24 Weeks: What a week

Well, it's been a whirlwind week, and I don't really see it calming down anytime soon. Probably the biggest decision made was to take a new job. I know--crazy to be starting a new gig at 5 1/2 months pregnant, no? About a month ago I got a call from a guy I used to work with asking me if I wanted to come work at a local start-up to run Marketing (he was hired to be the VP of Sales and Marketing and needed a Director of Marketing). Long story short: I told him I wasn't looking, that I'm only working 20hrs a week in my current job and I'm about to have a baby. He didn't care. After some negotiation, I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot (still working only 20hrs a week). The company I had been working for (major mega corporation) was a good place to work, but it taught me that I much prefer working in a smaller, start-up environment. I like the pace, I like the opportunity. The hard part will be getting used to going into the office again (with my former job, I could work from home). Also, it will be a little like working in a frat house since I'm the only female employee out of ten total employees (think dirty dishes in the sink and kegerator in the kitchen...truly a start-up environment). Regardless, I'm excited to start the journey (which begins on Monday).

Also, we've had the general stress of getting ready for baby. We are in the process of getting Will's "big boy" bedroom furniture, moving him into the (former) guest bedroom, getting the baby's room set up (have to re-do the decor since we're having a girl), organizing the house (trying to figure out what to do w/ all the stuff that was stored in our guest bedroom now that it will be Will's room), etc. Oh, and just the general nesting craziness that I have in wanting everything organized and feeling like I don't have enough time to get everything done.

Complicating matters is my body. While I generally have easy early pregnancies (and I am so thankful for that), my pregnancies get more challenging right at about this point. With Will, I went into early labor at about 30 weeks. I ended up in the hospital for a week as they tried to stop the contractions, etc. I was on bed rest for about a month (which is not as fun as it sounds--sort of like being a prisoner in your bed), had contractions throughout the rest of my pregnancy and he ended up coming late and I had to be induced (ah, mother nature, what a little kidder you are). Anyway, for the last week I've noticed the contractions starting (Braxton Hicks, I'm hoping) and the pain and pressure. If I'm up standing or walking around for too long it gets worse and I have to lie down. My doctor wants me lying down for two hours a day in hopes of avoiding a hospital visit (um, sort of hard to do between a job and watching Will. At least he still naps). So, you can see my dilemma of not being able to get done all of the things that need to get done (and that I want to get done). My husband is a huge help, but the poor guy can't do everything. So I'm trying to let go of some of the things that are a want vs. a need, and realize that just because I have a due date of February 3rd, it doesn't mean everything HAS to get done by that date...or else. Note that the operative word here is "trying" to let go. For now that's the best I can do.