Moms, I feel for you

I can't tell you first-hand what it is like to be pregnant. But I can tell you how wearing the pregnancy suit is affecting me. Ask my wife or mom and they’ll tell you that while my energy is generally high and positive when I’m healthy, a cold or flu turns me into a whiny patient. I have neither of those afflictions now… just a pregnancy suit — and it’s taking its toll on my disposition.

In general, I'm feeling lethargic. Getting out of bed is a struggle. My once usual 6:15 a.m. workouts are a thing of the past. In fact, I struggle now to rise at 7:15 a.m. And that's with trying to get more sleep than usual. But in reality, even with going to bed earlier and waking later, it’s no wonder I still don't feel refreshed, as I’m not really “sleeping.” If I become uncomfortable during the night, I must wake in order to roll over. Then there are the numerous trips to the bathroom thanks for the water I drink before bed and the six-pound bladder pouch. Needless to say, a restless night means I’m draggy all day.

As a parent of two kids, I know how a lack of sleep can have a ripple effect on other areas of your life. I am revisiting that experience. I’m impatient, my conversations with others are short, and my attention span even shorter. My once enthusiastic morning workouts are now listless routines relegated to the evenings when I have the least amount of energy.

Physically, I have two things going on. Some kind of soreness in my left hip started two days ago. I think the culprit is one of those lead balls in the suit. The other issue is stomach pain. They both come and go.

On a positive note, I think my balance has improved.

I know this is not recreating a woman's pregnancy, but Moms: I do have a greater appreciation.