Preparations for Baby D Begin!

This weekend, Justin and I wrote out the game plan for Baby Daniel's preparation and, as usual,

the cleaning out and organizing plans grew into a remodeling of some sort.

Sure, we knew we were going to be building decorations and painting a nursery, but before that begins

we're going to be remodeling the Lucy Room - painting, laying tile and building and installing shelves.

I'm super excited about the plan - not only do I get to keep my Lucy Room but I also get to maintain an office and our guests will have a bed to sleep in while they're visiting.

Plus, Justin is building me custom shelves to display all of my Lucy collection items. :)

So, this weekend we put a nick in the plan by clearing out four closets and compiling garage sale and storage boxes! I LOVE this mode of decluttering and organization. The garage sale is slated for 3.20-21.09 and our neighbors, and good friends, the Mitchells will be joining us.

The First Trimester - We Made It!

Meeting the Baby Doctor

This week, we met Dr. Owen - officially - at our first appointment with her (1/13/09). I felt miserable because the tenacious sinusitis was back in full swing. I'd already missed two-and-a-half days of work because the infection wasn't responding in the slightest to my over-the-counter medicine, my throat was sore and

I'd spent from 9:30 p.m. Monday night 'til 9:30 Tuesday morning puking. Dinner came first and then every hour after that, on the hour, nothing but thick, slimy, mucous and bile every color you can imagine - bright yellow, forrest green and black.

I couldn't provide a urine sample because I didn't have any fluid - only half a can of Sprite had stayed put by the time of our appointment. Thankfully, she prescribed me an antibiotic treatment and was quick with the pap smear.

I also saw my asthma doctor this week which provided even more relief.

I've been worried that all the congestion in my chest and the subsequent asthma was preventing Baby Daniel from receiving the appropriate level of oxygen.

I was able to breathe deep and relax when all tests proved my lungs sounded great!

I slowly recovered and was back to work by Thursday. The

highlight of the week was hearing Baby Daniel's heartbeat - sounding good and strong. Justin said, "It sounds like a windstorm in there."

First Nurse Consultation

We met Dr. Owen's RN today - Nurse Rhonda - and got the low down on the schedule of our visits with Dr. Owen and what we can expect from each visit and for testing from here on out. We also got confirmation on my

due date - 7.25.08!

Save the date!

Three Christmases and Sinusitis

While the holidays were grand, they were miserable all at the same time. As every year, Justin and I made

the Texas trek - from Lubbock to Rockwall, down to Meridian and back up to Amarillo -

which always affords the long-awaited visits with family members we haven't seen since the previous Christmas and won't see again 'til next Christmas. Even though we have to make long hauls, it's my most treasured time of the year.

However, the misery set in Christmas Eve and didn't dissipate 'til New Year's Eve. I managed to contract a cold from my mother that she brought back from her recent dive trip. As with any cold I catch, my sinuses quickly became highly agitated and congestion made itself at home in my chest. For three days,

I suffered through my brain threatening to explode through the top of my cranium, throbbing teeth, eyes ready to pop out of their sockets like corks, an aching back, blowing my nose through two boxes of Kleenex, a sore throat and a clogged cough

because I forgot my phone charger at our first stop which meant I had no phone - where all my numbers are stored, including the OB-GYN's number - for two weeks. My mom was able to look up the OB-GYN's number for me once she got back home so by Sunday I had confirmation that, since I was 10 weeks along, I could take any over-the-counter allergy, sinus and cold medicine.

Sinus pressure and the symptoms of sinusitis were terribly painful without the normal decongestants and Ibuprofen I'm accustomed to. How am I going to survive labor?! Epidural. STAT.

Thankfully, the pressure had subsided to a manageable state by the time we had to drive to Amarillo and though I was still blowing my nose constantly, I began to feel better by New Year's Eve. I wasn't able to ring in the New Year - we were in bed by 11 p.m.