Sick and Pregnant!

Being sick and pregnant is the pits and I've been experiencing 2 long weeks of trying to get over being ill which is why I've been MIA from this blog for so long. It all started with a little cough about 2 weeks ago that turned into a fever, body aches, and a HORRIBLE cough that I still can't get rid of! The worst of it took about a week to completely go away, and then I pulled a muscle or maybe even ripped a muscle on my side from coughing so much. Talk about painful! Last Friday evening I couldn't even move from the couch and could barely walk without serious pain. It took all of this past weekend to get myself really feeling better AND I had 3 photo shoots to do. I managed to ice and heat my side enough that it really helped the muscle to get better. Today I'm feeling SO much better even though there is still a lingering cough that I'm battling.

Not that much has happened in the last 2 weeks since I've spent most of it in bed or on the couch. I did go to the doctor for my bi-weekly appointment when I first got sick and I go again tomorrow. I checked out very well at our last appointment, except for the fact that I'm gaining water weight like CRAZY! I gained 7 lbs in 2 weeks which made the doctor advise me to stay away from salt....NO! So since 2 Wednesdays ago, I have stayed away from my beloved pickles and olives and really tried to watch my sodium intake. The funny thing is, even with being so careful, I have NEVER been so bloated! My face is puffy and my feet are busting out of my shoes. In fact, some of my shoes don't even fit anymore. How can this be? I guess I'm just one of those people who holds the water and doesn't want to let it go. Consequently, I will be spending much of my time on the couch with my feet up for the next few weeks :) It's the only thing that makes them feel better.

The only other point of interest from my last visit is that my iron is a bit low. The doctor is encouraging me to get iron from broccoli, spinach, and red meat instead of taking a pill which is fine with me, except that she wants me to eat red meat every other day, wow! I have obliged thus far, but this is coming from a girl who's only red meat intake before pregnancy was 2 hamburgers a year. For the last 2 weeks, I've eaten more red meat than I have the last 5 years :) All for the sake of the bun!!

Speaking of the bun, he is growing so much which is obviously making my belly grow very LARGE. I need to post a new picture which I will do sometime this week. He is moving around all the time and sometimes his movements hurt a bit. Often, I can feel what I think is an arm or leg move across my belly which is amazing. Also, parts of my belly stick out at times and are harder than other parts which I assume is his head, butt or foot sticking out. Guess it could be a shoulder too! It's all very incredible and so far my most favorite thing about being pregnant. The more he jabs me and I can see my belly move around, the easier it is to deal with swollen feet, back aches, and sickness :)

More tomorrow....