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A recap of a conversation during our car ride today. It totally threw me for a loop, as I wasn't expecting the life/death/heaven topics to come up for awhile. I tried my best to provide simple answers that she could understand, but still wasn't sure what to say.

Ruby: Mom, I want to meet Mom-Mom Albina.

Me: I'm sorry, Rubina, but you can't meet Mom-Mom Albina. She's not alive anymore.

Ruby: She's not alive? What does that mean?

Me: It means that she died and doesn't live here anymore.

Ruby: Where does she live now?

Me: She lives in heaven but we can't visit her there. We can't go to heaven right now.

Ruby: I just want to give her a hug and kiss. Her name is Albina and she is Gigi's mommy.

Me: Yes she is Gigi's mommy and she was a very special lady. That's why we named you Albina, because you are special too.

Ruby: I AM special!

...and because I know everyone likes pictures, some random camera pictures of my special girl

1. I'm baaaaccck. While I'm far from being 100%, I am offiicially living (and blogging) in Austin again. Today is my second day on my own with Ruby and things are going ok. I'm exhausted by 6pm when David gets home, but what pregnant lady wouldn't be? The good news is that I haven't been throwing up, I'm starting to eat real food again, and I feel slightly less nauseous.

2. A picture to document that we are actually at home, hanging out on the sofa watching Sesame Street and talking about how cool it is to pee and poo on the potty.

3. My parents are awesome. Seriously amazing people. I always knew they were awesome, but they really went above and beyond the parenting call of duty the last few months. They opened their home to us for over the last seven weeks and kept me out of the hospital (which is where I was surely headed). My mother put her entire life on hold to take care of me and Ruby. I don't think I can ever repay her for parenting Rubina 24/7 the entire time we were in Houston. She also had hyperemesis when pregnant with me, so I know that she truly understands just how frustrating, exhausting and isolating the condition can be.

4. Not only did my folks take care of us for almost two months, but my mom would drive Ruby and me to Austin to visit David on weekends he wasn't able to visit Houston. I don't even want to think about how many miles she put on her car going back and forth. I love you, Mom. More than chocolate cake and ice cream AND chicken.

5. David posted one of the pictures from our last visit to Austin two weeks ago. We did a low key family picnic at Mayfield Park where we introduced Ruby to pretzel chips and checked out the peacocks. Here are a couple more pictures to brighten up this blog post:

6. I want to get a tshirt made that says "Hyperemesis is my nemesis." I know it's cheesy, but hyperemesis really is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. I was in a dark place emotionally and physically when I got to Houston. I'll spare our blog readers the details of how miserable I was, but it wasn't pretty. I'm doing much better now, thanks to all the support from my family and friends.

7. The mommy friends I have in Austin have also gone above the call of duty since I've been home. Not only did they call, text and email to check in on us while we were gone, but one special momma friend arranged meals and playdates for us for the next two weeks. The dinners they have brought so far have been delicious, and Ruby has loved her playdates the last two days. I have also loved my naps while she was out having fun with friends.

8. I also have the best husband ever. While I know it's got to be hard for him to understand just how miserable the hyperemesis makes me, he has been nothing but considerate, supportive, and loving the whole time I've been pregnant. He never once complained about living like a bachelor for seven weeks, although I know it had to be hard for him too. He kept the house clean, the dogs happy, and had flowers waiting for me each time we came home. I'm so lucky to be married to him.

9. We will not be having any more children, in case anyone was wondering if were crazy enough to do this all over again in a few years. NO WAY.

10. When I was in Houston, I spent a lot of time alone in my room sleeping and listening to music (and trying not to vomit). This song was one I listened to a lot, and imagined dancing around the house with my little family and getting back to life as usual in Austin. My dog days might not be totally over, but I'm finally making some improvements and able to enjoy little bits of my pregnancy.