Childcare, Insurance, and Maternity Clothes...oh my.


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Lately, friends have been telling me that I NEED to get on waiting lists for childcare....that being on one at least a year in advance is ideal. Umm...I didn't even know I was pregnant at the "one year before" mark. Anyway, that's been stressing me out because I don't know where to look for one....and two, I don't want to just settle. I don't have time to really go searching around staking out places. So, I'm calling around and trying to get on as many waiting lists as possible. ONE possibility has come up though. A lady I worked with last year - great Christian woman - has a sister-in-law who has an in-home day care - small and in a Christian household. She's going to talk to her and see if she has any openings. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping she will work out and will have a decent price. These other places I've looked at are like...$140 - $190 per WEEK. We don't have that kind of money at ALL...so, you can see my issue here. Anyway, please pray that this will work itself out. The whole idea is just daunting to me...and I tend to procrastinate in these situations.

As I was searching around for childcare, the thought of insurance came to mind, which freaked me out even more. I started spazzing, thinking, "How much is going to come out of my check?" "Were we crazy!! We don't have the money for this!! What were we thinking?!" No...I'm not regretting at all. I'm overjoyed that this child is coming into our lives. However, it is overwhelming to think about all that it takes to provide for this child. Why in the world did we choose the education field!!! I mean...job security is great and all....but gosh...there's no money in it. hehe

So, went shopping for maternity clothes. haha HILARIOUS experience. I'm learning that I'm not going to be good at shopping for these clothes until I can actually wear them. I'm not showing at all...but I didn't want to get caught off guard one day with clothes that don't fit. So, my parents took me to Target to get some dress pants and a top or two. I tried on the full panel pants just to see....LOL....it was the funniest sight I have ever seen. These pants were pulled up to my throat (j/k) and way too big everywhere else (had to try on a size up...didn't have my size). Then, the tops were HUGE and way too long. I looked like a box...it did not flatter me at all. I never realized how short/stocky I was until I tried this stuff on. I know it'll look better once I start showing. I didn't go with the full panel yet. Just got the shorter panel to grow into until I need the full panel. Funny stuff....hope it gets better.

160 bpm!!


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For weeks now, people have been telling me how incredible it is to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. So, I had been looking forward to the day with anxiousness and apprehension. I had gone through every possible scenario in my head...preparing myself not to hear the heartbeat. Yes, I also stayed positive at times and prepared myself to hear the heartbeat. However, I had resolved myself not to get too excited UNTIL I heard the heartbeat. I know I've sort of wasted 12 weeks being worried, but I'm allowed to! I'm the one carrying the child...nurturing it....taking care of it...of course I'm going to worry!

Anyway, when we got ready to hear the heartbeat, I was so sure it would there. I wasn't worried at all. The midwife searched around and we kept hearing my heartbeat. So, she kept searching around, and then....there it was! It was the most beautiful, sweetest sound I've ever heard in my life. I keep trying to relive the moment in my mind since it happened. The baby's heart rate was at 160, which even I knew was really good. :) I couldn't see Jeremy while all of this was happening, but he assured me that he had a big smile on his face.

The midwife showed us what the baby looks like now and then showed us what it would look like 4 weeks from now. It's going to almost triple in size...in 4 weeks!! How awesome is that!! Everything is formed now....baby just has to get bigger at this point. I feel like I should have more questions to ask when I got to see the midwife, but I stay pretty up to date on what's going on with me and the baby through reading and researching (daily...I'm a little obsessive).

Well, thanks for letting me share the great news with you guys! Keep us and the little peanut in your prayers!! I go back at 16 weeks...so about 4 more weeks. Then, I go back 2 weeks after that to find out what it is!!! :) Yay!! This baby will be here before we know it. 6 months to go...

10 weeks and counting...


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So, we've made it to the 10 week mark. Nausea is subsiding, but that's about it. I'm still extremely tired all the time, which isn't good for me. It goes all the way back to when I was born. I was born 6 weeks early, and my immune system didn't get to develop as most do. So, since then, my immune system has always been pretty weak. Over the years it has revamped itself, but it still isn't as strong as it should be. So, when I get really, really tired....I tend to get sick. Recently, I've just been feeling yucky...like I'm coming down with something - achey, sinus pressure in my head, earache, sore throat, and tightness in my chest. However, these symptoms don't seem to get "bad"....just annoying, and to the point where I feel like I MIGHT be getting sick. So, lots of rest has been my prescription to myself, and it seems to be working ok.

As for pregnancy symptoms, I can definitely tell that I will start showing in the coming weeks. I'm "stretching" down below and have the cramps to prove it. So, I guess my uterus is preparing to push upward and outward. :) Yay! I can no longer comfortably sleep on my stomach. I feel bad even thinking about doing that, but it's habit. However, it doesn't feel good at all, so once I roll over, I quickly wake up and turn to a side. I remember hearing that pregnant women have weird dreams...and boy is it true. Every single night I dream weird dreams!! Last night I dreamt that I was part of a video game and I was on a mission is Africa. I was scaling cliffs, swimming in the ocean, hiding from bad guys, and protecting something valuable...can't remember what that was though. Really interesting....

Anyway, that's about it. Other than that, my life is consumed by work and grading research papers at the moment...which I should probably get to. I'm finishing rough drafts and preparing for final drafts on Wednesday....and then, next week....the final, final drafts. So, I will see 33 papers 3 times....so, 99 papers in all. uuughh... Luckily, this is the hardest part and it's almost over!! Can't wait to move on to Macbeth and teach the children some Shakespeare! :)