Snap shot example of how pregnancy
effects the everyday simple tasks of life.
I'm 29 weeks pregnant today. Exciting
and also realizing the next 11 weeks will be some of the longest days
imaginable as this snap shot view experience so testifies.
How? You may ask, does pregnancy
effect the time passing quickly or slowly? Well, for starters, food
becomes an ever present worry when pregnant where before it was just
part of routine 3 times a day; now it also includes, planning to need
constant water and healthy cucumbers and fruit slices ready for the
all day need for nourishment that pregnancy demands. Accordingly as
I munch a slice of cucumbers my 5 year old is eager to complete his
chores which I'm more than happy to help with and enjoy his
excitement and eagerness knowing this joy of 5 year-olds is a
treasured stage of life that must be appreciated to it's full extent.
Reuben has noticed that the bathroom could be his opportunity to
help, because the hamper is overflowing and may be the reason that it
doesn't smell as sweet in the bathroom as the rest of the house. I
appreciate his observant step on taking responsibility seriously and
also the ever aware younger brother Ethan age three who is also eager
to help and loves to operate the wheels on the upright hamper with an
extendable handle that he would use constantly as a push toy if he
was allowed. Together they maneuver the hamper to the door of the
bathroom to begin the trek which is only down a three foot hallway
to the laundry room to be loaded and washed. Although they are both
very eager they are unable to get the hamper to move and require some
directions and assistance, to disencumber the overladen hamper of
extra bath tissue rolls, and band-aid wrappers that must be put in
the garbage and the towel that hadn't made it under the lid, being
put there and used as a compression shield which enabled the lid
being closed once again. Now we are ready to roll and they are able
to get the hamper to the doorway. But while compressing and chewing
cucumbers at the same time I have managed to have lodged a small
cucumber seed in my throat and have begun a coughing fit which
normally would be dealt with easily but as I am pregnant every
attempt to cough puts pressure throughout my stomach and effectively
seems to result in crushing the bladder which was in no distress
moments earlier now is overly stressed but can not be dealt with
until the hamper and two helpful children are out the doorway to the
bathroom so moving forward is essential. However they are having
difficulties for a small blanket and the lost match of someones'
shoes have been left in the way and the wheels will not turn to
continue the few steps remaining. The bladder is every moment more
distressed and the coughing has not stopped but squeezing large tummy
past hamper and children I perform the great feet of bending over
and retrieving said obstacles thus opening the way to the bathroom
door. Alas, I am on the other side of the children and hamper and
they have encountered another obstacle. Under normal circumstances a
beautiful sight, a basket of neatly folded clothes sorted and left
close to the hallway for the thankful owner to discover. But in this
already strenuous situation of smashed bladder and cucumber seed
induced coughing; the basket is the last incumbent straw on the
camels back and I'm realizing this ordeal will also require a
complete change of clothing which already required a serious amount
of work the first time this morning when comfort, modesty, season
appropriate clothing that stays and doesn't slip down the belly and
doesn't look like pajamas seem to be an impossible combination. None
the less there is no way to back away from the task at hand so
bending down a second time the basket is removed and the children
eagerly complete their journey and begin throwing the dirty clothes
into the washer. Alas the washer is already mostly loaded and they
must be convinced to stop filling far sooner then they are expecting
and the three year old does not except the explanations and so must
needs be distracted with the opportunity to help add the soap,
lifting leaning stretching dumping in the soap with a three year old
and and a tummy both to juggle while still occasional coughing,
slightly wet soiled clothing that need to be changed and a bladder
screaming to be relived make a short 15 second task feel like hours
have passed when the wash has been started the happy children run
enraptured at having completed their chore back down the hall to play
and I can finally get to the bathroom for relief, then to the water
to relive my throat, then a new outfit and we are finally back to
normalcy.
