Crazy (Very) Pregnant Woman

Today was a holiday in Massachusetts. Its Patriot's Day (also the day of the Boston Marathon). Which means that since Michael is on school vacation this week, even the day camp that I would normally send him to (if I was working) was closed today. Which was actually fine with me, since I thought I would do something special with him. Originally thinking of two things, one was a parade in Concord, MA (near the North Bridge) or a kite flying day on top of a mountain observatory. Well, my son did not want to do the parade, so we did the mountain observatory thing.

Which, according to the stuff I read on line, we should have (a) been able to drive to or (b) take a shuttle bus up the mountain. However, when we got there--I could not find a way to drive up there, and I did not see shuttle buses. I did read that to get to the observatory was a "walk or hike of 1 mile". Me, being the person who drags my family out for such hikes (while both my son and husband would be perfectly happy playing video games all day), I figured, what the hell. Right? I can do a mile? Right?!?! I mean, take it slow and easy (I'm not that crazy--right?) Ummm...yeah.

First off, it's a mile if you know what trail to take, and you just don't wander off, letting your 9 year old lead the way, because, frankly, you haven't hiked since your second cycle of IVF, and while you have been exercising all this time--this is a bit much. My son, I must say, was perfect. He enjoyed the walk, we observed various things, including a woodpecker and we found 2 snakes! (I tried to pick one up and it slithered away). But, I just am TOO PREGNANT now. After a little over 1/2 mile straight up, I was getting kinda winded. I tried to pace myself, and I think I made the mile mark very well. BUT, we were no where near the observatory. And Michael starts going -- "Mom, your face looks very red." So, we stopped and rested for a bit. We finally found a paved road that was going up, and we traveled another 1/2 mile up walking on the road (hoping desperately that I would see a shuttle bus coming up or down the road). Once we got closer, I even saw the bus drop off. And we FINALLY got to the observatory.

Where was saw NO KITES!!! It was not windy enough, and there were not enough people there--but for $5 a person you could MAKE a kite. We skipped that. Also for more money we could go FURTHER up the observatory. By then I was like--I am not going UP any more today. I asked about the shuttle buses---I guess those are only for their Open Houses and other special occasions (I guess this wasn't one?!). BUT, after I played the pregnancy card (Hey, I am giving birth THIS WEEK!), an employee drove us down the mountain. (Part of me thinks I could have made it down--but part of me was rational knowing my condition).

Had some BH's, but after getting hydrated (I did not expect to be hiking--otherwise I would have carried Water!) and coming home to 1/2 hour nap, all is a-okay.

Part of me is proud that I could do that hike at this stage (heck, last pregnancy I was on strict bedrest and really sick). But my son said "Maybe we should have done the parade."