I KNEW IT!!!!! Last week WAS the calm before the storm LOL This week was tough. No, it was borderline insane, with a few flat out miserable moments. As always, I did everything I could to find the positive in each moment BUT it was a challenge to say the least.
I was preparing for my final two fundraising projects of the school year, to be held Thursday and Friday. Everyday, I felt like I never had enough time. No time to finish phone calls, spreadsheets or lock in the details...no time to breathe. Nights were difficult as I struggled with sleeping and was up 4-5 times a night to pee. Besides the busy schedule and sleepless nights, this week just happened to be one of the hottest we have had in a while. I work in the valley, so that meant temperatures of 90+ degrees for a very pregnant Phys. Ed. teacher with 90% of my classes outside. Let me tell you a little formula I figured out…hot weather + walking around all day + 8 months pregnant = seriously swollen feet and ankles!! Even my legs looked swollen LOL
Physically I felt slower this week and honestly, I don’t like that at all. My loving and patient husband continues to remind me that it is ok to slow down (physically and scheduling wise) but I was and still am having a hard time accepting that.
Last night was the first of the two fundraisers. I was on my feet all day teaching classes and didn’t take a break before the fundraiser started. After about 3 and a half hours of prepping food, selling food and serving food, I glanced down at my ankles. I let out a yelp when I saw what looked like tree trunks! One of my students heard me scream and looked down, then MADE me sit with my feet elevated for 20 minutes. I was cracking up because the student and parent volunteers literally did not let me get up for 20 minutes. Even though I hated sitting down, I appreciated that they cared so much about me to make sure I chilled out for a little while.
I had planned to attend the second fundraiser the following evening, but after the ridiculous swelling, I decided that I better just set up everything and then ask another teacher to be the lead so I could rest. Thankfully, a wonderful colleague of mine stepped up to the challenge and led our volunteers Friday night. Both fundraisers were successful and I learned again that I must listen to my body! I must be okay with slowing it down especially when my body is giving me “red flag” signals. If I ignore them, I will just pay for it later and I don’t want that!
Looking forward to next week, a little rest and my baby shower…
Awww, so happy to see that you are bringing New life into our world, cousin! As someone who has been caring for pregnant women for over a decade, I want to tell you that most of our clients that went into early labor were not listening to the early red flags to slow down. It is exacerbated by heat. Dehydration = early contractions. Glad that you are listening to your body and that you have so much love and support around you. Congratulations again! I just gave birth last year to my first child...the most amazing and beautiful experience of my life. Many blessings!
ReplyDeleteOne last thing...
ReplyDeleteA little food for thought that I always tell my clients when they are having trouble accepting that they need to slow down (advice I had to tell myself, as well, lol):
While everyone else is recharging in their sleep (nursing moms and other pregnant women excluded), your sleeping time is spent still growing your baby. 24 hours a day, awake or asleep, you are growing your baby and functioning as your baby's source for EVERYTHING. That pulls on every system in our body, so no wonder we have a hard time keeping up, or even getting up some days. The slowing down is temporary and your health and your baby's health are more than worth it. It can be a hard pill for many of us active women to swallow, but the reward is abundant! God Bless!