Cheese, Glorious Cheese

I recently read that soft cheeses, such as feta, brie, and mozzarella, can sometimes contain a bacteria called Listeria if they are not pasteurized.
Pregnant hostages, oops, I mean women, can’t eat soft cheeses because Listeria is bad. I don’t know how Listeria is bad, but it is.

I’m packing lunches this morning and I reach into the refrigerator looking for string cheese.

I realize that I didn’t buy any string cheese on the last grocery shopping expedition.

Because it's MOZZARELLA string cheese.

DAMN!

I LOVE CHEESE!

Chris tells me I’m being a little neurotic.

I think he just can’t listen to any more of my incessant whining about the eternally long list of dietary restrictions that I have imposed on myself in my campaign for a perfectly healthy baby.

So, we’ll compromise.

I’ll eat the mozzarella, but I’ll avoid the feta and brie so I can sleep peacefully at night.

Now, excuse me while I go eat my cold leftover pizza (smothered in mozzarella)…

Seven Weeks

Baby Ticker

Week Seven

How your baby's growing: Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), which will disappear in the next few weeks. But that's the only thing getting smaller. Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — he has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his oversized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers, which already have some color, and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin and his veins are clearly visible.

Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your baby is like a little jumping bean, moving in fits and starts around his watery home.

Delusions of Empowerment

Today I feel empowered.

It’s almost like I’m in charge!

I researched the Maternity Leave Policy at work.
I printed all of the applicable forms and will have my OB complete the medical certification form at our first appointment on July 28th.
My manager will be so impressed that I have all of the paperwork done, she won’t even have time to mourn her loss.
I think I’ll give her a chance to soak up the thought that I’ll be gone for three months on maternity leave before I tell her that I want a shorter work day when I return.

I’m planning to tell my boss sometime in August.
After the OB appointment.
After our Florida vacation.
After we tell the kids, and the kids tell the whole world.
Maybe the kids could tell my boss?
Maybe not.

I check out the lactation services at work.
I work at a hospital, so they have nursing centers with hospital grade pumps and lactation consultants and nursing support groups.
Fabulous!
The only problem is that the nearest lactation center is in another building on the other side of the campus, so I would only have to walk ten minutes to get there and ten minutes to get back.
Well, I’m not an expert yet, but I’m thinking I might have to pump milk a couple of times a day.
That means a lot of time walking back and forth.
I’m thinking my boss might let me use that empty office with the big, soft leather chair instead of making me hike to the cow-milking center.
Heavenly…

I also started looking at prenatal classes at the hospital.
I thought it would be great to get started early so we wouldn’t have to take all of the classes at one time.
Looks like they are all designed for the third trimester.
Doesn’t anyone else on this planet believe in advanced preparation?

And the list of classes is endless.
Childbirth Preparation
Breastfeeding Basics
Baby Care
New Dad Boot Camp
Infant and Baby CPR
Car Seat Safety
Happy Baby (why do you need a class for that??!!??)

I wonder how Chris will feel about spending every weekend of our third trimester in a prenatal class?
Doesn’t that sound like fun?

I’m excited about the classes that are available for Kayla and Erica.
I want to sign them up for Sitter Safety.
It’s a babysitting class about baby care and what to do in an emergency.
I think it will be a great learning experience and will give them the confidence to be very involved with their sibling from the very beginning.
And I want them to be very involved.
I plan to exploit their services so I can shower daily.
I know I’m selfish, but I have no shame.

I’d also like to sign them up for the New Sister/New Brother class.
I think it’s intended for younger kids, but I think they’ll enjoy the tour of the hospital nursery.
Maybe I can sneak into the class so I can take a peek at the new babies, too!

Yesterday, I bought the beginnings of a maternity wardrobe.
I surfed around all the popular maternity websites and took a peek at the offerings on walmart.com.
I decided to look on Ebay so I can afford to wear pants AND send our baby to college.

I bought 4 pairs of maternity pants, 2 skirts, and 4 shirts for $50.
Yes, I know I have talent.
I’m saving this baby tons of cash with my thriftiness.
I hope you realize that these purchases will be added to the baby’s tab.
But I’m not mean.
I don’t expect repayment until he at least finishes college.
At least.

So, I’m feeling better about the waiting game today.
I feel like I’m making some progress towards our goal.
I know my body is busy growing this baby everyday, but I don’t like to be a backseat driver.

QOTD: Labor & Delivery

The big question of the day is:

Labor and Delivery, Natural or Epidural?

As if it is even a question!

Last night, I was reading a horrifying book titled ‘Pregnancy and Childbirth.’
Well, that book is about 10% pregnancy and 90% childbirth horror!
I should have dropped the book while I was still feeling somewhat confident about this, but I didn’t.

I’ve been entertaining ideas of a water birth, or walking through contractions, or giving birth standing up. I’ve read that delivery while lying on your back is the worst position because you are pushing the baby uphill and the opening is narrowed, which increased the need for episiotomy.

But then I realized that I wouldn’t be able to feel my legs if I had an epidural.
So, that rules out walking and standing.

Hmmm….

Should I be a martyr?

Considering that I get queasy just thinking about the delivery process, maybe I’m not the best candidate for natural childbirth.
I can’t really imagine myself meditating through the pain.

The baby forums are very helpful.
Some moms say, “Women have been doing it for thousands of years without drugs.”
Other moms say, “Would you have a tooth extracted without pain medication? If not, why would you give birth without it?”

So, the question is out there for debate and we have a couple of months to figure it out.

As of today, we are 80% voting for epidural, and 20% delusional.

Craving List of the Day

Craving List of the Day

Cheese

Avocado

Cheese

Guacamole

Cheese

I found a recipe for a pumpkin pie smoothie.
I want one right now.

Cheese

I wonder if there is any cheese in the vending machine?
I'll be back in a minute...

How about guacamole and melted cheese on Triskitt crackers? YUM...

Anxiety Attack

Big sister Erica is finally off to summer camp.

I think Chris is having a nervous breakdown.
He’s so worried about her that he can’t even sleep!
I keep trying to reassure him that she is having the time of her life,
but I don’t think he really believes me.

She’s probably not even thinking about us.
I’m sure we miss her more than she misses us.

Chris is feeling guilty because it’s raining.
Don’t kids love to play in the rain?

I’ll feel so much better when she comes home and tells us how much fun she had.

The good news is that she is not at home wondering why I am sick and tired all of the time. I have tried so hard to be a martyr, but it doesn’t seem to be working well. Chris says I look sick all of the time and I keep falling asleep in the car.

Erica probably has no clue that I’m pregnant. She’s never been around a pregnant woman, so she has no reason to be suspicious. But, she is eleven years old and being the drama queen that she is, she probably thinks I am dying of cancer and we’re not telling her.

I can’t wait until August so we can tell the kids what is going on!
Maybe Kayla will start being nice to me then?

In the meantime, I keep trying to imagine what our family life will be like next year. I’m overwhelmed.

When will I sleep?
If Mondays are crappy now, how crappy will it be when I have to get someone else dressed in the morning, too?
How will we pay for daycare?
Who is going to cook dinner?
How are we going to pay for Erica’s braces?
What will my body look like?
When will I talk to Chris?

I’m hoping I will cheer up by the time I’m beginning to show.
I wish I was more excited.
Today, I am just terrified.

At least I can alleviate my guilt by blaming it on the hormones…