Pregnancy has done nothing to make me more rational...

Gosh. I am so behind. The State Fair ended and apparently so did my ability to write and think clearly.

Actually, I've been ill, but I can't really blame that because I didn't know I was sick until the doctor told me at my appointment on Wednesday. Apparently, I have a bladder infection. Or, rather, I have HAD a bladder for awhile and no one told me. I don't know why, but I got the impression that I've had said infection for at least two weeks. Possibly a month. Either the infection wasn't that bad at earlier appointments, or the doctor thought it would clear up by itself. The nurse had mentioned to me that they had found blood in my urine and signs of an infection at my prenatal visit on October 12th, but it was just something that they were monitoring. The doctor didn't seem to be concerned. At least he wasn't until this last Wednesday when suddenly the amount of blood and level of infection made him start to act nervous, prescribe antibiotics and start describing the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection.

So that was fun.

I've never had a bladder infection before, but apparently there are often no symptoms of said infection in pregnant women. Except, you know, frequent urination, but since that is also a side effect of being eight months pregnant it never occurred to me that I was sick. I find all this fascinating since I've heard bladder infections for the not-knocked up are pretty painful.

Also, bladder infections are common among those with child. Something about several pounds of baby causing urinary reflux. I dunno.

In any case, I have been feeling rather worn down lately. Almost as if I was about to come down with something, but my body just hadn't gotten around to it yet. So, I guess the bladder infection explains a lot.

Of course, since I am neurotic, I almost refused to take my medicine. I've just grown accustomed to not taking any meds except my prenatal and the occasional Zyrtec. Getting an infection while pregnant made me feel like a failure as a mother. I called Trevor in tears from the pharmacy because I didn't want to take the antibiotic.

He told me I was being silly, and a kidney infection would be much worse.

I also cried to the pharmacist and had her double check that the meds were safe for Thor. She promised they were and also reiterated that a kidney infection was *seriously* no picnic.

But I wasn't convinced yet. I also googled the name of the antibiotic and read for myself that it was safe to take during pregnancy once I got home. Then, just to be sure, I checked online what would happen if I, say, didn't take the pills. And, well, apparently a kidney infection is something I don't want to screw around with.

Who knew?

So, I have been taking my medication like a good girl.

Bother.

Apparently I have trust issues when it comes to my doctor. Trevor says I deserve it since I chose my OBGYN because he let it slip during our initial interview that he didn't like Rick Perry. I stand by my opinion that this is an important qualification for the individual who will help bring our first born into this world.

Of course, now that I know that I actually have a bladder infection, the swollen lymph nodes in my groin make more sense. Part of me thought it was normal to have some swelling down there (Hey, Jenny McCarthy mentioned it in her book!), and the other part of me was sort of convinced I was developing man balls. I'm just rational that way.

In other news, my doctor now has me counting movements, nudges and kicks. I have to log ten of them in the two hours after I finish dinner or call the office immediately. This doesn't sound stressful unless I mention that dinnertime usually coincides with Thor's evening nap. Hence, I generally wait an hour before inducing fetal movement with the cunning use of an intentional sugar high. I drink orange juice, eat a cookie or piece of chocolate, etc. On Amy's birthday I even had Trevor bring me a spoon full of birthday cake icing. This can't be healthy. In my defense, though, neither would the panic I would experience if I didn't get my ten movements in two hours and had to go to the hospital.

Take if from me. Pregnancy is nothing less than nerve-racking.

Same goes for bladder infections.

The End.