Frustrated

I tried going back to work this week. The plan was to go back two days a week. Well, the day went fine, but I either overdid or was overtired because that evening had another cramping episode. No bleeding so I wasn't too stressed. They also weren't that regular. But it's taken me a few days to recover. So I didn't go in on Thursday. I figured I'd rest and go in today. Wrong!! I had another bad day and ended up having "issues" all night, so I plan on working at home and taking it easy. This is really getting on my nerves though. I'd like to see the office a few times before I go off for maternity!!

We got the furniture last weekend, as well as a carseat and a stroller from a friend of ours that is the last year's model of the one we want. So basically we can get him home now. Still need a blanket and a onesie to finish the checklist for the trip home, but we can get from hospital to home and he has a place to sleep. :) So far the crib and the changing table are up. We still have work to do in the room, so we didn't really go nuts constructing stuff yet. We have a friend coming out in a few weeks to take the mirrors down, patch the holes and paint. They should also be able to tear down the bookcase that's in there and move it somewhere more useful now. We'll move the glider in there, put up the dresser, and get the curtains up and that should do it.

I had an "alien baby" moment last night which was funny. I was reclining in bed and went to sit up, tightening my ab muscles as I did so. You could see the outline of his back. That was pretty creepy but cool at the same time.

In other non-pregnancy news, things are moving along here. Geek is doing a charity spin class at the gym called Spin for Hope (for the American Cancer Society), so feel free to sponsor him. It's a three hour ride. :) I'm really proud of him for doing this. In May, I will be performing in Hips for Hope for the same cause.

It's that lovely tax season again so everyone's got their hand out. It's annoying as anything, but what can you do. Hopefully we'll get some of it back.

The puppies are good. Brutus loves the snow and has a blast playing in it. He's been getting very adventurous and wandering off down the road here lately to do his business. Mainly because he knows we can't follow him. Silly dog. He comes back right after but still... Buddy, on the other hand, can't wait for it all to melt and get warm again. He hates the snow and usually tries to look pathetic as soon as we go out by shivering and lifting his paws. Silly dogs.

Huray

Got the results of the glucose challenge. No gestational diabetes. :)

More of the same

I had a doctor visit today. I'm still off work/working from home. Now the difference is, given the cramping/spotting that occurred last week (which was very likely stress induced) if there's no improvement there, I will be taken off work completely. So I really have to learn to relax and not push so hard at working, and not get so stressed when things aren't working right.

On other news, the glucose challenge is tomorrow. This is going to be particularly nasty as I can't drink the usual icky orange syrup. I get a special mix of straight sucrose solution with saline. Yum. Hurray for corn allergies. So hopefully that will be uneventful and I'll pass first go.

Otherwise, da Babi is doing great. His heart sounds great and I'm measuring right on target. There's another ultrasound being scheduled and I go back to the doctor in two weeks.

In yet other baby news, we did the childbirth class last Saturday. It was an interesting time. We learned a lot, and honestly wasn't freaked out by a lot of the stuff. Facts given straight up tend not to bother me, whereas hearing the stories do. The tour of the facilities was totally worth it. I was surprised that the hospital doesn't staff the nursery. They encourage the baby to be in the room as much as possible. Dads don't have to abide by the visiting rules (YAY!!). The one thing that totally sucks is that kids have to be over 12 to visit. :( That part I was totally annoyed with. But the other side is if it's a normal birth and I can get out of bed, I can go to the lounge and visit with little folks. The rooms are very homey and nice, so that won't be bad. They have 5 private rooms and they fill those first then there are 3 double rooms. So here's hoping I will be in a private. :)

I've signed up for a baby CPR class, a mother/baby class and a breastfeeding class. I'm looking forward to them actually. There are people from the childbirth class signed up for them, so I'll get to see them again, which will also be nice.

And for the record, I have never seen such hellacious, bratty, out of control kids as I did at the doctor office today. OMFG, they were awful. Screaming, yelling, one was grabbing their baby sister and trying to wrestle. And the parents did NOTHING. I so appreciate our friends with well behaved kids and great parenting.

Vaccine?

I was checking my mail today when I noticed a message from one of the CD boards I'm on. Here's the message:

"Apparently Dr. Anderson in Australia (Nexpep) is starting Phase 1
clinical trials early 2009 on a vaccine for Celiac Disease. Every
indication is that this will work on 80% of Celiacs worldwide.

If this is true, in 3 to 5 years the majority of us (fingers crossed I
and my family are in the 80%) will be drinking a real beer and having
our favorite meals again!

Though GF food has gotten better, it hasn't gotten much cheaper and it
still isn't very nutritious either - high in fats, sugars and starches.

So this might be the "hope" we have been waiting for?

In any case if you haven't read about it this will be your heads up to
start reading on the vaccine...."

My first reaction is total disbelief. I've not heard of many auto-immune diseases being "cured" by a simple vaccine. Treated, yes, but not cured. So let's assume this is for treatment.

What boggled my mind was in one breath the poster was talking about drinking beer and eating favorite meals again, and in the next talking about how GF foods are high in fats, sugars and starches. What do you think fast food is?? What is beer? I'm sure those "favorite meals" weren't Healthy Choice meals.

I've found I don't miss most of the glutened stuff, and most healthy, natural foods, like meats, fruits and veggies are naturally gluten free anyway. So what exactly is missing? Oh yes, all the fats, starches and sugars of pre-packaged convenience foods.

Anything that I have found myself missing, I can usually duplicate in a pretty tasty facsimile. All these people in mourning for glutened food could too, but it takes some determination and willingness to experiment. I mean, I just made dairy-free, egg-free Yorkshire puddings, which in theory shouldn't be possible, since it's made of eggs, milk and flour. That's it. But I did it and they were really tasty. Other people have done it, so it's not like I had to re-invent the wheel. A few minutes on Google for inspiration and then went to work modifying. That's it.

So I think it's safe to say I will be taking a pass on this vaccine. Good luck to those who want it, but I think I'm ok the way I am. :)