My sister and my cousin are both nurses. My obstinateness drives them crazy. The pointlessness of it all irks me. I understand that a significant portion of people lie to doctors, and an even greater portion are simply uneducated. I understand that Florida has some of the highest obstetric liability problems in the US. I understand that members of the medical community are taught to operate on auto-pilot and can't come to terms with the thought of a patient simply popping out a baby and walking away without requiring tens of thousands of dollars worth of testing and procedures. In my case, all are unnecessary, but my insurance must foot the bill. And for what? My blood-type and immunity to chicken pox will not have changed since my last test 4 years ago. Those things that do change, like hemoglobin count or the absence of certain diseases, can change from one day to another anyway. It is not enough for me to tell my doctor (or show proof of) my blood-type and to affirm that I have never used drugs or received a blood transfusion, and that I've been faithful to my husband who's also been faithful to me. Reputation and integrity count for nothing. "It's the world we live in," says my doctor, "You just don't know. It's not personal." I do know. And the fact that it's not personal is precisely the problem.
It came to my attention that if I didn't have my bloodwork done prior to delivery, they were going to come after me with needles in the middle of my labor. Furthermore, if I didn't prove I was free of HIV or other blood diseases, that my baby would be treated for them "just in case." And all of this could, technically, be refused, but I'd have to sign a lot of paperwork and put up a heck of a lot of fights at a time when I would be psychologically and emotionally unfit to do so. Considering I've been 4 cm dilated for a week, it may very well be that I arrive at the hospital before my test results do, in which case I may have to "go to the mattresses" after all. I'm trying not to look at the cotton ball taped to my elbow-pit as a flag of surrender.
Four cm dilated the week before my due date... reminds me of Noemie. Who came a week late anyway. Why do these children torture me so? Danny and I went to see Amy graduate in Tallahassee last weekend. 
It was a whirlwind trip and, as much as we tried, we did not get to see everyone on our list. The night of Amy's graduation, I had the genius to order a seafood canneloni at Carabbas, quite possibly the greasiest, heaviest meal on the menu, and afterwards, proceeded to clean everyone else's plate. I polished it all off with a slice of cheesecake. Gross, I know. For the rest of the weekend, I had indigestion. Add to that the difficulty breathing and heart flutters natural to being 9 months pregnant, plus the anxiety of traveling, and I was a bit of a mess! I felt so terrible, that we didn't even stay for church on Sunday. Sixteen hours of driving, and we were there for just one day! That's love.
It was a whirlwind trip and, as much as we tried, we did not get to see everyone on our list. The night of Amy's graduation, I had the genius to order a seafood canneloni at Carabbas, quite possibly the greasiest, heaviest meal on the menu, and afterwards, proceeded to clean everyone else's plate. I polished it all off with a slice of cheesecake. Gross, I know. For the rest of the weekend, I had indigestion. Add to that the difficulty breathing and heart flutters natural to being 9 months pregnant, plus the anxiety of traveling, and I was a bit of a mess! I felt so terrible, that we didn't even stay for church on Sunday. Sixteen hours of driving, and we were there for just one day! That's love. 
Amy Andollo BSN
... class of 2010
We stayed at the Simmons house on Friday night. Dominic and Noemie LOVED spending time with Karsyn and Lila who are, admittedly, two very cool little girls. Scott made pancakes and bacon for us on Saturday morning, and Danny spent the rest of the trip trying to think of a way to get his hands on a king sized bed like theirs.
After naps, we picked up Kelly and met up with Krissie at a park in Killearn. The Myrick Rd roommates (minus Jessica) united again! Kelly was visiting from Wisconsin... I love cheese.
Jessica, Krissie and I were all pregnant with our firstborns, all boys, in 2006. Unplanned! Jessica and I have the same due date this time around, and Krissie's two weeks behind. All boys. Again, unplanned. How strange is that???
Krissie's son, Tommy, was Dominic's first best friend.
Saturday night we had dinner with the Puigs. I love people who take food seriously. We can always count on Lisa and Magdiel for some fancy, delicious eats. It was also neat to see how their little one, Lucas, has grown over the past year. He's a thinker. I like that in a baby.
After dinner we went back to the Simmons to hang out with them and with the Honharts. Dominic made a game out of pretending to cartwheel-kick Kelly Honhart in the face...for nearly half an hour. Then Karsyn and Dominic ran in circles until they fell over, nearly passed out. Dominic had a blast. And I forgot to take pictures :(
On our way out of town we stopped for breakfast in the Publix parking lot.
Look ma, I don't let my kids eat in the car either!
Notice the inestimable convenience of owning a mini van. We used the training potty throughout the trip to avoid public restroom potty breaks. I LOVE MY VAN.
My fortune cookie at dinner last night... it was pregnant.
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