Good start to end of week

This morning I spent the train trip lying down, and feel much better as a result. Not a particularly comfortable way to get from Gosford to the city, but it takes less energy to lie down than it does to sit up, and seemed to make a big difference.
Might pack a cushion next week...

However, on a more positive note...

...I've checked my diary and I have only 12 weeks left of work. I thought it was more like 13 or 14 weeks so I'm glad to find out it's a bit less. Plus we have Easter and Anzac Day coming up within that time to break things up a bit.

Spew-tastic

I’m feeling a bit put-out today. In an effort to not feel sick on the train in the morning (after almost throwing up on Monday, and staying home sick on Tuesday) I made sure I relaxed before going to bed last night, and focused on getting a good night’s sleep. I ate a decent breakfast and tried to stay positive as I contemplated the journey ahead. I was well-rested, well-fed, and reasonably calm. In fact you could say I made every effort to have a good trip.
And I almost threw up again. Grrrrr.
At least I can work from home tomorrow.

'Glare at the Dog'

I got a pregnancy yoga DVD today and had a go at it tonight. I invented a new yoga move whilst doing it - it goes like this:

Place yourself on all fours, ready to arch your back like a cat.

As you inhale, lean one arm forward to push the malamute away from you.

Use a gentle sliding motion to push her along the floor, out of your way.

Move back into the cat position.

Remove the malamute's paw from your arm.

Move back into the cat position.

Ignore the slobbering dog in your face.

Lean back onto your legs, extending your arms in front of you.

Exhale calmly as the malamute blocks the tv screen.

Return to an upright position, and glare at the dog.

It's very relaxing!

Pictures of my day

I've had a good day so far. There's been a few things happen that warranted photos:

1. Minnie found a very comfy place to sleep - unfortunately for her, it was on top of baby stuff so she wasn't allowed to stay there!

2. The cloth nappies I'd ordered arrived. They are very small and cute. This is a photo of the outside bit - you put a cotton nappy inside it. I love getting things delivered, it's tops.

3. Oscar kept getting in my way when I tried to work, stepping all over the papers on the desk. My solution? Grab a shoebox and plop it on the desk. Worked a treat - he's still in it now.

Not glowing, just sweaty

I have also been pondering pregnancy in general – which I’m sure won’t be a surprise. I’ve been surprised by how much energy it takes to grow a baby, although it makes sense when you think about it. I had heard of morning sickness, and of tiredness in pregnancy, but the main impression I think I had was that people just got on with life as usual until it was time to pop the baby out. In our age, when women work full time and are expected to have full on careers, it seems that we are meant to keep it all up until the last possible minute and just fit pregnancy into every day life, because to act like a wuss and take it easy would be letting down the sisterhood or something.

Well, I’ve been exhausted. And overwhelmed. And all over the place emotionally. There’s so much to take in and learn and deal with, and I can see why women used to stop work when they fell pregnant! It is indeed a delicate state to be in and it’s been a bit traumatic to find my ability to get ordinary things done gradually shrinking. It’s hard to get to work, it’s hard to get to the shops, to church, to stay awake, to concentrate, to have energy for conversation, to read the bible, to walk the dogs...the list goes on. A lot of things have become harder as I just don’t have the energy to keep up with my regular life right now.

Also, it’s weird to have your body start to behave differently and for your entire wardrobe to stop fitting, and for people to suddenly start asking you quite personal questions about something that is really private and precious.

Of course it’s all for a good cause and I know it’s worth it – I’ve just been surprised by the effort involved and the concessions I’ve had to make to what I think is achievable. It’s hard to find the joy sometimes, although feeling kicks and seeing the ultrasound pics is a good reminder of what it’s all about!

My conclusion is that life is precious. God made people in His image, we are His children and we are valuable. Life is not something insignificant, and it’s not created without a big effort. So I need to adjust my expectations to allow for this effort, and be glad of it, instead of getting annoyed about the difficulties.

Rocks and Pebbles

It’s occurred to me recently that most of my posts of late have been about my pets or my garden. While I enjoy both these things, I think my initial intention for this blog was for it be a bit more thoughtful. So I have been pondering what I could write about that has a bit more depth...and haven’t really come up with anything! I draw a complete blank. I think my brain is a bit worn out and it’s easier to focus on the smaller things.

I was thinking about that illustration people sometimes use to encourage people to put the important things in life first, where the idea is that if your life is a jar, you should put a few big rocks in it first and then fit smaller pebbles around them. The idea being that if you fill the jar with pebbles, there’s no room for the big rocks, meaning that you shouldn’t fill your life with small, inconsequential things or there’ll be no room left for the major things. My life seems to be lots of pebbles lately. Very interesting pebbles mind you!! Which is the danger I suppose – I get sucked in by things I can buy and organise (and there are plenty of them when you’ve got a bub on the way!) and run out of energy for the bigger things.

Although, having said that, I have been reflecting on how amazing our bodies are, that they can grow other bodies! How weird is that? It’s very strange and wonderful.

20 weeks = half way

"Your baby measures around 23 cm in length from head to toe (9 inches) and weighs approximately 420 grams (or 14.8 ounces).

Week 20 is seen as the half-way point of the pregnancy and the time when your baby is legally regarded as a person if born (issued with a birth certificate in Australia). However, babies born between 20 and 24 weeks are medically regarded as being extremely premature and unlikely to survive. With access to modern medical technology, a premature baby's chances of survival are greatly enhanced if born after 28 weeks.

Your baby's nails are now formed and their fingerprints are visibly engraved in their fine skin. Their permanent teeth now appear behind their baby teeth deep within their gums."

From http://www.birth.com.au