Yesterdays Crazy Happenings

I’m going to start waaay far back! I saw a post on Facebook a few months back, requesting models for the Saskatoon Camera Club to take photos of. One particular couple requested was a bride and groom. I jokingly offered up myself and Brady, since we both still fit our wedding stuff, and while we’re not models at all, we’re comfortable in front of a camera. A few weeks later, I got a response asking if I was serious, because she would like to use us! Having just found out we were pregnant, I did quick math and told her in TOTAL SECRECY (please don’t be bummed, those of you who didn’t know that early) that I’d be 13 weeks pregnant at that point and didn’t know if I’d still fit my stuff. She agreed to take the risk and said she’d like to use us as models whether in wedding garb or not. So we signed up!

I tried my dress on a week or two ago and was sad to see that it already was almost impossible to zip up. I wrote my friend and confessed to her that somehow, I had already become too big for my dress. She assured me it was fine and we should just wear whatever, but to still come. I was sooo ripped. I know, I’m pregnant, and have every right to not fit in my dress anymore. But I found it really hard feeling sooo ugly in something sooo pretty! So the day before model day, I got Brady to help me into my dress again. We fussed with all the fun inside stuff and got me all packed in there, and it closed pretty seamlessly! As long as I watched my posture, I could pull that thing off! I was sooo proud!

So yesterday, Jerilee came for the day, and watched the kids in the evening while Brady and I went off on our date night. I felt completely gorgeous in my twisted funky hair and my fully made up face. I felt sooo beautiful! We made it to the university in time to run into my friend and a couple of other people. One of the photographers came and helped get me into my dress. I told her I was pregnant, and she agreed that it was pretty tight, but a very beautiful dress, and it was cool that I could still fit in it.

Lots of models had congregated by the time we all got ready, and lots of photographers had gathered as well. We were all sort of paired up and sent off to start the process, and everyone would sort of filter through each other. The goal was for each photographer to get to take pictures of each model. We were paired with the lovely photographer Anna who had helped me into my dress. I loved her.

She probably took five pictures of us before I got dizzy. As soon as I mentioned it, she rushed me over into the shade. Brady grabbed onto my waist and asked how he could help. Anna suggested opening up the back of my dress to give me some breathing room. I leaned into Brady.

Then, I had a dream. I don’t remember it, but I had a dream.

I woke up to people talking to me. What? I heard them mumble. What? I asked louder. Something about water? Oh. I had a water bottle in my hand. I drank from it. My dress was open. I missed it all. Whose water was I drinking. Annas. Thanks Anna. Someone clearly came more prepared than we did!

So, apparently, this is what had happened. When I leaned into Brady, I was still holding myself up. Anna started undoing the back of my dress. My head had started to wobble back and Brady saw that my eyes were only half open. I was mumbling but not saying any real words. I never actually responded to any questions or said anything that I thought I did. I hear I was gone for about fifteen seconds. So yes, I woke up to someone taking off my clothes while I drank a strangers beverage. It was quite a debacle but Brady had lowered me down when I stopped holding myself up, and Anna was sooo sensitive and helpful! When I finally cleared up a bit, they told me I had fainted and explained the details. Within a couple of minutes, my friend Jamie who had arranged the whole event walked past and came to check on what had happened. She filled up the water bottle I was drinking from and joined the crowd of us cool kids on the ground. She offered to take me just a block or two over to the hospital, but I declined saying I knew I just needed to drink and eat something. Another woman who was there modelling her beautiful pregnant belly came by, gave me her iced tea, and scolded me for not packing snacks. On my third kid, I really had no excuse. I’m not sure how we forgot to pack snacks!!! Looking back, it was all my fault. I didn’t take good enough care of myself that day. What a bust 🙁

So I was helped to the bathroom and Jamie stood guard outside the washroom while Brady helped me out of my dress. From there, I felt a little better. I apologized all over the place and laughed my way out of the university at the mess I had caused. Such a silly avoidable mess.

It got considerably less silly the moment the van started to move. I was really to puke. Like, everywhere. It was awful. We drove to the nearest Tims and grabbed another iced tea. Sugar, right? I also ordered just a plain buttered bagel, but couldn’t stomach it. It tasted awful in my mouth and I really had to psych myself up to swallow the bites. We thought we’d be responsible from there, and headed to the walk in clinic.

Brady ran in ahead of me and saw the sign that promised a one hour wait. He asked at the front desk if my situation would put me at all near the top of the list or what we should do. The receptionist went to ask the doctor, and he instructed her to send us to the hospital. He said there was little he could do, and I’d get through emergency faster.

Apparently emerg didn’t feel that our situation warranted much attention. I don’t want to get too terribly worked up about it, but there was a waiting room packed full of people, and we were the absolute last people to be called. After three hours of waiting. When we were finally called, the man came and said he didn’t actually have a room, but when he did, he would just hook me up to a saline drip. I was pretty straight up with him and said I didn’t really have another couple of hours to wait for a room and sit attached to an iv. And he said that honestly, I didn’t need treatment. I just needed to drink water. I’ve had a hard time not kicking myself for waiting that whole time. I’ve been so angry that they didn’t say that when I first arrived. Why make me sit for three hours with NO food or drink before telling me to go home and eat and drink. BUT I’m choosing instead to take from that experience thankfulness for never once having to wait in the waiting room, and always being put in front of the other people. It was my turn to wait, and thats ok.

Of course, leaving wasn’t so easy. We drove down the little ramp thing from the parkade and our ticket kept glitching in the machine. We couldn’t exactly back up the whole way, so we were completely trapped. Brady ran back into the hospital and rooted around until he found a prepay machine, and THEN we could leave. Oh, and while he was trying to find that, the engine light dinged on. Because why wouldn’t it. It was SUCH a bust. 

And then the whole drive home, I was nauseous. Again. It was a big challenge. I’ve been so very blessed to have not suffered too much with nausea this pregnancy. I have a bit, and I’ve had a very unsettled stomach, but rarely have I felt the urge to vomit, and never once have I actually vomited in a pregnancy! It was an unbelievable hour ride home. I hate that feeling.

After keeping Jerilee stranded at our house until 1am, she finally got to go home. I kept Brady up for at least the next hour, trying to figure out how to help me feel a little better. I took my regular tummy pill before bed, and I drank some Gatorade, but it felt so strong on my tummy, even watered down. We tried crackers, but they tasted like dust. He made me toast but that just wouldn’t sit. It was sooo bad. Finally we just fell asleep.

So. Date night was a bust. My mom came out today and entertained the kids while they were up so I could rest. She did my dishes and checked my garden and took care of my food and drink needs. It was wonderful to be cared for, as I still feel like garbage. Not as bad as yesterday, obviously, but not great either. I called my doctors office to just follow up and leave a message, but the receptionist said there was a cancellation with my doctor tomorrow, so I’ll look forward to that. I’m anxious to hear my babys heart beating away, all strong and healthy. I’m pretty sure that alone will help me feel much, much better.

So, the end. That was our date night. Definitely not how I thought it would turn out, but I learned a lot. I think we all (pregnant or not) want to be invincible. Limitations suck! But we all have them. I would never look down on a pregnant woman who can’t stand out in the sun in a tight dress without having adequate food and water, so there is not reasonable way I should expect it of myself. Right? I’m pretty sure I’m right. But I wish I could do those things. 

I think my action plan is to start making record of what I eat and drink. I’ve never wanted to do that kind of thing, as I’m a little worried it would become obsessive. However, I think I often think I eat and especially drink enough, but when I really think about it, I don’t think I do! I think I need to be more diligent and come up with a plan. Good plan? Thoughts? 

Oh, and yes. Always pack snacks. NEVER leaves snacks at home, no matter how tight the dress is! Snacks, aka HEALTH come first!