Week 24: Back to basics

The angmohs really love their medication to stay healthy:

But when the going gets rough, the best medicine is still REST and ....

Week 24: Pregnancy insomnia?

I don't need an alarm clock. Baby's moving regularly and I'm turning every 4-5 hours each night. Unfortunately when I'm up, it's tough to get back down, esp. when the hubby's snores seem louder than ever now and my mind is on overdrive. While some might say this is good practice for the sleepless months after birth, I say, noooo.... shouldn't I be getting as many zzzzs as I can NOW?

So... in my quest to go back to sleep, here's my insomnia-induced blog post:

1) Go to bed drowsy - bedtime snacks, warm showers, mindless reading/surfing
2) Avoid caffeine/lots of water/exercise/too heavy or spicy meals in the evening
3) No serious discussions before or in bed with the hubby (!)
4) Jot down thoughts and to-dos (think wand and Pensieve)
5) Relax, do Kegels or pray before sleeping
6) Regulate your sleep and wake cycle
7) Keep the bedroom cool and ambient - no bright lights, TV or laptop
8) Get up if none of the above works and blog :)

Week 23: Just to make it today

I woke up early one morning and rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish, I didn't take time to pray.
Problems tumbled about me and heavier came each task.
Why doesn’t God help, I wondered? He said, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and gladness. But the day toiled grey and bleak.
Why doesn’t God help, I asked? He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I wanted to come into God’s presence, I tried all my keys in the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish, I had to take time to pray.

Week 22: It ends here

Caught Harry Potter's final movie installment - The Deathly Hallows (Part 2) - last night. I remember watching the first movie 10 years ago with the then-boyfriend-now-hubby. Just like the actors and actresses on screen, we've both grown up since, hopefully in many ways beyond just our age, and are approaching the end of our book series - the married-with-no-kids life :)

Here's an amazing fact from my weekly pregnancy e-newsletter: If your baby were born prematurely this week, he would have between a 10 and 20 percent chance of survival (higher with intensive care). With each day that your baby stays in the womb, his survival rate increases 3 percent.

Week 21: Maternity mocktails

All work, no play and no alcohol makes for one helluva dry week! Argh. When the dust settles somewhat or 3rd trimester kicks in, I should get my momma friends over for a sparty (spa party) with some classic maternity mocktails and milkshakes!

NYC Maternitini
Mix it up: In a chilled cocktail shaker, mix 1 1/2 ounces of raspberry sorbet, 4 ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a squeeze of lime. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a lollipop or rock candy.

Bouncing Baby Bellini
Mix it up: Stir 2 ounces of chilled peach nectar with 2 ounces of nonalcoholic sparkling wine (or sparkling apple cider). Pour into a champagne glass and add a splash of grenadine. Garnish with sliced peaches.

Pregnan-Sea Breeze
Mix it up: In a shaker with ice, combine 3 ounces of cranberry juice with 3 ounces of pineapple juice. Strain the mixture into a tall glass. Finish with a splash of 7 UP and garnish with a sprig of mint and strawberries.

Raspberry "Hot Flash" Cooler
Mix it up: Wet the rim of a martini glass with a lime wedge, then dip the glass in sugar. In a shaker with ice, mix 1/2 ounce of crushed fresh or defrosted raspberries with 1/2 ounce of fresh lemon or lime juice, plus 1 ounce of pineapple juice. Shake the mixture, then pour into the glass, straining out the ice and crushed raspberries. Top with a splash of sparkling water and add a spear of raspberries.

Next Generation Ginger Soda
Mix it up: Peel a ginger root and cut into pieces. Marinate them in an 8-ounce glass of soda water for a few hours. Strain 1/2 to 3/4 of the ginger mixture into a tall glass with ice. Top it off with a splash of Sprite (or caffeine-free Coke, for color). Garnish with a slice of starfruit and a lime.

Mama Mango Margarita
Mix it up: First, make a simple syrup by heating 2 cups of sugar with 3 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Chill. Fill a blender or food processor with ice. Add a cup of fresh or defrosted mango. Add 3 ounces of the syrup and 1 1/2 ounces of freshly squeezed lemon (or lime) juice. After blending, add more syrup to sweeten, if necessary.

Week 20/21: Cute as a button

Little one was rather shy during his first 3D ultrasound scan but we managed to get this almost-full view in. Thank God all is progressing well - placenta, amniotic fluid and cord vessels; baby's head, nervous system, chest, abdomen, limbs... and yup, he's definitely still a boy! Gestational age is around week 20 and 21 so EDD remains sometime between mid to late November.

Here's the first "snapshot" of our Thanksgiving bundle of joy :)

Week 20

It's been pretty much routine sleep-eat-work-eat-sleep. The highlight (or rather, lowlight) being a nasty bout of allergies - mainly a runny/blocked nose - since Thursday night. Called the doc on Saturday morning for some pregnancy-safe antihistamines. She suggested chlorpheniramine which cost peanuts from the nearby pharmacy AND worked beautifully, except that it knocked me out pretty good! As hubby had also just completed his Lasik operation, we both ended up recovering at home and eating home-made chicken soup most of the weekend. On the plus side, after a string of busy days, we both got some R&R and felt the baby kick several times! On Sat afternoon, we also went for part 1 of our church's Christian parenting course though honestly, I was so groggy from the meds I barely remember most of it. Thankfully, hubby took copious notes :)

Oh yes. Happy Independence Day, America!