The last few weeks...

Christmas was amazing this year! I think everyone got exactly what was on their wish lists! In fact, Cecelia actually burst into the bathroom when I was taking a bubble bath the day after Christmas and screamed "My Justin Bieber CD came with a poster! Now, I really did get everything I wanted" I'm glad that we are able to do so much for the girls. I know that we are truly blessed and am appreciative of all that we have. The most precious Christmas present that I have ever received was from Cecelia this year. She made me (well technically us-Aaron and I) a "Love Jug", a little "jug" (which is actually a clear Crystal Lite container), decorated with hearts and such. Inside, there is about 15 little slips of colored paper, and on each slip of paper, is a little heart felt message about how she loves us and how she is so happy and why she is so happy (like how we give her lots of hugs). I love her so much! She melts my heart!
I was having some weird pains on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which caused me to spend the majority of the festivities lying on the couch, which alleviated the pains. They were very inconsistent and varied in location so I just chalked them up to being benign ligament or uterine stretching. Then suddenly I woke up the next day and my nausea was completely gone. This caused me to worry because I had been extremely nauseated (no vomiting) but fatigued and nauseated for the past 2 weeks. When Monday rolled around and I still felt great I called my OB and voiced my concerns (when there is a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms, it could be a sign of miscarriage. And since you can miscarry and not start bleeding for up to 2 weeks, I was nervous). So I went in and had another ultrasound done! Of course there was cardiac movement on the ultrasound. And the baby had actually grown over 3 millimeters (at this point, the baby should be growing about a millimeter a day). Oh well, I would rather appear to be a worry wort (which I am), then to wait until my next scheduled appointment, worrying about the baby! Sometimes having the education in health care that I do, and having the knowledge of everything that can go wrong, causes me to be a hypochondriac! I do this with everyone in the family. Last winter, Aaron had migraines for weeks straight and after I told him everything that could be wrong...from allergies to a brain tumor, he was so scared he went in for an MRI. Cecelia has had enlarged lymph nodes her whole life. When she was two I discovered them and rushed her to the Doctor thinking she had leukemia and requested a cbc. Blood work came back perfectly fine but I once again looked like a hypochondriac! Oh well, I would rather have the knowledge so that I can advocate for myself and my family within the health care system. Look at me rambling! HAHA
We told the girls about the baby on Christmas Eve. I got out the ultrasound pictures and a handmade Christmas ornament that my friend made me for Christmas (it's of a me with a VERY big belly and it says "Baby's first Christmas". Kiley knew right away and Cecelia quickly realized what we trying to show them. Of course Cecelia wants a sister and Kiley and Aaron want a boy. I'm happy either way. We are planning on having 1 more after this one so hopefully we can get 1 of each. Cecelia has been much more understanding of my fatigue and nausea now that she knows about the baby. Cecelia returned school on Wednesday and was so excited that she was going to be a big sister that after telling her teacher the knews, she asked if she could make a class announcement. She then proceeded to tell her class that her mom was going to have a baby and that it's the size of a catalope (I had mentioned to Aaron that at this point in the pregnancy, my uterus is the size of a small cantalope). I love kids! They say the most precious things!
New Years Eve was pretty uneventful around our house. We got takeout and I was in bed by 9:30 (my new bed time since I've been pregnant and tired). Aaron and the girls stayed up till midnight and were in bed by 12:01:)
Aaron and I have been busy talking, and searching for homes. Right now we are in the process of applying for mortgage loans and would like to get prequalified, so that when the perfect home comes on the market this spring, we will be ready. Although we arent quite ready to buy yet, it's been fun discussing what each of us really wants in our first home and looking at what's out there right now.
I have been studying a little here and there for boards. I still have yet to recieve my authorization to test so I haven't been able to schedule a day to sit for boards yet. I always have worked best under pressure so without a date yet, I have seemed to find many other ways to fill my now school less days.

Christmas 2010

I Love our Christmas tree this year. I like to refer to it as a "Martha Stewart" tree. I love how the presents begin to take over the bottom of the Christmas tree! I can't wait everyone to open their presents! This will be a good year for the girls! Yay!!! The other picture is of Cecelia at her schools Christmas party. I always volunteer to help the room mother. This year I offered to do the game. I precut wrapping paper (enough for each child to have one). Then I brought empty cereal boxes (3) and a bag of bows, oh-and of course I bought prizes. The kids were in groups of 6 and went to 3 different stations (snacks, craft, and game station). At my station, I had the kids break up into 2 groups of three. I had the kids race to wrap the paper, tape it up and slap a bow on it. Who ever was the first one to put the bow on won, and got a prize. Fortunately, everyone got a prize who played. The kids loved it!

1st prenatal visit

I had my first prenatal visit this morning. Baby's heart rate was 148 bpm. Perfectly normal! Typically, at this point, the ultrasound can't usually pick up the heartbeat but instead you can only visualize it on the monitor. I asked if we could try to hear it and sure enough, the heartbeat came over loud and clear. The little peanut is coincidentally, from crown to rump, about the size of a peanut M&M (about 1.25 centimeters). I'm measuring at 7 weeks and 4 days, which is right on target based on my lmp. My blood pressure was about 106/68. Just about where it usually is. We got 2 ultrasound pictures and I can't wait to tell the girls tomorrow. Cecelia is going to be sooo excited! My next appointment is scheduled for January 18th:) Oh my goodness! I have to pee ALL the time! Apparently, not only is the uterus sitting on my bladder (obviously) but apparently now that the baby's kidneys are fully functioning, I am now peeing for two. This pregnancy is quite different than I remember with Cecelia. Maybe that is a good indication that it may be a boy???

Graduation!

I now officially have the honor and privilege of saying that I have my Bachelors Degree of Science in Nursing!!! I can't believe I'm done! It doesn't seem real yet. Graduation was beautiful. My graduating class was only 24 students, plus a few students from various other programs from the college. So it was very small, and intimate. At this point in my life, it will be a transition phase. I have to learn to relax again! I have been so used to constantly being busy...juggling school, working part-time, and being a full-time mom and wife. I'm glad that I can once again focus on being a mom, and simply working 3 days a week (let's hope I can find a JOB!).
Cecelia only has school on Monday and Tuesday next week, on Tuesday, Cecelia has her winter party at school. I'm very excited to help out in the classroom again. I have also promised to join the PTO after Christmas break since I will have a lot more time to devote to the organization. Cecelia had her skills check out for gymnastics the last two weeks. She received a blue ribbon. The next ribbon up would have allowed her to move on to the next class, she still has a lot to work on but is getting better each week. We are hoping when we move that we can get her some gymnastics equipment to pull out into the yard or to just keep in the basement for her. Possibly a balance beam and some mats.
This weekend I also hosted a Christmas party for some of my closest friends. There was about 10 of us here. Just hanging out, cooking, eating, exchanging gifts and enjoying each others company. Luckily, 2 of my best friends, Stephanie and Rachel were in town. Rachel lives in California and Stephanie lives in Florida, and I miss them sooo much when they are not here. Because of their presence the night was that much more special.
So far, this pregnancy hasn't been too rough. I have to admit that I am already beginning to show, and that I only fit into sports bras these days. I have been exhausted lately and just want to sleep for 12 hours a night. I have had no nausea up until this week. Luckily it has been very mild, and intermittent. I can usually just eat some saltines, and have some ice water and sit or lay down and I start to feel much better! Next week I will be 8 weeks pregnant. We have our first ultra sound the day before Christmas Eve. Getting to see our babies heartbeat on the ultrasound screen will be such an amazing Christmas gift. Of course, I have to thank God himself for all the amazing blessings I have in my life. I can't wait to share the ultrasound picture with Cecelia and finally let her in on our secret. I know that she is going to be ecstatic, and I just feel terrible keeping such exciting news from her.
We can't wait to have Kiley home from Colorado for a week over Christmas break and have to have Cecelia home for 2 weeks from school. Up next for me: working on getting my student loans consolidated so that will be in order for when we start looking for a house in February or March, and studying for boards. I am going to try to schedule to take them the 3rd week in January. Pretty nervous for them. I will have lots of studying to do over the next month!

I can't believe it has been a month since I even got on here. This past month has flown by! I only have 2 weeks left of school before graduation! So I have been busy finishing up the last few requirements. Thanksgiving was great! We went over to my sister Jennifer's house for lunch. Then for dinner, Aaron's family came over to our house. I cooked the turkey, and everyone brought 1 or 2 side dishes. I LOVE the holidays. Especially the shopping that is required! Aaron's sister Sara and I went black Friday shopping this year, just as we have done every year for the last 3. This year we started at Wal-Mart at 10:30 on Thanksgiving and didn't return home till after 6:00 A.M.! I was able to get almost everything that we needed...the car was completely full. Literally, I could barely see out the back windows! Just as tradition, we put the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving. I absolutely love the soft glow of the Christmas tree and the smiles of anticipation that Cecelia has as she looks and feels all the presents. This year is especially cheerful for us because we just found out were expecting! I'm only about 5 weeks pregnant, so it's super early, but pregnant just the same! Yay! I'm due August 11th (according to Nigel's rule) but I have my first prenatal appointment and ultrasound the day before Christmas Eve, so I will probably get a more accurate due date then. We plan on telling Cecelia when we have the ultrasound picture to show her. Plus, it will give us a little more time to get further through the first trimester. I am so excited for graduation, my best friends coming in town for the graduation and Christmas, all the holiday parties, presents, good food, and the new year. Graduation pictures soon to come! I started applying for jobs today too. Hopefully, I can get something that I love and that has good hours. I will be praying hard!

Halloween

I absolutely LOVE Halloween! It is one of my favorite holidays. This year for Halloween Cecelia was a Renaissance princess/zombie princess...at school she was just a Renaissance princess and for actual Halloween she was a zombie princess with full on zombie makeup. Stanley was a pirate this year. My sister Erika had a Halloween party this year. The kids loved it! Pizza, cupcakes, decorations, party favors, getting ready with all her cousins, and lots of pictures! My mom took all the pictures that night so I have to wait to put those up.

Denver

We headed to Denver to visit Kiley for 3 days while she was on fall break from school. I love the picture of the tumble weed stuck to our car! I hit that thing about 2 hours before we got to Denver. I had no idea that it stuck to my car...I did get a few weird looks from other cars. The weather ended up not being as nice as we would have liked:( We did drive up to the Colorado Springs area to go to a dinosaur museum but it was snowing so we couldn't drive up into the mountains like we were hoping. We also took the girls to Casa Bonita one night for dinner. The girls enjoy watching the divers and the skits that the staff do. The girls loved swimming in the indoor pool at the hotel, but we were not happy that the hot tub was out of service. The last day we were in town we took the girls to Hammonds Candy factory. The store gives hourly tours and you are able to see the employees making all of the candy by hand. The girls got huge lollipops as treats. I'm sure it will take weeks to finish them. We decided that next fall when we go out to visit Kiley we are just going to drive through Denver to pick her up and then we are going to stay in Colorado Springs. We are also hoping to make the trip in late September or early October because we would really like to enjoy the mountains a little more than we have been able to on our last few visits. Plus, there is so much to do in Colorado Springs!