Update

Well a friend commented oh how I have not wrote on this thing at all so I thought I would try to give everyone an update!

Started my job in the ER. Been there for a month and love it. Everyone is really nice and no one makes me feel stupid that I don't know where everything is. There is never a dull moment. For example, yesterday I had a 25wk pregnant lady whose car got trapped under a semi and it took 25 minutes to cut her out, I had a guy who had a roach in his ear that I irrigated out, about 6 people came in with complaints of Chest Pain, I put an NG tube in a person with an abdominal bleed, and much more! Like I said... never a dull moment and you NEVER know what will come in or what crazy thing you will see!

Pregnancy is going good. I am 30 4/7 weeks already. Getting big! Everyone says I am really small but when I can no longer see below my belly naturally, I know I am getting big. Baby is really active and it is a BOY! No definite name picked out yet at this time. I am still nauseated and Zofran is still my best friend for that. He is head down (as he has been the whole time). I started some contractions the other day that lasted from about 5:30-10:30 at night a couple days ago. They were about 10 minutes apart. The next morning my abdominals were sore. Just a preview of what it will be like in 10 weeks (hopefully a little sooner). I started having swelling in my feet a month ago now so I will talked to the doctor about that today. We registered at Babies-R-Us a couple weeks ago so that is done for the most part. When we come home to MN at the end of the week we will run to Target and register there as well so people who do not have access to to Babies-R-Us can easily pick up something. My only concern at this point is that we are having the baby shower with my family after the baby is born so some of the items on my registry, Nate and I will have to go buy if we don't get before hand. Nate's family has talked about throwing a baby shower and if that goes through, I am hoping to have them put something pertaining to "absolute necessities are really needed" so we don't have to buy them all. I hope that is not pushy or rude. Mom said it could come across that way and a friend of mine said that it is a good idea to do.

Nate and I got a dog. Well technically I call it Nate's dog. Her name is Bella and she is about 18 weeks now. She is a QUICK learner but I hate having to take her outside to go potty every couple hours. She is sleeping through the night and won't pee in her cage. She is a German Shorthaired Pointer and her colors are "Liver and Roan" (I think that is what Nate calls it). Definetely alot more work than having my cats. Speaking of my cats, Mihnie and Goldie don't care for Bella. Bella is really playful and wants to play with those two. Instead, the girls turn and smack Bella on the face with their declawed paws and it actually startles Bella. Goldie definitely does not let Bella get in her territory and a couple times she has went to save Mihnie.

Nate is doing good. He is working a BUTTLOAD and I barely see him myself. He worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday he had people over to do landscaping on the yard, Worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday he is out of town to teach a class, and then he works Thursday. Reminder, when I say he works, it means he works a 24 hour shift. He leaves at 7 am one morning and comes back at 7am the following morning. I guess I will get to see him this Friday when we take a road trip to MN for the Mississippi Shuffle and to celebrate all the family birthdays this month. It will be some much needed time together. We discussed once the end of August comes around, he will not teach any more classes out of state and be around alot more in case something happens with the pregnancy. He has been supportive and wonderful. Today is his first OB appt he will miss because I told him to go teach the class since the money is so good. Otherwise, he has been to every single Dr. Appt., even the simple ones where they just measure my belly and find the heart tones.

In June I went home to spend time with the family after I took my boards and was side-swiped by a train. When I got home my parents told me my dad has cancer and needed surgery right away. I flew in on Wednesday and surgery was already scheduled for the following Friday. He has multiple myeloma. It is a cancer of the bone (bone marrow) and incurable. Dr.'s say they can treat it but it will never be cured. They believe he has had it for a couple years already. The cancer is a kind that eats away at the bones so my dad has holes in them and he is really fragile. He has a number of holes in his skull and pelvic area. They found a tumor in his right femur that was 9cm long that they removed the following Friday. They put a plate with 10 screws because it was basically shattered. Dr's do not know how he has walked on it for so long that way. At that time they gave him 40 months but we are optimistic that he can defy the odds and pull through this.

Catch up on life

So we found out there are not multiples. I am 19 weeks already and the time has flown by. We can find out if it is a boy or girl but choose not to. Hormones suck... not going to lie. I get annoyed really easy now.

I graduated in the beginning of May and now I am waiting to start my job in the ER at the local hospital here. I can't wait because I am annoyed of being around the house and cleaning... with no help. How many times do we have to ask a guy to help around the house with cleaning instead of spending his time on things just for himself. I want to do that but don't get the time to because I am busy taking care of everything else. Sometimes I feel selfish asking for it... but it is his house too and i shouldn't have to do it all ... or ask for help all the time.. Grr...


Alright, enough for now...

Lindsey

Multiples?!??!

Had my first dr appt on Friday. Did the whole pee in a cup, blood work, exam, Q&A, health history... blah blah blah. While the nurse was doing a health history on me she asked if I have had any morning sickness. Nate chymes in... "She pukes all the time all day and has probably lost 8 pounds from that. She has it really bad." The nurse (acting like it is nothing) looks to the other nurse in training and states, "That could mean there are multipiles." WTF... MULTIPLES? So later the Dr comes in and we are asking questions and I say

"True or False; having extreme morning sickness puts me at a higher risk of carrying multiples?" She turns to me and says "TRUE"

TRUEEEEEE... oh shit. Nate has a big smile on his face bc he wants multiples. I am nervous because I am still adjusting to the idea of on child in my tummy at the moment. We go back in two weeks and they are going to see if they can tell if I have more than one in there or not. So watch for updates. They put me on antiemetic pills (nausea) but even though I take them, I am still puking some. Don't get me wrong... it is better than what it was but still queasy!

Enough of that for now... more hw and trying to go eat.

Baby On Board!

So for those of you who have yet to hear... Nate and I have baby on board! Yep... that's right... 5 pregnancy tests later and we are officially having a lil one... starting a family. We are so excited about it... I of course am hoping for a girl and Nate is hoping for a boy. Nate's response to having a girl... "it is just out of my league... what am I going to do with a girl... play in the mud?" Haha... I am sure he would play a great Ken if she gets into barbies. We are due 10/10 and have our first official Dr. Apt next Friday. I already had one ultrasound by one of the ER drs I work with who just offered to take a look. Sure! I will have a free ultrasound. I could only see one... but Nate really wants twins... possibly triplets. We do not have any in my immediate family but mom always said my sister or I would have them. I hope not me but I will take but I get. We drove to MN last weekend and told my parents. We told his parents Valentines weekend. They are all excited and supportive. My mom's response after she opened the card we got her making the big announcement.... "Really?!" and then precedes to tell my niece Hunter to take the card to my dad whose response was "Ya??" Haha... it was funny. I was a little nervous but coming from such a supportive family I didn't really have any worries. We have always been there for each other no matter what... and I did not forsee this changing anything.

School is going good and keeping me extremely busy. I have a test tomorrow on pulmonary which I should be studying for but I need a break. Less than two months until I graduate and I cannot wait. Next week I have spring break and alot of time on my hands so I will be working on school work that will be due at the end of the semester so I can put some focus on finals the second half of the semester!

I have been cleaning the house all day since I have not done anything since I found out because the prenatal vitamins I was taking were making me so sick. Switched to Flintstone vitamins this weekend (Dr. recommended) and I feel ten times better. So finally our house is looking like a house. Nate got his butt in gear and has been working on the house ... which is good. .. finally!!!! It has been in the 70's down here so that too has had me motivated to do some cleaning and have the windows open! Better than the 40's MN is having... as much as I wish I was closer to family and friends... guys I don't miss your weather... we have dirt down here year round... not feet of snow!

Well time for me to go take a bath and do more studying/relaxing. Peace and quite around the house. Nate is out doing all the grocery shopping... gosh he is such a good help. Gotta love him! Have a great night

Tomorrow is My LAST FIRST day!

So I can finally say that tomorrow is my last first day of the semester for my bachelors degree. I am so excited to be done with school, well at least the first part, and start the next phase of my life, work and becoming a "grown up". I have to admit, I have been extremely antsy since I got back to Illinois because I have not had homework to do. I have just been watching television alot lately and I can only do that for so long. I have been at home alot trying to recover from surgery still. I don't do alot for activity because the arm has been bothering me and can't wait to get back into the gym to workout again. Nate and I hang out quite a bit and I love that. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with Nate since I have been back but he has his own life to live as well and can't expect him to stay home with me. To be honest, he went and played paintball with the boys yesterday and I was excited about it because he doesn't get out with the boys very often and I think that is key for each of us to have our own social lives to an extent. He came back with welts all over his legs and I found it so funny. He got hit in the "mommy-daddy button" so I hope no damage was done permanently to them.

Today I have been doing homework all day. NOT FUN but at least it is keeping me occupied. Hopefully I will get ahead and not be so stressed since this semester is going to be EXTREMELY BUSY!

A couple days ago Nate and I went to Champaign to buy a 46 inch flat screen tv and everywhere we went they were out of the tv we wanted. WTF! It was a little aggravating, especially since we spent two hours talking to the sales guy about what surround sound to get with it and when he went in back to get the tv, he came back to tell us they were out. Not a happy moment for Nate!

Well time for more reading in advance for class. I am such an over achiever for school...what a dork.

Lots going on... wow time flies by

So I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving. That was one of the roughest things I have been through. I went into surgery under the impression that it would take 20 minutes to fix and came out two and a half hours later to find out I was not born with a labrum in my shoulder and hence the doctor had to construct some. For those who do not know, anesthetics has a tendency of making some people feel ill. I, unfortunately, am one of those people. I was sick from the anesthetics for six solid days post-op. I wanted to puke all the time. I even warned the doctor prior to surgery of this and they administered three different antiemetic medications (anti-nausea meds) but it did not help me. I was constipated for almost a week and I was getting ready to go to the doctor to get an enema and finally I was able to use the restroom. Up until a couple days ago, I have had diarrhea and a raw tush! I was in a sling up until last Friday and now I wear it part days. I started physical therapy on Monday and boy is it sore and a grueling process. No Pain No Gain. I have to wear a belt at night around my chest that holds my arm next to my body so I do not turn it wrong in my sleep. Not the most comfortable but I have adjusted.

Nathan was so supportive and helpful after surgery. He was doing everything from showering me, doing my hair, dressing me, going to physical therapy with me, cutting up food for me, and signing and filling out paper work since I am left handed and that was the arm that had surgery on. So many things that he did not have to do. To this day he still does so much for me. He does a lot of the little things in my everyday life to make it easier on me. For example, I can not get the cap off of the pam spray for cooking because it pulls on my shoulder too much so he will do that. He always wants to help but has also pushed me to be independent and get back on my feet. I cannot say thank you enough for everything he does for me.

Nate's family has also been amazing. On Thanksgiving day his family came and picked me up in Charleston and drove me to Arcola to spend the day with them since Nate had to work. They did not want me to spend the holiday by myself and invited to take care of me for the day since I had just had surgery. They also offered for me to spend the night so in case I needed anything someone would be around to take care of me since Nate worked that night. I honestly feel like one of their own and they are so good to me. Even though I do not remember much from that day due to the Vicodin I was on, it was an amazing and warm gesture on their part. My parents are so thankful that his family has taken such good care of me over the year.

I finished school on the 15th of December for the semester. It was hard with trying to concentrate while being drugged up but I got it done. My teacher has been flexible and understanding with everything I have been going through.

On the 16th of December I flew home and spent a couple weeks with the family. It was so relaxing. I spent everyday but two with family and got out a couple days with long time friends I have missed dearly. I was really looking forward to the snow back in Minnesota since we do not have any down here and boy did we get snow. My sister believes I brought it home with me since I wanted to see it so much! :) I had no complaints. Hunter is huge and a talking machine. Her mohawk hair is so adorable and i hope sometime that I can have her down here for a week to hang out.

I flew back New Year's Eve to surprise Nate. I figured I needed to ring in the new year with my love and I did just that. Ramsey picked me up from the airport and I surprised nate by showing up at his work (he went in for a couple hours of overtime). He was so shocked. I suck at surprised but when I actually can pull them off, I get really shaky and nervous for some odd reason. We went over to a friends house for a couple and then out to the bars for New Years. Nate got hammered but oh well it happens. He was just getting me back for when I got hammered in April. I guess the saying is "payback is a bitch."

This last week has been pretty relaxing as well. I do alot of watching tv and have been starting to go over school stuff. Nate is going back to school this semester as well and trying to finish up his degree. He will only have one class left after this semester. I am so proud of him but I know it will be extremely busy this semester for the both of us.

Well I think that sums it up. I will try to update this soon!

So at 0600 I wake up and that's it... I'm awake. WTF. Oh well so I guess I will make the best out of the time since I am a morning person. Nate worked last night and has school training for work all week as well so after I figured it up... he works 113 hours this week. That is almost 5 full days. His sister in law gives us shit all the time that he never goes and visits her... well he is never here to even see me...lol. Sometimes it sucks because yes I think he works a little to much which leaves me to do all the house work but then on the flip side of it I would much rather him have the drive to want to work rather than not want to work at all. As I always say... "Bring home the money honey." It is also nice because it gives me a chance to focus on my school work on my down time and get some random stuff done so when he is here I can focus on what time we do have and appreciate it.

It is starting to get chilly down here... especially in comparison to last week where it was 75 all week. I raked and mowed the lawn last week and within two days it was completely covered again... grrr that tricked my trigger. Dad always has a perfect yard when I lived at home and that is not the case here. I just want the leaves to fall off the tree so I can bag them and be done with it. They have the steps poured in front of our house and the side walk is poured as well. I think they will be done with all the loose ends this week it looks like. That will be nice finally.

So I looked at Nate's calendar and he picked up extra days to work next week so I can't push forward the surgery... go figure huh! :)

I switched my school around for the last part of the semester so I have to work today 10-5. Not that excited but I need to make a little money with surgery coming up and all. I enjoy working with my assistant manager because we get along really well and can bull shit but also get stuff done. The other two coworkers I work with slack and are not organized at all. They come in whenever they feel like it and or just do not show up unfortunately.

Well I am going to go get ready for work, clean up my messes, practice some NCLEX pediatric questions, and get going. Toodles!