It's been beautiful here in Garland this past week, almost fall like. Today I had the privilege as a science teacher to take my students out for them to relish in the sunshine! We recently started a garden at school and the students will be the main ones in charge of maintaining it. They will be in the club called the Ethridge Discovery Garden Engineers. We took the opportunity today to go out and sit in the garden soak up some sunshine, it was wonderful.
Daily life is good. I'm not getting as sick as I used to. Morning sickness has almost replaced my evening sickness episodes. I'm proud to say that there is no throwing up just lots of nausea or an overall feeling of blahness (if that's a word). Thursday is my next appointment and I'm hoping we'll be able to hear a heartbeat on the doppler machine. I'm taking mine as well to see if it will pick up one too. Then we'll be headed to OKC to visit the family for Grandpa's birthday on Friday.
All in all it's been very busy here but busy with things that take up time and not necessarily worth writing about.
I did go to a giant baby sale a couple of weeks ago with friends and found a stroller/carseat combo for about half the price it retails for in stores. It also matches my pack and play that I bought for Olivia when she comes to visit. So our first 'real' piece of baby gear, it was a very exciting purchase!
Tomorrow will be 11 weeks! It's amazing how time flies!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Reflection on my day and perhaps my life......
What a day it has been! As you all know I love to sleep in and don't worry this morning I had the opportunity to do that until Isabelle (the cat) wanted to be outside and my bladder wanted to be emptied. However, that was when the good day ended. Forget morning sickness, today I had all day sickness! I've eaten, I've napped, I've drank lemonade, I've taken tums, ginger, and don't worry I've had my daily movement. It's still here even at 9:30 at night. I'm hoping I go to bed and tomorrow morning the sickness is gone - at least this episode. I'm well aware that at about 8pm every night it will return but no more of this all day stuff PLEASE!!!
Anyway, since I was laid up all day I did get the chance to read the chapter for the classes I'm taking. If you don't know, I'm finishing up my last semester at Texas A&M - Commerce to receive my Administrator's Certificate. This will allow me to become a principal when the time is right. So of my last two classes one of them is my internship (i.e. on some days I get to pretend to be a principal at school) and the other is more like a reflection class to sum up all of the other classes I've taken over the past 2 1/2 years.
Anyway, since I was laid up all day I did get the chance to read the chapter for the classes I'm taking. If you don't know, I'm finishing up my last semester at Texas A&M - Commerce to receive my Administrator's Certificate. This will allow me to become a principal when the time is right. So of my last two classes one of them is my internship (i.e. on some days I get to pretend to be a principal at school) and the other is more like a reflection class to sum up all of the other classes I've taken over the past 2 1/2 years.
We're currently reading the book Caring Enough to Lead by Leonard Pellicer (see above). This weeks chapter really hit home for me. Each week we have to write a reflection about the chapter. Although you haven't read the book I think you'll get the gist of what the author is talking about as you read my reflection for this week:
This chapter discusses the importance of finding acts to let us know we are on the path to becoming the person that we want to become. I agree with the author, we need to take the time to reflect on the reasons we do the things we do and say the things we say to those around us. I feel the people that deserve the most attention from us are sometimes short changed due to our busy schedules.
This chapter really hit home for me. Most of my family lives in Oklahoma City and I get the opportunity to visit them about once a month. Why not more often? The reasons are endless and perhaps not so worthwhile. This summer we learned that my grandfather is dying from pancreatic cancer. The number of visits have not increased but the time I spend with him on those visits has. The author mentioned he continued to visit Bob monthly because “the monthly visits restored a little dignity to Bob, by somehow acknowledging that this wonderful human being still existed somewhere inside that spent body.” As I reflected on this statement I began to wonder if this is why I continue to visit my grandfather. “It can’t be,” I thought to myself. The self reflection began. My grandfather instilled in all of us that we could do anything we put our mind to. He never questioned why I first chose a male dominated career or when I changed careers, why I became a teacher. He knew I had thought it all out and these decisions would make me happy. He never questioned. This ‘signpost’ of him getting cancer has made me reflect on whether or not I am on my chosen path to becoming the human being that I want to become. Sometimes reflection is hard, yet I must remember “that it’s all about the journey, not the destination”.
This chapter discusses the importance of finding acts to let us know we are on the path to becoming the person that we want to become. I agree with the author, we need to take the time to reflect on the reasons we do the things we do and say the things we say to those around us. I feel the people that deserve the most attention from us are sometimes short changed due to our busy schedules.
This chapter really hit home for me. Most of my family lives in Oklahoma City and I get the opportunity to visit them about once a month. Why not more often? The reasons are endless and perhaps not so worthwhile. This summer we learned that my grandfather is dying from pancreatic cancer. The number of visits have not increased but the time I spend with him on those visits has. The author mentioned he continued to visit Bob monthly because “the monthly visits restored a little dignity to Bob, by somehow acknowledging that this wonderful human being still existed somewhere inside that spent body.” As I reflected on this statement I began to wonder if this is why I continue to visit my grandfather. “It can’t be,” I thought to myself. The self reflection began. My grandfather instilled in all of us that we could do anything we put our mind to. He never questioned why I first chose a male dominated career or when I changed careers, why I became a teacher. He knew I had thought it all out and these decisions would make me happy. He never questioned. This ‘signpost’ of him getting cancer has made me reflect on whether or not I am on my chosen path to becoming the human being that I want to become. Sometimes reflection is hard, yet I must remember “that it’s all about the journey, not the destination”.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Here's Proof!
We made it to the first appointment and it was a success. We got to see little toad! Everything looks normal and my due date is April 11, 2009. A little earlier than Granny's birthday on the 14th but still pretty close. The heartrate was 158 which if you go by old wives tales that means a little girl. We'll see!
I'm doing good. I don't have morning sickness - I have what I call night nausea. It's not bad but it's not friendly either. My clothes are getting tighter mainly due to the bloating feeling in the afternoons. Mornings we start out just fine. It's kind of like how you used to lie down on the bed in the morning to zip up your pants after they've been washed. Only for me, the morning zip up is fine, but by the afternoon I've unzipped them and latched a rubber band around the button.
We took video of the event and hopefully will have it posted on here or on You Tube before long!
We're in awe of what God has allowed us to do! I think we both held back tears today as we saw this appear before us on the screen!
I'm doing good. I don't have morning sickness - I have what I call night nausea. It's not bad but it's not friendly either. My clothes are getting tighter mainly due to the bloating feeling in the afternoons. Mornings we start out just fine. It's kind of like how you used to lie down on the bed in the morning to zip up your pants after they've been washed. Only for me, the morning zip up is fine, but by the afternoon I've unzipped them and latched a rubber band around the button.
We took video of the event and hopefully will have it posted on here or on You Tube before long!
We're in awe of what God has allowed us to do! I think we both held back tears today as we saw this appear before us on the screen!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Going Back to School.
Week 6 out of 40!
This past week we offically started back to school as teachers. The kids will join us on Monday, the 25th. I have 28 students in my class and about half of them aren't new to me. Over the summer I was promoted to 5th grade. I'll be teaching Science and Reading. Since I moved up I've got most of my own kids back again. My troubling kids have left me and there will be new ones to take their place but I'm looking forward to a year of challenges and rewards.
I was informed last night that our nickname of Nugget for the little one will not surfice for my grandfather. He mentioned that no one else in the family has gotten to pick their nickname so why should we? So his or her beloved nickname will be Toad. It's cute and it'll work for either gender. The overall theme of course is that if Grandpa says it's so....then it's so. Love you Grandpa!
Granny called me a few nights ago out of the blue to ask if we were to name our daughter Astoria (our chosen name, after a town in Oregon that I fell in love with) could she call her Tori? I think it's wonderful and we'd already been thinking that since we obviously can't shorten the first part of her name.
My first appointment is next Thursday at 1pm. I can't wait. Perhaps it will make all of this seem more real to me! I've been feeling fine. Mainly just very bloated which is going to force me into a new pant size. I know it's no big deal but it's just a little annoying :) I've come to realize I can't eat Dairy Queen Blizzards or La Choy's Lo Mein in a can. Those two things didn't sit well on the belly. No real morning sickness per se but mornings are really tough. My stomach is really uneasy until about lunch time and then all is well.
We've told quite a few people now, hoping to start a great prayer chain for a happy and healthy 9 months. All of school doesn't know just yet but I think after next week I'll be a little more comfortable letting the news out to everyone.
This past week we offically started back to school as teachers. The kids will join us on Monday, the 25th. I have 28 students in my class and about half of them aren't new to me. Over the summer I was promoted to 5th grade. I'll be teaching Science and Reading. Since I moved up I've got most of my own kids back again. My troubling kids have left me and there will be new ones to take their place but I'm looking forward to a year of challenges and rewards.
I was informed last night that our nickname of Nugget for the little one will not surfice for my grandfather. He mentioned that no one else in the family has gotten to pick their nickname so why should we? So his or her beloved nickname will be Toad. It's cute and it'll work for either gender. The overall theme of course is that if Grandpa says it's so....then it's so. Love you Grandpa!
Granny called me a few nights ago out of the blue to ask if we were to name our daughter Astoria (our chosen name, after a town in Oregon that I fell in love with) could she call her Tori? I think it's wonderful and we'd already been thinking that since we obviously can't shorten the first part of her name.
My first appointment is next Thursday at 1pm. I can't wait. Perhaps it will make all of this seem more real to me! I've been feeling fine. Mainly just very bloated which is going to force me into a new pant size. I know it's no big deal but it's just a little annoying :) I've come to realize I can't eat Dairy Queen Blizzards or La Choy's Lo Mein in a can. Those two things didn't sit well on the belly. No real morning sickness per se but mornings are really tough. My stomach is really uneasy until about lunch time and then all is well.
We've told quite a few people now, hoping to start a great prayer chain for a happy and healthy 9 months. All of school doesn't know just yet but I think after next week I'll be a little more comfortable letting the news out to everyone.
Monday, August 11, 2008
A Trip to the Beach
On Friday, Rex and I headed down to Crystal Beach for a weekend of relaxation. His parents, sister's family, and brother in law's family all rented a house for the week. With Rex just starting a new job he didn't have any leave so we flew down for the weekend to join them.
We were picked up at the airport by Rex's mom, dad, sister, and nephew. We bought a card the night before that had a lamb on the front with no hair and said on the front something to the effect of If you don't like the look now..... (open the card, the lamb has full hair) and said just wait it'll grow on you and then it plays the Chia Pet song. I wrote on their you'll have to wait nine months to see the full effect. His mom got it right away and had a huge grin on her face. His dad thought something was wrong until he read it himself and then a smile broke out. Paula, his sister, was in shock I think. So now the whole family knows :)
The weekend on the beach was fantastic. I slept for long stretches on a hammock on the porch listening to the ocean and feeling the breeze. I did get in the water once but not for long. That hammock was my friend. Rex currently looks like a lobster. The poor boy even put on sunscreen.
We left out Sunday morning about 10am and arrived home about 6pm. I can honestly say I was awake for maybe 45 minutes during the entire drive home. I don't do well as a passenger, I sleep more than I'm awake on most occasions.
We were picked up at the airport by Rex's mom, dad, sister, and nephew. We bought a card the night before that had a lamb on the front with no hair and said on the front something to the effect of If you don't like the look now..... (open the card, the lamb has full hair) and said just wait it'll grow on you and then it plays the Chia Pet song. I wrote on their you'll have to wait nine months to see the full effect. His mom got it right away and had a huge grin on her face. His dad thought something was wrong until he read it himself and then a smile broke out. Paula, his sister, was in shock I think. So now the whole family knows :)
The weekend on the beach was fantastic. I slept for long stretches on a hammock on the porch listening to the ocean and feeling the breeze. I did get in the water once but not for long. That hammock was my friend. Rex currently looks like a lobster. The poor boy even put on sunscreen.
We left out Sunday morning about 10am and arrived home about 6pm. I can honestly say I was awake for maybe 45 minutes during the entire drive home. I don't do well as a passenger, I sleep more than I'm awake on most occasions.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Day Two of Knowing
Well, that second test that I saved. It was positive too!
Left OKC for Dallas this afternoon since Rex and I are headed to Crystal Beach tomorrow evening via Southwest. There we will join his family at a beach house. We've waited to tell them the great news so that we could see their expressions in person as well. I can't wait!
I've been looking around for a OBGYN to meet with. I think I found an office that looks like a great group of doctors. They work out of Plano which is a bit further of a drive than Garland but I'm not real crazy about Garland's delivery procedures.
So we'll see when their earliest appointment is. They will do bloodwork and a sonogram on the first appointment. I can't wait for that. Although we probably won't be able to see anything really it will be nice to see a blob and a sac to make sure everything is going okay.
Keep us in your prayers!
Left OKC for Dallas this afternoon since Rex and I are headed to Crystal Beach tomorrow evening via Southwest. There we will join his family at a beach house. We've waited to tell them the great news so that we could see their expressions in person as well. I can't wait!
I've been looking around for a OBGYN to meet with. I think I found an office that looks like a great group of doctors. They work out of Plano which is a bit further of a drive than Garland but I'm not real crazy about Garland's delivery procedures.
So we'll see when their earliest appointment is. They will do bloodwork and a sonogram on the first appointment. I can't wait for that. Although we probably won't be able to see anything really it will be nice to see a blob and a sac to make sure everything is going okay.
Keep us in your prayers!
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