Pregnancy Curse

I haven't blogged much because I haven't felt like doing anything but sleeping on the couch. I did make it to the doctor last week, and he gave me a prescription for Zofran. It seems to work OK if I take a whole tablet (I could take a 1/2 but it doesn't seem to do anything for me). If I take 2 tablets during the day and a unisom/B6 combo at night, I feel less likely to run to the bathroom. Also, staying still and not talking too much, seems to help a great deal. Chad has been pulling double duty as father and mother. I am so grateful to him.

Another reason I haven't blogged much is because I don't want to irritate everyone with a bunch of "poor me's" and "I have it so bad's." Truthfully, I don't think it should matter what I write, since it's my blog and I don't have to answer to anyone about what I put in it (as long as it isn't illegal or immoral). However, I am not so naive as to think that I have that kind of autonomy.

All this got me thinking of the pregnancy curse. EVERYONE has an opinion about you and your pregnancy (of lack of). When I first got married, it seemed that whether I was pregnant yet or not was at the top of the chatter. It only took us 4 months to get pregnant with Daniel. It felt like we were slacking for even taking that long!

When I got pregnant with Joseph, I heard very loud stretches of silence before the question, "Another one?" And that wasn't from Chad who was working so hard to pay for it all.

With this pregnancy, I've tried not to make a big deal out of it. We'd planned for this one. It's the last one. The kids have been talking about the "new baby" since before Joseph could sit alone. I don't call my family and drone on and on about how bad I feel or how the economy is making it hard to afford anything.

Even so, it's amazing how a short, quiet announcement of a pregnancy starts people talking. Apparently, I'm not supposed to say anything negative about being pregnant because there are others who would really love to be pregnant and can't, so their feelings trump mine. OR, there are people who can't understand people who complain about morning sickness, because they've "been there, done that" and know it's not such a big deal. We apparently are all designed exactly the same and have the same experiences...so we know who the hypochondriacs are! And then there are those who know all about morning sickness because they get sick from the moment of conception until the day of delivery. You can't possibly be as sick as they were! (Yet, I've seen these people during different stages of their pregnancy...a little heartburn or upset stomach isn't quite the same as stomach in your throat, too sick to talk.)

I think I get moderately sick during pregnancy. I have 20-ish really yucky weeks, and then everything is GREAT. Those last few weeks are torture for everyone, I assume. I don't have to be admitted to the hospital, I don't miss weeks of church and I'm usually able to keep my head out of the toilet most of the time. I do wonder how in the world there are so many people on this planet when it feels so bad to be pregnant. Yay to those who don't get really sick...they are helping keep the earth populated!

And it doesn't just stop at morning sickness. Some people don't like kids. Some people don't like certain people to have kids. Some people don't like to see others having more kids than themselves. Honestly, sometimes I am "some people." But these are personal choices! To be made by the persons responsible. We have made no one responsible for our choices, but us. When we move into your house, start eating your food, making you watch our kids and use your money to support them, then you get to say something. When our kids are socially and emotionally dysfunctional and start affecting your family in some negative way, then you get to say something.

But right now, you don't get to say anything. And if it's such a bit deal for you, we won't make you come for a visit.

Now, this is just a general declaration. I'm addressing the world, but you know if you are the "you" I am talking to. I just had some feelings that were building up. Chalk it up to hormones.

Rebekah's Personality

Don't you wish you could take pictures in your mind and then download them onto your computer? Sometimes, that's the only camera I have on me when cute things happen. (Sometimes I don't even have that!)

Rebekah (nearly 15 months old already!) has started to show some of her personality. She likes to engage us in a game of Peek-A-Boo by smashing both hands flat against her nose and eyes and then quickly removing them. It's very cute, especially the look of anticipation on her face. She likes to climb up on the coffee table and then lunge at you from the edge while laughing hysterically. She perfected it tonight while my visiting teachers were here. She LOVES to carry hers and Leah's shoes all over the house and also finds great joy in pulling clothes from Leah's drawers to leave here and there. She expects to be able to brush her teeth when the other kids are and even makes a brushing motion. She doesn't like to be told no and cries loudly when offended. Her mouth opens crooked and her bottom lip slides far to the right bottom corner. It's actually fun to watch her pout and cry!

This Sunday Rebekah asserted her grown-up self and insisted on sitting on the steps leading to the stand in the chapel. It was a little before church started, so I let her sit a bit. But even when I brought her back to our seat, she quickly headed back to her step. She was very cute.

And now to the real reason I want to have a camera handy. Rebekah is really getting into her meals. We had pancakes Sunday night and by the time it was over, Rebekah had found out that her empty plate would actually stick to her head! She would put it up there and it looked just like a big beret. Even when she tipped her head down to study something else on her tray, the plate remained. She would peel it off and reposition it on occasion. Tonight it was pasta. The spaghetti sauce was all over her head and face. She loved to put her little bowl up on top of her head. Her expression was one of pure joy.

So although she hasn't actually spoken her first word (unless you want to count "bup" - her all-purpose response), she has become quite expressive and has told us much! Here's hoping that she doesn't wait as long as Nathan to start talking!