Natural Sceptre

Yes, this type of convo is a regular occurrence with him. Not trying to be punny.

Jonathan: So? You gone today?

Me: Yes. Ever since I’ve been drinking those activia things. I don’t even want to know what they put in there to make people go.

Jonathan: Melted down cafeteria food…..

(long pause)

Jonathan: I love cafeteria food.

The online science class will not get the best of me yet. I have finished all of the online lessons- all I have left are the written assignments (3, 8 questions each) and then 3 exams. I’m hoping to get the written assignments finished this week. I’ve got two options at the moment. 1) The exemption exam is running from March 1st-9th. (Remember that test that I didn’t pass before that led me to need to actually take a class?) and 2) Just finish the class in this next month. The only difference at this point would be 1 test or 3. So we’ll see how it goes. Either way, I learned the stuff, passed the class, and got on with life. I can’t wait until it’s all behind me. It’s time to register for Westminster classes- so I’m really looking forward to doing something new. Looking back, I am glad that graduation fell through for last semester. First of all- it allows me to have some health insurance at the moment. Which is good. Very, very good. Also- it means that I didn’t have to deal with school and travel to Salt Lake while looking for a new job and dealing with the intense fatigue and nausea I’ve enjoyed these last couple of months. I guess it all worked out for the best. Just like everyone said it would- but still. I was on the edge of my seat there for awhile.

Tonight- who knows. I will probably be putting laundry and dishes away. I’ve been pretty good at getting stuff clean the last couple of days- but no good at putting it all away. (What a drag.) And helping John with his spanish. And sleeping.

Yes.  I need to be working on the science course.  I’m still on track, but closer to the ability to be tragically off track, if you know what I mean.  But I’ve got big big reasons to finish this stupid thing.  Mostly, being done with BYU FOREVER.  Muahhahaha.  John’s helping me concentrate by watching things on TV that include men standing around saying things like, “The plastic mold will be used…lalalala….” and “it’s hot in here.  The workers have to stay hydrated.”  But even with his best efforts to keep me focused on the task, I’ve still got the world wide web to keep me entertained.  And you can’t take that away- because that’s where the course is.

So today- we woke up and hung out for a bit.  Then we went on the search for some different stuff.  Then we got dinner at Chilli’s (Thanks Mom and Dad-in-law!).  We’ve had the giftcard for awhile, but my nausea has kept us from doing anything with it, until tonight that is.   So we had some good dinner and watched Proof- which is a movie that is was very obviously adopted from a play.  Interesting, but not very action packed.  Unless you count throwing notebooks around action.

Ok.  So- back to science.  Yes.  It’s time.

We started today with a VERY early morning.  The only time we could get in for our ultrasound was at 7 am.  Hum.  AND, I wasn’t allowed to pee beforehand.  Apparently, at this early in the game, it’s easier to see the baby with a full bladder.  And I was congratulated on just how full I got that bladder.  Haha.  But anyway.  So yeah!  Ultrasound!  FREE ultrasound!  John and I decided to participate in a study that requires me to take vitamin C and vitamin E- and gives me free ultrasounds etc.  And it was so much fun!  The guy was so nice- he took his time and explained all kinds of things to us (apparently I have a tilted uterus which means it’ll take longer for me to feel the baby kick, and then I’ll probably feel it in the back) and showed us the heart beating and let us listen to it.  We saw the baby kicking around in there- all hyper and carefree.  It made me hold my breath.  I can’t believe that there is a real person in there!  I mean, right now, kind of a webby/arm buddy kind of person, but a person!  And I’m growing it!  They recorded the entire thing on a VHS tape for us (which was awesome to watch again this afternoon after work) and we got three pictures.  This is one of them.  They all kind of look the same.  Grey blob baby.  Left = head area Right = butt area.

I really really have to find a way to tell people at work that I’m going to have a baby.  It’s hard because first of all- it just feels private.  A friends and family type piece of information.  I guess it’s that New Englander in me coming out.  But then again- I’m going to keep expanding.  I’ve gotta fess up sometime.  But here’s the thing- if I could make it through the last month without anyone guessing (that’s saying they’re not guessing) then it should really not affect my work.  At all.

In other news- I talked to my boss about school today.  She’s supportive of my night class during the summer, even if it means I have to leave work at 4 or 4:30 once a week.  So that’s good news.  Just gotta finish up this science class….

I know I know. I’m a bad blogger. And it’s horrible, because I think of a hundred things to write on here that would CRACK YOU UP but I’m too tired to write them. So yes. So sad. Let me try and recap…hmmmm…I don’t think I ever wrote about the card John gave me for Valentine’s Day. It was a pop up card- with a bouquet of daises, and TWO KISSING FISHES. Seriously. The card just screamed, “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.” I just wanted to hold it and look at it- and ended up bringing it to work and sticking it on the wall next to my computer. It was good. I spent most of my card shopping time just looking for something that passed as masculine- and sounded like it came from me. I’m glad to have a permanent Valentine. So that’s the Valentine update….over a week later.

Hmmmm…what else? The naseous feelings have lessened up a wee, which is sooo nice. John and I went and found some sea bands last weekend- which although they look funny- and were too expensive for what they were, seem to help! I have no idea why. I wear them as soon as I get out of the shower, and just feel a little better. I even took a for real vitamin tonight and wore them afterwards- and didn’t get sick. Who knows. If it works- I’m for it. I’m really hoping that I’ll just wake up one of these days and feel better.

Other things making my life better: Activia shots. I won’t tell you what area of my life (or body) they’re helping with.  But seriously- overnight- miracles.  Miracles.

Also- Oh Baby jeans. Yes, yes I know that YOU know that I’m not showing yet.  But that doesn’t mean I’m not fatter.  And that doesn’t mean that I’m not getting pouchier.  And you know what else?  It just FEELS GOOD not to have something pushing in on my stomach.  I found one pair of trousers that feel amazing- and they were just 6 bucks!  We’ll see how they last, but for now, I’m much happier with my roomier situation.  I’ll probably need to find some more things to grow into.

Work is going well.  I’m feeling confident about the things I have to do- and I feel like I’m learning new stuff- especially new computer stuff.  I’m just going to say- for the record, that I still think about my past employment at times and get a little miffed.  But I’m hoping I’ll get over those “unsaid things” soon, meanwhile- I am using some of the things I learned there at this job.  So that’s a plus.

Ok- honestly, it’s probably about time for bed.  John and I should have studied spanish- and I’ve been meaning to do more science.  But we’ve have an appointment at 7am with a special baby-looking sound machine.  Yes- I mean an ultrasound.  So tomorrow we’ll know for sure, is it one or is it two?

Hey Hey.  I’m beginning to understand why some people don’t update every day.  Sheer exhaustion, other responsibilities, mostly, sheer exhaustion…

So, the baby has ears this week.  Must have been an intricate process because I’ve felt like crap-ola.  I guess it doesn’t help that I got a killer cold from the girls at work last week- and am still trying to get over it.  I’m SO used to just drowning myself in IB Profin and Day Quil to get through colds- but no….just Tylenol and natural throat lozenges for this mommy-to-be.  It’s been rough.  And I’m not sure if you’ve ever had a bad cough coupled with morning sickness….but let’s just say, I’ve been good friends with the infamous “dry heave” lately.  Ew.

It’s pretty weird- my whole life I’ve been a girl who can sleep in.  I mean SLEEP IN.  There were time in Scranton when Christine and I could sleep in until 4pm.  Granted, that usually came after a night of no sleep- but still.   Now I’m up at 5, then 6, then 7, and then I lay there until 8:30- and feel so nauseous that I have to get up and make some food.  At the moment I’m indulging in Saturday morning TV.  There are cartoons I thought went off the air years ago.  Turns out, I was the one off the air.

Today I need to do more (maybe the rest, or close to the rest?) of my online science class.  This month is my goal- I want to have it done in plenty of time.  Then perhaps we’ll go to Kohls- Emily sent me a gift certificate for my birthday.  Maybe I can find some pants that don’t feel like they’re suffocating my baby.  Or maybe go to the bookstore.  Probably definitely some cleaning.  Maybe some cooking.  We’ll have to see how it plays out.  But first I’m going to finish my horrible ballet movie with the Mandy More soundtrack.  I have no idea what it is…but I think the girl with the bad turnout is about to have her heart broken.

Hey all.  Sorry for the non-updateyness as of late.  I caught a cold from the girls in my office last week and spent most the weekend sleeping.  Yes- even my birthday.  John was SO sweet and made me a beautiful cake and got me wonderful presents, and I was just groggy and tired most of the evening.  Jonathan came over and they wished me a proper birthday- and then there were the phone calls with singing- which involved my Parents-in-law and my Sister-in-law and family- and Kayla, my cousin Melissa’s little girl.  It was a good day- lots of cards and calls and attention.  My Mom sent me a new little wallet to replace mine that has seen better days- so that was a fun surprise.

The rest of the weekend was good- even though I still didn’t feel so hot John and I went to Logan to see Becca perform in the YA’s.  It was so, so good!  Last year it was kinda -eh…but this year, it was really good!  It was so amazing for me to see her up there, literally achieving her goal.   She had wanted to be a performer in the YA’s forever (her mom was) and spent most of the couple of semesters I lived with her talking about it- and it was actually a little emotional to see her come out on stage and hear her sing.  I loved it, every minute.  Even if it was in LOGAN

So yeah- now just trying to catch up on some housework and feel better.  Hopefully some good rest tonight will help me more in that department.  Oh yeah!  Almost forgot, went to the doctor today and I’m due around September 28th.  The rest of the visit was blah.  She didn’t say anything new- it was pretty much what I’ve been reading online.  We can’t even hear the baby’s heart for another three weeks or so.  So that’s lame- but what can ya do?  She said that I’m healthy, low risk, and that my uterus is the right size.  What more can you ask for?

I’ve been wondering when I’ll start showing. I guess it’s different for everyone- but I have noticed an increase in size in the belly area. When I lay on my back it flattens out (infuriatingly) but when I stand up or put on a belt or tight jeans I definitely have a bit of a bulge. Notice I said bulge, not bump. I feel mostly bloated and like everything that goes in doesn’t come out. So yes- everyone, if I seem to be bulkier than usual it’s not my baby. The baby is officially probably the size of a capital letter on this page. More than likely- it’s just gas.

So- the list of people in my life that are pregnant are as follows: the girl that sits behind me at work, Alicia, and my cousin Sara. Melissa has a little girl- so she beat us all to the punch- but on John’s side we’ve got little people all over the place. It’s kind of funny to realise that our girls (yes, I’ve decided that we’re having two girls…this week) will have plenty of company. I remember growing up in Groton surrounded by cousins- and I think, I KNOW that I took it for granted. There were periods of my life that I literally saw them every day. I remember getting sheets and laying them on the lawn in the backyard and laying out with Melissa and reading. I remember writing “Zac was here” on the walls of the playhouse our grandpa made us so that the younger girls would think it had cooties. I remember eating strawberries and tomatoes out of the garden and having my grandma yell things like, “Stop eating all that fruit! You’re going to get the runs!” (Oh how I wish I could get the runs lately, stupid iron/vitamin supplements disrupting my regularity). I wish I could bring my kids up in the same atmosphere. It’s SO tough, because we’ve got two amazing families, scattered all across the States and more- and I have the feeling that no matter how hard I try, I’ll never get them together all in the same place. All of a sudden I understand my sister Becca’s willingness to put her boys in a car and drive cross country to see family. She makes it happen.

Today has been pretty nice.  We woke up to a foot of snow- I got a phone call letting me know that church was “abbreviated” today, just Sacrament Meeting.  So we got dressed and got my car up the driveway and down the street (somehow) and enjoyed the meeting.  Afterwards John went outside to start the shoveling.  I helped just a little- but then went out and got some ice melt and tried to give the driveway a nice even coating.  The neighbor helped us out with his snow blower a bit- so it went a little faster.  It was kind of nice being outside in the afternoon- seeing everyone around us out shoveling the snow, waving at the cars that went by.  They actually closed the canyon while we were in our meeting- so I was trying to think of something I could make to feed the people trapped away from home…but it didn’t come to that.  Our neighbors said they were just trying to do avalanche control and probably got it cleared pretty fast.

So tomorrow is back to work- back to learning new things and trying to have some energy to get through the day.  I feel like it’s been a good weekend though- very very good weekend.  And more than that, I’m looking at a week of coming home to my wonderful home and my wonderful husband BEING here.  It’ll be a good week.  I’m going to go help him make some pizza