Holy February Batman!!!!

FEBRUARY!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! I have been bad with not posting. I have been incredibly busy with a month that hasn't even started yet. HUGE things are happening. First and foremost, we get to find out the sex of our child and we are definitely STOKED! With buying a house, SO many things are going on. And to top it all off, I will have to go to Gainesville for Swimming Pool/Spa and Tourist Accommodations training.

Chinese gender calendar would suggest that it would be a girl, I was on the same page until a dream suggested we are going to have a baby boy. So now I am all confused. Our first glimpse is scheduled for February 15th which will serve as our Valentine's day. I can't honestly think of a better way to spend a Valentine's day with the wonderful soon-to-be mother our child!

Oh yeah, did I forget to tell you? We are under contract to buy an awesome BRAND NEW house in Perry that we are immensely excited about!! As excited as we are, the next 29 days of February are going to be packed. We have a home inspection on the 16th, the following week will bring our builder walk through, followed by packing up our apartment, closing on the loan and managing to paint our new nursery before moving in. It all boils down to great starter house at a great price, not to mention we referred our good friends and they will be our new neighbors! Pictures will definitely be coming soon once we get all settled in. I am currently in the most impatient state of mind. I want to be in the house NOW!!!

I am not looking forward to spending time away from Amanda for the whole week next week. I am certain I will get some good information from my training class but would definitely rather be at home during this busy month. Enough for tonight folks.

Due Date Countdown: 175 DAYS

The New Year

Okay. I am getting bad with keeping this thing updated. It's been 11 days since my last post and some things have happened. They include:

Ohio State was beaten by the Gators...... Again :-(
An argument occurred about diapers
Our 12 week check-up
And finally a non-scheduled doctor visit

The festivities surrounding the 2012 Gator Bowl were amazing. First, we listened to TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band In The Land) play Hang On Sloopy, Carmen Ohio and Across the Field at a pep rally. While at the pep rally we got to see Brutus, Big Nut (A crazy awesome fan guy who has hundreds on buckeyes around his neck and a Scarlett and grey wig) and the Buckeye cowboy guy (he wore an Ohio State towel as a cape.... HA!). At the game we got to see the best half time show in the world, a.k.a. Dotting The I in Script Ohio. So to sum up the experience, it was AWESOME!! The game was not.

We got in to an argument about diapers in the middle of Target. I was trying to explain that our child, will not be small enough for newborn diapers (Up to 10lbs, maybe for a week). I suggested that we will need to stock up on 1's (8-14lbs) because we're going to have a hefty baby. Just like I was (9lbs 12ozs). I do feel sorry for Amanda for having bear such a child, but I had to brace her for the inevitable. I do think she may be in denial. And yes I do feel bad for creating such a proposed beast.. Oh yeah, I totally won that argument!!! I never win!!

Our 12 week checkup was good but started off rocky. The tech could not find the heartbeat which caused Amanda brain-melting anxiety especially since we then had to wait 20 minutes for the doctor to try. It took everything I had to keep her from losing her cool (kept her laughing) and I was successful. Doc took about five minutes to find it too. 153 beats per minute which will still suggest a little girl!

We had to go back two days later because of several bouts dizziness, dizziness induced nausea and vomiting. The midwife suggested a low blood sugar issue which spawned us purchasing a glucose meter. Who would have guessed? When Amanda checked her blood sugar and getting a 64mg/dl (LOW for pregnant women, kinda low for average folks). All other subsequent times were also low (except one time). So we'll see what the doctor says about the low blood sugar tomorrow when we call. This post is getting way to long so that is it for the night. GOODNIGHT!!


Baby Hively ETA: 193 DAYS

Is it possible to be ready?

When I asked Amanda if she was ready for having our child, her response was no (mine too).Then I thought to myself, is it even possible to be ready to bring a child in to the world? In my opinion, it's not possible.

The reasoning behind my thoughts would be summed up in to one word... VARIABLES. there are too many unknowns and variables to be 100% ready. More than likely you'll be as ready as you personally can be. That will have to be good enough for your 100% because no matter what, that baby is coming.

At work, while I am still learning new areas, I am 100% ready to go out and do my next pool, tourist or septic inspection. I have all the tools and forms I need. I have my credentials that give my title relevancy and my handy pen/notepad combo. I also have my specific 'tools' relevant to each task I would be completing (pool test kit, measuring wheel, flashlight, etc). My code manuals give me guidance and recommendations. But there's no code manual for having a baby. You have to use whatever knowledge you have been given and create your own code manual. Again, this is all assumptions and thoughts. This because I have not done this before. I am a baby rookie. Hell, being a rookie would suggest it is my first year in parenthood. So I am like a college kid hoping to get drafted. Drafted in to the National Parenthood League (NPL). Ok I am taking that little bit way too far.

I am blogging in dad's truck on the way to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl and my first Ohio State game. happy new years everyone, it's the year of the BABY. Hahaha



Due date countdown: 204 DAYS

Was that a Hamburger or a Turtle??

I'm late in my blogging, been busy enjoying the holidays with my wife and family.

RECAP:
Went to Valdosta to visit the In-Laws
Got OODLES of baby furniture and stuff
Packed the Sorento to the max with baby things
Came home and had a WONDERFUL Christmas
Ate delicious food (too much of course)
And finally took the decorations down and deep cleaned the apartment

While I was at work this week, I realized that the two days we have our 16 week appointment and potential early gender determination, I will be in Gainesville for state Swimming Pool/Tourist Accommodations training. That means we will have to push our appointment until the following week. BOO! Hopefully waiting a week will help us pin down the sex of the baby. Imaging technology and software have become much more advanced since I was in utero. So when we go in to see, hopefully we can SEE!!

Running tally would put the boy/girl vote at 50/50 (ok, no one has actually tallied). The majority (probably 75%) of my family thinks it will be a boy. The majority of Amanda's family (again, probably 75%) think it will be a girl. So the whole family is going to be quite excited when the results are in.

In non-baby news, there is only a couple more days until my Dad (Big Papi, his chosen grandpa name. LOL) and I are in Jacksonville for the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. This will be my first Ohio State Buckeye football game and I cannot wait!! Especially since Ohio State has been banned from bowl games next season. It is going to be sweet!!!

My parent's dog Brutus is excited for the baby. Can't you tell? The Christmas season just takes it out of him! Or it might be that he is just a lazy-ass basset hound. Who knows..

Countdown to Due Date: 208 DAYS

P.S. Thanks Kyle (a.k.a. Dragon Aficionado) for the inspiration for my title.

Christmas Gift

Amanda and I traveled to Valdosta to spend some time with her family. This includes my Mother-in-law a.k.a MiMi (her new grandma name). An angel associated with her graced us with copious quantities of baby furniture and stuffs. Seriously, it is EASILY hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth. I don't know what we did to deserve such a gift, and our deepest gratitude and appreciation to this Angel and MiMi for setting all of this up.

So I am getting my practice in with my new gear. I am not TRYING to look like a hard ass. I am a hard ass, LOL. I can see it now. Baby Hively and I strolling through the isles of our favorite stores checking out the swag and doing some shopping. We are going to be a great pair!! I do have a new goal though. That bad boy is a bit snug.

So time to get less fat. Virtually impossible to do during or after pregnancy but I am going to try. I want to be a healthy, well healthier than my current state. I want to be in Amanda and Baby Hively's lives for as long as I can. It would be irresponsible for me not to get healthier.

All in all, this is turning out to be a wonderful holiday season and cannot wait for what is to come.

Countdown to due date : 213 DAYS

Too many titles and mix in some irony.

Food-borne illness investigator, health inspector, Larry the Cable Guy, occasionally the "Evil" health inspector, regulator and educator. These are some of the titles I have received during my career with the Department of Public Health. Yes, the  Larry the Cable Guy thing is true. During a week of inspections, I was called by Larry the Cable Guy by three different restaurant patrons. Did he really have to do that movie?? I guess I am a bit cable guy-ish.  It would be because I wear a baseball hat (VSU!!), because I am a large man and I have facial hair.

Regulator is a title I find to be appropriate during this pregnancy. Amanda does not call me the regulator though. She has chosen "Salt Nazi." I am the Salt Nazi because Amanda is the Salt Queen. The last thing we need is Amanda's blood pressure rising to the point of her being put on bed rest for a third of the pregnancy. So I am Salt Nazi, Caffeine Patrol, Anti-Cold Deli Meat Coalition (will have more on this shortly) and all around pain in the ass for Amanda. But isn't that the role of loving husband?? I am simply trying to make this the best, smoothest pregnancy known to mankind (or womankind) haha.

 Get ready, you are about to get SCHOOLED. My tenure as a restaurant health inspector has implanted several key pieces of information in my noggin that will be key during this pregnancy. The biggest one would be the dangers associated with the bacteria known as Listeria monocytogenes. Some of you might have heard about the most recent outbreak of Listeria that occurred nationwide involving cantaloupes. It has killed 30 people nationwide and countless others were sick from it. Sure, your average health person in their 20's-40's will simply have a case of the Hershey squirts. For immune-compromised people (young children, old people and PREGNANT WOMEN), it can be a lot more serious. According to the CDC, L. monocytogenes infections in pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. HOLY CRAP!!!!! Nothing short of STARTLING people.

Listeria is capable of growth in cold environments. YES this means your fridge is no match for this bacteria. Very few bacteria are stable in cold environments. Listeria is seen a lot in temperature abused deli meats. When Amanda wants her usual turkey on wheat from Subway, there will be no chance in HELL she will get a sandwich that hasn't had the deli meat nuked first. Pregnant ladies, do not consume cold deli meats just to be safe. Ask your sandwich artist to nuke the pants off of your deli meats. Georgia Food Code requires restaurants to discard items that have been kept for 7 days or longer. After 7 days, Listeria would have a high possibility of being an issue. That does not mean a restaurant won't sell you a sandwich with old ass meat on it. It just means they will be reprimanded for it during inspection or even more be the source of a food-borne illness investigation, which is not exactly good for business.

The irony is I have not been sick all year. But I'll be damned, I have been sick twice since we found out Amanda is pregnant... This goes back to the immune-compromised thing. She has a weakened immune system. I am now the walking bacteria. Go figure. That is all for tonight. Rant over.


WAIT!!! HOLD ON A MINUTE!!! Don't forget to do the same thing at home people. Pregnant women, microwave your deli meats and discard them after 7 days from purchase just to be safe. Actually, their is probably a better chance of Listeria infection from home than a regulated restaurant. That's it for tonight. I promise.

Due Date Countdown: 218 DAYS

I guess we need some filler? (not the Taco Bell meat ingredient..)

Daddy what did you want to be when you grew up?? Truth be told.... I had no earthly idea. Sure there was the astronaut phase (elementary school), but sad reality that aerospace engineering required TONS of math. Historically my math performance has been unsatisfactory, FOREVER. So that was removed at an early age. Military was next. Ever since I was a little tike, I wanted to be in the military like my Dad. Did all the right things, just couldn't get past the weight thing. It wasn't that I had difficulty losing weight, the problem was that I did not even try. So my laziness ruled that option out. What is left?


Nothing. the next closest thing I could come up with was during orientation at Valdosta State University. During orientation, everyone split up in to their prospective major. This created copious quantities of anxiety for me. The anxiety was completely related to my dumbass not being prepared for even college orientation. So I flashed back back to high school. What class did I like? The only thing truly enjoyed about high school (class-wise) was biology and anatomy taught by an awesome dude by the name of Mr. Miller. Back to orientation. I hear, "biology and pre-med folks follow me!" That statement alone was enough to catch my fancy. The rest is history.

Ok. So obviously the pre-med thing didn't work out, HA! If it did, this blog might be called From Physician to Daddy or some garbage like that. The end result is a piece of paper. An expensive one (wouldn't have been expensive if I would have got decent grades). What am I going to do with this piece of paper? Then the realization hit and it hit HARD. I don't know what to do now.

At no point did I think I was going to be a health inspector. But I'll be damned... I found something that I like WITH MY DEGREE!!!!!!! It has done wonders for my confidence and people skills. My co-workers are awesome and hilarious. I still have goals (ie: Master of Public Health, Registered EHS, county manager one day, etc). Public health is a fascinating field. It's multifaceted. I enjoy learning many new things at all times. Scary part, I am a government official........... uh what??

That's enough rambling for today. Plus, if I spill all the beans on the job, I am going to be hurting for posts later down the road.

Countdown to Due Date: 222 DAYS