Thursday, November 26, 2009

Roller coaster last week

It's 6 days before due date today ... it's agonizingly close and there's been highs but also lows this past week.

One high was last Saturday's baby shower which I thought I would never get to, being just a week and a bit before the due date. I was too optimistic or believed too many people who say I've got such a big belly surely the baby will come early. Well it hasn't & the odds are that it will be just on time or a bit late given it's my first child birth.

Anyway, it was a lovely day, sun was out, just a little humid but remained below 30's. My sister in law Michelle organised the invites & between herself & other sisters in law, they provided some nibbles, fruit, cake etc. It was a great afternoon filled with laughter, stories and presents. Two girlfriends stayed until early evening & I had lots of fun chatting with them. Oh I love girl friends :) Then, the following day, it was the horrible 41 degree day & hubby & I basically stayed indoors. Thank goodness we have a pool in the complex & also airconditioning so I survived & didn't feel too bothered throughout the day.

Later that day, I discovered a rash on my forehead so I thought then that I must've been bitten by a mosquito whilst I was in the pool or on my way to/from the pool got bitten by a spider or something nasty because it was turning into a nasty rash. 2 days later the rash had multiplied & now had them on my left eyelid. Eventually on Wednesday hubby brought me to see a GP and lo & behold it was none of the things I thought it was. I got diagnosed with Shingles! It was THE ABSOLUTE LAST thing I needed and I was really depressed the whole day wallowing in my unfortunate circumstance.
I'm taking antibiotics & putting lots of soothing topical medicines which my OB had OK'd but from not taking any medication apart from the odd paracetamol during my entire pregnancy, I'm taking 3000 milligrams a day of antibiotics for the next 7 days plus paracetamol for the pain. The fact that it is very painful is a constant reminder that I had this affliction and that instead of having a blissful time waiting for bub to come I had this disease to deal with ... blah blah blah. Yes, I was quite down.

Question I have which will be answered on Monday on my next OB appointment is whether it's possible for me to pass on chicken pox virus to baby. I'm thinking no because my baby would have the chickenpox & shingles antibody but I'm not 100% sure. Or does anyone know the answer?

Today, I feel much better. I've come to terms with the "disease" and that I just have to deal with it and get over it. It is not life threatening and will get better in due course so it isn't a disaster. Just need to make sure bub cooperates and doesn't come before next Wednesday to make sure my rash has healed & that the virus is out of my system.

Until later,

newmumV(ange)




Tuesday, November 17, 2009

ZZZZZZ

It is second day into the first week of my maternity leave & I didn't realize how hard it would be to go through my to do list! I thought I would have done much more around the house by now. But, having said that I have washed rest of baby's clothes & cooked about a week & half worth of dinners to be frozen so maybe it's not too bad.

I am just sooooo exhausted all the time! Is this normal?!

I sleep about 11 hours - broken sleep of course due to all the toilet stops & carpal tunnel pain & needing to turn & baby moving etc. But after having breakfast, I feel like going to bed again at 11am! Because of all the cooking, I didn't manage a cat nap until early afternoon but as I type this, the bed is calling me for a more substantial nap.

Til later (after the zzzzzzzzzzzzzz)....

Vange

Saturday, November 14, 2009

T minus 2 & half weeks


Yes, it's getting closer & closer to due date and I've finally started my maternity leave. If everything falls into place (finances mainly but child care too) I should be off for the next 9 months.

Last Friday, I finished work. After what felt like a loooong wait, the final work day seemed anti-climactic. I expected to feel so relieved at the end of the day but I didn't really. It felt like any other Friday except I was the centre of attention. Work mates were wonderful, making a whole fuss about my last day - they dressed up my desk with cute baby stuff, put up a sign "happy birth" by cutting out the word "day", my ex-boss baked a Martha Stewart-esque raspberry cheese cake and then my boss & team presented me with a lovely card and a visa voucher. It was a great day but I think I'd feel the impact of not working on Monday when hubby goes back to work whilst I get to sleep in and think about what to do for the rest of the day...

Already, I've got a list in my head - wash rest of baby clothes, cook lots & make frozen dinners, clean house for my baby shower on Saturday. And, on Monday, if it does turn out to be a 40 degree day, then I would have to go in the pool no matter how massive & whale-like I look.

So, wish me luck as I wait for this bub to come ... may it not be too soon (ie. before my next doctor's appointment which is more than a week away or my baby shower) nor too tardy either. May his timing be just right.

Til later,

Vange