Brian and Jen, one day at a time

Ian's first tooth!

2011-10-07T12:08:00.002-04:00

Ian's first tooth arrived! It's on the bottom and it's just barely showing, but it is so cute!! Little mancub is a little fussy about the pain, but thankfully he likes the flavor of his baby tylenol. He chews and chews on his binkies and teething rings and I think he drools more than Duke (the great dane). I can't wait until the tooth is visible enough for a super cute picture.

I need help!

2011-10-07T12:06:00.000-04:00

LOL, ok so "I" don't actually need help, but rather this is Wyatt's new phrase. I am guessing he picked it up at school. He's quite articulate and is now expressing he needs help. The funny part is he says "I need help" when he's not getting his way. For example, when he's in the booster chair and I am wiping his face, he yells "I need help" because he doesn't want his face wiped clean. I have to laugh, he's so smart and he outsmarts Brian and I every day. I want to say "that's sad" but actually I am so proud of how smart he is, so I love it when he does outsmart us because that means the big mancub's brain is getting more wrinkles every second. Recently one of Wyatt's 2 year molars arrived. He's doing pretty well with it and not being too cranky about the pain. It was cute, I said "open your mouth wide so mommy can see your new tooth!" and like a trooper he did. Unfortunately he's like a crocodile, you stick your finger in his mouth and he bites down......so you have to be quick with it LOL.

Surreal

2011-09-29T09:18:00.001-04:00

That's the only word I can think of as I sit here in the waiting area at the physical therapy clinic. Servicemember after servicemember comes in and out of here in a wheelchair, missing one or more limbs. Sometimes they are alone, sometimes they are with a loved one. I just saw a very young wife drop off her husband at the clinic, told him she loves him, an in to the clinic he went for his appointment. Their lives are changed forever. This young wife probably never imagined this would ever happen to them, but she lovingly drops him off and says she will be back when the appointment is over. There's this awful feeling in me, a feeling of sadness for these men and women. You may see them out in town but what you don't see is HOW MANY of them there are. So many servicemembers who are missing limbs, and they are so young! Sitting here at Bethesda makes me realize just how lucky I really am.

Wyatt cracks me up!

2011-09-26T13:10:00.002-04:00

On Saturday we went to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in DC so Wyatt could see the "Dinosaur Bones". We walked into the room with the fossils and as soon as he saw the giant T-rex, he hollers out "Whooooaaaa!! Big!!" I couldn't help but laugh, it was too cute. He was so excited to see all the dinosaur bones. We went into the room about the oceans, and once he saw the giant blue whale suspended from the ceiling, same thing....."Whhooooaaaa!!!" AWESOME =) Mission accomplished, we've entertained the mancub. He loved the Natural History Museum. After the NHM we wanted lunch, only to discover there aren't many food options down at "The Mall" (crappy name, there are no stores at all!! LOL) so we headed over to the Air and Space Museum because it has a McDonald's. Wyatt was in heaven. He went on and on about the "spaceshipths".....it's adorable how he says it. The TH sound at the end is super cute and funny. He also told us all about the astronauts. I'm glad we are at this point in his age where everything is very new and exciting.

I am going to get this right......

2011-09-23T10:04:00.001-04:00

It would appear once again I have commitment issues with my blog. That's ok, it's the same with my journal. I guess this is why I never got a tattoo, I can't commit to something like that because I don't know what I'll like 10 years from now. BUT I know what you're thinking.....how can you be married if you have commitment issues? It's not like that. I can commit to a person, just not "things". Life has been going pretty lately. Ian is getting so big! He is 4 1/2 months old now, and Wyatt turned 2 last month. Wyatt said his first sentence to me the other day without my help. We were in the car and he asked "Can I have lemonade please?" WOW!!!! My response: "Of course! Thank you for asking so nicely!" I am totally impressed. Ian began rolling from his back to his tummy a few days before hitting 4 months and has been rolling tummy to back since he was 13 days old. He didn't like tummy time at all and now he wants to be on his tummy all the time.......perhaps he'll take after me....unable to decide what he wants LOL. I went to my first Ren Fair last weekend. I took Wyatt with me and had a blast! We met up with our friends Michele and Dave and really enjoyed the afternoon. Wyatt rode his first pony and elephant! He absolutely loved it. On the way home he was so tired he passed out immediately. Such a cute little mancub, even if he is entering the "terrible twos". My friend Heidi warns me "it's not 2 you have to worry about, it's 3". In the meantime we share our little moments together and I love them. I have introduced Wyatt to "The Black Eyed Peas" and he's hooked. Yep, I did that. I have to say I don't mind, except he now repeats the word "DAAAMMMMNNN" from the song "pump it" so I am quickly trying to implant the word "BAM" in its place. We'll see how that goes. Anyhow, so those are my thoughts for today. I am going to think about trying to be a better blogger. That's all I can promise.

Life as a family of four

2011-06-13T23:15:00.003-04:00

Ian was born May 2, 2011 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland. If you had told me 6 years ago Brian and I would be married and have 2 adorable little boys, I would have laughed and called you crazy. Now I can't imagine what my life would be like without all my boys. Wyatt cracks us up every single day with the new things he is learning to say and do and today he held Ian for the first time. I look forward to each and every day with my family and can honestly say I am truly blessed.

Life without coffee.....day 23

2010-08-21T15:19:00.002-04:00

I have to say I have made it 23 days, and I know this hard work has paid off in full. Brian and I found out on Monday August 16th we are expecting our second baby. We couldn't be more happy! I made a commitment to my faith and was obedient, and for that we have been richly rewarded. Our new addition to our family is due around April 27, 2011 and we are so excited!! Now comes the long wait. We feel incredibly blessed know Wyatt will be an awesome big brother!!

Life without coffee.......day 5

2010-08-04T03:05:00.002-04:00

Today is Tuesday. Tuesdays are typically rough on me because of many meetings I must attend. Wyatt woke us up around 2:30am, had a bottle and went back to sleep. It took me a while to finally get back to sleep, but I finally did and then the alarm went off at 5am on the dot....lucky me. I felt groggy in the shower and hoped it would wear off. I felt ok though, and eventually my pep kicked in and I was good to go. Nothing like some Guns N'Roses and Janes Addiction while stuck in traffic to get the blood pumping. Honestly, the song "Been Caught Stealing" really gets me going with it's peppy beat and catchy lyrics. I really love that song! Anyhow, so I made it through day 5 without coffee, 25 days and this habit is kicked!!

Life without coffee......day 4

2010-08-02T23:49:00.002-04:00

Hello Monday!! Today was rough, especially since Brian and I didn't get much sleep last night. Wyatt woke up 4 times last night and I knew this was a test of my willpower. I found myself in Wyatt's room again as he was back in bed....again....so I knelt to pray to ask the Lord to help me get through Monday without coffee. I also reminded Him that it was really unfair to give me such little sleep and then have me survive a Monday with no coffee.....He wasn't really listening, and was more than likely laughing at me. BUT.....I did it!! I survived Monday with no coffee. I kept drinking water all day, trying to stay refreshed, it seemed to help. Around 2pm I felt the "holy crap I'm tired" but got up from my desk and walked around a bit. 4 days down, 26 to go until this habit is changed. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.........

Life without coffee.....day 3.

2010-08-01T13:40:00.002-04:00

So I have given up coffee. Today was supposed to be my absolute last day of coffee, but instead I foolishly didn't have any on Friday (and Friday was evil last week....so much crap to do at work, so little time....zero energy) and I didn't have any on Saturday either. Our Chaplain told me 30 days and a habit is broken....ok, so 27 to go. I feel completely zapped of energy and I pray this will get better. Brian's mom is here, so at least she's drinking down my coffee supply in a hurry. Once it's gone, I'll pack up the coffee pot and put it away for when we have visitors. I guess I have to find new favorite drinks at starbucks that are not coffee based....that will be very difficult because I love the Java Chip Frappuccino......too bad it's main ingredient is java LOL!! Ok, positive thoughts, I know I can do this and I know this is what I am supposed to be doing. Pray pray pray and pray some more, I will be ok.

I'm a terrible blogger....it's been almost a year

2010-07-19T02:45:00.003-04:00

Last week Brian, Wyatt, and I went to Maui with my parents for a fun-filled vacation. We left on Tuesday and flew to Kahului airport. Wyatt was really good on the flight, he fell asleep in my arms after staring out the window during taxi and takeoff. We arrived in Maui in the early afternoon, and drove to the Hotel Wailea. BEAUTIFUL!!! We enjoyed the evening around the hotel and took Wyatt swimming in the pool. The little man LOVES to swim!
On Wednesday, we were going to head out to the Surfing Goat Dairy but realized we didn't have much room in our fridge in the hotel so we'd have to wait until Saturday to go. Instead we drove to Lahaina and did some sightseeing and had lunch at the Lahaina Fish Co.....don't waste your time if you're ever there, it wasn't very good. Next we stopped by the Ono Gelato Company www.onogelatocompany.com which is awesome!!! I recommend Ono Gelato Company to everyone. We left Lahaina and drove all around the north west coast. The view was spectacular!! Not too long into our drive the road narrowed to 1 lane and it was pretty scary. Honestly, I don't do well in cars to begin with, so you add heights and narrow roads and I was much happier staring at my feet. We finished up our drive and returned to Wailea to play in the pool again with Wyatt. Wednesday night we went to the movies to see Despicable Me in 3D....so funny!!! I can't wait until Wyatt is old enough to appreciate it.
On Thursday we had an awesome lunch at Mama's Fish House in Paia....A MUST!!! The meal was divine, just a little pricey so it's one of those places you budget for. After lunch we drove up to Haleakala. I love the top of Haleakala, you can see so far! The sky is so blue up there and the air is so fresh. You can see the Big Island, Lanai, and Molokai from the summit. At the top you are above 10,000 feet and it is actually cold up there!! (wear jeans, a sweatshirt, and real shoes.....no flipflops unless you want cold toes!) We drove to the visitor center and there was a group loading up their horses in the trailer. They let Wyatt and I pet one of the horses so that was Wyatt's first time seeing a horse!! Thursday night Brian and I went to the movies to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice...we thought it was awesome! I don't care what the critics say, I loved it.
On Friday we went to the pool early in the day because we went on a helicopter ride Friday afternoon. I have to admit i was nervous about the ride, I'd never been in a helicopter before. We flew over western Maui and Molokai. The sights were amazing!!! If you get the chance to take a helicopter ride while in Hawaii, I recommend Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
Friday night we went to dinner at Kai (a Japanese restaurant) at the Shops at Wailea. We love Japanese food and they have pretty good eats!
Saturday we headed to the Surfing Goat Dairy for a tour of the farm and then for some cheese. They have the best cheese....I swear!! www.surfinggoatdairy.com If you get the chance, go! I am quite fond of the "Ole" goat cheese...it has artichokes and jalepenos in it....yum! After the dairy we went to the aquarium and Wyatt loved it. He loves fish! He's so cute, pointing at all the fish and yelling at the tanks.
Sadly our trip came to an end and we flew back to Honolulu. My parents stayed at the airport to catch their connecting flight back to Las Vegas. Poor Wyatt was pretty tired and slept the entire way home. It was a great vacation and we look forward to the next one.

Welcoming Baby Wyatt

2009-08-25T07:22:00.004-04:00

Our son has arrived! It was a long time coming but our little angel has finally arrived and we couldn't be more thrilled. Brian and I have been very blessed throughout all this because not only is Wyatt here, but both our moms were here for his birth. Wyatt was born on Saturday, August 8th, at 9:05pm. I spent most of Friday in "early labor" until the contractions kicked in much stronger Friday evening. My water broke at about 2:30am Saturday morning and around 8pm Saturday night it was decided to have a C-section since Wyatt was not coming out on his own. It was a tough decision to make, and I was upset I wasn't going to be able to have him naturally, but all in all it was for the best and now I am so very thankful for our perfect little boy. Our dear friend Kristen arrived at this hospital sometime after 3am to join Brian in being a labor coach. I was so thankful to have them both there to help me through labor and they both were amazing! Throughout the stay at the hospital Wyatt was greeted by our friends and all his new "aunties" and "uncles". It was so wonderful to have so much support from our friends. Brian and I truly feel lucky to have so many good friends. Now we are just so grateful for every single moment with baby Wyatt and look forward to many many more!

The Business of Being Born

2009-06-22T02:49:00.002-04:00

http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/trailer.php

So this is by far one of the most enlightening documentaries I have watched thus far. I recommend it to every woman out there who is pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant or just wants to learn something. Check out the trailer, rent the DVD, make your own decisions, but be informed.

The nursery......before putting away all the gifts

2009-06-21T01:48:00.002-04:00

So this is what the nursery looks like now, I haven't yet unpacked all the gifts from the shower, and from the looks of things, I have my work cut out for me! Mom was so nice to take everything upstairs while I was at work so I didn't have to haul it all myself. All those trips upstairs would have really done me in! I will post more pics once I get everything put away, but I can say this, his room really does look like a nursery!

The Baby Shower

2009-06-14T19:00:00.003-04:00

I have to say this was one of the most fun days I've had in a while with just "the girls". We did have our token men there, my boss Chief Torres and his son Julian, and I have to say they were awesome sports about being in a house full of women! Brian was out of town for work so we women had a party! Mom cooked the most amazing food, I swear I was so stuffed by the end of the day! I honestly couldn't have done all this without her help, a true lifesaver! My girls Emily and Abby helped with the decorating, cake, games, prizes, and managing the flow of the shower, it was just awesome! I feel truly blessed by all the friends that made it and the fun we had together at the shower. One of the games we played was "guess how fat Jen is?" where you have to take a roll of string and cut off how much you think it will take to go around my belly. Abby won by being the closest, but my mom and friend Cathy went hog wild and just wrapped that string around me a good 7 or 8 times. It was so much fun!

32 weeks down, 8 weeks to go!

2009-06-08T00:25:00.002-04:00

32 Weeks today! My mom arrived this afternoon so it was fun to see her reaction when she saw the belly in person. She already felt Wyatt kick which was fun. This week will be a lot of fun with her here and we have a lot to do to get ready for the baby shower. It's crazy to think that Wyatt's due date is in 8 weeks but at the same time I am really ready to not be pregnant anymore. It's not that I don't like being pregnant, it's that I don't like how awkward I am starting to feel. I have to be careful when I turn a corner or try to squeeze past something, my belly gets in the way. Otherwise, pregnancy has gone relatively well.

30 weeks!

2009-05-26T00:27:00.002-04:00

So this is what a preggo Jen looks like at 30 weeks. I don't feel too bad, but I still have 10 weeks to go (if I'm lucky, only 7 weeks). We have been working on Wyatt's nursery and bit by bit it really does look like a baby's room and thankfully no longer a storage room. Hopefully soon I'll take some pictures of his room, probably after the baby shower. I am attempting to exercise as much as Wyatt will allow, but lately he's been practicing his escape route and the Braxton Hicks don't feel great. I love how the experts say "they aren't painful" yea right, they lie. It's not that they hurt, it's that he puts soooo much pressure on me that I just don't want to move! Oh well, we are in the homeward stretch, I can make it!

Wyatt 29 weeks

2009-05-20T19:30:00.002-04:00

We went in for a follow up ultrasound, the docs were worried about my placenta being too low but thankfully all is well. Wyatt was un-cooperative as usual for the ultrasound and we couldn't get great pics like we'd hoped. We also couldn't get an accurate weight either....LOL, my stubborn little boy....he takes after his father I'm sure. My belly is getting bigger and he's very active, we are just so excited and happy to meet him!!

Third trimester here we come!!!

2009-05-10T18:05:00.001-04:00

Today I am at 28 weeks, officially in the third trimester! There are only 12 weeks left until Wyatt's due date and I am so excited!! The baby shower invitations finally arrived and I've been working on labeling them and getting them ready to hand out. My mom arrives on June 7th and the shower is on the 14th. Brian and I put together Wyatt's basinette and put it in our room, next is the pack and play. Still there is a lot to do and we're slowly getting through it all. We have classes coming up to prepare Brian and I for delivery and life with a newborn. Wow, that's really all I can say about that!!

Glucose screening test day

2009-05-05T00:04:00.002-04:00

Today after work I went to the lab to have my glucose screening test. I had to drink this super sugary orange drink and sit there for an hour. After the hour was up I gave a blood sample and then next week my doc will let me know if I am needing a second test for gestational diabetes. So I sat there in the office experiencing the sugar high from the 50g of glucose and then the subsequent crash and oh was it painful! I sat there and then I got this raging headache from the crash. Not a fun time at all!!! I came home from this test feeling super drained and praying that I don't have to go through this one again for a very very long time.

Baby Wyatt 27 weeks

2009-05-03T01:48:00.003-04:00

Today we went in for another ultrasound and it is always so cool to see Wyatt. He is about 2lbs now and he is just so dang cute. They made a dvd of him moving around, sadly it can't be copied or uploaded...such a bummer. He loves to put his hands in front of his face and we had to keep poking at him to get him to move his hands. Only 13 weeks to go and I am getting pretty nervous about bringing him home. We are still working on the nursery and finishing up the registry. My baby shower is set for June 14th, and thankfully it looks like my mom will be able to make it. I'm getting big, but Brian says it's all baby. That makes me feel better. I keep working out and eating right, it seems to be paying off. I am looking forward to finally meeting my little kung fu fighter, he kicks a lot these days.

Oh the joys of pregnancy.....

2009-05-02T16:27:00.002-04:00

So I am back from my trip to the east coast, had to go out there for work. While I was gone I discovered a new unpleasant side effect of pregnancy....leg cramps. Yes, at 3am I woke up in excruciating pain in my calf and I did the exact wrong thing...I pointed my toe as a reflex. Well I had to get out of the bed and walk around to make it stop so there goes my sleep. Now that I'm up, might as well pee, right? I start taking in more potassium which oddly enough, added to the iron supplements, bring my digestive system to a screeching halt. This sucks. So, I'm doing everything I can to keep my iron, potassium, and fiber intake up just to see if there will be a balance in the yin and yang of my pregnant body. Today I am enjoying a nice glass of prune and apple juice...want some? Thankfully, it doesn't taste too bad.

There's nothing that can be done.....

2009-04-12T16:18:00.002-04:00

So for the past few days I have felt the gland in the left side of my throat swell up and now it's about the size of a large grape. My mouth is a mess, and yes, I have been flossing, but my gums are bleeding a lot and the gums on the left side are swollen pretty bad. I finally broke down and called the labor and delivery unit (because that's who you call after hours) and I explain my situation, and sadly I got the response I didn't want to hear "You're doing everything you can, there is nothing we can do for you." DAMMIT!!!! I am not really cool with the idea that my mouth has turned into a septic nightmare and the grape in my throat hurts, you tell me to keep taking tylenol, sudafed, oh and I can take robitussin too? Don't forget to push the fluids! HOLY CRAP BATMAN! I'm in the age of modern medicine but because I'm pregnant no one will touch me with a 10 foot pole. I have my 24 week appointment on Tuesday with my OB, maybe she'll get more creative than push fluids....or maybe not, she did afterall, look at my stye and offer her deepest sympathy but said "there nothing that can be done." At this point I am thoroughly frustrated........Happy Easter.

Let them eat cake! (practice round)

2009-04-08T02:23:00.003-04:00

Tonight was my 3rd cake decorating class. My teacher asked we each bring a cake to practice on so we can be ready for next week's cake. Now, this cake is fully edible, but it just doesn't look as good as next week's cake (God willing next week's looks good). Tonight I learned the basket weave effect which you see on the sides of the cake. I am going to have to invest in a cake spinner, it will definitely make my life easier! I'm learning so much and I can't wait to take Course 2 in May! Tomorrow while we're in class we'll eat my creation.

A preggo looks at 23 weeks

2009-04-06T14:00:00.003-04:00

So this is what a preggo Jen looks like at 23 weeks. I was getting ready for work and realized I had not yet taken the pics for my mom as I had promised her so I grabbed my iphone real quick and started snapping. The 2 in uniform, Brian was kinda enough to take, because I had promised those to my mom as well (weeks prior....I'm slow) and so I'm finally making good on the pics. Wyatt has been kicking a lot lately and it's cool to feel him moving around. We have a DR's appt on the 14th for my 24 weeks and I wonder if we begin doing kick counts. This whole experience has been kinda weird, but really cool at the same time. I still don't think it's hit me yet that I am indeed going to be bringing home my son....wow, that really felt weird just saying that. Ok, so yes, maybe I'm not totally at the point where my brain has wrapped around the concept of parenthood yet, but there is still time for me to figure it out.

Ford Island 10k

2009-04-04T20:25:00.002-04:00

Today started at 4:40am when the alarm clock buzzed and I rolled my preggo butt out of bed. Brian's back was still acting up so he skipped the race. I got up, brushed my teeth, washed my face and put on my race t-shirt. I met up with my friends Kristen (36 weeks pregnant) and Robert with their little boy Jacob at 5:30am down at Pearl Harbor. We grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to the start of the Ford Island 10k. This was my first 10k and I did it 23 weeks pregnant! The race started at 7:00am, and we started walking! There were lots of people there and eventually they all passed us. The only thing we were concerned with was getting to the finish line. We hit up every potty stop along the way and kept a good attitude. We were both really tired and sore by the end but really glad we made it all the way. After we finished we made a stop at Koa Pancakes for a much deserved after race meal......it was sooooo good! Next year I hope to have Wyatt in a jogging stroller and run most of the 10k.

Losing my bellybutton.....set to the tune of Losing my Religion

2009-03-26T02:51:00.002-04:00

I'm a big R.E.M. fan and while getting ready for work this morning I noticed my bellybutton was disappearing. If you listen to the song "Losing my Religion" from R.E.M. I have made my own version. Enjoy the inner ramblings of me.......

"Losing my Bellybutton"

Oh, life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are in me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance for your life
Oh no, I have to go
I have to pee

(chorus)
That's me in the mirror
That's me in the spotlight, I'm
Losing my BELLYBUTTON
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no, I have to go
I have to pee again
I thought that I felt you kick me
I thought that I felt you move
I think I thought I heard your heartbeat

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing all of my meals
Trying to keep life good for you
Like a worried frightened and blinded new mom
Oh no, I have to go
I have to pee

Consider this
Consider this
You're cooped inside of me
Consider this
Your kick, that was
my left kidney, baby
What if I lay down will you
Ease up on me
Now I have to pee again
I thought that I felt you kick me
I thought that I felt you move
I think I thought I heard your heartbeat

But that was meant to be
That was just meant to be

(repeat chorus)

But that was just meant to be
Kick, cry, lullaby
That was meant to be
Meant to be, meant to be
Be

Feeling creative

2009-03-25T03:35:00.003-04:00

Tonight my friend Abby and I went to our first cake decorating class at Ben Franklin Crafts. We're taking the Wilton series on cake decorating and so far the class has proved to be hilarious! I made a total mess of my workstation and our instructor was great about the whole thing. My goal is I want to be able to make an awesome cake for my baby shower. We shall see how it goes! Hopefully by the end of all 3 courses I'll be able to make a really cool cake! I never seem to have problems with my cakes tasting great, they just lack in the looks department. Tonight we learned how to make stars, shells and attempted flowers. It took me a while to get shells, but I think I have it finally. I'll spend this week practicing and hopefully by next Tuesday I'll be good to go! Fingers crossed I can get this!

20 Weeks!!

2009-03-17T00:45:00.000-04:00

Brian and I went in for the 20 week ultrasound today and it was awesome! Wyatt was good for about the first 10 minutes, he was sleeping or just resting, but then he became very alert and gave the technician a run for her money! He wiggled a lot and wouldn't cooperate with her, so we have that to look forward to! He is 14oz and just has a super cute profile. We were at the appointment for a good hour because he was so active. He moves more and more every day and from the look of my belly, is definitely growing. We are so excited for August to get here!

A new clothing store idea

2009-03-03T03:09:00.001-05:00

So Brian and I were driving along just chatting as we do and he is jealous of my stretchy pants I get to wear these days. I've decided it might be a good idea to open a man's version of Motherhood Maternity, we'll just simply call it Fatherhood. Easy, right? So anyway, at Fatherhood we'd offer a fine selection of men's stretchy pants so when they are sympathetically pregnant, they can grow into clothes as well. Honestly I think it's a fair solution.

It's here!!!

2009-02-28T15:03:00.002-05:00

It's here, I can hardly believe it!!! Target is finally on island and it's soft opening is March 4-7 with the grand opening on March 8th! I am so excited, I can work on the baby registry in real life, not just online. My friend Abby and I drove there last night, but there was a security guard in the parking lot. She stopped us and asked "what is your business here?" so I just looked at her with a huge smile and said "honestly, I just want to take a picture of Target so I can blog that it is actually here on island." The lady just shrugged her shoulders and said "ok, have a nice night!" I guess she was sympathetic to our cause, either way, here is the evidence to prove it!!

Getting baby stuff!

2009-02-22T04:12:00.003-05:00

Today I went out with my friend Abby and picked out our crib and dresser for Wyatt's room. The dresser was immediately available, but the crib is on back order. Hopefully it will be in soon. Oh well, I guess that's Hawaii for you. The furniture is pretty cute and we're excited to start setting up the nursery.

It's a boy!

2009-02-15T22:56:00.002-05:00

Today we went to First Look Hawaii so we could peek at the gender. It's a boy! Clear as day it's a boy! We are both so very excited and I am getting more and more hormonal, so of course I cried. It was so neat to see him move around. He kept putting his hands in his mouth and wiggling around. I can't feel it yet, but I am looking forward to the day I can feel him. I called my parents and I guess Dad owes Mom $20, she bet we're having a boy. Brian's mom cried (so I don't feel so alone!!) I have my checkup this week with my OB so I'll let her know and show her the pictures.

The Greatest Discovery

2009-02-15T22:54:00.001-05:00

This is one of the sweetest songs from Elton John

The Greatest Discovery

Peering out of tiny eyes
The grubby hands that gripped the rail
Wiped the window clean of frost
As the morning air laid on the latch

A whistle awakened someone there
Next door to the nursery just down the hall
A strange new sound you never heard before
A strange new sound that makes boys explore

Tread neat so small those little feet
Amid the morning his small heart beats
So much excitement yesterday
That must be rewarded must be displayed

Large hands lift him through the air
Excited eyes contain him there
The eyes of those he loves and knows
But what's this extra bed just here

His puzzled head tipped to one side
Amazement swims in those bright green eyes
Glancing down upon this thing
That make strange sounds, strange sounds that sing

In those silent happy seconds
That surround the sound of this event
A parent smile is made in moments
They have made for you a friend

And all you ever learned from them
Until you grew much older
Did not compare with when they said
This is your brand new brother
This is your brand new brother
This is your brand new brother

New ultrasound

2009-01-30T19:00:00.004-05:00

I had another ultrasound today, just a checkup to make sure my ovary is back to normal. Thankfully it is. I went to the ER in December and my right ovary was ridiculously big and so this was just a follow-up. The ultrasound tech sent me home with 5 new ultrasound pics of our baby. It's weird, every time I see the little one on the screen, I tear up. The heartbeat sounds great, baby looks great, so I am pretty happy about that. I am 14 weeks on Sunday, only 6 weeks until we find out the baby's gender! I'm not really showing yet, just look a bit fatter LOL. Oh well, I guess that's to be expected.

First OB Appointment!

2009-01-22T14:00:00.002-05:00

We had our first OB appointment today! Brian and I were able to see our baby for the first time. I cried.....and I am not ashamed to admit that! It was so weird and cool to see the baby and hear the heartbeat and really know that we are going to be parents this year. The heartbeat sounds like a "woosh woosh woosh" noise, it was pretty neat. My due date has been bumped up to August 2nd, so we'll see what happens. I'm feeling ok, just really tired. I've been fighting a headcold from hell and I hope it passes soon.

We're Pregnant!

2008-12-10T23:59:00.003-05:00

So on November 30th I woke up to discover something was missing......my period. I decided to take a home pregnancy test because they've always come back negative so I really wasn't expecting anything different. SURPRISE! That HPT turned bright pink and had 2 lines.....totally preggo! So, Brian and I did the only logical thing....we took more tests (like 4 of them). I was freaked; I never expected this to happen so soon. Well we went to the clinic and it was confirmed with the military, still preggo. I've started feeling some of the symptoms for example fatigue, a little nausea, breast tenderness, and Brian's favorite: GIANT boobs. They're huge, it's ridiculous. I try to work out but I can't run non stop. It just hurts too much! I take Cujo and Hank with me for a jog/walk and we do about 3 miles. I feel better because I'm getting the exercise and they just love to be outside. I've been sleeping a lot more lately, which I'm trying to monitor because if I nap for too long in the afternoon, I can't sleep at night. That part stinks. Anyhow, we went to my OB Registration today and they gave us an estimated due date of August 12th. I actually think my EDD is August 7th because I ovulated on the 14th of November.....the nurse didn't care what I said. Oh well, we'll know for sure during the big ultrasound during my 20th week appointment. The nurse gave me my laundry list of foods I can't have, and as I expected (and still to my dismay) no sushi. What a bummer! Japanese women eat sushi when they're pregnant, and I lived in Japan for 4 years so I have to be accustomed to it, right? Doesn't matter, NO SUSHI. If you have ever seen the movie "knocked up" Seth Rogen describes pregnancy pretty well "a list of stuff you can't do". LOL Oh well, I know it is worth it in the end......but I can whine a little if I want to.

We bought a turkey

2008-11-16T18:40:00.002-05:00

Brian and I went to the commissary today to buy our very first Thanksgiving turkey. I know it i early, but we're on an island so the commissary does not have the best track record of keeping a healthy stock of anything. Therefore, home with a 21lb turkey. It's an exciting feeling to know we're having a normal holiday together in our home. We're having friends over to share a feast and that will be a blast. Things are getting better, learning to be an actual couple versus a couple of married people who don't live together. I know that sounds weird, but there is a huge difference. I do have to admit that this year has been full of ups and downs. Hopefully there are more ups to come.
We're still figuring out our Thanksgiving Day menu but looking forward to all the fun foods!!

Catching up

2008-05-26T06:25:00.000-04:00

Brian and I have been in Hawaii for about 3 months and we're pretty much settled in our new home. We still have some boxes to unpack but overall things are great. Our 2nd puppy, Hank, arrived almost 2 weeks ago and he and Cujo have quickly become best friends. He's 8 weeks old and full of energy! Since we've been here we've done some sight-seeing with our visiting family, to include hiking Diamond Head and seeing turtles at Turtle Beach. We love our new home and we're looking forward to these 3 years here in Hawaii!

T minus 75 days and counting

2007-11-29T15:27:00.001-05:00

Yes, in 75 days I am leaving Japan for good, or at least 3 years. The process has begun. My packout dates are set; Brian's packout dates are set; the ball is rolling! In just 19 days I'll be in Saint Louis for the holidays visiting with Brian and his family and then off to Maine for another 10 days. When I get back to Japan on Jan 10th, I'll only have 34 days left until it's time to go. It's hard to believe that I'm finally moving in with my husband and we are both so excited the time has finally arrived! We're busy trying to decide what kind of car to purchase in Hawaii. Right now the frontrunner is the Toyota Prius. We are also trying to figure out what to send out in what shipment. It takes 45 days for Brian's stuff to get to Hawaii from Maine and it takes up to 70 days for my stuff to get there from Japan, so crazy. My stuff has to go to Los Angeles first before it can go to Hawaii, something about inspections and quarantines, etc. LAME. Anyhow, so we'll be using loaner furniture for the first month or 2 at our new house. Oh well, at least we'll be in the same house. Well, so much to think about, so much to get done. It's no wonder I can't sleep, my brain is on and won't relax!

Thank God it does not get like this in Hawaii!!!!!

2007-11-18T07:36:00.000-05:00

This is my car after 3 hours at my friend's house. I went outside and found it buried in snow. Today is the first snowfall of the season here and I am less than thrilled. I had to open my trunk to get my ice scraper/snow brush out and a bunch of snow dumped inside the trunk.....just great. I guess this is the official start of winter here, wonderful.

Holes

2007-11-13T23:24:00.000-05:00

Today is 1 week and 1 day after my surgery.
I'm still moving slow, but that's ok. I'm sore which is to be expected. Brian could not make it out here to help me, that part sucks. It's not like I can't function without him, I would have enjoyed having him around. I am more or less whining at this point. I guess he's lucky though, parts of the recovery have been gross and rather unpleasant. Over the weekend Andrew (hooray for Andrew, he's been so awesome!) took pictures of me taking the nasty medication I am not taking anymore. I have 5 new holes in my abdomen and they are nice and small. Today I am off to see my surgeon for follow up. Thankfully I had all this done in time to be ready for ski season!

Yoga

2007-10-31T23:34:00.000-04:00

I have been doing more and more yoga lately. I am trying to relax and find some inner peace since I am definitely not finding any at work. In fact, my office is the exact opposite of inner peace, it's more like inner turmoil. (to put it lightly) Today at yoga I was able to get into the crane position (see the picture) for 8 whole seconds before I fell out of it and nearly landed on my face. I know what you're thinking, how can this be inner peace if you're going to land on your face? It was a sense of accomplishment that I finally got into that position. Now, in the picture, the woman has her arms fully extended, I'm not quite there yet. My arms are still bent. Baby steps.

When life gives you lemons..................

2007-10-26T03:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I know the cliche about "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" but wouldn't it be more fun if you added vodka, shook it over ice, and poured it into a sugar rimmed martini glass? VOILA! You have a lemon drop martini! Anyhow, I am desperately trying to stay positive, just for my sanity's sake. Bad things have happened at work and my career is pretty much screwed. The worst part is that those that were really deserving to get into trouble, didn't. As my friend told me last night "Remember in the movie National Treasure when it was said 'someone has to go to jail for stealing the constitution', well you're the one who went to jail." Sometimes no matter how hard you try, and how good of a person you are, you still get crapped on. Sometimes life is just not fair, and guess what? That's life. On the plus side of things, Brian is back in Maine safe and sound, currently recovering from a nasty headcold.

This weekend is the Halloween Ball here on base and I have an awesome costume. There will be pictures soon. Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday of them all. One night out of the year I get to be someone else and I don't really have to worry about who's watching because it's Halloween.

I am finally having my surgery on November 6th. It's been about a year I've been trying to get this scheduled to repair my damaged esophagus. (thanks to dad for bad genes!) I will be on convalescent leave for about 3 weeks, a nice break from reality. So, I have a lot coming up, the days are counting down and I am thrilled!!!

Jen-isms

2007-10-07T12:26:00.000-04:00

Every once in a while I say something very profound, but most of the time I just say random Jen-isms that make very little sense to people who don't know me very well. Tonight as I was sitting with my friend Andrew watching "Saved" the song "God Only Knows" was playing as the opening credits rolled. I looked at him and said "This is my favorite Beach Boys song" because it absolutely is. Now he looks at me and recalls a bizarre Jen-ism. Apparently many moons ago we were talking about the Beach Boys and I told him "when it is snowing and freezing outside I like to turn the heat up, turn on the Beach Boys and dance around my room in my underwear and pretend it is summer." Apparently this is a good idea, because he's tried it and agrees it works. He reminds me of the importance of closing the curtains so no one can view this spectacle. In times like these it is important to have friends around who can remind you of the important things in life, such as how to make a cold place feel like summer.

Spring cleaning good for the soul

2007-09-30T04:56:00.000-04:00

Today I did some serious spring cleaning..........but in the fall. Why is it called spring cleaning afterall? Anyhow, I returned to my room after being away for 5 months and I now have a 2 room suite, versus a single tiny room. I moved things around, organized, got rid of a ton of junk, and cleaned both rooms. Now I feel at home. It's amazing how a good clean can be good for the soul.

Grandma in Court

2007-09-26T09:33:00.001-04:00

GRANDMA IN COURT
Lawyers should never ask a Mississippi grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer. In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grand motherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you , Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you." The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?" She again rep lied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defense attorney almost died. The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said,
"If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you to the electric chair."

tube in the nose day

2007-09-24T06:32:00.000-04:00

Today has been kinda hellish. I went to the hospital today for my esophageal tests and it was just not fun at all. Jessica's boyfriend Chris went with me, what a trooper! Today was kinda gross and I certainly didn't enjoy it at all. Oh well, tomorrow I get to return so that wonderful technician can remove the tube from my nose. Today I went out looking like "that sad little cancer patient". Yes, I look like a freakshow.

24 Hour Esophageal pH Test

2007-09-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

So on Monday I have a 24 hour esophageal pH test so I can prepare for my upcoming surgery. Below are the details of what I have coming my way Monday morning:

24-Hour Esophageal pH Test
What is an esophageal pH test?An esophageal pH test measures and records the pH in your esophagus to determine if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The test can also be done to determine the effectiveness of medications or surgical treatment for GERD.
What is esophageal reflux?Esophageal reflux is a condition in which stomach acid refluxes or moves back into the esophagus (the "food pipe" leading from the mouth to the stomach).
What happens during esophageal reflux?A specialized muscle, called the lower esophageal sphincter, is located where the esophagus meets the stomach (see figure). This sphincter opens to allow flood and liquid to pass into the stomach, then closes. When the sphincter does not close tightly, food particles, stomach acid and other digestive juices can splash back up into the esophagus. When this happens, the condition is called gastroesophageal reflux. When reflux occurs on a regular basis, it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus. The esophageal pH test measures how often stomach contents reflux into the lower esophagus and how much acid the reflux contains.
How does the esophageal pH test work?A thin, small tube with an acid sensing device on the tip is gently passed through your nose, down the esophagus ("food tube"), and positioned about 2 inches above the lower esophageal sphincter. The tube is secured to the side of your face with clear tape. The end of the tube exiting from your nose is attached to a portable recorder that is worn on your belt or over your shoulder. The recorder has several buttons on it that you will press to mark certain events. A nurse will review the monitoring instructions with you.
How do I prepare for the 24-hour esophageal pH test?
Seven days before the monitoring period, do not take proton pump inhibitors: Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Aciphex (rabeprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole)
Two days (48 hours) before the monitoring period, do not take the H2 blockers: Zantac (ranitidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Pepcid (famotidine), Axid (nizatidine); or the promotility drug, Reglan (metoclopramide)
Six hours before the monitoring period, do not take antacids (such as Alka-Seltzer, Gaviscon, Maalox, Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, Phillips, Riopan, Tums or any other brands)
Four to 6 hours before your appointment do not eat or drink
Please note: Occasionally, your doctor may want you to continue taking a certain medication during the monitoring period to determine if it is effective.
Once the test has begun, what do I need to know and do?
Activity: Follow your usual daily routine. Do not reduce or change your activities during the monitoring period. Doing so can make the monitoring results less useful.
Note: do not take a tub bath or shower; the equipment can’t get wet.
Eating: Eat your regular meals at the usual times. If you do not eat during the monitoring period, your stomach will not produce acid as usual, and the test results will not be accurate. Eat at least 2 meals a day. Eat foods that tend to increase your symptoms (without making yourself miserable). Avoid snacking. Do not suck on hard candy or lozenges and do not chew gum during the monitoring period.
Lying down: Remain upright throughout the day. Do not lie down until you go to bed (unless napping or lying down during the day is part of your daily routine).
Medications: Continue to follow your doctor’s advice regarding medications to avoid during the monitoring period.
Recording symptoms: Press the appropriate button on your recorder when symptoms occur (as discussed with the nurse).
Recording events: Record the time you start and stop eating and drinking (anything other than plain water). Record the time you lie down (even if just resting) and when you get back up. The nurse will explain this.
Unusual symptoms or side effects. If you think you may be experiencing any unusual symptoms or side effects, call your doctor.
You will return the next day to have the tube removed. The information on the recorder will be downloaded to a computer and the results will be analyzed.

Hail to the Redskins!

2007-09-18T00:12:00.000-04:00

Monday night football for the Washington Redskins was a success! The Redskins beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 20-12, making the Skins now 2-0 for the season. I have been a Redskins fan since I was 4yrs old, and while they haven't always been on top, they have always been my favorite. Now, to gloat just a bit more, Brian's team, the St Louis Rams, is 0-2, and I cannot wait to tell him that!

Typhoon

2007-09-16T06:09:00.000-04:00

Just another day in Okinawa, hahahahaha yes, another day in typhoon season. Yesterday I returned from a typhoon evacuation and tomorrow I think I'm leaving on ANOTHER typhoon evac. Okinawa is located in the middle of typhoon land and every summer this island is slammed over and over again by typhoons. The interesting thing is the Okinawans are unphased by these storms. They were smart, everything here is made out of concrete. The Americans living on the southeastern coast of the USA are dumb, building houses on stilts and wondering "why did my house wash away???" Ah yes, as Carlos Mencia would say: Dee dee dee!!!! So this picture is of the storm on its way to hit us. Hopefully the storm will turn further towards Taiwan (that bigger island to the left of Okinawa) and then I won't have to go out of town again.

Cujo!

2007-09-15T09:29:00.000-04:00

This is our son, Cujo! We brought him home on June 20, 2007. He's a Miniature Pinscher with a lot of energy and love!

Trip to Hiroshima

2007-09-15T08:27:00.000-04:00

Well currently I am in Okinawa and Brian is in the desert, working his tail off. Yesterday we evacuated our plane from Okinawa to Iwakuni Japan to avoid a quickly passing typhoon. This little jaunt made it possible for me to go to Hiroshima. What an amazing experience! I was able to see the remaining building left untouched after the bomb hit on August 6, 1945. This is my last year in Japan. In February Brian and I are moving to Hawaii to finally live together. I am trying to make the most out of my last 5 months here. Hopefully I am blessed with that opportunity.