We ordered Matt's academic regalia last month hoping it would arrive before graduation, and it came today. I had him put it on immediately and took pictures. We love the hat. 
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Check out Dr. Oliver!
We ordered Matt's academic regalia last month hoping it would arrive before graduation, and it came today. I had him put it on immediately and took pictures. We love the hat. 
Nearly Normal (Physically)
I weighed myself again this morning and had lost 7.5 pounds since Sunday night. I was so excited about the weight/fluid loss and wearing pre-pregnancy bras that I decided to try pre-pregnancy panties. Hurray! They fit! Then I decided to try my favorite pair of pre-pregnancy jeans. Hurray! They fit, too! OK, I had a bit of a "muffin top" because of the stretched out skin on my belly, but I was in the jeans without sucking in my gut. And if I'm not wearing pants with a maternity panel, I can wear any shirt I want to. I looked like a normal, non-pregnant person!
I was so thrilled that I walked to Matt's office to show him. I hadn't intended to be so active so soon, but I was looking good and feeling good and figured I'd get some exercise and take along my computer to work on my resume, pay some bills, and participate in the discussion in Matt's afternoon literature class. Over halfway there, I remembered that the book I thought he was lecturing on has a really sad portion about not having babies. I considered returning home, but then I remembered that I'm not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds and was carrying my laptop bag full of electronic accessories and snacks. I needed to rest, and I'd be able to do that soonest in Matt's office. He could help me figure out what to do if I didn't think I could get me and my computer home. He was surprised but pleased to see me. So we ate some cheese and crackers I had packed in my computer bag, and I found out that he wasn't lecturing about sad passages today. He was showing his Intro Lit. class an episode of the TV show Firefly. I could certainly stay for that! I worked on my resume while watching TV, got to say hi to his student that is getting married this summer and moving into the house next to ours, and then talked to Dr. Neal about teaching in the fall. He hadn't told me when I contacted him last month that I need to fill out an employment application, so Matt took me to the office where they have applications. By then I was rested enough to walk slowly home carrying my computer bag. But when I got home, my underused abdominal muscles were exhausted from holding me upright while I was walking around and carrying things. I'm going to take it easier tomorrow no matter how good I look. :)
Tomorrow will exercise my social "muscles" more. My two friends from church who I've had coffee and lunch with are coming over to bring food and visit a little. I've assured Beth that it's OK to bring her son because being around the niece and nephews went pretty well while I was in Missouri. Susie said she'll take me to the community garden sometime, even though I warned her about spontaneous crying. I now have time to garden this summer and would like some squash and zucchini. I'll ask the lady who owns the farm what else she recommends I plant. Matt supports my plan to garden as long as he doesn't have to participate. Beth and Susie are both gardening, so I should have plenty of company. I'm also thinking of mini-trips to take and activities to try this summer. I'd rather have Neil, but since I can't have him, I plan to make the most of this time.
I'm not yet ready to blog much about feelings. Some moments are fine; others are not. My mind seems to accept reality pretty well, but something instinctive and irrational in me has to sob sometimes. I think hormones are involved. There are some things that if I think about them too much make me light headed. But most of the time I'm OK.
I was so thrilled that I walked to Matt's office to show him. I hadn't intended to be so active so soon, but I was looking good and feeling good and figured I'd get some exercise and take along my computer to work on my resume, pay some bills, and participate in the discussion in Matt's afternoon literature class. Over halfway there, I remembered that the book I thought he was lecturing on has a really sad portion about not having babies. I considered returning home, but then I remembered that I'm not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds and was carrying my laptop bag full of electronic accessories and snacks. I needed to rest, and I'd be able to do that soonest in Matt's office. He could help me figure out what to do if I didn't think I could get me and my computer home. He was surprised but pleased to see me. So we ate some cheese and crackers I had packed in my computer bag, and I found out that he wasn't lecturing about sad passages today. He was showing his Intro Lit. class an episode of the TV show Firefly. I could certainly stay for that! I worked on my resume while watching TV, got to say hi to his student that is getting married this summer and moving into the house next to ours, and then talked to Dr. Neal about teaching in the fall. He hadn't told me when I contacted him last month that I need to fill out an employment application, so Matt took me to the office where they have applications. By then I was rested enough to walk slowly home carrying my computer bag. But when I got home, my underused abdominal muscles were exhausted from holding me upright while I was walking around and carrying things. I'm going to take it easier tomorrow no matter how good I look. :)
Tomorrow will exercise my social "muscles" more. My two friends from church who I've had coffee and lunch with are coming over to bring food and visit a little. I've assured Beth that it's OK to bring her son because being around the niece and nephews went pretty well while I was in Missouri. Susie said she'll take me to the community garden sometime, even though I warned her about spontaneous crying. I now have time to garden this summer and would like some squash and zucchini. I'll ask the lady who owns the farm what else she recommends I plant. Matt supports my plan to garden as long as he doesn't have to participate. Beth and Susie are both gardening, so I should have plenty of company. I'm also thinking of mini-trips to take and activities to try this summer. I'd rather have Neil, but since I can't have him, I plan to make the most of this time.
I'm not yet ready to blog much about feelings. Some moments are fine; others are not. My mind seems to accept reality pretty well, but something instinctive and irrational in me has to sob sometimes. I think hormones are involved. There are some things that if I think about them too much make me light headed. But most of the time I'm OK.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
My Guts Prefer Pregnancy
My body is recovering pretty well from being pregnant. The post-pregnancy breast engorgement is pretty much gone. How quickly I went from a 42DD+ to a 38D! I'm certainly not complaining. :) The weird sliding of organs in my abdomen when I stand up is settling. I'm still moving a little slowly, but I hope to pick up the pace next week.
Unfortunately, the gastrointestinal difficulties that seemed to magically disappear while I was pregnant have returned. Everything I eat hurts. The stress of grieving doesn't help, but I don't think my guts like their "normal" location. I told Matt that if future pregnancies correct the problems again, I should have surgery to rehang my organs in pregnancy positions. He thinks I should just stay pregnant, not the first time he's suggested this. I reminded him that menopause will hit eventually, and I don't really need gastrointestinal problems while dealing with menopause symptoms.
I don't know that I'd mind staying pregnant if I could start at a healthier weight, which I plan to do next time. I've lost 10 pounds so far of the 25 I gained, and I've got more fluid to get rid of. My body absorbed all of the amniotic fluid that should have surrounded the baby, and that's in addition to the fluid that was puffing up my feet and the extra 20% of blood volume during pregnancy. The nurse at the hospital said that the pitocin used during inducement would make the fluid stick around longer than if it hadn't been used. I'd like to lose 50 more pounds but will probably be mentally and emotionally ready to have a baby before I lose that much weight, which would take about 6 months at a healthy rate. I'm giving myself one more week of rest before I try to exercise. If the weather warms up this week, I'll see if Matt and I can go for a short walk or two, perhaps to the dining hall for dinner.
Matt has been very sweet and supportive. I've needed lots of hugs, and he doesn't mind the spontaneous crying. He's great to talk to because nothing I say is inappropriate or shocking to him, whether its black humor or theological speculation. I stocked up on frozen food, so he's able to help a lot with meal prep. Tonight we had microwaved garlic and herb fish, RiceARoni, and green beans. Healthy and yummy (and still causing intermittent abdominal pain several hours later). Matt takes really good care of me. I'm so glad I have him.
Unfortunately, the gastrointestinal difficulties that seemed to magically disappear while I was pregnant have returned. Everything I eat hurts. The stress of grieving doesn't help, but I don't think my guts like their "normal" location. I told Matt that if future pregnancies correct the problems again, I should have surgery to rehang my organs in pregnancy positions. He thinks I should just stay pregnant, not the first time he's suggested this. I reminded him that menopause will hit eventually, and I don't really need gastrointestinal problems while dealing with menopause symptoms.
I don't know that I'd mind staying pregnant if I could start at a healthier weight, which I plan to do next time. I've lost 10 pounds so far of the 25 I gained, and I've got more fluid to get rid of. My body absorbed all of the amniotic fluid that should have surrounded the baby, and that's in addition to the fluid that was puffing up my feet and the extra 20% of blood volume during pregnancy. The nurse at the hospital said that the pitocin used during inducement would make the fluid stick around longer than if it hadn't been used. I'd like to lose 50 more pounds but will probably be mentally and emotionally ready to have a baby before I lose that much weight, which would take about 6 months at a healthy rate. I'm giving myself one more week of rest before I try to exercise. If the weather warms up this week, I'll see if Matt and I can go for a short walk or two, perhaps to the dining hall for dinner.
Matt has been very sweet and supportive. I've needed lots of hugs, and he doesn't mind the spontaneous crying. He's great to talk to because nothing I say is inappropriate or shocking to him, whether its black humor or theological speculation. I stocked up on frozen food, so he's able to help a lot with meal prep. Tonight we had microwaved garlic and herb fish, RiceARoni, and green beans. Healthy and yummy (and still causing intermittent abdominal pain several hours later). Matt takes really good care of me. I'm so glad I have him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)