To be jabbed or not to be jabbed...

I didn't have to really think about the H1N1 shot because it wasn't really available to me since we got back from Australia.

Every place here that had the injection was a WIC clinic and in parts of town I wouldn't normally venture (Like Acres Home... home to it's own serial killer who was only recently caught).

So today I just a call from my GP's office. I had been put on a list and was basically going between Tschudia and my ob/gyn to see who got it first. I hadn't called the ob last week so she might have it this week too, who knows as she's not contacting her patients.

So now I actually have to think about it... I'm scheduled to go tomorrow afternoon, but to say I am not nervous about the shot causing harm to the baby would be lying. I know it's made the same as the seasonal etc etc... but I've never taken a flu shot ever because I never gotten it in my life. Typically I have a robust immune system except when my sinues are involved, then I'll catch anything and everything.

it's like... if you don't get and you get sick you're in crazy trouble... and if you do it and some thing happens you'll feel wretched too. Damned either way... of course you could take the shot and nothing happen.... and I believe plenty of preggers have taken the shots in these last couple of months. And at least I'm getting it at the GP who yearly does these types of shots as opposed to the ob/gyn who never does...

Back at work...

So Thanksgiving weekend went really well. We were only an hour late sitting down for the meal and everything turned out really well. Everyone brought something so I didn't have to make everything myself.

I didn't do Black Friday this year. I was way too tired. Must have overdone it on Thanksgiving. I did get a little Christmas decorating done. I'm not putting much up this year because I don't think I'll be up for taking it all down in January.

I found a present for my Aunt on Overstock. A pretty gold hinged bangle and then some similar earrings. I was on the sight to get a matching necklace for some earrings I got Mom for her birthday.

So that leaves me with my Uncle, my Dad and the little gifts for JP. I've gotten JP a couple of movies to go with the GPS Golf dealie that's his big present. I also got him one of those digital photo keychains so he can take pictures of the baby with him easily when he travels.

I know what my big present is already, JP got me a Kindle! Whoo-hoo! And a wall calendar that's set up for keeping better track of baby appointments.

JP leaves on Thursday afternoon for a long weekend. The boys are just giddy as I overheard their phone conversations this weekend. It appears that the trip to London for a week from today has been called off, but I'll believe that when he's back in H-town without a return trip.

Last morning in the office!

A benefit of a small Thanksgiving gathering... a smaller turkey that only requires 4 hours cooking time. Oh yes, I will be sleeping in tomorrow. Score!

I got the bird all seasoned up last night. JP was worried about me doing that in "my condition" but it's a small bird by previous year standards and was easy as pie to deal with.

Today I tackel the new item, a chocolate cheesecake. I got a yummy sounding recipe from one of my Kraft Food magazines. Yes, I know Kraft is one of the huge corporate evils... but their recipe magazine has so many recipes that don't intimidate a non-cooker like me. I'm slowly learning to expand what I can make relatively stressfree.

Of course, nothing beats my turkey chili but that came from Women's Health. Which I did tweak a tad.

Hopefully we'll get out a noon or earlier (lunch time) and I'll quickly hop up to Stone Mill for some bread and possibly lunch. Then it's home to crush oreos and soften up some cream cheese.

I will say my love of cheese has returned full force with this pregnancy and I've actually been able to deal with dairy with no issues too... and there is just something about cream cheese slathered on whatever that is too yum right now. I didn't buy any extra or I'd be in trouble so I am trying to control that. All I need to end up with sky high cholestrol after these 9 months. HA!

Just random silliness

How could I forget the coyotes!?

Around 1:45 Monday morning I woke up to howling and yipping coming from just outside my window. Three coyotes where having a meeting of some sort in the green space dividing my neighborhood from the one next door.

I had read that coyotes were spotted on the nearby golf course this summer, I'm assuming it's related to that sudden spike in the raccoon population we experienced.

Thankfully, no one is talking about killing them... just advising you keep your pets inside at night and don't put your trash out the night before to void the raccoons coming too.

My Mom was freaked saying that someone could get hurt... sorry you shouldn't be walking around a suburban neighborhood at 2 am period, especially with the vandalism and whatnot that's been going on where I live. If you're out at that time you are probably one of those teens doing mischief and I have no problem with a coyote giving you a scare or taking a chomp out of your butt. Bigger plus, the coyotes will keep the raccoon and possum (I hope they are a predator to possums!) populations in check as those boggers are getting too bold.

Mom was all, but raccoons are cute... yeah, until they dig up your yard or get into your wall. They won't get wiped out, it's just natural population control.

I will say the coyotes were beautiful. The size of a really well fed medium size dog, but so much more graceful than any pure bred domesticated dog.

Smudge was not pleased with the ruckus and moved to her safe spot in the center of the house. JP said she must have know she'd be an appetizer to the crowd outside.

Short week! Short week!

Morning meeting was canceled... I think like 4 people are out for the whole week and one is the big boss, so we got lucky

A rather quiet weekend. Took care of the car Friday morning and just a quiet day after that.

Saturday we did bits & pieces around the house and JP finally got over the idea of trading in his car. That was a big eye opening experience for him. High end cars suck and I was against that car from the beginning so yeah... he now understands that he'll have to drive it for much much longer.

We had a few people over Saturday night for just wine & nibbles. Was a night laid back sort of night. I was beyond worn out by the time everyone left though. It's going to be an interesting holiday season.

Sunday was even quieter, as I just laid on the sofa after church and finished reading my book... The Vanishing of Esme Lennox. Interesting as it's written from the point of view of an elderly woman in a nursing home with advanced dementia and her sister who has spent the last 65 years in a mental insitution. Picked it up in Australia.

Now today I don't have a whole bunch I need to get done. I do need to venture out on a slightly early lunch hour to pick up a few Thankgiving items I'm gonna need. Can't deal with HEB until after Thanksgiving. That place was INSANE on Friday so I can't imagine it getting any better... unless I'm just buying a few things and can walk there that is... even then.

Back in the game...

The pain from my ovary is totally gone, finally, restoring my energy levels. Of course I was still crazy late this morning. that's got to stop.

Nothing terribly exciting going on... yesterday was our Thanksgiving luncheon. At the end Romona said she expected me to make an annoucement. I was kind of surprised because best I can tell everyone knows and if they don't know it's because I don't know them and we don't work together or talk. Seriously, who else here cares? Am I supposed to write an email and mass notify the entire company?!

I just think that's odd. People know, and it's not like she can't talk to others about it now so yeah... a bit confused. Unless she thinks I should be talking about it non-stop... but I'm not that kind of person. Especially with co-workers.

I'm not the first person to use my uterus... and I'm pretty sure I won't be the last. It's special and exciting for me and my family and close friends... everyone else... why would they care?

Speaking of special... color me very special last night. Keiko curled up in my lap for 20 minutes. I stayed downstairs and watched some weird sit com on tv so I wouldn't disturb her little nap. This happens once in a blue moon, especially when she snuggles down and makes those "ahhhhh comfy" noises.

Reign it back in...

I told Olga yesterday about the "Rogue Ovary" and she said I should name it "Sarah Palin" and smack it when it mis-behaves. HAHAHAHA!

The pain is lessening so I'm hoping in another day it'll be totally gone and back to normal.

Yesterday I got home just before 1 and pretty much slept until 4pm... well after watching Big Bang Theory. That was hilarious, Soft Kitty sung in a round.

But I managed to get to work and I've gotten a few things done this morning. Starting on another set up, which of course seemed easy enough until I realized the burdens aren't tied and the gross interest are crap... *sigh* I hate load data.

Today is our departmental Thanksgiving Luncheon, and the second year in which it is fully catered. Whoo-hoo! Just need to head downstairs and get a drink. Will be useless later today all full of turkey... HA!

Tomorrow is my 20 week ultra sound. LBP tends to be more active in the late moring while the appointment is at 1:30 so I'll have to get some peppermints or something. Of course it could be like last time and LBP won't cooperate for anyone.

Going to be a quiet weekend, looks like. JP tried to invite some peeps over but one couple double booked adn the other hasn't responded which is their passive/aggressive way of saying no. I don't get why they don't just say it, but they never ever do. Oh well, I don't care... just means I don't have to make any dips or nibbles. Totally can live with that.

Rogue ovary...

UGH!!!

My right ovary still insists on doing it's thing. I'm guessing after 22 years of being lazy it's trying to make up for lost time. Talk about painful.

It's happened every month about mid-cycle. The clinic sort of warned me it would happen because of the drugs, and the ob confirmed it on my first visit to her with an ultra sound. Stupid thing choses now to regularly produce/release an egg. sheesh.

So with less room each passing month, this one has been a doozey. Probably why I felt so tired/bad yesterday and I know why I'm struggling today.

My boss told me to go home at 9 this morning but I insisted I could work until lunch and then I'd boogie, I figure I can get one payout set up in the system before I go... and I did. Go me.

I'll do the other two tomorrow. One I have to discuss with Gerry.

*sigh*

off to Ziggy's and then home to nap the afternoon away. Maybe I'll try a little stretching excercises too.

The Next Mia Hamm or David Beckam

Well, Little Baby Pearson decided to start kicking yesterday. To the point where I could see my shirt pop during church.

This combined with mid back pain and I didn't sleep well last night... so don't tell JP but I left work early. I couldn't think straight I was so tired, and that didn't seem a good way to work on an after payout calculation.

I didn't tell JP 'cause he has this crazy insane work ethic and if you aren't puking you should be at the office... I don't think so. I've managed not to skip out this whole time and was doing really crap work today so yeah.

Typicaly guy response....

So I've been home since lunch time and spent 2 hours dosing on the sofa. Feeling better but just really worn out.

Innocuous...

While no feline would approve of being called innocuous, Miss Keiko's heart murmur is.

When I picked her up yesterday they could tell me right away that it wasn't caused by heart disease which made the vet very happy. So, once they had that crossed off they drew blood to test the thyroid. Something called the T4 level was being checked as both the specialist and the main vet thought it was due to hypothyroidism.

Got off the phone a little while ago and Miss Keiko's thyroid came back just fine. Innocuous heart murmur it is. Just needs to be monitored yearly, and me being paranoid wanted to suggest every six months, but was told that's okay if we just keep an eye on her.

Maybe she's had a very slight murmur all along and it wasn't noticed. I've heard of that happening with people. But it makes sense since Miss Keiko's personality hadn't altered at all and had actually perked up with new food 6 months ago.

We'll just get some weight off her and keep her on track with her check ups.

It's a day for Morrissey...

I'm blasting my iPod with Morrissey's latest album... just what I need on this moody day. His voice is still beautiful after all these years.

Yesterday was one of my monthly OB visits. Wasn't there very long as it was just pee in this cup, blood pressure, and check the heart beat. She said they included two other tests with the amnio, spina bifida and something else so I'm free from having some other kind of check. Was just glad no one got to take more blood. Nice change of pace.

She's also happy with my weight gain, so I guess I haven't gone overboard. I've gained like 11-12 lbs so far. But since I got home so early I took a nice long walk. Haven't had the energy to work out after a full day in the office so it was nice to do.

She said to watch out at Thanksgiving, I guess she thinks I'll pig out... I had to laugh because I still have the weight watchers mentality of portion size etc. I'm just making sure I eat three meals and snacks are fruit. Could do better on the green leafy veg front.

Say what...?!

Miss Keiko went for her yearly on Friday. I was holding my breath because I feared at her age, 8, she'd need a dental and that ain't cheap.

Instead I headed home in tears because they found a slight heart murmur.

It's very slight, as the vet had to really focus to find it and she said getting an ultrasound to check it out wasn't a rush situation. So I'm hoping that means whatever has caused it (and the possibilities are pretty wide) can easily be treated by medication.

I've known since I got Keiko that being a tortie meant she'd be weird even by cat standards and that her life span wouldn't be like those 18+ kitties either. But the mere inkling that something might seriously be wrong with her and I loose it.

She is probably the sweetest animal I've ever know. period. and I'm not just saying that because she's mine. She's just always been a great cat and as long as the number of people in the house were low she was never a pest, never gets agressive with anyone (except when Smudge needs to be knocked down a peg or two), and just a lovey mush in her own, touch me but don't pick me up way.

I have to remind myself that time in on our side since this has been caught early and no invasive testing needs to be done at this point. I'm just not willing to subject her to anything really intensive because she can't possibly understand why something like that was being done and it would scare her to death and for what.

Who else is gonna race me up the stairs at night when I say, "Time to go meemees!"

When your pants stretch out funny...

I'm wearing a new pair of maternity pants today, and boy howdy are they stretching out wierd.

They're a full panel, which means the stretchy bit covers you to above the belly button (or a bit more). But where the panel meants the actual pants is a total design flaw that would leave Tim Gunn very annoyed, they did NOT make it work.

That's the part where the pants are stretching out, and if my belly was bigger it probably wouldn't matter, but the elastic at the top of the panel is VERY snug already so as my belly gets bigger I don't know how comfortable they'll be.

Next time I wear 'em I'll pull on a bella band. For $25 I can't complain too much.

Sleep is the word, its the word that you heard...

Very tired today and probably will have to sneak a nap around lunch time.

JP is a very light sleeper and Smudge knows this. She's been taunting him through the night, because he responds and basically plays her game.

I don't respond and I've learned to sleep through most of her antics, and so JP feels the need to wake me up to control "my cat." someone still doesn't understand living with a cat.

Chasing after her just makes it worse. As long as it doesn't sound like she's getting ready to pull the TV down on herself you just roll over and keep on sleeping. I don't understand why he doesn't get it.

She ONLY does this for him. When he travels she doesn't do any of this stuff. At worse she'll headbutt me trying to snuggle up under the covers when he's gone or knead on my arm.

And I don't think the time change helps because she doesn't understand why were still sleeping when we're usually waking up according to her internal clock.

yep... naptime shortly.

THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU JESUS!

Got the test results back this morning and the baby is fine! Whoooooop!

The chromosome that's effected by Down's is fine, what a relief.

The lady from the clinic called a little while ago and I could tell by the tone of her voice it was good news. You could tell she was smiling on the other end of the line. It must be a good day for her when she can deliever great news like that.

Oh sweet Jesus, it's like a ten ton weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Staying positive for so long is no easy task for sure... and I'll admit it I was really struggling there on multiple occassions.

But we are past this hurdle! Thank God!

Imagine that! I want to go home and sleep!

Quiet short weekend. We went out to dinner with the Reid's on Friday and boy howdy does Dave's work situation sound stressful. He works for really big oil, he's upper level sort of like JP but in accounting/internal auditing and everyone at his level and higher have to reapply for a job through the companies intraweb site.

craziness. This is what a company does when they don't have the balls to actually layoff people when they need too. Yeah it sucks, but you have to do especially in oil which tends to bloat their staffs during those short times of plenty.

Saturday we just ran a couple of errands during the day.

We didn't have many trick or treaters so we headed over to see Tony as they were having a block party. We left the bowl of candy out like we've done before just in case and wouldn't ya know it... they stole the bowl. at least it was a $2 bowl, but man I hope they didn't throw it down a storm sewer like a real turd.


Yesterday I finally made it to church. That extra hour of sleep really helped. I finally told the people at church that we're expecting and they instantly asked to pray for the baby. They reminded me that God knew this baby before she was even concieved which sad to admit I needed to hear since this is the week I should hear my results of the amnio. Would be nice if it's before Thursday/Friday.

Speaking of the wee one... I've started to feel the little "butterfly" flutter. It started on Friday and seems to be after I eat, usually 30 minutes or so, and strongest around lunch time. Totally floored.