Kitchen Remodel and More

Let's just say I haven't been too much of a stickler when it comes to blogging weekly-I really have a lot to learn! So much happens and so few know! Let's start with where I left off...

Now rounding the corner of my 25th week-officially looking pregnant is no longer a concern. The concern is officially NOT fitting into maternity clothes. Can you believe some of the maternity wear I purchased already doesn't fit!? I've gained a whopping 26lbs to date with an approximate 15 to go...right on track for my forecasted forty! Gabriel seems to be doing wonderfully! I have my glucose tolerance test this Friday (yeah!...NOT.) and my follow up ultrasound in two weeks. Hopefully my low-lying placenta has moved up stream!

Our kitchen remodel is moving along slowly but surely and our back splash and counter tops are in! The pictures do not do them justice but they are just gorgeous. The honey colored maple counter tops really complement our existing furniture. Additionally, Mike has just begun sanding so that painting can begin (hence why I'm blogging-to avoid little dust particles). Mike will be doing the lion's share of the work with the kitchen while I look on-helpless to help but quick to correct!

On a much more solemn note; our uncle Richard has taken ill. He went to the hospital after having been unable to eat or drink for several days. He was extremely dehydrated and had lost a significant amount of weight. After thorough testing, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 lymphoma of the stomach and esophagus and was referred to a local hospice agency. He is now seeking palliative rather than curative care in the comfort of his own home with his wife alongside. We aim to see him within the next few weeks but ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

The Beginning of the End

Having just cleared the 'half-way' mark, our pregnancy is currently at 23 weeks (only 17 weeks to go!-er, in theory) and I've finally reached the 'comfortable' point. I'm able to wear maternity clothes (and they fit) and I have been officially acknowledged by a stranger as 'pregnant' rather than 'tubby'. The bad news, you ask? I think that Gabriel has officially begun his sleep stealing techniques. Whether through movement or just plain discomfort-sleep has now become tough. I guess this will be the point when naps will begin to make up for the fact I often wake up twice (at least) to pee in the middle of the night and can typically not fall asleep again after 5:30am...for a job I normally don't have to get up for until 10am! Either way, this milestone (half-way mark) has really helped to ease much of my anxiety about being pregnant and so on...now the anxieties are beginning about labor and delivery-and of course, motherhood.

Demolition began on Monday of our 1950's kitchen. We will have a new back splash, counter top (honey maple butcher block), cabinet doors (with mullions), and fixtures in the end. Mike is working alongside our contractor, Rick (whom we love), and is having a blast. Yesterday he even had hammer envy.

Attack!

For those of you who haven't heard via phone call, I figured it was important to post that I was bitten by a dog two weeks ago while dropping a client off at her home. Needless to say, we (me and Bean) are perfectly fine. The most interesting part of the whole story is that the dog actually went airborne for a few seconds-she ran from one side of the fenced backyard towards me and jumped onto the chain link gate and over she went. Afterward, the family has had some issues determining which dog (of the two black and white female pit bulls they have) was really the culprit. I can't deny my current instinct was to face their free standing brick mailbox and sheild my belly so I didn't get the world's greatest eye witness report. I'm sure that if I weren't preggers that dog would've eaten my foot since I would've retaliated differently. The tetanus shot was probably the worst part but the whole event scared the poo out of me and did make me feel a lot less safe with my job. Luckily, HR came up the following week to see our employees and I made my concerns known. I will say, although I'm not 'actively' looking for a new job because of all of the things I love about Eckerd, I can't be too sure about my longevity with this position (not just because of the dog bite-because that was definitely an isolated incident...but my job has turned me into the most cynical social worker I know). I plan to remain with Eckerd (if they'll have me) until I'm done with kiddos since the job really lends itself to raising kids. I think once our youngest (whenever that will be) hits VPK I'll probably be ready for a desk job or something closer to the gerontological background I pursued in grad school.