I'm
probably that person you hate to work with who almost-always, without
fail, shows up to work everyday - even when I'm sick with a cold.
Especially with a cold because like, I would just take those handy
capsules to ease my congestion/sinus pressure/core throat/cough and get
on with business.
So as the holidays approached,
knowing I would have to go without my beloved over-the-counter
pharmaceutical solutions this year, I had been working hard to avoid
getting sick. I washed my hands every hour (pretty easy when you have to
pee every hour anyway), disinfected my desk, computer, phone and work
surfaces, and even refused to take appointments with people who appeared
visibly sick... So of course I get a bad cold the day after Christmas.
Just in time to spend my entire week off sick.
It has been, as I had been warned, way worse than cold I had pre-pregnancy.
I feel more run-down, my eyes have watered for 3 days straight, the sinus
pressure makes everything feel impossible. I am a total freaking wuss.
Here's how I've been dealing....
Hot showers. I can breathe again! For, like, an hour afterwards anyway!
Water. Lots of it. You need something to help flush that garbage out of ya!
Kleenex. Lots and lots of Kleenex for the temporary relief of blowing even though nothing comes out.
Giving myself permission to drink tea again. Yes, I know there's caffeine which I have been working hard to avoid but I can't help it. It soothes me.
Tom Yum Soup. This Thai soup is magic! And the spice really helps to relieve the sinus pressure!
A certain degree of "getting on with it".
I did the things I needed to do that didn't involve human interaction
like finishing my baby registry, taking down the Christmas decorations,
organizing and packing up the room that will become our nursery. It
helped me get over the guilt of all the human-interaction-related plans
that got thrown out the window.
Trying to reframe the forced downtime as R&R. This
is not easy for a Type-A productivity-machine like me, but I've tried
to ENJOY my "lazy time" spent watching daytime TV, scouring Pinterest, and reading pregnancy, birth and baby books.
The
biggest lesson of all? If my workplace wasn't closed for the holidays, I
would honestly be forced to stay home sick right now. As one should.
When you're sick you should stay home, you never know who you could
spread it to and how it will affect them.
Lesson learned Universe... So um, can you make my better now?
Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
my first trimester essentials
The first trimester was one of the most beautiful, emotional and transformative times of my life... It was also very overwhelming with so many new experiences all happening at once...
My dreams had finally came true and then I suddenly I discovered a whole new set of fears and worries.
I had a huge news and yet it needed to stay a secret between my husband and I for two and a half months.
I never felt more womanly and certainly did not feel my most beautiful.
I'd never been more motivated to be healthy, but all I wanted to eat was cheese and carbs.
I felt amazed at my body's capability, but out of control of my body as well.
It's an awesome new experience and what I took away from it is that you just gotta do what works best for YOU. That said, My Essentials for the First Trimester are as follows...
Bagels! Or simple/heavy carb of your choice!
I don't know where this rumour about pregnant ladies eating saltine crackers to ease their upset stomach started but IT DOESN'T WORK. It doesn't take a genius to realize crackers are like the easiest thing to barf up. What worked for me 80% of the time was to eat an Everything Bagel (I started buying these when I saw they are higher in folic acid!) toasted with a piece of real full-fat cheddar cheese (calcium!) every morning within an hour of waking. Sometimes it came up but, more often than not, it stayed put and kept me full.
Stretchy pants.
If you have an office job and/or spend a good portion of the day sitting, you'll want to make sure your pants aren't going to be digging into into you... Not because you have a bump at this point (you probably won't) but because you will get bloated! And since, sweatpants aren't office-appropriate, pants with a comfortable waistband (I spent like $40 on mine and they're the kind that don't really need to be ironed - bonus!) in maybe a size-up, will help get you through the workday in comfort.
Makeup
I was more tired than I'd ever known before. I could sleep 9 hours one night and then pass out from exhaustion the next day at 7pm. It was unreal... And then add constant nausea and unpredictable, unrelenting vomiting to the mix and it's only natural I started to take on a grey, zombie-esque pallor. Enter my old friend make-up... Concealer will do wonders for the bags under your eyes. Rosey pink blush will restore colour to your cheeks. Waterproof mascara (ditch the eyeliner) will be able to hold up to the watery eyes caused by vomiting. Those three items alone will help you look like your normal self - even when you don't feel like it.
The Snoogle. Or any body pillow really.
This is a bit of a luxury item but, as a former tummy-sleeper, I decided to invest in a Snoogle to help me get into the habit of sleeping on my side! It's a bit overpriced ($80) but I asked for it as a birthday gift and sewed my own flannel pillowcase ($5) to make it extra cosy. I also love using it to prop myself upright for the hour or so I read before going to bed.
Pregnancy Journal
While you're keeping this big secret a secret it's nice to have something to record your thoughts, feelings, cravings, aversions and changes as they change week-by-week.
Anyway, like I said, just do whatever makes YOU feel good until you made it to Week 14!
My dreams had finally came true and then I suddenly I discovered a whole new set of fears and worries.
I had a huge news and yet it needed to stay a secret between my husband and I for two and a half months.
I never felt more womanly and certainly did not feel my most beautiful.
I'd never been more motivated to be healthy, but all I wanted to eat was cheese and carbs.
I felt amazed at my body's capability, but out of control of my body as well.
It's an awesome new experience and what I took away from it is that you just gotta do what works best for YOU. That said, My Essentials for the First Trimester are as follows...
Bagels! Or simple/heavy carb of your choice!
I don't know where this rumour about pregnant ladies eating saltine crackers to ease their upset stomach started but IT DOESN'T WORK. It doesn't take a genius to realize crackers are like the easiest thing to barf up. What worked for me 80% of the time was to eat an Everything Bagel (I started buying these when I saw they are higher in folic acid!) toasted with a piece of real full-fat cheddar cheese (calcium!) every morning within an hour of waking. Sometimes it came up but, more often than not, it stayed put and kept me full.
Stretchy pants.
If you have an office job and/or spend a good portion of the day sitting, you'll want to make sure your pants aren't going to be digging into into you... Not because you have a bump at this point (you probably won't) but because you will get bloated! And since, sweatpants aren't office-appropriate, pants with a comfortable waistband (I spent like $40 on mine and they're the kind that don't really need to be ironed - bonus!) in maybe a size-up, will help get you through the workday in comfort.
Makeup
I was more tired than I'd ever known before. I could sleep 9 hours one night and then pass out from exhaustion the next day at 7pm. It was unreal... And then add constant nausea and unpredictable, unrelenting vomiting to the mix and it's only natural I started to take on a grey, zombie-esque pallor. Enter my old friend make-up... Concealer will do wonders for the bags under your eyes. Rosey pink blush will restore colour to your cheeks. Waterproof mascara (ditch the eyeliner) will be able to hold up to the watery eyes caused by vomiting. Those three items alone will help you look like your normal self - even when you don't feel like it.
The Snoogle. Or any body pillow really.
This is a bit of a luxury item but, as a former tummy-sleeper, I decided to invest in a Snoogle to help me get into the habit of sleeping on my side! It's a bit overpriced ($80) but I asked for it as a birthday gift and sewed my own flannel pillowcase ($5) to make it extra cosy. I also love using it to prop myself upright for the hour or so I read before going to bed.
Pregnancy Journal
While you're keeping this big secret a secret it's nice to have something to record your thoughts, feelings, cravings, aversions and changes as they change week-by-week.
Anyway, like I said, just do whatever makes YOU feel good until you made it to Week 14!
Friday, December 27, 2013
the motto
DO IT NOW has been my motto for 2013 and, upon reflecting on it, I think I will be adopting it as a personal motto for life.
In the past, when I would identify something that needs to be done and I then leave it undone, I would feel the weight of the procrastination looming heavy over me and, cumulatively, creating anxiety in my life... So for the last year I've been making a conscious effort to DO IT NOW especially if it's something that takes 5 minutes or less. The benefits of doing this are immediate and have been beneficial in all aspects of my life!
When I get an email that requires my response at work, I respond immediately.
When I notice the vacuum cleaner filter is getting full, I empty it.
When I think I should pay my grandparents a visit, I go.
When I'm given an opportunity, I take it.
When there's something I want to do, I make a point to do it.
And now that I'm pregnant and more aware than ever that my time and energy are finite resources, I think it's more important to tackle those "to do's" and "would like to do's" at the earliest opportunity possible. It had brought increased sense of accomplishment, balance and freedom to my life and without much effort at all... So stop reading this and go DO SOMETHING. NOW.
In the past, when I would identify something that needs to be done and I then leave it undone, I would feel the weight of the procrastination looming heavy over me and, cumulatively, creating anxiety in my life... So for the last year I've been making a conscious effort to DO IT NOW especially if it's something that takes 5 minutes or less. The benefits of doing this are immediate and have been beneficial in all aspects of my life!
When I get an email that requires my response at work, I respond immediately.
When I notice the vacuum cleaner filter is getting full, I empty it.
When I think I should pay my grandparents a visit, I go.
When I'm given an opportunity, I take it.
When there's something I want to do, I make a point to do it.
And now that I'm pregnant and more aware than ever that my time and energy are finite resources, I think it's more important to tackle those "to do's" and "would like to do's" at the earliest opportunity possible. It had brought increased sense of accomplishment, balance and freedom to my life and without much effort at all... So stop reading this and go DO SOMETHING. NOW.
Monday, December 23, 2013
a little about me
I'm 30 and have lived in and around the Toronto area my
whole life. I have degree in Communications and a job I love working
full-time in higher education. I'm married to a wonderfully fun,
handsome and hard-working man who helps balance out all my crazy,
neurotic Type-A tendencies. After wanting to start a family for a long
time, we are finally expecting our first child in April 2014!
I am passionate about music, movies, volunteering, travel, politics, running, walking and hiking, organization, baking, getting outside, civility, loyalty and honour. I believe in equal rights for all. I speak out when I don't agree with something - which sometimes gets me into trouble. I love and surround myself with good, authentic people. I could eat bread and butter for every meal. I think weird is wonderful. I believe in the good. I believe in miracles.
I am passionate about music, movies, volunteering, travel, politics, running, walking and hiking, organization, baking, getting outside, civility, loyalty and honour. I believe in equal rights for all. I speak out when I don't agree with something - which sometimes gets me into trouble. I love and surround myself with good, authentic people. I could eat bread and butter for every meal. I think weird is wonderful. I believe in the good. I believe in miracles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)