And... they are off!

My rings that is.  Over the past couple of months, I've had a lot of people notice that I can still wear my wedding rings and they were impressed.  Well, my response was always, "Thanks, but I've never taken them off."  Well, it dawned on me this weekend, that I should probably go ahead and take them off before there's any chance I could go into labor.  But... there was a problem... they weren't coming off.  I started freaking out.  For those of you who don't know, I played basketball all throughout Junior High and High School and even played a good bit in college with friends.  Being short and a point guard, I had my fair share of blocked shots and rough hits which often resulted in jammed fingers.  My knuckles have always been somewhat large (from all the jammed fingers) and it always hurt a little to take rings on and off... so I just didn't.  Over the past 4 days, I've tried every internet trick there was out there... from Windex to dental floss to oil to conditioner... these rings weren't budging.  I kicked and screamed and cried and finally... just prayed.  I asked God to get these rings off! 

Now... onto today.  Lou Ann called and was running by a children's store that was having a sale in Memphis.  I told her I would come by during lunch.  When I got there she was about to leave to go eat with Matt and asked if I wanted to go.  Matt loves these little sub shops and I didn't want to eat by myself so I jumped in the car and rode with her.  We pulled up to Jersey Subs... which was NEXT door to the jeweler where we bought my rings.  I couldn't belive it.  I told her that this was a sign and I was going to go in and ask the sweet ladies what I should do.  They have taken such good care of me and Ryan throughout our engagement and wedding.  After lunch, Lou Ann walked straight in the jewelry store (I was kinda hoping to head to the car).  I walked in and told the ladies what was going on.  They calmly grabbed my finger, said there was no hope, grabbed some device and off they went!  Lou Ann held her hands over my ears so that I couldn't hear what was going on as they split all 3- 2 bands and my engagment ring- apart.  I teared up, but they assured me that I wouldn't be able to tell when they put them back together- a size bigger that is.  Needless to say, God works in mysterious ways.  These rings are off and I no longer feel like a mouse in a cage.  Once they had the first one off, Lou Ann thought it would be a good idea to take a picture for the baby book... and all of you of course!  Moral of the story... take your rings the day you find out you are pregnant!