Nesting or just purely insane?

Well, I am a week away from my third trimester. I don’t want to brag but things have gone really well for me thus far. The baby is healthy, I am feeling good, and there is actually a teeny part of me that is ready to go back to work.

Summer has been awesome. It has been exactly what I needed. I got to take some naps, went on a few trips, and took several trainings. And, it has been my mission since we got back from Florida to get the nursery ready.

Our crib came was waiting for us when we got home. That sort of kicked things off. We had the colors picked out and purchased the paint.

Hubby painted about 90% of the room on his own. I tried to convince him to let me help, but he would have no part of it. We even bought low VOC paint and it did not have an odor—finally after 4 hours, he let me do some of the edges and corners.

The next day, I noticed some of the pinky/purple was a little streaky. So, I secretly got the paint supplies out and started to fix it. I got it all taken care of, but when hubby saw what I had done, he just shook his head.  He really did not want me painting.

He thinks I am losing my mind. I think I am just efficient. Maybe it is this whole nesting thing?

This week, hubby had “Strength and Conditioning Camp” at the high school. This was prime time for me to get more stuff done around the house. It was a chance for me to do a little more, without being judged for doing “too much.”

So, in one day I had walked the dog (approximately 1.5 miles), I edged the front yard, and I also cleaned out the garage, and painted some of the closet in the baby’s room—this was all done before 11 am.

The next day, I walked the dog (same distance) pulled all the weeds, cut back some of my plants that were growing like crazy and cleaned two of the closets upstairs—also done before 11 am.

I had to finish it all by 11 because that is when hubby got home.

This week was particularly busy, because Saturday we had a garage sale and I had to get everything ready.

I really don’t think I am nesting. I am one of those people who always has/needs something to do. Even on a normal weekend, before I was pregnant—I would have a million things to do. Cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc, that is just part of my normal routine.

But, according to Pregnancy-Info.Net,

The nesting instinct is the name given to the distinctive urge to clean, tidy, and organize that occurs during pregnancy. One of the many pregnancy symptoms that you will experience, the nesting instinct generally kicks in around the fifth month of pregnancy; however it can also occur much earlier or much later.

So, really, I don’t think I am nesting. I constantly have the urge to clean, tidy and organize. I just have tons of projects to do, and right now, I don’t have to work—so I have to take advantage of my time off.

That is not crazy, right?

Home = Work, Work = Home?

I don’t know if you have ever felt this way at work. I know that a lot of times it seems like we live at work and thus work  to live, but this summer I had the opportunity to go back “home.” This home that I am speaking of is my “old” school that I worked at two years ago. I taught 7^th grade science at the time and I coached three sports—volleyball, basketball, and soccer. I enjoyed working there, but I wanted to get out of coaching. I had to make a decision to move on.

In the last two years, I taught 5^th grade (STEM among various other subjects) and then this last year, I taught Gateways to Technology to 6^th graders and then a Game Design Class to 7^th and 8^th graders. I was planning on staying until I saw a job opening for the same position I had/would have in the coming year, but at my old school.  So, I had another decision to make.

Did I mention that my husband works at my old school? Yep, that is a definite benefit.

And, since we are expecting our first baby at the end of October, I know that my “old” principal is extremely family friendly. Another major benefit.

Lastly, I have several friends and acquaintances that still work at this old school. Whenever, I go back to visit, or for a game, or some sort of training, these friends and acquaintances always stop me and we catch up. I get lots of hugs and smiles. I appreciate that. I didn’t realize how much I missed it, until I left.

So, whenever I go back—it is like going home. I don’t know what your home is like, but when I go home—people are usually glad to see me. (If anything, my dog will always come downstairs and greet me with a huge wag of his tail.)

My other schools have not been this friendly. They also haven’t been run as well. This “old” school has not only a family friendly principal, but also an assistant principal that takes care of business. This school also has one day a week that we meet as professionals and learn new strategies that we can use in our classrooms.

It is very important to me that I continue to grow as a professional. I never will know everything when it comes to my classroom, but the more I can learn—the better teacher I will be.

So, in the end, I decided to go home.

I am really looking forward to this school year!

glucose tolerance test...yum?

Today I had my glucose tolerance test. I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard horror stories from the various online pregnancy forums that I belong to. From ladies fainting to vomiting to getting massive headaches...I was afraid how I would fare. My doctor told me I did not need to fast for the one hour test. I was not to eat anything sugary--no syrup/jelly/juice. I decided on protein only: eggs, sausage and cheese. I know there are at least two options of the glucose beverage, orange and fruit punch. I was not given a choice but the phlebotomist choose fruan it punch for me. It was not good--but not totally awful--it also reminded me of a mix between a juice box or an off brand type of Gatorade. I had five minutes to drink the mixture. I tried to make small talk--asking the nurse how most people fare from drinking the sugary drink. (She said the worst she had seen was someone fainting. Oh how reassuring!) I also couldn't help thinking...how many calories are in this thing? I mean, if it is pure sugar, it can't be healthy! I drank it in less than five minutes. I tried to chug it at a few points to get it over with. Then I had my 25 week appointment. Our baby girl is doing great. Her heartbeat is perfect. My blood pressure is good. She is measuring right where she should be. And the sugary drink didn't make her go completely bananas! After an hour passed and my doctors appointment was over, I had to get my blood drawn. Three vials today and it still has not gotten easier. I have always hated getting needles stuck into me. I refuse to look and I keep counting in my head until it is over. I should know in two more days if I passed or not. As for how I am feeling after the glucose tolerance test, as I write this, I feel kind of blah--but that could be the cookies I ate earlier. Guess I do have a dessert problem! And here I was worried about the calories in the glucose drink!

A Baby-Moon/vacation with the in-laws

Well, we just got back from a week long vacation to Florida. We went to Orlando with my hubby’s family (his three younger brothers and his parents) and then we took a little trip by ourselves to Clearwater Beach.

Even though we have been married nine years, I have not spent a lot of time with my husband’s family. They live in another state from us and with two of his brothers in high school—they always have something going.

I will say we had so much fun on our trip! The weather was actually cooler than Texas—it rained almost everyday, but for only for five to ten minute spurts. It was cool for my husband to be with his brothers and it was interesting for me to observe how they all get along. (Way different than me and my sister...lots more jokes and sarcasm.)

We went to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Being pregnant, I did not get to go on a lot of rides—but I will say that I did indulge in a few—sans roller coasters, especially. If our daughter comes out healthy and I make it the whole 40 weeks, I will tell you exactly which rides I rode on. (As long as YOU promise not to judge me.)

We had some amazing Chicago-style deep dish pizza from Giordano’s. Deep dish pizza is one of those things I miss from living in Michigan and this rivaled any that I had there. The Greek salad was just not the same, but the pizza was pretty darn good!

Then, towards the end of the week, my husband and I rented a Nissan Versa and headed down the road to Clearwater Beach. The beach was absolutely gorgeous, and we got a cool picture of me and my baby bump around the time that the sun was setting. Even though we only stayed in Clearwater one night, I considered that our “Baby-Moon.” Gotta get those last minute vacations in before the baby gets here in October!

Sadly, on our way back on Friday, I got a frantic call from my mom that our dog, Chauncey, was limping badly. He refused to walk on his left front paw. She thought he might have gotten bit by something in their back yard. He was crying in pain and pretty miserable. I told her to give him a little Benadryl and hoped for the best. (Secretly, I was freaking out. My poor baby—injured and I am not there to take care of him.)

The next morning he still wasn’t walking on it, so she did take him to the vet.

The vet determined that he got bit by something…maybe a scorpion, fire ants, or bee, and he had a pretty severe reaction. He got two different prescriptions and directions to take it easy for 3 days.

Luckily, by the time we got home on Sunday, he was finally putting pressure on his front paw. It is amazing what drugs can do…I mean the medically prescribed kind.

On another note, it is way cheaper for our dog to go to the vet (and get two prescriptions) than it is for us to go to the doctor.  Isn’t that a crying shame?

Anyway, now we are home. The dog is walking on all four legs. Our next task is to get the baby’s room ready before we head back to school in another month.