Guess who has high blood pressure?

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, my blood pressure was a little high for the third week in a row, and there was protein in my urine. The doctor told me to watch out for headaches that don't go away with Tylenol and pain in my upper right rib, I think. If I get any of those, I'm to go straight to labor and delivery because he'll want to run some tests. 

Well, I got a headache at work, so I stopped at Walgreens after to get some medicine. I took it and tried to hydrate myself, but even after the chiropractor I still had a headache. I was nervous I was just psyching myself out: I have a tendency to do that. I asked Cass what to do, and he said I should just call the Dr and let them know that I have the headache but think I might be psyching myself out. So I did, and they decided I should go into Labor and Delivery. 

Cass had work meetings and homework, so I told him to stay home. If anything crazy were to happen, he could get a ride to the hospital, but I was pretty sure they'd just do some tests and I'd be fine and they'd send me home. 

I was mostly right. I had to wait a bit once I got to the hospital, but they finally got me set up with some monitors around my belly and a cuff. The cuff would take my blood pressure every ten minutes, and I guess the two monitors were for baby's heartbeat and contractions. I felt like they kept me on forever, but at least I had my book. They also took a vial of blood and had me pee again. After another while, they said all my tests came back okay, gave me some lortab  and sent me home. 

It was a little scary being in the hospital and not knowing all what was going on, but I was sure the baby wasn't coming then! And even though I was worried at the hospital, I could still hear her heartbeat and even feel her move around a little. So here's hoping I can make it the next few weeks til she gets here and that everything goes well until then! 

St George Weekend

This past weekend, Jordyn had a dance competition down in St George, so I invited myself a long to play at watch Jord dance. Jordyn did a great job at her dances; she's getting better every time! It was fun to watch her dance and spend time with her and Mom, even though they wore me out! By the time we got back to the hotel Saturday night my feet and ankles were swollen and I felt like I could hardly move! Then I slept most of Sunday . . . 

Entertaining herself with lip gloss at Chilis

 

Jordyn in her "Hound Dog" costume

 

 

Making silly faces at Chuck-a-Rama

37 Weeks!

We've finally hit 37 weeks! I can hardly wait til baby girl gets here! I keep getting bigger every day and feel like one big stretch mark, but I hear it will all be worth it once she's here. 

Updates: 

The other night, Cass and I were in bed and I was the big spoon. She starts kicking and Cass asks, "Is she kicking me in the back?" Yes indeed! Silly girl. 

She moves a ton, especially when I'm trying to sleep! Sometimes I feel like she's only not moving when my belly is too hard and contracted for her to move. It's so weird, though, because my belly is all lop-sided. She's always on my left side and sometimes it's very obviously lop-sided. 

Baby girl likes to kick me in my ribs a lot. I have a bruise on my ribs from her. For real. Visible bruise! 

A student asked me if I was having twins because I am so big; I explained that it's normal. He was all, "No, [math teacher] didn't get that big!" Well, she's taller than I am! And she didn't go full term. Regardless. I'm huge. 

Doctor says: 
Last week at 36 weeks, 1 cm and 70%
Today at 37 weeks, 1 cm and 80%
He says the most he'll let me go over is a week, but he doesn't think it will come to that. My belly was also measuring big today, so big baby? 

I got a Prenatal Massage yesterday. It was super great and relaxing. I could have fallen asleep right then and there! And I did take a little nap after . . .

Cass put the car seat in last week and it's so weird to see it when I turn around to back up! Speaking of driving, it's a constant battle between my short legs and my big belly, do I squish one or stretch the other? 

Veil of Roses

I really thought I hadn't read Veil of Roses before, but as I started reading it, it felt rather familiar, and by the almost end, I was positive I had read it before.  Regardless, I think Laura Fitzgerald's Veil of Roses is a good, and important read. 

Veil of Roses introduces us to Tamila from Iran. Her parents have sent her to America.  And if she can find a husband, she can stay. No more veil.  No more oppression.  She can finally be free. 

I liked Veil of Roses because Fitzgerald keeps it light, but still obvious that women in Iran are oppressed   It's a good introduction to the subject; it serves as the setting, not the conflict of the novel.  It's made me interested in learning more about the Iranian and Islamic cultures.  I recommend this book to older YA readers and adults, especially women who are interested in a simple introduction to the differences in their lives form the women in Iran. 

I Hate It When Exercise Is the Answer

I Hate It When Exercise Is the Answer by Emily Watts is a sort of self-help book, designed for you to rad a chapter a day and implement the small changes into your life. It's got some really good ideas. Watt's ideas are more for a professional or a mom, though, not necessarily an in-between-er like me.  But with a little adaptation, it can be a helpful read for anyone. 

Fairest

When you first look at Gail Carson Levine's Fairest, it seems like it's going to be a Snow White tale. While it has elements, it is also a story all of its own. If it wasn't called Fairest, I'm not sure it would even appear to be like Snow White until over halfway through. You see, it's about this girl, Aza, who was abandoned as an infant at the door step of an inn.  Luckily, the innkeeper and his wife took her in and raised her as their own.  Aza lives in the kingdom of Ayortha where everyone is beautiful and has a beautiful singing voice.  Aza, however, doesn't quite fit in.  She's larger and isn't as beautiful as the other Ayorthians, but she does have the most amazing singing voice and has taught herself a trick.  Not only can she imitate other voices, but she can make it sound like it's coming from somewhere else. 

Because Aza is so different from the other Ayorthians, many guests at the inn don't care for her.  That is, until she bonds with the cranky duchess because of the inn's cat.  And so when the duchess is on her way to the palace for the king's wedding and the duchess's companion falls ill, Aza is asked to go with the duchess in her place.  And so Aza's fairy tale begins. 

Fairest is a really cute YA novel. I recommend it to those who enjoy a twist to the traditional fairy tale love story. 

The Wise Woman

The Wise Woman is definitely, 100% Philippa Gregory's weirdest book. If you skipped Virgin Earth and Earthly Joys, this one is a skipper too. It gets pretty weird with the witchcraft and the sex. I'm not sure who the target audience even is. It's just an odd book.