F*ckitty f*ck f*ck f*ck

So, I finished a copyediting project at the beginning of the week (a day early, I might add) and in my e-mail to the sub-editor, I casually mentioned that I hadn't yet been given a brief for Baby Names 2011 (US edition), and seeing as she had told me the manuscript needed to be finished by July, I wanted more information pretty sharpish.  I mean, leaving me two and a half weeks to re-write an entire book wasn't really good enough.  So she replied by thanking me for my copyedit, and told me that she hadn't yet been given the go-ahead for Baby Names 2011 (US), but she'd let me know as soon as she had.

Then today, I received an e-mail telling me it's no longer going ahead!  Ahhhhhh!!  Apparently their acquisitions department has royally screwed up, and they have to delay the title by another year ... which means it'll be Baby Names 2012 (US), and I'll start work next May.  NEXT MAY!!  Honey, I need that cheque THIS year, not next!  And let me remind you, YOU approached ME about this title, not the other way around.  I was quite content to just mooch along with the UK edition, but the second you told me Crimson was planning a US edition, I got all excited and essentially cleared some time so I could work on it.  Now I have nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  I am at your mercy, and it's not something I'm remotely comfortabe with.

The other balls-up was that Mike forgot to put the bins out this morning. They collect recycling every other week, and now Little O's formula comes in handy-dandy pre-mixed cans, we have A LOT of recycling to get rid of.  It's now going to stink up the garage for two weeks and multiply.  And I am going to yell at Mike, because it was his fault.

Little O still has an upset stomach, and I've already changed him four times this morning (it's 9.20am).  The GI clinic called me back yesterday and they're putting him on some kind of bacteria-bustin' medication because they reckon his digestive tract is still trying to figure out the new formula and is working overtime, producing too much bacteria and whipping food through him too quickly.  He's hasn't gained any weight in over a month (hasn't lost any either though, which I suppose is something) and just seems pretty miserable these days.  His poor little bottom is absolutely COVERED in a rash, too, because sometimes his poop doesn't smell and I don't catch it in time, so he has to sit in it for a while.  The rash has been bleeding the last couple of days, so the GI clinic has also prescribed some fancy-schmancy cream to help clear things up.  Poor little baby.  I feel very helpless and sorry for him.

Immunology appointment this afternoon.  Fingers crossed things aren't THAT bad and he dosn't need transfusions or a bone marrow transplant ...  I'll post more once we've seen the docs.

Caffeine buzzzzzzzzzzzz

Over the past few days, I've noticed some of the people I've told about my pregnancy offering their "advice" to me, usually involving my diet. It's starting to irritate me, as although I know they mean well, I feel like I'm being watched while I eat and drink. Who wouldn't get irritated with that?

I've searched the internet and read a couple of books now on whether drinking caffeine during pregnancy is safe for both me and the baby. Here's what I've found out: women should drink (or eat, I suppose) no more than 200mg of caffeine a day. One can of Diet Coke has about 35mg, so technically I should be able to drink at least five of them before the caffeine police come knocking. Actually, I've done the decent thing health-wise and significantly reduced my intake to just one measly can a day with my lunch. And usually nothing at the weekend, so I'm spreading out a single day's intake over an entire week.

The problem is that I eat lunch at my desk at work, so people who know I'm pregnant have felt the need to ask me how much Diet Coke I drink a day, and suggest that perhaps I should drink water instead. I have upped my water intake (boring as it is) to nearly two litres a day AS WELL as dropping my caffeine intake, so I really don't see what the problem is. And food too! People feel the need to ask me what my food diet is like these days, how often I'm eating and whether I'm eating enough.

I'm actually eating less than I have in years, because my appetite has severely decreased. I get fuller quicker and I've gone off chocolate completely. I know! Chocolate! The horror... the horror... Anyway, I feel good about the amount I'm eating because I know I am a little overweight and I don't mind losing a bit of my own backside to encourage my baby's to grow. I'm still getting mildly criticised though, because people are telling me to eat small portions throughout the day, and to increase my fruits and vegetables. And dairy. And protein. And carbohydrates... but not too many of those.

Sigh. I wish people would stop watching me, or at least stop giving me their advice. I'm perfectly healthy and my baby (as far as I know, this is) is healthy too. So if I want a giant foot-long Subway sandwich for lunch with a can of Diet Coke on the side, people, I'm going to have it! And ya'll can just eff off.

Tina.