Got my monthly check-up today, which, from this point on, turns into bi-weekly check-ups. Everything is progressing as usual - measurements are fine, heartbeat is strong (as are some of baby's kicks!)

Speaking of kicks, I joke that the baby is mad at me right now - I caught some horrible head cold from one of my co-workers, and now all my coughing and hacking and sneezing is jostling her around and keeping her awake! I asked the doctor about it, and he said to flush plenty of fluids through and if it continues, or if the mucous (yuk!) is yellow or green, to call and they'll put me on an antibiotic.

I felt so horrible yesterday, that I took a sick day, giving me one less day for my maternity leave. Sheesh!  I really HATE my workplace! It's like they're set on screwing over their employees as far as they can, just to get their jollies. While I was home yesterday, I checked out the EEOC regulations on pregnancy discrimination and see that I would have a pretty good case if I decided to file a complaint.

I don't know. Right now, I just want out. And I might just get my wish! I signed a contract with my friend Melissa's company yesterday. 10-20 hours PT work to start. Then the COO mentioned that he would re-evaluate hours and $$ after a month. Hopefully, I'll be able to charm my way into a FT position sooner than later.  Only time will tell. Meanwhile, it's a great lesson in patience and self-control.

Well, I finally got around to uploading the latest belly photo I made Alex take last week. Wow! I happened to glance my profile in the mirror the other day, and gasped! "Oh, my God!" I yelled.

"What?!?" Alex called back.

"I have a big fat round pregnant belly!" I answered, still staring at my reflection.

"Well, DUH!" he said.

"No wonder why my clothes don't fit lately!" I laughed.

Seriously, though, I get only an aerial view of my belly unless I stare at my profile in the mirror (which I just don't do), so I see only about 1/3 of my belly. Also, I'm carrying the baby really low. I expected that I'd have a nice little arm rest/belly table by the time I was this big. (Guess not!)

In other news, my stupid boss made another of his ridiculous discriminating comments today! He actually asked me in my team meeting, and in front of 4 other people, whether I planned to come back after the baby is born and how long I expected to be out. What the ??!? I totally avoided his questions and got out without giving him an answer. First, I just laughed it off and said "Why? Do you know something I don't?" Then I just told him about the company leave policy under FMLA without including any of my personal plans. Jerk!

I'm actually looking forward to my meeting with HR tomorrow so that I can bring this up. I walked out of the meeting absolutely furious! I was nearly foaming at the mouth! Oh well, it's just getting easier and easier to leave that horrible company!

It's way too early on a Saturday morning for me to be up. Still, I awoke before 5:00 and couldn't get back to sleep, so I thought I'd write a long-overdue journal entry and try to go back to sleep later.

This week has been crazy! As chauvinistic and thick-headed as my boss is, I shouldn't be surprised that his micro-managing self is so dumb as to blatantly discriminate against me because of my pregnancy. If I knew I had enough cold hard facts to get a lot of money out of a law suit, I'd for sure be bringing a case against the company. As it is, Alex has to work at that company too, and while I could probably win the case, I'm not sure I'd get enough from it that he could leave HIS job there as well.

Anyway, I should have anticipated some problems when I first told the little evil elf boss that I was pregnant. He told me then to let him know as soon as possible if my husband "will not let me return to work after the baby is born." Pig! But I gave him the benefit of the doubt. In reply, though, I told him that I'm sure that wouldn't happen, since I am kind enough to allow my husband to return to work after the birth.

Well, since I got pregnant, the little elf has been telling my team lead that I'm "high risk." What the ??!? Again, I let it slide because it was just hearsay and I thought no one could be THAT incredibly stupid. But then this past Thursday, I decided to start documenting all of these shenanigans. He announced to my team that my team lead was being promoted to another position and one of my co-workers would be taking over as the team lead! I wouldn't have had a problem with it had I even been approached on the matter, but apparently, this was just a decision he decided to make on his own!

The person he promoted to lead came to the department, from outside the company, 2 months after I started there. Hmmm. I have 7-1/2 of experience with the company, compared to her 10 months! On top of that, her experience with my team is nearly non-existent. AND she's the same level I am! It's not even like she has the management experience to justify this change, either! I don't think she will be bad in the job, but I know I was just as qualified, if not more so. That pig just didn't even approach me about it because I'm pregnant! Even my co-worker asked my then current lead why I wasn't considered for that position, and said "I would have thought Laura would be the natural choice."  The response was "I didn't know anything about this until this morning when he [the boss] told me I was being moved into this new position."

I probably wouldn't be so angry about it if the jerk had just come to me and said "Hey, there is a lead position opening up and you were considered, but Felecia has really been trying to be a lead since she got here..." or "...but I thought Felecia was more qualified because..." No! Instead, he saw my name and immediate saw someone who's pregnant, which in his puny little mind, meant I'm therefore incompetent!

Then yesterday, I was dragged into a stupid meeting about creating a department training plan for 2006. Not including the elf, I was one of 4 people in the meeting. We ALL had action items to take care of, and mine was probably the easiest. (All I needed to do was contact my old boss and ask if she would set up a training class for just my current department.) Still this butthole felt compelled to single ME out at the end of the meeting! "Laura," he said, "make sure you get your assignment done before you have the baby!" Again, what the ??!??

What does my April due date have to do with my ability to dial a phone today?!? Why does he think that getting pregnant automatically makes me incompetent?!? IDIOT! Well, I immediately documented this instance as well, and included the names of all the witnesses in the room.

I get the last laugh, though, because he has no idea I'm going to start working part-time at my friend's company this month. The original plan was to take on some part-time work there, get acclamated to the job, then move to full-time after the baby's born. Well, when I talked to her last night, she said she thinks her boss will want to advance me to full-time sooner than that. So, I might have the pleasure of resigning BEFORE the baby's born! Ha!

And you can be assured that, regardless of WHEN I resign, I will be citing all these instances of discrimination when I have my exit interview... if I don't talk to HR about it BEFORE then!

Well, today is my last day off work until the baby arrives next year. Boo! I hope I don't get sick before then, because I need to use all my sick time for my maternity leave. Oh well. God willing, I'll have a new job where I can telecommute after my leave.

I had my 1-hour glucose screening this morning, so for lunch, I went to Moe's to scarf down a huge burrito! I was not allowed any food or drink since midnight last night other than water. When I got to the lab, I had to chug down an orange-flavored sugar drink in 5 minutes. At least it was cold, and not too sickeningly syrupy. Then the lab tech told me to wait an hour - no eating, drinking, leaving, or... uh... relieving during that time.

Well, you know how it is. The minute you know you're not allowed to pee... At least I brought along my laptop for a good Zork distraction, but that hour couldn't pass by fast enough! Ha!

It took two tries to find a good vein after my hour was up, so now I look like a big preggo druggie with needle marks in each arm! And I'm sure the famished way I was feasting on my lunch only helped the illusion.   Well, I should hopefully get my results in a couple of days, and with any luck, I won't have to endure the 3-hour ordeal. Keep your little fingers crossed!

The baby's room is very slowly coming along. I found out yesterday that there was a recall on the crib we purchased... maybe. I didn't check the serial numbers and such, just ordered the replacement parts as a safety measure. I plan to pick up the paint brush again today and continue what I started.

Yesterday, I went out to spend my gift cards, so I bought the switchplate and valance I needed from the baby store. Then, I decided to use my Penney's cards to get my hair cut and colored at the salon. I'm a redhead again! Wow! I haven't been able to color my hair since before my first pregnancy in June, and was looking pretty shaggy showing off about 3 inches of roots. Eep!