Monday Appointment, Contentment, and More.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was scheduled for a follow up appointment with my doctor this week. I went in for Monday, and got some unexpected news. She requested that I take the remainder of my pregnancy off from work due to prenatal hypertension. She told me that this is what most doctors would request with someone having hypertension so early in their pregnancy. She also said that it was the only option. She said that she will not be surprised at all if the hypertension eventually progresses into Preclampsia. I was in shock. (I still might be a little.)

And to be honest. I've cried. (at least 5 times) Why? I love my job. I have said numerous times that my job doesn't even feel like work (most of the time) I thought I still had months left with my precious students, months left to perfect my maternity leave notes, months left to prepare these kiddos for the dreaded standardized testing, months left to prepare them for when I am gone. I teach a special education inclusion class, and change is hard for many of these kids. I wanted to do my best to prepare them for such a big change, instead I didn't get to prepare them at all (I was planning to teach until Spring Break!), hardly got a chance to tell them good-bye. By far the hardest part for me is that since I am on FMLA, I am unable even to step foot into the school, so no visiting, at all. How do you explain that to eight and nine year olds? I'd hate for them to think that I don't want to visit them...

Even though this news is still very fresh, God is already at work, and that is how I know that all of this, even if I don't understand it, even if it's not what I want for myself, is all part of God's perfect plan for my life and for my little girl's. I'm pretty sure God wanted to make very clear that he was speaking to me in the past 36 hours or so. Let me explain.

I read a pregnancy devotional book each morning, but I had gotten a little behind in the book, so last night I got the book out to catch up. The topic for the day that I was on was Finding Contentment, followed by the verse, Philippians 4:12-13, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation  whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  I know that I haven't been definitely "content" with the situation that I am in right now, so I just thought, Ok, God, I get it. On a side note, I took a sneak peek ahead in my devotional and the topic is. Making Sacrifies for Your Baby, with the verse, "Whatever you do, do everything for God's glory-  1 Corinthians 10:31.

Anyway, I put away my devotional book, and got out my kindle. Someone recommended the book, Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. lo and behold, God reminded me again of Philippians 4:12-13, along with the following recipe for contentment.

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything--even the weather.
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
• Never compare your lot with another's.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow--remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.

I am sad to admit that I have been doing all of the above, but God is at work.  He just might think I need to hear about contentment more than one time...

This morning before I got into the shower, I turned on an audio devotional. I have gotten into this habit this school year. This morning, the devotional was Joyce Meyer, and the topic was.....Consistently Content! God definitely knows me well, and knows that I need lots and lots and lots of reminders.

So, if you've actually made it through this novel-blog, I would appreciate prayers in the following ways.

• That I will be content with the circumstances that God has given me at this time of my life.
• That my blood pressure will stay low and my condition won't progress to Preclampsia too early.
• That Eden will stay healthy and continue growing inside for a long while!
• That God will be with my class and their new teacher, and help them to all adjust well.

Today I am thankful:

• for a husband who takes care of me, eats breakfast (that he cooks) with me before he goes to work, and learns to take blood pressure  manually so that we don't have to use a digital machine.
• that my baby girl is growing nicely, despite my Hypertension.
• for my mom who came to bring me lunch, decorate cookies with me, and keep me company
• for friends and family who are supporting me, encouraging me, and spending time with me
• for the first semester that I got to teach my wonderful class at Evans.
• for supportive administrators at my school
• for Evans faculty who are keeping me posted and updated 

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

24 weeks 1 day

At 24 weeks 1 day, I went in for my regularly scheduled prenatal check up. This was after having a relaxing afternoon of a prenatal massage and orange leaf (still stuck on the chocolate mint, with mini chocolate chips and hot fudge...yum!) I wasn't the least bit worried or stressed about this appointment, as I sometimes am, because I have been feeling Miss Eden moving like crazy in there! However, when the nurse took my blood pressure, she seemed a bit worried, and told me that she was going to take it a second time. She then asked me if my blood pressure is normally quite high. I told her that it is ususally very normal, and has never been high. It was 152/98. She went to get my doctor. My doctor asked me if I had a history of high blood pressure or if anyone in my family had a history of high blood pressure or high blood pressure during pregnancy. I reminded her that my mom suffered from high blood pressure/preclampsia during pregnancy, but not as early as 24 weeks. She then told me that she would like to send me to labor and delivery for a 24 hour observation. Not what I was expecing! Talk about high blood pressure, my heart was racing at this point! She sent me to get an ultrasound before going to labor and delivery to check the growth and fluid of the baby. Lukcily, little miss looked great, was very active, weighed in at 1 pound 8 ounces and had plenty of fluid! Praise God.

Once I was all checked in and laying in a bed upstairs, my blood pressure began slowly going down, and by 10 pm. It was almost back to normal. All of my labs came back great too. I stayed for 24 hours so that they could do a protein count on my urine over the course of 24 hours, and was able to leave at about 4:00 today. The urine test looked great. I will have a follow up appointment this week, but it seems as if everything is good for now! I will be monitoring my blood pressure a few times a day. Being in the hospital made me  even more excited for Miss Eden to come, but not quite yet.  Hoping/praying that the blood pressure stays down.

Oh The Things Kids Say..

As a third year teacher, second year full-time third grade teacher, and second year TAP school teacher, I have had many observations; however I am still not fond of these observations...Getting better, but still not a highlight of my school year, by any means.... Still not something I tend to do a happy dance about. While I realize that they are beneficial, and I am always thankful for them after they are over, and after receiving feedback, they are never completely pleasant while they are taking place. If you are a teacher, or especially if you are a TAP teacher, I am sure you can relate.....

Anyway, these TAP observations happen four times a year. Two are announced. Two are unannounced. Today marked my first unannounced observation, and while I thought the lesson overall was a good, engaging lesson, I have to blog about the things a couple of my kids said during the lesson, because I am sure I will look back and laugh....someday, and when that day comes, I want to remember them... That will be a day when observations no longer make me so nervous.

Anyone who knows me, knows I tend to get a little on the blotchy/red side when I get nervous. It becomes a nice covering over my chest and neck. There is no hiding it, except with a turtleneck, which I happened to not be wearing today. As I am teaching, one of my oh-so-favorite students said, "Mrs. Bowman, why is your neck getting so red?!" This is a comment that I chose to ignore, hoping that the topic would be dropped. A few minutes later, another student, said, "Mrs. Bowman, I'd like to make a connection to the hippopotamus in the story." I quieted the class, and told them all that this child was making a connection and we all needed to listen. (In fact I was feeling quite proud that my students are so good at making connections. :) When everyone was quiet, this student said, "My connection is that the pink sunscreen all over the hippopotamus is kind of like Mrs. Bowman's neck." Yep, he said it. I sarcastically told him that I was so glad that we took the time to listen to such a wonderful connection.

Oh, the things kids say!

18 weeks

A week ago from today close friends and relatives gathered at our house to find out the gender of our little one, after much suspense. The votes were in.... 9 of our friends and family voted boy, while 7 voted girl. Turns out my initial instinct and daddy's gut feeling were....... wrong. The cake was very pink. Baby Bowman is a little girl. Her name will be Eden Ansley Bowman. Can't wait to welcome her to our world in April! It's becoming even more real...

This week I began feeling the little flutters of baby kicking for the first time....It's easiest to feel when I'm laying in bed or sitting still. . . It would be easy to miss if I wasn't paying attention . Sometimes it just feels like a little flutter and other times a little bit stronger. It is wonderful, and I can't wait to feel her even more.

I've had a few cravings lately---brownie batter frozen yogurt from Orange leaf with mini chocolate chips and hot fudge is a recurring craving. I've had to fulfill it multiple times, and each time it hits the spot. Another craving.....sushi. I fulfilled it with a California Roll, which I didn't really like before being pregnant, but I knew it was as good as it was going to get until baby is born. It tasted much better than I remembered!

:)

Fall & Baby

Fall is in full swing and I am loving every minute of it. The cool, crisp air is perfect for long walks, baking cutout pumpkin cookies with the husband, corn mazes,hot soup, apple fritters, Fall Festival, hiking, long naps on Sunday afternoon, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, apple picking, and apple cider. All of the things I have already had the pleasure of enjoying this Fall. Still waiting for bonfires, camping trips, passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, class field trip to Goebel farms, and baking homemade apple dumplings. Notice how many of my favorite Fall things this year involve food?

I am now 14 weeks and 3 days pregnant, and it has been a quick, mostly painless, and joy-filled filled ride so far. Although, I am quite the worrier, as always, and I find myself worrying now more than ever. When these worries creep into my mind, I try to think of the words that God has given me...and then for a brief moment, I wonder, why did I ever worry in the first place?  Everything is in his hands and his plan is the perfect this. I know this. Just have to be reminded, again, and again, and again....

-Phillipians 4:6-7- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your requests to the Lord with thanksgiving, and his peace which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

-Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
 
-Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In other baby news, next week we will possibly find out the gender of our little one. I say possible, because it may still be too early..... Will it be a girl (Eden) or a boy (Hayden.) I am not sure, but cannot wait to find out. God has blessed us so much, and I am so thankful for all that he is doing in our lives right now.

Hope you are all enjoying this season as much as I am!

Summer!

 The school year came to a teary end last Tuesday as I hugged the kids who had found a special place in my heart good-bye and scooted them out the door towards the awaiting buses and the fourth grade--my first class, kids full of spunk and attitute and wonderful strengths.  I think they taught me as much as I taught them; patience with one another, forgiveness, kindness, the eagerness to learn. I couldn't have asked for a better first year of teaching (overall.) Sad to say good-bye, but also a huge sigh of relief. I'm finished. I made it. It wasn't perfect, but I survived my first year of teaching, and with some special memories that I will never forget.

I spent the weekend unwinding at Kentucky Lake with the family. A weekend full of sunbathing (getting slighlty crisp), pontoon boating, cold drinks, peanut butter milkshakes, dinner at Patti's, hikes in the woods, and lazing in the pool. It. Was. Marvelous. And just what I needed to refresh myself for summer school.

You can tell that summer is in  full swing at the Bowman household, because I have begun baking and cooking again! I made homemade brownies and icing, blueberry zucchinni bread (wonderful!!), and today I have chicken tacos simmering in the crock pot. I have to keep this up. Josh made fried zucchinni last night with our dinner and he actually liked it! Good thing, because it's practically coming out of our ears.

I'm looking forward to this summer. So many things to cross off the summer to do list. . . 

• Teaching summer school (day 1 was definitely a pleasant success)
• Long bike rides! (Had a 22 mile one on Sunday with a great friend! :)
• Relaxing poolside (Can't wait for Thursday with my best friend!)
• Pool parties
• Kentucky Lake trip (3 weeks and counting)
• boating
• reading (Currently Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter for a book study and Ephesians from the Bible.)
• working on my classroom (library and literacy centers)
• cups of coffee on the patio in the early morning (Sure wish Donut Bank delivered...)
• long walks with Riley
• cooking yummy summer pinterest dishes (Feel free to post if you have any good ones!)

Happy summer everyone & thanks for reading!

Spring Break 2012

Ahhhh, Spring Break was a breath of fresh air---I may not even have known how badly I needed it, but it was a wonderful blessing of a break. It was simply a bonus that the fresh air happened to be Sunny Florida air. :)

Our trip started out with a hail storm. but alas we made it out of Evansville and away from the dreadful Spring storm. For those of you who know me, you know how happy that made me! We drove through the night with a short stop in Georgia to sleep, and then on we went.. Not sure that I want to know how much caffeine Josh had that night.

We arrived in Lakeland on Saturday morning bright and early. I  think Josh's Grandmother was a little surprised to see us so soon. While in Lakeland, we lounged by the pool, read, watched the Hunger Games at the IMAX theater (totally a fan!) enjoyed the best strawberry shortcake ever (a must have if you're in the area) at Parksdale Farms, went to a flea market and a mom and pop restaurant, and played Bingo with the folks in the retirement community. (Josh was totally in his element here.)  We also attempted to play tennis (without much luck) and took a couple of walks at Lake Parker.  It was a nice/relaxing time.

On Tuesday morning we said our good-byes and headed onward to the happiest place in the world--Disney World!! We spent the day at Epcot. It wasn't too crazy-busy, so we were able to do pretty much everything that we wanted to do. We ate lunch in Germany. The buffet was good, and we chatted with the families seated at our table. We also enjoyed the drinks in Mexico. Yum! It was fun, maybe even better than I remember it as a kid.

Tuesday evening we headed to our final destination----Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. My cousin Daniel is assistant principal at an elementary school there. He and Clint live there, just minutes from the beach, and with my last visit to Daniel being Spring Break my senior year of high school, I figured it was time for another trip--long over due! Highlights of our time there were: beach time, lunch at the Floridian, going on an air boat tour in the Everglades, going to West Palm Beach to the Cheesecake Factory to meet my cousin Ben and his girlfriend Amanda, visiting Miami, and walking along South Beach. Definitely a wonderful time and even better to spend it with family.

On Thursday night, Josh and I began our drive back to Indiana, and it was dreadful. I was so tired of being in the car and I know Josh was too. When we crossed over into Indiana, I don't think I had ever been so excited to be in Evansville. I probably could have done a happy dance, but I was too tired. As wonderful as our vacation was, I think I can honestly say that it felt just as good (if not better) to be home. We went grocery shopping and I was excited to get some new workout clothes and some healthy groceries. When we got home, I took a shower and we walked across the street to Rounders Too. Pizza never tasted so good! Some other highlights of the weekend were Josh finishing up the patio (It looks fantastic!), Zumba and Core on Saturday morning, pedicures with my mom, highlight with Justine Brock, grilling out and eating dinner outside, teaching at Sontown at church, Palm Sunday service, lunch with our small group friends, bike ride, walk, and swim for Riley at the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area. Wow, I feel so blessed.

This week has been wonderful. I am so thankful and so happy..
I am also so not ready to go back to school . . .but I'm sure tomorrow morning at 4:30 a.m. when my alarm clock goes off, I will be bouncing out of bed....umm. . . positive thinking, right? Have a great week everyone!