Spring Cleaning May Commence!

Hurray!!  The basement is pretty much done except for some very minor things.  Here are some pics of the flood and then some after pics.  I was mostly taking the before and after pictures for my mom...who already knows what the original basement looked like, so they aren't the best if you have never seen the basement before.  Apologies.  We also got the air ducts cleaned this week too so now I can officially start dusting without worrying about all my hard work being undone in a day or two.

This one is before the demolition started.  You can see the ceiling is saturated, it was literally raining in the basement.    History of the Flood:  A pipe feeding the kitchen sink froze and then busted just below the the main floor level back in January.  More than 200 gallons of water were pumped out of the basement.

Here is Utah Flood and Fire at work...you can see all of the carpet was trashed and several of the walls and most of the ceiling had to be ripped out.

This section was directly below the kitchen sink...it took almost 2 weeks to dry it out, and that was with about 30 industrial sized fans in the basement.  Yeah, our power and water bill were a little outrageous for January.

Here you can see they are busy ripping out the ceiling.  You will notice the basement is not very open.  When the house was originally remodeled...some major short cuts were taken.  As we started the remodeling process we found out why, there is a main sewer pipe running right down the middle of the room.  Instead of jack-hammering and re-pouring the foundation to move the pipe, the guys trying to flip the home just built around them.  So the room was all funky and broken up with a closet and nook jutting out into the middle of the room.

This is horrible shot of the bathroom...but it was built as a shower for two.  We're not sure what went on in that bathroom before we moved in??  Don't want to know.  But the shower took up about 60 percent of the bathroom, there was no counter or cabinets...just 1 huge shower with an itty bitty sink and toilet.  Not very functional.

Here is an after pic of the laundry room.  Nice level tile floor.  Before it was concrete that was majorly sloped.

New paint, walls, ceiling, carpet, and a look how nice and open.  No more sewer main running into the middle of the room.  Ignore the huge tarp I laid out to make a stack of all the linens that needed washing.

Functional, beautiful bathroom.  The bathroom still needs a mirror of above the sink but there is actually a counter top, cabinets, and a window in the bathroom now.  

Oh, PS...we finally made the plunge and bought a car!  No more 1994, smurf blue, manual Ford Escort, 190,000 miles, with no air conditioning.  No more expensive car repairs every 3 months.  No more rental cars for driving excursions outside a 45 mile radius.  No more 1997, green Jetta, with no functional heater...etc.  Just a shiny, pearl white, 2013 Subaru Outback parked in our driveway.  Oh, and a car payment :(  Getting use to being a 1 car family will take some time but luckily we live really close to work and have a bus pass.

Here is Chris showing off the trunk space.  Large enough for a 6'1", 180 lb man plus some.  Oh and the next two pictures are just for fun.  I am wondering what baby Chloe will look like?  We have pretty much decided to name her Chloe.  Here are pictures of Chris and I around the same age.  Maybe 5 or 6 yrs old?  Chris's parents seem to have misplaced his baby book, so this is the youngest picture I have ever seen of him.  I'm sure it will turn up some day.  But in the meantime enjoy.

And yes...no need to remind me that I haven't aged a day since I was 5 yrs old.  I am reminded of this fact all the time :)  Same little button nose...my adult nose decided not to grow in.  Also gotta love sponge curlers right!  Hated sleeping in those things.

And what to say about Chris...he's adorable!

April Update

This post is going to be all sorts of random...just stuff we've been up to.  We took my parents on a mini vacation down to St. George and Zion's National Park last week.  My mom's compulsive nature to work compels her to clean, cook, garden, re-caulk the sinks, paint the base boards, etc...whenever she visits.  So we decided it best that she spend her vacation time away from the Salt Lake House while she visited.  It was a great idea and my mom really enjoyed it.  

Here we are at the top of Angel's Landing.  PS- I have done this hike 4 times now and NEVER EVER EVER have run into such a crowd of people climbing to the top, do not hike this during spring break.  For those Everest obsessed like I, you will catch my drift when I said, "It looks like the freakin Hilary Step up there"!  I was really proud of my mom for climbing despite her fear of heights, my dad for making it to the tops despite his old man knee's, altitude sickness, and out of "shapeness", and me for making it to the top being 21 weeks pregnant.  I am also proud of Chris but we all knew he would have no trouble.  

This is really not doing justice to how HUGE I have gotten...but it would be highly inappropriate to post a picture of me getting out of the shower.  That's a horrifying site.

We were reminded the drop off the top is 1400 vertical feet!  So awesome.

My mom definitely made the most of our 1 day in Zion's National Park...she was bound and determined to do as much hiking as possible.  My mom and Chris hiked 4 different hikes for a total of 9.5 miles.  I tagged along for 3 of the 4 hikes for 8.5 miles until my feet would have no more.  My dad did 2 of the 4 hikes for a total of 7.5 miles.

In other news we will try our hand at gardening again, we have not had much success in the past.  I meant to start all these little seeds back in March but didn't get to it until this week.  Here what we hope to grow

Chives

Sweet Basil

Lemon Basil

Egg Plant

Cherry Tomatoes

Roma Tomatoes

Better Boy Tomatoes

Parsley

and

Bell Peppers

And finally...how I spent my time off this week.  I was naively thinking I would be able to relax and spend my time off working on a baby blanket.  Instead we were informed by the contractor that the whole upstairs and downstairs would be carpeted the very next day (we thought they would be done on separate days).  Thus I spent my whole weekend moving boxes out to the deck and into the only livable space in the house (the kitchen and living room)...rendering them un-livable...and then frantically moving them back inside the next day before it rained and we had to go back to work.  Not sure if that made sense but it was sucky.

the pile of boxes we moved out to the deck and covered over night with a tarp

the kitchen...we ended up getting pizza for dinner

what use to be the only place to sit down in the house

So my plans for Spring cleaning this month have not even begun.  Looks like it will be pushed back until May.  Construction sucks.

20 Week Dr. Appointment

Wow...posting on my blog twice in 1 week, I must be really board :)  In reality I am really board.  Chris is at work and I am preparing for four 12 hour night shifts in a row.  That is 48+ hours I will put in by Wednesday at 7am...UGH.  Not looking forward to it.

We had our 20 week midwife appointment this week.  I have gained 9 lbs so far.  My goal was not to tip the scale past 10 lbs.  I haven't been dieting or anything, just crossing my fingers.  Pretty sure I even did the victory fist pump when I stepped off the scale.

We were also hoping to get our little lady checked out on ultra-sound.  However that didn't happen.  It was mostly a shame on us as parents type situation.  I realized we have not been into the office in 8 weeks!  Oops.  At our last appointment, (which we never made) they would have given us a script for an ultra-sound, but since we never came in...that never happened.  Everyone kept asking us, "Why haven't you been in for 8 weeks"?  Well, what it boils down to is... I have no good reason...I just never made an appointment.  I have been preoccupied with recovering from the cruize, construction at the house, and getting back into the swing of work.  I didn't mention the that I felt my last appointment was relatively useless.  Did I just say that?  Oops again.

Not sure what I was expecting from these appointments but seriously last time we were there the CNA student took my weight and blood pressure (don't worry, Chris and I had to help her figure out how to use the blood pressure cuff).  The midwife then asked me if I had any concerns and palpated my stomach for 2 seconds to find the fundal height.  That was it!  I'm sure that is what my patients feel like at the hospital..."Useless nurse, you took my temperature and palpated my pulses...big deal!"  :)

JK, kinda.  I know it's important stuff but also relatively simple...unless there is actually a problem.  I promise not to miss any more appoinments, mostly bc my motherly guilt is kicking in.  It was nice to hear baby girl's heart beat, just kinda make sure she is alive in there.  I'm pretty good at distinguishing her little movements now but they are remarkable close to grumbling intestinal peristalsis.

20 weeks

We finally took our first "here is my baby bumb" picture.  I decided even if I feel like a fat cow we would some day want to look back at the progression of my tummy.  Since there are about 3 people who look at this blog it was a safer place to post than facebook.  Enjoy.

I have also bought fabric for our little girl's baby blanket and have in my posession a pattern for a blessing dress.   I seriously struggle with decisions so I am pretty happy to be done picking out fabric.  However, after looking over the pattern for the dress I am feeling in over my head...dont understand 90% of the instructions.  But we shall see what happens.

Goals:  No new goals right now...need to work on the sewing projects.  Also the construction mess we have been living in for the past 2 months is almost over so my goal for April is spring cleaning (our house flooded back in January... like BAD).  It's going to take me the whole month to get the house back in order, quite literally, but I am looking forward to a dust free environment, multiple trips to DI, and organized closet spaces :)

The 2nd Trimester

HOW I'M FEELING:
I am officially into my second trimester!!!  So excited to be feeling better and not gagging every time I get a whiff of Chris's deodorant :)

I am officially finishing my 16th week.  I have gained 7 lbs already since my pre-pregnancy weight...YIKES.  It's been a long time since I have seen such a high number on the scale and it is scary despite the fact I'm pregnant.  I am no longer unsure if my stomach looks bigger, it definitely looks bigger, but not really to the point where I could show it off and people would assume I was pregnant.  I am starting to feel like Tweedle Dee...

Exactly...if he wears the waist line on his pants below his tummy they may fall completely off.  Are you understanding my dilemma?  My church skirts are becoming very tight and again not sure what the solution is, I need help in this arena.

CRAVINGS:
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from pregnancy cravings.  I mean, who doesn't want to eat chicken nuggets, pizza, coke, or chocolate cake for breakfast when given the option?  However I think I am definitely starting to experience some more intense food cravings than before.

Craving #1:  Olive Garden Salad
I'm usually opinionated but not too picky when it comes to going out to eat.  However last week I was unable to get Olive Garden salad off my brain...it's was like a plague upon my mind.  I was thinking about it daily.  I decided I must give in or the temptation would never go away.  Chris and I finished off the first salad bowl together.  I then asked the waitress for another.  Chris started in on his entree and I tried a bite or two of the chicken I had ordered but just could not get enough of that salad.  By the time we got dessert on the table I still had my salad plate in front of me.  Pretty sure the waitress thought I was insane when 45 minutes into our meal I was still eating salad while my entree remained virtually untouched and my dessert was pushed off to the side.  I let Chris finish my dessert while I helped myself to more salad.  By the time we left I had almost eaten the entire second salad bowl myself!  It was just so good.

Craving # 2:  Kraft Mac-N-Cheese
That's right, mac-n-cheese.  I probably haven't eaten it in about 15 years but it just popped into my head one day and I have been obsessing over it.  Chris swears I would NEVER let myself succumb to such a processed high calorie food in the past and he is 100% correct.  So yesterday after I finished working out at the gym we headed to the grocery store and I indulged myself yet again...and I must say I was NOT disappointed.  YUM...again, felt like I couldn't get enough.  Tasted just like I imagined and remembered.

UPDATE ON MY GOAL:
I'm happy to report I have gotten back into exercising and it feels great!  I started trying to jog about 4 weeks ago and it was pretty tough.  I mostly walked with intermittent jogging at 5 mph on the treadmill for about 2 miles.  I wasn't really expecting or aiming to gain much endurance since I knew I would be growing in size but none the less I have surprised myself.  Last week I was up to 3 miles jogging consistently at about 5-6 mph the whole time and feeling awesome!

NEW GOAL:
I have a second ultra sound this week as part of the research study I am participating in so we should be able to find out the baby's gender on Thursday!  We are pretty excited and I have decided to try and make a blessing outfit for the baby when I find out if it is a boy or girl.

Pregnancy Woes

I need to spend some times recording some of the ups and downs of my 1st pregnancy!  

Due Date:  Aug 11th, 2013

Currently:  11 weeks and 6 days

Things that make me sick:

• Smells!  Suprisingly not food but other smells.  Body wash, laundry detergent, deoderant, cologne and hand soap really get my gag going.  We are in the process of moving to all things unscented.  The smell of clean bed sheets makes me want to throw up at night :(  how weird is that?

How I've been feeling:

• Nauseated.  I haven't actually thrown up but just feel sick all the time, my stomach is constantly turning.
• Tired.  When I get home from work I seriously debate eating dinner or just going to bed.  It's lights out at 9 pm and even that is pushing it.
• Hungry...absolutely starving when I wake up in the morning but I seem to get full after one piece of toast.  Eating partly alleviates my nausea but usually not completely.  Thus I go grazing continually throughout the day.  The holiday's and bad weather have definitely not helped...pretty sure I've gained 10 lbs in my first trimester :(

Fun Things:

• Taking a pregnancy test.  I didn't actually think it was going to come back positive, it had been only 1 month since we started "trying" (hate that term).  I made my self wait until at least 3 days past when I thought I should have started my period...low and behold it was positive!
• Using the baby as my excuse for everything :)  "The baby is hungry...The baby is tired...The baby wants chinese food"  
• First doctor's appointment.  Our first appointment was at 9 weeks, I was a little disappointed they didn't listen for the heart beat or do an ultrasound but is was all exciting just the same.  It was crazy to hear the midwife confirm that my uterus was expanding and was about the size of a pear.
• First ultra sound.  I signed up for a research study mostly so I could see the baby on ultra sound more often.  It only consists of going to one apointment during each trimester.  We went to our first appointment at 10 weeks.  Our little peanut really was about the size and shape of a peanut  in it's shell.  3.71 cm in length with a heart rate of 160 bpm.  The baby was up to all sorts of moving around in it's "swimming pool" which is currently about 3 times as big as he/she is.

Goals:  

• Exercise.  I have had every excuse in the book, most of which I feel are fairly legitimate, none-the-less I haven't worked out for about 3 months.  I went to the library and got some exercise DVD's since I'm afraid exercising outside in the horrible inversion will do me more harm than good.  Turns out the library was a little low on selection so I came home with
• An Indoor Power Walking video...which after previewing I was too embarrassed to do
• A Jillian Michaels DVD...which in my deconditioned state was ruled out for the risk of premature labor or heart attack
• A Pregnancy Workout DVD...since I had out-voted the previous two I was forced to try this one.  I have to admit I felt a little ridiculous working out with the women on the video who were 39 weeks pregnant!  I felt even more embarrassed by the fact I was actually getting tired about 5 minutes into it.  Chris could not stop laughing which definitley did not help my attitude.  When you haven't done squats in 3 months it really gets to you!  So even though it's wasn't super intense I felt good about doing more than I have done for a long time.
• Listen to my body a little more.  I feel very frustrated by the fact that my stomach seems to have shrunk to the size of a two year old!  I now understand why your children complain that they are starving and as soon as you give in and buy them the outrageously over priced $7.00 hamburger at the rodeo they only eat about 3 bites before they are done.  They really do have tiny little stomachs that probaly need 6 miniature meals a day rather than 3 large meals a day.  This is exactly how I've felt.  Starving...but as soon as I sit down to eat dinner I am full before I'm half way through my meal.  Yet unlike a two year old I continue eating,  (a) because I was looking forward to this delicious meal, and (b) because I feel like I should be able to eat more.  This is no bueno and probably a huge part of my bloating at this point.  Besides I feel so uncomfortable after I force myself to eat more than my body wanted.

Other random thoughts:

• I now understand why some women post pregancy pictures and why some don't.  When you don't have a flat stomach to begin with there is nothing cute about looking extra bloated in a photo.  I am already in fear of having a baby shower in which all my friends gather together to behold the beached whale right before it pops open!

Note to baby:  We do not blame you for any of the above and know you will be worth all of your mother's woes in the end.  

This one's for Cassidy: Part 3

After a long and grueling 5 mile trek Cassidy and I finally made it to the first of only two aid stations on the course.  I quickly guzzled an entire water bottle, refilled my water, and shoved a few pieces of watermelon into my mouth.  I was about to leave and noticed Cassidy looking semi-bewildered.  I decided to say something, after all she was only 11 yr old.

Me:  "Ready to go?"

Cassidy: "Yeah, I just need to fill my water bottle."

I now felt obligated to wait for her. I waited another 30 seconds and we started jogging again.  The flat terrain soon started climbing once again.  Feeling re-energized I powered up the hill leaving Cassidy behind who had now started walking.  I figured that was the end of Cassidy, it had worked out that we were pacing each other for a few miles but I was still running my own race.

A few minutes later the trail ran through a downhill stretch and pretty soon Cassidy came blazing past me.  Cassidy and I were no longer running side by side, I gained distance on the uphill and Cassidy passed me on the down hill streches.  It seemed rather silly to yo-yo and Cassidy started making small talk again so I slowed my pace on the uphill so she could keep up.  Eventually there was no more down hill, we had started our assent up "Windy Peak". 

We were back to hiking but I was still feeling refreshed and going at a brisk pace...until I felt a little hand grab the back of my arm.

Cassidy: "You're going too fast"

Me: "Oh, uh...sorry?" 

Apparently I had made an unspoken committment?  No big deal, she was pretty much keeping up at this point.  We kept hiking but I could tell Cassidy was getting tired.  She soon asked me if we could stop for a minute.  I'll admit I was not completely thrilled about stopping for a break when I didn't need one but what was an extra 30 seconds at this point.  I stopped.

We started back up but within a few minutes we were stopped again.  I started getting a little frustrated inside, I just want to get this darn race over with...how did I get stuck baby sitting the 11 yr old.  Call me a "softy" but I didn't feel right about ditching an 11year old.  We stopped several more times and hiked at a semi-excruciatingly slow pace being passed by other runners. 

Cassidy was now quite the chatter box telling me about all the other races she had run, what her dad does for a living, where they were staying after the race, etc.  She promptly informed me when I was going too fast and insisting we walk up any sort of incline if only for 7-8 feet.  Cassidy pulled me to slow down and I pushed her to keep up.  At one point Cassidy grabbed my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder as we walked, "I'm sooooooo tired."  I was a little taken back at how comfortable she had become with me and felt a little guilty about wanting to leave her behind in order to save myself 20 minutes on an already crappy race time. 

We soon made it to the top of Windy Peak and I was confident our pace would soon quicken as Cassidy loved barreling down-hill.  Yet I had underestimated just how tired this little girl was.  "Let's keep going, don't stop now, " I tried to encourage.  A lean guy with leathery looking sun tanned skin caught up with us.  " Daddy!" Cassidy screamed.  Yes...I was off the hook now.  "Daddy can I run with you?"  Cassidy asked.  "If you can keep up.  Just focus on running your own race Cass" her father replied.

You have got to be kidding me!!!!  I have been dragging your 11 year old up this mountain for the last 2 hours but you're not willing to run last last 2 miles with her?  What a joke.  I decided to make a dash for it.  I figured if I ran fast enough down the mountain I could leave Cassidy while she was still with her dad, hence not really ditching her.  I would leave the ditching entirely up to her father.  I was handing her off in my mind, and I was totally fine with that. 

I took off down the mountain trying to take advantage of my short window of opportunity.  Perhaps the universe was trying to scold me for my selfish decision because I suddenly caught my foot on a rock.  I was going down!  As if watching myself in slow motion I could see my face and hands were about to become raw hamburger.  Wait, my animal instincts were kicking in, my legs were catching up!  Woah, a little too fast! In order to catch my balance my legs had to catch up with my torso and I was now barrelling out of control down a very steep hill.  This was not going to end well.

Well, it did end well :)  Somehow I was able to regain control.  Cassidy and her dad had watched the whole thing and were applauding me for a 10 out of 10 on my recovery.  In addition I finally started to gain some ground on Cassidy and her dad.  Before I knew it I was completely on my own, not another runner in sight and I was maintaining a pretty good pace too!  Afterall I had to maintain headway on my little compadre. 

I eventually ran into Chris who had stopped to wait up for me. We ran the last mile and a half together and I told him stories of my new little friend.  I was able to cheer Cassidy accross the finish line and my guilty conscious was relieved to see her cross the finish line hand in hand with her dad.  It took me 3 1/2 hours to complete the 12 mile trail run and although I felt tied down by my little compadre at times, she also kept me going.  I enjoyed the distraction and the quicky circumstances made for a good story.