I spent last Friday running in and out of the cold rain during a school district tour with the four superintendent finalists. It was miserable and Saturday wasn't much better except I was digging my car out of several inches of snow so I could attend the candidate interviews at 8 a.m.
Needless to say, I think it was the visits to the two elementary schools (germ factories?) where I ended up getting strep throat. I stayed home from work Monday and Tuesday until I determined there was no way this was just a cold or flu so I made Urgent Care appointments for both me and Erika, who ended up coming home sick Tuesday. Our tests found that she had a cold while I had strep throat. They gave me antibiotics that are apparently safe for the baby and so far I think I'm starting to feel better. I returned to work Wednesday afternoon, anyway, whether I'm cured or not.
I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant or not, but this illness really hit me hard. I've had strep before (usually thanks to Erika) but nothing like this. At times I felt like I couldn't breathe when I was trying to sleep, my throat felt like it was closing shut. The last three nights I've found myself awake and getting a drink of water about 5 times a night.
You'd think the baby was already here!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
A funny thing happened on my way ....
So I'm on my way back to work from a school board meeting this afternoon and I find myself behind an SUV with "No Clu" written on its bumper sticker. I didn't start laughing until I noticed that this "Clueless" driver had a George Bush for President sticker leftover from the 2004 election stuck on nearby. Too funny.
Then I get to work and one of our wacky regular callers (clearly off his meds) had called several times because he said his scrambled eggs look like it has a face on it. He thinks it's one of the three kings or maybe Jesus and wants a photographer to take a photo of it.
Is there a full moon? At least it's not fall yet. That's when we get the calls from people who have strangely shaped or incredibly large vegetables.
Never a dull moment.
On a brighter note, I'm happy to report I've now entered into my second trimester. Yay! One down, two more to go.
Then I get to work and one of our wacky regular callers (clearly off his meds) had called several times because he said his scrambled eggs look like it has a face on it. He thinks it's one of the three kings or maybe Jesus and wants a photographer to take a photo of it.
Is there a full moon? At least it's not fall yet. That's when we get the calls from people who have strangely shaped or incredibly large vegetables.
Never a dull moment.
On a brighter note, I'm happy to report I've now entered into my second trimester. Yay! One down, two more to go.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Teens and babies
While Erika is excited about having a new brother/sister, she's also a regular teen who is pretty absorbed in her own teen dramas...and doesn't really care much about seeing an ultrasound or (gasp!) watching her mother in labor. (I offered at least!)
I've had a few people tell me that it'll be so crazy having a baby now since the last time I went through this situation was a whooping FIFTEEN years ago...but I think it might make things easier. I know what I'm in for and hopefully can correct some of the mistakes I made when I was a single, young working mother.
For example, I didn't read enough to Erika, nor did I focus on getting her ready for kindergarten. She watched too much TV and God forbid, I'm sure I fed her way too many foods laden with high fructose corn syrup.
No she isn't developmentally delayed - she's a straight-A student - so fortunately I didn't cause too much damage from my parental neglect. But I had hoped to instill a love of reading in her and that clearly didn't happen. She only reads Seventeen and Sweet 16 magazines. I don't know the last time she actually picked up a book to read for fun. And from the endless amount of time she spends texting and chatting on the phone, I think she's on track socially, too.
But sometimes I think even though you have the best of intentions — my husband plans to make and grind our own baby food for this new little one — it's really a genetic luck of the draw.
I just hope this next child is as brilliant as I'm hoping he/she will be. And I hope to God he/she doesn't inherit my poor math skills.
I've had a few people tell me that it'll be so crazy having a baby now since the last time I went through this situation was a whooping FIFTEEN years ago...but I think it might make things easier. I know what I'm in for and hopefully can correct some of the mistakes I made when I was a single, young working mother.
For example, I didn't read enough to Erika, nor did I focus on getting her ready for kindergarten. She watched too much TV and God forbid, I'm sure I fed her way too many foods laden with high fructose corn syrup.
No she isn't developmentally delayed - she's a straight-A student - so fortunately I didn't cause too much damage from my parental neglect. But I had hoped to instill a love of reading in her and that clearly didn't happen. She only reads Seventeen and Sweet 16 magazines. I don't know the last time she actually picked up a book to read for fun. And from the endless amount of time she spends texting and chatting on the phone, I think she's on track socially, too.
But sometimes I think even though you have the best of intentions — my husband plans to make and grind our own baby food for this new little one — it's really a genetic luck of the draw.
I just hope this next child is as brilliant as I'm hoping he/she will be. And I hope to God he/she doesn't inherit my poor math skills.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I'm addicted
I have to share this new blog I found, courtesy of the Star Tribune's Cribsheet blog.
Matt Logelin and his wife, Liz, who are from Minnesota but live in Los Angeles, brought their beautiful baby girl, Madeline, into this world on March 24, 2008. Sadly, Liz died suddenly the next day of a pulmonary embolism, leaving Matt to carry on as a single dad of a preemie little girl.
While his blog will definitely at times leave you in tears, it also demonstrates the beauty of the human spirit to carry on in spite of deep personal tragedy. His story is truly humbling.
Matt Logelin and his wife, Liz, who are from Minnesota but live in Los Angeles, brought their beautiful baby girl, Madeline, into this world on March 24, 2008. Sadly, Liz died suddenly the next day of a pulmonary embolism, leaving Matt to carry on as a single dad of a preemie little girl.
While his blog will definitely at times leave you in tears, it also demonstrates the beauty of the human spirit to carry on in spite of deep personal tragedy. His story is truly humbling.
(Garage) sailing into summer
It was so beautiful today that there was no way my co-worker, Heidi, and I could stay at work. She got off early and I took a long lunch break and we went to three garage sales, along with her 3-month-old son, Jonah.
While the garage sale season isn't quite into full swing yet, it has picked up this week. I found some great things and only spent about $7. I got two baby sleepers, a huge pack of baby toys and rattles, a baby water floatie thing (Heidi and I got matching ones, for Jonah and my baby!) and my best bargain was an entire four-piece crib bedding set (Classic Winnie the Pooh) for $5. What a bargain. It's so cute and I have been thinking about decorating the baby's room in Classic Pooh anyway. (Erika's nursery was all Winnie the Pooh stuff too but not Classic Pooh.)
Heidi and I are going to take a long lunch break tomorrow and hit a couple more baby-related garage sales. It's fun when you can find great deals on cute stuff and even more fun when you're finding them with a friend!
While the garage sale season isn't quite into full swing yet, it has picked up this week. I found some great things and only spent about $7. I got two baby sleepers, a huge pack of baby toys and rattles, a baby water floatie thing (Heidi and I got matching ones, for Jonah and my baby!) and my best bargain was an entire four-piece crib bedding set (Classic Winnie the Pooh) for $5. What a bargain. It's so cute and I have been thinking about decorating the baby's room in Classic Pooh anyway. (Erika's nursery was all Winnie the Pooh stuff too but not Classic Pooh.)
Heidi and I are going to take a long lunch break tomorrow and hit a couple more baby-related garage sales. It's fun when you can find great deals on cute stuff and even more fun when you're finding them with a friend!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Getting ready for baby
Nels said he didn't need an ultrasound to know that this baby is real and will arrive soon enough, but it seems he's now in a full-on nesting mode.
We've wanted to replace our living room/dining room carpet for awhile but he decided yesterday that THIS is the week we're getting hardwood floors. Our carpet is way too light for the number of pets and children we've had running through there...and after 10 years, the carpet is coming up at the seam between the dining room and kitchen (thanks mostly to Callie, our cat), exposing the little nails. A baby can't be learning to crawl over that.
His wedding season starts at the end of April so now is really the time to get the job finished if we're going to do it. Otherwise, we'd have to wait until next winter and the baby will be here and he'd be sawing wood in the house...it just wouldn't be a fun time to do that. He'll be laying it himself, with help either from a friend and/or my dad. He figures it'll take about two days. He and his friend Biff, another wedding photographer, installed the flooring at their shared photography studio at Franklin Arts Center a couple of years ago. It's nice to be married to someone who is handy!
So I'm meeting him later today to check out flooring. We're going to keep the linoleum in the kitchen for now and then later replace that with tile.
After this project, the next step will be painting the baby's room and getting it ready for baby, which means Erika's computer and TV needs to make its way across the hallway into her room. I also have to get ready for a garage sale, clearing out the spare room in the basement that is a mess, and dig out what baby equipment I still have, which is really only a bassinet and a highchair.
The work is on, I guess, and it'll be exciting once it's finished.
We've wanted to replace our living room/dining room carpet for awhile but he decided yesterday that THIS is the week we're getting hardwood floors. Our carpet is way too light for the number of pets and children we've had running through there...and after 10 years, the carpet is coming up at the seam between the dining room and kitchen (thanks mostly to Callie, our cat), exposing the little nails. A baby can't be learning to crawl over that.
His wedding season starts at the end of April so now is really the time to get the job finished if we're going to do it. Otherwise, we'd have to wait until next winter and the baby will be here and he'd be sawing wood in the house...it just wouldn't be a fun time to do that. He'll be laying it himself, with help either from a friend and/or my dad. He figures it'll take about two days. He and his friend Biff, another wedding photographer, installed the flooring at their shared photography studio at Franklin Arts Center a couple of years ago. It's nice to be married to someone who is handy!
So I'm meeting him later today to check out flooring. We're going to keep the linoleum in the kitchen for now and then later replace that with tile.
After this project, the next step will be painting the baby's room and getting it ready for baby, which means Erika's computer and TV needs to make its way across the hallway into her room. I also have to get ready for a garage sale, clearing out the spare room in the basement that is a mess, and dig out what baby equipment I still have, which is really only a bassinet and a highchair.
The work is on, I guess, and it'll be exciting once it's finished.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Baby's first photo
It's really official now...We're having a baby!To the left is the first of many photos of our little baby. We had my first doctor's appointment today and were happy to find out we were getting an ultrasound. Even Nels was pretty happy to see the baby swimming away. It was definitely reassuring for me. I told Dr. Leland that I know I've missed two periods, "flunked" two pregnancy tests and have had definite bouts of morning sickness but still I wondered...am I really pregnant?
Well, the answer is in black-and-white. :) We'll find out in June what the gender is but for now it's nice to know there's a baby inside, even if he/she looks like a hamster!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
