Another Date with the Doctor

Went to see Dr. Bailey again today. Baby is doing great. Mommy not doing as well. I now officially have gestational hypertension. Yes my blood pressure is waaaaay too high. I have started taking blood pressure medication today and hopefully we can get it to a point that it is under control. She will continue to let me work for as long as we can keep it manageable without bed rest. Bed rest is my biggest fear with this pregnancy. I am just a horrible at sitting around all day in bed to me it's just hell. I am going to see the high risk Dr. for another sono on Friday just to be sure that everything with the Baby is OK. She did tell me that I should not plan on working all the way up to my due date. The chances of that are very slim.

On a good note. I have only gained 2 pounds in the last 4 weeks bringing total prego weight gain to 4 pounds. My goal is to gain no more than 15 pounds.

Hawaii Part One

Sorry it has taken me a while to post since we got back from our trip on Thursday. I have just been so worn out but I finally feel like myself again. Our trip to Hawaii was nothing short of FANTASTIC. It was just the get away that Chris and needed. I'm going to highlight some of the things we did in this post and then will add the pictures later.

We left DFW on Thursday and things were going great until we got to the LA Airport. I had to go the the bathroom so bad that I was literally the second person off the plane. I left Chris in the dust as a ran to the ladies room. Only to find out that there was a water main break and the entire terminal was out of water. I discovered this when I went the ladies room where I saw and smelled the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life. I ended up throwing up in a garbage can b/c it was so nasty in there. I know this memory will haunt me for the rest of my life. I ended up leaving the airport and going to another terminal just to go to the bathroom and the re-checking in for my flight.

Our flight form LAX to Honolulu was great. Nothing like flying flying first class to start the trip off. We had a crazy lady sitting in front of us who was from New Jersey. She was telling me all about how she lives in the same town as the Real Housewives of NJ and had all kinds of information to share about the ladies. Too bad she was so drunk that I could barley understand a word she said. Oh and she showed me her bubbies. Chris was getting a little annoyed by her so he asked that I please stop talking to her and encouraging her bad behavior. I thought she was great, but out of respect form him I cut off our conversation. We got into HNL and 10:00 pm which for me was 3am. I was beat an ready to get to our hotel. We met our friends Tracy and James in Waikiki the next morning. Tracy got stung by a huge bee. I pulled the stinger out and we all headed back to the airport to fly to Maui.

Maui was amazing. Rented our piece of junk convertible and headed to Kapalua. We stayed at the Ritz in Kapalua and it was awesome. The best hotel I have ever stayed at and trust me I am a true "hotel snob". There were several professional athletes at the hotel so Chris and James were always looking around to see who they would recognize. We went to a great Luau our first night in Maui. It got all of us into the island mode. While we were in Kapalua we drove the Road to Hana, Chris played golf at the Plantation Course at Kapalua (a course he has always dreamed of playing), Hung out at the amazing pool and just relaxed. Tracy and James Snorkeled, Para sailed, and took surfing lessons. The whole resort at Kapalua is built on an old Pineapple Plantation and the grounds are beautiful. Cool thing was that the original General Store is still open and went there several times a day for meals. It was great food and we were able to have breakfast, lunch or dinner for under $20 for two people. Compared to our breakfast at the Ritz for $30 a person. This place was a life saver and we loved the old rustic feel it had. I enjoyed sometime at the Spa and had a pre-natal massage that ROCKED!!! After 3 days we had to say good bye to the Ritz and to Tracy & James.

We spent the remainder of our trip on the south side of Maui in Wialea. The beach here was beautiful and it was not nearly as windy as Kapaulua. There were no less than 316 honeymooners staying at our hotel. Chris said "Wow they all look like the are so in love why don't we look that way anymore?" I responded "They all just got married and reality hasn't quite set in odds are 50% of them will be divorced in 5 years and the remainder will act like us". Then Chris got on to me for being so negative and bitter and asked that I try to be nice the rest of the trip. I happily agreed. Wow pregnancy hormones can really get me sometimes. We spent our time in Wialea relaxing and even rented a our own private cabana at the pool for the day. It was cool to feel like a Rock Star with our own little place and a waitress delivering fresh fruit and water. By this time I was being a good wife and Chris and I were acting like all the honeymooners. We had such great conversations sitting out by the pool. Talked abut the baby, what kind of parents we want to be, things we want to be sure we teach her.

This was a perfect trip for us to re-connect and remember what is important in life. I feel like this will be the last time that it is just the two of us and in just a few months our lives will be changed forever. I know now more than ever that Chris and I are a great team.

Trip home was OK except for the fact that I have to go to the ladies room every 45 min and airplane restrooms gross me out. What do people do in there???? I just wonder.

We got some great pictures and I will post them soon. Until then Aloha and Mahalo to Chris for doing everything to make this trip happen. I love you!!!

Aloha and Tracy Squared

We leave for our Babymoon in Hawaii today. I am so excited about the trip but most of all I am excited that we will be meeting one of my best friends and her husband there to celebrate his 40th Birthday.

Tracy Gordon and I have been friends since we met in the 6th grade at Colleyville Middle School. In High School we had many of the same classes and our teachers would call us Tracy & Tracy. Hence Tracy Squared or T2. This was used when our art teacher would say "Tracy & Tracy I need you to stop talking and start working" or "The Tracy's are not paying attention class". You get the picture.

Tracy and I later went to Texas Tech together. She is much more like a sister to me then a best friend. We have traveled all over together and have done some really crazy stuff over the years. But we have never traveled with together as couples with our husbands. I am looking forward to the memories that we will make this week. They may not be crazy drunk stories anymore, but I'm sure they will be equally as funny.

Aloha!

The Spradley's

I have known the Spradley's for a very long time. I met Shawn at Colleyville Middle School in the 6th grade in 1986. He and Kathy both went to High School with me in Grapevine.

Below is their story. It is a tragic but amazing story. Every year around this time I start to think about them and what I can do to help them raise money for SIDS research. Please take a moment to check out their website. If you would like to donate anything for a silent auction, goody bag, or just make a monetary donation let me know. I will be happy to help make that happen.

Below is a letter from Shawn.

Dear Friend,

My family and I would like to extend an invitation to you or your company to participate in the 3rd Annual Holton's Drive for SIDS event. The event will include a golf tournament and silent auction on September 26th 2009. All proceeds will be going to First Candle/SIDS Alliance.

My wife and I lost our second son, Holton, to SIDS on March 28th 2007 during his normal morning nap. We decided to be "Better...not Bitter" and thus HDS was born (incidentally, also his initials Holton David Spradley). Once again we are excited to hold this event to raise as much awareness for this cause as possible. Our five month old was taken from us by the mystery that is called SIDS. Honoring him through this event has become his legacy. Our mission is to help end Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Each day in this country 7 families begin to live the terrible nightmare that we endure. We do this for those babies and future babies. We're hoping again to lean on family, friends, and community to make our third year as successful as the first two event's where a total of $71,000 has been raised.

My wife and I both grew up in Grapevine. Our sons, Hudson, Holton & Nash, were all born in Grapevine. Through this tragic event we've been so touched by the support shown by so many. Our community has surrounded us with love and prayers and continues to help where we need it most. Not only do we want to hold this event to raise money and awareness for SIDS, but it's also another opportunity to get our entire community together and once again say Thank You for your ongoing support.

The following page details the ways you can assist with our event or you can visit the below website for all details.

WWW.HOLTONSDRIVEFORSIDS.COM

The golf tournament/silent auction will take place on Saturday, September, 26th 2009 at Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club in Keller, Texas. The silent auction will begin around 1pm and will continue through the golf tournament and end around 9pm. We’re expecting 144 golfers and another 150 non-golfers throughout the silent auction.

We’re hoping with your contribution to the event we can further promote infant health and survival.. Your contribution and all of the proceeds from Holton’s Drive for SIDS will support SIDS research, funds for Family Support, and Advocacy for First Candle. Available donation options are listed below.

Ø Donate an item for the golf tournament. Such as items for the golfer goody bag (144 golfers), items for raffle, or items for tournament prizes (closest to the pin, long drive, etc.).
Ø Donate an item for the silent auction.
Ø Sponsor a golf hole (email logo to below email address)
Ø Cash donation
Ø In-Kind donations: signs, food and beverage

Online forms for the above donation options are available at:
http://www.holtonsdriveforsids.com

MJ

Maybe it is pregnancy but I cried like a baby today when I watched the MJ Memorial on TV. Just lost it when his daughter spoke. So sad to see any child loose thier father at such a young age.

I was expecting a circus but it was a beautiful memorial. No matter how people feel about him you can't argue that he was one very talented man.

i will just blame all my emotions on the hormones. It sounds better.

What I am thinking today

This is where my mind has been all day today. It's all I can think about and I'm only 14 days away from paradise.


Not that I'm counting or anything...

My Date

So I had another "Date" with Dr. Bailey this morning. Yes I still have a huge girl crush on her. Our second date went well and I think I will go out with her again. Here is how things went.

Baby looks and sounds great. She moves around a ton and is very active.

I have gained 2 pounds since my last visit 4 weeks ago. So I am doing well with watching my weight. My goal is to gain no more then 15 pounds during the pregnancy.

My blood pressure was a little high when I get there. This is because I was in the bathroom throwing up right before they took it and that always stresses me out. I was back to normal by the end of the appointment.

I am not drinking enough water. Should aim for 4 liter per day.

She said I am all good to go to Hawaii in 2 weeks. Even suggested that I don't tell the Spa I am prego b/c they will tell me there are certain things I can't do when I am prego. I am fine for massages, pedicures, and facials. She says that getting a massage or having my feet and ankles rubbed will not have an effect on my pregnancy. Woo Hoo!!!

Things I can't do in Hawaii:
Go see a Volcano (The sulfur fumes are very dangerous)
Bungee Jump, Ride a Horse, Ride a Bike, Parasail, or anything where I could fall.

Oh and NO Raw Fish. I already knew that sushi is off limits.

I think i will just stick to laying on the beach and playing golf.