Thankful...

I started writing this post to talk about our E.R. adventure yesterday. I wanted to complain and say how horrible the wait was and how mean one of the nurses were, but to be honest...

None of that matters.

What matters is that my baby is safe and healthy.

After a bleeding scare, we saw our little munchkin wiggling around so much with a strong, healthy heartbeat of 148 bpm.

We knew that God would be faithful and he continues to prove to be just that and more.

Yes, I had to get a RhoGam shot because I'm Rh- and Phil is Rh+ which means if my blood mixes with

the baby's blood, and the baby is Rh+ my body would create antibodies against the baby thinking that it's an infection.

I'm not a fan of shots, but if it's what we need to keep my baby safe, I'll do it.

I am so thankful that the baby is ok and that the bleeding has stopped.

Now, if we can just get this cough under control so that it doesn't happen again, that would be great!

I'm resting in bed today and calling my OB tomorrow morning to let them know and see if they want to do a follow-up.

Thank you, Lord for your goodness and faithfulness.

Another Sneak Peek!

This weekend has been a whirlwind of emotions when it comes to this pregnancy. Due to my PCOS, I have been on Metformin to help reduce the risk of miscarriage during the first trimester. My RE put me on it, but since I'm no longer a patient there, my OB gets to make the final call on how long to keep me on the medication. My OB doesn't prescribe Metformin so he doesn't feel comfortable making that decision and decided to have me see a MFM (high risk) doctor for a consult. Basically, I would go in with my records and the MFM would make the decision and I would continue my care with the OB. Sounds easy and do-able.

Of course, it couldn't be that easy. Friday, I called the MFM and asked for a consult like my OB's office told me to do. They asked why I needed one and I told them about my PCOS, Metformin, and results of my most recent blood work. They decided to transfer me to the diabetic counselor. The diabetic counselor asked about my blood work and when she realized that I passed my gestational diabetes test and am not diabetic, she told me how fantastic it was! Then, she told me that she wanted me to check my blood sugars 4-5 times per day, see a dietician, and be treated like a diabetic. Um, what?!

I checked my sugars three times and they were all well in the normal range. Of course, I'm willing to do what I need to do to continue to be healthy for the baby, but I was wondering why I needed to see her when I just need to find out about the medication. So, I called my OB's office this morning and told them what happened and how confused I was. They agreed that was not the person I needed to see and had me call back and ask to see the high-risk doctor.

After I called them, they then transferred me to speak directly to the doctor who told me to stop the Metformin at 12 weeks (Sunday!) and come in for a consult when they're at my home hospital in the next week or two. I called the number he gave me and tried to set up an appointment. They asked if I was diabetic and when I said no, they were confused. They then asked if I had an ultrasound done by one of their doctors or at the participating hospital and when I said that it was done by someone else, they said that it had to be done by them. They decided to call the MFM and ask what the recommendation was and call me back when they knew how to schedule me.

They called me back a few hours later and informed me that the doctor wants to see me next Wednesday, the 20th. I will need to have a dating ultrasound done by them prior to my appointment and will get to see the doctor for the consult immediately afterwards.

So, I guess we'll get an extra picture of Baby Reese next week really looking like a baby! Of course, I'm a little nervous, but I know that God has given us this child and we've had no reason to believe that anything is wrong. I'm still having plenty of symptoms and feeling the stretching/round ligament pain so the baby should be growing just fine.

Please continue to pray for us and Baby Reese. I can't wait to see the baby one more time before we can officially announce!

On some recent good news...

This week has been a great week for me. I was able to make more clutches and decided to start sewing and selling the things that I make! It has been something that I have thought about for a while and with all of the positive feedback from family and friends, I've decided to take the plunge and just do it!

The other good news that was received this week was that after over a year and a half of dealing with pain in my right wrist, I am officially scheduled for surgery!

I have been waiting for the doctor to come to that conclusion FOREVER and after the failed cortisone injection, he decided to not make me go through it again and do the surgery!

The surgery is scheduled for this coming Thursday (Aug. 18) super early in the morning. It was a miracle to get it done before school starts as I was told that there was really no way that was going to happen!

So, this basically means that I have a little less than a week with the use of both of my hands! I am going to be sewing up a storm (hopefully) while I can enjoy doing it until I recover enough to be able to do it again. I was told that the recovery time is 90 days total, but many people feel much better in 3 weeks. I'm not sure where that will put me, but I'm happy to feel better nevertheless.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I'm sure the next few weeks/months will be challenging (and a blessing) both for myself and my husband.

Faking

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will complete my first week of teaching. It doesn't feel like this is actually happening, but it is. I am a full-fledged teacher. I stand in the front of the class talking about grammar, vocabulary, and literature. I give assignments, grade papers, and lesson plan. I have a total of 19 students for the three classes and 4 students in the computer lab. Needless to say, I teach.

This past week I have really loved my job. I love getting dressed for work and going in a little early to make sure that I have everything needed for the day. I love going to devotions/staff meetings in the morning. I love having co-workers again and the adult interaction that comes with it. I love coming up with fun ways to make learning exciting and seeing the kids enjoy themselves while knowing that they are still learning. I pretty much love my job.

There's only one thing that's been difficult. I feel like I'm playing pretend. I feel like everyday when I get in front of the class I "fake it" and hope the kids learn something. I know this isn't true, but that's how I feel.

I have proof that what I teach is affecting the students and they are learning what they are being taught. I can tell when the 6th graders understand the vocab words, use it in a sentence, and can act it out...two days later. I can tell when the 7th graders take their first reading/vocab/grammar quiz on the story and they all get an A or B. I can tell when the 10th graders point out the capitalization rules during the game we play and correct each other. This is how I know what I'm doing works.

I wonder when it's all going to feel real. When I'm not going to feel like I'm playing "teacher" and "dress up" and when it's going to sink in that this is my life and that it's ok to have so many blessings and good things happening. My life has turned around dramatically and sometimes it's just hard to take in. I am blessed beyond measure and know that God is with me every step of the way.

Has anyone else ever felt like they were "pretending?"

Deliverance and Freedom

Last night Phil and I went to the last Cleansing Stream study before the retreat in Pittsburgh tomorrow evening. On the way there I was reluctant to go because Satan had really been attacking me lately and I felt "out of place" being there with everyone exclaiming how much God is showing them through the study. God has been showing me a lot as well, but it made me feel that there was nothing changing because my response was not the response of many of the people in the study. I was able to open up and was accepted by the wonderful group of women who reassured me that what I'm going through is perfectly normal and that God is going to do a great thing at the retreat! I left feeling happy and inspired!

I went to bed last night praying deliverance and freedom not just for myself, but for Phil as well. As I was praying I felt God's presence and it was amazing. My mood this morning was fantastic and I could tell that God was working! I found myself praying and praising God for the freedom He has given us! God has already won the spiritual battle and has given us victory over all. We need to be open to receive the freedom that He has for us and the blessings that He has for us in store. Hallelujah!