It's Official...

The Hubs has enrolled in school. For the next 27 months he will be in class M-Th from 5:45-10 pm. He is going to school to be a Surgical Scrub Tech. He liked school when he went before, and now with financial aid, it is only costing him $159/month (well until he is graduated anyway). His tuition includes EVERYTHING! I mean everything, books, uniforms, even a book bag. So, it is with great pride, that my Hubby is finally picking himself up, brushing himself off, and getting ready to make a change for him and our family. YayHubs! When you graduate in 27 months, your son or daughter will be able to watch you graduate!
So, what does that mean. It means that I will still be going on vacation with my family without him. It is important that I get away from stress of work and take a week to relax, while he gets to focus on school. He knows that I am behind him 100%, 1 million percent if he needs me to be. So, if you see him, or if you want, you can leave him encouragement on here, and I will pass it on to him. Good luck babe!

Just keep swimming

This weekend, my niece Peanut has pretty much braved swimming without the bubble. In fact, she did some swimming without anything. I can't believe how big she is getting.

Happy Monday!

New Job

Soorrry for the delayed post, but between starting the new job on day shift, and having to revert back to night shift for last night and tonight, I don't really know when I should be awake and not. That being said, so far the new job is awesome. The first day was a little overwhelming, but, most new things are. There is A LOT of new stuff that I will be learning and each little stage will be a test for me. I am looking like I am back in school. I had to buy text books, there are quizzes and midterms, and if I give my all when in school, why can't I give my all in "workschool" (Yes, I know I just made up that word). It will be a lot of work, but a challenge that I am up to. All the work that it entails is making me think about my other job. My new job is M-F plus homework, which leaves the only day that I can work my other job is Sat; Sat night actually. Do I want to give up one of the only days that I can set aside for me and my homework just to earn some extra money? I have decided to see how it plays out. The next days that I work there are the middle Sats of July. What that means is that I have off the first and last Sats in July and only work the middle 3. We will see how my life settles out with working 6 days a week, and unhappiness is not worth any amount of money. If it feels like all I get to do is work, work, work, and not have any time to play than something is going to give and the other job is going to have to go. Well, that is it for now. I am watching the US play Ghana in soccer right now, and I just saw Landon Donovan score a beautiful penalty shot goal. I better get back to that and doing my homework. I hope you have a relaxing weekend.

Big Day

Today is a big day. Today is my first day at my new job. The light at the end of the night shift tunnel can be seen. I still have to work Fri night and Saturday night, but as of Monday I will officially be on day shift! This has been a long awaited stop on the nursing journey, one that I am taking with mixed emotions. I am looking forward to learning how to work in the Operating Room, but overwhelmed with the books I had to get. I am sad to be leaving the ICU, but I got burnt out way to quick. Hopefully I will have more to blog about later today, just wanted to let you in on a little excitement for today.
Later today, well actually tonight, the Hubs and I are heading off to our first pregnancy class. It is actually called Pregnancy 101. I have no idea what to expect, but it is free, and the more information we can get the better. Hopefully it will give us some information that we don't know already, but considering my knowledge is limited to babysitting, I am excited to learn whatever they want to tell me, even better that it is free.
Have a great Thursday!

Distant

That is how I have felt the past couple days and the reason for the absence of blogging. As you know, I am pregnant and while I am beyond excited, I guess part of me is still bummed that I cannot have that perfect pregnancy. No, I don't know what the perfect pregnancy is, but I do admire those you can go through their entire pregnancy without gaining wait, having cravings or even developing gestational diabetes. Yes, I know that I didn't have morning sickness, I don't have any weird cravings. Yes, I know that gestational diabetes is not the end of the world and that as long as the baby is healthy is all that really matters, but I just want to be "normal" for one day of my pregnancy. I want to be able to eat anything I want and not have to count carbs. I want to be able to not have to check my sugar, not to worry about planning meals. I want to be able to just wake up, be thankful that I have one of God's greatest miracles growing inside of me and be able to focus on that, not on the food that I eat. I am sick of blood work and tests. I am sick of worrying about what my next blood sugar is going to be, what if it is high? What will happen next? I want to be able to go to a baseball game and not have to eat just the chicken because they don't serve wheat rolls. I am sick of feeling like this. I should be happy, I should be embracing what is going on instead I am sometimes sad. I know that this will pass, as most everything does. I know that I have many many more weeks of this, and I know that in the end the precious babe is the ultimate reward, just bear with me for a moment as I vent my frustration.

Gestational Diabetes

Getting pregnant is a major life changing event. With that, some people are able to pass the horrible 3 hour fasting glucose, and people like me are not able too. Some people can pass it early in their pregnancy and then fail later in their pregnancy. I, am that person that failed it early in their pregnancy, and for the next 6 months in my case, I have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day and pee on a stick with the first morning Pee to check for Ketones. Glamorous, I know. I am not upset with having what is known as Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes runs in my family which I knew put me at a higher risk for gestational diabetes. I won't lie, I am disappointed, but I would do just about anything a health care professional tells me I need to do for the babes. Adjusting my diet has its up and downs. Sometimes, there is something I want that I JUST CANNOT HAVE, and while I pout about it, then rub my belly and know that it is all OK. See, in being more conscious of the number of carbs, I have found some things that are just as good as the real deal. For example, Breyers makes a carb smart ice cream that I have to admit is stellar! To me, it tastes even better than full carb ice cream. But I digress... back to the subject at hand.
So far, the worst part of having gestational diabetes is the darn finger stick. While I know the rewards of having my blood sugars under control, I dread every single finger stick. Alternating the fingers does not make the pain disappear. I have learned that the thumb does not hurt as much as the rest of the fingers, although it does not mean that I enjoy it any more.
I am getting used to carrying my meter, and adapting my life in terms of being at the "mercy" of the meter. I guess it is getting me used to being at the mercy of the babes. Trying to plan meals has been easy enough, however, it does get tough on days when I work and trying to get ready for work and plan the meals makes life a little bit chaotic. Again, maybe it is life getting me ready for mass chaos. Who knows?! All I know is that while I hate sticking my finger and waiting for that little prick...I am enjoying every moment of being pregnant, and can't wait til the day that the babes comes!

Vacation

Our vacation this year has changed venues. It has also changed date, theme, and number in attendance. I actually think I am going to like this vacation more. We are now heading to the Jersey Shore and all of us are sharing a little slice of heaven. I am so looking forward to it. However, this is where I need help from you my blog friends. I need some must have summer vacation beach reads. I have read every book I own at least once, but I know that sitting on the beach will give me ample time to read and relax. Anyone have suggestions? I love Nicholas Sparks books, and I prefer books that I can get at the library since they are free!! Thanks guys!

Our pregnancy continued...

So, after the appointment where we hear the heartbeat for the first time, Hubs told me that he finally feels like it is real. Now, this is the same guy who has said that it still hasn't hit him yet that we are married. Take it as you may, it means a lot to me that he is so excited, well in his own little way anyway. My mom is the "garage sale ninja" and has started to get us things that we need. Actually mom asked me what we need and my answer was, "this is my first kid, I have no idea what I need." So, needless to say Hubs and I head to Walmart and Target to start our window shopping. At this point Hubs wants everything new for the baby, until he sees how much stuff costs. Anyway, I digress. He has moved on to being ok with gently used stuff, well especially since he saw all the loot my sister J is lending us. Now, he is ok with it.

Anyway, as you may or may not know, once you "become" pregnant, there is a lot of blood work and tests involved. One such test is the 1 hour glucose tolerance test. You get to drink this drink that reminded me of orange crush soda, without the fizz and with extra sugar. Anyway, it was an experience that I wish on no one. So, I fasted for the 1 hour like you are told and I report to the lab. They give me the stuff to drink. I asked them if they wanted to take my fasting blood work first, and the phlebotomist (the lady that draws your blood) said to me "do you want me to call the doctor and tell them that you are refusing it?" I said, I am not refusing it, I just want to make sure you are doing the lab work correctly. She huffed and meanly said drink this. So, I said fine and was now fired up. I drink the drink and read the back of the bottle which reads" fast for 12 hours prior to taking this test" I looked at my husband and was like what the heck. I was only told to fast for 1 hour. Anyway an hour pasts and they draw my blood work. Being a nurse in the network that the lab is connected with, I am able to check my lab results before I get the call from the doctor's office. I kind of like to be prepared before people tell me stuff. Anyway, I see that my 1 hour glucose is 143 and they want it less than 135. SO, I know that means I have to do the 3 hour glucose test. Anyway, it is now time for my doctor's appt and he starts to review my labs. He gets to the part where he looks at my baseline labs. I tell him the situation with the lab, and he is frustrated. He had to document what was said, and make a notation in my chart that says the labs are wrong. I then asked him about the 12 hour fast part, and he says it is just a suggestion, but that because I failed the 1 hour, I have to do the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. I told him that was fine. I have a family history of diabetes, and a sister who was gestational for her pregnancy so I just have come to accept the fact that I too will have it.

Anyway, it is now time for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, which I made sure to fast for 12 hours prior which ends up being a 15 hour fast. There they give you this drink that is like sugared up Hawaiian punch. In all honesty, I thought it burnt a little on the way down. Well anyway, after this test I go to work and check the results. Again I failed:( I guess it is better to know early than late, but I was devastated.
Stay tuned, my test entry will be about lifestyle changes with Gestational diabetes....

Wordless Wednesday

And we are becoming what?!?!

A lot of new things are happening here at the igloo. Besides being surrounded by a lot of boxes (have I mentioned how much I hate to move) our lives are going to begin to change. This is not a new concept for us to digest, or in a way it is. See, we are becoming parents. This little precious thing that is growing inside of me is going to be dependent on us for everything! I mean everything. But, since you are probably lost, let me try to fill you in.

On April 25, 2010, I took a pregnancy test. To my surprise, this was the result...

So, what does any sane human do, they take more than one. Not me, the hubs was at work, and I was beyond excited so I called him. I immediately started crying, but I do remember saying the words "we are going to be parents." I am not sure if at that point it sunk in yet, but I believe hubs was/is excited. Since it was Sunday, I waited until Monday morning and called the OB's office. From their conversation, they had me go have blood work drawn. I had blood work drawn on Monday and then again that Friday just to make sure the hormone levels were increasing. Thankfully the levels are fine.

In the meantime, I talked to the hubs and we decided, er um, I decided that I wanted to wait until Mother's Day to let my mom know that she was going to be a grandmother again. Did I wait, nope! How could I keep it in?!. That Friday April 30th, Hubs and I headed to my grandparents house which is where I knew I would find my folks. As soon as I walked into the door, here is the conversation that we had

Me: "Mom, you are going to be a grandmother again!"

Mom: "How?"

Me: "Hubs and I are pregnant!"

Mom started to cry.

We had our first appointment on May 13th, where we had our first ultrasound. Let me tell you. If you are a soon to be mom, or a reader who is thinking about becoming a mom let me warn you about the first ultrasound. I am only trying to be helpful here, but in order to hear the heart beat when you are this early is they have to stick the ultrasound probe up your vajayjay. Look, I am a nurse, but there are just some things that women need to be warned about. I strongly believe that this is one of those things! But, back to the story; The heartbeat of our little penguinito was 168 beats per minute.

It was at that moment that it actually hit me. I am going to be a mom. I am going to be a mom. Wait, I am going to be a mom! I started to tear up, and I looked at hubs, and all he could say was, "it looks like a seahorse!" So, from there on out, our babes at this point was lovingly called the seahorse.

I think that is enough for now, I will continue more on my journey so far. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Tuesday!

New Faces

I will be seeing lots of new faces at the end of the month. I am leaving the Intensive Care Unit, and moving on to the Operating Room. I have mixed feelings with leaving, but in the end I made a career move that I think is really in my best interest. I am finally getting off of nights, finally getting to hopefully feel less stressed. Less stressed from on the job staffing issues, but more stressed because I will feel like I am in school again :( I just spent $200 for books for the new job. A new job that I know nothing about. I mean it. I know nothing about the Operating room, except the fact that it is usually really cold and that the doctors definitely don't have the same taste in music as me. But, as always, I am up to the challenge and I will do my best to do my best. So, for the next 6 months it is going to be a bumpy ride!

Tuesday

June 1st already! Can you believe it? Where did May go? Wait, where did the weekend go? My sister J was here and then like that they left. It was like you blink and it's over. Rockle and crew was here and of course took pictures of the weekend to capture moments of my niece and nephew, who are best friends, enjoy every.minute together. It was awesome to see. My nephew is such a little man, he even says please and thank you and more, and it is just adorbs when he calls for my niece.
On another note, I got a job offer today! I will be staying within the current network, I will just now be learning the life of an OR nurse! For the next 9 months my life will be in the classroom and clinical learning the ins and outs of the OR. After that I will have 3 months of OR orientation and then I will be set free. It is DAY SHIFT, and M-F with no weekends or holidays! I get to be NORMAL!! Well normal when it comes to work anyway ;) The hubs told me that a full time position might be opening where he works so he will be applying for that. I am so excited! All of our prayers are being answered. Well, each day God shows his love in another way. Just keep him in your prayers!
Well, back to work I go. Looking forward to a fun filled weekend, but in the meantime it is back to my current reality, sleeping during the day and working at night.