Just reading Amanda's last post made me tired - not because it was boring but because this is how my life has been for the past three months - EXHAUSTING. Cause when the Sandman comes a knockin', I go willingly. The reason for all the exhaustion is because I, too, am pregnant and I am just finishing up my first trimester. I'm still waiting for that moment in the second trimester that many books and people talk about - the moment where you get this burst of energy and you're no longer tired...at least not until you hit your third trimester.
My weekends have been dictated by my need for sleep. A normal 'pregnant' Saturday/Sunday will find me waking up at 7AM, watching TV for about 1 - 1.5 hours and then back in bed for another two hours before I can venture out of the house. And even then it's a struggle. But whatever I manage to do outside of the house, I will eventually need to head home in the afternoon for at least another two hour nap. And then I go about my business around dinner time and I'm in bed and asleep before 10PM. It's sad really - because I used to be so energetic. Now, I can barely get my ass out of bed to do anything. Not to mention the fact that I've been to the gym THREE times in the last three months. I'm hoping that this week will get me back into the gym regularly (three-four times a week) and that will slowly boost up my energy levels....but again, getting me out of the house after returning from work will be a chore within itself!
I also manage to have internal debates with myself overnight - as in, when I have to get up to go to the bathroom. Some nights I get up once, other nights I get up twice. But before I manage to get up, I think I argue with myself for at least five minutes before I lose the battle and get up to go to the bathroom. The winning argument is always, 'This only prepares you for overnight baby feedings.' I begrudgingly get out of bed (cause storing all that waste can't be good for the babies) and promptly get back to sleep. This is how bad my exhaustion has gotten - actually thinking that I could 'hold it in' so I don't have to get out of bed. Where are those catheters when you need them?! I was even informed by 'experienced' Moms that in my third trimester, I might experience 'leakage' before I can hit the bathroom. My response? Ewww and then a mental note to maybe invest in some Depends.
Although I'm thoroughly exhausted, I actually can't complain very much because I did get away with no morning sickness, no vomiting, no nausea and no food aversions. I was one of the lucky ones in that regard - if my worst symptom is exhaustion and the remedy is to sleep, I doubt I would get much pity.
Time for a nap!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Fooling Ourselves
Hey everyone! It's officially turkey day on the East Coast (here in Del Rio, we're still shy approximately five minutes)! I could blog about how I spent all day making pies, but I won't. It was pretty anticlimactic (although, I confess that I did have a little taste of my friend Brenda's famous pumpkin bars just to make sure I didn't screw them up (I didn't - and yum!)). Instead, I thought of the perfect blog topic the other night: why do we fool ourselves?
I'm sure we're all guilty of the occasional white lie every now and then. (Frankly, I don't think I could be friends with someone who didn't engage in this practice once in awhile. It's just human nature and a useful resource for sparing feelings.) But what I really don't get is when we try to trick ourselves into believing something. Don't we know ourselves well enough by this point in life? How could we fall for such a thing?
A simple example of this is my constant need to rationalize what I eat. Oh, food regrets - those are the worst. So, in an effort to assuage the guilt I feel after gorging on some snack or sweet, I'll often try to convince myself that I didn't have a full serving or that it didn't have any calories as the package says because it's Sunday or something. Do I buy these ridiculous excuses? No, not really. But I continue to do it, time and time again.
The ultimate attempt to fool myself, though, is when I insist that I am not, I am NOT falling asleep. Here's what I mean: Often, when I'm snuggled up on the couch at night watching the boob tube, I'll start to doze off. But I'm not willing to throw in the towel yet. Oh no. I will finish, MUST finish whatever pointless thing I'm watching. So here's my genius plan: I will simply rest my eyes for a little while, but not to worry - I will still be able to follow the story, sporting event, what-have-you, by LISTENING.
Has this strategy ever worked? Nope. Not even once. Not when my brother and I stayed up late while we were in high school watching "Zapped Again" (which Scott Baio was evidently too good for) on one of the cheap local cable channels. Not during my first three attempts at getting all of the way through the movie "Fletch" (great movie, but it was like some kind of weird curse - sometime after Fletch told them to "put it on the Underhill's tab," the sandman would pay me a visit). Not when I watched my Ti-Fauxed episode of "Samantha Who?" from the other night. (I would start the episode, fall asleep about five minutes in, wake up at some point after the credits and, INCREDIBLY, try to get through it again - with the same master plan.)
The point? I'm not fooling anyone. But you can't blame me for trying.
I'm sure we're all guilty of the occasional white lie every now and then. (Frankly, I don't think I could be friends with someone who didn't engage in this practice once in awhile. It's just human nature and a useful resource for sparing feelings.) But what I really don't get is when we try to trick ourselves into believing something. Don't we know ourselves well enough by this point in life? How could we fall for such a thing?
A simple example of this is my constant need to rationalize what I eat. Oh, food regrets - those are the worst. So, in an effort to assuage the guilt I feel after gorging on some snack or sweet, I'll often try to convince myself that I didn't have a full serving or that it didn't have any calories as the package says because it's Sunday or something. Do I buy these ridiculous excuses? No, not really. But I continue to do it, time and time again.
The ultimate attempt to fool myself, though, is when I insist that I am not, I am NOT falling asleep. Here's what I mean: Often, when I'm snuggled up on the couch at night watching the boob tube, I'll start to doze off. But I'm not willing to throw in the towel yet. Oh no. I will finish, MUST finish whatever pointless thing I'm watching. So here's my genius plan: I will simply rest my eyes for a little while, but not to worry - I will still be able to follow the story, sporting event, what-have-you, by LISTENING.
Has this strategy ever worked? Nope. Not even once. Not when my brother and I stayed up late while we were in high school watching "Zapped Again" (which Scott Baio was evidently too good for) on one of the cheap local cable channels. Not during my first three attempts at getting all of the way through the movie "Fletch" (great movie, but it was like some kind of weird curse - sometime after Fletch told them to "put it on the Underhill's tab," the sandman would pay me a visit). Not when I watched my Ti-Fauxed episode of "Samantha Who?" from the other night. (I would start the episode, fall asleep about five minutes in, wake up at some point after the credits and, INCREDIBLY, try to get through it again - with the same master plan.)
The point? I'm not fooling anyone. But you can't blame me for trying.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Yaye For Fat Pants!!!!
All women have their fat days - it may be more frequent than bad hair days, but I know that there would always be a week in every month where I just felt FAT.
I knew a lot of it was psychological and it was just prepping me for my monthly visitor - but I still didn't like it. And it was during these days that the baggy shirts came out and the best bottoms were drawstring and loose bottoms.
I've been having a lot of fat days lately - of course every time I voice this aloud, I usually get an annoyed response "You're not fat, you're pregnant!" This is true....but it doesn't prevent me from feeling like a two-ton heffer. The sad part is that I'm not even done with my first trimester (one week left) but the reason for the rapid growth in my girth is due to, so I'm told, is that I'm having twins. And everything seems to speed up when you're having twins.
I've been trying to hold off buying maternity clothes - I really don't need them - sweaters have been really helpful during this time to hide everything - but it's the bottoms that have been the struggle. I already purchased a belly band and I told my fellow cupcake, Amanda, that wearing jeans with the belly band is like HEAVEN - I'm so much more comfortable and don't feel like I'm "suffocating" the babies. And I look forward to going home in the evenings because I jump out of my work clothes and get into my sweats - pronto.
Yesterday, as I was getting ready for work, and had already resigned myself to the fact that I would no longer be wearing any size 8s, I was really surprised when one of my size 8 pants actually fit and didn't "suffocate" my tummy. I was very excited.....until I went to go sit in the car and I hear this 'POP.' I checked the back of my pants really quick - no hole. I checked my winter coat - no hole or rips.....I sat in the car for about a NY minute before I decided to go inside and verify with a mirror that my pants didn't rip. They did not.
I got to work and was walking to my office when I felt silky fabric rubbing against my backside...and then it occurred to me....I split my lining! And sure enough, a trip to the ladies' room confirmed it. Total bummer. Size 8s are now officially a size of my past - thank goodness I have size 10 work pants from my feeling-fat days.
I was excited this morning when I went into my dressing room and discovered that not only did I have "fat pants" for work - I had a pair of "fat jeans" because not surprisingly, I was down to like 1.5 jeans that fit me comfortably....however now that they've been freshly washed, we could be down to zero.....in which these fat jeans will come in very handy!
So yaye for fat pants because without them, I would be wishing that I could show up to work in sweats or drawstring pants...which wouldn't be a bad thing but it wouldn't be very professional.
I knew a lot of it was psychological and it was just prepping me for my monthly visitor - but I still didn't like it. And it was during these days that the baggy shirts came out and the best bottoms were drawstring and loose bottoms.
I've been having a lot of fat days lately - of course every time I voice this aloud, I usually get an annoyed response "You're not fat, you're pregnant!" This is true....but it doesn't prevent me from feeling like a two-ton heffer. The sad part is that I'm not even done with my first trimester (one week left) but the reason for the rapid growth in my girth is due to, so I'm told, is that I'm having twins. And everything seems to speed up when you're having twins.
I've been trying to hold off buying maternity clothes - I really don't need them - sweaters have been really helpful during this time to hide everything - but it's the bottoms that have been the struggle. I already purchased a belly band and I told my fellow cupcake, Amanda, that wearing jeans with the belly band is like HEAVEN - I'm so much more comfortable and don't feel like I'm "suffocating" the babies. And I look forward to going home in the evenings because I jump out of my work clothes and get into my sweats - pronto.
Yesterday, as I was getting ready for work, and had already resigned myself to the fact that I would no longer be wearing any size 8s, I was really surprised when one of my size 8 pants actually fit and didn't "suffocate" my tummy. I was very excited.....until I went to go sit in the car and I hear this 'POP.' I checked the back of my pants really quick - no hole. I checked my winter coat - no hole or rips.....I sat in the car for about a NY minute before I decided to go inside and verify with a mirror that my pants didn't rip. They did not.
I got to work and was walking to my office when I felt silky fabric rubbing against my backside...and then it occurred to me....I split my lining! And sure enough, a trip to the ladies' room confirmed it. Total bummer. Size 8s are now officially a size of my past - thank goodness I have size 10 work pants from my feeling-fat days.
I was excited this morning when I went into my dressing room and discovered that not only did I have "fat pants" for work - I had a pair of "fat jeans" because not surprisingly, I was down to like 1.5 jeans that fit me comfortably....however now that they've been freshly washed, we could be down to zero.....in which these fat jeans will come in very handy!
So yaye for fat pants because without them, I would be wishing that I could show up to work in sweats or drawstring pants...which wouldn't be a bad thing but it wouldn't be very professional.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Turkey Time...Not So Excellent
It's that time of year - Thanksgiving. It's during this time that I look forward to the time off of work that I get - first Thanksgiving, then Christmas soon after.
What I don't look forward to is traveling to families and being out of the comforts of my own home.
For the past 32 years, I have managed to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday without ever having to cook a turkey. There was a couple of years ago that my husband and I decided to stay in town for Thanksgiving so I invited a few other stragglers to come over for Thanksgiving dinner and I ordered a roasted turkey from Wegmans - my effort was just to reheat for 1.5 hours.
Every year, the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, we usually have a get together amongst our close friends, to celebrate the upcoming holiday. It is a potluck where everyone attending brings a festive dish and the hosts supply the bird. This is the first year that we're hosting the event. Our previous hosts have moved out to California so my husband and I stepped up to the plate to host the event this year. It's always a good time and a good excuse to bring everyone together before the hectic holiday season.
I thought I could get away with pre-ordering the turkey from Wegmans again and just reheat (and perhaps pass it off as my own)....but after meeting with the catering department and seeing that they only offered ONE size of bird that could not feed the 20+ guests we're expecting (and ordering two was not an option), it has come down to me cooking the turkey, myself, from scratch.
I started panicking. I brought my Betty Crocker cookbook to work yesterday but ultimately didn't have time to sift through for recipes. I did get about 10 mins to look online for recipes and I found a whole Turkey prep page with LOADS of recipes...I figured I would try a garlic and herb one - who doesn't like garlic and herb. I think my panic stems from long-ago Thanksgivings where my Mom would prepare the turkey and it seemed like it took a whole day to get it done. I also did not have a great fondness for turkey due to the dry-ness that resulted from my Mom's bird - then again, I don't really recall her basting the bird either. The recipes that I encountered only seem to take 3-4 hours before the turkey is done - no sweat! So now I'm actually not as frightened about making a turkey as I was before.
It will still be nerve wracking - having to cook a whole turkey myself for 20+ guests - but if I can do this, then that's just one more cooking accomplishment to put under my belt - turkey...check.
The gravy will come separately - that has been pre-ordered, thank goodness....I'm trying to take baby steps here.
What I don't look forward to is traveling to families and being out of the comforts of my own home.
For the past 32 years, I have managed to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday without ever having to cook a turkey. There was a couple of years ago that my husband and I decided to stay in town for Thanksgiving so I invited a few other stragglers to come over for Thanksgiving dinner and I ordered a roasted turkey from Wegmans - my effort was just to reheat for 1.5 hours.
Every year, the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, we usually have a get together amongst our close friends, to celebrate the upcoming holiday. It is a potluck where everyone attending brings a festive dish and the hosts supply the bird. This is the first year that we're hosting the event. Our previous hosts have moved out to California so my husband and I stepped up to the plate to host the event this year. It's always a good time and a good excuse to bring everyone together before the hectic holiday season.
I thought I could get away with pre-ordering the turkey from Wegmans again and just reheat (and perhaps pass it off as my own)....but after meeting with the catering department and seeing that they only offered ONE size of bird that could not feed the 20+ guests we're expecting (and ordering two was not an option), it has come down to me cooking the turkey, myself, from scratch.
I started panicking. I brought my Betty Crocker cookbook to work yesterday but ultimately didn't have time to sift through for recipes. I did get about 10 mins to look online for recipes and I found a whole Turkey prep page with LOADS of recipes...I figured I would try a garlic and herb one - who doesn't like garlic and herb. I think my panic stems from long-ago Thanksgivings where my Mom would prepare the turkey and it seemed like it took a whole day to get it done. I also did not have a great fondness for turkey due to the dry-ness that resulted from my Mom's bird - then again, I don't really recall her basting the bird either. The recipes that I encountered only seem to take 3-4 hours before the turkey is done - no sweat! So now I'm actually not as frightened about making a turkey as I was before.
It will still be nerve wracking - having to cook a whole turkey myself for 20+ guests - but if I can do this, then that's just one more cooking accomplishment to put under my belt - turkey...check.
The gravy will come separately - that has been pre-ordered, thank goodness....I'm trying to take baby steps here.
Who Says Nothing Happens in Del Rio?
Okay, I admit it. I've said that. Many times. When one of the approximately two decent restaurants in town is dead at prime time on a Saturday night, this necessarily causes me to question what on earth people are doing in Del Rio. (Incidentally, Chili's is always hopping; no, I do not consider that one of the select two, although, relative to its competition from iHop to Pizza Hut, it's certainly passable.)
I've voiced my concern several times to my friends in far sexier places (New York, D.C., Dallas, Austin), and I have to tell you - I love my friends. In times of waning excitement, it's nice to know that my peeps are looking out for me. Case in point: I received a flood of e-mails from my preferentially-located pals yesterday with the following (or a very similar) headline:
‘Bachelor’ winner arrested for unruliness
Mary Delgado was arrested after refusing to leave a Texas bar
http://www.austin360.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/TV/People_Bachelor_Winner_Arrest.html
"Where could this Texas bar be?" I hear you ask. Well, that's the interesting part. Yes, you can probably gather from the context that, indeed, baby-obsessed Bachelor Bob runner-up and Bachelor Byron winner Mary Delgado was arrested for causing a ruckus at some establishment in Del Rio. Of course, the articles I reviewed fail to mention which bar, which I think is a little fishy. I need to know these things, as I'm clearly missing all of the action in this town. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably the bar in the lakeside "resort" purportedly owned by Byron Velvick, the famed pro bass fisherman (note: I use the term "resort" very loosely). Maybe they got into some kind of heated argument over the lack of spice in the queso.
But there you have it. I guess I have to go eat my words now.
I've voiced my concern several times to my friends in far sexier places (New York, D.C., Dallas, Austin), and I have to tell you - I love my friends. In times of waning excitement, it's nice to know that my peeps are looking out for me. Case in point: I received a flood of e-mails from my preferentially-located pals yesterday with the following (or a very similar) headline:
‘Bachelor’ winner arrested for unruliness
Mary Delgado was arrested after refusing to leave a Texas bar
http://www.austin360.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/TV/People_Bachelor_Winner_Arrest.html
"Where could this Texas bar be?" I hear you ask. Well, that's the interesting part. Yes, you can probably gather from the context that, indeed, baby-obsessed Bachelor Bob runner-up and Bachelor Byron winner Mary Delgado was arrested for causing a ruckus at some establishment in Del Rio. Of course, the articles I reviewed fail to mention which bar, which I think is a little fishy. I need to know these things, as I'm clearly missing all of the action in this town. If I had to guess, I would say it was probably the bar in the lakeside "resort" purportedly owned by Byron Velvick, the famed pro bass fisherman (note: I use the term "resort" very loosely). Maybe they got into some kind of heated argument over the lack of spice in the queso.
But there you have it. I guess I have to go eat my words now.
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