We have a reliable due date

Today I had my first real ultrasound. I had one in the office but they really couldn't tell me if my due date was right or not. But today I went into radiology and they did a real one. When we first got there, I told the radiologist that when they did the ultrasound in the office the baby would not hold still so I had been praying that the baby would be more cooperative this time. He replied back, "well its just hanging out right now." The second he said that the baby woke up and started moving all over the place. Richard was even surprised at how active this baby is compared to Steven. Steven had his active moments but for the most part would just stretch and squirm. This baby was rolling all over the place, kicking and moving its arms, and doing cart-wheels. It is so weird to watch that action on the monitor but not feel a thing! Anyways, the baby is doing great and everything does seem to be just fine. I do have a cyst on one of my ovaries that is a pit painful at times especially when pressure is applied, but overall I'm feeling great. My morning sickness has already started to go away which I am so so thankful for. I am 11 weeks, 5 days pregnant and my due date is May 2nd, 2009. We are so excited! Oh, did I mention that this baby is a thumb sucker just like Steven? In all three pictures that we got the baby is just sucking away on its tiny little fingers. We were both amazed at how much the quality of the ultrasound images have improved in just 2 years since Steven was born. I'm only about 12 wks and you can make out tiny fingers, the nose, cheeks, mouth. It's just amazing. We are so blessed to be able to peak in and observe what God is forming and molding on the inside.

 

Richard's first mission

Like I said in my previous post, Richard went on his first mission in September and it lasted 13 days. It was originally scheduled to be 5-7 days. It was supposed to be an aeromedical evacuation mission which was to include the usual stops in Washington D.C. and Germany before going to Afghanistan. Well, they apparently had to make a stop on an island in Portugal to drop off a part for a plane that was broken down there. When they landed, their plane broke! Some piece on the landing gear busted as they were landing. So, the whole crew and all of the space-A passengers were stuck on a 22 square mile island in the Pacific Ocean that is a territory of Portugal for 3 days. If any of you have ever heard of the Azores islands, you would know that it is, by far, NOT the worst place to be stranded. It is a beautiful island that is known for its amazing scuba diving. Richard said the water there was the bluest he'd ever seen. (see the pictures below of Richard and the crew on the island) So anyways, while "stuck" on this island Richard and the crew were able to do whatever the heck they wanted until the plane was fixed. Basically, it was a mini vacation courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue! I wish I could've tagged along. Richard has promised to take me there some day, but the plane tickets are outrageously expensive to get there. Although the food and things on the actual island are quite inexpensive. He visited a local winery, watched local bull fights and bull runs, and eat amazing food that was ridiculously cheap. He pretty much had a terrible time. lol. Then once his plane was fixed, he flew to Germany. Since his plane had broken his mission was pretty much scrubbed and he was scheduled to come home. Just when we thought he was coming home, another plane broke and they took the part off of his plane because they had an actually mission to complete. So the poor guy was stuck in Germany for a whole day. Boo hoo, cry me a river! lol Well the morning he was scheduled to leave they decided to give the crew another mission. He actually did wind up going to Afghanistan and then finally came home. The nice part about him being gone for so long though is that he had 3 whole days off when he got back. We did absolutely nothing but hang out together. Well, we did take a trip up to the beach which was gorgeous by the way. It was so nice and warm. Steven actually played in the water. The dog, who is terrified of anything that even resembles water, was even playing in it. After Richard was home for exactly 8 days he left on his second mission. Apparently there are a lot of people on leave or something because "this doesn't usually happen." Usually they only fly about every 6 weeks. Not 3 weeks out of a month. At least he gets paid well while he gone. :)

No more sleeping on the floor

Well, its been over a month since Richard began sleeping on the floor. His small pox vaccination site has finally healed and he is back in our bed. Its been so weird sleeping by myself so its been nice to roll over and feel him there again. He went on his first real mission in September. He was gone for 13 days and he is now a qualified loadmaster! Its nice that he is finally doing his job for real; no more training. Well, they are always doing currency training and stuff but he is a "real boy" now. Up until this point he's been in the training phase which is much different than being qualified. He used to have to go in every day and actually be there for most of the day. Now he just goes in for a couple of hours and does a few tasks and then he's home. It's weird having him home so much but also very, very nice. He has never worked so little- lol. Well there is a reason for that though. In his squadron, they believe that because when they go on missions they are gone 24/7 for how ever long they are gone, that when they are home they should be spending time with their families. I'm totally not complaining about it! Actually all of this change has only made us realize how faithful the Lord is and how truly blessed we are. I'm starting to feel a little better now although I still have the occasional nauseous moment(s). I have my first OB appointment this week. They do things so differently in the military and I'm still getting used to it. Each time I go to do tests or other things at the hospital, it gets a little more familiar and I get more comfortable. It is so weird seeing a Doctor in ABU's. I feel like I'm in the military too- lol. Richard is leaving again for another week. It is hard when he's gone but I'm hopeful that it will get easier as time goes on. I don't want to ever get used to having him gone, but maybe I will just find ways to make it better. So far I've been doing some traveling and visiting family. Steven and I drove up to Eureka with my Grandmother to visit our family that live up there. Steven as had great time with my little cousin Emily. She is 7 years old and he just fell in love with her. He followed her around most of the time. He also had fun with my cousin Sarah and her hubby Peter. Sarah is also pregnant and we are doing the same week! It hasn't been all bad- we get to talk a lot more than I has thought we would and Steven loves talking to Daddy on the web-cam. He gets so excited. Anyways, it getting late and I should get some rest. Here are some pictures from our trip to Eureka while Richard was gone and a picture of Richard and Steven putting away the air-mattress for good! :)