3.5 days left in Maryland

WOW, time has flown. I can't believe that I will be leaving in 3.5 days. I am so anxious to be home but I will miss being here. I do love the fall and I have made some amazing people.
By this time next week I could be back in Utah. That is just weird to think.  I am sometimes in the mindset that Sky should still be at basic training. Oh I hated having him gone and yet he is already done with AIT. An update on him coming home is.... We still don't know. They don't want him here at Fort Meade and his unit doesn't want him in Utah until he finishes Airborne. So we are waiting to find out what his unit says. Then today we found out that the building that Skyeler and the other soldier have to do out-processing has flooded and will be closed tomorrow.. Um they only have tomorrow to finish all of that so I hope it doesn't mess up plans for people going home since graduation is TUESDAY!
For the most part I think I am ready... almost everything is packed I just have to put stuff in the car and ship a few things.. But of course Skyeler won't let me help with packing up the car so it will have to wait or he will be very upset with me. Oh well, I guess I do have to figure out what to do with a ham and a turkey that is currently in my freezer.

Week 27:

How far along?  *27 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss?  10 pounds
Maternity clothes?  Yes,
Stretch marks?  Nope
Sleep?  Has been okay.  Even with Sky talking in his sleep and having to sleep on an air mattress.
Best moment last week? Baby kicking when I play Skyeler's song on my phone.
Movement?  Yes, and I love it
Food cravings?  I still want fruit and sweets and H20!!! 
Labor signs?   Are Braxton Hicks technically considered labor signs?
Belly button in/out?  In
What I miss:  I miss not having so many side effects. I have had so much nausea and now I am anemic.
What I am looking forward to:  I am looking forward to seeing my family!
Milestones: I think I passed my glucose test.

Thanksgiving 2012

This year Thanksgiving was quite different for us... I am so use to being surrounded by many many people trying to talk over each other and just having a grand ol' time. This year we went over to some friends house it is was a small but enjoyable gathering. I am thankful that we had someone to spend it with even though spending it with just Skyeler wouldn't have bothered me at all.

On Tuesday Skyeler had a mandatory "Feast" that I was able to go with him to. This feast was basically a thanksgiving dinner provided by a non-profit organization that is here on post. It was a lot of fun and hey why not enjoy a free dinner. Especially since I was nauseous all day because I had an OB appointment in Bethesda and I had blood drawn and had that glucose test. Lets face it almost everybody hates that stuff because of how much sugar you have to drink and for me it is worse with the constant nausea/morning sickness I already have. They did tell me that I needed to fast before the test and I knew that wasn't going to happen... So hopefully those results turn out okay. Needless to say the rest of the day I felt like crap and really needed a good nutritious meal to counter all that sugar.

This year I have felt very blessed and I am truly thankful for much in my life. I hope that I can continue to see the blessings in my life and to be grateful for all the small things as well as the big things more.

One more week!

So time has been FLYING! I can't believe in 1.5 weeks I will be on my way home. I am ready and my nerves have been calmed quite a bit with a possibility that Sky could graduate a day early and head out to Airborne and have that all finished before Christmas. I am excited for that possibility. Hopefully we find out soon if it is going to happen. I don't think Sky's classmates are happy about it and I feel bad that Sky is a "special case" but he is going to training and not going home. I really wish that he could be done NOW, but luckily airborne is only 3 weeks. I can handle that..... I hope.
Other than that I am excited for my trip home and I am just trying to prep and get things organized and packed plus selling some stuff. Things have been coming together fairly well. YAY!

Week 26:

How far along?  *26 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss?  7 pounds, He he
Maternity clothes?  Yes,
Stretch marks?  Nope
Sleep?  Has been okay. 
Best moment last week? Time is starting to blur together, but I did see some of Sky's battle buddies and they all loved the baby bump.
Movement?  Yes, and I love it
Food cravings?  I still want fruit and sweets and H20!!! 
Labor signs? None.
Belly button in/out?  In
What I miss:  Being able to move normally and not have the constant nausea or worry of nausea. I also miss being able to bend forward easily and get out of my car without having Sky help me out.
What I am looking forward to:  I am looking forward to my drive home. I do worry about how many miles I will be driving while 6 months pregnant, but I'm sure I'll be ok.
Milestones: I am almost to the 3rd trimester!

Veterans Day 2012

This year for Veterans day Skyeler had the opportunity with his class to have a VERY SPECIAL final project where they filmed President Obama at the veterans day memorial ceremony thing at Arlington National Cemetery. Skyeler was able to sit with all the press individuals like CNN etc. He was chosen by his peers (and later we found out by his instructor) to be one of 3 directors for the project. I knew he was going to be picked. He has done an amazing job in this class so far and his peers really respect and like him.

Skyeler has spend the past couple of days at Arlington Cemetery filming interviews, the changing of the guard, the President, and much more. Each person in the class will then take the footage and have to make a 5 min documentary as their final project. I'm glad I'm not doing it and that it is Sky that hast to. They have A LOT of footage.

We also had the opportunity to have a friend stay with us while she was visiting her husband who is in Skyeler's class. I have had a lot of fun and I am glad that we were able to join our hubbies at Arlington for the last little bit of filming and we were able to see the changing of the guard and just see this place for ourselves. It was a fun experience. Only crappy part is that on Monday they stayed out there late and hardly got to see them.

Here are a few pics of Arlington. Some pics Sky took and I took a few myself. I'm sure you will be able to tell but I will get better!

Our 5th Wedding Anniversary

Does it seem like time just fly's to you? I can't believe that Skyeler and I have been married for 5 years now. It just doesn't seem like it has been that long! I know that I thought my life would be different from where it is when I look back. But I am very happy with where I am and the relationship I have with my husband. We have been through a lot and have had some crazy adventures.

Our celebration started out with a matinee of the new Bond movie. (It was really good)

Our theater is the Egyptian 24 and the whole theme is Egypt. Really cool.

Our next stop was to the D.C. temple. It really is a cool temple and I love the experience. Sadly this was probably my last time attending this temple. Skyeler of course brought the camera and tried to get some practice in.

I really like how my hair color looks in this one.

We then had dinner and went home so Skyeler could pack for his assignment for Veterans day. Yes he had school/work on Sunday but I think it was worth the experience.I am just glad that Our anniversary fell on the only day Skyeler got off.

Overall I am grateful for my day and for my husband. He has been such a blessing in my life and I look forward to many many many many years and forever with him.

Remind me to stop stressing.

There are a few reasons why I really shouldn't stress about stuff. 1- there really isn't any point to it, what happens will happen and sometimes  you just can't do anything about it. 2- stressing makes my morning sickness worse and it really isn't best for the little one. 3- "Stress it's a killer sir,".... I just hate being stressed out.

So you may ask why am I stressed... I'm sure you can guess especially with the little ones arrival coming closer and closer and me having to move soon and all the unsurities that that brings plus having to find a doc, an apartment, etc... but that isn't what is really stressing me out. Again in all reality I don't need to stress and just let whatever happens happen but I want certain things to happen and I just don't like what might be...

Skyeler and I have been trying to figure out the whole airborne training for a while. Skyeler has been trying to talk to his platoon sergeants here at Fort Meade but lets face it, they have a lot on their plates and taking time to figure this out isn't a top priority for them. So with no info from them I had Skyeler call his Sergeant back in Utah when he was doing his weekend drills and try to get some information from him. (plus he said if we ever had questions to call him) So we did and I am still not exactly sure what will happen but the options are very grim for me. 1- Sky was told that under no circumstances is he to return to Utah until he has finished Airborne. 2- The next available class for that Sky could make it to doesn't start until January. 3- That means spending maybe 2 months without Skyeler. Yes I know I have spent a lot more time away from him than what this would be, but I need my husband. Especially with our little one on the way. I don't want to have to say goodbye again. It is so very hard to do and only have emails or a phone call every so often rather than his arms around you. I just don't know if I can do it again.
OK, I know if I have to I will be able to manage again just like before but still. And if you are thinking about saying "welcome to the military" or anything related to our choice in signing up for this I will use my crazy pregnancy hormonal skills and smack you in the face.... with a chair.  (Please pick up on the sarcasm). *Venting session*  I am perfectly aware that this could happen when we signed up for it and I am aware of many things, especially since it is a reality to us and not something that many of you think of. But I hate the phrase "welcome to the military, or army life" I just figure it to be a bunch of empty words that someone says when they don't know what to say. I can say that NO ONE wants to hear that. They want a shoulder to cry on and to feel loved especially when a big part of their life is not there. If someone you know dies you don't say to their spouse "oh well, its life! things like this happen' NO! you give them a hug and you be there for them.
I know that we all have our different trials and situations that we go through. I know that everything happens for a reason and I do know that no matter what  happens I will make it through. I feel that I am suppose to learn something with each and every situation that occurs so I can help others when it is their turn to experience the same or similar hardships. I need to be better at seeing the positives of every situation even when things are rough, difficult, and just not what I want to have happen. But I am getting better, I still have a long way to go but I am getting better. I just hope that each day I can put a smile on my face and enjoy the blessings I do have.
So as I said before, remind me to stop stressing so much. That it is just a small thing, that no matter what happens I will be a better person for it. There really isn't a need to stress over the possibility of not being able to see my husband for 2 months. I have things to look forward to especially since with each and every goodbye the hello after my long wait is so much better and my relationship with Sky is always better for it. It is hard, but who is better to handle these trials than I am. For I would never wish this on anyone and I am willing to make the sacrifice. My Heavenly Father trusts me and knows that I can do it. Why not prove it to myself and know that I can. I just think I might need a little help, for I am human. :)

Week 24:

 How far along?  *24 Weeks and some days.
Total weight gain/loss?  5 pounds, He he
Maternity clothes?  Yes,
Stretch marks?  Nope
Sleep?  Has been okay. 
Best moment last week? Had an appointment last week and baby is still doing great.
Movement?  Yes, and any time I start to worry about how much or how little she moves, she gives me a little kick to let me know that she is alive and well.
Food cravings?  I still want fruit and sweets and H20!!! 
Labor signs? None.
Belly button in/out?  In
What I miss:  Being able to move normally and not have the constant nausea or worry of nausea.
What I am looking forward to:  I look forward to a lot of things but what comes to mind is not baby related. I am looking forward to being "home" with my husband and having all this training/military stuff over with and see our family.
Milestones: I'm getting fat! Just kidding. My belly is really starting to show and it is quite obvious that I am pregnant.

Hurricane Sandy Experience

Wow, that is all I can say. In all reality I really didn't know how or what to do in order to prepare for a natural disaster that I have never even remotely thought that I would ever experience in my life. So the days leading up to it I was quite anxious and I think that in return it made my morning sickness a lot worse than normal. But I feel that I learned a lot from this experience and I will know what to do if anything happens in the future regarding natural disasters. Here are a few things that I learned and that I think would be helpful to remember for the future.

- Only listen to the basics when it comes to the news and media. If they say it is serious and multiple sources say it is going to be bad then prep for it. But don't listen to the news too much because it will just freak you out.
- Take info from others lightly and use your judgement with what they say. I think a lot of my anxiety came from listening to much to others. Especially when they say that so and so had this happen to them and were told this... My example for this is, either on Sunday night or Monday morning a lady in my ward said that her family were without power in a certain area and were told by the power company to expect 2 weeks without power. I kinda got freaked out a bit and in all reality I don't think I needed to.
- Look up or be familiar with emergency preparedness stuff.  Look at what you can do for your OWN home and your OWN budget. Don't listen to much to what other people are doing because they are in a different area and have different needs. I felt like I needed to do so much more to prepare but in all reality I had what I needed for my own home. 
- Be confident in your abilities and judgement, but not stupid. If you hear that this disaster or situation is going to be really bad by multiple people and then are issued a MANDATORY evacuation. Just do it. Don't put others in danger because you don't want to leave your home or think it isn't going to be that bad. Trust your gut, you will know if the leaders of your town-city/state/country are right. Also your not superman or any other super hero with amazing powers. Don't go against what rules there are for your area. But know that you are able to deal with stress and unknown situations. If you took the time to prepare, feel good about your preparations and don't panic.
- It is very smart to let others know what is happening around you. Even if they don't truly understand everything that is happening in your area they do worry, even if they don't voice it. Plus if something does happen then they can be there to help out.

I know there is a lot more that I learned or could think of that would be helpful in the future, but my brain feels fried. But I am glad that Skyeler and I were able to come out of this storm/hurricane with little issues. I know that it could have been so much worse for us but we were looked after. We did our part in prepping and so what we couldn't do was made up for. I am so glad that Skyeler was home through the whole ordeal. I'm sure I would have been so much more stressed out if he wasn't. You can only watch your fence sway back and forth to that extreme for so long before you just want to run for cover in you hubbies arms.

So needless to say I am very excited to come home. I really don't think Maryland likes me very much, especially when they throw tornadoes, severe windstorms, and now a hurricane my way. Hopefully nothing else will happen in the last month that I am here.
Skyeler did take a few pictures/video of the storm and I will eventually add some.