16W

How far along? 16 Weeks

Total weight gain: Still sitting at only one pound.

Maternity clothes? Nope. BUT...I feel some changing and tightening going on in the belly area...we shall see

Sleep: As much as I can get!

Best moment this week: Being absolutely content! Realizing(thanks to my dear friend Holly) that this is a one day at a time journey and that I need to be enjoying each day as it comes and not rush it! I had a light-bulb moment!

Scariest moment this week: Just a few bad dreams.

Movement: Yes. Bending over is getting a tad bit more difficult, anytime I do, I feel movement.

Gender: 4 more weeks! (hopefully)

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? Still very much in

What I miss: Sleeping on my belly!

What I am looking forward to: Our next appointment on TUESDAY!!!

Cravings: Still craving the spicy! Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Pizza Lunchables...weird I know!

I found this cool idea for Tuesdays! Here it goes:

I love the Weekend!!!

Catching Up

Well….Happy Monday?!?!?! It seems like every time I turn around, it’s Monday again! Today has been a busy/crazy day all wrapped into one! I apparently thought it would be a great idea to have a Science Lab on a Monday….WRONG! And…sadly…I have another one scheduled for tomorrow! Oh well…we are crossing them off our list!

We had a great weekend! Friday night I caught up on my, what’s-the-word…Guilty Pleasure shows! I just can’t help it! Real Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy! After I took care of that, I went to bed, only to wake a whopping 13 hours later…momma was TIRED! Saturday I had a burst of energy and managed to clean our kitchen…REALLY clean and clean out the pantry! That thing was a disaster and I am so glad to have that over with!

Sunday was a lovely day as well. First, my love doesn’t work on Sunday’s, so I enjoy being with him all day! We went to church, I made it through a meeting and off we went to lunch. LONGHORNS!!! One of my favorites, but we NEVER go there due to the prices…just don’t care to pay $35 for two people to eat….BUT we had a gift card thanks to my AWESOME Brother and sister-in-law and PRECIOUS niece Allison….(shout out to you Megan!) Plus, we had a $4 off coupon! I thoroughly enjoyed my Caesar salad, salmon and that really yummy bread!

After leaving Longhorn’s I got to do something that I haven’t done in a long, long time. We went to the hospital to visit our friends Andrew and Sarah and their 7 Hour old baby boy, Sam! Oh be still my heart! He was 9 lbs, 6 ounces and the cutest ball of baby I’ve seen. (I say that about all babies…I can’t help it) Oh my! It was all I could do not to burst out in tears. A little over a year ago, these two people experienced something that NO one would ever want to experience. Sarah was about 6 months pregnant with baby Jack, when one day, he was gone. She had to deliver him, but Baby Jack was already with Jesus. It was a heart wrenching ordeal for their family, but they came out on the other side! Baby Jack isn’t forgotten, but I am SO glad for them to now have Baby Sam…a healthy, loved and much longed for baby!

I can’t help but think of the line to that song….”You give and take away, you give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Blessed be your Name!”

Experiencing the hospital visit and seeing Sarah a mere 7 hours after her c-section and hearing all of her encouraging words to me, made my heart soar! I can’t wait to have Baby Thompson…obviously I want her/him to grow inside me and be healthy and strong before coming, but folks, I cannot wait!

Ahhhh my heart!

On to other baby talk…my dear friend Holly, that I have mentioned on here several times….still no baby! Her birthmom was officially due yesterday!!!! Nothing like drawing things out! They just returned from another Doctor’s appointment and I got a text that said “No change…just sporadic contractions. Seriously.” Bless their hearts! I can only imagine how their birthmom must be feeling. Nothing like being in the “waiting”! I am praying constantly for them!

Oh yeah, And the SAINTS are going to the SUPERBOWL! We had a blast watching the game...except toward the end where I pouted for a little bit...:)

Until next time,
Sam

15W

15 Weeks!

How far along? 15 Weeks

Total weight gain: ONE pound. The one time in my life that it is OKAY to gain weight...and it took me 15 Weeks to gain ONE pound!

Maternity clothes? Nope. I am guessing one more week in my normal dress pants. I have one pair of jeans that are out of the question now.

Sleep: Yes Please! The more the better!

Best moment this week: Getting diaper coupons in the mail!

Scariest moment this week: Having a racing heartbeat on Wednesday afternoon. Left school early...BP was WAY up! Went straight to bed...I believe it was lack of rest from the day before (Open House).

Movement: Only one more time since last week...at school...still really cool!

Gender: 5 more weeks til we find out! From the beginning I have wanted a girl, BUT, the more I think about the possibility of it being a boy, I get excited about that too! Either way...we will be thrilled!

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? Still very much in

What I miss: Having energy...still waiting for the 2nd trimester energy to kick in.

What I am looking forward to: Our next appointment, Feb 2nd!

Cravings: Chips and Salsa; Anything Spicy.

Safe

Happy Open House night! (Said in my most sarcastic tone) It is 6:30 and I have been at school for 11 hours…by the time I leave it will be 12 ½! I am pooped to say the least, but I am hanging in there. I don’t want to complain because I love my job, but whew what a day.

Cheater girl got off scott free. Cheater girls momma had to rub it in just a tad and said “until she graduates from this school, she will say she didn’t cheat,” to which I replied “and until the day she graduates, I will say she did,” and then I summed up our little meeting and off she went with a smile on her face. As my sixth graders say, whatev!

Due to open house, I stay all the way through without going home. On nights like these, I usually go grab a bite to eat then hang out at the bookstore until time to go back to school. Tonight I was invited by a fellow co-worker and mother of one of my students to go to Z.axbys for supper with them. I love this family and was so thankful to be able to eat with them….they paid for me too which is always nice! They are adoptive parents to two girls, 12 and 6. I think this give me a little more love for them since my heart is so into the adoption process and the people involved.

The youngest of their daughters is a doll. Everytime she sees me she asks about my baby. Today she asked if it was time to feed my baby. Did I think it was going to hurt when my baby came out. She asked if she could be invited to the day that the baby comes. And also asked if my baby was going to have a crib or a manger. SO SWEET. I had a blast!

I must go, but I will leave you with a song that is at the top of my charts these days. It is SO wonderful to know that I am safe. That my husband is safe. That my baby is safe. That my family is safe. That my friends are safe. That my friends whose lives are about to change one way or the other….are safe! Read the words to this song, really read them….talk about peace!

To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone

Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone

(Chorus)
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

(Bridge)
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me

These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

- 'Safe' by Phil Wickham

Until next time,
Sam

14 Weeks

How far along? 14 Weeks

Total weight gain: I have no idea, I believe I weigh less then when I found out I was pregnant

Maternity clothes? Nope. Still waiting to wear my cute ones!

Sleep: This week has been better! I think it has something to do with waking up at 5:30, dealing with crazy 12 year old all day, and getting home at 5:00 p.m. :)

Best moment this week: Feeling movement! Butterfly movement...but still movement!

Movement: YES! Sitting at the computer last night, below my belly button to the left (where they found the heart beat last time). I took a poll in Facebook to see when other people felt movement...looks like I am not crazy!

Gender: Don't know yet! Dreamt last night it was a girl and that we told our in-laws by baking a pink cake...good idea!

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? Still very much in

What I miss : not being exhausted

What I am looking forward to: right now...eating my blueberry muffins that just came out of the oven! :)

Cravings: Blueberry muffins; chips and salsa; chocolate milk (I got the sugar free kind)

Sticks and Stones

I am not one to blog 2 days in a row (hopefully tomorrow will make 3 for my 14W update) BUT…here is my question…

Why are people so mean?

In the past 24 hours I have been “chewed out” by 3 different people. All parents of my students.

In the 6 years I have taught I have only had ONE run-in with parents for saying to their precious sweet baby “Quit acting like a punk and sit down.” Bad choice of words, yes, but the truth hurts. (Remember that Holly? Oh my!)
Anyway, the events of the last 24 hours a making me wonder if I am losing it!

A few days ago, I caught a girl cheating on her quiz. I saw it with my own two eyes and made sure to KNOW that this is what was happening before I took action. She somewhat denied it, but had no problem getting a zero and getting a referral to the dean. But now…all of a sudden…when she finds out she has to stand in front of the Honor Committee (a group of her peers) and explain her side of the story to figure out what her punishment would be…she didn’t do it. I had to talk to her mom to explain the situation, and before finding out about the Honor Committee, she understood. NOW…today I pull her in the hall to explain what she would have to do at the Honor Committee , she responds “but what if I didn’t do it?” “my mom even knows I didn’t do it” My blood was boiling! I simply sent her back to her desk and told her from this point on, she would have to discuss it with the principal. REDICULOUS. I am all about protecting my child, but get a grip. So, mom emails me with excuse after excuse and explanation and more concerned about her kid not missing cheerleading practice. Did I say ridiculous? REDICULOUS!!!!

THEN, today was the Honor Roll lunch. The kids get to go off campus to the mall to eat lunch and shop a little. It is a huge incentive to them to do well. The kids don’t get their report cards until next Tuesday, and some of them were unsure if they were on the honor roll. I get it. So I got on the email and requested a list be sent. For some reason, 7 names were left off. Apparently the computer program we use for grades had a glitch. But this is something TOTALLY out of my hands. But, you guessed it, I am the one that gets the email that said “I am disappointed in your lack of communication” and blah blah blah….REDICULOUS!!! I simply forwarded it to the principal and she took it from there! I am so sick of these parents that need to learn how to take a deep breath before emailing.

Lastly, I confiscated a cell phone today. Texting momma in the bathroom is not acceptable. I simply emailed to inform mom to let her know that he would get his phone today since it was his first offense but that next time, it would be turned into the office which meant that only mom or dad could pick it up. Anyway, I get a reply stating “And for the record, I do know the rules about the cell phones, which is ridiculous and I don’t know how you could even enforce this type of rule.”

Seriously?

I need a big tall, ice cold, diet coke and a Mr. Goodbar. I need it! (not gonna happen, no caffine, little sugar..not gonna happen)

Until next time,
Sam

Emotional

I realize that being 13 weeks pregnant is a special formula for being extra emotional. I get it, but this week, I have experienced 3 instances in which I have been over the top. I believe with good reason too!

First, I came home from work on Monday and checked my Facebook to see a friends status say “Heidi, I am so glad your body is cancer free and you are walking with Jesus now…we miss you.” It was that moment that I put it all together. I friend of mine from college, Heidi from Texas, was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer at the age of 27, last February. She went through several surgeries and lots of Chemo and never recovered. The cancer never left her and she went home to be with Jesus at the age of 28. I haven’t been in contact with Heidi since college, but I have thought about her a lot in the last year and prayed for her too. This GOT me. I sat at our computer and cried, a lot! I just don’t understand the reason for her homegoing and all that she went through. It was hard. I know she is healed now and happier than ever. I know she is dancing with our Savior and bowing at his feet. I am happy for her, but my heart is heavy for her family.

Secondly, the news of the devastating events that took place in Haiti absolutely rocked me! Another event with no understanding. I know that “His ways aren’t our ways” and I have claimed that for a long time. My heart breaks for those people. I want to get on a plane, fly there and save the day, help in some way. Obviously, at this point in my life, that is not possible, but I did remember one way I could help. Other than Clint and I giving financially to help the rescue and clean up efforts, I prayed. I have mentioned before how my prayer life has changed drastically since finding out my friend Holly was trying to adopt (their baby is due any day….WOOHOO!). I pray all the time now. I am not “tooting my own horn” by any means, but this is the truth. I mentioned to my students this morning that we should be praying for the people of Haiti. I mentioned to them some of the headlines that I have been reading, like the expected death toll being in the hundreds of thousands. And then I did something that I have never done before with any of the classes I have taught. I told them that I would open in prayer and that any of them that wanted to pray, could just open their mouths and pray. I ended mine with “In Jesus’ Name….” and off they went. Out of 22 students, 12 of them prayed outloud. 3 of them went more than once. These are 6th graders….the same ones that can drive me bananas….brought me to absolute tears. (I was a mess) I know that God loves when children pray. I could see their hearts. They prayed for things I didn’t even think of. I did my best to not make it obvious that I was a blubbering mess, but I didn’t do so well. I want to try this again sometime, as my heart was touched.

Lastly, on a not so serious note, next week is Sweetheart Week. Basically like Homecoming for basketball season. The weeks that the teachers dread, but that the students dream about. The time where they dress up like crazy things and lose all focus. Yesterday the students had to nominate a boy and a girl from their grade to represent them on the Sweetheart court. As I collected the ballots, I saw the same names over and over again. It was a given. No surprises. UNTIL…I get to one “funny-man-who-cares-nothing-about-sweetheart-anything” and absolutely did not take this seriously. He handed me his ballot with a smirk on his face. So I peeked. And of course, the people he listed…how do I say this…were probably on NO other ballots. I hate it if that sounds mean, but I am just telling the story. They are two of the ones that are…different. They aren’t a couple and probably would never be. Anyway, for some reason, this was hilarious to me (I am so immature). I wanted to laugh, but KNEW I would only fuel his fire, so I did my best to keep a straight face. I succeeded, until about 25 minutes LATER while grading our Science quizzes. As I was calling out the answers, his little smirky face just popped into my head and I started laughing. I could NOT stop. I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face. Getting a grip was out of the question. Of course since it is 25 minutes after the ballots, the 15 students in the class had no idea what I thought was so funny, they seriously were staring at me like I had lost my mind. (I think I have) I have never had an experience quite like that in the 6 years I have been teaching! Hilarious!

I hope you are all doing well and staying warm! I hope you are laughing some this week too!

Until next time,
Sam

Panic, Prayer, Peace, Praise (in that order)

Last week I got an email from the Executive Pastor that said,

“Samantha, when you get a chance, call me, I’d like to discuss the possibility of you coming to the weekly Church Staff meetings.”

Immediate Panic! Why? Because as of right now, my plate is full! I am a full time 6th grade teacher with 3 preps. I live an hour from where I work. My husband works in the evenings. I am the(part time, yeah right) Children’s Director of the church and oversee the Nursery, Sunday School, Children’s Church and Awana programs. And…I am pregnant.

Panic! I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how I could fit one more thing on my overflowing plate. Not to mention, I didn’t want to go to staff meetings with a room full of very powerful, very smart, intimidating Men!

As I began to panic over this, I saw how ridiculous it all was. So, I prayed. I prayed that the Lord would work it out that I wouldn’t have to do this, and that if I did, I would make the best of it.

The next day, I met with the Executive Pastor. He made it very clear that it was not his wish for me to take on this extra responsibility. He made it very clear that it was the Pastor that wanted me there. The Pastor wanted to change staff meeting time from 1:00 on Wednesdays (I teach History then) to 3:30-5:30 so that I could be there. I KNEW this would make NO one happy. So, the Exec Pastor and I decided that I could come during my planning period on Wednesdays from 2:00-2:30, say what I needed to say, hear what I needed to hear and leave. I figured that was better than the alternative, so I went with it.

Peace. I had complete peace that this was going to work out.

And waddoya know….It did.

The Executive Pastor stopped me at lunch today and told me not to worry about the Staff Meeting. I thought he meant for this week, but he said “forever.” He went on to say how he told the Pastor that this was not discussed when I was hired. I am only part time. I teach full time. I am pregnant. And…he thinks my plate is full enough and he doesn’t want my areas to suffer! Praise the Lord! I could have hugged the man in the middle of the cafeteria, but I thought better of it!

I will have to do a typed, bulleted report each week of the goings on, but that is so doable! I cannot complain!

Thank you Jesus for Peace and answered Prayers!

Until next time,
Sam

A New Year

A New Year

I always love a new year! I love the newness of everything! We started back to school today and the newness of that gets me every time! New chapters, new seating arrangement, new markers and even a new Science Lab Table for my classroom!

An another note…

We went to the Doctor this past Tuesday! I expected it to be like our last appointment…long and through…but not so much! They did the normal, pee in the cup, weigh in, blood pressure and so on, but nothing really through if you get my drift! ;)

This time, we didn’t get to do a sonogram either. I was kind of bummed. I expected to get to see Baby T every time, but apparently that is not the case. We did, however, get the “rub on the belly with really cold jelly and a wand thing” though. It took the doctor like 2 solid minutes (probably less, but it felt like forever) to actually find the heartbeat of the baby. I was really nervous, but apparently that is normal too! Baby T was beating away at 150 bpm! I was so proud!

As far as they know, everything is good and on schedule! They are watching my thyroid numbers though, which for a moment made me a little nervous, but then I remembered that “God’s got it!” If my numbers go too high or too low at my next blood draw (Feb 2nd) then, then will send me to a specialist! Thyroid issues run in both sides of my family, so I hear!

We go back Feb 2nd. I will be 16 weeks at that point. I have heard that you can find out the sex of the baby as early as 14 weeks, but we shall see. I have a feeling they will make me wait until the appointment after the next one since I will be 20weeks then (halfway!!!)

I went to the store the other day and was looking for a baby book. I wanted to start now filling in all the blanks that I could! I am just so excited! I was planning on getting the neutral one, but didn’t find a neutral one that I liked….so, I will wait! I know myself far too well…if it is a girl….I will want a girl book. If it is a boy…I will want a boy book! Go figure!

For now I will close with some fun little info (I stole this from a friends blog…my goal is to do it every week…we shall see!)

13W (okay, so really 12W 6D, I am a day early)

How far along? 13 weeks!!!

Total weight gain: zero!

Maternity clothes? Don’t have to wear them just yet. However, I did go shopping and did get 3 pairs of pants and a few shirts…for when that time comes! And…I did wear a pair of pants one day…they are SO comfy!

Sleep: When I am asleep, I sleep fine, however, falling asleep is rough and about 3am I wake up ready to conquer the world. I have had to leave our bed and go to the guest bed TWICE now because I couldn’t fall back asleep! SO annoying!

Best moment this week: hearing Baby T’s heartbeat again!

Movement: Nope…although, the doctor told me if it is movement below the belly button it is the baby, above the belly button…Gas! So…the other night was good ole gas!

Gender: no clue…lots of people are guessing girl since I have been so sick….but we have no idea!

Labor Signs: Nope.

Belly Button in or out? In….really in

What I miss : pure, uninterrupted sleep; food

What I am looking forward to: our next appointment in 4 weeks

Weekly Wisdom: even if I am starving….a footlong sub is NOT a good idea! The “eating-crackers-before-getting-out-of-bed” movement, really does work!

Milestones: making it to 13 weeks! For some reason…I was really looking forward to that!