Long day, but breathing

What a day! Your mama, in an effort to keep your environment as pristine as possible, stopped taking her allergy and asthma medication in January. It's been happening slowly over the past 5 years, but by January '08, mama was on very few meds and doing just fine. And then August, '08 hit, capping off "Summer of the Seriously Ugly Ragweed."

Baby B, we had to go to acute care today so mama could breathe again. I don't like these weird medicines any more than you (leuko-tryings, inhaled powders, STEROIDS? no way), so I'm taking it one minor-med at a time, but we need the oxygen, you and me.

So far, the azmacort and rhinocort are all we need, and I am using those with the lightest possible hand. I don't think I will need even 1/2 as much medicine as they predicted. We are staying indoors as much as possible, to avoid exposure. What a rotten deal--I hope when breastfeeding, there is SOMETHING of use passed onto you, other than killer badminton skills and a disdain for lists. I promise, if you have allergies, we will figure something out so you don't have to take all these meds, too.

On the flip-side of things, mama has already gained 7 pounds, and its only week 8 with you, Baby B! Can you add Vietnamese food to your list of "ways to add girth?" Thanks a bunch.

Feeling guilty about the breathing-thing,
Mama

Telling the parents

Dear Baby B,

We told the grandparents and several other people we know. Here are some reactions, guess who:

1. "Oh my god, you are not kidding me! You are not kidding me! Are you kidding me? How did it happen? You are not kidding me!" (Lola)
2. Cue deep inhalation of breath (A. Megan)
3. "I am tickled, but not pink! (Grandma)
4. Claps hands over mouth while chewing granola bar. (Dana)
5. Lots of jumping up and down. (Gennie)
6. Me: Guess what!
   Sharon: You're pregnant?
   (Baby, A. Sharon is psychic--don't mess with her!)
7. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (A. Gail, who loves vowels)
8. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! (Melissa, who might love vowels, but actually referred to it as a peal of excitement)

Baby B, you are much loved already!

On eating

Baby B--what gives! We go to one of our favorite restaurants in KC, and all you can say is "Meh." to mama's shrimp and chicken noodle bowl. You're killing me, Baby B. But at the studio, you were all "Oh yes, can I please have some more?" of Gennie's can of sardines, which, if you had consulted the history of mama's dna you would very specifically see "Does Not Like Sardines" written on said code in permanent marker. I blame your Lolo Basuel--he has a thing for those oily fish. If not him, then the cats have already installed their remote control device in-utero. All I can say to that is "Happy Trails" because in your life, many a cat will pass (blame your dad- the-pied-piper for that).

But all is not lost because, lo and behold, Indian Food is A-Okay! Now, convince dad that we need a personal chef from Swagat. I'll back you up--totally.



Other "NO" foods that normally sound OK:

• Lost Trails Root Beer
• Most anything sweet
• Raw Food (salad, smoothies)
• Korean food
• Italian food
• BBQ
• Mexican food
  

YES foods:

• Sheridans malts
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Seltzer water, plain
• Cranberry juice
• Indian food (good for you!)
• Biko
• Broth

So, I'm sensing a bland carb-pattern here, which doesn't seem so very surprising since my sense of smell and taste are currently heightened to ensure that I don't eat anything terrible for you. From an evolutionary standpoint, simple carbs and lots of water pose the least risk, don't they? Despite all that, you really do make exception for Indian food. Are you an Aryuvedic Baby?

Mystical Grape Tree of the Springs

Baby B, we've been working hard this month, preserving tomatoes, peppers, and apparently...grapes! We didn't work at all, really, to grow these grapes, but what a fantastic turn-out. I know it may or may not be the same with you, but see all the energy we saved with these low-maintenance grapes? So, if you decide to have some issues, we have you covered. It will always be okay for you to be you--take your time, live deep--speed is not necessarily of the essence, unless you're trying to escape an elephant stampede. In that case, trumpet and run away!