We've Finally Got A Date!

So I've been a little MIA lately but for just cause. Trust me, trust me. I've started my own tax return preparation business and it's going quite well actually. I finished Tax School with Jackson Hewitt on January 30th. Thank God. I'm pretty mobile and I've completed about 6 persons tax returns thus far. With a rate of $75-99/person. So I'm very happy with my entreprenuerial journey thus far. I've learned so much about business ownership through practical application than I did as a grad school at UMichigan. Those MBA courses have nothing on REAL LIFE... Okay, enough about that. So today was the BIG DAY! I had to reschedule my original date of 1/23/14 to 2/5/14 (today) because unlike Michigan, when you quit a job in Arizona, apparently your health benefits stop that week. So my health benefits for my new job didnt kick in until 1/26/14 and my Mercy Care (Medicaid) didnt kick in until 2/1/2014 and I refused to pay out-of-pocket $300 office visit. So I was VERY anxious! BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF MY 1ST OB VISIT: We got to Dr. Oehler's office (one of many) and I submitted my insurance paperwork. I'd already completed the new patient forms from online. So check-in was pretty swift. We waited about 15-20 min and then they took my weight. Then we saw the doctor. I informed her that I thought I was 8-9wks. We went thru a cadray of questions from my new patient forms, basically I'm pretty typical history for someone my age. She did want me to see a high risk consult just to be sure my rhuematoid arthritis wouldnt cause any complications. Dr. Oehler was very nice and had great bedside manner. Next I undressed and put on a gown. Then she did a pelvic exam to check my uterus size and then we did our FIRST ultrasound. I was SO nervous. She informed us that I was WAY off. I am actually *drumroll, please* 13 weeks, 4 days pregnant! Basically I'm already into my 14th week and just about to the halfway mark. I was so elated. The big reveal was that I saw my baby on the monitor just moving and he even waved! :) I was like SOOO happy but I didnt cry. I was in shock like I really have a baby. I REALLY have a baby inside me. I just kept smiling and then Ryan gave me a kiss. And Dr. Oehler said oh he is moving around and he is not being still at all. Lol. And Dad is super proud! Ryan's face will forever be etched in my mind. He had a GIANT Smile on his face and he said "Look! Look, babe! That's our baby!" Then Dr. oehler printed 8 pics of the baby. I said, "OMG! I see him!" Dr. Oehler said "Yup there's your baby! And there's a little heartbeat! And looks like you're 13wks, 4 days! You were way off. That makes your due date: August 8th!" I was just so happy and Ryan could not stop smiling. Then when she put the machine up, Ryan said a little dust almost hit my eyes, but I'm okay now. I said: It's ok to cry. I wont tell anyone. Lol. This was one of THE Best DAYS OF MY LIFE! I'll never forget it! I'm just SO grateful to God because now its my job to make sure He turns out to be good person, with a good heart, and plenty of resources to grow, learn, and make a real impact in this world! :) I know my mom is very happy for me. Here's a few of our favs here:

So the big question now is: Will Dr. Oehler be my OB during the next six months? I'm not sure. Why not? Stay tuned. You don't want to miss my next post..

Zofran--The Miracle Drug!

I have been extremely nauseous for about 3-4 straight weeks. It had gotten to the point of being unbearable so although I didn't want to medicate my unborn baby, I decided to request some medication. My primary care doctor, aka the BEST doctor in the world!!! (Dr. Usma Ahmad) called me in some Zofran. It is a miracle drug. It's quite strong and I know I can't be on it forever but I have been able to function somewhat. With the new job coming up, I have to be able to perform so Im a happy camper now. Ready to ride the rest of this pregnancy out ;)

What Happens to a (Pregnant) Dream Deferred...

I have bad the craziest pregnancy dreams lately. Here's a brief summary I each: •I am an actress, whose first role is a part of the TLC biopic on VH1. I am playing the role of T-Boz and it felt SOOOO real. Especially when we were in the scene and got our deal. Lol. I won't up a little disappointed. •I am living in a trailer that Ryan has renovated for our family. It is myself, Ryan, and my sister yo bass the back room. A gang of white bikers try to break it bc the formerly dilapidated trailer is where they got high and trashed the place. They aren't too happy that a black family has bought and fixed up their "hot spot". Enter Ryan's best friend, Dree, who comes into the dream out of nowhere, strapped with his entire home armory, ready for war. I ends with Dree pointing his shotgun out the back window firing off a warning shot. Lol. Terror mixed with hilarity at Dree's demeanor. •A large crazed bunny rabbit (about the size of a tire wheel) is attacking my veggie garden. Idk where I am but he brings his buddies who have front teeth like piranha (the fish) and quickly destroy my garden. But I have my baby so although Im very upset I set a plot to poison them the next time they return. Crazy, crazy, huh?! Lol

Raging Cravings!!!

This is a list of the things I crave on a revolving cycle: •Pepperoni Pizza rolls •Fried polish sausage •1-2 scrambled eggs •100% Whole wheat toast •Applesauce •Prune juice •Apple juice •Strawberry yogurt •Grilled chicken •Canada Dry •Cold water Everything else is could really be considered sustenance bc I only eat it to appease the hunger feeling. I find little enjoyment in it. Lol. I'm sure this list will get longer in the weeks to come but for right now me & my baby could probably survive on that list alone and be just as content. :)

POWER. Love. Sound Mind.

During this last week, I am slowly realizing that as a pregnant woman, the mainstream media can overwhelm you with fear if you let them. People in the news, blogs, the experts, EVERYONE is always reporting on the extremes. It makes you not even want to read or look up anything because almost always you'll find your doing something "potentially risky." For me today it was flaxseed and canteloupe. First thing: Earlier this morning around 9AM, I was eating organic strawberry-flavored oatmeal with ground flaxseed from Sprouts. Delicious! And in my mind, I thought 'I wonder what are the benefits of flax for pregnancy because I know for a fact it's great for heart health and lowering risk of hypertension in non-pregnant adults. Sounds right, right? WRONG! Research is apparently inconclusive about the effects of flax in pregnant women.' Some blogs had countless stories of women who took flaxseed supplements before pregnancy and continued into pregnancy and their babies were just find. Then others said that inconclusive research was about flaxseed oil and its potential harmful effects not to be confused with ground flaxseed (which is what I was eating). Nevertheless, knowing myself, I will probably not be eating anymore of that oatmeal, just to be on the safe side. When ppl say "potentially" anything, it stirs up these emotions of fear and alarm. I mean NOBODY, ESP a pregnant person, wants to be on the wrong side of a potentially negative thing. You start thinking, what if Im in the 2% and not the 98%. Second thing: So I'm up late at 2:00AM MST, can't sleep (mainly bc Ive been sleep from 7P-1A) and I decide to have a glass of water and the rest of my canteloupe slices. Sounds safe right? WRONG! Lol. So I decide to look up the benefits of canteloupe for preggers folks. So apparently In the summer and fall of 2011, cantaloupes contaminated with listeria sickened 147 people in 28 states, killing 33 of them. That listeria outbreak -- the deadliest in a decade -- was unusual because listeria is rarely associated with fresh produce, according to a new report from the CDC. Although rare, listeria is an important public-health issue because of its severity, said report co-author Benjamin Silk, a CDC epidemiologist in the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases. "Nearly all people who have listeria infections diagnosed are hospitalized, and about one in five die," Silk said. Of the 147 people, 7 were pregnant and one miscarried. Immediately I started thinking, 'ONE! That damn 2%! Could that be me? Is this safe?' He's not even here yet and Im already poisoning him with flaxseed and now listeria. Putting this poor little baby in harms way! I just thank God for my relationship with Him bc I feel like I was going off the deep in...and fast! Lol. God reminded me that He has not given us a spirit of fear. But one of power, LOVE, and a sound mind. I don't have to drive myself crazy over every little thing. As Type A as I may be, there's gonna be a lot more "potentially dangerous" stuff once he's finally here. So chill and relax. Love normally, eat normally, and stay away from media. I now feel better, as I don't need to confirm that everything Im eating is helping him grow. It's food, it's helping. :) If you are feeling like I was, I hope this helps you too feel like you are going crazy. I'm slowly learning there's POWER in staying AWAY from the media.

Happy New Year!!!!

Cheers to the freaking new year! Can't drink to that. Yea yea... lol I'm still so happy for new beginnings: Mondays, 1st of the month, etc. Today has been spent lounging. Still nauseous but it's somewhat manageable and I remind myself everyday that it can't last forever. I'm looking forward to the next phase though. I was a little sad because I don't have my mom to celebrate this pregnancy with but I have one of THE best support systems. My best friends Monica, Kelly, and Julia have been so supportive and have had continual encouraging words. My little sister Olivia checks on me everyday. My aunt Leah next door has pampered me with all the snacks my lil fat pregnant heart desires and positive energy. And last but not least, my amazing Hubby has had my back from day one by telling me that I'm still cute and WE are gonna get through this. We've definitely been through worse. I've also had support and encouraging words from a host of other family and friends--far too many to name. I feel like things are slowly coming together. I had re-evaluating all my bills and cutting unnecessary spending habits, starting with my super ridiculous monthly phone bill. I have my WIC and ADES appointments next week so that'll allow us to prepare better. I've applied for our new BIGGER apartment across town, started preparing my 2013 tax return, and started reading on birthing plan options.

Countdown to Ultrasound

So today I did a phone screening over the phone with Scottsdale Perinatal. The high-risk OB/GYN decided that I was not considered high risk solely on the basis of my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and the time it took me to conceive. She told me that I should go to a regular OB and if necessary down the road then I would get a referral to them.

I was happy because I felt the same way. Being labeled "high risk" scared me. So now I have an appointment for 23 days from today with my Aunt Leah's OB/GYN who delivered her twins. I'm excited for 2 things:1) now I officially have my own OB doctor. Her name is Christine Oehler, MD with Desert West OBGYN, Ltd. I've met her before when I was Leah's coach toward the end of Leah's pregnancy. She was very nice and knowledgeable; 2) I will have my first ultrasound on this day and I will finally hear my baby's heartbeat!!!! And the doctor will confirm that everything is okay.