My hero, inspiration and LOVE!

Before I continue posting 'blogs to the blog', I wanted to do a brief one on my incredible niece. Anyone that knows me, knows I adore her. I never knew there could be such a love, but if you met her, I really think you'd fall in love, too! She's just a cool gal! Smart, sassy, athletic, loving, innocent and oh so kind, that's Isabella.

A few notes on the pics above: first one, of course her just copying Aunt Jessie in a restaurant (not to my sister's liking). Second, her giving me her best bicep curl in one of my (and now her) favorite jerseys. Third, her climbing (and beating all of us) a 1200 stepped mountain (Koko Crater on Oah'u). She did it no complaints, no stress, no fatigue; busted her knee a couple of times but you'd never know it. Tough little gal. Fourth, her rubbing it our faces. Fifth, her beautiful face.

Well, as you can see, I could talk about her forever. I love her! One of my favorite Isabella lines..."ok, aunt jessie, are you ready...on your march, get set, gooooo!" and then she proceeds to start just a second or two before me to try to gain a good lead. Girl after my own heart! I swear I didn't teach her that! Miss you, Isabella! (They live in Daphne, AL, near my parents in P'cola, FL).

Ok, back to the real world. Been plugging away at the business 'thing." I think I talked to 15 or more people this afternoon about credentialing with various insurance companies. My favorite part, after you request the application, you must submit another request online, via fax or mail JUST to get the REAL application. Then, after you've given them nearly every piece of information you even know, they say it will take up to TWO MONTHS for it to go through! Oh, that's super helpful! I'm all ready to go, I even think I love/like a space and now I have to wait 2 months to even be able to take anyone with insurance!! It's like they don't even want you to succeed. It's tiring and frustrating. Lori, pipe in any time with some tips:)

That is my afternoon session. My morning session consists of working at the nursing home. So today I decide to run to/from work (it's only 5.5 m round trip). I decide to run in full scrubs, rolled up at the botton, back pack. Who's idea was this again? It's at least 80deg...I know not hot for TX, but hot for Jessica. I'm running basically at a fast walk (or so I feel). It takes just over 23 min one way (I know it sounds like a lot...it felt like more). Exhausted, hot, tired at just 2.7 miles! What's happening to me! X-Country2 and AM pipe in! Is running supposed to be this hard and laborious at such an early stage of my pregnancy...already!! I'm just at 4 months (a few days shy...pics to come)!!! I could hardly run the hills (if you should call them hills!). Don't worry, I'm listening to my body and taking it to my comfort level but even that seemed uncomfortable. Decided to do a short shoulder workout and yoga session today b/c the run was all the hard effort I had for the day.

Speaking of...I really think I 'popped' yesterday! So, I'm so confident and happy. Great, now everyone knows I'm pregnant! Woohoo...strutting my belly at the gym. Walking around like I own it, baby! Then, I cruise back from the gym off to Whole Foods (where else!) with hubby for a healthy dinner. We pass our front desk guy on the way out and I get excited...finally I'll announce! I tell, him "Terrik, I forgot to tell you, we're pregnant!! 4 months!!" He said, "you don't look pregnant!" WTH! Are you freakin' kidding me! OH CRAP! I'm back to having a complex! Oh no, these people in this city don't know me and so they must just think I'm chubby. Shoot, I thought I had it in the bag:( I'll post pics next week on my anniversary and you guys need to be honest!

Oh, back to the scrubs...coolest thing is coworkers don't even know I'm preggo! I think I could wear those scrubs for 2 more months and get away with it. They swallow me whole. Got love baggy right now!