So, Where Was I...

Hello everyone!  Sorry I dropped off of the face of the Earth!  My pregnant hands were just a swollen, ugly mess and typing was something I had to reserve for work.  By the time I finished that, I was unable to do anything online!  I don’t have too many pictures of me pregnant – I really hated how I looked.  I didn't 'show' until the very end of the pregnancy since I carried Blake so high under my ribs.  It was worth the discomfort, the bed rest and the drama though! 

Blake two days old

Here I am at 38 weeks

So much has happened since my last post!  It's been a long drama, but such an incredibly happy ending!  Our little man was born on 3/1/13 and was a healthy little peanut!  

 

He was a tiny one, but soon understood the concept of eating and boy oh boy did he take off!  He's now just shy of 20lbs and is over 6 months old.  We are so incredibly blessed.

 



Blake in his high chair - 1st time!

We are very busy these days with our new crazy schedule too.  I went back to work after a two month leave.  It was certainly hard to go back and leave little man at home, but it was easier knowing that he is at home with his wonderful Daddy.  It's been a true comfort knowing he is safely at home getting lots and lots of attention from his Super Dad!  B is still slugging away at his masters and is juggling his Daddy duties and school duties really well.

I've been back to work for a while, have switched positions in the company and am now learning a whole new job.  I never make it easy on myself do I?

We're getting ready to go on a much deserved vacation and can't wait to get away from the hectic life we now lead for just a bit.  A change of scenery will be good if nothing else.  Going on vacation with a six month old will give a whole new meaning to the phrase, 'everything but the kitchen sink' as I'm sure we'll have a packed car.  It's amazing the amount of 'stuff'' a little guy needs - makes me seem so low maintenance! :o)

I hope you've all been well since I last posted and I promise to use this blog to document our whirlwind of a life more often!

Party at the McG's, BYOC - Bring Your Own Cheese!

Wednesday is here!  We started our special day with a bright and early visit from Terminix!  Yay!  I actually was happy to see our service guy, James; he's such a nice guy - but today he was here for a rescue.  We have a dead critter in our house.  Yep.  It's horrifyingly disgusting from a pregnant woman's perspective my people.

It's in either the vent or the walls outside of the powder room downstairs in the very center of our home.  Of course.  Only the most important room for a pregnant woman when she's downstairs - the bathroom!    It's very fragrant and let me just say it makes me gag.  It is so foul.  Candles don't even begin to touch the smell.

It all started on Thursday night we got home from acupuncture; I was all relaxed and mellow.  Sigh.  We walked in the house and OMG - something had died - where was that horrible smell coming from??  We threw away some flowers thinking it was the water, but no.  I walked into the powder room and screamed.  That fast, something must have croaked in the wall and boy oh boy are we stuck.  

We immediately called a company to check things - they had been out to put vent caps on the house a few years back.  Since we'd had this problem once before, we assumed they could help.  Wrong.  Of course they charged us for the service call - but nothing.  They actually told us to 'keep the door closed.'  ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

So B called our boy James at Terminix.  He came right out - climbed up into our attic and said, "you have mice."  WHAT????  No.  Not in my house.  It's not possible.  We've never seen or heard anything!  Well, apparently, the mice in the 'hood have been enjoying the comforts of our attic for years now.  They shimmy up the siding and slide on in to get warm and take nappies - and apparently, die in our walls.

So now we have to have new insulation installed in the attic to keep them out.  Then we block the spots where they were getting in through the siding and rain spouts AND I have to live with the idea that they have been having parties above our heads while we lie in bed.  Blech.

Of course no one can help with Au De Dead Mouse issue downstairs - we just have to live with it for a while.  It should 'go away soon.'  Needless to say, I will never be doing any renovations in this house.  There are probably little skeletons all throughout the framework of our home.....yuck!

I'm a country girl my people - I understand mice.  I guess I'm just so surprised that they never showed up in our kitchen looking for a snack!  I'm OK that they haven't mind you, I'm just amazed that the boys haven't gotten a scent of them or heard them....the Bubs are hanging their heads in shame....if there's a fly, they are on it....mice apparently, are outside of their wheel well....bummer.

Happy Wednesday Ya'll! 

The Hangover

Ahh...Wednesday.  Now we're getting somewhere.  Yesterday we had another ultrasound - and - total coolness alert - we were both floored to see the baby move!  I'm not even 10 weeks but that little booger is moving around like crazy!  WOOHOO! It was so amazing and humbling to see that tiny little, peanut sized being, squirm around to try and get away from the ultrasound!  The heart rate is climbing and the baby is growing well.   I have one more ultrasound next week and then they will 'release' me to a regular OB...we're so excited!!!  Almost done with the first trimester already!  Wow....things are just flying by- well...sort off!

I've had a rebound headache for the last 4 days so while we were there, the doctor prescribed some meds to help.  Silly, silly girl that I am, I took one at about 7PM last night.  After my sweet, snoring husband woke me at 2AM, I enjoyed an episode of the Property Brothers and a movie and a half on the Hallmark channel.

Grr.....needless to say, my first words to him this morning was, "you are going to the doctor or I'm moving out."  Or something like that; I'll admit the exchange was a bit blurry.   So B and the Bubbies had a wonderful night's sleep and I'm sleep deprived and a mess as per the norm these days.

Upon looking up the ingredients to my new prescription, I found that apparently, the meds had caffeine in them.  I haven't had caffeine in four years my people.  Four years....until yesterday evening.  Today, I look and feel so hung over that B had to drive me in to work.  My eyes are dilated and my head is spinning.  Good times!  Next time, I promise I'll read the bottle.  I usually do, but the name of the meds sounded familiar...then again, back in my Starbucks Venti Bold days, a little extra caffeine wouldn't have bothered me.  Ahh...I miss those days!

It's a great time here in Jennifer-land right now folks.  I'm selling tickets if anyone else wants to enjoy the ride with me!  Here I am killing myself to be here, making my husband drive me to work like I'm freaking Miss Daisy and my boss is out today with a headache and nausea.  Pause....let's let that sink in a minute.....

HA!  Oh, the irony.  Now, I don't wish ill will on anyone, but if there was ever a day when I needed to be home, it was today.  But "pregnant, nauseous, dizzy, and hung over" me is here - present and accounted for...I'm just sayin'.   I know, I know, you don't get medals for being a martyr....but it's just such a new company, group and responsibilities, that I guess I'm being overly cautious and erring on the side of showing my face, as gnarly as the sight might be.

So for now...I'll go back to my Corn Chex and hunker down.  I hope you're all having a great week!

Happy Wednesday Ya'll!

Manic Tuesday

Just another manic Tuesday....don't you just hate driving into work (after you left on time and everything) and realizing after about 15 minutes, that you had a conference call that started 15 minutes earlier.  Nice. 

Luckily when I got on the call, they only needed me for another 10 minutes instead of the hour they had scheduled.  I hate when people do that by the way....why block my calendar for 60 minutes when you only need 15?  Then they joke and say - "look, I gave you back 45 minutes!"   My brain  immediately goes to - "You Dork.  You just wasted 15 minutes of my time at 8AM.  Don't try to be cute with me.  Just hang up the damn phone." 

I'm in a great mood aren't I?  I've been living with a headache for 3 days now.  Add the nausea in and I'm a fun girl to be around right now.  Seriously, I'd be a blast at parties - what a total joy package I have working!  

Have I mentioned that Baby McG is now the size of a grape?  Yep.  Here's some other interesting tidbits:

• At 9 weeks pregnant, baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
• Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
• Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only 9 weeks pregnant, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
• Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
• Average size at 9 weeks pregnant -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)

How cool is all of that?  I'm actually 9 weeks and six days so we're almost at the next phase which is even more interesting.  I'm enjoying learning all of this information and it's so hard to believe all of this happens so early in the baby's development!  When we hit 10 weeks - "Pedro-nina" is officially a 'fetus.'  It's a big day for her! :o) Woohoo!  I still call her booger, but in medical terms it's fetus for now.

See?  I'm trying to focus on the fun and not the misery after all!  It's tough to weed through the really bad days right now, but I've been through worse! 

For now I'll keep reminding myself how fortunate I am to have Team McGowan and such a wonderful group of family and friends for support!   This afternoon we're off to hear the little heartbeat one more time....just a precaution after our scare last week.  Fingers and toes are crossed!

Happy Tuesday Ya'll!

Help! I Can't Find My Brain!

Grace under pressure.  That’s something that’s always been a goal for me.  I have one of those faces that are pretty open – I can hide things only if you don’t know me very well.  I have a theory that if you’re going to do something, you should do it to the best of your ability and put your heart into it. 

I’m a big believer in tying things up with a ‘pretty red bow’ and doing it up.   I’m a structured, detailed oriented person who follows rules.  In other words, I’m pretty damn boring! 

Lately, although I’ve been boring, I’ve exhibited very little grace and certainly no organizational skills.  It’s been eating at me – driving me crazy actually.  I feel like the biggest slacker.  I guess this is God’s way of getting me ready to have my world turned upside down.   

Without B right now, I would be running up and down the stupid stairs after forgetting my meds – which by the way, I have been taking 2X/day for the last 4 months.  I absolutely have a mental block about it and without him remembering to bring it upstairs for me, I would end up waking in the middle of the night in a panic to take it. 

Luckily work hasn’t been too busy, so at least I haven’t been digging a hole for myself there too.  I’m hoping that eventually I will get back on top of my ‘game’ and get organized again – at least until ‘Pedro-nina’ shows up!  Surely that isn’t too much to ask? 

I need to make a grocery list, return about 10 items to different stores (why did I think buying pants was a good idea before getting pregnant?), there are just piles of crap everywhere and I’m afraid to dig too far into our fridge….it hasn’t been cleaned out in a really, really long time.  (The freezer is an entirely separate drama.)

So I’m working on compartmentalizing my brain and writing lists.  I’ll need lists for my lists I’m thinking – but right now if I don’t write it down, I have no shot in heck at remembering things.

I know – baby brain and it’s just going to get worse.  I’ve had a month ‘vacation’ from being organized, but I need to get back on the bandwagon people.  I’m in serious withdrawal!

Any shortcuts you might have that you used while having a baby brain would be appreciated – I’m afraid I’ll start to lose my lists ya’ll!  That’s some serious hormone head!  I'm working on the grace under pressure - I think being exhausted is helping to slow down my response time - luckily.  I'm praying for grace and patience - none of which I'm normally very good at....time will tell!

Happy Tuesday Ya’ll!

Monday Was Just a Write-Off

What to do when you have nothing (or not much) to do?  That’s my current dilemma.  I’m in limbo as I expected and really wish I had a huge project to work on, but right now, that’s not the case.  So as I sit in my new office location – at my new wobbly desk – with my new phone that no one can figure out, I try to find things to do.

Obviously, we’ve moved into our new office location.  We’re in the other building and boy oh boy is it warm and humid.  I actually brought a fan in with me to help with the stifling heat that almost took me out yesterday.  No lie.  It is just sickening in here.

Yesterday was a really rough day for me.  I woke up sicker than I’ve been at all – so miserable I didn’t make it into work until about 9:30AM….it took me three hours to feel like I could actually take a shower and get ready – driving was a joy.

Here are some fun highlights of my day Monday:

1.       Woke up gagging.

2.       Got to work about 2 hours after my co-workers to move into our new cubicles.

3.       Found out my desk shakes when I type – so my monitor gives me the motion sickness gags.

4.       I walked with some friends over to our old building to have lunch in the 95 degree weather.   As soon as I entered the old building, my heel broke off of my favorite shoes.  They’re toast.

5.       I heated my lunch, sat down to eat and gagged.  Closed lunch and sat for a minute with the group and then had to leave because the smells of their lunches was too much.

6.       I walked back to the new building solo.  Water was more than I could handle yesterday.

7.       I limped the rest of the day.

8.       I had a cup of Corn Chex and popcorn to eat all day - that’s it.

9.       I spilled my ice coffee from Starbucks all over the back of my car when I went to leave work.

10.   Went to the chiropractor (yay Dr. Matt) – that was a highlight – but my back and neck were so bad I had to lie on ice for about 30 minutes.  Ouch.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some highlights to yesterday – the chiropractor helped me immensely.  I feel better – slept well last night and had yoga with my friend K.  She calmed me down the rest of the way after a really crappy day.  Yay YogaMe!!

Today, I’m equipped with my fan, my psi wristbands, a calmer stomach and a hope that this will turn out to be a great week!

Happy Tuesday Ya’ll!

My Stomach is in a Quandary...

Sorry this is late today folks - 'that which I have prayed for' has knocked me on my butt.  I've just woken from a two hour nap and am watching my two sweet Bubbies snooze away.  Days like this are a gift.

It's my own fault you know...we had a really busy day yesterday...In fact, I was out until 11:00PM!  I know right?  I've gone just crazy - We went and saw the new Ice Age movie with friends - definitely recommend it - then dinner.  C R A Z Y.  It was actually a really fun night and after getting home SO late then getting up early for mass this morning I was really knocked out.

We went to mass, we had breakfast at the MacDonalds where I had apple slices, a hash brown and 3 spoonfuls of a fruit and yogurt parfait and 5 sips of water.  Yum.  That brings me to the topic du jour....eating while pregnant.  It's quite the conundrum for me.

I mean really, I order what I normally like and then when it arrives, blech, the nausea just rolls in waves.  I'm seriously not complaining.  I just don't know what to eat to calm it down.  Since I'm unable to eat gluten - aka wheat etc...I'm not really a saltines kind of girl.  I'd love a cracker or a slice of nice soft white bread right now, but the repercussions would be just horrifying.

For now, I'm eating rice crackers, (which give me heartburn) and cheese.  Lots and lots of cheese.   I'm trying to eat healthy foods, but the thought makes me gag.  The idea of cooking anything right now makes me gag too.   I just made some microwave popcorn - with Parmesan of course - and it tasted really good.  I'm craving salt - but that won't work with the swollen left ankle I'm sporting.  So - any suggestion my people?   I need to eat....and function....and go to work!

When I get really icky, I use my Preggie Pop Drops - those puppies are not cheap!  And really, I'm not sure why they work, after all they are just hard sour candies.  But they do work...unfortunately I can't walk around with a hard candy in my mouth 24/7. 

Again, let me reiterate, I'm not whining - truly I'm not.  I'm just hoping to glean a bit of information from those of you who have been through this joyous time.  A girl can only Google so much you know!

So I'll leave you with a shot of how the Bubbies have relocated since I began this post....they're obviously sending me a message to put down the laptop and relax...and Bubbies always know best!

Have a great rest of Sunday Ya'll!

I Want to Be Tall and Blond

Negotiation with God is simply silly you know.  (Sorry, just talking to myself here for a minute.)  I'm a very matter-of-fact person - I'm not always black and white about things, in fact, I love me some grey areas.  But I think that religion either 'is or isn't' for you. 

Obviously you've probably figured out, religion is for me.  In fact, it's been the one constant in my life - well, that plus my love of shoes.  Seriously, I think I've gravitated towards religion, Catholicism in particular, for most of my life because I love the continuity and tradition of it.

I've loved that no matter where I live, church is always the same.  I love being a part of something bigger than me that has meaning and affects my heart in such a good way.  I love to sing at church - in fact some weeks at mass, singing can even bring me to tears!  (Maybe that's the hormones singing!)

I've never been what you might call a 'bible-whacker' but I have a deep faith that is a big part of who I am.  Most people don't know that about me.  But, I'm constantly talking with God - I've joked before that He's probably tired of hearing my voice - that's because I'm constantly chattering to Him.  I'm so thankful for the little things, I just want to let Him know.  Ok, I know you're thinking that saying it is overkill - He can hear my thoughts.  I get you.  I just feel better saying it. 

So I guess when it comes down to it, I have so much to feel thankful for, I feel a bit guilty.  Hey, I'm Catholic.  It's inherent.  So I'm constantly reaffirming how much I appreciate the gifts I've been given.  I'm here.  I've found my husband after so many years of wondering if I'd ever find the right person and I've got such great friends and family - I'm truly blessed.

Yes there are things I'd love to wrap up and call done - you know, I'd love to be tall and blond, I'd love to  have a normal shoe size, things like that - you thought I was going to mention babies didn't you?  Gotcha!  See, that's one I don't have to say out loud - my heart does that for me.

I hope that you have so many things to be thankful for that you almost feel guilty too - and I mean that in the best Catholic way possible.  Guilt is just part of our lives.  If you're having a good day, you feel bad that someone else didn't. If you have a bad day, you wonder what you did wrong to deserve it. It's a vicious circle my friends.

All kidding aside, I don't quote scripture and I don't memorize bible stories, but I do know that God made us in His likeness and while we're here on Earth, we need to make it count.  So, I'll  leave you with this, a favorite Irish Prayer:

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Happy Saturday Ya'll!



Oops, He Did It AGAIN!

Yes he did.  He did the whole, paper at the last minute thing.  It was a bit earlier than last week, but it's still midnight and I'm sitting here ready to crash.  Today was a rough day - lots of forced deadlines and cranky people.

(The other thing that makes me crazy is my dear, sweet husband talking to me while I'm trying to write this post! :)  Love you HB, but let me focus now please!)  I have a sleeping dog next to me on the love seat and I'm a bit cold from the ceiling fan...and we won't even talk about the butter cream icing on my t-shirt.  (Guess you know what I did tonight huh?) 

I'm a wreck...what a long and crazy week.   I feel like this week was blurry and I'm tired of losing weeks like that.  I guess this is just a 'pass the time' kind of period in my life.  I get up and go through the motions of the day and really don't have anything wonderful happen that makes it stand out for me.  So, the week just flows by and life moves on.  Yawn.   I follow the structure I created and think I'm good because I did everything on my mental checklist.

I wonder what would happen if I updated my mental checklist and mixed things up.  I need to find new things to think about, worry about and dream about.  The current list is just boring me.  Any ideas?  Maybe I could dream about having twins instead of just one baby - maybe I could dream about being tall and blond.  Nah.  Too predictable.  :o)    Maybe I need to start looking for ways just turn off my damn brain and chill.  (Of course my brain WON'T take time off when I want it to.) 

In reality, I think I'm just avoiding things and focusing on nothing so I don't get caught up in more worrying. I'm so tired of worrying.  Is that the bane of the female existence?  Are we all doomed to think about things that will just stress us out in the long run?  I've been so focused on 'Living in the Moment' that I've stopped revelling in the moment.   

So that's my mission  - to have more fun, find more joy and play.  I want to live it UP in the moment - not just skate through and call it a day!  It's going to be a gorgeous weekend here in NC, so I think I'll start living my full life today.

I'm not sure what that means yet, but I know it will be bigger, better and have more meaning. Maybe it means more Slurpees and less V8 Juice...so, to use a cliche, life is short.  I've spent way too many of my adult years just biding my time...now is my time to really live life and have FUN!  I think I want to learn how to be audacious!   Look out world....

Happy Saturday Ya'll!

I'm on hormones & my dog is on Prozac.....

Well, I was going to write this yesterday, but as usual life got in the way.  So here I am, at midnight, sitting here in the bonus room while someone finishes his homework.  Talk about moral support!  What a good wife I am!  'We' had a paper to work on tonight!  YAY!  It's nice to know I can still pump out the BS when I need to - and I'm really digging the Zebra red ink pen that I got to use to edit the 11 page nightmare - so I guess there are a few pluses to the evening! 

What a great date night huh? :o)  When B signed up to do the grad school thing online - full time - I thought - cool.  He'll do homework and I'll read or bake!  What a great deal that is right?  Sometimes though, even when I don't want to get sucked in, it happens.  The stress grows, the Bubbies are uneasy and I just have to help.  That's all I'm doing though I promise you....my brain isn't up to doing real work at night these days.  I took today off too - and I'm post my massage - so you know my brain and muscles are just useless due to 'you know who'! (I'm still working on her nickname!  On a side note, the Botox seems to have helped my right wing, so here's hoping it's going to get better! Yipee!)

At one time, earlier in life, I thought it was the thing to do to go and get my MBA - I even took the GMATs.  Did pretty well on those as I recall, but I never went to school - was planning on Loyola in MD too.  Got sidetracked though when I was transferred down to the big ATL and all thoughts of school went right out the window!  I mean really, why would I go to school when I could go to Moe's & Joe's and drink cheap PBR?  Silly people!

Of course my path changed many times over the next few years and I ended up in Culinary School instead of grad school. I guess if I had to do it over, I might have let my old company pay for my MBA, but I would have hated doing it.  Seriously.  IF I was to ever go back to school, to would be to study something I know nothing about.  To go to get my MBA now would be tough - I'd probably argue with the teachers and get mad at my books because they weren't real life examples and weren't 'true!'

Maybe I'll go back and learn Gaelic - have always wanted to do that....then I could understand some of my favorite music.  Or maybe I could go take a knitting class - nah.  I'd break the needles - not enough patience for that.  I've got it, belly dancing! :)  HA!  I'd need MUCH more than Botox to even think about doing that!

Perhaps I'll just sit tight for now and keep my red pen handy and keep baking those cookies.  They do help B get through those long haul nights like tonight!

SO for now, I'll leave you with this...I'm on hormones, my dog is on Prozac (another story to come), I'm typing this at almost 12:30AM and B is yelling at me about how on-line is supposed to be spelled....you reckon I have enough to write my first book yet????  :o)

Night Ya'll and Happy Friday/Saturday morning to you!

Me & My Homies

So I've mentioned I work in IT; specifically compliance.  Quite a dry topic, but I've tried to make things more interesting where I can.  Have I introduced my 'team' to you yet?  I don't think I have....it's a very exclusive team and only a few dynamic and diverse members made the cut. 

First up is the Chick-fil-A Cow - "Chicky" is an important member of our compliance team.  She is a natural born leader and really runs herd over the rest of the team.  She also takes a fantastic memo, but unfortunately has issues with spell check.  (Weer working on that.) She's a great team player and loves to dance at sporting events in her spare time.  (Chicky is currently out on long-term leave - she should be back sometime around the holidays.)

Next, up are Little Miss Sunshine and Little Miss Chatterbox.  (Because of their current contract negotiations with the Cartoon Network, I'm unable to post their head shots.)  These two are quite the team contributors.  They are really quite colorful and although they aren't very handy on the computer, they are great proof readers and enjoy playing with bright yellow and pink highlighters.  Chatty will be at a book signing this weekend at the Huntersville Barnes & Noble - please stop by for a signed copy of her autobiography.  (Please tell her I sent you and you'll get an extra 10% off!) 

Last, but certainly not least is Ms. Rubber Ducky.  "RD" as she likes to be called, is my right hand duck.  She handles my calls, manages my schedule and is responsible for office supplies.  I couldn't do it without her.  She's such a calming influence on me - especially during the acquisition activities.  She does have a slight French accent, so please listen carefully when she speaks - I believe she's French Canadian on her Mother's side.

Needless to say, I have a cracker jack team.  What would I do without my homies?   Happy Friday Ya'll!  :o)  I'm having a Tigger day today - can you tell?