Seven Quick Takes:

1.) As of midnight this evening, we will have officially reached 24 weeks. First milestone accomplished, huzzah! My doctor tells me that the next hurdle to look forward to is 26 weeks and every fortnight following. This milestone was the most critical and from what I understand, there are significant marked improvements to a preemie's health at birth about every 2 weeks following. If you don't trust my doctor, I'm sure you could find something on the internet that would concur.

Gratuitous photo of our baby at 13 weeks. Doesn't he have a nice profile?

2.) I told Mark that I plan on going senile first. He's done such a good job of taking care of me, that I really hope it plays out that way. I'm not worried about Alzheimer's if he's going to be the one in charge of my care.

A brief-ish example: so I don't fall, I have to wake Mark up when I need to use the bathroom so he can adjust my hospital bed (I can't reach all the controls). Pregnant, drinking lots of fluids, you do the math. 

On top of that, last night, I had a horrible sinus headache, which really only sudafed can cure, but you're not supposed to take sudafed (and I'm talking the Breaking Bad, have to give the pharmacist your driver's license, real stuff) when you're pregnant. Technically, I'd be ok ignoring that advice in a normal pregnancy, but since this pregnancy has been anything but...here we are. 

The only other thing that helps is the most amazing sinus mask in the world. All my sisters have them. One of them insists that it's what she would rescue in the event of a fire. It retains heat so well and has a good weight to it. I felt terrible doing it, but as my pain level, as measured by the handy chart on my wall, went from a 3 to a 7/8 there was nothing to do but wake Mark up and ask him to microwave my sinus mask. After ransacking our room in the middle of the night to no avail, the poor man had to go all the way down to the street (in a not very nice part of town) since somehow the mask ended up back in our car. And then he reheated it two more times before morning, and again before he left for work. And he was NICE to me the whole time. I guess we're both all set for newborn sleep deprivation or at least getting there. Save this story for proof of heroic sanctity when the process for his canonization opens up. The headache is gone btw.

I don't care if it looks silly, this thing works!

3) My apologies that this blog had turned into a pregnancy blog overnight. Not like I was a regular poster anyway...

4) A teacher friend of mine came to visit the other day. She said that telling the kids that the baby was a boy led to some really bizarre conversations among the students that are better answered by parents. One little boy was on the verge of tears because a girl kept insisting that people are born from eggs. (Knowing this little girl, she probably does have a grasp of how it all works). But he was horrified, and ran to the teacher, "She keeps saying that we come from eggs! But we DON'T come from eggs, we come from our moms' tummies!" My friend very diplomatically told him, "You're right, we don't hatch from eggs. Don't worry" And all was right with the world.

5) She also brought cards the kids had made and hung them up around the room. One little boy wrote in his card, "I think I will like your baby." I wonder what it will take for him to be sure.

6) Bed rest toiletry recommendations: Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo and Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. Both are available through Amazon Prime. The dry shampoo works better than baby powder to stretch out the time between showers. And the Beach Spray makes the fact that I don't have my hair dryer here (and wouldn't use it if I did) look slightly more intentional than the ratty ponytails of air dried hair I was sporting before it arrived. I think I heard about the Beach Spray through one of Ana's Five Favorite Posts, but now I can't find it, but to whoever posted about it, thank you!

Oh, and this one is a no brainer but 2-1 shampoo and conditioner! When your husband has to help you shower, and it shouldn't last more than 10 minutes, and one of your hands is in a plastic bag to protect your iv port, ain't nobody got time for separate bottles of shampoo and conditioner. 

7. My mom sent me a lovely pot of orange and yellow chrysanthemums, and a very kind friend stopped by with some cinnamon frosted pumpkin cookies. Since I have the fan going full blast all the time, I get to pretend that Texas observes the season of Autumn. I guess there are some advantages to not having been outside since last Tuesday. :)

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Happy Friday, go see Jen for other quick takings.