Alesya Bags

Four days before Thanksgiving and we’ve started our Christmas preparation.  My daughter has a small tree of her own.  Now that she’s at the ripe old age of 2 1/2 I wanted to let her help decorate this year.

She picked out these painted ornaments in the December 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living.  Mostly because she is obsessed with paint.

The Martha Stewart Living iPad app (Which I must say is excellent and beautifully done – seriously, even if you’re not the Martha type, you should check out to see what can be done with the medium.) had a helpful How To video.

There was also a fun animated cover –

While Maribelle napped I set up the project.  We went the Michael’s earlier in the day and she picked out the paint colors.

With a 2-year-old we used plastic ornaments rather than glass.   It was a must.

I tried the first three paint jobs on my own.  The most surprising thing was the direction say “tap” on the ornaments to get the paint to disperse.  Um…I’d say “slap” or “pound” would be more accurate.

When Maribelle came downstairs she was very excited to get started.  This is her “thinking” face.  She takes painting quite seriously.

Her favorite part was squeezing the paint into the ornament.

My husband Josh even painted a few. We ended up with a several splattered and solid ornaments in sort of an Easter egg pallet.

We even had one “all-splatter” ornament thanks to Maribelle.

The ornaments need to dry overnight before we can use them.  Once the her tree is done, I’ll share it with you.  It’s certainly going to show more of her personality this year.

I have a lot to tell you.  But let’s start with the big news – I’m pregnant!

The 12 week ultrasound was on Friday and the baby looked great.  Good heart rate, measured three days ahead of schedule and I even saw fingers and toes.  I still find the technology kind of amazing considering the baby is only 2 inches long.

My due date is May 25th.  After having a c-section, I need another one and it will be scheduled at week 39.  (Week 40 is considered your due date for any pregnancy newbies.)  In fact, my doctor said she could schedule the delivery date as soon as my next appointment in four weeks.  After being two weeks late the first time around, this is a revelation.

We won’t find out if it’s a boy or a girl.  For me it’s one of life’s great surprises.  Although I REALLY wanted a girl the first time around, now I can honestly say I’d be happy either way.  The second time around, I also know how important it is to have a healthy baby and that will be my biggest concern.

And now for the not so fun news.

I’ve been sick.  Really, really, debilitating, head in the toilet, can’t look, smell, think, touch or see food sick.  I’d love to tell you “Oh, it hasn’t been that bad!” or “I ate a cracker and then I felt fine!” but frankly, it’s sucked.

I was hospitalized with my daughter because I couldn’t keep water down – or anything else – for 48 hours.  This time I tried to get in front of it and started taking Zofran at the first onset of nausea at 5 weeks.  I was still so sick I thought the medication wasn’t working and at one point stop taking it.  After becoming violently ill again, I went back on the drugs.

For five weeks I didn’t eat any meals.  I survived on saltines, cereal, toast, ginger ale, peppermints, water and Flintstone’s vitamins.  I didn’t go grocery shopping, cook, go out to eat or look at the Internet.  (There is a LOT of food on the Internet.)

Eventually, my doctor added Phenergan to my regiment.  It’s a stronger drug but the side effects aren’t ideal.  You can’t drive on it and it pretty much puts me to sleep every time I take it.

My work suffered.  I haven’t been blogging, tweeting or posting on Facebook.  Behind the scenes I did what was necessary – answering client questions, paying the bills and keeping up with the manufacturing process.  I never was in my office and conducted business from my couch and at times, my bed.

To tell you it was a frustrating time would be an understatement.  I love working.  And to be so ill, for so long and have it keep me from all the things I love to do was depressing.  My family was very concerned, but there was little that could be done other than wait it out.

Thankfully, I’m starting to turn the corner.  The color has returned to my face.  I’m only feeling sick about half the time.  Last night I had a piece of pizza at our local pizza joint – smells and all.  I can’t tell you how nice it feels to return to the land of living.  Amazing!

Now on to make the hard push for the holiday season.  For most retailers it’s do or die time and I’m no exception.  Can’t wait to go through my first official gift season with all of you.  Thank you for your fantastic support.  You have really got me through some rough moments!