Palm tree pain killers

It’s been too long since my last post. I have no excuse, really, except that I’m pregnant.

I started writing one on Friday during a pedicure, but stopped when she got to the foot and leg rubbing stage, unable to focus.

I was treating myself to pretty toes prior to flying off to Palm Springs, where I am currently.

I’m enjoying one hell of a view with a bag of Trader Joe’s frozen corn pressed up against my lower back.

Turns out back pain is just as painful when you’re surrounded by palm trees, sunshine and desert mountains. Although, admittedly, I’m thinking a bit easier to bear than at home during a gray and rainy Autumn day.

If I have to be almost immobile, I’d much rather be here, stuck in a lounger, beside a pool and lush bougainvillea.

It would seem I simply twisted or bent forward in an unwelcome way, resulting in my current state. And since it seems everything except for useless Tylenol is off the menu, frozen corn it is.

But enough about my pains for now.

Last week, I decided to treat myself to one of those fan-dangled 3D ultrasounds.

At one point, while the technician was trying to get a good angle – without revealing the gender – I exclaimed It looks like Voldemort!

Thankfully, the resemblance to the Dark Lord was fleeting.

As you can see from the photo below, baby is fond of having its hands up by it’s face. I had to drink a box of apple juice (wee boost of sugar) in hope of getting baby to move around and drop its arms.

This was as good as we could get. Stubborn already. And I’m the Taurus.

I also splurged on a stuffed giraffe which now holds a recording of baby’s heartbeat. I mean, how could I not?

Tomorrow marks 27 weeks, and if this back pain is a sign of things to come, I may have to stay here in California!

Apparently, this is where the fun that is leg cramps, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins begins, lasting through the last 3 months of pregnancy. Speaking of the latter two, I recently learned that hemorrhoids are varicose veins themselves, who’ve set up shop in the least ideal of places. I’d much rather them on my legs… can we trade?

The wee back breaker now weighs nearly 2 pounds and measures almost 15 inches from head to toe. The eyes open and close, and it sleeps and wakes at regular intervals.

According to BabyCenter, some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain’s surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops.

With the brain wave activity gearing up, baby can now not only hear noises, but respond to them, too – though not in so many words. An increase in pulse rate or movement would be its way of communicating.

I guess that means it can hear me groaning in pain.

And it’s only the beginning, baby. It’s only the beginning.