I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.

Saturday, September 30, 2017

30 Weeks: Scarlett Kay




I can't believe we're in the 30's as far as weeks go.  I literally have just two months left of being pregnant.  I can't wrap my mind around it.  Scarlett is doing great!  She moves constantly.  I even wake up a bit at night because she's so active.  A few times it's become a tad uncomfortable but I'm loving it nonetheless.  I did have to take the awful 3 hour GTT.  It was as bad as they say.  The sugary drink almost made me throw up, but I held it down.  I just brought my laptop with me (thankfully they had WIFI) and finished Norah's first year Shutterfly book!  They called me the following day to let me know I passed! Whew!

The next day my husband swore into the Oklahoma Bar and signed his name to this list that has been in existence since 1907.  He can officially now practice law in the state of Oklahoma!

We also had our home inspection this week and everything went pretty smooth for that as well.  No glaring, nasty issues.

Lastly, we had our baby shower for our sweet girl!  It was great having everyone over in our little home for the last time (hopefully).  We're so blessed with family and friends!












Over the next 4.5 weeks I'm going to really try to take it easy.  We'll be packing up our home in preparation to move and we've pulled our little one out of daycare to be home with me so relaxing will be an effort for sure.  I'd love to keep her in longer than I did Norah.  8 MORE WEEKS!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Nursing School Over

I started the OU Accelerated Bachelor's Nursing Program in June 2016 just a few months after I separated from the Air Force.  I loved the Air Force, but didn't like my job and after numerous attempts to try to switch jobs, it just wasn't happening.  I knew spending another 16 years at a job I disliked that much was NOT what I wanted in life (even though the benefits were amazing).  Not worth it!  So I started looking at Physician Assistant and Nursing Schools.


First day in the hospital! 

First semester clinical group

I've been through some hard, rigorous academic schools and courses in the military that drove me to tears but this 14 month program was a whole new ball game.  This course took me completely out of my comfort zone, put unbelievable pressure on us with people's lives actually in our hands at times and really drove us to expand our knowledge set in the medical field.  I loved it!  (mostly haha).  My fellow students and I grew pretty close pretty quick being we went to school straight through for a little over a year.  The people were amazing and I took away a few friendships that I'll have for years to come.








Last Test of Nursing School!

Finally came the last step in nursing school before we could take a breather and start study for the NCLEX (nursing certification boards).  Our final Evidence Based Practice Symposium!  We worked on this presentation all summer semester and we were SO happy to have it done!  Then graduation and awards dinner!




RN Andie, At Your Cervix!






Nurse Pinning


Nurse Norah





A post I wrote from graduation day:

"A year ago we started this CRAZY idea of ours to leave our financially stable life in the military to live delicately on student loans for over a year, while we're both in stressful collegiate programs while raising our baby girl. Looking back we were insane for thinking it would work out...but here we sit, BOTH graduated this week. We both left careers we weren't passionate about and went back to school in our (almost) 30's to purse something that set our souls on fire. It hasn't been smooth, or easy but at this moment it was worth it all.
Kit, thank you for being Norah's main squeeze when I couldn't. For sacrificing your class time to stay home with our sick kid when I literally couldn't miss a hour of class. For listening to my freak outs when I thought I failed tests. For loving me even when I was a total witch to live with and for that time you caught Norah's hand foot mouth disease! LOL I love you. We came, we slayed, we kicked ass.
Norah, thank you for staying late at daycare when Mama had to study at the library. Thank you for giving up your mornings with me when I had to be at the hospital at 6am. Thank you for always mimicking me and reminding me that I had a fan club. Thank you for never holding my absence against me and for always thinking that Mama is your world. We did this because you needed to see us do this. We aren't strong because we wanted to be, we're strong because we're your first example. Much love Norah June "

 This post just completely sums everything up.  We took a chance.  We worked our ASSES off.  We slayed.  We graduated and finally found our professional passions.

Finally, just this week to close out this crazy chapter in my life I finally took the dreaded NCLEX.  This test every RN has to pass to actually call themselves a nurse.  There's a 6 hour limit, minimum of 75 questions and maximum of 265.  The number of questions you get is based off how well you're answering the questions.  I completed my test in 98 questions and walked out of there 28 weeks pregnant and feeling relieved that it was over!!!!

The next day I called the OK Board of Nursing to get my results early and .......

Mama PASSED!!

I can't believe it!  I am a licensed BSN, RN!!!!!



I have a verbal confirmation of a position held for me at the first interview I did and first choice I wanted, labor and delivery!!!!  I'll hopefully start there full time after I've had a few months off with my newborn.  I really can't wait to get back on the floor and get started!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

29 Weeks: Scarlett Kay

We're into single digit week countdown now!  We're estimating about 9 weeks to go!  No cute bump photo this week because we were SO busy this week!!  Scarlett is now the lovely size of a butternut squash!  She's between 2.5-3 pounds and now building up her fat storage!

Hiking while visiting Grandma and Jack!

I had an OB appt and glucose test this week!  First the appointment went great.  She's growing right on track and heart is strong.  Now I'm going every two weeks!  Next, my glucose test wasn't as lucky.  The doctor always wants it at 140 or below when they draw your blood and my glucose reading was 146, boo!!  So for the first time I have to do the 3 hour test.  UGH!  No one has time for that!!  Ah well, whatever I need to do.




This week our family had SO much going on!  I finally had my huge final test that stood in the way of myself and being an actual nurse.  The dreaded NCLEX!  I've been studying since the beginning of August.  I tested Tuesday afternoon and finished in 98 questions (min is 75, max is 265).  I found out yesterday I PASSED!!! Andrea McVay, BSN RN.  I can't believe it!!




The same day I found out my results we decided to put in an offer on a home we really loved.  This is our second time to bid for a home so it was easier to not get our hopes up as much.  The first time the sellers didn't even counter us, they just accepted the competitions offer.  It made us so sad!  So this time we were guarded and literally expecting anything to happen.  Our awesome realtor called us that evening to tell us...the sellers accepted our first offer over the competition's!!! WHAT!?!?!  It was almost too much good news to handle in one day.  My husband and I just grinned and stared at each other.  Holy Sh*t!! LOL We're so excited to buy our first home!!  The timing is pretty close to the delivery of our Scarlett, but we're excited nonetheless.  I'll be 35 weeks along when we close!  Eekk!  Here's a few peeks at the hopefully first, new McVay Nest!







If everything works out right we'll get to bring home our baby girl to our first home, celebrate Thanksgiving and our first Christmas as a family of 4 here!  We're so excited to get going, and NOT excited about packing haha.


Such a nice guy!



Until next week!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

28 Weeks: Hello Third Trimester!




We made it to the last 1/3 hurdle to meeting our baby girl!  I can't believe how quickly this has went!  It seriously seems like April 1st was just a few months ago.  We're SO excited!!


First Bump Picture!

2nd Trimester


3rd Trimester


This month has been a great one...mostly.  I did sadly break my streak of never throwing up with a pregnancy during labor day weekend.  My poor husband was a ROCKSTAR and cleaned up puke, no questions asked.  Bless him!  Then I had fun diarrhea and acid reflux...all in the same week!  All these symptoms are new to me, but definitely expected.  Each pregnancy brings it's own unique gifts haha!  On the bright side I've lost 5lbs, so my OB will love that.

Scarlett is moving and kicking constantly.  I feel like Norah didn't move this consistently, but time dampens the mind so who really knows!  I do know it's my FAVORITE thing about being pregnant, is feeling the little life move inside me all the time.  There's just something so magical about it.  She's measuring at 2 and 1/4lbs and only has about a month left before her lungs are delivery ready!

28 Weeks with Norah vs Scarlett


My MIL has great taste!


I had to glance back at my old blog pregnant with Norah at 28 weeks and it seemed this last trimester held all the challenges that the first two didn't.  I hope that's not the case this pregnancy, but probably so!  For instance, last pregnancy at 29 weeks I had my first trip to the hospital for contractions.  Crazy!  This pregnancy thus far has really been nice and uneventful.  Here's hoping it stays that way!

Last baseball game of Summer

Bump + PSL



Speaking of, we've decided to go ahead and keep our current OB.  AND she scheduled our c-section date/time already!  We're so excited, but we both don't think I'll make it until then.  Time will tell!




Beside some nausea and GI issues, I've been feeling pretty to myself mostly.  I over did it with some rope climbs and pulled my round ligament, so I'm resting up a bit from that.  I'm constantly learning what I can handle and what I can't, and it's a challenge!  Luckily no damage was done and I'm scaling back more in CrossFit.  Mama has to keep healthy for recovery!  I have been spotting the last few weeks, but my OB checked me out and I'm still high, tight and closed so she's just recommending rest, water and relaxation.









Last week we finally found out my husband passed his bar exam and is officially and finally a lawyer!!  Very exciting and so proud of him!  Also I take my RN boards next week, then I'll be a BSN FINALLY!  Many exciting things happening and so glad to be getting all this wrapped up before baby comes.  We're SO proud of him!  I'm going to try to do weekly bump dates from here on out because it seems like this last trimester is definitely the most eventful and changes happen so quickly!  Plus you just NEVER know when that last bump date will be our last <3


Newest lawyer in Tulsa! And shout out to StitchFix for the nursing top I'm sporting!

Oh and as if we didn't have enough on our plate (I feel like I keep saying this!), we've lightly started to house hunt for this first time?? So Insane!!  It's time consuming.  It's exciting and exhausting!  We're aren't in any huge rush because we could easily stay put until I start my job this Spring, but we wanted to see what our money could buy on a cheap budget, so if we find the right one the McVays may make a move again!

Again, I can't believe we're less than 3 months out from being a family of FOUR!  Plus, um...Thanksgiving is less than 3 months away??  Geez!  I have a few Christmas gifts already bought because I know this season will creep up on us sooner than we think, and luckily we don't buy for many people these days like we used to.  My husband already promised to do most of the Christmas baking!  This holiday season will be the most sleepless and best yet!  We just can't wait.