So my dad came and did maternity pictures for me back in March. It was a really fun experience. We set up in our living room. He is planning on coming again right after the baby is born and will hopefully get to do some fun, cute newborn pictures for us.
I love the coloring on this one.
This one is just so gentle looking...
Same picture, just with some color. Can't decide which I like better.
My friend Megan came over to help with the shoot. My dad caught her in a great candid moment. I love it!
I've had this one for a while--first one my dad edited. Love the light on my hair.
The look on my face just captivates me.
I love this one; I just wish that the angle of my glasses was a little bit different. I just feel so relaxed.
A definite favorite.
I feel like I look huge in the picture--more what I would look like now. But I still love it.
Again, I look huge, but this is probably my favorite picture. The dots do make you go a little cross-eyed, but it is just a cute picture!
Thanks so much, Dad! I love them all! How blessed I am to have such a talented father.
So the 30th was my 29th birthday! I really can't believe that I am that old. Not that I feel old, it just doesn't seem like I have lived that many years. The scariest thing is to think that I was only 22 when I started teaching. I can't believe that all those parents trusted me with their students at only 22! And now those kids are in 6th grade! I guess parents survived (and the students did too!)
I had a very relaxing day. I didn't make a big deal about it at school--in fact I don't know that even half of my students figured out that it was my birthday. I have been more excited about the baby, and they have too. I left school early, visited at my sister's for a few minutes, did some window shopping (I forgot my coupon, so I figured I would buy later), then went home and put my feet up.
I couldn't decide whether I wanted Red Robin or Texas Roadhouse for dinner. For TR, we would have had to be on the ball and there by 6 in order to get the early bird dinner and neither of us felt like rushing. So we went to Red Robin and had some delicious Raspberry Limeades (they are bottomless and delicious!). Pret got a burger and I got fish and chips. We also got a small order of onion rings to share. Our waitress (Lauren, at The District) was fabulous!
Then we went home and watched the most recent episode of Modern Family and then I fell asleep while Pret did some stuff around the house. All was great and it was a wonderful night with Pret.
Until...about 4:00 in the morning. That's when all that greasy stuff finally caught up to me, and I was miserable. I didn't know whether I wanted to throw up, let it all out the bottom, or just go into labor (my thoughts of a natural birth, as excited as I am about attempting that, were sounding a lot better than the discomfort I was feeling right about then). With everything all squished in there, I could feel the food pass from my stomach into my intestines. Luckily before I left for school, it ALL passed through me and I was feeling like a spry, pregnant 29-year-old once more.
Lesson: As much as you want to eat all things good for your birthday, when 36 weeks pregnant, you may want to avoid a meal made up only of fried foods.
Yesterday I had my 34 week appointment. That means I only have 6 weeks to expected delivery... Two months was a nice milestone, but 6 weeks to me feels almost like less than a month, I am not sure why... It is also less than 50 days (42 to be exact) so that seems like "nothing" as well.
Even better than that, is that I only have 5 weeks of teaching left. This has been a trying year, as many of you know. I think the Lord is letting me know that teaching will not last forever and it's OK if I want to move on. Now, I am not quitting teaching forever or anything. But next year will look a little bit different for me. I won't be teaching full-day kindergarten anymore, nor will I likely be at Sandy Elementary. The latter is most sad for me as I have grown to love the faculty and the community as a whole. It will be hard to say goodbye to many of the families--some I have taught 3 students and would teach more if I stayed.
But there is another plan in store for me and I look forward to finding out what that is. Of course I know a great part of it will be motherhood and I am very excited about that. But as for the school, the grade, the subject of where I will next year, it's a great unknown!
Some of you may know that I LOVE high school football. Last fall I convinced one of my Beehives to go with me to the West Jordan football game under the guise that we were going to watch one of the Laurels in the color guard at half-time (which we did and she did a great job) but really it was just so I could watch the game.
Anyway, I was forwarded this story and accompanying video clip from a friend and ended up crying through the last half of it. What an amazing story. This is about the only time I wish I lived in Texas so I could cheer on the Gainesville State School every week.
The text tells the story and a few other details, but even if you read, it is worth it to watch, too.
"There was an unusual high school football game played in Grapevine, Texas . The game was between Grapevine Faith Academy and the Gainesville State School . Faith is a Christian school and Gainesville State School is located within a maximum security correction facility.
Gainesville State School has 14 players. They play every game on the road. Their record was 0-8. They've only scored twice. Their 14 players are teenagers who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault to robbery. Most had families who had disowned them. They wore outdated, used shoulder pads and helmets. Faith Academy was 7-2. They had 70 players, 11 coaches, and the latest equipment.
Chris Hogan, the head coach at Faith Academy , knew the Gainesville team would have no fans and it would be no contest, so he thought, “What if half of our fans and half of our cheerleaders, for one night only, cheered for the other team?” He sent out an email to the faithful asking them to do just that. “Here’s the message I want you to send,” Hogan wrote. “You’re just as valuable as any other person on the planet.”
Some folks were confused and thought he was nuts. One player said, “Coach, why are we doing this?” Hogan said, “Imagine you don’t have a home life, no one to love you, no one pulling for you. Imagine that everyone pretty much had given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like and mean to you for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you.”
The idea took root. On the night of the game, imagine the surprise of those 14 players when they took the field and there was a banner the cheerleaders had made for them to crash through. The visitors’ stands were full. The cheerleaders were leading cheers for them. The fans were calling them by their names. Isaiah, the quarterback-middle linebacker said, “I never in my life thought I would hear parents cheering to tackle and hit their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are yelling for us. They knew our names.”
Faith won the game, and after the game the teams gathered at the 50-yard line to pray. That’s when Isaiah, the teenage convict-quarterback surprised everybody and asked if he could pray. he prayed, “Lord, I don’t know what just happened so I don’t know how or who to say thank you to, but I never knew there were so many people in the world who cared about us.” On the way back to the bus, under guard, each one of the players was handed a burger, fries, a coke, candy, a Bible, and an encouraging letter from the players from Faith Academy."
Yes, it's true. I got the dreaded influenza bug! I am really not surprised as I had 4 students out over the course of 3 1/2 weeks with it, plus a very high-stress classroom on top of that, so I think it was bound to happen. At first I thought it was just a chest cold and would have stuck with that if my OB/GYN had not pretty much insisted that I go get tested. They were out of the tests in the office, so I had to go to the hospital lab to get the test. My doc said she would call me with the results. But then, she was the on-call doctor, so I didn't hear anything and didn't hear anything and didn't hear anything.
Finally at 11:30 on Friday night, I called the office to leave a message for the "on-call" doctor knowing it was mine. She called me back a few minutes later apologizing because she had been called in and didn't get out of the ER until 11:00 and figured that was too late to call me. But she confirmed that the test was positive and sent a prescription to the Walgreens (luckily a 24 hour one is just a few blocks away) and my wonderful husband picked it up for me on his way home from a movie with friends.
So basically, I spent 18 of every 24 hours in bed on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. My hips were very sore from being only on my sides so much and Pret was very glad to come back to OUR bed on Monday night after sleeping on the couch so I could stay in the bed (and he could get away from my hacking cough!) I braved school again on Tuesday and life has been pretty good. My kids are probably glad that I can't yell at them right now (I still have a VERY rough voice) and they have been as cooperative as my class gets with everything.
In summary, I did get a flu shot back in September and I think that is the only reason that I didn't end up in the hospital with this. But in the end, I think it was the Lord's way of saying, "You need a break and you won't take it without some intervening." Thank you Lord! I'm not even going to complain about the side-effects!
In other news, I have begun to develop a belly for sure. I will post a few pictures here when I have a minute. :-)
Pret is on his way home from 3 days of hunting in Arizona with his family. He and Kate are pretty tired, but had a good time. I got enthralled with West Wing, so easily kept my time occupied!
I know it's a few days late, but I just saw this on someone else's blog and really felt like I needed to share. Makes me feel extra lazy for sleeping in and taking 2 naps on Christmas!
So a friend of mine who used to live in Sheridan pointed me toward this blog post by someone who still does live in Sheridan, in my parents' ward. My mom and dad worked together to create a really neat Primary sharing time and this lady posted about it. I thought I would share the link (with her permission) and you can all enjoy it as well. I can't wait until my parents live closer so my children can be a part of these fun things as well.
So I had my ultrasound last week. I have been waiting to post so I could add pictures, but since we don't have a scanner and I forgot to take the pictures over to my in-laws last night, I guess I will just post without. Since Pret had to work late that day, my sister Shannon was able to come with me for the "show." I think she had a good time as well and was very relieved for me that there just appeared 1 body, unlike her last one that revealed 3.
We saw 10 fingers, 10 toes, a very healthy beating heart, and all parts of the face and brain necessary to show that it will be a healthy baby. I could have watched that heart beating all day long--what an amazing creation this child is even at just 20 weeks (that's my official progress as of today!). The baby was very stubborn as far as moving into positions where we would be able to see what we needed, and Shannon and I had commented on the fact that Pret is worried about how our child will look and especially the stubborness that could come with a red-headed child, so the technician even "drew" some curly red hair on the baby.
The baby had finally moved into a cooperative position and the tech asked, just to verify, whether I wanted to find the gender. I stayed strong and said, "No" and haven't regretted that decision. I will say, though, that there are a couple shots where I think if there was something to be seen, it would have been seen...if you get what I am implying. So my bets are still on a girl!
Either way, we realized that both of the names that we are thinking of start with the letter L, so for me, the baby is now "Little L." I don't know what Pret thinks of that, but his name for the baby is not official until it is born.
So as the time is drawing nearer (I am officially 16 weeks=4 months), we are starting to think about some of the big things necessary for a baby. My sister, Shannon, has generously stored a crib for us for 12 years, so I think we have that part covered. But the others are still very much in the air.
When it comes to different varieties of all of the above-mentioned "big" things, I have heard many different opinions of all different types. And I would love to have them all "here" in one easy place to access. So if you would leave comments with your preferences on strollers, car seats/carriers, highchairs, etc., I would really appreciate it.
So I/we (Pret came with me for most of it, but felt the inclination to leave when I had to have a Pap-Smear and exam...) went to the doctor on Tuesday. We met the OB/GYN, Kimberly Moreland. She came highly recommended by a few former parents of mine. She was very nice, but efficient--our kind of lady!
She attempted to find the heartbeat with the sonogram, but couldn't find it, so they had to pull out the ultrasound machine. We were totally able to see it moving around (it's an active child already!) and Pret was regularly able to see the heartbeat, but I only caught it once. It was a pretty neat experience and definitely made it more real for us both.
We also have an official date--April 25th! If it comes at all early, then I will get a "free" week due to spring break. That will be nice. If not, it will still be a great break through the end of the year.
Also, it's become more official as I have now thrown up a few times. No big deal on either of them--both while brushing my teeth. Lesson: no more tongue brushing! :-( Please let me know if I have bad breath!
With all of the changes coming up, we have decided to join the world of the private blogs. We hope this won't be too much of an inconvenience for those of you who enjoy reading our blog (I assume at least some of you who do, enjoy it! :-) )
Anyway, we are doing this effective next Sunday, September 26th, so please contact us as quickly as possible if you want to be allowed to continue viewing our blog!
Thanks for all your support over the last few years! I especially love the comments that come in!
So as many who know me may know, I really struggle staying on my feet when walking. I guess it comes from my overpronation (the tendency to walk/run on the outside of my feet), but I have been pretty lucky/safe with it so far in my life, although there had been a few close calls. It doesn't help that I do like high shoes
(like these for instance) that I often have trouble staying on my feet in.
Well, this morning, I lost my fall-free streak. I biffed it--right in front of the school! And I almost took out a former student on the way down. It wasn't the least bit graceful, either. Luckily, I just ended up with a few small scrapes and bruises, but my shakes and red face lasted a bit longer. A few other 4th-grade students hurried to my rescue as the things in my arm went sprawling. They were very concerned and I was very embarrassed. Luckily, there were even some parents there to witness my tumble as well.
Anyway, I have just been thinking about it all day and hoped I could provide a chuckle for some today.
So I came across this picture quite accidentally while looking for a picture of Kate (our dog) for school. I just had to stop and look at it for a minute as I realized how much I love my family. I know my family has grown quite a bit with my wonderful marriage into the Dahlgren family, but nothing will ever beat my mom, dad, and brother and sisters. So, here's to the H. Michael Roberts family: (l-r) Shannon, Megan, DeDee, Mike, Melanie, and Craig.
I love you all so much! Thank you for being the best Mom, Dad, Big Brother, and Big Sisters that a "Baby" could ask for!
Pret just finished Enders Game and really enjoyed it. I have been trying to get him to read it for years and it finally took a cruise to do it. We are hopefully going to finish listening to The Giver here soon, as well. And tonight, I might just read a few pages of Hunger Games. If not today, I have promised Lauren that I will read it on Friday! I can't wait!
It's the simple things in life that make me happy and give me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Today, my students, by some miracle, came back from the computer lab and were ready to listen! It was amazing. They were all sitting attentively and anxious to participate. I rewarded them with a "5" point (they get 5 points, they get five minutes of extra recess). Then, we went back to our seats to do a paper (one of the few "drill and kill" things we do, but how else do you practice handwriting) and the kids were right with me the whole time. I just had to give a few reminders.
I complimented the kids and I could see in their faces that they appreciated it. And they continued to try hard. Consequently (and I love when the consequences are positive and not negative), they got 5 extra minutes of an activity they enjoy because there wasn't quite enough time to start something else before they were to move to that anyway.
On the flip side, I have been down for the last 24 hours because I am getting reprimanded for not having a neat and tidy room. Organization at school (and to Pret's chagrin, home too) has been the bane (thanks, Webster, for the correct spelling of this word) of my existance since I began teaching, six years ago. Not often does it impeded my teaching, but does not look good in the show area or to my time management when I am focusing on moving things so kids can sit down at my table rather than teaching them.
But last night, I stayed after work for about two hours focusing on a few areas that were really bad. Afterward, I felt so good about what I had accomplished. It was a great reward. Now if I can just remember that intrinsic feeling and make that my focus of my time rather than wasting it on other things. I was still bothered by it when I was talking to Pret last night. He was late getting home from work and the gym (yucky on-call nights!) so it was pretty late when we finally were talking. I had calmed down quite a bit before that, but talking about it again brought the emotions back to the surface and I got emotional again. I asked Pret for a blessing this morning and in it, I was told that this reprimand was for my good and I should learn from it. Hopefully I will! I'll have to check-in in a few weeks and let you know how I am doing.
OK, this took a bit of a tangent. Really, I just wanted to brag about how well my class had just done. I really have a GREAT class this year! And I sure love teaching!
As a young child, I vividly remember driving down Big Horn Avenue (in Sheridan, WY) with Melanie (my sister) and asking about birds singing when it was cloudy, and how you really don't hear them. She reminded me that birds usually tend to sing only when it is sunny outside (any scientific errors in this post are due to my lack of memory and/or science skills, not a reflection on my sister). I even remember her mentioning how solar eclipses can be kind of creepy because in the middle of a "sunny" day, the birds will just STOP SINGING.
Well, as I was fixing breakfast this morning, I noticed there were birds singing. Not having been within hearing ability of singing birds for a few months (with the sun rising so late, I am usually inside my school before the sun is really up enough to have birds begin communicating with one another before I am isolated inside) plus having many of the birds gone for the winter, it was quite a pleasant surprise.
I thought that would be the end, but as I have been catching-up on others' blogs, I have smiled quite a few times as I have heard that birds outside my door.
For those of you who may also have been "chirping birds" deprived, I found a little video that you can "listen" to. Hopefully it will bring a forgotten smile to your face as well.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book! Although I was unable to read it all in one day, I tried my best! I laughed, I cried, I called someone in another state to let her know that she HAS to read it. I thought the relationship between Becky and Felix was great. I wish that I could be as quick on my feet as Becky (i.e. Shannon Hale) and wonder what it would have been like to be around them. I rarely buy books new (or at least within a few months of them coming out) but I am in the process of buying this, for the sole purpose of lending it to others to read. LOVED IT!!! View all my reviews >>
So I have been meaning to post this for a while, I just haven't had a chance. Who knew that summer vacation could be so busy!!
As you can see by the title, Pret passed the NCLEX and is officially a Registered Nurse. There is quite a story behind it, though.
So the minimum questions for the NCLEX is 75. If you only get 75 questions, you either bombed it, or passed it easily. Well, Pret got took three hours to take the 75 questions and then was kicked out of the test. He had felt better about it than the first time, but still wasn't sure, so he had no idea whether he had passed or failed. Needless to say, he was a little anxious to get the results.
He had taken the test and not passed in March, but his results were still posted on the testing site. He paid to get the results of this test (taken June 17th), but tried too early, so it gave him the failing results of the earlier test. He called to let me know that he hadn't passed (I was in Wyoming with my parents) and so we were all really bummed that night. He was able to hang out with and talk with a few friends to keep him occupied and distracted, but it was still a rough, depressing night (and I wasn't even there to scratch his back as he fell asleep. It was sad!) Our mothers were probably the most upset about it of all of us--my mom couldn't stop moping and his mom just didn't know what to think about things.
Brenda (Pret's mom) has a really good friend that became a RN about a year ago. She told Brenda about checking the State of Utah Professional Licensing department (DOPL) to see if he had an active license and trying to beat Pret to knowing the results of the test. Well, Brenda was awakened at 4:00 in the morning after he found out he hadn't passed and was prompted to go and check the DOPL sight just in case. When she checked, it showed that he had an active license as of the day before! She went running into their bedroom and woke up Pret's dad, Dan, and they decided they ought to let Pret know.
Well, we don't have a land-line and Pret turns his phone off to charge at night, so they had to drive over to our house and pound on the door/ring the door bell repeatedly (because we have an air conditioner going in our bedroom) to try to wake him up. They finally got him up and he was a little disoriented. They had printed off the page and showed him and I think he was in a state of shock. I had actually left my phone on so I could use the alarm, so I awoke at 4:30 to see my mother-in-law calling me. But when Pret answered, I was really confused. I asked why if everything was ok, and he replied, "Sort of." I then asked why he was calling from him mom's phone and he then proceeded to tell me the whole story. I was so shocked that I didn't really know what to say. We chatted for a bit and realized what had ended up happening with the "unofficial" results still being posted. It was amazing the difference in talking to him. He was a completely different person!
I was pretty tired, so I just kind of hung up and drifted back to sleep, but Pret was so hyper that he just went to the gym before he had to go to work. It is amazing what a difference having two different results make.
So Pret has now been working as a RN for almost a month. It has been a transition, but he is enjoying doing "real" work and more than anything, feeling like he is free to do what he wants and not feeling like he has to be studying all the time. We have enjoyed working on some projects together that we haven't had time to do since we moved into our place last summer. More than anything else, though, he has been working hard at de-bugging our house. We seem to continue to get infested with ants and now earwigs. We attribute the latter to all the rain we had at the beginning of the summer. What a pain!
I am still working on getting the pictures I took onto the computer. Please be patient!
(like these for instance) that I often have trouble staying on my feet in.
