Baby Classes!

Jeremiah and I spent Friday night and Saturday in Durango at Mercy Regional Hospital so we could take our birthing classes! On Friday night we learned (ie. the dads learned :) basic anatomy and our instructor, Maggie, answered questions for all the soon to be mama's and dad's. All together there were 12 sets of parents, all due within about 6 weeks of us. My interests lay more in where to go, what to do, what will happen. I seem to be somewhat Type A about all things baby related.

Once we wrapped up for the evening, Jeremiah and I headed to The Dollar Inn. Now, granted, we did choose to stay at the cheapest place we could find. Come to find out, we got exactly what we paid for! It. was. hilarious. First we got the key to an occupied room, so we almost became quite close with our neighbors. Then an oversight led us to a smoking room. Then we were given the key our sanctuary for the evening. Dirty sheets, trash on the floor, nasty bathrooms, and the sound of traffic to lull us to sleep. What more could a 36.5 week prego lady ask for? At least one of the beds were clean and we decided to just sleep. Easier said than done, but whatever! The next morning we headed over the office for our "continental breakfast" which was really some old donuts and a pot of coffee. Sigh, I took my joe and powdered donut and then we were off to our baby classes, all fueled up and ready to go!!

Saturday we watched some birthing videos (with lots of squirmy daddy's watching!!), learned about breastfeeding, did some communication worksheets to make sure mom and dad were on the same page, then we got to head up to the Family Birthing Center to check things out. We saw where to park, where to come in, the triage rooms, and the birthing rooms. We then headed over to the nursery. The nurses were lovely and I really felt at ease seeing what they were going to do to the little guy and knowing that Jeremiah would be with him the entire time.

Oh, and they have a special lactation room where mom's can return to the hospital and get some one on one help if any problems with breastfeeding come up. Very cool.

We ended the day by learning some laboring positions, pressure points, and whatnot.

The whole experience got me so excited for the big day! I may be some wacko, but I am so curious about what labor will be like. I am actually very excited about! It also helped the reality of a BABY to sink in a bit more. I kind of feel like I am just going through the motions and this weekend really helped it to all sink in. There is a POINT in all this prep! A sweet little bundle, who, thankfully, doesn't legally have to be named for 12 days after birth :)

36 Week Appointment!

Today I had fun at my baby appointment. I ran into Brittany and Lillian Mirabal, which is always a delight. Brittany is due about two weeks before me with a little boy as well. She also referred me to SW Midwives. I am so glad she did!
I met with Mary Louise today, whom I love, she is a lot of fun! She guessed that the little guy is going to weigh about 7.12, then changed her mind to 7.9. I hear she is almost always right, so we will see! We did my Group B Strep test and she also checked me and I am dilated to 1.5cm and 60% effaced. Is that TMI for a blog? Well, I am thrilled that things are moving along and somewhat shocked that I, yes I, am actually going to have a baby! Whoa! My big test for nursing school is next Friday morning, so as long as he stays in until then, which I have politely requested, I will be a happy camper! Things have really got crazy for Miah at work this week so he is hoping the little guy will come right on time, which is just what Mary Louise predicts. Also, we talked about how much Jeremiah and I weighed (8.15 & 7.14) and how my mom's labor progressed (4.5hrs from start to finish). I must say, I hope that I take after my mom in that regard!!
This weekend we head to Durango for our baby class weekend. Then we will be all set for the big day!

Boot camp!

Today I went to Boot Camp, a new workout class at the gym. Yesterday at my spin class I asked Genalese, my favorite instructor whose classes I attend Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, about the new class and she responded that I was starting to make her nervous and that she didn't know how to deliver a baby. Anyway, I was there at 9am this morning and had a lovely time. Felt a little goofy with this huge belly (I'm due four weeks from today!!) but everyone has a good attitude right along with me.
So, while I have had to set running and even walking aside for now, I am still finding ways to stay active, but I did have to take a nap this afternoon. The different activity really wore me out!
Gary has started calling me Jane Fonda, which I absolutely object too. I did feel a little better when he said, "Well, how about a conservative Jane Fonda?"

A dry run.

Yesterday Jeremiah and I installed the carseat. Our little Rav4 doesn't have a whole lot of room, but we got it in there. Once we got the base installed, Jeremiah got the actual carseat to practice taking it in and out of the car. Trust me, Baby Hayes will be grateful we had this practice. It was pretty bumpy! Then Jeremiah got the stroller so we could practice the stroller to car and back motion. This wasn't good enough because there was no baby in the carseat. So, into the house for the bear stuffed with beans. This bear weighs a ton! Once we had that down, Jeremiah was convinced we were ready. We had a lot of fun :)

Nursing school.

Many of you know how long I have wanted to be a nurse. I remember the time in my life that this desire began to develop, and although at the time I said it was God leading me I have often second guessed myself. To be honest, I am not sure if nursing is a calling or an opportunity, but either way the Lord has used it in my life to teach me a great many things about walking with him.
Although I tried (and tried!) to get into nursing school at UNM, I was never able to, hence my decision to apply at Hawaii Pacific University. I was accepted right as I met my Miah and we were married so quickly that I put nursing on the back burner again and graduated with a BUS degree (in stuff: African American studies, communication, history and religion...) from UNM. When HPU sent me a letter a few months later, it was just the catalyst that Jeremiah and I needed and we moved to HI (that is the Reader's Digest version). We bought a condo right down the street from HPU and it all seemed to fall into place. Until Jeremiah was told he would be working 5 days a week for at least 6 months on another island. After much prayer about the decision to be spending so much time apart we decided that the Lord was leading us to move to Molokai and back to the back burner nursing went. Perhaps I should not say back burner, because each time nursing school did not work out I was sure that the Lord was directing our path and leading us in the way we should go. I knew I was making the right decision for my marriage by not attending HPU - not only the right decision, but the one the Lord wanted me to make.
Well, now another opportunity has presented itself. I am applying to the nursing program here in Farmington. I have a big comprehensive exam to take on November 21 (Baby Hayes, please stay put until then!!!) and much of my day is spent studying. Let me tell ya, it has been an adjustment preparing for an exam again after all these years! Thank goodness for that period of being an algebra tutor while we were in HI!! I will apply to San Juan's nursing program before the baby is due and will find out next April if I made it. It is a very competitive program, just like at UNM, so we will see what the future holds. I would not start until next fall, of 2010. The neat thing is that because of all the credits I have from UNM my first two semesters would consist of only one class and I would be able to skip the first summer of classes entirely.
So, I have no idea was the future holds, but I am grateful that I can try, try once again!!

"Strength and dignity are her clothing. She SMILES at the future."
Proverbs 13:25

Big Brother Comes HOME!!

That's right, my big brother is moving back to New Mexico on Saturday!! Baby Hayes can hardly wait!!
This picture is from Thanksgiving a couple of years ago when everyone came over to Molokai. It makes me giggle because of the big brother/little sister dynamic that was occuring. I am somewhat afraid of the ocean, but with Gary by my side I would always get in.

Look what we woke up to!

If this doesn't make you want to stay home and read a book....