Archive for July, 2009

Unexpected benefits of losing a kitty.

Posted 30 Jul 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category not so much, the cats, The Hubs

Ladies (and gentlemen? There’s gotta be at least one male reader, right?) – I actually slept through the night last night.

Holy crap.

Granted, I did wake up a couple times, but fell right back asleep. The most important part is that I did not get up ONCE – not even to pee. It’s a miracle.

Sadly, I think it can be attributed to the fact that Miles is now in kitty heaven, and not knocking shit down every 2 hours because he’s hungry or bored or just wants to be an ass.

And thus, the story. If you cry easily or just lost a pet or just don’t feel like being depressed, I wouldn’t bother reading the rest of this post. But it feels good to get it out there, so…here it is.

I’ll start by saying the hubs is like, my effing hero. He was so strong for me when I couldn’t be.

When I got home from work, the hubs had Miles outside in the front and I walked up from the train and just lost it. He felt so bad…but it wasn’t even just seeing Miles, I’d been holding it in all day. To make matters worse, Miles was seemingly fine when I got home. I mean, I knew he’d get cruddy again at some point, but he was having a good moment of no snot or sneezing or anything. Then I started having second thoughts and was feeling so guilty for even considering putting him down, but the hubs kept reminding me that he WAS really sick.

We got there and they put us in this “Grieving room” that was like, a nicer, private waiting room. Our vet came in to put a catheter in his arm and reassured me that I was making the right decision. Hearing a medical professional say it made me feel better too. So, she came back with him and discussed what they were going to do, and we decided to have him cremated. Then she said she was just going to do it in that room, and I was like – “I can’t. I can’t be here and watch it. I feel guilty and horrible enough as it is to have just agreed to let you put him down.” The hubs said he would stay because he didn’t want him to die without at least one of us. So, I started saying goodbye to him and was about to leave the room but started bawling so I had to stick around for a few more seconds while I got my shit together. Suddenly Miles had this HUGE fit of sneezing and the worst snot I’ve ever seen come out of his little skull. It made me laugh for some reason, because even though it was horrible, it was EXACTLY what I needed to see in order to be okay with what was about to happen. I tried to wipe his nose, but our vet said she’d take care of it so I could get myself back in line so I could leave and walk through the regular waiting room. Like it mattered, I had myself together when I left the room and as soon as my foot entered the normal waiting area I just lost it. (I had to carry his effing empty carrier out to the car with a bunch of strangers and their pets looking at me – THE WORST.) So I went to the car and hyperventilate-cried for about 8 minutes until the hubs came out and it was over. He was SO upset, but it made me feel better that I wasn’t a freak for being so heartbroken. The hubs said that Miles was pretty chill, they gave him the sedative so he just kind of laid down and went to sleep, and the hubs was telling him we loved him, and then the vet said “he’s gone” and the hubs didn’t even notice that he’d stopped breathing. So…pretty peaceful.

**big sigh**

It’s weird being in a one cat household. Boo is certainly soaking up the attention we’re giving him. We both feel guilty at the same time, like Miles is somehow seeing the attention we’re showering on Boo and getting jealous or something (we were always VERY equal in our attention and love we showed to the boys when they were in the same room).

Each day will get better, but I expect it to suck for a few weeks. I started crying again in the shower this morning…but shower cries are better than the “at my desk” cries I was having on Monday and Tuesday.

I’m really REALLY looking forward to heading to my parents house this weekend. Getting away will help, I think.

25 weeks

Posted 27 Jul 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business, not so much, the cats

How far along? 25 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: About +/-17 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Indeed.

Stretch marks? My worst news to report. Leftie (that would be my left boob) has been stretchie stricken. Is there no mercy?!

Sleep: A little better, but I wake up a lot and struggle to get comfortable. I’m also a portable heater when I sleep. :)

Best moment this week: Passing the 1hr Glucose!

Movement: Yep. Had a few decent flips too! Mother- & Sister-in-laws got to feel a few kicks this weekend.

Food cravings: Still sweets. Think a gallon of chewy sprees. Mmm…

Gender: Thinking girl.

Labor Signs: Still with the Braxton Hicks, but cervix checked and NO movement on the active labor front, thank GOD.

Belly Button in or out? Barely innie.

What I miss: I already miss my kittie Miles. (More on that below.)

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my mom & dad and dad’s family this weekend! And getting the nursery painted. :)

Weekly Wisdom: I’m hard pressed to come up with anything this week.

Milestones: Passing the glucose, and nearly onto the 6th month!

Onto the sad news. We’ve decided that the time has come to put our kitteh Miles to sleep. He’s been ill for a number of years with both pre-cancerous inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory rhinitis, and after this past weekend, he’s grown ill enough where we can’t justify prolonging his life anymore. He’s such a sweet boy and does not deserve this, but we don’t see an alternative. We love him so much, and he is more than part of the family. He has been my best buddy for the past 8 years, and he will be sorely missed. We’ll more than likely be making his final appointment at the vet tomorrow or the next.

We’ll miss you, my sweet sweet boy.


The Fruit: 25-28 weeks.

Posted 27 Jul 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly — he might be able to pick up baby’s heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby’s also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink — perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Survey says…

Posted 27 Jul 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

….NO gestational diabetes!

::cheering and applause::

However, a few less than desirable outcomes were had from this appointment.

1.) My gallbladder is acting up. What I thought was my body’s reaction to too much sodium in soy sauce (mmm veggie rolls) was actually my gallbladder reacting to my avocado consumption. So, no more avocado for me, and no high fat foods. (Which is really fine, I wasn’t really eating any anyway.)

2.) I have an effing yeast infection. GREAT. While she was checking my cervix (to make sure all these braxton hicks weren’t doing anything) she did a quick check and low and behold. The DEVIL. Argh.

3.) My iron is low. Not SUPER low (10.5), but low enough for the lab tech to recommend iron supplements.

So yeah. That’s the wrap up from my appointment. Everything else was looking great – baby’s heartrate was at 150 and everything’s measuring right on target.

Had a fun time at the cabin this weekend with the hub’s parents – sun, fishing and relaxing. It was quite nice. Made coming back to work today totally suck. :)

That’s all for now…I’ll have my 25 (!!) week update later today or tomorrow. :)

24 weeks.

Posted 21 Jul 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business, paparazzi

How far along? 24 weeks! (And some would say V-Day! (viability day))
Total weight gain/loss: About +/-15 lbs, depending on what time of day.
Maternity clothes? Yep. Although I’ve got a few shirts that still work for me.

Stretch marks? Still confined to the thighs…and purchased some Curel pregnancy lotion for the belleh and elsewhere in attempts to avoid them!

Sleep: SUCKS. See below. I screwed up my back royally last night, and actually shouted in pain while trying to get out of bed today.

Best moment this week: V-Day – and moving forward with work on the nursery.

Movement: YES.

Food cravings: Sweets, sweets, sweets. And cake. :)

Gender: Thinking girl.

Labor Signs: Still with the Braxton Hicks.

Belly Button in or out? Wider, flattening, but still innie (for the most part).

What I miss: Sleep. GOOD sleep.

What I am looking forward to: Cabin time this weekend!

Weekly Wisdom: Appreciate good sleep in the first trimester.

Milestones: V-DAY! And Glucose test/Midwife appt on Thursday.

Also – more nursery items on my flickr page!