So much love

I just don't know what life was like before getting Lottie! She makes us so happy and Miller our lab loves her so much too! All of our dogs have a story! Ozzi, my yorkie that lives with my parents was a present from the man in high school. Miller our lab I got for Taylor my freshman year of college when The Man and I were trying to figure ourselves out and as a couple. Lottie our boykin spaniel we got the summer before we got married. Our first big purchase together! They make us so happy. Can't imagine the love we will feel for our children one day!






Jenni's iPhone

Tips for the soon to be Mom...

Yes I know I am not a Mom yet so you are thinking why take tips from you.... Most of my patients the past 3 years have all been new moms. So with that being said a lot of people always have A LOT of question... what to expect, what to bring, what to wear... so now that I see all sides, The labor and delivery and the post-partum part of the hospital i can share with you want you need. I took care of a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago and everything she had she would ask...is this ok that i brought this... So thought i would share it with all of you!

You can wear normal clothes in but you will change into a hospital gown first thing. (No undies or bra on with the gown..just in case you were wondering)You can bring a couple of pair of PJ's. At the least you will stay one night. You can only put the PJs on after you have the baby. Also a robe if you want to walk in the hall and not be waking in your PJ's. Be sure and bring an outfit for you to wear home. For the baby... they can wear whatever you want them to wear even in the nursery. I mean maybe not some fancy dress but a monogrammed onesie that you have would be just fine. And of course whatever outfit you want them to go home in :) Also, most hospitals take pictures of you baby for their website...they can wear whatever in this photo too. SIDE NOTE: one day when i have a baby i am going to go get some of those huge grannie undies to wear too...trust me.. you don't want to wear the ones you wear before the baby and well the hospital ones are ok...but this is just what i would do.

Of course... tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo and all that good stuff. The hospital will have some but it is not good at all. toothpaste taste awful and the body wash is for all over body including hair.

If you love your own pillow then bring it... it will help you sleep good. If you like certain blankets then you can bring that too.. Just remember the more you bring the more you will be leaving with plus the things people bring you. As for your hubbie or whoever will be staying with you...bring some sleeping pills for them b/c the fold out beds are NOT comfy. I am sure The Man will either be in the bed with me or bring a blow up mattress and possibly be told we can't have it... some people are strict about this kind of stuff.

Do NOT bring food or snacks for you because you can't eat until after the baby is born. Only ice chips...which St. Michael's has the best ice i must say...just like sonic! If your guests need a snack there are vending machines, but that is just not nice to have all these snacks in the room and you can't have any of it... for possibly 24 hours.

If breastfeeding.... a boppy is great to help hold the baby while feeding. Also if you have had a c-section it helps not hurt your belly as much when holding the baby. The little breastfeeding tanks and bras will come in hand too.

If you have a doorhanger...wreath...or whatever go ahead and bring it so as soon as that baby is born you can share it with the world!

Camera of course... some people bring their computer so they can post pictures for everyone ASAP. Also during the delivery expect only 1 or 2 people in the room with you for the delivery. Yes i know that is hard. I personally want The Man, my sister, my mom and The man's mom...BUT... if something where to go wrong they would just be in the way and worried about me and the baby and cause more stress in the room. Your Dr might tell you different but really it is mostly up to the nurse that is taking care of you or the hospital rules.

If you plan on getting an epidural most places everyone has to leave the room. This makes people crazy...but just not it ahead of time. You nurse will be right by your side. The worst part of a delivery, IF HAVE YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE AN EPIDURAL, is the IV start and the little shots in your back to numb you to inter the epidural. If no epidural the cramping and pressure if said to be the worst part, I obviously haven't been in either situation.

Hope this helps all you soon to be Moms out there. It will be a day you never forget. What an amazing job I have to experience a life being born most days i work!

One last thing...If you are coming in to be induced. This is a LONG process... just want you all to know that it doesn't mean a baby will be with you in 2 or 3 hours...it could be 24 or more... but not worries you aren't like pushing for 24 hours but just laboring!!!

Loving life

Sorry I have been missing. I have been very busy with this new job I have. Even though i still only work 3 days a week it worked out that my first 2 weeks on days shift were 3 at the end of the week and 3 at the beginning of the next week! But I LOVE it! it is everything I thought it would be and more. I was a little worried about how I would feel checking to see how far the pt it dilated and all that goodness, but it really wasn't bad and I caught on pretty quick. I am not saying that I am a pro at it yet but catching on for sure. This work week was so fun. I got to take care of a friend. I wasn't there for her baby to be born but just be involved in the care of a friend about to have her baby is great. Then on my last day I had another girl that I know come in. I didn't take care of her but enjoyed visiting with her and her family. Two beautiful babies. I have the best job EVER!

Back to my very first day at work.....it was a little crazy/busy and I really didn't know what to expect. BUT how cool...the first baby born that day named their baby mine and The Mans favorite boy name. And then my very first delivery they named the baby Jennifer! Shut up. So crazy huh? I know I will probably be writing a lot of posts about my days at work hope y'all don't mind!

Day shift is great. On my 9th day of waking up before 7 am I thought I was going to over. But I am making it through. I feel so much better. No longer feel like I have been hit by a truck. :) hope you all have a good rest of the week! I am off for a week but already ready to get back!

I'm sooo ready....

To be here......
In less than a month I will be heading to Hilton Head with my family for our summer vaca. I am soo excited... and so ready to just sit on the beach all day long, with sunscreen!

I forgot to share with you all, for Memorial Day I went to my cousin's house boat to spend the weekend with her and her family at the lake. I am not sure how it happened but I got soo burned. And yes I put sunscreen on. I have heard that after a year it expires. Something you should purchase every summer. So get rid of your old stuff b/c man it was awful. My skin is just now better...but itches and peeling! Hope you all have a good week... I will be starting L&D and day shift this week! woohoo

If you have ever been to Hilton Head let me know what was fun. We have always gone to Destin but decided to change things this year!

June 2....

Today is a date I will NEVER forget. The Man asked me to be his girlfriend 11 years ago today. Soo crazy how life has worked out. I also wrote about it last year, pretty lengthy, here. I really think I knew at age 14 that i would marry The Sweet Man. I know most 14 year old teenage girls think they will marry their boyfriend at the time, but it seemed to have worked out for me. I am so thankful for him and love him more and more each day. Life with The Man is always fun, he always makes me laugh. He makes me feel so safe. For some reason I don't worry about things when I am with him because in the end i know he will take care of me.
I am a little worried about going to day shift and sleeping in the same bed with him everynight... b/c he snores...i might end up in another bedroom every time. :) But I feel like have missed out on "us" by working night shift so I am very excited about that.

How he got the name "The Sweet Man" or "The Man." He doesn't like to be talked about on my blog. When i started my blog a year ago, most blogs i read didn't put names on them, so that is why i started calling him The Sweet Man..b/c my blog name is How Sweet It Is! This was funny to some of my close friends b/c they don't see him as a "Sweet Man" he always acts tough and hard core...but not with me...he is Sweet... but since i got made fun of I started calling him "The Man." What a wonderful Man he is. I of course have to work tonight (only 2 more nights on NIGHT SHIFT) but hopefully we will celebrate our dating anniversary this weekend!