$98 later...

That's how much the total bill was today when I paid for my RN level test and ordered my pin. Nursing school is expensive! We still have to order lamps that we light at the ceremony and if we are walking in graduation, gowns. I don't think I'm going to the graduation, I'm only getting a certificate. Next year I'll get a diploma so I will probably go then.

The test will be on March 27 at 1pm. That'll be 40+ people vying for 30 positions. My positive attitude this year is telling me that I don't have to worry about it. I'll get in. I'm planning on getting in.

The pinning ceremony will be on the morning of May 2! Wow, I can't believe it is that close! They haven't given us many details yet. Our pictures will be taken sometime in mid-March, the ones with the funny hats. I will probably be crying at the pinning ceremony.

I signed up with sparkpeople the other day. It was after I realized I was eating over 2000 calories a day. I will never lose weight that way. My BMI is way too high!! I've cut it down to about 1300-1500 the past couple of days. I've been trying to do some exercises too. Lucas will get down and do the streches with me. He looks so cute.

I cut my hair off a couple of weeks ago. I agonize for so long over what I'm going to do with my hair. This time I just did it without thinking about it much. Except for all the weeks that I was thinking I needed something different. I really like it! I have to wash it everyday now, I can't just put it up into a ponytail anymore. But I like it.

Ava's birthday is coming up next saturday. I can't believe she is four. It's so hard to believe she is getting that big. I think we are having a party on that day. Jay is supposed to be planning but he really hasn't officially invited anyone. Ah well, it'll go good.

Being in maternity is making me feel like my kids are getting so old. It was two years ago that I was pregnant with Lucas. Time slips by so fast. I'd like to be done with school but then my kids will be even older.

Because it's on my mind..

Today was my final day at a hospital for OB. Last week I got to see my first vaginal birth. That's it, just the birth. The mother was having her seventh baby! She pushed three times and the baby was out. It was amazing! It was really neat to hear the dr announce the baby's gender. I could never wait till that day. The parents were so happy, it's a beautiful thing to see.

Then today at a smaller hospital than the one I was in before there was one pt. She was having her 8th baby! She agreed to let me be in the room watching. They had planned on having their baby at a birthing center but a non stress test showed the baby's heartrate to have no variability. The midwife thought it was best that she go to the hospital. Except for a short time in the morning her baby was doing great! 

I got to see her through all the stages of labor. She knew exactly how her body responded to labor, she was telling us what her reactions would be in transition and such. She got to a point that she felt like she might have to push. The Dr was there in between other things he had going on and they were discussing giving her a straight cath since it had been a while since she'd voided. She just starts pushing. The baby's head was out after one push! (If I hadn't had kids myself I might expect that this is how labor and delivery goes. Two super fast deliveries, they really made it look easy!) The baby came out face down like she was supposed to and the Dr guided her head to the mother's left where I was standing and I saw it. The baby was still covered in vernix but I could tell she had a complete cleft lip. I'm sure the dr knew when he was suctioning her and said that it was a cleft palate as well. He very calmly stated that the baby has a cleft palate in the same tone of voice that he told them it was a girl. I think everyone in the room was just shocked. The baby was about two pounds lighter than her previously lightest baby, the cord was very small. They had to study it to make sure there were three vessels. But the baby was stable. She obviously had problems latching but the nurses and midwife worked to get them information and the right kind of nipples for the baby. 

I was in the room when they were making calls to family to let them know that the baby was born and that it was a girl. The father gave all the major information then just threw in that the baby had a cleft palate. When the mother made a phone call her voice cracked on those words. Some words I'm sure she couldn't believe were coming out of her mouth. After we moved her to her postpartum room the mother stated that with all things considered (at one point they were thinking the baby was going to die) this is a good outcome for them. I'm not completely sure how the father is dealing with it. He was pretty stoic. I don't remember him holding the baby. Maybe that's the way he is or maybe he was still in shock. Not the joy that I saw with the first delivery. Mom did bond with the baby though she spent some time in the nursery because of her blood sugar and her temperature being low.