I'll update soon....I hope...

I'm finally back at work, which is good and bad. I really love my job, but since it requires me to stare at a computer program for hours on end, by the time I get a break I have to give my stomach a break and stay away from the computer screen! I have lots of cute pictures from Halloween though, so I need to update! This weekend, I promise...

Lovely Fall

Fall is by far my favorite season. There's just something wonderful about the leaves changing color, the smell of pumpkin and spices, the increase in storms, my cute Halloween decorations. Sometimes I wish Christmas was in November or October so I could combine the two! Although I have been trying my best by listening to Christmas music for the last week (don't tell Brian).

I'm especially grateful this year because I'm finally feeling well enough to participate in some our October traditions. I just realized last week that this is the first year Colby has spent Halloween in the same place as last year, so we actually have traditions to follow this year! We had to start with a visit to Thanksgiving Point for the Barnyard Boo. This year was even better because Grandma got to come. Colby had way too much fun, showing Grandma around the farm, showing off his horse-handling skills learned from horse camp this summer, and trying to make sure he did every activity twice! But my favorite part by far was his choice of face painting. The lady who does the face painting there, and she was there last year too, is amazing. Colby loved being a pirate for a day!

She lives!

Yes, you've heard it right - I am finally off the IV fluids, weekly visits to the doctor, and the plethora of other fantastic medical procedures that have been the staple of my life for the last four months! I still have to take wonderful, life-saving Zofran to keep food down, but compared to a few months ago....I'll take it. But, most important of all, I can finally look at a computer screen for longer than 3 minutes without feeling sick! Much rejoicing.

This is an upgrade?

So I've been upgraded. Usually that word implies something positive. A bigger hotel room, a nicer seat on the airplane. Something good. But that's the word my doctor used when he said I am no longer a nausea/vomiting pregnancy. I've been "upgraded" to hyperemesis gravidarum. That's Latin for "pregnant woman who vomits up everything." Now I'm hooked to an IV at home most of the day to treat my dehydration. Staring at a computer screen for longer than a few minutes just makes it worse, so don't think I hate you if I don't comment on your blog for a few months. I just want to keep my vomiting to a minimum. On the funny side though, Colby has a charming way of announcing what's going on when I make a dash for the bathroom by yelling, "Look out - she's gonna blow!" But then he did pick out some roses for me at the store the other day.

P.S. And before you suggest these, know that the following do not work: ginger, crackers, preggo pops, not thinking about how horrible I feel, getting out and walking around, motion sickness pills or bracelets, water, popsicles, or any standard anti-nausea medication. The doctor tried all of those before he resorted to a PICC line (long-term IV) and at-home IV fluids and vitamins. Sorry if that sounds grouchy, but after being told for the nth time that I really need to try ginger and crackers, I thought I'd just head that off at the pass. If you would like more information, a really good website is www.hyperemesis.org.