...and life happened

My sincere apologies for disappearing off the radar. What can I say other than life simply happened. I have my darling husband, handsome son, interesting job, studies and my beautiful daughter - who is yet to arrive, to share my time with. Trust me it's no easy task at all.


I'm glad to be back. However, I can't promise to blog daily but I'll blog regularly.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Pregnancy Brain

In my last post, I remember talking about how I was forgetting things and found it difficult to concentrate at work. I also made a mental note not to use my pregnancy as an excuse because I was beginning to sound like a broken record. After all, I’m not the first person to get pregnant. So as much as I can, I keep my feelings, emotions and excuses to myself.
Well, in the last two days, I experienced my pregnancy or mummy brain in a new light.
Hubby’s sister put to bed 2 days ago and I promised to call her later in the day. I remembered to call her a few times at work but I told myself I’d call her much later. She’d probably need to rest because of the time difference between the US and Nigeria and labour stress, I figured. Eventually, I completely forgot to call her. Hubby got overworked the following day and made me feel like a witch for not calling his sister or mum to congratulate them. That was just the beginning of an interesting day.
I got to the hospital for my ante-natal clinic and classes, only for me to find out that my ante-natal clinic and class was the day before and I had missed the whole thing. I felt very very foolish and angry at myself. Several times I’ve missed my ante-natal class because the silly staff at the hospital didn’t do their job properly and this time I thought yes! I had nailed it, but of course, I got it all completely wrong.
What made it more shocking and annoying, was the fact that I had set my appointment in my calendar and checked it a few times to be sure I was on track.
Looking back at it now, I laugh at myself because it‘s only for a while and wonder how some people must have experienced it too but couldn’t explain what was happening to them.
I hope I don’t forget anything more serious because how will anyone ever believe that I’m having the “Pregnancy Brain” or rather I’m not as alert as I normally would because of the pregnancy.

14 things I find overwhelming in Pregnancy

Pregnancy Blues

Pregnancy has been said to be a time of happiness and also overwhelming experiences which bring about sadness, worry and for some ladies depression.
In my case, I’ve come to love my pregnancy and each day brings a new excitement especially when I look at my growing bump. However, I’ve listed a few things that drive me nuts, well not exactly nuts but what is certainly not me...

Muscle pull: I had this one last night and I was freaking scared. I woke up to ease myself only for me to find out that I had pulled a muscle. It was very painful. So, I screamed (which I do very often especially when I’m surprised) and tied to wake hubby up but I guess he was deeply asleep because not even my pushing or screaming woke him up. Anyway, I managed to get to the bathroom limping and hoping I won’t experience this again.

Pimples: I’ve got some tiny pimples on my hairline and forehead and they’ve refused to stop coming . As one set goes, another resurfaces.

Crying: OMG! This has been the craziest and weirdest of all. Usually nothing makes me cry, not even the death of any individual (that’s not to say I’m not sober but I hardly ever cry or probably because I’ve never lost a lost one by His Grace). Now, I cry because hubby comes returns late from work, I cry because someone put to bed, I cry because I’m hungry, I cry when I’m singing, I cry when hubby tells me I talk too much, I cry when you ask me why I’m crying. It’s just crazy! I simply hate the fact that I cry over nothing and everything. How weird?

Peeing: Arrrgggghhhh! This gets me worked up. I pee like 50 times a day and I’m not exaggerating. Just after returning from the loo and trying to sit at my desk, there’s this urgent urge to pee again. In trying to find a solution to my frequent trips to the toilet; I came up with the idea of sitting a little bit longer on the toilet seat. So, after a round of peeing, I sit and count up to 20 hoping that I’d pee some more and not have to rush back to the toilet. It gets very annoying when you’re in a meeting and need to go back forth to the toilet. Also, you can’t even hold your pee for long else you’ll damage your bladder. And I heard it only get worse in your third trimester. I just hate the fact that I can’t control my trips to the loo.

Metallisc taste: I hate the fact that everything tastes horrible in my mouth. I never seem to enjoy my meals no matter how well prepared or yummy it looks, they all taste metallic in my mouth. This is why a lot of women put on weight in pregnancy because they keep eating and eating hoping that they will end up enjoying the food.

Forgetfulness: This is called pregnant brain or something like that. Well, because your body is going through a lot as a result of the growing baby, one tends to forget things. This makes me frustrated at work coz I can hardly concentrate in meetings and in discussion with my supervisor. When conversing with me, I’m nodding my head in agreement and the same time trying to figure out what you just said. Now post-it notes are my best friends coz I’m practically making notes of every single thing that is said to me.

Breasts: My breast have doubled in size and hurt like fire. I’ve always had a HAUTE cleavage with some fresh skin for which I get compliments for. But now, they’ve got some dark lines – I think its called pregnancy mask (which fades away after pregnancy). I bet if you see before and now pictures of my breast you’d hardly believe it’s the same boobs you’re looking at.

Gas and Burp: Gross! You don’t want to try the way I burp and gas now. I’ve got so much gas in my system because of the pregnancy. The good thing is I don’t fart in public but sometimes the burping is uncontrollable. Hubby is tired of my farting which does not smell by the way and my constant burping.

Laziness: I’m so so lazy that I can’t pick up my phone to make a call. I hardly reply text messages coz that seems like hard work. I’ve got a driver, a cook and my mum cooks for me as well and a cleaner who comes in once a month. This is not to say that I don’t do stuffs at all, sometimes, I’ve got renewed energy and I do the cleaning but I’m always scared of overdoing it coz I want to do everything I’ve not done before in just a few hours.

Christian louboutin: I can’t remember the last time I put on a louboutin or any other heels as a matter of fact. Flats have become a staple in my wardrobe, that’s the only thing you’d see me wear now. They are quite comfy but I can’t get to pull off that chic look anymore at least not for the next couple of month.

Insomania: SMH! This makes me very grouchy in the mornings because I wake up like 1:00 a.m. till about 4:00 a.m. tossing and turning and hoping I can fall asleep. The constant trip to the loo makes this also very difficult. And before I know what happening my alarm is buzzing and I have to get ready for work.

Social life: All I can say is bye bye social life. I hardly have a social life now. Hubby gets invited to a lot A listed private parties but I can’t attend coz either I’m too tired or I’ve got to avoid all the smoking that goes on in there.

Smell: My sense of smell is so sharp, that recently hubby and I went to visit a new friend and the first thing I said was “I think your gas is leaking” but I guess that was for a good course. If an individual opens their mouth close to me mehn! I would have smelled Fish, Egg, and any other thing you can think of in just a few seconds.

Sex: I’ve never being a sex person and when hubby and I first got married he was almost scared for me us and was suggesting I see a doctor. Fortunately for me, the pregnancy brought about this crazy sex urges that hubby began to marvel...Well, all that is gradually coming to an end coz I’m either too tired or can barely find a comfortable situation because of mu bump. But I must say this has helped save an aspect of my marriage.
Ok, this is my list of things I find overwhelming in pregnancy and I hope to post about the tons of things I love about being pregnant. Watch Out!

My local and international travel history

Countries I've been to -

• Togo
 
• Ghana

  • Republic of Benin

 • United Kingdom – London and Wales


• Israel


• Egypt


• United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah


States in Nigeria I've been to -


1. Lagos


2. Oyo


3. Osun


4. Ogun


5. Ondo


6. Rivers


7. Delta


8. Bayelsa


9. Kwara


10. Kaduna


11. Kogi


12. Kebbi


13. Sokoto


14. Kano


15. Plateau


16. Nassarawa


17. Abuja


18. Borno
      
I've still got a long way to go.  From 2011, I hope to explore at least two countries every year.  Top on my list are Pakistan, Brazil and Singapore.

Also, I hope to visit the Eastern part of Nigeria, although I don't think that will be happening soon with all the kidnapping over there.  Let's see how it goes though.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Apologies

My apologies for not blogging for a long while. I was away on holiday and upon my return I’ve been drowned in work but I’m learning to manage myself properly now.

I was in London on holiday with my family. I’ve got a large over there, and I’m always happy whenever I get the chance to be with them. Without patronising, I think my cousins are the best and I’m thankful to God for blessing us with each other.

If you remember from my previous post, I said I was pregnant. After the amazing and shocking discovery, I was ill and didn’t think I could manage at work, that was why I took some time off to be with my family and rest.

The change of environment was very useful. I pretty much slept all through my 12 days in London. My aunties and cousins all dotted on me and understood when I couldn’t stop having my little cousin lollipop ice cream and falling asleep every 10 minutes.

Shopping was not really a part of my holiday because I could hardly walk from one end of the street to the other, talk less of roam the street of London.

I returned from London after an exhaustive stopover in Dubai and went back to work immediately. Believe me; I was out of tune at work for a long while. A lot of things that was being said to me before I travelled entered from one ear and left from the other almost immediately because I was so tired all the time, I found it hard to concentrate on what I was being told. So, one of my main task upon my return was to catch up on all the things I was asked to do, at least in detail.

Needless to say, that I’m much better and I’m more effective at my job. I’m actually proud of myself, I’m so involved in my job and my mind wanders less now because of the renewed energy.

I’m in the second trimester of my pregnancy and I’m so looking forward to putting to bed and giving life to another. I’ve come to appreciate pregnancy and love the whole process. I’d save all the pregnancy details for another post.

All, I can say for now is that, I’m so sorry for being gone for so long. I hope I’m forgiven.

Guess What?

I found out last week Monday that I’m pregnant and my Ob said I have fibroid – which I rejected with immediate alacrity. My life has literally changed since that revelation. I went to my Ob. to complain that I was having really painful cramps as my period was due anytime soon. The overzealous nurses I met at the reception sent me to the laboratory for a blood test that I might just be pregnant, I was slightly irritated, what has painful cramps got to do with pregnancy.
I did the test and waited for my Ob to see me. Immediately, he came in, I was told I was going to have a scan – I was perturbed at this point. For goodness sakes, I’m not pregnant! I just need painkillers.
I was told to drink loads of water and was ushered into the room. I took off my shoes and laid on the bed. A nurse folded my top while my Ob squeezed some jelly like liquid on my tummy. He began to roll the “mouse/joystick” over my tummy while glancing at the computer and my tummy. Eventually he pointed at a visible structure and he said, that is a fibroid and pointed at something very tiny and said -
Ob: that’s it.
Me: (In shock) what?
Ob: your baby.
Me: How can you tell the difference?
Ob: The shape is different.
I dressed up and went to his office. He asked me how I knew I was pregnant because it was too early to tell. I told him I didn’t know, I came for something else entirely – painly cramps. He smiled and told me to pick up my drugs – folic acid from the pharmacists on my way out. He also said I’m not allowed to take any drugs and I should be back in two weeks for a follow up.
Well, since I found out I’m pregnant; I’ve been juggling between one illness or the other. I’m either weak, or feeling feverish or having cramps or no appetite. I’ve been down. I missed work like twice last week.
Right now, I just want to be well because I don’t feel well at all. I know a lot of women experience different things in the first trimester and right now, I’m no exception.


Confession: Whose report will I believe, I shall believe the report of the Lord

My Story.

I’ve always looked forward to sharing my story on my blog. I’ve shared bits and pieces of it with people when they need to be motivated but not the full story because I never even know where to start from. After watching Khadija on Oprah and reading her story, I thought it was high time I wrote something because I could identify with some aspects of her life.

I come from a financially unstable rich-poor family. I attended the best of schools in Nigeria, Vivian Fowler, Atlantic Hall and a private university. I’ve travelled first class on summer holidays to Europe and the Middle East. I’ve drank Garri and sold pure water to keep body and soul together. I’ve cried myself to bed because I was hungry and didn’t have food to eat. I’ve lost a lot of friends because I couldn’t keep up or just didn’t fit into their “class” anymore. I’ve missed school loads of times because my dad couldn’t afford to pay my school fees.
But in all I didn’t give up. I knew I wanted to be a great person; I’M A DREAMER and was not willing to trade that for anything in the world.
I never saw myself as an exceptional student. I went through school like everyone striving to do well in class. I was never an A student but I managed between a B and C sometimes maybe a D or E. When I was in junior school, the school principal gave a few of us letters inviting our parents for a meeting. My dad went with me and the principal informed us that I was behind in my academics and they were not sure if they would allow me write the junior secondary exams because my chances of passing were slim (till today I really don’t know how they came to that conclusion). My dad was upset and after discussions with my mum, my parents agreed to change my school.
I began to do well in my new school and I even came second once. I remember I liked to go to the library a lot. I liked to look at all the books and read a few. I just knew I wanted to make it in life.
I graduated high school with the usual B’s and C’s but I didn’t get into University because I couldn’t pass JAMB exam. After struggling unsuccessfully to get into Uni for 2 years, I applied to two of the private universities in Nigeria and I was given admission into the two schools.
I entered Uni and I found out that people I went to high school with were either in their junior and senior years while I was still a freshman (my uni runs the American system). I tried to still be friends with a few of them but a lot had changed. So, I settled for my fellow freshmen but for some reason I don’t know, I couldn’t make friends easily, so, I made my books my friends.
My first semester results were just average. My second semester result was a whopping 4.80 out of a 5.00 GPA. This result was a wakeup call for me. I was not as stupid and dumb like some of my high school teachers had told me.
So at the beginning of every semester, I’d write out the grades I wanted to get on my course form for the fun of it. In my third year, I was looking through my documents and I discovered that I always got exactly what I wrote down only in one or two cases I had a B when I wrote an A and that was when the verse-write the vision, and make it plain on tables, that he may run that reads it, became real to me.
I began to trust God for wisdom. I read the book of proverbs from beginning to the end. God gave me wisdom. I was wise and did a lot of things that ordinarily on my own I couldn’t have done. Some people disliked me because they felt I was wicked when I said I didn’t know things but the truth was I didn’t know these things but somehow I always came out top in my class. I always had a positive attitude and never dwelt on the challenge before me.
To cut my long story short, I graduated with a first class honours and also as the best graduating student in the School of Law...
I still ask myself how I did it.


For the Lord God is my helper; I will not be put to shame: so I have made my face like a rock, and I am certain that he will give me my right. Isaiah 50:7