Uncle Eric

I was thinking a lot about my brother the other night while watching a PBS documentary on being Young and Restless in China. It was an amazing program, add it to your que. Eric is learning Chinese and has spent some time in China as well as Taiwan doing Mission Work. He is in Taiwan this entire summer. He is set to graduate this Spring from seminary with a masters of divinity and intends on serving as a Presbyterian minister in Asia after he finishes. I wish he was a lot closer but he has a passion for the Asian Culture and for helping spread Christianity over there. What’s happening in China right now is fascinating. There’s a huge post-modern revival going on over there.

I was digging to find pictures of my brother and I found a recent one on Memorial day. For the first time in a long while I really see how we look alike, especially with my hair back. He’ll be back in the states in California in August but I won’t see him until Christmas. Lupe will be 7 months old by then.

We’ll squeeze you in

What does it mean to you when your doctor says they’ll squeeze you in when you have an urgent issue? The understanding is the wait time may be a little longer but their day to day shceudles should be built around the expectation that they will have some daily urgent care patients. I went to see my OB- the woman who will be delivering my child in the next week or so for pain relief and diagnosis for the SPD issue. I left work at 2:40, checked in at 3 and was finally in the gown in the room at 3:45. By 4:20 I walked the hall for an update. The nurses told me the Dr. had gone down to the maternity ward to check on some patients in labor and the nurses did not know when she’d be back. I got dressed and went back to work. I did get to hear Lupe’s heartbeat which NEVER EVER gets old- it is so freaking cool.

Anyways I’m a little annoyed. I understand that the labor patients take priority- I will want that same priority in a few days but when they say “Yes, come in, your problem and your pain is urgent, we’ll squeeze you in…” I expect to be seen within an hour. Is that unreasonable? Now I don’t know officially if I have SPD but the pain is still there. I’m taking Tylenol, walking slow, resting and headed to the chiropractor.

Ouch

Ailments seem to come and go. You could say my pregnancy has been characterized by the discovery of new ailments I never knew existed. A few weeks ago I had a bad head cold throughout the work week and weekend. Even though it went away last Sunday I still continued to be pretty grumpy and discontent from the general lack of sleep and discomfort of being this far along. I did have a nice burst of energy late this past week and was able to swim and walk to get some good exercise. I also had the energy to get together with friends throughout the week which was awesome. Now I regret the general complaining because I have developed SPD. SPD is Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction and it occurs in about one in 35 women during pregnancy. Women will experience intense pelvic pain and may find it difficult to walk, climb stairs, and other movements that involve the pelvic bones. This pain is a result of separation of the symphysis pubis which is a joint in the very front part of the pelvic bone structure. I must have already had the SPD condition earlier this week and aggravated it during a swim or at my yoga class where we do squats. I felt a little pain getting dressed earlier this week but it came and went. Now it is consistent. I am getting through it this weekend but am annoyed. I’ll call my OB in the am to see about pain killers and physical therapy if needed. I know my chiropractor has some therapy for it. Dave has to help me on and off the couch, get my pants on and get in and out of the car so I do not separate my legs. It hurts when I open my legs wider than about 4 inches. Stairs are tough. Since today is especially worse, tonight will be the first night where he will have to help me in and out of bed all night. Since I get up about 6-8 times it should be interesting. Lupe is due in 10 days so I should have enough time to rest and get some therapy to recover from this before labor- it would make natural childbirth a bit trickier! Despite the issues this season is wonderful and the outcome of a healthy, wonderful child is so worth the ailments.

big weekend

Big weekend, we got a ton done…

Did I mention I am due in 3 weeks!

got car inspected and new tires
ate at Brio’s for dinner
Dave got a hair cut, I got a manicure
went to Dave’s company picnic for 2 hours in the 100 degree heat
saw the new Indiana Jones flick
hung out with our best friends from Arizona
went out for a yummy pancake breakfast
mowed the lawn and did yard work
installed the car seat for Lupe
checked out a new church
started and finished baby shower thank you cards
got house ready and moved furniture for Larry our painter
sprayed under the house for ants
began our big garage reorganization project
1 load of laundry and of course, a trip to Lowe’s and…
I caught a bad head and chest cold, lovely.

Did I mention it is 100 degrees out?

Heartburn

Crap. My pregnancy heartburn kicked in big time this week. I ate dinner around 7 Sunday night and woke up at 1 am with terrible pian at my bra line and chest. I had no mylanta so propped myself up with a ton of pillows and tried to fall back asleep sitting up- it took awhile but I slept a bit. At 5 or so I lay back down normally and felt ok. Then after my chicken and couscous lunch Monday it kicked back in and I had solid waves of pain in my chest and back from about 3pm Monday- 10 pm. I skipped dinner but finally could not take the hunger pains and  had a PB&J at around 9. I tried to sleep uncomfortably sitting up Monday night but it was really difficult. I’ve been up most nights from 2-5. The sleep deprivation will be good practice for Lupe’s arrival- I feel I already know her schedule when her feet are up in my ribs. Pregnancy towards the end is very unpleasant  (such an understatement- it really absolutely is not fun and very painful) but so worth all of it once I see her for the first time.

7 cats, down to 5

Dave and I have 7 cats but found a home for Sammy two weeks ago and Ella this past Friday. Ella is now living with a man who has a barn and two horses. We left Sammy with S.A.F.E- Save Animals From Euthanasia and
she is at an adoption center in Colonial Heights. It was hard letting them go but with baby on the way we need
to focus on getting a normal level of cats. 5 is still a lot but Rex is old and should die soon.