No, not the famed cat and mouse show-within-a-show. Nope, this one is starring me, and my dry, pregnant skin. I'm itching people, and its driving me nuts.
I did a little Googling, checked my favourite pregnancy website ( www.babycentrer.com.au , if anyone else finds themselves pregnant ) and i found out that itching skin in pregnancy is not uncommon. Apparently, around 20% of women find there skin becomes more sensitive and they experience a generalised itching that they havent had before, which becomes worse in winter ( when dry skin is already an issue ). Which is little comfort really.
Here's the scenario: the sensation comes and goes but i'm finding myself itchy all over my legs and stomach, and even up on my chest. And its an itch i just cant scratch! I cant get comfortable at home, or find myself needing to scratch inappropriate times in public. I checked with a pharmacist ( who also happens to be a yoga teacher.... ) and she recommended i get something completely natural so its safe for the baby, so after some consultation with a naturopath i've come home with goats milk soap and moisturiser. I'll give it a few days and see how it goes.... otherwise my next alternative is either some natural oils that smells like rotting vegetation, or scratching my skin right off. Neither ones of those sounds particularly appealing.
So - anyone have any remedies they wana share ? Any particular utensils you can recommend for maximum scratch relief ? Any help would be appreciated people....
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Where are the Locums When You Need Them ?
Dude - this week at work is going to be so poo.
I know that was an incredible use of the English language, but its going to be horrid. I have been away for a week, so going back to work in itself is crappy. But i get back, and poor J has been so busy on her ownesome that we now have some major catching up to do. Thats fine, you say, your both efficient ladies, you can do it!
Well yea, we can.... the thing is we have this one week at work together, and the J is going away. For TWO weeks. Leaving me on my ownesome. Imagine how far behind i'm going to be by then...
Also, after that two week period is up, we will be away from the office for four days while we attend a conference, in Rockhampton. Which, to the unAustralian, is like having ur national conference in Hillbillysville, Red State instead of having it in New York. Granted, its probably not that bad, but its not exactly equivalent to wear the rest of our company had their conference - Star City Casino in Sydney. Ooh, did i mention that i need to prepare a Powerpoint presentation for this conference - during the next three week " the office has gone to hell " period?
Holy freaking Boo Jesus - i may aswell just take maternity leave now and never return....
I know that was an incredible use of the English language, but its going to be horrid. I have been away for a week, so going back to work in itself is crappy. But i get back, and poor J has been so busy on her ownesome that we now have some major catching up to do. Thats fine, you say, your both efficient ladies, you can do it!
Well yea, we can.... the thing is we have this one week at work together, and the J is going away. For TWO weeks. Leaving me on my ownesome. Imagine how far behind i'm going to be by then...
Also, after that two week period is up, we will be away from the office for four days while we attend a conference, in Rockhampton. Which, to the unAustralian, is like having ur national conference in Hillbillysville, Red State instead of having it in New York. Granted, its probably not that bad, but its not exactly equivalent to wear the rest of our company had their conference - Star City Casino in Sydney. Ooh, did i mention that i need to prepare a Powerpoint presentation for this conference - during the next three week " the office has gone to hell " period?
Holy freaking Boo Jesus - i may aswell just take maternity leave now and never return....
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Welcome to my Humble Abode....
Wow - the past few days have been muy hectic! I have finally moved into my first, non-rented home over the weekend, so i've spent the last week either:
A) Undercoating and painting;
B) Loading or unloading boxes and furniture; or
C) Unpacking and arranging said boxes and furniture.
I'm so glad i decided to take a week of annual leave to coincide with the move, because otherwise i'd have random boxes sitting around for weeks on end. Don't get me wrong, i still have a few odds and ends to sort through, but for the most part everything is in its new place. Mr Gil and I still have a second coat of paint to put on this weekend, and even though painting has proved to NOT be my favourite job in the world, its well worth it to cover up the colours the previous owners had going on. I'm all for colour, but just couldnt handle the Kermit the Frog hued green of the bathroom, or sunflower yellow of the lounge and dining room. Colour is gorgeous and effective when its splashed about - i'm thinking cushions, photo frames, knick knacks..... its more pyschedelic nightmare-ish when its everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere!!
I've also been to have a nuchal translucency test - which is, in laymans terms, an ultrasound and blood test to determine my risk of carrying a baby with Down Syndrome or similar chromosomal abnormalites. Its sounds a little scary, but its just your basic ultrasound. Its also the first time i've been able to see my little person looking like a baby, and not a frog. What relief to know i'm carrying a human and not an amphibian! To be serious, the dating scan at 8 weeks shows the baby at quite an early stage - Mr Gil and i nicknamed the baby Stumpy because of the tiny, stump like, froggy looking limbs it was sporting at the time. But this time around, at 12 weeks now, litte Stumpy is recognisably baby like - tiny little fingers and toes, crazy rapid heartbeat, and fully formed and functional organs. I also think Stumpy is practising baby yoga in there - i cant feel any movements for myself yet but waiting half an hour for him/her to get into the right position to have the nuchal photo taken was like watching a tiny, underwater ballet! At one point, he/she even mooned me, so i have half a mind to ground my child as soon as its born.... what a cheeky rat!
And thats been my week thus far - excluding sleep ins and mid afternoon naps. Its going to be tough going back to stupid work next week....
A) Undercoating and painting;
B) Loading or unloading boxes and furniture; or
C) Unpacking and arranging said boxes and furniture.
I'm so glad i decided to take a week of annual leave to coincide with the move, because otherwise i'd have random boxes sitting around for weeks on end. Don't get me wrong, i still have a few odds and ends to sort through, but for the most part everything is in its new place. Mr Gil and I still have a second coat of paint to put on this weekend, and even though painting has proved to NOT be my favourite job in the world, its well worth it to cover up the colours the previous owners had going on. I'm all for colour, but just couldnt handle the Kermit the Frog hued green of the bathroom, or sunflower yellow of the lounge and dining room. Colour is gorgeous and effective when its splashed about - i'm thinking cushions, photo frames, knick knacks..... its more pyschedelic nightmare-ish when its everywhere. Everywhere. Everywhere!!
I've also been to have a nuchal translucency test - which is, in laymans terms, an ultrasound and blood test to determine my risk of carrying a baby with Down Syndrome or similar chromosomal abnormalites. Its sounds a little scary, but its just your basic ultrasound. Its also the first time i've been able to see my little person looking like a baby, and not a frog. What relief to know i'm carrying a human and not an amphibian! To be serious, the dating scan at 8 weeks shows the baby at quite an early stage - Mr Gil and i nicknamed the baby Stumpy because of the tiny, stump like, froggy looking limbs it was sporting at the time. But this time around, at 12 weeks now, litte Stumpy is recognisably baby like - tiny little fingers and toes, crazy rapid heartbeat, and fully formed and functional organs. I also think Stumpy is practising baby yoga in there - i cant feel any movements for myself yet but waiting half an hour for him/her to get into the right position to have the nuchal photo taken was like watching a tiny, underwater ballet! At one point, he/she even mooned me, so i have half a mind to ground my child as soon as its born.... what a cheeky rat!
And thats been my week thus far - excluding sleep ins and mid afternoon naps. Its going to be tough going back to stupid work next week....
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Its Just... A Little Crush...
I think i have a girly-crush on Mary Steenburgen. For real. And she's way older than me, so its kind of age-inappropriate.
I've just come in from seeing " The Proposal " which, despite being kind of predictable, was actually pretty funny and very sweet. Its a winner as far as rom-com's go, for the following reasons:
* Sandra Bullock is doing Sandra Bullock at her best.
* Ryan Reynolds abs = smokin'.
* Betty White continues to play gloriously nutty older women and she rocks it.
* And Mary Steenburgen is the mum.
I dont know what it is - i've only seen her in a handful of things. She doesnt seem to age, and she just seems so charming. And graceful. And she's always the sweet, thoughtful mum who just wants the best for her kids ( even if they are 40 yr old nutcases ). If i didnt have the mum i have now, i'd want Mary Steenburgen to be my mum. She's neat.
Is that so crazy ? Don't you all have weird crushes on character actors you dont know ?
I've just come in from seeing " The Proposal " which, despite being kind of predictable, was actually pretty funny and very sweet. Its a winner as far as rom-com's go, for the following reasons:
* Sandra Bullock is doing Sandra Bullock at her best.
* Ryan Reynolds abs = smokin'.
* Betty White continues to play gloriously nutty older women and she rocks it.
* And Mary Steenburgen is the mum.
I dont know what it is - i've only seen her in a handful of things. She doesnt seem to age, and she just seems so charming. And graceful. And she's always the sweet, thoughtful mum who just wants the best for her kids ( even if they are 40 yr old nutcases ). If i didnt have the mum i have now, i'd want Mary Steenburgen to be my mum. She's neat.
Is that so crazy ? Don't you all have weird crushes on character actors you dont know ?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I've Always Liked Suprises
So, now that i have the initial task of revealing my little secret out of the way, i suppose i should expand on the whole story. Shouldnt i ?
Like i said, Mr Gil and i havent been together very long. Only a matter of months in fact. And i am the first to admit that if this were happening to anyone else i would sit back and go " Woah, thats kind of a big step so early, isnt it ? " I wouldnt judge it as being right or wrong, just fast is all. And yep, it is fast. Never in my life, when picturing myself settling down and having babies, did i picture it happening at such an early stage of a relationship. But you know what ? I'm happy. Deliriously happy. Also just a little afraid - everyone is a little afraid when heading into the unknown - but mostly just really excited and happy.
I did a home test to find out. I wont go into specifics about what precautions may or may not have been taken, but after being four or five days "late" i thought it couldnt hurt to take a test, just in case. Right ? When i looked down and saw that there were two little pink lines ( for positive ) and not just one ( for negative ), i'll admit to being momentarily floored. Two lines ? What the ? Really ? I left the test in the bathroom and went to make a sandwich, just in case the result might have changed by the time i came back. But it didnt.... and when i realised what those two lines potentially meant i cracked into probably the biggest grin i've ever grinned.
Also, my heart may have almost beat its way right of my chest. But i composed myself and called my GP to make an appointment to have a blood test to confirm. As luck would have it they could squeeze me in that afternoon. I told the girls at work that i was going to have a flu shot, and nobody was any the wiser. Except Mr Gil of course - i called him after i'd left the doctors surgery to tell him what was going on.
To be honest, i wasnt afraid of a negative reaction from him. I was confident that aside from the initial shock he would be excited... and he was. And still is. Almost everyday he tells me how excited he is, how happy he is, how much he cant wait for " us " to be a family. Its really wonderful to feel so supported by my partner. And by our families also. This will be the third grandchild for my parents, and the fifth for his. Our brothers and sisters are happy for us aswell, especially my brother and his wife - they, as you know, are parents to two beautiful little girls but they will be first time uncle and aunt.
And thats about enough for today. I dont want this to turn into an exclusivley " I'm pregnant!!!!! " blog. I dont want to be making posts on the smallest of details or developements, or writing only about the changes to my body. I hate when blogs that i love get overrun with just one topic all the time - whether it be the new relationship, a baby, a new job, whatever - so i hereby swear that i will do my best to not rave on about babies all the time. Of course, there will be times when something big happens that i want to share, or times when i want to just get thoughts and feelings of my chest.
But promise me that if it comes to a point where everything is babies!babies!babies! ..... you'll point it out ? Even if it means throwing an internet shoe at me ?
Like i said, Mr Gil and i havent been together very long. Only a matter of months in fact. And i am the first to admit that if this were happening to anyone else i would sit back and go " Woah, thats kind of a big step so early, isnt it ? " I wouldnt judge it as being right or wrong, just fast is all. And yep, it is fast. Never in my life, when picturing myself settling down and having babies, did i picture it happening at such an early stage of a relationship. But you know what ? I'm happy. Deliriously happy. Also just a little afraid - everyone is a little afraid when heading into the unknown - but mostly just really excited and happy.
I did a home test to find out. I wont go into specifics about what precautions may or may not have been taken, but after being four or five days "late" i thought it couldnt hurt to take a test, just in case. Right ? When i looked down and saw that there were two little pink lines ( for positive ) and not just one ( for negative ), i'll admit to being momentarily floored. Two lines ? What the ? Really ? I left the test in the bathroom and went to make a sandwich, just in case the result might have changed by the time i came back. But it didnt.... and when i realised what those two lines potentially meant i cracked into probably the biggest grin i've ever grinned.
Also, my heart may have almost beat its way right of my chest. But i composed myself and called my GP to make an appointment to have a blood test to confirm. As luck would have it they could squeeze me in that afternoon. I told the girls at work that i was going to have a flu shot, and nobody was any the wiser. Except Mr Gil of course - i called him after i'd left the doctors surgery to tell him what was going on.
To be honest, i wasnt afraid of a negative reaction from him. I was confident that aside from the initial shock he would be excited... and he was. And still is. Almost everyday he tells me how excited he is, how happy he is, how much he cant wait for " us " to be a family. Its really wonderful to feel so supported by my partner. And by our families also. This will be the third grandchild for my parents, and the fifth for his. Our brothers and sisters are happy for us aswell, especially my brother and his wife - they, as you know, are parents to two beautiful little girls but they will be first time uncle and aunt.
And thats about enough for today. I dont want this to turn into an exclusivley " I'm pregnant!!!!! " blog. I dont want to be making posts on the smallest of details or developements, or writing only about the changes to my body. I hate when blogs that i love get overrun with just one topic all the time - whether it be the new relationship, a baby, a new job, whatever - so i hereby swear that i will do my best to not rave on about babies all the time. Of course, there will be times when something big happens that i want to share, or times when i want to just get thoughts and feelings of my chest.
But promise me that if it comes to a point where everything is babies!babies!babies! ..... you'll point it out ? Even if it means throwing an internet shoe at me ?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Time Has Come
Right - so remember that thing that i said i would eventually write about, i just wasnt going to reveal what it was at the time ? Yea, well, the time has come. Drum roll please....
I, Amy, of Insomniatic Musings.... I am pregnant.
Read it again if you have to, but it will say the same thing. I'm 25 years old, and i am going to be a mumma before my 26th birthday.
You are probably sitting back and doing your math about how long i have been with Mr Gil - yes, i will confirm for you that it has not been a long time, and this pregnancy was not planned. It was a suprise - a beautiful, amazing, terrifyingly scary suprise. I am - we are - very happy. I've always wanted to be a mum and i was beginning to despair that it would never happen. But now it is, and with a man that i am deeply in love with, even after what is a relatively short time.
I'll keep this short - its late, and as i've discovered, the early stages of pregnancy make me tired - and i'll provide more details later. I just wanted to share my news with.... well.... everyone!
I, Amy, of Insomniatic Musings.... I am pregnant.
Read it again if you have to, but it will say the same thing. I'm 25 years old, and i am going to be a mumma before my 26th birthday.
You are probably sitting back and doing your math about how long i have been with Mr Gil - yes, i will confirm for you that it has not been a long time, and this pregnancy was not planned. It was a suprise - a beautiful, amazing, terrifyingly scary suprise. I am - we are - very happy. I've always wanted to be a mum and i was beginning to despair that it would never happen. But now it is, and with a man that i am deeply in love with, even after what is a relatively short time.
I'll keep this short - its late, and as i've discovered, the early stages of pregnancy make me tired - and i'll provide more details later. I just wanted to share my news with.... well.... everyone!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Ladies and Gentleman of the Jury...
...Amy will NOT be needed for jury duty tomorrow. Which is kind of disappointing, because frankly i wanted to take the day off work and sit in on a court case. To see the inner workings of the Australian justice system, without being on the wrong side of the law.
Also, i really wanted to pretend i was part of an episode of " Law and Order ". Cue the famous " DUN DUN " noise....
But seriously, i think i would have found it interesting having to attend jury duty. I've been called up three times now, but i've never actually had to go. I've neve been to court period - i'm so not the criminal type - so it would have been a completely new experience. Of course, i know that it wouldnt have been a murder case or anything as exciting and " glamourous " as you see on tv, but it still would have been something different to the usual daily grind. Besides, even the mundane, everyday complaints can be entertaining - how else do you explain " Christina's Court " ? Plus, i would have got the day off work and been paid for it, which is always great.
I'm not sure how the judicial systems work elsewhere on the planet, but the way things go here in New South Wales i remain on the jury register for the rest of the year. I was called up in March but couldnt go because i was working interstate; i was called up for tomorrow but wasn't needed; who knows, i could be third time lucky sometime later this year ?
P.S Has anybody out there ever actually had to sit on a jury ?
Also, i really wanted to pretend i was part of an episode of " Law and Order ". Cue the famous " DUN DUN " noise....
But seriously, i think i would have found it interesting having to attend jury duty. I've been called up three times now, but i've never actually had to go. I've neve been to court period - i'm so not the criminal type - so it would have been a completely new experience. Of course, i know that it wouldnt have been a murder case or anything as exciting and " glamourous " as you see on tv, but it still would have been something different to the usual daily grind. Besides, even the mundane, everyday complaints can be entertaining - how else do you explain " Christina's Court " ? Plus, i would have got the day off work and been paid for it, which is always great.
I'm not sure how the judicial systems work elsewhere on the planet, but the way things go here in New South Wales i remain on the jury register for the rest of the year. I was called up in March but couldnt go because i was working interstate; i was called up for tomorrow but wasn't needed; who knows, i could be third time lucky sometime later this year ?
P.S Has anybody out there ever actually had to sit on a jury ?
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