In like a Lamb?

Hi all -- I had high hopes of blogging today to say that I was all better, but alas I woke up this morning in pain again. I had had a stretch of good days this week with only a few short episodes of pain this week. Most of the pain I have had has been like a 4 or 5 on the 1-10 pain scale compared to the other episodes. And by short episodes, I mean about an hour. So for now I'll just say, things are definitely getting better, just not quite fully mended. Thanks to all for your well wishes and thoughts!

I'm astounded to think that today is the last day of February. I think I had mentioned in one of my previous blogs that I always like February because it's the fastest month of winter and one thing that I can say about my recent health situation is that it has made February fly by even faster. I have a theory that winter is almost over. By this I mean, I'm gambling no more major snow storms and no temps in the single digits (Sarah N, I know that you are really hoping that my theory applies to Fargo too!). And hopefully tomorrow will bring in a lamb-ly March that will fly equally fast.

My mind is pointed towards Spring and all of the exciting things that are coming up for us. Mostly I'm starting to think about baby shopping and finding a new apartment. My nesting instincts must be kicking in because I am all about organizing, minimizing and purging possessions. At least in thought -- I'll blame it on my health but I haven't actually so much as lifted a finger to get started. Of course, we have some time as we don't plan to move until maybe May 1. Can't be soon enough as far as I'm concerned!

An Update...

I haven't been updating my blog because truly not much has changed. So Monday of last week I woke up in the middle of the night in terrible pain which didn't go away by morning. I called my doctor who told me sadly, it's normal and not much that can be done. But since my pain medication wasn't really doing anything for me, they were able to get me a better script for hydrocodone, drug of the streets and drug of choice for General Hospital addictees. By Tuesday afternoon, I was thankfully on the hydrocodone which doesn't actually get rid of the pain. Basically, the medicine takes my pain from a level 10 to a level 7 or 8 but makes me a little doppier which ultimately allows me to sleep. It also takes 30 minutes to kick in, is strong only for about 1.5 -2 hours and then wears off and can't be taken for 4 hours. So, Tuesday and Wednesday night I basically passed in and out of consciousness every four hours to take some pills.

I saw my doctor and PA on Thursday who both feel awful for me, but discussed that there really is only one other option -- which can be more painful than the kidney stone itself and doesn't always work. I had an ultrasound that told me the stone was still there but moving, so at least there was progress. They advised me to hang in there, gave me a refill script in case my meds ran out over the weekend and told me to come in on Monday.

Friday went a little better and Saturday I thought I passed the stone! I had a wonderful night of sleep on Saturday night where I could actually sleep on my side -- one of the most horrible things about this is that I can only be comfortable propped up against pillows. Sleeping on either side is incredibly painful and really lying on my back only slightly better.

But Sunday morning, I woke up with slight pain in my back (where my kidney is). I assumed that maybe it was just exhaustion and stress, but alas by 10 am the pains were back and full force and lasted until Monday at 12 pm. I saw my doctor yesterday and he said, that I had passed part of the stone, but not all of it and to just hang in there.

So far since yesterday afternoon I've felt pretty good, but there's no telling when it will come back. Basically, I could be fine for an afternoon, and then out of nowhere I will be wracked in pain. The worst part to me is that I really don't have any absolutes -- no idea when everything will actually be over, nothing to really look forward to as the finish line.

The good news in all of this is that the baby is fine. She keeps kicking away, and her heartbeat shows her to not be under any stress or trauma and the medicine doesn't hurt her at all.

That's pretty much it! I probably am not going to be blogging a lot until there's something to report. It can sometimes be painful to sit so, I'm more likely to be laying down or pacing -- hence you probably won't hear much from me by telephone either. Just keep me in your thoughts and send any mental strength my way.

It's 3 am, I must be lonely...

Ok, I think this is an ongoing trend. And not a good one. Tonight the pain is not as terribly bad, maybe just because I'm getting used to it. But again, I'm wondering why this keeps happening at night. I would be so much more capable of dealing with this pain if I had gotten a full night's sleep between yesterday's pain and today's. Of course it would also be so much easier to deal with if I could actually lay down, but laying down causes the pain to get worse.

I realize this blog has become a little bitch-fest over the past few days, but hey there's nothing on tv at 3 am. And really, I would scream at the top of my lungs if I could. But my walls are paper thin and that would be mean.

Why is it always the middle of the night?

I've always thought it was kind of funny that most women go into labor in the middle of the night (or at least it seems that way to me). Or that illness always starts in the wee hours of the morning. Obviously this most recent pondering was brought on by something --that's right... I had another episode last night of horrible pain. I woke up at 2:30 and was up until about 8:00 am. It was better than last time, and my doctor had warned me that this was a possibility. Luckily this time I had my trusty Darvocet. Yeah for Darvocet. Darvocet is one of the lovely drugs that can be prescribed for pregnant women (however if I take to much of them Baby F could be born with an addiction, so it's to be used sparingly.)

By 7:30 or so the pain was finally going away, and I was able to get some sleep. Amazingly, when I woke up I felt pretty ok. So still drinking lots and lots of water, and pretty much doing nothing all day.

But seriously, God, is there a ban against having health issues during daylight hours? Maybe I shouldn't have said that -- don't want to court another adventure.

Not fun adventures

So Rob and I got to experience what the Labor and Delivery wing of the hospital is like. In short, not fun. On Thursday morning, I woke up in the wee hours with terrible pains in my side. By 6 am, I called the doctor who told me to come on in and long story short, it turns out that I have kidney stones.

Kidney stones are very common with pregnancy and generally are caused by dehydration. And they are REALLY painful. I spent the whole day and night in the hospital on Thursday where everyone was just wonderful to me. Those nurses are amazing! I am in such utter awe at how kind they can be at all hours of the day, no matter what they have to deal with.

Luckily for me, the pain was managed successfully with a shot and the most horrifying thing thereafter was having an IV in my arm. I got sent home on Friday and have been resting since. I still don't feel great, but I don't feel awful either and no serious pain. So for the next couple of days, I'm just going to be hanging out and drinking lots and lots of water.

Did My Blog Suddenly Disappear?

For some reason when I click to view my blog it seems to be missing all posts. Hmmm, weird and not really sure what to do about that one.

Baby Food

Ever since I found out I was pregnant I have been making lots of kid-food dinners. Tonight we're having Mac and Cheese with hot dogs. Would you consider that nesting?

Sunday Blog

I like to blog on the weekends because I like to read blogs on weekends, and it seems that no one ever updates their blogs adequately enough to entertain me on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekends are made for blogs people! Come on, you wake up a bit later, you lounge, maybe have a good breakfast (say waffles with raspberries and chocolate chips), watch some tv and surf the internets. What better way to start the day?

When I was in college I could have made a profession out of lounging on weekends. I watched chic flicks all day and ate Chips Ahoy (like whole packages) and then maybe went to the UC in my pajamas in order to get a good snack or replace those Chips Ahoy. And I did all this with my awesome roommates, including one whose birthday just happens to be today. Happy Birthday, Melisa! Of course, Melisa is probably not at home reading my blog right now because she's a good girl and she goes to church now. And of course she is probably doing something actually special for her birthday, so primarily I write happy birthday so every one reading will think about her and know how special she is.

Oh, and maybe I'll eat some Cadbury Mini-Eggs in her honor right now. That sounds like a plan.

Goodbye Tivo and other random thoughts

I feel like I should blog because I haven't blogged in a couple of days, but it doesn't really seem like all that much is going on. Of course next to the great release of Cadbury Mini-Eggs 2009, what can possibly compare in scope? Not much I tell you.

My Tivo is dying! It's so sad to me because I love Tivo and also because its really annoying to be watching a tv show and to have your picture just pixelate and get stuck and then skip ahead and then do it again 2-3 seconds later. We can't connect online anymore to upload more info, so we know its the drive and it needs to be replaced. Sadly that's not going to happen right now because we really can't afford to buy a new one. So Tivo, I say to you, you have truly changed my life. I remember the good old days when we first got you in our old craphole apartment in Chicago when you taped Wonderfalls for us as a suggestion. And the struggles of setting you up in our new craphole Buffalo apartment when... oh sigh, this is too tragic to further discuss.

Speaking of craphole apartments, right outside our front door we have a little private landing with a window. Well, there is a leak in the window casing near the top between the storm and the pane (I guess? You can tell how high tech I am). For the past month there has been a mass of icicles filling the space between the window panes -- and occasionally it drips. Sadly it also smells -- I think because it is rotting the wood? Or the drywall? Or something? Well additionally and possibly unrelatedly? There is also an icicle problem on the outside of the window and the front door of the building. So when we walk outside the door, there is always a sheet of ice on the door step, icicles hanging perilously overhead. Oh and sometimes the door freezes shut. Today, our landlady was out side our door talking with a maintenance guy -- so it sounds like all will be fixed soon!

Shortly thereafter, the maintenance man began working on something in the apartment behind us. It involved demolition of some sort. I'm not sure if I have mentioned this, but our walls are paper thin. So anything happening next to us, sounds like it is happening in the same room. So basically demolition equals headache. Yeah, it's a fun day.

Oh Happy Day

What's that in my hand? Is it Robin's Eggs? Easter Bunny turds? A healthy dose of vegetables and fruits for a pregnant woman? It's Cadbury Mini-Eggs!!!!



Here's the conversation that took place at Wegman's last night as I stumbled across a display of Easter Candy:

A: So we need to stop and pick up some pasta and some......
(long pause)
R: What? (Long Pause) Are you OK?
A: (points and stares) This is the happiest day of my life.
R: (finally catching on) Better than when we got married?
A: Yes
R: Better than when you found out you were pregnant?
A: I don't see any need to make judgments about my parenting skills, but yes.
R: You are a sad person.
A: Oh good, more for me.

Conversation that took place at 2:30 am when I realized Rob had woken up and gone into the kitchen before sneakily returning to bed.

A: You know that if your wife is pregnant and you eat her Cadbury Mini-Eggs you go to hell, right?
R: I know, and I think I'm ok with that.
A: Bastard.

Anti Super Bowl 09

So here's the Anti-Super Bowl Chili Buffet, and me with my baby bump mostly covered by this bulky sweater and my bowl full of chili. Sadly, I was so full after the Artichoke Dip and Veggies, and then the Chili buffet that I did not really get to sink into those brownies. I had a brownie piece about the size of my thumb just to enjoy the chocolate flavor. And I have never been so full in my life.

Ironically, we ended up watching the Super Bowl -- well just the last 4 or 5 minutes or so, but still we watched part of the it. Mostly we watched WipeOut -- now that show is hilarious.