Retro Post: This Man

Brian has been so great these past few weeks. Some examples...

• Taking out the garbage to keep me from throwing up.
• Trying to keep up with my eating wishes so me and baby are fed.
• Making sure I have healthy snacks available to eat throughout the day and night.
• Getting up at 1 and 2 in the morning to get me a snack so my "morning sickness" will calm down.
• Coming home after over 12 hours at Stockton to bring me pancakes and mac and cheese, then watching me throw both up and still sleeping on the couch with me all night because I couldn't get comfy in bed.
• Giving up nights of video games to cater to my whining, nauseous pleas for random things...blue Gatorade, peanut butter granola bars, pancakes, jelly toast
• Putting up with my random aversions to bad breath, garbage, meatballs, dried fruits, etc without saying a word
• Rush ordering Sea-Bands on the day of the launch of his website because my "morning sickness" is so bad and I'm desperate.

So thank you to my wonderful husband. The little baby and I thank you for keeping us from unnecessary vomiting, starvation and a diet of strictly macaroni and fried chicken!

Retro Post: "morning sickness"

So almost 7 weeks into this pregnancy thing and I think my "morning" sickness is almost in full force. Except for its morning, noon and night. I thought at least sleep would make it better, but I wake up nauseous with stomach aches throughout the night. If I'm not eating, then I'm feeling queasy and trying to stop from gagging. Fun! I really am happy to be pregnant, but would prefer to be one of the 25% of women who avoids this. Still, its a sign that the little peanut is attached and sucking the life out of me which must be a good thing.

For posterity's sake...

Things that make me gag/vomit
-smell of old food
-smell of garbage
-bad breath
-have i mentioned garbage?
-bleach/ cleaning products
-raw meat

Things that appeal
-peanutbutter
-peanuts/ nuts in general
-JELLY
-fried chicken
-cheese
-italian/ mexican and greek food
-popcorn

Things I can barely tolerate but used to love
-yogurt
-cookies
-cottage cheese
-taco bell

Retro post: Lucky Number 5

So, although this post will reach the internet world, much after it is written, here is the scoop.

After a weekend of driving to north jersey for Aunt Mary's surprise party: during which Peach managed to pop Wrinkles' eyeball out and incur a ridiculous vet bill, we returned home. I wasn't feeling particularly well that weekend, but chalked it up to poor eating, driving and exhaustion. We returned on Monday evening at about 5 pm. I begged Brian to let me just shower and go to bed, but he insisted we go to Maurizio's for a little couple's dinner.

Side bar to this story, on the ride home, we discussed my complaints of not feeling well and joked that maybe I was pregnant. So we were home and I was procrastinating going out, so I asked Brian if we could do a pregnancy test just to rule out that was not the problem...as unlikely as we thought it would be.

We had previously agreed that when the time came for a test, although he would not watch me pee on a stick, he would be only a few feet away to view the results. This may be TMI, but while peeing on the stick, I'm watching the plus sign form with severe disbelief. As quickly as possible I finish with my business, cap the test and gently place it on the counter like that might make the plus sign go away. I open the door to Brian and say "You're ridiculous." He asks why. I reply something like "Its a plus sign, apparently I'm pregnant?!?!" He then proceeds to check that I read it right. (Apparently he has more experience with these things than I do or I just looked irrational). But on Clear Blue Easy tests, it says + = pregnant - = not pregnant, for those of us who throw the boxes away to keep down clutter. So we had a positive test. We then proceeded out to dinner where I was surprised by friends gathered to celebrate with us. Imagine how difficult not to blurt out our big news! Finding out I was pregnant on my birthday = best news ever!

With much denial and confusion and tamped down excitement, I proceeded through the next day at work. When we got home, I demanded a second test, hoping it would feel more real. This test came back with the same joyous results. I just couldn't believe it.

Now, writing this 4 days later, I'm not sure I've accepted it. I've made out first appointment to see our little embryo on the 28th of the month. I've read the pregnancy book cover to cover. Aside from initial queasiness in the evenings, I've been feeling ok, but supposedly the horrible symptoms hit next week. My boobs hurt, I've been drinking and peeing like crazy, and my nose is a whole new thing. I can smell garbage or onions from a mile away. I've also had these twinges in my hip and groin/lower abs that feel like a sprain which is apparently round ligament pain. This is supposed to only plague people further along, but I must have overdone it these past few days.

So far, I've been preferring mac and cheese and greek food. I'm not sure if I would call them a craving or just a weird preference when nothing else sounds good. For those of you who know me, chinese food is one of my favorites, but that sounds and smells awful these days. Also, foods that I eat all the time now taste different. Things seem really sour to me all the time eventhough Brian assures me they are not.

I'm very nervous about the pregnancy aspect for the next few months because I'm probably over educated on the matter and generally negative about outcomes for myself. I worry about miscarriage, birth defects I can cause my baby through various methods (radiation, food, infections, etc), and stillbirth (thanks, Secret Life of the American teenager). I'm trying to just be positive and enjoy this experience. I even bought some very on sale maternity pants to make it seem more permanent. I am anxiously waiting to see the OB and find out that our little peanut is growing as expected and will be joining us this May, just in time for our 2 year anniversary!

Anything...

"Courage is the triumph of the soul
I know where I wanna walk; I know where I wanna go
Come put your hand in mine
Everybody's welcome

Music is what God wants us to do
Sing a song for me and I'll sing a song for you
When we put our voices together,
We create a harmony

And we bring you some love a love a love; love a love a love a love a love a love
Yeah you can sing if you want to
Its love a love a love, love a love a love a love a love a, la la love
Now we've got you
All I want to share with you is all my love, its all I really care to do

Champion the idea of one love
All people the same
One beautiful race
Making a home of this beautiful place
And be grateful for the precious gifts of life
Sunshine and Water
Food from the greatest giver

Anything you want can be yours at anytime
Anything you want can be yours at anytime

Its love a love a love, love a love a love a love a love a love
Sing out the words
Sing out the words
It's love a love a love, love a love a love a love a love a, la la love
Now we know all I want to share with you, it's all I know, it's all I really care to do
'Cause anything you want can be yours at anytime
All I want to share with you is all my love, its all I really care to do
Anything you want can be yours at anytime"