homealone

I was just browsing through some articles and came across this list of myths. “Number 9. Don’t take a bath when you’re pregnant.”. I was  shocked at the first thought of some pregnant woman not having cleaned herself for nine months! Then it occurred to me that “taking a bath” in the States means using the bath tub to wash one’s self. In other countries, taking a bath generally means taking a shower, or swimming in the ocean or something like that. Basically get yourself wet and clean.

But here’s the explanation for the myth:

“Apparently, concerns about contracting an infection that could spread from the vagina, through the cervix, into the womb led to recommendations to avoid bathing. However, there is no well-established risk known to be associated with bathing during pregnancy. The water should not be too hot, since raising body temperature above 101 degrees F may cause problems. And there may be times to avoid bathing altogether, for example, if your water has broken or there is bleeding” -health.yahoo.com

These are all from a visitor (who also thought she to knew everything):

1. Comet cleanser cleans everything.  (I don’t think so)
2. Remodelling a kitchen only costs 15,000.  (she’s wrong)
3. Colors react differently when you put different items next to it (true)
4. Wonder-under is going to be my best friend (I agree)
5. It is more economical to buy ready made curtains than to make your own.
6. Barbeque paint, dowel, ring tape – things I’ve never heard of before
7. It’s worth it to drive to the commissary to get things you need because they’re cheaper. (this only works for military family)
8. Clothes dried under the sun smell better (I think so, too)
9. Your compost bin should not be located near where you’re going to put your outdoor furniture (I did not know that I wanted outdoor furniture where my compost bin is).
10.  I’m sure there’s lots more but I decided to filter them all out.

The husband’s mother came for a visit. Since we are fairly new to homeownership, house maintenance, and arts and crafts (we are both artistically-challenged) and all that stuff, we -particularly me, the woman of the house- got bombarded with all these ideas, suggestions, comments, and opinions which were mostly unsolicited and criticisms. The result was a feeling of disappointment and depression on my part. It now feels like we’re living in a dump, like we bought a fixer-upper house even though we knew in our hearts that this was/is a good house.  I would have gladly accepted all the help and suggestions if only they were given in bits and pieces, and none really required actions.  We knew we needed to do some work on the house, but not that much, and all at the same time.  Ayayay.

Our compost bin is looking pretty good, I think. There’s no stench - one thing I was really afraid of happening, the composting material look like they’re decomposing nicely. I did notice that we’re letting it dry up a lot more than we should. Apparently, that’s bad. Moisture content should be 40-60 percent because microorganisms can only use organic molecules if they are dissolved in water. I am keeping that in mind and promise to water the compost bin almost every day :). I am so proud of what we’re doing - composting, recycling what’s recyclable. We are definitely minimizing our carbon footprint by a lot!  <pat on the back> .

When I did my test last week, it turned negative but I still did not get my period. I waited until the end of the day, still no period. The next day, I got a spot. But that was it -  just spotting! Could I be pregnant? I didn’t think so, but all these “symptoms” seemed to indicate that I was. I had a roller coaster of emotions, from wanting to be excited but at the same time, being guarded against possible let down.  And yeah, it was a let down. *sigh*. The most frustrating part of trying to conceive is not being able to conceive even when you are trying to do everything right.

I went to see my new doctor yesterday for a check up. I didn’t really need to see her but I had to go to a primary care physician first to get a referral to a specialist. Anyway, while waiting for her in the small room, I grabbed a magazine to pass the time. Lo and behold, I came across an article about “timing”. That is timing your ovulation and when to have sex. Nothing I didn’t already know. The interesting part of it was that it said most couples who have decided to start trying and timing it properly usually get pregnant within six months of trying. Six months. So I am keeping my hopes up. But dang, six months???

So I waited til the end of the day, and the next day just to make sure that I am on my scheduled 29th day of cycle. I still don’t have my period so this morning, I decided to take the test. We had bought a Safeway brand of pregnancy test. It was awful! The box comes with two test strips that you have to insert into the tester and both failed to give me a result! All I got were errors “see leaflet”. Fine. Out they go. I went to the store and bought e.p.t. The digital one even! So this time I did it right. As I was doing the test, I wasnt feeling anything in particular. I knew I wasnt pregnant. But within that 3 minutes of waiting for the result, I was secretly hoping that it would say I was pregnant. 3 minutes later, there it was in clear writing. “Not Pregnant”.  Sad.

The day has come for my monthly period and i haven’t gotten it! yay?  I’m going to wait until the end of the day to see if I get it or not. If not, then tomorrow I’ll do the test. Cross your fingers for me.  I have not changed  my diet in preparation for this, or to increase my chances of getting pregnant. Maybe I should start, huh.

I have been taking prenatal vitamins now, no particular brand, just the one I got from my hospital’s pharmacy. I do this mostly to get my daily dose of folate. Folate, or folic acid, is needed to support the increasing maternal blood volume and to decrease the risk of baby Neural Tube Defects (NTD). 

I am still eating fish, most of the times sushi. I heard it’s ok as long as you don’t eat them everyday and that they’re not the high-mercury fish like Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish. I think i should still look at a list of fish that are high in mercury.

For now that’s all I’ve been doing. I don’t want to do a drastic change in diet especially if I am still not pregnant anyway. I will hold my breath ’til the end of the day.

It is around that time again. My 28-day cycle is about to comple it’s circle, meaning I am supposed to get my period again. I don’t want to get my period! I want to miss it for days and days and days. I want to become a mommie! But somehow, I just know that I am not pregnant. I keep trying to psych myself that there’s still a chance, and the husband asks “how do you know [that you’re not pregnant]?” I know I don’t know. I haven’t taken any tests, but I don’t see any reason to take tests. All symptoms I’m feeling are nothing but PMS symptoms. See? Im doing nothing but whine!

Another new song that I am currently digging: The Garden by Mirah. I just heard this from a dance competition show so I downloaded it from iTunes. Can’t upload the melody but here’s the lyrics.

The Garden by Mirah

Oh oh i really wanted that thing
I just want to singmusic
I love you baby
Won’t you bring
All the flowers you
Find out in the garden
Don’t tell me the truth
That your heart has hardened

But you don’t want me anymore
How can it be
Look what you’ve done to me

Oh oh
Oh oh the bee does quickly sting
I was wondering
If you could maybe darling
Think? I’d give everything
If you’d grant my love a pardon
And all the fruits
Again would fill the garden

But you don’t want me anymore
How can it be?
Look what you’ve done to me

Oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh oh