Ode to Virginia Tech

Dr. Coach Beamer:

Your team has encapactivated my husband's attention for the last 2 years. Not only has his wardrobe tripled in VT gear, but our phone bill went sky high with constant BeamerBall.com updates and HokieSports.com. We, I mean he, can't go more than 4 hours without checking statistics, player and coach quotes, your take of how the games went, etc.

Need I say more, we have been officially "un-invited" to Penn State football parties as my husband will only wear VT apparel. With your teams most recent appearance in the Chick-Fil-A bowl game, I am thankful that your team prevailed and came out on top. Our New Years Eve was spent in front of the television screen, eyes glued to your kicker, and fists pounding on my glass living room table.

I have tried to be the most supportive wife possible. I have traveled via car to Maryland with my husband, who is like a giddy school girl going on her first date; and I have traveled via RV. (thank God for awesome friends). The trips were memorable, stopping at truck stops, tail-gating with loved ones, and watching pull out televisions from the side of the RV. I have even stooped low enough to earn brownie points from my husband by colorfully creating cookies in maroon and orange. And yes, my VT wardrobe has expanded by 1 shirt. :)

Coach Beamer, as another year is completed, and we have 2 more left to watch, I thank you for giving my husband back. This year was topped by an awesome, blessful pregnancy and the announcement of your team winning the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
A happy wife

3 hour GTT

As most of you already read, I failed my first 1 hour GTT. So, this gave me the privledge of sitting in a lab for 3 hours on a Friday morning. I had been following this special "high carb" diet for 3 days prior and had nothing to eat since Thursday evening at 8pm.

My test started Friday at 7 am with the first blood draw. Level was good and the test was continued. ( I guess if the level is too high, diabetes is already determined and the test is cancelled... I didn't want this! ) I chugged down 100mL's of a gross orange flavored, pure sugar beverage in 5 minutes. It was so nasty! I then waited.... for each hour to pass until my next level was taken.

Hospital work, competencies, solitare, and reading passed my 3 hours fairly quickly. It helped drinking a liter of water throughout as the staff said I might get sick on the orange beverage. Thank goodness that didn't happen!

3 more levels were taken at 1 hour intervals. The last level to be taken was attempted by a student in the lab. He missed my pipes 3 times until someone else came in to finally get the blood. Trust me, I would have drawn the level myself but I was not leaving without giving the last sample... I was not about to repeat the test!

So, after all was said and done, I thought a little shopping was due. Heading to the outlets, I was so craving McDonalds for some crazy reason. As I sat in the parking lot of the outlets, I suddenly started sweating, stripping off layers of clothing and opening all the car doors. I was trying to find anything in my car to eat, as I could feel myself getting dizzy and lightheaded. I found 1/2 a chocolate bar and let me tell you... I couldn't get the pieces in my mouth fast enough. I was shaking so badly. After I felt my body had it's second dose of high sugar, I proceeded with shopping...

When I got to work on Saturday, I checked my glucose levels. My last level was 43! Way low, as normal is 80-120. Um, can we say hypoglycemic? No wonder I felt the way I did.

Thank goodness for not having gestational diabetes! I guess we'll see how the doctor responds to my test at my appointment tomorrow. And this only starts the beginning adventure of motherhood :)

1 hour GTT

WHAT!? How could I fail!? I failed my 1 hour Glucose Tolerance Test! I totally do not understand!

Up until this point, I have gained 6 lbs. I have no risk factors for diabetes, nor have I exhibited any signs/symptoms. I am eating healthy, or atleast trying to. Everything I seem to eat, makes me nauseated as this kiddo is having a party every night inside. But I love the movements and I can't help but stop everything I'm doing to watch my belly move :)

Back to my 1 hour... HOW COULD I FAIL! I am so disappointed in myself. My level was 157 and the doctors would prefer it be < 130. I now am forced to sit in a lab for 3.5 hours and have my blood drawn multiple times to recheck my glucose levels. To make matters worse, I have to drink DOUBLE the amount of glucose water for it; PLUS, eat a high carbohydrate diet for 3 days before the test. UGH! I am so upset! Not cool!

My test is Friday, Dec. 18 at 7am. I am determined not to have gestational diabetes....

30 weeks!

We are just about finished with the nursery... FINALLY!

My parents were super great to come over for an entire weekend and help set up the nursery, paint, and put together the many pieces of furniture. John and my dad did an awesome job on the handy-man work while my mom and I finished painting.

In the beginning, I had originally wanted stripes for the wall, but my mom suggested circles, as she thought these would be easier.... Yeh, ok....
2 1/2 hour later, the circles were complete... yes, you read correctly. It took 2 1/2 hours to paint those circles! All I have to say is that this room will not be repainted by us, but maybe the next owners.

I love the room! I love the furniture, I think it's classy, yet will definately suite for years to come, no matter what the gender. The bed converts to a double bed, super nice! And I am so pleased that I was able to get the linens that I wanted from the beginning. I love everything about this room. It's funny, because at times, I'll just stand in there for a minute or two; not really knowing what to think. Then everynight as we look across the hall, John comments, "2 months babe..." Yup, I know, and it can't come soon enough!

We are so blessed in everyway and cannot wait to see this little blessing of both of us.

A kid in a candy store...

John was invited to attend 'camp' this year with some of his friends. Our evening consisted of gathering all his hunting gear for the weekend following Thanksgiving. We ventured out to Cabela's for last minute supplies; which basically consisted of all his own hunting gear. Eventhough he already owned a gun, he was still borrowing the camo attire, backpacks, etc... for each trip. He was SO excited purchasing his own camo pants, headlamp, and backpack that holds a gun. I felt like I was with a kid in a candy store. We spent so much time gathering up his gear, we barely had time left to look at the displays of animals (as this is my favorite part about Cabelas).

John left on a Sunday afternoon, following 3 days of football; both college and high school. (We couldn't leave without going to another VT game :) ). From what I have heard of the trip, everyone had a great time. Two of his friends both got bucks. I don't think John even shot at anything though, but it was all for the experience. He loved every minute of it.

Here are a few pictures from the nights before, getting John ready. Let me tell you, this backpack and gun almost pulled me over it was so heavy! I couldn't imagine carrying it through the woods yet.

Christmas Cookies

How yummy!

I have so been craving good old fashioned Dutch cooking lately. It hasn't helped matters that all John has been talking about is chicken pot pie either, and I have no clue how to make it. So, I spent the entire day with my grandma, learning the basics of cooking. We made chicken pot pie, peanut brittle, sandtarts, and rice krispies. UMMM, everything was sooo good. And surprisingly, John loved the chicken pot pie, even with the bits of veggies we snuck in.

My grandma's orders for sandtarts consisted of 500 dozen this year... a major increase in production from last season. Within 1 hour, we had already produced 30 dozen! Needless to say, she had rolled, stamped, and decorated 3 baking sheets by the time I completed my first. It didn't help matters that my cookies were not paper thin, hence demoting me to "pro-sprinkler" only. We did so many sandtarts that day and John was glad to see me come home with some of the procedes :)

I love learning how to bake from my grandma and have been asking about a cook book for many Christmas's. It has yet to be produced, as she uses no measurements or cooking utencils. She "eye-balls" it, or so she says, until it looks right. I guess I am in for some more cooking lessons in the near future...

Wow!

Things are moving along quickly! 4 extremities, functioning heart; all is well. 24.2 weeks today! Can't believe it! Gender continues to be a mystery....


Although, on Halloween night, my mom and I attempted to do the needle and thread trick. I'm not quite sure if I fully believe this or not, but the needle starting circling my palm. ? Girl ? I guess we'll have to wait and see. My doctor said today she predicts a boy... ?

Don't go to the Re-ver :(

This past weekend, the boys made their annual camping trip up the Susquehanna river. The wives were only invited once and after a near-drowning, were weren't invited back. I was packed and ready to go this year, but being the only woman going, I backed out and decided to let it be a "boys weekend." They never really get to do this kind of stuff and I thought by next year, there will hopefully be kids in the picture for a coupld of the boys. From what I heard, it rained Saturday night, bonfire was good, steaks I marinated went over well, and there was tons of food left over. Besides John's cut up leg, I'm so glad they had a wonderful time. No one drowned, no one lost a limb, and they had another great bonding experience.



A look up the Susquehanna River; mightly low water...


Bob and Joe loaded down with tarps, water, drinks, sleeping bags, and of course, homemade brownies :) YUM!


John manned with fire wood to last a year, food, tents, and a one-man paddle. I just love the life vest laying in front of him; thought it was used for more. Oh well.

Loxley's with the Ladies

It was about time that the group from nursing school got together. We had gone from seeing each other 24/7 (or so it felt like), to having busy lives where everyone was running different directions. Now that we all seemed to be established in our jobs, we planned for one night together. It was certainly not what we were use to. There were no more talks about tests, teachers, or clinicals. Instead, we found out we actually had other lives we were leading. It was neat to "re-get to know everyone."
We ended up going to a new restaurant, Loxleys. It is basically a 3 story tree house build off the side of a hotel. It was pretty awesome. Unfortunatly, by the time we were ready to eat, it started raining. So inside we went. Oh well....

1 year anniversary

I can not believe how fast a year has gone! I feel like we've accomplished so much since last year...
-graduating school
-starting a family
-John's business purchasing a new office
-buying our lot; and all JP's toys to go with it:)

I can't wait to see what the future holds for us as many more years go by. Hopefully not as fast as this first one though.


For our anniversary, John and I went to Fells Point for a long weekend. My aunt and uncle had purchased a night at The Inn At Hendersens Wharf as our wedding gift. We had been waiting to use it when the season was just right. We wanted to go sight-seeing, explore the town, etc. This was the perfect occassion.




We toured the Royal Australian Navy Ship that happened to be anchored in Baltimore. The ship was amazing! I think John's favorite part was going into the control room and seeing all the technology, maps, and the captain's chair. I would be safe to say this was the best part of his trip. We had an awesome time.

Here he is next to his favorite thing... the gun stationed on the bow of the ship.


The weather was too nice during the day and evenings to hail a taxi. We went by water, a water taxi to be exact. $6/day would get you anywhere. We loved it.

Heathsville, Md: July 8-12

Two weeks ago, John and I had the opportunity to go to his sister's home on the bay in Maryland. This was only my 2-3rd time down, but it's so peaceful everytime we go.
John had to work on Wednesday about 1 1/2 hours away, so I had the privledge of riding along with him. Being that it was a long day with nothing for me to do, I ventured towards Gettysburg and decided to tour some of the area.

I can only remember being in Gettysburg during elementary school, but not remembering much of the history or surroundings. I took the auto-tour path and stopped many times along the way to view the scenery. I also got to visit the new visitors center which is gorgeous! I wish I had had more time, but with the 45 minute drive back to John, I needed to call it a day after 4 hours. (plus, I was dying to fit in a manicure and pedicure)

Pennsylvania Monument


Little Round Top overlooking Devil's Den (left) and the Valley of Death





John got off work around 2:30 and we made the long trip to the Northern Neck of Virginia. The drive was uneventful, and I managed to stay awake for most of it. We met the Hogan's almost 1/2 way and stopped for dinner right on the bay. It was such good food and sitting on the deck, overlooking the water was just perfect.


We spent the rest of the week riding jet skis, taking boat rides, and sitting on the deck enjoying the weather. We had the perfect weather! I got plenty of sun, took naps almost everyday, and just enjoyed the relaxation.

On Friday, Carol Jean and her kids arrived (John and Jacquie's cousin). We had a blast with them! We haven't actually seen them since the wedding, it's been that long, so it was good to catch up on everything.

Friday and Saturday, we steamed crabs... John's favorite. PJ bought a huge box of live crabs and steamed them himself. John seemed to really enjoy them.





Needless to say, before the cooking process, we each picked a crab and had crab races on the dock. Mine lost. It didn't help that my poor guy was limbless, double time! He could barely save himself :(


Here are just a few other pictures of everyone having a good time. Thanks Jacquie and PJ for the fun, much needed week of relaxation!



John and I took a cruise to who knows where. It was so nice and the water was so calm. These things can go up to 80mph!





Kate and Jack

Jacquie, John, and Carol Jean

Tired, and not ready for the long drive back to Pennsylvania

July 4th

We celebrated Gabrielle's birthday at the Barnstormers Game. John had box tickets for the game, although towards the end, we ended up sitting with friends. Here are some pictures of the night.



My first love... haha:)


My true love


Abigail and her friend


Gabrielle and her friend



You never realize how much money you can spend at a baseball game. Almost $50 for 4 platters of chicken fingers and fries and $4 for ice cream. It was nuts, but overall, we had a fun night.