Wednesday, December 17, 2008

85 or Pregnant?


If you came into my house and looked through my cabinets you would be confused.

Benefiber
Colace
Prune Juice???

Are you 33 or 85? Well, lately, I have felt 85. My digestive system has come to a complete stand still. Complete. I don't want to get into too many details, but never let it be said that I was too embarrassed to ask the 16 year old "manager" at Walgreens to open up the locked display of stool softeners and laxatives. (Seriously, why is it locked? Do these things tend to walk off? Are they trying to cut down on the number of ex-lax pranks?) I would much rather be having a glass of wine, but prune juice does look like a nice red when you pour it into a wine glass.

Other than that, things seem to be progressing well. I have my NT scan tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing the baby again. I am a little nervous and hoping that everything is ok. Luckily, the coming insanity of the holidays is keeping me distracted. My MIL will be flying in from the great state of Illinois on Monday and we will travel to my parents house near Austin to celebrate the holiday. It will be a little different this year. The pending divorce of my brother will be on everyone's mind, I think, but hopefully Luke will be able to cheer everyone.

We didn't go too crazy with presents this year. Texas has not felt the crunch that other states have, but we are trying to be really careful, anyway. I had a minor panic attack when I thought about paying two daycare tuitions, but with the need for a new house, we still need the small amount of income I do bring in after paying for daycare. I know that we are very fortunate, though, which is why we have decided to really try to tighten our belts in case the worse happens.

If you aren't feeling the crunch economically, are you still being careful this year? I was curious about what others are doing in this economy.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Definitely pregnant. Next to the nausea, it's got to be the worst symptom. That 16yo 'manager' must've thought you were a very young-looking 85 though.

I hope the nuchal scan goes well!

Anonymous said...

Oh, and on the economic crunch issue, we're not doing anything differently, but then, we never do extravagant things or buy heaps of stuff for Christmas. We adults decided a number of years ago to only buy things for the kids, so that simplifies it tremendously.

ZDub said...

I came here via Aimee's blog and congrats!

Sorry about your 'symptoms'. It's terrible, I had it with both my kids. The prenatals with all the iron in them don't help the case either.

As far as Christmas goes, we are taking it super easy and not getting anything for really anyone else besides the kids. We live in CO and we are feeling it pretty hardcore here. Gas has gone way down, so that really helps.

Take care,
Z

Mazzy said...

Oddly enough, my real "back up" issues that were so prevalent in the first trimester haven't come back yet. I know I'll regret saying that later, but I am very thankful at the moment.

Glad everything is still going well with baby #2. I am still in awe of your situation sometimes, it has to be overwhelming and exciting in a way that is kinda indescribable.

We have been hit by the stupid economy and we are not doing Christmas presents at all for anyone this year. We could have and probably should have, but we are just really tight fisting the money at the moment. Nobody really seemed to mind though. And what's funny is I don't really feel sad about not getting gifts from my husband this year. I feel like I already have the greatest gift of all, so nothing else could compare anyways.

*hugs*

Kellie said...

Oh that really sucks about your digestive problems. That is one of the worst feelings... Ew.

As for Xmas we are definitely cutting back. The hubs and I would usually go out on a big gift for ourselves together. Not doing that this year. And we've cut back on how much we are spending on our parents too. Sucks, but what can you do? I agree it's better to play it safe in this economy. You never know what is going to happen.

Unknown said...

We are very scared about the economy. We didn't really cut back for Christmas, but I need a new car, and we need a new house, and we're very nervous about getting either/both. Brian works in financial services, and... well, we know how things are in that sector.

Soooo... here we sit. House prices lower than they have been in a decade, and we're too scared to move.

Grateful to have jobs and shelter, basically.

AwkwardMoments said...

Our state is actually worse for the wear this year. Loads of jobs loss and foreclosures are all over. As for being careful, yes we are all being very careful and have requested no presents just presence. My grandmother, uncle/aunt, mom/father, sister/husband, E, MT and I are just having dinner. and spending time with eachother.
I hope your system gets straight soon .. good luck with the upcoming scan

Aunt Becky said...

We're not feeling the crunch in the same way that many are, but in the same way YOU are. With Amelia's arrival coming quickly on the heels of Christmas, I've definitely been the one who says "NO" to buying big gifts. Especially for the adults being grabby.

Chris said...

Glad all is well with the baby!

We're in a similar situation as you from an economic standpoint (living in Austin). We're watching what we spend but aren't getting all crazy about it yet. We've opted to not get Christmas presents for each other and haven't really gone overboard on the baby but her birthday is right around the corner...

Glad all is well, aside from the prune juice issues :-)

seussgirl said...

They've started locking up formula here! you have to pull a tag off the shelf and have the cashier get it from the case. How sad is that?

And we are feeling the crunch here; 1 salary isn't going very far with 2 babies still on formula and diapers. We've done a lot of re-gifting this year to help cut corners on Christmas without seeming too cheap. :)

Delenn said...

Glad to see things are going well--if a bit annoying!

Not feeling the pinch yet, in fact this year we were able to get a little ahead financially. And then take two steps back--adding more daycare costs and the possibility of me getting laid off. So, yes, watching the budget a bit closer. But haven't made cuts yet. This year, as I do each year, I make a Holiday Budget--and, as I do each year, I only go a "little" above it. :-) Thanks to Excel Spreadsheets!

Good luck on the nuchal scan!

Amanda said...

Yuck. I know there are a couple of prenatal vitamins that have a stool softener in them, maybe that would help???

Anonymous said...

::shouts::

BELLY PICS!!

darcie said...

Hey - get yourself some licorice!! It was the ONLY thing that saved me when I was pregnant and I recently suggested it to my niece who was having the same issue and she said I saved her as well!! It is soooo much more enjoyable than the prune juice, etc AND IT WORKS!
TRY IT!

In Due Time said...

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

ICLW

Courtney said...

Love the title of this post (and the content of course). Sorry to hear that things aren't moving so well right now, but prune juice in a wine glass sounds *slightly* fun. :)

We decided just to buy for the kids on my side of the family this year as opposed to giving the adults gifts as well. Do we really NEED more stuff???

*One of these days (obviously the holidays are too crazy), when you are traveling in this direction, we need to plan to meet halfway or something. Just a thought.

Michelle said...

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.


ICLW

Mel said...

Awwww...the joys of pregnancy! I'm SO right there with you! Pear juice is also a nice change of pace from prune juice if you haven't tried that yet. :)

Wishing you all the best on the NT scan.

ICLW

Anonymous said...

We haven't felt the crunch but we've definitely cut back on stuff this year (and last, actually). Mostly, we just realized that we spend so much time (and money) trying to find the perfect gift for everyone, especially my nephews, and most of the time the toys go unused or forgotten. This year, we decided to do a favorite things theme and we've really enjoyed putting gifts together for family. As for the kids, we didn't stress about it...just tried to get something we knew they'd play with.

GL with not feeling 85 anymore. Happy holidays!!
iclw

Beautiful Mess said...

Congratulations on number 2! I hope you are feeling great all the way through.
Enjoy your day,
-D *ICLW*

Kellie said...

I gave you an award over on my blog since your blog is so great! :) Check it out.

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

what they lock them up - incredible.

Goodluck for the NT scan and I wish you a very merry kiss ness with Luke.Gosh he is adorable.

I think everyone is cutting back and I don't think it is a bad thing though the circumstances that created it are terrible.

Merry Christmas

Here from ICLW...
My Little Drummer Boys

Anonymous said...

That is funny. I didn't realize they lock that stuff up! Good luck with the NT scan.

We aren't doing presents for each other or anyone this year. Every penny of our money is going towards fertility treatments. So, that's not really a function of the terrible economy, but of our priorities currently.

Here from ICLW.

Anonymous said...

The economic crunch... We have been living so frugally since we got married. So not much is that different. Although, I did notice that this year E did not buy gifts for all of his friends like he normally does.

Here from ICLW...No. 87
The Unfair Struggle

Kristin said...

We were definitely restrained this year. I made a lot of the presents for family this year.

Congrats on your pregnancy.

*ICLW

Anonymous said...

Hope your Christmas was a great one and can't wait to hear about your NT scan. ICLW.

Marissa said...

it's the zofran!!!!!

didn't you say you're taking that? oh man, that stuff did some doozies on me too. thankfully once things get moving again, that nasty side effect does subside a bit.

**hugs**

Barreness said...

Tough economic times - we are seriously budgeting and watching every penny. My husband is an architect and they tend to be the canaries of the mine with respect to job losses - once the economy slides, new building developments disappear. With our mortgages we will be in such trouble if he loses his job.

So scary!

iclw