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.

Money, Money, Money

That's the title of Chapter 4 in the "The Expectant Father". According to the book, by now I should start experiencing some concerns relating to finances. What the book doesn't know is that I'm ALWAYS thinking about finances - how best to secure a secure present and future. The chapter covers investment options, advice on saving for college, life insurance etc, etc, etc. Funny, I wasn't nearly as 'worried' until I read the paragraph on college tuition. With sweaty pits, chest pain and blurred vision, I set out to do a little research...here is some of what I found.

• On average, tuition tends to increase about 8% per year. An 8% college inflation rate means that the cost of college doubles every nine years.
  
  
• For a baby born today, this means that college costs will be more than three times current rates when the child matriculates in college.
  
  
• Parents should expect to pay at least half to two-thirds of their children's college costs through a combination of savings, current income, and loans.
  

During my 3min lunch break, I spent a little time working through our portfolio - LLNW is up 18% since buying it a few weeks ago, TIVO is still floating around 50%, APPL helping out at 40% and BBBB is up over 150% since purchasing in '05. Today, much of our portfolio is in the green; so banking that Monday will have the pick of his/her college, its hopeful Lina and I will not have to eat rice and beans in order to afford it.

While researching the holdings of some of our mutual funds, I came across an article entitled "The 50 Best Stocks in the World". We already own a number of these, either as individual stocks or as holdings in mutual funds.



Have a read - see if you agree.

Now back to work and onto Chapter 5 "The Lights are On and Somebody's Home"; referring to Monday now becoming more active and able to hear what is going on outside.

Numb Fingertips

So I had the last test for the Combined Down Screening first thing this morning. I thought that the blood work was going to be like the first blood work, which was a finger prick and 5 drops. Unfortunately it turned out to be real blood work. Though I am not a fan of having blood drawn, I typically don't have a problem with it.

Typically.

I am not sure what happened, but when the nice (young) lady said, "okay, now take a deep breath" and stuck the needle in me, I got a huge fire that went from the midpoint of my arm straight into my fingertips. I thought that was odd. Then my fingertips of my middle and ring finger went numb. Once she was done, I almost fainted, and was sent on my way.

So here I am at the office, having started the day off poorly, and irritated that my fingertips are numb. Needless to say, I am not sunshiny and rosy this morning.... ah the things we do for our children.

In better news, we get the results of this blood work in a week, and then have another ultrasound on 10/17 where we can hopefully find out the boy/girl question. I can't wait for that!!

Worry Du Jour

So I used to believe that I was more or less a happy go lucky kind of person.... until I got knocked up. Now I find myself with an inexhaustible list of fears that do everything from distract to keep me awake. Sunday night's anxiety on the car we never bought is a good example of that one.

This week, I find myself concerned that I am not gaining enough weight. Maybe it's just that I can't feel Monday yet (other fear) and that I don't have another appointment for 2 more weeks to hear Monday, but I am all in a twine about not gaining enough weight. Upon research, it seems I am only about 2 lbs under what I should be, but percentage wise, it's like only 70% of where I should be. 2 weeks ago, according to the doctor's scale (all my clothes on after breakfast and trying to hydrate so I can pee) they had me at only gaining 2 pounds and they were not at all concerned.

All rationale thought tells me not to freak out.... I am just not so rational these days...

16 Week Update from Baby Center

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Dreamer's Remorse

So I spent the better part of last night awake. I woke up at 12:57 and didn't get back to sleep until after 4:33, and then fitfully from 6 - 7:30 as the world woke up and the streets were cleaned. I tried all my tricks to get back to sleep, like reading (twice!) and biofeedback relaxation (which finally worked) but I couldn't stop thinking about the car. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am saver. This purchase will be the single largest purchase of anything for myself ever and I am finding myself totally unnerved. Cars are expensive! And when I finally found one that I liked, wouldn't you know it, it was outside of our "range" and clearly (now) outside of my comfort zone.

Tim and I spoke this morning and I told him of my angst. He looked at me a grinned (as much as you can when you first wake up) and said, but we didn't buy it -- and we don't have to!

Which is true... but we still need a car...

Monday Preparations - Phase I

Today (Sunday) Lina and I spent ALL day on Stevens Creek Blvd.; if you are familiar with the area, you already can guess what we were doing ALL day. For those who are less familiar with Steven Creek, it is the Peninsula's car dealer thoroughfare. Car heaven if you like that kind of stuff. Every make and model lined up, glistening in an assortment of colors - like two and a half ton jelly beans. Lina and I decided, finally after some 4 years talking about it, to upgrade to a new or newish vehicle. The reason - Monday of course. We feel it is time to put Lina in a larger and more safe vehicle...considering the size of the trucks these days, our Honda, though peppy an fun to drive, is no match against today's SUV if something were to go wrong. We've looked at EVERYTHING, except Subaru (ran out of time). At present, the Lexus GX 470 has taken the lead over Chevy's Tahoe and ... well, we don't really like anything else that much. Toyota had no Land Cruisers to look at, so we'll hold on deciding until we see the '08 or an '07 - if one can be found. Whatever we decide, it will be done with Monday and mother's safety in mind.

If anyone is interested in how the voting went to tip the scales in favor of the GX 470, here it is in vivid detail.

We rank the trucks based on size, options, warranty, cost, reliability and satisfaction ratings, residual value...add them all up, then Lina points at the one she wants to drive and thats the one that wins :) Between the two - hands down the Lexus is BEST and as usual, Lina and I are in complete agreement.