That's Perfectly Normal

Pregnancy is just weird. There is no way around it. Strange things happen that your doctor can only explain with, “That’s perfectly normal.” I have said on more than one occasion I think I could tell Dr. Locke my head’s come off and he would reply, “That’s perfectly normal.”

Some of the things I’ve experienced I have found to be typical in other preggers. However, here are a few “quirks” that seem to be more specialized to me.

Nose bleeds—When I was little I used to get them all the time, but I hadn’t had them in years. And then one morning a few weeks ago, BAM, blood gusher. I’ve had about three now and they are like May Florida rainstorms: they go as quickly as they came.

Carpel Tunnel—Or at least that’s what my doctor says it is. My hands hurt like crazy, especially at night. What’s really weird is that my ring finger on my left hand gets these excruciating cramps in the top joint that wake me up at night.

Bad Vision—So my distance vision has been a little blurry for most of my adult life. Since becoming pregnant, I swear it has gotten worse. My glasses, once reserved for movies and night driving, are a must have for shopping or anything with florescent lights. I remember just walking into Wal-Mart one day and not being able to see anything on the shelves. I decided to put off getting new glasses, because what if my eyes go back to normal after the baby is born.

In other news, well...there really isn’t any BIG news. The baby hasn’t dropped (although she may not until I’m in labor—that’s perfectly normal) and I’m not having contractions. Certainly, there is the random shooting pain, but they are isolated and never more than one. I’m trying to keep upbeat, but I know my crankiness seeps through. I’m so tired and my back and feet are painful.

A guy at work bought me some slippers to wear around my office because I was spending so much time barefoot. I see now where the phrase “barefoot and pregnant” comes from. I always thought it was some sexist thing (and to some it is), but in truth, all those pregnant women are barefoot because none of their shoes fit anymore. I find myself gazing forlornly into my closet at my beautiful shoe collection, fantasizing about the day my lovelies can come out to play once again. I have been warned that my feet may never go back to normal. This notion is too horrible for me to process, so I refuse to believe it can really happen.