The Plague

A few weeks ago my husband got sick. It started as a cold and generally feeling ucky. The Sunday before Valentines day it progressed into a crazy cough, headaches, and occasional dizziness. He spent the whole week in exile, living on the couch in our front room and staying pretty far away from me. Somewhere in the he went to the doctor and got diagnosed with bronchitis. Thanks to antibiotics and cough syrup with codine he was feeling better on Presidents Day (8 days later). That Tuesday we deemed him well enough to hang in the family room and sleep in our bed again.

By Thursday he was feeling sick and was once sent to exile in the front room. Another doctors visit came up with a diagnosis of bronchitis + flu. Maybe. He got more antibiotics and stronger cough stuff. More warnings to stay away from me.

I've stopped using our powder room and only go in the front room to deliver food. If he ventures out of the front room he wipes everything down with Clorox wipes. The last time I washed my hands this much was when I evaluated child care programs. Despite these efforts I think I'm getting sick. I'm always stuffy when I wake up (yahh pregnancy) but usually it's gone within an hour. I've been up 2.5 hrs, used a neti pot, and am still stuffy/sneezy.

Usually this wouldn't be that big of a thing. But the only pre-baby vacation we have planned starts on Thursday. So any pregnancy safe home remedies? I'm drinking tea. Planning on lots of garlic today.

A few early bullets

• I have a crazy sense of smell. Lunch time at the office has gotten really interesting. Though we have a conference/kitchen area the secretaries in the department where we sit have their own. I don't mind so much for afternoon popcorn, but the lunches. Oh the lunches. It should be against the rules to put fish in a communal microwave. Also anything sweet and sour, vinegary, or anything else that i don't agree with in the moment.
  
• I have never loved sleep so much. I'm averaging 9-10 hrs a night. With an occasional nap. Some days this is so irritating because I have stuff to do, but most of the time I try to enjoy the fact that I can take a weekend nap without worrying about a kid. How do women handle this for baby number 2?
• I have never been so fussy about food in my life. I'm a vegetarian with a few food allergies, but outside of the foods ruled out by those things I eat almost anything. I should say I ate almost anything. These days it takes me forever to decide on anything. This morning it took me 1.5 hours to come up with something (cheddar drop biscuits) and another 40 minutes to get up the energy to go make them.
• Pregnancy nose (congestion sinusy stuffiness) isn't all that different that my allergies growing up, but the lack of available meds makes it fun. I finally bought a neti pot. I've used it 5-6 times and with the exception of this morning it's been great. This morning my sinuses said f that, I am going to give you trouble. I think I'll try some essential oils in the shower (if I ever make it back upstairs)

Despite the weird and crazy I'm doing my best to enjoy it. I mean really- whens the last time you slept 10/hrs a night multiple nights and didn't feel guilty?

8.1 randomness

Yesterday was eight weeks. Aka 2/3 of the way to the not freaking out as much and not having to keep my mouth shut.

So far 4 people know- my mom (who I speak with almost daily), one of my girls from college, my favorite girl out here, and my husband's best friend out here. Right now we're in 'if they ask, don't lie territory.'

I kinda wish a few more people would ask.

***

Monday is our first appointment. I'm excited and happy and nervous. Last time around I went in thinking everything was fine, just trying to appease my husband. That didn't work out the way I though so I'm trying not to be over excited.

***

I've given up wishing for more aggressive symptoms. I get tired easily, I'm super picky about food. If I take to much time to decide on what to eat I get jittery and mean. Water, which I was really really good about before is gross.

For now that'll do. I'm trying to eat like I have good sense around the pickiness. Making sure I get 64 oz of liquid, even though I'm hating water. About a shot of juice in a 12 oz glass of water is ok, but without most the crazy calories.

It's Raining Babies!

In the best possible way. I jokingly referred to last years as the year of babies. Nothing tells you you're getting older like 10 babies being born to friends and associates in one year.

It started with my girl from grad school, then my boss, 2 former coworkers, two families from my husband's group of friends,a friend from a study abroad program, a work associate based in my neighborhood, and another work associate. There was a set of twins for those actually counting.

My husband has a big group of gaming friends-big group. We chose our neighborhood because 4 couples from the group lived here (and the house was a great deal). So our move brought the number up to five. At a baby shower for one of the neighborhood couples I learned that 4/5 of us are pregnant. Additionally exciting because the other couples have had to work with fertility docs to get to this point. Everyone is over the moon and I think I should win an award for keeping my mouth shut... It also looks like I will be due within 2 weeks of of one of the ladies.

If that weren't enough, this morning I got an awesome baby email. I have a group from one of my study abroad programs that has stayed close 9 years later. KJ, who is local announced that she's expecting twins this summer. Her wedding was the first friend's wedding I attended. It was my first trip to the state where I now live and a crazy trip to pull off- 10 of us told her we wouldn't be able to make it, let her mom in on the hoax, coordinated flights, and showed up at her rehearsal dinner wearing shirts that spelled out SURPRISE!!

So while there may not be as many babies in 09, the proximity of the '10 babies has me buzzing.

Happy Beta's

After freaking out over the lack of obvious symptoms I've been feeling and all of the random come and go symptoms I decided to email my doc asking for a series of betas. This is a blood test that measures the level of hCG, a chemical made by the cells that form the placenta. If things are going well this number should be in a certain range based on how pregnant you are and double every other day.

Three days after the email, when there had been no response I called in to ask what was going on. I may have been a bit...salty with the lady on the phone. Turns out the email didn't go through. I reeled in the attitude and explained that I was freaking out and would really like a few needle pokes to make it all better. The nurse thought I was being crazy (I don't necessarily disagree) and it took some convincing. Eventually she ordered the tests, I suspect to get me off of the phone.

Yesterday we got the result from the first test and I'm happy to report that they look good. I also took my second test, so on Monday I should get another round of results. With these results I will officially stop wishing for other symptoms.

In other news I'm 6 weeks today! Half way to the 'I won't worry as much and my husband will let me start buying baby stuff mark!'

Stupid Things I've Done Today

*Forgotten what I needed to retrieve from our bedroom in the time it took me to walk up the steps. It take oh, 30 seconds to walk up to our bedroom...I sat on the bed for 2 minutes before remembering.
(dry cleaning plastic bags for my class tonight if you must know)

*Transferred a fax to myself...sometimes people try to fax my office phone. I can transfer the call to the fax machine by hitting "transfer, fax extention, transfer." My problem? I typed in my extension. Then got annoyed that my phone was ringing back to back. Good thing I have 2 incoming lines.

Things I Never Thought I'd Wish For...

naseau
tender breasts
exhaustion

Really, who would. Only a crazy person. Or a pregnant one.

Those are the most common physical symptoms of the crazy changes going on right now. 25% of women don't get the symptoms and are considered to be lucky, but I'd happily take a little sick right now. Just a physical check in that things are going as promised.

The only things I've noticed are hard to measure. I think my sense of smell is increased. My husband has a chronically bad sense of smell, so I can't tell if I'm imagining things or if the 2 onion slices were really taking over the house last night.

The other symptom involves my husbands behavior. Last night he got on my nerves hardcore. But sometimes he's just like that. He gets into silly mode and though I tell him I'm having none of it he doesn't stop until I explode. When last nights explosion came he said "And you say you're not having any pregnancy symptoms."

I emailed my doc to see if I could get blood work done, but he hasn't gotten back to me. Until then I'm going to try for cautious optimism. Maybe also try to focus on my work a bit too...