Finally Home

High Point:

I am now home. With tentative plans of going out to dinner and a movie to watch at home with my family + popcorn and endless water/juice/liquids being shoved at me by any and all empty hands.

Low Point:

Little did I know how fitting my last post's title was when I wrote it. After such a stressful day that day, I sat down at 7:45pm to eat a quick dinner before I went to put my little one to sleep. I sat on the couch nibbling away when super uncomfortable pain started the right side of my body - my entire right side of my mid section...tummy to back. Just on the right side. I thought maybe I was just sitting akward or just tired from a long day or something along those lines so I finished up eating and then laid down with my daughter. After a good 40 to 45 minutes of laying in bed the pain had not subsided at all and in fact was getting worse and the munchkin was far from sleeping too - so I got up. I was cranky now and upset and definatley feeling HORRIBLE. I told my husband that I thought I might need to call the doctor, because this pain was just quite different than other pain than I've felt before in this pregnancy.

"Well, is this contraction pain or regular pain?" he asks me.

"I don't really know - I just know it's PAIN, OKAY?? and it hurts!"

(Well duh, when doesn't pain hurt? I have to laugh at myself thinking back.)

The doctor on-call calls me back, and by the time he got around to calling me, I (as much as I hate to admit defeat with an issue) was crying. And I had just thrown up. Several times. Fun fun. It was really a rather crazy rollercoaster of emotions at the house. Once I had started crying from the pain, with my husband knowing that I don't cry with pain unless it's serious, he was putting his shoes on and going to the bathroom and telling me to get my stuff - we're going to the ER. And the little one was crying because I was crying, and then she was laughing when I was throwing up because ~Mommy was making funny noises with her face stuffed into the kitchen sink...~

The doctor that called listened to me for about a second and a half before he said, "I'm telling the ER you're on your way. They'll be waiting for you."

Thank goodness for the big bags of salvation snacks I keep in the car for the little one. Needless to say, the big bag of cereal no long exists as I had to use that bag to hurl in several times on the way to the ER. The last time I had been in so much pain and throwing up at the same time, was just before having my daughter 19 months ago - so naturally I was a big worried.

We arrived at the ER, give the clerk my name, and right away security gets me into a wheelchair and takes me upstairs. I thought ~yes, I'm going to get some pain meds and maybe we can figure out what.is.going.on!~ The only thing is, the security guy wheeled me -with my husband and toddler in tow- to REGISTRATION. This guy sitting behind his desk starts asking me my name and wanting insurance cards and ID cards etc.

"So, what is your Maiden name?....and when was your last menstruation date?"

Was this guy KIDDING ME!? My husband said, "Listen, SHE's PREGNANT and she's in pain!"

So the man decided to go ahead and have security take me up to my final destination - Labor and Delivery, while my husband and daughter stayed to finish registering me.

I get tucked away into a labor bed, the doctor is called, I'm hooked up to an IV of fluids right away and given some pain meds. The baby monitor was hooked up on my tummey - one sensor for the baby's heart rate, one sensor for contractions.

My husband smiles at me. With that quirky look. So I say, "Well, at least we got to ~you know~ yesterday..."

He chuckles and says, "You know, I hear it can be a lot of fun in a hospital..."

"...uh, talk to me AFTER I get some pain meds!"

Men are so ~focused~.

It really cracked me up and was definately fun natured humor that I needed for the amount of stress and pain I was under.

The reason I couldn't differentiate from contraction pain from real pain earlier when my husband asked me, was because I was actually having both. Which explains the throwing up. No wonder I was in so much pain. Geesh.

But as the pain meds started to help some, the reality of the situation hit me -Dear God, please don't let the baby come this early...it's way too early for her to be delivered." I am only in my 28th week of pregnancy. Now while I have joked with my friends about having the baby early so I could just be done being pregnant already and start raising this new child...when the possibility of that becomes a chance in reality, you're entire perspective changes. I laid in bed with tears rolling down my face, hoping that the baby would just stay put.

I wasn't dialated at all and the baby wasn't lowered. Both being good things in keeping the baby situated.

I received a shot to stop the contractions. That worked for awhile, but then they started up again. After which the doctor decided he wanted to stop my pain meds and give me another shot to stop the contractions. This would determine whether or not it was true pre-term labor. If the pain stopped then this was just labor and we'd know how to try to deal with it. If the pain didn't stop then we knew we were dealing with a different root issue to try to solve.

Well, the pain definately didn't stop. So in one way I was thankful because as I mentioned before, I did not want the baby coming before her time. But in another way - hooray...more pain. Not fun. I was given another dose of pain meds. This was around 3:30am. Problem. This dose did basically nothing to help my pain. And since I was in so much pain, I simply could not sleep. So I laid in bed, listening to the baby's heart beat, alone, and watched the minutes tick by on the analog clock hanging in front of me. I did ask for more pain medicine, but was told -per doctor's orders- I wouldn't be given anything sooner than 4 hours down the road.

In the morning, beyond that four hour time limit, I still had not received more meds, but I assumed it was because I needed to see the doctors. I saw the doctor's and they ordered a ultrasound of my kidneys. (and of the baby to make sure she looked okay...)

I basically waited a good portion of all day before they came to take me for the ultrasound. But at least my regular doctor was now taking care of me instead of the doctor on call. He stopped the prescription of the pain meds I was on and ordered me up a nice dose of morphine. Ahh. For once in the last 13 hours, I was finally not being tormented with pain. I was able to get some rest. I woke up when that dose wore off and was given another one. Zzz. Back to sleep I went. I truly was exhausted.

Then it was time for my ultrasound. They found a kidney stone. The baby looked fantastic. She was playing with her feet, rubbing her head, and yawned a few times. So cute!

So back up to labor and delivery I went to my room, ate a delish cheeseburger, salad, and gigantic lemonade (I was SO STARVED!)...and after seeing the baby healthy and playing inside me on the ultrasound monitor, I honestly was on a natural high. I didn't feel the need for any more pain meds. And I didn't take any more during the rest of my stay there at the hospital.

I was moved into a room down the hall that had a more comfortable bed and a far better layout with the tv - not that I watched that much of it as I slept more.

Then I got to see the Urologist (pee pee doctor for anyone unknowing). He very clearly explained our game plan. He upped my fluid intake in my IV and then said after awhile he'd have a drug that would make me pee like I had never peed before in my life would be administered into my IV. The nurse must have gotten a good laugh out of me as I explained to her that I was sure this drug would have no real impact on the amount of times I urinated, because I'm pregnant and let.me.tell.you I've been peeing a LOT for a long time now! She chuckled at me and replied, "No, you don't understand...you will REALLY HAVE TO PEE!!" Boy oh boy, was she not kidding! That drug made my bladder so hyper and just flushed my system out like I'd never experienced before.

The nurse told me that as the stone moved in the direction of being gotten rid of that the stone might get stuck and that that would be very painful and then the actual peeing out of the stone would probably be a lot of pain too BUT they had a dose of morphine ready - "just give us a page..."

If I didn't pass the stone naturally, it was scheduled for my food intake to be stopped at midnight so I could be taken into surgery the next morning. Good times.

However...

At 2am, I passed the stone. And amazingly enough, I didn't feel it! Lucky me! I paged the nurse just to let her know. The nurse taking my page asked me if there was anything I needed my nurse to bring me and I was so exhilarated, I honestly felt like saying, "PARTY HATS AND STREAMERS!!" but then figured at 2am my humor would probably fall on deaf ears so I said, "No thank you, just my nurse please."

All the nurses that were taking care of me were just shocked at the size of the stone I passed. They equated it to being the size of a quarter karat sized diamond. The nurses paraded my stone around amazed, showing it off to all the other nurses. It was pretty comical really. But they said it was the largest stone they'd ever seen. They also were really surprised I hadn't been screaming.

My doctor came in to see me this morning, took a look at my stone, took a look at me, and said, "GO HOME - you'll sleep better there."

Not waiting for him to change his mind, I gathered my belongings, signed my discharge papers, and they wheeled me out to the enterance where I was picked up and taken home.

It feels so good to be home. I fiddle faddled a bit around the house and then took my little one to bed for a long snuggle session and a much needed nap.

Margarita IV - STAT!

High Point:

Finally being home from running around. Eating a sandwich with sliced rotisserie chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo, dijon mustard on lightly toasted bread. French fries. Diet A & W rootbeer.

Low Point:

Being up and out early, after starting my day off with already feeling achey. The little one had a doctor's appointment with a pediatrician she'd never met before. He had the personality of a doorknob. He was unapproachable. Zero sense of humor. I started the appointment off with the little one in her stroller, because shes the best behaved in it when in a new area - less able to explore and run amuck. The doctor's first words, "Uhhh Can she not walk???" I reply, "Oh, no, she can walk, I was just trying to keep her from getting into things, but I can certainly take her out of her stroller, sorry." ..."Well, I DO have to get her weight!!" Ok, was this the best approach this guy had? He came across very rude, but I smiled and was nice and really just let it be brushed off my back. After all, this was our new pediatrician who came highly recommended to us. But the impression I had of him didn't get any better as the minutes ticked by. He wasn't friendly. He didn't do anything to try to make my daughter happy - who by the way completely played off his behavior and went psycho herself. When I asked for samples of Tylenol/Motrin to save a quick trip to the store - he bluntly and rudely gasped at me with expression and said he did NOT give out samples. I said that of course wasn't a problem and that I would just go to the store - I had just hoped to get the little one home to rest after her shots. He said something that I didn't quite follow, so I said, "Pardon?"...to which he replied, "Oh just saying it's time to go!" Excuse me, but if I'm paying you and still have questions and whatnot, do not shove me out your door by telling me it's time to go. My daughter's thighs hurt worse than they ever have after shots - she even screamed bloody murder when I touched them to check her bandages, to which she ripped one of them right off out of pain. He counseled me on how small I need to be cutting food up for my daughter...as if I had just come on board in taking care of her. Believe it or not, I've been taking care of her for 19 months (+ womb time) and I know what size bites of food she can handle. This doctor seemed bothered that I had made this appointment and even asked me why I had with an attitude like I was wasting his time. We will NOT be going back to him.

The little one finally stopped crying after I took her to see her Daddy at work. He carried her around for a good 15 minutes and then tucked her back into her carseat with kisses. That seemed to make the world right to her again. She's now resting after some Tylenol that I gave her...poor thing for FOUR shots today. She is due for another one in a couple weeks, but I can tell you now that it will be a different doctor giving it to her.

And after getting home I called up one of the people that had recommended this doctor, "Oh yeah, he really has no personality and isn't very approachable...we've been going to him for five years, but I'm thinking maybe we'll change." How nice to tell me that NOW.

I'm supposed to be minimizing my stress - this did not help.

Brawn

Update: Apparently the soda bottles aren't defective. ~*~serious eyeroll~*~ My husband seemed to open a bottle just fine. So I'm a wimp.

And - I have my blood sugar test in the morning which means no eating for me from now until after I get done with it tomorrow.

Total torture.

I want grilled shrimp with drawn butter.

A nice salad with a peppercorn ranch and baby shrimps and cashews sprinkled on top.

Chicken strips with cajun french fries... the good kind from McMenamins. And their honey mustard and ranch dips.

A true, honest, grilled cheeseburger from a charcoal grill with ALL the fixings. Well done, please.

I better stop there, because I'm making myself miserably hungry.

Lady with a Knife

High Point:

A nice, two hour nap.

Low Point:

Waking up SO entirely thirsty! I nearly ran into the kitchen to get a small bottled soda. I reached in and grabbed one of the three remaining bottles. Twist...twist... UGH! ... T.W.I.S.T...*huff puff huff puff* ..it just won't budge. And with each second passing that I'm trying to open the darned bottle, my thirst increases exponentially. To the point where I had to grab something else - anything else - that I could drink from the fridge just to simmer down the thirsty beast within me. But I was really bothered that I couldn't open this bottle of soda. So I exchange it for antoher one. That one too - won't budge. And exchanged the second bottle for the third. Same story. Won't open. By that time I had had it, so I take out one of my knives from the wood block and begin sawing on the darned neck of the bottle. Sawed (is that such a word even?) right through the plastic lid and lid ring until I heard the ting ting ting of the metal blade on glass. Cut all the way around that sucker and Ahhhh!! Bliss! I had finally got it open.

I didn't really want to lay down, but figured while the munchkin slept - I should too. It's hard forcing myself to rest like I'm supposed to. But I have to keep reminding myself, this isn't about ME and MY agenda - it's about the miracle of life that I'm harboring inside me.

Put a Sock In It!

High Point:

Laying down with my little one to get her settled in to nap time and having her wave her socks around in the air saying, "Shosh! Shosh!" (her way of saying sock) It was really cute.

Low Point:

Despite the cuteness, having to tell my munchkin, "LAY DOWN!!! GO TO SLEEP!" because she really was SO overtired from being woken up too early this morning and having her say "SHOSH!" in my face and then proceed to stuff her socks into my mouth to hush my commands up.

But then she would giggle and toss her head onto the pillow. Then sit up again, smirk at me, say she wasn't going to nap with a defiant yet playful, "No!" followed by my "Sleep! Now!" discipline....only to have the "SHOSH!" said again and the socks stuffed into my mouth again. This happened about four times and then she laid down for good, smiling as she snuggled in to me and dozed off.

Taking a Moment to Reference

I just thought I'd take a moment to talk about the "Also" section I have on my sidebar.

Those are additional blogs I run either by myself or with the help of other fantastic contributors.

Through the Eyes of a Child

I started this blog to give light to the photos my daughter has been taking. She has shown a lot of interest in photography, most likely because of my fascination with the hobby. So who am I to squash her desires and creativity - She's using my old Powershot S30 to take her own digital photos and this blog will show you life captured through her eyes.

All About Food

The title of this blog pretty much says it all. This wonderful blog has a good handful of contributors. Collectively we share recipes and discuss matters of food. Mmm.

Planning Paradise

This is where I share my dreams and passions about the designing and building of our future home.

Lineage 2 Screenshots

I'm a gamer. I'm admitting it. And Lineage 2 happens to be the game I'm currently playing, so I am documenting my life as a dark elf through screenshots.

Stop with the Sauces

High Point:

Being able to check my mail and getting those unimportant bills paid. Penne pasta with butter and some Hawaiian sea salt with a dash of ground pepper. No plans for the evening but to relax.

Low Point:

Originally wanting to make a tomato/artichoke/garlic sauce from scratch for my pasta and having it turn out SO HORRIBLY that I poured it down the sink.

I don't know why I try to experiment in making sauces when it tastes so much better just to chop up some fresh ingredients and toss them in with the pasta. Now I could go for a nice Lemon Drop Martini to sip on while listening to good conversation and pausing only to delve into a bite of delicious dessert - tiramisu or creme brulee sounds good. ~*~dreams~*~

Seeing RED

High Point:

I found the blasted mailbox key.

Low Point:

Having called the Post Office to ask if I could get a courtesy house delivery of mail just for today. The Post Office people were SOOO incredibly rude.

I originally asked if I could meet the carrier out at the mailbox to pick up the mail personally today. And was flat out told that my mail wouldn't be given to me (despite showing my license). Mail is only to be delivered to the mailbox. No where else. Then when I called to ask for a courtesy delivery to my house, I was met with being shuffled from one phone person to another until I got a Postal Manager. Then she said, "And WHY are you requesting thisssss??" Like I'm some sort of lazy sod who is trying to make more work for them. "Well, for a couple reasons really...I'm very pregnant and I'm not really supposed to be walking all that much (which is TRUE), and also because I've misplaced my mail key and I am fairly sure it's in my car, but my husband has it at work and I won't be able to check for it until later and I'd really like to get my mail." And she goes to discuss this with my mail carrier with a return response of, "Well, no. Your carrier refuses to do a home delivery. He says he's not supposed to...and by the way, I checked your mail and you have NOTHING important being delivered - just a couple bills."

Talk about seeing RED. I couldn't believe how they refused to just help me out. It wasn't like I was asking for a lot. The carrier would just be driving a couple extra blocks. And the NERVE of the woman to tell me what is and what isn't important in regard to my mail!! So I said, "Well, if he is refusing to help me out, then there is nothing I can do...." And then the woman hangs up on me.

Stupid Key

High Point:

Beautiful, sunny weather that's not too hot. Perfect for going for a little walk and checking my mail at the community mailbox.

Low Point:

Not being able to find my stupid mail key AGAIN!

I just really really really hate having a stupid community mailbox that requires a mailbox key. I miss having mail delivered to my house. I miss having it slipped through the little slot in my front door. I work so hard at keeping track of that darned key, and yet I spend so much time looking for it. 99.5% of the time I put it in the very same location - zippered pocket inside my purse. When it's not there, I just can't understand why. It's got to be in the car... Grrr.

And when I'm frustrated and annoyed, everything becomes stupid.

Leukemia

High Point:

Knowing that even though I'm achey, that I'm healthy and that my family is healthy.

Low Point:

Running errands this morning and hearing on the radio that there is a fundraiser going on to help out a family's little, two year old daughter. She has Leukemia. And hearing that on the radio hit me kind of hard. Last year I had a previous student of mine pass away from Leukemia. He was such a special person. All the chemicals he had been given and the chemotheraphy and all those other icky things that people with Cancer have to go through were enough to bog anyone down and yet he always held his head high and tried to see the positives and the goods. He was first diagnosed with it when he was a third grader. I taught him when he was a fourth grader. He struggled with his studies from all the medications. He struggled with looking somewhat bloated from all the medications. He always kept such an active role in the classroom, despite all his absenses to see doctors and whatnot. But as far as we knew, he was doing well then and the blood transfusion from the previous year had taken and there was hope and things looked good. Fifth grade came and went. Sixth grade came. He was still a very dedicated student. He was excited about the year to end, because now he would be going on to being a big middle school guy!! - a seventh grader! oooo! And sixth grade ended and during the summer he started getting a lot of headaches and other odd symptoms of something that might mean things were just not right. So he went in for a check up... the Cancer had returned. He was put on a list for a donor. No donor was to be found, until one evening out of the blue there was a message found on the family's message machine saying a donor had been found in Germany. Thank God. And while they prepped and planned for another blood transfusion, the lung infections he had were difficult to get a handle on. Him and his mom moved into a hospital hotel that was sterile, and would hopefully help with getting him strong enough for the procedure. He was on 35 medications and other preperatory things to help. Yuck. He certainly didn't have this in mind when he was dreaming about starting middle school. The community raised money. The church held auctions and sales. We all sent motivational cards. The school donated a lap top with internet access so he could surf the web while stuck in the hotel room/hospital. The blood transfusion did take place, and while at first it looked like it was going to hold, it didn't. His body finally resisted it. And while we all prayed and kept our hopes high, we feared what the outcome would be...and still, this boy kept smiling, kept accepting visitors, kept making jokes and being a sparkle in the lives of people who loved him. The doctors and specialists sent him home. There wasn't much they do could any more and he was given the pass to leave the hospital and go live as he wanted until God came calling. And this beautiful person that he was, still kept on with the visitors and the stories and the smiles - even when he was home. The day his father sat him down and told him what it all meant and that he would not recover and that he was going to die...he still accepted visitors who brought by dinner and he invited them in and sat with them and chatted. His strength was amazing. I'm not sure I would have had the same strength he displayed. And up until the last minute, he was strong and happy - until his time came. It's heartbreaking thinking back on him and knowing he didn't get to start middle school like he so wanted to...that he wouldn't have that first girlfriend, or prom, or a driver's license, or all the other good things children deserve in life.

I am so blessed to have known him and I am so blessed to have health for myself and my family and my friends.

Lunch Date

High Point:

Getting to go out to lunch at Red Robin today. Whiskey River BBQ Burger. So YUM! Bottomless french fries. Icy cold beverage.

Low Point:

I had to go with someone I didn't know very well who has two kids. So combined with my one child and me being pregnant and tired - it was very exhausting.

Then the kids played afterwards and it's always so hard when the parents dont discipline in the same fashion. So while I'd have liked to really lay down the law in my house on a few things, it wasn't my child so I had to be gentle and careful as to not offend. BLEH. But I'm sure on the overall the kids had a great time.

Little Compares To Chocolate

High Point:

Heading off to my doctor's appointment today alone without the drama of the little one accompanying me. And knowing that while I was gone, she was in the great care of her Daddy. I knew I would be missed as she cried while I backed out of the garage, but also knew she'd be okay and that I'd be returning very shortly for kisses and hugs.

Low Point:

Getting home and having my husband chuckle as he told me she cried with arms held out wide, grasping at the air, for me to come back for her... until he said, "Here, let's eat some chocolate!" And without a second's pause of time, she turned those air grasping arms and tear filled eyes into a grandiose Queen's wave of ~*~GOODBYE~*~ as the first morsel of chocolate touched her tongue. So I guess I don't quite compare to the beauty that is chocolate.

The doctor's appointment went well. My blood pressure was 100 over 60 and the baby's heart rate was 144. I do have to go back in two weeks though. And, per doctor's orders, I do have to be off my feet as much as I can be. But with an 18 month old, who's he kidding anyways???

Party at the Potty

High Point:

The munchkin used her potty today for the first time! She actually asked to use it which baffled me. And while I figured her using her potty was about as common as getting struck by lightning, it happened two more times today! WOW! I'm such a proud momma - my little baby pottied like a big person.

Low Point:

I'm addicted to playing Lineage 2 again.

Under the Pale Moonlight

High Point:

Going for a walk with my husband and my daughter in the cool, night air.

Low Point:

Having to clean up the disaster of toys all over the house because the little beast had WAY too much fun playing and decorating.

Up For a Trip to Iraq?

High Point:

Hearing that my little sister got promoted to Captain at the age of 25. We still haven't spoken for nine months time, but I'm happy for her nevertheless.

Low Point:

Finding out that my little sister is more than likely going to Iraq to run a mortuary to prepare our fallen soldiers for their return home.

I do know that my sister takes her duty seriously and that it's wonderful she's so willing to aid, but the big sister in me sees my little sister and worries that it will be an overwhelmingly sad and depressing deployment.

Maybe she'll be doing more paperwork than anything else?

Mountain Climbing In My Laundry Room

High Point:

Opening up the windows and getting fresh, morning air into the house, while my daughter babbled loudly through the screen at the gardner. I wonder what she was saying - complimenting him on his shoes probably and telling him he missed a blade of grass. It was so cute watching her go on and on with the hands going wild with expression and finishing up with a giggle and a wave.

Low Point:

Laundry. Not just doing laundry, but thinking out loud to myself ~you know it would really stink if I dropped the detergent cup behind the washing machine - especially with as hippo-like I am these days~ and then as if I was foreshadowing my own life, there went the stupid cup behind the machine.

If you can imagine how hideous a large, pregnant woman looks hoisting herself up onto the top of the washing machine with the longest grill tongs she could find desperately reaching between the machine and the wall to just snip one edge of that blasted cup so it could be rescued - well, then you know just how ridiculous the whole episode was.

Drive-thru Anyone?

High Point:

After realizing that Costco didn't open for another half an hour this morning when I arrived to pick up a few things, being able to get a fresh, hot cheeseburger with no onions and extra pickles - at 9:30am. With hot french fries and an ice cold soda. To eat in peace. In an empty parking lot. With the radio going and not a care in the world other than if my daughter had nibbled the last bit of her fry.

Low Point:

Taking so long shopping at Costco that by the time I was driving off I realized it was near lunch time and that I should be nice and bring my husband home something to eat - going through the very same drive-thru and being helped by the very same attendant and having to explain that I really wasn't going through again for myself. And then having the girl laugh and not believe me. And then having her insist that I just really liked their food and after all you are pregnant and then having to have the same discussion at the pick-up food window too.

I swear the second time I really was picking up lunch for my husband.

There's No Hiding It

Pajama Bottoms Are Overrated

High Point:

Seeing my daughter wobble around the house with her pajama bottoms hanging off of one foot - straggling behind her as she went zooming from one place to the next. She's just so darn cute.

Low Point:

Realizing that my daughter's pajama shirt was doing a good job of masking the fact that she had also taken off her diaper in addition to her pajama bottoms. So while she was zooming about the house looking cute with her pajama bottoms stuck to one ankle - her diaper's velcro tab was stuck to the pajama bottoms. Like a train of trailing disaster she was zooming around bare bottomed, dragging a loaded diaper of crap throughout the house.

Thank goodness for Spot Shot and hot, soapy water.

And what I find strange, is that during this whole fiasco, she didn't stop to think, "Hey, I'm going to unhook these pajama bottoms from my ankle." She quite enjoyed lugging it all around.

Why Don't You Sit and Spin?

High Point:

Sipping on a hot, steamy mocha full of all the fat and whipped cream and getting a good laugh when they forgot to give my husband a straw for his Frappucino.

Low Point:

Getting a glimpse of myself in my underwear, very pregnant, while I tried to show my daughter how to use her new Sit-N-Spin toy.

But I'll have you know that I still fit on the toy, AND was able to spin my big, fat pregnant self - even if my daughter did look at me like I was showing her how to use some sort of torture device.

Squeaky Clean

Time for an overhaul.

A new feel.

So for now - back to the basics.

I'm off to San Francisco and wherever else the road takes me.

Have a great weekend!

And thank you for all the birthday wishes!