26 Weeks Pregnant

Here I am at 26 Weeks. What you can't see in this picture is the lovely new belly brace I got at the physical therapist this week.

Turns out I know my body pretty well and the issue with my hip is a pre-existing condition that I have learned to work through when not pregnant. When pregnant, it's not as easy to do.

The condition is that my pelvis is already pretty flexible. Looser than most people. What this means is there's a lot of movement there with regards to the bones and sometimes those bones don't always move together. One side, the left, gets "stuck" and doesn't move with the right side. Then there's swelling and pain and oh, the pain.

When not pregnant I can put it back in place, unstick it so to speak, and go on my merry way. Sometimes I need a chiropractor to help but most of the time I can do it myself.

When pregnant all these hormones loosen up ligaments and prepare the pelvis for childbirth. My already loose pelvis is way looser. It's stuck, there's swelling and I can't take anything to reduce the inflammation.

To help this while pregnant I have to ice my pelvis, do some exercises that aren't as extreme as I would typically do and wear this lovely 3 part belly support.

Let me tell you that even though this is painful and at times when I get up from sitting or lying down and it's almost impossible to put weight on my left leg, I would take this over puking any day.

Playing dress up

Things we do

Here are a few of the lastest and greatest things Miss C does.

• Likes to pull her step stool up to the counter when we cook and help.
• Carries around her baby dolls and mothers them.
• Talks about poopoo on the potty A LOT whether she is going or not. Even Copper, the dog, poopoos on the potty.
• Speaking of the potty, that is sort of hit or miss. We aren't pushing it and are just going with her flow. That may change but right now it works.
• She loves dressing up and wearing hats. Granny and Grampy got her the cowgirl hat and taught her how to tip her hat and say HOWDY. It is hilarious.
• Her strong will and independence are constantly on display and she wants to try to do everything herself. This often leads to frustration and sometimes meltdowns but she is good about accepting help or asking for it.
• Her vocabulary is ever expanding and she'll rattle off things that we didn't even realize she could say. We don't always understand her but most of the time we can figure it out.
• We think she is going through another growth spurt because she is eating EVERYTHING. Thankfully she continues to eat fruits and veggies and we don't really deny her those. She even eats stuff I won't.
• Right now she is wearing 2T clothes and size 5 shoes.
• Singing is a common activity with Miss C. Her favorite song is ABCD and I think it's because I have been singing that to her since birth. I couldn't think of any other songs in the middle of those long nights when she was first born to sing to her so that's what she got.
• We also sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat, No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed and many others.
• She especially likes the CD her Aunt Dawn got her that says her name. And wants to hear it over and over again.
• Elmo seems to be the character of choice for her and we read many, many Elmo books. She really likes the flap books that have a "surprise" for her to find.
• At night she goes to bed with her crib full of stuff animals. They have been there pretty much since she was born but now she knows who they all are. There's Fetch (a dog actually named Buster), Wally (Red Sox mascot), Gapper (Reds mascot), Monkey, Elmo and her new glow baby that plays music.
• Cleaning is also one of her favorite things to do and she'll clean up her messes and wipe things off whenever she can. Hope this lasts.
• Our house is full of pictures and she knows quite a few names and faces.
• Overall Miss C is hilariously wonderful to be around. She has a fiery personality but is also a sweetheart who will hug and kiss when asked. Couldn't imagine life without her.

Owen

Every night before I put Miss C to bed, we talk about her day. I'll tell her things she did during the day that were positive to encourage more of that behavior. It's our special time. If I forget for whatever reason she responds with DAY! DAY! to remind me to talk about her day.

As part of this routine I also ask her what was her favorite part of the day. Lately, it's been Owen.

Owen is a little boy in her Day Care room that has the cubby next to hers and I guess is the current highlight of her day. Everything is Owen. If you went by what she said he's the only person she plays with while there and really the only person there. It's super cute.

25 Weeks Pregnant

I am officially 25 weeks pregnant. Work has killed me so I look worn out because I am.

Things are going pretty well as far as this pregnancy goes. Aside from the fact that I failed my glucose test and have to do the 3 hour test and that I am going to PT for my pelvic pain, things are good. I can't really complain.

I feel like this time around I am not as engaged in the pregnancy as I was with Miss C. So much going on that is distracting me like raising a toddler and working my ass off. Things with work are starting to slow down so I am trying to reconnect with my growing little one. The good thing is she is a mover and I am constantly reminded she is there.

It's funny because when I tell people I am due May 4 they act like that is so far away but really, it's not. I am in the final stretch. Her arrival will be here before we know it. Which, presents a dilema for us actually that I am trying to work through.

What do people do when they don't have family available to watch their other child/children when they deliver? You can't exactly take a toddler with you to the hospital and you can't leave them at home by themselves. And I personally don't want to drive myself to the hospital so SP can stay home with Miss C.

This is a tough one. We are figuring it out and it will be fine. But it's among the many things I worry about. It's legit unlike some of the other crazy thoughts I have.

Who's your momma?

I think it's the bad hair dos that make us look alike.

Granny and Grampy Visit

Let it snow

Dear Life - I would like you back

Sorry for the lack of posting. My life has been turned on its head, flipped inside out and then beaten within an inch of existence.

This has been "THE" moment in my career that I have been working toward for the last 3 years. We took the hospital from paper records to an electronic medical record system. Major deal.

As a result, I have worked, and worked, and worked, and worked a lot over the last few weeks. 12 -15 hours days is the norm and since the new year I have only had 1 day off.

I am tired. TIRED. I would have been tired doing this not being pregnant but add that to the mix and it has been very, VERY difficult. I have been sleeping on the couch for awhile but this thing with my hip makes a restful sleep difficult to obtain most nights.

The good news is that this is temporary and will be over in 4 weeks. The bad news is this is time I will not get back.