The Tree

There's a tree that sits in my backyard. It's not huge, but it gives us privacy from our neighbors (read: they can't see into our kitchen when the blinds are open). Anyway... each Spring, the tree blooms these gorgeous white flowers. When we bought this house, one of the first pictures we saw was of this tree. Eventually, the white flowers fall and everything becomes green. In the Fall, the leaves turn reddish, also a really nice view, and then fall, leaving the tree bare for the winter.

A few days ago, the tree bloomed. As always, it's gorgeous. I finally took a picture of it this morning:

I also took a picture of what the tree does to me every Spring. No, I'm not high. I just have hayfever. I'm miserable, people!

But my sense of humor is intact. Here's our political endorsement for 2008:

Tales of Allergies, Rashes and Babies

Today, I am 15 weeks pregnant.

That's almost four months, people. And still so much more to go.

Over the last few weeks, my pregnancy symptoms have subsided - I haven't had nausea in weeks. No vomitting either. And the constant fatigue - it's pretty much gone. Everyone has told me that this is the time when I will feel the best. And actually, I do. I feel... normal again.

Of course, this is all relative. Just as all these pregnancy symptoms subside, I am faced with another challenge: spring has sprung! There is pollen everywhere! My allergies are under attack and it's not pretty. My sneezing was so out of control one day last week (I sneezed six times in a row!), even Mike got scared. Sleep at night was tough, since I was congested.

I finally caved in and started on Claritin. One a day and it's helping.

Then - the heat rash/eczema that has taken over my arms. Every year, I got it. And somehow, every year I am surprised by it. Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

It's getting better too.

I had a doctor's appointment today. Again, no weight gain (yeah!). All my other ailments are in check too (double yeah!). And when the doctor called for a quick ultrasound, just to check FeeNo's heartbeat, the kid did it again - turned its back on me. Maybe it's the rash on my arms that disgust FeeNo. Or maybe my sneezing is keeping him up at night. I don't know.

I did, however, receive one of the most touching cards this week. Disguised as FeeNo, my mother sent me a mother's day card. In it, she wrote how much FeeNo loved me and couldn't wait to meet me. I must have cried for nearly an hour after reading it. I hope my mother is right about FeeNo cause if you let these ultrasounds tell the story, it would certainly be different.