Morning ladies!
I have been in quiet contemplation this past week about my steroid use starting now and going until I deliver. I GREATLY appreciate all your feedback, you are all very knowledgeable and I really do listen to the advice. June, the fact that you follow pg women with chronic issues puts me at ease. Honestly, the rheumatologist was asking ME why I couldn't take ibuprofen during pregnancy, so my faith in her to decide what I can use during pregnancy was a little shaky. I understand she has her own specialty and there is SO much information out there, but come on, even I knew you can't take that!
I called the cardiologist and he said while it was OK to take it, he would rather I waited until a little more into the 3rd tri to begin, if I could hold out. So I called the OB and she said it would only be starting at 10mg and pop down to 5mg but she said while it was OK too, she wasn't crazy about it now. I know they give it to mom's late in the 3rd sometimes to mature the baby's lungs, so it is not unheard of to take it. So I went to church and sat there for hours, for a few days and just thought. November is the month dedicated to our dearly departed, so I just talked to my best friend who passed away a few years ago from skin cancer about what to do (if poppy is a girl, she will be named after her). The other night, I came home, made a lovely roast chicken dinner with cream puffs as dessert and told Charlie I was going to wait a month or two to take the pills, despite the pain. I told him I would just give the physical therapy I started some time to work and I would just adjust my days to work around the pain. I told him that although the chances of anything happening was close to none, if something DID happen I would forever wonder if it had to do with the steroids and would blame myself, even if that sounds irrational. Charlie felt the same and was relieved. He then offered to do as much as he could to help me, even if that meant bringing the laptop up to bed and settling me in there all day long. He promised his support but told me he wouldn't cook - we would do take out!

I am lucky to have him. But that is my decision, I will take it, just not now - even though that means my productivity is vastly reduced during the day because of the pain. I'm hoping with the physical therapy 2x a week, icing, heating, tylenol and resting will carry me through the next few weeks to get me firmly in the 3rd tri so I feel better about taking it.
Luckily, I baked a ton and put things in the freezer!
I haven't been sleeping well, and the other night Poppy decided to put on a tap dance recital in my belly from 1:30am to about 5am!

We are having most of our rugs professionally cleaned this morning, the Sears guy is here now actually. Also getting the couch and loveseat cleaned. I was most interested in the nursery rug being cleaned as while I have vacuumed it, it was never professionally cleaned in the 3 years Charlie had the house and the previous owners had a cat - you can see some cat stains on that carpet in the nursery. So once that is done, Charlie will set up the beautiful crib and dresser we bought!
I took a picture of my bump 2 weeks ago, but boy does it seem much bigger already! The other night Charlie told me it is no longer a baby bump, it's a baby mountain!


Just tells me that poppy is growing nicely in there!
And thank you to all for thinking my sister was just plain mean. Shows it's not my hormones going wacky. and thank you all for being here for me!
Enough about me (been up since 4am!). Lava - your shower sounded lovely, I am so happy you had such a great time! And the news of your friend was very uplifting. How very special to have so many good friends pregnant with you!
Carole - yay on 13 weeks! I was sick with MS at that time, so happy you are symptom free! enjoy being pg!
steph - you are so sweet to be my positive cheerleader!!!! And I love the little ladybug! how adorable

What are you going to do about christmas? Where are you going?
skye - keep packing on the protein to plump up the little one! I feel for your mom, i really do! I have rheumatoid (and osteo) arthritis, sjogren's, reynauds and fibromyalgea as well as being borderline with Lupus (she told me it will morph into that as I am susceptible to auto-immunes and tests me all the time) as well as a mystery one she hasn't been able to pinpoint yet as many symptoms overlap.
angela - hope you are feeling much better from the sinus infection and bronchitis!
svet - in the end i decided to not invite anyone in my family

I want it to be a fun carefree time and frankly we all know by now, it would stress me out! My friends have scheduled it for Sunday, Jan 8th and I gave them a list of about 12 -15 women.

On another note, I am glad you partied for your bday! you deserved it!!!!

and yay on the new mommy friend!
MA - so sorry about the constipation issues
Viv - I love your avatar! He is such a little man!!!! Hope you both are doing well.
Hi Twinkle

I don't know anything about it, sorry I can't help.
I am going to do the gestational diabetes test tomorrow morning....supposed to do it between week 24 and 28......I am on week 25 and I just want it over with and know!
Friday morning I have to go to the Children's Hospital here in Boston to get the fetal echocardiogram done. Trying not to get too nervous about it as I'm sure everything is just fine. But I will definitely feel better when that is over as well!
Much love to you all. I must get on a better schedule of responding so I'm not writing a novel when I do!
beth