Glucose Test

I forgot to mention that I took the first glucose test last Tuesday...and failed it. (The junk wasn't as bad as I was afraid of, like McDonald's drink that wasn't diluted enough, but it did make me feel a little queasy.) So Monday morning I get to go in fasting and take the second test. With my family history, it's no surprise. Of course, I am hoping that my pancreas is working sufficiently that I don't have gestational diabetes because I really don't want to prick my finger several times a day and have to give up my morning cereal.

Sue was telling me that she sometimes had to add more fat to her diet with her gestational diabetes to ensure that she got enough calories (we were raised eating very lean foods for my Dad's heart, so we don't cook with a lot of fat normally.) After she left, I started worrying about my gall stones. The ultrasound lady told me my stones were small, so I should watch my fat intake and then I won't have to deal with them until after the baby comes. The gall stones are caused by the pregnancy hormones, but unlike the diabetes, they don't disappear after the baby is born. So, no carbs and no fat - what is there left? We already eat a lot of salad with chicken - and I am to the point that I can't stand chicken anymore. So, um, beef and veggies three times a day? Last night we went to Sizzlers with Gediminas after graduation to celebrate the end of the school year...and get steak for me and the baby. Too bad we can't afford steak every night.

Last Week of School

Monday - holidays are great for catching up on laundry. We had a BBQ last Saturday and visited with Cousin Lisa.

Tuesday - Technology hated me that day. As a teacher, there are certain days when technology karma hates you. I am absolutely serious. (It's the karma to balance out all the good technology days I have.) If one thing breaks, expect that others will too, and you need to come up with an alternative lesson FAST. First thing to break was the DVD player during the first class of the day. Oh, it would play the DVD, but it wouldn't eject the DVD. When you hit "open" it started playing again instead. Since I teach different subjects, I couldn't show the same thing to each class. (It was the last day students have to attend, and once they finish the final test, I was supposed to correct tests while they watched a video for the last half of class - that way I have final grades for seniors ready and can sign their clearance forms). So, I had to run the DVDs off my laptop instead - making it impossible to enter grades during the video. Then my classroom IP phone went berserk - cutting people off, going offline, not letting me call out, and randomly going to speakerphone and not turning off for a full minute. I think there is a short in the board - you pressed one button and either nothing happened, or it thought you pressed another button. Lastly, with all the other teachers also entering grades, the internet kept going out. (That might not sound like a huge problem, but GradeBook is a web-based program, so it won't let you enter in scores unless there is a continuous internet connection. The old program used to have a 'work offline' option, but not the new one.)

Wednesday - Werty came to work with me in the morning, took apart the DVD player and saved the DVD. Then he also joined me for lunch later. It was so nice to spend time together, even if I was working. I finished my last batch of tests and grade entries. My department head authorized me to purchase a new DVD/VCR combo. Happy day! That kind of turn around never happens in public schools. I also told him about my pregnancy, and he pretended to be surprised, even though I could tell that he has known for a while but was too polite to say anything until I did.

Today - a blessed half day. I had my final evaluation with the asst principal. I picked up my hood and gown for graduation tomorrow. I found out what I should do before taking maternity leave in the Fall to make sure I have a sub. (I can take up to 6 weeks off - relief!) The stress of letting the principals know about my pregnancy is now off my shoulders. I started going through the ESL files, making copies of materials I will need next year before the other teacher takes them all away next week. Tomorrow I will finish with the files, hopefully. Oh, and I helped some students make up work and bring their grade up to passing today. I also signed a number of yearbooks, one kid said my class was his favorite because I was "the only teacher with a sense of humor." Funny how the kids that sometimes drive you crazy are the ones that come back to visit you.

Telling my students

"There is one more question I want you to add to your test. Is your teacher going to have a boy or a girl?" "What? You're pregnant?" "We knew it," said two girls as they gave each other high fives. The boys were clueless, of course. A few girls had noticed that I had started wearing maternity clothes the last two weeks and had been wondering. My 8th period class was upset that I didn't tell them sooner. Unanimously, students were shocked when I told them I was already 6 months along. And the informal poll? The majority got it right by a landslide. One of the kids thought that I had printed the test on blue paper as a hint - but my TA actually picked the color and printed the test for me this time. One of the boys actually came up later and asked me if I had pregnancy cravings - a sweet, polite kid. "Oranges, when I first got pregnant, and fruit. I crave fruit a lot." The class that was telling me I should adopt and the boy who thought I should "get started" with having kids - the boy was indignant, "But I asked you if you had kids." "And I said 'Not yet.'" "Oh." A girl who is also in my ward, "Is that why you're cranky today?" (one of the reasons I didn't tell them earlier...) "Am I cranky? I've been pregnant the whole semester." "Oh...nevermind then." The most astute kids were the few who got suspicious when they noticed that I started sitting down on empty desktops occasionally when I lecture instead of standing the whole time.

Woohoo!

I have a friend from back home that I have been trying to track down for a few years. I got an email from her today!!! She and I first met in middle school, and she's such a great person. I located her on LinkedIn a couple of months ago and have been waiting to see if she would respond. Isn't technology grand?

Speaking of technology, I jokingly asked the guys in my IB class if any of them wanted to write my baby sister Crayola. She's their same age, taking the exact same IB tests. (The kids are taking their tests still this week, so our class consisted of informal conversation and debates between the students...not a typical day...not a subject I would typically joke about...you had to be there.) They decided that would be weird - if they married her then they would have to see one of their old teachers at family functions. Well, I had to laugh. I told them that I didn't expect them to MARRY my sister, just make a friend - and that the more girls that send you mail on your missions the better - because receiving mail is one of the only things you have to entertain yourself as a missionary. Anyway, that was Tuesday. Today, one of the guys said, "So, we talked it over, and we decided we would be willing to write your sister on facebook if she has a facebook account." I think it's funny, especially that they talked about it afterwards, but a smart move - you can have many acquiantances online, and you can get to know whether or not you even want to get to know someone that way. So, I guess I have to ask Crayola if she has a facebook account and whether or not she is mortified that I was trying to set her up with some Utah IB guys. hee hee.

A Vote for the Politeness Theory

Not everyone is as oblivious as my students. I told the other advisor for NHS today, and she told me that she has suspected for a month now, and been sure for almost that long. She could tell I was showing. She guessed that I was due in August or September by when I started showing. So, I think some people suspect but are waiting to hear confirmation before they bring it up, like she was. If that's the case, than I shouldn't be so worried about what I wear to work.

The principal came and did his end of the year observation today. I had given him the last weeks as a suggested window - with a guarantee that we wouldn't be taking any tests. I am glad he came today and not on Thursday. Today we did the test review, and he had to stay longer than usual to see me actually in front of the room doing the review game (part of the requirement, he has to see me lead the class in instruction). But next time would have been a whole lot worse, since they are taking the actual unit test. Anyway, it's done. Now I can stop being nervous every time the door opens during class.

I finally announced it

A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to tell the RS that I was pregnant, but they have been forgetting to have the "good news" moment all month. Finally, today in church, they had the good news moment, and I got up the courage to raise my hand. "We're having a boy." "Oh." said the shocked RS counselor. So, I really did catch them by surprise.

My niece went to a birthday party yesterday, and it turns out the birthday boy and another mom that were there are in our ward. My sister got to talking with this mom, and asked her if she knew me - she gave my description, including the fact that I was pregnant, and this other mom said, "What? She's pregnant?" So either I don't look as big as a I think I do, or everyone thinks I am normally this size (and this chesty). I can fit into some of my normal clothes - I wear regular slacks and shirts to work still, though they are getting less comfortable. Sue thinks it is more a matter of politeness. It's not good to assume someone is pregnant unless they say they are.

My students on Friday: "Teacher, do you have any kids?"
"I don't have any...yet." (in my head I want to say, 'not for a few months anyway.')
"Then you don't get anything for Mother's Day." "Yeah, you don't count."
"I don't count, huh?"
"Yeah, cause you aren't a mom." "You should adopt. How old are you?" "You can't ask that." "You look young for your age." "That sounds worse." "You look young enough to be a teenager."
"Uh, no. I don't want to look like a teenager."
"Like a college student...yeah."
"Uh-huh. Well, back to the 5th Amendment..."

Save the date...

My baby shower will be on June 27th. I am working on getting addresses for people - like Charlynne - so invites can go out soon. I will let you know exact times when I know. :D

Three more weeks left in school. I keep being asked to participate or teach or go to training this summer, some of these nominations are an honor to be considered, but I think I might be a little busy and too pregnant for some of these programs. Problem is, people don't wait to hear me say "no."