Hello all! Well, I had a little bit of a scare myself this morning. Little Noah just appeared to want to sleep all morning and I have been working at home on the computer since 7:30 a.m. and it was starting to stress me out! I made a fruit smoothie and ate some cereal like I always do...and nothing. He is usually very active in the mornings while I work. So, I took a break and went into his room and put on some music and started rocking in my glider. I even pulled up my shirt to expose my belly to the light (such a pretty sight these days, this belly of mine!). Anyway, finally my little guy woke up and he has been an active little man ever since. Whew.
I try not to worry, but it is weird when that happens. I had gone walking last night and did a bunch of stuff around the house before bed, so I sometimes think when I do that and don't sleep well, then he tends to sleep late. Think he will do this when he is out of the womb?? One can only hope! Does this happen to guys very often?
Ok, so I have to tell you guys a couple of stories to make you laugh...last night I was getting ready for bed and I put my hair up in a ponytail and then put a face mask on (bright blue!) and proceeded to take my shorts off as I was going to take a bath as I had just gotten back from walking. I took one look at myself with these big, veiny boobs, large belly with the dark line going down it (although, thankfully, mine is not that dark yet) and this mask and thought..."OMG - is that really me"??? I start cracking up and walk into our study where my husband is and I just stand there and stare at him and said, "How could you NOT just LOVE all of this?!?!"
He starts laughing and I start laughing even harder and he says, "Hold on - let me grab the camera" and I take off running.
The other story is about what you guys said about getting dressed. I guess I am still pretty lucky in that I am getting along pretty well and still do a lot of stretching and toe touching, but yesterday when I was so wiped out, I just couldn't seem to do anything. My husband and I were lying in bed watching TV and I said I wanted to take a nap and yet I was hot and wanted to take my sweat pants off, but didn't think I could. So, he comes around to help me and I start laughing so hard at how pathetic the whole scene was that he starts messing with me and slightly poking my belly and tickling my toes and I felt so defenseless because my back hurts so much that I can't move quick enough to stop him. So, there he is pulling off my pants, poking me, tickling me and I am just laughing so hard because I am so defenseless!!! Just watching me try to move to stop him had to have been quite the scene.
Rebecca - Thanks for the advice on hospital stays. I have to agree with you that I will most likely want to go home after 48 hours, but I guess it all depends. Personally, I love my own bed and pillows, but I guess it depends on how I am feeling. We don't have family to help us, so my husband and I are pretty much on our own. Regardless, I assume we won't be able to stay past the 48 hours....or 96 if I end up with a c-sec. I am trying to see about having a nanny come a couple of times a week for some help, but not sure how much that will cost.
CT - Yeah, the birth plan is kind of funny to me, but to tell you the truth, it made me think about a couple of things that I did want to mention - such as the bottle feeding and pacifiers since I do plan to breastfeed. Most of it seems kind of ridiculous as so much can change when it all gets started, but it did help me to kind of get a comfort level over what my thoughts were about the whole thing. My college roommate had a whole long birth plan and then ended up having to deliver 2 weeks early as she was leaking amniotic fluid and the baby was running low on it, so she had to have a very unplanned c-section. So, her birth plan went out the window!!
As far as your question about intimacy - it is funny when you think about it. I mean, I think the hormones make us want it more than normal, but to tell you the truth - am I really in the mood for it? Not really - I feel so big and miserable and my back hurts so much. I think our partners look at us in a different way right now (not a bad way, just different) and they are scared of hurting us or the baby at this point and also don't want to push it on us when clearly we aren't exactly feeling like our normal selves. But then what do we do??? Well, we start to freak out because by God - why wouldn't they want to???
Well, for starters, when I look at myself (esp with that mask on last night!!), I wouldn't want to either!
I don't know. It is such a funny time right now for all of us. Our lives are drastically changing and I think all of us and our partners are aware of this change coming and I think you just become intimate in other ways more so than in that category. After 3 months have gone by after the babies arrive, I am certain things will go back to normal. That is what all the books say anyway. It is just an emotional, strange, yet wonderful time and with all of our emotions running wild, it is easy to get worked up over nothing. I mean, we feel big and unattractive and we want them to make us feel like we are still these hot, sexy women...when in fact, I don't feel it at all right now. But damn it - I want my husband to still find me completely irresistable...even if I can't imagine finding myself that way right now!!!
So, no, you are not alone.
Marybeth - I am with you on getting my body back. I appear to be the biggest weight gainer in this group and it does freak me out. I was a completely different person last year at this time having just completed my training and 1st marathon. I am thinking about signing up to do a 1/2 marathon later this year so that it gives me something to work toward. Ha - I doubt I will do it, but sounds like something to think about anyway and set as a goal!!
You look great now, so I am sure you will get yours back quickly!
Shari - your story stressed me out just reading it - glad it all turned out ok!!
Ok, I so have to get back to work!! Take care all!!
Tina
, and my bleary eyes subsequently opened wide with mild panic, since I had no prescription to buy extra needles. I woke up my dh who promptly began cutting open boxes upon boxes of packed stuff. After about half an hour, he actually found that little box in one of the big boxes, and I kissed him all up! Phewwww! 
)
My last day of work was Friday, so that's a relief, though. I am just so tired and emotionally depleted. The end of this can't come soon enough. I am not even very scared of labor b/c this sucks so bad. I don't mean to complain, but I am seriously miserable and freaking out. I hate this so much. I am glad to hear everyone is hanging in there and doing OK. That's about it for me for now, just wanted to check in and say hi.
Yesterday was funny because wherever I went, people were making comments about my pregnant belly or pregnancy in general. The comments started to crack me up after a while. We went to a party at our next door neighbor's last night and their friends were telling me how great I looked and how I am just all belly.....whereas this security guy at this jewelry store asked me when I was delivering and I told him in about 5-6 weeks hopefully and he said, "I would have guessed 3 weeks"....ha ha! But then he quickly added that I looked great and that some women come in waddling with these huge swollen arms and legs. Whatever - I think he felt obligated to add that! 
