Why it's just not my day...

It took me 2 hours to get to work this morning.
My father in law spent the night last night. So, this morning, Damon & Gene were both still asleep. So, I didnt turn on the TV b/c I was trying to be quiet.
So--I missed the traffic report before I left for work.

Got in my car.
Entered the highway....or better know as a parking lot.
I kept switching radio stations trying to find a traffic report, while not having to listen to a bunch of BS morning talk radio programs. Every time I switch to a station, I hear the very end of the traffic. Lovely.
By the time I heard about the accident I was waiting in traffic from--I could actually see the banged up car & the 5 cops sitting there waiting on a tow truck.
So--there you have I-30 closed down to 1 lane at the mix-master.

Also...I eat regularly. I often wake up in the middle of the night to eat. Two hours in a car during grid-lock traffic with no food. A happy camper I was not.
What made it worse?? The Jolly Rancher wrapper sitting there in the cup holder. It was empty. I like Jolly Ranchers. I would have enjoyed one right then!

So...here I am...not moving...in my car...no food...no Jolly Ranchers...late for work...so I need to call work to let them know how late I'm running. My cell phone battery is dead. Of course it is. Would I really have expected differently? So--then I realize...Damon borrowed my car cell phone charger. Lovely. Work will think that I am either dead in a ditch somewhere (because that's what women/moms think when people are late or dont show up after 2 hours.) or that I've completely shirked all work-related responsibility.

Then...I get to work. I have the last parking space in a sea of parking spaces. I have to walk forever to get to the actual front door. Seriously--it seemed like I was walking from Waco just to get into work.

Then...I get into my office...I accidentally write on my pants with a black pen. I've missed breakfast in the cafeteria because they quit serving already...I'm still hungry, and my pants are marked on.

AAAAANNNDDD-I got a call from the OB's office. The insurance plan has not paid the claims & now the charges for my prenatal care are my responsibility--how would I like to pay for that? Cash, Check, or Charge?
My response, "I wouldnt like to pay for that at all." So, there's this little girl at the doctor's office who is working with the insurance company to see what the problem is. I called the insurance company to see what the problem is. Really--here's the problem. We pay almost a thousand dollars a month for health insurance. We ask them (the insurance company) to pay for our healthcare when we need it...and they dont want to. I love it. Oh, if I werent pregnant & about to be a parent--I swear I'd live on the edge & be uninsured!!!
...okay, okay...I'm bluffing...as soon as I became uninsured that's when I'd get hit by a bus & survive...only to pay for it the rest of my life! The irony...the irony...

On a brighter note....
1. Father in law surprised me (well, us) with a new washing machine. It's not as nice as the one Damon picked out, but a lot nicer than the one I picked out. I think it rocks! (Guess our dragging ass & indecisiveness had a funny little way of paying off!) Damon's just glad that I am excited about it because it means that I'm doing laundry.
2. Went to Saltgrass Steak House last night. Have not been there in years. Forgot that I hate their sweet butter...but I also forgot how gooooood I think the rest of the food it. YYUUUUMMMy!
3. Damon said that a young couple with a brand new baby is looking to buy the house next door to us. He said that they are really nice, and they are really excited that we are young & having a baby. Woohoo! I hope it all works out!


Upcoming Birthdays...
Melissa 4/3...Sunday
Damon 4/9...Saturday


I had an inservice today at lunch time & had Boston Market. It was okay...I normally love Boston Market, but that's because I usually get to order what I want. Having someone else pick & bring it...it wasnt nearly as good. I missed the creamed spinach.

Oh--and FYI: bought two things of strawberries yesterday at Tom Thumb for 88 cents each. If that isnt a steal, I dont know what is. They were regularly $3.99 each. So, if you are in the mood for strawberries & are near a Tom Thumb--pick some up.

That's all I know for now.

Did I feel the baby?

Okay, several times today, there's been a tapping feeling below my belly button, kind of to the left, but kind of in the center.... anyway--doctors here say it may be the baby! Augh!!! But, they say that I will know for sure later in the pregnancy...if they feel the same only stronger, then I will know for sure that it's the baby moving/kicking....woo-hoo!

I had to meet with this woman here at the hospital who works in PR. Her first thought was that I'm having a girl. Melissa thinks it's a girl. Dad thinks it's a girl. We'll have to see....

Less than one month until we find out!!!!!

Happy Belated Easter.

Talked to Jessica. She's 27 weeks, and decided on names: Abigail & Shiloh.
:)

Today's been crazy at work. But, I did get PeiWei for lunch. Yum lettuce wraps.

Lots of work has gone on around the house. We've still got some to do...but I am so proud of Damon for all of the work he's done. His own form of nesting I suppose.

Okay--I'm out of here for today!

14 weeks Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I will be 14 weeks pregnant.

Strangers are noticing that I'm pregnant now.

The washing machine broke.

Movie Review:
"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason"
It was pretty good...but here's something that bothered me...if you've ever seen the movie "Broke Down Palace" then you can instantly see that the idea in the Bridget Jones movie is a total rip off. In "Broke Down Palace", Claire Danes & this other actress...I forget her name...they got to Tailand & accidentally attempt to smuggle some drugs onto a plane. They were framed...etc. Anyway--the same thing happens to Bridget Jones, but it is presented in a somewhat humorous way. But to me--the Tailand drug smuggling thing was stolen. I'd be pissed if I wrote/produced/owned the rights to "Broke Down Palace".

It's super rainy outside.

Mark & Jana are getting married today in Key West...this evening.....

It's Friday!

Woohoo.
I had yesterday off. Thank goodness.
What did I do??
A bit of laundry...until the washer broke.
We tried to fix it.
Failed miserably.
Went to Home Depot to look at washers.
Didnt buy one yet.

While folding laundry, I started the 2nd Bridget Jones movie. Cute so far. Then the washer broke, so I never finished.

Watched The Apprentice & ER. Made spaghetti for dinner.
Exciting...very, very exciting stuff.

And--I work from 11-4 tomorrow. Again with the exciting stuff...

What can I say--my life is filled with it!

Heart Rates...

Okay...so here's the baby's heart rates so far...

10w4d: 173
11w4d: 150
13w2d: 152, then 158 (we got it, the baby swam away, then we got it again)

That's all for now.
I've got an all-important staff meeting to attend!

Oh--the cat came back on his own according to Damon. (clearly, the cat is interested in the outside world--but also very, very, afraid of it!)

Dammit Damon. Dammit Dixon.

We have two front doors. An outer glass door & a heavier, regular front door. The glass door has one of those air spring close things. So, the door kind of has a delayed close. Well, Damon never pays attention when he goes out the door. the cat snuck out. The last time the cat got out it was when he didnt pay attention. Also, the cat was gone for days. And--he got his ass kicked. He had a back nail torn off of his paw. He had a 3 inch cut along his back on the side. He had some other smaller cuts or puncture wounds--like he got into a fight with another cat.

So--now he's pissed at me because I pointed this out.
I dont care. I'm mad. I love the cat. He is just annoyed by the cat.
I pay attention when I open & close the door. He does not.
It is his fault--no matter what he says.

He said that he tried to get the cat, but Dixon hissed at him, so he left him outside.
Dont even get me started on that comment.
Ugh.

2nd Trimester....

Well, I keep getting conflicting info...am I in the 2nd trimester, or not? some info says that the beginning of the 13th week marks the beginning of the 2nd trimester. Other stuff says that the 2nd trimester begins at the beginning of the 4th week.
so--who knows?? the point is...I may or may not be in the second trimester...but I am definitely 13w1d pregnant.

This morning's weigh in: 121 lbs. I've officially gained 11 pounds. Not too shabby.
At least 5 of those pounds are my new breasts. I know it.

My tummy is not feeling too well. I dont think it's morning sickness. I think I'm slowly getting over that... but every time I eat dairy, my tummy is upset for about 1-3 hours afterward. It varies.... anyway...I had yogurt for breakfast...and a bowl of pears & pineapple. Now my tummy is all upset from the yogurt...but I know that I need my calcium... oh, the drama!

Movie Reviews from the weekend:

"Saved": had Mandy Moore in it. I thought it was pretty cute. Totally up my alley--cheesey...Damon never would have sat through it.

"Saw": what unexpected twists & turns. Damon & I actually liked it, even though I heard a bunch of people say that it was stupid.

"Napolean Dynomite": started watching it last night. I think it is freaking hilarious! Damon thinks it just might be the dumbest movie ever made...... which, I already know cannot be true because I've seen the movie, "Dolomite" which is in fact, the dumbest movie ever made.

What else....this weekend, we worked out butts off outside. We put up landscape lighting along the front. Raked...and bagged & bagged leaves. Damon also installed a tree mounted light that illuminates the yard outside of what will be the nursery. We trimmed hedges along the side of the yard. We live on a corner, so along the street side of the corner, there are tons of hedges that needed to be trimmed...and we used the blower to clean out the leaves that were stuck in the crevices of the retaining wall.... It was an all day event.
And today...my muscles are sooooo freaking tired! My pecs & forearms hurt this morning as I tried to staple a packet of papers. I tell you...this is for the birds!
But...it's amazing how much of an impact the landscape lighting has on the house. It was the best money we spent all weekend. Didnt cost much--and looks amazing. We love it. After dark on Saturday night we stood in the yard & just looked at our lighting!

Oh, and some of the Begonias that we planted last summer are back or still there... I was surprised to find them under the leaves in the flower beds. Also, the Daffodils are done blooming for us, so I cut them back.

In the house, we...well, I should give credit where credit is due--Damon primed the bottom portion of the hallway. I think he's going to paint today.
We also fixed the front door knob. The door handle/knob broke. The lock didnt open & close like it should have, so we bought a new one....which--I had no idea that door hardware like that is so expensive. Anyway--so we bought the new hardware. Take the old set out...and try to install the new stuff...it doesnt fit. The holes in the door have been cut too big. So, I went back to Home Depot, and found out that there is a plate thing that you can get...so that's what Damon & I worked on Saturday morning.
Oh, and Damon replaced a lock on a bedroom window...it wasnt very secure so we bought a new one.
and, Damon replaced the batteries in two of the smoke detectors...we still have one more to install. (So...that will be one in the kitchen, one in the hall, and I guess we'll put the 3rd one in the baby's room). We've got 1 carbon monoxide detector...Is that enough??? It is in the hall...

Enough about me...
Susan & David bought a house. They move..soon...I think...I forget. I dunno when they move. But their dog, charlie, will have a yard now, so that'll be easier on them!
Megan's grandmother died, so she's sad & having a rough time right now. Hugs & prayers to her!

That's all I know for now.
I've got to get some work done.

Oh, my achey BBs!

BBs=boobies.
Mine are huge & achey.
They've passed through the perfectly perky stage. Now, they are huge & seem to be growing by the minute. I'm sure Damon doesnt think they are too big...I mean really--for a man, can they ever be "too big"?
But for me.... oh, my, gosh.
Imagine a pair of Buicks balancing on top of a Thanksgiving wishbone. That's what I feel like.

Thought the morning sickness was over...
Walked into the bathroom this morning. Just looked at the toilet. Next thing I know--here comes all the bile in my body! Puking on an empty stomach...is really just a cruel, cruel, part of pregnancy. I mean, it's not productive whatsoever.

Okay...I think today is going to suck at work.
I havent heard from megan, so I need to call her.
I'm outta here!

Yippy! Dad & Allen are on their way!

Yippy! They are coming up to the hospital to have lunch with me. Why? Well, because all of the flights filled up, and they are stuck in Dallas. Cant go anywhere fun. Well, Dad says that they could get to New York--but could not get back...what a mess.
So, they are going to have lunch up here with me. Then they are going to an area hotel with an indoor pool, and they are going to get a room. That way--Allen can swim. He loves swimming--and loves indoor pools! So, that will be his big Spring Break adventure. Woo hoo!

I think Pop & Gam took him to Chuck E. Cheese yesterday for fun.

What else???
I'm at work. I'm starving, so I wish they would hurry & get here.
That's about all I know....

Pickles & Churros!

Okay...the weekend was busy.
Here it is Tuesday, and I am just now typing about it.

I think I touched on all this yesterday in my mega-brief post.

Dad's in town right now. It's Allen's Spring Break, and they are supposed to go somewhere. So far they've been staying @ Pop & Gammy's. Dad says the flights are just not looking too good...hope they get to go some place. It will be Allen's first time to get to fly First Class. Woohoo!

Sunday at Six Flags--I ate...and ate...and ate. Oh my goodness...it was so good. Now, when I was a kid...I remember the little carts with the pink things. They were around every corner. Well, the pink things still only cost $1, which is great...but you can only buy them at the main entrance. So, I only ate 2...one when I got there & one when I left.
At Six Flags, in Spain or Mexico...one of them...they had a cart or stand or something with Churros & Pickles. Hello, any pregnant woman's dream! All these people were looking at me because I had a cinnamon churro in one hand & this huge dill pickle in the other hand. I was in heaven.

Had fun looking at baby stuff with my mom on Saturday. :)

Last night I went to Joe's Crab Shack with Pop, Gam, Allen, & Dad. It was pretty good.
Last night Dad ordered the three piece furniture set for the nursery. Soooo excited. It's due to arrive 3/17-4/5. Now, that seems like a pretty big delivery window if you ask me! So anyway... they are going to deliver it to my grandparents house because Damon & I are not home during the day. And, I know that my aunts found this furniture deal, and want to get it for us...but I told Mom yesterday that it was finally back in stock, and she doesnt have internet...and couldnt get ahold of her sisters....so Dad just ordered it. I just couldnt stand to miss this kind of deal!!!

Anyway...a patient is waiting on me now, so I gotta run!

I'm too busy...I cant type all about my weekend....

But, here are the highlights.
Friday night: dinner in the Bishop Arts District
Saturday: cleaned house, Home Depot with Damon, Shopping...registering with Mom...mom trimmed my hair....soaked my feet in my wonderful foot thingy...sat in my porch swing...loved the weather...watched "The Whole Ten Yards"
Sunday...breakfast with my dad, Allen, and grandparents....went to Six Flags...

Okay.
I'm outta here.
BLD

Otis made me late this morning...well, almost.

Otis who?
Otis Redding, of course.

Okay, see last night there was this girl on American Idol & she sang an Otis Redding song...said she'd never heard it before. I made the comment, "Who hasnt heard that song before??" Damon thought I was an idiot--I guess because he didnt know the song. So, he challenged me to name the title & artist.
I accepted the challenge, and clearly won. "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding. I then said that I'm a huge Otis fan. Well, he challenged me again to name more Otis songs.
Okay...Dock of the Bay....then I went blank.

So, I tossed & turned all night with remnants of lyrics going through my head.
This morning---just as I was getting ready to write more song names on the mirror with eye liner, Damon woke up & came in the bathroom. I thought of like 4 or 5 more songs! I dont think that I could think of 5 songs for any other artist.
Anyway. Clearly, I won the challenge & needed to inform Damon this morning.
So...I was almost late.

I should have just called in this morning.
I am seriously so emotionally & physically drained from my day so far, that I dont have the energy to type all about it. But--I was crying at my desk...I've been in my boss's office twice bitching about how frustrated I am...and I do not know what it is that keeps me from just walking out at times. Seriously. So, of course Damon calls when I am crying at my desk...and he thinks that if I cry too much then I will miscarry....which is good & bad for me...anyway--so he calls, and I'm crying and he tells me to just quit & I'll get another job.
Umm..no thanks. I told him that if I am going to have to get another job if I quit this one..then I will just keep this one. If he would tell me, "Sweetie, quit your job & stay at home....just rest & then we'll have the baby...oh, it will be great." Well...if he would just say that, then I would already be at home napping on my couch.

I am so incredibly frustrated with certain limitations of my job...or my role here in this hospital....ugh.

Okay...that's all I have to say for now.
To keep me happy, I'll just think about my little fig baby.
:)

11w1d...my baby's as big as a fig.

Okay...here's what babycenter says about my 11 week old baby...

Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.


Okay...I'm super excited about it.

Okay...a coworker, Amy, just came in & she's telling me all about her new Mercedez. I gotta go.

Some days...I just hate my job.

Today...I hate my job.
If I would not get fired...here are some of the things I might say to people:

When I speak, you need to listen. You know all those questions you just asked me?? Well, I already answered them. But guess what?? You were too busy thinking about what YOU were going to say, to listen to what I was actually saying.

I cannot create a bed at a different hospital. Period. I understand upper management people--that you dont want to keep this patient here. But, I have busted my ass all day to find a place to safely discharge this person..and I have been told by all of the psychiatric care providers in the county that they dont have space! Nobody has space! Nobody has a bed for the psych patient! You are just going to have to suck it up, and keep the patient for at least one more day. And furthermore, If you are not satisfied with my answer or the work I have put into this case, I will gladly sign the case over to you, and you can find a place to send this patient.

Oh...you cant afford housing, transportation, your antibiotics....but you can afford cigarrettes & cocaine & alcohol??? Suddenly, I dont feel so bad for you. You are the one putting your wants before your needs. Not me. Your actions are telling me that you dont believe that you need housing...or transportation...or antibiotics. So, go without. Go without, and go buy drugs instead.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
I have so emotionally clocked out for the day.
I cant wait to go home & take a nap.
I'm moody.
I'm cranky.
I'm sleepy.
My neck & shoulders hurt.
And my eyes sting when I blink....that's how sleepy I am.
This sucks.

On the bright side:
I get off work soon.
I get to leave & pass my cases onto the evening social worker.
I get to sleep when I get home.
Tomorrow is Saturday!!! Yay!!!

I heard my baby's heartbeat!!!!!

I'm 10w4d, and this morning, my friend, Meg, got the doppler & we listened to my baby's heart beat! She found it for me. It was 173. It's awesome. It's just a wonderful, wonderful feeling. Dr.Brough said it would be. Dr.Brough said that hearing the heartbeat for the first time is his favorite of all the OB appointments.
(Now I'm gonna have to fake it or disappoint him next Thursday when I go for my OB visit.)

My cousin Holly is pregnant too. I wonder if she's heard the heartbeat yet...I cant remember who's farther along...me or her...
Okay, I'm gonna have to call my Aunt Billie.

What else??? My cousins Jeremy & Mallory had their first baby on Monday, 3/1/5...Carley Davis Cox. I think that is such a cute name! I cant wait to meet her.
This is on my dad's side of the family.

So...if I have a girl...then my cousins Steve & Natasha have a little girl, Audrey...and Jeremy & Mallory will have Carley...and Damon & I will have Emma...it would be perfect!!!

On mom's side...Stan & Linda have Shelby...Chad & LeeAnn...I dont know if its a boy or a girl...Holly...I dont know if its a boy or a girl...and we dont know if its a boy or a girl...

Oh, the families are growing!!!

On my dad's side, my cousin Bryce will be the only cousin w/o kids.
On my mom's side, my cousins Kyle & Jason will be the only cousins w/o kids.
These families really are growing!

What else??? The family is on a mad search for a smoking deal on baby furniture that my Aunt Pat found. Holly & I would both like the set in cherry. I hope, hope, hope they can find it. It's really an amazing deal!

Alright, I've got some work that I'm sure I should be doing!

OMG! I found Curious George Crib Bedding

at www.rainbee.com

...now, I dont know that we'll do that...but I think it's precious.

...now, if I could just find a sock monkey for my baby...

Note for BLD:

www.gusandmaxwell.com
www.landofnod.com
http://www.modernessentials.com/
www.tuttibella.com
www.oliebollen.com
www.rainbee.com
www.garnethill.com
www.serenaandlily.com
www.babystyle.com
www.blackeyedpetes.com
www.pitterpattercollections.com
www.dwellshop.com
www.totshop.com
www.lil-tots.com

...I'm sure this list means very little to you guys...but it's a list of websites given to me by another nestie, planning_mania, and I dont want to lose it....I have not checked them all out yet.

PIR

PIR...Pregnancy Induced Retardation.
Not a politically correct term...but so applicable at this time.

(Melissa, you'll get a kick out of this story...)
I was recently informed by my husband, who was informed by Bank One, that I have suffered yet another episode of PIR.
When I get paid, my paycheck is directly deposited into my personal checking account. I then cut a check to our joint checking account (Bank One) to help pay for bills, groceries, etc. So, on Friday--after work, I stopped by Bank One to make my bi-weekly deposit. Well, had I gotten in the line in the lobby, there would have been about 15 laborers in front of me, all there to cash their paychecks. So--being the brainiac that I am known to be...I decide to use the deposit feature of the ATM.
Here's where the PIR kicks in. I apparently put a blank check in for a deposit. According to Bank One, I endorsed the back of it, and intended to write it for the amount on the deposit slip....I just failed to fill out the entire front portion of the check. I'm an idiot!

Okay...thought you guys would get a kick out of this.

Where the hell is my Swingline?

I get to work, and my stapler is no longer conveniently located within arms reach on my desk. Where the hell is my Swingline?
There is this coworker of mine...and everyday it is something with her! Today, my stapler is missing. I swear....she probably carted it off somewhere, and forgot about it. That translates to "GONE" for me... I know it's just a stapler, but I use it everyday...and this is not the first stapler to go missing...and it takes like 6 weeks to get one around here.
UGhhh.
I feel like that poor guy on the movie, "Office Space"....