Week 16 spent in Chicago

Week 16 was interesting. A few headaches and a bit of nausea and a definite growing belly (and not from eating out every meal in Chicago!). It was a fairly stressful week due to my talk on Tues morning. Despite my adviser's lack of confidence in me and his unfounded criticism afterwards (really don't understand why he is so afraid of his own data), I think it went surprisingly well. The room was packed - standing and sitting in the aisles. People said ~300 people attended including some big guy from the Gates Foundation and someone from one of the NIH agencies. The questions after the talk were pretty easy and straightforward. What a relief. Funny thing is, despite the anxiety of the day before and morning of, once I got up there and started speaking, I think part of me actually enjoyed it. A little morning sickness immediately prior, but the baby overall seemed fairly cooperative too! Maybe he enjoyed the public speaking experience (future extrovert?)...oh no, maybe his Daddy's political interests will rub off on him and we will have a future politician. I would be extremely proud of that provided he were a Democrat. Oh, and no news regarding the gender yet, but I am seriously convinced that this little creature is a boy. Only a male could inflict so much distress and illness upon a female (haha, just teasing). And the constant craving for protein is also tipping me towards boy. Darn he is going to be big, because I feel huge already.

Chicago is a really great city. Expensive, more so than I had previously remembered (or maybe that is because I wasn't so poor the last time I went there?), but many things to do and the park system is amazing. Love the lake - beautiful color and almost as great as the ocean. I wish I had more time to see it, and that I wasn't as preoccupied with the conference.

It was nice to come home. Ian surprised me with some flowers and a temporary wedding band to wear during the pregnancy - fingers are already swelling and will only get worse during the summer heat. The dogs were happy to see me; I think Ginger squealed louder than I have ever heard her. My soul mate of a dog! Next in level of excitement were Hailey, Luna, and then Bella/Sadie. Sometimes I wonder if Bella and Sadie possess the mental capacity to realize the length of time that I am away - I swear they were just as excited to see me after a week's absence as they are when I run to the grocery store. Luna surprised me...she really does think I am her master...funny as she is NOT my dog. Pumba (Clawde) and the brothers (Hans and Franz) missed me and started following me around...but that might be because Ian is notorious for forgetting to feed them...they might have been simply hungry and recognized me as the giver of food.

It was good to come home, but it was sure nice to sleep in that clean bed in the hotel...no dog or cat fur to cover every surface, no dogs crowding me out of my bed. Clean linens... My house is a zoo. And every inhabitant is in full shed mode. And Ian isn't terribly clean or tidy either (various dishes and half full drinking glasses stacked in the bedroom - hallmarks of his late night snacks in bed)... it's good to be home... I think!
Marie

Week 15

Week 15...started in the midst of a very bad cold. I literally hadn't left the house in one week...and hadn't even gone in the backyard or out the front door from Friday through Monday evening. I really missed out on the nice weather of Memorial Day...no barbeque or hot dogs for me...no picnics or the company of other people. :( Ugh.
Today I am starting to feel like the cold may be waning, but still using double digit tissues over the course of the day. Last night and today have been very rough...today I have been vomiting repeatedly. The worst yet!

I am seriously behind on my thesis and in preparations for this conference. I am so afraid that I am not going to be better in time for the flight on Friday. So much to do. And the thought of giving my talk at 10:30 am Tuesday is killing me - that is prime vomiting time for me it seems, though who knows, things could change in a week...maybe nothing will happen.

Not feeling very good about week 15... Not feeling very good about this thesis...

Marie

Many thanks...

To Mom for sending these really nice baby clothes!

Definitely a cold

...yes, a nasty horrible cold to round out this week.

Week 14

Week 14 started out pretty good physically...and then I woke up with a sore throat and general achiness this morning. The only thing that got me through the sore throat last night were the halls vitamin C cough drops...falling asleep with a choking hazard, I know! I would love to just stay in bed all day today and rest, but I am really behind on my thesis, so I will have to drag my sorry self to the desk. I am working from home all week - definitely not going in again after the way Monday lab meeting went. I don't understand why some PI's (hmmm...I wonder who) make life incredibly difficult and make no attempt to listen to what you are saying. Extremely frustrating! In the long run, I know it will be best to move on and start fresh somewhere new...I just wish I had something lined up for July 1st so I could stop worrying about our finances and the future.

I definitely have a little belly bump - not just amorphous weight gain anymore! Yippee! It is really noticeable after I eat meals - I swear I balloon out each evening only to sink back down by the morning. It is going to be obvious in a few weeks, I think.

We are very fortunate to have so many neighbors with little kids and babies. One set is moving out of the country and has given us many many things - a wonderful high chair, infant car seat, toys, a baby bjorn (cloth carrier for the baby), and crib with mattress for a very nominal amount(thank you!). And another gave us a wonderful (practically new) pack and plays set. We can use that to stop the dogs from running over the baby. My friend Christie very generously gave me a pump (keeping fingers crossed that I will have a job by then and actually get to use it!) and toys and clothes - I love all the bibs - so cute. We will need some more things, so we started registries on amazon and target and I don't think we need many more big items - well, a changing table, stroller, and rocker for the late night feedings would be nice and sheets for the crib! I think we will be able to afford those things over time. We will have to plan ahead and not be tempted to go overboard. It is hard, there are so many cute things out there!

Ian finally admitted last night that he would prefer a girl as well. He thinks it would be great if she would call him "Daddy." Even as an adult - which I find hilarious. Wow, if we would have a girl she would be the most spoiled girl ever! Maybe a boy would be better...nah, who am I kidding! We'll see in a 6 more weeks...

I read that I could start feeling the baby kick as early as week 14. That would be really neat, I think. It will probably happen after I get back from the conference in Chicago in two weeks. Not looking forward to the trip that much. A little nervous about traveling when not feeling particularly great, although Chicago is a great city. I have to give a talk (ugh, the nerves!) and now I am also stuck handling another lab member's poster. Fun for me!


Oh well, I have much to do today...better get on it!
Marie

Brown

It's a lineup

Now that Franz has gone...

Clawde has taken over. This is why we're getting a net for the crib.

Franz...

Is breaking in some of the baby items we got from the neighbors

Unlucky 13...

After five agonizing days, I believe my mega headache may be finally breaking. We had an OB appointment today, and the doctor okay'ed my use of caffeine/tylenol/advil (my usual migraine breaker) to try to stop this terrible headache. If it didn't break and if it got much worse, she recommended a trip to the ER this weekend. Whew, I am happy to say I don't think that will be necessary. I have been laying in the dark living room, sipping my coke zero - it must have been a sign, because Coke was having a free sample day on the streets of center city so Ian managed to snag 4 cans of coke zero after the appointment. Yum...caffeine never tasted so good. So far so good - down to the level of a mild headache now...what a relief! It is highly likely the headaches may continue through about week 16 or 17...my new magic number!

On the bright side, at the appointment today we got to hear the heartbeat...about 160 beats per minute...normal!

Marie