Buh Bye Chicken!

Ick. That is the only word I have to describe my weekend. It started on Friday at work, where I started feeling a little queasy. I quickly finished up my work and left a couple hours early to get some R & R. I tossed and turned Friday night, with intermittent jumps out of bed and sprints to the bathroom, thinking I was going to get sick...but I didn't. Odd.

The Hubs and I had to wake up fairly early on Saturday to attend our all day childbirth preparation class. I was still feeling nauseous, but seeing as the class was non-refundable, I soldiered on. To add insult to injury, it was an absolutely gorgeous 70 degree spring day. We get into the class, which was filled with couples-- one in particular was incredibly annoying. Ok, I need to stop here and rant. Sometimes I am shocked by the public persona that people allow themselves to have. During introductions, we were supposed to give our name, what we do for a living and anything in particular we want to learn from the class. The woman in front of us volunteers to start. You know how there are some people whom you just know are cocky fools before they even open their mouths? Ummm...she was one of them. "I'm (insert name, I was too tired to have paid attention) and this is my husband (poor sap). I am a criminal prosecutor and it's a good thing I don't recognize any of you who have ever been in my courtroom. I want my husband to learn how to go through labor without pissing me off." I'm pretty sure I just sat there stunned while the Hubs had to pick his jaw up off the ground. I automatically earned the title of "Wife of the Year" just for not being that crazy b*tch.

Anywho, we found the class to be quite helpful. I was surprisingly more freaked out than the Hubs was during the class. He kept looking over to me and saying, "are you ok?" All in all, I think we both know a little more of what to expect.

Halfway during the class, I heard some rumblings in the belly. The rumblings turned into what can only be referred to as 'gurgles'. Subsequently, I spent quite some time in the ladies room...so gross. So what was it? FOOD POISONING! I just started eating chicken again, because I'm trying to give Peanut more protein. I only buy free range organic chicken from Trader Joes and I can blame this particular sickness on the "pre-cooked" chicken breasts I bought for my Chicken and Cucumber Noodle Salad I made for dinner on Thursday night. So, need less to say, I'm done with chicken and the Hubs knows way more about me than I'm sure he ever wanted to. But seriously, I have the best Hubs in the whole world. It's amazing how it can take something so disgusting to make you realize that.

I had to miss my wonderful friend Mama Kim's bachelorette party Saturday night, instead, I layed on the couch being force fed liquids by the Hubs. I'm feeling much better today..even though I feel like I got cheated out of a weekend. But the worst is over and in roughly one month (!) Peanut will be here!

Freakshow

I mentioned that periodically I get some nasty swelling in the ankles. I have good days and bad days and apparently yesterday was a bad swelling day. Most times I don't even realize it, because my feet don't hurt. After yesterday, I have come to the painful realization that I *may* have to retire my heels for the next 7 weeks. Man, it was hard to even type that! Let me explain...

After work, I came home and went upstairs to our computer to check my email. I was sitting there for maybe 5-10 minutes, with my feet crossed at the ankles. (Yes, I know I'm not supposed to sit with my legs or ankles crossed...but I was comfortable!) While I was checking my email, the Hubs came home from work and came upstairs. I uncrossed my ankles, flung off my shoes and stood up to give him a hug and kiss. That's when I looked down and saw this:

No, I'm not referring to the fact that I desperately need a pedicure. Do you see that massive indent on the right side of my right foot?! That is from the wedge of my left heel digging into my right foot from sitting for 7 minutes with my ankles crossed. And I SWEAR it didn't hurt at all. Here it is again:

The Hubs and I just stared at each other stunned for a while before he said, "Wow, that is some crazy sh*t." He doesn't normally swear, but can you blame him? Yowza. So today, my cute, patent leather wedges are sitting quietly on my shoe rack while these hideous things are on my feet:

I'm now ready to join the Circus...

A Plea

Dearest Peanut,

While Mommy realizes that you are getting bigger and bigger everyday and your space is getting smaller and smaller, could please lift your little body up so you aren't sitting quite so low? See, Mommy's nerves and pelvis just aren't strong enough to hold you and when you sit low, it sends shooting pains down Mommy's right side of her lower backside and it makes her look like a 92 year old lady limping around the office. If you do me this small favor, I promise to read you extra bedtime stories and maybe even let you have a cookie before dinner...but don't tell daddy.

Other than that, you have been so good to Mommy and she appreciates it very much.

Love you and can't wait to meet you,

Mommy xo

Rudolph in a Fur Coat

There are a few lovely symptoms of pregnancy that I feel The Bible (AKA: What to Expect when You're Expecting) has seemed to skip over or just not emphasize enough, because I was not expecting:

1.) Zits to look like they are electrically charged. I knew I would have some pregnancy related acne, but they did not talk about how they would be bright, almost hyper-color red. Really people--as if I don't feel ugly enough with excessive bloat and, well, see below...

2.) Insane amounts of body hair. I accepted a long time ago that the fatal combination of being both Italian (Southern Italian at that) and Lebanese puts one at risk for dark hair. Mom took me to wax off the uni-brow at the ripe age of 12, even though she vehemently denies it. Trust me Mom, it's not something you forget. But this is ridiculous. The eyebrows, the arm hair, the arm pit hair, the leg hair, even the mole hair, all OOC. (That's Out Of Control, for all of you that aren't my Sister J or Mariah Carey). I now look like a descendant of Robin Williams. ::tear::

In non-vain related news, the Hubs pulled our three giant tubs out of storage so I can channel my inner Clarke Griswold and get the house ready for Christmas. Let me leave you with one of my favorite parts of the movie:

"Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

I guess I won't be one of thoooose pregnant gals...

Last night was one of those nights that I didn't get a good night sleep, but surprisingly woke up on my own at 6:30am. As I layed in bed, I thought about how I could definitely benefit from a little bit of exercise. Apparently, walking from the fridge to the couch 10 times a day doesn't count . So, I got up out of bed, (before the Hubs!) put on my running shoes and headed to the gym for a leisurely walk on the treadmill "workout". Hey, it's better than nothing...right?!?

I walked a steady 3.8 pace for 35 minutes and was feeling pretty damn proud of myself, that was, until I stopped and felt so dizzy I was worried I was gonna fall over. After quick grab of the arm of the treadmill and some water, I felt better and left that gym so fast you'd think I was being chased out. On the drive home, I was waiting for the endorphins to kick in, pat me on the back and say things to me like, "Aren't you glad you did that?" or "Ahhh, that felt good!" or "I'm going to do this everyday!" Instead it was like, "I feel sick" and "I'm soooo hungry" and "I miss bed".

The weird thing was while I was walking, I did enjoy listening to my i-pod and just zoning out. Normally when I exercise, it's the opposite: I hate it while I'm doing it and after I feel great. Even weirder, I felt this heaviness the whole time, like I could feel Peanut swimming and bouncing around which makes sense since there is something in there! I will attempt to go more, hoping that the long term effects will be more positive than the initial ones. Be on the lookout tomorrow for some ultrasound pics as we are going in for our first trimester screening. It will be Hubs' first look at Peanut too!