WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!

On Wednesday August 25 I took my millionth pregnancy test (ok, maybe only thirtieth). But this one was different, it was POSITIVE! I sat in the bathroom and bawled for a couple minutes, while I triple read the instructions to make sure I was really seeing what I was seeing. Then I said a little prayer of thanks. Not just to God for giving us what we had so fervently wished for, but also to my Daddy for finally letting one of his grand-babies go. I then went into our bedroom and said to my sleeping husband, "Brian Askew, what would you say if I told you I was pregnant?" He proceeded to jump out of bed and hug me tight, and I, of course, started to bawl again. It was 22 months since we had started trying, and nothing but frustration had come our way, but now we finally had a positive test!
My doctor had me come in for an ultrasound that Friday, where they confirmed a gestational sack. Then the following Monday and Wednesday they checked my HCG levels to make sure they were doubling appropriately. On Thursday September 2 it was confirmed that we were pregnant, and that things were off to a great start.We decided that would keep it a secret, just to be safe. But really, I don't know how anyone has missed our giddiness!
I had my first prenatal appointment on Tuesday October 5, and it was amazing! We got to see our sweet little alien (really, the head was as big as the rest of the body then). We also got to see the heartbeat and little legs kicking. Holy cow! That is so amazing. I could have 20 children and still think that is cool! (no, we will not have that many kids) The doctor gave me a due date of April 19, but then told me I was 11 weeks, which really means April 26. Either way, we will have a new sweet little Askew in April! We decided to tell our parents and siblings about the pregnancy since everything was looking good. They all were excited,  I think everyone yelled, and my mother bawled. I think it was harder for them to keep the secret for two weeks than it was for us to keep it for two months! But now it is time to tell the world!
I have been very lucky, and I have not been too sick. I had to eat every hour and a half, but I have been able to carry on with my normal life. The worst part has been that I am tired all the time. I pick Brian up from work at 8:00, and take myself to bed by 8:30 or 9:00. I miss spending my evenings with him, but I wouldn't trade this pregnancy for anything!
I think that covers everything, but feel free to ask if you have any questions!

Goodbye Sweet Summer

Well, tomorrow is my first day of this school year. I have 28 students in my class, and many of them promise to be challenging. I'm excited to get started! I finished off my summer with some fun. I slept in, I read lots of books, played with my pets, and hung out with friends and family. We also did some special things.
Brian and I got to see the Broadway show Lion King. No, we didn't get to go to New York. The show came to Salt Lake. Brian took me out to brunch and to the show. It was really amazing. you should definitely go if you get the chance.
But most important, was a surprise 50th birthday party for my Mama. We invited friends from many different times and places in her life. It was fun to see great people, and my mom really enjoyed herself!

Coming in the door, holding up her hands like what the....

Blowing out her candles

Miah and me with the birthday girl

Michelle and Brian were sweet enough to help with it all.

Oh Summer...

I  finished summer school last week, so I am now officially on my two week summer break, YEAH! This summer has been great, even with school. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with friends (even ones who hit my car), and family (although brought together by a funeral). We also took my Mama to a Paul McCartney concert, and it was freaking AMAZING!! Seriously, you would think his voice would have given out 50 years later, but no, he sang for 3 hours! I can't even tell you how many different instruments he played. Definitely tied with The Cranberries for BEST CONCERT EVER!

We also adopted a puppy this month. Or, more correctly, I saw a puppy and fell in love and called and asked my sweet husband if I could bring him home. He let me, but made sure I understood that if it didn't work out, he was going back. But, he's working out wonderfully! He's a puppy, so he barks and chews when he shouldn't, but he will learn. Brian named him Frodo.

That's it for our summer so far, but stay tuned for more fun!

21 Months

     21 months of hopes and prayers. 21 months of counting days and taking temperatures. 21 months of doctors and medications. 21 months of "Are you guys ever going to have kids?" 21 months of prenatal vitamins. 21 months of my husband absentmindedly caressing my belly in a way that shows our longing for it to be full of something beautiful. 21 months of disappointment and frustration. 

      I know that I am blessed to have a husband that loves me, great family and friends, a good job, a home, and many other blessings that others do not have. But I still feel like part of me is missing. And some days the emptiness and longing are more painful than others.

Doctors and Diets

In the last 6 months I have seen my primary care physician, my obgyn, and my endocrinologist. All of them are trying to help with our 20 months or infertility. There are all in consensus that I need to lose weight, but these are the suggestions I have gotten from them:

Do water aerobics a few days a week.

Try the HCG diet.

You need a lot of protein, like Atkins.

You should walk at least 5 days a week.

Weight Watchers will teach you healthy life habits. 

A personal trainer could really help.

A lot of people have success with the lap band.

Besides all the bi-polar recommendations, two of them have said my weight loss so far has been "not important" and "a little, I guess". Really?! Last time I checked, that is what you want, but unless I choose your screwed up method, it doesn't count! I have lost 33 pounds, I feel good, and I was happy with who I was before this all started! I don't need them or their approval! 

But really, I do need them. I'm not ovulating, and without ovulation, I can't have a baby. And without medical "help" I don't know if my body will do it on it's own. I just wish they could make up their minds. And I wish they would try to be a little bit nice about it. I know I'm fat, but I'm also really sad that I can't get pregnant. Please try to be a little sensitive!

End of year testing

I feel like I can let out a big sigh of relief now that my students have finished end of year testing. Hooray!! I am confident that many of them did well, but I was slightly worried about a few of them. I thought I would share this story with you, and hope that it explains my class to you a little. 

*all names have been changed to protect the innocent*

First, some background information: The students at my school do their end of year testing on the computers. They get split into three computer labs based on their ability level in English, and if they are qualified for resource. The students that are qualified for resource or are low language level get some of the test read to them, so they are in different labs than the rest of my students, who get none read. Each of my low English level students have a school employee that sits next to them, plus there are 2 other teachers in the room monitoring. I have nine students that have such a low level of understanding in English that they go to the "accommodated lab". There are 11 total adults in that room, with *Mrs. Smith as the monitor. I send two kids to the resource teacher, then go with my other 13 students to the regular lab, where there are only 3 total adults.
Finally, the story: My class was called down for testing, so I took them to the bathroom, and sent them to their correct labs. *Mrs. Smith was waiting at the accommodated lab door for my students and started calling their names so she could give them their log in information. She called *Bobby, but the rest of the students said he was in the bathroom. Being third graders, they all turned around to look towards the bathroom, but they did not see *Bobby coming.*Mrs. Smith called the rest of the students' names, and was getting worried that she had not seen anyone come down the hall. She realized that there was a little boy still standing there and she asked him what his name was. He quickly told her his name was *Bobby. "Well, why didn't you answer when I called your name before?" she asked him. "They said I was in the bathroom," was his reply.

Yes, that is one of my students. Sometimes you are just too proud for words. :)

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

This coming Saturday, May 8, I will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with my friend Michelle. She lost her mom three years ago, after a long and brave fight with breast cancer.

 

That was the same year I lost my dad, and I couldn't help but think that he was lucky that he did not have to suffer like she did. I  wish that we did not have to watch the people we love suffer, and I am hoping that supporting breast cancer research is one way that we can provide a better future for everyone. Michelle has named our team Tenacious Ta-Tas. I am asking you, friends, to join our team or donate in support of breast cancer research! Just click on the link below to be taken to our page. Thank you in advance!

Tenacious Ta-tas