All cried out...and ankles almost back to normal.

Now that I have fully recovered, and the tears have dried... I can write about my past week.... In a nutshell, I'm done traveling (for business) until after the baby comes... Here were the highlights of my trip (good and bad!)...

Thursday, February 8th- got stuck at the office until 11:00 PM with major computer trauma that would effect the outcome of my conference. Have to then go home and pack. Missed Grey's Anatomy.

Friday, February 9th- arrived in Florida- got to spend the night at Amy's new place (a true highlight)- downside... my feet swelled to the size of balloons by the end of the night - note: ankles non existent.

Saturday, February 10th- Had EMERGENCY pedicure for said swollen feet. Shoes do not fit. Must wear cheap Old Navy flip flops. Get Computer trauma FINALLY sorted out at 10:30 PM. Got ZERO sleep due to strobing bulb in hotel room, and drunken domestic dispute one floor below me that lasted from 2:30 until 4:00 am. (I thought that I was staying at a Disney FAMILY resort)

Sunday, February 11th - Conference starts without a hitch, boss decides to let me go take a nap... Get to my room to discover new annoying sound... Elevator cables skimming up my wall that operate the lovely outside glass elevator (runs only during daytime).

oh... feet STILL swollen.

Monday, February 12th - actually squeezed my feet into decent but comfortable work shoes to impress the big-wigs that were presenting that day... by end of day... FEET terribly swollen.

Tuesday, February 13th - Today, I got asked TWICE if I was having twins. Not the question you want to start your day off with. Self Esteem= ZERO. News of impending snow storm to hit New England...has me re-thinking my earlier decision to fly through DC to get home following day. Conference is going extremely well. Clients are happy, and boss is giving me a lot of the credit. My Boss and I go to Downtown Disney that night and I finally break down and buy my first gift for the baby.. a snugly Pooh Bear and a baby toy... (I would have gotten Mickey, but he looked funny). Flowers arrived at home from my Dad and Susan.. I hear they are beautiful!!

Wednesday, February 14th - Valentine's Day! Snow storm is hitting DC and North... I change flight to re-route me through Charlotte... Good thing because they canceled my flight to DC. Stand with 300 other weary travelers at the US Airways counter.... Luckily I'm a Preferred member... and I get to scoot to the preferred line... it still takes 45 minutes... I generously offer to stay in Charlotte for the night if they can get me there, and rebook myself to a Charlotte-Boston flight for Thursday... Again, good thing... because as I was in line, they canceled my connecting flight from Charlotte to Boston for that evening. This gives me a chance to spend some time with Mom and GM!!

Plane to Charlotte is delayed, due to aircraft in PA that can't get to Orlando.. I spend 5 hours in the Orlando airport before I get to go anywhere... Finally arrive in Charlotte. Mom is there to pick me up.

Thursday, February 15th- Was supposed to be on the 2:15 flight, but Mom and GM had a previous engagement to be at, so they dropped me off at the airport at 11:00. I manage to get on the 11:25 flight, and I was assured that they were trying to get my luggage on that flight too... I get to Boston, and no luggage. I talk to Steve, who has managed to catch the 24hour stomach bug... he can't get his head off the pillow without running to the bathroom... Needless to say, he is in no shape to come get me. Normally, not a big deal... but its 15degrees outside and I have NO COAT. Oh- and when my luggage does finally decide to arrive, its much heavier and bulkier than when I left (thanks to some baby goodies that were in NC that I decided to drag back). When my bag finally arrives at 5:00, I break down in tears to my mom over the phone... I have luggage, but no coat, I have no one to pick me up, and I now have to wait another hour and a half for traffic to die down, before I can get into a cab to go home (otherwise the meter would just tick away, and my cash would too!) So, after 5 hours in the Boston airport, I finally get into a cab and go home. I arrive to a slick driveway that I promptly slide and almost fall down in... I get inside, mumble a hello to my sick husband, and settle in to watch two weeks worth of Grey's Anatomy before heading upstairs to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms (can't afford to catch Steve's funk)

Home sweet home... and the pregnancy induced tears have dried. The ankles are almost visible again...