Sunday, September 25, 2011

The Glass Half Full-Literally!

"Too much on my mind, Too much on my mind...Maybe right now I can't see the forest for the trees, so lost behind hurt, BUT I'M TRYING EVERYDAY EXPONENTIALLY TO MOVE FORWARD.....BUT When I wake up, everything I went through will be Beautiful, when I wake up, and I will wake up -IT'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL :)"  Ms. Jill Scott

Can I just say, Jill Scott is officially now my FAV female artist...there is not a song she has sung, written, etc. that I don't FEEL.  My Soul Sista-like Wendy Williams would say, "She's a Friend in my Head!".

Hi Y'all!   I'm up at 5am -been up since about 4am-this is par for the course nowadays...partially cuz little one wakes me and also because I have "too much on my mind".  

So I now begin with a few words of thought.  Perception is everything -so you have heard, right?  Well, perception has largely to do with your perspective-how you view things or your outlook on life, etc.  For example,  if your perspective on life is that people are shady, you can't trust anyone, people are out to "hurt you" or to "get you", and everyone lies-than how you PERCEIVE things and actions is based largely on your perspective.  True, facts are facts-but even the facts can skew one way or the other based on your outlook.    In short, if you are shady and you believe folks are shady-you will perceive things in a negative light.   Conversely, if your outlook or perspective is positive, than you will perceive things as positive most likely.

I can't control people's perceptions on this blog, but I'm gonna keep it real and keep it 100 about  how I'm perceiving pregnancy to be so far. :)

First of all, I don't understand those women that say Pregnancy is beautiful.  Don't get me wrong, I'm loving that I will be a Mom-but the 9 months of drastic, unpredictable change to your body-I can do without! LOL.   There is sooooooo much that happens to you!  I'm looking at my Mommy friends a little cross-eyed now, like "GIRL, why didn't you TELL ME ABOUT THIS???!!"  I mean damn is it some big secret-help a Sister out!  One of my Girlfriends said at her shower--"Umm there's a lot of things people didn't tell me" If that ain't the freaking understatement of the year.    

So, I understand pregnancy is different for everyone in spite of the common symptoms we all may have, but I'm about to drop dime on a few doozeys!     I know a lot of Men are checking this so you may or may not be shocked.   It may even be a little TMI for you...but maybe it will help you when/if your Girlfiend or Wife are undergoing this experience and your looking at her like -"WTH?  She's gone batty and we need an exorcist stat!"  You really have to cut us some slack fellas!

So-the first uncomfortable thing, or probably the most is what I call "Golden Showers-redefined" Ok, the pregnancy blogs and boards call it a SNISS-that means SNEEZE + PEE folks.  Yes, oh yes.. Kegel exercises (or your lack thereof) have never been more important Ladies.   Yes, every time I sneeze or laugh, I seem to pee on myself a little.  Who knew I would have to feel like I need to walk around with Depends????  My God I did not know I  had signed up for this!  Additionally, because congestion, sneezing and runny noses are also a side effect of pregnancy, (which I happen to suffer from), the problem is compounded!  So I'm SNISSing all damn day.   Sigh.

What else, hmm..the INCESSANT heartburn.  Yeah, I feel like I have a flamethrower in my chest/stomach daily.   And since nothing is ever THAT simple with me, it only exacerbates my pre-existing acid reflux...so lately on top of any nausea I may have got over in the first trimester, I'm throwing up in my mouth all day-yuck.  No kissing for me anytime soon!!  LOL.  The only good thing about that is the pregnancy manuals suggest that lots of heartburn is a sign of a lot of hair!  Well, at this rate I'm feeling like my Baby Girl will be Rapunzel!!

And oh yeah, MY FEET ACHE ALL THE TIME!  The TRAGEDY of this -is that I'm told my feet may be growing...Oh Good God I almost fainted when I heard this...my feet growing at 40?? Ladies, I'm sure you can sympathize with me...those of you who know me know I have a NICE shoe collection and I have a DEEP affinity for Jimmy Choo!!  I mean are you telling me that I won't be able to wear my size 40 (9) Jimmy Choos, my LaBoutins, my Fendi and my Stuart Weitzman's ?? Oh Hell No!!!  NEXT...

So all of my life I have been a Migraine sufferer.   Sadly, headaches are a common side effect of pregnancy too.  People who know about Migraines, know they are TERRIBLY painful and can be really severe...the only thing that helps some people, like myself, is prescription medicine or in my case Excedrin Migraine, BUT, you can't take those as a pregnant woman.  So, if a pregnancy headache comes and I don't stop it early with Tylenol (which tends to be useless on me)...then I have the potential to deal with a 2, 3, 4 day headache.  One time it was a WEEK!  Oh my God, I can't tell you what it felt like, except in Greek Mythology, where Athena, daughter of Zeus, is born from his HEAD-and that's what it literally feels like-like I'm giving birth from my HEAD!

Another one I almost forgot, is that I'm HOT ALL THE TIME.  I feel like there is a furnace inside me!  If I have to go anywhere and look decent, I have to leave the pin curls in my hair until I get to the train, bus or car-or else I'm gonna sweat it out before I get to my destination.  I feel like I'm going to catch fire at any minute!  So yes, I'm breaking out in a sweat any time, any where...combustible explosion coming on folks-back away carefully!!

Well, there are many more I could talk about, but the one that blows my mind the most is FEELING her Move.   The first time it was this cute little flutter...I was like "Ooooh, I really feel butterflies in my stomach!"  Now at 6 months....it literally reminds me of the movie "Aliens". LOL.  It is truly freaky, I feel her turning, kicking and punching, but it is really good...it gives me a sense of comfort that she is ok!  I spend time watching my stomach jump and move...it is really trippy, but I get a kick out of it-literally!  Haha!  Times like those I talk to her.   She kicks me in my Bladder a lot though-and thus there goes that involuntary pissing feeling!! LOL.  Geez, what can I say...at least she's active.   I have heard friends tell me they have been kicked in the ribs, and some have seen bruises form on their bellies as the baby gets bigger and is kicking harder-OUCH!  

So folks, it all comes down to my perspective on all this and how I'm perceiving things.   I guess women maybe don't talk about it as much because their friends are disinterested, maybe they are embarrassed, or some just think it best to keep it private...OR maybe once that little bundle is here...all you can think about is the JOY that this new little life, of which you are the caretaker of, brings.  
I saw I Don't Know How She Does It with SJP and there was a character in the movie that detested the whole idea of kids and marriage and pregnancy. I won't spoil it for those who want to see it..but her Perspective changed.

In the end, it all boils down to that although this may be 9 months of uncomfortable bodily changes, I will have a Lifetime of happiness through experiencing the Joy of Motherhood.   I can't wait to meet Her!   In all things, "Give Thanks".   I am so thankful God blessed me with Her.    "When I wake up, she's gonna be Beautiful!

XOXO.

Mommies, what were some of the crazy side effects you had and what did you do to "cure" or control them??? help a Sister out!

12 comments:

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  2. Wow now that was funny! I have to say that I did have the morning sickness but at 5pm. Who in the world came up with calling it morning sickness? The first trimester, I would try to get home from Bethesda to Germantown before 5pm and I got off at 4:30pm just so that I could get home and in the bed because it was like clock work, but of course with traffic that never happened. I wasn't able to control them but I made sure I ate good before that time. Gotta love being pregnant:)

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  3. DG, lets tell the truth...the older we are the more changes our body go through. I was 23 when i had my oldest son and i felt invincible. Ten years later,having the second one- not so much. My feet were so swollen my husband had to massage my flip-flops off my feet.

    But its all Beautiful...Jill said it best!
    -staci

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  4. Dayna! I love your courage and honesty! I must say This was the funniest post I've read in awhile. I think you should send this to your old company and have them reprint it online or in the magazine. Keep them coming!! Xoxoxo ~Janine D.

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  5. Soror you and I are having a similar pregnancy. It is a miserable experience and unfortunately I am still sick/nauseous at 6 months. This little girl is kicking my butt and because I'm sick every day I can't go anywhere and am isolated from people. She better be the best little girl ever! Here's hoping we both get some symptom relief soon. Oh and my ears get clogged almost every day. So annoying! Soror Dawn

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  6. Hi Dayna Dan!! I just found out. Congratulations to you! Many Blessing, Michelle Mingo

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  7. Hey lady ... saw your "check" out message to me and came to "check out" your blog ;0) want to tell you that when my daughter was growing in the belly i read something about playing classical music and it helps the brain grow faster and your kids will be smarter .. well we did it (played it every night) before she went to sleep and my daughter has been skipped in school and they wanted to skip her a second time, but i didnt let them because of the "social" adjustment that she had to deal with. She is now in IV programs in HS and will be going to college next year at the age of 16. Now it could be that she just took after her dad and has great genes and her dad's great mind .. but when i have more kids they will be listen to the 3 tenors and other great classical music while in the belly ;0) .. all the best you new mommy you ....

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  8. I laughed, I went yeck a couple of times...perspective is everything...we all see things differently...my aunt, Inez, was a size 5 shoe when I met her..she ended up size 8 and I could wear her shoes....:-). This was pretty funny...another one of the girls on "teen mom" had to carry a container with her cause being pg caused her to spit all the time..you'll also feel the heat during menopause....have fun!!!

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  9. LOL! Soror, I remember getting those hot flashes. I didn't suffer from SNISS though...thank goodness! I pray that you get some relief soon. It is all worth it in the end...but the end comes with a whole other set of problems. Whew...I couldn't sit comfortably for a week. LOL!

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  10. Dayna, I love this blog! Okay, I'm not sure how you are with dairy, but if you can cut back it'll help with the stuffiness. (Almond or Rice Milk, maybe?) I know you're hot, but at least we're coming up on the cooler months. I just gave birth in July. Having to waddle around in 100 degree temperatures was NOT fun! LOL

    Kenyatte

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  11. Lol...I forever keep it real as u know. When I was 9 months pregnant with Tyler she was chillin on my bowel area....somehow and I was driving down the street and all of a sudden I had an urge to go to the bathroom. The place to stop was Walgreens and as I stood up from the car the pressure was incredible and I felt myself losing control. As I waddled down the asile to the public restroom it was just too late as I started to turn the corner into the stall I had already lwt it go! Yes, I shat myself....crapped...pooped...whatever u want to call it. What did I do....I cried and took off underwear and threw it away....tried to clean up and went home and didn't leave house again. I only left for Dr. appts.

    Early on during 1st trimester I threw up in passenger seat while driving. I was in motion I'm traffic....

    I got more...but we can have those convos offline. It is a crazy experience but the little joy u will have in the end will be well worth it all.

    For the headaches....frozen veggies work well and ice cold water. Regarding the snissing....after a vaginal birth it will continue on when u least expect it. I still experience that....I think I need to get on the kegals!

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  12. excuse my typos girl....I'm on my Droid :-) I think you got it....smile

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