Category Archives: Random

Am I 22 Weeks or 23 Weeks? Apparently no one knows!

Posted in About Me, Pregnancy Update, Random, The Hemsath Life by

So I go in for my checkup today with a few questions:

1. The doctors down at UCSD when giving me my level 2 Ultrasound said that my baby’s measurements indicated he was actually 10 days older than we thought and then changed my due date from May 20 to May 10. Do you know this doctor? Will this be the new due date you are following?

2. My belly is a little lopsided, the baby likes to hang out on my right side, and my right side of my belly is now tender. Is this okay?

3. We changed our mind about doing the c-section and would like to opt for the v-back, but can we change our mind  again if it doesn’t look like my body is progressing into labor?

Answers:

1. My records show they made your due date May 13. Since it is within a week of your original due date, we will not change your due date.

2. Yes, its okay. You’ll be okay. You might itch as it grows. Everything will go back.

3. Yes, you can change your mind again, but we may have a harder time finding a time to schedule the c-section so last minute with all the other doctors there too. But we can do it. Just sign the waiver that says you know there is a 1% chance that you will have a uterine rupture which will cause neurological damage to your child and are still willing to take the chance. Why don’t you take a month to think about it. Otherwise, we schedule you for your c-section on May 13, a week from your due date so you don’t go into labor.

Her answer to number 3 made sense, but not number 1 or 2. Am I due on May 13 or 20? Why can’t they change the due dates? Am I 22 weeks pregnant or 23 weeks pregnant? And then my belly. Ok, its fine. Of course I know it will go back. What does that have to do with it being okay that its lopsided?

Meh…silly stuff.

Anyway, here are my stats:

Estimated due date: May 13-20, but they will stick with May 20. Unless I have a c-section. Then it will be May 13. Even though UCSD said May 10.

Heartbeat/rate: 150 bpm

Next appointment scheduled: Feb 9

Condition of baby: Active and healthy boy! Especially at night!

Food cravings: I officially had a first craving last night. Mac and Cheese. And, even better, I was able to talk my husband into getting out of bed and making it for me at 10 o’clock last night. Thank you hubby!!! 

Other symptoms: stuffy nose and sneezing finally gone! Hip aches, especially on my left side. Back aches, specifically my lower back. Clearer skin. Flakey dry lips. At times, insatiably thirsty. Super hungry all the time! Have suffered from heartburn three times this month! Once so bad, I couldn’t sleep! Triggers include: Hot Cheetos, coffee at night, and eating in bed! I discovered Mylanta and Maalox which helps, but would rather just stay away from the triggers. Crazy, they never caused heartburn before. Something about pregnancy makes you more susceptible I guess.

Nausea: gone!! Well, I still have a strong gag reflex when brushing my tongue, but otherwise, yes—gone!

Fatigue: gone!

Belly size: Definitely look pregnant. Definitely wearing maternity pants. Tried putting on my skinny jeans the other day and assumed I would wear my belly band to help with the fact that they don’t close. Well, the crack of my derrier didn’t want to stay put, so guess that was the last time. Boo! I guess it’s not just the belly that grows. But then again, I already knew that. I just hoped this time  it would be different.

Weight gain: 6 pounds this month for a total of 12-13 pounds so far. I know, 6 pounds is more than the recommended 4 pounds a month. But it was Christmas! People were practically shoving desserts down my face! I will be better this month, I…er…hope.

Pregnancy–the good, the bad, and the weird…thus far

Posted in About Me, Pregnancy Update, Random, The Hemsath Life by

The Good:

  • Having the excuse to eat more, sleep more, cry more, and lay around more. My husband does more things for me to around the house. It feels great to finally rest and to know it is going to be okay!
  • People insisting I don’t help with the lifting and carrying of heavy things.
  • My students are nicer and more respectful to me. They ask me questions about the baby; they compliment me on my cute belly; they ask me how I’m feeling; they show sympathy when I’m not feeling well; they laugh at all my jokes and stories; and they genuinely apologize when they mess up. Well, most of them. I still have one or two who like to bet their pennies.
  • I feel just genuinely more happy and carefree when teaching. Kids don’t frustrate me as easily. Broken copy machines, missing substitutes, and unexpected fire drills just roll off my back these days. And as for my classroom management style, eh….just don’t do it again, okay? Who am I? I used to be a drill Sargent!
  • Feeling the baby kick. Feels like popping popcorn now, and I can’t wait until it gets stronger. Owen got to feel the baby kick for the first time last night. So cool! Just wait until it looks like scenes from Alien. Or when the baby decides to kick the air out of my lungs without me expecting.
  • Talking to Kanan about the baby. He kisses my belly. He tells me he loves his baby brother or sister. He wants him to be a girl and to name her Allison (Even though the ultrasound showed us it is a boy and we think we may name him Mathias or Mateo). He wants me to hold the baby and him or to have Papa (Owen’s name) hold the baby and I hold him. He wants to help feed the baby and hold the baby too. So darn cute! Oh yeah, and he loves watching videos from Baby Center that shows the development of the baby in the womb.
  • I’ll just say it–my decolotage. I was never really blessed in that department and it feels great to fill out a blouse. My husband is enjoying the new me too.

The Bad:

  • I’m insatiably thirsty constantly. I walk around everywhere I go with a 24 oz water bottle with me. I fill it up four to five times a day and go through an entire one just to get through a night’s sleep.
  • Round ligament pain and sore spots as my belly grows. Especially if I cough really hard or get up too quickly. Gah! Right now its my right side that seems the sorest. And I believe it is exaggerated because the baby likes to hang out on that side more as well and push his little feet in the same spot.
  • Forgetting I have a belly when trying to squeeze through smaller spaces and scraping it. Like trying to get in a public bathroom stall. Who would have thought that it takes strategy to use a public restroom? I think I’ll just go straight for the disabled stall first now.
  • Going to the bathroom twice as much. And sometimes feeling like I’m going to pee my pants only to sit down and tinkle a tablespoon.
  • All the medical scares that come with being pregnant in the 21st century. What ever happened to just being pregnant and having a baby? Now I’ve got to do blood tests and ultrasounds and if anything is slightly off, they scare me with all the what if’s, risks, and possibilities and then want me to do all these other medical procedures. I believe it’s a greedy conspiracy for money.
  • Gagging every time I brush my tongue. When pregnant, the breathe-through-your-nose trick doesn’t work. Earlier in the pregnancy I had to brush twice. First brush for the sake of hygiene. The second brush to clean up the mess.
  • Watching my derriere get bigger along with my belly. I’ve gained only 6 pounds thus far and it may look like all belly, but why is it that my pants and underwear are feeling tighter around my hips too? They are low-cut, so don’t tell me its my belly.

The Weird:

  • Really dry, cracked bottom lip. I had it when I was pregnant with Kanan and I have it again. It is bad! And no amount of water or chapstick cures it. I find that taking a hot shower and then rubbing it vigorously with a dry towel after makes it look normal. Until I wake up in the morning and its is back again. Getting into the habit of pulling off the dry flakes with my teeth or my fingers. Very sexy. Especially when they bleed. Hey, no need for lipstick! I’ve got naturally stained lips!
  • Adventurous dreams! They are way more detailed with much more complicated plots. And I remember them! Of course, my husband is dumbfounded by my elaborate explanations of these dreams. But sometimes I just have to share them, they are just so crazy. Last night, I dreamed I was a senior in high school and forced to fight against the gangs to save my life, only to have the authorities and school administrators believe I was a gang member too.

Our Family Pictures

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A month or two ago, Owen and I decided to get some family photos taken with Kanan. We hadn’t had any family photos taken with Kanan since we were married and wanted to get some done before our family grew. Our friend Marci Mares took the photos at a beautiful state park near our house called Guajome. Look her up! She is an amazing photographer and has great packages! Kanan behaved well and my belly was still small enough not to take the thunder from our family shots. I tried not to wear anything that really showed off my belly just to make sure the focus was on the three of us. Anyway, take a look to at the photos in our Flickr thumbnails to the right. This one is one of my favorites. Belly shots will be coming next in our professional photo collection, courtesy of my friend Lisa Briley—another amazing photographer!

Almost 18 Weeks Pregnant

Posted in Pregnancy Update, Random, The Hemsath Life by

Baby Boy Hemsath’s head and profile

And…….

It’s a boy!!! Who would have thought? Certainly not Owen or I or most people for that matter. Only one teenage student and our friend Amy said boy. I was sicker this time around it seemed, and more tired, so I assumed that the differences chocked it up to a girl. Nope. Haha! Regardless, I am soooo excited. I cried when I saw the images of him on the screen. And Owen is stoked too. Kanan got to be with us as well and see the baby on the screen.

Little Footsie!

Well, we did figure out a boy name weeks back. It was the girl names we were struggling with (Anayah, Alessandra, Jordan, Genesis, or Allison were possibilities). So as of two weeks ago, our little boy’s name is Mathias James Hemsath. But now that we know it is a boy, Owen would like to put some more thought into the name so I’m not guaranteeing it will stay Mathias James. So until we officially know, we will refer to this munchkin as Baby Boy Hemsath.

Boy Parts are below words on image

As for other updates
Weeks along: almost 18

Estimated due date: May 20

Heartbeat/rate: 154 bpm

Next appointment scheduled: Jan 12

Condition of baby: Active and healthy boy! Baby Boy Hemsath was so active during the ultrasound, the tech could barely get clear image shots.

I know my favorite books for pregnancy help me know what to expect each week. So much of it is right on. But here’s my additional symptoms.

Food cravings: none

Other symptoms: stuffy nose and sneezing constantly! (the nose ring doesn’t help), breathlessness, intense insatiable thirst! Getting up to go to the bathroom one to two times in the night. And feeling more voluptuous in the décolletage area.

Nausea: only a bout once a week in the morning. And perhaps one episode in the evening since my last post.

Fatigue: pretty much gone!!! I feel fabulous!

Baby Boy Hemsath face and skull

Size of belly: starting to wear some maternity pants even though they are too big for me. Discovered stretch pants from Motherhood Maternity that feel like heaven! I would seriously wear these pants every day, all day for the rest of the pregnancy if I could. I actually don’t want to wash them even though I still do because it means I can’t wear them. I don’t know what is in the material if these particular stretch pants but I have never worn pants so wonderful in my life.

Weight Gain thus far: 6 lbs
Condition of father: Quote: ” I have never been so happy in my life. “

# 56 The Jasmine Flower

Posted in About Me, More Theresa's Thoughts, Random by

Thank you God for making the Jasmine flower. Yes, I am ever thankful.  One may not think much of Jasmine just by looking at it. A native of China and other tropical climates, it’s not extravagant in its beauty but rather simple. Its small, white blossoms form in clusters in large bushes or vines. But it is its fragrance that has captured my heart and has imprinted so many memories of my life into my mind. She is a wonderful surprise that continues to surprise me, every time she shows up.

My love for it first started as a child when my mom grew honeysuckle and Jasmine flowers along the back fence of our back yard. On early, sunny mornings in the summer, my mother opened up the sliding glass door to let the light and fresh air in, and the left-over fragrance of Jasmine and Honeysuckle from the night blossoming burst in to the kitchen. I remember the first time I noticed it, I was sitting at the breakfast bar eating my Rice Chex cereal with banana slices and breathed in deeply after her fragrance said hello, a smile blossoming on my face and I looked up at my mom. “What’s that smell?” I asked. And so it began.

She surprises me every time, because she doesn’t stand out visually. And her fragrance doesn’t slowly build in its introduction. She may look passive, but she is confident in her fragrant entry. She truly bursts in. One second you don’t smell her. The next second you do. To this day I can be walking along a sidewalk to a friend’s house in their neighborhood or down a pathway on a school campus, thinking of those busy things that occupy so much of our time when we are on our way to wherever it is we are going. Yet the second I get a whiff of that fragrant flower and my mind registers what is happening, I instantly stop and begin sniffing and looking around me for the source. But as soon as I find her, I smile. Thankful and relieved, I pinch off a cluster of the flowers to carry and smell with me as I continue on my way.

The first time I bought flowers to fill my own yard as a young adult, I picked Jasmine. It took almost a year before the vines of the bushes grew long enough to cover the side of the fence that framed my driveway. But once it did, and summer nights came near a full moon when the blossoms opened and released their fragrance, I lingered on my way out of  my car before I came inside for my night of rest. The stresses of the day would melt away, and I was ready to make dinner and put the day behind me.

When I moved into a condo in Carlsbad in my mid twenties, my new roommate Amber introduced me to Jasmine tea. She was sort of a hippy and we bonded over conversations about healthy foods, talks of nature, and finding our life purpose. On one such conversation, she poured me a cup of hot, Jasmine tea and as soon as I raised the cup to my lips to take a sip, the steam from the tea rose up and filled my nostrils. A rush of euphoria filled me and our conversation continued with more smiles and laughter and reminiscent stories of our lives.

Years later after that season of my life had long since faded, my good friend Lael got married in the summer at a beautiful country club in San Marcos, CA. We girls were nervously chatting and giddy as we dressed in our bridesmaids dresses, applying makeup, and styling our hair. I left momentarily to find a restroom and take a break from the noise and opened up the back door of the dressing room. Instantly, my eyes were flooded with the mid-morning light and my nostrils with the unexpected and very welcomed scent of Jasmine flowers. There was no need to turn around and sniff out the source. There,  five inches from my face flowed a beautiful vine of Jasmine blossoms cascading down a white trellis. I stood there, my nose one-inch deep in the clusters of white, closed my eyes, and just stopped–stopped thinking, stopped looking, stopped moving. I just let the fragrance fill me and let the white light filter through the cracks of the trellis and in between the leaves of Jasmine and through my eyelids. Nothing mattered for the two minutes or so that froze during that time. I just quieted my soul. Then right after I uprooted from that  transcendental sliver of time, I prayed—-thank you God for these beautiful flowers you created. How do I explain all the feelings that come over me when I breathe in Jasmine? I did some research and found out that it’s not purely nostalgic for me. Jasmine flowers have been used in aromatherapy for years to rejuvenate the body, raise the moods of those suffering from depression, and relieve stress and anxiety.

So much of that makes sense to me. I have had moments in my life when I have been angry or hurt and yet, if I breathe in the scent of Jasmine, whether it be in that hot cup of tea, a bottle of lotion at a Hawaiian-themed surf shop, or in cluster of blossoms I tore from a Jasmine bush on a random sidewalk, I am able to pull out of those emotions, take a break, and move forward, realizing that there is so much more in life that is worthy of being enjoyed. Jasmine has become a self-fulfilling medicine for me. With each pleasing breath I take in of her, she reminds me of every other time she has surprised me in my life and has always brought happiness and peace with each occasion.

Some Wonderful Jasmine Products I Just Can’t Live Without! If you like Jasmine–you must try these!

Pregnant!

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Well the word is out as it is official. We are pregnant! As of today, I am 15 weeks pregnant. Agh! It was so difficult keeping it a secret the first 12 weeks, but after the miscarriage we had in the spring, we really wanted to avoid all of the awkward conversations if we suffered from another one. But when we went in for our 11-week-check up and the heartbeat was good and strong, the doctor told us that the chance of miscarriage from there after would be very rare, so we decided to make the announcement! We are ecstatic of course!

But until our little sunshine makes his/her first cry into this world, we must pass through the pregnancy stage. I’ve got 25 more weeks to go and so far, this pregnancy has been super different from my one with Kanan. Firstly, I am waaaaaaaaaaayyyyy more nauseous and tired this time around. Is it my age? Is it the baby? Could this mean I’m having  a girl? Who knows, but it is a fact. I’ve been blessed, however, after week 10 with a lovely little pill called Zofran which has helped me deal with my nausea enough so that I’m not completely useless. My role as a wife and a mother has already slipped because of the nausea. And prior to the magic little pill, poor Kanan and Owen were living off of fast food or mac and cheese because just the idea of me getting up and standing in that kitchen sent me to the bathroom hurling. And energy to do anything other than pass out on the couch? Gone! Praise God, people are much more understanding about me being a lazy lump on the couch when they know I’m pregnant. Still, I’d rather just not suffer from that at all. Zofran doesn’t make the symptoms go away, put it has helped me eat and begin doing some simple cooking again. It hasn’t helped the fatigue, however, so you can imagine how excited I am to finally be in the second trimester when the supposed energy returns! Second week into trimester two and still waiting……but, there is hope! 🙂 I’m really looking forward to getting back to the gym or running with my friend Courtney on Wednesday evenings. But it seems that with working all day, then coming home to being a mother and a wife, those Wednesday evenings have succeeded in only two things—-rest and some much-needed sanity time reading The Word. Now you may be wondering, what all of this laziness has done to my figure. Well, praise the Lord again, due to my nausea, I haven’t eaten nearly as much as I did the first 15 weeks with Kanan. I think by 15 weeks, I had already gained 6 or 7 pounds with him. But this time, I’ve only gained 2 pounds. And even with those two pounds of gain, I am exactly the same weight I was before I was pregnant with Kanan. So….in the end, I’m doing pretty well. Oddly, while I have not gained any significant weight, I look way more pregnant than I did at 15 weeks with my little boy. Right now I look as big as I did when I was 4 or 5 months pregnant with him, especially at night-time, after the food and the weight loosens my ligaments enough to make my belly swell more.

One exciting difference in this pregnancy is that I have five friends who are pregnant too and one family member! And even more exciting, two friends who are both 15 weeks along as well! My friend Kelly (who unfortunately moved to the East Coast) and I are now due date buddies over Facebook. And my friend Claire who lives in San Marcos! And then I have four friends who just had babies within the last couple of months. Yes, 2010 is the year for babies in our little part of the world. I can’t wait for all the play dates.

As for names, Owen and I are undecided as of yet. Well actually, I have two girl names I just love, but haven’t yet convinced Owen that either one should be the one, if we indeed have a girl. Owen has come up with one, which I refuse because I love our child and want to save her from ridicule! haha! As for boy names, I’ve come up with one, which didn’t go over very well with Daddy.And Owen hasn’t even thought of boy names because he is convinced it is a girl!

Okay, concluding Stats and dates before I close:

Weeks along: 15 

Estimated due date: May 20

Heartbeat/rate: 152 bpm (very good for those of you who are used to the adult 70 pbm)

Next appointment scheduled: Dec 13

Find out the sex: Dec 13

Food cravings: none

Food aversions: if I’m feeling nauseous, everything.

Other symptoms: stuffy nose and sneezing constantly! (the nose ring doesn’t help), breathlessness, intense insatiable thirst! Getting up to go to the bathroom one to two times in the night. And feeling more voluptuous in the décolletage area. 😉

Nausea: getting better but still not gone.

Fatigue: getting better but still not gone.

Size of belly: belly button starting to poke out and I’m using a rubber-band to help my jeans fit until I’m big enough for maternity pants.  

Condition of father: excited!

2009–a year of change

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Just within the last two days, so much has changed for so many of the people I know and love.

1. I got offered a job with Temecula Unified.

2. One of my friends just got engaged.

3. Another friend of mine just found out she is pregnant.

4. Another friend just reunited with his father after some time of estrangement.

5. Another friend’s family has reunited after 15 years of broken relationships and estrangement.

6. Another friend just learned she is moving to Europe for two years.

And that is just the last two days. Over the last couple of months, my brother has broken up with his long term girlfriend, been laid off, and finally rehired. My mother has found work after months of unemployment. My cousin’s biological family found her after 29 years. And one of my good friend’s passed the first step in her application process for the FBI.

So the change has been good for everyone, even if it took us through some roller coaster rides. If I get too analytical and I might start stressing about what will happen in 2010, but I am choosing instead to enjoy the change set forth for me in the next year, without knowing what will happen thereafter. And for everyone else as well.

Praise Report

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As always, the Lord is good. He blessed me with a job offer from Temecula Unified today. But I must say, it was a roller coaster of a day. My poor adrenals never knew it so bad. It all started Monday when my colleagues approached me with an article in the newspaper reporting that our district will be able to hire 28 teachers back for a one year temporary contract. But then we figured, if we had to hear about it from a newspaper, we probably weren’t any of the 28. Well then as I was walking through the office, our school secretary told me that the principal wanted to talk to me. I went into his office and he proceeded to tell me that he may have some good news for me on Wednesday morning so that if Chapparal High School called me wanting me to sign a contract, to tell them to wait. I asked him how he knew I interviewed for a position with Chapparal High School and he said that they had called asking for a reference on me that morning, good sign. So for the last couple of days, I thought I might have a choice. So many pluses and minuses lined up for both schools. But how awesome it would be to have a choice, even though I didn’t really know what I would pick. I silently hoped God would just open one door because if two were opened, he would literally have to shout the answer down from Heaven in order for me to know which one he wanted.

This morning I come to school and open my email to find an email from our director of human resources. I wasn’t one of the 28. She recommended I take Temecula’s offer. So all day, I’ve been waiting for my administrators to finish calling back the school and giving their recommendations for me. And all the while, I am worrying about whether or not they would be good enough and whether or not they had wanted me or were deciding between me and someone else. But by three o’clock I still didn’t have a call and I began to think that I just didn’t get the position. Wouldn’t they know by now?

So I did what any stressed woman would do—I went and got a pedicure and bought a new outfit. And as I was paying for my clothes, my phone vibrated. I had a message. It was Temecula Unified, offering me a job. The message was left at 5:05. I returned the call at 5:35 to hear Chris, the gentlemen on the other end of the phone tell me that things had changed over the last 25 minutes and that the position may not even be available anymore for me to take as enrollment had decreased at one of the sister high schools. He said he’d have to call me back. I couldn’t help but laugh. This was getting ridiculous and I didnt’ have any tears left. But 20 minutes later, he did call me back, informing me that the position was still indeed available. And of course, I said yes. One door opened. Another closed. God might as well have shouted down from heaven, right?

Temecula, oh hot Temecula, here I come.