My parents, Memom, and Reese and Meredith came up to visit on Christmas Day. They left yesterday. It was so nice to get to spend time with them. As usual, we spent the days going to various shops looking for the "deals." We bought Emma several Christmas outfits for next year. (Just hoping we got the right size!) I love shopping after Christmas. I even bought some of my gifts for next Christmas...doesn't hurt to get a head start. I know I will be very busy this time next year. Mom tried her best to get Emma to come early. She had me out walking in the stores every day and wanted me to eat some spicy food to move things along. All of her efforts did not work. Emma is still warm and cozy in my belly and doesn't seem to want to move any time soon.
We had our 39 week appointment yesterday. Turns out everything is fine with my gallbladder. I have not changed one lick....still one centimeter. I started crying in the doctor's office. (hormones I'm guessing!) I have had some very swollen feet this last week and my back is still killing me. The doctor's only words of comfort were (and I quote) "It can't be that much longer. I'll give you a sleeping pill to help with the back pain at night. " I wanted to ask HIM if he had ever felt this type of back pain. Had HE ever had swollen feet that will hardly fit into HIS shoes. Men should just keep their mouths closed when it comes to pregnancy complaints. I'm really hoping that this particular doc is not on call the day we go in labor. He doesn't have the greatest bedside manner.
Well I head back to work on Friday unless Emma decides to come on out. (still praying she does) I don't forsee that I will have loads of patience to deal with 25 second graders on their first week back to school after Christmas break, but you do what you have to. I don't want to waste any days at home when I don't have Emma to cuddle up to.
We had our 38 week doctors appointment today. I am 100% effaced and dialated one centimeter. Doesn't seem like a lot when you look at a ruler, but I am very excited about it. I have had some swelling in my ankles and a little in my face and I have been very itchy for the last couple of days. The doctor is checking my blood to make sure I don't have a gallbladder condition called Colestasis. I should know by Friday or Monday depending on how fast they can analyze my blood. If it turns out that I do have the condition, I will deliver very soon! Scary but exciting!
I wanted to take the time today to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Remember the reason for the season, take the time to read the Christmas story (one of my favorite Christmas traditions), enjoy time with family and friends, eat all the yummy food, and RELAX!
We had our 36 week doctor appointment today. Everything is going well. I am 60 % effaced and at a -1 station. Emma is weighing around 6 pounds. Doctor Bass says that I am ahead of most women at this stage and he guesses she might come a little early...let's pray! We can't wait to hold our little girl and give her a million hugs and kisses. I think John Allen is a little jealous that I get to have her all the time now, so I am sure he will make up for lost time as soon as she makes her debut!
I have one more week of school before Christmas break. I am looking forward to being able to sleep in and keep my feet up for most of the day for the weeks proceeding her birth. I am getting so tired by the end of the day! Twenty-five seven year olds don't let you sit down too much!
Please keep us in your prayers as we enter this final stage. It is hard to believe that we only have a month or less until Emma will be in our arms! (God....if you're listening....Emma would make a wonderful Christmas present...please pass that information on to Santa!! Thanks!)
Check out pics of Emma's finished room. My good friend at work is painting a picture that we are going to put over her crib. Other than that, we are finished with her room! You should be able to view the photos in the kodak gallery. Enjoy!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=cj1z8ri.7zb8pobe&x=0&y=9estbd&localeid=en_US
Well the beautiful Christmas tree lasted all of an hour. We had just settled in to watch a little "Gray's" last night when we heard the crash. The tree fell over crushing most of our ornaments. In my pregnant state, this sent me over the edge. I spent the following hour crying over the ornament my Dad gave me at age 10 (Scarlet O'Hara from Gone With The Wind, one of my fav. movies), the new ornament my mom had just bought with Emma's name on it, and many other sentimental treasures that were now shattered on the floor of our dining room. Poor John Allen had no idea what to do with me. He just kept saying that we would replenish all of the ornaments. Doesn't he understand that some of them are irreplaceable? Well, we finally got the tree back up and cleaned up the water and shattered glass on the floor. Hopefully the tree will not fall again, it very well might put me into labor. :)
Well I was told several times today that I am starting to drop. This would make sense considering I had to call for emergency bathroom breaks about 100 times today. (For those that aren't teachers, we are not allowed to "go" whenever we need to.One of the perks of teaching.) I will post a picture soon so I can get your opinion.
We are getting ready to go to Clemson for Thanksgiving! Can't wait to see our families and get to spend some much needed "mom and dad" time. (Reese and Meredith too, I guess!) I miss them so much!
As motherhood quickly approaches, I am calling all mothers for their best advice. Being a teacher, I am not one to reinvent the wheel. I am more than happy to accept advice, pointers, etc. Please leave a message on this blog with your best "mommy" advice. Looking forward to hearing all the great tips!
We had a doctor's appointment early this morning. Things are still looking good. Emma is measuring right on target....33 weeks. She is still head down...woo hoo! Blood pressure, weight, and everythings else looks great! I have another appointment in two weeks and after that I will be visiting the good 'ole doc every week. We are getting so excited about meeting our little girl. Her room is almost complete. We are planning our last trip before the birth...Thanksgiving with the whole fam. I have my final baby shower on Thanksgiving Day...thanks Aunties! I am planning to take my hospital bag, Emma's bag, and carseat down to South Carolina with us just in case. John Allen laughs at this idea, but I am overly prepared and would not want anything to happen in Clemson, SC that I was not prepared for!
I am so happy that I will get to spend at least one holiday with my family this year. Thanksgiving is so much fun. Lots of eating, Our annual Football game vs. the Boleman family (guess I'll have to sit this one out this year, but that is probably a good thing for our team...I'm not that coordinated!) , shopping on Black Friday, spending time with the ladies talking and laughing around the table, watching movies with my Daddy, the list could go on and on! I love the holiday season..I'm even decorating for Christmas this weekend. I guess the snow we had yesterday got me in the mood. The only sad thing about this year is that we will be spending Christmas alone. Just the two of us, but I know we will be fine because we are receiving the best Christmas present ever...our little Emma Kathryn!!!! Can't wait!
My lovely second grade team hosted a baby shower for me today in our school library. Again, I was blown away by all the beautiful gifts for our little Emma. We received so many cute things, including Emma's first Clemson cheerleading outfit and overalls. (Go Tigers! Thanks Kelly and Leigh!) I love my school and the people I work with. If we do get to move, I will definately miss the bond I have created with all these wonderful ladies. A big thanks to all who attended, I can't wait to introduce Emma to all of you! 
We have lots of new info to post about, but I have been sick with a terrible stomach flu. Nasty! I am starting to feel a little better and can finally keep some very bland food down. Updates coming soon!
Last night we visited Wake Med for our hospital tour. The area around the hospital is not that nice. According to John Allen, " It's the ghetto!", but the inside of the hospital and the maternity ward is very nice. The rooms are spacious and they have many safety features to keep mom and baby safe.
We also had our 29 week doctor appointment today. Things are still going well with Emma, she is still head down and ready to go! I had to get another shot of Rhogam, BOOO. The doc recommended that I get a little extra rest this weekend on account of my terrible, wicked, nasty cold. I wish the students in my class would learn to cover their little mouths when they sneeze, cough, etc! If you are a teacher, you know that this is wishful thinking. I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend!
We had our ultrasound yesterday to check the position of the placenta. Just like the doc predicted, the placenta has moved up! We were so relieved! We are no longer diagnosed with a marginal previa!!! Thanks for all the prayers and support over the past couple of months. We have truly felt loved! Bonus...we got some more pics of Emma (although they aren't as good as last time). It was very hard to tell what was what! She is getting so big...weighing in at 1 lb. 11 oz. Right on track!
We have our first baby showers this weekend....can't wait! This is going to be so fun!
1. MANNERS! Need I say more...they should know to say thank you, please, I'm sorry, yes ma'am, and no sir.
2. How to take care of things. Students in my class are struggling to take care of things...pencils (end up with bitten off erasers and broken in half), books (no covers, missing pages), glue sticks (dried out because the top was left off), Markers (capless and dried out)...the list could go on and on.
3. How to put things back where you found them!
4. RESPECT...for your teacher, other adults, peers, and yourself.
5. How to tie your shoe, buckle your belt, zip your pants, etc.
Can I get an AMEN, Sister!
My feet are becoming uncomfortable.
Fat, Swollen ankles aren't lovable.
They hurt me all day,
won't they go away!
Just hoping they go back to normal!
***This is a pic of my ankles after the Clemson Football game on Saturday!***
I think I have fixed our blog to allow anyone to leave a comment. Send us some love!
This is me in my Clemson Orange hoping that Clemson could actually beat the Citadel today. They did 45-17! I am starting to get excited about next weekend. I am taking my teacher assistant, Julie down to Clemson to the NC State/Clemson game. She is a huge Pack fan. The only bad thing is that our tickets are way up in the upper deck! I keep praying that I won't fall.
