Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Home stretch - 39 weeks

Apparantly, the baby is fully "cooked" and is now just lazing around gaining weight. Talk about over-staying your welcome! A friend of mine had a baby on the 19th of November, so I even tried a little baby-on-baby competition. Perhaps some goading - "He's out here in the world and you're not!". Didn't work. Although I did discover it is difficult to hold a baby when you have no lap.

My mother-in-law has decided that she is going to transplant Christmas dinner from her house to ours this year. Isn't that just what you want when you've given birth within the week? A house full of people who won't know when to leave? Mr. Hammy has had a preliminary conversation with his mom explaining that if the baby comes close to Christmas, it may be better for us to travel for a short visit than to have everyone here. His mom doesn't get it. She feels that I would be able to do whatever I want whenever I want if everything is taken care of in our house. I may have to take this thing in hand, but it's a moot point until baby shows up.

Mother-in-law also wants to come and stay with us for a time when the baby is born and I don't want her to. That should be another fun discussion! We're not buddies, and she's not particularly easy to be with.

And I thought all my discomfort came from being overweight, lack of oxygen, heartburn, and sleep deprivation!! What the hell do I know?

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Mothers and daughters - WTF??

My mother needs me. Really, much more than she should. Her first marriage to my dad was over before I was 4. Before my 6th birthday, she married my stepfather thinking (I presume) that the opposite end of the testosterone-spectrum was where happiness would lie.

She was wrong.

So she is now one of those women who has nothing to talk about except the doings of her family. Phone calls are a laundry list of why she's annoyed with my brothers, the latest hurtful episode with my stepfather, blah, blah, blah. I've told her I want to hear about her - what is SHE doing. Has she gone out for coffee? Been to a movie? Read a good book?

I live in another province, so I am only available by phone. The pattern goes like this: She calls. Sometimes she leaves a message. I've told her that we have call display, and that if she calls 4 times it'll show up so she may as well talk to the machine. Okay, so if she actually does leave a message it's something like "Hi, it's me. Give a call when you get a chance." And then invariably, she calls me back. It's incredibly fucking annoying.

I'm not a phone person, and she seems to be taken aback the times she calls and I say I just don't feel like talking....to anyone. If I was someone you knew, wouldn't you rather I call you back? Would indicate that I was ready to chat wouldn't it???

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Project: BabyRoom

Today is the day we start trying to pull it together. We've been buying stuff for the baby's room for months now, and it is time to make it look like somewhere you could stash a brand new person.

It got fresh paint in July, and we also steam-cleaned the carpets. There's a crib, a change table, a glider-rocker and stool, pictures for the walls....

My friends are plotting....er....planning a shower for me mid-November, so here is where we determine the gap between "got it" and "need it".

Wish me luck!

Monday, October 10, 2005

Blood guilt

So, I'm deathly afraid of needles. Like phobic. Sweaty palms, crying, the whole nine yards. Doesn't necessarily go along with the rest of my rugby-playing, contact-sport, no-bullshit persona, but what's a girl to do?

Now in the recent past, when asked if I donate blood, I explain that I am petrified and "I made it, I'm keeping it."

However, what with the bloodwork and crap I've had to do as we prep for BabyHammy I have found that a) I've not gotten any better with practice, and b) I have a blood type that is found in only 7% of the North American population and is especially useful for accident victims and premature babies (O-ve; universal donor).

It's not an issue right now, because you don't donate blood when you're pregnant (apparently, BabyHammy has "dibs" :grin: ), nor for six months after. But then.....should I try???

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Shamed into updating

Yes, Darth made me do it.

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I am so unbearably thankful that I am heading to my in-law's tomorrow for the traditional combination of turkey and torture.

To add to the hour-and-a-half drive to get there, my mother-in-law has invited my husband's Uncle, Wife and 2 kids. Sounds simple? Ha! The lovely bonus to this addition to the festivities is that Uncle and Wife separated less than two months ago. So this isn't a comfortable "we've been separated for a while and can be trusted to make like adults" situation, this is "we're not quite sure how to act, but let's try this on for size". And I can't even drink. Save me.

Baby-person is growing well, and at 30+ weeks I am ready to get off this flying umbrella. Which I know will only get worse as I expand into full term. At this point, I would donate organs for the ability to sleep on my stomach. Soon...soon.

My latest adventure in pregnancy had to do with having an Rh- blood type. I knew I was unique, but I didn't know that I was 15% of the population. So, despite what your biology books told you, even in a first pregnancy this means that I run the risk of having a baby with an Rh+ blood type, which could lead to my building antibodies against said baby. Which, as they say, is bad. So another blood test and a shot later, me and the small are protected for 12 weeks. After baby makes their appearance, I may need another if the baby is acutally Rh+.

Did I mention that I was terrified of needles in general? Yep. I've played contact sports my whole life and the thought of needles reduces me to tears. Every time.

Rare and confused - that's me. :)

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

29 weeks...

"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to accommodate his brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and him well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)"

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Happy birthday to meee.....

And I get to spend 4 hours in the car to experience 2 fun-filled days of work meetings! Don't forget the 4 hours back tomorrow!!!

Woo freakin' hoo.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Tired...

...but apparently I should get used to it. Sleep has become very challenging, what with seven-month belly and all. Can't imagine it will get easier as baby and I head for the homestretch.

I'm going out to run a few errands soon. Y'know, the WalMart run you have to make every so often when you run out of laundry soap and fire extinguishers at the same time? And I need to find something decorative for the baby's room walls. I'll wander over to Winners and Pier One as well to see if they have anything appropriate that won't kill me with cloying cuteness at the same time. NO ANNE GEDDES!!!

I think I hear one of our cats getting her ass kicked outside by her neighbourhood counterpart. Not saving her this time. I am ANGRY at her. (I know, what a waste of effort).

This particular cat has taken to peeing in the house, despite a very clean litter box. We've had her checked medically, we've steam-cleaned the carpets, my husband cleans the box every other day (we only have two cats), and I'm at my wits end to know what else to do. We are going to call a friend of ours with a working farm and heated barn to see if they need an addition to the barn-clan. The animal rescue place here in town is disgusting, so I don't want to take her there. Besides, who's going to adopt "Miss Very Affectionate But Pisses on Your Carpets"?

Thursday, August 25, 2005

How time flies

Many, many months since last posting and how things have changed.

For one: I am six months pregnant. Perhaps that explains general apathy and sluggishness March through May??

BabyHammy is due in December and I couldn't be happier (Mr. Hammy is nigh on to spastic). The only kicker is this: I really, REALLY don't like being pregnant. Now before some brain-surgeon out there starts tutt-tutting me and telling me it's all part of life and this wonderful process, they can crawl back into the Hallmark card they were barfed out of.

Seriously folks - it's all a sales pitch. Months one through three - no actual signs of a baby, just flu-like symptoms with the opportunity for ultra-sore breasts, acne, and bleeding gums. Woot! Bring it on!!

Months three through six - slowly growing out of all your clothes (like some bizarre closet-version of Survivor) and having to endure total strangers a) asking about your health or b) telling you about their own pregnancy experiences (when you haven't asked). I'm a fairly private person with a small group of close friends....this is fairly uncomfortable for me.

I actually had a woman come over to my desk the other day and ask me to stand up so that she could see my stomach. I told her I didn't know I'd been nominated to be the performing monkey of the day. You can see where my popularity comes from.

So everyone is sure that stork thing isn't true? How about the cabbage patch?

Saturday, February 26, 2005

"Cause darth said I had to

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.

Here goes:

"Cabals only hire one witch, see? They'd probably rather not hire any at all, but we've got special skills, so they overlook the whole witch-sorcerer feud just enough to hire one of us.Anyway, they figure, if they have to hire a witch, they want a good one."

From Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong

I noticed that it's been several weeks since I've posted - I won this winter's flu and cold lottery! Yeah, over a week of (literally) gut-wrenching stomach flu, followed rapidly by your every-day cold, complete with sneezing and sore throat. Woot woot baby!

Now Mr. Hammy is sneezy and sniffy and it's his turn to go to bed early and support the OTC pharmaceutical industry. All alone with my 'puter. I wonder what the yikesafolks are up to???

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Sick & tired....[why is that never tired and sick?]

Woke up at 2am - thirsty. Stumbled downstairs for drink of water. Back to bed.
Woke up at 4am - sweaty, dizzy, yikky-belly feeling. Wondering whether it will pass, or do I have to stumble to the bathroom.
4:03am - stumble to bathroom. Eventually yakking commences.
Back to bed at 5:47 am - eventually to sleep.
Feeling dozy and vaguely bleghy all day.

If I still feel this way tomorrow morning, I am NOT getting out of bed. I don't care how much work I have to do, I've been running at fast-forward for months. Maybe this is my system's way of saying "CUT IT OUT ALREADY!!!!"


Saturday, January 29, 2005

I'm an ISTJ, and yourself?

Okay, despite my very social day-to-day aspect, I'm more naturally an introvert. Seriously, I'm not sure I like people too much - they make me tired. Once upon a once, I did the Myers-Briggs personality testing thingy and came out an ISTJ. Which means I'm an introvert, with sensing, thinking, judging tendencies. Apparently only 10% of women fit into this category, which explains why I have more guy friends than anything else.

Why is this relevant? Because my husband left today around noon to spend the day with his buddies, and won't be home until late. I had a freakin' wonderful day by myself with naps and girl-movies, and red wine.

It is presently a fairly early 10:18pm, and I am slightly tipsy and ready for bed. Good day all around.

Night all. And remember, alone doesn't mean lonely.

xoxo

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

If at first you don't succeed..

...apparently you can get a job with IBM. I mean seriously, how many tests do you have to fail to join this band of merry idiots? And they have the audacity to call themselves a "Business Solutions Group".

My ass.

More like, "Please tell me the nature of your problem so that I can ask repetitive and redundant questions until you attempt to stab your eye out with a pen" Group. Ix-nay on the olution-say.

Will you hold?

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Yes, Virginia - Hammy has a blog...

To my yikesafriends:

Yes, I have a blog.
Here it is.
I set it up a couple of months ago and then experienced a spontaneous evaporation of this thing called "free time".
Apparently decided the other day that I needed someplace to write and remembered abandoned blog.
Welcome! Perhaps this will spare you all tedious posts about my life????

xo

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Let it snow, let it snow......uh fuck that

Blizzard "warning". How does that account for the fact that it has been snowing since I got up this morning and contintues to snow now? I tell you, after last week, I'm not busting my ass to get to work tomorrow. Nosireebob.

It's been an oddly melancholy day. I've been doing some sorting and re-storing, and I keep running across pictures and notes from friends and family. A small piece of lined paper from my great-grandmother telling me how proud she is of me ( I think it was dated 1987 - I was 15). A card from my Nan signed with a happy-face and many x's and o's. A tear-stained letter from a friend as she moved to the other end of the country, when we'd spent 2 years establishing the friendship of a lifetime.

I was one of those priviledged kids who was surrounded by family and grandparents as I grew up. I know how lucky I was, but sometimes it's jarring when you realise how much you've actually lost.

I was trying to explain it to my husband over Christmas. Five or seven years ago, when everyone was still where they were supposed to be, I hated spending Christmas with his family. Because it wasn't my Christmas, and my Christmas was happening somewhere without me. But now, my Christmas doesn't exist anymore because the places and people are gone. And that's harder.

My heart is full of the people I've loved and I hold tight to their stories and their voices. It's just difficult to remember when a picture or a glimpse of handwriting takes your breath away.....