Busy day tomorrow.

I have lots and lots to do tomorrow. Nothing to fancy or anything, but still a busy day to say the least. The day starts at nine, where I will meet with my clinical teacher and get my grade. Next, I take a final for my one class. At ten I have a class for an hour. Next it is off to Lankenau (again) to get the fetal echo, keep your fingers crossed that is goes smooth as molasses. I will update tomorrow with the findings of the echo. Lastly, to top it off, I work from 2:30 until 11! So very busy indeed, but at least I will get to sleep in on Tuesday, seeing as school is nearly over. Then on Wednesday, I have my nursing final and a funeral to attend. Two funerals in two weeks do not make for a good time. I just need to make sure to study hard tomorrow and Tuesday and lets pray that I kick some nursing final butt. I did well on all of the unit tests so I just hope that I remember a good amount of the information and that a refresher/review is all I need to get my brain a'churning!

On a final note, I wanted to update some of my pictures. I got my Christmas cards made today and the majority of them are in the box waiting to be mailed. Here is the picture I used for the card.

And here are some 24 week and 4 day belly pics!

My 24 week appointment.

I had my 24 week OB appointment today and it went well. Too sum it up:
~ I have gained 20 pounds
~ My blood pressure was 110/60
~ My uterus is measuring perfectly for 24 weeks.
~ Chase's heartrate was 150-160 and he was moving around quite a bit while the nurse was checking the heartbeat.
~ I have my echocardiogram on Monday.
~ My next appointment is on December 28th.
~ I will do my glucose screen at next appointment as well.
~ We are good to go in terms of trying for the VBAC and will furthur discuss the details around 35-36 weeks pregnant.

All in all it was a nice and reassuring appointment. I think I am most excited though about the VBAC. Dr. Gerson seems super supportive and I feel it is really important to me to have my health care provider be supportive of my labor decisions because I am the patient and I have a right in determining the type of birth I want to have. Now granted, I will do anything necessary to ensure the baby's safety, but I can do that while making the birth choices as well. My goal is to be powerful in birth and to let my body do the things it was designed to do. My mom had two natural, drug-free births and I feel confident in myself and my mindset that I will be able to do the same.

Woot!

~Got a new electric toothbrush and I L-O-V-E It!!! My teeth feel so clean and smooth and fabulous!! I just wanted to share in the awesomeness of an electric toothbrush!
~Also wanted to add that there are only 5 days of school left including finals.
~I have my doctors appointment on Friday, hopefully we will get to see the baby again.
~My three year anniversary is on Thursday and on Saturday we are going to a nice dinner and movie.
~Christmas is 20 days away.
~Work is done for the night.

As you can see, I have a lot to Woot about today! (totally a good thing after the hectic/long/exhausting day I had, but nothing a nice shower, a snuggle with my doggy, and laying in bed can't fix!)

24 Weeks!!!!

I am 24 weeks pregnant, now it is only by two minutes, but it counts! I can't believe I only have 16 weeks left and only 14 weeks of work left! Woohoo! Sounds like a good time to me. I still don't know how we will do it with work and school and parenting, but I know that God WILL take care of us and God WILL ensure our safety, happiness, and well-being. Now you may ask how I know this and the answer is simple, God KNEW we could handle the loss of our dear baby Amaris and he KNOWS that we will handle parenthood and everything else for that year until I have my nursing degree. I know it in my bones and in my heart and in my soul because I KNOW that God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle.

I have my last full week of school today and I have to admit that I am completely and utterly relieved. It is nice to know that I will have a few weeks off to enjoy my family and friends and though I have to work I will have the benefit of sleeping in, and thats worth it in itself!

Overall, I guess I don't have anything crazy to report on. We did have Uncle Johnny's funeral today. I wasn't able to go to the memorial because of school, but was able to go to the "reception" afterwards. Now I am not too sure if reception is the right term, but it was basically a chance for the family to get together and reminisce and eat lunch so whatever that is called I am not sure, so reception it is. It was nice to see the family from Florida, though not exactly an ideal circumstance. Everyone kept telling me that we have to come down and visit after Chase gets here and I think I will take them up on the offer. It will be fun to bring him to Florida and to let him see the ocean and feel the sand between his toes, not to mention all the loving he would be getting from the family!

I guess I will leave on a good note and say that I am so excited for Christmas and so excited to just have some family time for a few weeks! Also, I must include the newest edition to the belly gallery!

Almost the Weekend!

I am just glad to say that it is almost the weekend. I haven't been feeling well all week and I am just looking forward to being able to relax. I am also looking forward to seeing some family this weekend. They came up from Florida for Mom's cousin's funeral and though a sad reason to get together, it will be nice to visit. Mom is setting up our get-together so I should know details tomorrow. As for the weekend, I think that is all that is going on. Just hanging with some family and resting, sounds like a party to me.

Trucking along...

Let me start by saying that I am so glad that school is almost over. Only 2 weeks to go! So many countdowns I have going in my head right now. The count down until school is over, countdown until Christmas, countdown until the start of maternity leave, and the countdown until Chase arrives!!! So much to look forward to!

I scheduled to meet with a pediatrician today, the appointment is on December 18th. He is my little sister Molly's pediatrician and my family seems to like him. I guess I will have to wait and see if he lives up to our standards! I guess I will have to start compiling my list of questions for the doctor.

As of right now, there isn't too much going on. Just some end of semester bullshit and then the beautiful amazingness of Christmas break!! I have so much to do already over the break between birth classes, doctors appointments, and work! Besides that, I also want to start working on my book again. I think I am going to purchase dictation software because I feel I will better get my words out and stay more motivated to complete the first draft if I don't have to type it all!

I guess that is all that is really happening now, Matt and I have our 3 year anniversary on the 6th of December, next Thursday! I think we will go out to eat the following weekend and just have some together time, maybe rent a movie or something good.

I guess I will just finish with saying that Matt and I have been really good lately and when I say this I really do mean it. We have just been happy and laughing a lot and just having a good time together. I really think that Amaris sent Chase to us to fill that little space that only a baby could and that he will only bring us closer after he makes his debut.

...

I am going to win the lottery in the near future. That is all.