Third Trimester, Here I Come!

Today marks 28 weeks!!  I can't believe I'm in my third trimester already!  I've really had an easy pregnancy so far (hopefully it stays that way through the delivery!).  I felt sick and tired during my first trimester, but never actually vomited, and besides the one day of REALLY wanting a Bic Mac, I haven't had any strong or strange cravings.  I went for a Glucose screening test a couple of weeks ago and it came back a little high, so I have to go next weekend to do a 3-hour glucose tolerance test to see if I have gestational diabetes.  I feel Gabe move all the time, and see my stomach jump when he kicks.  Tim has felt it once, but usually misses it.  :-)  Hopefully he'll get to feel it more as he grows.  It usually happens really quick, and when I tell Tim and he puts his hand on my belly, he doesn't move again.  Here is a picture of Tim and me from VBS where I dressed as "Pandamania Penny".  This was the 2nd week in August, and the next picture was taken today.

On Wednesday night, Tim and I had our first of many pre-natal education classes at the hospital.  It was C-Section night and we got to hear all about why they do C-sections and what the process is if you have to have one, and about the recovery process.  We also watched a video of a C-Section being performed.  It was pretty interesting, but made NOT want a C-Section!  But it made me feel better to hear the nurse say that they only do a C-Section if something is wrong with the baby and it's not just something you do because you're tired of pushing or you want to be done quickly.  I've heard a lot from people who are for natural childbirth that some doctors push for C-Sections because it's quicker and they get to go home faster, and it's more expensive.  We also got to tour the Beginnings Maternity Center and see all the different places we'll go: triage, labor and delivery, and if we have to have a C-section, where that happens, and the NICU and regular nursery.  Each woman gets a private room to labor and deliver and recover and they measure/weight/test the baby in the room and let you nurse the baby as soon as possible.  There is also a bassinet in the private postpartum room and the baby only goes to the nursery if you want to get a couple of hours of sleep or if the nurses need to check something out.  Otherwise, the baby is in your room at all times, which is really good.

School started on Monday, and we're off today and Monday for Labor Day.  It is very exhausting traveling with my student all day in that big middle school.  There is no air conditioning and we're constantly going up and down stairs to get from class to class.  But on Wednesday I had a voicemail from the district saying that they wanted me to come in for an interview on Friday for a math position at the Citadel, which is for 9th and 10th grade.  I went to that interview today and found out that there are actually 3 positions available at 3 different schools; 2 are contract positions and 1 is a long-term substitute position with the possibility of becoming permanent.  The 3 principals were there: from the middle school, Citadel, and High School.  The middle school position is for Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1, the Citadel is Algebra and Algebra 2, and the high school, which I think is the substitute job, is Algebra, Geometry and possibly some Trig.  I think it went well, and they have to submit the names to the school board for them to approve them when they meet on Wednesday, and then I would start.  I'm not sure if they offer the job before the names are approved...I'm assuming they call once the people are approved so I'm not expecting a call until next Thursday.  I'm still waiting to hear from Agora Cyber School to see if they want me to come in for another interview.  I emailed the person who had been emailing me throughout the process and let him know my situation and asked if they could tell me if Agora is still interested in me or not, but they are out of office until Tuesday.  

2 Posts In One Day??? Wow! :-)

Well, I just got home from my interview.  I think it went well.  It's always hard for me to know for sure and I don't like saying, "It went really well!" and then not get the job.  She asked A LOT of questions pertaining to my past experiences: "Tell me about a time when..." which I wasn't expecting, and she also said that if they are interested in me, I would have to come in for another interview with the director of the high school.  And she said that she was told today that it could take a couple of weeks before I hear anything because they have to look at their numbers again and decided how many openings they actually have.
So, I didn't get a feeling one way or the other of which way she was leaning.  But I did talk to her about being pregnant and it didn't seem to be a big deal, so that is good!
I will be sure to keep everyone posted on what happens next!

News, News, and More News

Yes, I know it's been a VERY long time since I've updated my blog.  I'm not sure why...haha.
Well, here's the latest:
I'll be 27 weeks pregnant tomorrow!  The second trimester has gone really smoothly.  Besides some lower back pain, I've been feeling great.  We had two ultrasounds and they both showed that he is a boy!  Tim is very excited (I am too, but he was dead set on having a boy), and we have enjoyed all the clothes and items that we have been getting in the mail!
Tim has started a new job at Michael's, unloading trucks from 3am-8am for a little extra money.  He only works on Wednesdays and every other Monday.  But the good news:  I have an interview with Agora Cyber Charter School tonight and I've already answered a questionnaire, taken an assessment, and presented a 20-minute lesson online to them, and this is the last step!  The process has gone pretty quickly (they called me 30 minutes after I finished my lesson yesterday to set up the interview!) and it seems like they are interested in me.  Hopefully I'll know something very soon and can start teaching for them!  I would work mostly from home.  I think they do activities for the kids to get together and I would be at those, but I'll find out how that works at my interview tonight.  But for the most part, I will be home, which is awesome!  Tim said that if I get this job, he will probably stay with Michael's until after Christmas, and then quit.
We had decided that if I didn't get a teaching job this fall, we would need to move to a more affordable place, but after thinking about it some more, we decided that we should move no matter what.  People at the church have been very helpful and are looking for cheap places for us to live.  One couple is looking for a place to buy and rent to us (this is something they already do), and another couple is considering moving into the house next door to them (the husband's mother's house), and letting us live in their house and split their mortgage payments!!  We are overwhelmed by the generosity we are being shown here and are so thankful for these people and have full confidence that we will be taken care of.  :-)  Moving won't be fun, but I'm sure we'll have a lot of help when the time comes.
Our first pre-natal education class is on August 31st at the hospital.  It is Cesarean Birth Night and Tour, where we learn about why women have C-sections and everything that goes with that and then we get a tour of the maternity ward.  We have three birthing classes in September and then a couple on breastfeeding and a doctor's night where we get to talk to an anesthesiologist, an obstetrician, and one other type of doctor that I can't remember right now, and then a newborn baby class.  I'm excited for these classes and to learn everything I can.  I've been reading a lot on these subjects, and have a book on the Bradley Method of natural child-birth.  I'm going to try to use his techniques to have a medication-free birth, but we'll see how reality works.  :-)  I'm not against epidurals and doing what is medically necessary for a safe delivery but according to Dr. Bradley, the more natural it is, the quicker it goes (and if you can totally relax during contractions it's less painful), so I'm all for that!
Ok, well that is all for now and I have to get ready for me interview!  I'll be sure to update with the results as soon as I know them!
P.S.  We got to experience an earthquake that was centered in Virginia on Tuesday, and will experience the effects of Hurricane Irene on Saturday night/Sunday!  It'll be a fun week on natural disasters! :-)

12 Weeks!!

Wow!  12 weeks pregnant!  I can't believe it!  Here is a picture of me taken yesterday (Sunday) at 12 weeks and 2 days!  Several of the girls at school today were rubbing my belly.  :-)  And the kids keep asking if it's a boy or girl.  I wish I knew!

In other news, GO MAVS!!!!  We're not afraid of no Thunder!  Shame on my brother for rooting for OKC, but he's always been fidgety when it comes to what sports team he roots for. (As far as college sports and basketball is concerned).  I just wish the games didn't start so late.  Game One is at 9 pm here, which is my bedtime.  I should be able to see the games online, but I don't know how long I'll be able to stay up to watch them. 

Tonight I am going to our church's Women's Fellowship picnic.  We are supposed to bring a side dish, and I made my grandma's Mexican Salad.  This is the third time I've attempted it, and it actually worked (before I always butchered the tomatoes, and then just gave up).  I bought canned diced tomatoes this time.  :-)  Hopefully it tastes good!

Toby has recently forgotten where he is supposed to poop.  He's been doing it on the carpet...coming in after his walk and doing it on the carpet!!  He'll do it overnight/early in the morning before we get up too, so we are putting him back in his crate.  Two nights ago he wouldn't stop barking, and I heard our neighbor man yelling very loudly, so I let him out.  I didn't know if he was yelling because of the dog, but I didn't want to take any chances of having an angry man at our door, so I just let Toby out of the crate.  Last night we moved his crate into our bedroom (from the kitchen) hoping it would prevent the barking and it did!  He whined a little, and scratched at the gate, but it was nothing that a few squirts from the water bottle wouldn't take care of.  :-)  And he pooped OUTSIDE this morning and this afternoon!  :-)  Although, he did pee on the carpet this morning before I got a chance to take him out...tomorrow I'll just leave him in the crate until the minute I'm ready to take him outside.

Only 18 more days of school!!!  I got a call from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education today saying that I am being granted the 7-9 Math Certification because my degree program was middle level.  Even though I passed the 7-12 Math Praxis test, I have to fill out another form and give them another $100 to "add on" the 7-12 endorsement.  Stupid.  The lady even said that I don't have to take another test because I've already taken the 7-12 test...so WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME THE 7-12 CERTIFICATION?  Answer: Because they want to get as much money as they can.  It wouldn't be that big of a deal except the two math jobs to which I've applied require 7-12 certification!  :-/  So annoying.

Well, on that note, I hope everyone has a marvelous Monday (what's left of it!).

Update

So you know how I said my doctor didn't do an ultrasound or listen to the heart beat or anything which I thought was weird?  Well, after reading online about it, turns out that's normal.  Most doctors don't do an ultrasound until 20 weeks (which is what my doctor is doing) and that's the only one they do unless there are problems.  I go back in 2 weeks and we'll hear the heartbeat.  Since there is a history of twins in my family I am anxious to find out just how many babies we're having.  :-)  Tim even said what if we have triplets because my family has fraternal and identical twins so I could drop two eggs, and then one could split?  Haha.  That would be crazy!  Highly unlikely, of course. 

First Dr's Appointment A Success...I guess...

Well, Tim and I went to our first doctor's appointment on Monday.  It was kind of a let down actually.  The doctor just did an exam and talked to us a little to answer my questions.  They didn't even confirm the pregnancy!  They told me I was 11 weeks and 3 days along, which I already knew, and confirmed my due date as November 25th soley based on the calendar, nothing medical.  No ultrasound, no listening to the heartbeat to make sure he/she is alive.  She said they do ultrasounds at 20 weeks, and I'll come back in 2 weeks and we'll listen to the heartbeat.  My friend Kristen, who is also pregnant, has had an ultrasound at every doctor's visit, starting at 6 weeks I think.  The last one she had showed that she is a little more farther along than originally thought based on the size of the baby.  So she's 12 weeks, and I'll be 12 weeks on Friday.  I did fill out a medical history form, but no one talked to me about it, and I didn't think to mention the history of twins in my family.  I guess at our next appointment we'll know if it's twins or not based on the heartbeat.  I will mention it and maybe get an early ultrasound.  They supposedly have state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment so why can't we use it??  I was really looking forward to at least hearing the baby.  How do they know that it's growing at the correct rate?  Maybe I'm farther along than I thought?  What if there is more than one baby?  It is frustrating, but the doctor was really nice so I didn't think of these things until we left.  There are 4 doctors in this practice so I may see a different one next time.  The one we saw on Monday doesn't do deliveries anymore, so whichever one of the other three is on call when I go into labor will deliver the baby.  I did get a bag full of information that I've been reading, including the 2011 Target Baby Catelog, which is awesome because that is where I want to register.  Babies 'R Us is just too expensive, and there's not a good Walmart close to us.  Target has lots of cute stuff and is kind of middle ground, price-wise.
So, hopefully we'll have more exciting news to share after our next appointment which is on May 24th.

Happy Friday!

I am now 11 weeks along today!  Here is what babycenter.com has to say about my baby's development:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

This picture is a 3-D ultrasound of an 11-week old fetus. It is also from babycenter.com.  Hopefully I will have a similar picture after my appointment on Monday!! :-)

Last Sunday was "Youth Sunday" and the youth praise band led worship, and some of the guys led the prayer time, communion, and offering prayers and passed the trays, which was a first for most of them, and they did a very good job.  Tim preached on baptism, and did an excellent job, as usual.  This coming week, he is going to be leading the worship with Brenda, the piano player.  We are slowly transitioning to having more live instruments during worship.  Right now, it's just Brenda playing the piano, no one leading with a microphone and for half the songs, we sing along with a recording.  My preference is still a capella, but most of the members here do not have that type of backgroud and don't know how to sing in parts.

Only 25 more days of school left!!!  I'm really looking forward to the summer!  Our friend Angie's mom has a pool and Angie has said we can hang out with her there anytime we want and I fully intend on taking her up on that offer as much as possible!  I have applied to work summer school, which is only 6 weeks, half-days Monday - Thursday, but I haven't heard anything yet.  I don't know when they will be making their decisions about staffing.  I will be gone the first two weeks of summer school because I am going to Florida!!  My grandparents and aunt Mitzi are coming up June 18 and then they are going down to visit Jason and Melody the next week, and I decided to go with them! I will be there a week and a half, flying back on July 2.  Then, Tim and I will be in Ohio the next week with Shelley and Sally for the North American Christian Convention.  I am excited about this because one of the speakers is going to be Francis Chan!   It should be awesome!

There are two math teacher positions open in two other districts that I will be applying for.  It's a little confusing trying to get all the paperwork together because they both require proof of all the clearances from the state (child abuse, background check, etc.).  I haven't been having any "morning" sickness lately but I am still pretty tired when I get home, and haven't had the energy to figure everything out.  Hopefully  I can get it done today or tomorrow and get the applications in.  I found out after I applied to the last one that they actually don't have any vacancies right now; they are just accepting applications. 

The Mavs have apparently been doing well, up 2-0.  I haven't been able to see any of the games yet, but I should be able to watch tonight's game on ESPN 3 online, so that is exciting!

Gotta go...so hope everyone has a great weekend!