Our New Dig

This past weekend, we moved in to our new home. We haven't had much time to unpack and clean up, but it will take many good days to get it done. We now live close to Golden Gate Park. Photography times!!

Moving in

It's been a busy last couple of weeks, now that I have to really watch what I eat and we have finally found our own nest.

Work is keeping me busy on top of that.

We saw Dr. Rittenhouse last week, and we mostly just discussed medical care options. My health benefits only cover me, and dependents cost a little too much so we have to explore alternatives out there that won't rip our pockets apart. He said I can work up until I give birth when asked the best time I should go on my leave. I agree to the extent that I would rather use my maternity leave after birth because such time is limited. I do need to go back to work soon after birth (which I hate to have to do), but am currently looking at options to make this easier on me and my work contribution.

Before Dr. R, we had our first meeting with my dietitian who reviewed my eating habit and is putting me on a better track to improve my gestational diabetes. It sucks to be on this diet. I'm tempted by all kinds of junk food I miss. I see her again tomorrow, and every two weeks (I think) until birth. We are scheduled for an ultrasound (though I wish we didn't have to anymore) to check on Gerard's size and weight. Maybe we'll get to see his face, but I was hoping there would be no more ultrasounds at this point because of (known and unknown) risks it has on him. I will have to see Dr. R every two weeks as well. I have to figure out my work schedule so it doesn't get too crazy but thankfully I work with people who are flexible and fully understand what I have to do.

We are now at our new apartment, everything is well unpacked, and I still have more things to get from my parents' house. It's tiring to unpack with all the bending down and pushing of boxes I shouldn't be doing, but sometimes I can't help it. I just want things to get cleared and de-cluttered right away. We barely even have any furniture but we can't get them until the living room is cleaned. I estimate another few weeks before that happens.

Big thanks to our friends and parents for helping us make this transition as smooth as possible.

Before I forget, my family threw a baby shower for us over the weekend. We came unintentionally late because that was also the same day we were signing the apartment lease and the agent had almost forgot about meeting us, so he was late. We received all kinds of nice gifts (I think we're well covered with the newborn diapers), so a BIG HUG to our friends and family for their support and love.

There is much more work to do so I'll end this journal here for now. Hopefully the next time I get to write, we have a little more room in this nest!

P.S. Gerard seems to be "sleeping" a lot as I can only feel him move sporadically. I am getting a lot more contractions lately. Harder and more frequent! 

We're online

This is our website. It will mainly be our photo blog and stuff like that, and other stuff that might be useful for us in the future.

Fort Ross - May 2007

Here are some shots from our Memorial Day trip to Fort Ross.

Not good news

Dr. Rittenhouse called to break the news that I, unfortunately, didn't pass my gestational diabetes test. This means I have to check in with a specialist to help me through it and make sure that things are as normal as possible for baby. I also was reminded to eat more frequent but small meals and to exercise after each one. Even if it's just a daily walk.

Needless to say, I'm bummed. Very bummed. During the call, I was actually having lunch at my desk. I decided to take a walk afterwards. I had a long walk, and it resulted in an aching achilles. Right now it's pretty painful to walk around because of it.

I'm having seasonal allergies as well, and the light-sleeping-thing isn't helping much. I've never been this crappy until now! The frustration of finding our own place is also getting under my skin, so all of a sudden things aren't looking up. :( 

Will I need a cane soon?

It feels like it!!

Walking up a slight hill seems like an awful challenge now. I'm extra slow too to preserve my energy. The other day I got into my car rather quickly and it kind of hurt my belly a little. Never doing that again. Reaching for my cell phone in the car is getting hard as well, and although I shouldn't even be reaching for my phone while driving, I'd have to keep it where I can easily grab it without leaning over.

I continue to read weekly developments on the internet, and it seems that sleeping lightly will be common from here on. No kidding! I have had urges to nap whenever I need it lately -- getting tired randomly throughout the day has picked up again. Sleeping early seems to be a nice thing also, but I wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. Last week, a little 3.1 jolt woke me up early in the morning. I have never woken up from a minor earthquake because I'm a deep sleeper by nature (the only one I know of in my family). What hasn't changed is that I still sleep through my alarm.

It hasn't helped much that sleeping positions have become annoying. I should really get a pregnancy pillow now. I feel so much discomfort on both sides, and I think that may be the biggest reason why I can't sleep well. I'm supposed to get a prenatal massage this coming weekend as my only pampering treat to myself this trimester. It also feels like my uterus pushes against my stomach when I lay on my left side. I woke up from a nap today (laying on my left) with a very numb stomach. But even when I'm up, my stomach feels numb.

The need to urinate frequently is back! This time I don't really mind it as much because it allows me to get up from sitting too long. Actually, many a time, it's Gerard's movements that cause my bladder to feel like I have to go. He pushes against it often.

Forgetfulness is still with me today, but not as bad as before. Heartburns are random and annoying as well, but surprisingly I'm able to ignore it for the most part.

Holding a guitar? It feels different! I will probably get back into songwriting much later on if and when inspiration burns again, but during my maternity leave I plan to do just two things (other than being a full time mom to Gerard): read my design books and learn Flash, and learn how to cook!!! Yuuuup. I'm not a domesticated female at all, but I should learn that skill once and for all. Luckily for us, papa Egan actually knows how to cook so our butts are fed.....but I'd like to help out with that duty.

Also -- contact lenses become harder to wear in the 3rd trimester. Very true for me as well. I may have to stop wearing them for the next 2 months.


That's all to share for now! We're doing good as far as meeting these timely pregnancy expectations I've been reading about since week 6. 

Welcome to our third trimester

This is our first week into the last trimester, and while I'm so very ecstatic we made it this far, I'm so very relieved we're getting close to the big day.... but not without anticipating all the pains and joys of the actual labor.

Some third trimester points I've already begun feeling are increased Braxton hicks contractions (doctor confirmed what those tightening sensations were at the last appointment), lots of back pain, and body warmth. Yup. Lately I've been kicking off blankets or waking up in a lot of heat even in this cold, San Francisco winter. Of course I still get cold but my body warms up so fast these days.

Today was extremely weird at work. Something just didn't feel right and I was quite imbalanced. I had no idea what was up, but I felt it could only go away if I drank soda or had ice cream (my vices). I'm already trying to cut down my carbs and sugars in preparation for my 3-hour Glucose testing this Saturday but I couldn't resist the ice cream. Just had to buy a little cup. It helped a little, but just a little. I was also have some annoying lower back pain everytime I sat down. A brief walk on an afternoon break was called for, but that didn't help much because I sat down and my back was still in a lot of discomfort.

And tonight, I'm feeling quite crampy on the belly, specifically on my right side. Could Gerard be hanging out there? I tried shifting my abdomen towards my left but that didn't help. Right now he seems to be awake and moving around and my right side doesn't seem to cramp as much as it did 30 minutes ago. But the way I see it, as long as my boy is moving and keeping me entertained, I'm fine with the cramp.

I will try to sleep it off. Hopefully I don't wake up to another earthquake tomorrow morning! Maybe that's what got me all weirded out today. LOL
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