alicia

Ouch..ahhh...oiew

Carpets have been cleanified. Why did no one warn me how freakin hard steam cleaning your own carpets is! Holy crap. The machine is not too heavy, until you fill the beast with 2 gallons of water!! And maybe just because I haven't cleaned these carpets ever, and I have had them for 2 years, they were extra dirty or something because after just 4-5 slow passes with the sucker it would have used up all the clean water and need to be changed! Cleaning 3 rooms, a hallway, a staircase and 4 rugs took 4 flippin hours. Every muscle in my body is aching now and NO LABOUR!

But check it out:

I will let the jealousy of my freshly cleaned carpets consume you for a few seconds now....how you doing? Can you keep reading?

Today is a big day though, despite not being in labour. Today is the day the list is completed! I can totally feel your excitement from here. Let me give you the updated version:

1. Buy baby monitor, pack n play and swing
2. Pack diaper bag and hospital  bag
3. Take another look at my car seat installation skills, cause I am kinda doubting them
4. Purchase many frozen, ready prepared meals and paper cups and plates to serve these meals on
5. Finish all the photo albums I have on my list
6. Hang up the maternity photos I want displayed
7. Finish the OCD clean, including steam cleaning the carpets
8. Make Pay it Forward Projects
9. Create birthday, anniversary and other cards that will be needed for April and May
10. Plan basement furniture
11. Get some relaxing music on the i-pod for my labour playlist
12. Buy hot water bottle
13. Buy Danielle's Shoe Contest of the Year winning shoes

The OCD cleaning I have left to do is wash the walls upstairs and clean the bathroom tiles thoroughly.

You can't see it, but this is my bathroom wall and it is dirty...eiew. I hate streaky, scuffed walls. So they will be cleaned as will the tiles, then the OCD clean is finished!

Pay it Forward projects are next. I have a card all planned out for the lucky 8 who will be receiving these! Laura,  Danielle, Jen, Echloe, Shawna, Angry IF,  Danielle M, and andrea and for Beth and Amy I have come up with the perfect gift! I actually spent quite some time figuring out what kind of present I should make these 2 ladies, and then I remembered I had something special made already, something special I had no one to gift it to at the time, but it’s perfect!:

A long time ago Hannah and I took a glass fusing class. We learnt how to take pieces of glass and create things out of the pieces by fusing them together and then sticking them in a special kiln. Without talking about it we both ended up making jewellery! I made over 10 different necklace pendants. I gave some to my mom, sister and grandma and kept one for myself, but I had 2 extras left. They have been sitting in my jewellery box waiting to go to someone special, so I figure they are perfect for this Pay it Forward project! I love them both and am so excited to be passing them on!

This is the progress of the cards! I know I have done so much. By the end of today there will be a stack of sweet little cards all ready to be sent out as well!

Basement furniture. Well I think I know what we are looking for. But we are going to be waiting a bit before purchasing it. So I have a plan, but no actual purchases. The plan includes:

BILLY bookcases from IKEA will line a few walls, floor to ceiling, with shelving for lots of storage.

I really like the KRAMFORS sofa from IKEA for the back wall.

And then 2 KARLSTAD armchairs from IKEA on the side.

 We already decided on the LINNARP TV stand from IKEA as well.

So those are the basic pieces. We are going to save up a bit for them, but they should be in the basement soonish. Carpet is being installed this Saturday, so we will need furniture down there in order to make use of the nice renovated space!

Last item on the list is to purchase Danielle's shoes! She did win the best shoe contest ever, and I have yet to send her her prize. I suck I know. So I am off to Sass, my favourite consignment store, today to check out what they have in her size! Hopefully I find a knock out pair.

Tada! That completes the list! Amazing I know. You didn't think I could get it all done did you? I think Twinkle is in tune with her moms OCD and she knew I would not be truly ready for her arrival until the list was done. So I think this is what she is waiting for, but I think she is going to wait till Sunday, her due date, to come out, cause she doesn’t want to embarrass her mommy by making her go through labour while men are installing her carpet downstairs....awkward!

So I am off to start my busy day, I hope to be posting an update this weekend of all the labourness that is happening!

Mothers Blessing

I am a lame friend. Let's just come out and say it.

While in the depressing gloom of my infertility journey, many of my friends got pregnant, like I am sure anyone else who has experienced infertility can tell you. Some of these friends, most of these friends, had baby showers, because dudes that’s what you do when you are pregnant! Its free gifts and fun times and why the freak would you not want to celebrate all this. I am lame because I did not go to one. Not a single event.

I know some infertiles who are stronger and more loyal of friends, who did attend their closest friends baby showers, and to you ladies I bow. I could not do it. And honestly who wants a weeping mess of a friend crying all over the diaper cake someone worked so hard to make for you.

So upon coming impregnated myself I asked my friends to not throw me a shower. I could not be the selfish shower whore who does not go to all her friends showers but expects one to be thrown for her when she is all fancily knocked up. All my friends understood. They even understood when I did not attend theirs. Because yes I am a lame friend, but I have managed to score myself some of the awesomest friends around.

On Saturday night, my friend Carmen made plans for us. Surprise plans, exciting plans. I thought theatre, dinner, movie something like that. Boy was I shocked when we walked into her house and there were all my terrific friends, with lots of chocolaty things on the table! But they were not having me a surprise baby shower, they threw me a Mothers Blessing Party (I think this is what it was called, I googled it, sounded similar, sorry Carmen if I got the title wrong!).

Basically all my friends were there to celebrate ME! Which is totally the awesomest thing ever. We did little manicures, ate chocolates and turtle cheesecake and other goodies. We talked about all sorts of things and drank yummy punch.

It was arranged that each of my friends bring to the party a bead. Everyone then took this bead and put it onto a bracelet I am to wear until Twinkle is born. Remembering that through these last hard weeks of pregnancy and through the pains and joys of labour that I have friends who love me and that are thinking of me.

Then each girl put into a basket a card made out to me and a little gift to spoil me!

It was a fabulous evening. I am so lucky to have friends like you girls! So thank you Carmen, Erin, Chantelle, Tina, Gail and Lil. I know a few others had wanted to come out, but due to the INSANE storm that hit us that evening they couldn't, so Mrs.Spit thank you, Hannah and my mom thank you! And my sister who even wrote me a letter for the party, but obviously could not be there cause she's in London!

Sneakly Gail, Chantelle and Lil also left behind some baby presents! Thanks girls they are terrfiic.

Click to embiggen.

Carmen, Erin and Tina got together and purchased me the most fabulous amazing thing to ever walk, or be walked, on this planet!

Diaper Bag!!!!!!!!! Isn't it sooo freakin hot!?!

I thought since this post is all about me bragging about the amazing quality of my friends, I thought it was about time to say some public thank you's to a few of you readers out there too! I have been receiving packages from you ladies, and I get all chocked up every time, because even though I have never met you, some of you, you spoil me rotten like one of your dearest friends!

Meredith, my amazing cousin, gave me these knitted sweaters her mom made!

Amazing reader Shawna made Twinkle this beautiful pink afghan.

Reader Jenni sent Twinkle this beautiful soft pink blanky and some really cute pink clothes and shoes!

Reader Ann, sent me and Twinkle a awesome parcel with Lily pads, 2 adorable onsies and a pack of Burts Bees baby products, which I LOVE!

Last night I received a box from my aunt Charlene with Arborne baby products! They smell sooo freakin awesome! YAY

Danielle sent me all the way from Australia a cd filled with fun songs to keep me happy! She ever drew the art on the case!!! Such a thoughtful chickie, who I promise will one day get her shoes!

So amazing people in my life, THANK YOU! Twinkle is feeling the love and so am I. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world to have friends like all of you.

PS If you sent me something and it has not been all displayed over here, I again stake my claim as lame friend. I tried to keep track of all the presents, but I suck, and I am sorry! Send me some hate mail though and I will get a thank you up here pronto!

Tissue presents

MIZZZZ me yesUm?

PareNTs PeopLE R aGAINsts Me. I aM PRIznOR in Own Homes. I HaD thE WOndERfuL BAseMent To roLL in anD PlaY in and LOVe In and Now GONES.

ThEY Shut DOOr. ThERE is SAWdust and DRywall Dust a PLEnty doWN theRe, but THey so SELFish THEY keeP all To THEMseleves.

I WANT DUSTYS TOO!

ALSo, pREtty BLue ROom theY buILd foR me UPstairS I am THinkIng reAlly is Not for Me. But FOr the LUMpy, bUMpy AnnoyINg CreATure MommY aTE. It KICks Me When I PUrr ON MamaS Tummy. Why SHE Eat CreaTUre and BuilD Room For IT?

I PLayz SNEeKing TricK on tHems Now. I Want TO be THE FavORite CreAture, Soo I deCIde To gET siCK and StaRT hAVINg liTTle BReathING ASthma attACks EacH moRNings. Mama Get SOO worRIed anD upSEt she DAsh out OF bed evEn wiTh CreaTure iN her and COmes anD CUddles Me tiLL thE breAthiNG attAckS Stop. TheN DaDDY Come Give ME pETz and TreatS and EXTRA FOOd!

SicK Plan NOw baCKfire. I go TO bAD baD evIL plaCe wherE doGS smeLLZ me And CatS SCream at ME and WeiRD Human PokE anD pROd me....the VEt....TomoRRow MorNIng. NOOOOOOOOOO!

I SO madz At mamA noW. HatE vEt. Mama SOOO Lazy shE cAN't EVEn get NEW phoTos of ME, shE jusT use OLD Lame ONes. I THink I gO On LOve StrikE. I ONly Give LOVes whEN FeeD, thAt TeaCH theM.

Ohh and SOme oF MomS SILly FriENDs aCTully LIke hER and GIVEs heR AwaRD. Mel anD BustED boTH giVE MommY ThiS:

WEIRdos.

RUlZ

The rules of the award: 
1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. 
2) Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. 
3) List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

HAha! 10 HonesT tHIngs! LeT mE dO thiS foR HEr:

1. she eats creatures

2. she loves creature more then me

3. she makes a room for the creature and kicks me out of my basement

4. she loves torturing animals by bringing them to the vet

5. she only feed me 3 times a day, which is total animal neglect

6. she calls me beasty as a nickname, like that's cute

7. she holds me by my neck scruff when I bit her ankles as she walks up the stairs, ABUSE

8. she keeps vacuuming up my hard work collecting all my hairs on the curtains

9. she brushes me with an ouchy brush called the furminanator

10. she DOES give the best cuddles, kisses and pets out of all humans I know. But I still mad at her.

NOWs thE AwaRD hAS to BE pasSEd On to 7 FRiendz. ShoCKEd she HAs 7 FriENds.

Melba, Laura, Beautiful Mess, Chantelle, Jenni, Erin and Megan

You girls rock my socks off! And Tissue's too.

A whole year!

A year ago I discovered Amalah's blog. I LOVED it and soon wanted to have something similar. An outlet, a place to vent, and maybe even a place get some support. I wanted to spread the message of infertility and how all consuming and painful it truly is. I wanted to meet some new people, and basically get free therapy by writing down my crazy thoughts and feelings. So on Jan 23rd 2007 I opened up a typepad account, I sat down and wrote my first entry, and then I think I wrote a few more that same day (lets not go searching through the achieves for those ones people, I do like to think over the year my writing has improved somewhat!). I e-mailed and facebooked everyone I knew and told them to check it out. I joined Mel's list of infertility blogs and added myself to a few other blog rolls. I never imagined what would happen.

272 posts

59652 hits

300 average hits a day

2666 comments

And those are just numbers. The amazing thing that happened was people started reading, they started caring and soon I was making friends from all over the world. I have 80 blogs on my google blog reader that I read and comment on whenever they are updated. I e-mail many of these friends on a regular basis. I have received Christmas cards and LOADS of presents from you amazing people. This blog, a silly dream I started a year ago, has changed my life. I fall asleep every night praying, because there are now so many friends to pray for that I never finish. I have been privileged enough to hear your stories, your heart aches and your achievements. I get to be apart of that! So many of you have opened your hearts to me, offered me your house to stay in, to drive down to my city to help me give myself needles, have prayed for me, have cried with me and I even got to meet one of you! I wish I could meet all of you, cause I have a huge hug I want to give you, and a party we all need to rock out at!

This year has seen me through some of the worst moments of my life, the darkest hole of depression, the losing grip on reality and actually going crazy, the farthest I have ever strayed from God. But you were there, you got me through, you kept me focused on the hope that is out there and because of that hope you gave, I also saw the best moment of my life this year. I finally got pregnant! And not only did I get pregnant I got pregnant with Twinkle! A baby that is loved all over the world now, and who's birth will be celebrated by so many! What an incredible year. Thank you for sharing it with me.

To honor this amazing year I decided to celebrate with shoes! And seriously is there a better way to celebrate? I wish I could buy you all a pair of awesome shoes, but last time I check it doesn’t snow money. So instead some of my great friends entered their shoes in a fabulous contest to win a pair of shoes chosen by moi!

And we have a winner! She has been a true friend to me for a while now. I found her blog and loved it because of the colors and unique style she has. She even helped me re-vamp my blog and taught me how to read computernese. She is such a sweetie and I am sooo thrilled to buy her a pair of shoes, cause she is sooo into consignment gems like me!

So congrats Danielle! Your purple shoes stole the show!!!! If you click on her link there, it takes you to a blog entry she wrote all about these winning shoes! So chickie, send my your shoe size and the shopping will begin!!!

And now for the cake!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yes that is probably the creepiest thing I have ever seen too! HAHA! But it is soooo funny, its like a car reck, you just can't stop looking at!

For more hilarious cake disasters check out this awesome blog: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Now its time to party!!! Put on those little ridiculous hats and get out the streamers and have your self a great time! I don't care that you are at work, get your booty dancing now!

To complete this oh so great day, a remarkably embarrassing story from yours truly:

There is a message on my work phone this morning from Air Canada. They have found my video player device and I should call this number to arrange a pick up time.

I called Keith:

Me: "Hey hun, have you seen the i pod since we got back?"

Him: "Nope, we haven't unpacked yet."

Me: "Ya I know, we are soo totally lazy. Well aircanada just called, they have my video playing device, that must be my i pod they are talking about?"

Him: "Oh ya, that is probably exactly what it is. And now they now you are a slut!"

Me: "WHAT!"

Him: "Remember, I have not deleted all the porn from it yet."

Me: "OH GOD!"

Yes my i pod is full of porn. And no not because it is my FAV thing to watch on the plane. It is totally Keith’s fault, as I am sure many of you are aware, the "tools" they provide in the fertility clinic for the men to provide “samples” are really unbelievably lame. So Keith brings his own tools. Which he happened to LEAVE ON MY I POD!

So now I have to walk up to this guy, who has obviously been through the i pod to find my contact information and he has probably had a good chuckle about what this sex maniac women will look like.

Do you think it will surprise him that I am showing up 7 months pregnant?

I'm Back

Me and my Grandma, Eleanor Toews.

I want to thank all of you for your kind words and prayers. My family defiantly felt them all last week. The funeral was on Friday and it was beautiful. Sorry I could not post last week, we were all very busy making arrangements. I also took on the task of making a scrapbook of my grandma. My mom asked me to find a photo for the program, and in searching for that one photo I found SOO many that I thought should be showcased. So even though I am not much of a scrapbooker, I got myself an awesome kit and worked on it for 24 hours straight! And I am soo proud of it. It will be kept at my moms house, since all the photos are hers, and I can't wait to show it to Twinkle when she gets here.

My grandma lived a wonderful life, and had many children, grandchildren and one great grand child, with one on the way of course! I am glad she is in heaven now, watching over all of us. I think she will be Twinkles guardian angel!

Ohh and I have a GREAT story to share with you about my grandma. My dad was asking all the relatives for some stories about her, and one of her sisters told a story from when they were young girls, in the 30s when times were obviously tough for everyone! My grandma got a job working for the only wealthy family left and managed to save up $10. Now this is like mega money for the times and you know what she bought???? SHOES!!!!! For her and her sisters! They were the talk of the town sporting their hot new shoes. Now in reality these were probably sensible, warm, simple shoes, but I am totally imagining her walking down the streets in hot pink pumps that made everyone stop and stare! I think this is my favorite story about her, and I thought you would enjoy it!

Because of everything last week I missed out on a lot! Like all your blogs! I tried to do some catching up on Saturday, my google reader welcomed me with 180 posts to read!

But I wanted to send out a huge CONGRATS to my wonderful friend Jaime, who had an unexpected early Christmas present with her son being born!

I also wanted to share with you my 23 week belly shot! Sorry I missed 22 weeks, but that extra week gave me some more belly to show off, so its all good!

Yes that is my glider in the background! Yes it is so freakin awesome and it was only $70! I love second hand goods.

And here is a shot of me this morning in my new maternity outfit! It is a one piece pant and blouse thingy that I got at Thyme Maternity for $7! And it makes me look super pregnant, so I love it more!

Ok, now I have some major catching up to do with you all! Love you so much, every one of you!

December 10th

Today is a hard day.

One year ago, my friend Mrs. Spit, lost her beautiful baby boy Gabriel. My heart is broken for her and Mr.Spit. Her post today will bring tears to your eyes, but you will see what an incredible woman she is and her spirit and faith rock me to my core, and humbles me. She reminds me that I am a beautifully made child of God and need to be more thankful, more faithful and more obedient to His word.

Thank you Mrs.Spit, I am thinking about you all day today, my heart is spilling with love for you, Mr. Spit and beautiful Gabriel.

She ended her post perfectly with this verse:

Matthew 6:20,21
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It makes you think. Go giver her a hug.

Also 5 years ago today I almost lost the love of my life.

On Dec 10th 2003 Keith was working at the ATB bank in Country Hills. He and a group of co-workers had just finished a meeting in the conference room. They were all standing up, about to leave when a car smashed through the room window.

The cars driver had a seizure. He drove the wrong way through many lanes of traffic, hit the curb hard which launched the car upwards, he flew an inch past a huge brick sign, coming down over an embankment wall and through a window surrounded by brick walls. The chances of these events occurring are truly unbelievable.

Keith was hit by the car, thrown across the room and lodged into a wall. His friend, and co-worker was tragically killed. Many others were injured.

I remember the night before this accident I had told my pastors wife that Keith and I had started dating. We were both attending the same church. It was a secret from everyone up until that point, cause we made nothing official and Keith was a huge ladies man, not really wanting to commit to one girl! This conversation as silly as it seemed at the time, was an enormous, integral part in Gods plan for my life.

I had heard from a friend that fire trucks and ambulances were surrounding Keith’s bank. I drove down there to check it out. I asked a fireman and policeman what had happened, both told me to leave the scene. After placing a few hundred calls to Keith’s cell and picked up Tim Horton’s for me and my dad thinking that a fire alarm must have been pulled.

Seconds after getting home my phone rang. It was my pastor’s wife. She asked me to sit down. She said after the conversation we had last night, she had to call me with the news right away. Keith was in an accident. He is severely injured. They did not know if he was going to make it.

The tears and the shaking all started at once. I ran out of the house into my car only wailing at my dad that he is hurt! I called my best friend as I realized I could not drive. She was having a small party at her house with friends and left them all there to drive me to the hospital. We arrived at the emergency room and are told he is in the ICU, we are not family so we are not allowed to see him. I didn't care. I was going to wait there until I knew more.

Slowly the emergency waiting room filled with people that loved Keith. Friends, family, church members. All told to leave, as they wouldn't be allowed to see him. I stayed. Keith’s mother, having never meet me before, told the nurses that I had been here all day, I should be allowed to see him. She had no idea I would become her daughter in law, but I guess she sensed that I was important to Keith in some way.

I am not sure what I expected. I had to see him, in case it was the last time I got to. There were more tubes coming in and out of him then I have ever seen. His face was so swollen and bruised it was not really recognizable. There was blood everywhere on him. It was horrible.

We found out he had a massive skull fracture that caused his brain to swell. He had broken his neck on the C7 vertebrae, by the grace and power of God that vertebra broke around the bone in a C shaped break, it could have easily broke straight across paralyzing him from the neck down. His lung was punctured and he was intubated to help him breathe. He was in a coma. Things did not sound good, but we did find out he would live. We did not know the extent of his brain damage though.

I didn't leave his bedside once he was out of the ICU. He had around 50 visitors a day. He is a very loved person! But I never left, even though some days there were so many visitors that I barely got to see him, I stayed in that hospital. Sitting with his family members, not knowing any of them. I was a strange obsessed girl, but they never said anything. They let me stay, they brought me coffee, again they must have sensed something.

As if we hadn't received enough miracles, God gave us another one. Keith’s brain was functioning! He could talk, walk, eat and remember things from the past. It really looked liked things would turn out good for him.

He was in a neck brace for sometime afterwards, and went through test after test after test. In those months after the accident our relationship really began to bloom. He heard from everyone that I never left the hospital, that I was a constant support. Some even said I must be a crazy stalker, stay away!

But to Keith, it meant the world. He realized he could have lost everything that day, but he was given a second chance. So he committed himself to our relationship. We dated for 4 months before getting engaged and 4 months later got married.

5 years later there are still scars from this day. Keith will forever have double vision because his brain was shock so hard. He will have a large Harry Potter scar running down the right side of his head. He has lost almost 2 months from his memory from that time period. And he lost a dear friend.

He faced many challenges after this accident. He was treated poorly by his employers and had a very difficult time getting a job he was qualified for. He has had to face YEARS of tests. Through these tests we have learnt a lot about eyes and head injuries. We cannot know how smart Keith was before this accident, but we know now that he is a genius! And that my kids are going to be hella smart!

The tests are done now. Hopefully soon this whole ordeal will be behind us. It is amazing to me when I tell this story to see the incredible work of Gods hands in every situation. It reminds me of how incredibly blessed we are, and reminds me to be thankful for what we are given each day, cause life can change incredibly fast.

 

1 Chronicles 29:11-13(KJV)

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

The Love

Sometimes I am just overwhelmed with the love my family and friends have for me and little Twinkle!

My sister, my best friend, I will not be seeing until July! She is in law school in Toronto and is on her last year. She is completing her last semester in England, and I could not be prouder of her. After school is done of course she will be traveling all over Europe, which I am HUGE jealous of. I know she will have a superfantastical time.

So when she was here in November, it was really hard to say good bye. So before she left we had a mini Christmas in November planned for her. As my present to her we did our awesome photo shoot (which I should be receiving the pics from any day now!). Then headed back to my parents to celebrate early Christmas. Upon arriving I see LOADS of presents in the kitchen and I was surprised and how all out my mom went this year. But when I looked closer at the presents they were all wrapped in paper with babies on them, or little duckies and cute little ribbons!

My sister had been collecting baby items for me for OVER a year! And from all over the place. All the incredible places she went she would buy little baby items, knowing that one day I would have a baby! There were like 40 presents to unwrap! I could not believe it. So we had a baby shower before Christmas. I am such a lucky girl!

So a few of my favorite items she gave Twinkle are:

These awesome onesies. The black one is made out of old rocker t-shirts that some lady turns into onesies! The other one is a forever inside joke between my sister and I, I call her monkey she calls me funky, or vis versa.

Monkey Robeez and frog slippers! Awe sooo cute!

Then these set of cards that you put in baby's crib that stimulates their visual senses. They are black and white animal cards and they are really supposed to make baby happy! There is also Porn for new moms book there which has all these pictures of really hot men doing all sorts of domestic things, like changing diapers, vacuuming the floors while snuggling baby. So fun! And the wall talk box there is a message to stick on the nursery wall! YAY!

Great Artist finger puppets, Van Gogh, Dali, Frida and Monet! Twinkle is going to be one smart cookie!

I filled Twinkles shelf’s with all the gifts she gave us! I was sooo touched by her thoughtfulness. There is stuff from Ottawa, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary! So fun!

Then my sweet friend Jen, said she would do me the huge favor of picking up Twinkles bedding for me! She not only shipped the bedding but sent along some sweet treats!

Lotion, yummy strawberry candle and SHOES! With little froggies on them! And she said she is looking for matching socks! AHHH! I am WAY to lucky to have friends like this. She is currently in labor, so that’s fun! There should be a beautiful baby appearing on her blog any moment now :)

And then reader Erin sent me a wonderful present!

Ahh the cuteness and in case you can't see that:

They say Twinkle! AHHHHHHHHHH! Aren't they just the most perfect pj's ever! Again, so blown away by the kindness here. I am in shock.

Then I received a package from my aunt, who also is a reader!

A star afghan! Isn't it awesome! And it is sooo soft!

And yes those are little shoes in the middle! YAY! They are so tiny and precious.

All you ladies have put tears in my eyes. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness! Twinkle will LOVE everything! LOVE YOU!

And thank you cards are being made, if the lazies will leave me alone, cause I had another night of accomplishing nothing yesterday. I made pizza with Keith and then we bummed on the couch watching TV movies, and then I feel asleep, before 8. Doing well.

Lazy, lame friend

Kymberli from I'm a Smart Onehas passed this onto me!

Alicia of Pieces of Me - shoes, shoes, shoes - Little Twink is going to be a shoe fiend just like her mommy.

Yay!! Thanks so much Kymberli! I plan to rock this award out sooo hard, so hard in fact that I have to pass this honor on!

So Andrea from Are You Listening- we are so close with our pregnancy time lines and it is so fun having a friend going through all the similar crazy’s of pregnancy! Your comments always bring a smile to my face, and I LOVE your Friday posts dedicated to how much you love your husband, so inspiring.

And Shelli from BagMomma- this girl has the same love affair I have with shoes, but with handbags! Yay fashionistas! Her blog is full of honesty and heart filled posts. She is a great friend and is so supportive through her comments.

And Chantelle from Love is patient- I have known Chantelle for a few years now. She is such a great friend and a huge support. She is always willing to say an extra prayer for me, and I am so lucky to be getting to know her little daughter! Thanks for all the love!

Now go on and pass it forward!

And ummm, huge, sucky blog friend confession. I know someone else, someone amazing and wonderful and sooo cool has given me an award not to long ago, and I have searched and searched my comments and e-mails and cannot find you! AHHH I suck. So honestly don't really deserve the award now, but I would still like to thank you mystery person! So if it is you I am talking about let me know! hugs and apologies, please be my friend?

And to continue this post of craziness, I am in a rut. A rut of laziness, but I promise mystery friend I did search for you, that I did. But that’s about all I have done in the past 3 days. I am sooo freakin lazy! I have sooo many freakin things I need to get done, but I get home and want to lounge on the couch and then I want to curl into bed at the ridiculous hour of 8pm. And it’s not because I am exhausted carrying around all this babyness, because hello have still not gained a flippin pound, and it is not because I am exhausted, I feel fine and have energy, I just decide to be lazy. So Ann,I promise those cards are coming, and I promise Mrs. Spitthat the card homework will be complete and I promise Carmento get my card post done for your blog, but I am soo not motivated. HELP?

Awards and OB's

 

 

Look! Award!!! And 2 of my wonderful friends have passed it along to me! Busted from Busted Babymakerand Echole from Elusive BFP, 2 awesome women!

Busted said: Alicia for keeping me entertained with posts by Tissue and lots of shoes

Echloe said: Alicia's blog is amazing.  I found it on ICLW and am so glad to have been able to follow her journey from IUI to pregnancy.  I can't wait to see what kinds of shoes you buy for baby Twinkle.

Thanks ladies! I feel so special :)

Now to continue in blog award tradition, I am passing this lovely award along to:

Jaime at Sayers Journey, I have known this girl for 2 years now I think! She has been with me through all the hard times, and is truly an amazing woman. She is so compassionate and understanding and now has a blog! Which I LOVE! 

Laura at Mommy in Waiting,  I meet Laura on a babycentre board, but our friendship has grown a lot from there. She is always willing to help me out, by praying, texting me a nice word or just listening! Her blog has always inspired me to dig deeper in my faith, and I feel privileged getting to read her story.

Sara at the egg dance, I found Sara's blog on the Mel's amazing list, and I was addicted! She has such a great spirit and even through the hardest times is able to see some humor in life! I love how real she is in her writing, and she gave me the lucky fertility socks that brought me Twinkle, so HELLO favorite person EVER!!!

There's a game that goes along with this award, but I think I would rather tell you about my OB appointment!

So things are looking much better this month! I have gained 2 lbs! Yes GAINED! I am thrilled. Weird never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth?

My belly is measuring perfectly at 15 1/2" and since I am at 15 1/2 weeks, things couldn't be better!

Twinkles heart rate was 144, and I brought it my doppler because the monitor always says the heart rate is 120, and that seemed weird. The nurse used it and yup, in the exact same spot she put hers in mine said 120, when hers said 144...so the monitor part not so accurate. Hers cot $1000, mine cost $100, I guess that’s the difference!

They decided not to put me on drugs, cause shhhhh secret...I haven't thrown up since Thursday morning! And the only nausea I am feeling in the day is at around 3, but if I eat it goes away! I also stayed up till 11 on Monday night, and felt fine! So ya, sounds like the 1st trimester blues are going to be behind me soon, unfortunately I think I have a cold.

I got the flu shot right after the appointment. It was recommended my both the OB's and both the nurses I saw, so I am listening to my doctor. I know, I know, you have a story, you have an article or something that says why I should not have gotten the flu shot and this or that can now happen. It’s done people, it’s in my veins and has left my arm a sore mess. So please do not freak me out now with your worse case scenario stories, cause I am listening to my OB's, they are smart, have been doing this for a while, and I have to trust them. Plus I hate being sick, so no flu this winter sounds good to me!

The OB and the nurse both asked me 2 times each if I have felt the baby kick yet, so I am thinking I will start feeling little Twinkle soon! Which makes me more happy then anything in the whole world. When I think of being pregnant, I think of a women with a belly, her hands on top feeling all those kicks and punches! That will be me!!! Soon!!! I think the reality of being pregnant will hit me then, when I feel Twinkle. Because honestly I have just been so sick and tired that the idea of me actually being pregnant has not sunk in. YAY

So things are good. Friday is my throat and heart ultrasound to make sure all is well there, and then we will be laughing, until the 19th of April of course, when I will be experiencing the most unimaginable pain ever, but I say bring it on!

 

Blog heros

For me! From Pamela at Just Me! Look she thinks I am cool!!!

 Alicia
Ha! Now, with this girl, I'd have to say we are totally in sync! She has her quirky sense of humour, she loves shoes, she has her WII FIT *did I tell you that babes bought it for me today for my birthday pressie (hint hint, my bd is a few days away!)?! hehe* and neon tights jokes are just hilarious. I can also tell she has a creative eye. She's had a failed IUI but she amazingly bounces back with fever pitch spirit and takes on the next battle with so much determination that I've got to admire this girl. Please click here for a good laugh and give her all your yodelling for her upcoming IUI.

I would like to pass it forward to...

Carmen at About a Girl - Her blog is full of one of my favorite people, Grace! But she also writes very honestly and passionately. She is a great friend, both in blogging land and in real life! She has a lot of adventures with running, knitting, card making and cake decorating! She has so many neat interests to read about and is so freakin talented! Go check her out.

So do you all have a favorite blogger. Someone’s blog who has inspired you to be a better writer, someone who you LOVE reading each day and sooo wish they would read, glance, notice your blog, cause OH MY GOD they are that extremely cool???

I have a blog like that. I read amalah.com and she is the best thing going on in blog land. I comment on all her posts, but so do 200 other people (not even joking) so I never thought I would get a response back from her.

But yesterday, I had a hit on my blog from her site!! I know it could be some other commenter clicking on my name to check out me out, but HOLY CRAP it so could be Amalah. I have been kinda on this cloud ever since I saw it.

Am I the only one with a blog crush?

Anyways, Amalah, if you are reading this (WHICH HOLY CRAP IS SO COOL!) luv ya, do you want to be my friend?? please?

How did you all start blogging?

For me I wanted to start a little infertility journal on babycenter and after months of me trying to contact them to do this, I finally gave up. It was then I noticed the blog section on babycenter. And it was there I found amalah. I read all her posts and thought that this was something I could do! I did some more searching and found so many blogs, especially on infertility.

I have always loved writing and have always found it so therapeutic. So I figured a blog would be a perfect fit for me, so I started one. I never thought it would be read by so many, and I thank you all for that, I hope you stick around, cause I am sure there will be many adventures ahead!