Weakly

First, thank you so very much for all the good wishes. I read them and wept as I have not wept since I discovered that I had already drunk the last mini-V8 in the pantry. But those, of course, were tears of fathomless sorrow whereas the ones you elicited were tears of affection. Also, plunging sodium levels.

I promised myself that I would not post anything until I had something to write other than: I FEEL AWFUL. So what you are listening to right now is the sound of the wind whistling through my computer. I've said it before and I will say it again, nausea trumps everything. My god I am sick. And yes, my OB forced a Zofran prescription on me after noting zee pounds, I 'ave lost zeem; and yes, I tried it one afternoon and yes, I was able to stagger out to my book club that night and back again which constitutes a small miracle. However, I don't know. For some reason I am not interested in taking it regularly. It is possible that I find the feeling of being hangover, stuffed in a smelly sack, tossed into the trunk of a very small car and driven very fast through the streets of Le Mans reassuring. Maybe I am a martyr. Possibly I don't really DO all that much in the first place so a few weeks of not DOING it will hardly make a difference. Whatever the reason I have decided to just slog through it as best I can (Julia: Drug-free Excluding Lovenox and Folguard since Wednesday, 2006) relying solely upon my unsinkableness and:

1. GUS (Grown Up Soda) Dry Meyer Lemon Soda - WOW! They also have a dry gingerale. WOW! I repeat.

2. Saltines with peanut butter (which seem to be giving me a slight rash...)

3. Odwalla Nourishing Food Bars - "Food Bars". I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Finally, Patrick has taken to doing impressions.

Last night he went, "Rrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwwwrrrrrrr! Gkkkk! Gkkkk! Gkkkk! That is Rusty throwing up." Then he said "Uhhhhhhhhhhhnnnnhuhhhhhhh! Gkkk! Gkkkk! Gkkkk! And THAT is Mommy throwing up." He beamed around the table expectantly and Steve obliged him by applauding. I excused myself.

Hope you are well. Patrick has no school this week and Steve is traveling. I believe the time has come to stock up on children's videos- suggestions?

Comments

[KellyH]

The Muppets and The Electric Company, for sure. And Robots, if you and he haven't seen it. My 3 year old daughter loooooooves that movie.

I second Moxie's suggestion about contacting VeryMom.

[Alexa]

Hello!
SO sorry/glad you are still ill. As for video suggestions my favorites were the Swedish Pippi Longstocking videos--very poorly dubbed, which I didn't notice until years later, but obscurely comforting. I am off to look for this dry soda you speak of...

[Kristine]

*****Assvice Alert*****

Try Sea Bands. They're in the motion sickness part of the drug store (I found them at CVS). They're not attractive, but they work. I just got out of my first trimester and I wore them daily, and only got sick 3 times (all 3 of which i was not wearing them). I was still a little queasy - but not actually sick.

They are drug free, they work on accupressure (which I don't fully believe in to begin with - but it's worth a shot)

Good luck!

[Karina]

I HIGHLY recommend "The Brave Little Toaster" video. It was the only video my son would sit the entire way through when he was 4. Nothing like a bunch of talking appliances to make little boys happy!

[Nancy]

Very sorry you're still in the throes of the violently sick -- hopefully Patrick will be at the ready with soothing tape measures and alphabet puzzles to press against your brow this week sans Steve.

I second the Wallace and Gromit suggestion. Just don't do the Wiggles. Their inane ditties have a way of infiltrating the subconscious of even the wariest of watchers. "Fruit salad! Yummy, yummy!"

[nate]

I think you've been watching too much French Noir.

We're quite into Arthur at our house, but I'd avoid "Arthur's Music Video" at all costs, unless you *like* Crazy Bus and Jekyll Jekyll Hyde going through your head. Also (and I'm sure you know this already) avoid Caillou at all costs.

Just ordered the Laurie Berkner dvd for the sprout. She always likes to watch the videos on Daddy's computer... And I wonder if Patrick would like Yoga Kids? Bleagh, Monday morning, brain not working very well...

[Laura K.]

I felt funny about taking the Zofran, too. I took 1/2 a pill when I needed to function and it helped so much.Otherwise I tried to soldier on.

I am laughing at Patrick's imitations, except feeling sorry for you because it made you feel ill all over again. Damn that power of suggestion!

Feel better. Looking forward to your next update.

As for childrens' videos...with Patrick liking letters so much, have you tried "Here Come the ABCs" by They Might Be Giants? We have the CD and K LOVES the songs. I have not seen the DVD but I know there is one. He would LOVE them if he hasn't heard 'em yet.

[Mia]

Madagascar.

[Pam]

Why do I assume that Patrick will share my disdain for most children's videos? I could be so wrong. But on the off chance that he too prefers a good John Sayles movie, I say pop in Secret of Roan Inish. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111112/
While my children loved it as wee ones, I'm told now "That movie is confusing." by my ten-year old. Whatever. I loved it and that counts for something. Of course scenes of boat and water may not be what you need right now. Reading about them might be making you suffer. Sorry. Other than that its all Little Bear for me. But that's because I get all my parenting cues by asking What Would Mother Bear Do? I even made the bracelets. WWMBD.
So feel better soon. I can't believe how hard I'm rooting for this baby.

[Libby]

My girl very much enjoys:

Toy Story
Finding Nemo
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the old school version as well as the J. Depp one. Affectinatly called by Sofia The New Charlie and the Old Charlie).

One good thing about this movies, I can watch them with her over and over again and I don't feel like my brain is turning to mush.

I hope you feel better soon.

[jozet]

Well, I hope you feel better...just enough to eat, but not so much that you aren't repelled by poison berries. I always have said that I personally must fall a bit lower on the evolutionary scale: my body just doesn't trust my brain to steer me away from grazing on rhubarb leaves, so it won't let me eat anything.

Videos:

My Neighbor Totoro. It just came out on DVD. It is a fabulous kids' Japanimation flick. Check out Ebert's review.

Pee-Wee Herman series

Underdog, Speed Racer, Sherman and Peabody

Here's my Speed Racer review:

http://yonkogirl.blogspot.com/2005/03/uhhhhooohhuuhhhhhhhhhhnnn.html

We like the older stuff. Sure there are car explosions and the shows sometimes show cavemen riding dinosaurs. But not as much current merchandise tie-ins. That's very important. Very. Very.

Josette

[Lisa]

Wow - 60 comments. I hope you get to this one. I (my whole family) loves Paulie, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125454/,
with the guy from Monk and Wings. Heart-warming...parrot...love...all the good stuff.

Feel better!

[Bella]

I fifth (sixth?) the Electric Company. My son (closing in on four) LOVES it. I LOVE it. I keep running in from the kitchen with doughy hands every time I hear something that I haven't heard in, oh, 25 years. Also, who knew Morgan Freeman was on that show? And beware the Spiderman frenzy that will undoubtedly ensue!

[wheelomatic]

No new video suggestions, all my good ones are already above.

Just want to outpour more power to you. Lots of folks on your side. I so wish I could do more to stop the urpies or at least be there to put a cool wash cloth on the back of your neck.

Love the sobriquet Zippy.

NBHHY

[Kel]

Got to go with the Magic School Bus series (go to the library, they'll have them for sure). Patrick will eat them up...clever, clever, clever and scientifically interesting and informative. Get all of the ones you can.

Kel

[Catherine]

What helped me with this pregnancy(did you know?) were Edys brand,whole fruit lime popsicles.....Hugs,Catherine

[Erin]

Hope that you start feeling better soon--though I'm sure that Steve was amused by Patrick's impression!

P loves The Muppet Show and Toy Story. Both excellent, and The Muppet Show is entertaining to adults as well. Plus there are plenty of episodes, so you don't end up watching the same ones over and over and over and over...

[Jen]

Glad you are feeling better (worse?)!

Richard Scarry's magical world! Seriously, I LOVE them, even though my boys have outgrown them by many years.

Thomas The Tank Engine

Magic Schoolbus, yes yes yes!

There is also a great series called There Goes A: Car, Police Car, Monster Truck, Firetruck, An Airplane, a Helicopter-- they are wonderful!

[Jessica]

I'm 17 weeks tomorrow and have already started to forget how aweful the first trimester was. And it was. On the other hand, cheerful notpregantatthetime people kept telling me feeling aweful was a good sign, so I can understand your willingness to march through the experience unmedicated. I won't even tell you I hope it will stop, because that would probably freak you out, as it would have me. I'll just hope it will get better when it should, in a month or so. Hang in there.

[bj]

Arthur & Recess for my daughter (we tivo and watch them off of that).

Charlie & Lola are a bit young, but Patrick (my daughter is 5) might enjoy.

And yeah, I'm with the person who hopes that you continue to have bad morning sickness until you can feel the baby move (Or at least listen to heartbeats in the comfort of your home). You know about babybeat (baby dopplers, right)? As you approach 10 weeks, you'll be able to monitor heart beat on your own (something I found comforting, even though I had no mc's).

bj

[Amy]

I'm one of those people who keeps checking back to make sure you ARE still barfing. Not that I wish vomit upon anyone, but puke=pregnant at this point, which we all hope continues (the pregnant, not so much the puke)!

And I'm all about Wallace and Gromit--every kid I've forced to watch the shorts or the movie has loved them. And The Muppet Show and Electric Company sound like good choices too. OH! And what about Schoolhouse Rock!?

[Lucy]

I 2nd the seabands mentioned above. Never been PG, but just have to look at boats bobbing at their moorings to be seasick. My DH booked a CRUISE for our honeymoon...they kept me from barfing constantly.

I also second the Muppets & They Might Be Giants, and have a new suggestion, Labyrinth, which stars a **very** young Jennifer Connelly and....drum roll, please....David Bowie. Directed by Jim Henson & produced by George Lucas, you might want to watch it yourself first to see if it is too scary, but I love it. And I'm six at heart. Another in the same vein is The Dark Crystal, but I'd wait until he's a leettle older for that one, parts of it are pretty frightening.

Feel better!!! Or at least take some of the Zofran, honey, no need to be a mother and a martyr. And thanks for the GUS suggestion, going to look for some of that now. Anytime I can skip the Coke and the Pepsi for something more fun, that makes me happy. :-)

[Shelley]

The only thing that ever helped me with morning sickness was getting more sleep. And at least you'd be unconscious for more of it :( I'm sorry you feel so rotten... you're right, nausea really does trump everything, for my money it's the worst of the commonly-experienced human sensations. Uggh.

[Annie]

I second the half Zofran idea. You can still feel sick but be able to function and keep some food down. I have 2 healthy kids and I took it the all the way through both times. Anyway, good luck.
My video picks are Iron Giant, both Toy Stories, Nemo and the Electric Company.

[Sharpie]

Butterscotch hard candies helped me - weird I know! As did Ginger Snaps. Neither of which I have ever eaten again.

That's the worse feeling ever.

My suggestion for movies is a LONG one. One where Momma could lie down properly after securing a drink and snack for him.

Hope you get a nap in.

[Jessie]

Even though it isn't specifically a "kids movie" I suggest Encino Man. He'll love it (and you'll probably get tired of hearing the lines, but it really is a fun movie).

[libby]

I agree on the Electric Company. Also Schoolhouse Rock - fun for Patrick and nostalgia for you. And check out Cyberchase on PBS - sometimes annoying for mom, but Patrick will love all the math.

Yay for zippy! Hope your vomit ratio goes down soon.

[Linda]

What always made me sick in my first trimester was my prenatal vitamins. I was fine taking them before I got pregnant, but the minute I got pregnant the nausea would start and build. I ended up getting my doc to just let me take a daily vitamin and we increased my dose of folic acid and I stopped barfing. Might at least be worth a few days experimenting.

[Jenn]

How about Leaf Frog's The Math Circus. It may be too junior for your mathmatical genius, but it's all about numbered "Quidgets" doing addition and subtraction acrobatics. Sam loves it. It's honestly not as annoying as it may sound.

[victoria]

ISn't it about time for another u/s?

[Lisa P]

Glad to hear you're still sick! Of course, I mean that in the kindest way, you know?

Both my kids LOVE Dumbo. It's an old movie but something about the music keeps them captivated.

[Amanda]

Well I will third or fourth or fifth or whatever the rallying cry for seabands as you find the nausea/sickness faintly reassuring (me too!) They never "cured" my morning sickness, didn't stop me throwing up completely, but I felt that they took the edge off the perma-nausea & who knows how bad I'd have been without them.

Now I'm in the UK - but do you get the BBC on any of your cable channels? The BBC has a wonderful channel dedicated to the under 5s called CBeebies & it has been my saving grace this pregnancy. Everything is age appropriate, generally with a hint of the educational (you know they acknowledge the existence of colours, numbers, letters etc) - and there are some FAB programmes on there...my son's favourites (he is just 2) are Balamory (lots of good colours & songs), Something Special (which teaches them signing, aimed at children with learning disabilities from 4-7 but 2 year olds love it & I imagine learning a whole new language with his hands would entertain Patrick for a while) & there is a great dancing programme called Boogie Beebies where they sing songs with appropriate actions - it works well to wear them out if you are feeling a mite guilty (DON'T by the way - just do what you've got to do to get through the day intact) about plonking Patrick in front of the tv!

May you continue to feel dreadful as long as it's a good sign for you my dear! Keep injecting those needles too (are you an expert yet? My hit rate of 3 blood vessels on consecutive days this week implies that my expertise is waning!) xxx

[amyp]

I was hospitalized with HG when I was pregnant with my 6 mo. old. Take the Zofran. My theory is that the dehydration makes you 100X sicker, so try anything that might work.

I started to do well on frozen Capri Suns (like a popsicle). We don't usually drink anything but water or milk in this house but the Capri Suns were consumable. I even ended up buying a sno-cone maker which helped a ton in busting them up.

Try an ounce of liquid every 15 min or so, it might find its way into you.

Other things that started to work:
Jello
Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup
Frozen Smart Ones meals (quick to prepare)
SPICY FOOD! This was actually easier to eat than anything.

The key is to get anything into you - but concentrate on hydrating. I know that it is HORRIBLE right now, and sorry if the advice is annoying. I only wish that I had heard of something other than crackers and ginger tea when I was going through this.

[Mel]

Tractor Tom. you can get it on amazon; it is like heroin to small boys (tested on one friend's 3 month old and another's 2yr old.) Not only almost total concentration from both while it was on, but the older one then plays quiet, tractor/farm-related-games for AGES afterwards. I've bought the 3 disc dvd set for our soon-to-arrive chap :)

[Leta]

I found the sea bands utterly useless, but seems they worked for some others so worth a try? I took the Zofran and it was miraculous. If you are comfortable taking drugs, I highly recommend it.

The only videos I can think of that I haven't already seen mentioned are the Leap Frog ones. I know there is a Letter Factory one and a math one. My girl loves Elmo and the Wiggles, but I would guess that wouldn't work for Patrick.

[daysgoby]

My son loves Cyberchase (on PBS - it's three kids! Who do cool things! With math!) and there's a movie from Australia called Napoleon - it's a live action movie about a puppy who wanders away from home and meets a ton of other animals in his quest to become a wild dog. (Think Babe on an island.) Lots of gorgeous scenery and the jokes are funny for adults too. See Spot Run is another of his favorites - David Arquette and Joe Viterelli - a very funny,slapstick movie. Mighty Machines is good too, although you'll HATE the theme song after awhile.

Things are still going well? I'm so glad!

[nnqwq2u7lm]

[url]http://hometown.aol.com/gays99710young/teen-guys-homemade-porn.htm[/url]

[6hhbg1lnh7]

[url]http://ca.geocities.com/grand515royal/sex-roulette-turn-on.htm[/url]