Welcome to the 2nd Trimester. Love, the Flu

I was graciously welcomed into my second trimester last week by my new friend, the flu. I started feeling bad Monday night and spent most of the night coughing. Because I'm not one to miss work, I went in the next day only to leave after lunch. Everyone kept telling me I looked awful, and I felt awful, so I went home. I had 100.4 temp when I got home, so I called my Mom and crawled in bed. It's been a long time since I felt that bad. Luckily Mom stayed with me the next few days to make me eat and drink and take my Tylenol. I didn't help that I couldn't breathe at all through my nose, so I had to use a humidifier at night. Mom brought me soup, fruit, magazines, and everything I needed to try and make me feel better. Don't know what I would have done if she wasn't able to come over and help. Ben likes to take care of me, but he doesn't have the "mom" touch. I'll be 50 years old and will still call my mom when I'm sick. I was finally able to go back to work yesterday and had so many people tell me that I had lost too much weight. Well, I was really sick! I'm not worried though. I'll gain it all back when we go to Naples in a week and a half. Nanny makes the best cinnamon toast for breakfast, and we'll eat ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce after dinner every night. I can't wait to go to Naples. It will be a much needed vacation.

In other news, I finished my Master's classes on Monday (had to write a paper with the flu)! I present my (unfinished) Practicum project the middle of March. So, I'm working to get it done the next few weeks. I will be completely finished with my MSN March 30! It has been a long, hard, frustrating road, and I won't know what to do when I don't have to be on the computer every day. Ben thinks the laptop is permanently attached to me.

I go back to the doctor next Thursday and will schedule my ultrasound that day. We'll know pretty soon whether we'll have an Elliotte Lynn or Robinson William in the house! I can't wait!

12 Weeks

Today I had my 12 week check up with my OB Dr. Haney. Mom went with me since Ben had to work. I wanted someone there in case something wasn't right. Everything is looking good. I've lost 2 pounds which is fine with me. Probably due to the constant nausea and a diet of lots of cereal. I celebrated by having a cheeseburger and fries when I took mom to lunch at J. Alexander's for her birthday. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. It was faint but strong. That was very reassuring since there's not much evidence of a baby except the nausea. I do have a little pooch, but it just looks like belly fat right now. I go back to the doctor in 4 more weeks and get my next ultrasound in 8 weeks when we can find out if we're having a boy or a girl. So far, the consensus seems to be a boy, but I don't have any feelings one way or the other.

This week the baby is a plum.

I've Been Tagged...

Megan Daniel tagged me on Facebook, but since I haven't posted in awhile I thought it would be more fun to post on my blog.
25 Things About Me! Oh boy! They are random as I thought of them.

1. I legally changed my name from Elizabeth to Beth after I got married.
2. I think my Dad is the smartest man in the world. I think the way my Mom does things is the only way to do it.
3. I only buy Quilted Northern toilet paper.
4. I sleep with a white noise sound machine turned up really loud.
5. Even though my hair is half way down my back, I can dry it in 4 minutes. Don't hate me.
6. I hate nuts but love peanut butter.
7. I think Hoover is the smartest dog in the world. Ask me how she saved Ben's life a few weeks ago! She saved him from me killing him! Funny story.
8. I can't watch people brush their teeth. It makes me gag.
9. I hate folding my laundry. I dump it out on the guest room bed and pick through it til it's all gone.
10. I am going to be a Matron of Honor for the first time in June and think it's the biggest honor in the world that I was asked by my best friend who has more friends than I can count.
11. I love my dogs WAY more than I should.
12. I talk to my dogs and answer for them. We have fun conversations.
13. My favorite singer is Richard Marx. I had "Now and Forever" played at my wedding.
14. My school nickname was Beefer. Erin Keckley still calls me that.
15. I read magazines from back to front a lot b/c the good stuff is in the back.
16. I am obsessed with taking care of my face. I wear 30spf moisturizer every day. I use two kinds of salicylic acid face washes, and glycolic acid lotion every day.
17. I went through hell for my teeth to be straight. Braces twice, oral surgery, tooth in the roof of my mouth that was pulled over with a rubber band, two veneers, root canals, etc. Thanks Mom and Dad!
18. I still miss my dog Allie. I can't take her pictures down. She was so feisty.
19. I have a hard time hiding my feelings. If I don't like you, you know it. Not my best quality.
20. I love the beach and would live there if my family was there also.
21. I have a hard time taking pills.
22. I never hit my snooze button. I don't even know how long it is.
23. I love being a nurse but wish it wasn't so hard physically.
24. I love to sing but won't sing in front of people unless I'm in church.
25. I can't wait to be a mom.

My little raspberry

This is the size of our baby right now. A little raspberry. thebump.com has a week to week size comparison of the baby to fruits and vegetables. It really helps put things in perspective. I finally got some Zofran and Phenergan for my nausea. The Zofran really helps at work since it doesn't make me drowsy. Last night I took a Phenergan before bed b/c I felt realy sick and slept 12 hours! It was wonderful. I'm ready to see the signs that I'm pregnant since I just feel fat right now. I'm trying to eat what I'm supposed to, but yeah right. I eat whatever is close. I go back to my doctor on the 30th for my nurse visit, and then I start my OB visits. I love Dr. Haney and don't mind a bit going to see her. She knew we had been trying for a long time and was genuinely excited to know we are pregnant. Ben refers to my belly as a "he" b/c he wants a boy really badly. He says he has so much to teach. That is true, but our baby is not going to be holding a shotgun for a long time!
Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes and congrats. We really appreciate everyone thinking of us!

Celine Dion Concert

I was fortunate to attend the Celine Dion concert on Tuesday night courtesy of my husband. He bought me the tickets for Christmas '07 because I was dying to go. His one condition was that I did NOT take him. I could take whomever I wanted as long as I did not ask him to go. Not a problem! I asked my mom because I knew she would love it. Drennon had told me she would rather "set herself on fire" than see Celine Dion, so I took that as a NO. Mom and I ate dinner at J. Alexander's with the rest of the city. We waited 40 minutes on a Tuesday night at 5:45. Everyone was going downtown. Everyone was at the concert. All I can say is that it was amazing. She sounded even better than on her CDs. Haters have to see her in concert before they can say anything bad. The lady is an entertainer. Her band and dancers were the best I've seen. I just can't say enough good things. The show was made even more entertaining by the two guys in the section next to us who knew every word to every song and even knew the dance moves. They were hilarious. There were definitely all types of people at the concert. Divas, male divas, nursing mothers and babies (on the row with us!), husbands, boyfriends, dads, moms, and daughters. I would urge anyone who gets the chance to see Celine in concert to go and not think twice. You won't regret it.
Because the tickets said no cameras, I did not take mine to the concert for fear of it being confiscated. Of course, they barely looked in my purse and everyone else had their cameras. The pics below are from the Tennessean.com. The pics don't do the concert justice. The stage was 360 degrees so there was not a bad seat in the house. Celine had six costume changes and looked amazing.

Places I've Been Featured

I have been very fortunate to have been featured on these incredible blogs, some more than once!Click the button to be taken directly to the featured post!

                     

              

         

            

                 

                  

  



My Pottery Barn Project Table Knockoff was featured on these amazing blogs!

  

                        

Keep in Touch

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If you have a question or a comment, please send me an email at:
alliepug@yahoo.com

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Thanks for reading!

My Project Gallery

Cafe Shelves

Children's Table & Chairs

Christmas Wreath

Easy Applique

Fabric Lamp Shade

Freezer Paper Stenciling

Framed Chalkboard

Goodwill Pumpkin

Headboard with Nailhead Trim

Men's Shirt Pillow Covers

Quiet Book

Pipe Insulation Wreath

Playroom Gallery Wall

Project Table (Pottery Barn Knockoff)

Pumpkin Topiaries & Painted Urns

Roman Shades from Mini Blinds

Sisal Rope Lamp Shade

Yellow Front Door

Yellow Side Table

Very Merry Christmas

We had a very busy but Merry Christmas this year. I ended up having to work Christmas Eve after being told I would be called off work because of low census. I had to work on another floor and was not happy about it. I had to miss dinner at Nanny and Granddaddy's. I did get off about 15 minutes early and rushed to their house for our dirty Santa gift swap. I got to eat my yummy steak while we played the game. Everyone played dirty which made it a lot of fun. I ended up with a Home Depot gift card and a California Pizza Kitchen gift card. I was happy.

Christmas morning and afternoon was spent at my parents house. We had a yummy brunch and then opened presents.

Ben, me, Leslie, Clay, & Kyle (yes they have on matching jackets)

Phoebe really wishing we would hurry up

Ben got two hunting games and a cross bow for the Wii. He was pumped.

Mom and Kyle playing tennis on the Wii.

While opening presents, there was quite a big surprise. All the kids had gone in together to get mom and dad a digital frame. I thought it would be neat to go ahead and put some pics on it for them since there was no telling when they would get around to it. I had mom and dad look through the pics because I told them there were a couple on there that I didn't think they had seen. In the middle of the pics was a picture of a Clear Blue Easy positive pregnancy test! Yep, we're preggers!!! Everyone was very surprised. Mom screamed then balled. Dad was clapping. The boys and Leslie were a little confused at first because they couldn't see the picture and mom was crying and dad was clapping. Ben had to tell them "we're having a baby!" Everyone was thrilled and we immediately started calling the family. It's been over a year of trying, and we're so excited and grateful to have this wonderful gift. I'll be due August 26th, 2009, or thereabouts.

Mom and me with her favorite picture ever!

I went to the doctor today for my 6 week ultrasound. Everything looks great! The baby is the teeny, tiny dot at the top of the round black space. And there is only ONE! I really had a feeling there would be two. While that would have been great, I am excited to have the experience of only one.

I've been feeling ok so far. Nausea started this week, but no vomiting so far. I'm really tired and hungry. I can totally see why women gain so much weight while pregnant! I am literally starving after an hour or two. It was great news when my doctor told me today that I can eat cooked sushi. I was going to be really upset at not having any for 9 months, but I could have done it. I've also given up coffee! Only one decaf Starbucks a week for me now. Please keep us in your prayers that everything goes well, and we have a healthy baby. I'll be keeping everyone posted. I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks for another check up.

My Girls

I have been keeping Becca and Jenna now for almost 10 years. I feel like they are my own. I've helped raise these two and am extremely proud of them. They are "the girls" when I talk about them. Becca is now 12 and Jenna is 10. My babies are all grown up. You know they are getting old when you can have a meaningful conversation with a 12 year old about Coach purses and their Xmas lists have nothing under $100 on them!
This weekend, I got to spend two days with them. Friday night I kept Jenna and her friend Trevey after work while John and Vanessa went to a Christmas party. Today, I kept both the girls for the Titans game. I took them to eat at the Cheesecake Factory for a Christmas treat. It was so much fun. Jenna was texting Ben on my phone and knew how to use it better than I did. Becca wants a Coach purse for Christmas, so I was instructing her about how to pick one with a "timeless" pattern and color. I can't believe they are so old which makes me even older! Jenna can't sit still and dances and cheers all over the place. She can move her body in ways that should be illegal. Becca is the smartest kid I know. She's so intellectual and athletic. She plays travel soccer on an Olympic development team. We will see her on TV someday for soccer. I love these two so much! They will always be my babies no matter how old they get.

Jenna being goofy. She loves the camera.

Very talented! Becca's salad was as big as her, and it was the lunch portion.

We had to get cheesecake.

Ready to eat it up.