Summer Reading

I love to read, but nursing school can really get in the way. By the time I am finished with the required reading and studying from textbooks my eyes and my brain can not handle any more. Although I am in classes this summer, they are a little different than normal. There is less reading/memorizing involved. Unfortunately this means more group projects and presentations which are some of my least favorite things to do, BUT the good side of this means I have more time (and brain power) to read books that I actually want and choose to read.

I have had this book (When People are Big, and God is Small) for a long time, but I have been unable to read it. I started a few nights ago and I have been reading a little at a time before I go to bed. I think this will be an EXCELLENT book for me to read. Even reading the first chapter made me want to raise my hand and say "oooohhhhh yeah that's me" when reading some of Welch's descriptions. Has anyone else read this book? Did you like it?? I have read another Ed Welch book called Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest and it was AMAZING. I read that book with my friend Dianna and we would get together to talk about it every week. I would recommend that to anyone and everyone, especially if anxiety is something you struggle with. That book came at a great time in my life: Ben newly diagnosed with MS, uncertainty about school, uncertainty about living situation, etc. I love being able to look back at marvel at God's timing.

I had to read the secular version of this book, Melodie Beattie's Codependent No More, for my psychiatric nursing class last semester. I understood what she was saying but I was frustrated by her answers to solve the problem. She thought that in order to change yourself you should worry about and focus on just YOU. In my paper about that book I spent some time explaining my opinion on why that is not a sufficient way to "solve your problems." Apparently my teacher is a fan of that book because I got a B (totally deserved an A).

We leave for the beach (bring on the oil, we are going anyways!) in a little over a week with my family. I anticipate plenty of book reading time in between intense night crabbing, sea food feasting, and lounging in the pool of course. Do you have any recommendations for new books? I like to take a variety of books so I can chose whatever I feel like that day. Cause hey-it's vacation. I am in need of some new ideas. I have read every Karen Kingsbury, Francine Rivers and Liz Curtis Higgs book ever written. At least twice. Some of the River's books have been read so many times that I could probably quote them for you. So please, new authors or book recommendations are very welcome!

Speaking of reading, I have a final on Thursday morning. I work all day tomorrow and we have our parenting class tomorrow night so I have no business being online right now. Back to studying!

Pregnancy Update

This pregnancy update is late. I fully intended to post something the day I turned 28 weeks to make a "Welcome to the 3rd Trimester!" post but school and work got in the way! I have been getting a lot of hours at the daycare, which is a welcome blessing. This time around is much different than working last year. I guess the 20 extra lbs on my belly really does make a difference...especially being on my feet all day long while chasing around 2 year olds. Plus working ruins my after school/lunch nap time :) I don't want to complain though, this is an answer to prayer. Poor Ben just has to hear me complain at the end of the day, ha.

I promised some friends a pregnant picture. Please know how much I love you to be posting this. I made Ben stand with me to make it less awkward. As an added bonus his shirt serves as a green screen to magnify my belly. Lovely.

I wanted to talk about a few random thoughts I have on being pregnant. This is a good way to document how I am feeling and to update everyone at the same time. Having this constant reminder (huge stomach, Parker kicking more than Landon Donovan, etc) keeps pregnancy and babies on the brain.

- I have had to get over people touching my stomach. At first there was a short list of people allowed to touch my belly but I have just thrown that out the window. Being in a nursing program means everyone is extra interested in your pregnancy and they are NOT afraid to ask you about it. And I don't mean questions like "how are you feeling?" or "how far along are you now?". For "learning purposes" they will ask anything and everything. While I am trying to come up with an answer that doesn't make my face turn bright red they immediately go for the stomach. Again, for "learning purposes". I should get extra credit for this. For someone who spends time trying to stay away from attention I sure do get a lot of it at school. I seriously should have bought this maternity shirt. I guess MC Hammer really does say it best...

- I have found myself saying the stereotypical pregnancy complaints recently. "My back hurts", "It's ridiculously hot in here", and "Ben, look at my feet! Are they swollen?!?" are said at different points during the day. Sometimes all three in a row if I just got home from work. I'm sure I am a joy to be around. Today at church I seriously contemplated pouring a water bottle over my head during the middle of the sermon. My father-in-law is wonderful and understanding but that might have been a bit distracting for him at the pulpit...so I refrained. But the desire was there!

-Today we had dinner at the Calvert's to celebrate Father's Day. Just for fun we got Ben's baby pictures out and looked through them. I think about what Parker is going to look like all the time. I can't wait to meet him and I can't wait to see who he looks like. Part of me thinks I will just have a mini-Ben with dark hair, skin and eyes. Who knows what a combination of us will look like. Ben: dark brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, tall. Jess: light brown hair, blue eyes, pale skin, short(ish). I really am so excited to find out!

- We have been working a little bit at a time on the nursery. We have a few things already such as a crib, carrier, stroller, and my parent's gift to us...the glider. Why do people wait to get a glider until they are having a baby?? I could sit in that thing all day long! Hoping to have more finished soon so I can put pictures up (and yes, I really mean it this time).

-All of my doctor appointments are going well. I just reached the point where I start going every 2 weeks. I enjoy these appointments because I am fascinated by this process. I also love hearing his heart beating. It has not gotten old yet. Just got the lab results back that I do not have gestational diabetes so that's wonderful. I have been slightly anemic so I am on extra iron supplements, but other than that I have had an uneventful 2nd and 3rd trimester so far.

- So Parker is due September 2nd. My guess is that he will arrive early. Ben and I were both early. Ben is adamant that he will be born August 25th. I say the 28th, but really it's only because I don't want Ben to win. I weighed 5 lbs 15 ounces and Ben weighed 8 lbs even. We haven't guessed the birth weight but I am sure we will find a way to turn it into a competition. We always do.

- We have been to 2 out of 4 of our parenting classes. It has been nice and we have learned a few things. We decided to take the parenting class instead of the childbirth class. Many people think this is a mistake but we are standing our ground. I have studied this stuff. I have done many clinicals on the L&D floor and I have been there for several births. I am pretty sure that nothing will shock me and I feel well informed. Ben on the other hand doesn't know too much about it, but is that really a bad thing?? I have shared with him a little at a time what is going to happen. I don't think he needs to watch several awkward videos of other women giving birth to be there to support me. I am not AT ALL putting down people who decide to take this class. I am sure you will be more prepared than I am. I am just trying to save my sensitive husband from a few various mental images. This is his plan during the delivery: stand/sit by my head, hold my hand, rub my back, tell me I'm beautiful, and NOT LOOK. I don't need him passing out. Well now that I think about it it might be a well timed comedic relief. If I feel like it will help I will trick him into seeing blood so he can hit the floor and I can laugh. That just might be more effective than an epidural. Which I will definitely be getting by the way.

-final thought (for now)...Happy Father's Day to Ben. I don't care what you think about this, I know that Ben became a father 7 and a half months ago. I can't wait to see him in action!