Our New Little Adventure

     On the evening of September 26th, I sat down to study for the first exam in Pathology.  When I reached question 16 in the neoplasms section, I felt a pop and immediately told the little gentleman residing in my abdomen that this movement was new.  I decided to head to the bathroom where I proceeded to lose a good amount of water.  What did I do next?  Probably what most individuals my age would do.  I Googled "what does it feel like to break your water."  After confirming that this was indeed what I had done, I called the on-call doctor, gathered up Maya, threw a towel on the driver's seat, and drove myself to the hospital.  PDub was called during this madness, and he began his 3-hour journey from Chicago to Indianapolis (only after he finished his dinner, of course).  
     At 7:10am on September 27th and exactly 2 weeks early, our new little adventure was born, weighing 7 pounds with a length of 19 inches.

Minutes after push-thirty (giving birth).  Other than oxytocin to speed up the process....I was drug-free.

Hours and minutes before giving birth.

My weight....7 pounds.

Who are these people???

I made this gal a Nana

Meet Grandma B.

Daddy kisses.

What do I do with my hands?

First bath.

First poop.

Poop (Game) Face

Family Picture...minus Maya.

Daddy's first swaddle job....room for improvement.

All I ever do is sleep....

....and sleep

Busting out of the hospital.  It's been real, folks.

Maternity Photos

The Dubs get maternity photos taken....

Can't wait to meet you, Mr. Abram!

Babymooning in Brown County Indiana

"Babymoon" is defined as a relaxing or romantic vacation taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born.  For ours, we headed to Brown County, Indiana for some hiking, eating, and relaxing.  Our first stop was Morgan Monroe State Forest for a 3-mile hike.  Don't judge the small distance; I happen to be carrying 20 pounds of extra weight.

Maya taking on the rugged terrain.

JDub with her baby bump, making it look easy.....let alone the sweat, swollen ankles, and painful back and hips.

What's 12 more pounds?

After check-in at a wonderful bed and breakfast called the Red Rabbit Inn, we headed to meet some friends in Nashville, IN for pizza and beer (or Shirley Temples for those of us who can't drink) at Big Wood Brewery and Pizza Co.

Fall leaves in Nashville, IN.  Just FYI, they aren't real.

On day two, we headed to Brown County State Park for yet another 3-mile hike and only to realize that every site we were headed for, you could actually just drive to.  Slackers!

And the selfies begin.....

Hesitation Point. Kudos to that name.

That evening we headed into Bloomington for nourishment at Upland Brewing Co.  On our final day, we awoke and headed back to Indy where we proceeded to do more baby shopping.  Baby this, baby that.

Although a babymoon is supposed to be composed of something that couples won't be able to do after having a baby, I'm pretty sure we will be able to share our love for hiking (and eating) with Baby Dub after he arrives.....it might just be poopier.

Reviving a Broken Heart

     Cinco de Mayo is supposed to be a day of bright colors, margaritas (for those of us not pregnant), tacos, and hey, why not throw in that mariachi band.  Mine started with a microbiology final and ended with a hospital visit; forget the bright colors and La Cucaracha.

     For my parents, their Cinco de Mayo started just like any other day; they both went to work.  Close to 5pm, my dad mowed the front lawn, and my mom put the groceries away for their Cinco de Mayo dinner.  That moment, when everything seems to fall apart but actually aligns, then occurred.  A neighbor, who was not even supposed to come home that day, drove by and witnessed my father collapse over the lawn mower and then fall backwards.  She immediately pulled over, ran to our back door, and yelled for my mom.  While the neighbor called 911, my mother threw herself on the ground next to my father, who at the time had no pulse and was unresponsive, and she proceeded to perform CPR.  Within minutes, two ambulances arrived and revived my father by shocking him with a defibrillator and placing an IV for drugs.

     Today, my father is back home.  He had open heart surgery where 5 coronary arteries, including the LAD (the "widow maker"), were bypassed.  Yes, he had quintuple bypass surgery.  At 67 years old with a healthy history, my father was hit by the leading cause of death in this country....but....he survived.

     I write you this story not only because it has shaken my life, but I hope that its power will also shake yours.  Eat better!  Notice changes in your body!  Start marking off items on that bucket list!  CPR saves lives; get certified!  And most of all, say "I love you" to those special people in your lives ALL THE TIME!

Thank you, mom, for being kickass, just in general.

Thank you, dad, for being a fighter.

Thank you, friends and family, for being there and supporting us through everything from sitting in waiting rooms to finishing up the half-mowed lawn.

Thank you, God, for aligning those stars that day; I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my father just yet.

So happy to still have both of my parents: my mom, the superstar CPR-ist, and my daddy, the heart attack survivor and fighter.

May we have many, MANY more years together!

Our New Adventure

PDub, Maya, and I have decided to take on a new adventure.  We welcome Baby Dub into our little family this October.

Bring on the late nights, gassy smiles, poopy diapers, and especially cuddle time...

Pittsburgh and a Cardinal's Game

     In honor of opening day of baseball, I decided to write about our Pittsburg trip from one year ago.  When given the opportunity, we have traveled to nearby stadiums to watch our team, the STL Cardinals play.  Last April, we found the time to drive up to Pittsburgh, land of the Pirates (although I'm still not sure how pirates came to be so far inland), to watch our birds win a game.  Note: Pittsburgh in April is awfully cold; hand warmers were a necessity!

     Of course, we were able to tour the city a bit before heading back to D.C.  Here are some fun facts about the Pittsburgh:

• Named after William Pitt (not after your body part).
• Known as "the Steel City" for its over 300 steel-related businesses (hence, the sports team, the Steelers).
• Third in corporate headquarters for most of the 20th century (that's after NYC and Chicago).
• Named America's "most livable city" by Forbes and the Economist.
• Holds the world's first movie theater.

Primanti Bros. on the left was our first stop for some grub.

There's nothing like a sandwich loaded with french fries and cole slaw for condiments.  Not to mention the Iron City Beer brewed right there in Pittsburgh.

The PPG building looking all shiny and stuff.

Selfie.....with our extra large camera.  It makes it more challenging.

A bridge full of fireworks with one fire extinguisher.  Sounds promising if you ask me.  Yes, my friends, this loud-noise-fearing girl stayed for the fireworks show after the game.  (I had my ears plugged the entire time).

Crossing the bridge to the stadium.

Why, yes, it's another selfie.

Our view for the night.  Go Cards!!

Spotlighting the city.

Um, yeah, another selfie.

From Mt. Washington overlooking Pittsburgh.