I don’t feel good. That about sums it up.
I don’t clean the house. I don’t cook. I don’t do much of anything fun with the kiddos on my own. Luckily, their daddy rescues me in this department. Thanks to him we have gone to Mid-America Museum recently (the kids’ first time), North Little Rock’s High School Musical Production, bought and put together a trampoline, played in the snow on the side of the road, and painted one of the kid’s rooms green apple.
Back to me and the newest Parker… since the last update the sickness is in full swing. I had even prayed at the end of week 5 that all was okay with the baby because I was feeling very few pregnancy symptoms. Within 2 days I was throwing up. Which is noteworthy, because if you remember I’ve only thrown up, well, like twice in four pregnancies. I’ve tried ginger snaps, peppermint tea, lemon water. And the smell of… everything. Please, putrid smells, just go away. Does this last the whole pregnancy? I can’t remember. Ugh. So, when my sickness hit this level, my hubby predicted a girl. He reminded me that the last time I was this consistently sick was when I was pregnant with ThePrincess. I had forgotten. But now vaguely remember watching Noggin until I won Mom of the Year Award.
I have realized that salads and chocolate milk are the nutrient source for me right now. The chocolate milk can be swapped out with chocolate milk shakes if the opportunity presents itself. Meat is almost non-existent. Just can’t stomach it. Coffee has fallen by the wayside. What is that about?! Never before. Just can’t drink it. I have overcome all my withdrawals from caffeine and tried decaf this morning, but my taste is gone for it. Oh, my coffee love affair, how I miss thee.
But salads, I can’t seem to get enough of them. I haven’t made my own, I’ve eaten out for all of them so far. And I can rank them in order of pregnant palatability. Vino’s: the best, by far. But is that really surprising? Oh, how I could I have one right now. Wendy’s caesar salad: pretty good. The Purple Cow: c’mon. So disappointed with them. I haven’t been in years, and the price for the actual taste of the food was terrible. Ugh. Sonic: what are you thinkin’? No regular fresh salads?! What pregnant woman wants warm chicken and a stale onion ring on her beautiful $5.00 salad? Oh.my.
Okay, as riveting as all that talk was, we’ll move on.
The baby is forming amazingly at this week. The umbilical cord is formed. The facial features are taking shape. The digestive tract and lungs are continuing to form. And the arm bud has a tiny hand on the end of it now. As far as size, probably about the size of a grain of rice. Truly amazing.
The first prenatal is a week from today. And other than all the blood work, pap, and facing the fact that I’m fatter than I have been in 7 years, I’m excited about it.
The other kiddos are doing well. Still very excited. ThePrincess is having severe issues with how soon all of this will unfold, that we really won’t be naming a girl Sparkle, and that there is a definite possibility that she won’t be getting a girl at all. BigMan is generally oblivious, but a whirling, talking, dancing ball of distraction. But the older boys – such fun! This is the first pregnancy that they are completely aware of and understanding of. And they are so excited. TheOldest keeps pointing out babies in public to me and smiling.
Their school work is stripped down to the basics right now. Just covering the bare minimum of handwriting, english, and math. Bare.Minimum. Even my beloved lapbooks are on hold. Of course, all of this coincides with a severe “I’m not doing enough to teach them” panic, but I’m sure we’ll survive that too, since I go through it about 4 times a year. At least. We have joined a homeschool group and are LOVING it. So far in three weeks we have had a Valentine’s party and 2 playdates. This week we’ll be tie-dying t-shirts and then ironing on our homeschool logo. We have a science fair coming up, and I’m hoping to lead an Easter party with them, if I can pull myself together and get over this sickness. I’m really excited about this group and finally am beginning to feel like a part of something.
So, if you see this same post for the next week, just think to yourself, “It’s okay, Suzanne’s probably just laying on the couch, sick, stressin’ over how much she’s not teaching her kids, and how filthy the house is.” But, it’s a season, people. And I’ll weather it. Gladly. Knowing I get to meet a new little person at the end of all of this. Bigger picture, folks, bigger picture, and what a masterpiece He’s painting around me.
