NHE Staff Baby Shower

At the beginning of May, my fabulous team Emily Barnes and Penni Lewis hosted a beautiful baby shower for me.  It's the first of 3.  I felt so loved, special and blessed.  I am so thankful to work at a school with such supportive and loving women!  Thank you again everyone!

Here are some pictures from the party.

That diaper cake is FILLED with goodies for Wyatt!  Thank you Deb! 

These were filled with yummy popcorn!  

Penni folded all the napkins to look like diapers and pinned them even.  Such attention to details.  I was impressed! 

Each table had a book for the staff to write notes to Wyatt in.  They were so fun to read through and I cannot wait to read them to Wyatt and tell him all about the amazing people I worked with.  

Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow

It's been a busy and not so busy few weeks.  My apologies for my absence and lack of updating.  Lately, no new news has been good news!  :-)

I went to see Dr. Watkins.  I am no longer receiving sonograms from her office since I'm getting them every week from Dr. Hickman.  As much as I would love to see Wyatt even more, this is a good thing.  Our insurance only covers 80% of everything and the bills have begun to come in and we don't need to see a charge for an unneeded sonogram on there.  At my appointment (Dr. Watkins monthly) I was weighed- I'm doing good on my weight gain, measured- good as far as I know, Wyatt's heart rate was taken, given a progesterone shot, had blood taken for my thyroid- results came back "not just good but perfect" and got to share Wyatt's pictures with Dr. Watkins and my nurse Izzy!  One great thing that came out of this office visit was that Dr. Watkins said I could come in every other week to get shots without making an appointment or being charged with an office visit.  I just need to call in and make sure they aren't backed up.  It's perfect!  

A week and half ago James and I went in to for our "cervix check up" appointment.  Dr. Hickman was on her honeymoon having fun so we got to meet her partner, Dr. Zaretsky.  He is a really nice guy, knows what he is talking about just like Dr. Hickman but also puts it a different way that was nice too.  What we found out at that visit:

Questions asked:

• Since my cervix is holding so strong, can my workout restrictions change at all?
• It's about the same.  I can walk, swim and do some light yoga. 
• I've had some periods of time where I feel a little down, not necessarily depressed or for any longer then a morning or so but is this something to be concerned about?
• No but going swimming or for a walk should help.
• How close to painting can I be?
• Not at all or in a professional grade mask for shorter periods of time and well circulated air flow.  (We opted for me to just not be near it at all!)
• In the best case scenario, what is the shortest amount of time Wyatt could spend in the NICU?
• It could be as little as 48 hours for Wyatt to go into surgery or it could be weeks.  Then he would have recovery.  It could be a big range of possibilities, a couple of months to over 100 days.  It all depends on how strong his lungs are when he arrives to how he takes surgery.  We found out we really hope an ECMO machine is not needed.  That pretty much means Wyatt has a 50/50 chance of making it home. 
• Measurements from sonogram:
• The doctors are looking for a head to lung ratio of 1.4 and our little Wyatt is measuring a 2.3 (bigger is better!)
• Then there was another percentage taken but neither James nor I can remember what it is exactly BUT we do remember that a good result would be 45% and Wyatt is measuring at 65% (again, bigger is better and we were told this is EXCELLENT!) 
• It was mentioned that Wyatt has a lot of fluid to float around in.  No one seemed concerned but I am wondering what this could mean, if anything.  
• Last but not least, I got a shot!  James is in the clear! 

So, once again, we've gotten good news for our situation.  We've just been really encouraged through how good God is.  Even if we weren't getting all these good results, I feel like we've just been given this faith that can come from no where else except the Lord.  There is just a peace about this little one growing inside of me.  Thank you once again for following along with us, praying for us and the doctors and encouraging us so much!  

Wyatt has been moving like a crazy man.  He has to be really strong.  I've taken some punches and kicks that only a strong little baby boy could give.  :-)  At times, I can watching him moving.  He literally moves my stomach already.  This is probably normal for being at the end of my 2nd trimester but I like to take it as more encouragement!  

On Wednesday, James and I go in for double appointments.  At 1:30, we'll see the fetal cardiologist, Dr. Gibbin again for our check up.  If you recall, we got lots of good news from her a month ago.  We're just praying that Wyatt's heart shows continued growth and development.  That his chambers are still a good size, his ventricles and aortic arch aren't narrowed, his valves continue to look good, there be no leaks and there be no fluid around his heart.  Directly after the echo, James and I will venture on downstairs to see Dr. Hickman for one of the long looks at Wyatt.  He'll get lots of measurements taken and we'll hopefully have some more updates.  

Coming up soon we'll begin seeing Parkland and Children's, get a fetal MRI and meet up with our team. :-)  

On another note, the school year is in the 7th inning stretch.  There are 18 kid days left and 19 days total.  It's a crazy feeling.  On one hand, it feels like any other year that is coming to a close and on the other hand, this is it.  No more classroom teaching until further notice.  Wow!  I love my job, my school, the staff, the parents and most of all my kiddos.  I will miss it greatly (well, not the grading and report cards but everything else).  Packing up my classroom is going to be a beast.  I don't know what to  keep (just in case and for teaching at home), what to give away, what to leave for who takes my place and what to trash.  James will be up there on my last day to help me and knowing him, he'll want to trash it all... so anything I want to keep, I better pack up ASAP!  :-)  

Wyatt has now also been to his first Texas Rangers and Dallas Mavericks games!!  Whoop Whoop! 

James and our friend Chad started painting the nursery today.  I was completely kicked out of the upstairs because of how strong the primer was.  Hopefully next weekend they can knock out the actual painting!!!  I'm so excited to see everything come together.  I've got a small plan for his bathroom as well!  Pictures will come as we make some progress.  I also taped his curtains.  I am making them stripes!  :-)  

I made a new chalkboard, finally.  I'll take a belly picture tomorrow before church and post a "weekly" update! 

On another note, someone near and dear to my heart found out she has stage one breast cancer.  She goes in May 9th for a full mastectomy.  If you would keep her, her family and her doctors in your prayers well, we would really appreciate it greatly.  

NHE PTA 2012 Auction Night and Some Other Stuff

The school I currently work at, Northwood Hills Elementary, is a wonderful school with wonderful teachers, parents and students.  I couldn't have asked for a better place to work for the past 5 years.  (Side note- I spent my student teaching semester and did subbing in LISD and my first year teaching in FWISD- so I've got some background in more than one district to be able to compare and RISD & NHE has surpassed the others by a lot! I don't have any complaints about LISD except they didn't hire me.)  Anyway, the NHE PTA host an auction every year.  

A couple of these have been pretty eventful for James and me.  My first year, it was held at a local Mexican establishment and was on moving day for us.  James stayed home with the movers while I went on to school.  When I came home to our brand new apartment, literally it was brand spankin' new!  We were the first ones to live in our unit!  It was small and awesome.  The office gave a list of things we needed to do and some don'ts- one being running everything that involves water a couple of times before actually using them.  For example- the dishwasher, the ice maker and the washing machine.  James was tired from moving and decided to stay home while I wanted to go ahead and go on to the dinner and auction.  So, he goes ahead and starts the dish washer and washing machine, I get in the shower to get ready and he sits on the floor in the bathroom to eat his bowl of cereal (which is what he would have every night if I didn't cook or keep food in the house!).  To save water & electricity, James had just set the front load washer to the shortest cycle which had never been used before.  He is sitting there and we're talking while I'm showering and I poke my head out to say something and notice the water level in the washer is really high and there's a small dribble leaking out of the bottom of the door.  James starts poking around the washer trying to figure out what is going on and checking connections and such because this has never happened before (nor has it happened since- probably because we're too scared to use that particular cycle again).  He then leans over the washer to look behind it and we think his hip must have hit the unlock button because when he pulled away the door swung open and it was like watching the waters flood the halls of the Titanic.  It came pouring out and flooding the bathroom.  Keep in mind I'm still in the shower watching this happen and everything we have is still in boxes!  So, James takes the one towel I have to keep the water from hitting the carpet in our bedroom and I'm jumping around the living room towel-less looking for the box with towels to wrap up in and keep the flood waters from going through the other door and onto the hardwood floors.  There really was like an inch or two of standing water we were trying to soak up with towels and sheets.  James has me get on the computer to add renters insurance to our policy right away just in case we've caused some actual damage while he's still moping up the water.  It was crazy.  I still had to get ready to go to the auction.  Needless to say, I was late and frazzled.  When I got there Jenny & Alexis were sure to get me a giant margarita.  It was a fun, unforgettable night.  The next year it was a James Bond theme and was just fun and the year after that was moving week again but into the house we're in now - there was a Vegas theme.  No flooding here, praise be to God.  Last year was fun on a cruise ship.  James always enjoys the gambling.  This was fun and bittersweet.  It's my last one- it was the 80's!

I turned in my official resignation to Richardson and my principal this week.  I'm so sad to leave this school- my boss, my friends and staff, my parents- whom many James and I both consider to be good friends, and all my kiddos.  Not seeing them each and everyday, growing and learning is super sad but with that said I am also very, very excited for my new roll as mommy.  I'm excited to watch Wyatt grow and learn and to take care of him, my husband more and our home.  I know it's where the Lord wants me.  James and I have planned for this since we got married almost 4 1/2 years ago.  There are men and women who work, take wonderful care of their children and home and do it all in the amazing way.  I know myself and know for me to give 100% at home, I can't be at work giving 100% as well.  I want to do what is best for Wyatt and James and we feel this is what is best.  As stated before, it is bitter sweet!

Here are a few pictures from this years auction.  

(I wish I had taken more with all the people I love so much!)

Denise Young, myself & Alexis Didier
These two women have become very close friends over the years!

My partner in all 1st grade crimes, Emily Barnes.  She has been an amazing coworker and friend for all of my 1st grade experience!  

The entire 1st grade team, myself, Penni Lewis (whom NEVER allows herself to be in pictures- so I feel honored) and Emily Barnes.  

So, here I am on the stage with the real live auctioneer.  My job was to actually try and understand what he was saying and write down who bid on what amount.  It was fun.  

This is my principal, Mackie Kazdoy.  She has been a wonderful boss and friend for 5 years now.  I have never felt like I couldn't go to her with anything- good, bad, personal or professional.  I praise God for who He has created in you my friend.  Wyatt is going to love his Mackie times!  haha.  :-)