Welcome 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 



I had fully planned on having this post ready to publish as the clocks struck midnight and we transitioned into 2013. However, late last year (yup I can write that), I caught the flu. I felt it coming on when I was at the movies with my mum, sister, brother in law (not legally - but hopefully one day) and Jesse. We went to see the Hobbit.............. it was pretty good, everyone seemed to enjoy it more than me (I loved the book). Anyway, looking back, I think I just didn't want to be there because I was really starting to feel just awful. The back of my throat was itchy and my ears had started to ring :(. Ugh, I was hoping it would just be a cold, I couldn't possibly get the flu - I had the flu shot. The next day I had planned to visit my cousin Leanne and take newborn pics of Anya, and hang out with my nephews. I woke up and knew that wasn't going to happen. Jesse and I walked the dogs and then essentially spent the rest of the day on the sofa. We were packed and ready for the trip back to the States the next day. I kept hoping, sleep would help and I would wake up feeling better. On the 28th we headed for the airport and thankfully, someone up above was understanding how awful I was feeling and upgraded us to business class. This is the way to travel on those long haul flights................. one day I hope to have money that allows us to book these seats often :). I can dream right?!?!

We got into Chicago and headed down to Indiana, we spent the night at his mums. We got there around 1.30am ............. can you say exhausted. At this point I was really spiralling down hill. I woke up around 5am (thank you Jet Lag) and felt awful. I woke Jesse around 6am to send him out to get me some medicine that pregnant women can take. When he was gone I realized that I hadn't even wished him a Happy Birthday (ugh bad wife :(............ We were also supposed to be going to celebrate his great grandmas 100th birthday with the rest of his family. I went back and forth about whether I should go, in the end I went and in hindsight I definitely should not have gone. I felt exhausted, weak and I couldn't talk because of my swollen glands etc. After that we went to his dads for a birthday lunch, which essentially passed by me and then back to his mums.  By the time we got back there I just wanted to settle in, but we had made plans to head down to Indianapolis and stay with his cousin Kyle and wife Meredith (she is 18 weeks pregnant now). We went to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate Jesses birthday, it was good - I know he had fun, then we went back to their place with his other cousin Craig - it was so great to see Jesse with them. It is clear they have ALOT of fun together and I know over the years they hadn't seen each other that they all obviously missed it.

The next day - after Jesses hangover had got a little better we started our journey home - I think this was probably my worst day. We stopped for a quick lunch with his friend Steve (he was in our wedding) and then drove to Milwaukee. I fell into bed, but within an hour I woke up and couldn't breathe (The quotes in the Pooh picture are exactly how I was feeling, and Jesse was great and trying to get me things to make me feel better). We debated on me going to hospital, but I managed to get a hold of my breathing and then slept sitting up the rest of the night. I think I was taking 20 minute naps rather than sleeping that night.  I should point out I still hadn't given Jesse presents or birthday card :( - that's how bad I was. New Years Eve we spent driving the rest of the way home. We got back just after 6pm and Jesse had to go to a murder mystery party that our friends were hosting. He reluctantly went, he really didn't want to leave me, but I think the party would have been ruined if he hadn't gone. He came home around 10.30pm when the murder mystery was over. He said it was fun and I would have enjoyed it. I was pretty bummed, I have been dying to go to a murder mystery party since I was about 18 :(. I was sad to miss it but thankful he came home. We stayed up and watched the New York glittery ball drop and then went to bed. I think this was another really bad night for me where I contemplated the hospital again. I felt like I was never going to get better. Ugh - the flu is awful. I'm not 100% certain why I get so sick from them, but I attribute some of it to having a lower white blood cell count. Its something I have been aware of since I first got glandular fever when I was 17............. and I just don't seem to be able to fight common colds and flu's very well. I may well be incorrect with my medical diagnosis - but maybe?!?! New Years Day was essentially the same. If I had been in England, we would have celebrated with another Turkey and wished my Nanna and Granda and Happy Wedding Anniversary. I had planned on making an elaborate 'British' New Years Day lunch for our friends here, but I was so sick I could barely drink water or move around. 

Today I am starting to feel somewhat ok - I still have swollen glands and when I got up this morning I was a little wobbly on my legs, but I am up and moving around. I am optimistic and hoping I am on the mend.

See what I mean about this not exactly being the Happy New Years and Welcome 2013 post I was hoping it would be. I guess it is safe to say I don't even feel like I knew what day it was over the past few days. Oh well, these things happen! We are super excited for this year though. We are 24 weeks into our pregnancy and other than this set back, things have been going really well. When I feel better I am excited to look at all the lovely gifts we got for her over the holiday period :). Its such an exciting time :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all - I wish for good health and lots of laughter :)

p.s. - Jesse finally got his birthday card and present from me yesterday - January 1st! Better late than never right?