BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

We have officially named our BABY BOY!! It was a LONG and painful process....but we are pleased to announce....

Drum roll, please!!!

Brody Tyler Watson

Remodel update

A lot of progress has been made on the house since my last entry. Unfortunately the progress doesn't show up as well in pictures, but I've still got some good ones to show. My last update showed the workers finishing up the roof structure. In looking back at where we were a month ago, it certainly makes me realize how much progress has actually occured! In my last post, we were praying for no rain so that the roof wouldn't leak until it was dried in. Well...as typical...it rained at 3am, no less!! I woke up to hearing drip from the new roof to the old roof and inside the fireplace. I woke Damon up (who could sleep through a tornado) and he had to brave the storm and try to get a tarp over the section of roof that wasn't protected. It only rained for an 1 hour or 2, but it was a harsh way to wake up out of a dead sleep, I promise you. That day the men finished drying in the roof with tar paper and we felt VERY relieved!

The next hurdle that occurred again involved an inspection. Apparently the shingles could not be placed until the framing inspection was complete which includes walls framed out, plumbing and electrical. I'm not sure why there needs to be inside walls in place in order to put a roof on, but those are the rules. Well, supposedly a framing inspection also includes the windows being in place and our windows were very late arriving. After about a week and a half delay the windows arrived and were installed and the roof was FINALLY shingled. The next step was stucco and hardy board. It was really neat to drive home and see the exterior finished out to look like one house instead of 2 houses connected. We had them remove the 'decorative' boarders from around the windows because we didn't like it. I don't think stucco and a ranch style house really go together but by removing the boarders around the windows and adding the hardy board accents I think it looks AMAZING!

Stairs to bonus room over garage

Bonus Room over garage

Trusses over old roof and MORE STORAGE SPACE!!

There will be a door across from bonus room entering new attic space.

Stucco in progress and removing window boarders

Stucco application and windows

Front view after stucco and hardy board

Garage side view

Rear View

Other side view

The next week was Thanksgiving, so we had insulation added and all the finish work to get ready for sheet rock this week. This week they have already put most of the sheet rock on the ceiling and will be starting on the walls soon. Now that will be exciting. They also officially started 'invading' the inside of the house. We are having 5" baseboards placed in the new part of the house and so we are having them replace the old baseboards so the house will match and look uniform. That has been an ordeal because we are having to move a lot of furniture and are starting to live with boxes stacked up everywhere. Luckily I'm pregnant, so I've been able to leave most of the hard work to Damon. LOL! We got a 'PODS-type' trailer brought to the yard to store some stuff in too. That will make it easier, I think. In my mind, I feel like we are going to have soooo much more room, but seeing what Damon is pulling out of every nook and cranny that I've been shoving stuff in I think I'll be surprised how fast we fill up the new house! The good part is that we are getting there, the bad part is that I'm realizing how dirty my house is!! The carpet has taken a serious hit since the construction started. We sweep loads of dirt every day from the front and back door and it is visibly starting to show on the carpet. Luckily all the carpet in the main part of the house is being replaced, but it is starting to be UGLY to look at. The baseboards have been in serious need of repainting for years and the dust behind furniture that hasn't moved in 8 years is horrifying. Hopefully the workers don't think we are too disgusting because I'm beginning to wonder myself.

In my mind I was thinking that the last month wasn't super productive but it is quite amazing to look back and see the actual progress. When I look at the photos we've taken and how much work has been done each week it really is a lot. I know it feels like an eternity because we are soooo excited to be finished and to have some peace and quiet, but the few months of headache will totally be worth it!

Pregnancy update

Well...I'm still pregnant. LOL!!

I am doing a lot better with the nausea thankfully. I still have moments, but for the most part I think that is just my stomach running out of room in there. I don't feel as exhausted as I did in the 1st trimester, but I can definitely tell that I'm approaching the end of the pregnancy since I'm not sleeping as well. I frequently wake up from being uncomfortable, but thankfully I'm quickly able to go back to sleep. I know that will only get progressively worse, so I'm trying to rest as much as I can. The baby is moving A LOT, but it hasn't gotten to those painful moves yet. Rylee still hasn't felt him kick but she really isn't patient enough to wait. I'm almost looking forward to the hiccups so that there will be regular movements that she can feel. She got a big 'kick' out of feeling her little cousin in my sister-in-law's belly. My last doctor appointment was the week before Thanksgiving. I was still under 20 lbs of weight gain, but I think Thanksgiving probably put me over! Oh well. I'm right on track for how I gained weight with Rylee so hopefully he'll be a tiny thing, too!! I passed my glucose test, so that was good. I didn't expect to have a problem, but you never know. The Braxton-Hix contractions are still very regular. There was a night last week after a busy work schedule that I had about 7 contractions/hour for several hours in a row. That is higher than they want to see, so I've really got to relax more... Yeah Right! I have a 3 year old...it's Christmas...getting ready for baby #2...and a house remodel... Relaxation isn't on my to do list right now even as much as I'd like for it to be! The latest development in the pregnancy is that I've developed this horrendous itching. I don't have a visible rash for the most part, but I itch ALL over, ALL day long! It is CRAZY. I called my dr on Monday after about a week of suffering and they said it is common in the 3rd trimester which I've officially hit. So...I had labs drawn this morning to measure my liver function and bile salts. I guess the itching is a potential sign of things going on with the liver and gall bladder. I don't think there is much that they do about the itching but it could lead to an early induction. I'm certainly not looking forward to 2 more months of itching. Hopefully it is a false alarm and my blood work will come back normal... I think I should get the results back by Friday. I have another Dr appointment next week and then I start going every 2 weeks. It is fun to go in and hear the baby's heartbeat, but working something else into my schedule isn't the easiest thing to do. The picture I posted was actually from last week, but it is the most current one I've got. Hopefully I won't let so much time lapse before my next posts. I was noticing on the 3D pregnancy widget on my blog page that I only have 75 days to go...that is oh so exciting and oh so scary at the same time. I want to get a 3D ultrasound soon, because I'm anxious to see him again....want to make sure it is still a boy! LOL!

Official CVS video debut

For those of you that are new to my blog...go back and check out the reportings of my trip to Dallas, TX on 9/11/2009!!

After months of waiting, I finally received a copy of the video CVS produced of my experience as a pharmacist. My story, along with 2 others was presented at a conference in Dallas, TX to over 2,000 CVS employees. The video also includes the closing comments of the conference by the CEO of CVS. I wasn't able to remove the other 2 videos or Tom Ryan's comments, so you'll have to watch or fast forward. I feel like their videos are more commercial and mine is more 'Rescue 911', but it was still an honor to be chosen!! I also couldn't figure out how to add the video to this post, so I added it as a widget to my page. If you scroll all the way down to the bottom you'll be able to view the video.

Without further ado...I am proud to share with you my 5 minutes of fame!!

ENJOY!!

P.S. Please ignore the low cut blouse!! (I forgot my tank top and am still having post traumatic stress from the whole experience!) LOL!!