Hormonal Mess!

I know everyone says that when you're pregnant your hormones get wacky, and you sort of lose control over your emotional responses.  In fact, one book called it "progesterone poisoning".  I hadn't really noticed a whole lot of difference until lately.  I thought I'd include a few of those changes for your amusement.

Change #1:  Lack of Patience

As a third grade teacher, I have to have a lot of this in ready supply.  The last two weeks of school were mighty challenging.  I was fine with the kids, but I didn't have anything left over for dealing with the adults in my life.  Normally, I can let things slide, and I don't let people get under my skin.  I have become the witch of the third grade team.  Heaven help you if you piss me off or are even mildly annoying, because I really can't let things go.  And I can see the train wreck in front of me, but I can't seem to do anything about it.  I think I may have frightened a few co-workers with my angry venting rants and the steam pouring out of my ears.  Boy, I hope this passes soon!

Change #2: Water Works

I have lost control of my tear ducts.  I am composing a list of things that I am no longer allowed to do while pregnant.

1. Go shopping for Father/daughter picture books at Borders.  I bought a bunch for J.R. and my dad, and I nearly started bawling in the middle of Billy Crystal's "I Already Know I Love You".  The title says it all, sniff...

2. Watch movies involving relationships.  Yes, I know this is a big category, but if you had see me two weeks ago you would not question the broad scope of the restriction.  I went to go see Sex and the City with some friends.  I loved the series, and was anxious to catch up with my favorite characters.  I expected to tear up a little bit at special moments.  I did not expect to start crying 45 minutes into the 2 hour 15 minute movie, and find myself unable to stop. I went through 6 napkins and a wad of toilet paper, and I still had to leave before the end of the film to get more napkins because I was literally dripping from every pore on my face. 

3. Follow the political election coverage.  On the way home from the Sex and the City flood, I was listening to Barack Obama's speech after the final primary results were in.  He thanked his wife and daughters, and then his grandmother for making him the man he is today.   After a few hard swallows and some fierce blinking, I managed to keep the gates closed so I could see the road, but it was a close call.

4. Listen to any country music.  I have flipped through the dial several times in the last few weeks and occasionally settle on the country station.  I swear, each and every time there has been a song about weddings, or little boys watching their daddies to learn what to do, or padonkadonks, and I get teary eyed over each one!  (Okay, maybe not the last one...)  I have to change to channel quickly or risk breaking down in my car and scaring my fellow drivers.  

5. Read romance novels.  This is a tough one for me.  As many of you know, this particular genre is a favorite of mine for stress relief.  I love a fun story with a happy ending to help me forget/ignore whatever is stressing me, if only for a little while.  But the situation has become dire.  I am in the process of bankrupting my poor husband who is only trying to keep me in Kleenex!  He comes home and finds me red and puffy, and immediately goes into panic mode thinking that something must be wrong.  When I start blubbering about dukes and earls, he retreats to the Wii in the basement...

6. Watch my favorite shows on t.v.  As you know, the summer season of shows is gradually gearing up and I am discovering that I can no longer watch some of my favorites.  The most recent casualty is Army Wives.  I recorded the season premier, so I could watch it later.  I made the mistake of watching it at 8:00 am.  A soaking wet 45 minutes later, I stumbled into the bathroom to try and douse my face with enough cold water so that I could open my eyes again.  I polished off nearly half a box of tissues in that one sitting.  I have no idea what is going to happen in tonight's episode, but I am going to give poor J.R. a break from having to deal with my tears by watching it with my good friend Christie.  She claims to have also cried her way through the first episode, and her husband hides away too!  Perfect!  I just hope I don't have to stop watching My Boys, The Closer, and CSI...I'm glad American Idol ended when it did!  I may not have made it through to the finale...