Weeks 21 & 22 - Mmmm, ice cream.

What I've Been Up To 

Nothing too exciting has happened over the past couple weeks.  That's way ok though.  I've had more time to take care of little chores.  I went and got my thyroid bloodwork done.  The lady who took my blood was a spunky older woman who made me laugh a lot.  She had no reservations about pushing the neck of my t-shirt to the side so she could see the tattoos on my chest (I guess they were peeking out!).  I would never dare to do that to someone.  She just had this personality, though, that made it seem totally fine to me for some reason.  I also had a prenatal appointment last week.  It was an easy one; left a urine sample, had my weight and bloodpressure checked, listen to the baby's heartbeat, addressed any concerns, and that's it.  My practitioner's office requires that the appointments and Dr's portion of the delivery (the part I am responsible for after insurance is charged) be paid for by the 7th month of pregnancy.  So, I made a payment on that.  The nurse let me know that, before my next appointment, I will have to come in early to do my  sugar test.  She said I will have to come in fasting (from midnight the night before), drink a sugar solution, and then sit with it a while.  Then, I'll have blood taken.  I think she wanted me to be there around 8 am for the test (so I won't be fasting SO long).  I'm planning on calling her to double check the instructions she gave me the day before the test.  I'm going to have to remember to pack a snack for after.  My actual appointment isn't until around noon (they said they'd probably be able to get me in a bit earlier though).  I was also busy getting things ready for taxes, which we did earlier this week.  Besides that, I've been enjoying time with my husband when he's off and playing my video games here and there.  It's been really nice lately because he's really been picking up on helping me around the house.  Just little things, like taking the extra time to clean up after himself and having breakfast ready for us both when I get up in the morning, give me that much more time for myself. 

How I Am Feeling Physically

My poor face has been suffering throughout this pregnancy it seems.  My latest complaint is oiliness.  I feel like a big grease-ball by the end of the night.  I've also turned into a sweaty beast! :o)~  I get sweaty just sitting on my couch watching tv now.  It's crazy.  I'm not drenched or anything.  My poor armpits seem wet just hours after I've gotten out of the shower though.  I hate it.  As far as food goes, I'm having both cravings and aversions.  My main craving is just dairy.  I want milk (I go through SO MUCH milk!), cheese and now ice cream (plain chocolate).  I'm loving salads.  My favorites right now are the Miso Salad from California Pizza Kitchen and cobb salads (I like the one from Red Robin and LOVE the one from Lucille's).  I tried to just make a yummy Cobb salad myself, but it's not the same!  I also really like taco salads or tacos (I make them with ground turkey meat yum)!  Things I don't want: any veggies or meat (other than ground turkey or turkey burgers) not in a salad.  I try and try to eat both in lots of different ways.  It just seems like I'll take a bite of chicken (for example) and be instantly not hungry.  Then I just get grouchy.  So, I try to pick salads with a wide variety of veggies and with protein.  I also add nice chunky salsas and lettuces to my taco toppings.  My weight is doing well.  I gained 2 lbs this past week instead of just 1.  So, I'm a lb over instead of a lb under as far as the lb a week this trimester goal goes.  My belly is definitely bigger.  I feel huge.  I'm also having lower back pain when I walk around; nothing major, just noticeable.  Lastly, I've had sinuses from Hades lately.  I actually wake myself up with the noises my nose starts making as I try to sleep.  I even got my very first bloody nose ever yesterday.  So, that's pretty yucky.

On My Mind

Right now I don't have too many worries.  I'm still counting down to 24 weeks and a little scared of labor and delivery.  I have lots to do to get the house ready.  So, I keep a running list of all I need to do.  Funnily enough, I actually feel less rushed/stressed as the weeks tick by.  I've been missing work a little because I don't get that day to day contact with my friends.  There's so much I want to talk about and sometimes the email responses just take too long to come back to me.  I'm kind of down body-wise because I no longer fit into non-maternity clothes very well.  The belly has taken over and sticks out.  So, even though I love my belly and the precious baby inside, I feel out of control of the way my body looks.  Speaking of baby, I bought one of those BebeSounds prenatal heart listeners after my last prenatal appointment.  I wanted to be able to listen to the baby's heart whenever I want.  I thought it would be really neat to listen to her kicks when I start feeling them during the night.  It hasn't really worked so far.  I'll keep you posted though.