I am home! Very tired and thousands of messages behind, so it will be a few days of skimming before you hear much from me.

I have lots of pictures and stories to share, but not tonight. The many Buffistas that I shared this birthday trip with were beyond gracious and accomodating. Thank you all so very much.

Just as a tease, might I just say that the trip was both shiny and adventurous.

Well, shit.

I went through a battery of tests related to pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) this morning. The baby is still in very good health, and I'm not in terrible shape YET, but I now have to go into the clinic twice a week for evaluation, and they only want me to work one more week after this, or at most, two. I'd planned to work through the end of March. Now they're just hoping that with rest and medication they can keep my bp low enough that I can safely carry the baby to the early end of full term--I'm 37 weeks on March 20, and they might want to induce as early as then.

The house is not ready. My office is not ready. I don't so much as know how to change a diaper, and our "baby boot camp" classes don't start until March 23. We're going to have to swallow our pride and get people to help us set up the house, which is a big thing, because we're sloppy anyway, and under the energy drain effect of pregnancy our house has descended to squalor levels in spots, and I'm afraid if any of our friends see it, they won't want to be our friends anymore, because we're such pigs. And I'm scared for my sake and the baby's. I know 37 weeks is full-term, and that even if she were born today she's mature enough that she should develop normally and have a sound mind and body to take her through life. Which is what I want. But I wanted her to go to 39 or 40 weeks and be fully cooked, as it were. I feel like I'm going to be having a half-baked baby.

So, healthma appreciated, and focusma for figuring out what MUST be done and doing it.

Hey Buffistas!

I have been off working on a production of Pterydactyls

Here are somepictures:

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This is the Pink Chanel Suit I was talking about that I am quite proud of:

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Also, 2 students designed and built this 10 ft dinosaur!

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Despite the patented Buffista healthma, my aunt Iola passed away at 5pm central this afternoon.

Thanks to all the Buffistama, but to paraphrase the old medical rules...

#1, people die.
#2, even Buffistas cannot change rule #1.

She will be missed, but as I hadn't seen her in 10 years, a younger and more vital Iola isn't a bad way by which to remember her.

She would have been 80 this year.

ETA: Since I have the post... Leg getting better, still two large holes, but the infection is getting smaller around them. Exercising, eating right. More later.

LA-istas!

Nic and I will be in LA from Sunday night, 14 March, until Wednesday morning, 17 March.

Anyone want to get together? I'm thinking Gardens of Taxco.....

Email at sf_deb@yahoo.com

FYI, I'm going to be a very dark gray for the next few days because I called the triage nurse last night after DH and I got into a bit of a tiff over our differing interpretations of just how much I was supposed to be resting because of my blood pressure and realized no one had given us clear instructions at the clinic on Thursday. Based on what I told her, the triage nurse put me on fairly strict bedrest for the weekend, but told me to call the clinic back on Monday to clarify what they meant. And while we're working on getting me a laptop or something set up, it's not going to happen this weekend, so I'll be on the couch with lots of books and the Tivo remote.

I'm going to be on Jeopardy! this Monday. It usually runs on ABC at 7 or 7:30, but check your local showtimes and listings. I am a girl, so I'll be the short one in the middle named Jennifer.

Hi ya'll! I just wanted to let you know that I got into my term abroad program through my school for Wales! I'm incredibly excited, and I wanted to thank you for your helpful tips and suggestions at the beginning of the year when it came to choosing school for Wales. Cheers!

Attention LA-istas (and those in areas surrounding): While I know Tustin is a bit of a haul from LA, I will be in that stunning example of Orange County living for a few days next week due to having to attend some training classes. Anyone up to having dinner with me while I'm there, which will be from March 8th through the 11th?

Tom Warin and I are engaged.

I asked him to marry me, as is tradition, on Sadie Hawkins Day. He said yes and counteroffered with a beautiful sapphire ring.

Why, yes, we are both deliriously happy and wish that we could post this jointly from both our accounts.

We want to thank you all for having this community, where we both met and fell in love.

We are giggling and Tom is kissing my neck as we speak.

FAQ to follow in the next few days. :)

FYI, you all are getting this announcement before most of our families. This may have something to do with the fact that it is almost midnight, but it also has to do with the fact that this is where we found each other and we wanted to tell you as soon as possible.

xoxoxo