Nansee Hughes

Good evening, People of the Blog!

Well, I got a little more done in the baby room today. It's coming together really nicely. I got the blackout curtain up - I need to adjust it a little bit, as it's a little lopsided...and I got six of the pictures the kidlets (aka: nieces and newphews) made for the baby room. I decided to get them involved in the pregnancy too, as they are a HUGE part of my life and I love them all dearly. So, I got them to each paint on an 8x11 canvas to put in the baby's room. I'm waiting for 4 more photos from the last of the niblings to come over from PEI. I'm excited to get them all up and I can look at them and remember how much I love each one of my niblings every time I go into the baby's room!  I also put photos of Brodie and me in frames and hung them in the room as well. I attached photos below of what I'm talking about. Enjoy!!

NH

Another week has gone by and I am just over 22 weeks now! I had to break down and buy maternity pants. I've been doing so well this far, but now it's starting to get hard to pull my pants up over my thighs. Oh well. It'll be nice not to have to step into my socks, then step into my pants, then step into my bellaband. I almost fell over the other morning into my dresser because of this problem. 

Mom and I have managed to make good headway on the mural in Button's room. It's going to look fabulous! It's very colourful and beautiful. I've attached a picture below. 

I said in my last blog entry that I would talk about things that I liked as well as disliked about pregnancy and what-not. Well, I just complained a little bit about what I don't like....so now, I'm going to tell you my huge fetish right now that I'm always looking at: etsy.com 

This website is AMAZING! If you are looking for something specific that is homemade or something specific that you can't find in stores anywhere, check etsy.com  It's a crafting website where you pay via PayPal (don't worry, you don't need an account! You can use a one-time use option). People make things or want to sell things for pretty cheap and sell them on this website. It's REALLY great! I've purchased 2 little hats from two different "stores" and, oddly enough, I even found honeysuckle cat toys! My cat is horribly picky about her toys and catnip just doesn't do it for her, but honeysuckle gets her just freaked out! It's so great, I wish stores would sell honeysuckle toys. Oh well. I found them really cheap on this site. The "stores" are owned by various people all over the world, so I would caution you to contact the makers/sellers before buying something just to be safe, but so far I haven't had any issues with the "stores" I have bought from and I have contacted every one of them just to ask questions and they always answer. 

Anyway, that's all from me today! Stay safe out there on the roads and hope every one is happy and healthy!

NH

22 weeks

Button's mural (not finished yet!)

Hello, People of the Blog!

Ok, so I know that the bulk of you (or the one or two of you that read this blog) already know that my husband and I are making big changes in our lives - We are pregnant and going to have a baby around mid-March. We are VERY excited and VERY happy to be starting this next chapter in our lives together. I'm going to try and keep this blog up-to-date on the progress of my pregnancy as well as throughout the baby's first year or so. Don't worry! This doesn't mean that I am quitting singing or anything! I am going to try and keep singing for as long as I can and hopefully get back into "the game" as soon as I can. So, here is the first blog of the next adventure!

I am about 22 weeks now and am feeling pretty well. This wasn't always so. I found out during Bach week this summer that I was expecting our little Bean. The only reason I found out then was because I had already been feeling ill for the past week and a half (so most of Lieder week and the last part of Italian Art Song week). I went to the doctor and he said it definitely sounded like I was pregnant. So, when he sent me for a urinalysis, I was still so sure that there was something else wrong. I couldn't believe that I, Nansee Hughes, was pregnant. The next day, while I was at work, I found out that I was indeed pregnant. 

I started feeling better around week 12. I definitely didn't have the morning sickness that some poor women get where they need the anti-nausea medication. I was nauseous, but was able to still function (sort of), mostly in the afternoons. I lost some weight because I was so tired and couldnt stomach a lot of food...or stand up long enough to make anything. I mostly ate tomato soup, crackers and ginger ale. 

I've had a couple anxiety attacks, thinking there was something wrong with the baby, but now that I can feel the little one move around in there, and he's horribly active, I have started being a bit more relaxed about that aspect of pregnancy. 

I have had two ultrasounds and have to have another one, because he is definitely like his father and is very stubborn. The poor ultrasound tech tried to strike a truce with the little one to get him to stop wiggling so she could get the pictures. And I have to get another one because he wasn't cooperating for the spine picture. And yes, I'm sure you caught that - we are having a little boy! We've got names picked out and are excited to see which one he fits in March. The baby's room is starting to come together nicely. I'm waiting for my comfy nursery chair and waiting for the mural on the wall to be done (courtesy of my Mother). I just had my gestational diabetes screening test today. So far, beside the nausea....that was the most unpleasant part of this whole process. 

Anyway, I will keep you updated on the things that I like about pregnancy, what I don't like and everything in between. Hopefully this will be a helpful little blog for expecting Moms. But, I will say this: EVERY pregnancy is different. So, just because I go through something, or say something, doesn't mean that it'll happen to you! 

Me at 21 weeks

I have been officially back in Canada for a week and 3 days. Everything's starting to go back to normal in the way of my life - dogs happy and content that Mommy is home (and so is the cat, though she shows less enthusiasm every day as they progress...), hubby is working and on his way back to the homestead today for who knows how long. I started back at work (sigh) and catching up with new policies and new systems that were implimented after I left. I'm also currently in the 3 week course that I have done the past 3 summers with my voice teachers and vocal coach. It sucks when you have to work in between all that. As a singer, all you want to do is be able to take the time and sing and learn and grow. Unfortunately, I have $21 000.00 in national student loans an $14, 500.00 worth of a personal bank loan that I have to make monthly payments on...so I have to work and make some money.

Here's my little blurb for today: banks and the national student loan people are actually really helpful. As much as people hate them (as, really, I hate my loans but try not to take it out on the people working there and following the policies that they have to follow). As I just got back from holidays, and my work place is usually 2 weeks behind for your pay (as in, I've worked the last 2 weeks and should be getting paid on Tuesday, but unfortunately, because I didn't work the end of June and beginning of July, I don't get paid until August). So, I had to call my bank where my loan is and the national student loans centre. The bank apparently gives you a 2 month leeway where you can stop paying for two months and then they just tack it on to the end of your loan payment. So, if for example they told you your loan would be finished being paid off by August, and you had to stop payments for 2 months, then you would be going until October. You have the option of taking only one month or two months. But you can only use this in a year. So you have to be very careful when you use them. In my case, I only stopped payment for one month and have another month to use up within this year.

National Student loans is also really good with that. You have the option, if you need it, to go on a repayment relief program. I don't really know what this entails because I don't have to use it, but apparently that is one of the options. What I did was opted to get my automatic payment postponed until after I'm sure I get paid and then have my regular payment schedule resume after that.

The people I talked with were very helpful and I managed to get through the process without too much trouble (the NSL lady seemed to think I wanted to go on the relief plan, even though I asked if I could just get my payment delayed for a week or two until I got the money in my account).

I also had to quit my job at the bank, which was sad but at the same time nice to relieve my plate of one more item. My other job is starting to pick up more, as a bunch of developments happened before I left for Europe and then there were more developments as I was there and now a couple more now that I'm back. I'm hoping they will keep me around, as I get paid well at this job and it's casual, so they call me when needed - and really, one day a week is enough to help me pay off my loans. If I worked just a little more than that, I could pay for my lessons, etc. too and wouldn't have to rely so much on hubby. I also have students starting up in September, once the parents call and tell me what times work well for them. So it'll keep me busy and I'll be able to keep taking lessons and what-not. And on top of all that, I'm hoping to audition for different programs and want to take some lessons with Tracy Dahl to further my growing!

I'll leave you with another blogger's site to read. This is the opera singer, Joyce DiDonato. She got a letter from a singing student wanting advice, and Joyce goes off on a wonderful tangent! I love it! I hope you read it and enjoy her words of wisdom as much as I did!

Joyce DiDonato's blog:  http://www.joycedidonato.com/journal/

Until next time,

N

Hello people of the blog!

Today, we had breakfast with Tami and Martina and then we took Tami to the Hauptbahnhof to go back to Marburg and his University to study. Martina took us to Herkules and Mom and I walked down to Loewenburg.

We got a little bit lost finding Loewenburg, but we managed to find it. Martina was waiting for us and we went on a tour in the Loewenburg Schloss and saw where the msitress of one of the kings lived with their 13 children. It was very fascinating. Martina had to translate as the tour is only in German.

After this, we drove down to Wilhelmshoehe Schloss and we went through the small museum that shows the old rooms. This is the castle where Napoleon's brother ruled from (he was called the Koenig Lustigen (the funny king)...apparently because all he could say in German was Morgen sind lustig).

We came back to Martina's and had Maultaschen for supper with some bratwurst (I told you I would get as much in as I could!!!). Then we drove to where I went to CSSG for class to show my Mom and then Martina drove us out to Hannover-Münden where the two rivers meet and turn into a new river before it goes out to the sea.

Tomorrow, we leave to go back to Canada. I am sad to be leaving as I will be homesick for Germany and Austria....but at the same time, I am excited to get home and see my husband and my furbabies!!!

Thanks for joining us on our journey! I hope you enjoyed reading it and traveling along with us!!! Come back to see the pictures!

See you all soon!

Nansee (and Faye)