Thursday, July 26, 2012

Rings

My biggest stressor this past week has been getting my wedding rings off.  I never take them off and it didn't really occur to me that my hands would get swollen to an alarming point.  They weren't horrible, but I started worrying that the swelling might start to really hurt!  My OB told me I should really get them off.  So starting Monday I embarked on the journey........My mom recommended I try a floss trick - see youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0xUN0Kf00w) so I tried it but realized I needed help.  I got Pam and Jay to help me and we successfully got the first one off.  However then my finger started to swell a lot and I couldn't get the second one off.  The next day I tried my best to work that sucker off but I couldn't do it.  My mom helped me Tues night and we tried and tried - to no avail.  We tried ice water, we tried vaseline, we tried soap, we tried the floss trick again.  My finger was pissed.  My mom suggested I use some coban to wrap my finger to help reduce the swelling.  It was so successful that when I woke up in the morning my finger was way less swollen, but still really sore.....and that ring was still stuck.  The next day I kept the coban on and that evening I went to the pool.  The pool heater was broken so it was really cold - but that was PERFECT to help my swollen hands.  After swimming I hopped out of the pool, grabbed the Albolene (a lubricant we use in PT for soft tissue work), lubed up my finger and twisted, and twisted and yanked - it really hurt but it eventually came off!!!  I was so excited that I think I told everyone in the locker room about it.  
Success!!
I'm so glad I was able to get it off.  I was ready to have it cut off if I couldn't get it off that night.  Oh the anxiety!  I felt like it was an analogy to getting ready for labor.  Oy vey.........

My advice to all those pregnant ladies out there?  Take your rings off before your hands swell!!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

COMT-->Nesting

Huge, huge, huge sigh of relief.  I took my level IV orthopedic manual therapy exam yesterday.  It was an event.  I was so nervous,  I sweat through my shirt like I was running a marathon.  WOW.  Wish I had worn a dri fit.  It was a really good experience though.  A great process - studying, applying new skills, and becoming a better clinician.  Most of all - building professional confidence.  I am happy to say that I am officially a certified orthopedic manual therapist (COMT), NAIOMT certified.  I actually never thought I would get through this exam/process this year.  I figured I would tackle it some day.  With the encouragement of my dad, my incredible husband, mentors and study buddies, I decided to go for it "pre-baby".  I'm so glad I did!

NOW, I get to fully focus on this baby.  I got home last night and made Jake help me put together the co-sleeper, install the car seat base and start organizing the room.

3 hip hip hoorarys for JAke.  Actually, make that a million.  I couldn't have made it through all this studying and preparing without him.  Not only did he support me with all of my studying, he let me practice manipulating him for months (joint manipulation only, I promise).  You are the wind beneath my wings Jake - really!

Today feels so good.  Nice to just relax.  Now I get to prepare for the biggest test of my life in about a month!  I think it's supposed to be a really long test that gets progressively harder........;o)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tired and Stretched

Today I felt slow and I tired.  My feet were hot and swollen and I had to switch my shoes three times.  Ugh.  I have generally felt pretty good, so I guess today was my day.  I think this little one decided to do a lot of growing because I sure felt it.  My lower belly felt so tight and heavy.  After eating dinner (Jake's work has their big conference this week, so we ate at the new building - so cool!) I thought I might explode.  I start eating, and then all of a sudden it hits me hard - woah!  There is no room for it to go!  So I came home and decided to do a photo shoot about how I felt.  

Feeling tired, and whale-like today.  I guess my blue mumu didn't help ;o)
I dream of feeling light and weight-less!

This is how I feel sometimes.... like a deer in headlights - am I ready for this?  Starting to feel anxious about the process of actually HAVING a baby......


And this is what 35 weeks looks like!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Wedding Marathon

Nope - I didn't run a marathon while 7.5mo pregnant.  This last weekend I sure felt like it though!  Lindsay and John got married on Saturday and it was an incredible event.  The weekend before we had the Olympic Trials and had some friends staying with us as well - so between June 30 and July 8 - it truly felt like back to back marathons.  It really was great - I just wish I had taken a day off work this week.  

Linds and John got into town late Saturday night on 6/30 and we started right in to wedding preparation.  Wednesday morning (4th of July) we ran/walked the Butte to Butte race (I walked the 4.5miler while Jake, Linds, John and my dad ran the 10k).  Dang - walking 4.5mi on asphalt took a long time and my feet killed!  I can't wait to run it and be on my feet a shorter amount of time next year. Later that night all of their friends all arrived and we went to an Em's baseball game and got to watch the fireworks from down on the field.  It was really cool.  It was no civic stadium, but PK park will do.
Butte to Butte 10k race (4.5mi walk)

Staying up late and all the chaos from planning that week caught up to me.  I woke up Thursday feeling parched and thought - maybe I'm dehydrated?  But no, I had gotten a cold.  Classic - right in time for the wedding.  Thankfully it wasn't too bad.  Thursday, Linds and her friends and I went on a wine tour around the Lorraine valley and ended up at my parents' house for a BBQ pizza bonanza (thank you Jake and Josh!!  They cooked a LOT of pizza and helped with all the prep).
Ladies Wine Tour - King Estate

Friday was filled with pedicures/manicures and rehearsals and dinner.  It was a whirlwind, but we had a great time.  I was frantically trying to finish the slideshow I made for Linds and John and also trying to scratch out my matron of honor speech (how could I have waited until the last minute?!!).

Saturday was actually more relaxing than I expected - all morning we hung out and got our hair done, makeup done and ate some breakfast.  Then we took a limo out to the winery and helped Lindsay get ready!  It was a gorgeous day - a little hot for my pregnant self (who am I kidding, a little hot for me anytime), but I would take it any day over rain for this day.  It was truly spectacular - out of this world.  I put on my bridesmaid dress (perfectly altered for my bowling ball belly) so I could help Lindsay get into her dress (and be color coordinated of course!).  This resulted in me sweating dramatically in my dress - wowzers!!

Lindsay looked amazing - absolutely incredible.  Not sure where she got that tiny waist, but I'm glad to say we share some genes (just not that one ;o)  She was really calm and laid back - despite the Monster energy drink she wanted to get on the way to the wedding venue.

The wedding ceremony went really really well - her godfather married them and was really entertaining.  I can't wait to see a video of it.  I was sweating SOOO bad standing up there - literally had sweat running down my legs.  I kept thinking - what if my water breaks, right now.  Thankfully it didn't.  Linds and John had the coolest ending to their ceremony - they played "The Power of Love" (yeah back to the future!!) and then they had a saber arch.  Super cool.
best man Chris and matron of honor (me!)
lovely bride
bridesmaids!

Linds and John
Saber Arch
The reception was great - food was awesome.  My speech didn't flop and I was relieved to get it over.  It really went perfectly.  I hope Lindsay and John had as good a time as I did!  John found some people to light off some fireworks when it got dark - it was amazing!!
traditional chair dance
Belly picture
Amy - 33wks (sweating up a storm!)
Kristen - 18 weeks

fireworks!
The next day Pam and Jay put on an incredible brunch for Lindsay and John - they completely out did themselves.  I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have in laws that are so generous, loving and supportive.  To have two families that are amazing, AND that get along so well seems very unusual.  It's really the most amazing thing to be together with both of my families and feel like they are one in the same.  Jake was really helpful this past week (and always).  He kept us all moving, supported us all, and kept a smile on his face.  He even ended up with my cold and didn't complain.  What a guy!  He's going to be the ultimate dad.

Brunch at Clifton's - amazing food!
So now my feet are recovering (thanks to some 3in heels - I swear, I only wore them for an hour and then switched into crocs - but still my feet are sore).  And Linds and John are off to Panama!