Nursing School & Being a Doula

There's so much reading and memorizing that I feel as though nursing school is kicking my butt... However, so far I have passed every skills test on the first try, gotten 100% on my first two lab quizzes (the third one I messed up on, but so did almost everyone...luckily lab quizzes count for very, very little), and I got a 90% on my first exam!!!!! (The mean score on that first test was 80%.) I am really psyched, especially since the professor doesn't like me so much. See, I have to miss lab for the Jewish holidays and they had to make special arrangements for me to make up the lab time on other days. So that kind of turned the whole department against me. Then, when all heck broke loose earlier this week, I had to leave class right after the exam on Monday in order to get home to take care of the kids. She noticed I was gone and made a comment to the whole class today about "people leaving class early and thinking they don't notice". Yeah, I know that was totally directed right at me...but it was either that or my 2 1/2 year old twins are now in charge of the baby...not happening, not safe and illegal! Anyhoo, she can now eat it seeing as I got a fantastic score on the exam. I'm just going to prove her wrong all semester so she realizes that I'm a fantastic student. (I remind myself of my sister and a certain incident with a high school English teacher...ahh the memories!)

Now then, as for all heck breaking loose... Our fantastic day care provider is currently pregnant with twins and unexpectedly went on bed rest Monday morning. I had someone covering her for a few hours in the morning, but she was scheduled to come in to work in the late morning. But then she got admitted to the hospital! Oooooops! Our babysitter for the morning had a class (that she missed), so she couldn't stay too late, which is why I had to rush like mad to get home right after the test. Anyway, we found someone that evening to take over for our pregnant day care woman...who worked for a day and then said she got another job offer and was taking it. So she basically told us at 6pm that she could not work the following morning. OMG!!!!! That is not cool in the ultimate sense. So Shmuel had to stay home from work, pissing off his boss - who basically told him he is REQUIRED to come into work tomorrow or else. So we spent half the day today interviewing new candidates and B"H found someone who fits the bill. She has an agreement with us that we need at least a week's notice if she finds a new job, and we'll give her the same if we find a live-in.

Speaking about pregnant women, I had my first experience as a doula last Friday! My very first client gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. If I had any doubts about my choice of careers, they were all put to rest. I actually teared up when the baby was born, and I didn't even cry when my own daughter was put on my chest! It was so beautiful. If you are pregnant and live in Boston or know someone who is pregnant and lives in Boston, send me an email and I'll tell you all about what I can do to help during your birth. :-)

Kicks and Things

I'm really starting to feel the baby move now. She's been moving around and kicking a bit. On Sunday we actually were able to feel her kick from the outside. Usually that comes much later, but I guess my hands were in the right place at the right time. It was funny because when Shmuel came into the room I told him to put his hands on my belly. He felt for a few seconds and then started giggling. I asked him if he could feel her kick and he said yes and that it was weird. Well it was even more weird since I couldn't feel it from the inside. lol But her movements are getting stronger and more frequent (at least in the fact that I'm feeling them). So cool and so exciting!

Dovid's getting more teeth. I can see a molar coming in up top!! Finally! I was really afraid he had no teeth. lol

Ziva, our au pair, left to go home earlier this week. *sob* We really miss her, and the twins will be starting at "day care" next week. (It's not really day care because it's just four kids - two of which are mine - being taken care of by one adult who happens to be a friend of mine, but it's easier for me to refer to it as "day care".) The twins have met her and at least one of the kids who will be with them, so I'm hoping the transition will go smoothly for everyone. I'll probably sit in for a few hours on the first few days to help in any case.

My amazing bloggy friend Eileen had her twins yesterday!!! She made it to 34 weeks, which was fantastic considering the numerous complications plaguing her pregnancy. This is truly a miracle and we are so, so happy for her! Happy birthday Matthew and Madeline!