random pics from this week

The mushrooms have returned. This time to my Christmas Cactus. I did some research on the internet and it turns out they're totally harmless to the plant, humans, and pets (unless one of us eats them) and there's really no way to get rid of them. So, they suggest just enjoying them.

I got a new sundress. I wanted something that was extra comfy and cool. I think I look like a whale wearing a muu-muu, but it feels like I'm wearing pajamas so I don't really care!




I was talking on the phone Friday and Jeremy disappeared. I thought maybe he'd gone to the bathroom, or, even better, had been inspired by my energy burst and was doing some cleaning. I found him and Jessie here...

update on the drama

I had put off posting 'til I had the results of last week's tests back...I didn't realize it would be a week! OK, so the blood work came back and everything is ok except my thyroid levels haven't gone up at all since they doubled the medicine 6 weeks ago, so they're doubling it again and having me re-test it in 2 weeks. The urine sample came back and there was protein in my urine, but it wasn't enough to diagnose me with preeclampsia (it puts me in the borderline preeclampsia category). So, that's a good thing!
As last week progressed I was feeling ickier and ickier so when the doctor called yesterday afternoon to give me the test results I told her what had been going on (headaches, nausea, heart beating really hard, white spots in my vision, increased swelling in my hands and feet, and just generally feeling bad) and she said she wanted me to come in yesterday afternoon to be checked. So I quickly showered and Jeremy took me in (he was home from work early). As it turned out my heart rate was high and my blood pressure was borderline, but I was having some contractions. They monitored me for awhile and I ended up having 10+ in the hour that the monitors were going. As I talked to the midwife she decided that I might have a yeast infection (as often happens when being treated for a bacterial infection). Turns out I do and they believe the yeast infection was causing the contractions. So they sent me home with a pill to treat the infection and we're hoping that once the yeast infection goes away the contractions will stop. In the meantime, since they've increased the thyroid medicine my heart rate is likely to increase which will mean more headaches and feeling icky. So, while I'm not on bedrest, I'll be taking it very easy to try to avoid as many headaches and as much ickiness as I can!
I just keep telling myself, "Only a few more weeks, you can do this! It's only a few more weeks!" (technically she's not due 'til August 1st, but I'm hoping she decides to make her appearance a few weeks-like 2 or 3-early which would mean as early as July 11th)

Beating the Heat

It's been really hot here lately (and I'm not just saying that because I'm 33 weeks pregnant). The temperature has been in the mid to upper 90s for several weeks with the heat index being well over 100, so pregnant or not, it's hot! Combatting the heat is a challenge...Here's how we all (pets included) handle it....

Jeremy naps on the couch which is directly in front of the air conditioner. Normally he doesn't wear a shirt, but on this day he did (and while it looks like he's in his underwear, those are actually shorts).
As for me, I eat ice cream (not that I don't eat ice cream when it's freezing cold outside) and anything else that's cold (like watermelon, cantaloupe, frozen grapes). I'll spare you a picture of me eating it, 'cause I'm usually in shorts and a sports bra...not a pretty sight!!!!

Tank and Jenny

They go for a swim in the pond (they don't seem to mind the snapping turtles and snakes)
Then come inside for a nice nap
making sure they're in line with the air flow from the air conditioner!

Jessie

Jessie likes the heat and would prefer not to have her picture taken while she's soaking up the rays!

drama, drama, drama....

You ever have one of those days where you have it all planned out in your mind and then it turns into something completely different (and not near as much fun)??? That was my day yesterday. I had planned to soak in the cool morning temps by taking the dogs for a walk, then going to the store (need cereal and pasta sauce-highly important stuff in this house!), and then heading to the library to check out some books. Sounds like a good day huh?!?! Here's what my day turned out to be....
I took the dogs for a walk and headed toward the mailbox first. I was lagging behind the dogs, but they're good about not getting in the road so I wasn't worried, and once they got to the mailbox they took off like a rocket. I hollered, but it did no good. Once I got to the mailbox I saw the problem. One of the gates had been opened and about 25 cows were in the road. I don't know that the dogs were trying to get them back in the pasture, but they were sure running around and barking a lot. Eventually I got the dogs under control and got them to the house; called the landlord, watched him get the cows back in the pasture; and then got the leashes and finished walking the dogs.
When I came in from walking I was going to get ready to head to the store and library. Then I noticed some unusual happenings when I went to the bathroom. So, I called my friend Kendra (she has 3 kids and is currently pregnant with number 4, so she's my resource for pregnancy-and lots of other-questions). She told me to call the doctor. I did. They wanted me to come in, so I did. Turns out that I have a common bacterial infection that isn't a big deal unless it goes untreated. But, they were more concerned about my blood pressure. They had received a report from the cardiologist I saw last week saying my blood pressure was high, and it was high when I first got there. After the exam they took my blood pressure and it was still high. Now they're having me do all the testing pre-eclampsia. The testing is blood work (no big deal) and then a 24-hour urine test (what a pain to have to go to the bathroom in a jug for 24-hours!). I should have the blood test results today and then it'll be tomorrow or Friday before they have the results from the urine sample. Again, it's not something that's too big of a deal unless it goes untreated. And, even if the blood work and urine test come back ok, the doctor wants to monitor me closely so I'm going back in next week.
By the time I got home I was pretty tired, so I took a nice long nap! The plan is to go to the store and library once I'm done with the urine collection...sure do hope it works out for today!!!!

32 weeks

Here's my belly this week. It doesn't feel like it's growing that much...my thighs and rear on the other hand seem to be growing on a daily basis!!! A lot of that is a product of the heat. No really, it is. Listen to my logic. If it weren't so hot out I would be up and about getting some exercise. But, due to the heat I'm kind of "trapped" inside where there's air conditioning. I tried walking in the heat the other day...I walked for 10 minutes and finished a 20oz. bottle of water before I was finished. That's just sick and wrong!
According to babycenter.com, lil' Gherkin is: weighing about 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair.

cat got your.....eye?

I've known since I got my cat (Jessie) 7.5 years ago that ultimately she preferred my mom to me. When Jeremy and I got married, I discovered that she also prefers Jeremy to me. Sure, I'm the one she cries at when she wants food, I'm the one she insists on curling up next to at night (even when it's hot, hot, hot), and I'm the one who's taken care of her for the last 7+ years. Nonetheless, she prefers mom and Jeremy.

Well, at 1:57 this morning I awoke because she doing a "burn-out" across my eye. In my fogginess, I didn't think it was more than a little puncture. Very shortly thereafter I felt the blood trickling down my eyelid. I got up and got the bleeding to stop (who knew an eyelid would bleed so much????) and then was puzzled as to how to clean it. Everything we have says not to use it around the eyes. So I settled on washing it with lots of water and then put some neosporin with antibiotic on it. I washed it again this morning (just before I took these pics). I'll just keep an eye on it (no pun intended) and hope it doesn't get infected!
In other news, I went to the cardiologist yesterday. He said that everything looks normal, but he wants to see me in 6 months just to make sure that these issues are occurring only as a result of pregnancy. If the palpitations continue after lil' Gherkin arrives, then he wants to run more tests. He basically said that what's going on is normal for pregnancy, but would not be normal if I weren't pregnant. He then proceeded to tell me that he's really sorry it's so hot out (supposed to be 103 today) and that if men were the ones who had to be pregnant and deliver babies that our planet would not be very populated. He's a funny man!

31 weeks, Melanee

I had Jeremy take these pics this morning before he left to go volunteer...I have to say I'm looking a little "rough" around the edges. In my defense, it was before 8 and I hadn't showered or anything 'cause I'm going to clean house here in a minute or two.

Anyway....This wasn't a very good week for me. I had some bad nausea at the end of the week and spent a large portion of Thursday and Friday in bed. I'm thinking it was because of a combination of several factors: 1). it's been stinkin' hot down here lately (the temperature has been well over 90 for the last week, which means the heat index has been over 100); 2) they upped my thyroid medicine; 3) I haven't slept well in quite awhile 'cause I just can't get comfortable; and 4) lil' Gherkin's getting bigger which just means she's putting more pressure on my tummy.

One day this last week lil' Gherkin was really pushing up on my tummy so I had Jeremy come over and feel (it was either her head or bottom) 'cause you could very distinctly feel her. Just as he got his hand around her, she moved. It totally freaked him out. Cracked me up! Ever since then he hasn't wanted to touch my belly much. He also says it makes him dizzy to watch my stomach when she does "sommersaults."

31 weeks, lil' Gherkin

According to babycenter.com, lil' Gherkin: measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.