I am now 14 weeks (tomorrow officially). So far this pregnancy has been easy peasy. I haven't gotten sick yet. I have some aches and pains, but that's about it. Oh and the tiredness... I have fallen asleep more times on the couch than I care to admit.
So I am planning on doing something small with my immediate family for a gender reveal. I feel like I know what it is, but who really knows except the baby at this point! I have been doing some research and found a fun list of Wives Tales that predict the gender. Let's go through some items on that list shall we?
1. Heart Rate:
If the baby's heart rate is above 140bpm it's said to be a girl. If it's under 140bpm than it will be a boy. Gender prediction: GIRL - first ultra sound it was 160. Yesterday it was 156.
2. Shape of Belly:
If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, its a boy. Gender prediction: inconclusive - I have no belly (let me rephrase that) I have no BUMP yet. nadda, nothing,... are you in there little fetus?
3. Acne:
If you have acne while pregnant, it's a girl. It's thought that the acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones. Gender prediction: GIRL - yes I have more acne :(
4. Cravings:
People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnancy you can count on having a boy. If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice then you are having a baby girl. Gender prediction: GIRL - bring me all the cookies, cakes and donuts you can! - oh wait, doc only wants me to gain 10-15lbs...
5. Moodiness and a Little Pecker (ha!)
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have more extra girl hormones in you. If your pregnancy makes you smile and be more happy you are having a boy because there is a little penis inside of you (lol). Gender prediction: BOY - I have been a happy little camper thus far
6. Chinese Gender Chart
the Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month she conceived. Gender prediction: GIRL - it worked for my mom and a couple of my cousins!
7. Dream of Sex of Baby
If you are having dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. Gender prediction: GIRL - I dreamt that I had a boy and kept leaving it places and forgot that it was my child... yikes!!!
8. Clumsy vs. Graceful
If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she is having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she is having a boy. Gender prediction: BOY - I have been dropping things left and right
9. Side You Most Rest On
If the pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she is having a boy. If she prefers the right side, it's a girl. Gender prediction: GIRL
10. Morning Sickness
if you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it's a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy count on a girl. Gender prediction: BOY - what's morning sickness?
I have 6 for girl and 3 for boy with one inconclusive.. We will find out in August!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
The hardest secret EVER to keep!
Disclaimer: This post may be a little TMI...
April 28th... A date I will remember for a long time.
That day I had my first interview with Mankato Clinic at 9am. I was then scheduled to work at Grizzly's to bartend from 10:30-5:30. Towards the end of my shift one of the servers came in early to eat before her shift. She sat at the bar and we started talking about her pregnancy. She was 8 months pregnant, but that day she said she started having contractions and leaking fluid. HOLY CRAP!!! She should not have been working, but contractions were still far enough apart, maybe walking for a couple hours would help move the labor along. We knew she was going to have this baby boy this week.. which was about 3 weeks early.
She had asked me if I had gotten my period yet. (Most people would think, what the heck? that's an inappropriate question, but I am an open book sometimes) People at work knew I had gotten off the pill March 20th. That was right before graduation. It was now April 28th and I still hadn't gotten my period yet. I had taken pregnancy tests up until 2 weeks prior and they were all negative, so I thought that I would wait longer until I take another one, because those things aren't cheap.
I told her that I hadn't gotten it yet, but I "feel" like I should be getting it any day now.. with the cramps and the tiredness. Anyway, I ran to the store for her because she was leaking a little, so I bought her panty liners so she would make it through the shift without completely ruining her undies. While I was at the store, I thought, what the heck, I will pick up a pregnancy test, just for shits and giggles.
That night I get home. I didn't want to tell Nate that I had bought more tests, because he was thinking it was a waste of money. We both thought that I wouldn't ovulate until after I got my period. Since I missed my period in March and now in April, I wasn't ovulating. (things I read on the internet). SO I took the test in private just for my own peace of mind. It came back positive!
I looked at that test for the longest time, making sure that the two lines actually means pregnant! I went out into the living room and said "Honey, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!" He was at first upset that I didn't tell him I was taking one, but I honestly thought it was going to be another negative test. Then his face changed into a smile. I still didn't believe it at the time. I wanted to take another one that night, but we agreed I would take it first thing in the morning.
The next morning I get up, tell him I am going to take the test and proceed to the bathroom. It turned positive immediately. HOLY CRAP. I knew we were trying, but this happened REALLY fast!
That day, I had to work. How am I going to keep this secret to myself? I had to. Throughout my shift I still was thinking, maybe it was a fluke. Maybe those two tests in that pack were faulty, I should probably try another brand, JUST to be sure. So that night, I again go out and buy the digital pregnancy test and take it. Again, it said PREGNANT. OK, this is for real now. Now I really need to get the Mankato Clinic job... would they hire me if I am pregnant? I am not going to tell them. If I don't get a job there, how was I going to get insurance? Grizzly's doesn't offer insurance... we planned this pregnancy, but I honestly thought it was going to take me at least 6 months to get pregnant considering that I was on the pill for 13 years.
I didn't even know how far along I was. Since I missed my period in March, I hadn't gotten a period since February. But I was still on the pill in February and most of March. So I could be anywhere from 6-10 weeks pregnant.. I had no clue.
We decided to tell my parents that weekend. Even though I for sure yet didn't have a job and insurance was tough to get. I knew those questions were going to pop up. We were meeting them for dinner anyway and I couldn't keep it from them any longer. They were thrilled! What a relief.
April 28th... A date I will remember for a long time.
That day I had my first interview with Mankato Clinic at 9am. I was then scheduled to work at Grizzly's to bartend from 10:30-5:30. Towards the end of my shift one of the servers came in early to eat before her shift. She sat at the bar and we started talking about her pregnancy. She was 8 months pregnant, but that day she said she started having contractions and leaking fluid. HOLY CRAP!!! She should not have been working, but contractions were still far enough apart, maybe walking for a couple hours would help move the labor along. We knew she was going to have this baby boy this week.. which was about 3 weeks early.
She had asked me if I had gotten my period yet. (Most people would think, what the heck? that's an inappropriate question, but I am an open book sometimes) People at work knew I had gotten off the pill March 20th. That was right before graduation. It was now April 28th and I still hadn't gotten my period yet. I had taken pregnancy tests up until 2 weeks prior and they were all negative, so I thought that I would wait longer until I take another one, because those things aren't cheap.
I told her that I hadn't gotten it yet, but I "feel" like I should be getting it any day now.. with the cramps and the tiredness. Anyway, I ran to the store for her because she was leaking a little, so I bought her panty liners so she would make it through the shift without completely ruining her undies. While I was at the store, I thought, what the heck, I will pick up a pregnancy test, just for shits and giggles.
That night I get home. I didn't want to tell Nate that I had bought more tests, because he was thinking it was a waste of money. We both thought that I wouldn't ovulate until after I got my period. Since I missed my period in March and now in April, I wasn't ovulating. (things I read on the internet). SO I took the test in private just for my own peace of mind. It came back positive!
I looked at that test for the longest time, making sure that the two lines actually means pregnant! I went out into the living room and said "Honey, I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!" He was at first upset that I didn't tell him I was taking one, but I honestly thought it was going to be another negative test. Then his face changed into a smile. I still didn't believe it at the time. I wanted to take another one that night, but we agreed I would take it first thing in the morning.
The next morning I get up, tell him I am going to take the test and proceed to the bathroom. It turned positive immediately. HOLY CRAP. I knew we were trying, but this happened REALLY fast!
That day, I had to work. How am I going to keep this secret to myself? I had to. Throughout my shift I still was thinking, maybe it was a fluke. Maybe those two tests in that pack were faulty, I should probably try another brand, JUST to be sure. So that night, I again go out and buy the digital pregnancy test and take it. Again, it said PREGNANT. OK, this is for real now. Now I really need to get the Mankato Clinic job... would they hire me if I am pregnant? I am not going to tell them. If I don't get a job there, how was I going to get insurance? Grizzly's doesn't offer insurance... we planned this pregnancy, but I honestly thought it was going to take me at least 6 months to get pregnant considering that I was on the pill for 13 years.
I didn't even know how far along I was. Since I missed my period in March, I hadn't gotten a period since February. But I was still on the pill in February and most of March. So I could be anywhere from 6-10 weeks pregnant.. I had no clue.
We decided to tell my parents that weekend. Even though I for sure yet didn't have a job and insurance was tough to get. I knew those questions were going to pop up. We were meeting them for dinner anyway and I couldn't keep it from them any longer. They were thrilled! What a relief.
Mankato Clinic
I couldn't believe I passed the NCLEX. It was official, I am a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). I have those initials behind my name now. I was SO incredibly happy!!!! My next step was to continue applying for nursing jobs around the Mankato area. I had already applied for the Mankato Clinic, but I had to put in the application that I wasn't licensed yet. So, I thought I would update the application to say that I was officially licensed. Then my phone rings.
It's Mankato Clinic - they want an INTERVIEW!!! HOLY CRAP!!! This is beginning to be a very good day! Were they watching the board of nursing website also? Did they know that I JUST found out that morning that I passed the NCLEX?
I set up an interview time for April 28th. This will become a very important date for me.
April 28th I have an interview with Mankato Clinic Human Resources. They decide if the employee is the right fit for the job and then give you options of what departments you want to work for depending on what departments are looking to hire. The departments I had to choose from was OB/GYN, Pediatrics, a floating position, urgent care and Urology. I chose to interview with the OB/GYN department and pediatrics at first. My ultimate choice was to work in the OB/GYN department. So, HR set up times with the nursing managers at those locations. HR also called me saying that the floating position manager really wanted to meet with me also, I am not one to turn down an interview so I agreed. On May 1st I had interviews in 3 departments. The HR person I was in contact with and I soon were contacting each other on almost a daily basis. Unfortunately, OB/GYN department hired internally. But hey, I would rather lose to a person that already had some pull than to another recent graduate, so I wasn't too upset about it. Pediatrics was still not going to decide for a couple more weeks, and I never heard back from the floating position. In the mean time, I get another call from HR asking if I was interested in working in Urgent Care. YES! I actually had some of my clinical experience in Urgent Care and I loved it. So we set up an interview and this interview seemed different.
The location was not at the main clinic, it was a separate building on another part of town. The manager was very down to earth and my interview was pretty much a conversation about working there. I felt like I was hired, but didn't want to get my hopes up too high. We agreed to do a 2 hour following experience so I could get to know the facility more and the staff could "feel me out" - (that was my own perception). I absolutely loved it.
The next morning I get a call.. I got the job!
It's Mankato Clinic - they want an INTERVIEW!!! HOLY CRAP!!! This is beginning to be a very good day! Were they watching the board of nursing website also? Did they know that I JUST found out that morning that I passed the NCLEX?
I set up an interview time for April 28th. This will become a very important date for me.
April 28th I have an interview with Mankato Clinic Human Resources. They decide if the employee is the right fit for the job and then give you options of what departments you want to work for depending on what departments are looking to hire. The departments I had to choose from was OB/GYN, Pediatrics, a floating position, urgent care and Urology. I chose to interview with the OB/GYN department and pediatrics at first. My ultimate choice was to work in the OB/GYN department. So, HR set up times with the nursing managers at those locations. HR also called me saying that the floating position manager really wanted to meet with me also, I am not one to turn down an interview so I agreed. On May 1st I had interviews in 3 departments. The HR person I was in contact with and I soon were contacting each other on almost a daily basis. Unfortunately, OB/GYN department hired internally. But hey, I would rather lose to a person that already had some pull than to another recent graduate, so I wasn't too upset about it. Pediatrics was still not going to decide for a couple more weeks, and I never heard back from the floating position. In the mean time, I get another call from HR asking if I was interested in working in Urgent Care. YES! I actually had some of my clinical experience in Urgent Care and I loved it. So we set up an interview and this interview seemed different.
The location was not at the main clinic, it was a separate building on another part of town. The manager was very down to earth and my interview was pretty much a conversation about working there. I felt like I was hired, but didn't want to get my hopes up too high. We agreed to do a 2 hour following experience so I could get to know the facility more and the staff could "feel me out" - (that was my own perception). I absolutely loved it.
The next morning I get a call.. I got the job!
The NCLEX
Once I passed nursing school, there was still one more test that had to be done. This was the most important test of my career. If I don't pass the NCLEX, my whole school experience would have been for nothing and my life would have be put on hold.
Since day one of nursing school we have heard about this test. We were given practice questions. We were told to start going through the NCLEX book and studying for the test from the very beginning. If anyone knows me... I procrastinate. I wait until I absolutely feel pressured to study and then I study, I study every free chance I get, I study until the text is blurry.
I scheduled the test for April 23, 2014. At the time of registration I was still a month out. I had time, I wasn't going to stress about it. I was finally getting back into working at the restaurant full time. I was also working on my resume, cover letter, getting my letters of recommendation, and starting to apply for jobs. I was enjoying my free time and taking a break from school.
Two weeks later I still have not opened the NCLEX book. Panic starts to take place. I had two weeks to remember all the things I have learned in nursing school, plus some. Finally I open the NCLEX book. I just started doing practice questions right away. This would get me comfortable in how the questions are going to be worded and what to look for in each question.
The questions are multiple choice, math, put in the correct sequence, and visual (place the curser on the correct part of the body). For multiple choice there are 2 right answers and 2 wrong answers, my job was to pick the MOST correct answer.
My study method was to do as many practice questions as I can. The ones I get wrong I would read the reasoning of the right answer. I got through about 400 questions in 2 weeks. Which wasn't that much, but that's what I did.
The day before the test I stayed with my parents since their house was only about 15 minutes from the testing location, as opposed to a 90 minute drive the morning of. They recommend putting everything away by 5pm the night before the test and just relax... YEAH, RIGHT.
I hardly slept that night, I was so nervous that I didn't study enough, that I wasn't smart enough. I drove to the test site and was shaking. My mind felt like there was a literal fog in it. I tried deep breathing and relaxing. I was called into the testing room and my test started.
It was all on the computer. You could not go back once you answered a question. The test was anywhere from 85 questions to 200 questions and would stop any time after 85 questions. We had 5 hours to take the test. I was trying to read each question carefully, remember the tips and the tricks that I learned throughout the 2 years of nursing school. Remember my ABC's ( no not the alphabet, but Airway, Breathing, Circulation) which was a big part of the test. My test did not stop after 85 questions. I kept plugging away. Some questions I knew immediately, and some I had to take my best educated guess on.
I get to a question which was about the proper way to insert a breathing tube. WE WERE NEVER TAUGHT THIS!!!! I had to put the steps in the correct sequence. I could pretty much figure it out, but there were 2 steps that I kept switching back and forth. I spent what seemed like 5 minutes answering that question and just said "screw it" and hit submit. My screen turned black. That was the end of the test. Oh, how I wanted one more question to end the test on a confident note, but that was not an option anymore. I was dismissed from the testing facility, went to my car, called Nate and started crying. I really didn't think I passed. I was pissed.
There were a couple ways to figure out if you passed the test or not. One way was to try to register for the test again. They say if you can't register for the test, you have passed. The second option was to register on the board of nursing website and they will post if you are a nurse or not within 24 hours. Third, was to pay the testing organization (more money) to find out quick results. I just paid over 300.00 for this test, I wasn't going to give them a dime more. So later that night with Nate, I tried to register for the test again, but I couldn't. Good news?! I, of course, didn't believe it. So then, I registered on the board of nursing website and it said my results weren't posted yet. I think I refreshed that page 100 times that night to see if they were posted.
The next morning, I try again. It said, Exam results: PASSED.
Since day one of nursing school we have heard about this test. We were given practice questions. We were told to start going through the NCLEX book and studying for the test from the very beginning. If anyone knows me... I procrastinate. I wait until I absolutely feel pressured to study and then I study, I study every free chance I get, I study until the text is blurry.
I scheduled the test for April 23, 2014. At the time of registration I was still a month out. I had time, I wasn't going to stress about it. I was finally getting back into working at the restaurant full time. I was also working on my resume, cover letter, getting my letters of recommendation, and starting to apply for jobs. I was enjoying my free time and taking a break from school.
Two weeks later I still have not opened the NCLEX book. Panic starts to take place. I had two weeks to remember all the things I have learned in nursing school, plus some. Finally I open the NCLEX book. I just started doing practice questions right away. This would get me comfortable in how the questions are going to be worded and what to look for in each question.
The questions are multiple choice, math, put in the correct sequence, and visual (place the curser on the correct part of the body). For multiple choice there are 2 right answers and 2 wrong answers, my job was to pick the MOST correct answer.
My study method was to do as many practice questions as I can. The ones I get wrong I would read the reasoning of the right answer. I got through about 400 questions in 2 weeks. Which wasn't that much, but that's what I did.
The day before the test I stayed with my parents since their house was only about 15 minutes from the testing location, as opposed to a 90 minute drive the morning of. They recommend putting everything away by 5pm the night before the test and just relax... YEAH, RIGHT.
I hardly slept that night, I was so nervous that I didn't study enough, that I wasn't smart enough. I drove to the test site and was shaking. My mind felt like there was a literal fog in it. I tried deep breathing and relaxing. I was called into the testing room and my test started.
It was all on the computer. You could not go back once you answered a question. The test was anywhere from 85 questions to 200 questions and would stop any time after 85 questions. We had 5 hours to take the test. I was trying to read each question carefully, remember the tips and the tricks that I learned throughout the 2 years of nursing school. Remember my ABC's ( no not the alphabet, but Airway, Breathing, Circulation) which was a big part of the test. My test did not stop after 85 questions. I kept plugging away. Some questions I knew immediately, and some I had to take my best educated guess on.
I get to a question which was about the proper way to insert a breathing tube. WE WERE NEVER TAUGHT THIS!!!! I had to put the steps in the correct sequence. I could pretty much figure it out, but there were 2 steps that I kept switching back and forth. I spent what seemed like 5 minutes answering that question and just said "screw it" and hit submit. My screen turned black. That was the end of the test. Oh, how I wanted one more question to end the test on a confident note, but that was not an option anymore. I was dismissed from the testing facility, went to my car, called Nate and started crying. I really didn't think I passed. I was pissed.
There were a couple ways to figure out if you passed the test or not. One way was to try to register for the test again. They say if you can't register for the test, you have passed. The second option was to register on the board of nursing website and they will post if you are a nurse or not within 24 hours. Third, was to pay the testing organization (more money) to find out quick results. I just paid over 300.00 for this test, I wasn't going to give them a dime more. So later that night with Nate, I tried to register for the test again, but I couldn't. Good news?! I, of course, didn't believe it. So then, I registered on the board of nursing website and it said my results weren't posted yet. I think I refreshed that page 100 times that night to see if they were posted.
The next morning, I try again. It said, Exam results: PASSED.
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