I'm Back!!!...Is anyone out there?

Hello?

World?

Are you there?

It's me, the missing blogger. The missing blogger, missing photographer, missing stamper, missing scrapbooker, missing crafter, missing hoop.dee.do maker, missing Etsy store owner, missing friend, missing dog mom, missing shopaholic...

I AM BACK! (I think...)

I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo damn sorry for making you stare at that stupid dust bunny picture for nearly 6 freakin' months. I promise to make up for it soon.

But, first things first...you might be curious to know where I have been all summer long.

*Sit back, grab a cup of hot coffee, the story telling is about to commence*

Well, as you might remember from the last few posts, John and I ran away from home in April to spend a couple of months staying at the family beach house on Hood Canal. John had a few painting projects lined up in the area, and a few more interested parties appeared once we were settled in, so our stay lasted until the end of June. While I was at the beach house, I tried to catch up on a few things. First, I worked on selling the rest of the hoop.dee.do stock from the Etsy shop, so I could reorganize and reopen the store in the summer, and then I worked on learning a little bit more about CSS and redesigning my blog, and I brought almost all my scrapbooking supplies with me and spent some time working on a few projects here and there for KI Memories and Making Memories. I also just spent some time trying to recharge my creative batteries and develop some new ideas for future projects, worked with John on talking about changes for our future and his business, and also spent just about every free waking moment in the GLORIOUS SUNSHINE that shone for almost ALL OF MAY AND JUNE IN WASHINGTON!!!I was sooooo tan, you wouldn't have believed it. It was HEAVEN!

I swam with Drake whenever it was hot enough, we had friends or family visiting almost every weekend, and we spent lots of quality time with our friend and neighbor at the house next to ours, who also came out to take advantage of the weather with his adorable dog Joplin.

(John, Roxy and Joplin) 

When I wasn't playing with Joplin, I was running after her trying to make sure she didn't get hauled away by one of the twin bald eagles that had made their home a few trees away. That would have ruined my relaxation time completely! :D

Oh, the wildlife! Spring on the Hood Canal is the place to be. One day, in the drizzly rain, we had our binoculars out watching a deer swim all the way across the Canal with two of our resident seals following in his wake. I so wish I could have captured that on camera. The seals were a riot, they loved to hang out and follow us in the kayaks, and towards the end of June, they finally got up the gumption to haul out on our neighbors swimming dock. Did I mention the otter? Yep, we had an otter too, and lizards, and birds of all kinds. It was like a zoo.

(Otter and watching Seal + Me and John about to go for a swim)  

Our beach is full of clams and oysters, so our friends ate well when they came to visit. Fresh fruit, cocktails, beer soaked clam pasta, spectacular sunsets, and bonfires...it was just the vacation I needed. I can't tell you how rejuvenated I felt at the end of our trip.

We didn't really make it home officially until July 7th...we were home for a week, and then back to the beach for a long weekend, and then home for a week, and then back to the beach for the big 4th of July party...the party to end all parties! We were treated to an entire weekend of food hauled out and prepared for us by Wendy and Eva, our friend Peter's girlfriend and mom...we had brushetta, clams, mussels (which I learned I actually like much better than clams), chicken and steak, burgers and hot dogs, chips and dips, strawberries and cream, cheese plates and veggie trays and pies and desserts! It was awesome.

And then we were home, and life was just getting back to normal,

when...

I woke up one day and felt really, really dizzy.

I figured I was just severely hung over from all the food and sun and fun...but it didn't get better no matter what I did. I kinda freaked out, I started looking into making an appointment with an endocrinologist to make sure I didn't have a brain tumor. Seriously, I was so convinced that my health had taken a nosedive that all I could do was imagine the worst.

Just before I picked up the phone to call and make a doctor's appointment, I asked myself, "What are they going to want to rule out first?" hmmmm....maybe, oh maybe....I better take a pregnancy test.

and wouldn't you know?

After almost 3.5 years of trying/not "not trying"...

Those two pink lines popped up faster than I could even comprehend. I was floored. FLOORED. John casually walked in and asked, "Is it positive?" kind of half joking...and I looked at him and said, "Um...yeah...um...but it says to wait two minutes so maybe we should wait...." LOL! Still two lines, two minutes later, and two more lines on the second one I took just in case the first one was broken.

I phoned my best friend, who I woke up from a dead sleep, and the first words out of her mouth I can't write here. She called her mom, a reproductive nurse, who had me come in the next day for a blood test- and by 4:30pm on July 9th, it was officially medically confirmed that we were going to be proud parents of a little baby by approximately March 7th of 2010.

(our first ultrasound June 17th) 

That was the first half of the spring/summer.

The Second Half?

Oh, I was lying on the couch with a bucket next to my head everyday from the middle of July until just about the beginning of October. I lost about 20 pounds. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sick, I wanted to die. When people ask what I did this summer, I have one simple answer. I vomited.

I vomited every kind of way you can think of, from simple easy regurgitation to all out squeezing every liquid from my body and bursting blood vessels under my eyes. Everyday was a crap shoot, I never knew what the puke fairy had in store for me.

Needless to say, when one is puking their guts out for nearly 3 months, one doesn't feel much like doing anything crafty. In fact, I think I may have puked up all the creative juices I posses, because even though I now feel wonderful, I have zero desire to do anything Martha-y. The hoop.dee.do's are sitting unfinished in my cupboard, and all my scrapbooking supplies (including piles and piles of delicious new KI) are sitting untouched. I haven't taken a picture in I don't know how long. Aside from keeping up somewhat regular contact with my friends on Facebook, I have been totally and completely MIA.

Until now! :D

So that, my friends, if you are still out there and interested, is where the hell I have been.

Pretty exciting, huh?

When I say, "I'm back," I mean honestly with great intentions that I am back and will be blogging and regularly sharing again. There will be lots of redecorating and moving around of our house and stuff, lots of shopping I know I will want to talk about. And, since the weight loss dropped me at least one size and so far, at about 22 weeks, I am all baby, I think I am actually a pretty cute pregnant chick. I might actually want to capture these feel good self-esteem moments on film! And, the holidays are coming, so the Etsy shop will be re-opened as soon as I can get all the new pictures taken and edited, which is a bit of a process, but it's in the works. And I saved all the projects I did make over the summer to share, bit by bit...as well as a pile of stuff sitting on the table waiting to post for giveaways! So much to look forward to!

We don't know the sex of our baby yet, but we will be finding out very soon, so if you have read this far in this super duper long update post, and you feel like taking a guess, go for it!  

And, last but not least, I promised to let you know if and when our next Super Awesome Scrap Crap Garage Sale was going to be...we have set in stone Saturday, November 7th- RAIN OR SHINE!I will post a link to the Craigslist Ad once it is up that week so you can have the details.

I am happy to be blogging again, I really, really missed it. And I will be back with another post really soon.

Lots and Lots of  (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Pebbles

Comments

[mindi]

HOW EXCITING!!! I'm so happy for you guys :) Congratulations!

[Mellisa]

congratulations to you both.

[adelina]

Congrats!!! I was wondering what happened to you! That's a pretty good excuse for being away. ;)

[geoi]

Congrats!!! I'm so happy for you and John!...I'll guess a boy.

[melanie]

jpeb - i was wondering what you had been up to! and congratulations - so happy for you and john. ironically, i'm due the day before you. :)

[Ashley S.]

I don't know you personally but enjoy reading your blog and wanted to say congratulations! I am due March 13th. Yay! So exciting!

[Alena H]

Welcome back! I was so excited to see a new post from you on my reader. The new blog looks great! And congrats...I'm due March 19th with my first, so I feel your pain about the being sick. :)

[Nancy Comelab]

Oh! You ARE back! How truly wonderful... and with such amazing news... my most heartfelt congratulations to both of you! Apart from al the sickness, you both must be over the moon! ***all smiles*** Welcome back!!!!! I truly have missed you!

[Lulu]

oh my gosh!!! Yay!!! Huge congrats to you guys!!!!! :) March is a fabulous month to have a baby!

So glad you are back to blogging! I was getting ready to send out a search party for you ;)

[Deanna]

Back with a bang, this layout is wicked!

Congrats!

[Amber Scurlock]

Awww! I've wondered where you've been!!! Congratulations!! =) That is SO exciting!! (Not the puking - the baby!!) Hee!

[Prairie Girl]

oh my!!!! *C*O*N*G*R*A*T*S* to you both (er, 3!)!!! I enjoyed reading about your nice, relaxing sunny Summer. I laughed at your unique description of morning sickness; I don't think it's ever been described that way! *lol* Welcome back! Looking forward to you sharing your creative process and your lil' peanut's growth!

[kim weiss]

Oh my goodness!! Congratulations!!!

[Stephanie Wheeler]

Hooray. Don't know what we did without you. Congrats!

[young c-m]

Congratulations! What exciting news - especially after all the trying....Hope the 2nd and 3rd trimester treat you better.

[heather]

well whoopie!!!!!!!! I am so glad you are back and I was indeed tired of the dust bunny picture, lol! Congrats on the new one coming your way, March 7th is an excellent birthday btw, i have first hand knowledge of that!

[Katie]

Congratulations, Pebbles! I'm soooo excited for you! I've been checking your blog regularly to see how you're doing so it's wonderful to have an update! Are you still going to doing design work for A Muse? I've been missing your wonderful cards!

P.S. I'm pregnant, too! Due in April! :)

[Davinie Fiero]

You are so cute. I am so sorry for the puke fairy but am so happy for your new family. Hooray! Looking forward to seeing the updates.

[tricia]

Welcome back! And...CONGRATS!! How exciting. Hope you are feeling better and can really enjoy these next months!!

[Rhonda Palmer]

i am so glad you are back. i missed your blog a lot. i can't wait to see what pictures you have of your pregnancy. i still need to take some. i have some from around the house but need good ones. i can't wait to see what all you come up with!

btw, i haven't thrown up once and i will be 31 weeks on tuesday. i am so happy for you and hubby. enjoy all of the time being pregnant cause it's going to fly! trust me, mine has.

[Anna]

So glad to have you back!
CONGRATS, so happy for you! Sorry about the puking though =/

[Kelly R]

I am so excited for you guys...CONGRATS!!!

[Leksa]

Congrats !!

[jan]

so glad you're back! and congratulations!!!!!!!!!! so excited for your guys!!! hope to talk to you soon! (((HUGS)))

[tracy]

SO happy for you! Missed seeing you in Seattle this weekend at the 'AM-fest'. Sending good thoughts your way!

[Lisa]

Congratulations! I've been wondering when you'd get back to the blog. :O) Glad you have a good excuse.

[Ute L.]

Oh I'm so happy you're back! And i think it's a boy. Boys make trouble every time ;-) I hope you can enjoy these next months!!!

[Celine Navarro]

heyyy! so glad you're back, we've been missing you! and CONGRATULATIONS! :D

[susan d.]

so glad that you are back and congratulations! you have a great excuse! i can so relate, too. with my last 2 pregnancies, i puked the whole time and lost a little over 20 lbs each time...that's 40 weeks!!! good news was i only gained 20lbs back, so essentially the day i gave birth, i weighed the same as at my 1st doc appt. more good news, you'll drop most of @ the hospital. {the last vomiting commenced on the morning of me going into labor.} it sucks the wind out of you for sure. i puked just as much with my last- a 2nd boy- as i did with my ONLY girl. best of luck to you and i look forward to seeing all those cute pregger pics!!

[muse.sof]

wahaA waaAaahaa !!
i m so happy for you ! congrat's and so happy see you come back (excuse my english but i'm french)

[kathleen p.]

Huge congrats!!! So excited for you guys and so glad to have you back blogging : )

[kristina]

SO happy for you, my friend! Yay! I've missed you and so glad to see you are back and the vomitting has stopped! ;) BIG hugs! :-D

[Christy]

Congratulations from a perfect stranger. Please do take lots of photos for the next 18 plus weeks. You will want memories of this momentous occasion. I wish I had more pregnant photos of myself. I too think the little person is a boy. Boys are amazing. Happy crafting and Etsying and Scrap Crap Garage Saleing (is that even a word?)and shopping and photo taking. You realize now that you must blog? We will worry when the feed reader goes silent again. :)

[~amy~]

sweet mother of pearl...a huge congrats!!!!! btw, I'm a barf-a-phobic so I skimmed over all that 'stuff'...LOL.

Thanks for the heads up of Nov 7th..i'll have to plan my day as it is CK Bellevue:)

[margot]

Congratulations to you! Yeah, morning sickness is not fun - that's exactly how I realized I was pregnant the second time - even before the test. Both of my kids are March babies - there's nothing better. Here in the upper midwest you have a couple of months to hang out inside and get used to having a baby and baby gets well established before the weather gets nice enough to go out and immerse yourselves in beautiful spring weather!

[Jen D]

Congratulations to you both!!!! How exciting!!!!!YAY! :) Glad to hear you're feeling better- ugh! Hope the creative juices keep flowing!

[Susan N.]

Congratulations to you and John, that's so exciting! One of my son's was born on Valentine's Day. February/March around here (Seattle) is a nice time to have a baby. Very happy for you!

[laura]

I am so glad you are back, buddy...These are the magical times in a pregnancy - feeling better, not huge yet, lots of energy. Enjoy it. The prize that comes at the end is even better. :) Can't wait to hear gender! xoxox

[jenn h]

congratulations!!! i had a feeling you might be pregant when you hadn't blogged in a while, but I am so happy for you and so glad you are back!!

[joy]

missed you :) glad you're back! That's a good reason to be missing, well you know, not the puke and stuff :)

[jen]

What wonderful news...congrats and all best wishes :-)

[jen]

Yeah - so glad you're back ... and CONGRATS to you & hubby! Hope the vomiting subsides soon. :)

[Cate]

Congratulations! I'm glad you're feeling better. Being super sick like that when there's nothing you can do about it isn't any fun.

Glad your back blogging!

[melissa]

Congrats to you!! So glad that you are feeling better too---phew! Best of luck with the rest of the pregnancy, looking forward to seeing all your creativity to come!

(***I"m guessing girl with all that sickness....GIRL!)

[T]

wow...congrats! glad to see you back. :)

[Stéphanie Pouliot]

Welcome back!
We sure missed you, but what wonderful news to share on your "come back" to the blog world! Congratulations to the both of you!
Wishing you a healthy baby and mmmm hope it's a girl!

[Suz]

Congrats!

[Suz]

Congrats!

[karen]

so sad for anyone who doesn't like to read long posts!! CONGRATULATIONS!! i understand the vomiting!! i did for 3 months with each of my girls...first one in the morning, second about 4 in the afternoon. babies are so worth it!
looking forward to seeing your creations and keeping up with your pregnancy!!!

[vee]

what amazing news congrats!!! so glad you are back, xo!