How do elephants do it?!?!

Did you know elephants are pregnant for 2 years?! I honestly don't get how they do it. I feel like I have the easiest pregnancies, but I can not imagine being pregnant that long. I really shouldn't complain but I just feel like this last month drags on, and on, and on... and yes, my pregnancies are easy... at the beginning. I don't get sick or anything and feel pretty good, but for some reason- this one has been really different towards the end. There are some days I just sit here and ask myself...

• Will I ever know what it's like to have energy again? - Every day I feel like the laziest lug, I literally have to force myself to get up, make breakfast, do the dishes, clean the kitchen, then I sit on my butt 'til I force myself to get up and get me and the girls ready for the day
  


• Will I ever want to get ready again? - I used to like getting ready. Is that weird? I always have, and have never really despised it...'til now. Oh, how I don't look forward to getting ready, but at least I do! Even if it isn't 'til 11:00 or 12:00.
  


• Will I ever be able to sleep without having to get up 4-7 times to go pee? - This is especially difficult for me, because I'm used to going pee two to three times a day. I can't believe how much I have to go being pregnant. And the worst part is there are times I'm laying in bed, so comfortable, almost asleep and there she goes, maneuvers into a position that is pushing right on my bladder. So I hoist myself up, waddle into the bathroom, sit on the toilet to let nothing out but a little trickle.
  


• Will my hands and feet ever return to their normal size? - My hands and feet never got swollen with my other two pregnancies I wore my wedding ring the whole time and could wear all my shoes, but for some reason, this time my feet are big and my hands are swollen and actually really hurt. Is that normal? That they hurt?


• Will I ever experience a good nights sleep again? - I don't understand how this can be so different than the other two pregnancies. But- boy it is! I get the worst aches and pains at night, then I can't sleep on my back because I feel like I can't breath, then there are times where I wake myself up snoring! Then Lia is keeping me up half the night kicking and moving, then plus getting up every other hour to pee. I just feel like I haven't had a good nights sleep in forever.
  


• Will I ever be skinny again? - I know what everyone is thinking. "you're tiny" and really, I can't complain too much about my appearance, but I'm to the point where my maternity garments ride half way up my belly as well as half my maternity tops. And my maternity pants are so skin tight I can barely move in them. I remember trying on some of my maternity pants when I was just a few weeks pregnant thinking "will I ever grow into these?" they were practically falling off me and SO baggy. And now... just suctioned to my butt and legs. I seriously don't get how some women can wear their original pants and jeans their entire pregnancy and just do the belly band or elastic trick. I really don't think my calf would fit into a pant leg of my regular jeans.

Then after asking myself all these questions I remind myself that I only have three weeks left and it really isn't that bad. It could be a lot worse right? I had my 26 week appt. last week and apparently tested positive for Group B Strep. I didn't have it with my other two, but this time I do and I just hope I get to the hospital far enough in advance that I can get the full dose of antibiotics before I deliver. I just wish there was an easier way to tell if you're in labor. They say to wait 'til your contractions are so bad you can't speak or walk through them, and 4 minutes apart lasting at least 1 minute each. Well, Ryan and I zoomed to the hospital last time this happened and barely had enough time to get in there and get the epidural before I pushed Della out. So, I'm hoping I'll recognize the labor sooner than that, but it's been hard. Especially since yesterday I woke up with pretty strong contractions, but they only lasted an hour. Then last night I was having the same thing and they were pretty regular for over an hour, I just didn't know if I should go in and try and get the medicine in time, or if it was just false labor or what! Obviously it wasn't the real thing, because I'm still sitting here today with a baby in my belly, I just wish there was an easier way to tell without having to wait so long! So... that's my pregnancy update (or vent.) I really shouldn't be too antsy to have this baby, because I still want to see Ryan run the Ogden marathon on Saturday, and we have tickets to see my cousin Jenny in the play Les Mis next Thursday. I'm just so ready to have energy again, and I want to want to get ready. I'm ready to be able to sleep longer than 2 hours without having to pee and ready to wear my rings and regular shoes. I'm ready to be skinny again so I'll be able to breath when I sleep and stop snoring. I feel like I'll never get there, but I know I'll be back to my old self one day. It's only a matter of weeks now, and I can't wait!!!