A 26 Year Warranty??

Ok, seriously. Ever since I hit 36 weeks (I'll be 37 weeks in 2 days) my body has stopped working! My feet have started to swell, I have started sweating (for no freaking reason), my hands are a little chubby and I am tired.

I mean, I know it is supposed to be a little uncomfortable, but this is ridiculous. I couldn't even stand in church yesterday (I am Catholic so they do that sit, stand, kneel thing). I felt like my feet were stuffed in my shoes. I think I looked like the wicked step sisters trying to shove their feet in the glass slipper, only my slippers were black Dolce and Gabana heels.

I have started to waddle (which is OH so sexy) and my legs cramp up for no reason. I seriously feel like the hunchback of notre dame. I think I need to be in an attic somewhere, where people don't have to see the monstrosity!

Seriously, I think I need a refund. I wonder if the rents got the extended warranty? I would still be under the 30 year mark! Don't I get points for that?

Life List

My IBFF, Rachel, got an idea to do a life list, and I thought it was such an amazing idea.

Your write a list of things you want to accomplish in your life. And I am talking really, really want to accomplish.

Then after you freaders read it... you leave me a comment and add to the list :)

So here we go...

1. Live in Italy, for at least a year.

2. Learn to play the guitar so I can sing and write my own songs!

3. When my son is grown, have him say, "When I was growing up, my mom always looked beautiful and sang the most beautiful songs!"

4. Have my apple pie win some award.

5. Get kissed on the Eiffle Tower

6. Make my bed when I get up every morning.

7. Have my cat, Sammy, come back to us, alive and well.

So... now its your turn... what should I add to my list?

I'm Officially Crazy!

Yesterday was the weirdest day. The whole week it was 70-80 degrees, sunny and beautiful. However, yesterday, was gloomy and cold, like 50? Then at about 2pm the contractions started. It was pretty painful, but I just kinda worked through it (thinking the entire time that I am on that pre-term labor labor drug and there is no way these things are going to continue). Well, the first hour I had 13 (more than 8-10 you're supposed to call your doc), the next hour I had another 13 and that is when I turned to hubs and made him grab my shoes and head to the hospital. The doctor was called and the hospital knew we were on our way.

The strange thing was, I wasn't really sure what they were going to do... I mean, I didn't know if they were going to stop labor (because I was due to take that ProCardia until Sat) or if they were going to let me go. I also know, they normally think contractions (or pre-term labor) are caused by dehydration, so, on the way there I guzzled 8oz of water.

After getting to the hospital, peeing, putting on a gown and climbing in bed, I was hooked up to the contraction machine (This tells when, how long and how strong each contraction is). However, when I looked at the monitor it said I wasn't HAVING contractions? I just had some irratability. WHAT???? I swear, my back was hurting and I was having contractions, just like last time. The nurses came in, checked me, and no dialation had begun, so they thought I may have a kidney infection. They checked my pee, and came back with all negative results. How can that be?? No kidney infection AND no contractions? I know I am not making this up, I mean, this shit was painful. At this point, the contractions had slowed, but I was still feeling them?

At this point, I was frusterated, confused and tired. I didn't know what to do? Obviously I have never had contractions before, but I have HAD pre-term labor so I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing?? Apparently.... not!

So... I went home, had some pizza, watched some Tivo and crashed. The pressure in my pelvis is still there and I guess I am having no contractions? Who knows?

My question to all your freaders, is how and when do you know if you are having a contraction? When I think they're 10 min apart, they are really 2 min apart, and when I think they are 2 min apart... apparently I am not having any? Any advice??

Our Suspicion May Be Confirmed???

As most of you know by now, in June, I was in the hospital for quite sometime. Read more here.
The short version is, Hubs and I had an ectopic pregnancy, I went in for a routine laporoscopy and 4 hours later I had a VERY high fever, I had organ failure and in my emergency surgery I died on the OR table. After 2 weeks, I was discharged with no diagnosis. I have a huge scar and no gall blatter, but they still could never tell me what happened.

A month later, I became pregnant with Brady. Hubs and I were scared and excited but I knew that God had a plan. The pregnancy, overall, has been great. A little hiccups here and there, but overall nothing to be concerned with.

In Feb, however, my baby bro became sick with the flu, and stayed home the entire week. During that week, another child became sick with the flu, went home, and suddenly died. He had a very high fever, a rash and his organs failed overnight. My mom and I thought this was a very strange set of events. It had seemed, he had what I had. A perfectly healthy 7th grade child dies of flu??? Something wasn't right.

As of yesterday they released that the little boy died of MRSA, which is a staff infection, commonly referred to as the Super Bug. It is highly contagious and if you have any weakness in your immune systems (such as flu or surgical wounds) it can be deadly!

After doing further research we believe this is what I had. It is kind of a relief to find out what almost killed me at 26, but it saddens me that the hospital probably knew what I had and discharged me, leaving me wondering all this time.
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On a much happier note... yesterday I got my hair done, and we took a picture of myself and my hairdresser, Kim, with her 39 wk pregnant belly.



Hope you all have a fab Friday and we will keep you posted on the baby front!

Hotel Parents!

I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars!

This entire week, I spent the week with the rents! On Monday I was kidnapped and told I could not leave the house until my husband returned from his office.

SO... Monday I dragged my happy ass to the rents, only to be welcomed by home made shrimp scampi and soymilk already in the fridge (2 points!)

Tuesday, Mom and I ventured out to see what this swimming thing is all about. You see, for the past 6 months, she has been waking at 4am to swim for an hour and a half. And after attending an 11am class (there was no way I was waking up at 4am) I realized just how passionate she is about this sport. Not to mention, just how far she has come. In my youth, my mom couldn't walk up 4 stairs without having to take a puff on the inhaler due to her horrendus asthma. Now, she can swim 50 meters and just be a litle winded. Seriously INCREDIBLE! I was thoroughly impressed AND her coach had bragged about how far she had come.
Tuesday night was filled with spinach stuffed shells (my absolute favorite), playing cards with the baby bro, dad, and American Idol (David Cook, I heart you in SO many ways! I hope you win it all!)

Then, Wednesday morning I awoke to a freshly made onion bagel (from the local shop down the street) and hot brewed coffee! (10 pts for that!) Then at around 8:30am Mom and I headed out for a little retail therapy! We stopped at Starbucks (in case you forgot she had already eaten 2 meals and had swam for 2 hours- so she needed a little pick me up) chatted, and headed for the nail salon, where we got pedicures and beautiful eyebrows! Then, we headed home, grabbed my bag and headed over to my part of town for some shopping. We stopped at Khols and got the CUTEST flip flops, then we went to the mall, where we got cool clothes for the baby bro, a new bed comforter and some shoes.

Overall, it was one of the best weeks I have had, in a LONG time!

Today, I have a feeling, is going to be equally great! Hubs is home... YAY!!! And I get my hair done. Not really sure what colors I want to go with but I should be able to take a pic once I am done. You see, this is my last apt for a while, b/c my hair dresser is having a girl in a week and I should have Brady around April 4th (according to the doc.)

Any fun plans for the lot of you for today or Friday??

Wordless Wednesday

This is me and hubs (pre-pregnancy) and yes! I have pink hair!

Almost...

Went to the doc yesterday, and got some very interesting news!

*Back story - I am on this drug called ProCardia to stop pre-term labor and to diminish the contractions I am having every hour.

So... yesterday I went to the doc's office and he checked me out, AND... my belly is 35 inches (bigger than hubs waist...eek!) and Mr. Brady is trending to be about 6 to 61/2 lbs. With that, my doc told me to go off the ProCardia by Sunday of THIS week.

And that means... we could have a baby by Thursday of next week! (He says it takes about 4 days for the meds to get out of you.) He doesn't think I will go further than 38 weeks. Hubs and I are VERY excited with this news!

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On a different note, I have been successfully kidnapped by my parents to spend the week with them. It is going pretty well :) Mom cooked me shrimp scampi last night and we all watched dancing with the stars (um... kinda cheesy!) but overall it is fun spending time with the rents!

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday! And we will keep you updated if I go into labor :D

A case of the Mondays!

I guess I have a case of the Monday's. Hubs is not working from his home office (booo!) and because of that my Mom has kidnapped me to spend the week at the rents home :) I feel a little torn abouts this... love the rents, love the baby bro... but I just want to be with my stuff. UGH! You know?

There is so much to do around this house (dishes and laundry and such) and I can't even do all of it. I can't stand on my feet that long ;-)

Just kind of groggy and want to spend all day in my PJ's. ;-P

The Best Easter Moment...

*I would just like to preface this post by saying, I hope to ONE day be as creative as my mother when it comes to holiday's. We didn't have any money back then, but damn was she creative with gifts! Plus, Easter was always a big deal, being Catholic and Italian. The food was awesome, the gifts were plentiful and there was always a good time to be had.

It was 1986... parachute pants were HOT! And the more socks you wore, with neon colors, the cooler you were!

We lived in a skinny, 3 story townhouse, right outside of D.C. (Think 100 dalmations townhouse.)

I was 5 at the time and I just thought the WORLD of my parents! My dad the "businessman" and my mom the "creative one!" We were the perfect little trio!

Easter morning I awoke to my mom coming into my Strawberry Shortcake decorated room, with a smile on her face to wake me up. I roused from bed, still a little groggy, when I saw these gorgeous pink and white BUNNY EARS!

"oooooohhhhh!" I squealed! "What are those Momma??"

"Those are for you! I think the Easter Bunny left them for you." Said Mom

"WOW!!! The Easter Bunny came to OUR house! Oh my gosh!"

"He left you a note too! Let's read it!"

"Ok, Ok, ok, ok, ok!!!!" I could hardly stand it, I think I was jumping up and down at this point.

Momma started to read the letter and it said: put on the ears and follow the footprints...

"Follow the footprints? Oh MY!!! Momma... where are the footprints??" Thats when I looked at the ground and saw these gorgeous pink and white footprints that lead out of the room and down the stairs.

As I put on the bunny ears, Momma began to read her letter, and I hopped down the stairs, following the pink and white footprints (that had been taped to the ground) all the way to the main floor. I hopped all around our little house, to pick up eggs and gifts, when all of sudden I saw a pink and white footstep going outside. I turned to my mom for approval?!? She gave me a wink and I headed outside.

As I opened the door, I saw the most WONDERFUL sight in the world! There was a beautiful tree sitting to the right of our door and every single branch had sparkling red liccorice hanging off a branch. I couldn't believe my eyes!!! The Easter bunny had not only given me bunny ears, left his footprints, and now THIS! Yummy red liccorice hanging from a TREE!

I ran outside, grabbed what I could reach and began eating until my heart's content! My dad and mom came outside, watched with glee and helped me pull each strand off the branch.

It was truly a magical moment! All three of us, sitting on the 3 little steps, eating red liccorice that the Easter Bunny had put on OUR tree.

I will never forget that moment, and I can only hope to be that creative when baby Brady understands the happiness of Easter.

Bed Rest...zzzzzzzz....

Well folks, my doc says I need to be on bed rest for 2 days, and since today is my 2nd (and hopefully final) day of being in the bed, I would like to share with you how utterly boring this is.

I have watched an entire trial on court tv. I have emailed and blogged everything that will come out of my brain, and I have slept more than one person should be allowed to do so!

I am currently having 4-6 strong and painful contractions an hour (even with being on this daily pill that is supposed to stop them) but I don't have to go to the hospital unless they exceed 8-10 an hour, for 2 consecutive hours. Plus, while at the hospital on Tuesday, they did a test that says I will not deliver Mr Brady for 2 weeks. So... I guess I am just stuck on this couch, watching court tv and wishing I could be jogging, or shopping or something, other than sitting :)

If you have any fantastic jokes or anything that will keep me occupied, feel free to leave a comment.

Hope you all have a fantastic Good Friday!! and a wonderful Easter!

Your very bored, freader and blogger!

Funny Things

So, apparently my parents and baby bro are "hamster sitting" for spring break, and apparently, this hamster is much fatter than the others, so my mom has nicknamed her...

Hamela Anderson! Heee hee! I thought that was so funny!

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So last night, hubs and I were watching American Idol and Kelly Pickler was on (I am not a big fan) and I asked hubs how on earth that girl got a recording contract? I mean she sucked. Then hubs turns to me and says... honey... that girl could be a deaf mute and she would still rock... because she is freaking hot! OH GOD. Men ;-)

Hope you all have a great Thursday, and these comments bring smiles to your face!

Wordless Wednesday and 35 Weeks!

""Today I will teach a new meditation, make you even better person. Is called Four Brothers Meditation."

Ketut went on to explain that the Balinese believe we are each accompanied at birth by four invisible brothers, who come into this world with us and protect us throughout our lives. When the child is in the womb, her four siblings are even there with her - they are represented by the placenta, the amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord and the yellow waxy substance that protects an unborn baby's skin. When the baby is born, the parents collect as much of these extraneous birthing materials as possible, placing them in a coconut shell and burying it by the front door of the family's home. According to the Balinese, this buried coconut is the holy resting place of the four unborn brothers, and that spot is tended to forever, like a shrine.

The child is taught from the earliest consciousness that she has these four brothers with her in the world wherever she goes, and that they will always look after her. The brothers inhabit the four virtues a person needs in order to be safe and happy in life: intelligence, friendship, strength, and (I love this one) poetry. The brothers can be called upon in any critical situation for rescue and assistance. When you die, your four spirit brothers collect your soul and bring you to heaven."

~Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

I thought this was such a unique idea! To always have four brothers there when you need them! I hope Brady realizes he has a protector even in that small womb of his!

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Just in case your keeping up: 35 weeks pregnant today!

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

On the health front, the past 2 days have been quite hectic! Monday I was rushed to the hospital with pre-term labor. I thought the contractions were 10 min apart (however, I couldn't really tell. After my crazy surgery in June I think I have a high tolerance for pain) but when I got to the hospital they were a steady 2 min apart, and they were pretty large. They don't want me to go into labor this early, so they gave me this shot that makes you feel like ass (shaky and weird all over) to stop contractions. It worked. The moment it went into my system they stopped and the hospital continued to monitor me for 2 hours. Finally I was discharged, came home and went to bed. Yesterday morning, however, at around 3 am, they were back with evengance. They woke me up from a dead sleep. I tried to drink water and relax and finally after about 50 min, they stopped.

I went back to sleep, only to wake, try and get some work done, when at 10am they had come back again! This time they were more consistent and they were making me worry. I headed back the hospital so they could monitor me more, and when I got there they had slowed to a 3 an hour. They prescribed me a pill that I take daily to stop pre-term labor for the next 2 weeks (my man needs to cook a little longer!) and so far it has worked. When I do get a contraction it is is really painful and lasts for about a minute an a half, but they are sporadic, so I think we're in the clear. This morning, at 3am, I woke up with about 4 contractions (very painful) and had to take a shower in the middle of the night. That was weird! But they have since stopped. Maybe Brady is preparing me for a mid night delivery? We'll see....

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

The Gray and White

Generally speaking there are 2 kinds of people, there are the "gray" kind that take from your personal bucket, and then there are the "white" kind that fill your bucket!

The "gray" kind are those people that after you hang out with them, you feel drained, worried (for them) and burdened by most of their problems.

The "white" people, on the other hand, are those that feed you with positivity, fill your bucket without being asked and when you leave their company, you are so much happier than when you got there!

In my life, I have tried to only associate with "white" people. *Wow that sounds bad ;-) But truthfully, I have made a conscious effort to surround myself with people that fill my bucket as opposed to draining it! When I was 19 I actually did an exercise where I wrote every person I knew, at that time, on a sheet of paper. It didn't matter how I knew them, how long I had known them, or what our relationship was. I just put every and all names on that sheet of paper. Then, I read each name out loud, and I payed very close attention to the emotion that was associated with that name. If I felt a smile start to peek through my lips, I would leave their name alone. But, if I found I felt guilt, remorse, hate or some weird gut feeling, I took a black sharpie and drew one line through it. When I was done, I realized, who the "white" people in my life were, and who the "gray" people were.

One by one, I got rid of all the gray! I eliminated friends by not calling, not answering calls and just being by myself, if that is what it took! I also started studying Feng Shui (which, if you don't know, is a way to let the universe bring you positive energy, and not have it work against you. That is a whole other post on its own though!) and I really started focusing my life towards the positive. This is also the same time I met my husband (coincidence... I THINK NOT!)

So, over time, I have become VERY conscious of the "white" and "gray" people that are around. I can spot a gray a mile away! I cringe when I think of it and in my older age, I am not tempted by their devilish promises or their evil appeal. I just walk away before I get sucked in. With that said, I feel like, right now, I have made my list of close friends and confidants all "white" and it feels absolutely amazing!



These 2 girls above, my best friends, and their perspective children, truly fill my bucket every single time I see them! I just cannot say how wonderful they are to me! I learned from Eat, Pray, Love that you should not only pray in crisis, but pray to say thanks for all the wonderful blessings in your life.

Yesterday, my girls came over to check out the nursery, give me some advice on what to take back and what to keep, and generally just be around each other! It was so wonderful! I have never had friends, that treat me with such respect, with such love, and to know that I have people that fill my bucket daily, is just such a blessing!

So, after going into pre-term labor, yet again, and being admitted into the hospital, yet again. Those 2 girls didn't miss a beat. They always call, they always care and they always show how much they love me, and for that girls. I say THANKS!

Love ya too!

I give you a challenge, to write down all people you associate with, whether it be a boss, a friend a lover or an ex. See what emotion they give to you? See if they are gray or white? I am telling you... it will change your world :)

Have a brilliant Tuesday! I am headed back to sleep!

Crack is Whack!!

And so is telling an 8 month pregnant woman she has to be on a low carb, sweet free diet! If you can't be happy about eating ice cream when your pregnant, then when CAN you be?

If you have no idea what I am talking about, I am getting increasingly ticked off with this GD BS!

I am just being a little whiney today :( It is St Patty's day though... which makes me think of drinking and .... well drinking. Can't do that today, but next year I can (at least) make Brady where some cute green and white outfit!

Have a Happy St Patty's Day!

Selfish!

By defintion, the word selfish means: devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

You could say, by all acounts, at one point in my life (maybe even a little now *wink) I was/am selfish. However, I think almost being a mom has put some things in to perspective. I try to take care of my husband, the best I can. I try to clean the house, so he has a lovely place to live. I try to be there for my baby bro any moment he needs me. And I also, try to be the best friend, daughter, and lover I can be.

With that being said, today, I was greatly dissapointed! I was disspointed in how selfish certain people can be, and truthfully it hurts my soul!

All my life I have grown up with the mentality; "If you want it done, your gonna have to do it yourself!" This statement was DRILLED in my brain and I believe, to an extent, this is pretty accurate! I mean, if you have a specific way of washing clothes or putting things away or keeping all your lotions in alphabetical order you have to do it yourself. *Unless you want to hire someone to do that for you, and LORD knows I don't have the money or time for that.

If someone calls and says, I need you to be here for me, I would do it! Because they needed it! I would never RSVP for a party and then not show, or I wold never make plans I intended to make. If I say dinner Thursday, I mean it! So yesterday, following that simple rule of mine, I was asked to take my baby bro shopping. I was too tired yesterday (after just doing some retail therapy myself) so I asked if we could move it to today, Sunday. Plans were arranged and I planned today around some shopping for bro.

Then, this morning, after I am dressed and litterally walking out the door, I get a call saying I am no longer needed. "My brother doesn't really need clothes after all, (which is total BS! He is 13 and growing like a weed. His pants are too short, not to mention he wants some fashion advice on how to look like an Abercrombie Model.) and truthfully I am not in the mood."

UGH! I just planned my entire day around shopping with baby bro, not to mention, I could have cooked myself breakfast and not got my fat ass dressed. I could still be lounging on a Sunday morning with coffee in hand.

So... this severly ticked me off and reallly it didn't seem either of them cared. "Plans Change!" Was the exact response I got from the parentals.

I mean, I understand plans change, but when you plan your day or your morning, or your whatever, around doing something solely for the purpose of someone else, I really feel people should be treated better!

Am I being hormonal and overreacting, or do you think I have a right to be a little perturbed?

A Life in Pictures

Got this great idea from Tortious (love her!)



Go to http://photobucket.com.
Type in your answer to each question in the search box.
Use only the first page.
Copy the html and paste for the answer.
Let the games begin!

1. What is your relationship status?

2. Who is your celebrity crush?

God... I love that man!

3. Who is your favorite band? Hmm... that is a tough one! Probably our band: MY MISTRESS

4. What is your favorite movie?

5. What kind of pet do you have?

6. Where do you live?

7. Where do you work?

8. What do you look like?

9. What do you drive?

10. What's your favorite TV show?

11. Describe yourself.

12. What's your name?

Anakalia - in Hawaiian (sp??)

13. What's your favorite candy?

Play along! Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!


PS If you want an amazing fish recipe, or the easiest spinach dip ever... check out my food blog!

http://www.cookingintexas.blogspot.com/

MOH

So... this morning, still being a little heartbroken about no response from the MOH, I sent her a text. Which is really the only way she responds so this is what I sent:

Me: To be honest... I am a little disheartened that we have not been able to connect. I want you to know I was so worried on Sunday, I called XYZ hospital and they said no one had been there all day or was there currently by your name. I don't care about the reason you didn't come, I just want to let you know, I am worried about you and I am always here if you need me.

Now, keep in my mind, I thought... if she did lie, this would give her an out. She tends to stress about things like, "oh no, I didn't show, now she hates me, I am too embarrassed. I could never talk with her again." So I thought, by sending this message, it would convey, I certainly don't hate her and I didn't care that she didn't come, I was concerned.

Her: Take care of yourself.

I am sorry... WHAT??? That is what you have to say? I get the brush off. Holy shit... am I missing something here? Did I miss silent girl code I was un-aware of? I thought I was being nice, and now THIS??

Any advice... I mean really? What the hey! Did I do something wrong?

Bring it ON!

Today it is going to be 84 degrees. YIPEEE! Yesterday, I got a little sun bathing in on the lounge chair, and I gotta tell ya, after the snow, sun, and snow last week. This felt damn good! I love me some SUN!

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Houdini cat is still missing :( However, my chihuhua did find a bird carcus outside my door, so maybe he is hanging around and eating well? It is sad, but I don't think he is dead, so that keeps my hopes up!

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Can I just say that MOH is MIA! I have tried calling numerous times and I get nothing, no response, no nothing. I am going to take that as a bad sign. I think I am giving up.

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Bought this new Lavender bubble bath and it is HEAVEN! It really helps with the Braxton Hicks. I swear, every time I go to the darn grocery store it happens. Yesterday, hubs and I were in there for only 30 min and MAN that was all it took to have it happen for almost 2 hours. OUCH! Seriously, I think the grocery store has it out for me.

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Today, I plan to bake a pie, PUT IN THE CAR SEAT, and mop. WOW! Exciting!

Got any exciting Thursday plans?

Wordless Wednesday and 34 Weeks

That is my other cat (Basil) and he is my best blogging buddy!

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I am 34 weeks pregnant. Which means in just 3 weeks (EEEK!) I will be full term and my new man could come at any time. My doc doesn't believe I will go to a full 40 weeks, b/c my man is a little larger than he is supposed to be and he doesn't want me to have such a big baby :)

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Yipppeee!

New Toys are Fun!!!!

Ok, if that title post just made you think about some scene in Sex and the City that involved Samantha... you should really go on a date :)

Yesterday, I got my new phone, a blackjack 2. It is so fun! It has all these fun songs and all these screens and all this cool stuff. Normally, I don't really care about cell phones, but this one is quite cute (red and it only weighs 3oz) and it does tons of stuff :D Yipppee!

Not to mention, this awesome new addition (pictured above!) My stroller and infant car seat! It is really coming along now!

The Louis Vutton duffle is packed and by the door and the car seat is in the car. Now all we need is my little man! I can't wait.

I do wish my cat would come back (he has a micro chip) but as of yet there have been no sightings and/or luck in finding him. It is day 4 :(

Baby Showers and Such!!!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day! My 2 favorite people, Missy and Michelle, threw me the most amazing baby shower! It was filled wtih delectable food, fun games, and great company!! Those 2 girls really did an amazing job with EVERYTHING! It was truly a special day! Not to mention, it was about 65 degrees, so everything was just perfect!

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On another note my Houdini cat has done it again! After the last fiasco, hubs and I decided to put bird netting all over the yard, so he couldn't jump out. This worked for quite sometime, until yesterday, when we went outside and realized he must have tried to jump through, failed, and knocked some of it loose, only to try again and succeed. Now, keep in mind the cat is de-clawed, and he has a belled collar, but he has brought me multiple bird or grasshopper presents, so I don't think it has slowed him down. Normally, we walk outside and he is meowing in the neighbors yard, for us to rescue him.

However, yesterday, he was no where to be found, and last night a kind neighbor dropped by his leash. Apparently, their dog sniffed it out and they wanted to return it.

We have not heard or seen from out little guy since Sat night, and I am getting increasingly worried. I understand cats get lost and if he is gone for good I will have to get over him but I am just a little heartbroken. If you would keep Sammy in your prayers for a safe return, I would appreciate it!!

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And finally, I need some advice...

When I got married, back in 2004, I had an entirely different set of friends. I didn't have too many close girlfriends... actually, I only had one. So at my wedding my maid of honor was that friend, and my sister in law was the other bridesmaid.

Anyway, over the years, me and my MOH (maid of honor) have drifted apart, but always tried to remain as close as we can be. You see, she keeps a different schedule. She is a waitress at a very busy wine bar, downtown, and I live in the burbs, with a husband and I have a corporate job. Not to mention I am very pregnant.

So, when I was making the baby shower list, she was, naturally, the first person I invited. I was excited to finally see her and spend some time with her. However, about a week before the event, my friend said there was no RSVP from her. I got worried. I know she would have to request it off, so I texted her to make sure she was coming. She said she never got the invitation, which made me feel horrible, and I told her the details and she said "Of COURSE, I will be there, its your baby shower for gosh sake!" I was so happy that was all clear, I told my friend and waited for the day.

Well, yesterday, while at the shower, I get a text saying her phone did not spring forward automatically, which to be honest, I had a hard time believing, but went on with the day as if it was no big deal. You see, she is always late, or has car trouble or something happens. She is just kind of one of those friends that it comes with the territory, not the most reliable if you know what I mean. There have been numerous occasions where I will be sitting at the restaurant and she will text me saying she just left, sorry. And, after years of knowing her, I have tried to put it behind me to the best of my ability. Now don't get me wrong, I used to bitch and bitch about it, until I realized it solved nothing. So... as time went on, as I got older, I just let it go. And yesterday, I did the same. She was going to be late, no worries, I just let it go.

So, the party goes on, the games are played, the cake is eaten and the presents are opened. No sign on her. I looked around and I got a melancholy feeling. I mean, she was my MOH, I thought she would at least be here for this. As I am getting in the car, I see I have another text: It said got into a car wreck, headed to xyz hospital, sorry, call you later. So now, I start to worry... is that REALLY what happened, OMG I feel horrible. So I call. No answer, which is as to be expected if your in the hospital. SO I get home, call the xyz hospital and ask for the ER. They tell me no one has been there with that name and no one is here now with that name. Truthfully, my heart sinks. I don't know what to believe. Did she just not come? (I mean it wouldn't be the first time she flaked out on a party or something important) or did she really get hurt? So... I call her phone again. No answer.

Then, about 20 min later I get another TEXT saying I should wear my seatbelt and something to that effect and call you tomorrow. I have a bruised rib but really it was more mental than physical. Which, at this point, I don't know how to respond? Why was she still texting me? I mean if your in the hosptial, I would at least like a call. So I text her back, get well and call me tomorrow.

There are 2 problems I have with this:

A. Everytime there is an event or a party or something we have planned, she has car trouble. A flat tire, its in the shop, or whatever. (Plus, she doesn't have a junk car, she has a nice, new car!)

B. If she really made it up that she was going to the hospital, and made me worry even worse than before, that would be horrible. Plus, why would you only text? I called twice... don't I at least deserve to know if you are ok? To me, my gut told me it was a person TEXTING in sick to work. I just didn't have a good feeling about it.

So... I don't know what to do if she calls. Should I tell her my concern about her not showing up? Should I ask her what happened? What should I do? I feel like this was a really big event to miss, and I understand if your going to be late, but this kind of feels like the last straw... you know? What would you do if it was your friend?

Guest Post

My dear friend Elysa asked me to write a guest post for her ABC's of being a 20 something.

Check it out!

http://www.genpink.com/f-is-for-family/

Wounds

There are times in your life when the wounds inside you let you know they are still with you. Now matter how much healing you have done over the years, they are there.

How they get there, sometimes we don't know, and sometimes we inflict them on ourselves.

I have lots ot wounds. But with time, most of them have healed. The scars have come and gone and now only a faints white line occurs on my soul.

Unfortuntely, when those wounds are scratched, they still burn and sting.

Yesterday, was a tough day emotionally. Maybe its the pregnancy, maybe its the stress of being 1 month away from bringing a child into this world... maybe it is just me?

It is hard to be hurt and not have any want or know-how to fix it. It is hard to be in a house with someone you love so much, yet feel so much pain from.

It was silence most of the day, yesterday. Silence so deafening you could hear the screaming words of the previous hour. Silence so loud you could feel the frusteration, hurt, and pain as we were both in the room.

And then there was sleep. Sleep that came from mental and physical exhaustion. As the room went black, the silent tears lept to my pillow.

Today, there are puffy red eyes and a heavyness in my heart. I am sure the wounds are beginning to heal, yet again, but why they were ever scratched in the first place... I do not know?

Hope today is a better day for me... and here is to a happy (baby shower filled) weekend!

Couple A Things

1. Is it me or are the guys just way better than the girls this season on AI? I mean seriously, don't they know the rule. Don't do Whitney!! It doesn't matter that she's a crack pot, it doesn't matter she married the sleaziest man KNOWN to man kind, it doesn't matter... you just don't do WHITNEY! Come on!

2. Ok, I know I said the guys were better, and really... David (I heart you in so many ways!) Dreadlock guy- love your eyes and your voice! and Micheal Hutchins look-a-like- you officially rock, oh and not to mention cool emo guy who sang Lionel Richie!! OH YEAH! However, Luke... you see, wake me up before you go-go by WHAM, is like my ALL TIME favorite song... why I have no idea? Because I am cool like that. I mean, why even try to butcher such meaningful lyrics... wake me up before you go-go, don't leave me hangin on like a yo-yo! If you can't rock it like WHAM, please don't attempt! The 3 fans still left in the world, would really just like so savor the original, kthx!

3. Can I also just say that MAC's nymphete lipstick makes me happy! Yesterday, I was feeling like a large waddling cow, and couldn't really find anything to wear. So I threw on some sneakers for my slightly swollen feet, a sweater (because the weather in TX sucks!) and jeans. But honey... you know I put on some lipstick and some glosss! Oh yeah! I may have been headed to target, but my lips were kissable!! Sometimes you just need a little pucker filled pout!

and on a happy note....

4. My 3rd and final baby shower is being thrown this weekend. I am seriously excited! Not really for the gifts (well, there nice too) but mostly to hang out with my girls! The 2 girls throwing this shower, are really my best friends. We have the most bizarre personalities,but somehow it works. One is the emotional one - always a shoulder to cry on, and always the life of the party. Really, she is just sweet overall! She IS a pisces though, what do you expect? The other - tells it like it is! I mean if you have a problem she will give you a solution! She doesn't sugar coat it, which is my favorite part about her. You know when there are just those people that you can ask and they will tell you, the good, the bad and the ugly! That's her! It puts a smile on my face just thinkin about it. Love them! Love them together, and apart. I just couldn't be happier they are doing such a wonderful thing for me!!
-------------------------

Oh and today... in case your keeping up. I am 33 weeks pregnant. I think I might cry, truthfully because Brady is sitting on some organ and it hurts like hell, but also because in 4 weeks I will be full term and elastic waist pants, will be a thing of the past. OH YEAH!

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Wordless Wednesday...

2 beautiful quotes, from 2 very different and beautiful books!

"Your job, then, should you chose to accept it, is to keep searching for the metaphors, rituals and teachers that will help you move ever closer to divinity. The Yogic scriptures say that God responds to the sacred prayers and worship - just so long as those prayers are sincere. People follow different paths, staright or crooked, according to their temperament, depending on which they consdier best, or most appropriate - and all reach You, just as rivers enter the ocean."

~ Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

"Kids, I want you two to remember something: This little fellow is not yours; he is just on loan to you for 18 years!"

At that moment, we had no idea what Dr. Cobb meant.

Think of your child's life like a mortgage. Every day he will make a payment. By age nine, he will be half owner of his life: And by age 9 he better be making half of his own big decisions!

You both have a pretty clear understanding of how much authority you'll have in the life of your child when he is two years old, don't you?

Well, sir, we haven't thought that far ahead. We're kind of operating by crisis managment. First a feeding, then a dirty diaper, then a nap, then another diaper, then another feeding and so on.

Okay, I'm going to run through a list for you, and you tell me which things you feel you should be in control of when your son is two years old. Will you decide what time he gets up and what time he goes to bed?

Yes.

Will you be in charge of who he plays with?

Yes, of course.

Will you establish the boundaries of the play area?

Yes!!

Well kids, I want you to remember the list of things you feel you should bein charge of when he is two. I want you to look at it often! Those are the things he should be in control of by the time he turns 16!

At age 2 he only own two eighteenths of his life. But every day he makes another payment. By age 16, he owns the same majority of his mortgage that you owned when he was 2!"

~Parenting with Dignity

Mac Bledsoe

Court TV...

I heart you! Especially when I need some droning voice to put me to sleep for 10 min so that I may have my daily nap.

However, today, while watching Court TV or Tru TV or whatever the hell they call it now... I watched this case that said:

Man trying to commit suicide kills bystander...

I am sorry, WHAT?? How shitty is your luck? That is the most horrible thing I could think of. Your in such despare with life, you try to end it, and you crash into a tree, it knocks over the tree and plows into some innocent person's living room, taking a nap, and kills him.

HOLY CRAP!

I didn't know if I should feel sorry for the guy who tried to commit suicide or the guy taking a nap. I mean... at least the guy taking a nap, was... sleeping... and died on impact. Then there was this poor man, who looked like your average grandpa next door, who was stuck in all this mess. It was just such a tragic case!

So the defense said; obviously he didn't know the tree was going to break in half and his car was going to continue into the man's house, AND not to mention he was "out of his mind" at the time and could never have imagined that happeneing. He wanted solely to commit suicide and harm no one else in the process

The prosecution said; charge him with 1st or 2nd degree murder, because attempted suicide is a crime (didn't know that either... and not too sure how I feel about that) not to mention you killed someone. You knew there was a house behind that tree and you knew there was a possibility of someone being in there.

Um... yeah! So that is weird.

The verdict; they came back guilty on vehicular manslaughter and nothing else. I pray, if that man goes to jail, he is on permanent suicide watch. Shit, if there was a reason to kill yourself, it would probably be that while trying to do so in the first place you accidentally murdered someone else.

SO Tragic!

Snow VS Sun

The weather in Texas is seriously outragious!

This morning I awoke to snow covered roof tops, cars and grass. However, on Saturday, it was 80 degrees and I wore a thin long sleeve shirt out to dinner and was hot.

I mean really, maybe Al Gore has some real concerns!

Today it is supposed to be back up to 60 degrees and on Sunday (my 3rd and final shower... yipppeeeee!) it will be closer to 70.

Hmm... any weird weather in your area?

Fun Things...

That happen when your 8 months pregnant.

1. Your extremely tired. For example: I went to bed at 6pm last night, only to wake up 10 min. ago.

2. My feet and hands have started to swell slightly. Just enough so that it hurts for my rings to be on my hands and my favorite heels on my feet. Which is really awesome because it is SO much fun walking around the grocery store with no wedding ring and people giving you evil looks like you just got knocked up :D

3. Braxton Hicks happen all the time and the only relief are baths! I feel bad for villages in Africa with no running water, because with as many baths and showers I take, I could water a whole damn country.

and finally the most awesome thing that happens when you are 8 months pregnant

4. People you have never met want to reach out and touch the belly, only for you to feel awkward and let me them! For the sake of a pregnant person... ask before touching belly's... please!

Cat Saga... Part Deux!

So as you all know by now, my cat, Sammy, has a wild streak! Apparently being wild for 2 years, previous to being "captive" has not really every gotten out of his system!

Yesterday, after the cat rescue I thought things would go back to normal. It was about 80 degrees yesterday, so hubs headed outside to see where our darling cat had escaped.

He boarded up some of the loose boards in our fence and made sure no other options were open for our very curious cat to break through.

*You see, we have a dog door (for our chihuahua) and we have to let him use it while we are away. So, yesterday we head to a baby shower and let the dog and cat roam free, thinking there isn't a way he can get out.

How wrong we were!

Apparently Mr Sneaky got out again. When we returned home from dinner, he was no where to be found. We called his name, again put out Tuna and dirty laundry and... waited.

This time I wasn't as upset, simply because I figured, maybe he doesn't like being able to sleep all day on wonderful couches, or eat whenever he pleases. Maybe he isn't too fond of us as parents?? Really, there was nothing i could do. He was getting out somehow and wasn't returning.

I went to bed sad, but with hope that one day he would return. Hubs, on the other hand, stayed up until 12 midnight walking in and out of the house, calling his name and wishing he would return.

When I woke up at 8am, Hubs was not in bed and the cat was still not home. I had little hope. Hubs said he had been up since 5:30am checking outside and peering out windows.

Then.... we hear a meow. A Very LOUD meow. I ran outside, called his name, and there he was meowing up a storm. Only... he was in our neighbors backyard, yet again! With no way to get into our yard. I was so frusterated at this point I didn't know what to do.

He was obviously safe and enjoyed his night on the prowl and now that it was morning he was ready to lounge with the other animals and eat. Hubs ran around to the neighbors gate, called his name, and he came running... like it was no big deal.

At this point... I really dont' know what to do? I am so frusterated with this little guy, I just can't stand it.

I have to keep the dog door open (for Mochachino) and I have no idea how he is getting out.

Hubs has gone to Home Depot to get some plastic pricky things so he can't jump on anything and then leap the fence and I have resorted to manually opening the door when Mochachino has to pee. This, however, is a very short term solution. I am headed to church today and I am going to have to let door open.

Do you all have any advice?? Obviously he isn't getting hurt, and he is savvy enough not to get run over or killed, but it just worries me. He is de-clawed and has a bell (and colar) around his neck. How would you stop Mr Sneaky from getting out? Or should I just let him roam and rescue him when he cries?

A Minor CATastrophe!

Yesterday, I had a real scare! My beloved and wild cat Sammy decided to break free from the backyard and go running around the neighborhood!

It started in the morning...

I hadn't seen him in the morning in his normal spot on the couch. I proceed to my office and hubs does the same, not too worried about it. My other cat, Basil (aka Fatterson) was meowing at my desk and I just thought he wanted some attention... or food? Basil is kind of needy, especially with his Momma!

So the day progressed and I still hadn't seen Sammy. *Backstory* About 3 days ago his colar had broken off in a bush somewhere outside. (He has one of those magnet ones, that if he gets caught it will break as opposed to have him stuck on a tree.) We had looked and looked and it was no where to be found. Then, since it was nice outside, we went looking again, finally finding his colar, only to realize Sammy was not outside or... anywhere.

I was absolutely terrified. He is de-clawed, had no colar, and because he was wild for 2 years before we got him, I was afraid he would just leave forever. I never wanted to give up hope though, I went walking up and down the neighborhood, with Mocha and called his name. (Yes, if you call his name he will come running!) Unfortunately, there was no luck. Sammy was no where. I knocked on the neighbors door and she told me another neighbors kitten had gotten out and they had put dirty laundry outside and Tuna and the cat was back within the hour.

I was desperate and almost crying at this point. So I opened 2 cans of Tuna and stuck a huge thing of laundry in teh backyard. Hubs and I went out to dinner (to take our minds off of it) and waited. When we got home I ran in the backyard, only to find Tuna cans and laundry... no cat!

Then about an hour later. Hubs ran outside in the front yard and called his name... a meow!!! He then ran in the backyard... a LOUDER meow!!

He looks over the neighbors fence and there he was... our little Sammy. Crying because he couldn't get back over the fence! Hubs jumps the fence, hands him to me and he was back safe before night fall.

A sigh of relief poured over me! Then Hubs turns to me and says... "WOW! Now I know what a parent might feel if you were 10 min late for curfew and you hadn't called. I am sure that is like 1 million times worse!" I turned to him, smiled and HAD to agree.