A Day of Few Words...

Pain? Better. Perfect? No. Me, happier? Yes. Ahhhhhhh.

Love the smell of man work on a Thursday morning...nothing like getting a nice shiny new attic fan to make a pregnant chick smile!

Tomorrow. 3D ultrasound. Still a girl? Let's hope so.

Belly Shot Chronicles - 27 Weeks...and some respite???

Here are the results of the weekly mirror self shot ritual. What would all of you do without seeing these really horribly crappy photos? I am sure your lives would just not be the same!

And, regarding respite??? Well, it is a possibility! I saw the chiropractor today, and can I please just mention that I LOVE her? Even if what she fed me was all just a bunch of malarky, this doc is the first person who has told me that they can help me...and that alone puts a smile on my slowly fattening face. After doing a bunch of tests and examining me, she said that she will either help enough that this "situation" will get better and go away...OR...she will be able to help enough that I will at least feel much better navigating my way through the remainder of the pregnancy. Ummm, here is my $25 co-pay, and thankyouverymuch!

My SPD condition has made my left leg 1.5 inches "shorter" than my right leg, for the current moment. I always knew I was a little bit off, but being that much off is ridiculous! My present clown status apparently stems from the fact that my pelvis is completely misaligned. Well, I definitely knew that much to be true already. The misalignment is causing "everything" to be out of whack. My ligaments and tendons in my right groin / inner, upper thigh area are in a huge knot and are hard as a rock. The muscles in my lower right back are pretty much the same. So, for now...lots of gentle manipulation and massage at Dr. Wonderful's office...followed by some simple stretches and exercises at home. I can manage that. Oh, to be in less pain...that little dream now seems somewhat palpable.

Advertising and Pregnant Think

Main Entry: ad·ver·tis·ing
Function: noun
Date: 1751
1 : the action of calling something to the attention of the public especially by paid announcements

Ok, so that is the definition of advertising according to Mirriam Webster. Doesn't sound too sinister, right? Advertisements are EVERYWHERE, and there are so many of them blanketing and littering the roadways, TV airwaves, and pages of magazines that most of us are somewhat immune to their potentially warping affects. Yes, most of us. However, "most of us" certainly does not encompass, nor does it apply to, the first time mom to be.

Pregnancy magazines and their sneaky advertisers target us special creatures of emotion and our hormonally driven rationales without any malice at all. We innocently pick up these magazines hoping to "learn" something more about: growing a healthy baby, getting ready for labor, having better sex after the baby, helping our partner, the new dad, adjust and contribute... and a PLETHORA of other truly banal information. In reality we really just skim these articles (or is it just me???), for we have a feeling that we will be able to feel our ways through this childbirth experience and after-experience in a somewhat reasonable fashion with all of the other resources we already have availabe to us.

But, the pretty colors and oh-so-modern looking thingamajiggys meant for the new parents and for their perfect genius baby-to-be that are strategically placed on the other pages in between these ultimately meanigless articles...well, THAT is where we get hooked! We find out about the "must haves" and "parent favorites" that we truly never even knew existed prior to our pregnancy and us peeling back these pages, let alone that we must have them.

Really, how else would we discover that we were potentially missing out on the new "Bugaboo Bee in Red" $530 stroller??? The apparent "necessity for every dad". Necessity, yes, because EVERY dad I know is just dying to show off his "Rolls Royce" of a stroller to his beer chugging buddies during the next gathering for a college football game.

And then there is the "Mama's Belly" bronze bowl. Who could live without the bronze cast of their own pregnant belly? A treasure like that is bound to be a hit at parties and an heirloom to pass down for generations to come. I am sure it is not only art but can also be used for chips or dips, too...right? Extraordinary!

Well, I could continue to sit here and give example after example of the horribly absurd products that are put out there to lure us in. And also make fun of the CRAZY pregnant women who actually succumb to the pressure and are somehow guilted into, or illusioned into, buying one of these riduculous products. Or, I could just simply fess us that I AM one of THOSE crazy pregnant women who has made a couple of these "irrational" (husband think) or potentially very beneficial and useful (pregnant think) purchases after stepping away from said magazines. Come on, just trust me when I say that I am going to look oh-so-good in that very necessary Delivery Gown while I beautifully and gracefully go through my seemingly easy labor and hum my way through my childbirth at the hospital. (can't you just picture it now?) Yep, uh-huh...that's right! Thank goodness for advertising, or I never would have known that I would have been subjected to bleeding all over a dingy, thin, and surely discolored hospital- issue gown that has been worn 400 times before me. Oh...the pure and absoulte horror of the thought!!! Gasp!

Fine, fine, fine...DAMN IT! Ok, honey...I promise...no more pregnancy magazines for me...

Once again, proof in point...I DO have a head

Just to prove that I still do have a head, here is another pic for the week. Not quite to 27 weeks...but only 2 days away. I look a little stoned in the picture, but I assure you I am not. Way too early in the day for that... ; )

By the way, does this fireplace make me look fat??? Just wondering.

From the top...

There truly isn't much that needs to be said about this photo, is there??? Ok, ok...except, perhaps...OH MY GOD! Hey, at least I know that I still do have toes! For now.

About the little joys...

Amidst, and despite, all of my current gripes about pain, discomfort, and difficulties...I still seek to find ways to appreciate the little joys in life.

Joy 1 - being given such a beautiful morning. It was wonderful to sit on the couch in my screened in porch...watching the sunlight and shadows of rustling leaves play off the pages of the book I am reading...all while someone else is cleaning my house...and also while little Finnley is doing some sort of excited dance in my belly

Joy 2 - having such a wonderful husband who sometimes has the sweetest things to say...such as telling his wife that she is a "beautiful pregnant woman" and "just what a pregnant woman should look like"

Joy 3 - living a life where I am actually able to be at home in the first place and not having to juggle work on top of all the current bumps in my silly road

Joy 4 - knowing that in just about 3 months Matt and I will blessed with a tiny miracle that will forever change our lives in ways that we right now cannot even begin to fathom

So, for today, I will make it all about the little joys instead of all about the major complaints. Why not, right?

Belly Shot Chronicles - 26 Weeks / What's Up, Doc???

26 weeks brings about a bigger bulge. No surprises there. That of course will tend to happen as the weeks go by, especially approaching and moving through the third trimester. The clothed picture this week is with me in my pajamas...so, not the most flattering of outfits. Flattering isn't really something that happens often right now, though, so...eh, what does it really matter?

Moving on, I had my appointment with the orthopedic doctor last night. To really make the experience more enjoyable overall, there was a "scheduling glitch" that caused the doctor to be running well behind schedule. 45 minutes behind schedule, to be exact. She assured me that this was not the norm for her practice. Uh-huh...it was a doctor's office...of course it was the norm! Now, something that WAS out of the norm were the sounds coming from the next examining room. The walls were paper thin, and it was easy to recognize my "neighbor" emitting a blood-curdling vomit cacophony from her innards...right in the middle of her appointment. It was also obvious that this doctor was not fond of that particular type of clamor, as she could be heard running from the room! What a treat for me to be able to "take it all in" prior to my own appointment.

Even better was the fact that the doctor said that there is NOTHING...SHE...CAN...DO...FOR...ME!!! Wonderful! She did attempt an examination, but she stopped short of a full exam given that she felt she was torturing me. Well, yes, it did hurt. But, then again, everything hurts me right now! Oh well. I pretty much knew going in that this is what I would be told. I have to live with the pain until after I deliver, and hopefully...HOPEFULLY...it will then go away on its own. One bright note: the doctor is willing to sign off on the paperwork necessary for me to receive a temporary handicap placard for my car. That will make one minute aspect of my pregnant and painful life a wee bit more tolerable. I guess. So, off to the police department I go to pick up the forms. Yay, me!

What the F*#K???

Now, anyone who knows me ALSO knows very well that I am not "normal". I never do anything the easy way, or the right way, or the way that would be good. Nah. What would be the fun in that? I like to be different. Go against the grain. In other words, I enjoy torture. A masochist of sorts...perhaps.

Well, pregnancy is not going to be any different in terms of "normalcy" for me. Hell, I certainly took the long and hard road to getting pregnant...why would I want pregnancy to go any more smoothly? Nope...doesn't seem like fun at all!

So, I have "decided" to throw myself into that "less than 2% of all pregnant women" category of, SUFFERS FROM SYMPHYSIS PUBIS DYSFUNCTION. Here is some information on the topic, taken from various online resources:

Your symphysis pubis are the two bones that connect to form your pelvis. Shaped like a heart, your pelvis is formed by three separate bones that are held together by very tough ligaments. Traditionally, these bones are not designed to allow movement to occur. When you are pregnant however, a hormone called relaxin is produced which allows the pelvis to move slightly during birth. The reason this occurs is because the hormone actually works to loosen the ligaments holding the bones together.

When the ligaments loosen too much, a condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction can occur. When this happens, the pelvis joints become unstable and move around. The growing child makes matters worse because of the intense weight bearing down on these bones, and can actually cause the joint to separate. Mild to severe pain in the pubic area are characteristics of this disorder.

The symptoms of SPD vary from person to person, but almost all women who have it experience substantial pubic pain. Tenderness and pain down low in the front is common, but often this pain feels as if it's inside. The pubic area is generally very tender to the touch; many moms find it painful when the doctor or midwife pushes down on the pubic bone while measuring the uterus (fundal height).

Any activity that involves lifting one leg at a time or parting the legs tends to be particularly painful. Lifting the leg to put on clothes, getting out of a car, bending over, sitting down or getting up, walking up stairs, standing on one leg, lifting heavy objects, and walking in general tend to be difficult at times. Many women report that moving or turning over in bed is especially excruciating. One woman wrote, "There were days that I didn't think I was going to be able to get out of bed and actually had to roll out of bed and onto the floor to be able to do so!"

Many movements become difficult when the pubic symphysis area is affected. Although the greatest pain is associated with movements of lifting one leg or parting the legs, some women experience a 'freezing', where they get up out of bed and find it hard to get their bodies moving right away--the hip bone seems stuck in place and won't move at first. Or they describe having to wait for it to 'pop into place' before being able to walk. The range of hip movement is usually affected, and abduction of the hips especially painful.

I can say that I have experienced all of the excruciating pains described above, and it is very hard to live with day in and day out. I cannot believe that I actually have to "live" with this condition for the next 3+ months, and that it will only get WORSE throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Ouch. That is what it boils down to, and that is all I can really say. Ouch.

My OB's office is referring me to an Orthopoedic doctor to be fully checked out. The hope is that there is SOMETHING that can be done to help with the pain as I move forward. Who knows. She may or may not be able to provide an action plan. I will find out on Tuesday night when I go for my visit with her.

I know that the outcome of all of my suffering WILL be more than worth it in the end...I just have to make it to that end, hopefully with some amount of sanity, and even perhaps a smidgen of dignity, left in tact. Hopefully...

Belly Shot Chronicles - 25 Weeks

Matt seems to think that my belly has gotten bigger just over the past two days...he certainly could be on to something with that thought! Included this week are a bare belly and a clothed belly shot for you to be able to judge for yourself.

On a side note, Finnley got to attend her second MLB game last night...Phillies v. Dodgers. It was a great game. I believe it was during the 7th inning stretch while singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" that Matt and I were rubbing my belly...and Finnley kicked. Matt actually got to feel SOMETHING for once! It will only get easier as time goes on now, but I thought that was pretty cool. It made us both smile. She impresses us pretty easily already!

iPod Experiment

I finally remembered to give the iPod experiment a try. I know that plenty of people have heard that it can be good or stimulating for the baby to hear music while in utero. I also know that it can't hurt anything, so I figured I would check it out. I have done this two times now, and Finnley seems to LOVE it! (or hate it...hard to really be sure!) Every time the iPod headphones are on my belly she starts dancing around. So far her "favorites" seem to be "Nightswimming" by R.E.M. and "Heaven" by Live. What can I say...she has impeccable taste, just like her mommy! ; )

This morning while I was having her listen I kept my shirt pulled up, and you could definitely see the belly bouncing from time to time. Very surreal, and very cool! I think I will like this!

24 to 25 Week OB Appointment

Today was another routine OB appointment for me. It was all the standard stuff, and everything was great...per the usual. I will take that! My urine sample was normal. I gained 3 pounds this month, so I came in under the "alloted" amount. Yay, me! My uterus is measuring exactly as it should. And, the heartbeat was good and strong.

Actually, when the OB put the doppler on my belly to tune into it...Finnley kicked the doppler. Apparently she was very aware of the pressure on my uterus, and she wanted us to know that. The doc just laughed and said, "hey...all we are trying to do is get a good listen here!". It was cute.

On another note, I am suffering from some aches and pains that go along with pregnancy. I am carrying low, and Finnley has me "stretched out" as the OB put it. Both things are creating extra pressure down on my pubic bones, and it causes pain which mimics a groin pull. The majority of the pain is on the right side, although there is some on the left, too. I have issues lifting my right leg to get pants, lifting it to get it up on the couch or to cross my legs, moving it to roll over in bed at night or to get out of bed in general....lots of little issues. It is also painful when I walk, but it doesn't keep me immobile. I am still going to my yoga class once a week, and I plan to still keep up my walking and light weight lifting at the gym. The doc was fully supportive of that. I am doing no harm to my body...it just hurts. To help alleviate some of the pressure, my OB recommended that I purchase a "maternity belt" to help support my lower back and to pull my uterus "up". We will see how that works out. Luckily for me, this unfortunate side effect of my pregnancy will only be "cured" with delivery. This should be a fun third trimester coming up!

On the physical side effect note, I also pulled my intercostal muscles (muscles / cartilage between the ribs). This is a result of being pregnant AND having had a nasty upper respiratory infection that included a cough that has lasted over 3 weeks. Now that the cough is starting to show signs of exiting, I am hoping my ribs get better, too. It is only the far upper ones on my right side that hurt...but they do hurt. Oh well. I am sure that my laundry list of physical complaints will only continue to grow as Finnley and my belly do. A small tradeoff for the end result that comes in August, to be sure!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 24 Weeks!

That's right...24 weeks! We hit the 6 month marker. Wow! As Matt said this morning, "this is going fast". The second trimester sure feels that way!

The "butterball" has grown yet again. I guess that is the point, right? The funny thing is that I still have this flat area on my stomach surrounding my belly button. The belly button has decided to NOT release itself from being an "innie", which has also stretched taut the skin around it. So, flat spot it is.

I have my next routine OB appointment this coming Monday. The usual stuff will happen there: weight, uterine measurement, BP, urine analysis (for protein and sugar), etc.

Outside of that, Finnely will be "attending" her first MLB game this Thursday night. Matt was offered up tickets to see the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays play at the new Yankee Stadium. I don't care how much you hate the Yankees...how can you say no to seeing the new digs??? Well, obviously we couldn't! I am sure Finnley will have a grand time!

2009 Virginia Gold Cup

Matt and I just attended the 2009 Virginia Gold Cup held at Great Meadows in The Plains, VA. Matt brought Subarua of America and Dulles Subaru sponsorship to the event. They had display and chase cars placed all over the grounds, and it allowed the opportunity for the vehicles to receive tons of welcomed exposure. They had a lot of activity around the new 2010 Subaru Outback and Legacy models...which won't even be on sale until August of this year.

The Subaru VIP tent was fantastic. The food included: sushi, beef carving station, pasta station, crab cakes, salad, a liquor bar, and dessert table. Oh my! It was all very good.

There were probably about 40,000 people in attendance. There were 6 horse races, and we got to view the Subaru sponsored race from the race tower...clear view of the whole course. It was a lot of fun. Of course, we placed bets the entire time...and I actually won one race that brought $40 my way! Woo hoo! Bring on the money!

We have always loved this event, and we were happy to be a part of it again this year. It was also nice to see our old town, neighborhood, neighbors and friends, and stomping grounds. Dinner at Claire's was a treat! No one beats her she-crab soup! Yum!

Back home late last night, and we picked up Batman this morning. Going to enjoy the rest of our weekend and move into yet another week!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 23 Weeks

The ever-beloved weekly Wednesday belly shot post! 23 weeks and cranking along. Not a whole lot to report, once again...which is a great thing. The belly grows along with Finn, and I am still keeping the weight gain "in check"...no more than the one pound per week on average. I am happy about all of that! This week includes an actual "clothed" photo, as I had an early morning appointment so I actually had real clothes on today. I apologize for the crappy photos, but we haven't had sun on a Wedensday for weeks! Doing flash photograpy into a mirror is always complicated.

Still working on getting over my viscious upper respiratory infection. The cough still lingers and shows no immediate signs of releasing me from its grasp. In time, I am sure it eventually will.

Next OB appointment is scheduled for one week from Monday...so a week and a half to go.

The Nursery...progress

It is by no means done, but we have made some great progress on the nursery. I have completed a couple of "art projects" that I was working on...and they are now being proudly displayed on Finnley's walls. We did pick up the dresser / changing table combo unit this morning, and it will make it up to the nursery at some point this weekend. The desk needs to move down to the basement, too. So, little by little it is looking like a room meant for a baby.

I did attach one picture of the nursery to this post, but the link to see the rest of the pictures is here: NURSERY

Enjoy!

I am now going back to enjoying this beautiful SUMMER day here in Philly!

Belly Shot Chronicles - 22 Weeks!

Well, here we are at Wednesday again. 22 weeks! That is such an amazing feeling to be hitting each milestone and watching this pregnancy progress. We still enjoy watching the bump grow.

This week has brought a "bug" with it, and I am not the least bit happy nor amused by this occurence. There is only one thing worse than being miserably sick and THAT is being miserably sick while pregnant!!!

I hate that I can't take much of anything to get relief. I haven't hardly slept the past three nights, and that makes life even worse. I hate hate hate the nightime right now! I seem to have picked up whatever nasty virus has been ciruclating the country...sinus / cough / feelings of having been run over by a truck...something like that. I am headed to the doc this afternoon just to make sure it IS viral and not bacterial. Hopefully they will have some other recommendations on what is safe and good for me to try. I am dying over here right now!

Finnley's nursery is starting to come together. We have her crib set up! I also have taken everything off of the walls and patched / painted them. I have a few decorative details that I have put up. We pick up the dresser this weekend, so the rest of the office will be moved...and the nursery will continue to become, well...an actual nursery.

That is the scoop for now. Going to go back to the couch before I keel over....

Belly Shot Chronicles - 21 Weeks!

Not much to add since I just updated the blog the last two days, but here is the latest and greatest belly shot! The Finnley bump continues to grow!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

It is "official"...as much as an u/s can be official...we are having a little girl! Finnley Piper will be joining our family in August, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll. Most of you turned out to be right! Lots of pink in store for this household!

While we were at the appointment, we told the ultrasound tech that we didn't want to find out the sex of the baby DURING the ultrasound. We filled out a notecard with a blank spot...and had her fill in the sex for us. We waited until we were in the waiting room with my parents to open it. We thought it would be neat to share the surprise with them and enjoy the moment with someone other than the u/s tech. What a great idea!

The first two u/s pics show a profile of Finnley with her mouth open. The second two pics show a profile of her with her mouth closed. The tech mentioned what a "photogenic" baby she was...and how cooperate she was during the whole u/s. We are proud parents already!

Enjoy!

HALFWAY HOME: Belly Shot Chronicles - 20 Weeks!

20 weeks. Unbelieveable! We did it...we hit the halfway point in the pregnancy! Way to go, mini!!!

I am actually feeling much better these days, in regards to the nausea, that is. I have, unfortunately, encountered other issues from the "attractive pregnancy problems" top ten list. Do not keep reading if you do not like TMI...latest problem: prolapsed bleeding hemorrhoid. Yikes!!! Not many other words could make a woman feel less attractive. No worries, though, I am seeking medical attention (not for the humiliation, but for the hemorrhoid, of course). The OB's office is now referring me to a "specialist". In order to see the "specialist", though, I need a referral from my primary care physician. This means that 2 people now get to "get a good look at me" instead of just 1. Lucky me! My "issue" has kept me from going to the gym for the past week, and that makes me sad. I miss my walks and exercises. Hopefully I will be back at it soon!

I can feel my uterus moving up in my belly. The top of it has now hit my belly button area. My belly has not grown much in the last week, but I am still putting on the pounds. 4 pounds in 3 weeks, to be exact. One pound over the "average" for this month thus far. So, I am just considering myself "above average" for the time being. ;)

One woman who works at Destination Maternity (who apparently recognizes me from frequent past visits) stopped to chat me up yesterday at the store. She asked how I was doing, and then exclaimed..."YOU HAVEN'T EVEN POPPED YET! HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU?". Well, gosh...thanks?...I am 5 months. "OH, WELL YOU DON'T LOOK IT!". Ummm...ok?

We also recently had dinner with our backyard neighbors, and one of their mothers was dining with us. Apparently after Matt and I left she told her son and daughter in law..."HOW NICE THAT THEY ARE ADOPTING!". They clarified saying, nooo....Matt and Megan aren't adopting, they are having a baby! She said, "NO! SHE WASN'T PREGNANT! SHE DIDN'T LOOK PREGNANT AT ALL". Ummm...once again...ok?

And then, last weekend when Matt and I were at an open house, the realtor stopped to ask me how far along I was...without any prompting.

So, what does all of this mean? I guess sometimes I look pregnant to some people and other times I still don't. Oh well! I know that I am! Guess that is all that matters!

5 days left until the anatomy scan...can you say freakin' eternity???

Belly Shot Chronicles - 19 weeks

One week shy of the halfway point...can you believe it??? The first half of the pregnancy seems to be moving slowly, but I am told that the second half flies by. I guess I will need to appreciate every second of it before it is all said and done!

This week's photos includes an acutal "head shot" because my dear friend Canella was perturbed (or amused) by the fact that I was headless in every belly shot photo to date. The reason for that is the fact that all of these photos are self photos done using a mirror, and they are taken first thing in the morning (in PJs, no makeup, slept on hair). But, because I am such a great friend, I made sure to include my head in one photo this week. Still not an easy task, given I was still in my PJs...it was still first thing in the morning...and I was still taking the photo myself (albeit with the timer on the camera and not the mirror). So, long story long...

I am feeling pretty well overall. The nausea crept back in waves this past week, but it is manageable. Yesterday was better, but then the gas pains and heartburn were bad. I just it is all a game of tradeoffs at this point. I will take the gas and heartburn over the nausea, just in case anyone was wondering.

Last month I put on a total of three pounds. So far in the two weeks since my last doctor's appointment, I have put on a total of three pounds. Eating habits and exercise habits remain the same...so, the weight gain comes in spurts as it pleases, I guess. I just hope I don't put on another three pounds in the next two weeks. Yikes! That would be bad!

Still counting down the days until the big u/s appointment on April 13th. We DO finally have the names picked out...so, once we know the sex...we will be announcing it all! How exciting!