I started my first post with the picture on the left. Bob took it the summer of 2007, right before I started nursing school. It seems like yesterday. However, Keely still has a very baby-ish look to her face and very little hair.
It is now January 2009, and so much has changed. Keely had a lot more hair. I am almost done with school. Also, Bob and I discovered on new year's day that we are expecting again. This was shocking for several reasons. Last September I was diagnosed with poly cystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) after about a year of VERY irregular cycles. This irregularity caused me to immediately suspect that I had cancer. (Those of you that know me will laugh at the previous statement because I ALWAYS think I have cancer) PCOS is usually treated with birth control pills, so I immediately began taking them. Fast Forward to December 2008. I told Rachel (my sister) that I was going to stop taking the pills because they were not regulating my cycle. Rachel told me I needed to take a pregnancy test. I must admit that I dragged my feet in doing so, because I thought a test would be a waste of money. In my mind there was NO WAY that I could be pregnant. On New Years Day I went for a 3 mile run. The track I run around is near a CVS, so I decided to pick up a pack of pregnancy tests. They're always good to have around, right? I took one when I got home, and it was positive almost immediately. Loud yelling for my mother (she was visiting at the time) immediately followed.
Now, I know that eventually I will be very excited about the pregnancy. At the moment it is difficult for me to accept God's plan for me. I am graduating in May, and I have begun to interview for jobs. I had my OWN plans. I thought that I would get a job with great benefits, and then get pregnant. By the time the baby was born, I would have at the very least one year of experience under my belt. Instead, I may not be able to start working until January 2010. Unless some nurse manager wants a new hire that will immediately go on maternity leave after starting work. Oh, and did I mention that the health insurance that Bob and I have doesn't cover maternity. I have since discovered that if you buy your own health insurance it is impossible to get maternity coverage without paying more than it would cost to just have a baby with no insurance at all. So, in a severe recession/almost depression I am having a baby with zero coverage.
Several things are happening at the moment to remedy the health care problem:

• 1. Rachel called her friend (an MD in Charlotte) and inquired about services for the under served. Rachel's friend is awesome and has set me up with Family Practice clinic. There have been a few snags in this process, but this may pan out. In this scenario Bob and I would pay on a sliding scale for my prenatal care and the the delivery. It is excellent care, with the bonus of having the same doctor the whole time. The only negative is the hospital bill. There is no help with that, but we may be able to work out a payment plan. Still, no one likes having a $15,000 to $20,000 bill hanging over them. Depressing....
• 2. I am applying for pregnancy medicaid. I must say this a pride swallowing thing to do. My current obstetrician urged me to do this. Bob and I know that it is a long shot, because we are married and he works. We might get approved because the state tends to try to cover pregnant women to ensure good prenatal care. I won't know for 45 days if we are approved.
• 3. Because I have no real idea how far along I am, it is vital that I get an ultrasound to date the pregnancy. Ultrasounds are EXPENSIVE if you are a "self pay". There is a Pregnancy Resource Center in Charlotte that could possibly do an ultrasound for FREE to date my pregnancy.

I will keep everyone updated with the pregnancy and my quest for prenatal care, which is as time consuming as a part time job.