A Hard Week, and the Nursery Reveal!

Hello Lovely Readers!
It's been a busy and hard last couple of weeks.  My car has been in and out of the shop with some major problems and is still not fixed.  This has really hurt my school and work schedule, and put me behind on my clinical hours.  More than that, my car is dying randomly and at very inconvenient times....more on that later.

I finished my portfolio and got it bound and printed, but depending on how this baby thing is going, not sure if I will defend on my date or have to move it...plus one of my committee members is going to be in Hawaii for my defense.  Not sure how that happened, but if my defense moves, she will still serve on my committee.  I'm having to give this and my 130 hours left to the Lord...I'm so frustrated with school.  I made a D on my first test and thankfully my teacher curved it to a 78, but an 80 is passing in nurse practitioner school.  I'll have to pull it up with my last two tests.

So the big news...Thursday morning I woke up at 4 am with contractions.  I thought my water might have broken, so I woke up Steve and we timed contractions.  By 6 am they had stopped and I figured it was just Braxton Hicks.  At 9 am I was at school and my teacher Ellen came to visit me for my site visit.  She has known me for a while and I consider her a friend, and her first words were..."you look terrible!"  I was short of breath and my feet were very swollen, worse than they usually are at night.  She made me promise to call my doctor, and when I did, they told me to go straight to L and D for evaluation.  My car died on the mile long trip between St. Vincent and UAMS, and took me a few minutes to get started.  I was on the phone with my mom and we were both cussing like sailors and I was about to cry...stupid car!  I got it into the parking deck and couldn't find a parking spot, and it almost died again..I parked in the furthest place from the door (the only spot I found) and walked in.  I made it up to L and D and was checked in.  To make a long story short, they said the baby was fine, I might have preeclampsia, and to "take it easy".  I'm dilated to 3 and 50 percent effaced, and she's at minus one station.  Since I was at 1 at my last appointment, this means she is moving for sure. If you know me or have read my blog at all, I have never taken it easy.  I specifically asked about bed rest and was told to do "normal activities."  I told the MD what my normal activities are, and she advised me to stay home until I see my doctor on Tuesday.  My lab and urine were normal, and my blood pressure was only high once, but I have had several of the symptoms like blurred vision, headaches, etc.  I blamed it all on being 37 weeks pregnant.  Today I have to do a 24 hour urine collection and take it in to be tested for protein.  Needless to say, I have not done well sitting.  I have woken up every day at 4 am with contractions and it's been really hard to get around.  Unless something changes, I think I won't be back at work.  Hopefully tomorrow they will either tell me its time to have the baby, or that I can at least go back to clinical.  

Steve is hurt, he is wearing a boot on his right leg from a soccer injury.  He can't really do a lot for me since he is in pain.  My parents have done so much for us over the last few days.  Mom helped me finish the nursery and buy the last few things I wanted and needed, and dad mowed our yard and is working with Nissan to get my car fixed.  Mom has also been driving me around to do errands and cleaned my whole house and helped me do a million loads of laundry.  I've been stressed about the nursery not having everything put together and the things up on the wall and the clothes washed, etc.  That is all done now!

The beautiful wreath Rachael made me...I can't wait to hang it on the front door when she gets here!  Right now it is hanging inside her closet!

Her closet!  I know it is full, but I choose to think it is full of blessings to Steve and I and can't wait to put her in all the little outfits! 

Her bouncer!  I got it at Rhea Lana's consignment for $15 and I can't wait to sit her in it!

On her dresser/changing area...a wipe warmer, diaper basket with butt paste, a diaper cake Rachael made with her piggy bank, and a sweet pink container from Mary with her pacifiers (for later!).

 The all important diaper pail, and the pink hamper I found at Garden Ridge for $12!

The ugly chair....remade!  I still want to paint it white but I love what Rachael did with the cushions!!!

 The graco sweetpeace swing, purchased from a lady at work for only $75!  Steve is a fan, he loves that you can plug up an ipod!

The sweetest picture...from our dear friends Paul and Kelly.  It's hung with command strips because we couldn't find studs to hang all my shelves!

The letters!  I have wanted wooden nursery letters since the day we found out she was a girl!  Dad picked up the letters at hobby lobby for fifty percent off, mom and I picked up ribbon at walmart, and I hot glued them together!  Mom hung them while she made me sit down.  She was a little upset they aren't centered, but I don't care!  I may get all OCD later and move them, but I think they are so sweet!

An old picture of the bedding....it is the spring bouquet set from pottery barn kids!  I love it!

A picture with the quilt!

Another old picture with the crib and bedding!

The shelf project gone awry!  We were going to hang two shelves above the dresser for decor, but could only find the studs in the wall for one shelf.  After a trip to Lowes and getting sheetrock screws, it was still impossible to hang the second shelf.  Mom covered up the nails and screws with frames, and arranged some of my decor on the top shelf.  I'm pondering what I can hang on this wall....I'm thinking her quilt?  I won't be using it in the crib due to the SIDS risk, so I am thinking of hanging it.  I also have my care bear quilt from my babyhood and a sweet pink and green quilt from my cousin Michelle I wanted to hang.  The quilt from Michelle is more of a forest green, so it would really clash.  Any ideas?  Anyone know how to hang a quilt on the wall without damaging it?







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I hope you enjoyed getting to see the nursery!  I'm praying for the Lord's guidance and timing through these next few weeks, as well as guidance about work, school, my defense, and Avery's pending arrival.  He knows all and is not surprised....I am clinging to his promises and know it will all work out...please pray for Steve's foot and for us as we transition to parenthood....all of pregnancy has been so easy for me this last week has really taken me by surprise!  I hate not being able to work, but as Steve says, my job right now is to keep her safe and myself healthy.  Please contact me if you want to, I am really missing my friends!  Don't think I am too busy for you!


Love you,
Jen