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[sweetteapauldee]

VC V S C ex gy ya

[sweetteapauldee]

After eight weeks of pregnancy, I could not take another milestone picture like the ones above.
On March 28, 2020, my monthly friend did not visit. I waited for five whole days before I took a pregnancy test. My husband and I were being lazy on a Saturday, and I casually mentioned we should go out and buy a pregnancy test. He was shocked and thought I was joking, but I knew I was pregnant in my heart. We were just one month away from approaching one year of marriage, and this was the perfect gift. We went to the store and purchased multiple inexpensive tests, and I came back home, took two, and waited on the results. Instantly, two lines that indicated I was pregnant popped up. I gave him both tests, and he was the happiest I had seen him in the five years we have been together. So, first, we thought about who we could tell. Well, our parents, of course. We invited his mom and aunt over and handed them the tests, and their reaction was priceless. They jumped up and down, screamed for joy, and hugged us both. However, his mom insisted we get a more reliable test. So, my husband and my mother-in-law set out to buy more tests.
When they returned, I took two more tests, and that was all the confirmation that we needed that Baby Williams was coming in 2020. My parents live about 1 hour, and 15 minutes, we hopped in the car again and got on the road to deliver them the good news. We arrived at my parent’s house unannounced they were confused at first, but happy to see us. We started chatting, my husband was smiling ear to ear, so we showed them our bag of tests, and they were sooooo excited. We discussed names, and my dad was super delighted to hear he would get another namesake (other than myself) if I bore a baby boy. We went back home happy as can be and cooked dinner that night. The next morning, we went out to get prenatal vitamins and healthier food options, because we were determined this would be a great experience!
On Monday morning, I called my gynecologist’s office, scheduled my first prenatal appointment, which was nearly a month away. I was concerned as first, but the office assured me this was normal, and they gave me all the new rules/precautions because of COVID-19 (our nation other parts of the world are in a pandemic state due to this new virus). 
Examples: My husband could not come with me to experience my first prenatal appointment. Have a mask on, or you will be provided with one.
I also called my insurance provider to notify them of my pregnancy. They offered to enroll me in a Motherhood Management program because it was my first pregnancy, and a Nurse Practitioner would send me articles and call me biweekly to check-in. I could also call them if I had questions about my new experience.
A few weeks later, I was off to my first prenatal appointment. Nervous, yet excited. I got dressed (put on a new dress, makeup, and styled my hair—something I had not done in months due to working remotely because of COVID-19). If you know me well, I always wear a new outfit for a memorable experience—I buy a lot of clothes. Haha. When I arrived, I was met at the door by a medical assistant (MA) that checked my temperature and asked me if I had a fever or traveled out of the country in the last 14 days. My answer to all those questions was NO. I had on a surgical mask; the MA offered me another. I tucked the new cover away in my purse and then checked in for my appointment. I wrote my name down, assured the front desk my address or insurance provider had not changed, and she told me I’d be meeting with a doctor, I wasn’t familiar with him. I knew I was scheduled to see my regular doctor, but I was anxious to know if my pregnancy was going well. I saw the stranger danger (I’m joking, of course, but I would have felt more comfortable seeing my usual doctor, who were familiar with my struggles with obesity and fibroids—we’d also discussed a pregnancy plan in February). The appointment was a struggle for the beginning. I went in for an ultrasound, and since I had fibroids, I was used to getting pelvic ultrasounds to measure fibroid growth, but this time was different. The technician counted fibroids and then pointed out the pregnancy; we heard a heartbeat and printed out copies of the ultrasound for me. Then I met this new doctor, who came in and announced I was pregnant. Well, I already knew that, sir. He performed a pelvic exam, saw a little concern, but told me it was probably from a subchorionic hemorrhage, but since my cervix was not dilated to keep an eye on it. My husband texted me the entire appointment wanting updates and asking questions. How I wished he could have been there in person. I was already worried about possibly miscarrying because statistics show 85% of miscarriages happen in the first trimester. But I came home with hope and continued working remotely and taking an online class. 
After my 4th Zoom meeting of the week, on a Friday, I got up to use the restroom and saw concern. My husband had just gotten home and was about to shower. I asked what do you think I should do, we Google, called my doctor’s office (they were closed, and the answering service was acting janky), and made a few more calls and decided to go to the ER. Again, I am met at the door with questions and people wanting to take my temperature. I fill out a form, and I am immediately taken into triage. I explain the problem I am having, and I am taken into a room. The doctor on call comes in and preps me with a miscarriage speech. We took lots of tests, and I was taken for two more ultrasounds, I asked the technician a question she was not allowed to answer. At that moment, she tells me a comforting story about one of her pregnancies, and I am taken back in the room. Twenty minutes later, I am escorted to my car to get my charger to keep my husband updated—and the doctor comes back in to tell me I suffered an incomplete miscarriage. At that point, I was scrolling through Facebook, leaving a comment on my friend’s picture, as she and her husband had just made their pregnancy public. I cried. The nurse brought me Kleenex and asked if she could do anything else for me; I told her no. She brought me a folder with two print outs explaining what an incomplete miscarriage was, and I drove myself home. My husband and I pulled up to our apartment at the same time. We hugged, and I cried a little more. We went upstairs and decided to come back out and get some food because I had not eaten since breakfast. We told our parents the sad news—They tried to be positive, and I appreciated that.
After the weekend, it was time to celebrate our 1st anniversary, and we made it! My husband brought roses 🌹 home while I was out grocery shopping to prepare for a COVID-19 anniversary dinner. I was surprised when I got back home, and they were on the table. That was sweet. Later that day, we went out to get cupcakes (any sweets are my favorite) and my absolute favorite flowers, SUNFLOWERS!!! 🌻 We ate a nice dinner and talked about the heck of the weekend we had, but still blessed to be celebrating our anniversary. 
Later in the week, I had another appointment, and since I had an incomplete miscarriage, I had to decide how to pass the pregnancy with the doctor. The less invasive way seemed to be medication, so that is what I chose. After a hell of a day of announcing Student Affairs Division Award winners and completing my Facilitating Career Development presentation– I went out and got lunch. I told my husband he would have to assist me with this process—we did it. He also went out and got me pain pills to help. I took the first round of meds, and then, I set the alarm to take the second round. The pain was manageable—but the types of undies I had to wear were not, lol.
I felt pain for like another week, and I finally passed my pregnancy. That Tuesday of passing the pregnancy was the worst pain I had ever experienced—worst than my degenerative fibroid from two summers ago. I could not even eat my dinner, which consisted of wingettes, and those are my favorites if you know me well. My husband knew I was in pain because I push them to the side and got in bed. After passing the pregnancy, we talked about it and went out to get donuts. If you know us, you know we like to eat. Friday was the first day I felt like myself. I went for a steam and did some grocery shopping. This month has been hard. I tried to write in my topic journal and could not find any reasons to be grateful. However, I am thankful to share my story. I am grateful for my parents, mother-in-law, aunt-in-law, and husband.

[sweetteapauldee]

New Job #1

On November 14th, 2016 I started a new job as an Written Communication Instructor at Remington College. Me an English Instructor? -_- My subjects and verbs barely agree. I often think to myself while writing, “Did I use the right/write homonym?” Haha I’m not that bad, but you get the point. I was told I had a class of two students. Turns out I have seven. Seven students that look at me as though I am super smart and I have a grasp on the English language and it’s quirks. 

On the first day, I had my tote bag in hand. You do need a tote bag to be an instructor. It’s a part of the look. I came dressed with a striped shirt with a hint of sparkle. I wanted my class to know I was a professional; but I was youthful, and young professional. You know, relate-able. I’m one of you. I had a folder marked Remington College with every lecture and lecture guide for the week. I had the morning off, so I searched the WORLD WIDE WEB until I found the best video to complement/compliment my lesson. That’s what all instructor/teachers do, right?  I found an attendance sign-in sheet in the Instructor Lounge. I italicized that because it’s fancy to have exclusive entry to the Instructor Lounge. Shortly after I was in Club Instructor Lounge, I let myself in room 107 and began to look around. I was then greeted by the Director of Education. She then gave me expo markers, an eraser, a clicker, and all these other supplies. I was official, I thought. I have expo markers. I remember in grade school it was your job as the student to supply teachers with expo markers. So, if someone just handed me a bunch of expo markers, I’d clearly “made it”. Next, I wrote my name on the board/bored. JK. I wrote my name on the board. I wrote, Miss Hughes. No, too formal. Then, I wrote, Miss Paulia. I thought about how many times my first name has been butchered. So, I decided on just Paulia. They’ll probably just call me ma’am or Miss. They started to file in one-by-one, they were quiet. I smiled and said hello and suggested they take a cookie or brownie. Yes, I’m that person, I brought bribes. Btw, no one took a cookie or brownie. I was offended. I managed to get through parts of speech. All six of them stared at me like I was an alien and said they understood everything.

After the first day, I decided I was never teaching here/hear again. I said the students are different. They have too/two/to much life experience for my liking. Then, I started to read their first assignment. A free write to tell me about their summer or biggest life experience. They listed things like shopping, getting an apartment, a date night, cruise, a trip to Florida, child’s birthday parties. All normal plans. Then, I realized these students are human first. Secondly, they are moms and employees. Lastly, they are students. I had to rework the way I thought of what a non-traditional student was. Yesterday, they asked, Miss Paulia bake us some cookies this week like the first day. I said sure, I’ll bake them if you make good quiz grades again. Now they know I am person first, not their instructor. Today is Week Three Day Two, they are almost to the end of their first second mod (similar to semester or quarters). I hope they stay encouraged and all graduate. They have six more mods, till they become Medical Assistants or Pharmacy Technicians. Good Luck!

[sweetteapauldee]

2016

In 2016 I:

was in my second semester of Graduate School at Columbia College, SC pursuing a degree in Higher Education Administration.

celebrated my one year anniversary with Dnetric <3 

attended my first professional conference hosted by the South Carolina Women in Higher Education.

mourned the deaths of both my grandmothers. First, Beatrice Coleman Mitchell and then Zella Mae Hughes Glenn.

met some amazing people in graduate school. Bri, Brandon, Riquelle, and Megan. Thanks for making this experience meaningful.

was able to participate in one of my best friend’s weddings. Shout out to Shanique and Pabbie.

received some confusing news from my doctor regarding my reproductive organs. I have fibroids growing on my uterus. 

gained a little weight, so what? #thickup lol 

my boyfriend bought dog for me as gift. He named him J.R.

celebrated my 26th birthday with my amazing friends, family, and boyfriend!

graduated with my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration. The a/c was broken in the chapel.

J.R. died one day after graduation.

struggled on the career front. I was lost and frustrated. However, things got better.

started to help my friend plan a wedding.

was depressed and sought help.

purchased a new fur baby with Dnetric. His name is OREO. He’s so sweet!

was offered two new jobs. TRiO Program Educational Talent Search Counselor and Remington College Instructor.

am in awe of the generosity of our GOD!

will miss my University Ambassador babies so much! Current and past.

am excited to start this new chapter in my career. 

am even more excited to see where life takes me.

2016 is not complete. I can only imagine there are more opportunities and experiences to come. I have had a cumbersome year, but hey, that’s LIFE. 

[sweetteapauldee]

I realized early on that it was important to have those values, a morality and ethics that come with being Southern girl. The way you treat people, little things, the niceties like hellos, like courtesy. They mean something.

Sarah Shahi