this is probably too much information...

Oh what a night! I think I could have a UTI. I actually got up five times throughout the night to go to the bathroom and hardly even needed to go. It was just that sensation of having to go all the time. Maybe it is just the baby pressing on my bladder, because it doesn't hurt, but nevertheless I will ask them today at the doctor because 5 times in one night really is excessive. I really didn't drink that much before I went to bed last night. Anyway, what an inconvenience! I hardly got any sleep and after three nights in a row of not sleeping well I can say that I am fully exhausted now. At least I've had no more nosebleeds or leg cramps.

Well, we did get our carpet installed last night. It looks really good I think. I just can't wait to get the couch in. This afternoon I have a faculty meeting and my doctor's appointment and I have to go by the post office to mail the invitations to Amanda's bridal shower. Then I have to feed mom and dad's cats and help Jonathan with some work. My 2nd quarter grades have to be in by Friday since it is the last day of the grading period, but that is slow going. I have been trying to at least do a little schoolwork at night lately. Lots to do so I'd better get to work this morning. Have a wonderful hump day everyone!

work and stuff

Another day, another dollar earned. I really like having a regular job that I have to report to, but you know? Some days are just harder than others to get there. This morning it was really hard to get up. I often find that Tuesdays are that way, but maybe by tomorrow I will be OK. Today is another busy day. I have work and then go feed mom and dad's cats while they are at the beach. Then I have to get gas and get to my haircut appointment by 4pm. After that I have to have my oil changed and be home in time for the carpet guy to come install our new carpet around 6pm. I am excited about the haircut and carpet. It has been way too long since I have had a haircut and it is so long and heavy on top that it is really getting on my nerves. I am going to make sure that I get my bangs cut short enough this time and if they look ugly then they'll just have to grow out. I'm tired of fooling with it! I am also excited about the new carpet. I hope it looks OK. It's a shame that we can't get the wallpaper taken down and the walls painted while the living room is cleaned out, but I know you can have everything perfect and there's just not time.

Last night was hectic. I was almost late for the class at the hospital because work at Curves was crazy. I did make it fine though and Jonathan and I laughed through most of the class which was a good thing because it was kinda depressing. It was all about pain management during labor and just made me dread it all. I know I will get through it, but I hadn't really been worried about labor at all until they talked about it last night - mostly because I hadn't thought a lot about it. But now I know I will start to get nervous as the time grows closer.

Tomorrow I have another doctor's appointment and then my appointments start every two weeks instead of every four. I don't know when I will find the time for all of this! Thank goodness my appointment is with Dr. Reuhland. I only have three doctors left that I haven't seen yet and I heard about this one doctor this weekend and how mean he is telling you that you're getting too fat and gaining too much weight. I have gained a lot since before Christmas and I'm glad I don't have to see him this week. I have gained 25.5 pounds and was told to aim for 20. I need to make sure that I start getting some exercise in!

Luckily, I haven't had any more leg cramps recently. I have been eating lots of bananas. I think that if I cut back on the milk, juices, and teas that I have been drinking and drink more water then that should help with the weight gain. I know that adds a lot of calories and I have never been a big drinker before but since I've been pregnant it's been extra hard to drink water. Anyway, those can be my goals for the next few weeks: to exercise and drink water instead of other stuff. Encourage me if you see me!

One more thing - I found out this morning that the lady that we thought was going to be my long-term sub for when I'm gone decided that she didn't want to do it. She would have been great because she is a computer software consultant for her "real" job but she only works about 4 days a month. Anyway, now we're back to square one and I am afraid that they are going to start grasping for straws so-to-speak and just get anyone. Then my kids won't be prepared and will goof off for the rest of the year. That of course, will make it harder on me next year. Joy, joy! I just want to have things finalized as soon as possible! Ugh! Well, I'm off to get something done this morning! More tomorrow!

random musings

It's just another manic Monday. Ooooooo oooooohhhhh. I have a long day today so I am trying to stay sane. I have school and then work at Curves and then birth and beginnings class. Tomorrow our carpet is being installed and our couch should be here within a week. How fun! I had a great weekend. It flew by and of course was jam-packed, but it was good. I also have a busy week ahead this week. I didn't work on any lesson plans this past weekend like I should have. I didn't make the time. I also haven't done anything else with the nursery since last week.

Julianna had a very active Friday and Saturday. She was moving around so much. I don't know if it was something I ate or what, but she has gotten so much stronger and larger that I feel her all the time. She has also started kicking my organs and I can feel a sharp movement and quick pain when she does it. I can also tell every once in a while when I have a small contraction. My muscles squeeze together really fast and sporadic like. Then when you feel my belly it feels really, really tight for a bit and then relaxes. They are not painful but are very obvious. At first I thought they were just the baby deciding to be a spaz but then I realized that she couldn't possibly be kicking that fast and that much all over my belly. She is supposedly 3 pounds and 15.5 inches this week. I have my doctor's appointment on Wednesday. I don't know when they'll do another ultrasound and I'm thinking that maybe they won't unless there are problems, which makes me kinda sad, but we'll just have to wait and see. This baby thing is definitely testing my patience.

Anyway, my weekends are getting more and more full between now and March. Yesterday I found out that the Sunday School class wants to do a shower for us and then the Glenola shower has been planned for January 29th. I have to get a list ready for that. That means that I have a shower every other weekend between now and the end of February. :) How fun!

happy friday!

Well, the nursery is getting there. I put some more pictures up on the pictures page, but not the most recent ones yet. Jonathan put the letters on the walls last night and then put the curtains up. We're going to have to make some adjustments to the curtain rod, but we'll wait and let mom advise on that. The letters look weird too which is a little disappointing. I think I will make some adjustments to the bows at the top and then see what that looks like. If it still looks bad, we might have to adjust the nail positions so it doesn't look so weird. I'll try to get some pictures up this weekend.

I'm so glad it's Friday. I have a busy weekend ahead and an even busier week next week, but it looks like that's just how this month is going to go. I have to work at Curves tonight and I don't usually work on Friday nights but the lady that I work with is having leg surgery. I also have to work there tomorrow morning. Saturday night is a Marsh Furniture people dinner; Sunday night is stamp club; Monday night is Curves and childbirth class; Tuesday night is a hair cut appointment; Wednesday night is a doctor's appointment and long staff meeting; Thursday night is Curves; and Friday night is Curves. Agh! At least I enjoyed a nice nap yesterday evening and got a good night's sleep last night. Our couch might actually be ready to move in next Saturday and then Sunday is a friend's baby shower. It will be fun to go to one that's not mine.

Jonathan and I had an interesting discussion last night about a random topic. It actually started out as a gripe session from me about an issue at work, but ended up being a very nice discussion about our opinions on internet safety and monitoring your child's use of it, etc. I am just so very thankful that we seem to agree on little issues like that because even though at the time, we were not discussing our family personally, the conversation left many implications for how we will raise Julianna and I am very glad that we are "on the same page" about stuff like that. God gave me a good hubby. :)

I am also dealing with a lot of guilt right now about what a pitiful wife I've been lately. I never cook dinner any more. I hardly have time to go to the grocery store much less plan and cook a coordinated meal. I never exercise and as I've repeatedly said before, I'm just so tired when I get home at night that all I want to do is sit for the hour or so before bedtime. I know that it is only going to get worse when the baby arrives, but for right now I find myself crying a lot because I feel so bad that I don't get everything done that I should. I especially feel for Jonathan having to deal with such an unclean house with no decent food to eat and such an irritable, emotional wife. He's put up with a lot during this pregnancy too!

That's all I have time for now. I have to go get something done! Hope you all have a terrific Friday!

accomplishing much

It seems like this week will never end and it's supposed to fly by because it's a short week! Agh! At least I don't have to work at curves tonight and I got some stuff done last night despite feeling awful. I am just so tired and so sore. I didn't sleep well yet again last night. Julianna presses on my bladder all the time it seems.

I hope that tonight Jonathan can get the letters hung on the wall and the curtain rod up so we can see what it will look like. Maybe it will have to wait until this weekend, but hopefully it will be soon. Just a few more accessories for the wall and then when the glider comes in the nursery will be completely set up. Of course, we also need to get some diapers, bottles, etc., but the room furnishing will actually all be in place.

I have now finished 7th, 8th, and 9th grade lesson plans for when I'll be gone. I think that's quite an accomplishment and I'm proud that I have gotten that far. I am trying not to stress over all the stuff I have left to do like the 5th and 6th grade plans and getting the orginals of all of the worksheets that will need to be duplicated put in the sub notebook. Then of course, I'll have to tie up some loose ends like putting in bells schedules and class rosters, etc. But that will have to wait until the end because I can only do one at a time. Anyway, I think that if I work just an hour or two each weekend then I should be able to get it all done in time. We'll see...

So I've now gained 24.5 pounds and I really, really, really don't want to gain a lot more. I keep meaning to at least walk on the treadmill one night but I am just so tired when I get home that it never actually happens. I have had more fruit and vegetables in the past couple of days though so that is good. As of today, I am counting down 77 days (11 weeks)...

78, 77, 76, 75...

Whew! What a day it has been so far! I just couldn't get out of the house on time. Then I remember about 80,000 things that I forgot to do for this morning. Then all of my classes have been just plain crazy. Our devotion this morning was about not taking life too seriously and I think that it was highly appropriate for today. "A merry heart does good, like medicine," says Proverbs 17:22. So I am staying happy and already counting down the days 'til March - only 78 left now.

I forgot to mention yesterday that we got our couch and carpet ordered. How fun! We should have the room done by the end of the month. Jonathan is also scheduled to have lasik eye surgery on January 27th. I've joked with him that he's just having it so that he'll be able to get up and feed the baby in the middle of the night without having to worry about finding his glasses.

My family is planning a baby shower for us on February 12th and there's still the school one coming up in a couple of weeks. I feel like we've made some progress, but then again I don't. We don't have a stroller, carrier, car seat, baby monitor, breast pump, etc. Maybe these showers will help. I have to keep telling myself to wait because I want to go ahead and buy it all now myself just to make sure that we have it all whenever the time comes.

My poor body was so sore last night. I think it was a combination of being so active yesterday, the stretches from the night before, and walking someone through the workout at Curves last night. I know that since it is January the Curves workouts are not likely to let up. Maybe once I get back in the routine of standing all day it will be easier.

is it already January?

What a wonderful break I had! It is sad that it is over, but it was definately very nice. Let's see.... what has happened since I posted last? I worked on lesson plans over the break. I got all of 7th and 8th grade finished and part of 9th grade complete. That leaves 5th and 6th. It was kinda discouraging how long it took just to get part accomplished, but anyway, at least I've started early.

Julianna has gotten so much stronger and larger. I can feel her kicking all of the time now and she certainly has a routine down pat. She is almost always very active around 11 am and 9 pm. Then it's every 2 or 3 hours in between then, but I know I can always count on her to be moving around those times. Sleeping has been a challenge, especially on those nights over the holidays where I overate. My leg cramps have gotten worse and I feel like an overstuffed marshmallow or something. At least I haven't heard anything back from the diabetes test and she said no news was good news...

Anyway, Jonathan and I went to our first child birth class at the hospital last night. It was an adventure to say the least. Some things were silly, but it was also very informative and I'm glad we went despite what everyone says about how you won't learn anything in the classes that will necessarily help you during labor. I just think it's good to learn all you can. But it did make everything seem a lot more real now and like I knew it would, it made me a little more anxious and scared about the delivery. Of the seven couples in the class, four are having girls and three are having boys. It is everyone's first baby. Jonathan and I talked on the way home about all of the random stuff that we didn't know before we went to the class. We also should be very familiar with the hospital by the time Julianna comes which is good because I could easily get lost in that place. Next week we are supposed to take pillows which for some reason is funny to me and then the week after that we have a "meet and greet" with the doctors. The class is only 5 weeks and of course they put the tour on the last night of class. But we did get a free Huggies diaper!

I also got our registry fixed at Babies R Us over break (the old one deleted). For Christmas I got a Baby Einstein CD that I have been listening to. It is really quite relaxing when I am out in traffic. Then Whit gave us our diaper bag and we ordered our glider with the gift cards. When I ordered it they told me it'd be in in approximately 10 to 15 weeks which is cutting it close. That is also disappointing because Julianna should be here in about 11 weeks! We made a little progress on the nursery though. Mom started the curtains and I'm going to get the stuff hung on the wall this week. I added a really cute lamp and some bedding for the twin bed and we're almost done! Dalford even made us an adorable child's rocking chair. Now all we need is the baby. :) I'll add some more pictures tonight.