The Life of a Pregnant Woman

Wednesday, July 16

This summer it is imperative that I keep up with my exercise. Even though the baby is growing, I don’t want the rest of me to grow out of control along with her. So I try to walk every day and go to the high school to swim once or twice a week. Last night was a pool night. Westmont High School is in walking distance, so I got Mark to take a break from his studies to walk me over to the pool for an evening swim. I used to be able to swim for 2 to 2 ½ hours and do about 7,000 to 9,000 yards, but now I am much slower. I get in about 1,000 yards (40 laps) and do 10 minutes of deep water kicking before I am totally dog tired. It is getting to the point where I am going to half to start using the ladder to get out of the water. Pulling my awkward body up on the side of the deck is becoming humorous. At least the little old ladies in the water aerobics class get a kick out of me.

Yesterday I also made the most amazing cherry pie. I ventured out to one of the local farmers’ markets and bought some fresh cherries because I saw a good looking recipe on the cover of my latest Cooking Light magazine. Plus, I just love cherry pie. I never made a fresh cherry pie before and it proved to be quite time consuming. Just pitting six cups of cherries took almost an hour to do. But man was it ever worth it!! Yum, yum, yummy.

This morning, after taking Mark to the train station, I went to get my gestational diabetes test done. This is an hour long test where you can’t eat anything after 8 p.m. the night before or anytime the morning of the test. They make you drink a sugary sweet mixture and wait one hour before drawing three vials of blood. Hopefully I passed.

A Quick Summer Update

Many of you have been emailing me wondering what is happening in the Vigoroso household lately. Well, as you will see, we have been quite busy this summer. The months of June and July were full of family, laughter and adventure for Mark, me and Little Lady Vig.

June 4-10 I flew to Pennsylvania for my Dad’s 60th birthday party and Little Lady Vig’s baby shower. I feel the need to say that I survived 100 degree weather and eating more cake and cookies than I have in years. But it sure was fun. Here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure.



Dad’s 60th







































Dad playing the role of Great Uncle Rich to young Anna and Pop Pop to Luke. Just like little dogs, kids flock to the big teddybear for quality time.

Dad's two pregnant daughters.

The Baby Shower



















Shower hostess and dear friend, Beverly.

Three of the college girls. Aimee, Jessica and Kathy.

Dawn and Lindsay, two lovely ladies I've known forever.

Another pair of long-time pals, Erin and Julie.




















The Kutztown gang.



The following weekend Mark and I drove up to Wisconsin for our friends’ Jason and Brenda’s wedding reception. We stayed in Racine—a small beach town along Lake Michigan. You can see my growing belly in some of these shots…























































Brenda and me at her reception.



Las Vegas
While Mark was on a business trip to Colorado, I snuck away to Las Vegas with my parents, Laurel and Luke. Again, I need to say I survived over 100 degree weather. We saw all the sights, including the Hoover Dam. But nothing beats the precious moments of hanging with my family.



















The Hoover Dam




























The lights on Freemont Street.

Enjoying the fountains at the Bellagio.

I'm not sure when exactly, but Mark found time between going to his Saturday MBA classes, working and doing homework to dig a trench in the back yard to try and redirect the sump pump flow and stop the lake of mud from forming in the center of the yard.


















On July 4th we hosted our first party at the house. We had about 35 people here, including about 14 kids ranging in age from a few months old to 15 years old. We are proud to say that the house is still standing. Unfortunately I do not have any photos from the event. I was too busy being a hostess to take any pictures.


The latest special moments of the summer happened during the visit of our dear friends Chip, Crystal and their little girl Bri. A taste of Florida here in Chicago. We had a blast checking out Chicago, taking Bri to the water park down the street here, and going to the Taste of Westmont downtown. I loved having them here and having the house full of people for a few short days. However, I do not have the energy level I used to and crashed hard the day they left.

Crystal and Bri
All this and the summer is just getting started!

"Little Lady" Vig

It’s a girl!

“Little Lady” Vig is healthy and content hanging out (upside down) inside of me. It’s so weird to know that I am growing a human being. I got all teary eyed during the ultrasound when they started measuring her femur. It is so awesome what the doctors can see and do at this stage in pregnancy. What a relief it is to know she is okay.

“Little Lady” Vig at 20 weeks. She’s so beautiful.

Sharon (20 weeks pregnant) is resting on the steps and

enjoying a windy day at Lake Michigan.