Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool...

There's this little hormone that gets released during pregnancy called Relaxin. Basically, what it does is softens the muscles and ligaments in the body, preparing it for the Incredible Hulk-scale expansions in store for it over the next few months. (I personally think this is the least serious medical term ever created.) I can hear those doctors now,

"What should we call this new-found hormone"
"What does it do?"
"Uh...it relaxes."
"How about relaxin?"

Clearly not Rocket Surgeons.

Well, I have started to experience the "relaxing" effects of this creatively-challenged hormone. As you may have known, I am just now recovering from a monster cold unlike anything I have ever experienced. It lasted for 2 weeks, for one of which I couldn't speak, with a cough that must have woken up the neighborhood. It was wild. Well, during one of these coughing fits, I threw out something in my back, thanks to being all chilled out and relaxed by the pregnancy. No biggie, though, pulled muscle...it was almost healed when I coughed again lightly last night and something popped. Now my entire right side is on fire and I fear laughter, coughing, yawning, breathing, and - worst of all - sneezing. I'm not trying to make more out of this than what it is, though - it's just a pulled muscle created by my loose, relaxed muscles, and it will heal.

(An Aside, if you will. I must point out that, while I might be in a bit of back pain, my brother-in-law, Greg is currently suffering from a herniated disc and on two weeks of couch rest and physical therapy before a possible back surgery. I am absolutely convinced that he is way more pain that I will be throughout my pregnancy and into labor and delivery. So, please, keep him in your prayers his way, and pray that his therapists and doctors will be able to provide him with pain relief and a complete and speedy recovery!)

My adamant protest at my current state centers around the fact that a pregnancy hormone called RELAXIN has me now all tight and wound up and fearing breathing. I think those brilliant doctors need to head back to the drawing boards and come up with a better - and more inventive - name for this hormone.