I'll admit it. I haven't been a total peach during the first part of my pregnancy. And because I want to try to write about all the things I go through and not just focus on the "isn't it so wonderful that we're having a tiny bundle of joy and everything is perfect" or the "hey, did you know our baby is the size of a kumquat this week", I'll share one of my recent mini pregnancy meltdowns that even left me laughing at the strange place the influx of hormones took me momentarily.
It started on Sunday when the anti-nausea medication --or possibly some serious cell dividing/super hormone surge going on with the baby --had me back to square one with the whole nasty morning sickness that plagued me for several weeks nonstop during my first weeks of pregnancy. I thought I had crossed that bridge when I went on the anti-nausea medication the other week, and was kind of crushed to be throwing up multiple times a day again like I was a few weeks back(Sorry, that is kind of too much information. But this is a pregnancy blog, after all. You can't expect it to be all bunny blankets and baby powder, you know? ;-) )
My Monday started out the same way, and by the time it was noon, I was sick and exhuasted and ready to go back to bed. But, Joe and I had our daycare interviews set up and it was time to forge ahead.
Joe was getting up (he works nights, so getting up at noon isn't unusual, for those who might not know Joe works the night shift) and we started to have a conversation about the daycares and budgeting and things like that. In the middle of it, I got sick (again).
Joe, always sympathetic and never rattled but my mood swings of late, calmly asked what he could do to help. A glass of water, a snack, a back massage.
"You can throw up for a change!" I said, then broke into inexplicable tears which lasted for a few minutes before I then had to go throw up again. The tears intensified when I had trouble with the shower curtain (had to wash my hair again, you can probably guess why) and again when Joe came back to check on me.
"Your life is so easy! You never throw up!" I told him. He offered a sympathetic hug, and then went to get ready for the appointment. About 20 minutes later, he came back in the room and I was feeling a little better.
Then we just had a good laugh that I'd had a meltdown over a shower curtain. Sigh. Apparently these days, shower curtains can present their own sort of emotional trauma.
In the meantime, thank goodness I have a patient husband who has read "The Dude's Guide to Pregnancy." He informed me that Chapter 2 told him that no matter what he says or does, he will always be in the wrong for awhile while the wife gets through the difficult parts of the pregnancy.
"The book told me you might be like this," Joe said, knowingly.
Smart authors, those guys who wrote "The Dude's Guide to Pregnancy," are. And smart me to marry a good husband who is patient with my current state of craziness.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Baby Whetham's birthplace
I forgot to add a link to the hospital where Baby Whetham will be born in September. I have to say, I have been impressed with the health care I've received since moving to Salt Lake City more than two years ago. You can take a virtual tour of the St. Mark's Hospital women's pavillion at www.stmarkshospital.com.
When I needed to find a family physician, I went through our provider book and picked out Dr. Jessica Morgan, noticing that she is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. (She has to be a good doctor if she is a Gopher, I though). And I was right! I've liked her more than any family physician I have ever seen and her specialty is in women's and children's health, so luckily when Baby Whetham is born, I will be able to continue seeing her for my and the baby's needs.
Dr. Morgan's office referred me to the Millcreek Women's Center, which is the OB clinic located in the same hospital where the baby will be born. There, I am seeing Dr. Jennifer Kinghorn.
I've been impressed because Dr. Kinghorn has personally called me to ask how things are going and how I'm feeling (I had to go on some anti-nausea medication, lost some weight, etc. and she wanted to make sure things were taking a turn for the better). I was so surprised that a doctor called me personally I had to call my dad, a family physician, to see if he was surprised to hear that (turns out he wasn't -- he calls some of his patients, too. Guess I've never been sick enough to had a doctor call me before!) I guess I didn't know what expect since this is my first pregnancy, but so far I've had a good experience. Dr. Kinghorn's bio is at http://www.millcreekwomenscenter.net.
When I needed to find a family physician, I went through our provider book and picked out Dr. Jessica Morgan, noticing that she is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. (She has to be a good doctor if she is a Gopher, I though). And I was right! I've liked her more than any family physician I have ever seen and her specialty is in women's and children's health, so luckily when Baby Whetham is born, I will be able to continue seeing her for my and the baby's needs.
Dr. Morgan's office referred me to the Millcreek Women's Center, which is the OB clinic located in the same hospital where the baby will be born. There, I am seeing Dr. Jennifer Kinghorn.
I've been impressed because Dr. Kinghorn has personally called me to ask how things are going and how I'm feeling (I had to go on some anti-nausea medication, lost some weight, etc. and she wanted to make sure things were taking a turn for the better). I was so surprised that a doctor called me personally I had to call my dad, a family physician, to see if he was surprised to hear that (turns out he wasn't -- he calls some of his patients, too. Guess I've never been sick enough to had a doctor call me before!) I guess I didn't know what expect since this is my first pregnancy, but so far I've had a good experience. Dr. Kinghorn's bio is at http://www.millcreekwomenscenter.net.
Searching for daycares
Yes, it may seem a little early, given that we haven't even had our first ultrasound yet. But here in the Beehive State, aka Utah, aka the place with the largest families in the nation where you see a pregnant woman on every street corner and in every grocery store aisle, it is never too early to start tracking down a good daycare.
This was the one tip my boss passed along to me when I shared the news of my pregnancy with her a couple weeks back. "This is going to sound crazy, but you need to start looking for daycares. It's a different world here in Utah."
She wasn't kidding. Today we went on our first tours of two childcare centers. We're learning, especially for infant care, there are several waiting lists (the directors of these centers didn't bat an eye when I said I was due in September --I was half expecting them to laugh at me, but they assured me I was "right on schedule" in starting to secure childcare). Many places are only licensed to handle ages two and up, so we are glad we are giving ourselves plenty of time to research our options.
We're also learning that it's nerve wracking to try to find a place where we'll feel comfortable leaving the baby. Our first stop today was at LaPetite Academy in Cottonwood Heights. I hate to rag on the place, but I left in a panic, wondering if all daycare facilities are like that, then maybe I should figure out a way to quit my job and become a stay-at-home mom.
Luckily, our faith was restored when we visited My Children's Academy, also in Cottonwood Heights, not far from our house in Holladay. (www.mychildrensacademy.com). We were very impressed with the facility, the teachers and the quality of the tour and information we were given. There aren't any infant spots available for several more months, but we are at least on the waiting list to get the baby in after the new year, when our maternity leave is up. (I am taking 12 weeks and Joe will likely take three weeks when my time is up to be at home with the baby). She thought we would have a good chance of getting in, although there are a few pregnant women due around the same time that are on the list ahead of us. It is comforting to know we have one option that we like, and we will working on lining up a few more tours in coming weeks in case things don't pan out at My Children's Academy.
Utah has a nice referral service at http://www.cssutah.org/ and we have learned a lot about questions to ask and things to look for in a childcare provider. And being a reporter, of course I know where to go to find out all the dirt on these places. The Salt Lake Tribune sponsors a Web site called Utah's Right, which posts citations for all of the daycare facilities in the state. Pretty handy to know if you are dealing with small infractions (leaving a bottle of glue out on the table) or scarier stuff (leaving infants unattended for too long). I think the site the Tribune manages, http://www.utahsright.com/h_childcare.php, is a God send and I hope more parents out there take advantage. It's also handy to be a cops reporter and know how to run someone's criminal background. I'm sure the teachers at these places are great, but paranoid me will probably "run their names through the system" just the same. You never can be too sure. :-)
I'm glad we are getting a jump on plans. It is crazy to me that in a couple more weeks the pregnancy is 1/3 done already. While Joe says, "Don't worry, we have six months" to get things done, I tend to say "Oh my God! We only have six months! We have to figure this out!" Good thing we balance eachother out like that.
This was the one tip my boss passed along to me when I shared the news of my pregnancy with her a couple weeks back. "This is going to sound crazy, but you need to start looking for daycares. It's a different world here in Utah."
She wasn't kidding. Today we went on our first tours of two childcare centers. We're learning, especially for infant care, there are several waiting lists (the directors of these centers didn't bat an eye when I said I was due in September --I was half expecting them to laugh at me, but they assured me I was "right on schedule" in starting to secure childcare). Many places are only licensed to handle ages two and up, so we are glad we are giving ourselves plenty of time to research our options.
We're also learning that it's nerve wracking to try to find a place where we'll feel comfortable leaving the baby. Our first stop today was at LaPetite Academy in Cottonwood Heights. I hate to rag on the place, but I left in a panic, wondering if all daycare facilities are like that, then maybe I should figure out a way to quit my job and become a stay-at-home mom.
Luckily, our faith was restored when we visited My Children's Academy, also in Cottonwood Heights, not far from our house in Holladay. (www.mychildrensacademy.com). We were very impressed with the facility, the teachers and the quality of the tour and information we were given. There aren't any infant spots available for several more months, but we are at least on the waiting list to get the baby in after the new year, when our maternity leave is up. (I am taking 12 weeks and Joe will likely take three weeks when my time is up to be at home with the baby). She thought we would have a good chance of getting in, although there are a few pregnant women due around the same time that are on the list ahead of us. It is comforting to know we have one option that we like, and we will working on lining up a few more tours in coming weeks in case things don't pan out at My Children's Academy.
Utah has a nice referral service at http://www.cssutah.org/ and we have learned a lot about questions to ask and things to look for in a childcare provider. And being a reporter, of course I know where to go to find out all the dirt on these places. The Salt Lake Tribune sponsors a Web site called Utah's Right, which posts citations for all of the daycare facilities in the state. Pretty handy to know if you are dealing with small infractions (leaving a bottle of glue out on the table) or scarier stuff (leaving infants unattended for too long). I think the site the Tribune manages, http://www.utahsright.com/h_childcare.php, is a God send and I hope more parents out there take advantage. It's also handy to be a cops reporter and know how to run someone's criminal background. I'm sure the teachers at these places are great, but paranoid me will probably "run their names through the system" just the same. You never can be too sure. :-)
I'm glad we are getting a jump on plans. It is crazy to me that in a couple more weeks the pregnancy is 1/3 done already. While Joe says, "Don't worry, we have six months" to get things done, I tend to say "Oh my God! We only have six months! We have to figure this out!" Good thing we balance eachother out like that.
I am not a jar of spaghetti sauce
For some reason, the word "preggo" drives me crazy. I try not to use it.
'Oh, was it planned?' Who asks that?!?!
As news of my pregnancy starts to circulate, I am always floored by a question that more than one person has asked me. "Was it planned?" they ask, seemingly innocent enough and (I'm hoping, at least) trying to be well-intentioned.
Both times this question has been asked, the inquiry has stopped me in my tracks. (Don't worry, most people who should know better haven't asked me this question --and I've refrained from giving an overly outrageous or sarcastic response back to the poor twits who just let the question fall out of their mouths).
First of all, who ASKS that question? Especially to a couple that has been married for almost two years, together for nearly four with full-time jobs, health insurance, a house and means to support a child? I mean, we're not exactly a couple of teenagers in high school who have no idea what we're doing, you know? We'll be (almost) 30 and 32 when the baby is born.
The second reason I can't believe people ask this question is WHY IS IT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS whether the baby was planned or not? And what if it wasn't? Do you want me to start a long conversation with you about how we "slipped up" or "didn't really want the baby, but guess we'll have to have it now that I'm pregnant" Um, no! I don't think you want to listen to that kind of answer anymore than I'd like to provide it.
(Disclaimer: In case you are wondering and since I am bridging this topic, I will say that yes, our baby was planned and yes, we are thrilled. Less thrilled about some of the stupid questions people we barely know ask us, but thrilled nonetheless).
And then I start to think about all the pregnant women out there who aren't in my situation. Maybe the single girl who isn't in the greatest position to have a baby right now, finds herself pregnant --and then gets the ol' "Was it planned?" question from some random acquaintance and she is forced to explain herself when she really shouldn't have to at all. It's annoying, you know?
Anyhow, just had to share my rant about this situation. As you can tell, I'm starting to feel better and at least have regained the energy to complain about ridiculous people who ask ridiculous questions. :-)
Both times this question has been asked, the inquiry has stopped me in my tracks. (Don't worry, most people who should know better haven't asked me this question --and I've refrained from giving an overly outrageous or sarcastic response back to the poor twits who just let the question fall out of their mouths).
First of all, who ASKS that question? Especially to a couple that has been married for almost two years, together for nearly four with full-time jobs, health insurance, a house and means to support a child? I mean, we're not exactly a couple of teenagers in high school who have no idea what we're doing, you know? We'll be (almost) 30 and 32 when the baby is born.
The second reason I can't believe people ask this question is WHY IS IT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS whether the baby was planned or not? And what if it wasn't? Do you want me to start a long conversation with you about how we "slipped up" or "didn't really want the baby, but guess we'll have to have it now that I'm pregnant" Um, no! I don't think you want to listen to that kind of answer anymore than I'd like to provide it.
(Disclaimer: In case you are wondering and since I am bridging this topic, I will say that yes, our baby was planned and yes, we are thrilled. Less thrilled about some of the stupid questions people we barely know ask us, but thrilled nonetheless).
And then I start to think about all the pregnant women out there who aren't in my situation. Maybe the single girl who isn't in the greatest position to have a baby right now, finds herself pregnant --and then gets the ol' "Was it planned?" question from some random acquaintance and she is forced to explain herself when she really shouldn't have to at all. It's annoying, you know?
Anyhow, just had to share my rant about this situation. As you can tell, I'm starting to feel better and at least have regained the energy to complain about ridiculous people who ask ridiculous questions. :-)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Baby Whetham at 9 weeks
Today Melinda, Joe, and Baby Whetham had their first doctor's appointment together! We headed over to the Millcreek Women's Center, which is adjacent to St. Mark's Hospital (in a suburb of Salt Lake City), where Baby Whetham will be born in a few short months.
The appointment went well --no ultrasound yet; that will take place in about three weeks. Melinda is nine weeks along and anxious for the first trimester to be finished. Baby Whetham's due date right now is set for Sept. 29 --within days of his or her dad's birthday if all goes according to plan (we may find out if the due date will be pushed up by a couple weeks at our next appointment. Stay posted!) Melinda has NOT been feeling well, but countless friends and relatives assure her that this part will soon be through and will be forgotten when Baby Whetham arrives. Melinda did get some anti-nausea medication which she is excited about. Maybe this will be the secret to getting through the work day with a few less trips to the bathroom? One can hope. ;-)
Preparations for Baby Whetham are forging ahead back at the house. We have a room cleared out for the nursery and have picked up a few items for Baby Whetham's room. Grandpa and Grandma Rogers bought a cute sleeper and towel with ducks on it when they visited Utah in January for the Sundance Film Festival. And the great thing about living in Utah --home to the nation's largest families --is there is no shortage of great deals to be found on Craigslist. We snagged a barely used Rainforest Jumperoo (that our cat is terrified of) and a great carrier for hiking. Yes, yes, we are trying not to get carried away as we know we've got some time to prepare. But a great deal is a great deal, no?
Melinda and Joe are reading up on pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care as much as possible in their free time. Melinda's boss, who has a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old, sent her home from work with a backpack load of books today. Great reading on top of several other books we are checking out to find out exactly how Baby Whetham is developing (we think it is funny that each book uses a different fruit to describe the baby's size --some say he or she is the size of a "large grape" others use "a large raspberry" as their descriptor). Since journalists are terribly nosy people, a couple other co-workers of Melinda's have figured out the "secret" that becomes less of a secret everyday. Most have young kids of their own though, so it has been nice to get advice for making it through these first twelve weeks (the ginger industry should thank newspaper gals for their glowing endorsements).
That is where we are at in getting ready for the newest member of our family. We promise to try to make these blog entries more entertaining in the future. One thing about the first trimester of pregnancy --Melinda has found the creative spark in her writing has pretty much gone down the drain along with all her energy. :-) Friends tell her this will pass; I hope they are right. Until the next entry...
The appointment went well --no ultrasound yet; that will take place in about three weeks. Melinda is nine weeks along and anxious for the first trimester to be finished. Baby Whetham's due date right now is set for Sept. 29 --within days of his or her dad's birthday if all goes according to plan (we may find out if the due date will be pushed up by a couple weeks at our next appointment. Stay posted!) Melinda has NOT been feeling well, but countless friends and relatives assure her that this part will soon be through and will be forgotten when Baby Whetham arrives. Melinda did get some anti-nausea medication which she is excited about. Maybe this will be the secret to getting through the work day with a few less trips to the bathroom? One can hope. ;-)
Preparations for Baby Whetham are forging ahead back at the house. We have a room cleared out for the nursery and have picked up a few items for Baby Whetham's room. Grandpa and Grandma Rogers bought a cute sleeper and towel with ducks on it when they visited Utah in January for the Sundance Film Festival. And the great thing about living in Utah --home to the nation's largest families --is there is no shortage of great deals to be found on Craigslist. We snagged a barely used Rainforest Jumperoo (that our cat is terrified of) and a great carrier for hiking. Yes, yes, we are trying not to get carried away as we know we've got some time to prepare. But a great deal is a great deal, no?
Melinda and Joe are reading up on pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care as much as possible in their free time. Melinda's boss, who has a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old, sent her home from work with a backpack load of books today. Great reading on top of several other books we are checking out to find out exactly how Baby Whetham is developing (we think it is funny that each book uses a different fruit to describe the baby's size --some say he or she is the size of a "large grape" others use "a large raspberry" as their descriptor). Since journalists are terribly nosy people, a couple other co-workers of Melinda's have figured out the "secret" that becomes less of a secret everyday. Most have young kids of their own though, so it has been nice to get advice for making it through these first twelve weeks (the ginger industry should thank newspaper gals for their glowing endorsements).
That is where we are at in getting ready for the newest member of our family. We promise to try to make these blog entries more entertaining in the future. One thing about the first trimester of pregnancy --Melinda has found the creative spark in her writing has pretty much gone down the drain along with all her energy. :-) Friends tell her this will pass; I hope they are right. Until the next entry...
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