I'm stressed.

I'm trying really hard not to be, but it's not working.  Next week, kids go back to school...you'd think that wouldn't have anything to do with me, but everyone going back to school means our crew at work heads back to school too.  And THAT means the hours they're available to work decreases.  This happens every year and usually it's not a big deal, but we have a handful of new servers right now which makes things even more more stressful.  Also, I hate to admit it, but I'm worried about being able to keep up with having to work more hours...especially as I get closer and closer to my due date.  This summer, I was lucky enough to only have to work a few hours a day! 

I'm sure everything will be fine...it always works out.  But in the meantime, I'm stressed.   Have I mentioned that?

On a more positive note, I found chocolate marshmallows at the store today.  I had no idea there was such a thing.  And they are YUMMY...they taste like poofs of hot chocolate.  Mmmm....

I had another appointment yesterday...I had to leave work an hour early because it was the only available slot for the day.  I felt so bad leaving because it was CRAZY!!!  Business has been great, but it seriously wears me out everyday.  So anyways, I left about 10 minutes late and was completely frazzled by the time I made it to the doctor's office.  When I went to the bathroom to do my urine sample, I was horrified at my reflection in the mirror!!  My face was bright red, my hair was sticking out in all the wrong places and my shirt was all twisted.  I looked like a maniac!  And this is totally gross, but I just feel the need to mention it (being pregnant has thrown all modesty out the window)...I have to give a urine sample at every appointment and it's something I'm NOT good at.  You'd think that after all these months, I'd have figured it all out.  Yesterday was the very first time that I didn't pee on my hand.  Yep.  And I was pretty darn excited about that.  

It was a really quick appointment as usual...everything is looking great and I DON'T have gestational diabetes, which is fantastic.  I wasn't sure how I was going to break the potential bad news to all my cold, sweet, chocolatey friends in the freezer had the test results come back high again.  My next appointment is in two weeks...the ultrasound to see where the placenta is sitting is also scheduled for the same day.  My doctor said that 99% of the time, it has moved up and out of the way, so I'm hoping that's the case with me as well.  She also wants the ultrasound tech to check out the position of the baby...I can't wait to see her wiggling around in there again!

We went to our second class last night...pretty boring.  We talked about the stages of labor and when we should head to the hospital and then "practiced" different breathing techniques at various stations that were set up in the classroom.  While we "breathed", we had to try different things to help ease pain and discomfort...massage, sitting on big exercise balls, etc.  We also watched a birth video but it wasn't what I expected.  I thought we would see the whole thing, but it was just snippets of three different women...nothing too traumatic!I've witnessed an actual live birth, so nothing can beat that.

I'm feeling well for the most part...like I mentioned above, work has started to really wear me out.  It just gets SO busy that I feel like I can't keep up.  I can only walk so fast and lately, the right side of my stomach aches while I'm speedwalking around the restaurant.  It's not horrible, but pretty bothersome especially while I'm trying to keep up with everything.  I'm just about on my last nerve with annoying customers...I'm surprised I haven't flipped out on anyone yet.  You all should hear the bitchy thoughts running through my head...it's awful!   Once I get home though, and sit and relax, the achiness and bitchiness goes away and all is well until the next day at work...sigh.

Miss PIP has crazy dance parties everday...her movements remind me of Elaine's nutty dance moves in Seinfeld...spastic and off-beat.   It's so amazing to watch her move...I can't get enough of it.  I'll try to read or watch tv but I always get distracted by her wiggling around...I HAVE to stop what I'm doing and watch my stomach.  I love putting both hands on my tummy and feeling actual parts moving back and forth.  SO cool.

Dean and I may be getting closer to picking out a name.  We have both made lists of names that we like and we're planning on comparing the two lists to see if we have any of the same ones.  We'd like to have two or three favorites picked out and once we finally meet this little baby we'll figure out which name she looks like.  

We only have about two more months to go, which is so scary and exciting at the same time!  I can't wait though!!!

Dean and I went to our first Prepared Childbirth class last night.  I think we were both a little weary about it because we didn't know what to expect.  It turned out to be all right!  We went through the usual dreaded introductions...there were 8 or 9 other couples in the class.  Our friends, Bill and Taylor, who are expecting twins in November, happened to be one of them!  We had no idea they would be in the same class, so that will be fun!   The instructor went through what we should expect as the third trimester rolls along...discomforts and how to deal with them.  She also talked about different relaxation, massage, and breathing techniques that will be useful during labor.  Dean got the giggles a couple times during the class and once one of us gets them, it doesn't take long for the other to follow suit.  Good thing we were sitting in the back corner!  At the end of the class, all the dads had to give the moms neck and back massages.  That was easily my favorite part.   Overall, I think these classes will be good for us...some of the information may be pretty elementary, but it never hurts to hear it all again.  I also know there will be lots of new things for us to learn as well.  If anything, it's fun to know that for the next several weeks, Dean and I have this set time that we get to spend together.

This morning, I received a call from my modeling agent!  I told him several months ago that if anyone needed a preggo woman for anything, I'd be open to it.  I really didn't expect to hear from him, but he called with a booking for tomorrow at Pamida.  PIP's going to be famous!  Hehe...ok, maybe not famous, but it's kind of fun.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a copy of the picture so I can stick it in her baby book.

So I finally caved.  Almost 30 weeks in and I decided it was time to spend my two Motherhood Maternity gift cards (one from Dean and one from Angie...thanks!)  I've picked up a handful of maternity shirts from the clearance racks at Target, but other than that, I've been wearing the one pair of jeans that still fit (kind of) and I've just been buying bigger sizes in regular pants (also from Target clearance racks.)  Shirts and dresses have been pretty easy with all the current styles...big and flowy.  BUT, everything seems to be expanding quickly and I still have another couple months to go, so I figured it was time to get a few things that fit AND are comfy.  My mom went with me and we found a pair of jeans and three shirts at Motherhood Maternity.  I love the shirts...the jeans are a little baggier than I would like, but I'm sure I'll grow into them.  I'm not gonna lie though, they are REALLY comfortable!  It's funny to be able to pull up a pair of jeans and not have to zip or button anything...not that any of my other jeans could zip or button at this point!  We also went over to Old Navy and I found another pair of jeans and some capris (both on the clearance rack!)  I think I'm set for now...once the weather starts to cool down, I'll have to pick up some more long-sleeve shirts.

So far, I have not received a call from my doctor's office about my test results...

I went back to get some more blood work done this morning.  I arrived around 8:00, armed with a book and a magazine and my fingers crossed that something good would be on the tv in the waiting room.

They took a vial of blood when I got there and gave me another bottle of the sugary orange drink and sent me back out to the waiting room for an hour.  PIP was wiggling all over the place...I think she was wondering where breakfast was!

A different nurse did the second blood draw and she tried to use the same vein as before.  Apparently, it didn't work because I heard her make a strange "ooh-hmmm..." noise.  Nice.  Then I felt her wiggling the needle around (I couldn't look)...she took it out and tried again but it still didn't work so she finally switched to my other arm.

I went back out to the waiting room and we did the whole process two more times.  I was there for a little over three hours and had a total of four blood draws (and a couple extra pokes).  The time surprisingly went a lot quicker than I had expected, which was nice.

They'll only call me if the results come back high again...so no news is good news.  Hopefully I don't hear from them!!