THE GREAT BABY DEBATE: Boy or Girl? Part Two

We're getting closer to being ready to reveal our baby's gender with all of you! I was hoping Phil and I could find time to make a fun video for the announcement, after we finally make and send out cards to family. But in the meantime, I want to milk all of this not-knowing time for all its worth.

Here's little Phil, just as cute as you suspected he would be as a youngster. I wouldn't mind having a little boy like that, all my own to cuddle and love on. Or a little girl... what do you think? Last time I'll ask! If you want to make your guesses, now's your chance. There will be no prizes for winning guessers, just know that you are awesome if you guess correctly. ;)

THE GREAT BABY DEBATE: Boy or Girl?

I've been fielding the questions left and right. Even all of the garage salers were speculating as to whether my bump was harboring a boy or a girl. Last night my friends drew sketches of the kind of baby they thought was growing inside. And there was a while there where all I could do myself is wonder- Boy or girl? Now that we know the answer, I can't help but lord it over everyone for a week before all of our family finds out. So what do you think? Bambino, or bambina?

I also wonder if the baby will look like me or Phil. Or a morph of both of us? We were looking through our baby pictures wondering and telling each other that we want our baby to look like the other. On our next trip down memory lane, I'll share you the to-die-for pictures of baby Phil! (I can tell you are so excited.)

A PERSONAL UPDATE | Unrequited Rest

Here I am looking at the calender, realizing that I've been sick for half of the month of May, really wanting to cry about my discouragement, loneliness, and the waste of a beautiful time of year and life. It all started on Phil's birthday, unfortunately. I woke up, stumbled out of bed, and realized that I felt really weird. No matter, I thought. I would just go about my day and feel better. That's how I ended up standing in a sea of swaying and shaking people in the church sanctuary. They weren't moving, but something in my head was. After hunching awkwardly in a restroom stall, we decided maybe I should go home and try to sleep it off. Two nights later, I had been discharged from the hospital twice, though still unable to stand on my own, look at my surroundings, or even keep down food or water. If I had been physically capable, I would have screamed at all of the medical professionals who were telling me that I was suffering from pregnancy nausea. After almost a week of this, I despaired that nobody would listen to me, and that I would die of whatever was wrong with me. Dramatic? Probably. But if any of you have ever dealt with severe vertigo, you understand how I felt. On the edge of death and in the pit of despair.

Finally, my ENT specialist who had done the biopsy on my supposed swollen lymph nodes on my neck was called into the scene, and they started doing ultrasounds, MRIs, and complicated urinalysis to figure out what was wrong with me. He said the lump on my neck wouldn't be causing my symptoms, well, unless it was a carotid body tumor, but those are super rare. Well, the next morning, he stood there holding my MRI results and said he was shocked to find that I DO have a carotid body tumor on my neck, which is a benign (thankfully) mass that is growing between my inner and outer carotid body tumor on my neck. He said that there was a chance the tumor was secreting hormones that was causing my vertigo, and that if that was the case, I would be sent to the Cleveland Clinic to undergo a high risk surgery to remove the tumor. He said that if my endocrinology reports came back positive, most likely the future doctors of America would be studying my case report.

Well, nobody wants to be told that they're the rare case to bring all of the specialists out to the hospital on the weekend- much less hear all of the jokes about bringing in Doctor House to figure me out. But in a weird way, though it is a somewhat serious problem, I was relieved that they had finally found out what was wrong with my neck, and that they were actually figuring out what is wrong with me. All of my fears about having to have this complex surgery done while pregnant have subsided, because guess what? It turns out all that was wrong with me was an inner ear infection, and that catching the tumor on my neck was "a lucky coincidence." So, they sent me home, put my on steroids, anti-vertigo meds, and anti-nausea medicine. It took another week and a half of laying in a dark, quiet room before the infected fluid in my head began going back to normal. Who knew an inner ear infection could cause such havoc? Today I'm still feeling quite dizzy, but good gracious I feel like I just walked out of the valley of the shadow of death. And now I couldn't appreciate my health more. So thankful.

So what about my tumor? Well, they can't really remove it during pregnancy, because a women's body is pumping so much extra blood through her arteries during pregnancy, therefore cutting around the major artery of the body during pregnancy is extra risky- not to mention the effects anesthesia has on the fetus. So, I have that surgery to look forward to after delivery. But I am relieved to have a great team of doctors and know that the team of surgeons who will be cutting me at the Cleveland Clinic are the best in the world. I am trying not to worry, and just focusing on getting healthier and growing this baby! I am now seeing a high risk OB, but really the baby is fine, they just want to keep an eye on my vertigo and the growth of my tumor. I appreciate the level of care I am receiving with the high risk team, though! What a relief.

Today begins my first day back to getting work done- for clients and around the house. I think it will be a slow ease back into my routines of life. But I am incredibly thankful to be a little productive again. Although I am still too scared of my e-mail inbox to tackle that just yet. Soon. Thanks for waiting on me, and thanks so much to those on Twitter who said they have been praying for me!

photos by Phil on December 1, 2008

North Canton Gone Mad

I've long been jealous of people who are invited to Mad Men-themed costume parties, wishing I had a reason to dress in period style with other people involved for once. And finally! Finally my dreams came true. I was invited to join a fine committee of Canton-area business owners to plan and put together a fundraiser for the community of North Canton, Ohio. Our theme? Mad Men - of course. And boy if our big '60s party didn't knock the knee socks off of any Mad Men viewing party I had ever hoped to attend! A funky soul band, cigarette girls toting yummy cake pops, bustling casino games with funny money, delicious food and drinks, great style everywhere, and Mad Men nostalgia galore! I'm still a littled tickled just thinking about it all.

My biggest contribution to the fundraiser was coordinating with Adam of Main Street Modern (seller of impeccable mid-century furniture and housewares!) to put together a 1960's living room photobooth in a corner of our North Canton venue. I set up my lights, turned on my charm, and had a ball meeting new people and capturing their excitement on camera. I'll share a few of those photos tomorrow.

As much as I enjoyed taking photos in my little corner all night, I was happy to get away at the end of the evening to shake it '60s style on the dance floor. Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lights totally wowwed the crowd with their perfect soul style that kept me dancing all night- even if it was only from behind the camera.

What more is there to say? Check out my friend Rob Netro's photos from the night, and you'll begin to wish as I do- that you all could have been there too!

all photos by Rob Netro