The Dreaded Exam

On May 9th, I graduated from Allen College with my post-master's certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. In order to practice, I need to pass a national certification exam. I have scheduled the exam but am not telling anyone exactly when I am taking it. I am so scared of failing! I passed grad school with straight A's and had no problems there but since I have been doing all these review questions from test prep books I am failing them! From what I read people say the review questions are harder than the actual exam, however, I still feel like I am so not ready. But, I don't want to wait too long before taking it because I want everything to be fresh still. Ugh! I hate taking tests and am so glad this is the last one I will have to take! I have also had a job offer and they are waiting to do a contract until I pass my exam, but I haven't told them I have scheduled it yet because I do not want them asking me about it right away especially if I don't pass. So much stress I am so over it and ready for vacation!! Well, enough rambling, I better get back to studying!!!

Presley Jeanne Wilson

So I have been meaning to get Presley's birth story on here for some time but between being busy with graduation and adjusting to three kids it just hasn't happened. So, I write this now, Presley being 8 weeks old, seemingly like she has been here for ever yet at the same time still feels so new.

So let me remind you that with both boys they were delivered at 38 weeks and 5 days and came on their own with no inductions. Now sister here, had her own plans and wanted to out do her brothers already. I went to the doctor for my 38 week check and was only 1 cm dilated with very little effacement and the baby was still pretty high. At that point I was measuring 42 weeks  and the doctor suggested an induction a few days before my due date if she didn't make her arrival before then. Our doctor who knows me well, even said I doubt you will go much longer though even though things aren't very progressed because baby's typically follow a pattern and I had such similar experiences with the boys. He was even surprised I was still pregnant at that point with so many episodes of preterm labor in my history. So I went on my way and at that point I was still super busy with work and school. I was working 20 hours a week ( 8 hr and 12 hr shifts), school in Waterloo one day a week, and my clinicals at a family practice office two days a week with hospital rounds every Saturday morning. At this point even though I was huge and super uncomfortable I was okay with her going to her due date because if she did I would have completed all my clinical hours for graduation. The next week I went in at my 39 week check and there was no change so he decided to induce me on March 12, 2014, two days before my due date. He suggested that he would just break my water and see if I progress on my own at the induction and we agreed. The night before my induction we took the boys to supper and just spent a lot of time together savoring these last moments as a family of four. The next day we took the boys to preschool/daycare and headed to the hospital around 830. It was so weird to get up knowing I was going to meet our daughter that day and actually have time to get the boys ready and everything prepared. As unnatural as it felt, being that I have never been induced, it was nice at the same time planning wise. We arrived at the hospital and the doctor broke my water around 915 am. My contractions started and I began walking. Presley had meconium in her fluid so they kept me on the monitors pretty frequently to watch her. They decided around 1100 to start Pitocin to get things going related to her having the meconium (bowel movement inside that signifies that she could be stressed). After the pitocin was started the contracts sure kicked in. They then realized I didn't even need it and they turned the pitocin off and I kept contracting naturally. Around noon I got my epidural and my doctor was amazing. I felt great and was able to get some rest. Around 5 I sent Jeremy home with my dad to get the boys settled in with him and supper. At that point I was only 4-5 cmd dilated and was just trying to rest. After they left around 530 I told my mom I felt like the baby was coming. The nurse checked me and sure enough I was 10cm and the baby was ready to come. My mom frantically called Jeremy telling him to get back up here because the nurse was in a panic thinking the baby would be out in a few minutes, as with Parker I only had to push for ten minutes. My mom was unable to get ahold of Jeremy right away and luckily got ahold of my dad and told him to send Jeremy back up right away!   My epidural stopped working at that point so the anesthesiologist came back and gave me more meds and just sat with us to make sure I was feeling better. He was so sweet!  By that time Jeremy had made it back up to the hospital. The doctor arrived shortly there after and at that point I was so calm and actually told him I didn't feel like pushing yet and wanted to wait a bit. He agreed, knowing that I was adamant about calling the shots lol, and said let me know when you want to push and I will come back.  As Presley was coming down she turned her head sideways and got stuck. With the intense pressure every time I tried to push I threw up. The pressure from me getting sick turned her head a little each time. So all in all the puking was helpful but horrible! Once her head was back in position I only pushed about three times and there she was. She came out wide eyed and the doctor suctioned her right away and then there was that beautiful cry! They immediately laid her on my chest and I was so in love. I couldn't believe my daughter was here. They ended up letting me hold her nonstop for over an hour after birth. They worked around us. I snuggled her kissed her and just was in awe. I finally let daddy hold her and everyone else say hello. Finally after she was a couple hours old they took her and weighed and measured her and got her all settled. She was born at 7:44 pm and weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was 20.5 inches long. She had lots of blonde/brown hair and bright blue eyes just like her daddy and brothers. She nursed right away and was so bright eyed for several hours while meeting everyone. It was amazing how it all worked out. I had really only intended on Jeremy and my mom being in there for sure and my sister if she got out of work in time. But not only were they all there, my 18 year old niece who is just so in love with Presley was able to be in there as well as my best friend Jammie who showed up as I was pushing. It seems like a lot, but it wasn't. It was great having so much support and sharing that experience with those who I am so close with. Shortly after she was born my dad brought up the boys and they were so in love! At first they were more worried about me and if I had owies but then they were over the moon in love with her and were so gentle and proud.

It is amazing how each baby and pregnancy is so similar yet so different. Both boys came on their own early, Presley had to be induced. I gained well over 40lbs with the boys but barely 20lbs with Presley, but with all three I measured huge! All three babies I went from 5cm to 10cm in under an hour and all three times I had sent Jeremy to go eat or shower and he had to race back up. I feel like our family is so complete and we are all in so much love with our newest addition. The boys have adjusted very well and are more concerned with helping and holding her than anything else. We are so blessed and she has added so much joy and love to our already amazing family. It took so long to get pregnant with her and so many struggles that it shows good things do come to those who wait and things always work out in the end. We love you Presley Jeanne Wilson!!