Be Inspired

So, most of you don't really care about my writing posts.
Tough noogies.

I got tagged by my beautiful writer friend, Darci Cole.

So today I'm going to participate in the Be Inspired Bloghop Meme.
Plus I love the picture and need to get my writing mojo flowing.

I get to answer ten questions about my Manuscript. I'm supposed to tag some other people to answer the same questions, but I'm cheating on the second part and not tagging anyone.
Shame on me.

On the other hand, I actually have a couple of Manuscripts in the works, so I should do this for more than one, shouldn't I? Maybe in another post, if it comes from popular demand. ;)

1. What is the name of your book? Fathom

2. Where did the idea for your book come from? Funnily enough, it came from an idea I had to dress up as a mermaid on the beach as a practical joke just to see if there would be any reaction.

3. In what genre would you classify your book? New Adult, Contemporary Fantasy I guess... or do mermaids classify as paranormal?

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition of your book, who would you choose? Dakota Fanning as Olivia, Armie Hammer as Calder (if he could pull off the Scottish accent). Samantha? No idea.

5. Give us a one sentence synopsis of your book. Olivia and Samantha's summer vacation in San Diego turns out to be a dangerous introduction to some residents of Earth's oceans that aren't supposed to exist.

6. Is your book already published? Nope

7. How long did it take you to write your book? I think about a year fro the first draft, which I started in 2007. So, YES people, I totally pinned the mermaid trend BEFORE it started.

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to? (Or, readers of which books would enjoy yours?) People who enjoy paranormal action.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book? Authors who inspire me are John Ronald, Jo, Jane, and Jacksie. Tolkien, JK Rowling, Jane Austen, and C.S. Lewis. But I love the writing style of Shannon Hale. And oddly, enough, Stephanie Meyer inspired me.... to write a better book. (Twilight fans, I do not want to hear it.)

10. Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book? This story is not your typical mermaid story. It is nothing like the Disney movie, my main character is not a mer-person, and she does not fall for a mer-person. And no, she doesn't become a mer-person either. Lots of flying bullets and car-chases, and a Scottish Hottie. What more could you ask for?

Remembering Teagan and a lot of other angels

This sweet family celebrated the very short life of their precious girl recently. The way they celebrated was so beautiful and sweet, I had to share it.

http://spicyspicers.blogspot.com/2012/08/teagans-birthday-part-2.html

Because I have to post more pics of the Boy

In Great-Grandma Nielson's blankie

Opening Day of the Olympics. (Thanks again, Williams Family!!)

Cuteness!!

First time going to church. (You can't see it, but the onesie has a little tie sewn onto it. Thanks, Kelsey!) Poor guy is rockin the baby acne right now. Starting to clear up!

First high-heeled jaunt in MONTHS! They finally fit. Hello, ankles! And ohhhh did my feet kill by the end of church!!

Something about babies in nothin but a diaper is just too cute for words.

Got him to take a pacifier. Life gets easier in some ways, harder in others. Like when he won't keep the dang thing in his mouth. 

He's out of newborn diapers now. Mostly cuz we ran out of them. And his newborn size onesies are getting too small. 3 month sizes are just slightly too big but he still wears them. For pete's sake, this kid is 2 1/2 weeks old!!!

Stats as of last appointment:
Height: 22.75 inches, 99th percentile
Weight: 10 lbs, 5 oz, 90th percentile
Head: 14.5 inches, 78th percentile

Yes. He's huge.
And we are loving him!

Just too perfect

My mom sent me a picture this morning, telling me she bought Ella a new toy.

The picture was too perfect not to share. I love the gorgeous little flower pinwheel that now decorates my sweet girl's resting place.

We miss you every day, my Ladybug. Precious moments with your little brother sometimes remind me of precious moments we might have had with you. (Moments we'll get to have one day, but not for a long, long time.)

Thank you for the gift, Mom. Thanks for remembering her today.

You are truly your father's son.

Just so my bloggy friends can see the resemblance between Bret and the clone that grew in his wife's belly for nine months:

Bret with big sister Adele. Nice face.

The Little Bub*, getting ready to go home from the hospital. Again, nice face.

You can tell he loves getting dressed.

Bret again, with another crazy face.

Little Bub on his birthday. Happy to be in this world. :)

Now for some happy ones:

Bret at probably 3 months old.

Little Bub. Much younger and not smiling, but you can see it.

Okay, maybe only I can see it, but seriously, these boys are twins. I absolutely love it!

It's amazing to see bits of Little Bub in Bret's face and vice versa. 

Especially because they're both so freaking cute.

Traditional sleeping daddy/baby picture.

And just for fun: this is a little of what I get to look forward to:

Bret at 1 year old.

Bret at 3 years old. He turned blonde at two, then went dark again around his teenage years.

I love that face!!!! This seriously looks like Little Bub too.

*I've decided to do away with the nickname Abraxas-Fitzwilliam. It just didn't fit at all. Plus it was a huge mouthful. I like Little Bub way better and it sorta goes with Ladybug too.

Let me introduce you to someone

Last Thursday, July 19th, 2012, we went to the hospital.
Arrived at 9:40 am.
Received a blessing from Bret and my dad.
And lots of love and support from my mom.

Prepped for surgery.
With a platelet count at 81, I was able to get the spinal block and stay awake for the c-section
Tender Mercy #1

Bret sat right beside me until at 12:05 pm, I heard the most precious, anticipataed sound in the world:
The cry of my newborn son.
I won't call that a tender mercy. I'll call that the best, most incredible miracle ever ever ever #1.

Daddy went to be with the baby while they cleaned, measured, weighed, and wrapped him. The baby, not the daddy.
The final weigh-in: 9 lbs, 15 oz, 22 inches long.
BIG boy!
I prayed he'd at least be under ten pounds. We were one ounce shy.
Tender Mercy #2, with a little bit of heavenly sense of humor.

Then, with Mommy very hopped up on demerol, they brought him over.
I couldn't keep the tears from flowing.
He is beautiful.
And, just as I hoped, looks exactly like his Daddy.
Tender Mercy #3

I think he looks like Ella in this picture.

And he's perfectly healthy
Best, most incredible miracle ever ever ever #2.

They took him away while the doctors finished me up.
Getting my insides shoved back inside me didn't feel good, since I was only numb from the waist down.
And I remember hearing the casual conversation while these people were finishing major abdominal surgery on my body. I had a mental image of myself snapping my fingers above the drape and saying "Um, hello, focus, here, people!"
But they know what they're doing. And they did a fantastic job.
Incision healing well. Pain is manageable.
Tender Mercy #4

Then we go to recovery, where Dad is bonding with baby.
I give nursing a try.
We decide on his name. (Sorry, won't be posting it on the blog).
And just stare at this little one.

The rest of the day is a bit of a blur.
Nurses, meds, adorable baby. Bret, family visits, baby. Kisses, loves, more staring at baby.
"I can't believe this is my baby!"

This is actually day 2. Pay no attention to the sleep-deprived, shell-shocked, unshowered mother in the background. The baby is way better looking.

 Proud Daddy.

Doting Grandma.

Next few days were not as enchanting.
Baby continues to do well, while Mommy battles post-partum hypertension and pre-ecclampsia.
Icky medications that made me feel like crap.
Frustration.
Tears.
NO sleep.
Five days of half heaven, half torture.
Cluster feeding.
Growing to HATE that STUPID blood pressure machine that keeps rolling in every few hours spouting stupid numbers that are way too high!!!

All the while, this sweet baby snuggles, sleeps, smiles, cries, wants his mommy, loves his daddy, meets extended family, and tries (along with mommy) to learn to nurse.
We get the hang of it. Not a total breeze, but not a terrible struggle.
Tender Mercy #5

Then, at LONG LAST, the doctor came to tell me I could go home. I wanted to throw my arms around the guy. But I didn't.
That would be weird.

I'm still on high blood pressure meds. And it's still a struggle. Will these cankles ever go away and stay away?
But I've got LOTS of support from my incredible husband and wonderful angel of a mother who has come to be with me while Bret is gone at school. She brings me cookies and makes me dinner.
The woman deserves a medal of honor.
Tender Mercy #6

So here we are.
Almost a week after this precious, handsome boy came into our family.

Welcome to the world, little bub.

Tomorrow

We'll be having our baby by c-section at 11:30 tomorrow.

I'm terrified.

And excited.

Ready to not be pregnant anymore.

And eager to finally hold my baby.

Worried something will go wrong.

Hoping and trusting that everything will go right.

Freaking out.

At peace.

Wondering.

Worrying some more.

As soon as I can, I'll give updates.

Until then, here's to praying that everything comes out perfectly.

Pun intended.