Pregnancy

I am now 24 weeks pregnant, or about five and a half months and well over half way there. I am in no hurry for this pregnancy to be over. Like clockwork, the major fatique and nausea subsided by 12 weeks, but shortly after I became sick. There is a good chance it was the H1N1 virus, as I've heard that anywhere from 50 - 90% of the flu cases in this area have been. My symptoms would indicate that it was.

On the worst day of the illness, I was to host Anneka's second birthday party, and of course, I had made life difficult by planning to make homemade pizzas on the BBQ for 15 children and adults. I had to call my mom to come up from Vancouver the rescue me; there was no way I was going to pull it off on my own. The party was at 5:00 (was a huge success - Anneka had the time of her life) and by 7:00 I was sitting in the rocking chair in Anneka's room, sweating, coughing and barely able to move. That bug progressed from one thing into the next for the next four weeks until my nose was so red and raw and cracked, that my doctor thought it could have turned into a case of allergic rhinitis. Indeed, I had been sanding and filling in the basement suite for days. Within days of her giving me a cortisone nasal spray, I was better. The headaches that plagued me from the beginning of the pregnancy also decreased majorly.

So, finally, the last few weeks I have been feeling really good. Some days I can't even believe how high my energy levels, but other days, like to day, my activity catches up with me. I've taken a job at Pure Frame and Flower store to boost up my maternity hours. It is super fun and I am learning all about framing. That combined with Capilano U. has me working around 30 hours a week. Right now, I am loving it and feel really good about both jobs. They compliment eachother so nicely. Cap, is my career job and the framing definitely massages my creative/hands-on side. I have been so, so lucky this summer and fall.

I hope my luck continues. Paul and Anneka have been very sick since Wednesday. On Thursday night, Anneka's fever was so high (39.6) that the nurse at 811 recommended I take her to emergency right away. After working 10 hours, I was not back home until midnight, and the trip wasn't really necessary - the Tylenol had brought her fever down. For the next two days we administered Tylenol when she'd begun to heat back up and her and Paul rested and slept. They seem to have both turned the corner now. I have not yet got sick. I hope, I hope that they just got what I had previously and that I have some immunity now, because I do not want to go throught that again - especially the night time coughing.

As for little baby; I really believe that she/he has been well protected from all of his/her mother's ailments. My belly is big - bigger than it was with Anneka. This time, I had strangers comment on my pregnancy by 11 weeks. I carried Anneka way out front too and showed quite early, but after looking at pictures of me pregnant the first time at 24 weeks, it is obvious I am displaying this baby even more obviously. I squished myself into the jeans I had on in Anneka's belly shot and even wore them to work - that made me feel better.

Baby was really busy during the 19 week ultrasound, constantly chewing on fingers and waving arms and legs. I have been comforted with Baby's movement all along, never a day passing where I didn't feel movement. Today the movements feel really strong. Just moments ago, I was watching my belly and watching baby pushing or kicking just to the right of my belly button with strong solide movements. It is so cool to watch this knocking on the uterine wall. It reminded me of Anneka, because her shape and position in side of me was unusually clear (according to my midwives). I feel really good about this baby inside of me - it just seems that he or she is resilient and hardy and thriving. I love this little baby so much already.