A Little Sweater Starts to Form
Fourth of July in Chicago is like no other place I've ever lived in before. Even though I've been in the city for most of the years since 1991 I'm still amazed by the sights and sounds in my neighborhood this time of year. As the sun begins to go down, the activity begins to go up. First it starts with firecrackers and other noise makers. Then things ramp up into the realm of real-live fireworks. And not just your garden variety cheap fireworks, either. Some of my neighbors put on shows that rival some of what you see and nice suburban fireworks displays. And the noise is just amazing. Once it gets dark, it sounds like what I imagine a war zone might sound like -- albeit a safe and friendly war zone. And it just keeps going like that until midnight or so.
Normally, John and I walk up and down the street, seeing whose doing what, and enjoying the pyrotechnics from a safe distance. This year I will just be listening. It's a little bit of a bummer for me, because this is one of my favorite civic holiday times. I love going down to be with the huge crowd in Grant Park on the evening of the 3rd for the Chicago city fireworks (yes, Chicago has it's display the night before the 4th) and then getting to watch our neighborhood light up with celebration the next day.
While I'm missing out on the traditional festivities this year, I'm enjoying a visit from my parents who came bearing gifts from Zingermans, some very sweet baby gifts from the people my mom works with (who I also worked with when I was in high school and college) and a 10 lb box of genuine fresh Michigan blueberries. I may be biased, but if you have only ever had blueberries from your grocery store.... you might never have tasted what blueberries should really taste like. If there is one thing I can go face down in it's fresh blueberries.
I appreciated everyone's comments on Monday. It's interesting to hear the comments from folks who didn't feel well when they were dealing with elevated blood pressure. Truth be told, at a physical level, I feel pretty good. My sciatica seems to have receded a bit, and except for some tiredness when I tackle stairs (which I figure is going to happen when you put on 30 lbs in 8 months) I don't have too many things that make me feel bad.
Where I am having difficulties is more at the level of my mental game. I go back and forth between feeling okay dealing with the confinement to being a little depressed that just simply going out to dinner with my husband has been taken away from me during our last few weeks with no need for child care. (The husband is doing an excellent job of being sweet and wonderful, however. Last night he came home with roses and a pint of my favorite gelato from Cafe Gelato on Division. It is hard not to feel better in the face these sorts of treats and thoughtfulness).
No doubt things will even out for me as I get more used to the situation. Certainly it is true that I feel more rested, and it's nice to not have a real time table in which I have to get up and go to work. Not to mention that I am taking a distinct pleasure in the fact that my ankles now consistently look the way they did before I got pregnant and that I have an actual excuse to spend time uploading all my old knitting projects into Ravelry. I am sure that you are all right, and that in a relatively short period of time, I'll be wishing that I had sat back and enjoyed this ride just a little bit more.
Since I still have some stuff to do for the office (working from home is not proving too difficult even from my bed) I haven't done as much knitting as I would like. But Lollipop still does progress. Now all the pieces are complete.
All that remains now is some blocking, seaming and a border. I tried out the one with the pattern, but it involves a bit of fussy knitting and then sewing the border to the sweater. And, truth be told, I did a few intervals to see what it would look like (the pictures with the pattern aren't that clear) and I don't care for it all that much, and I think a baby could catch her fingers in the openings. So after I seam the pieces together, I think I'm going to pick a simple crochet edging for the sweater.
I'm sorry the bedrest is making you down. I can only imagine the mental rollercoaster you are on. The ride hormones take you on is bumpy enough without exernal triggers to sway you.
The sweater looks lovely, and it is nice to have ravelry to distract you somewhat.
Take care!
sounds like baby's head may be droopping down if the pain is going, I had it and as soon as DS2 started to ease further down so the pain started to fade, I had the blood pressure probs too and was threatened with being kept in at which point I turned it a scary hormonal swearing beast who scared the doc into letting me take it easy at home, I was so scared that hospital stay would equal c-section
good luck with baby it will all be such a lovely experience, I look back at both my sons births and smile, such a life changing special time
wooo hoooo Michigan Blueberries!!!! I am going up to get a 10 pound box this week to freeze :)
It sounds like you're adjusting better than you think.
TOTALLY AGREE on the Michigan blueberries. I thought it was just me! Thank you for the validation. :)
Sometimes its very hard to enjoy the moment you are in. That's a constant goal for me too.
Two Words: Take Out.
If DH will cooperate, you can do your pre-delivery dining out by dining in. :-)
I'm glad that you are taking bedrest in stride. It's definitely for the best. Take care of yourself for Baby Z!
Wow, bedrest - little one will be with you before you know it!
MI blueberries really are the best. I just ordered 5 lbs. yesterday. A place in Green Bay, WI has connections with someone near South Haven and they bring over several truckloads starting next week. I can't wait to make muffins.
Get lots of rest.
Yum! I just had some farm fresh blueberries with the shortcake and whip cream yesterday!
Glad to see Lollipop taking shape and to hear that you and Baby Z are progressing nicely, as well. All the best to you and yours, Theresa!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh blueberries...I grew up picking Michigan Blueberries from ages 7-17, hating it all, now that I don't live there, I miss it. A LOT...enjoy!!!!!
I bet you or your parents bought blueberries from me at the Ann Arbor farmers market in the mid-80's. My friend's mom owned a blueberry farm near Holland and she would bring berries to the market every Sat when in season. The farm was Big Berry and we were known as the Blueberry Ladies. I just helped sell - a lot of work but a lot of fun too. Hard to believe how long ago it really was.
Are those wild, or domestic Michigan blueberries? Our wild blueberries in Ontario won't be ready for a little yet I think. One of our favourite snacks.
And a blue sweater, LOL. Very cute!
Being a Michigan gal now living in State land but growing up in Kazoo, I agree with you about the blueberries. The best-and with South Haven a mere 30 mins. away, I grew up eating the best. Peaches too. And the fall apples!
Your sweater is beautiful-and you have insprired me to start one for a Niece who is expecting.
A little bed rest will be just what you need. You see, you won't get much rest after she arrives so try to bank some now!! I remember with my daughter they gave me a waterpill(do they still do that?) to find my ankles and bring down the BP. I lost 14 lbs. in one day!!!!!!! And felt like a new woman. No one could get close to the bathroom that day-I set up camp in there.
Rest, dream of sweet smelling baby girls and build up your strengh. Work will still be there,and hopefully, your friends, husband, and and family will handle everything else.
If something doesn't get done-the world will still spin. You just enjoy the peace that knowing you aren't in charge of anything brings. :)
I didn't have to be on official bedrest, but I did get the flu two weeks before I was scheduled to go out on maternity leave. It was flu season, and since I basically work in a petri dish--a high school, that is--I left work early. I felt guilty about missing the last days with my students, I felt bad about others having to fill in for me until my long-term sub could take over, and I felt bad about "lying around" (even though I also felt like crap from the flu).
A friend of mine helped, though, by saying that the one thing she had heard from all the other moms in her prenatal-to-postnatal yoga class was, "I wish I'd had more time to myself before the baby came."
I wish you the best for these last few weeks...it doesn't seem like it now, but it goes fast...and the hardest thing for us go-go-go types to do is slow down.