Ok, I know it’s been several weeks since I posted anything.  Let me see where to begin.  I did see the cardiologist as recommended by Dr. Artis.  Seems that after going through several tests including an echo and an EKG and different blood test, I am actually in decent health.  The doctor thought she heard a murmur while listening for my heart beat.  I think Peanut was playing around and that’s the sound that the doctor heard.

On May 15^th, the family traveled to Belcamp to spend the weekend with MiMi and to see The Color Purple play on May 17^th.  The play was excellent.  Of course, you know that Peanut was up to the same games always played – “I’ll dance and wiggle and move all around until someone other that my mommy’s hand touches me; then I’ll act like I’m invisible and won’t move a muscle.”  This happened every time I tried to let my mom feel Peanut moving.  We went to the outlets so MiMi could spend some money on her grandbaby.  She wanted to buy some things for us to bring back with us for Peanut.  As soon as we walked into Osh Kosh, we heard it.  She was saying that if she knew what Peanut was, then she would be able to shop on one side of the store.  We finally found a rack that had neutral colors on it, so she pretty much bought everything on the rack.  I’ll be putting those items in a gift bag for my shower on the 28^th. This weekend trip with her is why the photo of me and her have all of those aka names listed.

The next weekend was Memorial Day weekend, so we had family visiting us here in Mebane.  Peanut’s Granddaddy (Billy) and Kim came to visit.  While here, they learned how to hit golf balls, rearranged the flowers in my yard to make it look better, and enjoyed listening to music at the Taste of Durham.  Oh, on that Friday night, we went to Angel’s graduation at Elon; she received her MBA.

That's all for now.

Hopefully, we'll never have to use this with Peanut or with anybody else we come in contact with.

Ok, Monday night, May 12, we were scheduled for CPR class from 6:30 – 9:30 pm.  Of course, you know someone was really complaining because he doesn’t like sitting indoors that long.  Our instructor, Carolyn, was so excited (a happy person) because she had a full class.  There were 4 couples in the class including us.  We had to watch this instructional video and then do what the video told us to do.  Each couple shared a mask for “Annie” that had to be swapped out so each student could get a chance to practice what the video was showing.  Bran and I were sitting in the front so we got to go 1^st.  Oh, there were only 2 manikins for the 4 couples to share.  And you know someone had to make the class interesting.  I wish you could have seen how hard this someone was mashing on Annie’s chest.  It was caving in so much I know something was broken, like a rib or the sternum.  We played around with the adult “Annie” for a while. All of the pregnant women were exhausted.  My arms were hurting from the compressions.  And since I am still congested from my sinuses, I was barely able to pump up Annie’s chest.  Each time I got on the floor, Bran had to help me down there and help me back up.  But the hard part was leaning over to blow in Annie’s mouth.  I declare, I was about puke.  I don’t know if it was from the circulation being cut off in my legs from sitting on them, or from squishing Peanut with all of the pressure from leaning over, or from using up all of my air to blow in a dummy.  We went around several times practicing the technique.  I was glad when that was over.  Then Carolyn provided us a snack to give us a little break before we began trying to save the baby doll.  What was interesting is that she told us that the baby doll was the size of a newborn.  That doll was huge.  One of the pregnant women put the doll next to her belly and shook her head.  She said she didn’t see how her baby could be balled up that tight and actually be that big; this was my sentiment exactly.  One funny thing that happened is that the 2 couples in the back of the room got to go 1^st with administering CPR to the baby.  You know with an infant, you have to put your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and blow.  The mommy sitting behind me was blowing so hard into the doll that there was this whistling noise each time she blew.  I couldn’t contain myself and burst out laughing.  She gave up on saving that baby after she got tickled.  When it was our turn, Carolyn pealed off the last couple’s mask and began putting our mask on the face.  Well, in the process she had her hand on the nose and mouth areas – yeah, you guessed it…the same area where our mouths needed to go.  Both me and Bran looked at each other and started asking who was going first.  I told him to go first because I was carrying his baby and shouldn’t be getting sick with germs.  He kept saying that I wasn’t right because I was pushing him to exposure. I think Carolyn finally caught on and wanted to end our shenanigans so she asked who was going first.  You know I made Bran go first.  I laughed about that all the way home.

Oh, before I forget, Peanut was the last baby due in the group and I was the biggest mommy.  I was bigger than the one who is due next month.  Like I told my mom, I looked better than all of the other new mommies.  I didn’t have swollen feet and my neck and chin are still separate entities, so in my opinion and the opinion of my husband, I was the best looking mommy in the group. 

Well, wouldn’t you know it?  I gained 5 more pounds between last month’s visit and this visit.  This makes my weight gain this entire pregnancy a total of 25 pounds.  Dr. Artis told me that I have a limit of 12 more pounds between now and when I deliver.  Otherwise, Peanut could be a big baby.  I know I was doing well after my last appointment because I lost some weight and gained a little back.  The problem happened last week when I ended up with this cold/sinus infection.  I wasn’t able to hold my head up so you know I wasn’t able to walk for exercise.  On top of that, we ate pizza, Applebee’s, and some other restaurants.  Normally, we don’t eat out that much, but dinner wasn’t being cooked at home since we both were fighting illnesses.  I was asked how much we ate out, if I was exercising, and what my portions were looking like.  I may have slightly larger portions that usual, but I told the doctor that all of my snacks are usually healthy….mostly fruits, pretzels, granola bars, stuff like that.  Bran indicated that I was tearing up some strawberries.  The doctor recommended that I only eat a half a cup or a cup of strawberries.  I had to let her know that one strawberry was a half a cup since these were the largest berries I had ever seen.  So now, I am limited to 2 or 3 strawberries at a time.  I decided that I will purchase and eat smaller berries so that my mind won’t ask for more when those 2 or 3 are gone.

On top of that, I mentioned the palpitations that I had been having since Dr. Heath told me to let them know if any heart related “funny business” started.  Dr. Artis recommended that I see a cardiologist to make sure things are well with the ticker. 

This week, things have gotten back to normal.  I have been walking everyday for at least 30 minutes.  So by my next appointment, May 29, I plan on not gaining any more than the 2 pounds recommended.  Actually, I am planning on staying at my current weight or losing some of it.