March 10 +/- 3 Weeks @ 82% Confidence

That is how we talk about launch dates in technology -- and while Monday isn't software, the title is "code" (get it?) for finally telling work that we are pregnant. There is a huge punchline to this story, but let me fill you in on the steps first.

• On Monday morning, I had my weekly 1x1 with Kristy. I spent the first 50 minutes giving updates and status to Kristy on all that is on my plate. Once I got through my list of discussion items, I just blurted out "and finally, I am pregnant." And I couldn't have asked for a better response. Her first comment was "Oh congratulations!!!!! Yay, I am so happy for you." Then we proceeded to talk about how far along I am, how I've been feeling (the headaches finally make sense) and when I am due. She was genuinely happy for me and I was thrilled with the conversation. She asked me if this was public yet, and I basically said "as of now, yes!". After that, I went and told the people that I immediately work with (3 people) the good news. Everyone was really happy for me, and I didn't get a ton of work done that day.
• On Tuesday, I further went around telling people, but was already surprised that the information was seeping out as people started coming up to me saying "hey - I can't believe I had to hear your news through the grapevine!" How quickly news travels.
• Wednesday was very much the same thing, telling people the news, celebrating with colleagues, and all in all being less productive than I usually am. It's funny how hungry people are for good and happy news to share. (Side note and later plot detail: we had a media training refresher with the PR team where we had to share where we speak publicly and what we think are our opportunities for improvement. I said that my focus was that sometimes I have heard that I am emotive to the point of distraction, also that I sometimes get too excited, speak to quickly, and forget to breath.)
  
• So yesterday.....
  

Yesterday started the same as Wednesday with telling people I work with slowly and quietly. I was getting water in the afternoon when Peter Karpas (our SVP/GM) walked by and said hello. He came back around the corner and the conversation went something like this:

• PK:Oh, I have some advice for you.
• LCR: What's that?
• PK: Breath.
• LCR: What?
• PK: I was talking to the guy who lead the media training and he was really impressed at how self aware the team was. He mentioned that you get overly excited and sometimes forget to breath. So I am reminding you to breath!
• LCR: Thanks - I do forget to.
• PK: Oh, and congratulations! Is it public information?
• LCR: It is.
• PK: Then CONGRATULATIONS!

This was a seemingly happy and innocuous conversation... until the all-hands later that afternoon.

The all hands (all 80 people in Quicken Health in 1 conference room and over the phone) started like it normally does, with the introduction of new team mates. A slide was brought up on the screen when someone over the phone asked if the document was being shared online, which it wasn't. Peter asked someone to come up and do that... and all of a sudden, he needed time to fill before he could move on, and I was directly in the line of sight in the second row.

• PK: In other good news, we have another sort of delivery coming in March. (he looks at me.) March, right? (I turn red.) Lina is expecting.
• Crowd: OOOhhhhh!!!!!!! Hah aha ha hah ahah ahah ah ah... YAY!!! (goes on, as I get redder.)
• PK: Oh look, she's blushing. I was going to tell another story, but I am not going to.
• PK: Oh, what the heck. Lina had media training this week where she told the group that sometimes she gets excited and forgets to breath.
• Crowd: AHHA HAHA HAHAHAH
  
• PK: And I have this vision of Lina in March, certainly excited, forgetting to breath!!
• Crowd: ROOOAAAARRRRR AH AHAHAHAHAH. (Lina gets redder and redder.)
• PK: So I think Lina certainly needs to practice breathing over the next couple of months.
• PK: Lina, you're even redder. Turn around so everyone can see how red you are.
• Phone guy: Yeah, get up and turn around because you won't be able to in a couple of months.
• (Lina Turns)
• Crowd: RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR. AHAH AH AH AHAH AH AHHA HAHA AHA AHAH AHA.

So that's how my entire organization found out I am pregnant. Though Kristy came up to me and apologized later, I know the team wasn't laughing at me, they were celebrating with me. The team really needs some good reasons to laugh, and if I can help facilitate that, then I am happy. Besides, I don't have to go around telling people anymore, so in a way, my life is a bit easier.