight). Rich and I argued about what the baby can see right now when it opens its eyes. I maintain that it can see quite a bit of light, but he disagrees. : ) I think I've been feeling baby hiccups occasionally, which is pretty common from here on out. Baby also weighs right around two pounds, depending on who you ask and is between 14-16 inches long with its legs fully extended.
I don't know you all are getting bored with my factoids, but I just find this stuff so interesting.

I'll keep you posted on the glucose test.
There won't be a 27 week photo of me because Rich and I forgot and now he's out of town. Maybe my mom will take one for me tonight, but no promises!

Pride? Puh! Who needs it?

I managed to do ALMOST ALL of my Christmas shopping last night.

I braved the crowds with my trusty list (which I opened today--I was checkin' it twice!--and ripped in half. GASP! Jenny, I thought of you and your precious lists :) and spent a LOT of money. It's quite the shocker when you do it all at once and you see that bill at the end of your efforts. Yikes. I was on my feet for 5 hours straight last night and I'm paying for it today. I'm tired, sore and cranky.

I was about a half-hour into my shopping extravaganza when my vision suddenly went very blurry. I began to shake and sweat and sincerely thought I would faint at the checkout. I made it to my car and sped immediately to Potbelly Sandwich Works (fitting, right?) where I ordered a peanut butter & jelly on wheat (I wanted something with a lot of sugar and protein to get my blood sugar back up), with chips, juice and a chocolate-banana malt.

I ate so fast that I'm surprised I didn't choke. I was FAMISHED, literally.

I finished my record time and immediately wanted more.

I went back to the counter and ordered another hoagie. While I was standing in line, I tried to rub my pregnant belly as much as I could in case anyone noticed that I was on my SECOND. SANDWICH. How humiliating.

The girl finished fixing my sandwich, turned around and hollered to me, "Are you going to eat this one here, too?"

Um, yep. Thanks.

New rule: Don't let your blood sugar get below FOUR when you are pregnant.

Morse Code

Dear Richard and Lauren,
Please stop putting your fingers in my belly button.
It hurts. My belly button is stretched to the max.
Love,
Erin
p.s. No, you cannot send messages to the baby through my belly button, whether spoken or in Morse Code.

Christmas Party

On December 5, my division had a "Holiday" Party. People got all dressed up for the shindig, and I wore my new dress, as some of you may remember, which did little to hide my growing body.

Earlier that day, my VP announced to the entire division in a quarterly meeting that I was pregnant. Until that moment, two-thirds of the division didn't know I was pregnant, and it's fair to say that I know or have spoken to most of the people in our group, simply because of the nature of my job.

So...at the Christmas--I mean Holiday--party, I not only unveiled my baby bump, but my secret was out ahead of me.

I kid you not, I couldn't get from the table to the buffet and back in under 15 minutes. Everyone wanted to congratulate me, or tell me they had no idea, tell me stories about their own children, or simply shake my hand. Surprisingly enough, no one tried to touch my belly.

It sounds silly, but it all made me feel so special. What a special memory--the Vice President cared enough to announce it, and everyone else cared enough to share in our joy. People were practically falling over themselves to congratulate Richard and I.

A very sweet Christmas and Pregnancy memory.

Week 26

I am so behind!

Week 26 was definitely a good week for me. I remember Naomi saying that she was ready to be done being pregnant by the end of her pregnancy and at this point, I guess I just don't feel that way! I reserve the right to change my mind, however...

In week 26, I had SERIOUS oatmeal cravings. Plain. I could eat it by the pint, gallon or fluid ounce--however we measure oatmeal. I also craved CocaCola, which caused a bit of a dilemma. CAFFIENE. I've been drinking about one caffienated beverage per day (in the morning), but wanting coke all the time poses a problem. Follow? Anyhow, I managed to find liquid gold, friends. Caffiene free CocaCola. NOT Diet. So, no caffiene or fake sugar for DesvousJunior, but if mommy closes her eyes and the coke is cold enough, she doesn't notice the difference! The only bummer is the 140 calories per can. Yikes. Some things are worth sacrificing.

I sometimes wonder what Richard thinks of my weird cravings, but he never said a word.

In week 26 baby weighed right around 2lbs (wow!) and measured 15 inches from head to foot. No WONDER I'm starting to show. If it's a boy (today, I don't think so), it's testicles are starting to descend. TMI? I don't care--I think this is all really cool.

Oh, before I forget, Lauren got to feel the baby move this week (12/8/07)! Who's next? (Noonie.)

*Yow. Not the world's most flattering pic. Sorry. Personally, I can't see a lot of difference between 25 & 26's photos.

100 Days!

My ticker* says I have 100 days to go!
Woohoo!



*Not that I put any stock in estimated arrival dates whatsoever!
It's still pretty cool. : )