Boards Update

I finally have some boards testing dates, though they aren't happening as quickly as I'd hoped. Plus I know my sister and husband would both have loved me to get on track a little quicker as well. I guess I am trying to not feel too guilty about the off time, considering I won't be getting a lot of down time for the rest of my life, well at least not until I'm in my 50's...yikes !! My Practical exam happens May 6th. The week after testing George and I will try to take a little vacation to Virginia to visit my sister and maybe stay on the beach a couple of nights. We'll hope his car can survive the trip. And I can only hope they start dropping those gas prices. We'll be budgeting this one pretty tightly. The weather in Michigan has been pretty wonderful. I hate to say the word "rain" but unfortunately we need it. A couple of years ago our back yard yielded about 3 dozen yummy Morrell (sp?) mushrooms. This year may be too dry but we'll start checking anyway.

The baby has been a little quieter the past couple of days. Last Saturday was the most active. I figure I just have to give it time to get the full performance. And on another topic, I'm glad they finally elected a pope. Maybe my shows will stop being pre-empted. We non-Catholics are trying to be patient with this whole Pope furor, but c'mon...I've been watching black and white smoke on t.v. Thank goodness it hasn't been a long, ongoing process. I'd think the 5:00 clock news announcement of the new Pope should be more than sufficient considering how many alternate ways people can access news on a 24 hour basis these days. OK, enough ranting......

Waiting for Boards

I am getting a little stir crazy. I enjoy the ability to relax and work on projects that I'd put off when I was busier, but I do want to get moving on boards. I seem to have lost my text book and exam test book. I can't for the life of me figure out where the heck I've put them. I need them to study for the tests. Today's project is to look for them while doing some more organizing, etc. I hope to call the Boards phone line again, to see if I can start scheduling my exams SOON.

I felt a lot of baby "flutters" this morning. I had read in the baby articles online and in a few books that a first time mom may not feel anything until the 18th week or later. It's possible to feel something as soon as 16 weeks. I am entering the 17th week and I am pretty confident that I can feel movement , even if it's faint. It's pretty exciting. Also, my tummy is just growing like crazy. I think it's really increased in size a whole lot just in the past week. I am definitely needing the elastic waist bands and long shirts.

Finally graduated

Saturday was my final day of school. Now I have to send in my application to take my State Board exam. I need to start trying to work because I can't afford all the tons of things a baby needs. I don't have enough friends/family nearby or in a central location, to really do much of a shower. Meanwhile, in my down time I am organizing/spring cleaning and getting a jump start on getting a nursery room cleaned out and started. I don't have another baby appt. for about 3+ weeks. I may not be quite far enough along to find out if I have a boy or a girl, but it would be cool if they could tell. I always peek at baby clothes when I am out shopping, and it's so hard to not buy a little outfit here and there, I don't want a closet full of green and yellow things because of not knowing which colors to buy. Also, trying on maternity stuff is weird. I am not really big enough for full blown maternity wear, but I am definitely in limbo with the clothes I currently own. My jeans are tight in the waist and there's a definite "bubble" showing up in my fitted shirts. I absolutely REFUSE to wear sweat pants and large baggy t'shirts everywhere. I am going to look as attractive as possible for as long as possible. Well, that's the latest. It's great to be done with school !!

The first glimpse

Today I finally had my first prenatal visit. Boy was that a long time coming. It's hard to see that first "positive" sign on the home pregnancy test, and then be told you have to wait weeks and weeks to actually be examined fully. I've had all kinds of friends and family asking me questions that I didn't have the answers to. Today I expected to just get to hear the heartbeat with the doppler instrument they use. Instead I got to actually see an early ultra sound taken internally. It was so cool. You not only get that first glimpse of the baby, but you can see the heart working as well. The images aren't as clear as they will be as the baby grows, but it was clear enough to be such a relief. To hear him say that the baby is the right size based on our initial due date guess, etc. is great. It was a very emotional and beautiful experience, and will hopefully get better as time progresses. I am feeling pretty good over all. More updates as I get them....

Due date: September 28......two days after George's birthday :)

Done with school in TWO WEEKS...... !!!

things are moving right along

I am feeling pretty good so far. I have felt a little more "queasy" than I did the first few weeks, but I hope it doesn't progress to full-out morning sickness. I am reading all the information I can get my hands on, which helps with any nervousness I am feeling inside. I had to tow my car to the mechanic's today. I hope this isn't the beginning of another money pit car situation. I am so tired of cars crapping out on me. I think it may be my starter, but we'll find out tomorrow. I hope the day comes when I can actually get a GOOD vehicle. I especially worry about this with a baby on the way. I don't want to be stranded somewhere with a little one in tow. We have so much to think about and deal with. George's job situation isn't looking too promising and of course I am still laid off. I of course will eventually get some better money when I am done with school, and I can only hope his work place hangs in there til then. He's pursuing other avenues, including going back to school. I feel very lucky no matter what may come. Things always fall in line somehow.

Nervous and excited

Should I write this in pink.......or blue???

It's a bit early to blab to the universe, but apparently all my worries about being able to have a baby are over, since I have a blaringly POSITIVE result on the test I took this morning. My life is about to change forever. It's a bit sooner than I was expecting, but better too soon, than not at all. Now I must search for the right doctor , and all those fun things that come with it.

I'm alive and well

I actually had written a nice long update the other day, since it has been an unforgivably long time since my last writing, and as I tried to save it to the blog page, my P.O.S. computer decided to freeze up on me. (My computer's owner hadn't done a "defrag" in 6 mos. -I guess that could be a problem eh?) Well, we'll try again. I am within 300 hours of being done at Miss Katie's College of Horror-er..Beauty. I am so close and it seems like I am just reaching the crest of the hill, and my engine doesn't want to keep chugging upward. I feel like I am in quicksand or something. But I know I'll look back on it all and wonder why I was worried. The more I learn about some aspect of the Beauty industry, the more I know I have to learn. I am the type of person who really wants to be GOOD at everything I attempt. It makes me afraid to even start a new project because I put that pressure on myself. And, unfortunately, not everything in this business has just come naturally to me. I have truly had to work hard at it. I see some of the girls in school who are over 15 years younger than me, and just totally clueless about the way the world works, but can do the work at school without a second of hesitation. I grit my teeth and try to remember the part in school where they said "Success in this business is only partially about skill with hair, but you have to have skill with people." That part I know I have down pretty well.

Life in other areas is pretty ok. I did lose my job just as I was attempting to pay off the last of my bill to the school owner. It's going to really be tough making ends meet but I know we'll manage. George has been wonderful. He often works at least a 60 hour week to help us keep on top of things. It wears him out, and when I was working and going to school, I didn't feel so guilty but I can't really go get a new job knowing that I'll have to quit to go to the barbershop almost as soon as I start. So, all I can do is try and help out where possible. I guess I'd better post this entry in the hopes that I don't lose it again. I am hoping I can post a picture soon as well. My new nephew is getting cuter and chubbier every day. He's 17lbs now. And he's not a long baby, so he looks like a little round Butterball turkey. I just spent this past weekend visiting the baby and Hallie. Every second with them is precious. My unofficial New Year's resolution....to try to update this blog at least 2 times a month !!. Happy New Year.....