23 Weeks & The Mishaps of Little Mookie

Still a papaya this week...although in my pregnancy book, I read Cookie should double in weight by the end of the month!

So I have to start out with a Little Mookie story this week...he is in the poop house with me right now.  I love him, always will.  If some of you will remember, when Nick & I first got Little Mookie he used to pee on Nick's stuff, and ONLY Nick's stuff.  I thought it was really funny (although Nick didn't quite feel the same way).  I had always told Nick, just don't keep your stuff on the floor, problem solved.  Mookie would go far as to root through the dirty clothes pile while I was separating them for washing and pee directly on Nick's jeans (that happened only once, but it's a true story, and yes, I laughed really hard).  I think Mookie was trying to exert dominance (even though he's been fixed), but who knows what the issue was.  It stopped after about two months (and it wasn't like it happened all the time, just occasionally).

So Karma really sucks, I totally know it, and I should have never laughed at Nick's situation.  Mookie has always been a mama's boy.  He literally follows me all around the house (even the bathroom).  He can't stand it when I close a door and he can't get in, he gets really stressed out and meows and scratches constantly at the door.  I can barely sit down and get situated before he's trying to get in my lap for pets and cuddles.

Which makes Sunday morning so weird.  Nick had fallen asleep watching the TV (yes, our bedroom is still our living room, bedroom, and dining room and we are hopefully close to a floor resolution, but I don't want to jinx it so more will come later) and I woke up around 6 AM and nudged him and requested the TV be turned off.  Nick turns it off and I proceed to try to drift back off to sleep hugging my body pillow close (which for those of you pregnant, it really is a God send, get it sooner rather than later, trust me).  All of a sudden I hear something like water pouring and I think OMG, is Mookie peeing in our room!?!  Cats have accidents, it happens every so often, but rarely.  Mookie is particular about his litter box.  If it's not clean enough for him, he'll pee on the bathroom rug I put in front of it to catch all of his litter, but he NEVER pees outside of the bathroom, not for FOUR years!

I yell, "Mookie!  Are you peeing!?!" and flip on my bedside lamp and there he is mid squat on my gym bag!  I cannot believe it!  He has peed on my gym bag!  I was so freaking mad!  I chased him out of the room...came back into the bedroom and threw the bag in bathtub in our master bathroom figuring I'd wash it when I got up at a decent hour.  I waddled back to the bed and realized I was thirsty and my bedside Nalgene was empty.  In the kitchen, Mookie comes up and tries to be sweet and rub my leg and I go chasing him through the house yelling at him.

I get back to the bedroom and lay back down and the little bugger tries to get in bed with us!  I chase him out again, apologize to Nick because now I'm definitely keeping him awake, and lay back down.  Of course now I'm too worked up to go to sleep and am even more upset that I'm awake at 6 AM on a weekend morning.  Mookie tries to get back in bed to cuddle a couple of more times and each time I chase him away (I mean, he PEED on my stuff, he has to be punished, right?).  He finally gave up and was smart enough to stay away the rest of the morning.  He spent the day desperately trying to make up...I held firm.  Of course he was forgiven eventually (that night before bedtime when he sat by the side of the bed giving me a pitiful look is when I finally gave in and forgave him)...and like I said, Karma really sucks - Nick was really great about the whole thing and told me he knows how much it sucks.

Now on to the fun stuff...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: I think it's only been 1 lb, but it's kind of hard to tell when you just have a home scale...the MD scale is more accurate.

MOVEMENT: Holy cow...had a really, really hard jab (maybe an elbow?) Sunday morning (yes, while I sat awake fuming at Mookie).  My hand just happened to be where the jab was and it was hard and pokey!!!  It was the weirdest thing I had ever felt.  I immediately woke Nick, he felt one too (although it wasn't as hard as the one I felt).  We can now see my belly move when Cookie moves.  It's just the slightest movement right now...no hiccups yet.  Nick likes to lay next to me and watch her move around. 

CRAVINGS: Nick's stir fry.  It's the first meal he ever made me and it made me think he could cook (he's that good at it).  Little did I know it was the only from scratch recipe he could make (the only other thing he knows is spaghetti from a jar, veggie burgers, and heating up left overs).  He made it for me Friday night and made enough so we got left overs Saturday night...pure bliss.

Another craving I've been having on and off is cantaloupe, which is weird because I did not like cantaloupe pre-pregnancy - at all.  It tastes so sweet and wonderful to me now.  I don't try to make sense of it, I just indulge since it's healthy.

SYMPTOMS: Same stuff - emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's down graded to very mild rather than moderate - yeah for me keeping my feet elevated like a good girl), hot/stuffy (Nick still freezes at night), missing feet, swollen fingers (although I discovered I can still fit my wedding ring on if I keep the engagement ring off - it doesn't bunch of the swollen tissue on my finger as much - so I try to wear it when we go out - it makes me feel like I'm not knocked up), crazy dreams, not as much heartburn (I haven't used my Tums in three days!), spicy food aversion, belly itching and double D itching has downgraded and does not occur everyday.

The mild insomnia has not reappeared this week (happiness) and I haven't had another leg cramp since that one.  Another happiness note, I haven't had another bout of the pregnancy constipation (whew!). 

Some of you may think some of this is TMI, but honestly, some of this stuff I never knew about and wish I had known before rather than panicking when they occurred and then be giggled at by my previously/currently pregnant girlfriends (and mother too) and told it's all normal.

Had a gestational diabetes scare.  During my OB visit last week, I had glucose in my urine so that Wednesday I had to go in for a 1 hour fasting glucose test.  That came back high (I was 159 and they wanted it below 139).  So I had to go back Friday for a THREE hour fasting glucose test (that's 4 pokes total - yuck).  Nick went with me in support because I was upset about the whole thing.  Luckily the had Internet so I could get some work done while waiting.  That test came back with one result high and the rest normal so I'm more of a borderline...which means not much other than I have to repeat the test prior to my next OB visit and I have some modifications to my diet.  Not too bad, BUT I'm not allowed cookies, cake, jelly, syrup, ice cream, candy and all the fun stuff Cookie and I love so much, but in the end it's really better for the both of us to cut that stuff out.

BELLY BUTTON: Yup, still there.

PREPARATIONS: Paintings are done, check them out below!  We didn't make much progress on painting this week, We're trying to figure out the best attack.  I have a respirator I wear while painting and Nick does the big areas while I do the detail work (where the ceiling meets the wall, corners, etc.) that the roller can't get.  Nick isn't very good with these spots and he knows I'll make him do it a 100 times until it's right because I am that anal.  Even though I have the respirator, I don't want to do the trimming while he is doing the big areas so we're debating if he should do the big areas first or if I should do the trimming first.  Honestly, I think we were just lazy this weekend.  I got the sticks for my mobile during a walk through the canyon by our house Nick and I took this weekend (I heart nature) and other supplies to put it together.  I plan on working on the balancing act this week...hopefully you'll see a done picture next week.  I also ordered the decals for the fan blades and the one for the wall behind the crib this weekend, but you'll have to wait until they're received and up before you get a peek at those.  We also signed up for a child birth and preparedness class that starts in November.

MILESTONES: I think the movement section speaks of our big milestone this week.  I'm still in awe of that feeling from the outside I felt and Nick gets to feel them more and more each day.  Another milestone, Nick is really into decorating and making choices for Cookie's nursery!  He has opinions on everything, which is refreshing since he really didn't have any opinions in the planning of the wedding.  I can count on him to make the final decision if I present two or three choices of something I like which helps with my feelings of being overwhelmed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: It's OK to be lazy.  Nick and I spent a lazy Sunday in bed (and realized we wouldn't be able to do that any more come February).  We hadn't done that since we were still young and dating (not that we're old now)...it was one of our favorite things to do, just be together and snuggle deep into the covers and enjoy each other and talk about our future together.  Life had gotten in our way, but it brought back all those memories of the things we did when our relationship was still new.  We made a promise to do it again at least one more time before Cookie arrives (although we may do it more than once).

And here they are...nine painted pictures for Cookie's nursery (and yes, that's still our concrete slab - floor is still in dispute).  They don't look so bad if I dare to toot my own horn!

22 Weeks - and we have GENDER!!!

That's a papya up there in case you didn't know (I didn't).

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Had MD visit today...20 lbs. compared to pre-pregnancy (ouch), but OB is happy with weight gain, but he did note I was a bit ahead of the curb and to watch my carb intake (which also hurt since I'm loving the carbs right now...time to put some limits and abstain a bit!)


MOVEMENT: The butterfly flutters/muscle twitches have moved into full on bat flutters.  Getting stronger and more consistent every day.

CRAVINGS: Hit the broccoli craving again and it's now combined with carrots...I'm happy that they seem to be sticking with fruit and veggies in the last couple of weeks.

SYMPTOMS: All the usual suspects: emotional ups and downs, feet swelling (although it's been a lot less due to the consistency with elevating my feet), I feel hot/stuff ALL the time (no matter how chilly it is), some mild insomnia (I woke up at 12AM last night and couldn't go back to sleep until 3AM!), feet still MIA, wedding & engagement ring still MIA, crazy dreams (the last one had to deal with spider - NOT a favorite of mine), yucky heartburn (I've been trying to stay away from culprit foods, but it's been difficult), aversion to anything spicy (which for those of you who REALLY know me, you know hell must have now frozen over!).  The itching of the Double D's and the belly have subsided somewhat (maybe Cookie was going through a growth spurt?).  Now for some gross stuff (as you know, I'm not shy)...first bout of constipation...and let me tell you for those of you who have not experienced pregnancy and constipation - it sucked!  Also my uterus is sore (I guess from all the growing).  No one told me about that one and I had to ask my pregnant girlfriend (she's 12 weeks with her second) if something was wrong or if this was normal.  It's strange feeling - it's like that feeling when you sit in one position too long and then get up to move and it's like "oh!"

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but I looked at it this morning and it has this discolored ring around it now...I think it's stretching out, I can almost see the bottom whole of my belly button ring (that I no longer wear, but the whole is still there - whoever said they're not permanent was a LIAR!). 

PREPARATIONS: Ceiling is painted, ceiling fan purchased, all birds are completed.  I didn't get a chance to work on my painting this weekend.  I got adventurous and took a very long walk in our neighborhood while Nick was working on the yard.  It was a little hot that day and I shouldn't have done it.  I came home overheated and slept the rest of the day until dinnertime.  The next day was spent working on getting supplies to paint the ceiling and a debate over what color the nursery should be (I think we're going to stick with the navy carpet because it's there and it will be easier to just keep it that way).

MILESTONES: We have a gender!!!  Welcome to Bambina Muscolino (below)...Nick was right, it's a girl!  We are beyond excited!!!  It's strange to know what she is...it makes her a very real person to us now and calling her "she" has been a strange adjustment (shout out to Aaron our US tech who spent an hour with us to get the gender - this is after he got the shots he needed).

Nick felt movement!!!  This is probably the best thing that's happened so far, I've waited so long for him to be able to feel her.  It was Saturday morning.  I loved the look of wonderment in his eyes.  He hasn't felt it again, Cookie was a little quiet on Sunday, but he keeps asking if she's moving and if he can feel her.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Make sure you do as many things with your significant other as possible and spend as much time with your friends.  We're not parents yet, but we've been told SEVERAL times how much our lives will change.  A thought hit me the other day, Nick and I will never be just Nick and I ever again once this baby comes.  It will change our relationship so cherish the alone time you have left.

And here she is...Bambina Muscolino.  I think she's pretty cute, but I admit I may be biased!

21 Weeks

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: No really sure...it looks like maybe 1/2 to 1 lb.

MOVEMENT: Had what I imagined as an actual punch or kick this weekend.  I was reading after waking up with Nick still snoozing.  My hand was on my belly and, Kung-fu punch (or kick)!  I think I could just barely see my belly move with it.  Cookie didn't do it again and Nick has now taken to always keeping his hand on my belly to try and get that first feel.

CRAVINGS: Watermelon.  I saw it in the grocery store and immediately started drooling.  We bought one and got to share with good friends and their 2 year old on Sunday.  It was bliss.

SYMPTOMS: The weather every since Sunday has been hot, hot, hot.  The hottest days I've ever experienced living in San Diego in my eight years here!  Last night was pure misery trying to sleep.  It never cooled off until around 5AM this morning.  I made an ice pack with a hand towel and Zip lock bag full of ice which helped for a while, but I woke up with it leaking all over me and had to give it up.  Nick was blissfully sleeping next to me...I was really jealous.  I just hope this isn't the start of insomnia.  By belly and double D's are itching like crazy.  I wake up scratching the heck out of them.  I've been using baby oil and lotion, but it only helps for a little while.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but still getting shallower by the day.  Now when I press at the top of it, it goes from an innie to a full on outtie.  I have to say, this is the one part of pregnancy that creeps me out the most (other than delivery).  It looks pretty gross when I do it.

PREPARATIONS: The paintings are almost done.  I've started the last 2 and just have some touch ups on the 2 other ones.  All the birds are done for the mobile, including stuffing.  Now I just have to go out and get some sticks and put it all together.  Nick has been impressed with my crafty talents, I told I just needed inspiration.  We haven't done much to the nursery.  We were going to begin painting on Saturday until it was 95 degrees at our house.  It's been postponed until next week.  We registered for all our gear and my wonderful girlfriends Tara & Amanda have begun preparations for my baby shower...Nick & I feel so touched to have such wonderful friends!  Still debating on the carpet, but I think the navy blue may be winning out

MILESTONES: As noted above, I believe I saw the first movement, but nothing since Saturday morning so I'm not sure if I imagined it or not.  Repeat ultrasound on Friday!  Think positive thoughts about those little legs being uncrossed.

WEEKLY WISDOM: Enjoy this time.  I may complain about some of the symptoms, but I'm constantly in wonder at what's happening in my body.  I was complaining about, ahem, the feeding parts of my double D's exponentially growing to my mom and she told me I should be happy and proud and that it was beautiful because my body is making a miracle and getting ready to help that miracle adjust to the world.  At that point I was bummed at the ugliness of what was happening, but it really put it in perspective to me.  Yes, it's uncomfortable, yes, I don't feel like the sexy woman I was before, but, yes, it's a miracle and when I feel Cookie move around it's the most wondrous thing to realize you have an actual person in there.  It also amazes me that I made this person with Nick and there will never be another one like our Cookie.

20 Weeks! Half Way There!!!

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: Only 1 lb this week, but my belly seemed to really explode over the weekend (that may be my imagination).

MOVEMENT: Cookie is getting stronger and stronger.  I feel the flutters all throughout the day now (especially when I'm sitting still).  Nick still can't feel the movement and I know he's dying with jealousy.

CRAVINGS: The McDonald's cheeseburger craving has subsided somewhat, lately I've been really, really, really wanting fresh broccoli...there's a bowl of it next to me right now.  Finally, a healthy craving!

SYMPTOMS: My feet disappeared on me.  I looked down over the weekend and they were gone.  It was a sad moment for me.  Ankles are also starting to swell by the end of the day.  I have a foot rest in the office, by my shoes are always very tight by the time I leave work.  I've traded in cute heels for tennis shoes.  I tried flats for a while, but they weren't supportive enough.  I can no longer wear my wedding and engagement ring.  That was an even sadder moment when it wouldn't go on my swollen finger.  I cried.  Emotional ups and downs are ongoing...Nick is still being a trooper.  I've got the back pain under control with experimenting with chair positions and different stances when I'm standing for longer periods so it's much better now, but will get worse as this bump gets bigger.  No crazy dreams over the last week...baby brain continues.  It's very embarrassing.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie, but if I pull it from the top, it's practically flat.  Maybe a couple of more weeks and it will be flat?

PREPARATIONS: Working steadily on my paintings.  Four of them are actually done and halfway done with the fifth.  Then only four more!  made the first bird for the mobile (although I still need to stuff it).  It was more difficult to sew it together than I though it would be, but it's going to be really, really cute.  Nick moved the lighting fixture to the actual center of the nursery and has started patching the old hole.  We still need to find a new one...my idea is to find a ceiling fan, possibly spray paint the blades (if we need to) and then find alphabet decals to add to the blades.  We may not replace the carpet now...the  navy blue may go good with the light orange walls I'm thinking of...stay tuned.

MILESTONES: HALF WAY THERE and 10 more days until we get another go at Cookie's gender!

WEEKLY WISDOM: If you're a stomach sleeper it, enjoy it.  I've gone 8 weeks not being able to sleep on my stomach anymore because it just isn't comfortable (and now it's literally impossible).  I miss it more than coffee, soda, and booze.  And if you know me well, you know that says something.  Sleeping on your side blows...no matter how many pillows you have.

19 Weeks and Counting

For those of you who don't know, WE'RE PREGNANT!!!  We're at 19 weeks and our little Cookie is doing well.  Many people have asked me the nickname "Cookie" came about.

Cookie came about because when I travelled a lot I had access to the US Airways Club Lounge.  They had the most delicious daily made cookies and I would always bring Nick a couple home.  The day I took the pregnancy test, Nick didn't know I was taking it.  When I came out with it behind my back to tell him, he took one  look at me and my face and asked if I had a cookie for him that I had forgotten in my suitcase.

Now, it had been three months since my last trip, but he had such an excited look on his face, I laughed and tossed the test at him and told him the news.  He was very happy, but a little shocked and looked at me and said, "I thought it was a cookie"...and Cookie was named.  I think the nickname may stick after Cookie is born...stay tuned.

I'm going to copy one of my friend's (thank you CJM) blogs who is also pregnant (she's just 2 weeks ahead of me).  I'm hoping she takes it as more of a compliment and isn't annoyed by it...

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: A lot...I was very, very ill my fist trimester, but shoved food in my stomach three times a day any way.  The problem was, the only thing I could keep down was either cheeseburgers from McDonald's or plain pasta, potatoes, rice, and so on.  I also couldn't move much or I would throw up (don't ask me how I made it to work every day!).  I basically laid in bed every moment I was home and still threw up once a day (gross!).  So given I was eating high carb, high calorie foods and wasn't getting a lick of exercise, hello 12 lbs in the first trimester (I don't recommend it - you don't look pregnant, but really, really, really fat - because you are)!  The second trimester weight gain is more hitting the 1-2 lbs per week that is expected.  Total weight gains since the beginning of the first trimester (starting at 14 weeks): 5 lbs (that's 17 lbs total for those of you wondering).

MOVEMENT: Yes!!!  It started last Thursday at the Padres game...could this little one be a baseball fan???  The movement has been happening on and off ever since and it is seriously the coolest feeling ever!  The movements feel like anything from rolling bubbles, butterfly wing flutters, and involuntary muscle twitches.  I feel them daily, some days more than others, but it's there.

CRAVINGS: Not too much...the biggest thing I get a hankering for is cheeseburgers with extra pickles and ketchup.  Yes, my craving is that specific.  It also has to be McDonald's cheeseburgers to really quench the craving.

SYMPTOMS: Yes.  Ginormous boobs...went from a C cup to I don't even know how big anymore...let's just say I outgrew DD.  Scary, scary, scary.  I'm told they're only going to get bigger.  I've been trying to hold out on buying a really nice new bra because as soon as I get the next cup size, they grow again.  Some indigestion, my back KILLS - it's got to be the growing chest, but as much as the boobs have grown, the belly grew more, it now sticks out farther than my chest.  When I look down I see my bump popping out.  Very cool.  I also have baby brain like no other.  I feel very, very, very stupid and like I'm going crazy half the time.  Pregnancy dreams - they're really crazy...I won't even tell you what my twisted mind is coming up with, I just hope it's not affecting Cookie's psychological health.

BELLY BUTTON: Still an innie; however, it's getting shallower by the day.

PREPARATIONS:  The "junk room" has been emptied out and will become the nursery.  All the room baseboards and trim around the doors has been removed (we're going to replace it).  I haven't settled on a paint color, but we are replacing the carpet to a beige color (currently ugly navy blue).  The crib and mattress and changing table have been purchased.  I've also started painting these really cool pictures that will hang in the room.  I also have plans to make my own mobile (thank you again to CJM for the idea - and the pattern).

MILESTONES: 19 week ultrasound today!!! No gender though...Cookie did not cooperate and would not uncross his/her legs...even after 45 minutes of doing all kinds of things.  We do need another one...Cookie was uncooperative enough that the ultrasound technician couldn't get the most detailed look of the heart she wanted so we get one more chance in 2 1/2 weeks (Oct 1st, mark your calendar!).

WEEKLY WISDOM: Be thankful for your husband (if you have one), this has been a roller coaster so far - I'm happy, I'm scared, I'm angry, I'm hungry, I don't believe I'm actually pregnant - and through it all with a shoulder to lean on and nothing but a supportive, loving attitude has been Nick.  He even tells me how beautiful everyday no matter how fat I'm getting...

Here's a couple pics...
 

Cookie at 12 weeks!  Look at that Muscolino nose!



The 16 Week Bump



Cookie at 19 Weeks!



Remodel

So I've been trying to hold out on an update until all of our current remodelling is done...it's still not done, but I got tired of waiting. You'll have to hold out for pics when it's all done, but here's a run down of what's going on...

We met a fabulous contractor who has helped us with our family room. We discovered it wasn't insulated (and even though we live in San Diego, yes it needs insulation). So he and his sister tore down all the panelling in the room and insulated and put up new dry wall. They wired some new lights and added some switches and painted the room. They even sanded and re-stained the beams on the ceiling...it's breath taking.

There are no pictures right now because we had to move everything from the living room to the family room so that our floors can be fixed. Yes, there is a whole floor saga that has been going on since last August because of the horrid floor people. They'll be starting to tear out our ruined floor and installing a new one next Tuesday so new pictures will have to wait until it's done...stay tuned!

New Eyes...

So after 6 years of whining and saying, "I'm going to do it next year," I finally took the plunge and got Lasik. I let a man take not one, but TWO lasers to my eyeballs and fix them so my near sightedness and astigmatism would finally go away.

I know many, many people who say it's not big deal, it's over quick, blah, blah, blah. I didn't like it. Not one bit. In fact, halfway through the first eye I literally thought, "WTF am I doing? I'm done, I want out of this chair!" Unfortunately, the laser had already cut my eye open.

I went to Dr. Shanzlin at UCSD (University of California, San Diego for you non SoCal'ers) who has impeccable credentials. I mean, if I'm going to let someone toy with my eyes, he better be one of the best, right?

The facility was wonderful, staff great. They even have this viewing window and eye camera so you're "loved one" can watch. Of course Nick watched, I can't believe you're even wondering!

They walked me into this room and hand me this poor stuffed bear (which I got to keep) to hold in my hands for anxiety. Dr. Shanzlin said he was surprised the bear's head wasn't ripped off by the time it was all said and done.

He took a laser, called an Intralase, and lasered the top of my eye and flipped it back (called a corneal flap). In order to do this, they gave me a Valium, and a ton of numbing drops. It's true, you don't feel anything; however, they put this weird suction thingie over my eye to help keep it open and laser it. The laser pushes down on top of the suction thingie while it's lasering. The pressure is beyond uncomfortable! This is also the point when everything goes black. I was definitely feeling like my Valium wasn't working. Dr. Shanzlin had offered me an extra one about 10 minutes before the procedure, but I thought I was fine and declined it. If you ever get Lasik and they offer you more Valium, take it.

When the laser is done, they take the suction thingie off and put the eye speculum in, think Clockwork Orange folks. Also not the most comfortable contraption, but it was better than the suction thingie. I then see this tiny hook thing (although it's REALLY blurry) and Dr. Shanlzin hooks around my little flap all around my eye and then gently pulls my cornea back. Everything takes on this weird blurry, milky look.

Then comes the second laser. I didn't smell my eyeball burning which I've heard isn't a good smell and Dr. Shanzlin actually warned me about. He also said I might not smell it because I didn't need the laser as long as most...small victory for me!

Stare at the orange light, no one says the orange light turns into a disco dance party which makes me feel like I'm trippin'...the rainbow colors can't be described as anything but, "far out". ;)

Then the laser is done, lifted up, hook thing reappears, but is almost unseeable now, and the hook goes whip and cornea is back in place, and smoothed out. Drops are put in, but at this point I can barely keep my eye open so most of it goes on my eyelid, patch placed over it and I'm ready to do the other eye.

Only I don't really want to do it anymore, but I can't have one better than perfect eye and the other blurry, can I? My left eye would get an inferiority complex...

So the other eye is completed, dark goggles taped in place, and I'm done. I'm told to keep my eyes closed as gently as possible for as long as possible until my 1 day post op the next day. No problem, because honestly, I can't open my eyes at this point, they immediately fall shut from their poor trauma. The whole procedure literally took less than 30 minutes.

After they all warn me repeatedly not to "wrinkle my flaps" and wear my goggles to bed every night for the next week, Nick takes me home, the numbing drops are wearing off and my eyes hurt. After I've asked about 20 times in the 10 minute drive home if we're almost there, we get home, he gets me in bed and then looks through all the drops for my pain drops and gets it open for me.

No one told me the pain drops sting like hell. Ugh...I turn over and pass out. I wake up a couple of hours later, NOW I can finally feel the Valium. Scream for Nick for water for the cotton mouth I now have and then roll back over and fall back asleep. Nick wakes me up for dinner and then I call my mom to let her know I've survived. My eyes don't feel fabulous at this point, but not nearly as bad as when I first got home.

Nick brings in the laptop in the bedroom and watches some of his Netflix movie while I lay next to him with my eyes clothes...and you guessed it, fall back asleep. I don't know if it's the Valium or what, but I have all these nightmares about wrinkling my flaps, thanks Dr. Shanzlin!

The the next thing I know the alarm clock is going off so I can get up for my first post op visit. I tentatively open my eyes and while they're dry, nothing is blurry and they feel fine.

We get in the car to go and I CAN READ ALL THE STREET SIGNS!!! I literally cannot believe it. Nothing is blurry, I can see!

So far I have 20/15 vision as of that first visit. They think I may end up with 20/10 once my eyes are fully healed and re-moisturized....

So, all-in-all it was totally worth it, but I don't know what I'm going to do if I end up needing an enhancement!