Hawaii Tsunami?

Adam and I woke early this morning to near simultaneous phone calls and text messages from our families on the mainland warning us about the earthquake that happened in Chile and the resulting tsunami warnings. We got up and started searching the internet and watching the local news to find out if we need to evacuate to higher ground. Apparently we are not in an evacuation zone in our house. Even though we are right across the street from Kaneohe Bay and the water, it seems the bay will not be affected by any large waves. So we are basically hunkered down right now watching the news and waiting to see what will happen. They are expecting the first wave to hit the big island at 11:00 and then for Oahu to see the repercussions around 11:30. They've been sounding the tsunami warning alarms every hour on the hour since 6:00 this morning, and evacuating people in coastal and low lying areas. But they are telling everyone else to stay in their homes and off the roads if you're not in an evacuation zone. Of course the gas stations and grocery stores have been inundated with people freaking out and trying to get last minute supplies. The officials are saying they don't think the water levels will rise more than 4 feet above normal. Adam just told me that the base gym is open and is actually an evacuation center, so we might head over there soon to work out and wait to see whether everything is going to be washed away.

Update: It's quarter after 11 right now, 10 minutes since the first estimated impact time, and so far nothing has happened. We're just watching on the news the cameras watching Hilo on the big island, which will be the first part of Hawaii to feel the effects of any waves.

Update: They are saying we are now experiencing the tsunami, but it's not very big. The waves are only about a meter higher than normal and then they recede about a meter lower than normal and this happens every 20 minutes or so. They are saying it *could* get worse, but my guess is this is about as bad as it's going to get.

Update: Alright. Well, it's 1:40 and so far we are just seeing the tide rise and fall every 20 minutes or so, but no dramatic water levels. I think we will all survive over here! We're going to the gym.

Valentine's Day Dinner Cruise

While my computer was still on the fritz, Adam took me on a dinner cruise for Valentines Day (and partly for our anniversary too). We started out at the Aloha Tower in Waikiki and sailed out past Diamond Head and back.

Looking back at Aloha Tower and the piers where our cruise started.

Dinner was lobster and steak - YUM! I did not realize we were going to get a whole entire lobster to eat. I was thinking like lobster tail on the side of a steak, but this is what came out:

Getting ready to dig in. Eating lobster like this is more complicated than it seems at first. I have eaten lobster in the shell only a few times in my life, so I'm not really savvy on the most efficient way to do it. I ended up with lobster juice and chunks of meat and shell all over my hands and down to my elbows. I didn't even bother with the moist towelette they brought over, I just got up and went to the bathroom to rinse off!

We destroyed that lobster. Then they brought out another course of steak, veggies and mashed potatoes.

Adam and I went outside to get some pictures before the sun set, but it was really windy.

View of Diamondhead you don't usually see - from the waters off the southwest coast.

What a fun night!

30 weeks of pregnant glory

I was doing squats in the squat rack at the gym on Sunday. I was changing out the plates on the bar when this girl came up to me and said, "You're so motivating!" And we chatted for a few minutes about lifting weights during pregnancy. I was completely flattered because I see her in the gym all the time and I admire HER! She's beautiful and she's always doing weighted dips or squats.

I actually feel really good lately. The last few weeks have been the best part of pregnancy for me. My belly is growing, but it's higher up and seems more out of the way. The nausea and fatigue of the first 4 months has long passed, and I finally look obviously pregnant instead of just chubby or funny shaped. My maternity clothes fit instead of me having to hike up the waistband every few steps. I'm even feeling strong in the gym. It's still a chore to get a work out in, especially because I don't feel much like a fit chick. I mean, less than a year ago I was doing this:


And now I look like this...

30 Weeks EGADS

10 more weeks to go! Whee! Of course, I'm doing way less in the gym these days - I'm squatting half the weight I was before, and taking lots of rest in between sets, and nothing high intensity. So it was a really nice for that girl to tell me I'm motivating. I still have the fire in me, it just has to wait a while before I can stoke it again.

Speaking of feeling good and nice things, thanks for all your lovely comments on that last post. I'm basically over it. I took an entire day of sick leave on Wednesday and spent the day at the hospital with A in tow (bless his heart he came with me for the whole day). I did the 3 hour glucose test first thing in the morning and then we had a nice lunch at a nearby golf course. We rushed back to the hospital afterward for our ultrasound and a tour of the L&D facility at the Army hospital.

The glucose test was not too horrible. I mean, the drink is ghastly, and getting stuck four times in 3 hours is no picnic either. But the time actually went by pretty fast with A there. We brought a laptop and dvd to entertain ourselves. And so far I have not heard a peep from the midwives about my results so I can only assume I passed. If I don't hear by the end of today, that's what I'm going with.

The ultrasound went fine too. The Little Elf is totally caught up now and is not even considered lagging behind in growth anymore so that is good. She is almost 3 lbs! She is still breech, but I guess it is too early to worry about THAT. She has taken to kicking me in some vital soft spot way off on my right side and it sometimes takes my breath away! I was sitting with Adam the other day and I made a face and he asked what was wrong and I said, she kicked me and it really hurts! He jumped up and put his hand on my belly and said, "Baby Girl!! Are you giving your mama a hard time?!" Haha.

As for the L&D tour, what can I say? I'm still somewhat skeptical about giving birth in a hospital. I am pretty sure I would prefer some foo-foo birthing center or something. However, I'm glad I will be with the midwives and I'm still hoping for a completely intervention-free birth. I may end up with an IV, but I'm hoping that will be the extent of the prodding. The only thing that really worries me is whether they will be full when I go into labor. They have 10 birthing rooms and 18 private mother/baby rooms. If the L&D rooms are full I could end up giving birth in a tiny triage room - not ideal. And if the private mother/baby rooms are full, I could end up with a roommate. The Army hospital here is a virtual baby factory, so them filling up is a real possibility in my mind. They run their L&D tour every weekday and the tour is booked for the next 6 weeks!

So here's what you missed last week... 29 weeks! I'm growing so much that I decided to take pics every week instead of every two weeks. And here's 28 weeks. These pics were still in my camera and I had to get everything running on my laptop again before I could download them. Yesterday I spent the whole day organizing and downloading and fixing everything on the computer. It's so frustrating because I already DID THIS when I first got this new computer! Grrrr....

I also made the video montage for Adam for our first anniversary on Friday. It was fun going through all our old pictures and reminiscing about A&M and DC and all the adventures we've had. It took me a while to figure out how to get the pictures right with the music and how to get it up on the internet. A was working all weekend so I had plenty of time to myself for it. I really can't believe it's been a year! It's been an awesome year and I can't wait to see what year two brings.

Happy Anniversary Honey! I Love YOU!

Adam and Michelle First Anniversary from Michelle Seiler on Vimeo.

Welcome to my pity party. Hope you brought the whine. Har.

I'm feeling really cranky and discouraged right now, and I'm about to complain. Y'all, I failed the 1 hour glucose test! Can you believe that?! ME! The Queen of Nutrition?! Failed! Now I have to go back in for the 3 hour test omfGGGGGG. I am guessing it was a fluke and I do not have gestational diabetes and I will pass the 3 hour test. Especially since no one told me I was not supposed to eat for a few hours before the 1 hour test, and I ate right before I drove over to the appointment, probably about an hour before the test. Still, even if I pass the 3 hour test, it's just one more thing.

And I have to say, right now, I'm feeling like I'm just done. I don't want to do this anymore, any of it. I swear to god, I'm at the fucking doctor every time I turn around. I already have 4 appointments to go to every month, and at least one of those involves getting stuck with a needle for a blood draw. Sometimes I get an extra appointment added on for yet another blood draw. I'm already going every 4 weeks to the midwife, and the endocrinologist, and a growth scan ultrasound. And I have to go separately to the lab and get bloodwork done for my thyroid. It takes two weeks to get through all those appointments, and the next thing I know I'm back again two weeks later. I just spent about 2 hours at the lab last week doing the 1 hour glucose test. Now I've got to go back again for the 3 hour test. And I'm reading online that 70% of women who fail the 1 hour pass the 3 hour test. High false positive?! Yeah, just like every other screening I have done during this pregnancy.

What has any of the additional testing that I've been reluctantly talked into done for me or the baby? Nothing so far as I can see. Nothing but worry and wasted time. Hassle and stress. From the genetic screening to the ultrasounds, and now this glucose test, which is likely also a false positive... what benefit have I gotten? Man, I'm sort of kicking myself for not doing my usual annoying-to-everyone-around-me routine and become hyper-educated on my own about pregnancy and screening tests. Instead of trying to be nonchalant and not freak out about being pregnant, maybe I could have saved myself some trouble by educating myself and declining to have the tests done. The only reason I consented in the first place is because they get you with the whole, "it's for the BAYBEEE" thing. But what has my baby gotten out of any of it either? Good lord if the medical establishment today doesn't make you feel like a sick and dying person and omg something might go wrong with the baby if you don't do this test! Oh really. How in the world did our grandmothers and great-grandmothers ever manage to have babies? Are we doing any better now in our so-called modernity? Not from what I can tell.

I'm just feeling irritated and overwhelmed by the whole thing. And I'm ready to get off this ride. It's not enough that I go to work every day, find time to exercise, try to sleep and eat healthy, get ready for the birth, the baby. It's enough already! And now it's just one more thing, another test, another 4 hours of my life wasted. And if I fail that? A special diet, and possibly medication. I'm just done.

I feel like a lab rat. Like I'm being tormented for no good reason. And it's sad, but there have been several times already when I've seriously thought to myself, I love being pregnant, but I don't think I ever want to go through this again. I don't know if I want to have any more babies if it's going to be like this. It's just too much. Where's the joy? I feel joyful inside, and our families are joyful for us, but everywhere else it seems like all I get is negativity and difficulty. It's not just from the medical establishment either! If you've been pregnant before you know how people love to dish out the negativity when they see you're pregnant. I hardly ever hear about how magical and wonderful it is to have babies. It's all - Just wait till the baby is born and you never sleep again! Just wait until you can never do anything by yourself again! Just wait till they spend all your money and tell you they hate you and crash your car! And they predict all this misery with such glee. It's sickening, really.

It makes me wonder what in the world I'm doing with my life? See how the pregnancy hormones enhance the melodrama?! But seriously, why am I putting up with any of this crap? Why am I surrounding myself with people like this, and allowing myself to be subjected to the medical establishment? It's not like I don't have a choice. It may seem completely impossible to do something different, to seek out different prenatal care, to find a different community. But I do have a choice.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there. At the moment, I'm stuck dealing with the situation I'm in and trying to make the best of it. I'm sure this foul mood will blow over eventually and I'll get through whatever ends up happening. Right?

First Stage Labor and Some Book Recommendations

I have new belly pics to post, however, my computer (my BRAND NEW DELL) is completely kaput. Yes I am pissed, need you ask? And it is looking like it may be a week or so before I get back in business. So, belly pics will have to wait, I'm afraid.

We had our fifth Bradley class yesterday evening. It was about first stage labor. I thought it was very informative - the first time I've *really* felt like I'm learning something in class. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the classes are useless. If I wasn't already so well-versed in the nutritional aspects, I would already have learned a lot. I think it's important to include everything we've gone over so far. Part of the Bradley philosophy is not just the birth process, but how to stay low risk and healthy so you don't end up needing unnecessary interventions caused by things you could have prevented by, for example, eating plenty of protein, salt, water, etc.

Last night the instructor had a couple who "graduated" from her class come in to speak to us about their experience. It's always nice to hear or read birth stories from people who made it through without any medication. We are so innundated with birth images from the media that show screaming, irrational, out of control women. It's good to see the other side of birth. We also talked about what is happening to your body during the first stage (basically the whole time up until the pushing), and emotional signposts. Next class will be about transition and the pushing stage. That is the part I am most nervous about, even though I keep hearing that pushing is a relief and easier / less painful than contractions. I keep thinking about the baby coming out of that rather small orifice and, well, it doesn't sound very relieving to me and I'm sure you can see where I am going with this.

I also have a few book recommendations that I keep meaning to do separate posts on, but since I keep getting sidetracked, I will just throw them out there for you.

The first is Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck.

This is a great overview of proper nutrition in pregnancy. It reads more like two girls sitting down to talk over coffee than a how-to manual. It doesn't tell you to eat 2 of this and 5 of that. Rather it gives principles and general guidelines to follow to ensure you are getting the best nutrition possible for yourself and your baby. Highly recommended to read before you even think about getting pregnant, since it is so important to have proper nutrition in place in the months prior to conception.

Second is the Baby Bargains book by Denise and Alan Fields.

This book has been my bible for what to buy for baby stuff. It is very easy to read and provides reviews and ratings of pretty much any baby product on the market. Invaluable for the crib and carseat safety recommendations. I would have probably spent (splurged) $300 (in gift cards! shut up!) on crib bedding if it weren't for the advice of this book: don't bother with bumpers since you'll have to remove them once the baby can pull herself up, and quilts are useless since you can't really use them until baby is a toddler. My copy is already dog-eared and well loved.

The last book is Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

You've likely already heard of this book, but if you're like me, you decided it wouldn't be useful for you because a) you are on the pill or using condoms, b) you're not having trouble conceiving (perhaps you are not even TRYING), or c) you just don't really care that much. I was all three at one point. However, I hope I can persuade you, if you are a woman or if you are married to a woman, to at least give this one a skim. I wish I had read this book years ago. It explains a woman's cycle and the changes she experiences throughout the month. Yes, it does teach you how to chart your cycle so you know when you ovulate, but the information goes beyond learning how to do that. Even the charting info is really interesting. I thought it would be a huge pain to take my temp every morning and record it on a chart, but I decided to give it a try, because I finally got fed up with the pill.

I struggled for years with the pill - trying different brands and feeling each time like I was getting progressively more batshit crazy. Not to mention, when I finally went off it, I became amenorrheic for 18 months. Now, I don't know for sure if it was the pill or my thyroid troubles or something else, but I'm willing to bet the pill had at least SOMETHING to do with it. It took a combination of cutting way back on my exercise, gaining 20 lbs, reducing stress in my life, acupuncture, and natural progesterone cream, to get my period to start again.

So after giving up the pill, and encouraged by the Earth Mother and her husband who came to talk about Natural Family Planning to our group during our Catholic Engaged Encounter marriage preparation weekend, I got this book and started charting my cycles. And I thought it was kind of fun, even! Like a little science expirement. And we got preggers right away. ANYWAY, all that just to say I think this book is worth your while.

PS: I get nothing if you buy these books. I just like them and thought it would be helpful to pass it along.

Fat, small, baby, freak-out.

The other day I was walking down the hall in my office building and the tiny 80 lb Asian woman who cleans our floor saw me and did a double take. She speaks in broken English and it's sometimes hard to understand everything she says. But when she saw me, her eyes bugged out and she made a basketball shape in front of her tummy and said, "You hab babeh?!" [Keep in mind she sees me every day.] And I said, yeah, I'm pregnant. And she said, "How long?" And I said 6 months... baby is due in April. And she said, "Oh, befoh, I tot you jus git fat!" HahahahahaHAAAAA.

Yesterday I took advantage of my day alone to go get my hair cut and my toes did. Both the hairstylist and the nail technician made a comment about my belly being "small". When I told the nail tech I was 6 months along, she said, "Oh for real? How come you're so tiny?!" I was like, uhhh.... I don't know? I don't feel tiny! I guess it's better than everyone making comments about how enormous I am. I really wouldn't like it if everyone was like, Are you sure you're going to make it to your due date? Sure it's just one baby in there? Etc.

My cousin - the one who was in my wedding - is also pregnant. She was due in mid-March, but my mom texted me this morning and said she is in labor now! At 35 weeks. And they live in DC so they got snowed in yesterday! Apparently they had to have 5 firemen come and dig their car out of snow so they could drive to the hospital! Egads! Luckily I won't have to worry about THAT problem (the snow, I mean). However, I do worry that this baby will come early cause, y'all, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO MOVE 4 WEEKS BEFORE MY DUE DATE. Good lord. We are insane. Certifiable. I have a feeling the Little Princess will stay stuck until it's time for her to come, but now I have a new thing to worry about!

Adam is already telling people the name we picked out for the Little Princess, and even calling her by it so I guess maybe I will think about announcing it before she is born. Maybe. I might save it till she's really here. He told me he can't wait to meet her and I said, she is going to love you! And I told him he is going to forget all about me once she is born :) He said no way, he will have two princesses, but I will still be the number 1 princess hehe. He's cute.

I am going to get 5 pizzas from Costco and bring them to A and his buddies at work today for the Superbowl, isn't that nice of me? I don't mind doing it because I will get to come in and get a tour of his workplace and meet all his new friends.

Only 12 more weeks to go!

Administrative

You have probably noticed I am getting a lot of spammy comments recently. It's taking up too much of my time to continually police that and delete spam from the comments, so I am going to turn on the comment moderation.

If you talk to me in real life, you may as well skip this one because I have already complained or rejoiced to you ad nauseum on these topics

Work is drowning me lately, and I say that only to explain the dearth of posting around here. It really cuts into my lunchtime blogging when I don't even GET a lunchtime. And normally the last thing I want to do when I get home from staring at my computer all day is turn on the computer, but I have so many things to tell you!

For example, I locked myself in a stairwell at the hospital today! Don't worry, I found a way out (obvs). Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

First my big, BIG news: we got offered a base house! YEEHAW! Our move-in date is April 6 and I am very, very excited. We had a hot spell here and I was dreading spending 5 more months living here without air conditioning, especially as I get bigger, and once the Little Elf is here and I'm up in the middle of the night nursing a tiny radiator... The last couple days it has been downright chilly in the night, and I've slept so well, I've been pining for air conditioning. And our prayers were answered because we got a house, and we'll get to move before the babe comes.

Here is the floorplan, click to embiggen.

Adam went and drove by the house today, just to check it out. We can't go inside until the beginning of April because the current residents don't vacate till April 1. But here it is:


A garage! We will have a garage! And a yard! And... AIR CONDITIONING!!! That place is going to be an ice box inside I can't wait.

Back to my adventures at the hospital. I went to get my pregnancy blood glucose screening done today. I was running late (due to WORK), so I was running up the gigantic hill from work to the parking lot, then up another big hill from the hospital parking lot to the hospital. I got to the 4th floor where the lab normally is, but they had moved it! So I ran off again to find the new location, and instead of waiting on the elevator, I thought I'd be motivated and walk down the stairs instead. But when I got to the 2nd floor, it turned out to be the stairwell to nowhere. And then when I tried to get back in the door, it was locked! I followed a long hallway around the corner and found another set of stairs that spit me out into this little grassy area and then I had to walk back around to the entrance to the building. But, I finally made it up to the lab and got to do the test. They gave me an orange soda that tasted like Fanta that I had to drink in 5 minutes, then I had to come back an hour later for a blood draw. It was no big deal. I hope I pass!

Bradley class week 4 was about the Coach's role (meaning your husband). Of course, my coach is great. He could be a bit better about reminding me to do my exercises, but he does go to the grocery store with me every weekend, and he grills me a bunch of meat on Sundays, and he rubs my feet and my shoulders every day. I'm lucky to have him! Well, except for the part where he mouthbreathes like Darth Vader all night and then his alarm goes off at 3:45 am wtf. And yet, somehow I love him anyway.

Pregnancy is cruising along. I'm lucky it has been mostly uneventful. Of course, I still have plenty of things to complain about though. I'm uncomfortable. My back hurts and it keeps me awake at night. It's getting really hard to shave my legs and I can't even see most of my bikini line anymore so I have to shave that by feel. My bellybutton is about to pop out. I'm no longer swelling like a heffalump, but my hands, feet and face are puffy. I'm puffy enough that my rings no longer fit. Adam is working this weekend and I will be all alooooonee. It's hot. Um.... I'm sure there are more things, but my brain is running out of steam.

The Little Elf is kicking a lot and getting the hiccups almost every morning! It's very cute. We are pretty much settled on a name for her, but I don't want to announce it until we are 100% sure!

27 weeks ZOMG THIRD TRIMESTER Whaaaa...??!

Well, we are now officially in the third trimester! I know! When did THAT happen? I mean, for as much as it's felt like time is just dragging on during this pregnancy I cannot believe I'm already in the homestretch. Well... 13 more weeks is a looooong homestretch, but the last trimester at any rate. Baby grows, as you can clearly see. We are headed to our birth class so you know I will have more to say tomorrow.

Bradley Class Week 3

As you all know, we missed week 1 (not our fault). Yesterday we went to class 3. We covered the changes your body goes through during pregnancy and a couple other topics. We also got to see a video of Dr. Bradley talking about the birth process. He is a funny man; I thought he was very likeable. I can't really say I learned anything especially new or surprising. Most of the discussion covered things I've already come across in my reading and research on pregnancy.

I had to bite my tongue a few times when the nutritional information was being dispensed. Not that there was really any mis-information from the instructor, but I had to stop myself from piping up with a "better" explanation or more details. Like, "isn't this too much protein? I heard bad things happen to you if you eat too much protein?" GAH.

Or, yesterday's nutritional topic was eggs and how good they are for you to eat during pregnancy, and one lady asked whether we shouldn't just eat the whites because "don't the yolks have tons of cholesterol that we should avoid??"

GAAAHHHHH.

The instructor's response was that yes the yolks do have cholesterol, but the whites have lecithin that helps it move through our bloodstream so we shouldn't worry. Especially if you aren't eating tons of red meat.

GAHHHHHHHHH.

Which. Well, it misses the point entirely which is that CHOLESTEROL IN THE DIET IS NOT BAD FOR YOU. (Coincidentally, neither is red meat, or animal fat, or saturated fat). In fact, cholesterol is so important for your body that every cell can make its own if you don't supply it through the diet. I could go on for hours - days! - on this one subject, so I'll just leave it at that and say that I was squeezing Adam's hand and biting my tongue at several points during the class!

Overall, though, the nutritional advice they give out is spot on, even when I want to get on my soapbox and expound or clarify ad nauseum about why fat and protein are GOOD! Well, the only thing I would take umbrage with would be the grain/carbohydrate bit. It hasn't even been raised as an "important issue" (yet), but I've read in the Bradley guidelines that we should eat plenty of carbohydrates (especially heart-healthy-whole-grains gahhhhh) so our bodies don't burn protein for fuel. This isn't exactly dangerous advice, but it is somewhat misguided. I mean, as long as you're eating plenty of fat (as you should be in pregnancy anyway), your body will burn mostly FAT for fuel if it runs out of carbohydrates. Not that it would be bad to run out of carbohydrates, necessarily. Quite a few healthy babies have been born to peoples around the world and through history who ate very little in the way of carbohydrates.

Ok, I was going to move on from this topic five minutes ago... not that all of your eyes didn't roll back into your heads already. In fact, you've stopped reading, haven't you? This is why I need to keep my mouth shut in the birth class.

I also got another mini-full body massage at the end of class. I was ready to go to sleep right there on the floor, especially since the class ran over and it was almost 9 by the time we left... my bedtime. Yes, I know. I am a hopeless Old already and I'm not even (quite) out of my 20s yet. I like sleep. Mock me if you must. And don't anyone start crowing about how I should sleep now cause once the baby comes, I'll be propping my eyelids open with toothpicks. I've heard it all already - it seems to be one of the favored topics as soon as my pregnancy is confirmed to a new person. UR HOL LIF IZ CHANGED!! Look, I realize my entire life is going to change once I have a baby. I was actually even aware of it BEFORE I got pregnant! I say that with good humor and in a nice, positive way.

Hiking Hau'ula Loop Trail

Y'all. It's hot. Seriously. HOT. And I am whiny and the universe is imposing on me at this moment. The trade winds are dead dead dead. Not a leaf is stirring. The vog is hanging all around us like thick pea soup. And it's HOT.

And I'm feeling very sad about it because it's not looking like I can look forward to moving into our centrally air conditioned new home on March 31 now. It's looking like we will be stuck here. STUCK. Until JULY!!!! Our landlady made it sound like they were going to let us out of our lease early. But she got a rental management company to take over the property, and now they want to impose all these additional strings and stuff, like that we have to pay to advertise the place, and we are responsible for any lost rent between April and July. They even are trying to put additional cleaning requirements on us, like pulling all the screens off the windows and washing them! Like hell! Those screens haven't been cleaned in 20 years! I'm not about to do it!

Anyway.

Let's focus on the fun things about living here, like good hiking trails! It's been a while since we went hiking. Yesterday we did the Hau'ula Loop Trail, a fun little ridge hike about halfway up the windward coast. It was good to get outside and enjoy the trail. The weather was pretty nice for it. Except for the vog, which kind of prevented us from enjoying the panormic views of the mountain range and the coastline.

At the trailhead. I look round. I'm really starting to fill out my non-maternity workout gear.

Starting the trail.

Long needled Hawaii pines crowding the trail.

Nearing the highest elevation - about 750 ft.

Panoramic view, somewhat ruined by the vog.

On the drive home, you could really tell how voggy it was because you could barely see the Ko'olau Mountains! They are usually clear and pretty as a postcard.
You can just barely see the beginning of the outline on the middle left. The rest of the mountain is completely obscured! Today it's the same. We need the trade winds! And some rain!

P.S. Vog is volcanic ash and fog.

Girth of Pregnant Glory: Expanding

Of course, I'm almost 26 weeks now - I took this on Monday. I feel large and puffy. I cannot imagine what I'm going to feel like in another 14 weeks... It's laughable really, because apparently I do not looks as large as I feel. People are starting to comment or ask - are you pregnant? Most everyone says my belly looks small for being almost 6 months along. I've never been around anyone for their entire pregnancy so I have no reference point. Except for an acquaintance of ours here in Hawaii who is about 8 weeks ahead of me. We saw her at her six month point and she was HUGE. Enormous. Like if you didn't know you would think she was about to give birth. And her ankles looked like giant water balloons. I think I mentioned how horrified I was when we saw her, wondering if I was going to look like that. I think it's safe to say that no, I will not. She said her baby was measuring in the 98th percentile and they were already talking about inducing her early.


I think I need to clean my mirror.....

We survived three days of A working the night shift. We only got to see eachother for about 45 minutes total over those days! It's going to be tough if I keep working when he is on nights. He's on days for the month of February.

I had to go to my ultrasound on Wednesday alone since A was sleeping. The Little Elf seems to be doing fine. She's actually measuring in the 48th percentile now which is considered average. The farther along you get in pregnancy, the farther off the baby has to be for them to worry about the baby's growth or change your due date. So basically they are not concerned at this point that she is falling behind. But they still want to have a look at her every month to make sure, because of my thyroid issues.

It's been interesting getting to see her every month. The first time we went in, around 18 weeks, she had so much room in there! She could stretch out and wave her arms around, and she was turning over a lot. Every time we've seen her, she's gotten more and more squished up! Now she's big enough that her movements are constrained. You could still see her kicking and squirming, but her knees were all scrunched up by her chest. She was playing with her foot at one point - that was really cute. The tech said she weighs about 2 lbs.

Training for Birth

We went to our first birth class yesterday evening. After some research I decided to take a Bradley Method class. I really hope it's worth our while. The instructor seemed a little scattered and disorganized. It annoys me that we pay for this class and she has already been somewhat unprofessional. We missed the first class because she forgot to call me and tell me the first class was a week earlier than she initially said. She didn't order our workbooks with enough advance, and we still don't have them (she promised next week they would be here). And she didn't have enough of the handouts she passed out, so a couple people didn't get all the forms.

It's not like we have options here on the island, though. If we want to do a Bradley class, this is it. I think in the end it will be worth it. She did seem knowledgeable about the birth process and that is the most important thing.

Yesterday's class was on nutrition, and I guessed before we went in that I already know more about nutrition - including prenatal nutrition - than she does. I definitely looked over the Bradley nutrition guidelines online before we registered for the class, knowing I wouldn't be able to take the class seriously if they gave out bogus nutrition information! They push plenty of protein - 80-100 grams per day - plus lots of dairy, veggies, fruits, fats and salt. They even recommend eating liver once per week. All good stuff.

It's a far cry from the ridiculous joke that is the USDA nutrition recommendations for pregnant women, which are inexplicably perpetuated through the otherwise sage Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy: 6 oz of protein per day (barely 40 grams?), minimize fat intake, keep salt intake low (to prevent swelling, naturally - haaaaa), and don't forget your FIFTEEN (15) servings of grain per day! We can thank the USDA (aka Puppet of the Grain Lobby) for that little tidbit.

Seriously, I mean, I am gestating a small human here, not a Pillsbury Doughboy. What do they think babies are made of? Flour and water? (Haaaaaa. Ha.) Babies need protein and calcium for bones and muscles, and fat for their growing brains.

Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, the Bradley class nutrition. We have to keep a daily log of our nutrition and count protein grams, which is kind of annoying, but I guess it's not really that big of a deal. It will help keep me accountable to make sure I get enough protein, considering I don't have much of an inclination for it.

We also learned some exercises that we are supposed to do daily. 100 Kegels - which seems like a lot, no? And 4 sets of 20 pelvic rocks plus 40 before bed (don't people have JOBS??? when are we supposed to do these? am I just supposed to get down on all fours and do my pelvic rocks in the middle of my open office?!) And this hip abductor exercise where you push your knees apart against resistance. And deep squat sits, which I need to work on because my hips and knees are really tight. All these are supposed to help prepare your body for labor and delivery.

After that we did some relaxation work where I got to lay on the ground and have basically a full body massage from Adam! I suppose that is worth the price of admission right there if I get one of those each week. We are supposed to practice that daily too.

It seems like a lot of stuff, but the Bradley people say that birth is like an athletic event (with your husband as the coach) and you need to prepare both physically and mentally. Of course, as a recreational athlete, that's something I can get my brain around.

Adam is supposed to help me remember to do all this stuff, but I already know I'm going to be on my own for a good chunk of the time because he's starting his watch schedule this week and when he's on the night shift we will basically not see each other for more than about an hour a day (if that). He is standing the night watch for the next three days and then he'll be on days for a month, and then nights during March.

I just recently tried to put our name on the waiting list for day care, and (I should have known) there is a year PLUS waiting list for the Navy daycare center! I guess we will be finding another option. Anyone know a nanny near Pearl Harbor?!

Oh, and good news! Our landlord is letting us out of our lease on March 31! So we will get to move before the baby comes. Now we just have to hope and pray they will offer us a house in time and we are not out on the street on April 1!

Seriously, WHY?

I work with a well-meaning, elderly man who says to me every single day: "Hi Mama! How's the TWINS?" (Ok. Maybe it's not EVERY day. But a lot.)

At first I would humor him with a fake-laugh and say, "Thankfully it's just one!"

(First of all, stop. calling. me. MAMA. and second of all, just stop.)

Now I'm past that. I just raise my eyebrows and say, "IT's JUST. ONE."

I swear to god pretty soon someone is going to get punched in the face.

24 Week Midwife Visit

I saw the midwife today for my 24 week appointment. I know precisely none of you will be shocked to hear that my uterus was measuring behind schedule. I explained everything to the midwife and she was the most sympathetic person yet, telling me that I was probably right and my due date was probably not until later. We will see at my ultrasound next week how the Little Princess is doing and whether they will want to change my official due date or not. It matters little since it's only 10 days less than what they have recorded; however, it is one less thing to worry about whether she is not growing properly. I have to admit I am not really concerned about that!

What was surprising is that I have only gained 2 lbs in the last 8 weeks since I was there. And I've actually LOST 2 lbs since I was at my endocrinologist 4 weeks ago. I have no idea how that happened, and it's certainly not a result of any virtue on my part, nor for lack of trying. My mother and father can attest to my robust appetite while they were here visiting over the holidays. I have gained a total of 10 lbs so far. With 16 weeks left in this pregnancy, I could gain a pound a week from now on and be right on track.

She also scheduled me for the glucose screening, which I am dreading. The idea of chugging down a sickly sweet drink full of artificial color and sugar has exactly zero appeal. She said I didn't HAVE to do it, but it would make the OBs very nervous if I had not because gestational diabetes can be very serious. I will have to think about that one.

Other than that everything was fine. I see my endo again tomorrow and get another ultrasound next Wednesday. Time has seemed to pass pretty slowly during this pregnancy, even though it sounds like I don't have much time left when I think it's only 16 more weeks!

It's fun now though that the baby is moving all the time. You can even see her kicks from the outside now! Sometimes at work or if I'm in a boring meeting I will just stare at my belly watching the little thumps. Last night Adam and I were watching a documentary about crazy-ass Hunter S. Thompson and I was feeling the kicks really strong right in front so I said, "hey, look right there..." and a couple seconds later you could see my belly jump where she kicked. We both had a laugh and I said I think she's trying to get out!

Rock-a-bye

I'm pretty sure this is the rocker/recliner we are going to get. It's a La Z Boy "Morgan" in Birch, the rocker version. I also really liked the "Lancer" model, but it doesn't look like it can get here to Hawaii before the baby is born. The good thing about the Morgan is that it's a few inches smaller (width & depth) than the Lancer, so it will probably fit better in the nursery. We debated getting some other kind of chair, but even the rickety (read: less expensive) ones at Babies R Us were like $350 for the reclining version. And as far as recliners go, La Z Boys are the most comfy I have sat in (on the island our choices are limited anyway). Plus the La Z Boys have a lifetime warranty on the mechanisms and the frame.

Feathering the Nest

Cankle watch: no sightings in several days YAY. The proteins are working, as much as I don't feel like eating them more often than not.

Baby watch: Feeling good, sleeping well, no big complaints. While I'm typing, I'm playing some classical music through headphones on the belly for the Little Elf, and I don't know if she likes it or not when I do that, but she sure squirms around a lot!

I can't really say that I've been hit with the so-called Nesting Instinct yet. I'm not inspired to clean or fluff any more than my usual keep-the-dirt-at-bay-and-the-gecko-poops-off-the-counter attitude. Maybe it's because we might be moving sooner rather than later! We are keeping our fingers crossed, but our landlady was sympathetic to our plight and seemed like she was going to let us out of our lease early. She hasn't given us a final decision, but Adam thinks she will. HALLELUJA! We are hoping to be in a new house by the beginning of April, which will make the last month of pregnancy busy and interesting, but I will be so grateful to be in a new house before the baby is born and not have to move with a 6 week old infant.

I did buy a crib, but it's in pieces in the guest room upstairs. I have a rocker/recliner more or less picked out, but we haven't bought it yet. Other than that and the baby jail (aka Pack n Play) we bought on Black Friday, we have made zero baby purchases.

But! I did find some really adorable island-themed prints to hang on the wall! I'm against themed nurseries as a general rule, but when I saw these prints I thought, how cute would that be, and you could put lots of different stuff with it. And the next thing I knew I was buying up a bunch of them.

We have no carseat, diapers or burp rags, but at least we know the nursery will be cute (priorities, people).

My litany of sorrows

Good grief, this has been a rough week, both pregnancy and work-wise. Only one of our cars was working, so we carpooled, which was great in one sense because I got dropped off at the door to my office building instead of trudging half a mile (no shitting) down a gigantous hill from the parking areas. On the other hand, it means I worked some long days, with getting dropped off super early for random meetings that popped up EVERY DAY this week, and then waiting until Adam finished his normal work day to come back and fetch me. There is just something wrong about driving to work when it's still completely dark outside when you live near the equator. On top of that, we spent several evenings this week loitering around in the auto parts store, getting our alternator tested and replaced.

And for some reason, pregnancy took its toll this week. I was going along, feeling more or less dandy, and then suddenly I wasn't. I didn't sleep well for several days, partly due to the heat and partly due to the discomfort in my belly. My uterus must have been growing because I had a ton of back pain and just general achiness all through my midsection. I woke up every morning puffed up like the Michelin Man - likely also due to the heat and humidity through the night.

Plus, my feet? Started to do this by the end of every day:

Ye Gods. I have cankles. CANKLES. I can hardly even look at this picture it is so horrifying.

They were so swollen a couple of days it was painful! I cannot stand looking down at them like that because I feel like the most gigantic, bulbous, waddling creature on earth - way out of proportion to reality, I realize. I know the heat & humidity are partially responsible. However. I know I also probably need to eat more protein to counter the swelling. I have had little appetite for meat this entire pregnancy and it's been a real challenge for me to eat as well as I would like because I just can't stomach a steak or chicken breast unless it's hidden in something else like a stew or salad. Thank goodness I've been able to eat salads or I would really be in trouble. I'd be eating nothing but crackers and cheese and fruit. And ice cream.

I've been feeling so sorry for myself that it's been really difficult to keep in mind what an amazing and mind-blowing gift this pregnancy is. To be able to carry this little soul around inside me for a time is the most humbling and awesome thing. To feel her little feet and arms testing out their boundaries, feel the lopsided tugging that means she is rolling over. To know that her tiny body, cell by cell, is being made entirely by my own. It's as if by magic she sprouted, was one cell, then two, and then suddenly she had eyes and a tiny heart thrumming away. Before she even looked like a human creature, her heart was beating in my belly. She sparked to life unbeknownst to me, but she was already mine. She was mine years ago, when I began to dream her into being. Or rather, perhaps she is not mine. She belongs to God. He entrusted her to us to love and to care for, and for that we could not be more amazed or grateful. I need to remember to focus on the gratitude I feel when I think of our little miracle, even when my feet look like they are going to explode.

My expanding girth of pregnant glory, at 23 weeks.

2009 / 2010

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Got married. Got pregnant. Visited Australia, New Zealand and Korea.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any resolutions last year! I'd rather set goals than make resolutions...

Goals for this year are:

1. Bring a healthy baby into this world
2. Get back in shape after the baby is born
3. Figure out the best work situation for me & my family
4. Build a stronger marriage

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?



Lindsey gave birth a few weeks ago to little Adelai Grace!

4. Did anyone close to you die?



I can't really say I was close to him, but Adam's grandpa died.

5. What countries did you visit?



Australia, New Zealand and Korea. We also had layovers in Japan and Fiji... that doesn't really count!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Air conditioning.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Our wedding day, February 19.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?



Getting married? Getting pregnant? It's kind of a toss up!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Being less than committed to my health and fitness lifestyle.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nope. Healthy as a horse. Unless you count the bruises I got from the car accident, which were minor!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Hmmm.... a new computer.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I can't think of anyone specifically.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?



Congress and their pork belly bills, both the economic stimulus bill and the health care bill.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent. Aside from that, the wedding and honeymoon.

15. What did you get really excited about?

The Little Elf Princess!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I got nothing here.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:


– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Fatter. Definitely fatter.


– richer or poorer? Richer in so many ways.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?



Hiking & other outdoor activities.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?



Worry.

20. How did you spend Christmas?



Here in Hawaii, with my parents, at the beach.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

I sure did. I fell in love with my sweet husband all over again. And I fell in love with the little one growing in my belly!

22. What was your favorite TV program?



TRUE BLOOD. NEED I SAY MORE???

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?



Yes, but thankfully that person is no longer a part of my life.

24. What was the best book you read?

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


Probably Muse, which I discovered through the movie Twilight.

26. What did you want and get?

Pregnant!

27. What did you want and not get?

I wanted to lose 20 lbs, but see #9.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I gotta say that Inglorious Basterds is the movie that sticks out the most in my mind!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 29 while we were on our honeymoon. I can't really remember what we did that specific day but I'm sure it was relaxing and wonderful!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Air conditioning.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Trying to find appropriate clothes for work that I don't roast in. It's too hot and humid here for clothes, probably why everyone in Waikiki walks around in bikinis and barefoot. Too bad I can't wear that to work.

32. What kept you sane?



Exercise. Adam.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Is it perverted if I say Taylor Lautner? Because, GOD! However, I'm practically old enough to be his mother.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?



Healthcare.

35. Who did you miss?



Adam while he was deployed.

36. Who was the best new person you met?



Uh. I have not met anyone memorable...

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.



Don't pay a worry debt for the future.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Baby, I'm stuck in the middle and I don't know why
Find the words you sing to me
Sweeter than the words of the bird in the sky
Oh, the days you came around
I feel so good for me
I can take most anything
'Cause what you bring

Baby, come on, take a ride in my little blue bug
Keep the windows down
Don't forget to celebrate the radio's up
Oh, the way you hold my hand
There is no other way
We could take a thousand walks
And laugh all day

I find it magical (hey)
I feel like I'm loving you in 1963 (hey)
Flowers in my hair (hey)
Little bitty hearts upon my cheek
Baby, you'll be on my mind
'till I kiss you next time

Rachel Yamagata, 1963

Full disclosure: I stole this questionnaire from Sundry!