Laying Low

K's been fighting off a cold for what feels like a month, off and on. And now it looks like I have the start of a cold, which feels like horrible timing. But perhaps I can shake it before the baby arrives and be cold-free for a good stretch of time, so who knows about timing. I woke up this morning at about 7:30 and realized I had no voice, which freaked me out. I had this image of me in labor trying to communicate with nurses and the doctor and K and having to either sign everything out or write stuff down in between contractions because I wouldn't be able to talk. I was imagining the horror of my bout with tonsillitis about 12 years ago, which had me on three different antibiotics and in a lot of pain for about 4 weeks, no kidding. But then I calmed myself down, which I am starting to get the hang of, and told myself that I am not going to give into it and be proactive. I took a hot shower, and the warm moisture was divine. I rubbed down with some Vicks and sipped some hot water with lemon, wrapped myself up in a scarf and went back to sleep. And sure enough, at noon, I was feeling much better - I could talk again and it didn't hurt to swallow and my chest congestion was breaking up. I am going to lay low for the rest of the day, stay in bed, which will give me time to really make some headway in the baby blanket I've been knitting all month, and to catch up on my reading - Happiest Baby On The Block.

Pregnant and Barefoot in the Kitchen

I actually am pregnant and I am barefoot and I am in the kitchen - how about that?! Just finished making a delicious dinner - well, we have yet to eat it, but I think it is going to be delicious! And this is a bit monumental for me because, as I've mentioned in a previous post, I don't cook that often. But I baked a few things for Thanksgiving and it really isn't that hard or time consuming, if you just prep properly (say that fast 3 times). At any rate, I think the baking may have started a little buzz and so I baked some more muffins this morning, because I was craving them. And now dinner. Just waiting for K to return from walking Brooklyn so we can chow down - I am starving.

Turns out that the iTunes mix I made for the hospital is working pretty well for me in these final days. I have used the mix in the past few days to listen to as I breathe quietly and chant in my new safe haven, the baby's closet (well, it's everyone's closet, but he's clearly taken over). I wish all pregnant women in the world a pregnancy free from the mental anxiety that I have voluntarily subjected myself to. I think I should have been just more diligent about making myself meditate. I am realizing that while I always think my compulsive worrying is out of my control, I do have a choice to actively stay positive and not worry. Hindsight is 20/20. I found a new mantra that's been working for me - "Be vigilant; protect your mind against negative thoughts" - Buddha. I found this quote in a picture book of cats with quotes on each page next to photos of adorable felines. When Cats Meditate is the name of the book and I bought it originally in NY, but Brooklyn chewed it up here in Vegas. I looked online to get another one and it is out of print. However, much to my delight, there it was right in the pet store last week (random!) and I think it was used. I bought it right away. And then I found the quote - so it's all kismet!