Well Hello There!

Hello all! Long time no see. You might wonder where I have been but this blog is called Geeky Mommy, so I bet you can guess! That’s right; I have been busy being a mom to a 4 year old girl (Remy) and a 1 year old boy (Logan), oh and an 8 month old puppy (Thor) who is probably a bigger baby than the children combined. I also went back and finished my MBA and now work as a Business Analyst, which I love! We bought a house in June in the school district we really wanted to be in and we plan on making the attic a play/game room this spring and into fall probably.

On the geeky side of my life I have been playing WoW again (and writing my WoW blog) and it has been my primary game. I have also played Hearthstone, Diablo 3, Civ 5 (amazing still to this day), and Portal 2. My husband and I even were dabbling in table top role playing games again with friends which systems included World of Darkness and a system that a friend made up. Board games have also made a big appearance in our lives where we have been playing Dominion, Thunderstone and others. We have also played some more Magic and finally got into Warhammer (wood elves for me of course). Plus I have read a massive amount of books and seen an equally massive amount of movies. Some of these items I will be talking about in the next few weeks.

I am looking forward to talking about books, movies, games, and babies!

I am starting up ending with a movie quote again! Do you know this movie title? – “My mommy always said there were no monsters – no real ones – but there are.”

PS – notice anything geeky about the names of our kids?

What….it’s been almost a year?!

So yes, I seems to have these types of posts…a lot. But I am back again and I hope this time there will be some constancy. Within the past year we have had a lot happen: my daughter turned one, I got a great job, and we just bought a house. Plus I am still in my graduate program. Basically I had no time for anything but breathing, and sometimes that was questionable! Since it has been a while, I wanted to just do a quick list of what I have been reading, playing, and watching in the past year.

Books Read:

• Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (5 Stars!)
• Dawn by Octavia Butler (4 Stars!)
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (4 Stars!)
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (4 Stars!)
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (2 Stars 😦  )

Currently Reading Books:

• The Stand by Stephen King (Audiobook)
• Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James (Kindle)

Games Played/Playing:

• Civ 5 (Yes I still play this because it is amazing!)
• WoW
• Star Wars Online
• Mass Effect 3
• Alice in Wonderland 2
• Rock Band 3

Workout Videos:

• No More Trouble Zones by Jillian Michaels
• Banish Fat Boost Metabolism by Jillian Michaels
• Kickboxing Max by Jillian Michaels

What I am most looking forward to:

• Diablo 3…..oh heck yeah 3 am!!!!
• Prometheus…..Alien prequel? I THINK SO!
• Reading the Harry Potter series

So it doesn’t seem like I have done that much right?! Well I have not, at least in the way of working out, reading, and gaming. In fact I have mostly been having fun playing with the baby. She is so wonderful and I am so blessed to have her. At 15 1/2 months now, she is running, jumping, singing, dancing, and talking up a storm. However, I am not able to spend every moment of everyday with her like I once was since I am now working a full time job (that I actually love!). But because of this job, we have been able to buy our first home so I know that even though I cannot be a stay-at-home mom, I am still doing the best for my daughter.

I have plans to discuss all of these books and continue to talk about ones that I am reading currently.

Interested in other book blogs? Then check out what Dana has to say over at DaneTrain.com!

PS: I will be concluding each blog post with a quote from a movie or book. Answer right and get an e-hug! Tonight…as easy one:

“You stay classy San Diego.”

Oh and don’t Google….I will know if you Google!

Updates!

It has been a little bit since I have updated so I thought I would post what I have been up to.

On the 26th of May, Remy turned 4 months old. I cannot believe how big she is getting! She is already 15 pound 12 ounces and 23.75 inches long! Remy is now even eating solids, which is such a fun thing. She loves bananas, apples, and sweet potatoes. She can sit up supported, grab at toys (which she will ultimately put in her mouth), and can roll over from belly-to-back and back-to-belly as well!. Everyday is just fun with her because she is the joy in my life! Remy likes to watch cartoons now too, not that she understands them, but she will giggle at things. Spongebob and Dora are her favorite! I love every moment with my wonderful daughter.

I have been working out and trying to lose weight for a little over a month now. And I have to say that things are going pretty well, but I need to step it up a bit. So far, I have lost about 10 pounds! There is still a lot to lose, but I think it is a great start. I have been watching what I eat and working out daily. Currently, I attend a Zumba class every Tuesday and Thursday and I love it. I never thought I would be one to do Zumba, but I feel it really has changed the way I work out. I feel that it makes cardio bearable. I also will try to do a work out DVD everyday, at least 5 times a week. I am a huge fan of Jillian Michaels and her style. I love No More Trouble Zones and have just started her kettlebell workouts. Plus, I also have some Zumba DVDs that I am going to throw in there. Though it can be hard to work out when you have a baby, but I try very hard to meet my goals and am going to create a schedule for myself that I will attempt to follow daily. I have also started a food journal to help watch what I eat and monitor fats and calories. It is a slow going process but I know it will be worth it in the end.

As far as writing and reading, I have said before and I will say again, everything is slow going with a baby! May took a huge hit in the bookclubs I am participating in and in writing my novel. But this month I am vowing to change…yes I know I say that all the time, but this time I mean it. I am going to start setting aside more time to read and write and basic time just for myself. Who knows, maybe I will get more posts in if I do this! Plus, on Monday I start school! I cannot even believe it. I will be continuing my MBA program. I am so excited to do so.

Well, here is to hoping I can start getting on more of a schedule, especially with school starting.

 

What has everyone else been up to?

Remy’s Birth Story

Remy Rae Ann R
Born 1/26/11 @ 8:22 am via C-Section
8lbs 10.5 ounces and 21 inches long

On the 24th of January I had my last OB appointment. During the exam, my doctor checked me and noticed that she was not engaging at all and when he touched her head she would float back up inside of me. Since I was 39 weeks and 4 days along and having many contractions all the time, my doctor thought it would be good to check the baby out via ultrasound. I had an ultrasound 12 days before and it was measuring Remy at 8 pounds, which I knew was getting on the big end.

I ran and got my ultrasound completed and this time it measured Remy at 8 pounds and 10 ounces. I was excited that she was looking so healthy, but I was afraid that if she were to deliver naturally she would get stuck and things could get dangerous. I waited till the doctor called the next day and heard the news I was expecting; I was going to be having a C-Section the following day. I was so excited to meet my baby. However, I felt weird though, like the next morning would never come. I was not nervous, but my husband sure was. Even after a night of no sleep (I did not sleep well at all at night at that point), I was still not scared or nervous about what was about to happen, I was mostly in a daze or disbelief. I had been pregnant for what seemed like years and to look down and not see that big belly anymore, that was going to be strange. The only concern I had was how I would be as a mother. But, I tried to push that kind of thinking out of my head so that I would be calm for the procedure.

I woke up early so that I could straighten my hair…yeah I am not really sure why I did that either…My husband and I said goodbye to my family and headed to the hospital at 5:30 am. Excitement filled me. I listened to Korn, a CD that I listened to many times while pregnant, on the drive to pump myself up even more. I felt Remy kicking about me as she seemed to dance to the music like always. Once at the hospital, they checked us in right away, got us to my room, and started preparing me for surgery. I kept looking at the clock, knowing that soon I would be in surgery and see my baby for the first time. My husband was still nervous but was trying not to make me scared so he was working on keeping his cool.

After I was all hooked up to the IVs, my blood was drawn, and my cap and gown were on, it was time to head into the prep room. Here I was given a little sour drink, the heart monitors were attached, and my husband was given some food and drink so that he did not get sick during the procedure. After a little while, they wheeled me to the operating room and had my husband wait outside while they did the spinal. This is when I started to get nervous. I was not scared about the C-Section but of the spinal. The nurse rubbed my shoulders as they injected the medicine. It was way less painful than I thought it would be. But the fun part happened after (sarcasm).

I started to feel the medicine working from my toes up. Time started to pass slowly as I felt my body become paralyzed. It seemed to come on as soon as I laid down. I was focusing on breathing and I began to notice that it was becoming more and more difficult. My brain instantly went into panic mode and I told the doctors that I could not breathe. I lungs felt as if they were not working and I had to cough but I could not because of the spinal. The doctors put the breathing mask on my face and it just made it worse. I heard the anesthesiologist say that my blood pressure was dropping too low and they had to give me some medicine to bring it back up. I still could not breathe. I asked them to take the mask off and they told me that the oxygen was for the baby. They removed the one mask and replaced it with one that was a bit more high powered.

Things started to get better after that. I heard them say that my blood pressure was returning to normal and I felt air reach my lungs again. Then I threw up, which was great because I felt instantly better afterward. The doctors cleaned me up and asked me if I could feel them poking me. I could not and they brought my husband in for the procedure.

I was incredibly happy that he was in the room now. I told him I got sick and he gave a small laugh. He knows I have a horrible stomach and I told him I was afraid of getting sick. The doctor told me they were going to start and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I could not feel anything and then the anesthesiologist told my husband that he should hold my hand because I was going to feel some tugging. He grabbed my hand and squeezed. I was thankful that he did because the pressure and tugging started and it was weird. I said “Ow,” even though I really could not feel a thing.

After a little more pressure, the doctor said “Oh she is a big one and look at all that hair” and then “the cord is around her.” I was concerned at first but then I heard he say “Happy Birthday little girl,” and then my daughter let out a little cry. They lifted her up over the blue curtain so that my husband and I could see. She was absolutely beautiful. Tears instantly filled my eyes as they took her over to be cleaned off. I smiled at my husband and started to cry. As I watched them clean Remy off,  I realized that within 15 minutes, my whole world had changed. Everything was different. I was now a mother and had this amazing creature to care for.

When she was done being cleaned off, the nurses brought her over to me and let me kiss her before she and my husband left the room and I was closed up. The C-section went very well, even though it was discovered that I am allergic to morphine and most of the day after the c-section was spent vomiting by me. Though, I should have known I was allergic to morphine before since after my last surgery I had a horrible reaction and was in the ER for a while but the doctors were not sure which drug it was that gave me the reaction. Now I know and no more morphine for me!

As for Remy, she is a great girl! She also had her cord wrapped around her left shoulder, which I am not sure how that was missed with the 2 ultrasounds that I had a few days before. But I think with how she was laying in me they could not see her left side easily, so I guess that could be how it was missed. We were in the hospital for 3 days, which was not so bad. Everyone at the hospital was really nice and helpful with me and the baby. I have a lot of help at home, which is wonderful. The incision is not bothering me very much, but my lower abs are. But overall I have been doing really well.

Everything is going great! It is crazy just how much having a child changes your life. I was telling my husband that even though she was in me for what felt like forever that it was overwhelming just how much I love her. With this being my first child, I had no idea what to expect. But I can say that I am so happy and love my little girl so much.

So I Had a Nightmare and the Story Behind My Love of Sports

I sat there watching the Steelers Ravens game on the T.V I could see all of the Steelers players but it seemed like they were playing themselves and rather badly I might add. The scores were blank at the top and it was like I was getting a first person view of the game. I could see Troy Polamalu running around like a mad man and jumping at the chance to get the ball, but things we just not falling into place.

My heart was pounding, I was so disappointed that I was watching my Steelers lose so badly, but I really could not tell how badly it was going. My husband was sitting beside me and made a comment that the scores were blanked out because of how horrible the loss was. He also was laughing at my loss. (PS…Honey…your team is 0-3…just saying! =P )

Finally it was like my eyes focused and I could see the score…this is so hard just to repeat. It was 75-0. Yes, it was that bad. I woke up in a panic only to realize it was 2 in the morning and the Steelers could not possibly lose to the Ravens that badly. Heck I am banking on a win from them! Well I know we can win, even with out Ben there this week.

**************

Yes, I like sports. Not all sports mind you (Basketball does nothing for me), but I really love Football, Boxing, and Hockey. When I was younger, I would never watch sports. In fact, I thought they were dumb. I mean what is the point?! Well on January 19th, 2006, my grandfather, the man who raised me, passed away. He had Mesothelioma. Five years before he died he had Lymphoma but beat it. He was the strongest man I ever met and I miss him to this day. I called him Popple when I was first learning to talk and it stuck around to where my entire family called him it and we still do to this day.

Popple loved sports. He watched them all. From boxing to baseball, he loved it all. When I could not sleep, I would sit in the living room with him and watch him watch his sports. I thought it was boring and trivial, but something about him made me like to sit there and take it all in.

On Christmas day in 2005, he was sick. We all knew it but we really did not want to say anything. He claimed it was just a flu, maybe even a bad chest cold. Even though I was too big, I sat on his lap that Christmas, like I always did. Popple told me then that the Steelers were going to win the Super Bowl that year. I just giggled and went along with it.

January 2nd, they took Popple to the hospital and he stayed there until he died. It turns out he had a collapsed lung that he had been living with and working the farm with it for a few weeks. No one could believe it. But, that is just how strong he was. Things went downhill fast after that. I miss him very much and even gave a eulogy at his funeral.

On February 5th, 2006 I sat in my dorm room and watched the Steelers win their 5th Super Bowl. As I watched I knew why I watched it. I knew it was for my Popple, but I was seeing what he saw for the first time. I enjoyed the game, was even happy to watch more sports after it.

Do I only love sports because of my grandfather? No. Did I start watching them because of his influence? Yes. Now every time the Steelers or Penguins have a win I think “That one is for you Popple.”

Let’s hope he gets another win this weekend.