Great news!

I'm okay and baby boy is okay!  We are doing so much better!  I don't get winded unless I walk a pretty good distance and I only cough occasionally.  YAY!  The relief of knowing that the small pneumonia infection had no effect on the baby and that the z-pack will be enough to cure it is wonderful news!  The doctor was concerned with my wheezing so he said to continue to use the inhaler as needed.  It is most likely very acute asthma which is only showing up because of the insane allergen levels and because the baby is pushing up on my diaphram.  My mom came down to go to the appointment with me while Danny continued to search for a job.  We had such a good visit!  Hopefully, that was the last complication and we will have smooth sailing from now on!

On a completely different note:  are there any of you out there with room in your homes and hearts for two little girls?  One problem with being a teacher is there are often kiddos you would like to take home, but of course, you can't.  Well, a few weeks ago, we got a new student.  A five year old little girl who has been in the system for too much of her young life.  She is the sweetest and cutest thing!  She doesn't come alone, she has a three year old little sister (just as cute, but I've heard can be a handful!)  Danny and I would love to take them in, but with our financial situation and one of our own on the way, we just can't.  These girls deserve a loving, stable family!  I want to help them in any way I can.  I have had kids I have wanted before, but they have never been up for adoption before.  It breaks my heart to know that the longer they are in the system: 1. the less chance they have of being adopted; 2. the more they will lose their innocence; 3. the more their hearts will harden and they will become jaded.  All I know is that if this time next year, when we are more stable, if they are still up for adoption, we will see what we can do to adopt them ourselves.  In the meantime, I am going to try my best to find a good family for these sweet little girls!

Its not preeclampsia, not bronchitis...

Well, Thursday after taking my blood pressure, I called the nurse who talked with the doctor who wanted me to stay home and rest through the weekend and come in on Monday.  Ok, bedrest for a weekend, I can handle that.  Thursday night was fine.  Friday morning I started coughing a little, but nothing terrible.  By Friday night, I was miserable.  I didn't sleep at all on Friday so Saturday morning I called the doctor to see what would be safe for me to take and not raise my blood pressure.  The doctor on call was one of the other doc's from the practice who wanted to know why they didn't have me come in on Friday.  He wanted to be on the safe side and asked me to go in to Labor and Delivery and get checked out.  I go in and my blood pressure and everything is fine.  They are concerned about the chest rattling cough though.   They take my blood oxygen and it was only at 94% (supposed to be higher than 97%).  So they give me a breathing treatment, tell me I have bronchitis, and write me perscriptions for an inhaler and a z-pack.  Then they still want me to come in Monday morning.  So yesterday I went to my regular OB who listened to me breathe and sent me to get a chest x-ray and gave me the number of a pulmonologist  to call and see this week and to come back on Friday.  All good to go back to work, blood pressure is fine and the bronchitis is most likely bronchitis, the x-ray is just to make sure.   No such luck.  I was about to call to set up the appointment with the pulmonologist when my OB called me.  The chest x-ray came back and I have pneumonia.  Fabulous.  She made me an appointment for today at 1 for the pulmonologist (I am probably spelling it wrong, I just don't care right now!)  I am scared to death to go to this appointment.  Everytime I go in something is worse than we thought.  I also made the mistake of reading about the complications of pneumonia and pregnancy.  Huge mistake, I know better.  I am so thankful everytime this baby kicks me because it reminds me that he is strong and healthy and that everything will work out.  Please just keep us in your prayers!

Mixed news...

Danny goes to the hotel today and to MEPS tomorrow.  There was a misunderstanding about his paperwork that took a day to figure out and fix.  Tomorrow, he will have his physical and swear in to be an official Future Soldier! 

The part I am conflicted about is when he will go to Basic.  Financially, we do need him to go as soon as possible.  It would mean almost doubling our household income, plus the baby and delivery would be covered under military insurance so we would get the HUGE deductible back that we've been paying over the last 5 months (it was paid into an escrow account at the hospital... they don't want you to not pay so you pay before services are rendered).  I know it would make Danny very happy to go in sooner just because he has wanted to join for so long.  He has worked so hard to get into shape and was getting discouraged when he wasn't being rewarded for it.  BUT, I had gotten used to the fact that he would be here for the baby's birth.  He may very well miss it and we will have to deal with that.  It will be better for our family in the long run.  Its the not knowing that is really driving me nutty. 

Yesterday the doctor called me and wanted me to check my blood pressure because I have had a little swelling.  I've done it twice this morning, the first time was the highest mine has ever been at 145 over 91.  Mine is usually normal or low.  I just had the nurse take it again and it was 141 over 78 so it is going down at least.  I'm still waiting to hear back from the doctor.

On a happy note, here are some pictures from Easter weekend!

Note to self: Don't stand next to your size 4 mom when you're plus-size and 7 months pregnant!

My now much thinner husband Danny and me!

My side of the family... everyone has continually lost weight while I continue to gain...

My parents, happily married for 32 years!

Sorry the pictures are a little fuzzy... I had to save them to my phone from my facebook album so that I could email them to myself to get them on here.... apparently that isn't good for quality!

We have a date!

Danny went back to the recruiter on Friday and finally got to reserve his job!  He signed up for infantry (scary yes, but it is what he wants to do) and a 6 year contract.  All the jobs open July 19 were full (go figure), so he will ship out on August 10th and actually start basic on August 20th.  He should be done November 26th so I guess our first family Thanksgiving will be at a hotel in Georgia.  I am so happy for him and us and proud of him!  He has worked so hard and it is FINALLY paying off!  He goes to MEPS on Wednesday.  This is the part I think is hilarious... MEPS is located in downtown Dallas.  We live about 5-6 miles from the federal building where he has to go.  The Army is paying for and making him stay in a hotel on Tuesday night in downtown.  That's a good use of government money.  I guess that is how they make sure people show up.  Anyway, so Tuesday night I will be by myself and who knows when he will be home on Wednesday.  I'll update when I know something new!

Changes!

Well, everything at the doctor went great!  The doctor was listening to the heartbeat and baby boy kept kicking the microphone!  My fundal measurement was 30cm... little bigger than average,  but not too big. 

Then last night, a little after 8, the recruiter called.  He wants Danny to come in this morning rather than waiting until Wednesday.  Most likely, the recruiter boss guy from Plano will be in the office, but hopefully, a job has opened up and they want Danny to get it.  That just may be my wishful thinking.  The suspense is killing me though!  What makes it worse is that I will be here until 7:30 tonight so I won't get to see Danny until after 8pm.  I'll let you know!

More appointments

We had a great weekend! Saturday we (by we, I mean Danny) sanded the floors in the baby room.  I went to Home Depot and got the sandpaper and a sample of stain.  About 80% of it is sanded.  I did more cleaning out in the office and filed everything left from what I started last week.  Sunday we met my parents for dinner in McKinney.  The baby moved so much this weekend!  It is so bizarre to see your stomach move on its own!  He hasn't moved at all today though which has me a little worried.  We go to the doc for our checkup this afternoon so we will know then.

Danny goes back to the recruiter on Wednesday... he'll be measured by the recruiter, the recruiter's superior, and then if he's there, they will take him to Plano for the regional supervisor to measure him.  If that guy says OK then they will go back to the office in Garland and Danny will get to reserve his job!  From there, within 7 days, he will go to MEPS and swear in.  Of course, he still won't go to Basic until July, but he will officially be a future soldier.  Now we just need to find him a job until July and we will be good!  If you know of ANYONE who is hiring or needs temporary help, please let me know!

Mixed News

Well, there is good news and bad news.  The good news is that Danny did fantastic on his ASVAB so he pretty much can do whatever he wants if it is an open position.  Other good news, they measured him and he is at the body-fat percentage in order to be eligible to join the Army.  I saw the thyroid doctor and all my levels are good and I don't have to go back to her til the end of April!  YAY! 

Now for the not so good news.  The recruiter took Danny back to the office after his test last night and did a search for jobs available 4/5 through 5/15 or so.  Nothing came up.  Not one job in the entire Army.  So the recruiter expanded the search through the end of July and about 7 jobs showed up.  He expanded it through November and about 20 showed up.  So Danny can join, he is eligible, but he can't go to basic until July.  The good part of that is he will definitely be here for the birth of our son.  That makes me very happy.  On the other hand, he needs a job.  Knowing he will be leaving in a couple of months makes it that much harder to find one.  His job for the past two months has been to lose the weight.  He did his part, and now he still has to wait.  It is so hard!  Now he has to continue to count every calorie consumed and run everyday in addition to searching for a job to get us through until July.  I would have given up by now, but he keeps on.  He is such a strong man and I am a very lucky woman!