Voting, Dr.'s Appt, and 36 weeks

***Just to warn you, this is a long post. I really wanted to document my experiences with doctors lately, and I write how I talk (which can be excessive) so if you don't want to read through it all, feel free to skip to the rest of the post with the pictures and shorter stories! =)***

These past few weeks have been pretty crazy for us. I haven't been feeling too great, due to my asthma and allergies flaring up. When this happens my eczema follows too, which is just not fun to say the least. This whole pregnancy I've done really well without taking any medicines at all (from Tylenol to allergy medicine), so I didn't want to give in this time either. However, I started to feel worse about a week ago. I was getting up in the middle of the night to take breathing treatments about every 3-4 hours apart. Because I've had a really bad cough, it stirs up the asthma and I was gasping for air after a coughing fit. I've even dreaded going to sleep at night because that's when it gets worse. So, last Wednesday, I finally decided to make an appt. to see my primary care doctor to get some relief. (I knew from past experience that if I go too long untreated, I usually end up in the ER.) When I called, I couldn't get in to see him, so I settled with the first available doctor in the office instead. I guess you could say that it was a mistake to settle. She was just not the friendliest doctor, and it made things worse when I finally admitted to her that I didn't want to be on anything long term - I just needed relief now. She kept asking why I wasn't taking a particular inhaled steriod medication, and I told her that I've gone a really long time without having to take anything and I thought she'd appreciate where I was coming from. Instead, I think I made things worse. I asked her about getting a shot of steroids instead of the inhaler (because I've done this before), and she said it was much safer to go with the inhaler, and she seemed so annoyed with me. She told me to call my OBGYN and ask him to reassure me that she was right on this. She just had an attitude with me. Ugh! So I walked out of there with very little to go on and I was really frustrated because of her approach to talking to me and not really explaining things to me the way I'm used to. Fast forward to a few nights ago. I was taking treatments every two hours at night and about every 3 hours during the day. Even after taking them, I could still hear myself wheezing. Jason could hear me across the room. So again, I decided that I needed to do something. I contemplated going to my primary care to let him know my frustration with the last dr. and to see what he would recommend. But then I remembered the allergy specialist I've seen off and on, and thought I'd have a better shot at getting somewhere with him instead. Again, when I called Monday morning, I had to see the other doctor in the office, but I was miserable so at this point, I didn't care who I saw. The difference was night and day. I walked into the office and when I went to sign in, the receptionist could tell right away that I was short of breath. She gave me some paperwork to fill out, but told me it could wait and that she'd have me in a room as soon as she could. True to her word, I waited less than 5 minutes and they got me into a room, started me right away on a breathing treatment, and had a movie started for Rebekah to enjoy. When the doctor came in, he explained what he was going to do (did not waste any time with asking me questions about why I haven't taken anything or grilling me about anything else). He gave me a shot of steroids, plus the oral ones to take home. When I asked him why the other dr. wouldn't do that for me, he let me know that most primary care dr.s aren't as used to seeing what he sees every day since he is a specialist. He said that there was a slight risk with the medications, but since I'm so far along and that I am having trouble breathing that the good outweighs the bad. He went on to explain that not getting enough oxygen could send me into labor early, and that getting better would mean a better labor and delivery in a few weeks. He was SO gracious to answer all my questions and to set my mind at ease about what he was giving me. He even told me that he wouldn't make me stay on everything unless I absolutely need it. The appointment was at 11am and by 4 or 5 that night, I felt like a new person! I could breathe without wheezing and my skin was already clearing up! My midwife and chiropractor say that once I have the baby we are going to work on what I can do to stay away from the harsher medicines like the steroids, etc. But for now, I am so grateful that there is something I can take and for the relief I feel!

So after that whole long story, here are pictures of Rebekah being a cutie at the doctor's office. She was really enjoying herself!

And then yesterday, we went to vote. The only trouble we had here was that we were still registered to vote where we used to live. So, they made us go to a different polling place. It was so frustrating, but we knew we wanted to get it done. This put us voting at 5pm and we were so worried about traffic and long lines. But fortunately, we only waited about 10 minutes and we were out of there (thank the Lord!)

And lastly, here is me at 36 weeks and 2 days! Jason and I went to the first session of our birthing classes last night. The classes are once a week for this whole month. Since I'm due that last week, we are praying I make it through to the last class! But it was definitely so nice to grab dinner and be able focus on each other, and on what we're going to have to do in a few weeks to get this baby into the world! We can't wait to meet him!