New People

This shirt is special because it was the one mommy gave daddy when she told him about me.

Meeting my cousin Emma.

Meeting my cousin Bailey.

Cousins - Emma, Bailey, & Hadley

Aunt Dina lovin' on me.

Supper time - yum!

This is the life!

Daddy giving me a sponge bath - not my favorite thing right now.

My Aunt Karah came to see me! (See my doggy in the window - he barks a lot!)

Eating again - and wide awake

My Heart

The title of this post is two-fold. First, and foremost, my heart now belongs to a little man named Hadley Max Lewis. He has completely stolen every bit of it and filled it with the most amazing feelings of love and happiness and contentment I could ever know. I never knew before that it was possible to feel so completely infatuated with someone so little and so new. I could spend hours just looking at him and holding him and cuddling him. I am amazed every time I look at him by the fact that we did this...Eric and I...we did this. Wow! He is part me and part Eric. What an amazing thing. And then God gave us this perfect little being to love and cherish and take care of. It just makes me wonder what I ever did to be worthy of such an amazing gift. My heart is overflowing.

The second meaning of the title actually has to do with my physical heart. Some of you know about the goings on of the past week and some of you don't, so I will try to give a brief summary of them. Last weekend I begin to feel like I was getting a chest cold. I got a cough and was having a little trouble breathing and my chest felt congested, so I began taking some cough medicine. By Sunday I was really struggling to catch my breath and at times struggling to just take a breath. So Eric finally convinced me to go to the emergency room. Luckily, my sister was here and stayed with Hadley while we went for what we thought might be a couple hours. That couple hours turned into three days spent in the hospital. After doing breathing treatments, an EKG, a CT scan, multiple blood tests, and who knows what else, they discovered that I was experiencing congestive heart failure due to the massive amounts of fluid in my body (see earlier posts regarding swelling), my greatly elevated blood pressure, and fluid filling up my lungs. So Sunday night I was admitted in the ICU where I stayed until Tuesday afternoon. During that time I had lots more blood work, lots of medicine, an echo-cardiogram, and had about 15 pounds of fluid drained out of my body. Needless to say, it was not the best way to spend a couple days. On Tuesday afternoon I finally got moved into a regular hospital room and was able to see Hadley for the first time since Sunday. Not seeing him was probably the hardest part of this entire ordeal for me! Late Wednesday afternoon I was finally released from the hospital and came home where I have not spent much time away from my little man since. (I had to make up for the days spent away from him!)

On Thanksgiving Day we had a house full of people from both Eric's family and mine, and we had a great time together. This Thanksgiving we definitely have a lot to be thankful for.

Pictures

We have obviously been taking lots of pictures (can you blame us?!?) so I am sharing more. Mostly I am posting lots so Nanny and Papo can see their grandson because I know how anxious they are to come love on him!

More Hadley pictures

Here are more pictures since we've been home.

Hadley Max Lewis

I am a mommy! Hadley Max Lew was born Tuesday November 18 at 3:51 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 7.9 ounces and was 18.5 inches long. He is absolutely beautiful and perfect. More later, but for now here are some pictures.

Dr. Appointment

Well, yesterday was yet another doctors appointment. But this one definitely topped any previous appointment! Here are the basic stats:

Weight: don't even want to mention but...+6 pounds
Blood Pressure: 130/78 (a bit high...keep reading)
Baby's Heart Rate: around 130 (same as usual)
Dilation: a little over 1 cm
Baby's Head: still down and touchable upon dr. exam

That all sounds pretty good, and right on par with previous visits. However, there were a couple other issues yesterday. The main one was the protein that was in my urine test. Based on a combination of that, my blood pressure being slightly elevated, and the enormous amount of water I am lugging around in my swollen legs (a.k.a. tree trunks!), the doctor was worried about the possibility of preeclampsia. So, he sent me to the hospital to be hooked up to a monitor for the baby and to have a bunch of blood work done. At first I didn't think much of the fact that he was sending me, but when I arrived (alone, I should add...Eric didn't go with me to the appointment this time assuming it would just be a routine visit), the nurse had me in a L&D room, put on a hospital gown, and climb into bed. Yikes! At this point I was beginning to freak out just a little bit! So there I was, for about two hours, hooked up to a monitor, listening and watching Baby Lew's heart, feeling every single contraction (yes, there were quite a few), having many viles of blood drawn, and feeling just a little bit alone and scared! I wasn't so much worried about the baby (who, according to the nurse and the monitors is doing absolutely wonderful!), I was just thinking, "this was not supposed to happen today...I was just supposed to go to the doctor's and then go home...what is going on???" Well, eventually my lab results came back and everything looked okay. So the doctor released me and just said to try and take things easy until this baby comes. I go back to the doctors office on Monday and at that point he said we might talk about induction sometime next week. So, that is where we are right now. It looks like my body is about ready to say "that's enough...I'm ready to get this baby out!" and that is totally fine with me! So the next week or so should be pretty interesting. Stay tuned...

38 Weeks

I go back to the doctor again today so I will have that update later, but here is the latest picture of the belly. Only a couple weeks to go. Any guesses how long I'll make it?

Labor and Delivery

Here's my latest confession...I am working towards being completely terrified about having this baby! This weekend I read the "Labor and Delivery" chapter in my "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book, and I've got to say...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? That does not sound like something I want to do!! I know, I know...there will be a great reward at the end of it all. But right now, all I can think about are those frightening words I read!! To all my current pregnant friends, I do not suggest you read ahead in the book. And to all my friends who are moms...seriously?!?

The one thing I did find humorous as I read were the many times, in speaking to the "coach", it made references like "don't worry if your partner seems annoyed by you" or "don't get upset if your partner seems irritated by this." It was as if they were specifically warning Eric since I tend to get "annoyed" and "irritated" by so many things these days! I was sure to point out to him that even the book said that was okay and normal. (He didn't find it quite as funny as I did!)

Marshmallows

...and not the yummy kind you toast over a campfire!

This is what my feet and legs look like at the end of the day. Isn't that a lovely site?!?

Another Dr. Appointment

The doctors appointments are happening weekly now, so that seems to be my main updating right now. Here are today's stats:

Weight: +5 pounds (ridiculous!)
Blood Pressure: 112/78
Baby's Heart Rate: 128-130
Baby's Head: Still down

Today was a fairly uneventful visit - nothing really exciting to report from the doctor. We talked about contractions (which made me think about them more today and then actually have some - ouch!). The swelling in my feet and ankles is absolutely ridiculous, and I blame the recent weight gain(s) on all the water I am toting around with me. I honestly think that each foot weights about 10 pounds...that's what it feels like anyway! Other than that, I just feel really, really pregnant! Fun stuff!

Dr. Appointment

I had another doctors appointment today so here are the stats:

Weight: +6 pounds (holy macaroni!!)
Blood Pressure: 124/78
Baby's Heart Rate: 135-140
Dilated: 1 cm
Baby's Head: still down and touchable upon examination
Swelling: unrecognizable feet and ankles!
Comfort Level: pretty much non-existent

Everything still looks good. As far as the enormous weight gain, I really shouldn't be that surprised. When I think back just two weeks I can tell a difference in how big my tummy has gotten. It's almost like I just woke up one day and BAM! there was this great big thing! So I blame it all on Baby Lew (oh, and maybe a little bit on my nightly Little Debbie donut stick snack!). I had the test today for Strep B, so I guess I'll find out those results next week. (Not really a big deal - just have to see if I am a carrier.) They also examined my cervix for dilation and I am at about 1cm. She did say the baby's head is right there (she felt it) but there should be no worries about anything happening for a little while still. My feet and ankles have started to just stay puffed up like marshmallows all the time now (which again, she said was normal and nothing to be that concerned about because all my tests each week show that there is no high blood pressure issue or high glucose or protein issues). Mostly it is just really annoying and a little painful. I have had to buy new shoes a couple sizes bigger just so I can stuff my gigantic feet into them (real attractive!). Sleeping has become a challenge, and I spend the majority of most nights in the recliner instead of bed because it is a little more bearable. I guess that is just preparing me for what is to come. So overall, I just look and feel really pregnant. But that is okay...only a month left and it will be completely worth it!

36 Weeks

I am now 36 weeks pregnant...that means only a month to go! Wow! Here is a picture from today so you can see how Baby Lew (and Momma Lew) are growing.

Long Overdue Update

Apparently I have been really bad about updating this lately. I won't try to make up an excuse, except to say...this working full time thing again is taking up all my time and energy! When I was last working full time I was three months less pregnant than I am now, and I can really tell a difference! I am absolutely pooped at the end of the days! But, I really like my new job and I think it was worth the wait and worry of finding something here.

So...a run down of the past several weeks...I'll start with the most current and work my way back...

Right now Eric is somewhere in Oklahoma at a pig show and sale. To be honest I'm not exactly sure what town, I just know it's a big show with somewhere around 900 hogs. Doesn't that sound like a ton of fun?!? And I am at home and Eric's parents are here as well. They are in the process of putting together Baby Lew's dresser/changing table while I am sitting here not helping and doing mostly nothing. Moral support...that is what I am providing.

A couple weekends ago Eric was in the panhandle area (Amarillo, Sunray, Panhandle, Canadian, Lubbock, etc.) all weekend doing the same thing he is doing now...looking at hogs and going to sales. Unfortunately, that weekend involved a lot of cold rainy weather, a lot of time in the pickup, and not much luck with the purchasing of hogs. It made for a long, wet, cold, and mostly unproductive weekend for them. (Glad I was not along for all of that!)

The week before that (which was also my last week on "vacation") Eric had to go to the State Fair because he had some kids showing heifers, so I went with him one day. I had actually never been to the State Fair of Texas before, so now I can say I've been. Besides going to the heifer show and hanging out in the barn area, we did walk around some. However, it was warm and I am not really interested in walking much these days so I know we didn't get the whole "fair" experience. It was enough for me, though!

And going back even farther...the week before that my mom (aka Nanny) came and visited for the week. We did a lot of shopping (or rather "looking") and had a really nice visit for the week.

Okay...so maybe that will get me a little more caught up. Everything with Baby Lew is going well...he seems to be growing a lot these days. I can tell a pretty big difference in my stomach size in the past couple weeks (nothing fits anymore!). And I can also tell a difference in my own "comfort" level...which is pretty much non-existent. I'm not really sleeping much (or very well) these days, and spend most nights in the recliner instead of the bed, but I guess that is just good preparation for the sleepless days and nights to come! Baby Lew is moving all the time, which is quite entertaining to watch, and it makes me think he is getting anxious about getting out of that cramped little space. I am getting excited to meet him and see who he looks like and what his little personality will be like. How exciting!

Dr. Appointment

I had yet another doctors appointment yesterday so here are the latest stats:

Weight: +3 pounds (I seem to be gaining all the weight here at the end!)
Blood Pressure: 124/80
Baby's Heart Rate: around 140 (same as it has been all along)
Baby Lew's twisting/turning/flipping/kicking/rolling/etc.: All the time!!! (hilariously entertaining!)
Baby's Weight: probably between 4-5 pounds (approx. by the doctor)

The doctor said everything looks good and I am right on track. At my next visit in two weeks I get to have a Strep B test (?) just to see if I am a carrier, so that is something to look forward to (note the sarcasm here!). After the next visit I will have to start going in every week - that means it is getting really close!

Everything else is going well - just busy right now with the new job and trying to get in a routine. I will try to update soon about it all.

Gainfully Employed!

Yippee!! I finally got a job! And only 7 weeks before Baby Lew is due! (Nice timing, huh?) But, regardless, I can at least get started and learn as much as I can before he comes. So, where is this great new job you may be wondering...I will be working at North Central Texas College in Gainesville as the Institutional Advancement Accounts Coordinator. Basically I will be doing all the accounting for the NCTC Foundation scholarship program, as well as the Ex-Students Association. It should be a really interesting and time-consuming job (which is actually good for me...I like to stay really busy at work). My first day will be this coming Monday, so my "vacation" time is quickly coming to an end. I guess I will try to take as much advantage of these last few days as possible!

Dr. Appointment

Here are the stats from today's doctor's appointment:

Weight: +2 pounds
Blood Pressure: 136/78
Baby's Heart Rate: 140's
Baby's Head: Still down!

I am measuring right on track at 32 weeks and everything looks good. My blood pressure was a little higher today than it has been so I have to monitor it every day for the next two weeks to make sure it doesn't go up more, but other than that everything is okay. Sometime soon (as soon as possible according to the nurse) I need to go do all the pre-admission paperwork at the hospital so I guess that is on the agenda for sometime in the next week or so.

31 Weeks

Here is the latest "pregnant" picture from today. I am 31 weeks and counting...

Mrs. Lewis - Substitute

My first day of subbing yesterday went okay. In the morning I was in Physics and Engineering classes, and in the afternoon I was in computer classes. Some of the kids knew or figured out who I was (aka Mr. Lewis' wife) and some didn't have any idea. I actually had a couple kids twice because of being in two different teacher's classes, and some I saw even more than that because I hung out in the Ag building during my lunch and conference period. Overall it was an okay day and hopefully I will get called to sub again soon.

Dr Appointment Update

Today was another doctor's appointment. Here are the stats:

Weight: +4 pounds
Blood Pressure: 122/72
Baby's Heart Rate: 130's
Baby's Head: Down!

Everything looked and sounded good today. My blood counts and glucose test from last time all came back right on track so that is good. I'll go back in two weeks for my next visit.

In other news...tomorrow I am subbing at Callisburg HS. That should be fun!

Babies

Baby kittens that is...

So, a couple weeks ago Eric's parents brought us two cats - a momma cat and one of her boy kittens (a few months old). We got them to hopefully chase away (or kill) the critters outside. Eric had mentioned a couple times in the past week that the momma cat looked like she might be having more kittens, but we didn't know that for sure. Well, tonight when we went out to play with them and feed them he said her tummy didn't look as big as it had last night. (I, on the other hand, would have never even noticed that!) So, we went exploring and sure enough, there in the shed where they sleep were three tiny little black kittens. Unbelievable! So, we are now the proud parents of not two but five cats! Fun stuff!

26 Weeks

This picture a few weeks past due since I am about 29 weeks now, but it's the latest "pregnant" picture I have right now. I will try to remember to get Eric to take another picture sometime in the next week.

Baby Shower

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from the baby shower at my job in Abilene. The wonderful people I worked with were sweet enough to have the shower for me before we moved.

Cute

I found these pictures on our camera the other day and remembered I wanted to post them on here. This is my sweet friend April's little girl Marcella. She and Eric made fast friends...although I think there might have been some specific reason she was drawn to him! :-)

"Look at my new hat, momma!"

Here you go, Eric, you can have it back now.

Dr. Appointment

Yesterday was my doctor's appointment and sonogram, and everything is still looking good. Here are the current stats:

Weight: +1 pound
Blood Pressure: 108/62
Baby's heart rate: 150
Baby's weight: 2 lbs. 8 oz.

I had the lucky fortune of getting a big shot yesterday (Rhogam because my blood type is A-) and getting to drink some yummy orange drink and then having my blood drawn for the glucose screening. Sounds like fun, huh! I go back in two weeks (yep...I'm already at the point where I get to go every two weeks) and hopefully will find out that the glucose test came back okay. Baby Lew was not quite as active for this sonogram as we was the last, but he is still just at cute (or at least I think so!). He was sound asleep this time and was hiding his face with both his hands and his feet. But they said he looked great, and everything (stomach, kidneys, brain, heart, etc.) appeared to be in proper working order.

In other news...today I had a job interview at a bank in Gainesville for a teller position. I think it went okay, so now I will just wait and see. If that doesn't work out I am just going to substitute teach in Callisburg for now. We will see...

First Day of School

Today is the day...Eric's first day back to teaching. I think I was more nervous and anxious about today than he was (but then, that's pretty normal!). I will be very curious to hear all about it when he gets home this evening.

I know there are a lot of you out there who had their "first day" today so I hope everyone's went well and you are looking forward to the rest of the year. The start of school always makes me kind of wish I were still teaching...there's just something about all the school supplies, setting up your classroom, getting an empty new grade book, and starting fresh with a whole new group of kids that makes me think about going back to teaching. (Keep that in mind in the coming months and year!)

Dr. Appointment update

Today I had my first appointment with my new doctor. Actually, I only saw the nurse practitioner today, but I will see the dr next time. Here are the stats:

Weight: gained ?? (maybe 4...not sure...didn't have number from last time to compare)
Blood Pressure: 128/74
Baby's Heart rate: 150's
Belly measurements: Right on track

Today was a fairly short visit (just the normal stuff) but I go back in two weeks where they will do my sugar test (for gestational diabetes), lots of other blood work tests, and another sonogram. Even though I had a sonogram at 20 weeks, this doctor does one between 26 and 28 weeks to get all the babies measurements and info, so I am not complaining. I will just get to see Baby Lew again!

Finally...an update!

All I can say, is thank goodness for the internet! We finally got hooked up at the new house and I couldn't be happier! Talk about feeling out of touch.

So...a quick update on things here in the big city...

Eric started work last week (you know...in-service, new teacher to the district orientation which is pretty much useless, etc.). That left me at home to get everything unpacked and settled. I think we are just about there! We still have a few strangling boxes sitting around, but mostly it's just the useless stuff that we don't really need or use that will just get placed in a closet or cabinet so that it is ready and waiting the next time we move.

I am most excited about getting the baby's room fixed up! We picked out the fabric for the bedding a couple weeks ago, and Eric's mom is going to make all of that. We are waiting for the crib to come in so that we can get it put together. I decided yesterday that I am going to try my hand at sewing a blanket for Baby Lew, so that should be interesting. We already have a lot of blankets, but I decided he needed one that his mommy made. I have a couple other projects I am working on for him as well...stuff to keep me busy for now.

No job yet for me (hence all the "projects" I am trying to find to keep myself busy!). I have applied for quite a few, have had several interviews, but just haven't had anything that came through yet. I am trying to be patient and just enjoy the "time off" but it's getting a little old! Something will come along soon, hopefully!

I have my first doctor's appointment next week with a new doctor. I am hopeful that I will like this guy and that everything with insurance stuff (what a hassle!) will all work out. As far as the baby, he is movin' and groovin'! In fact, he is doing somersaults in my tummy as I type this. It is so cool to feel him moving around all the time. Eric has felt him a few times when he was practicing his soccer kick, but usually when I try to let him feel it Baby Lew wises up and stops moving.

Oh...the Olympics are back on so it's time to go park myself on the couch for the night. (Don't you just love the Olympics!!)

Corpus Christi

Here's a quick update on the past week or so...

We are now officially living in Callisburg. My last day at my job at AISD was last Wednesday so I got to join Eric on Thursday at the new house. We are living surrounded by boxes, but hopefully those will start disappearing soon.

We are currently in Corpus Christi for an Ag teachers conference for Eric. Yesterday we went to the Texas State Aquarium so here are a few pictures.

Dolphin Show
Giant Turtle

Seahorses

USS Lexington

We also went on a tour/ferry ride along the bay last night and have been to several sea food restaurants (Eric's choice...I have eaten lots of chicken!). We will be here until Friday so there should be more pictures coming later.

Dr. Appointment Update

I just got back from the doctor's office for my monthly checkup. Here are the stats:

My weight: -3 pounds
Blood Pressure: 132/57
Baby's heart rate: 145

Everything looks good...just a routine visit. The doctor did say that this baby is moving around like crazy. She actually had a hard time getting a constant heart rate because he was moving so much. I'm not sure that I am actually feeling all that moving yet but maybe I am (what is it supposed to feel like anyway?!?)

20 weeks

Time for another pregnant picture. I am 20 weeks (halfway!).

We're having a....

Yesterday was the big day...sonogram day! Everything looked good; Baby Lew is about 9 inches long and weighs about 12 ounces. All the correct body parts are present and the heart rate (147) and blood flow both looked/sounded good. Oh, and did I mention...HE'S A BOY!!!!!

Daddy Lew is super excited that his wish came true and he will have a little Lew Jr. to teach all those weird "guy" things to. (That works out pretty well for me too!)

We are both really excited and are ready to start planning and getting things prepared for Baby boy Lew.

This week

This week will probably be (another) busy week. I am back at work after being off for the last two weeks (yet another benefit of my current job!). And truth be told, it has been nice being back. Unlike nearly every day for the past two weeks, I haven't packed (or even touched) a single box today! Very nice! (I'm sure that will change when I get home this evening however.)

Tomorrow is Eric and my 2nd wedding anniversary. No big plans, but maybe we'll go out to eat or something. Eric plans to spend most of the day getting a load of stuff in the trailer to take to Callisburg on Wednesday. Since we already found a house (oh yeah...did I mention that?) we are taking loads of stuff when we can to try and make the actual moving day a little easier. Then on Wednesday he will make a quick trip up there and (hopefully have some help there) unload the trailer at the house.

Wednesday my parents will be here so that my mom can go with Eric and me to my big doctors appointment on Thursday. This is the BIG one...the sonogram. Hopefully Baby Lew will cooperate and we will find out if we need to start buying cowboy boots or bows. Then on Thursday after the appointment, my mom and I are going to just hang out and have a fun, relaxing day. That will be a very nice and welcome break from the past couple weeks.

Friday will be spent getting everything ready for our garage sale on Saturday. I have never done a garage sale myself, so it will probably be quite the learning experience. I am just hoping to get rid of a lot of stuff, and maybe make a little money. We'll see!

Saturday is the big garage sale so the day will start quite early. I am hoping everything will go well and we will actually have people come by. That afternoon my wonderful friend Summer is coming to spend a couple days with us. I am excited about that since I haven't seen her in about a year and a half. (Has it really been that long?!?) She will be with us until Tuesday and says she will help pack. Should I feel bad about putting a friend to work like that?

Somewhere in all of that I also have a hair appointment, we have to figure out what is wrong with our dryer that suddenly stopped working last night, and have to clear a path to the guest bed so there is somewhere for our guests to sleep. No problem! Never a dull moment around here!

Packing

Bleh! I absolutely do not enjoy packing boxes! But then...who does! I have such good intentions and great ideas in my head of how everything is going to fit and how quickly I can get this done, but instead, what am I doing...sitting at the computer...stalling. There is so much to get done and I am totally overwhelmed...but again, I've got nothing! No motivation! Ugh!

We did, however, get something useful accomplished yesterday. We went out to our storage garage and took everything out, went through all the boxes, and sorted stuff into "move" or "garage sale" items. I think it was pretty successful. Now if I could just do that here at the house. I'm going...as soon as I get up from this chair...

Speaking of a garage sale...we are having one. We had to change our date a little bit because we are trying to move earlier that originally planned, so our new date is July 12. Any one who lives here locally, feel free to come by and see (and buy if so inclined) what we have.

Okay, okay...now I'm just trying to keep typing to keep from having to pack. I'm done...here I go...

Dr. Appointment

I went to the doctor this morning for my monthly visit and here are the stats:

Weight: +3.0 pounds
Blood Pressure: 133/65
Baby's Heart rate: 148

The doctor said everything looked good. Before she listened to the heartbeat she said my uterus was growing and felt normal. My blood pressure was good today, and I have been checking it every day lately and it has been normal. She said the 24-hour test from last month came back normal, so that is good. (Hopefully I'll never have to do that again!) And the bacteria I had at my first visit (bladder infection) is gone. So, overall, everything is going well. The only thing I am having an issue with currently is what she thinks might be reflux. So we are going to try some Zantac and see if that helps. Overall, Baby Lew is growing and doing exactly what he/she should be doing.

On another note - we are going to Callisburg tomorrow to look at a few houses. I am hopeful that this will be a successful trip, and we might come back here knowing where we will be living (in about a month!).

Useless Info

I have a ton to do at work in the next month. Unfortunately there is so much that I feel a bit overwhelmed and don't know exactly where to start. So instead, I did this:

A is for age: 31
B is for burger of choice: Mary’s Cheeseburger (in Strawn)
C is for what kind of car you drive: Chevy Trailblazer
D is for your dog’s name: Murph
E is for essential item you use everyday: uh, deodorant!
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: House Hunters
G is for favorite game: Trivial Pursuit or The Train Game (family knows what this is)
H is for Home State: Texas
I is for instruments you play: Piano (violin – long ago)
J is for favorite juice: Not a big juice drinker but lately I like Cranberry Grape okay
K is for whose rear you’d like to kick: What? I’m too nice to think about that.
L is for last restaurant you ate at? Mr. Burger
M is for your favorite Muppet: Kermit the Frog
N is for Number of Piercings: 2 (one in each ear)
O is for overnight hospital stays: None (yet)
P is for people you were with today: Eric, and the normal everyday people at work
Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Cross-stitch (or lately…pack boxes)
R is for biggest regret: Not telling people how important they are to me more often
S is for status: Married and pregnant!
T is for time you woke up today: 5:59 a.m.
U is for what you consider unique: Everyone’s personality
V is for vegetable you love: Cucumbers, bell peppers
W is for worst habit: Bad temper (and attitude)
X is for x-rays you’ve had: 1 – I think
Y is for yummy food you ate today: Homemade chocolate chip cookies
Z is for zodiac sign: Capricorn (but I could care less)

Moving

It's official...we are moving! Eric got a job teaching ag in Callisburg ISD (that's near Gainesville in case you are wondering) and we will be moving this summer. We are excited and nervous at the same time. (I think that's pretty normal, right?) We are in the process of looking for a house as well as a job for me, but I know those things will work out just like the job for him did. I will also get to find a new doctor (kind of a big deal right now!) and hospital to use when I have the baby. There are lots of changes coming our way, but we will take each one in stride and be thankful for the new opportunities and challenges and adventures.

15 weeks

We finally took a "pregnant picture" so I thought I would share it here. This was taken yesterday (June 9) and I am about 15 1/2 weeks.

Answers

I guess it's true...there really aren't that many people that read this. But that's okay, I will still write here (more for me than anything else).

It's time to answer the few questions that I did actually get, so here goes:

C.C. asked: If I could live anywhere, where would it be? Hmmm...there are lots of places I would like to visit, but I don't really know that there is one specific place I would like to live. My choice of living destinations changes periodically, based on the circumstances and what is going on in my life. Sometimes I would like to live in certain places so that I could be closer to certain family or friends. Sometimes I would like to move someplace where no one knows us so we can "start over." For some weird reason I have always wanted to live in Montana (but not in the winter time!). And sometimes, I like living here in Abilene...because it is familiar. So I guess I don't really have one specific place I have always wanted to live. (Nice answer, huh!)

Kelly asked: What names have we chosen for the baby? Nice try, Kelly! Did you really think I would answer that? You'll just have to wait like everyone else!

Ronnie asked: What makes me most nervous about being a parent? Where do I begin? The list of things that I am nervous or scared about is pretty endless right now. I'm nervous about actually delivering this baby (yikes!). I'm afraid I won't know how to take care of a child. I'm afraid of doing the wrong thing (which I know will happen many times!). I'm not real excited about diaper blow-outs and projectile spit-up. I'm afraid of disciplining, or not disciplining a child. I'm nervous about all the things I will be responsible for teaching a child. The list goes on and on. But honestly, I think the thing that is most pressing on my mind lately is the anxiety about loving a child the way a mom should. It's weird, but right now I don't feel like I love the baby enough, and I think maybe there's something wrong with me that I don't feel that love yet. Sometimes I think I should be more exciting about having a baby, but it just doesn't seem to have really hit me yet. I thought when I saw the first sonogram I would feel something different. Then I thought when I heard the heartbeat for the first time that would do it. But so far...nothing has really given me "the feelings" that I think I'm supposed to have. Don't get me wrong, I am happy about having a baby, I guess I just had all these expectations in my head about the way I thought it was supposed to feel, and so far those expectations haven't been met. Does that make any sense?

So, any more questions?

Baby Lew Update

I went to the doctor this morning for my monthly visit. Here are the stats:

Weight: lost 2.5 pounds
Blood Pressure: didn't get the numbers, but too high (more on that later)
Baby's Heart Rate: 158
My Blood Type: A- (that means a shot at week 28)
Due Date: still December 6

Overall everything is going okay. The losing weight thing is not a problem right now (since I can afford to lose a few pounds anyway!) Not bad for the baby. She said the heart rate was good (and it didn't take her long to find it and hear it...which to me seems good). I already knew about my blood type and the shot it will require later, but she explained it a little more. It's not a big deal, just procedure when the mom's blood type is negative. The blood pressure is the only thing she was kind of concerned about. Because I have had high bp readings in the past (pre-pregnancy) she is going to monitor it much closer. In the meantime, she ordered some lab work, including a lovely test that involves a 24 hour period and collections (I won't go into more detail), as well as a test for my thyroid. Fun!

So, all in all everything is going well. Next appointment is June 23, and then my sonogram appointment (where we will hopefully find out if Baby Lew is a he or a she!) is July 10.

Questions

I've seen other friends do this on their blog, so I thought I would try it. It's question and answer time. Ask me any question(s) (within reason) in the comments section and I will answer them. We'll see if anyone has anything they really want to know about me. (Or if there are really more than five or six of you that read this!)

Slacker

It looks like I've been slacking on my blog. I just haven't made myself sit down and write lately. Not too much has been going on. Last weekend we spent some time out at the Western Heritage Classic at the expo center. We went to the ranch rodeo Friday and Saturday nights, and walked around Saturday afternoon looking at the booths. Sunday was Mother's Day...do you celebrate that if you are not technically a mother yet (just a mom-to-be)? I don't know...so Eric got me a little something anyway.

This week has been pretty mundane. We did find out that Eric did not get the job he interviewed for last week, so that is stinky. He's sent lots of applications and resumes out this week, so maybe one of those will turn into something. The waiting and wondering is no fun at all.

And now it is the weekend again...good! Hopefully this will be a relaxing weekend of housework and rest. (That housework part doesn't sound very relaxing now that I think about it.) I have a hair appointment this afternoon...maybe I'll cut it all off again...who knows!

Another interview

Eric had another job interview yesterday. We should know something next week sometime. Maybe this is the job for him. If not, we will keep looking.

2 Stories

I have two pretty good stories today...totally unrelated to anything else I have been writing on here, and totally unrelated to one another...

The first one has to do with our crazy dog, Murph. As some of you know, our dog feels the need to chase and bark at every single bird, squirrel, car, bicycle, walker, cat, fly, mosquito, etc. that is anywhere within site, sound, or smelling range. Therefore he spends a lot of time running up and down the fence, and sometimes ends up getting so excited he just runs in circles...goofy! So I think his favorite thing to bark and and chase are birds. Every morning they seem to have a little game they play together where the birds just taunt Murph because they know he can't catch them. Well - little did they know that one day he WOULD catch one of them! Monday when I came home from work Murph was laying in the yard and I could tell he had something in his front paws that he seemed to be licking and playing with. I thought maybe Eric gave him a bone or some new chew toy. However, when I got out of my car I could hear a weird squeaking or chirping sound. I then realized the chirping was coming from whatever it was Murph was "holding" in his paws. Turns out, he had somehow caught one of those pesky birds and decided to make it his new play toy...or maybe he was trying to make friends...who knows! Either way...GROSS!!! I called Eric out there and he discarded the (still living but probably scared to death) bird. All I can say is...disgusting!! (Birds are not toys, Murph!)

Second story: Yesterday while Eric was at home he heard what sounded like something hitting our porch (like someone threw a newspaper or something on it). So he looked out the peep hole only to see...a FIRE on our front porch! Yikes! Apparently some birds had built a nest inside the porch light, and somehow the light bulb or something exploded and came off the side of the house (the loud noise he heard) and was on the porch in a big ball of flames. Luckily Eric knew where the fire extinguisher was and put the fire out quickly. I told him if I had been home I would not have know where the extinguisher was, much less how to use it. (I'm pretty sure I will be getting a lesson in fire extinguisher use soon.) Good thing he was the one there! Kinda scary! So now we have a new porch light, a scorched welcome mat by the front door, and a big black mark on the porch. Fun stuff!

Job Update

Well, Eric did not get the job at TSTC. He found out yesterday, so needless to say, that made for a pretty crummy day. I think the worst part about not getting a job you really want is when you have absolutely no idea why you didn't get it - no explanation, no "thanks for taking the time to come for an interview", no "we found someone with more experience", nothing.

So, now we are in a bit of a bind, since we had no advance warning about being back to just one paycheck. I'm not really sure what we are going to do. When we first got married and Eric was looking for a job in Abilene it took about 7 months before he found one. That can't happen again. Seven months from now we will have a baby. We can't go until then (and especially after that) on just my job. This stinks!

Sorry to be such a downer today...just writing what I am feeling right now. Hopefully things will turn around soon.