An Article Worth Sharing (09/24/13)

On Buzzfeed I was reading about Miley Cyrus's rolling stones interview.  On one of the pictures it showed the cover of the Rolling Stones mag featuring her interview.  A side story on the cover was "War on Gay Teens".  This caught my eye enough that I had to Google it, even before finishing reading about Miley. 

  

This is a link to the article

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/one-towns-war-on-gay-teens-20120202

As far as my limited life as a realized lesbian, I have been mostly sheltered when it comes to bullying and harassment.  I consider myself blessed, especially after reading this article.  It is something that Deb and I worry for about our little bean, when he starts attending school.  We are hoping to be prepared to help him battle any bullying he may come across, having two moms, but we do pray he doesn’t come against angst this overwhelming.  Calgary isn’t the most progressive city when it comes to LGBT community, but I believe in my slightly naive heart things aren’t that bad. 
 

Being gay is not a sin, nor a choice.  For those of us to enjoyed male company in their lifetime, it doesn't change the fact that we are attracted to women as well, if not more so.  I will say there are many times when hearing about husbands/boyfriends being typical men, I am glad I have ended up where I am today, not that I'm a man hater, just less tolerant I guess.  People don't choose who they fall in love with; it is a matter of the heart.  

The area that this article mentions is swayed by heavy religion stuck in the middle ages.  Even the Pope is changing the church views on gays, even if ever so slightly.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-francis-affirms-churchs-view-on-homosexuality-abortion-but-says-it-must-accept-lgbt-with-respect-compassion-104941/

Quotes from the above link

Francis said in the interview that the catechism, or the Roman Catholic Church's official doctrine book, condemns homosexual acts, but he called on the Church to love gays and lesbians, who "must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity."  

In a much quoted sentence from the interview, Francis said, "Religion has the right to express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free:  it is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person."  

 "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" said Francis to reporters on board a plane returning from Brazil.  "The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says they should not be marginalized because of this (orientation) but that they must be integrated into society."

Hopefully this is a good change to come from the religious segregation/bigotry, and hopefully the area from the Rolling Stones article will follow suit, along with other cities worldwide.

Busy weeks (09/20/13)

I can’t believe it has been over two weeks since I have posted.  What a busy couple of weeks.  We had a visit from an old friend of Deb’s the weekend after we got back from Camping.  We had thought they were staying with us for the week leading up to as well, however with some slight confusion with their grandma they decided to stay with her.  We got a good visit in on the weekend though before they headed back to Ontario area.  They left on a very early flight, so Deb took the Sunday to head back to Golden to pick up the RV which has now been fixed.  I stayed home as I didn’t think my feet could take another long trip, they were just starting to be able to wear normal shoes again, although crocks are very comfy, not exactly office attire.  Deb’s mom was heading to visit Deb’s brother in the interior of BC so on the way through they dropped Deb off in Golden. 

The weekend following was a visit from my old friend from Fernie MJ and co.  She had two little ones at 3 months and 2.5 yr.  It was a good introduction to kids for me.  They arrived on Saturday and heading on for their Journey on Tuesday.  Monday night we did some babysitting so they could head to a concert on a date night.

The Tuesday they left was my birthday.  It was a lovely day.  My boss took me for lunch for Vietnamese food.  After work Deb and I went for a cheap buffet at a casino and played a few slots.  The food was good, the company was excellent, and it was a nice evening, even though we didn’t win. 

That brings us to today.  This weekend, we are shopping for a replacement hot tub.  Last year we bought a lemon, but in the times we used it, we really liked it.  So we have decided to do our homework this time and get a refurbished one.  Deb’s knees are really looking forward to the hot tub again.  I am too.  And I know I am not supposed to use a hot tub, but I have done some homework.  Most people keep their hot tub around 103-104 f.  And being pregnant you can’t have your body temperature reach 102 in fear of hurting the baby.  We usually keep the hot tub around 99-100f.  So I figure I should be ok to soak for 10-15 minutes at a time without raising my temperature too much.  My usual body temp is closer to 97.8 than the average 98.6.   I will confirm with the OB on Monday though, just to be on the safe side. 

Here are the two most recent pictures for side by side.

  

I’m beginning to wonder if taking these pictures will be worth it.   (Week 25 still needs to be taken.) There is minimal difference from the week 4 picture

 (Week 4 refresher)

In the past month or so, my head has been in a weird space.  Wondering if I will like being a mom.  Wondering if I will get a few weeks in and want to quit. Wondering if I will have the bond you’re supposed to have.  In the end I think things will be fine, but it has been a bit of a stress in my head.  For now I’m getting past that and starting to get excited.  Feeling him kick is nice, sometimes annoying but nice most of the time.  His size is affecting my ribcage.  I was very happy to see my chiropractor last week.  We have changed from going once a month two three weeks now.  Hopefully I won’t be as crooked next time. 

My blood pressure seems to be creeping up, but then again I can’t seem to sit for a period of time before taking my BP otherwise my machine won’t register.  Hopefully it is good still on Monday.  Next week I see my OB again, and then on Friday we get to see the baby again on an ultrasound.  

My poor feet (09/03/13)

This story starts with our camping trip.  We ended up leaving Calgary very late Thursday night.  We made it to Golden with relative ease, and the RV was doing great.  We parked/slept at the Husky there in Golden.  In the morning we got up and had breakfast in the restaurant.  At the table next to us was a very “chatty Cathy” and invited us to join her and her husband for breakfast.  So we did.  It was a talkative and fun breakfast.  The remaining portion of the drive was relatively uneventful.  We were very please on how the RV did in getting there.  We got to the campground a little ahead of our camping counterparts L&D, so we got parked in the back of the spot and unloaded but not set up as we weren’t sure if we needed to move once L&D got there. 

The weekend was a great one.  There was lots of great food (some healthy, some, not so much).  L&D have a boat that has a motor, so being on the lake was great, as they towed us around the lake.  Me being me, I was a bit chilly and didn’t partake in the swimming aspect of the lake, but still had fun while out there.  Now that Deb has experiences the easy and pleasure of just letting a motor do the work, we are going do look for a “trolling” motor to attach to our blow up raft.  I don’t know what that is, but I’m up for it, for when we go down the river, so Deb gets to be as relaxed as I am. 

We played some board games and sat around the propane campfire, provided by L&D, and had a relaxing weekend; lots of fun.  I’m still on the debate of propane versus wood fire and which is better, but it was nice to have instant on and instant off, without reeking of smoke.

Monday morning L&D left a little before we did.  But we also got a quick depart for about 7:30.  We wanted to make sure we didn’t have a long wait for the Ferry, which was about 40 minutes away, we had to catch.  We decided even to empty our grey/black water tanks in Revelstoke, after the Ferry, instead of Nakusp.  We were in a good place in the line up for the Ferry to get on the next one, excellent timing.   BC is idle free so we turned off the RV while waiting for the next one.  The Ferry arrives; Deb goes to start the RV; nothing.  This was a nightmare.  The battery had plenty of juice (through a bit of tinkering) the starter technically worked, but the ignition wouldn’t start it up.  We had a few people offer to help and tinkered a bit, but after no movement forward in getting it started we decided we need to call a tow truck.  Luckily we have the AMA RV package, which got us a tow for up to 320 KM.  Deb had to walk down to the Ferry and up to the captain’s peak to be able to use a satellite phone (no cell service).  While on the phone she organized that she would get towed to Lake Louise.  The furthest we could go without paying, $3/km.  The wait began.  Deb mostly directed traffic around the RV, even with cones behind us and our hazard lights on people would honk for us to move forward. 

Deb called the tow around 9:00 am.  We waited and waited.  Around 1:30 we got word that the tow was on its way over.  When he got there, he informed us he would not be taking us to Lake Louise.  He would get us to Revelstoke.  We were a little miffed, but had no other option.  He tried to repair the RV first (Most of which we had tried all ready) again to no avail.  So he loaded us up.  The Ferry workers said we would be on the next Ferry, but once it arrived some more people nipped ahead of us and we couldn’t fit on.  So we needed to wait another hour for the next ferry. 

Once on the other side we stopped a moment at the food truck for a quick bite to eat (we were supposed to have breakfast in Revelstoke around 9:00 AM, it was now 3:30.  On the way to Revelstoke he informed us that there wasn’t a car rental place in Revelstoke, nor a garage open (Holiday Monday).  He also informed us that there weren’t really those things in Lake Louise either.  We get to the towing company’s yard and he unloads us, saying the big boss would be there shortly to sort us out, and to be leery of the guard dog, while no one was there.  Needless to say we stayed in the RV until Jon the big boss showed up.  At that point he was yelling at someone on the phone, so we didn’t approach him.  We waited for him to come to us. 

In the mean while we had called Deb’s mum, as we had hoped to at least be able to get to Golden, in which we needed a ride from there.  She was our saviour, and immediately left from Calgary and headed to Golden. 

In the end he called in his mechanic to try and get us going again.  He also gave us a jerry can of gas, in hopes that once we got going we would have enough gas to get to Calgary without stopping for gas, as this “fix” at best would be a patch.  While they were piddling fixing the RV I laid mostly on the bench to elevate my feet, but it was hot in the RV. 

They got it started, and we were trying to settle the bill, which was a great deal considering, and it stalled again.  So they continued to try to fix it.  At one point the electrical started to smoke, this is when Deb said to call it quits. 

After some kerfuffle, the mechanic started taking off pieces of our RV in order for it to be towed.  Something about the differential and U joints, is what came off.  They then hooked up to the tow truck and Jon said to hop in.  Deb and I looked at each other and did just that.  As we were heading off, Deb asked where we were going, thinking we were being towed to a shop in Revelstoke.  He didn’t answer.  In my head, “We are being kidnapped, RV and all.”  A little ways down the road Deb asked again, in which he said, “Where did you want to go?” Deb said “In the long run we would like to get to Golden.”  To which he replied, “That’s where we are going, I just hope we don’t run out of gas.”  We were hovering between an 1/8 and a ¼.  Along the journey he had been in contact with another driver.  About a quarter of the way there he pulls over on the side of the road and we wait.  A few moments later another tow truck going in the opposite direction pulls off on his side of the road.  Jon gets out and we get the next driver.  He was also not a very chatty driver. 

As we arrived in Golden we went directly for gas.  He then dropped us in front of a shop (right by a no parking sign), which was closed of course.  By this time it was about 10:30 pm.  Mum was waiting there for us and we transferred the required stuff to her van and went to Tim Horton’s for dinner to go.  From there we were homeward bound. 

By the time we arrived at home it was about 1:30 am.  My feet/ankles /calves had become one from swelling.  While sleeping I elevated my feet on a lot of pillows, but this morning they were still swollen.  Normally in an evening my feet, when really bad, have enough time to recover, this was not the case.  So today I was sans la socks and wore crocks to work.  They have been getting progressively worse.  I was able to put them on a stool for part of the work day, but it wasn’t enough.  My feet tried to outgrow crocks.

 Update: September 4, my feet are doing a bit better today.  But still needed to wear the crocks, as I didn’t feel my shoes would be comfortable, still a bit too restrictive with swelling.  After tonight my feet should be back to a more average pace of swelling/releasing in a day/evening. 

Appointments Galore (08/27/13)

To start off, I am behind in posting photos.  So here is the catch up on weekly baby bump photos.

Week 19

Week 20

And finally Week 21, definitely getting bigger, but the baby bump is not quite defined.

My first appointment with the substitute OB (Dr C is on Vacation), was full of scary information.  My weight had jumped about 2 Kg from the last time I weighed in with my family doc, Dr B, however it was late afternoon and I had to Pee, but didn’t want to pee yet, thinking they would do the pee test too, looking for protein.  (They didn’t). 

The doctor was going to have a home visit from a nurse once a week for blood pressure test and what not.  The next day the nurse had called, but apparently they only do that when the patient no longer works and is on home rest.  So I don’t know if that will change anything.  The doc also referred me to a maternal medical clinic (not sure of the official name) to take care of all the “side effects” of pregnancy while the OB takes care of the baby. 

At this point the OB did switch my BP medication.  After just two days on it, it hadn’t made a difference in my BP, but my nipples are doing much, much, much better.  So hopefully my BP will come down after a little while longer.  She also put me on an acid reflux medication; even though I don’t really have heart burn much, she said acid reflux can sometimes mimic asthma symptoms.  As I had mentioned my asthma is getting worse.  I’m doubtful but it’s worth a try.  So far, I can’t really tell, as I have caught Deb’s summer cold; not fun. 

In my early teens I was in a car accident that required surgery to correct an aneurysm in my head.  That is a concern, as a possible weak spot for high blood pressure to cause issues.  The doctor seemed very concerned, but I’m trying not to stress about it.  At the time they did a fair amount of follow up testing and everything looked good, so hopefully they did the proper correction instead of a patch at the time. 

My belly measured at 23” which is due to the original added “padding” I’m sure.  Because of that, she has ordered an ultrasound once a month to monitor the baby growth.  My weekly count has moved again.  We are back to Wednesday as being the week change, so tomorrow I will be 22 weeks, instead of Friday. 

For now I will be seeing my family doctor once a week (Mondays), and I think seeing the OB once a week on Fridays, ultrasounds once a month, and blood work when ever doctors see fit (first set today at 3:00).  Then I will be seeing the other clinic, but I don’t know when that starts or how often I will be seeing them. 

Last night we finally got to see the Bean kick, kind of.  We were watching my stomach and there was a definite twitch when he kicked.  It was exciting for us to see, especially Deb, as I have been feeling some movement for a while now.  We spent a fair amount of time staring at my stomach before finally calling it a night.  The first kick was the best one though.

The weekend before last we went down the river.  It was a very sunny day so I (almost forgot) brought an umbrella to keep from cooking the bean.  This is a picture of going down the river.

Our weekends will be busy for the remainder of September.  This past weekend I got to visit with my Aunt and Uncle from Edmonton, and my Aunt and Uncle from England.  It was a really good visit.  Saturday we headed to Fernie for a wedding.  It was great to see some old friends and the wedding was beautiful, as was the reception.  The wedding was shorter than we had originally thought (Catholic Wedding), so that was nice.  We were expecting at least two hours, but it was about an hour, perfect amount of time. 

While in Fernie I got to visit my sister for a little while between the wedding and reception which was nice.  Our hotel while in Fernie was a gong show and I don’t recommend staying there.  It is called the Fernie Slopeside Lodge.  The rooms were dirty.  I can deal with dated hotel rooms, but these were dirty.  My sister got upgraded from the first room (through the sister lodge as it was a late check in) but the second room, though much larger, was still dirty.  Used coffee/filter in the coffee pot, the fridge was sticky, coffee rings on the counters, bugs in the window sill.  The next day the receptionist said the sister lodge should not have upgraded our room.  She did say it would be cleaned by the time I got there (My sister took the first night), alas it was not cleaned when we got there.  I have complained to Groupon which is where I booked the hotel originally, and they gave me some credit towards future purchases, which was helpful.  I am also lodging a complaint with the BBB.  When you pay for a hotel room, you should be able to assume it will be clean.

Next weekend is the long weekend and we took an extra day off to head to our destination of middle BC camping with friends from the coast.  This will be the first long drive we will be taking the RV on and fingers crossed it makes it there and back no issues.  

Emotional Chemical Meltdown (08/12/13)

Well, on Friday, we went to the OB appointment, we got there with half an hour to spare, so I thought.  We went in to check in and the receptionist said “Your appointment was at 1:30.”  I instantly started to bawl, not just tear up, bawl.  Our lives had been revolving around this appointment, we rescheduled a meet up with friends for camping, we left the weekend relatively open to have this appointment.  I am also sick of having to deal with Dr B, as nice (mostly) as he is, he isn’t a maternity doctor. My nipples are pissing me off, my feet are getting worse, and even though I’m on a Class C drug for blood pressure, it isn’t working.  I needed to see an OB to see what else we can be doing for these issues.  I also found out even though my OB doctor was supposed to be Dr C, that appointment was scheduled for a different doctor, so it wouldn’t have been with the OB that would be technically my doctor. 

I walked out of the clinic crying, Deb talked with them a moment and came after me.  It took me half an hour to stop crying and exit the first stage of my chemical meltdown.  Deb had scheduled the next appointment which isn’t for another two weeks.  I was relatively upset for the remainder of the evening.  I needed to sleep it off. 

So this morning I went back to Dr B.  My BP was at 140/100 so higher than last time, and I have Ketones in my urine.  The receptionist pointed it out to Dr B, but he just said it would be because my diet wasn’t correct.  I had said I had vomited this morning (Even though only water) so he said it’s nothing to worry about, but I am unsure with him.  We’ll see I guess.  Next appointment with him is next Monday.  

It’s A Boy (08/08/13)

Today we had our gender ultrasound.  It’s more than likely a BOY.  I will wait to reveal the name until a later date.  It’s a good thing too, we were having all kinds of trouble picking out a girls’ name.

He was very active, had a good heart rate, very crunched up mostly, but we had a couple views that showed he is a boy.  He has 10 fingers and 10 toes.  His legs measure about 7 cm, and his feet about 1cm.  He loves to open and close his hands; it was very cute to see. 

Tomorrow we see the OB for the first time.  I’m looking forward to it.  I hope she is nice, that would be dreadful if she was harping about this or that or saying I should be losing weight, or not taking my allergy/asthma meds.  Nervous, but glad to be seeing her none the less.  Dr B is still using a manual BP machine with a cuff that is marginally too small, so if nothing else, hopefully she has a better BP for readings and maybe I can be taken off that med, for one less thing to be taking, and hopefully my nipples stop burning. 

Flexible little guy.  He weights about 250g (1/2 a pound)

Updates 18 Weeks 6 Days (08/08/13)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted.  Sorry for the long absence.  My blood pressure was officially listed with Dr B as high and put me on meds for it.  So far I show no protein in my urine as a sign of Preeclampsia (or whatever the latest name for the condition is).  My thyroid levels are good so that shouldn’t be the issue.  At this point, I just have high blood pressure. 

The meds Dr B put me on for BP have given me an unfortunate side effect (or coincidence), my nipples randomly feel like they are burning.  They are rock hard, turn darker purple and feel like they are being poked with a red hot rod.  It can be one or the other or both a few times a day and lasts between 5-10 minutes.  I’ve been using a lanolin cream which helps a bit, but not totally getting rid of it.  Dr B didn’t seem concerned, as long as my BP is coming down, was at 135/100.  For one appointment it was at a great 120/90, next appointment though back up to 145/100. 

My nausea is minor here and there, but still there.  The prenatal vitamins aren’t helping and causing constipation.  I have made an agreement with Deb, I will take them Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, Saturdays are debateable.  Right now my iron levels are good, so I’m not too worried.  I’ve taken to drinking two glasses of milk to help with calcium and vitamin D and what not, on top of the various veggies we have to help keep a balanced diet, and we try and keep the salt to a minimum, but that has never been a big additive in our lives.  I have noticed mood swings and easily getting annoyed with things.  I try and keep it under control, to not perpetuate my high blood pressure, but it is hard to do, feeling constantly on PMS. 

The last of my pregnancy complaints is; my ankles are swelling by the end of the day.  Not a pretty sight. Plus I'm fairly tired again.  

Here are the two more recent weekly photos

I seem to be more bloated at week 17 than 18.