I have really come to enjoy taking pictures over the last year, so I am glad to have a targeted purpose for this new outlet. Next weekend we are going to try to do a few together and with the puppies:).
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Maternity Pics Take 2
These are a sample of some I took myself using the tripod. Note to all: I am supposed to be blowing a bubble using bubble gum. Note to self: Bubbalicious is horrible gum for trying to blow a bubble!
I have really come to enjoy taking pictures over the last year, so I am glad to have a targeted purpose for this new outlet. Next weekend we are going to try to do a few together and with the puppies:).
I have really come to enjoy taking pictures over the last year, so I am glad to have a targeted purpose for this new outlet. Next weekend we are going to try to do a few together and with the puppies:).
Friday, March 10, 2017
34 Weeks
ETA: Sooo, there appears to be no rhyme or reason to these fruit/veggie comparison seeing that according to one site pineapple was 33 weeks AND I managed not realize it until after I posted, so as to not be redundant. Isabella is the size of...
Isabella is the size of a PINEAPPLE!
Isabella is the size of a PINEAPPLE!
Some heartburn? I am now up to heartburn three times a day. The 2:00pm burn and 7:00pm burn are like clockwork, the new 8:30am burn shows up when it feels like it.
Last night we went to our final prenatal class on breastfeeding. Of the three classes we took I found that it provided the most information that was new to me. Fingers crossed that I am able to put to use all she shared!
Thursday, March 9, 2017
An Emotional Week (School Related)
This week was supposed to serve as a bit of respite as the university was on spring break and I had planned to come home straight after school each evening an rest, or if so motivated, try to get a little ahead with my coursework. Little did I know God had different plans for this week and it would prove to be one of the most difficult weeks I have experienced as an educator.
Dylan began as a kindergartener in my school in the fall of 2011. In his short life Dylan had already experienced more health issues by that point than most do if they live to be 100. These health issues also led to cognitive, motor and speech deficits. However, two of the areas his health issues couldn't touch were his joy of people and his joy for life. He loved to joke and laugh and his smile was infectious.
Dylan wasn't supposed to have lived to see 1...3...5...10 and over his elementary school career he spent multiple stints in the hospital. I assumed when he went into the hospital at the beginning of February he would come back to us as he had done so many times before. Even when hospitals in Charlotte, Atlanta and Boston determined he did not meet the requirements for their heart transplant list late last week, I convinced myself that he was Dylan and he would somehow find a way to bounce back. God Bless him-- his tiny heart finally gave up in the early morning hours Monday thus began a school week like none I had previously experienced.
I got a text message just before 5am to call his teacher; however, fearing the reason she was texting me to call her so early I just laid there trying to summon the courage to call dreading what I was to hear. After we spoke I sobbed and I kept telling J.T. I didn't want to be the boss today. However, I was the boss and somehow managed to break the news across my staff. We worked hard to keep the kids in the dark during the day as we wanted the news to come from their parents who we had messaged around lunch time. It also allowed the day for staff to process so they could be there for the kids on Tuesday, and be there they were. They did an amazing job of being there for the kids, for one another, for the family and for me. Our kids and families also did an amazing job of being there for one another, the teachers, and the family.
Wednesday night a viewing and celebration of life was held. I have never been to services for a child before and hope this one was it. It was beautiful and while there were moments of levity (Dylan could be such a funny kid), the tears left us all drained.
The graveside service was today and I just couldn't do it. I gave his mom a big, long hug last night and made sure all of his teachers who wanted to go were able to do so, but selfishly I could not handle it. Dylan would have been 11 next Tuesday. They sung him Happy Birthday and released balloons in his honor. I am sure he loved it and for the first time in his short life could run and jump for joy and is thankful to be with the Lord whom he loves so very much.
Dylan began as a kindergartener in my school in the fall of 2011. In his short life Dylan had already experienced more health issues by that point than most do if they live to be 100. These health issues also led to cognitive, motor and speech deficits. However, two of the areas his health issues couldn't touch were his joy of people and his joy for life. He loved to joke and laugh and his smile was infectious.
Dylan wasn't supposed to have lived to see 1...3...5...10 and over his elementary school career he spent multiple stints in the hospital. I assumed when he went into the hospital at the beginning of February he would come back to us as he had done so many times before. Even when hospitals in Charlotte, Atlanta and Boston determined he did not meet the requirements for their heart transplant list late last week, I convinced myself that he was Dylan and he would somehow find a way to bounce back. God Bless him-- his tiny heart finally gave up in the early morning hours Monday thus began a school week like none I had previously experienced.
I got a text message just before 5am to call his teacher; however, fearing the reason she was texting me to call her so early I just laid there trying to summon the courage to call dreading what I was to hear. After we spoke I sobbed and I kept telling J.T. I didn't want to be the boss today. However, I was the boss and somehow managed to break the news across my staff. We worked hard to keep the kids in the dark during the day as we wanted the news to come from their parents who we had messaged around lunch time. It also allowed the day for staff to process so they could be there for the kids on Tuesday, and be there they were. They did an amazing job of being there for the kids, for one another, for the family and for me. Our kids and families also did an amazing job of being there for one another, the teachers, and the family.
Wednesday night a viewing and celebration of life was held. I have never been to services for a child before and hope this one was it. It was beautiful and while there were moments of levity (Dylan could be such a funny kid), the tears left us all drained.
The graveside service was today and I just couldn't do it. I gave his mom a big, long hug last night and made sure all of his teachers who wanted to go were able to do so, but selfishly I could not handle it. Dylan would have been 11 next Tuesday. They sung him Happy Birthday and released balloons in his honor. I am sure he loved it and for the first time in his short life could run and jump for joy and is thankful to be with the Lord whom he loves so very much.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Maternity Pics Take 1
Today was the day I had been planning to take maternity pics. J.T. doesn't feel well and would like to do it next Saturday. I was still itching to take some pictures so I took these...
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Birthing Class
Today was our birthing class at the hospital. It was an all day event that we thought started at 9:30 so when we walked in at 9:35 we thought we were only 5 minutes late. Turns out it started at 9:00 and we were 35 minutes late. Ooops! It turns out we only missed introductions and creating a list of the positive and negative things about childbirth.
We watched several videos and while many things we had heard or read before, we both thought it was good to hear them again. Because I have a feeling when it's go time if we only heard it once, it will likely be no longer retrievable!
The more I learn about medical interventions, the more I hope to be able to avoid them because it seems like once you start you end up going down a bit of a rabbit hole. However, let's be real I have never really confronted pain or any real medical need that was to this level so I am certainly not saying "no" but I do hope to try some natural management strategies first.
While we were sitting their J.T. ordered an exercise ball as a number of the suggested positions/early labor strategies used them. I am also thinking music, the tub/heat, and staying at home as long as I can will help too. I am not sure about the breathing. While it's not the hokey breathing they show in moves, I think it will still take some concerted effort. The instructor suggested to those of us with Braxton Hicks to try breathing with those for practice-which seems smart and doable. I also plan to print out some bible verses to use as mantras. Though I can say with a fair amount of confidence that relaxation music, relaxation exercises and such are things that I will plan to avoid.
As I learn more about natural childbirth, I am discovering that there is a crunchy, I am woman hear me roar vibe to the choices of many. While I admire their rational, it sheds an interesting light my own (well at least #2).
My primary goals of childbirth are:
#1 A healthy Isabella
#2 The fastest possible labor and deliver I can possibly have!
We watched several videos and while many things we had heard or read before, we both thought it was good to hear them again. Because I have a feeling when it's go time if we only heard it once, it will likely be no longer retrievable!
The more I learn about medical interventions, the more I hope to be able to avoid them because it seems like once you start you end up going down a bit of a rabbit hole. However, let's be real I have never really confronted pain or any real medical need that was to this level so I am certainly not saying "no" but I do hope to try some natural management strategies first.
While we were sitting their J.T. ordered an exercise ball as a number of the suggested positions/early labor strategies used them. I am also thinking music, the tub/heat, and staying at home as long as I can will help too. I am not sure about the breathing. While it's not the hokey breathing they show in moves, I think it will still take some concerted effort. The instructor suggested to those of us with Braxton Hicks to try breathing with those for practice-which seems smart and doable. I also plan to print out some bible verses to use as mantras. Though I can say with a fair amount of confidence that relaxation music, relaxation exercises and such are things that I will plan to avoid.
As I learn more about natural childbirth, I am discovering that there is a crunchy, I am woman hear me roar vibe to the choices of many. While I admire their rational, it sheds an interesting light my own (well at least #2).
My primary goals of childbirth are:
#1 A healthy Isabella
#2 The fastest possible labor and deliver I can possibly have!
Friday, March 3, 2017
33 Weeks
Today Isabella is the size of...
We also had another successful doctors appointment today. Ella's heartbeat broke it's 140 trend, but that's because she was sleeping the nurse said. So she was averaging in at about 132. I was measuring at 33 weeks exactly. "Textbook" the doctor said:).
He also said he thought she was already head down, though she may flip again in the coming days.
My BP is back in a range I consider normal (90/75) though I am up three more pounds for a total of 25 (ya know the total amount I was trying to gain for the whole pregnancy-womp, womp).
We have one more appointment two weeks out before we start going in every week. Things are getting real!
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Geriatric Pregnancy
On my printout from one of my first doctors visits at the OBGYN announced several things, but the thing that stuck out the most were the words "Geriatric Pregnancy". Now clearly I knew I was "advanced maternal age", but geriatric made me think of hunched over, feeble senior citizens. You know, something like this:
I was pretty indignant thinking "geriatric my a*&!". I was still very much mobile, keeping up with a full workload, courseload, and household responsibilities. "I got this!" I thought- I just needed to keep moving. So I did and everything went well for the first trimester...and the second trimester...and the start of the third trimester.
Then my body started to crap out on me last week. This week was more of the same, so I have a new appreciation for the term "geriatric pregnancy". However, I believe in my case it would be more aptly named "geriatric third trimester".
I am sleeping better this week, but I am struggling to get around. I guess what I am experiencing are technically Braxton Hicks but I can't time them. The tightening is now across my whole abdomen and only stops when I sit down. I hesitate to sit down too much, and frankly I have too much to do to sit down as much as I would like.
I just need to get through this week I think. Class Monday through Wednesday, Infant CPR tonight and Birthing Class all day Saturday. With all of the busyness that was involved in last weekend I just haven't had much of a break. Next week is Spring Break at the university, so just going to work and coming home I think will definitely do me some good.
We still have 7 weeks to go, so I gotta figure something out. Well, actually hold on a second. Maybe this is God's way of telling me I am trying to take on too much myself again and I am not relying on Him the way I should. Hmmm, some interesting food for thought...
Then my body started to crap out on me last week. This week was more of the same, so I have a new appreciation for the term "geriatric pregnancy". However, I believe in my case it would be more aptly named "geriatric third trimester".
I am sleeping better this week, but I am struggling to get around. I guess what I am experiencing are technically Braxton Hicks but I can't time them. The tightening is now across my whole abdomen and only stops when I sit down. I hesitate to sit down too much, and frankly I have too much to do to sit down as much as I would like.
I just need to get through this week I think. Class Monday through Wednesday, Infant CPR tonight and Birthing Class all day Saturday. With all of the busyness that was involved in last weekend I just haven't had much of a break. Next week is Spring Break at the university, so just going to work and coming home I think will definitely do me some good.
We still have 7 weeks to go, so I gotta figure something out. Well, actually hold on a second. Maybe this is God's way of telling me I am trying to take on too much myself again and I am not relying on Him the way I should. Hmmm, some interesting food for thought...
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