Thesis corrections

With 5 professors that read Endrit's thesis, compiling all of the corrections is a feat.  The one that is the most stringent writer gave Endrit his copy before the defense.  Endrit and I made all of the corrections on that one before he defended because that is what the professor demanded.  That leaves 4 more drafts of his thesis to dredge through and make corrections.  We have decided to tackle them one chapter at a time.  So today, Endrit came home and we sat at the table with 3 of them open and page at a time we went through all of the pre-thesis pages and chapter 1.  Tomorrow, we will try and tackle all of chapter 2.  We should be done with all of the corrections by the end of the week to send off to the editor.  I am glad that I don't mind helping Endrit with all of this.  I feel that I finally know what he has been doing the last 4 years despite him trying to explain it to me.  I guess that is what happens when you read a thesis 3 times and listen to a defense 3 times as well.

Oh, and nothing on the job front.  I PROMISE that we will tell all important news via text, call, facebook, and right here.  I promise!

31 Weeks

How far along? 31 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Head of lettuce (estimated 19 inches long and 3.9 lbs) 
Total weight gain/loss:  ummmm...Since my midwife appointment I think I am up about 1/2 lb.
Sleep:  I go through periods of can't get enough sleep and insomnia.  The last  2 days have been I can't get enough sleep.  Naps should never be 3 hours long after you sleep pretty good the night before.
Best moment this week: Has NOTHING to do with pregnancy.  Endrit passed his PhD dissertation.  That was an amazing day!!
Food cravings/aversions:  Not real aversions.  But, I am getting to the "I can eat everything in the house and it isn't enough" stage.  I am really trying to be good.  With this and the sleep, I think she is going through a MAJOR growth spurt.
What I miss:  Being able to bend down.  It is taken for granted by most people I think.
What I am looking forward to:  Meeting her.  I know it is a ways away, but I am really excited to meet her.
Milestones:  I have passed 200 days pregnant, passed 30 weeks.  Those are the main ones.
Symptoms:  big kicks from Marsi that hurt.  She wakes up when I do in the morning. It is really fun to feel her.  Lots of puffiness.  Other things are for me to know and no one else.

Dr. Endrit Shurdha

Endrit had his PhD thesis defense today.  Of course we were happy/scared/nervous about how everything could go.  We pretty much knew he would pass.  And he did!  It was the extent of the torture he would have to go through before they gave him the passing decision.

As is the case of any scientific research, you research one thing and it comes back with at least 3 questions.  At some point, you just have to stop knowing that research is never-ending.  Well, Endrit's adviser and some of the other professors didn't agree on where the stopping place should be saying that Endrit had not done enough research.  Well, his adviser came though for him and defended his position on why the research ended where it did.  He started his defense at 1:00 pm and called me with the results at 2:45 pm.  It was a good hour before I thought he was going to call.

I am so proud of Endrit.  He is amazing, smart, talented, and many other great qualities.  He pushed through the last 4 years and has almost passed every hurdle.  Well, now there is a new doctor in the house...even if it is just a doctor of philosophy.

Tomorrow

So, Endrit defends his thesis tomorrow.  Not much else to say other than that.

T - 4 (or 3) Days

Endrit is defending his PhD thesis on Friday.  As the day comes he is getting more confident.  That is a really good thing. I am definitely putting on a small front for Endrit to keep him calm.  I am extremely nervous for him and sometimes feel like this...

Because his PhD time seems to be summarized by this...

Being 30 weeks pregnant and on moderate bed rest, I have way too much time to think about things!  That is one of the reasons why I decided to break my bed rest protocol so I could go to the temple for peace.  I got peace, started reading comics and found this...

The end is near!

30 weeks

Well, I hit another of my arbitrary milestones.  I am 30 weeks today.  That means 7 weeks until I am considered full term.  10 weeks until her guess date, and 12 weeks until they make her come out of me. I honestly think I am closer to the 7 week cut off than the 12 and I really, really hope for that.

It really wasn't an eventful day.  We went to church, got free bread and cake after church, came home and took a tiny little nap, then spent a couple of hours doing Endrit's thesis corrections.

I am extremely tired.  Because of contractions I find it hard to get to sleep at night.  That and the swelling in my legs.  Not being able to sleep means I am very uncomfortable which makes me sore, sore, sore!  That and the contractions make me sore too.  I am now able to tell the difference between contractions I have to worry about and ones that I don't.

Regardless of all of this, I am happy being pregnant.  I like to feel her move around.  I see it as a miracle in every way.  I am trying to not complain too much about the discomfort.  It will be nice when Marsi will be out of the womb.  It will definitely not be easier, but I can't wait to meet her. 7-12 more weeks...not too bad.

Dexter is adorable

I knew that since I have kitties, the first testers of Marsi's big items would be them and not her.  Jimmy is not one to snuggle everywhere.  He is more content to lay on his back in the middle of the floor.  So, I knew it would be Dexter that would try out her things first.  He has decided the best thing to come into the house today was the car seat.  

He has tried the stroller and the car seat.  I am kind of surprised he hasn't tried out the swing yet.  I hope to get a picture of that when he decides to try that one out too.