here, there and everywhere

Ahhhh Christmas Break! I have six more days until I go back to work, and I am enjoying every minute of it.

As soon as I got out of school last Tuesday, I jumped in the car and headed to my hometown. Clint stayed back to work while I spent about three days with my family, mainly my sister Danielle. We had a great time of hanging out, shopping, eating and chilling! It went so so fast!

Christmas Eve, I drove to Tifton to meet Clint and his Family for the Christmas Eve Service at his home church. It was lovely. Apparently pregnancy hormones make you more emotional than normal, but I did my fair share of crying through the service. The Christmas story just gets me everytime, but more so this year.

Christmas morning we woke up, opened a gift, waited for Clint's brother and family to come, ate breakfast and opened the rest of our gifts. This was Christmas #1 for us and already I was spoiled! The rest of the day was spent watching Clint play pool with his dad/brother and watching our nine year old nephew play video games all day long. We had a yummy lunch and played some card games. We decided to hit up the Waffle House for supper that evening, but since it was the ONLY open resturant on Christmas day, it was PACKED out. We ended up coming home and having left overs that were quite yummy. We ended the evening with a fun round of games. It was a super day.

Saturday Clint and I went back to Tville to drop off stuff, laundry, repack and have our Christmas together. We also had to teach Children's Church on Sunday. For our Christmas #2 I was once again spoiled! He did so well! Awwww, I love him.

We are now in Warner Robins hanging out with the family until Friday. Christmas #3 and #4 were awesome too! A visit to WR is NEVER without Drama, NEVER! I love love love my family, BUT! (nuff said)

Monday, my mom, Grandma and I drove up to Macon to check out some sales at the maternity store. I have to admit, it was quite fun. Those clothes are NOT CHEAP, but necessary. Thankfully I was given a NICE amount of money to get them with! I ended up with 3 pairs of dress pants, 2 shirts and 2 necessary items for about $170. I know that seems like a lot, but those were sale items! In the dressing room they had a "bump" to put under your shirt to see where you will be three months from where you currently are....SO FUN! I SO looked pregnant! It was crazy!

Yesterday we chilled in our PJ's until about 4pm. It was so nice! I watched a movie with mom, took a nap and played a few games. We then got ready and went to Grandma's for soup. Only one time was there drama, which was strange. I always expect more. Did you know that MY baby is also my grandma's baby! Seriously! :]

At this point I am relaxing on the couch waiting for 6:00 to roll around so we can meet up for dinner with our good friends Mike and Lisa! So fun!

Tomorrow is our Christmas celebration with my step dads side of the family. I am pretty excited about it since we will actually have something to do on new years eve.

I believe that is all for now. Next time I post will probably be after our next doctor's appointment on Tuesday! woohoo! Praying that all goes well!

Until next time,
Sam

Do you hear what I hear?

Don't ask my why I used that title, I just love that song and it was stuck in my head!

Things are rolling right along here. I have 4 more days of school until the much anticipated Christmas Break. It couldn't come soon enough! I leave next Tuesday to spend 2 days with my sister Danielle. Due to Clint's crazy work schedule, things are a little hectic with the whens and wheres of Christmas...but it doesn't matter. As long as we are with family, I'm good.

We have officially finished all of our Christmas shopping! I have two family presents left to wrap and ALLLLL of Clint's presents left to wrap! YIKES!

Friday is a half day for us, so I should be home around 1:30ish. Clint is off too, so we decided to invite his parents over for dinner. This will be the first time I will cook for them since I have known them. Anytime the come to T'ville, we always go out to eat. But this visit is for the sole purpose of seeing our new apartment, our decorations for Christmas, our new recliner and our new china cabinet! I am excited to have them come, just praying that I am feeling well and able to entertain!

Last Friday, I noticed a lump on Clint's neck. Kind of near his adamsapple (I have no idea if that is how you spell it, but you get my drift). He hadn't noticed it before and neither had I. Since we didn't know how long it had been there, I immediately insisted that he go to the doctor on Monday. He was able to get an appointment for 3:15. I tried not to think about it, but many-a-thoughts were in my mind all day. I finally heard from him about 4:30. The doctor said it was a swollen lymph node (it looked like a pea sticking out of his neck). The did some blood work that all came back fine...his blood counts were good..that ruled out a BUNCH of scary stuff. He is on antibiotics for 10 days and has to go back to be checked. If it isn't gone by day 10 then he will be sent to a ENT doctor. For now I am relieved, just pray that it goes away!

Clint has been off this whole week. He has several vacation days to use up before the end of 2009. It has been so nice coming home to him every day. He did stop by work yesterday afternoon to drop off some pampered chef orders for me (I will NEVER have another book party...can we say hassle!). When he got back from visiting work, he asked if I wanted the good news or the bad news first. I hate that question! I always say bad news first! Anyway, on top of the 5 days of furlough he has to take from January to March, he has to take ONE more before Christmas Eve. (this place is rediculous...I just think someone is getting rich) The good news is that he gets Saturday off! That will be THREE Saturdays in a row off for us! That is GOOD news and worth the furlough if you ask me! By the time march rolls around he will have had 16 days of furlough! Crazy! The first time he got furloughed (how many times can I use the word furloughed?) I went into a straight panic! Since then, I just shrug my shoulders and give it to God. Seriously. It's His money anyway! He has taken care of us our whole lives, why would he stop now? All will be fine! Amen?!?!

I don't know if it is the pregnancy or just my lack of coordination, but I somehow managed to drop my cell phone straigt into a cup of water, while driving! Talent! Anyway, after a day of my phone doing really crazy things, it is somewhat back to normal. Thankfully, this happened on Monday and today (Wednesday) my 2 year contract is up which means I am eligible for a free phone. I had planned on taking advantage of that today anyway...so perfect timing.

I am still feeling blah, but I am making it. It helps seeing the light at the end of the school tunnell, for two weeks anyway. I have had some pretty disgusting complications that are pregnancy related and causing a lot of discomfort and pain. (I am trying to spare you from some pretty gross details.) As far as we know all is well with baby, but it is just part of it as they say. We go back to the doctor January 5th and I can't wait...I'm not even scared...I just can't wait.

Long post I know, but one more thing....

We have chosen our baby names. It was a fairly easy process and we LOVE the names we have chosen. We haven't told a lot of people...and now I know why. Never in my life would I have thought I would have to defend the names we have chosen to people I love. People that have no quams about stating their oh so bold and negative opinion. I cannot imagine myself telling anyone, not even a stranger, that I didn't like the name they had chosen. (okay, this one time, I talked about this girls choice of baby name behind her back, but not to her face) The worst part is that one of them is my Grandpa (whom I love dearly) and the other is my MOTHER! Before you form an evil opinion of my mom, that is just how she is, she is coming around and has even said it is starting to grow on her. (The names really aren't bad!) The even worse part is that my mom's solution for our girls name is to name her after the Twilight books...Bella. MOTHER!!! (no offense to anyone named Bella!)
I laugh about it now, but at the time, there was no laughter...just shock!

Alrighty, must run!

Until next time,
Sam

A Shout Out

I have been contemplating where to go with my next post. And for now, the only thing I can think about is my amazing husband.

It has almost been an entire month since we found out we are having a baby. In that month, I have seen an entirely different side of Clint. I have always known he is kind, compassionate, loving, caring and all of the wonderful things he is (all of the reasons I married him in the first place). Anyway, I have seen all of those things this past month, but in a magnified way.

As I have said in the last posts, I am sick. I am sick of being sick, but I am sick.

Without fail, Clint asks me every morning, every afternoon and every evening how I am feeling. He hasn't complained one time that he hasn't had a good meal in almost a month (with the exception of Thanksgiving). He has done the laundry 3 weeks in a row now. He has cleaned the kitchen more times than I can count in the last month. Everytime a new Christmas gift comes in, he wraps it. He put up our Christmas tree INCLUDING the lights (which is so not a one person job) all by himself, as I laid on the couch kindly directing things. He has yet to complain that I haven't put my shoes away...all month. I just get up, and they are away. When I ran out of dark blue powerade (the only kind I can stomach), he bought me more, without even asking or telling...I just came home and there they were. When I changed plans on him for the weekend due to not feeling well...he didn't mind...he got it! He gets me!

I could go on and on and on about how thankful I am to have this amazing man as my husband. I couldn't think of a better person to go through the ups and downs of this roller coaster called life and pregnancy! He is my love and my best friend!(yes Karen, you are too...the best friend part)

Awwww I am so in love.

I can't wait to be a mommy with him being my baby daddy!

Until next time,
Sam

well....do it?

Weird title I know, but you'll get my point soon! And by the way, this has nothing to do about being pregnant or having a baby...next time, I promise!

For the past month and a half my 6th graders have been diligently working on their Science Fair Projects. Well, most of them have been diligent about it, however, as of today, I know that it is definatly not all of them!

They had several topics to choose from, the normal 6th grade things: Moldy bread, plant growth, laundry detergent, audio/visual learning. Today was the first day of presentations, so I was bracing myself all morning. I teach 3 different sections of 6th grade Science a day, so today I got to sit through 20 different presentations.

For the most part everyone did very well. They were extremely nervous and apprehensive about standing in front of their classmates and presenting their project. I continued to reassure them that it is good for them!

During my last class, one of my lovely 6th grade boys gets up, opens his tri-fold board and I saw the title. It was ALL I could do not to Laugh. I did get a little chuckle coming, but I did my best to mask it with a cough.

My student's name is D'Shade and the title of his project dealing with laundry detergent was.......

Do It Clean?

Well.....do it? According to him, Gain with bleach is the best detergent out their!

Hope this made you laugh!

Until next time,
Sam

Doctor's Visit

One week ago from tomorrow was our very first doctor's visit! I set up the appointment the day after we found out due to me being a new patient. As the days passed leading up to December 1st, my excitement abounded! I was INCREDIBLY sick. I have never been so sick in my life! Needless to say, I was so ready to see a doctor and get something to help out with being so sick.

Clint drove from Thomasville and picked me up at school right as I dropped my students off for P.E. class. I jumped in the jeep and almost lost it! I couldn't quite figure out how I was going to survive a doctor's appointment without hurling all over the place. I think the nerves were messing with me too!

After driving around the hospital parking garage forever searching for a parking place, we finally got one. In we went and sat for just a few minutes while I filled out paperwork...lots of paperwork! The wait wasn't bad and I was very impressed with all of the nurses and midwives that I got to meet.

First, I had to pee in a cup. I guess they send it off and test it for lots of things. Then we went into this little room where we answered thousands more questions. The subject of the flu shot was brought up, where I politely declined both of them and asked the nurse not to tell my mom! :) (My mom would be very disappointed, however the nurse didn't say it was that necessary) At this point, the nurse lady told me to roll up my sleeves! YIKES! (If you know me, you know my tolerance of pain is very minimal) So, one needle and 8 vials of blood later, I survived. It really wasn't that bad, I just closed my eyes, grabbed Clint's hand and kept breathing!

After the blood room, we went to an exam room. At this point, all I wanted someone to do was say "Yes, Mrs. Thompson, there IS a baby in there!" I was still seeking reassurance. That didn't come for a while though. I made it through the entire exam, inside and out, pushing and prodding and spoke with my midwife for a bit. She went on a rattled off an entirely memorized shpeel about morning sickness. I wanted to interject and say "look, nice lady, I have tried ALL of that and NONE of that helps," but I refrained. She kindly told me that since I am 11 weeks pregnant, if it doesn't clear up in a week or so, to call her back and request a perscription to be called in.

Off we went to the sonogram room. Here is where I began to feel like a little girl. I just KNEW I survived the "not so pleasant" part of an OB visit. I buttoned my pants and just KNEW that part was over. I had visions of them squirting the gel on my belly and rubbing around for baby. Boy was I wrong. Apparently, when the baby is the size of a pea, you can't do that! See what I mean about being a little girl. So, I took care of business and listened intently as the sonogram technician explained exactly what was about to happen. As she did her job, my eyes were glued to the screen. I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. There it was...so little...and so perfect...with its little heart just a beating. 150 bpm to be exact, I was so proud. I cried! (not surprising to most of you, I know) What an amazing experience. As she performed measurement after measurement, she kept saying everything looked good and was just the right size. She then told me, that I was most definately NOT 11 weeks, but a mere 7 1/2. My first thought was of the sickness and the fact that I thought for sure it was almost over. Bummer. But, we are so fine with it all. She picked a new due date for us, July 17, 2010. Sounds like a good day to me!

On our way out, the midwife with the drug power informed me that she just called in a perscription for me! WooHoo!

As of now, I am feeling pretty good. I make sure to take that medicine every single time 6 hours passes...without fail! Other than being abnormally exhausted...all is well! I am able to cook a little, eat a little and look alive while teaching!

Our next appointment is January 5th! I can't wait to see our baby on that screen again! I am so in love!

Until next time,
Sam

Telling our families!

I am by far the worst secret keeper there is! You have to tell me ahead of time…in a serious tone…not to tell a soul! I will get it then. This secret was by far the hardest secret that I have ever had to keep!

I didn’t HAVE to, but we wanted to be able to tell our families in person! So, we found out Tuesday the 17th and got to tell on Wednesday the 25th. One whole week and a day!

The first people we told were Clint’s parents. We bought them a bouquet of flowers for Thanksgiving and signed a cute little card from Clint, Sam and baby Thompson. My mother-in-law opened the card, read it, and slowly looked up at us saying “Are you serious?” in a loud high-pitched voice! They were thrilled!

We then told my grandparents, my mom and step dad, my sister, and my dad and step mom. We got it all on video which I am going to do my best to upload to this page! Their reactions were priceless and I am SO glad we waited! I am also SO glad we were able to get it on video! So fun!

**Can't figure out the video thing...so here is the link for those of you who haven't seen it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-2pXw0eDHk

Until next time, Sam