After Christmas

We went to the mall today to take a couple of things back. While there, I had to stop by Children's Place they were having a wonderful sale. Almost everything was 50% off. Jeremy picked out these jeans and sweater. We got passed down the pink boots, and I think they will look super cute with this outfit!






I loved this dress, and couldn't resist it at $7.50. I have a pair of cream tights and a big cream bow for her to wear with it. Now I am looking for a pair of little gray boots. I think that would be sooooo cute. Anyone seen little girls boots? It is so fun to shop for Jocelyn and put together outfits. I really haven't spent much money on her because we were so fortunate to get almost everything we needed at all of our showers. So everyone once and a while I have to splurge on really cute outfits, and little girls clothes are much cheaper than adults!!




We had a wonderful Christmas!! The only thing missing was Jocelyn. Jeremy got lots of tools (that is what he told me he wanted). He was especially excited about this sander. I also got him some Sperry shoes that he was very thrilled with. He has already used it on his boat. We also got a really nice closet organizer that has made our garage so organized and a super nice set of pots and pans from his parents. Jeremy hasn't gotten to open his presents from my parents yet. We are waiting on them to get here from TN.




I was super excited about these pink rainbows that Jeremy got me. He also got me an IPOD touch, Christmas CDs, a new jewlery box, and a lap tablet for my laptop.











This table for our kitchen was our shared Christmas present. It is so nice to take food off the stove and put it right on the table. Very conveinant.

















Jeremy decided he wanted to cook me breakfast for dinner tonight. It was wonderful!!! Here he is in action. He even cleaned up afterwards (usually our rule is the cook doesn't clean).










This is a picture of our wonderful spread. We had grits, toast with strawberry jam, hashbrowns, fresh strawberries, and Jeremy had eggs. We ate all of this on our new table.

*Oh, and yes mom strawberries are in season, so you need to hurry up and get here. They are wonderful. We got some homemade strawberry jam and strawberries from Brandon Farms. This is my new favor place to get strawberries. They were wonderful and the people were so nice!!

More Photos

Blair from Chasing Grace Photography did some more maternity pictures of Jeremy and I. I am so excited!! They are amazing! Jocelyn is going to be so happy when she gets older to get to see all of these wonderful pictures. Blair is also planning on taking infant pictures and continue to take pictures throughout her first year. We have been so lucky to have two very amazing photographers volunteer to take pictures of us. It is interesting because their styles are very different, but both shoots have turned out so beautiful. Sophia is also going to take some infant photos of Jocelyn, and I can't wait!! She does an amazing job!

If you would like to see the pictures that Blair did, check out her blog, Chasing Grace Photography, at http://chasinggracephotography.blogspot.com/. Hopefully, I will get a CD from her soon and post some on my blog.

On a side note, we go to the doctor today, so maybe we will have some more news!!

Still Waiting

Well, Jeremy and I are still anxiously awaiting Jocelyn's arrival. In the meantime I had a really good day. I did a little bit of shopping, since I can now have light activity.

We had a wonderful dinner. We made Christmas cookies (pictured) Jeremy had way to much fun decorating them, and made a HUGE mess.


I made homemade beef stew. It was so yummy especially on this colder than normal Florida day.

Here is the recipe (from http://www.about.com/):

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds stewing beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
3 cups beef broth
2 carrots
2 medium potatoes
1/2 cup baby lima beans
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1 jar (12 ounces) small white onions, drained, or about 1 dozen frozen, thawed
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cold water
Preparation:
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the beef in the vegetable oil; add onion and celery and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes longer. Add beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add the carrots, potatoes, lima beans, and apple juice; simmer for about 30 to 40 minute longer, or until vegetables are tender. Add drained onions and corn; continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes.
In a small bowl or cup, combine flour with cold water until smooth. Add the mixture to the simmering broth, a little at a time, until stew is thickened. Taste and add salt and pepper.
Serve with hot buttered biscuits or cornmeal.Serves 4 to 6.

*I left out the celery because I really don't like celery. I doubled the recipe and added one and half cups of merlot to the broth. It made the broth really sweet and yummy. Jeremy and I didn't even put a dent in it. I kept some for lunch tomorrow and put enough for two different dinners in the freezer. I will have an easy meal for once Jocelyn gets here.


I also did a little bit of shopping. I couldn't resist this dress from Gymboree. It was on sale for $12.99. I am planning on monogramming the hem.









Jocelyn needed a small sweater and I found this one for $7.98 at children's place. It was mark $15 something but was an additional 40% off. It should go with almost everything, so I thought it was a great buy.









I bought this for $5 at Gymboree to go under her Christmas dress. You won't be able to see the "snow cute" but if for some reason her dress gets dirty, she has a cute undershirt as well.









Here is another picture of our tree, now that it has a couple of presents under it.

Yay! I picked up this mirror a couple of day ago. I love this one!! I got a great deal at Home Goods (which is TJ Maxx's homestore). I love this store. I suggest checking there for anything you need for your home.













I thought this was funny! While Jeremy and I were decorating cookies, Lilly and Fletcher were fighting over one of Jeremy's socks.

Lilly won!! She kept the sock right by her side the remainder of the night. She was so proud!

Christmas

Yay! I love this time of year. I love Christmas. Although, it is a little weird to that Christmas is in 9 days and it is 80 degrees outside. I wore a sleeveless dress to the doctor’s office. Very comfortable, but I wish it would get cold just for Christmas.








So, growing up, Christmas was a very busy time of year for my parents. We always had a tree, but they never hung lights outside the house. This is Jeremy and my first year in a house. So guess what? We hung up lights. Well, Jeremy hung lights, and I directed. We didn't do as much as I would have liked because we are pretty busy with the baby coming, but I absolutely love our icicle lights, and I am leaving all of the decorations up until baby Jocelyn comes home.











Speaking of, I went to the doctor's office today. My blood pressure has gone down and I am now on light activity. I am still supposed to stay at home, but she said I could maybe go to a movie or something. Well, I am definitely going to my kids Christmas Party Friday afternoon (as long as Jocelyn doesn't make her appearance). I hadn't dilated anymore, which is frustrating. The doctor suggested doing some light walking, and maybe she will debut before Christmas. I had the cutest dress made for her, and I am hoping she will have a chance to wear it. I think I will pair this flower and crochet band with it along with a long sleave red onesie underneath and maybe some red tights. What do you think?

Doctor's Appointment & Jocelyn's Room

Joceyln's Room from the door entrance

Her beautiful Pottery Barn Chandelier

Princess Table

I love everything personalized

Her crib bumper is monogrammed

I got this beautiful picture from a seller on http://www.etsy.com/

Her changing table

View front the front door

Yay! So, I went to the doctor's today for another check up. My blood pressure and swelling has gone down, and my doctor was really happy with that. She is still keeping a close watch on me. I am still on bedrest, but she is allowing me to go to my baby shower at school tomorrow. I am so excited!

I am going to sneak into school a little bit early and give all of my kids. I am also hoping to sneak in during our Christmas Party on Friday afternoon, and give them a super cute book that Ms. Snow and I purchased for them. I can't wait to see them!! I know I am going to miss them during my maternity leave, but hopefully I will have a little one of my own soon to keep me busy.

On a side note, Jeremy and I hung some pictures in Jocelyn's room. (Well Jeremy hung, I directed). Her room is getting there. I really need a shabby chic white mirror to go over her dresser. If you know of anywhere I can get one, please let me know. Let me know what you think about her room!!

Bedrest

Well, I haven't posted in an extremly long time, and there is so much to tell. We were so lucky, and IVF worked the very first time!! Jeremy and I are due to have a girl, Jocelyn Grace, on January 6th. However, we are hoping she makes it here by Christmas! I already have a Christmas dress that was made for her, and I am really hoping she gets to wear it.

I am currently 80% effaced and almost 2cm dialated. I have been swelling like crazy. I am on my feet all day, and my ankles are huge. My doctor decided to put me on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy (which we are hoping won't be to long). I will be 37 weeks on Monday, which is considered full term, so right now we are just playing the waiting game for Baby Jocelyn.

I am going to have all kinds of free time, so I plan to update my blog and keep it active, so that all my TN friends and family can know whats going on and keep up to date with pictures and news of Jocelyn. I am attaching some of my favorite maternity pictures. These were done by Sophia Hyde, love ya girl!!!

WHEW!!!

Holy Cannoli (I love cannoli!!!!) I haven't written a blog in forever. Wow! And there is so much to share. Jeremy and I had our surgery last week. We were pretty sore, but doing great now. Now we are playing the waiting game. We won't know if we are pregnant until May 1st. If you are reading this, please post any signs of pregnancy that you have experienced/heard about. I am just wondering what I should be looking for to know whether or not I am. Sometimes feel nauseous, but I am not sure if this is in my head or not, but I can definitely let you know that my tatas are killing me, which I have heard is a good sign. Plus, they look a lot bigger (which I could definitely use some help in this area!) So basically, I am analyzing everything and hoping that it means were pregnant!!!

Some great things that happened to me this week:

I passed my comp papers (thesis). Thank you so much to all of the wonderful ladies who proofed them for me!!

I had my last observation by my professor. All 5s (the best you can do)

I passed my last certification test!!!

I am scheduled to graduate with my MAT on May 2nd.

Jeremy starts at the fire department May 18th

The tile is almost finished (although our house is majorly out of order)

Everything is going great. Praise the Lord!! Just keep us in your prayers and hopefully May 1st will be a very exciting day!

Can't believe its Friday!!!

So I think this is a first. I am dreading the weekend!! Because Monday means back to work. How is it that Spring Break has flown by and I have gotten virtually nothing done? I basically spent most of my spring break in the doctors office. The only morning that I did not have to get up at 5:30 am to beat the traffic to make it to Tampa or St. Pete in time was Thursday (and even then my dogs woke me up at 7am). Oh well, from what I hear, you don't get to sleep in once you have a baby so I might as well get used to it.

We picked out tile for our floors yesterday and marble for the bathrooms. I am super excited. I know its going to look fabulous. I also got the best pillows at TJ Maxx for my couch. I am slowly but surely getting my house decorated. :) Its difficult because we have twice the amount of room that we did at the condo, and its super expensive to get everything we want. I found the most beautiful table that I want for our kitchen nook (we have a dining room, kitchen nook, and eat in counter, there are tons of places to eat in this house).

Doctor update: I went today, and half to go back tomorrow. My eggs are really big, lol, which I think is good, but they are still worried that I might be ready to early so they are keeping a really close eye on me. Hence me going to the doctor on Saturday. My doctor asked me today if my ovaries feel heavy? She said from the size of my eggs they should. I told her no, I hadn't noticed anything. She said, "Wow" you are the toughest woman I know. Your ovaries should be feeling super heavy. So guess what happened as soon as I left the doctors office (power of suggestion ladies) my ovaries feel ridiculously heavy, like they are getting ready to fall out. So I know I am being ridiculous because I hadn't even thought of it before, but now, I feel it like crazy. Otherwise, I think we are all on schedule and doing well. Still taking shots which is not enjoyable, but everything else is good.

We are going to Jeremy's play tonight (the Lord's Supper). Jerry is Simon, and did amazing job last year, so I am bringing friends tonight. I am super excited to have Samantha, Amy, and Javier going with me. I am ready for a great night. If I don't post anything else, have a wonderful weekend!!!

Yay!!!

So, I am super excited that I have a follower!! I didn't even think anyone read this :( But now my old friend found me (which is super exciting, and I can follow her too!! and one of my favs, Sophia, reads my blog too).

I basically started this because I had a friend recommend writing down what I am going through in the invitro process. There is a lot more to it than I have written, but I just recently felt comfortable enough to share, and I thought a blog was waaaaay cooler than keeping a diary. Hopefully, one day, our son or daughter will think that it is super cool to read what their daddy and I were going through during this process.

This week has been pretty good. Our renters left peacefully. Although they didn't tell us, just took everything left the doors unlocked and the keys on the entertainment center (which we left with the condo). However, they left a huge mess!!! A gigantic pink stain in our fairly new carpet (which we shampooed and it still didn't come up, but we put a nice area rug to hide it :) The bathrooms and kitchen were disgusting but Jerry and I cleaned them all up, and its ready to rent again. Jeremy pointed outed, its probably good they didn't pay and stay. If they did this much damage in a month, could you imagine what it would look like in a year???? The only thing that stinks is now we have to find another renter. Anyone need an apartment right near USF????

So, I am super excited we are having new tile put in the house and decorative tile around our garden tub and in the guest shower. I know it is going to look amazing!!!

I get to eat breakfast with Sophia in the morning. Which I am super excited about!!!!

IVF update: apparently my body is to ready and I am producing to many eggs. They had to modify my meds (I know I was hoping no more shots, but no such luck. Just less medicine in each shot). I have to go to the doctor everyday to keep an eye on my hormones. This also means I have to have my blood taken everyday. Ladies, you won't catch me in a bathing suit this summer. My legs, back, and now arms are black and blue. I look sickly disgusting. Oh well, I am guessing swim suits won't look to appealing after pregnancy either. The doctor said there is a chance that Jerry's and my surgery may be moved to Monday, which is no good because I am supposed to take my last professional development test for my masters on Monday. So, I am just praying that Tuesday will still work, otherwise I am going to have to go doped up to take the test. (My grades have to be turned in by April 24th for me to graduate May 2nd and this is the last chance I have to take it. Who said I wasn't a procrastinator???)

Whew!!! That was a lot!! Basically, I am super glad this is all happening on my spring break. I am getting super excited, and hoping that all goes well.

What's there to cry about?

Hmmm? So these shots have been making me super emotional. I have cryed more in the last week than I probably have in the last year. As I am writing this entry, I have to question "What is there to cry about?" I have a wonderful husband and parents, a great place to live (I love my new house), a great job, the best friends, a God that loves me more than anything, and icecream in the freezer :).

This week has been good and bad. I found on Thursday that my cyst had significantly decreased, and IVF is scheduled on April14th. This was wonderful news, until I had to start taking my new shot. This shot is about two and a half inches thick, and is inserted right above my butt. It is the worst pain I have ever experienced, and I have to do it every night. Even Jeremy gets quezee thinking about it, and I am always super sore the next morning. On top of the shots, our renters are not paying and won't renter our phone calls. This is super frustrating because our mortgage is due, we owe alot of money in taxes, and we just paid a butt load for IVF. Basically, we are the most broke we have ever been. We were completely relying on our renters check and they are completely ignoring us. We have sought legal counsel, and found that it costs $500 to evict someone and takes about 30 days. All of this seems completely unacceptable and very frustrating to me. I have cryed, complained, gotten mad and frustrated, but none of this has helped. In the end, I need to suck it up and know that we will get through all of this. God won't give you anything you can't handle.

Shouts of thanks to everyone who has kept us in their prayers. Nine days until IVF day.

Wonderful Wednesday

WOW!!! Its been a couple days since I posted anything, but not a whole lot has happened. Over the weekend Sam and I took a trip to Orlando to get some items donated for the Spring Fling. We had a great time, but didn't get much as far as donations go. (Oh, and on a side note, my rendition of "Hey Pretty Lady Won't You Give Me a Sign?" granted me the job of auctioner Shiloh's first ever Spring Fling. That should be interesting!!!)

This week has been great at school. I have been teaching my kids about manners. I pick a Mister and Mrs. Manners on Friday, and they will eat lunch with me on the playground. We are going to do this for the rest of the year. The kids are super excited, and it is so cute to hear them using their manners with one another. I am also trying to schedule a field trip to The Red Rose Inn (a swanky hotel) for lunch, so the kids can practice their table etiquette. I am really hoping that it works, because it would be so much fun to see them all dressed up using their proper manners!

Tomorrow should be very interesting! I have a doctors appointment in the morning and should find out whether or not IVF will happen on April 14th, this is contingent on my cysts being gone. I am really hoping that the 14th works. I am super sick of shots, and my legs look absolutely terrible! They are so bruised from all of the shots I have been taking. I will let you know the verdict, as so as I do.

Manic Monday

Oh, its just another manic Monday, wooooo! :) Actually, today was a pretty good. I started off my day giving the SAT-10 Standardized test to my 2nd graders. Which, by the way, I think it is pretty ridiculous to be giving standardized tests to this young of kids. I know that there needs to be accountability in the schools, but is there anyway we can achieve this???? However, from the looks of thing, my kids were doing very well.

After the test, we went outside for a while, but then it started to rain. My kids always get worked up when it rains, I don't know what the big deal is? Then we continued with a regular schedule.

I got a message that I need to make another doctors appointment either Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday to get blood work. (Imagine that? I get to get poked again). I didn't call back. I completely forgot after school, because I was so excited to go get a pedicure with Sam. It was definitely well needed. Then, we went to home goods. I didn't buy anything. (Although, at the moment, I am really wishing I did with all the empty wall space in my new house).

Oh, and on I a side note, I am very blessed to have wonderful friends. Laralee, my BFF since four year old, got an email from her church (where I attended when I lived in TN) stating to pray for me because of health problems. (I am not sure how they got this information, I guess my mom sent it because of the cysts?) She called freaking out to see if I was okay. After I explained, she stated and I quote "I talked to Freddy (her husband), and you know if you need me to I will have the baby for you." That is complete, utter, and true friend. (And she has already had a child, so she knows how painful and difficult it can be, actually she had huge complications and had to have emergency surgery). But still, she was willing to go through that again for me. Hopefully, I wouldn't need her to, but it warms my heart to know that she would do that to for me. I love her and thank God everyday for her and my other great friends.

I leave you with this old, but fun picture :)

My Dogs

Here is a picture of Lilly, Fletcher, Marley, and Me (Marley is no longer mine) :(

Disappointment

This weekend was very interesting. First, my mom came in on Thursday to get our very last puppy and take him to TN. This was very sad because Jerry and I had grown very found of Marley, who will now be called Magnum (I am not sure how I feel about that name). Now I have puppy fevor again, and want to have them again. So for all of you that are interested, we will have to skip one cycle (this is best for Lilly), and let her "mate" with Fletcher again on the next cycle. This means puppies again in less than a year :). This will probably be last time, so keep this in mind.

Next, we had a doctors appointment on Friday. I was supposed to have an ultrasound and then they were going to explain to Jerry and I when he was going to be giving my the remainder of my shots. WELL, did not go as planned. During the ultrasound they found cysts, which were supposed to be dryed up with the shots that Jeremy has been giving me the past week. What does this mean? Well, I have to keep on injecting those shots into my already black and blue legs for two more weeks (Jeeze, there is no hope for me looking good in a bathing suit this summer, I guess I will be one of those ladies who wears shorts over my bathing suit, YUCK!!! I am not supposed to have to do that until after I have a baby). And, invitro has been pushed back at least two weeks. The doctor said this is normal.

Sooooooo, my reaction. 1st thing out of the doctors office I start crying. Now, I know this might sound silly but I was ready. Ready for March 31st. Already have a sub for my class, already made the plans, already told everyone I know, READY. This might sound super selfish, but the 1st thing I thought is how am I going to tell everyone I know that it is now tentively set for the April 14th???? How am I going to make sure that everyone continues to pray for me until then? Well, I guess if you are reading this I guess you know. (Although, I really don't think anyone reads this :( ) But, now, I am over it. I have realized that in the sceme of things, if God blesses us with a child (or children) then two weeks is no big deal. I know he has a plan.

Lastly, I got some very sad disturbing news on Saturday afternoon. It is not anything I feel that I can mention on here because it is in regards to a friend. Just please keep an unmentioned friend of mine in your prayers. Thanks!!!

Shots

Sooooo, on Monday I went to the doctor to get my hormone treatment. They gave me a large box (I am talking 2 ft by 2 ft) full of shots, alcohol swobs, and hormones. I seriously asked the lady "am I really going to inject all of this stuff in my body?" My invitro is just two weeks away. She laughed. I really didn't think it was that funny.

So, she explained to me how to do the injections. (Which by the way their is no way in heck that I could do the injections on my own). When I took them home for Jeremy to see, he laughed when he saw the needle that they have to stick in my butt. Did I mention, I am deathly afraid of needles. My husband seems to be enjoying sticking me with a needle way to much. 1st thing in the morning he asks "Is it time for me to give you your shot? How many ccs?" I guess it makes me feel a little bit better that he is an EMT (not to much better). I guess its gone okay so far, except for yesterday nights shot. When he started coming at me with the needle, I freaked out, started shaking after he stuck me, and he couldn't get it injected until I calmed down. The needle was in my leg for seriously way to long (did I mention I am deathly afraid of needles?) So anyways, please keep us in your prayers. If this works all the sticking and poking will definitely be worth it.

Hobson House

THE FAMILY

Whew! So I have never had done this! We will see how it goes!





Here is a little about my life:





Me: twenty-four year old teacher to 34 amazing students, a wife to one amazing man, a born again believer in Jesus Christ, an only child, and a friend to many. I teach science, math, and social studies at Shiloh Elementary School. I will be finishing my masters in Elementary Education in May. Praise the Lord!!! These past months have been a whirl-wind. First, we found out that we couldn't get pregnant naturally. So, we are in the middle of very exciting, very frustrating, very nerve-racking invitro process. (Jeremy enjoys giving me the shots, but I absolutely can not stand it). Next, our babies (Lilly, our beautiful golden retriever and Fletcher, the over protective, very handsome golden retriever) got together and had eleven puppies. We moved into our beautiful new house. And finally, I am trying to finish our masters, and this semester has been the semester from H-E (well, I won't go any further). I love shopping, new purses, shoes, finding great deals for the house, skiing, the beach, reading, laying out at the pool, spending time with friends, and my amazing husband.





Jeremy: The most patient man alive!!! Firefighter/EMT who is trying to get a job. Loves fishing, softball, basketball, and ESPN. Will make the most amazing father!!! :)





Fletcher: Beautiful Golden Retriever. Handsome, Loyal, and can not stand to be away from his mommy and daddy. Very protective!!





Lilly: Gorgeous baby! Petite golden retriever! Very independent and playful!