For those of you who haven't looked at my profile, it should be known that I am an educator at a Middle School in San Antonio, TX. And it is dragging on and on and on!
There are 3 more days that they require of me to wrap up this year, and two of those are with kids. It's mainly just celebrations and movies that very loosely tie into our curriculum which we really use as a babysitting tool. Because at this point in the year, we are just a free daycare.
The good points about this? I will have all summer to get over my first trimester. I haven't had morning sickness yet ::knock on wood:: and I really don't fancy the idea of getting sick in front of my students. I'd rather they think that teachers aren't really humans, but human like robots of learning. This is also why I hate running into students at the grocery store. What? Teachers buying food and toiletries? Weird.
There is a catch. I am taking a small group of students to a National Competition right after school, so I'm not exactly home free. I'm nervous about traveling, especially without my husband. Luckily, one of my colleagues will be there most of the way and I have shared the news with her. Once that adventure is done with, I will really be able to relax and enjoy the rest of my summer!
Until then,
Big Momma
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The family is in the know!
On Saturday, we had a family barbecue and since everyone was together, My husband an I decided to spill the peas. Literally! I bought yellow jewelry boxes from a craft store, and then since baby is sweet pea sized, filled each one with a pea. I was certain that someone would pick up on it.
First, I sat my mom and dad down and claimed that this was an early Father's Day present for my dad. However, they had to open the boxes simultaneously. They did, and Dad said, "It's a green dot..." Mom however said, "::gasp:: You're pregnant." Not a question. Affirmative statement, You're Pregnant. They knew that I wanted to try soon, but they were pleased as punch that it had happened now.
Mom got up and hugged me and I started crying explaining that I'm not telling everybody just yet because of the high risk nature from the weight. She said she understood, but that obese women, even morbidly obese women have healthy pregnancies all the time. I know this, but caution is still the name of the game. She told me it's ok to be excited, and this is what I needed. The excitement. The permission to be excited. I feel a lot better since I've shared with them and now can call my mom with my apprehensions instead of freaking out my hubby with them!
My sister found out later. and her reaction was slower. She was very confused, and I told her and my bother in law that this is how big your niece or nephew is right now. "Really?! Ah! I had a coupon that I could've used for you!" She was flustered, but excited and the coupon thing is really our newest obsession that we share. (Extreme Couponing-stockpiling)
That night she texted me, telling me she bought me a magazine. Fit Pregnancy June/July 2011. In this magazine there is an article about the "New Weight-Gain Rules" In this article, high-risk OB/GYN, Yvonne Thornton M.D., tells of her personal experience with a plus size pregnancy, but by following a diet that was recommended for gestational diabetes patients, she was able to keep her weight stable throughout her pregnancy and have a healthy 8lbs baby girl. This is what I want!
Now I know that gaining weight, especially in the second trimester, may be inevitable, but I plan to stay within the 15 lbs that the Dr. suggested I stayed under. And just by changing my eating habits since the visit, I've been able to shed 4 lbs. I'm eating 6 times a day, recommended by What to Expect While You're Expecting, and I'm eating highly nutritional items instead of empty calories. I've stayed away from white processed flour products, a sort of modified South Beach, and I've been enjoying fruits and veggies instead of candy and snacks. I'm not holding myself back when I'm hungry, and I'm taking prenatals which was also suggested by the Dr. All in all, I feel much better about the prospect of having a healthy pregnancy.
It also feels a lot better mentally that my family knows. I'm still guarded and will tell the rest of the family and friends on my birthday, since that will be the end of my first trimester and the risk of miscarriage will be reduced to one percent. Keep your fingers crossed!
Until Then,
Big Momma
First, I sat my mom and dad down and claimed that this was an early Father's Day present for my dad. However, they had to open the boxes simultaneously. They did, and Dad said, "It's a green dot..." Mom however said, "::gasp:: You're pregnant." Not a question. Affirmative statement, You're Pregnant. They knew that I wanted to try soon, but they were pleased as punch that it had happened now.
Mom got up and hugged me and I started crying explaining that I'm not telling everybody just yet because of the high risk nature from the weight. She said she understood, but that obese women, even morbidly obese women have healthy pregnancies all the time. I know this, but caution is still the name of the game. She told me it's ok to be excited, and this is what I needed. The excitement. The permission to be excited. I feel a lot better since I've shared with them and now can call my mom with my apprehensions instead of freaking out my hubby with them!
My sister found out later. and her reaction was slower. She was very confused, and I told her and my bother in law that this is how big your niece or nephew is right now. "Really?! Ah! I had a coupon that I could've used for you!" She was flustered, but excited and the coupon thing is really our newest obsession that we share. (Extreme Couponing-stockpiling)
That night she texted me, telling me she bought me a magazine. Fit Pregnancy June/July 2011. In this magazine there is an article about the "New Weight-Gain Rules" In this article, high-risk OB/GYN, Yvonne Thornton M.D., tells of her personal experience with a plus size pregnancy, but by following a diet that was recommended for gestational diabetes patients, she was able to keep her weight stable throughout her pregnancy and have a healthy 8lbs baby girl. This is what I want!
Now I know that gaining weight, especially in the second trimester, may be inevitable, but I plan to stay within the 15 lbs that the Dr. suggested I stayed under. And just by changing my eating habits since the visit, I've been able to shed 4 lbs. I'm eating 6 times a day, recommended by What to Expect While You're Expecting, and I'm eating highly nutritional items instead of empty calories. I've stayed away from white processed flour products, a sort of modified South Beach, and I've been enjoying fruits and veggies instead of candy and snacks. I'm not holding myself back when I'm hungry, and I'm taking prenatals which was also suggested by the Dr. All in all, I feel much better about the prospect of having a healthy pregnancy.
It also feels a lot better mentally that my family knows. I'm still guarded and will tell the rest of the family and friends on my birthday, since that will be the end of my first trimester and the risk of miscarriage will be reduced to one percent. Keep your fingers crossed!
Until Then,
Big Momma
Friday, May 27, 2011
Congratulations to me!....I think?
Found out on Friday that I am pregnant! Yay me! Except for one thing: I am overweight. So much so, that on the BMI chart, I clock in at "Morbidly Obese."
My weight has always been an issue for me, ever since I can remember. In 5th grade I remember hating how I looked because of the extra weight that I seemed to have that the other girls seemed to lack. On a trip to the San Antonio Zoo, there was a playground that had a wooden bridge that connected two sections of castle. There was a weight limit posted on it. I remember thinking, "If I am on this bridge, no one can be on it with me, because I am the weight limit."
Last month when I went for a pre-conception check up to see that everything is working and in the right place, my Dr. told me I needed to lose about 20 lbs. I was anticipating this. I had already lost about 15 lbs before I went to the appt, thanks to South Beach. I planned to go forward with this diet to lose the rest, but to be honest I have a love hate relationship with food. I wasn't as strict as I needed to be and I gained 7lbs back, very quickly. This wasn't the plan, but alas I was unfocused and not as diligent as I should have been.
I read somewhere that it takes a woman, of normal size, between the ages of 20-35 about 6 months of trying before she concieves. My husband and I thought that since I am of more than normal size, it may take longer since excess weight leads to infertility. Well, looks like we had beginners luck! This made me happier than I've ever been in my entire life. You see, along with dealing with weight issues and food addiction, I've also always had a dream of becoming a mother. It truly is why I believe I was placed on this earth. (Do you feel the 'but' coming?)
BUT- I have since been deflated. Nervous about the delicacy of the first few months and worried about the complications the weight would add, I scheduled my first prenatal appt. Yes, I'm only 5-6 weeks. Yes I know this is somewhat, if not incredibly early. But I scheduled it nonetheless. I expected some congratulations. Some jubilation. Some recognition that it happened super fast. Some recognition that it happened!
The office was super busy, overworked, understaffed. I felt like just a bag of blood and one more thing on their to-do list. While talking with the Dr. (finally) he seemed to be troubled by the situation and spent the duration of the discussion wagging his finger at me. He said being this heavy increases the chance of miscarriage. I knew this, however when he said it, it bounced around every corner of my brain, filling me with a sense of doom. He asked if I had any questions, and when I pulled out my list, he sighed. I'm sorry, but as an overweight, first time mother, shouldn't I have some questions? He sped through the answers as if I was bothering him. I walked out of the office feeling like a crappy mom and that a miscarriage was inevitable.
Needless to say, I'm searching for a new OB/GYN.
Now, I'm not wanting a second opinion. What he said was fact, and I know that being heavy complicates things needlessly. I will take every suggestion to heart, because I love my little appleseed and would do anything for it. However, I want someone who is there to answer my questions and listen to the questions I'm not asking. I want someone to encourage me instead of scold me. I'm not saying he is a bad Dr. I'm just saying I'd be more comfortable with someone more attentive.
After a night of sobbing and being scared to move, I've scoured the internet for anything out there for a plus sized preggo. While I did get consoled by what was out there, I wanted to put my voice out there for others who may feel the same or are going through the same thing. If this blog does find it's way into one of your lives, please comment, as I would welcome any comradery or solidarity.
Until then,
Big Momma.
My weight has always been an issue for me, ever since I can remember. In 5th grade I remember hating how I looked because of the extra weight that I seemed to have that the other girls seemed to lack. On a trip to the San Antonio Zoo, there was a playground that had a wooden bridge that connected two sections of castle. There was a weight limit posted on it. I remember thinking, "If I am on this bridge, no one can be on it with me, because I am the weight limit."
Last month when I went for a pre-conception check up to see that everything is working and in the right place, my Dr. told me I needed to lose about 20 lbs. I was anticipating this. I had already lost about 15 lbs before I went to the appt, thanks to South Beach. I planned to go forward with this diet to lose the rest, but to be honest I have a love hate relationship with food. I wasn't as strict as I needed to be and I gained 7lbs back, very quickly. This wasn't the plan, but alas I was unfocused and not as diligent as I should have been.
I read somewhere that it takes a woman, of normal size, between the ages of 20-35 about 6 months of trying before she concieves. My husband and I thought that since I am of more than normal size, it may take longer since excess weight leads to infertility. Well, looks like we had beginners luck! This made me happier than I've ever been in my entire life. You see, along with dealing with weight issues and food addiction, I've also always had a dream of becoming a mother. It truly is why I believe I was placed on this earth. (Do you feel the 'but' coming?)
BUT- I have since been deflated. Nervous about the delicacy of the first few months and worried about the complications the weight would add, I scheduled my first prenatal appt. Yes, I'm only 5-6 weeks. Yes I know this is somewhat, if not incredibly early. But I scheduled it nonetheless. I expected some congratulations. Some jubilation. Some recognition that it happened super fast. Some recognition that it happened!
The office was super busy, overworked, understaffed. I felt like just a bag of blood and one more thing on their to-do list. While talking with the Dr. (finally) he seemed to be troubled by the situation and spent the duration of the discussion wagging his finger at me. He said being this heavy increases the chance of miscarriage. I knew this, however when he said it, it bounced around every corner of my brain, filling me with a sense of doom. He asked if I had any questions, and when I pulled out my list, he sighed. I'm sorry, but as an overweight, first time mother, shouldn't I have some questions? He sped through the answers as if I was bothering him. I walked out of the office feeling like a crappy mom and that a miscarriage was inevitable.
Needless to say, I'm searching for a new OB/GYN.
Now, I'm not wanting a second opinion. What he said was fact, and I know that being heavy complicates things needlessly. I will take every suggestion to heart, because I love my little appleseed and would do anything for it. However, I want someone who is there to answer my questions and listen to the questions I'm not asking. I want someone to encourage me instead of scold me. I'm not saying he is a bad Dr. I'm just saying I'd be more comfortable with someone more attentive.
After a night of sobbing and being scared to move, I've scoured the internet for anything out there for a plus sized preggo. While I did get consoled by what was out there, I wanted to put my voice out there for others who may feel the same or are going through the same thing. If this blog does find it's way into one of your lives, please comment, as I would welcome any comradery or solidarity.
Until then,
Big Momma.
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