Blogging Life and a Baby Shower!

Man, I dont know how people blog....I mean, I really just love when I do blog...and then I forget to blog....and it's really annoying!  I need a schedule to keep me blogging.  It's not like there isn't alot going on.  In the past 2 weeks I have had a baby shower, 3 parenting classes, my 3 hour glucose test, and two doctor appointments.  I mean technically that could have been 7 blogs...there are some of you out there that I know would have loved to read those 7 blogs over the last two weeks.  And honestly I wish I had written them as they were happening, my memory would have been much better too!

So readers, I hope you will forgive me for combining the topics and giving you a few blogs over the next few days.  


On 2/11 my sweet coworkers threw one of my bump buddies and I a double baby shower.  I originally felt guilty, because I really wanted her to have her own shower...but after having three Ohio showers, I think she was happy to share the limelight. 

 And actually, it was a lot of fun to have someone to share that limelight with!  We tried to open gifts from the same person/people at the same time....it was alot of cuteness going on!! 

They guests also had to cut a piece of string that they thought fit around our bellies. It was hilarious seeing them try to figure it out, and then also finally putting it around us to finding out who was closest.  

All said and done, my friend's little girl guessed it perfectly!  I mean her yarn touched end to end around me.  This is the same friend, who's son got our gender reveal quiz/game right!  I don't know what kind of prep work she does on her kiddos before baby events, but beware...her kids know their baby stuff!

Of course there was lots of yummy food and CAKE!!!  We loved our cute cake....tasted pretty yummy too!! Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!!  Love my NTES family

Stay tuned for a blog on all those dr appointments and another one just on parenting classes!

Sweet Gestures

Yesterday a sweet friend, and a former parent (times 2), sent me a text letting me know there was a small something in my mailbox at school.  So this morning when I got down to my classroom, I sat down and opened up my "small something".  Friends, you have no idea how far a note can go.  And it's not just the note, it's the message that's written.  

Excerpt from the momma: "I just wanted to let you know that Olivia and I are wearing purple on Friday for Shea and all the other babies born with CHD this year (and beyond). Just something small we can do for you. " She is such a wonderful Godly woman and her words are so powerful and so heart filling.  I am blessed to call her my friend!

Excerpt from her daughter, my former student:  "I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing jump rope for heart for Shea." Our school is doing Jump Rope for Heart and she is doing it in honor of Shea.  That momma has raised a a great kid (2 actually!!)   One who still loves her first grade teacher and has empathy for others.  Oh the love I have for this family!!  They also gave me some sweet bracelets, these wont be leaving my wrist for a long time.  Great reminders of the support my family and friends have and will continue to give me.  

Here is that sweet girls' fundraising page: Life is Why Any donation is greatly appreciated :)

CHD Awareness Week

If you follow me on Facebook, you have been seeing my posts about CHD.  This week is all about bringing awareness to CHD.  Here are some interesting facts for you:

You may have also seen me requesting you to support Paul and I in wearing purple on Friday.Last night I requested that not only you were purple, but also take a selfie/groupie and send the to us!  We would love to see you and feature you on our blog.  Please join this event on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/172132513142048/

Updates from the Dr's appointments

On 2/9, Paul and I met with lots of doctors!  I know it seems like we do this every month. Well....we kinda do, I try to schedule them all on the same day so we are only missing one day or work.  Thinking smart, aren't I??

First up was the glucose test with a side of an OB appointment.  The glucose test went fine.  I mean I actually enjoyed that orange stuff, it made me feel better too.  I am not one who can wait very long to eat.  So once I had the sugar in my system, I felt much better.  We met with our OB for normal check up.  He wasn't too happy with my weight gain, but I am still less than where I was pre-pregnancy. I also got that annoying Tdap shot (whooping cough) I went to get bloodwork and finger prick for the glucose test......I FAILED the glucose test :(  I cried.  Yup, I cried!  I mean, REALLY?!?! I spend 20 weeks basically eating nothing, the last 8 weeks eating somethings and the last 3-4 actually enjoying food again.  And now I am going to  have to spend the next 10 weeks eating limited things? (aka nothing, because most of the things on that diet are making me gag!) UUUGGGGGGG, just let me eat food!!

I had to pull myself together as we left CMC and went to Novant for our cardiologist appointment.  The good news is...there is nothing new to report.  Shea was wonderful in letting us get good images of his heart. As he grows, so does his heart.  We(the laymen) were able to understand more about his heart as the image is bigger and they are able to point out the different sections and parts, even the missing ones.  As you can see in the picture below our Tricuspid valve doesn't open and the Atrial septal and ventricular septal are actually good things...it keeps the flow going.

 We were able to ask questions and get clarifications of things.  We also had them burn a dvd for us...we are sending it to Boston Children's Hospital.  We are covering all our bases and making sure that there is no doubt in our minds that Charlotte is a good fit.  Big thanks goes to my momma for forming a relationship with one of the best dr's in the country who is going to take a look and give us a second opinion! Since Shea was so well behaved we weren't there very long...and it was time for lunch!!!

We found this cute little place called Just Fresh...it was super yummy and healthish...def will be going back!  We had some time to kill before our appointment at the NICU, so we decided to go check out the Ronald McDonald House.  Our amazing nurse navigator had already called ahead.  We knew that the house had been recently built, 2011, but it was in amazing shape!!  I mean its gorgeous!  The guest rooms are like hotel rooms, the kitchen...well I would love to have that kitchen myself and the library....oh so many cozy chairs and books to choose from.  I was hesitant about staying there, and not next to Shea every minute of every day....but realistically, I know I am going to need to sleep in a real bed, eat a real meal and see people not in scrubs...at least some of the time.  It will be a new kind of balancing act for sure.  

We then went to meet our nurse navigator and do our NICU tour.  Nothing too shocking.  I mean it is the NICU, so it's not a happy sunshiney place.  But neither Paul or I were surprised by anything.  Well maybe one thing....there was only one set of parents in there.  The nurse told us that many parents are at work, or are sleeping.  They come by when they can.  She even said some stop by after a night of clubbing....  Um, I guess thats one good thing about being "older" parents...we dont club...I mean we went out for my birthday in July...but that was it.  

All in all a good day for appointments....except that glucose test :(  I will be going back next week for the three hour glucose test.  Hopefully I pass that one!