I have food now, rejoice!

This weekend went pretty well considering how crappy my week was. I felt almost 100% better on Saturday after taking the max dose I'm allowed of Tylenol. I feel bad about taking medicine, but in this case I think the ends justified my means.

On saturday, my friend Jessica drove up to visit me from Winona. Ashley (also my friend) came with and we did mostly a bunch of nothing. Of course, as with everyone who doesn't live here who comes to visit, we had to go to the Mall of America even though none of us really needed anything. Then we went to Figlio's, Jess's favorite place for a BLT. After that we drove around, got lost a few times, and headed to a blown glass store that had some really neat stuff in it. After that we ran through lanes of traffic to cross the street to the Co-op, and we bought ourselves dessert. I had carrot cake, which was amazingly natural and full of carrot. The number two ingredient was actually carrot (right after the #1, which was cream cheese for the frosting) so I consider it eating carrots. Then we checked out The Mother of All Goodwills to see if they had anything we absolutely needed, but there wasn't much beyond a very neat basket and some pottery done by school children that will serve as my change jar. It was a good find, if you ask me... $1.05 has never been better spent.

Saturday night, Jess & Ashley drove home and I went to eat steak with my parents at my sister's house. I don't like steak much, so I wasn't too impressed and I ended up eating WAYY too much meat that day. Sunday morning I went to eat breakfast with Jared, Elisa, my parents, & her inlaws. It was good, but I couldn't eat anywhere near all of it, which was disappointed becasue I felt starved. After breakfast my parents took Elisa & I grocery shopping and we filled a cart with delicious goods to last me a while. After that, we went geocaching so Jared was pretty excited about it.

I, however, was less excited because my Dad likes to bushwhack a lot, and it was pretty melty and muddy outside. We crossed through a frozen marshy area and my foot broke through the ice and practically gave me trench foot from walking around with a wet foot the rest of the day. After a long day of geocaching, we ate dinner at Culver's and went home. And now today I am sore and I barely want to move, but at least I got exercise?

This morning I ate one of my new high fiber bagels with my favorite cream cheese... mmm.. delicious.

As far as the baby goes... He's about 4-5 inches long now from head to butt, not including the legs. His eyes are facing forward now, so he looks a little less alien freaky from head on. He moves around a bunch, mostly just hanging out, drinking amniotic fluid and then peeing it out before drinking it again. Ew. Somtime soon I should be able to feel him moving, and I'm sort of scared that will freak me out. (Then I'll have the "nest of squirrels in my uterus" nightmare again about them gnawing out of me.. ew...)

Anyway, thats about it for now. I might go eat another bagel.

-Me

Back in school, expelling the doom/gloom.

Okay.. this week has been, well, evil. I've had a horrid headache for three days straight now, and about the only thing I want to do is lie in the dark with ice on my head. The headache has lightened up abit, so I've put the computer on dim and I'll post to update y'all.

Yesterday I was mostly terrified/freaking out because I started bleeding a little bit. No worries, though.. doctor said it was fine. Today, however, I went down to breakfast alone and I got to suddenly feeling very hot, sweaty, and shaky. I ended up half fainting onto Fat UDS Manager. It was highly embarrassing, but they at least made me a ham and cheese omelet to order and I sat down there for a good long time before I went back up to my room. Then, I went to do my lab for soil sciences this afternoon, and the same thing mysteriously happened again, and I feel in general horrible. My diagnosis and prescription is that I am lame, and I must sleep the rest of the day with blankets blocking the light from my windows. Sounds good to me.

But, in the interest of positive thoughts for today, I made a small list of physical objects that make me happy inside.

1. The ugly piece of rubber caulked onto the faucet handle in my shower stall. After complaining many times about hitting my head when I bent over, nice maintenance man Gary whipped up his ugly rubber caulk solution. And, while it still hurts if/when I hit my head on it, it makes me feel good that he was nice enough to make it for me.

2. Nasty Old Crow that lives on the roof outside my window. Originally, I thought N.O.C. would be an eyesore and a nuisance, but he has proven himself a good entertainer during hte boring winter months. He has slowly but steadily piled scraps of shiny things and soda cans into a corner, and watching him carry his latest find up to his lair is a spectacular feat worthy of at least 15 minutes of my attention. I've come to see N.O.C. as the best neighbor I've got, because he doesn't barf in my bathroom or make noises while I'm trying to sleep.

3. The garbage can with "Love Will Save Us" carved into its lid. I laughed when I first saw this. Its kind of ironic that such an uplifting statement be carved into (of all things) a garbage can. While waiting outside during fire drills, I've often wondered who carved it there... probably some hippie with a bright outlook on life.

4. Three dimensional animal shaped pencil topper erasers. I like to play with them, and even if they don't actually erase anything, they're made in fun colours and everyone who sits by me either enjoys them or thinks I am crazy. Above all else, I smile because I am finally allowed to have them. (Take that, private Catholic school for denying me animal erasers! They're mine now!)

5. Ice pack. Ice pack is my new stuffed animal that I sleep with. Sometimes even without a headache I like to strap him around my head and go to sleep. When I wake up and he is no longer frozen, I enjoy spending the first few minutes of being awake squishing his freezy gels back and forth in my fingers.

That is about all the happiness I can muster for now. More later when my head is no longer threatening to explode.

-Me

Spring Breaking

Alright. I kind of forgot to post while I was in DC. Here is a run down of what we did, which is as accurate as my memory is today.

Monday we slept in. I think thats about all I can remember, except that maybe we went grocery shopping and that was the night I made gyros for dinner.

Tuesday Jared & I got up early and had my sister drop us off to wait in line for tickets to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Jared has been super excited to see it for a while now, so I'm glad we got to go even though the tour was mysteriously less exciting than I'd imagined. The up side? Jared spotted/stood next to/stared at John Leguizamo, who was on the same tour with his family. (Note photo to the left if you don't know who he is. He was in Ice Age, Righteous Kill, The Happening, Love in the Time of Cholera, ER, Romeo + Juliet, & Moulin Rouge to name a few.)

After the tour of the mint, we all ate street dogs and walked to the museum of Natural History and enjoyed the mammal & insect rooms. We got tickets for the butterfly room, and were allowed to walk in with the plants and live butterflies. Jared was kind of freaked out at the prospect of butterflies flying at him, but he did well despite his fears and we identified the elusive blue morpho, among other species. (Why was Jared scared? He is scared of all things that have the ability to fly at him, and if I had to guess why I'd say its because his mommy is scared of birds. Purely speculation, though.)

Wednesday was nice weather so I went with my sisters to a nearby garden and walked around. We found that none of us can correctly read a sundial. Also, Deidra discovered how awesome crepe myrtles are, and Christa decided she wants a painting of poppies for her dining room.

Thursday was a day of shopping with the sisters. We went to gap maternity and they bought some maternity clothes that are actually attractive. The other great success of the day was finding a comfy bra that fits me. Later that night we ordered pizza in, which mysteriously gave me heartburn even though Papa Johns pizza ordered in MN does not. Deidra invited her friends over and Jared talked to the husband about JAG and other stuff, I played with their labrador puppy/dog and was pet on the belly. (Don't try it. I get angry very easily when people are touching my belly.)

Friday the kids got to skip school and we all went back to the Natural History Museum, this time even Dave came along. We cruised through the oceans exhibit, visited the bugs again (they were cool), looked at the Hope Diamond (very disappointing) and then enjoyed the dinosaur room (dinosaurs = awesome.) Jared and I discussed what we are going to dress baby up as for Halloween, and I'll give you a new poll to choose from our top options.

Family photo near the Avendasora fountain.

Saturday we ate breakfast, took family photos and drove back to our hotel in Indiana. Jared & I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner, but thats about all that happened. The drive back was less exciting than the way out. We listed to a crappy Clive Cussler novel on audiotape and despite listening to it for more than 2+ days of driving, we still aren't finished. Its 12 CDs long, and I bet it could probably be cut down to 4 without losing any meaningful content.

Now today was back to life as usual... I got tsunami-ed by the bus again and it started to pour on me on the way to class. At least it is warm outside, its warmer here than it was in DC.

In baby news... Well, there isn't much besides heartburn and poor quality of sleep. My stomach is starting to pop a bit, and really I wish it would just all stay in there. My next doctor's appointment is in two weeks, and then the week after that they've got me scheduled for another ultrasound.

I'm hoping to add a museum picture or two, so check back for those. Otherwise I am posted - out. Peace.

Driving for two days.

Okay... Here is the story of our journey here:

I got up early on Saturday and picked up Erin from River Falls so she can Lucy and house sit. We got everything into the car and left probably around 10:15 I think. I really don't remember and if I make something up on this post, probably no one will care so I am saying we left at 10:15. We had to stop multiple times to pee, fuel, and eat. I had a Culver's hot dog, it was pretty much delicious. For dinner I had mini burgers, but they really were a kind of a sham because it was actually just one full sized burger cut into quarters and placed onto tiny buns. Its really not the same at all, because the burger was WAY too thick to be considered a mini burger. But anyway, we stayed in Indiana and watched prison specials before going to bed.

We tried to leave at 8:30 on Sunday, but my sister took a forever long shower and caused much delay. I ahd continental breakfast, and then we were on the road going through boring old Ohio. There was much stopping and forcing of me to pee unnecessarily. Then, we arrived and ate sloppy joes, played skip bo, exchanged spoken words amongst family and went to bed.

And now I'm here. That is the chronological story, but here are the interesting things:

1. We saw two different herds of bison.
2. I took a picture of a water treatment plant because it was the hugest one I'd ever seen.

Today I checked my mail and I got a reply from the apartment lady I'd like to rent from. She has an awesome apartment and seems very nice, so that could be a good possibility. I don't know what else is on the docket for this week, but I think I covered the bare minimum needed for another post.

-Me.

P.S. My sister can't read a map as well as I can. The photo is of my sister driving past a fiberglass chicken. It was a stealth shot, so the quality suffered a bit but I highly recommend it anyway.

Creamed corn vs regular corn

Today I had a discussion with my sister about creamed corn. She didn't believe me that it was about hte same as regular canned corn. We had to get out the cans and check. It was a victory for me, because creamed corn is really the only canned corn option in my book.

That made us discuss my diet, and whether or not it is good enough. I tried to think of other vegetables that I eat, and there really aren't many. Corn I love to eat almost any way its served. I eat celery, but only with peanut butter on it. I eat broccoli but only with cheese sauce on it. Same goes for cauliflower. I eat spinach, but only creamed or on sandwiches. I'll tolerate peas & green beans (especially french cut). Other vegetables I like cooked to mush and served in other dishes... I like cooked carrots and celery and peas in soups and chicken pot pies. Give me a raw carrot, however, and I will barf it up. Same goes iwth trying to make me eat any lettuce salad, squash served in any manner, or asparagus. I just can't do it.

That made me remember the V8 juice I have. Its supposedly the same as a full serving of vegetables, but I don't know that I exactly buy that. I feel like I'm missing out on the fiber or something, just because it tastes so good.

Probably the biggest problem I have is that I don't like protein. I'll drink milk like no tomorrow, but milk being hte incomplete protein that it is... its not good enough. I like baked and refried beans, but then look at the salt/fat content. I hate fish. I HATE fish. I don't really like red meat, unless its shaped into a hamburger. Chicken only does so much for me, and pork is just okay. Above and beyond the problem of not liking protein, how am I supposed to get it in my room? Its not like I can roast a chicken or anything in here. I'm at the mercy of UDS, who loves to slather on gross sauces and serve odd combinations (bleu cheese pineapple roast anyone? ew.)

I could go for a dill pickle roast right about now, actually. But I don't know when I'd have an occasion to make it.

I think I'm going to clean my room while Jared is gone all day.. it means my room'll stay clean for at least the duration of his absence.

-Me

Genius doctor, freaky baby, horrible weather.

Okay... Three things I can think of to write about:
1. Doctor's visit(s)
2. Facebooking newborn babies
3. Weather

1. This morning I had my 13 week visit to the doctor. As I feared, the new doctor was not as nice and she seemed a little bit "special" to me. I don't really know why I ahd to go in because all I did was pee in a cup, take my weight, and listen to the baby's heart beat. She asked me 1 question: How are you feeling? That was it.

From that, she told me the following:
A.) I am sick, drink more. (Thank you, genius)
B.) I have lost weight again, eat more. (Thanks again, you're up for a Nobel)
C.) I am dehydrated, drink even more. (Got that the first time.)

Aside from that useless visit, I got a call with my results for the screen test they did last week. All of my risks are so low they cannot be measured, so that is good at least.

2. One of my favorite thing to do is to Facebook all my friends with newborn nieces/nephews/babies (surprisingly, there are a lot). Today, however, I was horrified. I looked at Kyle's niece, and at the scale she was on and SHE WEIGHED 13 POUNDS EVEN. That is scary. I didn't know that was possible. This was a giant baby. She looked like she should start walking around or something in a month she was so huge. Freaky.

3. I woke up this morning and it looked like somebody dumped slurry all over the world. But, at least it was warm sorta warm and fog is kinda cool anyway. Then, as I was walking to the doctor's, little tiny hail pieces started coming down. Lovely. Then, when I was walking out from the doctor's, it rained on me. What a lovely day.

Too tired to sleep.

I looked through more apartment listings. No luck. 

I ate another green cookie, and I drooled some more green onto my shirt.

I took a midterm tonight, it was okay. 

I ate kielbasa, which I don't really like but Jared would have made me eat some protein and that was the only option at UDS tonight.

I surprised Jared with an energy drink. He is happy now.

There is a run in my sweatpants.

That is all.

Apartment hunting... It sucks.

Well, last night I couldn't sleep so I stayed up cruising apartment listings. And pretty much, what is out there sucks. Mostly the apartments we could afford are in the middle of nowhere, or worse, in the middle of scary Lake Street. Some gems exist but they don't have move in dates until SEPTEMBER, which, I hate to say, is too late. Most of the ones near campus are either 1 bedroom or 5-6, and the 1 BRs wouldn't let us live there. Maybe I can find somebody who knows how to find the good ones, because I think I just suck at this.

Aside from apartments, well... things mostly still suck. :( I have an evil sinus headache now, and my back is still mad at me. I ate a cookie early this morning and went to sleep, and found that I drooled green frosting spit down the side of my face and onto my pillow.

I have my doctor's appointment tomorrow, and its with a new doctor so I hope I like her. Its going to be hard to find one that is as nice as the lady who saw me the first day. Also tomorrow they are supposed to call with the results of last week's testing, so thats a bit nerve wracking.

Positive thought to end on: I have nice underwear to wear to the doctor's tomorrow.

Now with 25% more congestion!

I realized this morning that being 13 weeks means I am only 33.5% done with this whole thing. This feels like forever.

Well... Physically, this weekend has been crappy but I guess other than that its been good.

Physically: My nose is stuffy and I can't breathe. Ew. I think I am getting a sinus infection, but really there isn't anything I can do about it but wait. Why does cold medicine have to be such an evil thing!? Secondly, and maybe more worrisome, is that I hurt my back somehow and it hurts to bend over, reach, move, live, etc. Owie.

Other than that: I went out to lunch with my mommy yesterday and then we went shopping and found me a pair of maternity jeans that 1.) aren't ugly 2.) aren't too short for me and 3.) were comfortable. Get this, one fo the pairs that fit and was long enough was a small. Who is shopping there that would be a large?! Pants were an exciting find after going to a few stores and getting shot down for being too tall. Then I just sat around at my sister's most of the day and ate Saint Patrick's Day feast early. That was okay, but really I think corned beef tastes like bologna before it has been ground up and compressed into a cylinder. Also, I do not like cabbage. At least there were bread and cookies to eat, so the whole meal wasn't a complete loss for me.

Then I came home, put my ice pack on my head and tried to go to sleep. It was a rough night, kept waking up on my back and having to blow my nose. Then I woke up, had to pee, and found that there is no toilet paper in any of the stalls. I had to go back and use Kleenex, disgusting.

Now I am waiting for my parents to call after they're done churching and breakfasting with the in laws. I don't know what we're doing today, and I don't really feel up to doing too much but maybe if I get up and move I will feel less like a ziploc full of toxic waste.

Drippy Nose & Cheesecake

The cold hasn't gone away yet. Sleeping on my side doesn't do wonders for a stuffy nose, and I WISH I could take some cold medicine but... you know how those things are. Jared and I are going to go out tonight to eat cheesecake in hopes that it'll make us both feel better. At least this week is the last week before spring break, and we'll get to go see the Avendasori. The drive to DC is kind of nice after you get out of the gross parts (Imagine: hours worth of Ohio scenery).

My parents are coming to visit tomorrow, but I don't know what we'll be doing. Maybe some grocery shopping, maybe clothes shopping... Depends on how I feel, I guess. This weekend I hope to get some things done so that it won't be so rushed before leaving next weekend. I need to make up directions, check out hotel locations, etc. Shouldn't take long, just have to set a time and do it.

I was supposed to go out to eat with Dave yesterday, but he managed to slay his servers or something and couldn't get away from work. Instead, I watched an IFC horror film about demonic children. It was a pretty close second, I guess. :P

Now, the rest of this post is TMI, but I am going to write it anyway:
I've been kind of constipated since being pregnant, and there are few things more satisfactory than a nice #2 these days. This morning, I was in the bathroom going about my business when A TOUR GROUP decided they were going to check out the dorm bathrooms while I was in there pooping. It was embarrassing, to say the least.

Omnipresent hunger.

Now that I can eat food, I'm a lot hungrier than normal. I realized yesterday that I have a definite problem on my hands... I have 64 days left of school (Not counting breaks and the last half of finals week) and I only have 90 meals left. Now, I'm not a genius at math but that means I can be eating approximately 1.40 meals each day for the rest of the year. Uh oh. No more going down to UDS three times a day! I'll have to acquire other sources of food.

On a better note, though, I will be 23 weeks by then and hopefully I'll look pregnant instead of just fat. Also, it hopefully will stop being so cold all the time! I hate that I want to go outside so badly, but every time I step out I change my mind. I need some warm weather!

On a worse note, I've caught Jared's cold. I don't think it would normally be that bad but I've kinda been coughing, and then barfing, and sneezing. Which... sucks, to say the least. I'm hoping that my alarm clock failure this morning will mean that the extra sleep will heal me sooner. (A person can hope.)

Good news for today: I've secured a dogsitter so I think all lights are green for the trip to DC. My brother in law is here and we're going out to eat tonight, so that is one more meal I don't have to worry about. I took my regular prenatal today and so far have not barfed it up.

Thats all I can think of right now. I hope UDS has french toast today.

-me.

Doctor's Visit today, Exciting Updates!

12 weeks 4 days ultrasound photo. Baby's head is to the left, with his left hand scratching his nose.

Okay, I feel like this is a worthy post to kick off the new blog.

Today was my screening test visit. We found out that I am not a carrier for CF, so that worry is gone. We also found that the baby's neck folds look normal, so that lowers the risk of Down Syndrome, and also... WE'RE HAVING A BOY!!

Here is the proof! Jared was awfully proud when the technician said he had a little baby erection.

I've been feeling much better recently. My UTI has gone away, and the bulk of my puking is over with.. The only thing remaining is some lingering nausea. Nothing can stop me now!

As far as the blog goes, I'll be posting some photos for you today. I'm also going to try to figure out if I can set up a section for y'all to input your name suggestions, and I'm going to be bulking up the general info available.

Thanks again for staying involved, be sure to check back as my blog evolves and the posts come in.

-A

First trimester down, two to go.

Hi everyone!

At the urging of my sister, I've decided to create a blog so you can stay in touch, read my stories, and/or be guilted into buying me things off of my wish lists! I appreciate all the support and entertainment you all have provided me; keep it coming!

A true post to follow soon, as well as directions for the less computer inclined on how to work my new blog, view my pictures, comment, & subscribe.

See y'all around.

-A