[9+ Months In Review]

Once I found out I was pregnant, I was elated. My mind was spinning with thoughts of the future and all the fun things I would do with this baby of mine. Being the type of person I am, I couldn't wait to find out the gender so I could plan and decorate for this babe. Then by about week 7, reality set in. I was TIRED=LAZY, SICK, UNMOTIVATED. TOTAL WASTE OF SPACE. it was so unlike me. i hated it. I had freak outs that I would never be normal again. it scared the crapola out of me.
then the 2nd trimester came and I felt much better. But unfortunately, the tiredness and lack of motivation hung around until a week ago. In fact, the nursery wasn't finished until about 2 weeks ago. those of you who know me, know that is very unlike me.
Anywho, I am very glad to be back to normal, both physically and mentally. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but toot toot. I was able to lose the baby weight within about 3 weeks of ava joining us. And now I am continuing to lose the weight I was in the process of losing when I got pregnant with our little gem. Honestly, pregnancy was pretty picture perfect for us. There were definitely hormonal/emotional changes, and then the weight gain, obscene swelling of my hands and feet, the numb fingers for the last month of pregnancy, but really I can't complain. the labor process was easy breezy, i almost feel bad. But for me it's a good thing. It means Ava won't be an only child :)
So, since I was neglectful for about 9 months, I will give you a quick review of what happened during that time.
September-we found out we were pregnant and were elated. Life was fantastic. We moved out of my sister's basement and back into our house in Taylorsville. Not that I love the house, but it is nice to be back in our own place, especially with a little one on the way.
October-Pregnant life hit me. I am tired and useless. I feel sick and start living off of zofran and miralax.
November-We take a trip to Cali for Thanksgiving. We tell family and friends we are expecting. We also notice that marley has a little tilt in his head to the left. little did we know what it was...
December-I am still feeling junky, but starting to feel a little better about mid month. We find out we are having a girl! We are ecstatic!! Marley gets a cut on the left side of his head. I take him to the vet, but am told everything is hunky dory and we go on our way.
January-It wasn't just a cut on marley's head. after losing muscle mass on the left side of his head, stumbling to the left, and being more unsteady on his feet, we get a second opinion. after lots of diagnosing=$$$, turns out he has a meningioma at the base of his brain stem. It is non operable. He starts on prednisone which helps curb the symptoms. we have to decide to pursue radiation=$$$$$$$$$$$ or let him live on prednisone as long as possible (6 months) and then put him down :( HEART WRENCHING decision. Marley is my little boy. It was him and me before steve, jack, or ava ever came along. I can't watch my guy die without giving him the best chance possible.
February-I pick up LOTS of extra shifts at work (so thankful for that flexibility) and we opt to go to colorado state for a round of radiation therapy for marley. After a couple hiccups before starting, he gets his full course of treatment and we head home with high hopes of complete remission.
March-I am starting to feel big and the extra work makes me uber tired. but it's worth it to give marley a fighting chance. he is doing great after radiation. symptoms are essentially non existent. he is doing better everyday. oh yeah, i turn the big 3-0.
April-time to start getting ready for the little miss. my family throws me an awesome baby shower and we get all the things we need for the babe to arrive. we start putting it all together. i am getting so excited to meet this baby. i can see and feel her kicking. she's so close, yet so far away. my feet and hands are swelling ridiculously. my fingers start to go numb from compressing nerves. awesome.
May-i am full term and ready for this girl to come anytime. i pack the hospital bags and start thinking OMG, i am going to have to push this thing out of me! D day comes and goes and it is AMAZING! it was nowhere near as awful as i imagined. We are sent home with a happy, healthy baby girl. she is greeted at home by 2, HEALTHY four legged brothers. Our life is never the same, in the best way possible.
here are some pics of the events that transpired...

 [dinner at the cheesecake factory for the big 3-0]

 [marley after his last day of treatment in colorado]

 [the drive out to colorado. awesome.]

 [first picture of our little girl]

[my darling husband taking a picture of me after he pulled over so i could puke outside the car.]