Out, damned egg! Out I say!

The Boys Are Back in Mo-Town

Well, well, well. My Heels are headed to Detroit. I'm very excited and think they'll do a fantastic job. I'm tired of hearing about all their faults. They can't play another fast team (oh, really...take that Gonzaga). They don't play defense well (um, Oklahoma might feel differently about that now). They've already beaten one of the other Final Four teams on the very same court just a few months ago. Now I don't want to get too far ahead of myself but if they just focus on their game, they will win. They are the team to beat. Even our president thinks so.

Speaking of not getting too far ahead of myself, the mister and I are awfully excited about next weekend. We fly east at the butt crack of dawn. There have been a flurry of emails between NHL and us. I think she's just as excited. I know she's worried we might not like her in person (ha! I sooooo don't think that's even a remote possibility) just as we are worried about the same thing. We're all trying to come up with places to see. She wants to entertain us but is unsure of what to do. We want to see her life and share ours. That means potentially showing her just how crazy about basketball I really am.

I've told her there's a game. And that the word "fan" is clearly derived from "fanatic" when it comes to me. She's being a good sport but we've already told her if she needs to bow out or rest then that is more important.

We've started talking names with NHL. That's several posts all on their own. The mister and I have a hard time with names on our own so this is likely to be even more interesting involving a third party. Since we're finding out the gender I'm hoping to delay some of the name stuff for a bit. We have time, lots of time.

Oh and that 30 minute row? I kicked some serious erg-ass with it! I was ridiculously proud of myself. I beat my own goal. It was a realllllllly long 30 minutes though. Shortly thereafter, my body began to fall apart.

Two hours after finishing the row, my right eye started swelling. I spent that afternoon at a variety of docs and got some great drops and told to rest. I took Saturday easy (um, except for the game, duh!) then Sunday went for a 2 hour bike ride with the mister and my training group. I thought my sore throat that day was from yelling at the tv. The sore throat got worse throughout the week. On Friday night I added sharp, piercing ear pain to the mix and couldn't sleep at all due to the pain. The on-call doc said on Saturday it was likely an ear infection that would heal itself. Um, it hasn't. Today's doc realized I somehow ruptured my eardrum (so that's the source of the blood in my ear) and promised to write my mom a note saying it was not due to loud music (or even basketball)...just way too much fluid. She sent me to the pharmacy to ask for one of those drugs that you have to sign your life away to get these days because they think you might be cooking something at home besides cupcakes. I have a day and a half to get it under control or add steroids to the drug cocktail.

My ear hurts. A lot. But I will do whatever it takes to get on that plane this weekend. My boys may be heading to Motown but I've got a very important date outside Bean Town

I Want My, I Want My, I Want My M.TV

I'm not sure how many of you are regular M.TV viewers. I know that I'm not. Well, not anymore. I was back in the day way back when it first started and involved actual videos (and The Young Ones. I heart The Young Ones and think about that show every time I eat lentils). I digress. But there is a very special show that just began airing this weekend. It's an episode of Tr.ue Li.fe called Tr.ue Li.fe: I'm Plac.ing My Ba.by Up For Adopt.ion. It's a documentary look at two expectant moms who are considering open adoption.

You can see more information here and the production blog here. Check your local listings for airing times or check back in a few weeks and you can watch the episode online.

I think the producers did a great job. I think it's a very realistic, honest look at the process. I'm amazed and humbled by the families involved and how much they shared.

I'm really interested in hearing what y'all think of this episode.

Thursday Thoughts

Remember how I said back in January that I started an intensive training program? I thought it was time for an update.

Tomorrow is the last day of said program. Tomorrow we're set to do a 30 minute row. Almost entirely above our threshold heart rates. I thought I should update today because I'm not quite sure I'll make it through tomorrow or be able to type at all after.

Kidding. Sorta.

It's been really great. I missed a few days when I was sick and a few more when we were in Florida but that's it. I'm still not used to the new schedule (alarm goes off at 5, take my synthroid and hit snooze 3-4 times, spring out of bed with just enough time to put on clothes I thoughtfully set out night before, scarf breakfast, leave house just in time to make it to gym by 6 am) but I'm sticking to it.

Over the last few weeks I've increased my fitness dramatically. I now know my exact target heart zones (and realize when I thought I was working out before I was barely aerobic). I also know that I can do a lot of stuff I didn't think I could a few weeks ago. Like row 2k at a race pace. Or do plank for 3 minutes.  I've lost inches in all the right places (which is most places). My resting pulse and blood pressure are much lower. All good things.

I've even lost all the weight I gained with infertility. Plus more. I'm down about 23 pounds overall. There's a lot more to go but so far, so good. I had to even buy new pants because mine were falling off.

My goal is to be a (semi) skinny bitch when Pamplemousse arrives stateside this summer. I had the bitch part down but now have a good start on the rest.

Other bits and pieces:
I'm so very saddened by the death of the lovely Natasha Richardson. I've always adored her, most recently on Top Chef. I've always adored her husband as well and can't imagine the grief he, his sons and the rest of her family are feeling. Love Actually will never be the same again. It's just so sad.

In much happier (not to mention) lighter news,  I am very amused that our president is as concerned with the same toe I mentioned in my last post. And that the current leader of the free world has excellent taste in basketball. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself here.

It's March Madness, baybee. Bring it on!

Do You Ever Sit and Wonder?

I found myself with several free hours today. Unexpectedly free.  Unwanted free time. What happened pray-tell?

A toe ruined my weekend. Well, not really ruined but changed a lot from what was planned. And it wasn't even my toe. Who knew one little toe could do that much damage?*

How did I spend my free time today? Planning a trip to New England. In three weeks.

Yup things are going well. Really really well. NHL invited us to her 20 week ultrasound. Her doctor and clinic were amazing and they arranged a Saturday appointment (!) when she told them we were flying across the country for this. I found a lovely bed and breakfast that's near the hospital in a quaint little town and not far from NHL. Not to get too far ahead of myself (ha! clearly too late for that) but the lovely innkeepers have also penciled us in for their cottage for several weeks later this year. There aren't a lot of lodging options near the hospital and I think it would be great to have a slightly bigger space if/when we end up returning.

There's so much on my mind. I thought I'd have more time to write about it but work has gotten surprisingly busy. My contract has been extended through the end of June (awaiting final signatures) which is perfect timing.

NHL is doing great. She is lovely, just so very lovely. We've been emailing a lot. She sent some baby photos of herself and more ultrasound pictures. She also sent the mister a birthday card and signed in NHL and baby. I sent her a couple of pregnancy books I still had for some reason. She was so thrilled to get a Saturday appointment because she starts a new job with normal bank-like hours and doesn't want to miss much work for appointments in the beginning. She thought she might have to find a new doctor but is hoping to work this all out. I happen to have a good friend near her who's wife is an amazing midwife is helping us with resources and options. A nice bonus for the mister and me is having friends close by (even though they are across state lines).

She's also talking to OC on a regular basis and doing reading and thinking and all that good stuff. We're not officially matched (that won't happen until she's at least week 28 or so) but we're spending a lot of time getting to know each other. We're not the first couple she's talked to but we are the only couple she's currently getting to know. She's asked us to answer a series of additional questions (from OC's checklist I think) and it's given us all a good way to get to know each other.

So we seem to be in a pretty good spot. We are enjoying getting to know NHL and can't wait to meet her in person. We're also trying to make sure we give her the space now (and in the future) to make the best decision for herself and her child. There's definitely an ambiguity in this that I'm trying to balance. I think I'll be doing more writing as I think through and live through this process.

So that's what's new with me. What's new with y'all?

Up Next: Key West...Two Very Cold Days with No Sunsets of Note But At Least Very Few Birds

*If you're a fellow Heel or follow ACC college basketball then you'll know who's toe I'm talking about. If you don't then you can just assume it's one of those crazy American sports things (something that Tertia assumes quite often with me).

PS The title of today's post is brought to you by the song that's currently stuck in my head. The always amazing Ben Folds, one of my very favorite performers (and homies), will be coming to the gorgeous new theater that's practically down the street from me. Tickets just went on sale today and I'm already jazzed for the show.