Family
Showing posts with label BYU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BYU. Show all posts
21 January 2010
30 October 2009
Stalling, Or, the One in which I finally tell you the birth story because my baby is almost 2 months old
**Edited: This is the really rosy, watered-down version of my
son's birth. I have come to understand that much of the "trauma" (and
I was traumatized, as was my sweet boy) was the direct result of policies and
procedures and acts of the medical personnel associated with the birth. It took
me quite a time to do my research and understand what happened. I believe I
have processed it all and mostly healed from it, but there is still so much
that makes me very, very angry. I believe we would have been better off if we'd
been left alone from the start. I wish a birth class like Birth Boot Camp (or
similar) was available at the time, and that I'd've known about it. I wish that
I had been given more accurate information by my "care" providers and
that I had known I could take more responsibility for my own baby's birth.
Someday I will write out what happened through the lens of what I know now, but
I am not there yet. I'm just not there yet.**
Fair warning: This is a really, really,
really long post.
I admit it, I'm using this blog as an
excuse to stall right now. I've been working on a paper for my humanities class
for the last few hours and haven't really gotten anywhere, and I need a break.
I'll write a bit here and then a paragraph there. Thankfully the baby has been
asleep since about 8:30...it's about 12:30 as I start this, so four hours and
counting! (I actually woke him up about 9 so we could go pick up Husband, and
he went back to sleep in the car seat...he's still there because he's happy.) I
need him to stay that way for a while longer, which he might. The other night
he slept 6 hours straight. (Edited to add that he woke up about 2:00 to eat. I
had one paragraph of the paper left and had just gotten to the point in the
birth story where I was officially admitted to the hospital.)
No cute pictures today, sorry.
Jeric is already 8 weeks old. He'll
officially be 2 months on Monday. I can't believe how quickly the time has
gone. He had a doctor visit the other day. Apparently, my baby is a CHUNK!
Birth stats: 7 lb. 13 oz., 21 in.
2-week stats: 8 lb. 7 oz. (~50th
percentile), 21.5 in. (~75th percentile), 36 cm head circumference (between
25th and 50th percentile)
2-month stats: 13 lb. 0 oz. (almost 90th
percentile), 22.75 in. (just about 50th percentile), 39.5 cm head circumference
(50th percentile)
Yeah, he really fattened up...more than
four and a half pounds in 6 weeks! Husband refers to Jeric as "fatty"
-- as in "Where's my fatty?" and "Come here, you fatty."
In other news, I started packing today.
Kristina and Rachel from the singles' ward came over for a couple of hours to
help. That way I didn't have to worry about packing AND about Jeric at the same
time. They played with him while I packed and packed while I took care of him.
We made a good start.
And here is the long-awaited (yeah, right)
birth story. Hopefully I can remember details since I didn't do this
sooner...If you don't want to hear all about my cervix, go ahead and skip the
rest of this post :) It will probably be pretty long, since I tend to be rather
wordy at times (my husband would say all the time).
I had an OB appointment on my due date,
Tuesday 1 September. I'd been contracting for a couple of weeks, sometimes a
bit painfully and regularly, but I knew it wasn't actual labor. I was feeling
good and like I could go on being pregnant for a while longer (though of course
I was anxious to meet the baby), which was a good thing because I was feeling
like it would be at least the weekend before he was born. I still think that
would have been true if not for the doctor...
So anyways, my appointment. I had been
sitting at about 1 cm and 70% effaced since 38 weeks, even with all the
contractions I had going on. My cervix still hadn't changed by my 40 week
appointment. But the doctor (one I hadn't seen before) decided to take things
into his own hands and stripped my membranes without telling me he was going to
beforehand. As far as I knew he was just going to check me and be done with it
but then I felt pain and he's all, "And now I'm stripping your membranes..."
and I'm all, "Yeah, I noticed!" I must say that I wasn't too
particularly pleased with him. Good thing I knew what that meant or I'd have
been really freaked out. And, I'm pretty sure that's what made me go into
labor, and I also blame him for the fact that my labor lasted about 25 hours. I
don't think my body was quite ready, but I think I would have gone in the next
couple of days. Ugh.
That afternoon I ran a bunch of errands
(including purchasing a nursing bra...I cut it kind of close, I know!) and made
dinner. A new movie arrived from Netflix that evening (Hercules...that movie rocks!)
so Husband and I decided to watch it before bed. About halfway through the
movie (about 10 pm) I noticed that the intermittent contractions I'd been
having forever were getting regular. This wasn't unusual. Occasionally they'd
get to where they were pretty steady and five minutes apart, but they never
gained enough intensity or got close enough together for me to think I was
going into labor. I thought that's what was happening this time (and I was kind
of right, since "labor" means that the contractions are actually
making the cervix dilate, and this wasn't exactly the case with me). I paid it
no mind and enjoyed the movie.
Husband went to sleep right after the
movie got over, but I wasn't tired enough to sleep right then. I tried for a
while and then decided to get up and do something for a bit before trying
again. Normally when I changed activities, the contractions would stop being so
regular. This time they didn't. I went back to bed around 1 and tried to sleep
but couldn't, so I thought I'd try timing my contractions. They were about 3-4
minutes apart and lasting about a minute each. I also thought they were getting
worse.
By this time it was about 2:30. I decided
to get up and take a shower just in case we ended up going to the hospital,
because then who knew when my next shower would be. Besides, the contractions
had gotten to the point where I couldn't have slept through them even if I had
managed to fall asleep. I also did a few dishes and straightened up the house a
bit before going back to bed around 3:30. I time the contractions again and
they were still about 3 mintues apart but more intense than they had been. I
woke Husband up to tell him that I might need to go to the hospital in a few
hours. I asked him how he felt about the possibility of missing work that day
(he was thrilled).
I became too uncomfortable to lie down, so
I went and sat in my glider with a book and tried to ignore the contractions.
It worked, kind of. For a while. Husband came in about 4:30 and sat with me. By
then, the contractions were only about 2 minutes apart and lasting a minute or
more, so I was only getting a few seconds of a break between them. At 5:30 we
called one of our home teachers to come help Husband give me a priesthood
blessing before we headed to the hospital.
We arrived around 6 am and got all checked in.
When the nurse checked me, I was dilated
to 1.5 cm. I was so disappointed, I thought surely I was further than that.
(Pretty sure it's because the doctor stripped my membranes... It made the
contractions intense but didn't do much dilation). The hospital's policy is
that if you haven't changed in one hour you go home. Well, an hour came and
went and OF COURSE I was still at 1.5 cm, though the contractions were still
getting more and more intense.
So I got sent home. They gave me a shot of
morphine and something else in my hip to help with the pain. They told me to go
home and get some sleep (I hadn't slept since Monday night, and I'd gotten up
Tuesday morning at 7 to take Husband to work). They said that the morphine
would make it so that the pain was bearable and that if it got worse or the
contractions got more intense to come back because that would mean I was in
active labor.
We got home about 8 and Husband napped,
but I just kind of dozed. It wasn't any sort of restful sleep at all because
the contractions were too intense to sleep through. I woke up with every single
one. The morphine took the edge off the pain for a while, but that didn't last
loong. By about 11, I was ready to go back to the hospital.
And guess what? When we got there, at
about 11:30, I was STILL ONLY DILATED TO A 1.5. I felt like cursing, which is
something I never do. Ever. And don't worry, I resisted. I was just so
exhausted from lack of sleep and I was getting nowhere. They told me they'd
keep me for another hour and send me home again if I still hadn't changed. I
cried. Because, suprise, after an hour I was still where I'd always been. Talk
about discouraging.
But, the doctor that was on-call that day
became my new best friend. He said that I could stay and to give me some
pitocin to help jumpstart dilation. Seriously, he is my hero. I was only on the
pitocin for a couple of hours, and that was enough.
At this point (about 1:00) I also asked
for the epidural. I feel extremely pathetic for getting it at only 1.5 cm. But,
I had been awake for almost 30 horus, more or less, and had been contracting
pretty intensely for about 14 or 15 hours and was getting NOWHERE. And if it
was going to keep taking forever, by the time I got to a 10 I would be too
exhausted to breathe, let alone push, and they might have to do a c-section.
So, epidural it was. I need to sleep.
Within an hour I was at 3 cm, and the
doctor decided it would be best to break my water and do internal monitoring,
because baby's heart rate was dropping with each contraction and they wanted to
be able to watch that more closely. At times it would drop to 60 or so, but he
always recovered really well and they never told me that they might have to do
a c-section. I was able to sleep for most of the afternoon between cervix check
and a couple of procedures they did to help baby with his heart rate because it
looked like the cord was being compressed during contractions. (At one point
they pumped some fluid back up into my uterus to help cushion the cord.) So the
details are a little fuzzy.
Around dinnertime (maybe 6 or 7-ish) they
checked my cervix and I was dilated to a 7. An hour later, I was almost (but
not quite) at a 10. Hurrah!
But, since the doctor that was now on call
(my friend from earlier had gone home) was at the other hospital in a
neighboring town with several women who were about to deliver, they told me we
wouldn't start pushing for a while and just let the contractions keep moving
the baby down on their own. That was ok, I wanted to sleep some more. I could
tell that I was complete because I wanted to push, but because of the epidural
I didn't have to. This was also good because baby's heart rate was still
dropping significantly with every contraction.
I was lucky enough that the epidural
didn't completely remove all feeling from the lower half of my body. I could
tell what was going on, though I didn't have pain and couldn't actually move on
my own. This was all nice when it came time to push.
I didn't start pushing until about 9:30.
And even then, because baby's heart rate kept dropping with every push, I
didn't push on every contraction, only every second or third contraction. It
ended up being a good thing I had gotten the epidural, because I didn't have to
push every contraction and was able to give baby more time to recover his heart
rate. And, if it turned out that they needed to do an emergency c-section, the
anesthesia wouldn't have been an issue.
They ended up getting the first doctor (my
friend) to come back for me and someone else because the other doctor was still
at the other hospital.
Jeric was born at 11:05:59 pm on September
2. The cord was around his neck, between his legs, and around his body. No
wonder it was getting compressed during labor and delivery! At first he was
pale and haveing a bit of trouble breathing, so they took him to the NICU for a
couple of hours and put him on the CPAP for his breathing. Husband went with
him while I was getting fixed up. I got to hold Jeric for just a moment before
they took him, and we dropped by the NICU on the way to my recovery room and I
got to hold him again, but Husband didn't get to hold him until they brought
him to my room when he was almost 4 hours old.
Originally, they told us that he weighed 6
lb. 13 oz. and was 21 inches long. The length was right, but he looked to me
like he weighed more than that, and I was really surprised because we were
expecting a much bigger baby! I was 8'5 and Husband was 9'9, and both of us had
siblings who were big babies. I thought our baby would be around 8 lb. Turns
out I was pretty close. The next day at his check-up in the nursery, he weighed
7'13 with just a diaper. Later they weighed him naked and he was 7'10.4, so
they decided that he was actually 7'13 at birth and someone just read the scale
wrong. I'm guessing that they were too concerned with his breathing and
coloring to pay much attention to his weight, and I think I'm ok with that. :)
We didn't have his named picked out
completely before he was born. We had a list of names that we liked, all of
which were fairly traditional, and most of them were biblical. We also knew we
wanted to go with a family name for his middle name. In the end, we picked the
name that felt right.
So, there you have it. It's really long, I
know...sorry. Any questions? I'm afraid it's disjointed and that I left stuff
out or was confusing.
It's pretty late and my paper is finally
done. I should get some sleep. Thankfully I can sleep in tomorrow -- my class
isn't until 2 in the afternoon and Jeric takes a morning nap.
PS -- This post is over four pages long is
Word. Whew.
22 October 2009
We're moving
In a couple of weeks, we are moving.
I'm not going to tell you the name of the city we're moving to for security purposes, but it's several miles south of where we live now. (If you're curious/want to know more, leave a comment with your email address.)
We can get into our new place on November 1 (it's a Sunday so we probably won't do more that day than drop off a couple of boxes and measure so I can decide how to arrange the furniture) and we don't have to be completely moved out of our current place until November 14, so we'll have a couple of weeks to move everything, clean here, and unpack at the new place. That will be nice, especially since it's a mid-semester move.
And, luckily, it's right off the freeway, so driving times aren't that different for Husband to get to work or school. I'll be driving significantly further to get to my school, but that will only be for a month or so before I graduate, so no big deal.
We're really excited! It's a big step up from where we live now. It's a 3-bedroom duplex.
Things that make me really happy:
1. Dishwasher (hurrah!)
2. Washer/dryer hookups (so we're saving up for those)
3. An actual dining room
4. More counter space and cupboards (unfortunately no pantry, so we'll have to adjust there)
5. Not on the 3rd floor
6. Trashcan and mailbox outside the door (no more hauling the trash to a far-away dumpster or walking far away to get the mail)
7. Two parking spaces that are ours
8. One bedroom for us, one for Jeric, and the other will be the office/guest room (currently, it's one for us and Jeric, one for the office/guest room/most baby stuff)
9. The landlords are awesome, then they have a little baby boy too! He's 3 or 4 weeks younger than Jeric. We are very fortunate.
There's probably more, but that's a good list for now :)
I'm not going to tell you the name of the city we're moving to for security purposes, but it's several miles south of where we live now. (If you're curious/want to know more, leave a comment with your email address.)
We can get into our new place on November 1 (it's a Sunday so we probably won't do more that day than drop off a couple of boxes and measure so I can decide how to arrange the furniture) and we don't have to be completely moved out of our current place until November 14, so we'll have a couple of weeks to move everything, clean here, and unpack at the new place. That will be nice, especially since it's a mid-semester move.
And, luckily, it's right off the freeway, so driving times aren't that different for Husband to get to work or school. I'll be driving significantly further to get to my school, but that will only be for a month or so before I graduate, so no big deal.
We're really excited! It's a big step up from where we live now. It's a 3-bedroom duplex.
Things that make me really happy:
1. Dishwasher (hurrah!)
2. Washer/dryer hookups (so we're saving up for those)
3. An actual dining room
4. More counter space and cupboards (unfortunately no pantry, so we'll have to adjust there)
5. Not on the 3rd floor
6. Trashcan and mailbox outside the door (no more hauling the trash to a far-away dumpster or walking far away to get the mail)
7. Two parking spaces that are ours
8. One bedroom for us, one for Jeric, and the other will be the office/guest room (currently, it's one for us and Jeric, one for the office/guest room/most baby stuff)
9. The landlords are awesome, then they have a little baby boy too! He's 3 or 4 weeks younger than Jeric. We are very fortunate.
There's probably more, but that's a good list for now :)
08 October 2009
Yes, I know
I know it's been over a month since I posted. Can we pretend like I have a valid excuse (this time)?
Things have been pretty hectic around here with school (both of us), work (just Husband), and a cute little guy named who is currently making some cute little noises. Luckily I had a really smooth recovery and help from family, so we're making it okay. It's definitely busy, but manageable for the most part. My grades might not be as high as they've been in previous semesters because I just don't have as much time to study, but I'm just a part time student and it's my last semester. So, no big deal. I just need to pass :)
Jeric is a pretty laid-back baby most of the time. He generally does very well with adapting to unfamiliar places and people, which is good since I have to leave him with babysitters while I'm in class or taking a test. He's only 5 weeks old but he's already had quite a few! They have all been fantastic and I am so thankful for all the help. I know there are a lot more people who want to help but live too far away, but I'm grateful for their kind words and encouragement.
A couple of weeks ago a girl we know through our service in the singles ward (she and her husband were members of the ward when they were engaged) called to ask if she could take pictures of Jeric--she's working on building up her portfolio for her photography business. You can see a few of the pictures on her blog. I think they're pretty cute.
I was going to post some of my own pictures but Jeric needs me so I have to go. Hopefully he'll calm down and go to sleep soon (poor baby is tired and hungry). If he does I'll try to get back on later.
Things have been pretty hectic around here with school (both of us), work (just Husband), and a cute little guy named who is currently making some cute little noises. Luckily I had a really smooth recovery and help from family, so we're making it okay. It's definitely busy, but manageable for the most part. My grades might not be as high as they've been in previous semesters because I just don't have as much time to study, but I'm just a part time student and it's my last semester. So, no big deal. I just need to pass :)
Jeric is a pretty laid-back baby most of the time. He generally does very well with adapting to unfamiliar places and people, which is good since I have to leave him with babysitters while I'm in class or taking a test. He's only 5 weeks old but he's already had quite a few! They have all been fantastic and I am so thankful for all the help. I know there are a lot more people who want to help but live too far away, but I'm grateful for their kind words and encouragement.
A couple of weeks ago a girl we know through our service in the singles ward (she and her husband were members of the ward when they were engaged) called to ask if she could take pictures of Jeric--she's working on building up her portfolio for her photography business. You can see a few of the pictures on her blog. I think they're pretty cute.
I was going to post some of my own pictures but Jeric needs me so I have to go. Hopefully he'll calm down and go to sleep soon (poor baby is tired and hungry). If he does I'll try to get back on later.
23 June 2009
Lots of stuff to tell you about
So here I go.
Several times over the past two weeks I've sat down at my computer intending to write some updates, but somehow ended up feeling overwhelmed and never got very far. But since today marks 30 weeks and that means that my parents will be wanting to see another belly picture, I figure that I need to bite the bullet and get it over with.
So, 30 weeks:
PLUS a bonus shot that includes my face and the belly. Although I do think I look funny.
And here are the customary links to older belly pictures:
18, 20, 22, 24/25, 26, 28
I'm getting to the point where I can be pretty uncomfortable at times, and little man is all up in my ribs with increasing frequency, but really I still feel pretty good. It's hard to believe that there are only 2 months left until we get to meet him!
Funny story: At my last doctor appointment, I was told that I am measuring just a little bit small for how far along I am (not quite a week small) and that that means that maybe I'll have a baby that's a little below average size. [Excuse me while I catch my breath from the hysterical laughter that has suddenly consumed me.] YEAH RIGHT. This doctor obviously has never met my family, or Steven's. Both of our families tend to have really big babies -- all but a couple over 8 pounds and several closer to 10. Even when the mama doesn't look very big, the baby is. I told my mom and she laughed hysterically as well. She says nobody expected to open her up (she had all c-sections) and see babies as big as the ones she had...especially Robert, who was 9 lbs. 8 oz. at a week early. So while everyone is different, there is a very good chance that this baby will be at least 8 lbs.
Oh, and we finally went and registered at Babies R Us a couple of weeks ago. You can search for the registry here if you feel so inclined. (I'm only mentioning this because several people have asked.)
Husband was really excited that we got to park in the "Stork Parking" --I laughed.
Let's see...what else?
Spring term is over. Hurrah. Still waiting for grades to be released, but I think I did fairly well. Could have done better, probably, but I doubt I got anything below a B or B+. I'm excited to have some time with no school. I'm planning to use it to get my house ready for baby. Only 10 or so weeks to go, and we have almost nothing. We have some clothes, a baby swing (some friends who were moving and getting rid of everything gave it to us), and a crib to borrow...not much else. Sounds fun, eh? It'll get done...eventually. I have 10 weeks...
The temple is currently closed for maintenance until 6 July. (It closes for 2 weeks every 6 months.) When it reopens, I won't be working there anymore. This past Friday was my last day. The decision to stop working was a very difficult one to make, but I had gotten to the point where my body just wasn't going to let me work any longer. Walking away was very hard, but it needed to be done. I'm going to miss it. I'm grateful for the time that I had serving there over the last 10 months. I have grown so much and matured so much through my service. I have met so many wonderful people and have grown to love them. I'm grateful for the things that I have learned about the temple and our Heavenly Father, which will help me tremendously in my life, especially as a young mother. I look forward to the day -- probably many years from now -- when I will be able to go back and serve in the temple again. Of course I will attend the temple as often as I can between now and then, but I definitely plan on working there again someday when my children are all grown up (the youngest has to be 18 or graduated from high school). I love the temple and the blessings found there.
Two Fridays ago when I made the decision that the next week would be my last, I was extremely upset. I had known that eventually I would not be able to work anymore, but I was hopeful that I still had several weeks left. The realization that I didn't hit me all at once, and I went immediately to tell my coordinator (I knew if I didn't tell her then, I wouldn't). We cried together (I'm blaming hormones), and then I spent the rest of the morning trying to remain calm enough to do my work. When my shift was over, I called Husband and told him that I needed to know where he was working right then because I needed to come get a hug. That helped a lot! I went home and spent several hours outside on the quad in front of our building because I knew I needed to be distracted or I'd go inside and cry some more. A couple of hours later, a vase of roses was delivered to me. All the note said was "Love you" -- not signed or anything, but of course it came from Steven. I cried again. It was so sweet of him to do that for me. He'll want me to mention that he'd been thinking about doing it for no reason, and then when I was all upset he decided to do it right then. Very sweet of him.
I think I only have one other thing to talk about today... I'd be impressed if anybody has read this far. I've written quite the novel!
Remember my good friend Ruth? I've talked about her several times, including in these posts:
the time we pulled a prank on Husband,
the time she came over for Husband's birthday,
the time she dropped by on her way to work and we talked for way too long,
the time we spent New Year's Eve with her and the later she and I took a trip to Walmart and Jamba Juice because I wanted a smoothie,
and the time it was my birthday.
Anyways, now poor Ruth has the swine flu. She says it's just like the normal flu, but she's secluded herself for the past several days (since Friday, when she started feeling sick). I talked to her Sunday night, and she hadn't seen anybody except the doctor since Friday. She works at a group home for troubled teens, where the flue has been going around, and she was taking care of the sick ones, so of course she got it. She says it's contagious for about 7 days, so she's keeping herself away from others until at least this Friday, just to be on the safe side. The poor thing, she's about to go crazy from boredom and loneliness, and then her internet decided to not work so she doesn't even have that distraction! I know there's nothing I can do, but I wish there was, and I hope she'll get over it soon!
And I think that's about it for now. I can't think of anything else that I've been meaning to write about...
Several times over the past two weeks I've sat down at my computer intending to write some updates, but somehow ended up feeling overwhelmed and never got very far. But since today marks 30 weeks and that means that my parents will be wanting to see another belly picture, I figure that I need to bite the bullet and get it over with.
So, 30 weeks:
PLUS a bonus shot that includes my face and the belly. Although I do think I look funny.
And here are the customary links to older belly pictures:
18, 20, 22, 24/25, 26, 28
I'm getting to the point where I can be pretty uncomfortable at times, and little man is all up in my ribs with increasing frequency, but really I still feel pretty good. It's hard to believe that there are only 2 months left until we get to meet him!
Funny story: At my last doctor appointment, I was told that I am measuring just a little bit small for how far along I am (not quite a week small) and that that means that maybe I'll have a baby that's a little below average size. [Excuse me while I catch my breath from the hysterical laughter that has suddenly consumed me.] YEAH RIGHT. This doctor obviously has never met my family, or Steven's. Both of our families tend to have really big babies -- all but a couple over 8 pounds and several closer to 10. Even when the mama doesn't look very big, the baby is. I told my mom and she laughed hysterically as well. She says nobody expected to open her up (she had all c-sections) and see babies as big as the ones she had...especially Robert, who was 9 lbs. 8 oz. at a week early. So while everyone is different, there is a very good chance that this baby will be at least 8 lbs.
Oh, and we finally went and registered at Babies R Us a couple of weeks ago. You can search for the registry here if you feel so inclined. (I'm only mentioning this because several people have asked.)
Husband was really excited that we got to park in the "Stork Parking" --I laughed.
Let's see...what else?
Spring term is over. Hurrah. Still waiting for grades to be released, but I think I did fairly well. Could have done better, probably, but I doubt I got anything below a B or B+. I'm excited to have some time with no school. I'm planning to use it to get my house ready for baby. Only 10 or so weeks to go, and we have almost nothing. We have some clothes, a baby swing (some friends who were moving and getting rid of everything gave it to us), and a crib to borrow...not much else. Sounds fun, eh? It'll get done...eventually. I have 10 weeks...
The temple is currently closed for maintenance until 6 July. (It closes for 2 weeks every 6 months.) When it reopens, I won't be working there anymore. This past Friday was my last day. The decision to stop working was a very difficult one to make, but I had gotten to the point where my body just wasn't going to let me work any longer. Walking away was very hard, but it needed to be done. I'm going to miss it. I'm grateful for the time that I had serving there over the last 10 months. I have grown so much and matured so much through my service. I have met so many wonderful people and have grown to love them. I'm grateful for the things that I have learned about the temple and our Heavenly Father, which will help me tremendously in my life, especially as a young mother. I look forward to the day -- probably many years from now -- when I will be able to go back and serve in the temple again. Of course I will attend the temple as often as I can between now and then, but I definitely plan on working there again someday when my children are all grown up (the youngest has to be 18 or graduated from high school). I love the temple and the blessings found there.
Two Fridays ago when I made the decision that the next week would be my last, I was extremely upset. I had known that eventually I would not be able to work anymore, but I was hopeful that I still had several weeks left. The realization that I didn't hit me all at once, and I went immediately to tell my coordinator (I knew if I didn't tell her then, I wouldn't). We cried together (I'm blaming hormones), and then I spent the rest of the morning trying to remain calm enough to do my work. When my shift was over, I called Husband and told him that I needed to know where he was working right then because I needed to come get a hug. That helped a lot! I went home and spent several hours outside on the quad in front of our building because I knew I needed to be distracted or I'd go inside and cry some more. A couple of hours later, a vase of roses was delivered to me. All the note said was "Love you" -- not signed or anything, but of course it came from Steven. I cried again. It was so sweet of him to do that for me. He'll want me to mention that he'd been thinking about doing it for no reason, and then when I was all upset he decided to do it right then. Very sweet of him.
I think I only have one other thing to talk about today... I'd be impressed if anybody has read this far. I've written quite the novel!
Remember my good friend Ruth? I've talked about her several times, including in these posts:
the time we pulled a prank on Husband,
the time she came over for Husband's birthday,
the time she dropped by on her way to work and we talked for way too long,
the time we spent New Year's Eve with her and the later she and I took a trip to Walmart and Jamba Juice because I wanted a smoothie,
and the time it was my birthday.
Anyways, now poor Ruth has the swine flu. She says it's just like the normal flu, but she's secluded herself for the past several days (since Friday, when she started feeling sick). I talked to her Sunday night, and she hadn't seen anybody except the doctor since Friday. She works at a group home for troubled teens, where the flue has been going around, and she was taking care of the sick ones, so of course she got it. She says it's contagious for about 7 days, so she's keeping herself away from others until at least this Friday, just to be on the safe side. The poor thing, she's about to go crazy from boredom and loneliness, and then her internet decided to not work so she doesn't even have that distraction! I know there's nothing I can do, but I wish there was, and I hope she'll get over it soon!
And I think that's about it for now. I can't think of anything else that I've been meaning to write about...
11 June 2009
Headless again
This is today at 28 weeks 2 days -- 3rd trimester! All still seems to be well with the baby and with me, and I'm just praying that it will continue that way for another couple of months.
I think the picture makes me look smaller than I am.
Speaking of my size, the other day I ran into an old friend who didn't believe me when I told him how far along I was -- he thought I was "4 months"...HA! Hardly anybody could see a belly at all when I was four months (I was the exception, of course :) I'd been noticing it for weeks by that point!). And the thing is, he and his wife have a 4-month-old, which means he should know that if I was only that far along I wouldn't be showing noticably. It was kind of a bizarre experience, really.
As always, if anybody is keeping track, here are links to other belly pictures:
18 weeks
20 weeks
22 weeks
24 and 25 weeks
26 weeks
In other news, today I had my last classes for spring term, although I still have one [extremely easy] assignment to complete and two tests to take. But, my schedule is now remarkably open. Hurrah!
And while we're on the subject of school, last week I applied for graduation. Now it's official! We just have to decide when/if I'm going to "walk" (participate in graduation ceremonies). They're only held twice a year in April and August, and I'm graduating in December. December graduates are automatically included in the ceremonies for the following April, but can request to walk in August. I'm trying to decide which of these I'd prefer, or if I'm just not going to worry about it at all. We'll see. Anybody think one option sounds considerably better than the others?
01 June 2009
Just some stuff
We made these the other day...YUM. Easy and delicious. That Pioneer Woman really knows what she's talking about.
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The singles' ward we serve in is having a Summer Olympics activity this weekend. We went to the Activities Committee meeting yesterday to help finish up the planning. (They're one of the committees that Husband oversees.)
Events include volleyball, dodgeball, foosball, jacks, jump rope, and a few others I don't remember right now. We'll attend at least most of it, and Husband says he's going to participate.
I say go for it, but I think I'll just watch. :)
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I have a test to take today.
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I think that's about it for today.
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The singles' ward we serve in is having a Summer Olympics activity this weekend. We went to the Activities Committee meeting yesterday to help finish up the planning. (They're one of the committees that Husband oversees.)
Events include volleyball, dodgeball, foosball, jacks, jump rope, and a few others I don't remember right now. We'll attend at least most of it, and Husband says he's going to participate.
I say go for it, but I think I'll just watch. :)
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I have a test to take today.
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I think that's about it for today.
21 May 2009
Still here
My apologies. Time got away from me.
Again.
The last few weeks have been pretty with school and other things, like starting to attempt to get ready for a baby.
Spring term is about half over. This is very very happy. It's kind of depressing to think that I could have been done a long time ago if I'd been in the right major to begin with, so I try not to think about it :) At least I'm going to finish my degree! I've only got a couple of classes left...
Husband is definitely going back to school in the fall. He's excited, but I know he's nervous too. It's been a few years since he took any classes. But I know he'll be just fine.
I'm alone right now because Husband got called in to do a flood this evening. He's been on call all week and tonight is his last night, and of course he got a call tonight. He's not too happy about it, and I can't blame him.
Little Man is still growing and getting stronger. He's gotten up in my ribs a couple of times this week, ouch! He also really likes my right side for some reason. I think he's lying sideways with his head on my left because occasionally I'll feel movement over there and on my right at the same time. I could be wrong, though. I just hope that eventually (and there's plenty of time) he'll decide to get in the normal position on his own.
I've got a picture from last week (Tuesday the 12th when I hit 24 weeks) that I have been intending to post, but I couldn't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. After lots of searching and nearly giving up, I finally found it tonight in a place that I'd looked several times. I even took another picture of tonight as a peace offering for not posting in 3 weeks. But then, of course, as I tried to transfer the pictures onto the computer, the camera battery decided to die. It's charging now, so I'll post those pictures later tonight.
I can't think of anything else to say. Life goes on as usual. I'll try to get back into posting every few days.
Again.
The last few weeks have been pretty with school and other things, like starting to attempt to get ready for a baby.
Spring term is about half over. This is very very happy. It's kind of depressing to think that I could have been done a long time ago if I'd been in the right major to begin with, so I try not to think about it :) At least I'm going to finish my degree! I've only got a couple of classes left...
Husband is definitely going back to school in the fall. He's excited, but I know he's nervous too. It's been a few years since he took any classes. But I know he'll be just fine.
I'm alone right now because Husband got called in to do a flood this evening. He's been on call all week and tonight is his last night, and of course he got a call tonight. He's not too happy about it, and I can't blame him.
Little Man is still growing and getting stronger. He's gotten up in my ribs a couple of times this week, ouch! He also really likes my right side for some reason. I think he's lying sideways with his head on my left because occasionally I'll feel movement over there and on my right at the same time. I could be wrong, though. I just hope that eventually (and there's plenty of time) he'll decide to get in the normal position on his own.
I've got a picture from last week (Tuesday the 12th when I hit 24 weeks) that I have been intending to post, but I couldn't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. After lots of searching and nearly giving up, I finally found it tonight in a place that I'd looked several times. I even took another picture of tonight as a peace offering for not posting in 3 weeks. But then, of course, as I tried to transfer the pictures onto the computer, the camera battery decided to die. It's charging now, so I'll post those pictures later tonight.
I can't think of anything else to say. Life goes on as usual. I'll try to get back into posting every few days.
23 April 2009
Adventures in finals
[This is a really long and slightly rambling post. Sorry. Read at your own risk.]
Yesterday (Wednesday) was the last day of finals for winter semester.
I had three that I had to take during finals week, all that I could take any time I wanted.
I planned on taking one Friday afternoon after the temple, one Saturday morning, and one Saturday afternoon.
Didn't happen, because I woke up sick on Saturday. I did get the one done of Friday, but I didn't get any done on Saturday.
Sunday, of course, is a day of rest :) plus I was still sick.
Monday I was still too sick.
By Tuesday, I was feeling some better but not well enough to do two finals on the same day. I needed to finish studying, anyways. But I took one of the two that day.
Wednesday around four in the afternoon I decided I was as ready as I was going to be for my last final, and that I might as well go take it.
So I headed to campus. I knew that the line for the testing center would be long, but I had NO IDEA just how long.
There is a reason why it's a bad idea to wait to take a final on the last day. Thank goodness this is my only experience with this, ever. Because it WILL NOT be happening in the fall. You can count on that.
The line wound all the way through the testing center and out and past 3 more buildings.
BIG buildings.
And it was HOT yesterday. At least 80, and very sunny.
This is NOT a good thing when your baby already doesn't let you be on your feet for more than half an hour without getting dizzy and passing out. (No, I'm not anemic, my blood pressure is fine, I eat plenty, I do my best to stay hydrated...nobody knows why but it keeps happening so I deal with it.)
So I stood in that line for about 15 or 20 minutes and got maybe a third of the way from where I was when I started to the building (but I'm sure the line inside the building was at least half as long as the line outside the building). Then this testing center employee starts coming down the line with a list asking people what test they're taking, because some tests had been changed to a different location.
[During finals week, there are THREE separate testing centers. One houses most tests, including the tests for pretty much all upper-level classes. Another houses mainly HUGE freshman-level classes, like American Heritage 100, Biology 100, and Physical Science 100 (among other things). The last is for all religion tests (and there are a lot, because it's a private Church-owned university). But, the religion testing center closes early on the last day of finals, and certain tests from the main testing center are sent there. They do this to make the line shorter and also so that they (the employees) won't be there all night long. As long as you're in line by 9pm, you'll get to take your test, it just might be a while. A couple of years ago the last person didn't finish until about 3am.]
Phew.
So, I had to leave the line that I'd just spent 20 minutes in and go to another building and stand in yet ANOTHER line.
I was in that line for another 20 minutes.
By the time I had been in that line for about 10 minutes, I was feeling pretty dizzy.
By the time I actually got the the front of the line and told them what test I needed, I was about to pass out.
AND THEN. And then they didn't even have a copy of the test I needed available. Apparently they only had a couple of copies of that test and they were all being used.
Fabulous, eh?
And then I promptly passed out.
Of course I was able to communicate this with those around me before I actually did. And I was able to catch myself so I didn't actually hit the floor.
[Is it bad that these are things that I am good at? I've had a lot of practice...]
Well, they were very nice and helped me to a chair and wrote down which test I was waiting for and told me they'd come get me when they had a copy.
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES. That's how long I waited for a copy to be available.
By this time I was so ready to be done that I took the test in about 30 minutes.
100 questions. Multiple choice.
I only got a B, but I say that's PRETTY DARN GOOD considering what I went through to get that test done.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was the last day of finals for winter semester.
I had three that I had to take during finals week, all that I could take any time I wanted.
I planned on taking one Friday afternoon after the temple, one Saturday morning, and one Saturday afternoon.
Didn't happen, because I woke up sick on Saturday. I did get the one done of Friday, but I didn't get any done on Saturday.
Sunday, of course, is a day of rest :) plus I was still sick.
Monday I was still too sick.
By Tuesday, I was feeling some better but not well enough to do two finals on the same day. I needed to finish studying, anyways. But I took one of the two that day.
Wednesday around four in the afternoon I decided I was as ready as I was going to be for my last final, and that I might as well go take it.
So I headed to campus. I knew that the line for the testing center would be long, but I had NO IDEA just how long.
There is a reason why it's a bad idea to wait to take a final on the last day. Thank goodness this is my only experience with this, ever. Because it WILL NOT be happening in the fall. You can count on that.
The line wound all the way through the testing center and out and past 3 more buildings.
BIG buildings.
And it was HOT yesterday. At least 80, and very sunny.
This is NOT a good thing when your baby already doesn't let you be on your feet for more than half an hour without getting dizzy and passing out. (No, I'm not anemic, my blood pressure is fine, I eat plenty, I do my best to stay hydrated...nobody knows why but it keeps happening so I deal with it.)
So I stood in that line for about 15 or 20 minutes and got maybe a third of the way from where I was when I started to the building (but I'm sure the line inside the building was at least half as long as the line outside the building). Then this testing center employee starts coming down the line with a list asking people what test they're taking, because some tests had been changed to a different location.
[During finals week, there are THREE separate testing centers. One houses most tests, including the tests for pretty much all upper-level classes. Another houses mainly HUGE freshman-level classes, like American Heritage 100, Biology 100, and Physical Science 100 (among other things). The last is for all religion tests (and there are a lot, because it's a private Church-owned university). But, the religion testing center closes early on the last day of finals, and certain tests from the main testing center are sent there. They do this to make the line shorter and also so that they (the employees) won't be there all night long. As long as you're in line by 9pm, you'll get to take your test, it just might be a while. A couple of years ago the last person didn't finish until about 3am.]
Phew.
So, I had to leave the line that I'd just spent 20 minutes in and go to another building and stand in yet ANOTHER line.
I was in that line for another 20 minutes.
By the time I had been in that line for about 10 minutes, I was feeling pretty dizzy.
By the time I actually got the the front of the line and told them what test I needed, I was about to pass out.
AND THEN. And then they didn't even have a copy of the test I needed available. Apparently they only had a couple of copies of that test and they were all being used.
Fabulous, eh?
And then I promptly passed out.
Of course I was able to communicate this with those around me before I actually did. And I was able to catch myself so I didn't actually hit the floor.
[Is it bad that these are things that I am good at? I've had a lot of practice...]
Well, they were very nice and helped me to a chair and wrote down which test I was waiting for and told me they'd come get me when they had a copy.
FORTY-FIVE MINUTES. That's how long I waited for a copy to be available.
By this time I was so ready to be done that I took the test in about 30 minutes.
100 questions. Multiple choice.
I only got a B, but I say that's PRETTY DARN GOOD considering what I went through to get that test done.
14 April 2009
Halfway
Today marked 20 weeks, the halfway point of this pregnancy.
Although I don't know that you can see much of a difference from the picture I posted here, here's a picture of me this evening. (Thanks for the dress, Britt!)
Thanks for voting on the poll. It's pretty close to equal at the moment, with girl being just a bit ahead (has been since voting started). If you haven't voted yet, please do :)
I'll post tomorrow night. I might even share an ultrasound picture or two...we'll see.
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In other news...
Today was also the last day of classes. Tomorrow and Thursday are reading days, and finals start on Friday. Two of my classes had in-class finals, so I'm done with those. Just three more tests! I'm planning to be done by Saturday (think I can do it?) but finals don't end until next Wednesday, so I've got plenty of time if I need it.
Although I don't know that you can see much of a difference from the picture I posted here, here's a picture of me this evening. (Thanks for the dress, Britt!)
Thanks for voting on the poll. It's pretty close to equal at the moment, with girl being just a bit ahead (has been since voting started). If you haven't voted yet, please do :)
I'll post tomorrow night. I might even share an ultrasound picture or two...we'll see.
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In other news...
Today was also the last day of classes. Tomorrow and Thursday are reading days, and finals start on Friday. Two of my classes had in-class finals, so I'm done with those. Just three more tests! I'm planning to be done by Saturday (think I can do it?) but finals don't end until next Wednesday, so I've got plenty of time if I need it.
09 April 2009
Basically, I rock
Today I had my first final of the semester.
100%
Of course, it was a religion class, but whatever.
I think that's my first perfect final ever.
100%
Of course, it was a religion class, but whatever.
I think that's my first perfect final ever.
07 April 2009
Conference
(For the not LDS readers of my blog, every six months we have what is called General Conference, and it was this weekend. It is a broadcast originating in Salt Lake, and we have the opportunity to hear talks about doctrine and receive counsel from our world-wide leaders.)
I'm currently working on writing a 7-page paper that is due in 5.5 hours (I've got almost 5 pages, which is 5 pages more than I had when I woke up this morning...yeah), so I don't have time at the moment to write anything really meaningful about the talks I enjoyed and the things I learned from Conference. But, I did want to share something that I read on another blog (just now while taking a quick break from writing) that sums up my feelings quite well. This comes from Emily at Light Refreshments Served:
"The conference as a whole seemed largely geared to helping us deal with change and loss and adversity, though never in a context of sadness but always of hope."
I think she got it exactly right.
I'm currently working on writing a 7-page paper that is due in 5.5 hours (I've got almost 5 pages, which is 5 pages more than I had when I woke up this morning...yeah), so I don't have time at the moment to write anything really meaningful about the talks I enjoyed and the things I learned from Conference. But, I did want to share something that I read on another blog (just now while taking a quick break from writing) that sums up my feelings quite well. This comes from Emily at Light Refreshments Served:
"The conference as a whole seemed largely geared to helping us deal with change and loss and adversity, though never in a context of sadness but always of hope."
I think she got it exactly right.
03 April 2009
Hurrah
I just registered for my classes for fall semester - the last 3 classes (9 credits, even though I don't need that many, because it allows us to continue to live in Wymount until I'm done) I EVER have to take. I'm taking clinical psychology, western humanities 2, and intro to art history. I'll have classes M-Th evenings, and that's it.
Unless I decide sometime down the road that I want to go to grad school.
I'm also taking 2 classes (6 credits) during spring term: Abnormal Psychology and Intro to Social Psychology. Both classes are TTh.
THE END IS NEAR. HURRAH.
Unless I decide sometime down the road that I want to go to grad school.
I'm also taking 2 classes (6 credits) during spring term: Abnormal Psychology and Intro to Social Psychology. Both classes are TTh.
THE END IS NEAR. HURRAH.
17 March 2009
Oh, the joys
For the past several months I have been extremely scatterbrained and forgetful. Those of you who have been pregnant will recognize this as "pregnancy brain." Those of you who haven't and are skeptical...don't be. I didn't believe it either. Oh was I wrong.
Every day I have to search my entire apartment for my textbooks, notebooks, and shoes. I have found them in the weirdest places. Once, it was a cupboard. I also can't find my watch. It's probably in the freezer or somewhere ridiculous like that.
Today was the worst episode I've had thus far.
At least this story has a happy ending.
This afternoon I had an hour break between two of my classes. I was sitting in the hallway studying for a test, but I was getting hungry. So, I went upstairs to the vending machine (I'd neglected to pack enough snacks to get my through all my classes...surprised?) to get a little something. I had my phone in my hand as I walked up the stairs, and I thought I put it in my pocket (like I always do) when I got to my destination. Apparently, I didn't. I put down my bag to get out some money and must have set my phone on the floor next to it without realizing it (I thought it was in my pocket). I got my food, picked up my stuff, and went back to the hallway outside my classroom.
After studying for a few minutes and eating my muffin, I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone and check how much time was left before my next class would start. No phone. I checked my other pocket, the floor all around me, my bags...no phone. The last time I could remember having it was when I was walking up the stairs about 10 minutes before. So I retraced my steps. As I approached the vending machines I could see that there was no phone on the ground, but there were two freshman boys standing there. One was holding a phone that they were both studying rather closely. When I got closer I recognized that it was, indeed, mine. The poor boys were so relieved that I remembered I'd left it and come back to look for it. They were about to start texting my friends to try to find me. They were nice boys, they said that all they could think of to do was take it to the lost and found. I'm glad I remembered before they did, because that would have just been more of a headache trying to track down the lost and found in that building.
Every day I have to search my entire apartment for my textbooks, notebooks, and shoes. I have found them in the weirdest places. Once, it was a cupboard. I also can't find my watch. It's probably in the freezer or somewhere ridiculous like that.
Today was the worst episode I've had thus far.
At least this story has a happy ending.
This afternoon I had an hour break between two of my classes. I was sitting in the hallway studying for a test, but I was getting hungry. So, I went upstairs to the vending machine (I'd neglected to pack enough snacks to get my through all my classes...surprised?) to get a little something. I had my phone in my hand as I walked up the stairs, and I thought I put it in my pocket (like I always do) when I got to my destination. Apparently, I didn't. I put down my bag to get out some money and must have set my phone on the floor next to it without realizing it (I thought it was in my pocket). I got my food, picked up my stuff, and went back to the hallway outside my classroom.
After studying for a few minutes and eating my muffin, I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone and check how much time was left before my next class would start. No phone. I checked my other pocket, the floor all around me, my bags...no phone. The last time I could remember having it was when I was walking up the stairs about 10 minutes before. So I retraced my steps. As I approached the vending machines I could see that there was no phone on the ground, but there were two freshman boys standing there. One was holding a phone that they were both studying rather closely. When I got closer I recognized that it was, indeed, mine. The poor boys were so relieved that I remembered I'd left it and come back to look for it. They were about to start texting my friends to try to find me. They were nice boys, they said that all they could think of to do was take it to the lost and found. I'm glad I remembered before they did, because that would have just been more of a headache trying to track down the lost and found in that building.
12 March 2009
Yes, I'm alive
Umm...hi, everyone. [sheepish grin, hoping you will all forgive me someday]
So I took a break, but I've been intending to start writing again for several weeks, but I kept putting it off because I had other stuff to do...I'd do it "tomorrow" but tomorrow came and went again and again and again and now it's been over two months since I started my break, and I've only posted a couple of random things that don't really count. And that was a ridiculous run-on sentence, but the whole point was to say SORRY. I really didn't intend for it to be this long. Oops.
How about an update? No pictures because I am a slacker and the battery on my camera is dead, but hopefully I'll remedy that soon.
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1. I can't believe but this semester is less than 6 weeks from being over. It has flown by and I am so glad. I've enjoyed my classes this semester, for the most part. There has been one rather annoying project in one of those classes (thank goodness I have a good group) and some of my classes are rather poorly organized (which bugs me), but other than that, it hasn't been too bad. Busy, but not bad. I should probably take a look at all my syllabi and see which classes have a final paper I should start working on now...
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2. I'm not teaching in the nursery anymore. Now, I'm teaching marriage prep to all the engaged people in a singles ward. This seems random until I tell you that Husband is the 2nd counselor in the bishopric of that ward. He has been since the beginning of January.
Maybe I should define terms for readers who are not Mormon (so if you are Mormon, skip to the next paragraph). Hopefully I can explain it so it makes some sense. I sometimes tend to go into a lot of detail and get a little confusing, and I apologize in advance. In the LDS Church, each congregation is called a ward, and the leadership of the ward is made up of members of the ward (usually...student/singles wards are a little different) rather than a paid clergy. The person in charge of each ward is the Bishop, and he has two counselors to help him (the bishopric). I could go into more detail about the other organizations, but I won't. Anyways, Church policy is that the three members of the bishopric should be married (I don't know the reasoning), and members of singles wards (which includes most student wards) are not married. The bishop is chosen from the surrounding area and is typically middle-aged or older (more experience). Lately, many counselors for student/singles wards are young, married men. The bishop in normal wards usually serves for about 5 years, in student/singles wards for about 3 years, and young counselors for about 1 year. It sounds confusing, but it's actually quite efficient.
And that was really long and probably too detailed and confusing.
So anyways, we've been going to this singles ward (BYU 84th) ever since January. It's weird because we're around the same age as all these people, but we're supposed to set an example and it's just interesting, but they are great and we love them and we're really enjoying it, though it does mean that Husband is gone almost all day on Sundays. He doesn't get to sleep in anymore than he did in our own ward (which has an 8am meeting time) because even though the 84th doesn't meet until 9:25, he has meetings starting at 7:45 and then stays after until around 3 or 4, depending on the week. BUT, I get to sleep in! :)
The other counselor and his wife are also a young married couple. We got married last April, and they were a couple of months after in June. They're pretty fun. He is from Brazil and she is from Idaho. She and I are actually team-teaching the marriage prep class, so thank goodness I don't just have to teach it all by myself! There are quite a few people in our class, too (not unusual for BYU). I don't know the exact numbers but I'm pretty sure there are well over 20 engaged people in the ward. Most will be getting married just after this semester is over in either April or May.
I think that's all I have to say about that.
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3. I'm still working in the temple. It's still fabulous and my favorite part of my week. I have had so many wonderful experiences and been able to meet and work with so many incredible people. One sister that I work with is 94! She says she wants to make it to 10 years of working in the temple, so she's going to keep working until after she's 95. Every week she forgets that the week before she asked me if I have a boyfriend, so she asks again, and every week I tell her that, yes, I have a permanent boyfriend. She is so sweet!
This week I get to work twice...both starting at 6am! My normal shift is Friday 6-11, and I'm substituting for a sister who works the Saturday 6am...should be fun! And I mean that seriously, because I love working in the temple.
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4. My awesome husband just came home from playing basketball with some guys from the 84th ward. He brought me a Sprite. I love him.
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I'm trying to remember if there is anything else I need to include before I get to the last thing (which is the best so I've been saving it for last). I can't think of anything, but I feel like I'm forgetting something...I'll post it later if I am.
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So, the best for last...
5. Come September, we will [hopefully] be a family of three! I'm a few days past 15 weeks now, and I'm due 1 September (that's why I say hopefully...I'd rather not go two weeks late like my mom tended to do, but she admits she'd think it was hilarious if I did, after all I put her through).
I took the test on Christmas Day, even though I was pretty sure a few days before. I thought it would be clever/cute or something, I don't know. A Christmas present.
Everything seems to be going well this time around. I've heard the heartbeat and I think I've felt it move a few times in the last couple of days.
I was pretty nauseous starting at 5 weeks and it lasted until about 12 weeks, which isn't too bad, really. I lost about 10 pounds because it was so difficult to eat anything. I've gained about half of that back, so even though people who don't know think that I've gained weight, I would like you all to know that I HAVEN'T. :)
I'm feeling good these days. I am optimistic for the future, and I am trusting that Heavenly Father is watching over us.
The ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday 15 April, just after I pass the 20-week mark. That's less than 5 weeks away! I kind of wish it was earlier, but I also understand why the doctor wants to wait that long to do the one ultrasound my insurance covers. A bigger baby makes it easier to make sure everything is normal. I think Husband almost wants to go to the mall next week to find out what we're having (yes, you can do that in Provo...it's ridiculous).
Was that enough detail to satisfy everybody? Probably more than most of you needed....
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Love to all, I'll post again soon...
So I took a break, but I've been intending to start writing again for several weeks, but I kept putting it off because I had other stuff to do...I'd do it "tomorrow" but tomorrow came and went again and again and again and now it's been over two months since I started my break, and I've only posted a couple of random things that don't really count. And that was a ridiculous run-on sentence, but the whole point was to say SORRY. I really didn't intend for it to be this long. Oops.
How about an update? No pictures because I am a slacker and the battery on my camera is dead, but hopefully I'll remedy that soon.
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1. I can't believe but this semester is less than 6 weeks from being over. It has flown by and I am so glad. I've enjoyed my classes this semester, for the most part. There has been one rather annoying project in one of those classes (thank goodness I have a good group) and some of my classes are rather poorly organized (which bugs me), but other than that, it hasn't been too bad. Busy, but not bad. I should probably take a look at all my syllabi and see which classes have a final paper I should start working on now...
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2. I'm not teaching in the nursery anymore. Now, I'm teaching marriage prep to all the engaged people in a singles ward. This seems random until I tell you that Husband is the 2nd counselor in the bishopric of that ward. He has been since the beginning of January.
Maybe I should define terms for readers who are not Mormon (so if you are Mormon, skip to the next paragraph). Hopefully I can explain it so it makes some sense. I sometimes tend to go into a lot of detail and get a little confusing, and I apologize in advance. In the LDS Church, each congregation is called a ward, and the leadership of the ward is made up of members of the ward (usually...student/singles wards are a little different) rather than a paid clergy. The person in charge of each ward is the Bishop, and he has two counselors to help him (the bishopric). I could go into more detail about the other organizations, but I won't. Anyways, Church policy is that the three members of the bishopric should be married (I don't know the reasoning), and members of singles wards (which includes most student wards) are not married. The bishop is chosen from the surrounding area and is typically middle-aged or older (more experience). Lately, many counselors for student/singles wards are young, married men. The bishop in normal wards usually serves for about 5 years, in student/singles wards for about 3 years, and young counselors for about 1 year. It sounds confusing, but it's actually quite efficient.
And that was really long and probably too detailed and confusing.
So anyways, we've been going to this singles ward (BYU 84th) ever since January. It's weird because we're around the same age as all these people, but we're supposed to set an example and it's just interesting, but they are great and we love them and we're really enjoying it, though it does mean that Husband is gone almost all day on Sundays. He doesn't get to sleep in anymore than he did in our own ward (which has an 8am meeting time) because even though the 84th doesn't meet until 9:25, he has meetings starting at 7:45 and then stays after until around 3 or 4, depending on the week. BUT, I get to sleep in! :)
The other counselor and his wife are also a young married couple. We got married last April, and they were a couple of months after in June. They're pretty fun. He is from Brazil and she is from Idaho. She and I are actually team-teaching the marriage prep class, so thank goodness I don't just have to teach it all by myself! There are quite a few people in our class, too (not unusual for BYU). I don't know the exact numbers but I'm pretty sure there are well over 20 engaged people in the ward. Most will be getting married just after this semester is over in either April or May.
I think that's all I have to say about that.
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3. I'm still working in the temple. It's still fabulous and my favorite part of my week. I have had so many wonderful experiences and been able to meet and work with so many incredible people. One sister that I work with is 94! She says she wants to make it to 10 years of working in the temple, so she's going to keep working until after she's 95. Every week she forgets that the week before she asked me if I have a boyfriend, so she asks again, and every week I tell her that, yes, I have a permanent boyfriend. She is so sweet!
This week I get to work twice...both starting at 6am! My normal shift is Friday 6-11, and I'm substituting for a sister who works the Saturday 6am...should be fun! And I mean that seriously, because I love working in the temple.
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4. My awesome husband just came home from playing basketball with some guys from the 84th ward. He brought me a Sprite. I love him.
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I'm trying to remember if there is anything else I need to include before I get to the last thing (which is the best so I've been saving it for last). I can't think of anything, but I feel like I'm forgetting something...I'll post it later if I am.
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So, the best for last...
5. Come September, we will [hopefully] be a family of three! I'm a few days past 15 weeks now, and I'm due 1 September (that's why I say hopefully...I'd rather not go two weeks late like my mom tended to do, but she admits she'd think it was hilarious if I did, after all I put her through).
I took the test on Christmas Day, even though I was pretty sure a few days before. I thought it would be clever/cute or something, I don't know. A Christmas present.
Everything seems to be going well this time around. I've heard the heartbeat and I think I've felt it move a few times in the last couple of days.
I was pretty nauseous starting at 5 weeks and it lasted until about 12 weeks, which isn't too bad, really. I lost about 10 pounds because it was so difficult to eat anything. I've gained about half of that back, so even though people who don't know think that I've gained weight, I would like you all to know that I HAVEN'T. :)
I'm feeling good these days. I am optimistic for the future, and I am trusting that Heavenly Father is watching over us.
The ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday 15 April, just after I pass the 20-week mark. That's less than 5 weeks away! I kind of wish it was earlier, but I also understand why the doctor wants to wait that long to do the one ultrasound my insurance covers. A bigger baby makes it easier to make sure everything is normal. I think Husband almost wants to go to the mall next week to find out what we're having (yes, you can do that in Provo...it's ridiculous).
Was that enough detail to satisfy everybody? Probably more than most of you needed....
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Love to all, I'll post again soon...
01 January 2009
Hodpodge / Stream of Consciousness
We got home from NC on Tuesday around lunchtime. I still haven't unpacked. I didn't take a single picture of our trip, even though I took my camera. My parents got us some clothes and some flannel sheets (hooray!) and some other stuff. My in-laws got us a stand-mixer. Now I can try my hand at making bread without putting so much work into it. Is that lazy of me? (Yes.) We also brought back some of the wedding presents that are still sitting at my parents' house. Among them, a blender and a Pampered Chef baking stone and a set of knives. These things make me happy. Last night we went to Ruth's an hour before midnight to ring in the New Year. Then we all fell asleep on the couch for a couple of hours. 2008 was a pretty good year, but hopefully 2009 will be better. I made fudge. We slept in today until after 10. Today Ruth and I went to Walmart for groceries and then got a Jamba Juice, which was delicious. Husband and I have been watching a Mythbusters marathon for the last several hours. The episode that is on now is one of our favorites. I found out my grades from last semester yesterday, and they made me very happy. I was shockedamazedthrilled. My major GPA is also particularly thrilling. School starts back on Monday and I don't particularly want to go. At least I only have a total of 8 more classes to take to finish my undergrad. And if I don't decide at some future date to go to grad school, then those are the only 8 classes I will ever have to take again. Husband just got hungry and made some spaghetti. He made up the sauce as he went along, and it turned out really well. Now he's full, so I'll see how much of what's left I can finish. I eat a lot lately, so there is a chance that I'll polish it off. It is very good. I spent a good bit of the afternoon crying for no particular reason. I'm tired. I'd like nothing more than to go to sleep for a very very long time. I already took a 2-hour nap today, too. I need to call the sister that I teach in the nursery with and tell her I won't be there on Sunday to teach the lesson. I might need to find a substitute, too. I have a[nother] new plan about how I'm going to organize my last few classes (after the winter semester) to make my last bit of school as unstressful as possible. Trust me, I'm going to need it. My husband is making me some orange juice right now. He is the best. Last night he bought me a gallon of milk because I really wanted it. By the time we went to Ruth's a few hours later, it was half-gone. Is this abnormal? I'm glad we finally have a blender because all I've been wanting lately is a fruit smoothie (thus the stop at Jamba earlier). And at Walmart today I bought 2 bags of mixed frozen fruit--strawberries and raspberries and blackberries and blueberries. And a big thing of strawberry yogurt. Yum. I might have to make one tomorrow. I don't have anything of consequence to talk about on this blog lately. That's why I'm not posting. Also, I'm having a hard time being motivated (thus why our bags aren't unpacked yet and we've been home for 2 days). So I think I'm going to take a bit of a haitus. I should be back later in the month, but we'll see... And if I have anything interesting to post before then, I promise I won't hold back.
24 November 2008
Updates and farewells
I've done it again.
Sorry.
Here's what is going on (I'm probably forgetting a lot of things, sorry):
1. School. Boring and tedious a lot of the time. Some of my teachers are not so nice about some assignments. But I'm still doing well in all of my classes (I think), and they're almost done. I have one class this evening, and then nothing until next week. There are two weeks of classes left, and finals. It makes me happy.
2. My house is clean, yay. Well, almost. I just have a couple more things to do and then it will be all perfect.
3. We bought a vacuum.
4. I'm still working in the temple. I got to work two shifts last week. I love that place. Oh, and if any of you happen to know someone who is a sister ordinance worker in the Provo Temple who will be around this week, please let me know. I still haven't been able to find someone to cover my shift on Friday morning (it's early, but it's worth it). If you know someone, please please email me ASAP! Although, I kind of doubt any of you know anyone. Oh well.
5. We're leaving TONIGHT for our Thanksgiving trip! I get out of class at 7, then we're going to our friends' house at 7:30 for family night, and we'll probably leave right after we leave there, unless I have a couple more things to finish up first, like packing. I'm almost done, but not quite. So we'll probably leave at 9 or 10. WE ARE SO EXCITED. We'll be driving all night and hopefully arriving at our destination tomorrow around dinnertime. It's about an 18-20 hour drive (depending on who you talk to), so wish us luck. We'll be staying with Husband's brother and his wife and family until probably Sunday, when we'll leave to head back home and get here in time for my Monday evening class (Husband doesn't have to be back at work until Tuesday). And on Saturday, we're doing family portraits with all of Husband's immediate family: parents, both brothers, two sisters-in-law, 1 nephew, and 3 nieces. That should be fun.
6. We bought plane tickets for a trip back home for Christmas. We'll get there the evening of the 23rd and will leave really early (our flight is at 6:30 am) on the 30th. We're so glad we get to go!
That's all for now. I probably won't post while I'm gone, but I'm taking my camera so hopefully I'll have a lot of pictures for my next post when I get back.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE. Count your many blessings.
Sorry.
Here's what is going on (I'm probably forgetting a lot of things, sorry):
1. School. Boring and tedious a lot of the time. Some of my teachers are not so nice about some assignments. But I'm still doing well in all of my classes (I think), and they're almost done. I have one class this evening, and then nothing until next week. There are two weeks of classes left, and finals. It makes me happy.
2. My house is clean, yay. Well, almost. I just have a couple more things to do and then it will be all perfect.
3. We bought a vacuum.
4. I'm still working in the temple. I got to work two shifts last week. I love that place. Oh, and if any of you happen to know someone who is a sister ordinance worker in the Provo Temple who will be around this week, please let me know. I still haven't been able to find someone to cover my shift on Friday morning (it's early, but it's worth it). If you know someone, please please email me ASAP! Although, I kind of doubt any of you know anyone. Oh well.
5. We're leaving TONIGHT for our Thanksgiving trip! I get out of class at 7, then we're going to our friends' house at 7:30 for family night, and we'll probably leave right after we leave there, unless I have a couple more things to finish up first, like packing. I'm almost done, but not quite. So we'll probably leave at 9 or 10. WE ARE SO EXCITED. We'll be driving all night and hopefully arriving at our destination tomorrow around dinnertime. It's about an 18-20 hour drive (depending on who you talk to), so wish us luck. We'll be staying with Husband's brother and his wife and family until probably Sunday, when we'll leave to head back home and get here in time for my Monday evening class (Husband doesn't have to be back at work until Tuesday). And on Saturday, we're doing family portraits with all of Husband's immediate family: parents, both brothers, two sisters-in-law, 1 nephew, and 3 nieces. That should be fun.
6. We bought plane tickets for a trip back home for Christmas. We'll get there the evening of the 23rd and will leave really early (our flight is at 6:30 am) on the 30th. We're so glad we get to go!
That's all for now. I probably won't post while I'm gone, but I'm taking my camera so hopefully I'll have a lot of pictures for my next post when I get back.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE. Count your many blessings.
16 October 2008
Yes, Another Post Tonight
You can't say I didn't warn you.
So just a moment ago in my last post, I mentioned that today wasn't the best day ever. I had some assignments that were not going well, and some panic issues, etc. So that was fun. And really, this whole week has been extremely stressful.
That is why this post is going to be about things that have made me happy this week. Look for the silver lining, you know. This, my friends, is what it's all about.
1) A letter from my missionary brother.
2) A husband who will do laundry and make dinner while I am doing homework...without even being asked!
3) A teacher who was unexpectedly understanding and kind. I think this might have had something to do with the fact that I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. (Let's just say that I do NOT do well in debate situations.) But hey, all's well that ends well.
4) Friends who will listen to me and comfort me even when I'm being irrational and just a little bit crazy.
5) Random flowers from an anonymous sender (not my husband). I think I know who it was, because she's the same person that I'm specifically talking about in #4 (although there are a lot of people who also fit this description).
6) Blogs of people I don't even know that remind me to look for the good in everything. (I just realized that I have 115 blogs on my Google Reader...that's a lot)
7) I won a contest! I correctly guessed what day would be the first official, measurable snow in Alaska where Scribbit lives. (You should read her. She is awesome.) Anyways, my awesome prize came in the mail on Monday and absolutely made my day! Such a simple little thing, but it really made me happy. Scribbit, if you happen to read this, thank you. He's such a sweet little guy :) and you can't even imagine how perfect the timing was! Also, you have really pretty handwriting (and I am very random). Anyways, I'm posting pictures of the coolest contest prize ever.
He is a Plaja Pet. (The link is to a giveaway Scribbit did last month, not to the contest. You can find the link to the contest here, and here is where she says that I won...along with three others. Way to go, us! The announcement of winners is at the bottom, but you should really read the story at the top of the post first, because it's amazing.)
Here he is:
Magnetic head.
Magnetic tail.
I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a couple more at some point, because I think it would be so much fun to rearrange the parts! Does that make me weird/disturbed? (Don't answer that.)
So just a moment ago in my last post, I mentioned that today wasn't the best day ever. I had some assignments that were not going well, and some panic issues, etc. So that was fun. And really, this whole week has been extremely stressful.
That is why this post is going to be about things that have made me happy this week. Look for the silver lining, you know. This, my friends, is what it's all about.
1) A letter from my missionary brother.
2) A husband who will do laundry and make dinner while I am doing homework...without even being asked!
3) A teacher who was unexpectedly understanding and kind. I think this might have had something to do with the fact that I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. (Let's just say that I do NOT do well in debate situations.) But hey, all's well that ends well.
4) Friends who will listen to me and comfort me even when I'm being irrational and just a little bit crazy.
5) Random flowers from an anonymous sender (not my husband). I think I know who it was, because she's the same person that I'm specifically talking about in #4 (although there are a lot of people who also fit this description).
6) Blogs of people I don't even know that remind me to look for the good in everything. (I just realized that I have 115 blogs on my Google Reader...that's a lot)
7) I won a contest! I correctly guessed what day would be the first official, measurable snow in Alaska where Scribbit lives. (You should read her. She is awesome.) Anyways, my awesome prize came in the mail on Monday and absolutely made my day! Such a simple little thing, but it really made me happy. Scribbit, if you happen to read this, thank you. He's such a sweet little guy :) and you can't even imagine how perfect the timing was! Also, you have really pretty handwriting (and I am very random). Anyways, I'm posting pictures of the coolest contest prize ever.
He is a Plaja Pet. (The link is to a giveaway Scribbit did last month, not to the contest. You can find the link to the contest here, and here is where she says that I won...along with three others. Way to go, us! The announcement of winners is at the bottom, but you should really read the story at the top of the post first, because it's amazing.)
Here he is:
Magnetic head.
Magnetic tail.
I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a couple more at some point, because I think it would be so much fun to rearrange the parts! Does that make me weird/disturbed? (Don't answer that.)
01 October 2008
Random Observations
Here are a couple of things that I saw on campus the other day.
(1) The quickest way to get to my Monday afternoon class is through the BYU Bookstore. The other day as I approached the entrance (for those of you who know the layout, I'm talking about the one by womens' clothing), I saw a line of people blocking the doorway. After a struggle to get through, I looked over to see what was the holdup. I saw a woman holding a camera facing a man and two women posing for a picture. All the people in the doorway were standing in line for a picture! Since I couldn't see who it was, I looked around for a sign. And then I wanted to go back and stand in line. Because, "OH MY HECK IT'S KIRBY HEYBORNE!!" I'm being sarcastic here. But it really was Kirby. I'm just not that silly :)
(2) Some people have absolutely no sense of what items of clothing should and should not be worn together, even when they're trying to keep up with current "fashion" (I use that term loosely because what is "fashionable" or "trendy" right now is really awful). Case in point: I saw a girl who was wearing this ensemble:
-shiny/sparkly mustard yellow flats/sneakers
-black and white diagonally checked asymmetrical knee-length skirt
-bright pink tshirt
-purple chunky necklace
-bright blue scarf wrapped several times tightly around her neck and tied there
-early 90s glasses, and I'm pretty sure the glass was fake.
Personally, I don't think that any of these pieces should be worn, ever, let alone in combination! But I'm not judging her. I just think she's a little...misguided. And this sort of thing is normal!
I'm an awful person. Shame on me.
(1) The quickest way to get to my Monday afternoon class is through the BYU Bookstore. The other day as I approached the entrance (for those of you who know the layout, I'm talking about the one by womens' clothing), I saw a line of people blocking the doorway. After a struggle to get through, I looked over to see what was the holdup. I saw a woman holding a camera facing a man and two women posing for a picture. All the people in the doorway were standing in line for a picture! Since I couldn't see who it was, I looked around for a sign. And then I wanted to go back and stand in line. Because, "OH MY HECK IT'S KIRBY HEYBORNE!!" I'm being sarcastic here. But it really was Kirby. I'm just not that silly :)
(2) Some people have absolutely no sense of what items of clothing should and should not be worn together, even when they're trying to keep up with current "fashion" (I use that term loosely because what is "fashionable" or "trendy" right now is really awful). Case in point: I saw a girl who was wearing this ensemble:
-shiny/sparkly mustard yellow flats/sneakers
-black and white diagonally checked asymmetrical knee-length skirt
-bright pink tshirt
-purple chunky necklace
-bright blue scarf wrapped several times tightly around her neck and tied there
-early 90s glasses, and I'm pretty sure the glass was fake.
Personally, I don't think that any of these pieces should be worn, ever, let alone in combination! But I'm not judging her. I just think she's a little...misguided. And this sort of thing is normal!
I'm an awful person. Shame on me.
12 September 2008
All about me, because I'm conceited like that
And because my last post was all about Husband. Mostly, in case you were wondering what had happened to me.
Here is me right now (just so you know that I am actually still alive-and-kickin'):
Not the most flattering picture ever, but that's ok. At least you can tell it's me.
This week has been really good, actually. The second week of school and all that. My classes aren't kicking my butt (yet) so that's good. It won't be an easy semester by any means, but it should definitely be doable and possibly mostly enjoyable! Hoorah. Plus, it's one step closer to graduating.
Also, I get to go to the temple three times in three days! That makes me very very very happy. Earlier tonight I went and did a session with a good friend of mine. Her family used to live in my hometown years and years and years ago, and we played together when we were little, along with our brothers. Her older brother was six months younger than me, and my brother is six months younger than her. She and I actually got married 1 day apart (April 26 and 25, respectively) in the same temple this past spring. So it was really cool for the two of us to be able to go do a session together! It's been a while since I did a session as a patron, so that was awesome. I get to go tomorrow as a worker -- Friday morning is my weekly shift. Working in the temple has been such a blessing for me! I love being able to go and just feel the calm and the peace that is so much a part of that place. This week, I am lucky enough that I get to work TWO shifts! One of my good friends asked me to substitute for her on Saturday afternoon, which will make three times at the temple in three days. I can't think of a better way to spend my time!
Here is me right now (just so you know that I am actually still alive-and-kickin'):
Not the most flattering picture ever, but that's ok. At least you can tell it's me.This week has been really good, actually. The second week of school and all that. My classes aren't kicking my butt (yet) so that's good. It won't be an easy semester by any means, but it should definitely be doable and possibly mostly enjoyable! Hoorah. Plus, it's one step closer to graduating.
Also, I get to go to the temple three times in three days! That makes me very very very happy. Earlier tonight I went and did a session with a good friend of mine. Her family used to live in my hometown years and years and years ago, and we played together when we were little, along with our brothers. Her older brother was six months younger than me, and my brother is six months younger than her. She and I actually got married 1 day apart (April 26 and 25, respectively) in the same temple this past spring. So it was really cool for the two of us to be able to go do a session together! It's been a while since I did a session as a patron, so that was awesome. I get to go tomorrow as a worker -- Friday morning is my weekly shift. Working in the temple has been such a blessing for me! I love being able to go and just feel the calm and the peace that is so much a part of that place. This week, I am lucky enough that I get to work TWO shifts! One of my good friends asked me to substitute for her on Saturday afternoon, which will make three times at the temple in three days. I can't think of a better way to spend my time!
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