The Not So Happy Homemaker

In the interest of transparency, I have to be honest and let you know how little I've accomplished lately, especially since I've shared so much of my sewing and cooking with you.  This week, I've felt like doing next to nothing in my home.  I've only cooked once this week, and that was on Monday.  My house could best be described as OK.  Not tidy, not a wreck, but somewhere in the middle.  For the past few days, I've felt completely miserable with my friend, morning, noon, and night sickness.

Morning sickness actually arrived 2 or 3 weeks ago, but it's gotten progressively worse each week of pregnancy.  I've only gotten sick twice, so it definitely could be worse.  But the nausea that lasts for much of the day is no walk in the park either.  Still, I know that it really could be worse.  I've experienced worse!!  When I was pregnant with Isabelle, I had days in my second trimester when I would get sick two or three times in the same day.  I'm truly praying that I won't experience hyperemesis this time around.  But one way or another, I have to wrap my brain around this one and figure out how to take care of my house, meals, and most importantly, my toddler while feeling so yucky.

Honestly, I'd say Isabelle is not being neglected a bit.  In the mornings, I often lay on the couch and read while she plays in the living room.  When she wants me to read a story, she brings a book to me (usually Doctor Seuss's Foot Book), signs "read," and I pull her into my lap for reading time.  I also sit on the floor and play with legos or some other quiet activity.  

It's the meals and house that I need to figure out.  I know I've done this before, but it seems ages ago, and everything's different this time.  Like last time, I have crazy food aversions, but the foods are different.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were my friends when I was pregnant with Isabelle.  This time, just the smell of peanut butter makes me feel ill.  Which reminds me of my other not so favorite pregnancy issue. 

My husband says I've got a nose like a bloodhound.  He's also accused our basset hound of having a nose like a pregnant lady.  My bloodhound nose causes many problems for my weak stomach right now, so I frequently open the refrigerator door with my shirt pulled up over my nose to avoid the smells.  The smell of a cucumber totally grosses me out.  Who knew cucumbers even had an odor?  But trust me, they do!

Now that I've whined and complained enough to you, I'll let you know that I am trying.  I'm trying to figure this out all over again.  I need to pull out our favorite crock pot recipes and other easy meals and create a meal plan.  And then I need to simply "make hay while the sun shines."  My parents used to say that all the time.  For me, to make hay while the sun shines means that when I'm feeling OK or good, I should either clean or work on dinner.  Usually, I start feeling ill again around 4 or 4:30, right around the time I'm usually starting dinner.  So ideally, I need to have dinner done by the time I feel ill again.  And I'm also giving myself a break, emotionally, by telling  myself that it really is OK if the house isn't perfect.  And my husband has been amazing, both in giving me grace when I'm not feeling well and in pitching in with cleaning and cooking. 

But this afternoon, I'm actually feeling pretty normal, whatever that is, so it's time to get something done.  And maybe take a quick nap too.  =)