Jared is Famous!!!

After our appointment today, Jared got a phone call from one of his professors. There was a news crew on campus that wanted to interview him about some possible changes they are making in the way teachers are being prepared for teaching. Here is the link to his interview:
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/education/Colleges_upset_about_licensing_changes_20090730

Week 35

We had another appointment this morning, and my blood pressure was still up. So, effective immediately, I am on maternity leave. I did get a little teary-eyed when the doctor told us that part. I am on modified bed rest - if I am up for 2 to 3 hours then I need to be laying down for an hour to an hour and a half. My favorite part of our appointment was when we were trying to get a little more information about the 'modified bed rest.' Jared and I had been talking about me doing things around the house - like reading, working on the blog, etc. When the nurse came back in, Jared asked if I would be able to "do work around the house." She gave him the most nasty look, and turned back to me and said that yes, they were keeping me home from work so I could do all of the cooking and cleaning. Jared was mortified, and I just laughed while letting the nurse know that Jared already was doing most of that. He really has been the most amazing support through all of this!!!

We also got to have our first non-stress test (NST) today. Basically, I got to lounge in a very comfortable chair for a half hour, while they put monitors on my stomach that measured Tori's heart rate. Then I pushed a button every time I felt her move. They were checking to make sure her heart rate increases were matching up with when I pushed my button. Tori passed her first NST with no problems! Let's just hope she keeps it up, since we will now be doing them twice a week, along with weekly ultra sounds until she gets here. Today we were officially labeled as having IUGR - or Intrauterine Growth Retardation. The way the doctor explained it is that Tori is just small. Usually all of the organs develop just as they should, but for one reason or another she is not gaining weight as she should, and for that matter I'm not either. Jared and I are so glad that we have the doctors we do. They are so on the ball with monitoring me and Tori. We know that Heavenly Father led us to them to help us get Tori here safely!

After our appointment I went into work to turn in some paperwork and say goodbye. Everyone at work was so awesome and supportive. I couldn't work with better people, I love you all so much!

Here are a few belly pictures - sorry we haven't posted any for awhile:

Officially Done

Jared turned in his thesis today and is officially done with his degree!!! This past week he had to meet with the "Ruler Lady" - really that is what they call her. She is the one that literally measures every margin to make sure it is right, and she also makes sure that all of your symbols are the same throughout your document. Doesn't sound like a very fun job to me. Even though Jared said she was really nice and much more modern, my mental image is still of an old lady, with horned-rimmed glasses, that carries around a wooden ruler with a metal edge. Typically, you have to meet with her at least twice to get a pass from her. Jared only had to go see her once, since he was so meticulous right off the bat. Yesterday was spent making 6 copies of his thesis - and yes, it took the whole day. Today was the official hand-off of 4 of the 6 copies (we get to keep one and Mom Allen gets one). So, now everyone can refer to him as "Master Jared" if they would like!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Jared and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary today! It seems as if the past year has just flown by, but it also seems like we have been together forever. Jared gave me the most beautiful long-stemmed red rose - to represent our first year! He also gave me the most amazing card - which I cried all the way through. I do have to document that Jared did cry when he read my note for him as well!!!

Since Jared has been so busy with his thesis, I planned our activities for this evening. As I was finishing up, I made Jared stay in our room - I did give him a Sudoku game and the daily crossword puzzle to keep him entertained! For our activity we went camping - apartment style (thanks so much for the idea Krista)! I packed a suitcase with things we would need and had Jared open it before we left for our destination. I think he was a bit confused at first, but really excited when he discovered a grill inside.

It was really nice that our camp ground was only about 15 feet down the hall from our bedroom. We had a tent all set up:

We had to take pictures in our tent really fast before it fell down. I should have practiced setting it up ahead of time!

We had a lovely dinner of hamburgers - prepared by our new grill master, along with pork n' beans (I had a really hard time trying to think of what to eat with hamburgers whilst camping!).

We even ate in our camp chairs. We were going to make smores for dessert, but weren't exactly sure how that would work out over the grill, so we had ice cream instead! We had a great time and it was so much fun surprising Jared.

Thank you for the most amazing year my darling Jared - here's to the rest of eternity together! I love you with all of my heart and soul!!!

Week 34

Today we had our 4th ultra sound, it seems as if our little Tori is going to be just that - little. Overall she is measuring about one week small. All of her organs are developing the way they should, which was such a relief to hear. We even got to see a close up of her heart and could see all 4 chambers. As for my updates, I am not growing as much as they would like to see and my blood pressure was way up today. So, we now get to do fetal kick counts after every meal. Basically - Tori has one hour after I eat to kick 8 to 10 times. If she gets her kicks in, she is doing great. If not, then we get to call the doctor right away to go in for further testing. Our doctor also told me that if my blood pressure is still high when we come in next week, I may not be going back to work. That definitely came as a shock, but whatever it takes to get Tori here healthy will be well worth it. So, we will see how everything looks next week!

Ultra sound pictures coming soon!!!

Jared's Defense

The day finally arrived when Jared was able to have his defense for his thesis. The official title being: Gene Expression Pathway Disruptions in the Developing Mandible of the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Jared gave an amazing presentation! I could tell he was a tiny bit nervous when he started, but that lasted for only the first few slides and then he was in his element. He even breezed through all of the questions at the end of his presentation. The next step was the grilling from his committee members. I was waiting outside of the room for him to get done and got more and more nervous the longer he was in there. After 45 minutes, Jared finally came out and before I could even ask him how it had gone, his committee called him back in. He passed with flying colors!!! His PI Dr. Roper had a cake for him and everything. Dr. Roper did let Jared know that the rest of his committee thought his thesis was one of the very best written documents that they have ever read from a Master's student and that his presentation was also one of the best they have seen!!! Way to go Jared, I am so proud of you!!!!!!

National Swim Trials

Jared and I had the amazing opportunity to attend the National Swim Trials for the USA swim team held at the Natatorium at IUPUI. The swim trials have been going on all week and those who make the cut get to go to Rome to swim at Worlds. We had such a great time being able to see so many awesome swimmers. It kind of felt like we were at the Olympics!
To start off the evening races, Miss America Katie Stam sang the National Anthem - I made Jared take a picture! As a side note, she is from Indiana!!!

Of note, we got to see a new American record set by Cullen Jones for the 50 meter free (old record - 21.47, new record 21.41). Another new American record was set by Eric Shanteau for the 200 meter breast stroke (old record 2:08:43 - which we saw Eric set earlier that day, and his new record 2:08:01).

We also were able to see Dara Torres go for a world record attempt for the 50 meter butterfly. While she didn't get a new world record, she did set a new American record (old record - 25.72, new record - 25.50). By far, the most exciting race was the guys 200 meter back stroke. We got to see Aaron Peirsol battle it out with Ryan Lochte - these guys are so fast it is incredible. Aaron Peirsol did end up winning the race and set a new world record at the same time (old record - 1:53:94, new WR - 1:53:08). When the reporter asked Aaron Peirsol about the race, all he said was, "that hurt." Sadly, Michael Phelps wasn't swimming today - all of his events were earlier in the week. But, he did show up for the evening part and we got our token, very inconspicuous picture of him like most everyone else there. But, he even waved to us!!!I was almost just as excited when Jared pointed out that we were sitting only 6 rows away from his mom, Debbie Phelps - I just think she seems like an amazing lady. Jared and I were also able to get our picture taken with a bunch of the swimmers. Here we are with Cullen Jones, Ryan Lochte, Christine Magnuson , Aaron Peirsol, Michael Phelps, and Eric Shanteau. Here I am with Ryan Lochte (me at 32 weeks!).

And here is Jared with Michael Phelps!

Young Women Camp

The Young Women in our ward have been at Young Women camp all week long. I was able to go up with Amanda and Eliza Chapman and Molly Kunz to visit for the evening. Our drive up went really well, except for missing one turn. Too bad it turned out to be a very crucial turn - it ended up taking us about a half hour longer to arrive. Really, roads should be named the same no matter which direction you are turning onto them!
Luckily, we arrived just in time for the evening's main event to start. First, we were able to join our girls by singing (they all sounded so lovely), and then were able to hear from members of our Stake Presidency. Then we were able to enjoy the most amazing testimony meeting. I absolutely was in awe of our girls - their testimonies have grown so much over the last week! After the testimony meeting, we were able to join in their evening devotional. It was so much fun sitting with our girls in their cabin while Bishop Weiss fed us spiritually and with tasty treats as well (my favorite was the root beer floats)! It was such an honor to spend the evening with such incredible ladies - I love you girls so very much!!!

All Tuckered Out

Jared has been so busy the last few months writing his thesis. But it has definitely picked up (I really didn't think that was possible) over the last few weeks. In order to get his thesis to all of his committee members by today, he has been getting up before the crack of dawn and working well into each night. This paid off big time, because the thesis is turned in!!! When Jared got home tonight he was so exhausted, and finally able to crash...
Way to go Jared! I am so proud of you for working so hard and for writing such an awesome thesis! I know you are going to pass your defense with flying colors!!!

First Baby Shower

This afternoon, the ladies I work with threw me our first baby shower! Mandy Weinzierl and Tanya Hobbs did a fabulous job organizing and hosting the event. They totally transformed the ENT conference room and front desk areas. Everything looked so cute decked out in pink. We played super fun games and had the most yummy cupcakes and punch. Tori, Jared, and I were completely spoiled. We received such fun gifts - I had so much fun looking though all of them again when Jared came home. It may sound silly, but now it feels so much more real that our little Tori is really coming. Thanks to all of my lovely work ladies - I love you all so very much!!!