Thursday, November 1, 2012

How I'm Feeling: (Almost) 8 Month Check-In

I do not sit on public toilets.  Actually, I don't sit on any toilet seat really, unless it's my own--and even that gets wiped clean constantly.  I can't remember the last time I sat on a public toilet but I'd say I was pretty young.  And even then, I must have clogged the toilets with fist fulls of paper covers.  My mom taught us to squat at a young age.  I think back to when we were children living in Nigeria, West Africa and there were two options when using the toilet: squat or go in the "bush."

After giving birth to my first born, the nurse walked me to the bathroom and asked me to sit on the toilet and pee, something about making sure everything worked properly and no pain, blah, blah, blah.  I stopped and looked at her and told her, "I just can't, I can't sit on the toilet."  I tried squatting but was too weak.  She quickly grabbed about ten toilet seat covers, all the while explaining how she understood.  Crisis averted.  Now that I live with two (soon to be three) men, I am always on the lookout for "spots" on the toilet seat (eww).  The great thing is that my daughter who is six, can use the lowered toilets at her school with ease and all on her own.  She told me the other day that she does everything I taught her when using the bathroom, including squatting.  Proud mama!

Sixty days to go and this is how I'm feeling!  During one of my many daily visits to the bathroom at work I was in midstream when I realized just how labored my breathing had become.  I was struggling to maintain my balance, holding my breath, and beginning to see stars in my eyes.  I realized that this was not the first time this had happened.  I had become so accustomed to this feeling that I hadn't given it a second thought.  I came to the conclusion it was all in my stomach.  My stomach has thrown me off balance on several occasions and caught me off guard on more than a few (opening a door and forgetting your belly needs a little extra room, squatting to do anything and forgetting that your knees need to make room for your belly to dip through, and that random rollover you do while in bed--forgetting your belly isn't quite suited for that position).  Lesson learned!  This doesn't mean I'll be sitting on toilets any time soon, but I will remember to breath!  

One last thing?  My sense of smell is out of this world!  If you're in Zimbabwe and funky, I can probably smell you.  This hypersensitivity to smell is one of the unappreciated symptoms of pregnancy.  While eating my salad the other day I wiped my mouth with a paper napkin and nearly gagged!  And just yesterday while I was grocery shopping, I had to hold my breath as I walked past a couple of overly scented women and one man.  It gave me a headache immediately.  And God knows when I'll be able to eat spaghetti again--one of my favorite comfort foods prior to pregnancy and I can't stand the smell of it now.

But other than the random public toilet and over the top sense of smell issue, I am feeling superb.  A little tired here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary.  In spite of all the things I have fussed about, I did want to say that I have had a great pregnancy so far.  And to my friends and family out there, thank you for your support, encouragement, and excitement for our soon to be little bundle of joy!  Even my homie in Seattle (whom I've never physically met but I consider to be my ace-boon-coon)!

Check out this shirt I just could not resist buying!  Ain't it cute?

xoxo

8 comments:

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    1. Alisha, I'm saving it for you! :)

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  2. So now I understand why you did not eat spaghetti last night....but my grandkids sure enjoyed it. That is the cutest T-shirt....I can't wait to see it.

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    1. LOL! Mom, I haven't eaten spaghetti in 6 months. You ask me why every time. :)

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  3. I know but it is hard for a mom when her child does not eat the spaghetti she slaved over the hot stove to prepare...chopping onions, bellpeppers, etc. However, I do understand. Believe it or not, I can remember when I was pregnant.....there were foods that I loved but could not eat during pregnancy because of the taste or the smell.

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    1. But I can eat a beef hotlink for breakfast, lunch AND dinner!

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  4. My husband grew up in Cameroon but didn't have to go in the bush but he swears he did that when he went to visit his grandmother LOL. I hope the baby comes soon.

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    1. LOL! Thank you, I am hoping he comes sooner than later as well. Partly for the tax write-off :) but mostly just because I would love to see him!

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