The Finals...

As I am now in week 33 of this pregnancy, it has been FABULOUS so far!  I have had a very "normal" pregnancy (as my dr described it).   As my belly grows each & every day, I am loving every minute of it.  Feeling this little guy move inside me & now being able to see the movements on the outside is a little freaky but at the same time absolutely amazing!  My husband has really enjoyed being able to feel our little boy move when he touches my belly.  The only complaints I have are  that I'm having a hard time getting to sleep at night for going to the bathroom so much.  Once I do get to sleep, I only sleep a few hours before the bladder calls again.  I guess it's the way my body is prepping me for getting up once the baby arrives.
I do asked by pretty much everyone I know one question..."How are you feeling?"  I actually feel fine, but I feel like people think I'm just lying about that.  Even if I felt horrible, I don't think anyone actually wants that honest answer.  It jsut seems like such a retorical question in the first place.  Does it even require a response?

Now I just have so much to think about to get ready for his arrival in 7 weeks give or take some.  Finishing the nursery, packing for the hospital (these are really the only 2 things we have left). 
The excitement of finally getting to meet Baby Henry is definitely there, but there is also some fear.  We're first time parents so the newborn stage is a little scary.  We've read books, websites, magazines, taken a class, everything we can to prep for his arrival, but it's still the fear of the unknown.  We shall see...

Pregnancy & what it reveals...

Now at 24 weeks along in this joyous ride, a few "issues" have shown themselves.  The biggest being leg/hip pain on the left side.  It started about 6 weeks ago, but I thought it was just part of the whole pregnancy hormone thing & would get better on its own....it did not.  After talking to my doctor at my last appointment, she recommended I see a physical therapist because that level of pain was not normal.  The pain runs from the top of my hip to my knee.  It varies from day to day from numbness, pins/needles to a knife stabbing me.  There's also a point where it feels hot.  The worst is that when these happen, it can make day to day activities difficult.  It's your basic nerve pinch problem.  The physical therapist has started me on some exercises to strengthen my core (which is great since what I did before pregnancy I can't do anymore) & to stabilize my hips.  She also said that since I was so active before the pregnancy that I've basically "shot myself in the foot" for cutting back so drastically because not only are the ligaments loosening as they should, the muscles are going flabby too which just adds to the issue.  I've seen the PT twice & the exercises are helping to localize the pain a little more.  I would love for it to go away, but if we can get it more manageable....I'll take it!

Halfway there...

I am now 22 weeks along in this life changing (not to mention body changing) journey.  Pregnancy is great (so far).  I also love the questions I get asked constantly.  1.  Have you felt the baby move?  The answer is:  I don't really know.  I know they say you're supposed to feel it move somewhere between 20 & 25 weeks and I know that the baby is very active as it is constantly moving on ultrasounds.  However, I have no idea if what I feel is the baby moving, gas, or just pains from my uterus growing.  I have no idea what it's going to feel like when I do feel the baby move. I guess I'll figure that out.  Question 2.  How are you feeling?  I always say "good" or "fine", but I what I really want to say is to remind people that I'm pregnant not incapacitated.  Women have been having babies basically forever.  This is not a huge deal.  Even if I felt like garbage, I'm not a complainer so it's not like I'm going to vent to them (my husband gets all that).  I don't really know why they bother to ask.  I see it more as a rhetorical question. 
The upside is nobody has tried to touch my belly...yet anyway.  I do get looks from people as if they've ever seen a pregnant woman before.  I always just smile to myself...

Life changes...BIG ONES!

In July, I discovered I was pregnant with our first child.  The doctor confirmed it & we were on our way.  I say "discovered" because even though we were trying it didn't take long to happen (the first month).  This was a surprise to us because we really expected it to take a while.  My doctor had even prepared me for this to be difficult.  I have some medical issues (primarily Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) that caused us to expect a long process.  NOT to be.  We had a hard time wrapping our heads around at first & it's still a bit of a shock even though now I'm 20 weeks along & can't hide it anymore.

Pregnancy has been great so far.  There have been a few big problems.  1.  Exhaustion- the first trimester I slept all the time!  I could not get enough sleep.  I know that feeling will return, but in the 2nd trimester I'm doing better.  Still can't stay up too late, but can at least make it through the day without a nap.  2.  Shopping for clothes- Whoever designs maternity clothes has clearly NEVER been pregnant.  I have  a hard time finding pants to fit my not pregnant body.  I'm a curvy woman with a small waist & larger hips (picture hourglass).  Now..it's impossible to find pants that actually fit.  I'm on the never ending search for maternity jeans that don't squeeze my thighs like a pair of skinny jeans.  It's ridiculous.  I really wish that Dockers made maternity pants in the same style I usually buy & this would be so much easier.  Same goes for Levi's.  Have the designers of maternity jeans ever heard of a relaxed fit.  Bra shopping has been pretty easy.  I decided to go with the nursing bra so maybe that will last until I deliver.  It's amazing to me how much my breasts have changed.  3.  Pains - it's odd to have random pains in your abdomen & legs.  My doctor says they're completely normal & due to the changes my body is going through.  It's just odd.  4. "Superpowers" - my husband says I now have a superpower in that I can smell EVERYTHING.  It's pretty tough though at work because I can smell all lunches & meals.  The mixtures are usually sickening.

The next 20 weeks (or so) will be an adventure.  We're starting to think about what furniture we need to buy & going to register for items. We're not telling anyone what we're having & it's driving our families/friends/coworkers (mostly mine) nuts! I'm also trying to decide on getting a flu shot.  I'm not really worried about getting the flu.  I'm more worried about sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia.  Decisions, decisions, decisions. 

NCWTS....Newbies!

Last weekend, Kenny & I attended our first ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Race.  It was Nashville Superspeedway.  That was our first time at the track.  The only track I've ever attended races at is Bristol Motor Speedway.  The two could not be more different!  Being a truck race, there wasn't a huge crowd (I assume that's normal).  But the crowd was so vastly different from that at Bristol.  There were very few drunk people & none that were "overserved".  They peddle everything in the stands from funnel cakes to lemonade with one exception....NO BEER!  I was shocked!  Maybe they try to keep the track family friendly...who knows.  The race was ok, but with a bigger track is a little boring.  There were a few competitive moments, but overall pretty anti-climatic.  It was a good way to spend a Friday night, especially since the tickets were free!

The "Nightmare" Never Ends

After Sissy's emergency surgery earlier this week, she had a setback. She started leaking fluid from the staples in her stomach.  It started out simple enough, but the when I came home from work on Thursday it was much worse.   It looked like one of the staples had come out.  Blood colored fluid was running out the hole.  My husband said the kitchen looked like a crime scene because I did my best to keep her there & not on any rugs.  We took her back to the vet & they found that she somehow she ruptured internal sutures & had to have surgery again to repair it.  She hasn't been doing so well.  She's not eating as good (which could be good since a little overweight).  She has eaten today at all which is a little upsetting.  If she doesn't start eating by tomorrow.  She'll have to go back to the vet.  She's already been there 3 times this week...AFTER the surgery!  I just hope this nightmare ends soon...

Old Habits Died Hard

Last night, we were awoken to the sound of hacking, coughing, & heaving.  Sissy (our youngest &  Lab mix) was panicked & trying to throw up.  My husband let her out & started eating tons of grass.  I noticed that one of our new cloth chew toys was missing & I couldn't find it anywhere in the house.  We suspected that she had eaten it.  I took her out to the emergency vet.  They took x-rays & her stomach was definitely enlarged so she had eaten something...  They tried to get her to vomit, but she wasn't able to.  The vet did emergency surgery & I was able to pick her up after work.  We brought her home then she immediately started bleeding from her staples.  We took her back to the vet & they had to wrap her belly in a bandage.  She got home & immediately laid down & hasn't moved in over 3 hours.  She just looks so pitiful.  I thought knee surgeries were bad, but opening the stomach is definitely way worse!  I just hope that she heals well & fast. 

Roller Derby....I say yes!

Last night, Kenny & I went to the Nashville Roller Girls bout against the Chicago Outfit.  We'd never been before so thought we'd check it out.  The first bout was between the "rookies".  It was pretty good, but the second bout was excellent!  Very competitive, physical & fast-paced.  All things I LOVE in a sport!  I think I have found my new favorite sport for the hockey off-season.  I highly recommend a trip to the Municipal Auditorium if you're in the Nashville area when they're playing. 

Addicted to home improvement...

It's official....I am addicted to home improvement.  At the very least, I LOVE to change paint colors.  Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse is my FAVORITE store.  I love the smell of lumber & aisles of possibility.  Some people find me to be an odd woman that I don't really like shopping for clothes (that's because nothing fits my body right off the rack & it's just discouraging)....but LOVE to shop for my home.  Most of the time the home improvement things are items I have to wait for because they're too expensive.  But it's so worth the wait!

Over Thanksgiving week, Kenny & I tackled some long overdue home improvements.  We tiled the floors in 2 bathrooms & the kitchen.  We got new counter tops for the the baths & the kitchen also.  We did not install those.  That's not something I would ever think about tackling.  That's just crazy talk.  We did the demo for the counter tops because it just amounted to removing the old ones.  I was so glad to see them leave!  They were a hideous yellow color & had been beat up (burns, stains, cuts, etc.).  I also changed the paint color in the kitchen (again).  I also had to repaint one of the baths because when the new counter tops were installed there was some wall exposed that had no previously been exposed.  I tried to color match the paint on the walls & it did not work.  So I repainted most of the room with a brown (called Winter Wheat) that I already had & then an accent wall in the color matched violet (which looked more blue).

I love the way the rooms turned out.  Now I'm ready to finish the flooring with new carpet in the bedrooms & upstairs and laminate flooring in the living room, hallway, eat-in area & staircase.  That has to wait at least a few months.  I need a little break.

Here are some pictures of the before & after:

 After demo on one of the bathrooms.

 I was so happy to see the kitchen counter tops go out the door!

The new counter tops.  They are Formica solid surface in the color "Sierra Mist".  We picked them out after looking at a sample counter top in the kitchen dept. at Lowe's in the Boro.  It looked much more brown there, but I'm glad it looks a little more gray in my house.  I love it!

 My new kitchen sink.  They are 9" deep & it's an under mount sink.  Love the deep sinks that hold pots & pans completely. 

 The counter tops in the baths are the same color as in the kitchen.  We did go with the integrated sink in white for the baths. 

 After the new paint color.  It's called "Barley".  It's from the Eddie Bauer line at Lowe's.  I wasn't sure exactly how it would look on the wall even though I bought a sample & painted a small section.  You just never know about these things.  This color is the first one that Kenny has actually liked in the kitchen. 

A Sea of Red Comes to Town

On Saturday, we went to the Predators/Blackhawks game at Bridgestone Arena.  I LOVE when the Blackhawks come to town.  I love to watch them play.  Also, AAA sponsored a trip for Chicago fans to come down to Nashville for the weekend.  So, naturally, there were A LOT of red jerseys in the house.  They are great hockey fans & we appreciate the tax dollars!  So...y'all come back anytime!

The game was exciting (as expected).  The first period was basically pretty even.  The 2nd period however went to the Hawks.  The Preds looked like they forgot to pick up their game from the locker room at intermission.  The 3rd period, the Preds were on!  Jerred Smithson scored the first goal for the Preds & that turned everything around.  After that goal, everybody in the place was on their feet.  It was fan vs. fan (Preds/Blackhawks)....who can cheer the loudest & longest....really fired the place up!  That was the big turn around for momentum.  Shea Weber tied the game.  Preds won 3-2 in the shootout. 

And since I'm talking about the Blackhawks....I have a secret.  I guess I can tell the world now that those close to me know the truth...I have a huge hockey crush on Jonathan Toews.  There, I said it...
You have to admit that he is a talented player & I can appreciate that as the team captain when he's on the ice he works hard.  I personally think that the team captain should be the hardest working man on the ice.  I can't stand when the captain plays like he's not there.  Anyway, he's also not too bad to look at either (but I have a thing for dark & handsome...just look at my hubby;) )
So here are a few pics from the night...

Predators Captain Shea Weber

Eagleville High School ROTC posted the colors for the night

My husband said this is Zack Galifinakis (sp?), but I'm not so sure...why would he be in Nashville?

Cody Franson #4

 Shhh...don't tell anyone....it's my secret!

 Blackhawk Captain Jonathan Toews arguing a call...didn't work for them...heehee

Sold out crowd at Bridgestone Arena (over 17,000 people...many of them Blackhawk fans, but I don't care!)

Patrick Sharp (#10) is on FIRE right now!  Marian Hossa (#81), well, I'm just not a fan...

Sergei Kostitsyn #74

A Preds pickup from Montreal.  He has definitely come over to the Predators way of playing (as Barry Trotz says) & has started to shine.

Jerred Smithson #25  I just love him!

The game went into the shootout.  My camera batteries died, so I only got the first shot.  It's Jonathan Toews missing the net..oh yeah!  Preds went on to win 3-2 with a goal from Marcel Goc against Corey Crawford.

After the game, we went out to The Big Bang which is a piano bar on Broadway.  Very crowded, but very fun.  I haven't been out in a while (I guess I'm just an old married woman) & forgot how great it was to people watch.  Very entertaining....I'll leave it at that!