8 Hours of Childbirth Ed

We survived....it wasn't as boring as I thought. I was 100% familiar with the medical aspects of the talk but it was worth it to go to hear about how I'll feel during the progression through the various stages of labor. We practiced some relaxation techniques, some that I can do alone and then some pain management techniques that M can help me with.

They gave us a checklist of things that we might want to bring with us on top of the obvious things....hard candies, magazines, movies, my own robe etc. It was also suggested to hold off on the nursing bra for now and get a nursing tank instead since my milk won't come in until about 72 hours after birth...who's to know at this early point exactly how big the girls will get.

I will hold on to a few key phrases to get me through....there are only 12-20 of the worst and most painful contractions, even though I hope to long have an epidural by this point. Also, she kept saying that each contraction, even early labor at home, is getting you one step closer. As much as I've enjoyed cohabitating with Little Miss Y, I'm getting really excited to get the show on the road.

As bizarre as it sounds, I'm really intrigued to see exactly what the contractions feel like and how much I can handle.....I think the answer is going to be not very much but maybe I'll surprise myself.

Clinching the Contractor!

Oh happy day...a contractor contract is in the works! We finally got a quote from #1 but it was past his fourth deadline that he set. While we were waiting, we spoke and met with contractor #2 who came recommended from a friend in the area who's using him for a much bigger job.

He undercut the first guy by a few hundred dollars but the more important thing for us was that he had the quote ready when he said he would and he primarily communicates through email. He has been very responsive, another positive note is that the person we know who is using him found him through recommendations of people in his neighborhood that used him. They also have a great website with a portfolio of their work as well as a list of references.

We had to do some finagling with the contract, initially he wanted the final payment at the end of the job to be only $500...we didn't feel that was enough of an incentive for him to actually finish the job so it will now be $1000 at the end. We will pay him one chunk when we sign the contract and then another chunk at the end of the first days work (it's only supposed to take a few days to do this).

He is planning to stop over next week to have us sign the contract and has apparently already got some flooring samples for us to look at. He said that he can actually start the work of the job within the next two weeks and it should only be a few days.

I'm so excited that we have a rough idea of when this will get underway..I'm sick of having an ugly upstairs! It's been that way for about 2 months now, it's time to get back to normal.

Baby Knits!

Here are some socks I've started for Baby Y...I usually detest making socks because it's just as bad as making sweater sleeves. You just want to get the show on the road and then realize that you have to repeat what you just did. I usually have the problem that I never follow a pattern exactly; I trick myself into thinking that I'll remember what I changed up where but I never do and I never take great notes so that leaves me guessing on arm or sock #2. Baby socks should be more doable, they should knit up nice and quick. I don't have really small needles, the pattern calls for a 1 but I'm knitting them on a 3, she'll have to grow into them. This is the Frankie Striped Socks pattern from Vintage Baby Knits.




This pattern is from a truly vintage baby knits book that my MIL gave me. She knit things for M from it when he was little. I still have to add buttons but I haven't had a chance to run out and get them. I screwed up on one of the arms and made one of the inseams garter stitch while the other is straight, but as we just discussed, I abhor doing sleeves. It is what it is. This also turned out large, I made the smallest size possible but it looks like she'll be waiting a few years before she will wear it.

Friday Happenings

Today's plans include:

• Not working!
• Sleeping in (only till 745a but that's what happens when you can't make it up past 10)
• Treadmill (done!)
• Listen to diabetes review podcast
• Meet S and S for lunch
• Study
• Call Costco to see where M's birthday gift is....I ordered him a composter on 5/9 and recieved an email saying it went to 'fulfillment' and have heard nothing since

Freedom Begins!

I write this as I sit, completely relaxed on my couch watching M play baseball on the Xbox with a cat stretched across my lap. Normally, I would be halfway through my Tuesday night class, trying not to fall asleep.

Today was my first day of my school free schedule, I kept my hours at 30 so I have Tue/Fri off. I accomplished a lot today, but not everything on the list. Here's what I did:

• Treadmill
• Called various pediatrician offices
• Studied for 3 hours at the library
• Lunch at home
• Grocery shopping
• Made dinner (MIL's mac and cheese recipe)

This weekend was also enjoyable. We celebrated my newfound freedom by spending the day in Cape Ann. We took the scenic way up and meandered around the towns for the day (till my back started hurting and we had to call it quits). We then arrived home to find a surprise gift from M...a Canon Speedlite 430 EX II! I really want to brush on my photography skills for the babies arrival. I want to be able to take some great photos and really wanted the fill flash because I'm sure the bulk of our time will initially be spent indoors and a harsh flash isn't flattering for anyone, even the world's cutest baby. I'll post some pics soon that I took illustrating the regular camera flash vs the fill flash. You can really see the difference.

Here are some pics that I took on Cape Ann this weekend...

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Contractor Update

Well, #2 just called and is sending over a contract with the quote to M sometime tonight. M was just saying earlier that he was doubting this guy would get back to us but I told him that I thought he would. We were going to give him through tomorrow and then we were going to call. This is a breath of fresh air that he called us before we had to chase him down. After we review the contract (if we decide to go with him), he's going to start bringing over samples of flooring. He says that he can beat our first quote but only by $200.

I personally thought it was strange that he would ask how much we were quoted and stranger that M told him, look what happens when I leave the room!

To be continued....

Finito, Fine, Finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the interwebs.....I'm pleased to inform you that I did survive and that I am in fact a Master.

My last day of having to do anything grad school related was yesterday (short of turning in my final clinical hours and evaluation). Yesterday, the graduate students had to present (either oral or poster, and who would choose oral that's just crazy) our capstone projects that we've been working on for about a year.

I presented it to about 4 people, it was a breeze. And it was extra breezy becuase it was the.last.thing. i had to do. Even if I royally screwed it up, I was still graduating.

There was a breakfast, the morning presenters, a few keynote speakers, lunch, awards and then I headed for the hills. The festivities went on all day but most of my class wasn't even showing up unti the afternoon so I felt that I had put in my time.

I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and trying not to fall asleep. I intended on buying a new wallet, I want something that's real leather but without logos and junk on it. That is surprisingly hard to find. Needless to say, I did not return home with one, but instead, some of my favorite towels from Pottery Barn. For some reason, the blue ones were on sale and it will actually match our upstairs bathroom.

I spent the entire car ride in this morning asking M, "Can you believe I'm done? I mean, really? That I never have to go back there again?" I think he can believe it as evidenced by the following comments ,"Well, it was bound to end at some point." and other such variations.

But seriously...I'm still incredulous and still fear that someone will tell me that I have to just one more thing before I'm done or that I've missed some major class I should have had....

Can you believe that I will have free time this weekend? Time that is free....not time that I have taken as free time that should have been used for studying so I feel guilty during this stolen time slot...but totally free!!!!

Contractor Saga Cont'd

Ok, so here we are at Thursday, the self imposed deadline (third times a charm) for contractor #1. No Quote!

At least we have plan B paying us a visit on Saturday morning, this ball needs to get rolling!

Contractor Saga Cont'd

M got the name of a contractor that a coworker, who lives not one mile from here, is using to do lots of repairs on a home he just purchased. M left a message this afternoon and the guy already called us back, he'll be coming on Saturday morning to assess the job.

Don't get too excited yet, contractor #1 also called us right back. Speaking of #1, M called him this afternoon to ask if we should be expecting any quote at this point. He is now saying he should have it to us by Wednesday or Thursday. In theory then, we'll have this quote ready to go so we can compare with #2 (assuming we don't have to beg and plead with them to give us a quote).

We were told they weren't the cheapest quote, but the coworker felt that his portfolio and references were the best. The nice part is that they have an extensive website complete with pics of all the renos they've done. They also have testimonials and references (with phone numbers) right on their website.

Hopefully this goes well and we can actually get started.

The Final Final Countdown

I did. I went to the last class of any structured program that I'm ever going to take in my life! I have zero interest in pursuing a DNP or a PhD and I can't fathom that I every will. On our last night in class, we were basically told that if our interest is purely clinical, the MSN is the way to go and there is no need for another advanced degree. We were told that the DNP would be recommended if we wanted to do some clinical, some research, and teach. The PhD would be if you primarily want to work in academia..ugh no thanks. The only way I would consider another advanced degree is if somehow it was required to practice clinically and it doesn't sound like it will go that way.

Unfortunately, the last class lasted about 30 minutes longer than our normal classes because it was taught by my advisor and the head of the entire FNP program. A few things annoyed me about the last class (surprise, surprise). We were asked to evaluate the class but 'not to be too hard on people'. She asked us to give verbal feedback to her rather than to slam the course. I don't agree with that, it's very intimidating to provide feedback to the head of the program in front of the entire class. Interestingly, there was no space for comments. I do cherish the moment I get to review the entire program though, because I have much to say about the lack of organization and clarity.

Anyway, people said that information about credentialing, billing, certification exams, and malpractice insurance would be most useful at the beginning of or mid way through this semester instead of being scheduled for the last night of the class when nearly everyone has already chosen which certifying test they will be taking. The professor basically said that we recieved that information when we took a class about the role of the NP which is true, but that is the first class in their program. That was back in 2007! That was before any of that information was remotely relevant.

We had many questions earlier in the semester about the differences between the two offered exams and really received little to no help. Classmates looked up info, created word docs, and sent them around to other classmates. This would have been helpful as a planned topic during the course since many nights there was no scheduled content and we talked about case studies. This valuable information was crammed into 10 slides which started during the last 20 minutes of class (when we were already over the normal allotted class time).

All in all, my suggestions for the program:

• Much improvement needs to be made as far as placements go. Placements were often left up to the student, relying on connections...which is problematic if you need a peds placment and you've worked with adults your entire career. Also, depending on where you're placed, you might have a broader or more narrow experience than others. For example, one of my preceptors would not allow students to do 'male' exams (testicular, rectal, prostate) so I'm coming out of the program with no experience whatsoever. Luckily, I finally got a placement where I can do pelvics because my former site also would not let students do those.
• Customer service was completely lacking with my advisor until I was in the last year of the program. After this past year, I now see that these students are where she focuses her energy but when I had questions prior to that I wouldn't even get an email back. It was bad enough at one point that I was very close to talking to the dean.
• Better site visits. Almost every semester that I've been in clinical, my visits were postponed until the very last minute. The point of the visit is to make sure you know what you're doing and that the placement is adequate. Neither of those can be assessed properly if I'm being visited on my last day there.

M cleaned and stained the back deck stairs this weekend (I'm not a complete slouch, I wasn't helping because I'm not supposed to be aroudn the fumes). This is the before pic...

This is the after pic. It really was dull and worn before and now it looks nice and fresh. We have to do the deck itself too but trying to find a weekend where it doesn't drop below 50 and it doesn't rain is tricky at this time of year....

Contractor Saga

As you know, the contractor stopped by mid April to talk to us about our plans. He promised a quote in one week. In one week, there was no quote. We figured we would operate on contractor time and not call him again until it had been nearly 2 weeks. M called and left a message and asked him for the quote. He called back nearly a week after M left the message saying that he had started the quote but that he was really busy finishing up a house and he hasn't had time to finish it. The latest is that he is planning on dropping it off sometime this week. M did tell him that we are on a timeline because of the baby's due date and we need to get moving on this and that basically, if we don't have the quote by the end of the week we need to move on.

I'm sure it's a relatively small job, but seriously, is it that hard to pick up the phone and say that it's going to take him a bit longer than promised to get us the quote? I was in favor of moving on after he didn't return M's call but M wants to give him another shot. We have had several neighbors tell us he's done things on their homes, including an entire addition, and they were very happy with the work. The problem might be just getting him there....