So about 3 weeks ago I was thinking to myself, "bed rest wouldn't be that bad." I don't really know what made me think about this as I was doing just fine and did not expect for that to ever happen to me. I was thinking, hey, I love laying on the couch and watching tv, movies, and playing on the internet so it can't be too bad.
Then, just 2 weeks ago I went to the doctor for what I thought were some minor complications. Turned out they found that I have a shortened cervix. The doctor thought it could be due to an infections. He put me on bed rest for a few days and gave me some medicine. By the end of the weekend I was not very fond of bed rest anymore. I had another appointment to be checked again and was hoping everything would be fine and I could get up. That appointment did not go as well. My cervix was shorter than it was before. Dr. Lyman came in and told me that I had to continue to be on complete bed rest. We started asking what I could do and he pretty much said no to everything I asked. He said I could get up to go to the bathroom. I asked how long I would have to be on bed rest. He said, "Well, a full term baby is 37-38 weeks" (I was at 24 weeks). I started crying a little bit. He explained to us that if they had not found this problem and I kept working and doing normal activities then i would definitely have a premature baby. He explained the importance of making it to 28-30 weeks before the baby is born. I think I cried that entire day.
Our sweet families and friends have surrounded us and encouraged us. They have helped us in so many ways and we feel so loved. I have really seen the body of Christ at work in our life. The prayers and service has been amazing. It has truly made me feel like we can get through this time in our life.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Brody Mason Parrish
My nephew, Brody, was born today. 8 lbs 10 oz. 21 1/2 inches long.
Here is a picture of Uncle Ray with Brodes (as Ray calls him).
I can't wait to hold you sweet baby boy!
Here is a picture of Uncle Ray with Brodes (as Ray calls him).
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
In November...
I read a book to my class yesterday called In November by Cynthia Rylant. It has beautiful language that describes the things that happen in November. Time has flown by as it always does once school starts. It's November . I love that it is fall and it is finally getting chilly. I like the cold weather. I love taking out my sweaters and jackets. I love drinking hot chocolate and snuggling in the blankets when it gets cold in the house.
I love that by November in my classroom things have pretty much normalized. There are always off days but for the most part things go according to our set routine that the children are used to. In November I don't feel as stressed at work. This year has been especially difficult because I have changed curriculum's. I have been teaching 5 year old traditional kindergarten for 3 years and this year I am teaching a 3-5 year old multi-age primary Montessori class. I began the training for Montessori last summer not really knowing anything about it. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the classes. I found it very interesting and developmentally appropriate for young children. I was excited about teaching this new way. However, this year has been hard. It feels like my first year teaching again - which it basically is. I have felt like I know nothing and am not doing anything right or teaching these kids anything. I have cried many days after work asking Ray if I could quit. The 3 year olds are so much different than the 5's I was used to. But it is now November. The other day I thought about how I come home much less stressed than I have the last few years. I enjoy watching my children choose their own lessons during our morning work time. I enjoy observing them try new things with the materials and I enjoy teaching individual lessons rather than planning tons of large group lessons. I love sitting on the floor with a book and allowing children to come gather around me to listen, just if they want to, without forcing them to. I still make lesson plans for each day and I still plan what I need to teach to make sure that each child is growing and learning but it's just different than past years. I don't feel chained to the standards. I feel freedom to teach each child from where they are and I'm enjoying it more and more each day. Last week I was walking around the room during work time and I watched two boys sitting together with the world globe. They were singing the continent song together and pointing to each continent on the globe. We had been singing this song together at line time (group time) and talking about the globe and the continents and these 4 adn 5 year old boys were choosing to do this on their own together. I just love watching their little minds learn things.
So this year, In November, I am very thankful for my job where I can see young minds learning every day.
I love that by November in my classroom things have pretty much normalized. There are always off days but for the most part things go according to our set routine that the children are used to. In November I don't feel as stressed at work. This year has been especially difficult because I have changed curriculum's. I have been teaching 5 year old traditional kindergarten for 3 years and this year I am teaching a 3-5 year old multi-age primary Montessori class. I began the training for Montessori last summer not really knowing anything about it. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the classes. I found it very interesting and developmentally appropriate for young children. I was excited about teaching this new way. However, this year has been hard. It feels like my first year teaching again - which it basically is. I have felt like I know nothing and am not doing anything right or teaching these kids anything. I have cried many days after work asking Ray if I could quit. The 3 year olds are so much different than the 5's I was used to. But it is now November. The other day I thought about how I come home much less stressed than I have the last few years. I enjoy watching my children choose their own lessons during our morning work time. I enjoy observing them try new things with the materials and I enjoy teaching individual lessons rather than planning tons of large group lessons. I love sitting on the floor with a book and allowing children to come gather around me to listen, just if they want to, without forcing them to. I still make lesson plans for each day and I still plan what I need to teach to make sure that each child is growing and learning but it's just different than past years. I don't feel chained to the standards. I feel freedom to teach each child from where they are and I'm enjoying it more and more each day. Last week I was walking around the room during work time and I watched two boys sitting together with the world globe. They were singing the continent song together and pointing to each continent on the globe. We had been singing this song together at line time (group time) and talking about the globe and the continents and these 4 adn 5 year old boys were choosing to do this on their own together. I just love watching their little minds learn things.
So this year, In November, I am very thankful for my job where I can see young minds learning every day.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Give thanks
more things to be thankful for....
11. A peaceful classroom in October - I knew I needed to make it to October for all of my kids to get in the grove of things at school and now we are doing out work in a peaceful classroom (almost) every day.
12. My sweet husband who continuously takes care of me even when I'm emotional and hormonal :)
13. Family Gatherings - We enjoyed a good time of food, fellowship, and karaoke in Aiken at Ma and Pa's house this weekend (Ray's grandparents).
14. A great time of community with our friends and neighbors this weekend.
15. No duty at school this week. I don't have to be at work until 7:30 am.
16. Rest
17. Chocolate quickie bars made by my mother-in-law! I've been eating them all weekend and now the last one in our house is in a bag with a post it attached to it saying "Not for Julie!" (Ray is thankful for these too!)
18. cereal - pretty much my favorite thing to eat.
19. a fun time talking to my sister on the phone this afternoon.
20. Listening to Kate, my niece, fill up her letter box up with things that start with 'F' so she could take it back to school. (even though she would not talk to me on the phone and tell me what she put in it!).
11. A peaceful classroom in October - I knew I needed to make it to October for all of my kids to get in the grove of things at school and now we are doing out work in a peaceful classroom (almost) every day.
12. My sweet husband who continuously takes care of me even when I'm emotional and hormonal :)
13. Family Gatherings - We enjoyed a good time of food, fellowship, and karaoke in Aiken at Ma and Pa's house this weekend (Ray's grandparents).
14. A great time of community with our friends and neighbors this weekend.
15. No duty at school this week. I don't have to be at work until 7:30 am.
16. Rest
17. Chocolate quickie bars made by my mother-in-law! I've been eating them all weekend and now the last one in our house is in a bag with a post it attached to it saying "Not for Julie!" (Ray is thankful for these too!)
18. cereal - pretty much my favorite thing to eat.
19. a fun time talking to my sister on the phone this afternoon.
20. Listening to Kate, my niece, fill up her letter box up with things that start with 'F' so she could take it back to school. (even though she would not talk to me on the phone and tell me what she put in it!).
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is Nikki. She is my best friend who lives in Alaska.
Every fall when we were in college Nikki's mom would express mail her a box full of homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I always got to partake of these cookies! I've started making these cookies every fall. Ray has been asking me to make them for several weeks now so yesterday I made some!
Here is the recipe for Ms. Nancy's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Combine:
1 14 1/2 oz can of pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons milk
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 eggs
Add:
4 cups flour
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
Fold in 2 cups chocolate chips.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes or less (depending on your oven)
Remove when you can no longer see your finger prints in the cookies.
YUM!!!
Every fall when we were in college Nikki's mom would express mail her a box full of homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I always got to partake of these cookies! I've started making these cookies every fall. Ray has been asking me to make them for several weeks now so yesterday I made some!
Here is the recipe for Ms. Nancy's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Combine:
1 14 1/2 oz can of pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons milk
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 eggs
Add:
4 cups flour
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
Fold in 2 cups chocolate chips.
Remove when you can no longer see your finger prints in the cookies.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thankfulness
I have been thinking lately about having an attitude of thankfulness. I tend to complain about the little things and fail to remember all the blessings God has put in my life. Here are some things that I am thankful for.
1. My sweet husband, Ray. He is such a blessing in my life and I'm so glad God gave me him.
2. This precious baby boy that is growing inside me.
3. Wonderful parents and in-laws.
4. My awesome sister and precious niece.
5. My friends - near and far.
6. A job to go to everyday where I see young children learn.
7. Our church community.
8. The coolness of fall.
9. The starbucks white mocha
10. Honey Nut Cheerios- my favorite thing to eat!
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
1. My sweet husband, Ray. He is such a blessing in my life and I'm so glad God gave me him.
2. This precious baby boy that is growing inside me.
3. Wonderful parents and in-laws.
4. My awesome sister and precious niece.
5. My friends - near and far.
6. A job to go to everyday where I see young children learn.
7. Our church community.
8. The coolness of fall.
9. The starbucks white mocha
10. Honey Nut Cheerios- my favorite thing to eat!
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday Football
It is fall now and that means football! Every Saturday Ray and I sit on the couch for the most part of the day and watch football. I watch and sleep and search the internet. Ray watches intently, sometimes pacing around the house (mostly when UGA plays). Now I knew about football before I met Ray. I was a cheerleader in high school for football and had to know when we were on offense or defense in order to call the right cheers. I went to USC for college and never missed a home game in four years. BUT then I met Ray. We dated and I would watch football with him some. We went to some games and nonchalantly argued over Carolina vs. Georgia. Then we got married and moved into the same house. That's when I learned about football. I know about all kinds of players from all over the country in college and in the NFL. I know what teams are ranked every week and where Game Day is going to be on Saturday. We have discussions at dinner about football strategies. I have realized after 2 years of marriage to Ray that the fall for our family will always mean football on Saturday .... and Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. and I am thankful for another TV in the bedroom during this season!
Here are my thoughts/reviews from the first October football Saturday :)
-Tennessee almost beat LSU! It was a sad ending. I felt bad for Tennessee but seriously just keep your defense on the field and not try to change all kinds of players in .2 seconds.
-Alabama killed Florida.... I'm just hoping for USC to actually make a touchdown this Saturday when Alabama comes to town.
-Oregon beat Stanford. (which was a big game aparantly). Stanford was winning when I went to sleep and I was worried about my friend Nikki (who just married a huge Oregon fan). But I found out on Sunday that Oregon did in fact win. I'm glad for your team Dave!
-The Georgia Bulldogs lost at the very end of the game. We had a lot of pacing and loud talking in our house during the first half of the game against Colorado. But when I went to bed they had come back and were winning thanks to AJ Green and his amazing one handed catch in the end zone. it was looking good. Then on Sunday I found out they lost by 2 points. so sad. Sorry sweetie! (I do cheer for Georgia when they aren't playing Carolina!)
Here are my thoughts/reviews from the first October football Saturday :)
-Tennessee almost beat LSU! It was a sad ending. I felt bad for Tennessee but seriously just keep your defense on the field and not try to change all kinds of players in .2 seconds.
-Alabama killed Florida.... I'm just hoping for USC to actually make a touchdown this Saturday when Alabama comes to town.
-Oregon beat Stanford. (which was a big game aparantly). Stanford was winning when I went to sleep and I was worried about my friend Nikki (who just married a huge Oregon fan). But I found out on Sunday that Oregon did in fact win. I'm glad for your team Dave!
-The Georgia Bulldogs lost at the very end of the game. We had a lot of pacing and loud talking in our house during the first half of the game against Colorado. But when I went to bed they had come back and were winning thanks to AJ Green and his amazing one handed catch in the end zone. it was looking good. Then on Sunday I found out they lost by 2 points. so sad. Sorry sweetie! (I do cheer for Georgia when they aren't playing Carolina!)
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