Baby stuff

Had another doctor appointment this week. It went well, like always. Then I got to go over and check out the hospital rooms that I will be using to deliver and recover. They are nice rooms and I am actually looking forward to giving birth at that hospital. After checking out the rooms I went and preregistered with the hospital so I don't have to worry about doing that while in labor. I also found out that I have to have an epidural consultation if I want to have the option of an epidural at all. Apparently at the hospital they believe that while you are in the throws of labor you cannot make a decision properly. WELL DUH! It makes sense to me. So, I had the consultation and now I have the option for an epidural.
I should be receiving my diaper bag tomorrow. Let me tell you how excited I am for this...Seriously, I feel like it's Christmas! I have been waiting almost a month since I ordered it and it will finally be here.
Today my sister Serrin was kind enough to take time out from her studying and take maternity pictures of me. We went out to Boca Grande, which happens to be one of the most beautiful places in Florida. We did almost all beach pictures. Lots of clothing changes...mind you, I changed on the beach so that was interesting. After we got done at the light house at the end of Boca Grande we went to another part of the beach. I put on a long dress and got into the water. It felt so good to cool down a bit, since it was hot and humid out today. Serrin asked me if I would lay on the beach in the water. HECK YEAH! Now I had not fully planned for this, so EVERYTHING was wet and when I stood up I'm pretty sure I had sand in places I never expected. From the few pictures that I saw I am thinking that its going to be another excited for "Christmas" thing when she tells me that they are done. After we were done with pictures we were going to lunch. With a see through dress on and since it was about 2 feet longer than I am tall I figured it was time to change. I DO NOT go into porta potties because they gross me out, so I had the option to stay in the see through wet dress or change in the parking lot. There goes my clothes! I did have a bigger coat to hold up so mom did that for me and there I changed. It was a good laugh.
I cannot wait to be able to send the pictures to my hubby so he can see them too!
I love my husband, and only 44 more days before we meet our son!

WOOP WOOP

Well, last week was a great one. On Tuesday I drove up to Orlando and checked into All Star Sports resort on Disney property. An hour or so later I finally got to meet Lauren and her youngest son (who has donated all of his clothes to Trace). We got to hang out all night and went to Rain Forrest Cafe for supper. The look on Lauren's middle son's face when the "thunder storm" started was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. We got back to the hotel pretty late and it was time for me to go to bed. Of course, I couldn't fall asleep until after 1am and then woke up wide awake at 5:30am. I finally got my butt out of bed about 7 and started to get ready for the day. About 9 we went to breakfast at the hotel then got onto the bus to head to Magic Kingdom. We got into the park and I'm pretty sure Lauren and I were the most excited out of the 6 of us. A full day of park madness and one of the BEST lunches EVER! I actually felt really great after walking around the park all day. It was time for me to drive back home. The drive didn't seem very long since I got to talk to Katie most of the way, and then finally got to talk to my best friend Tymmony!
Earlier in the week I found out that we had an official closing date for our house. And now, we might be moving that closing date up to June 1st!
Got to talk to the hubby finally, after 11 days, on Thursday morning. He is doing well, very busy and not getting much sleep. I feel so bad for him because he is so concerned about what he will be doing when he gets back home. I keep trying to tell him that we will figure it all out as a family.
I have my next doctor appointment on Wednesday this week and get to meet with the birthing class instructor to get a personal tour of the hospital that I will be delivering at. I am so thankful that I did the "at home" class. I got to pick when I read the book and watched the DVD. And I get to ask any questions that I might have on Wednesday. I hate sitting through class and am so glad I got to avoid it.
I feel so lucky to have met Lauren finally. She is even better in person that I could have imagined. And her boys are great too! Sitting in the Laugh Factory and watching her oldest get very excited, laughing, and participating in everything gave me a little insight of what things might be like with Trace when he is 7. So, thank you Lauren for inviting me to come to Disney World with you and your family.

Less than 8 weeks to go

Last week my Mother-in-law was down for 8 days. It was so nice to have her here. I am excited that she finally got to see Trace moving around. Not many people have seen or felt him, I think that when I say, "Oh, there, he's moving" that he hears me and thinks, "haha...not anymore mom!" Little butt head! Apparently she was in on the surprise baby shower that my mom, my sister, Kristin, Ashley, and Marissa had put together for me. It was a surprise for sure. I was told that we would be going to eat supper but we had to pick Kristin up first. We got to her house and there everyone was. It was so nice. I had not expected a baby shower at all. I can't believe everything that we have gotten for this little boy. In the last week or so my mom and I have been working hard on getting the baby room all set up. Every day it gets closer and closer to being done. The last doctor's appointment went well. I am up 14lbs now. And the heart rate was strong at 150. I have the next appointment on the 25th.
Tomorrow I get to drive up to Disney World and meet up with Lauren and her family. I am so excited, not just for Disney World, but to be able to meet Lauren finally. We have talked on the phone quite a bit and she has sent me so many baby clothes I think she could have single handedly clothed our child. Let me tell you a little about this woman that I have yet to meet. I "met" her through Katie, on Facebook. And we became friends right away, just like Katie and I did. I feel like I have known her forever already. Her husband just got back from deployment, so she has given me some great advice for our own deployment. I don't know if I have ever met someone as generous as her. She took care of her 3 boys, worked out like a mad woman, and managed to keep it together the whole time her husband was gone. She is a funny woman and always has a great story to tell, like seeing the women fighting in McDonalds. She gives me inspiration to work my butt off once this baby is born to get back into shape. And, since she had her youngest son just before her husband left, I know that I will be able to talk to her about taking care of my own son after my husband leaves again. Needless to say, I am more than excited to finally meet this woman. (Her and I are both Disney freaks so it should be a good time going to the park with her!)
We have 55 days until we have this little boy in our arms. I can't believe that it has gone so fast! I just hope that the next 55 days goes just as fast.
I love my hubby and can't wait until he calls, I have some news for him!

Last day of April...FINALLY!

It is finally the last day of April which means, another month down in the deployment! Tomorrow also marks the 30 week point for the pregnancy. Its getting close and I am getting more excited about it. I finally did the registry at target.com and have actually received the first set of things from it. (Thank you SO much Betty and Aimee!!!). So many more things to get so we can get ready for our little boy Trace to arrive. One of these days I might actually start getting the baby's room ready, maybe. We have so many outfits for him now its almost out of control. With everything that Lauren, Katie S., Betty, Andea, Katie E., Aubrey, Carrie, My mom, Kate, and myself have bought for him you can tell he is getting spoiled already! Lately he has been such a mover, in fact, right now he is moving up a storm. Still when I play the video of my husband reading the book to Trace he kicks at the exact spot that I have the phone sitting. I'm pretty sure that he really likes hearing his daddy's voice. Only 71 days and we will have him in our arms and his daddy will be able to really talk to him. I think that is what I am getting most excited for.
My mother-in-law gets to come visit next week. I am so looking forward to it. The day after she gets in I have a doctor's appointment, so she will get to go with me to that. I am hoping that she will be able to help me get some more stuff ready for Trace to arrive.
My mom and I went to the Saturday Market today and the woman that did our wedding cake was there, as always, selling her wonderful cupcakes. She told me that I look great for being 30 weeks. I love hearing that. Most people say that I look like they did at 4 or 5 months. I guess that's a good thing. I am up to 9 pounds now, maybe more, but I haven't weighed myself in about a week.
Thank you everyone that has been helping me so far, in the deployment and the pregnancy. I hope that some of you will be able to come visit after Trace is born. I'm planning a 2 or 3 week trip in September and October back to the Midwest so I can make the rounds again and actually spend some time with everyone.
I love my husband, not too much longer and he will be back for a little bit!!!!!

So much has happened...

There has been so much that has happened since I blogged last. I went on my vacation. Seattle was stop #1. It was so worth the long flight out there. I got to see one of my best friends of all time get married. Whit, I'll never be able to express to you how much I appreciate that you wanted me to be part of your special day. You are and always will be one of the most important people in my life. I love you! As for the flight out there. A flight attendant told me that she thought that I was just fat, not pregnant. So that was nice, NOT! Spending a few hours with my other best friend Tymmony was great. Her and I could not be more different. but the things that we have in common are so strong that nothing can ever some between us. After Seattle it was on to Iowa. Got to spend a little bit of time with my family and my in-laws. Of course the baby wouldn't move around much so people could feel him, so that was sad. But while in Iowa I realized that I really did miss being there. (I did not however miss the cold weather). Then it was off to "Chicago" to meet Katie. Was I nervous? Would you be nervous having made plans to spend 3 solid days with someone that you had never met before? Needless to say, we hit it off right away. Her and I have so much in common its almost scary. I feel like she is someone that I have known forever. And I know that she is someone that even after this deployment her and I will continue to be good friends. I can't believe what a strong woman she is. Taking care of twin 15month old girls, dealing with other stuff, and keeping it together as well as she does...I just hope that I can keep it together as well as she does. It was more than nice to be able to talk to her about the things that concern me and know that they are the same things that she worries about too. We had a great time together, at least I thought so. When she dropped me off at the airport I teared up a little bit. I felt like I was leaving family. Thank you Katie for being such a great friend right off the bat. I know that I can talk to you about anything. (Thanks for all of the information that people don't want to talk about either!) At the airport I was walking to my gate and realized that it was right next to the gate that the hubby left from. Once again, trying to hold back tears. I got on my plane and walked off at home. Getting back home was nice. The warm weather is WAY nice (since it snowed EVERYWHERE else I went). I haven't been home long, but I have started to get things ready for the baby. Finally did a gift registry (Target.com). My mother-in-law will be here at the beginning of May. I am looking forward to it. I know that she will help me even more getting the baby room ready.
Today has been a great day. I cleaned like crazy, I believe I was in a nesting phase today. And my friend Lauren, after 14 long months, has her husband home. Congrats to her on making it with her 3 little boys. She is another strong woman that I hope I can follow her lead. Lauren and Katie have been the most amazing new friends that I could have ever imagined. Thank you both so much!
I love my husband so much...the countdown is getting shorter and shorter until he gets to come home!

April 1st

Yet another day has passed. And another day I can check off of the calendar finally! I started the countdown to R&R the day that the hubby told me when he would be coming home. Athough I wish I had waited a while to start the countdown. Its been 26 days since it started.
So, I have been writing a journal as well, and have asked some of the other wives to do the same thing. I have read two books about deployment, from the view of wives. They are GREAT books, but one dealt only with Active Duty Army and the other one only had small blurbs about Reserve units that had deployed. Both were based in 2003. So I thought about putting together our journal entries for a book. One that is strictly about reserve deployments and how the wives deal.
My "vacation" is going to start in 6 short days! I am so looking forward to it. Going out to Seattle, where I spent 22 years and I haven't been for 5 years! I am so excited to see my two best friends out there. I still can't believe my Whitters aka GET IN MY BELLY is getting married in 10 days!Then I'm off to Iowa to see the rest of my family and the whole Simonson clan, plus some good friends. Our supper on the 12th is going to be crazy, I think as of right now there will be 16 people there. I wonder what restaurant in Maquoketa we will be able to fit in. Then off to Chicago for the Yellow Ribbon. I am also looking forward to meeting the people that I have been talking, texting, and chatting with on Facebook. It'll be nice to be around people that really know how I am feeling on a daily basis and people that are going through this deployment too. I have no idea what to expect form the Yellow Ribbon, but I'm sure it will have some good information for all of us.
This post is kinda boring, but oh well! I hope everyone has a good day and good weekend. Oh, and its Friday which means RED FRIDAY! Do you have your RED on today? I do!
I love my husband more and more every day!

Its been a while...

So its been a while since I blogged last. I haven't really known what to say. And now I kinda do...
So many people have been saying, "You must be so excited!" or "How excited are you?" talking about being pregnant. And you can think I'm a bad person, or whatever you'd like to think, but I'm not excited. For only 15 days did I feel "whole". And by that I mean, I had my husband with me, and WE together got to be happy about our baby. And although I am more than happy and excited about the end result, getting to see and hold our baby boy, I feel like part of me is missing. Some people will say, "Well you chose this life, you know what you are getting into when you marry a soldier." And yes, I did fall in love with a soldier and I made the decision to marry him and we made the decision to have a child. But NO ONE can prepare for a deployment. No matter how much you think you have prepared, the emotions, the sadness, the anxiety, the tears that well up in your eyes when your phone rings and its HIM calling. You cannot get ready for that. My husband has missed EVERY part of the pregnancy except for one appointment. And yes, I try to do anything and everything to include him. I send probably 4 emails a day, I send belly pictures, I took video at the last appointment of the heart beat (Although he cannot download it and hear it). He is still not part of it like a husband should be. So no, I'm not excited. I'd be ok fast forwarding to July and missing out on the last 15 weeks of the pregnancy. But since i can't do that I will suck it up and continue to be sad that my husband cannot be part of what is suppose to be the best moments in our life. I know that it has to be more than hard for him as well. But would I know that, NO, not unless he tells me, and he doesn't. I have to sit at home and try to continue to truck through every day, and wonder what he is doing, if he is getting enough sleep, if he is getting enough to eat, if he is getting shot at. Everyone tells you, "Keep a positive attitude and everything will be just fine." People say, "Suck it up." I want to tell those people, "YOU TRY TO DO THIS!" As if keeping a positive attitude can actually keep my husband from getting shot. How would you feel is your husband was half a world away, and you couldn't know exactly where he was, or what he was doing? How would you feel if every time you spoke to your husband, which was at most once a week, he sounded like he hadn't slept in days. Or when he tells you that he has only been able to eat one meal a day and he can no longer wear his wedding ring because it falls off of him. Then imagine knowing that he still has 300+ days left over there! You do this, then tell me to suck it up. I realize that hundreds of thousands of wives get up and start their day the exact same way I do, checking their phone to see if an email came from him, then realizing that it hasn't. I even know that many wives are pregnant while their husbands are deployed. But not having those wives right next to me, and be able to go to lunch with them, really makes me feel alone. Yes I have my Army Wife friends, and if it weren't for them I'd be way worse off than I am now. But I'm thousands of miles away from any of them. Phone calls are amazing, but seeing them, and getting a hug from them and without saying a word the comfort for knowing, "We're going through the same thing, and I know how you feel.", would be a lot different.
I guess that's enough for now. Sorry its so long, but I've had a lot on my mind. Thank you to my friends that keep me as sane as I could be right now. You all have a most special place in my heart.
I love my husband more than anything in the world.