Pregnancy complications? Nooo, not meee!!!

Just as soon as I opened my big mouth to say the pregnancy is going well, all hell broke loose. First the braxton hicks - up to 6 or 7 per hour. I went in to be monitored, they sent me home. Then this excruciating back pain, which I equate to back labor. I went in, they gave me vicodin, they sent me home. The next day, the pain was still there, but worse. I went in, they gave me percoset, and determined it must be kidney stones... kidney stones???? Well, I had no idea that eating a bottle of tums and not drinking enough water could be so hazardous. So they sent me home on the new med. Then, the next day, all that fluid I forced down came rushing up and out, from both ends matter of fact. So now I risk being dehydrated because the percoset makes me vomit. This time, they gave me all kinds of anti-emetics. I chose the Zofran, which is working quite nicely. It's hard for my family to believe that I, who only takes tylenol in the case of a severe headache, am now taking pepcid for the reflux, percoset for the pain, and zofran for the vomiting brought on by the pain med. Lord help me!

Now about the kidney stones, they happen more frequently in pregnant women than I ever knew. It's not caused by too much calcium as many think, but by too little H2O to aid the kidneys in flushing out toxins, but a heavy dose of calcium doesn't help the situation. Also, the weight of the baby can lead to poor elimination as well, which is all a great recipe for stones. And I was lovin' those tums - reminded me of georgia white dirt - glad I can't get my hands on any of that! Anyway, kidney stones hurt so bad that I don't really notice the contractions anymore. And the meds all make me sleepy, dizzy, and downright useless. Needless to say I haven't been to work since this started, and probably won't be going back at this point according to the doc. Not sure how many stones I have, as they would have to do an xray to confirm that, and that's not recommended, as I have no symptoms other that severe back pain. That means there's at least one stone there and it's not big enough to block the flow of urine or cause bleeding. So the plan is to flush it out with aggressive fluid intake. That means getting up all night to pee, and sleeping all day due to the combination of a lack of a good nights rest and meds that make me sit up here looking like a heroine addict. Wow, how things have changed for me in just a week.

Just keep me in prayer that the(se) stone(s) will pass soon so I can come off these meds, and stop feeling this pain - if I miss a dose by a few minutes the pain starts all over again. I've hardly eaten anything for fear of vomiting, and lack of an appetite as well. I guess I had some nerve thinking I would have TWO problem free pregnancies!

Oh, and about how big I am, turns out I have a greater amount of amniotic fluid than average, which makes for a twin looking belly. So I go in next week to be checked out again for that. With 9 or less weeks to go, things can only get better from here, right???

Pregnancy update... we'll welcome the new baby in 10 weeks, or is it 8?

I've given serious consideration to slapping the next person who says "daaaang, you're big! There's no way you're gonna make it to November!!!" But then, just yesterday at my monthly doctor's appointment I learned that I may be 32 weeks, rather than 30. So that would put the due date closer to October 23rd or so, rather than November 8th. Hmm, glad I haven't slapped anyone yet. My doctor hasn't actually changed the due date, but I suspect she will. Also, not one person has looked at me and said "it's a girl, right"? They're all convinced it's a boy. So if I get a bunch of girl stuff, and it turns out it's a boy, do I have a case to sue the ultrasound tech? She promised me a girl! Somebody's gotta pay to replace all the girl stuff!

The pregnancy is going actually very well, other than the reflux, anemia, swollen feet and difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position. All of that is manageable. No gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placenta previa, stretch marks, praise the Lord. I must say that I've been truly blessed.

The late night feedings have stopped. I think I ignored the hunger warning enough times to teach the little one to just go to sleep instead cuz the kitchen is closed. That helped to slow down the weight gain a bit. Right now I'm about 5 pounds less than I was when I delivered last time, with no desire to go beyond 5 more pounds. Wish me the best with that. I've got some fishnets I still want to wear next year. :)

So thats the latest on me, and my big fat belly.

Culinary Olympics

Just wanted to share this bit of info passed on to me by a "friend" on myspace. Do they televise the culinary olympics? I would love to watch...

International Culinary Art Competition
By JULIETTE ROSSANT


If you can't wait for the Bocuse D'Or competition in January 2009, check out the other culinary Olympics this October.


The USA is fielding a team of six chefs to battle it out in Erfurt, Germany in the Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA) International Culinary Art Competition, known around the world as the “culinary Olympics,” October 19-22. Teams from over 50 nations will be competing against the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Culinary National Team USA. The international competition takes place every four years in Germany since 1900.


Unlike the Olympics - China won't be competing. According to ACF's National President John Kinsella, ACF Culinary National Team USA's biggest competitors are: Norway, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland and the wild card--Scotland.


ACF Culinary National Team USA members: Edward Leonard, CMC, American Academy of Chefs (AAC), ACF Culinary Team USA manager and executive chef, Westchester Country Club, Rye, N.
Y
Richard Rosendale, certified executive chef (CEC), ACF Culinary National Team USA captain and executive chef/owner, Rosendales, Columbus, Ohio
Joachim Buchner, CMC, executive chef, Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase, MD
Jamie Keating, chef/owner, The RiverMill Event Center, Columbus, GA
Melissa K.
Root, pastry chef, Payard Pâtisserie & Bistro> in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Daniel Scannell, CMC, executive chef, Carnegie Abbey Club, Portsmouth, RI
The American team won a gold medal for hot-food cooking in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 2004.


GO TEAM!