Symphysitis

Never heard of it?  Me either. Don't care about it?  Me either, until I was diagnosed with it and now it's all I can think about. Basically, it means my body's producing too much relaxin, a normal pregnancy hormone, that helps the hips and pelvis spread in preparation for birth.  So, having too much means too much pelvic spreading which means trouble walking and sleeping. 
   So, I've been told to lay off the gym, stay off my feet, and avoid stairs.  Real easy with 3 kids and a 2-story house!  Sleep is elusive with the pelvic pain, baby kicking, and searing hip pain all night.  Tylenol kind of cuts the pain, but not as much as I'd like.  I have one great day and then a day where I'm all but confined to the couch.  33 weeks now.... hoping and wishing it'll only be 5 more because I can't wait to get out and walk and exercise again! 

I think this time on the couch has made me more fully appreciate the health I normally do enjoy and the fitness I strive so hard for.  I saw a quote that said, "Health is not a chore, it is a blessing."  This has really resonated with me as something so minor as pelvic pain has made something so easy as walking seem difficult.

 Hey, I can at least pretend I'm enjoying this right?!

Oh yeah, pregnancy the 4th time around is peachy and if I haven't said it enough already, I am NEVER gettting pregnant again! I hear the Taylor Swift song in my head as I say it, but, "I-I, am never, never, ever....getting" pregnant again.  Oh yeah, also probably shouldn't write a blog post after coming out to the couch to try to sleep at 4am because the bed is seeming more like a torture device.  Lack of sleep combined with pain makes me not such a happy person...