Josie's Birth

How did this beautiful baby girl get here? It happened so fast!

But this story really starts with Hunter's birth. I knew all along that I wanted to have a VBAC for any births following his Cesarean, and all odds were lining up well. The anticipated method of delivery can define a pregnancy, and I was overly aware at times of all the means to the end that I hoped for. I wanted to give myself every advantage, which really just means having a healthy pregnancy, finding the best care providers, and not letting myself ever slouch on the couch. It was a long 9 months of sitting perfectly straight up. Just kidding, kind of.

My doctor had started talking about when we would induce little baby girl, and he was hoping for a time before 41 weeks along with a day he was on call. Nothing on the calendar was looking good to me at my 39 week appointment, since induction was most certainly not on my agenda. Let the baby come out when she's ready! And don't increase my chances of a c-section right from the start. I had not let him check my dilation in 3 weeks so we had no idea how I was progressing until I had Jeremy check around 39+1, with the grim results: nothing happening.

That following weekend was a busy one with all my nesting and cleaning and our family activities. Saturday I took Hunter to the blueberry farm to pick while Jeremy rode his bike, then we all headed out to the river for a triathlon team picnic, squeezed a little nap in, I conquered a 3+ mile, 12:45 per mile run/walk, and then we cooled off at a pool party in the neighborhood. Sunday involved lots of playing at church, where I found myself wanting to sit more than usual, a big brunch with the cousins, and the big siblings class at the hospital (so cute, that big brother Hunter!). On the agenda for the evening was hanging Hunter's art work and finishing a chicken pot pie. Those didn't  happen for a while.

I hopped on my trainer for a quick spin with Jack Bauer on the screen. With my usual hip discomfort, I move around a lot in the saddle, and with one shift I felt a thump. The small rush right after told me I was lucky to have padded bike shorts on, because my water might have broken. I headed upstairs and confirmed that it was true. When I asked Jeremy what I should do he said, "Probably not get back on the bike." But I was only halfway through my workout!

Contractions started within a few minutes as I was texting my doula, Cora, and Jenny to tell them to be on alert. Not getting too excited at this point, since I realized it could be days of early labor, I may have downplayed my contractions when Cora called. They were increasing in intensity noticeably already, so I decided to get into the tub and try to time them. Three to three-and-a-half minutes apart, lasting 45-60 seconds seemed too close, too long, too soon. I had a flash of fear that this was not normal. Uterine rupture, uterine rupture, uterine rupture was what kept going through my mind until Jeremy calmed me down that this was actually normal. This husband of mine is such an incredible person. I'm not sure I could've made it through without his calm reassurance and constant support. Through the whole pregnancy really! 

Everything is happening so fast was another thought I had. Contractions were getting closer and closer and I found that timing them was not something I had the mental capacity for anymore. The tub wasn't helping anything, since I was already to the point of leaning over the side with each contraction, so I got in the shower to get clean. After all, I had been sweating on the trainer. Making it through a quick shower was more difficult than I had imagined, but luckily Jenny and Emily had arrived to help distract Hunter while I huffed and puffed around the bedroom. They got there just before 6:30pm, about an hour after I got off the trainer, and when Jenny came into the bedroom I started crying and saying I just didn't think I could do this whole labor thing if it hurt so much already, still thinking it could last days. Jeremy checked my dilation, and said it was around 4-5cm, which did brighten my mood a bit. I knew it was time to pack-- oh yeah, hadn't finished that-- and head out when I was finally ready. With a VBAC, you need continuous monitoring in case of uterine rupture, and I did not want to put off going in much longer. Jenny and Jeremy were my logistics and packing coordinators, calling Cora and Mom, and Cora called the hospital and had them prepare for our arrival. Jenny seemed optimistic when talking to Cora that I was progressing quickly based on my mood of uncertainty, inability to stay quiet during contractions already, and complete lack of logical thought processing.

Two hours after the trainer ride, we headed down the bumpiest street in town to the hospital, since it was the fastest route, and I never noticed the bumps before. We got there in only a few contractions. The hard longer contractions were mixed in with less intense ones that came with a much shorter break between, which made it almost scary when I had a longer rest interval; I knew a tough one was coming. Cora met us in the parking garage, and the next hurdle was walking through the skybridge to the hospital. The skybridge may have been 100 yards long or 100 miles long, but I could barely take 5 steps between contractions, when I had to lean against the wall. That walk was never going to happen, so a magic wheelchair that cooled me and let me rest breezed me through the halls to L&D.

The birth ball, which I  spent more time covering than using, is where I sat for the few minutes it took to get my heplock in, which is also a requirement for VBACs at my hospital. I contracted right after the nurse got the first one started, and I ruined it, and a second one had to be placed. She was quick, and got it set with just a tiny bit of time to spare. Next up was the dilation check, which she blew me away with: complete effacement and dilation except for a small lip on one side. The little things kept me going. It seemed my favorite position for contractions was hunched over something, so onto the bed I went.

I had no concept of time, or any surroundings really, at this point, but with each contraction Cora or Jeremy, or Jenny-- wait when did she get here?-- would use counter pressure on my iliac crests, which was very helpful. I had the thought, "so an epidural takes this pain away" but it never crossed my mind again. I would say I was dead set against pain medication, but in reality I know things can happen and it can become a good option to have. Looking back, my mind was too busy to process that thought further anyway, so unmedicated was how it was to happen.

During one contraction I felt a sort of dry heave and said that I may need to throw up, after which a vomit bag was brought to me. Then it occurred to me that it could actually be the elusive urge to push I had heard of. The hospital was ready with a birthing stool, which was a large plastic crescent sort of stool, and the crew helped me down there right beside the bed. Jeremy was behind me letting me lean back against him to rest between contractions, with cool towels and reassurance. Cora was on one side, the wonderful nurse Ellavay was on another, and they all gave me little glimpses of hope and lots of encouragement.

Around this time, a friend also by the name of Jenny, who is starting her birth photography business and volunteered her time to come photograph it for me, arrived. The doctor on call, a partner of my regular OB, popped in to say hello, to which I was unable to respond. Cora explained how exactly this pushing was to happen, but something about it scared me. I wondered if I just might bust with any pushing. I nervously tried a few times and convinced myself that if I just went for it, this would happen a lot more quickly. It still took a few times to build up to an actual powerful push, but I could feel baby girl descend significantly with each one. The nurse called for the doctor, which was a boost for me, knowing that it was happening sooner rather than later-- soon enough that he never had time to get those knee pads he asked for, and instead kneeled on the hard floor in front of me.

At 9:06 pm, just over 3.5 hours after my water broke, Josephine Mae was right there, in my arms, looking straight up into my eyes.

Hunter summed it all up when he met her the next day: "I am so excited to meet you, little Josie Mae."

38 weeks and running!

If you noticed my Strava widget over there -- > it may or may not show that I have actually RUN a mile or two recently. Hooray! My SIJ pain was completely gone for about a week when I decided to sneak over to the treadmill to see if I could irritate it actually move my legs as if running after three weeks off. They still work. I am not going to push it and do any more than that at once, partly because my arms were actually sore from gripping the bar so tightly after just one mile, since I was scared of that moving belt that I could barely see under my belly. I had to branch out because really, my hips and tailbone are tired of the bike seat. I have kind of just tolerated this seat for the past several years as it is, and now that I'm sitting straight up on it most of the time, it becomes even less bearable. Trainer rides are the quickest, most logistically easy workouts I do these days, so it has become my default, I-have-little-time, go-to. Plus I'm right in the middle of the last season of 24, and it has gotten really good.

Swimming is happening, and I was even complemented when a woman told me I swam so well she was surprised I was pregnant when I got out. She surely didn't see my open turns on the wall while wearing paddles and a buoy, which I do similarly to those old men who stay underwater and do some strange maneuver that works, but makes you wonder if they're drowning first. I could do a flip turn at this point, but as Hunter says, "that's not an option," since this baby is right where I want her to be; I'm not risking it.  I have still spent more time in our neighborhood pool with Hunter recently than the actual lap pool, but now is the time to do it, before I have tiny baby considerations.

Now since I don't have to do all things with a baby on the outside, Hunter and I have been taking time to do one of his newer favorite things -- cook. He has gotten to where he can make his own PB&J sandwich after I get out the necessary tools and supplies, and he does a much more precise job than I would. He's my sous chef when it comes to fixing supper, and he has his own set of utensils. Finally, no thanks to my lack of a brain, he has his own kitchen to work in too. While in Houston, I attempted to buy one from Ikea, but put the wrong box in my massively overloaded cart. We talked about it all day on the way home, and I left H and Daddy to put it together. When I went back to see how it was going I got some blank stares and two "where is the kitchen?"s.  Awesome. So $22 in shipping later, we have the right one, and it's worth it.

Need a toddler+kitten picture to brighten your day? Of course you do! They adore each other. :)

We are not cooking our garden vegetables yet, since we have had exactly one ripe tomato, and we have just 2 small green beans. But yay for things growing! 

And speaking of growing, as Hunter would also say, the baby girl keeps growing and growing and expanding my belly! I was only 38+4 when H was born (and I think he was a little younger than that), and I will be there on Monday. Crazy that she could be here so soon. My swimsuit will be relieved.

Jeremy's sweet nurse and some coworkers had a diaper shower for us this week, and who can really resist buying girl clothes too? We got the cutest things to put in the room that now has a faint aroma of (clean) baby diapers. And Ann Marie's craftiness and talent are really something to be envied! She made the diaper cake!

Due date is in 12 days (what?!) and I'm hoping to get a few more miles run, lots more yoga ball bouncing, and many hours with my sweet 3-year-old before then.

37 weeks with some new additions

Yes, additions, plural! We picked up our kittens from Nancy last weekend, and they turn 8 weeks old today. They have been just perfect little guys; they love Hunter, and are always out looking for him when he's not around, even though he may pick them up more frequently than they would choose. All are being extremely patient with one another. 

In other unsurprising news, I have hit the 37 weeks pregnant mark, and we realized that this time last pregnancy I had a baby in about 10 days! Since I wasn't in labor then, I really have no idea when he would've come otherwise. We better get busy! The clothes are ready, the cosleeper is not, the carseat is ready, I am not... I mean I am, but I could always do more. There is so much to do with Hunter in his final few days of being an only child! He has helped with some decorations for their room. I let him use real acrylics and canvas, and surprisingly, even the garage floor made it through unscathed.

No finishing touches yet, a work in progress. There's one for the baby too.

 

The artist and the first layer of Daddy's early Father's Day painting.

 

No running has happened in the last 3 weeks, but my SI joint is finally getting much better. I don't limp around anymore, except when my sciatic nerve shoots me a jolt. What is happening to me?! I feel like a sedentary blob some days, and this conversation happened recently as I was changing clothes:

Me: I look like a balloon. 
Jeremy: You don't look like a balloon. 
Hunter, in his toddler blunt honesty: You DO look like a balloon! But bigger. And round. And oval. And person-shaped. 

My balloon has become a good resting spot for my hands while I'm on the trainer and not doing a lot of resting them on the handlebars. It could be more buoyant while swimming though. Otherwise I don't feel huge, until someone tells me I am, like the guy at Ironman TX while I was only 33 weeks. It was about 6:00 in the morning and this guy walked up and told me how tired I looked and that I was just like his wife, HUGE, when pregnant. Also there some family members (hi Mom!) who don't remember how big pregnant people are. And then there's always the big sister to tell you that your butt has gotten bigger too.

I don't mind this temporary discomfort and strange body too much, even without being able to run. I know there's the end in sight and I don't want the baby to come before she's ready. It seems so many women are done with being pregnant before even 40 weeks, which leads to inductions and all sorts of interventions that I am doing everything I can to avoid. VBACs bring on a whole new set of issues and potential complications (most of them just built up in the minds of some people, I believe) that those without prior cesareans just don't have to worry about. Oh I do wish I could be ignorantly blissful about it all, and just go into this birth with no reason to believe it won't happen exactly like I hope. But after a c-section that you did nothing to encourage, you just know things can happen. She needs to come before 42 weeks, or I believe most medical professionals would intervene somehow. And now without running to encourage it, I'm not sure what I will do if it gets too close to that point. 

Not that it helps labor come sooner, but I'm eating dates now. Six a day, which, as good as the first two are, do not go down so smoothly by the fifth and sixth. I found a good recipe for some no-bake bars with chocolate, and that helps. I might even use these sometime in the future for training purposes. Except all the fiber. There's that.  


Lucky for me, my powertap battery went out recently, and therefore I don't see exactly how pitiful my wattage has been on the trainer. And I am not even considering how much my watts/kilo ratio has changed with the extra 15 pounds I've gained so far. That battery is not getting changed any time soon, so maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised when I get back to actual training post baby. Hopefully I'll also be pleasantly surprised by how much my balloon has deflated. The slower I get, the more room I have for improvement!

Ironman spectating and the end of running. For now.

Picking up where I left off last post puts us outside of damp Houston for Jeremy's Ironman. The rain was forecasted for every day we were there, which I know is common for this time of year anywhere near the coast. But that one day, Saturday, had the highest temps and least chance of rain, and it made racing completely miserable for those who melt, like yours truly. Jeremy's race was not what we knew he could do. I was so disappointed for him, after all his training and dedication to this race. But as I am the queen of meltdowns, I completely understood what was going on. My hope was that he would not be affected by what my car was telling me was 93F at the beginning of the run. On the bright side, if it had been me out there, it would have been much, much worse. My meltdowns involve things like lying on the side of the road and self-diagnosing a heart attack, unlike Jeremy, whose run was still faster than almost everyone's bike split. 

The best part of the day was Hunter running with Jeremy along the course. He was so excited, it was all he talked about. We got several chances to see him, which turned into the cutest and sweetest moments as Hunter ran faster than Daddy, just like he said he would. 

 I love this picture! H is like, Daddy, I've been waiting a long time for you.

 Now I must outrun you.

This little guy is going to have some great memories of the "horse house" that we stayed in outside of Cypress. With horses, ducks making their rounds, chickens laying eggs, pigs, yippy little dogs, zip lines, and Mammo to explore it all with, it was a 3-year-old's dream. We are so lucky to be able to go on trips like this with him. 

I didn't do much running while down there since it was either raining or I was doing lots of spectating, although I ran along with a few friends during the race to chat until I slowed them down and had to stop. When we got back home, I went for a standard run in the neighborhood, but had to walk early on from posterior pelvic pain, near my SI joint, and I haven't been walking even the uphills until then. I pushed through 4.5ish miles averaging 13 min pace running and walking. I could barely walk for the rest of the night, and the next day, and so on and on this new pain goes still, over a week later. I always thought if I needed to stop running during pregnancy it would be a tough decision, and I would wonder if maybe I could push through another week or two. That is so not the case here. There is no question in my mind about the possibility of running, since simply walking and standing throughout the day goes from painful to excruciating. Just when I was finding relief from the anterior pain too. 

I keep wondering what I did wrong (running too much?) or what I didn't do (specific strength training?) that caused this. There are so many possible answers and combinations of factors involved that there is no way to answer that, but I truly believe a big part is luck. I was talking with my super fast friend Caroline about it, and she had the same thing happen just as suddenly toward the end of her pregnancy. This made me feel so much better about the whole thing, knowing that a strong fast runner like she is could even be debilitated from this. 

It's onto the trainer more often I go for now, which I happily alternate with swimming. My vaccination-induced shoulder bursitis has subsided unless I do backstroke, which I completely dislike now, especially in the outdoor pool with the bright sun and no guidance to keep me from smashing into the ropes. I'm floating well, but so is baby girl, who floats right up into my stomach and ribs more than ever.  I still don't understand when pregnant women loooove swimming. I find it mostly uncomfortable. But relative to weight bearing, it's wonderful. 

Our family reunion was last weekend, and we loved getting to go to Ethelyn's house in Senatobia, where so many summer hours were spent when I was younger. Hunter and cousin Annie had such a great time all weekend, it was hard to come back home.

The game is Annie feeding Hunter various grasses and leaves, and Hunter never refusing. SO hilarious.

  

 Sweet little cousins!

Tomorrow we leave for the beach! One last trip before we are four.

Ironman week and a busy May

It has been almost three years since I have even spectated at an Ironman, so I need to get my plans together soon. Jeremy is racing in Texas this week! Of course Hunter and I are going, but this time I won't be putting him in a special Ironman outfit that he'll have a blowout poop in before the swim is over (and we hope the same for all participants). Mammo, Jeremy's mom, will be joining us, and I (all 3 of us for that matter) couldn't be more excited. This Ironman spectating thing is a hard enough sport when you don't have a bored 3-year-old with you.

And that's what H thought of that special ironman outfit.

Jeremy's training has really impressed me. He has been more consistent than ever; even though late nights with the little guy leave him tired and getting little sleep, he's been up before 5 regularly to keep his training from interfering with his time at home when we are awake. He still does dishes, carpentry work in the yard, moves stones and tons of dirt up and down the hills after centuries, and, never napping, he also doesn't complain. He is the best daddy! I hope Saturday is free of snags and any mishaps, along with being full of good luck. And a tailwind both ways with really cool temps would be nice while I'm asking. 

I have so many tales and suggestions for racing ironmans, which Jeremy has certainly heard more than once in his years with me. I'll just sum it up. Swim: wear something under your wetsuit, especially if you get stripped by the strippers. Bike: don't fall off. Run: race rules say you CAN crawl, or lie on the side of the road, so take advantage if needed. Only a couple of these come directly from my personal experience. 

I really cannot believe May is already here, since we have been looking forward to this weekend for so long. I know at this point those racing want just a little more time to second guess their training, and to them I say, it's never too late to start overtraining. 

After our adventure to The Woodlands, we still have a lot of May left to go. We are getting short on time before the baby comes, and into the few weeks after the race, we are cramming in a trip to Mississippi for a family reunion, a long weekend at the beach, and a kitten adoption or two. Like my niece said, "you're going to have tiny kittens AND a new baby?" Yes, yes I am. And she can come play with all of them. 

There's still nesting work to do around the house in preparation for the baby, but one thing we aren't worrying ourselves over is decorating a nursery for this one. We only have 2 other bedrooms on the same floor as the master, one of which is irreversibly an office (meaning it's small with built in bookshelves). The other is Hunter's room, in which we plan to store baby clothes alongside Hunter's. I'm not bothering to set up a crib that will never be used this time, since right next to our king and double beds on the floor is room for the cosleeper, if needed. There's also a toddler bed along the window wall, so this place is really a BEDroom. We imagine the arrangements will end up with Hunter in the king sized bed, baby and me in the double, and Jeremy in the toddler bed. What could go wrong with all 4 of us in one room, right? :)

A Hunter quote from a couple months ago: "When my baby sister comes out I'll sleep in my bed. I'll show her how to lie down. She'll be my friend. She'll kick me in bed. She'll cry in bed some too." 

This is the age of the most hilarious and smart quotes out of that boy's mouth. Lately he had been asking seriously good questions, like if outer space has a bottom and what it attaches to. And if we've tried fish. "I tried fish one time when I was five years old.  It was pretty good." He helped uncle Tim cook one night and then gave away his gravy secret to me. The child never forgets. Especially when it comes to food ("I like every place that has food"), trucks, or theories of relatively. 

My little artist has discovered watercolors, which he really seems to enjoy splattering, at least until his water to paint ratio gets off and he gets frustrated. 

"What color should I paint next, mommy?" 

"How about green?"

"Or black!" It's always black. 

Next I'll have him working on some Ironman posters. An m-dot shouldn't be too hard to master. Our best wishes go out to all the racers this week!

April is for Outdoors

April '15, so far. 

-Outside is where we spend most of our time in the spring, and I couldn't be happier that Hunter has my love of being out there. As much as I hate (HATE) that our green space across the street is not actually green space, but now being developed into several houses, it gives us (literally) loads of sand, gravel, and dirt to explore. Along with real, life-sized backhoes, bobcats, and bulldozers. It's pretty exciting stuff for a three-year-old boy.

-We have also been working hard on the yard and vegetable garden. Hunter gave a tour of plants to Nana and Grandaddy last weekend, and he remembers the names of every seedling out there. We so far have several tomato varieties, cucumbers, zucchini, arugula, lavender, parsley, basil, rosemary, lemongrass, beets, and one okra sprout, with a green bean bed needing some dirt. Our creek of a side yard now has rocks and ajuga holding its ground, with some hydrangeas starting to bloom near the honeysuckle. It has been a colorful spring so far, but we still have work to do and plans to carry out. A neighbor recently walked by and commented that we were always out working, which is kind of true, since we all love it.

Helping Jackson, who is so kind and patient with Hunter. 

Full speed ahead!

-I love April so much that I decided Jeremy and I should get married during it, which we did 5 years ago. We actually got a picture all together, with everyone smiling (I'm assuming on the part of the baby), for our anniversary. 

-Jeremy is now in taper mode for his upcoming Ironman, which is just over 2 weeks away. I'm super excited for his race, partly because I won't have to do it myself, and also because he has put in some really good training in lots and lots of rain and cold. He will surely benefit if it rains on race day. I want to point out that he laughed at me when I first moved into his place because of the number of bike water bottles I had. If not for my bottle hoarding habits, we couldn't keep a dozen dirty bottles on the counter at any given time and still have clean ones to drink out of. I'm sure he would appreciate if I'd get off the computer and actually wash them.

-His last long ride was with a famous (infamous?) professional cyclist. Strava can confirm.

-My own last long ride was actually 20 miles outside on my road bike! That makes 2 outside rides in less than a week. I go a speedy sub-16 mph pace now, all on pedestrian paths, and usually sitting as straight up as my little arms will allow. And yes, I'm very very careful and completely defensive while riding. A very old Los Locos jersey still fits over my belly, and I know I'm making the team proud by wearing it.

-I am 31 weeks pregnant now, and I want to say my pelvis pain is better, but I had such a plodding slow run this week that I don't think I can. Some weeks are just "tired" weeks when pregnant, and my next run may be wonderful, so I am not too upset about it. I recently got a "hey baby" catcall as a car came up from behind me, and I couldn't help but laugh as I thought of what they saw when they got around in front. The highlight of my last few runs was definitely when I passed a guy going up my last hill of the day. He even had a head start, and no, he was not a senior citizen (thanks for that question, sister). I just hope he saw the belly as I stuck it way out going by. And can I just say, the hills! The hills are getting steeper, and I realize how ridiculous they are when I run from my house and get at least 450 feet of climbing in 6 miles. 

-The shoulder pain from my tdap shot 3 weeks ago? It is still there, and still limiting my range of motion a LOT. Losing sleep over it because I can only sleep on my sides, neither of which are comfortable for it, has made me very angry at the poor nurse who could have kept me from having this disability. Yes it is a minor disability when you have a three-year-old.

-Three weeks ago I failed my one hour, non-fasting, post-run glucose test. I found out last week when the (same) nurse finally called me. The three hour, fasting, first-thing-in-the-morning test was not what bothered me about hearing this. What concerned me most besides the very small risks of my baby having hypoglycemia after birth and her increased risk of diabetes in the future was the larger risk that she could be a big baby. Doctors like to induce suspected large babies, and I am doing everything in my power to have a vbac, which most certainly does NOT include an induction. Before I even finished the 3-hr test my doctor told me that he had no concerns about me having a large baby (oh did I forget to tell him Jeremy was 9 1/2lbs and I was 8lbs2oz at birth?). I have zero risk factors for gestational diabetes, except that I am over 35 this time. I was still very nervous. It turns out that every draw for the 3-hr was normal (I do not have the sugar dia-beet-ezz, said in the voice of Wilford Brimley), and I am attributing my first failure to the run beforehand. The action of the glucagon from running I just cannot ignore. 

-This whole thing made me realize that I am certainly not getting enough protein. After estimating and tracking for a few days, I see that 50-60grams is pretty easy to hit, but getting to 100g is much harder, especially given my general dislike of meat. The Brewer pregnancy diet recommendations are now posted on my fridge, and I am sure in the next 9-ish weeks I can get this thing down. Just no liver for me. 

-9-ish weeks?! Single digits! I met my doula this week, and I do think she thinks I am a little over the top with my vbac determination. I said I'm doing everything I can!

-Coincidentally on Earth Day last week, I was super proud of Hunter for correcting me before I took a bag to the trash can. "Actually, Mommy, that's recycling." That's what I meant!

Third Trimester: Running, Cycling, and Waddling

I am now a waddler. It is not because I am just so largely pregnant, and it is only part time. The possibility of sympathy from strangers because of my "condition" has occurred to me, and then I just hope they'll give up their parking spaces so I can carry my giant three year old in the grocery store more easily. But by then it's too late of course. Maybe let me through the check out line ahead of you?

The cause of this waddle is actually running, so I feel almost like an imposter when it happens. Post run, for most of the rest of the day, depending on when I got it done, my pelvis is sore and painful, especially after sitting, like in a car. So into stores I waddle. 

The good news is that the pain is not compounding, so if I give it a day's rest-- no running consecutive days-- I'm good. And distance makes only a very small difference, so 6 miles 3 times a week works just perfectly for me. 

When "researching" helpful exercises and stretches for symphysis pubis dysfunction, I came upon a lot of advice. Most told me to rest as much as possible, use crutches, don't do housework, and keep my knees together at all cost. OH right! But I needed help with the RUNNING part of it. It occurred to me that my problem most likely isn't as severe as most. It seems very few people have lasting pain after delivery, so I am relatively confident I'm not doing permanent damage. Of course there is a small worry in the back of my mind that the right side, the one with hip dysplasia, does hurt a little more than the left. 

The first mile running is always the hardest. Maybe it is the momentum needed to get this body with its extra 10 pounds going. Or it could be the way the baby has to settle down low to enjoy the run. In my out and back 6 miler Saturday I ended with a mile on the same stretch of flat road that was 90 seconds faster than the first one. And it felt much easier. 

Sunday I took the road bike out to the park and river trail path again. While the handlebars seem to get lower and lower, I can still reach the brakes and I still fit into my shorts and a very few jerseys. It might be time to borrow some from the husband. Especially the Ironman ones for irony when those guys in baggy shorts and tennis shoes blow by me. 

I have been more consistent than ever these last several weeks in using the TRX. I needed some upper body muscle and strength. Then I acquired a shoulder injury from the placement of my Tdap vaccine at the doctor last week. This is the second time I've had it go right through my deltoid into my joint. So much for increased muscle mass! It feels really awesome, but at least gives me an excuse to not swim for a while.  

I haven't heard back from the office so I'm assuming all was good with my glucose test. I never would worry about these things if it weren't for reading forum or Facebook group posts (I had to stop following one I was added to) where so many women get diagnosed with gestational diabetes. On the flip side is the forum that praises women who barely show a bump at 35 weeks or have only gained 4 pounds by the end. Eek. I'm really thankful I've never worried too much about weight or body image. 

I just continue to do what I can and what makes me feel healthy. Last pregnancy I saw a post by pro triathlete about having "no zeros" in her training log during pregnancy. I strongly dislike that mentality and never force myself to exercise just to put something in a log, when I really need to rest. Pregnancy is so funny about how inconsistent it makes you feel, with one day being spectacular and the next full of fatigue. I have no goals or standards for my performance now or right after this baby is born, since strava is yet to create a Pregnant- or Postpartum-Queen of the Mountain. 

My new heavy duty running belt has been put away in favor of my older lighter one, since it's getting rather warm to have my whole torso covered in thick elastic. But I'm loving the spring weather and all the flowers, greenery, yard construction work, digging, planting, and rolling in the grass that comes with it. 

Easter egg hunt at Nana and Granddaddy's, with your traditional truck for holding eggs

Springtime

Spring is official now. I don't *think* we will see any more snow or frost (pleasepleaseplease). Our garden hasn't been planted yet, except for some arugula, since the rest needs to wait until after Easter, but it has been expanded to triple last year's size. Jeremy and his mini helper worked hard on it, especially with the continuous leveling and digging of the soil with various "heavy" machines, also of the miniature variety.

The daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are blooming in our yard, which got us excited to go visit the daffodil field up on Wye mountain last weekend.

He ran miles around the fields!

Their grapplers are searching for sticks.

 

Daddy got kisses.

I got licks.

We were over here taking selfies when...

incoming!

crash!

Three more months to go before baby girl comes! Hunter asks daily when she's coming out. He is excited and loves babies. One of my pregnancy pet peeves is when people talk about being pregnant for 10 months. Since when is 40 weeks equal to 10 months? Are they using lunar calendars? And you're still not pregnant for the first 2 whole weeks. I get the discomfort and excitement about the pending date and how long those last few days must seem. But unless you're an elephant, it is just not 10 months. However I do feel like an elephant some days while running.

I went to the chiropractor and he worked some on my round ligaments in addition to the usual manipulation of my SI joints. It seemed to help, at least for one of my runs last week, when I got in 6 hilly miles at 9:15 pace. In case anyone is new to the potential fluctuations in pace while pregnant, you should know the previous run, a flat 7 miler, was around 10:15+ per mile. That's when I really felt like an elephant. I realized running at that speed is conducive to multitasking though, and maybe I can get through some emails. 

I am feeling baby stabs and leg parts (ahem)...

(I realize Inglés may not have been our packers' first language.) 

...up close to my ribs now, which is exciting, since it means she is not breech at this point. This, to me, is even more important than running right now. Nobody these days, around here, will do a VBAC with a breech, and I am set on a VBAC. I am doing everything I can at this point to be the perfect candidate. 

In other spring/exercise/pregnant news, I rode my actual road bike on an actual road outside last weekend. It was my first time in a few months, and it was beautiful, head-windy, and super trafficky when I ran into some friends who suggested I ride around the river trail loop in an open farmland area with few pedestrians and their attached small animals. It was perfect! I felt safe, totally balanced, and super slow. I loved every minute. I could see replacing another run each week with this, while I can still lean over far enough to reach the brakes. 

My mantra: just keep going and going

Second Trimester Training + Painful Pelvis

 Spring is here! It makes us all so happy!

 

Somehow I'm already close to the end of the second trimester! This week little baby girl will be 26 weeks. From my vast research on the subject (kidding), the second trimester is one where most people get lots of energy, food tastes great, and they love being pregnant. My food aversions have definitely subsided and I can eat most things put in front of me, but I still don't love food. I do crave a few meals: a certain chicken, rice, and zucchini casserole; grilled cheese sandwiches on my nutty sprouted wheat bread (the secret is grilling it in lots of butter); and strawberries.

My running was going well. I had a 10 miler in there at 8:30 pace. I ran the 10k and felt surprisingly good. Running from my house, it's hilly, and my usual average pace had gone down to 8:45ish, while on the flat river trail I could do 8:30s pretty easily. At around 20-25 miles per week, I could also get in a few hours on the trainer and maybe a swim here and there when I felt like it. My bike wattage increased as my weight increased, so no real w/kg improvement, but I'll take what I can get, especially when my wattage recently got back up to a usual pre-pregnancy average. 

The fatigue of the first trimester unfortunately for me just increased. I had so many days when I could have fallen over from tiredness. I still sleep just about as much as Hunter does. I don't know how he keeps going on such little sleep! I finally figured out how to take an iron supplement without upsetting my finicky stomach. And honestly I think the nice weather and sunshine helps too!

I had a few miles here and there of ligament pain, which required a slow down and stretching. My average run paces were getting close to 9:00. Then at 25 weeks almost exactly, I ran a hilly and slow 7.5 miler in the neighborhood and had low pelvic pain the rest if the day. I've been wearing my support belt for months now, which has helped keep my abdominals from tearing like last pregnancy. But it didn't do much to keep this pelvic pain away. The next day I felt fine, but running again caused pain again immediately. Hills are worse, up or down. Walking doesn't help. A new extra sturdy belt doesn't help. I'm at a loss. 

I self-diagnosed this as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction, for which there is a lot of contradicting plans for relief. The internet is a terrible thing for the mind when it's full of worst case scenarios. I knew I was just plain lucky in my last pregnancy running the whole way through with no problems. I guess I should count myself lucky for being able to run this long, and hopefully I can continue on the trainer and in the pool for the next 3 months. But I'll take it one day at a time and listen to any suggestions. Anyone??

Someone is still running just fine. And with a mouthful of food because we are safety conscious like that.

Little Rock 10k & 22 weeks

The tiniest baby girl Harwood and I were registered for the Little Rock 10k this year, since I can't not participate in the city's biggest race. Plus Damie was coming in town for the half marathon and I wanted to run a race "with" her. So at 22 and 1/2 weeks, we set out Sunday morning for the race. Surely the weather wouldn't be as bad as last year's half marathon, and it wasn't. Instead of a 40 degree temperature drop, it was just cold and rainy. So we parked, went to a hotel next door, and Damie charmed a breakfast guy into giving us two floor-length, heavy duty garbage bags.

 

How can you say no to us? :)

The rain slowed enough for a nice mile-ish warm up and it actually felt pretty good out. I decided to overdress due to the fact that I was not going to be running at top 10k speed, heavy rain was possible, and as they say, you should be able to be uncomfortable long enough for a 10k, right? I include being a bit too warm in the uncomfortable category, but as it turned out, I felt perfectly comfortable.

I am wearing my support belt for every run now, in addition to a new "belly sports bra" under it. Basically the latter is a spandex material tube with not nearly enough support, even in an XS size, so I use it just to keep my belt comfortable and in place. I don't recommend it, at least at this point in my pregnancy, unless you can score a free one.

I was absolutely not allowed in Corral B, since I had to prove a 10k time of under 40 minutes within the last year for that, and I don't tend to run many races of that distance or speed lately. Damie and I had to part ways so I could go back a quarter mile to the correct starting line, after the security guy spotted my bib and yelled, "She's a C!!" I was caught red-handed. I moved forward significantly within C and tried to find Damie, but it didn't happen before the race began.

Going out at a nice steady slow pace was my plan, but I didn't look at my garmin except for the mile marks. I hit my first mile in 7:48, faster than I had expected. A sub-8 minute pace didn't seem possible beforehand based on my daily runs, and I was expecting to average maybe a little under 8:30 for the whole thing.

Small rolling hills kept me constantly checking in on my effort level, since as soon as I ran a few meters uphill, my breathing got heavier and I backed off. If the little one would carry a bit of her own weight instead of just sharing my oxygen, maybe these little speed bumps wouldn't be so bad. I was near a pace group for a while, but let them go as my pace slowed on the hills. Surprisingly, miles 2-5 were very steady, all between 7:39 and 7:44. It was a nice change to run at a lower effort level in a big race, since I could look around and chat and listen in on conversations...and call out the 3:30 pacer woman who was in the process of destroying her own race by going out way too fast. But that's a rant for another post. 

Thankfully those small rollers were the only elevation changes, nothing like the hills in my neighborhood that I nearly have to walk now, and the last mile was downhill. I ran it in 7:20, still not looking at my pace but just going by feel. I let a woman pass me around the 6 mile mark, because, well, the street leveled out and I just wasn't racing.

I'm apparently really bad at running tangents, because I came up a little long on the course. It seems I won the "5 months pregnant" division, and also my age group, since to be honest, most of the runners were doing the half or full marathon. And the little one and I got 4th (and 5th) overall female(s). Not terrible for being 22+ weeks, but it's no overall win like Hunter and I scored a couple times together. :)

These pictures just don't do justice to the largeness of my belly, whose muscles have all but given up completely. I find myself unintentionally holding them in, not quite ready to let this little one bounce all over the place. 

Besides my satisfactory "race" Sunday, I found a little confidence in my sudden jump in bike wattage this week. Of course then I thought about the per kilo calculations and realized that since I'm about 5 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight now, I've essentially negated any power increase. Ah you take what you can get. 

And since you asked, an update on the almost 3-year-old! He's so smart and inquisitive and the sweetest thing, but he has much stronger muscles than he realizes when he's pile driving me. He wants to be involved in everything I do, and needs details! While cooking with olive oil he said to me, "Mommy. Talk to me about oil. What are the ingredients?" Don't we all need to know things?

We may have more of this today! I promise he was having a great time :)