Feeling Fat

Yesterday marked week 11 and I am feeling fat even though I have actually lost two pounds. How this works is beyond me. I definitely have a pouch, so I guess the weight has shifted. Anyhow, here's the latest and greatest.
We actually have the heartbeat as well, it is a soundwave I hope you are able to hear it.

Other than that exciting news, there isn't too much new going on. I was on Spring Break last week and all I really did was rest. It was AWESOME!

It's back to work, full force, this week though. We are preparing for AIMS and Terra Nova next week. Everyone seems to be on edge. I don't know what my deal is, but I am not stressed about it at all. I guess I figure that we have had them for 140-some days by that point, what more are we going to be able to cram into them in the last week. I guess that could come back to bite me in the butt, only time will tell.

We are also sidetracked at work with all of the budget cuts coming our way. Our district has to cut $4.4 million. Our school has to cut four positions. Everyone is talking and making predictions about what is going to happen next year. I had a meeting with our principal today before leaving. She is going to keep me in second grade as the team lead (for now). She hasn't completely closed out the idea of having me move up to third grade. I wouldn't mind that either. I just don't want to go back to fourth or fifth grade (too many hormones).

For now we are all just waiting for the final word from the Board. There is a vote on the 9th of April and contracts are supposed to be passed out no later than the 15th of April. I'm not concerned about having a job, but I did have hopes of job sharing with another expecting mom. If I were to do that at this point, I'd have to do it knowing that it could be more than just the one year. The economy being what it is, I don't know if I want to make that kind of commitment to part-time.

Kyle and I have weighed the options and we are really leaning toward full time for (at least) this next year. I won't have the baby until October, so I wouldn't go back to work until Jan. At that point, I'd only have a five months of school left (with a spring break and random holidays here and there). It's a tough decision to make but (again) with things the way they are right now, it is the best decision for us. If nothing else, it will help us to save money to move to Tennessee.

That's all Folks, this is Tommie signing off...

Not much to say

I don't really feel like I have too much to say, which is why my postings are so far and few between. Let's see, I am on my Spring Break right now. I am so very happy about this because my class is driving me crazy. I am not just saying this, the whole school knows that my class is one of the most challenging classes. Special teachers-art and P.E. mainly-will call in sick on my special day (they tell me that there are two other classes equally as "special" as mine that have specials on the same day as me). More than one person has referred to my class as the "Jerry Lewis" class.

We will be on the playground and a cry will rise up; we always know it will be one of mine. The cries range from howls, to screams, to wails and even a few whimpers; I have them all. I can honestly say that I don't recall any other second grader crying on the playground. That includes the two who bumped into each other playing basketball and both required stitches. Neither of them cried. God is preparing me, I'm going to have a cryer.

One day, about two months ago, I got a new student. He came in with his mom and she happened to have a birthmark on her forehead. My Mildly Mentally Retarded student pointed it out to her (in case she didn't know I suppose), laughing and trying to cover it by putting her hand over her mouth. When the mother explained that it was a birthmark, the student immediately wanted to know all about that and how that happens on HER forehead and not anyone else's. After I direct her back to her seat, I return to the parent to find that one of my "gifted" students has analyzed the birthmark and is telling the mother that it looks as though it is a hot-air balloon drifting off of her head.

I was so embarrassed and thought this poor lady probably thinks she is leaving her child in the special ed class. That feeling passed quickly. It was only hours later that my new student began howling. I don't mean crying loudly, but howling like a coyote; at least that is what I though was happening because we were in the middle of a lesson and there is nothing that could have caused him to cry at that particular moment. I though. Well, apparently someone looked at him for too long. Yes, that is what I got out of him after the howling (no tears) stopped. The teachers on either side of me came running in certain something was terribly wrong. I explained that I got a new student and they commented that he sounded like a perfect fit and went back to their rooms. Sometimes I hate them...I mean I love them, but I hate them...

Anyhow...these are just a couple of reasons that I am glad to be on Spring Break. I also have the child who likes to choke other students for no particular reason, one that is sneaky and conniving and constantly out of her seat, the one who can't sit for his life (he actually asked that I take his chair away), three speech kiddos that I can hardly understand, and an autistic child.

On a brighter note...I am in my ninth week of pregnancy and all is going well. I am very tired (all of the time) and not really sick (knock on wood). I have determined that I can't eat ANYTHING after 5 at night or else I get a really full/bloated/painful stomach ache. One night I ate three crackers after four hours of not eating anything (hoping to help the nausea) and felt like I had just walked away from an all you can eat steak house. That feeling only happens at night though, so I have fixed that by not eating at night. I still get a little nauseous later at night, around 9:30. Fortunately, this is my bed time, and I quickly fall asleep so it doesn't bother me too much.



We have our next appointment on the 25th and we should be able to hear the heartbeat(s) (still hoping for twins) then. I have added a picture of my nine week belly for those of you that have been asking. It may not look big, but it is bigger than before. No weight gain though, weird.

And baby makes three!

For those of you that don't know yet...Kyle and I recently found out we are expecting! We are both a wonderful combination of thrilled and scared to death. It's funny how you can think you are so prepared for this and way beyond ready and then when it actually happens to you you think to yourself (or say aloud to your mate), "What have we done?!?! There is no undoing this and now the clock is ticking. CRAP!"

I say that only half joking. I have always loved kids. As far back as I can remember. As a matter of fact some of my first memories were staying the night at my Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Jeff's house and helping with my cousins when they were babies. Back then (not so sure about now) my aunt would love to stay up all hours of the night and sleep in until the afternoon. I would play with Jeremy, and later Jimmy, until she was up and then we'd go running errands. I was her little helper. I was only 9 years old when Jeremy was born, 10 with Jimmy. I just loved helping take care of the baby!

I later got my Associate Degree in Early Childhood Development and worked for years in daycare, even as the Director at one of them. Then there were my "nannying" years. Four different families aging from newborn to 6 years. I loved this time in my life! I got to get my baby fix and still sleep in my own bed through the night without the woos of middle of the night feedings, nightmares, sickness and the like.

Here's the deal...I knew how good I had it! I knew I had the best end of it. I'm not sure what possessed me to want more. Maybe it's the four years of being a grade school teacher as opposed to being with the babies. Maybe it's the lack of babies around me at this point in my life. Maybe it's my biological clock, or Kyle's. Whatever it was, we are now pregnant and I have the other end of the spectrum to think about. It's scary business. AND (speaking of business)...I won't be getting paid for this. No...on the contrary, I will be paying big bucks instead of making them.

Ah, but the reward it going to be so great. When I start to get a little worried about those things I think about the wonderful things a baby will bring. I adore the sweet smell of a baby, how they look at you, depend on you, the unconditional love you feel for them, the willingness to give your life for them. We are ready for this and look forward to the journey ahead of us.

I can say that because so far it has only required one thing of me. I willingly obliged because it is one of my favorite things in the world and I know it will soon be a thing of the past. This wonderful thing...sleep. Ah sleep. Our little bundle is sucking all my energy from me. I can honestly say that I have never slept this much in my life. Easily 10 hours a day. I say day because that includes the 15 minutes here and there that I pass out in addition to my 8-9 hours a night.

So far, no morning sickness. I am being ever so grateful to the Good Lord in heaven for this. I have read that this blessing could be taken awake over night so I am enjoying my regular eating habits for the time being, well maybe smaller portions more often; like every two to three hours. On that note...I need a snack.

I'll do my best to keep you posted on the exciting adventure we call life.

I don't get it

I am not a parent, but I'd like to think that when I am that I will do whatever it takes to help my child in EVERY aspect of life. I am blown away by the number of parents that don't know what their child's homework is, who their teacher is, that they are going on a field trip this week. Seriously?!?

I have seen parents that refuse to 1)discipline 2)follow through with discipline 3)help their child be successful in school. Parents will fight a teacher tooth and nail about retaining their child, but not lift a finger to help them be successful where they are now.

I struggle to determine if it is the parent's lack of parenting or if a child really is ADD. I hate labeling a child like that so I don't say that with a light heart. I really feel that labeling a child with ADD or ADHD would be less common if parents took an active role in their child's life. And as a parent, not a friend. I hate, stress that word HATE, when a parent says, "I just feel so bad for him/her." NO! This is what they want, if you feel bad you won't discipline.

Be a parent, I don't care if it wasn't your plan. If you didn't want it, there are thousands of people looking to adopt a child, you should have cared enough to give your child parents that care.

Weekend Get Away

Kyle and I went with our neighbors to Laughlin, NV this weekend. I've been told it's a Vegas wanna be, but I don't plan on being in Arizona forever so I figured it would be a sight to see before we leave. Well that and I've been to Vegas, not impressed.

Anyhow...Laughlin=mini Vegas. Again, not impressed. Don't get me wrong, it was fun but it was the people we went with that made the trip worthwhile. Good people and a road trip=good time.

Todd volunteered to take Kyle and me to the Hoover Dam while we were there. This was amazing. Not necessarily overall, but the fact that it was built by hand. AMAZING! The dam jokes...old; quick!

Also, Craps. Love it. I have never been a gambler and the idea of a $5 minimum gives me the dry heaves. However, after watching the game for two days, and losing sorely at the penny slots, I decided that I'd give Craps a shot. Love it! Good fun. I still don't like the $5 buy in. I want to look into building a Crap table and doing a dime buy in. Other people have poker tables, we are going to have a Craps table. Just another reason to look into visiting sunny Arizona. Just think of all the dimes you could win!!!

Bored at a stop light?

I can not count the times that I have been looking around at a red light only to find someone picking their nose. Not to stereo-type, but they are usually men. Seriously, if you are bored enough to pick your nose at a stop light, do you not think that there might possibly be some people around you that are also bored and that these "clean-nostriled" people might just be looking around?!?! Here's my question, I don't know the answer because I am usually so grossed out that I don't continue to watch; however, I am curious...where the findings are placed? Do you have some sort of sanitary wipes that you wash your hands off with just before the light turns green? Is your shirt patterned in a way that would hide these treasures? Here's what I'm thinking is probably the case...I bet that the golden nuggets end up on the car's upholstery somewhere...floor board maybe? Feeling that no one would ever actually touch the floor board, so it isn't 'that bad'. This is disgusting, please know that people watch people while stopped at a red light. People see you picking your nose, and then they later ponder where your treasures are stored and talk about it on their blog!

This is frustrating

I am sitting here trying to figure out how to get this page up and running. So far I have to posting blogs part down, but I don't see how to add followers or to follow others. It's kind of frustrating, but I'm going to keep at it.

We just got back from talking to dogs to the park so they are pooped and it is quite in the house. Kyle is working on a video game in his office and my mom just got back from the gym, but she's getting ready for church.

I guess I'll try to do a little research. Again, wish me luck!