More pregnancy talk: SYMPTOMS

Posted on November 28, 2012 by

I promise to get back into normal posts and discuss teaching, family, and every day things soon… but for today I want to talk Pregnancy Symptoms.  As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I checked out some of my favorite bloggers who have little ones, or little ones on the way (you can check them out here, here, here, here, and here).  Since I really enjoyed being able to read about pregnancy symptoms, I figured my readers might too!  :)   If not, hang in there…. normal posting will be back soon ;) .

Week 4 Symptoms:

Like I mentioned in my First Trimester Review, I just knew I was pregnant.  All week long I was having weird dreams (lot’s of donkeys were involved… wtf?) and light cramping on and off.  I also noticed that I got really dizzy if I stood up too fast, and I had a weird “full” feeling in my lower abdomen.  I can’t really describe it, but “full” would be the most accurate description that I can think of.  It was during the end of my 4th week that my suspicions were confirmed!  :)

Week 5 Symptoms:

Most of my symptoms kind of subsided this week… no cramping or anything…. except for my boobs.  To say they were “sore” wouldn’t do it justice.  Take the word “sore” and times it by 100, then add all the other painful words out there…. and then you might get it.  I wore a sports bra to sleep every night and that seemed to help a bit.

Week 6 Symptoms:

HUNGER.  My hunger kicked up this week into some sort of crazy mode.  I ate, and ate, and ate more…. yet I was still hungry.  I was also very emotional this week and had a few breakdowns while listening to Michael Buble in the car.  Bobby is still having nightmares….

This week was also when my all-day sickness began.  It started off slow…. and then hit like a tornado.  This was the week that vegetables lost ALL appeal to me.  Oh, and I was still wearing that sports bra 24/7.  SORE!

Week 7 Symptoms:

This was probably my worst week so far (hence, no picture – my energy was ZAPPED).  I was bloated (not just in my stomach…. everywhere), my face broke out, I was exhausted (huge bags under my eyes), and I was dry-heaving on (what seemed like) a constant basis.  Pregnancy was NOT a pretty look for me that week.  I couldn’t get up enough energy to blow dry my hair, let alone put on a stitch of makeup or care about what clothes I was wearing.

My poor students that week had no clue what hit them.  I gave them “busy work” galore, I gagged into my garbage can…. I yelled…. I cried…. it was NOT pretty.  This was also the week that I ended up telling my coworkers that I was pregnant.  I walked in to school one morning and one of them told me that I “didn’t look so good.”  Well, that was all I needed.  The waterworks started and the secret was out!

Week 8 Symptoms:

Well, this week was the week that Hurricane Sandy decided to hit (again, the reason for no picture).  To say that it was a tough week obviously wouldn’t do it justice…. luckily we had decided to wait out the storm at my family’s house down at the shore, so although we were still getting hit (very hard), we were out of Hoboken.

Either way, we had no power for almost a week… so it was interesting to find foods that I could eat without making my all-day sickness worse.  I was moody, emotional, cranky, cold and tired.  I’m not quite sure which symptoms had to do with Sandy, and which had to do with pregnancy, but either way, it was another “not so pretty” week.

Thankfully, for my students, we were off of school for a week so they got a little break from their hormonal, sick teacher. :)

Week 9 Symptoms:

The start of my “bump?”  This was when my all-day sickness started to let up a bit (THANK YOU GOD).  My boobs were still sore, and I was still feeling a little bloated, but for the most part, I felt a little more like my normal self.  I finally made it back to the gym and the exhaustion started to get a bit better.  I was able to do my hair (regardless of what the picture looks like, I did), put on makeup, and smile again!! :)   I also noticed that I got a little belly “pooch.” Of course, it could have been from all the bagels, crackers, and chocolate milk I was putting in my body…. but whatever, I’ll take it.

Week 10 Symptoms:

Whoa, belly.  Where the hell did that come from?  10 weeks, and a actual belly?  Is that even possible?  If we are being honest here… I think that “belly” had a little to do with baby, and a lot to do with the lack of bathroom visits.  That was a MAJOR symptom during weeks 8-10, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I don’t think I “went” once.  Thank you, pregnancy hormones.  Thank you.

Besides that, my boobs were still sore, but everything else seemed to be much more normal!

Week 11 Symptoms:

I feel like my “all over” bloating has subsided a little bit, which I am VERY happy about (p.s. can you tell I have stopped making sure I’m nicely dressed for my weekly pics?  Too much effort for this girl…).  My doctor gave me the “okay” to use Miralax to help with my bathroom issues, so thankfully that issue  has let up a bit.  That means the belly is real!  :)   I can actually feel a hard bump right below my belly button that my doctor says is my uterus!  It’s crazy that you can actually feel it from the outside.  My old clothes are NOT fitting right, and I’ve been forced to buy a few maternity shirts and pants.  They are amazingly comfortable…. love them.  I’m a little concerned because I feel like most people aren’t “showing” just yet.  I know everyone is different, but still, it’s hard to stop myself from comparing!

I mean, yes, this means my baby is growing which is amazing… but does this also mean that I’m going to be large…. very large… as more time goes by?

…..anyway, here we are, in Week 12!!!!  :) :) :)

So far, it’s been a great week that’s involved the return of roasted veggies!  Yum.  I’ve also been hitting the gym every morning, which feels great!  More elaborate 12 week details to come….

Have a GREAT rest of the week!!!

Weirdest question ever:  If you HAD to have either extreme all-over bloating, extreme constipation, or all-day sickness, which would you choose?

Posted in Pregnancy | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

First Trimester in review.

Posted on November 24, 2012 by

First, I have to thank you.  The support, prayers and positive thoughts that were sent my way when I decided to take a blogging break was amazing.  I received emails, tweets, comments etc. that just made my heart swell.  So, thank you.  I truly appreciate each and every single well-wish.

Second, I know I’ve lost many readers because of my break, but to those of you who are still checking my blog, and still interested in what’s going on in my part of the world, I am humbled and so appreciative.  I can’t promise that I’m back for good, and that I’ll keep up with blogging as much as I was, but I’m here, and I’ve missed my readers…. I’m going to do what I can, when I can, for as long as it makes me happy.  :)

Now, on to the fun stuff….

BABY!!!!!

When/how we found out…. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I will be 12 weeks pregnant on Monday!  To say that I am excited to be out of the first trimester would be a HUGE understatement.  Bobby and I actually decided this summer that we were ready to start trying for a baby, so this wasn’t a huge surprise.  Regardless of how well prepared you think you are going to be though, I think the moment that a pregnancy test comes out positive is always a huge shock. 

September 28th was a Friday night, and Bobby came home from work with a big bottle of wine for the two of us to enjoy.  I was exhausted and just not feeling right, so I had a few sips before claiming that I was pregnant, and wouldn’t be partaking in our Friday night wine/DVR ritual.  Bobby looked at me like I was crazy, but even though I hadn’t taken a test, I was sure.  I just knew it.  I hit the hay pretty early and crossed my fingers that the next morning would confirm what I already knew.

Well, Saturday morning came and brought the happiest news we had ever received.  I’ll never forget the look of pure excitement and happiness on Bobby’s face when I jumped and squealed climbed back in bed to tell him the news. 

Of course, after about 5 minutes of laying in bed, we drove to the nearest pharmacy to confirm with more tests.  I needed to see more than two lines, I needed the confirmation of a big “YES.” 

A big “YES” I got! 

(Sorry to show you a pee stick again, but I just love how happy I was at that moment)

How my workouts changed….My normal workouts continued until about a month into pregnancy.  I was keeping up with my spin classes and Bodypump, and feeling pretty good.  Then the 5th week of pregnancy hit…. and it hit hard.  The constant nausea that took over my life forced me to spend any extra time I had sleeping, laying on the couch crying, or eating saltines.  There was no making it to the gym.  I would occasionally have a day when I felt somewhat okay, so I took a few walks and did some light elliptical, but nothing intense. 

It was a sick few months… a very sick few months! 

I’ve made it back though.  The nausea has subsided for the most part, and my energy has picked up a lot over the past 3 weeks. I am loving the feeling of being back at the gym so much.  Although my gym clothes are fitting a bit differently than they were before, it feels amazing!

How my food choices changed….  Right after we found out I was pregnant, I kept telling Bobby how excited I was to make the healthiest baby ever.  I had all these amazing plans for my nutrition, and thought about how big and strong my little one would get as I crammed in veggies, fruits, protein, healthy fats, and whole grains into my diet. 

And then, the lovely little thing called “morning sickness” (which, by the way, is the stupidest name ever.  It’s all-day, every-day sickness) hit me.  Suddenly, the very thought of vegetables and salads made me gag.  I couldn’t even think about putting anything green and colorful into my body without dry-heaving (sorry).  For a week, I lived off chicken fingers…. until the smell of cooking protein sent me into a crazy pregnant gagging fit. 

Little by little, every single healthy food that I previously loved became my enemy.  My diet consisted of saltines, bagels, buttered toast, ginger ale, chocolate milk, and ginger candy.  It was a pleasant month, lemme tell ya. ;)

Slowly but surely, vegetables, salads and protein have been making a comeback into my life though.  There are some foods that still make me gag… (avocado, strawberries, almond butter, coconut oil, arugula, and yes…. chicken fingers), but for the most part, I’m feeling much better!  :)

How I’ve been feeling…. elated.  We are so excited for June to get here! 

I will take the exhaustion, nausea, mood swings, sore boobs, etc. any day for this little nugget that is growing healthy in my belly.  Hearing his/her strong heartbeat and seeing him/her jumping around on the ultrasound screen like a little dancing gummy bear changed my life.  It’s truly the most amazing feeling ever.  :)

If you’ve been pregnant… what was your first trimester like?

Posted in Family, Fitness, Food, Pregnancy | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

The past few months…

Posted on November 23, 2012 by

Well, for one…. my “fitness” was thrown on the back-burner.  For a few months, I was exhausted, burnt out, and not feeling so hot.  Thinking about pulling myself together and heading to the gym was pretty much an unthinkable concept.  My 6 a.m. classes that I so desperately loved? 

Pssshhhh.  Yea right.  

I’m happy to report though, in the past few weeks, I’m back at it.  I’ve been spinning and Bodypumping my little heart out.  It feels like heaven.

Another “healthy” thing that took a drastic change?  My eats.  If you followed my blog, you know that I genuinely enjoy salads, veggies, fish, spinach smoothies, etc. 

The past few months?  Not so much. 

Much to Bobby’s excitement, I’ve been living off bagels, crackers, buffalo Wheat Thins (try them), toast and chocolate milk.

Have my clothes gotten tighter?  Hell yes.

Has the number on the scale changed?  +5 lbs.

Am I happy about these changes? 

Couldn’t be happier.

I promise I’ll be back with more details (I’ll be 12 weeks on Monday, about to say goodbye to the hellish first trimester!!!!) plus updates on all other areas of my life, but for now, I just wanted to share our happy, happy, happy news!  We are over the moon with excitement! :)

What have YOU been up to these past few months???  Please fill me in!  I have genuinely missed you all and hope that you’ll forgive my little leave of absence!! 

 

Posted in Blogging, Family, Fitness, Food, Random | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

It’s time to be kind to ME.

Posted on August 27, 2012 by

Guys, I’m struggling to figure out exactly how to put into words what I’m feeling. A lot has been going on recently. Like I mentioned, I had a seriously tough day last week.  Quite honestly, each day since has been pretty tough as well.

I’m not asking for sympathy.  So many people go through what I’m going through, and so many people are going through much worse than what I am.  My point of posting this is to explain myself.  Explain why I need a little break.  Why I need to take some time to focus on what is important.

My dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Originally, when he was taken to see a neurologist a few months ago, we were told that he had Hydrocephalus,  which is basically fluid that is pressing on your brain.  A surgery would have been needed to fix the problem, but it was curable.  We were told that my dad would be back to normal as soon as he had the surgery.

Before I go on, let me explain that my parents have been divorced since I was nine.  Although they have not had the best relationship since then (to put it nicely), my mom stepped up to help him once we found out he was sick.  She really is a saint, and has done everything in her power to help him.  She put all differences aside these past few months simply to take the burden off my brothers and I.

Well, last week my mom noticed that things were getting rapidly worse, so she took him to the emergency room.  It was only then that they did more tests and called us with the news that it was not, in fact, fluid on his brain, but at the age of 62, he had early onset Alzheimer’s.  Not only that, but it is rapidly progressing.

The hospital admitted him and declared him incompetent of living by himself… meaning that the hospital will not release him until we find a place for him.  A place for my 62-year-old dad to live.  A nursing home.

Bobby and I went on Saturday and Sunday afternoon to visit him at the hospital, and it was heartbreaking.

The saddest part? 

It wasn’t that he looked so frail and lost in his little room.

It wasn’t that he was reading the same newspaper over and over again and commenting on each story as if it were the first time he was seeing them.

It wasn’t when he asked how long I’ve known “the lady” who brought him to the hospital.  The lady is my mom.  The lady is someone whom he was married to for 14 years.

It wasn’t when he asked me to get him some snacks, because the cooks in the “restaurant” were horrible and didn’t “know how to make jello.”  Bobby and I went to the gift shop and stocked up on all the foods that he loves…. root beer, Fritos, and cashews.  Growing up, I can’t express how many bags of Fritos we’ve shared.  When we brought them to his room, I was expecting his eyes to light up… he told me he’s never tried “those things before.”

The absolute worst times of the weekend were when he had those few moments of complete clarity, and he asked what was going to happen to him.

I had no answer.  I didn’t know what to say to my dad.  I don’t know what is going to happen to him.

They say that when it rains, it pours, and this is just a small portion of what has been going on.  I need to be kind to myself, and give my mind a break.

I love the Healthy Living community.  I have made amazing friends who I cherish so much, and I am so thankful for.

… but part of “healthy living” is giving yourself the permission to “turn off” once in a while.  My brain feels like it’s going, going, going at all times… and something has got to give.

I’m overwhelmed.

I’ve been an emotional wreck, and it’s not healthy.  Right now I need to focus on what is important.  My family and my amazing husband who has done every single thing (and given me more hugs than I thought possible over a weeks time) to help ease this blow.

I can’t say if or when I’ll be back to posting, but right now, I need to stay true to my healthy living philosophy and work on not just my body, but my mind as well. 

…. and *cue* my tears….. ;)

Posted in Blogging, Family | Tagged , , | 35 Comments

Infuse Your Mood Giveaway Winner!

Posted on August 25, 2012 by

Good morning friends! :) I just wanted to drop by quickly to give you the winner of my Infuse Your Mood tea giveaway!

Congratulations Kimberly!

kimberlyogini says: I am a first year teacher and Girl, I NEED that tea. ;)

Speaking from someone who has been a first year teacher before, you’ll need all the energy you can get! ;) Email me (fitandfuninthird@gmail.com) your mailing information and I’ll get that tea to you as soon as possible!

I’m off to get in a good workout before Bobby and I head down to the shore to see my family! I hope your all having a wonderful weekend! :)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Looking forward to Fall & THANK YOU for making me smile.

Posted on August 24, 2012 by

First of all, thank you. All of your kind words from yesterdays post made me smile on one of the toughest days I’ve ever had. I will share more details with you later, but for now, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around some stuff.

Now on to the good stuff…. :)

It’s Friday! Who is happy? Who is ready? This girl.

Yesterday, as I was sulking (and sobbing) through my day, one thing that helped me get through it was thinking about the Fall.

Do I love fresh fruits and veggies that come along with summertime? Of course.

Do I love flip flops & sundresses? So much.

Do I love sleeping in (well, to around 7) and planning my day around my workout? You bet.

Do I LOVE outdoor happy hours after a day of lounging in the sun? Um, just about my mostfavoritethingintheworld!!

… but am I looking forward to fall? Yes, yes I am!

So what is it about fall that has me pinning all fall related recipes, clothes, and home decor? Well, here are just a few of my favorite fall things that I am so looking forward to….

  • Pumpkin related recipes! I kinda feel like this is a huge blogger cliché, but guess what? I don’t care. I LOVE pumpkin.I love it so much. And guess what will be back pretty soon? This bad boy…

http://www.yourdailyvegan.com/2011/09/06/how-vegan-is-the-starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/

source

  • The changing leaves. One of my favorite parts of fall is the beautiful colors on the trees and of course, the smell of a big old pile of leaves! Everything smells so clean and fresh, and seeing all the bright colors makes me so happy!

http://www.kidactivities.net/category/Seasonal-Everything-Fall.aspx

source

  • Football. Every little thing about football season is exciting to me. Bring it on!

  • Cool weather. First of all, this summer has been unbearably hot. I feel like we’ve had our air conditioning on since April! I can’t wait to be able to open the windows and get some fresh air in here without feeling like I’m going to die. Second of all, I can’t turn on the oven with this heat. Our apartment gets SO hot when we turn on the oven that it’s nearly impossible to bake or cook without feeling like your cooking yourself! Bring on the crisp, cool air!

;

  • Cute boots, sweaters, blazers, etc. (basically just fall attire in general). I mean, is this not the cutest fall outfit ever?

I want her clothes, boots, jewelry, bag, hair…. basically I want to be her. Looking through pinterest for cute fall attire has me so excited (until I remember I don’t have the funds to actually purchase any of it…).

  • Outdoor workouts!!! I can’t wait to hit the pavement for some outdoor workouts!

source

  • Sweats & red wine. When I think about cool fall evenings, I automatically picture myself in cozy sweats cuddled under a blanket on the couch, drinking my favorite… Red wine! :)

and last, but certainly not least….

  • My new students!!! It’s ridiculous how excited I am to get this year started… I am so ready to get back in the classroom and meet my new little kiddos! :)

I hope you all have a great weekend! :)

Some things to do:

  1. Enter my giveaway! Winner will be announced tomorrow! :)
  2. Read a guest post I wrote on the awesome Yellow Haired Girl
    blog about getting back on track!

;

What are you most looking forward to about the end of summer and the start of fall??

What are you most looking forward to about the weekend?

Posted in Uncategorized | 17 Comments

Tough Day.

Posted on August 23, 2012 by

Have you ever had any of those days where you just want to crawl into a ball and escape reality?

One of those days where every phone call you get seems to bring more and more bad news?

Where you are in utter disbelief that these terrible things are happening to your family?

Well, that was today for me.

I’m sorry for being so negative right now, it’s almost Friday, and yet I’m sitting here with my eyes stinging from crying and exhaustion, and I’m at the end of my rope.

Today has been a tough day.

I sat down to write a post about how excited I was for this weekend, but it was so fake. It was so forced. I don’t have it in me to act happy and upbeat right now, so I’m not going to.

What did I do to get through the day?

I tied up my shoelaces, left my phone at home, and hit the pavement for a run. I blasted all my “powersongs” and turned off any negative thoughts. I focused on my legs pushing me forward… carrying on.

I hugged Bobby. I hugged my handsome husband so tight and let him take care of me.

I went for a walk…. to the liquor store to get a bottle of wine that I’m about to uncork and enjoy immensely. :)

I wrote. First in my journal, and then on this dear little blog which I usually try to keep positive.

And of course, I bitched. I bitched a lot.

Tomorrow is a new day, and yes, all the issues that came along with today will still be there, but…. I will be prepared to face them.

For any of you out there going through something tough, just know that you are not alone. Do whatever you do. Help yourself through it. Be kind to yourself and have faith that things WILL GET BETTER.

“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” – Malcolm S. Forbes

What helps you through tough times?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 25 Comments