O-mazing!!!

Ok. Since I signed a consent form saying I wouldn't blog about the show...eeek! It did NOT say that I couldn't talk about my experience...

We decided to take the train. (IF you have never taken a train before, I highly recommend it. Ya, it was a little jerky at times..but super cheap, more room, snack bar, entertaining people) So yes, this was our first experience on a train as well. Well...... bahahaha. We took the metrolink over to Union Station. Piece of cake, done it a thousand times. We were running a little later than we would have liked. I 'lost' my drivers license. Which hello, you need to get into the show. That put us about 10 minutes off schedule, then there was a wreck in Hecker. We were pressed for time. We get off at Union Station around 2:47, start walking towards the shopping center. (Um, hello...didn't know there was more to the STATION). Some guy saw us with our luggage & told us we were going the wrong way and pointed us in the right direction. We started walking towards the building he pointed to. Um ya, that was a historical building. NOT a train station. We keep walking, having no idea where to go. We see another man and ask him where to go? He told us we needed to go through the parking lot, under the highway, up this hill to that colorful building. This is at 2:53ish? Our train was departing at 3:00. There was NO way we were going to make it. My preggo butt was already outta breath. This man says Oh girls, just hop in my car there is no way you are going to make that train! Me? I was thinking yes! Mom? Despite her better judgment said...ooookk?? Yes, probably not the smartest idea we've ever had. BUT! I've heard there are more better people in this world than not, so the odds were pretty good. He seemed harmless enough. Kind of looked like the "Where is Waldo" guy, well I guess Waldo. No detours or pit stops. Took us straight to the station. See? There are good people in this world. We run (to the best of a preggo carrying luggage ability) and get to the train. I had printed out the receipt and confirmation number off for the tickets. Well, come to find out that piece of paper is NOT the actual tickets. My mom told the conducter I think we have a problem. He replied with a chuckle Yeah, yeah you do. A big problem. LUCKILY! He was nice enough to let us on the train, despite our ignorance & had them bring the tickets down to us.

*notice the nail polish, oh yes! Oprah's fav*

Yes, 3:00 p.m. Granted we actually sat down in our seats at 2:59 but by the time I got my camera out,

30 seconds had passed. It was great! This was going to be an adventure.....

Matt & Trav's fears were coming true. We were Chicago Bound :)

See what I mean? The train is great! (FYI: bring sanitizer always, always)

 We had snacks & played cards to pass the time!

It was lovely to have my mom all to myself :)

*I can't get this pic to flip for anything.. grr*

Mom got locked in the bathroom at one point, it was halirious. But we made it!! Our actual 'Chicago' experience wasn't much. The train got in around 9:00 aka bedtime. Mom gave the 'non English speaking' cab driver an ass chewin & then bam! all of a sudden he was an 'English speaking' cab driver. It was great. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Metro downtown. It was super cute, but whatever their calming aromas were in the lobby made me nauseas. Blah! It was terrible. Anything & everything a preggo can have, I had. I had a headache, was nauseas, my back hurt, had heartburn, cramps, shocking pains in my stomach. Baby and I had a long talk. He/She was not going to make Mommy's once in a lifetime trip miserable. Luckily, by morning everything was back to normal. Thank you baby! We had food delievered, watched a movie (Life As We Know It..highly recommend it, blubbered the entire time), and went to bed (or tried to at least, the excitment made it nearly impossible).

*ahhh, real italian food. tastes good even in plastic*

I was up bright & early!!!! I was NOT going to be late. I've been waiting for this day since I was itty bitty!!!! Since I found out Tuesday night that I was leaving Wednesday afternoon, I didn't have time to shop & find the PERFECT outfit. Not only do I have a very limited dressy wardrobe anymore, it is even more limited being pregnant. Ugh! I'm usually not all about my clothes. I have always been a firm believer, if you are a nice, intriging person..people pay attention to your face, not the clothes you are wearing. But um helloooooo, I was not going to be able to intrige my Goddess. If any, her only impression of me was going to be what I was wearing. Stressful. I packed at least 6 outfits & tried numerous times to find the right one. We were doing good on timing even with mom getting locked in the hotel bathroom. I had to call maintence. It was once again halirious, I have no idea what was up with her luck and bathrooms? haha.

*Ready to go, all smiles*

We were apart of the B show, so we had to be there between 11:00 & 11:30. We got there at 10:15. AND we still had to wait in line. I guess others were just as excited! We had a much better taxi driver this time around. He cracked us up the whole way over. Ahh, love Chicago!! As we were waiting in line..... one of Oprah's producers and co-producers walked by us. Ahhhhhhh :) It was getting so real! And of course, it was two of my favorites!!! They just walked non-chantly with their coffees in hand. Apparently I am the only one in line who watches Behind the Scenes. And those people call themselves Oprah fans. psshh.

Ok, so we are movin into HARPO stuidos :D:D:D:D:D I had a lovely greeting Good morning, Mrs. Roscow. So glad you could be here today. (Let me just mention that every.single.person who worked there is sooo polite) We go through a crazy crazy security check. More strict than the airport, which is rather scary if you think abou it. Then we were handed a consent form and directed upstairs (a lot a lot of stairs) to a holding room. Well, Mom & I had to go to the restroom..so back down the stairs we went. An employee pulled me to the side & asked if he could ask me a question and if I would give him an honest answer. Ok? He asked if I was expecting, I laughed and said no. Ok...I really didn't do that, but it would of been really funny if I did. I told him yes & he said he can't believe someone sent me upstairs! Another employee came running to me, apologizing over and over. I really didn't see what the big fuss was about, but apparently it was a liability for expectant mothers to be walking up/down the stairs. Understandable. It was royal treatment after that! No more steps, bottled water, seated earlier. It was lovely!

When we walked into the studio, my heart started pounding. The stage, the red seats, the cameras, the lights. It was so much smaller than I expectd. On t.v. it looks huge! I knew what to expect next. One of the producers came out & got everyone pumped for the show. Like that was really necessary? I was getting teary eyed through the dancing around and singing. But I was doing good. Then it got quiet. Everyone else in the audience kept looking our way. I still don't know how they knew where she was going to walk in at? Then my dream started becoming a reality. I heard a scream. She was coming! She was coming! There she was, the person I have looked up to my.entire.life. The person I have admired, wanted to be like. The person I have laughed with, cried with. In the flesh. Gorgeous! She stopped. Waved and respected her standing ovation. Then it happened! She started walking towards me. I almost fainted (I wish I was over exaggerating). She stopped about a whole 2 feet in front of me to record the introduction. My lip started to quiver, and the the waterworks came in full force. I absolutely could not contain myself. Next to meeting Luke for the first time, it was the most overwhelming experience.

The show was so much fun! Everything and nothing like I expected. I didn't want it to end. OH! There is one thing I can say! (Because it was not part of the show) WILL SMITH &JADA PINKETT-SMITH walked out on stage during a break!!!!!! I love me some Will. It took everything in me to not go squeeze him. ha. He is just like you would imagine. Charming, goofy, pretty! Ahhh, it was a great day. A great great day! I have always been a dreamer, with a realists luck. Now I know anything is possible.

After the show, we walked across the street to the gift shop. And at the gift shop was a little section called 'Oprah's Closet'. Oh yes folks! Clothes that Oprah herself actually wore! I've heard that she sometimes auctions her stuff off, but I've always been leary to buy anything off the internet. I wanted a pair of her shoes. Always. Always. Always. There were two pair there. A goregous pair of suade boots and an adorable pair of short high heel boots. I asked how much they wore? $457. Choke.Regardless of the price, they were size 11s..I wear 8s. Um, I literally think my husband would take away my credit card privlages for life if I bought them. But I did get some goodies though!

*these pictures are startin to make me reallll mad*

So lets see. A t-shirt for Lukey Baby. It was the only boy or toddler thing in the whole store. It says 'O Boy' on a tag at the bottom. A 'O Baby' bib for peanut. A 'O' sweatshirt for me, because who doesn't love a comfy sweatshirt that was on clearance! Adorable 'O' pajama pants for me, because my mother insisted. Some keychains for my Oprah buddies back home. And my favorite! A bookmark with one of Oprah's quotes "What you do today, creates every tomorrow".

Right after the show we had to pick up our luggage from the hotel and get back on the train. Really. That fast! My poor baby might of possibly got their first contact high from our lovely cab driver. Ugh! And that was it. Got back to St. Louis around 10:30. There is something about coming home, no matter how long its been. Just feels good! It was after midnight by the time I got home. The house was clean!?! My boys were both passed out in our bed. God love em :)

I love love love looooove Oprah, but NOTHING compared to Luke waking up in the morning &realizing Mommy was home. Ahh, it was the best. I don't think I will be leaving him again any time soon. I know it was only a day and a half. But it seemed like an eternity.

The show airs March 1st!!!!!! So going to have an Oprah party upstairs at The Office for anyone who wants to join. And you better believe I am going to be wearing my O pants!!!