26 weeks

26 weeks and going strong.  Hopefully anywhere from 11 to 14 weeks left to go!  I organized an event the other day with a woman who has two kids, both born prematurely because of preecamplsia.  Her daughter was born at 31 weeks and she was hesitant to tell me that because that is only 5 weeks from where I am at now.  Yikes!  She actually started getting symptoms around week 27 and was in the hospital for 3 weeks before the baby was born weighing in at 3 lbs.  I can't help but have a small worry in the back of my mind that I will develop preeclampsia like my mom did with both pregnancies, but I guess only time will tell and there is not much I can do about it. 

I have been feeling really pretty good.  So far, I would say that being pregnant really is fairly enjoyable.  Besides the constant nausea the first trimester, which really wasn't as bad as it could have been with no vomitting, I've felt pretty normal.  I haven't had any swelling of anything yet, no vericose veins, no stretch marks, the indigestion is minimal, no severe leg cramps at night, and the movements of the baby are so fun to feel.  Although other moms have been saying to me lately that I have about another month and a half of feeling good.  And I'm sure all moms reading this are chuckling that I will probably have something different to say by the end.  I will say that my lower back has been aching a bit more often than normal.  I think it's because I've been trying to do things as I would normally and my body is like, "Whoa, too much!".  Also if I stand for long periods of time it will start to hurt.  If I eat a large meal I will also feel fairly ill for a while afterwards and for some reason my eyes/mind have a hard time remembering what a good portion size is for my new stomach size.  I already feel like my uterus is right at my rib cage and that there can't be much more higher for it to go, but I know that it will and that it will become increasingly uncomfortable.

Bending over is definitely getting harder, like putting my socks on and putting my feet through pants or tying my shoe laces.  I told Neil today that pretty soon he is going to have to cut my toenails for me.  I cut them as short as they would go today so that I don't have to cut them again for as long as possible.  I'm still loving all of my maternity clothes, although as my belly gets bigger the top stretchy part of the pants gets lower and is a little itchy and when I'm sitting for extended periods, like driving, jeans are starting to feel a bit tight in my low abdomen.  A neighbor gave me a bunch of maternity clothes the other day, including 3 pairs of jeans/pants, all with the small low stretchy band, which I think will be nicer as my belly gets even bigger.  So far I feel her moving so much lower down and when my pants push in she pushes against the band and seems to say, "You're squishing me!".  I guess that as she gets bigger and pushes out and is up higher that having the stretchy band down low will be nice.  Mostly at home I just wear super large fleece pants an overlarge sweatshirts, so comfort is not a question.  And as I'll describe, I do seem to spend most of my time at home and don't need to look presentable.

I feel like I should be out doing more with people or making more of this time while I'm still feeling relatively good, but at the same time the last several weekends I have spent mostly at home relaxing.  Of course I've been helping Neil haul and stack firewood and dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the house more than normal with the demolition of the fireplace creating an amazing amount of dust.  I will say that I did leave the house and hung out with a couple girlfriends last night for a sushi party (and had the most delicious cooked shrimp with spicy mayo roll!), but take today for example. 

I woke up and rolled over to look at the clock this morning, only to find it read 10:02am.  Even though most weekends I've been waking up at 9 or 9:30, 10 is the latest I've slept in for a while.  I made some tea and poached eggs with toast and snuggled back in bed to Skype with my parents until about 11:30.  (This has become our weekly routine where we chat about the week and I say hi to all the grandparents as they are preparing for their Sunday morning breakfast of waffles or something else special.  It's always a bustling time with Grandpa reading the paper at the table and saying that the dog needs to go outside and my two Grandmas interjecting questions, but then usually not able to hear my response because their hearing aids aren't in.)  In any case, I then snuggled down in my flannel sheets (which I just put on the bed yesterday signaling the start of the winter season) and proceeded to read/ nap with the cat curled up with me until about 1:30.  I then decided to get up and actually do something.  I was able to accomplish a couple loads of laundry and thoroughly cleaned the bathroom.  Then around 4 went to the swimming pool, where I was the only person there in a perfectly calm pool, and swam some laps and did some stretches for a little over half an hour.  It was amazingly relaxing and so much nicer on my body than even walking these days, which tends to make my lower back ache.  I took a hot shower and am now curled up on the couch with the baseball game on and waiting for some meat to thaw to start dinner.  I realize I haven't mentioned Neil in this entire day and normally he would have gone swimming with me, but he has been busy all day grouting the tile he laid the last couple of days where our new woodstove will go.  So even as I sit here writing this, he is on his hands and knees finishing up that project.  Wow, it is so amazing what he has done!  And the woodstove should be here and installed on Wednesday.  Very exciting! 

Here's me at 26 weeks.