Justin's Birthday

Yesterday was Justin's Birthday. I cant believe my little boy is 9 years old! Jerome and I were remembering when we could hold his little 6 pound body in one hand. Now he is a chunk! He is such a caring person and a great big brother! He has such a funny sense of humor! He keeps us laughing. He has the love of God in his heart and that is such a blessing to me! I can't wait to see what God has in store for him this year. It is not going to be easy with dad gone, but he is such a trooper and often keeps me in check! I love you Justin!

Jadyn helped me make the cake. She was so proud of it!

She kept singing and saying, "happy birthday Justin" all day.

We let him open a few presents last night. He got a yugioh game for the DS from Nana and Daddy got him the Yugioh tin that he wanted to build his deck.

He was so excited!

Deployment Ceremony

Jerome is leaving next week for Afghanistan. Unfortunately, now he has to leave on Jared's Birthday. But we are going to have his and Justin's party this weekend. Tuesday we went to a Ceremony held at the Sullivan Arena.The boys skipped school and went with us. Gov. Sarah Palin was there and spoke. It was very nice.

Jerome and Jadyn playing in the stands. I was glad that Jerome got to sit with us. I thought he was going to have to be with his troops on the floor.

These soldiers and a few airmen were sworn in as US citizens at the beginning of the program. It was real cool. I think it is so neat that these people chose to serve our country during war time, and they were not even Americans! Now they are!

The orange flag represents our signal company. There are some of Jerome's soldiers standing behind it. Poor things had to stand there for HOURS!

It is kind of blurry, but that is Sarah Palin behind the podium. We could have gone down on the floor when it was over and talk to her or take a picture, but it was too crowded! Besides Ive seen her before. Walked to a parade with her while Jerome was deployed the first time. She is so classy, but completely down to earth!

The last part of the ceremony was the casing of the colors. That is the battalion flag they are rolling up. They will not be uncased until they get to Afghanistan.

Strange Sleepers

My kids all have sleep issues. Jared falls asleep at the drop of a hat where ever he is when he gets tired. I think I have posted before about him even falling asleep at a concert. Justin sleep walks. Jerome likes to mess with him when he does. Jadyn likes to sleep in odd places...

I have spoiled her a bit. But, we are working on fixing the problem. She had gotten in the habit of wanting me to rock her before she would go to bed. Or she would fall asleep in my bed (even if she were by herself) and I would have to move her to her own bed. We have been trying to get her to go to sleep around 8pm in her own toddler bed like the boys go to bed each night. With a little bit of crying. Well, at first a lot of crying, then a little she has started going to sleep more regularly. The problem is she gets up and sleeps in odd places. Sometimes she will get at the bottom of our bed by our feet. Her favorite place to go in the middle of the night is the couch. But the other night she threw us both for a loop, LOL.

Jerome and I were up watching TV and she came downstairs. But she only came to the third step from the bottom. Jerome told her to go back to bed and she just pretended to be asleep. He then told her to come lay on the couch with mommy. Still she pretended to be asleep. I knew she was pretending because I went over there one time and I could see her peeking. But, after a few minutes we thought she went back to her bed. I didn't dare go up there for fear that she would start crying about having to sleep by herself.

After a while Jerome and I decided to go up to bed, so we turned off the lights and headed up. Jerome almost stepped on our little sleeping baby who, after all the pretending, really did go back to sleep on the steps!

Last night was a SUCCESS!! I gave her a both, put on pj's and told her it was time to go to bed. She got her baby and went to get in her bed. I tucked her in and kissed her and she went to SLEEP!!! YEA She did get up about 4:00 and went to get on the couch. But, at least she is going to sleep in her bed first. This will be very important in a few weeks when Jerome leaves. After the kids go to bed is MY time. I will be able to relax and read my Bible or watch TV or just eat ice cream. Deployments get stressful! So planning downtime for myself as well as needed rest for the kids will help out a lot! I am trying to get everyone on a schedule now so that we are prepared. It may change a bit, but better to be prepared than not.

What a difference 10 days can make!

WOW, today I had my first Real scheduled appointment. I was not expecting to get an US today because it had only been 10 days since the last one, but Maj Ostrand did it anyway. Let me say again WOW! We could see an actual baby this time. On the 16Th it still looked like a little blob, just bigger than the one I posted on the 6Th. Today we could see arms and legs, a definite head and torso shape. The little monkey was swimming all over the place! It was so cute. The heartbeat was still up around 180, but I guess it's still to early to predict anything by that. Think PINK!

I feel SO much better! Haven't had any more problems for weeks now. So we are on our way to a healthy baby! I did measure the same as last time, so I guess my new due date is September 1st after all. Oh, and can I just say that I LOVE Maj Ostrand. I went in prepared to have the "dreaded exam" today, and she said that it was not necessary!!! YEA. Did you know that you really don't need to do that but every 3 years if you are healthy and don't have problems. Who knew? LOL

Anyway, I go back mid March for next appointment. I am thinking about getting a Doppler for home. You can rent really good ones now that record the heartbeat. It might be nice to have so that I can play it for Jerome when he calls or we chat online from Afghanistan. Plus, I can share it with my friend Nicole who is only a few weeks further along than me.

I also talked to doc today about my Carpel Tunnel, and she said that it will probably just get worse with pregnancy. So, I now have a brace to wear when I'm driving, playing on computer, sleeping, or picking stuff up. So as you can guess typing this post has been quite difficult. I keep having to correct my typing. But hopefully the tingling in my hand will go away or at least not get worse.

Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement! You dont know how much they have helped. God is so GOOD! Continue to pray as we prepare to say goodbye to Jerome. I think we have a little over 2 weeks left befoer he leaves. God Bless

Justin in the paper

Well actually, his school won an award, and that was in the paper. Justin just happened to be enjoying a story from his reading teacher when they came in to take the picture. You can easily spot him on the right side. He was wearing his SabanNation Alabama shirt that Nana sent him.

Update on Baby and other stuff

I had a Dr apt yesterday to get a follow up US. Everything looks good and baby has a super fast heart rate. Not sure what that means, girl maybe? They also said that I am not as far along as I thought. She moved my due date to September 1st. I think I will ask them to measure me again later, because there is no way I'm only 7 weeks. I would have been less than two weeks when I found out I was preggo. I didn't think it was possible that early. Anyway, all the kids were small and I delivered a bit early with each. Still planning on an August baby. I go back for my first full appointment on the 26Th, then I should just go once a month till I get closer to delivery. I feel good. No morning sickness, but toothpaste makes me gag!

I forgot to ask for a pic this time, so I guess they put them in my file. Couldn't really see anything better than last one though.

So, while I was out I decided to run a few errands. The main roads were very wet, but seemed OK. I went to Gymboree and used my 100 gymbucks. I got the boys some shirts and Jadyn some jeans and underwear and a few larger dresses for later. Then I went to Bethel to pick up a pair of pants that we had hemmed for Justin.

That is when I found out that the parking lots were not as nice as the roads! I slid into the parked car beside me. I made a dent in her Jeep Laredo bumper, and knocked the light out of the suburban. Later, I noticed that the grill needs to be replaced and the bumper looks a bit low, HAAAA! Jerome was so mad at me! Thankfully he is over it now, realized it was just an accident I guess. I was trying to be so careful too. I was barely moving when I started sliding on the ice. We filed the claim for the other lady to get her car fixed, but now I think we will have to file a claim for the burb too. I think it will be more than our deductible of $500. Good thing we are getting a tax refund soon! (Jerome doesn't get his W2 till next week though. I will file them same day, lol)

After all that I finally made it to the bank and the commissary! We were completely out of food. That is what I get for putting it off for so long. Then I went to the Post Office on post to mail a box of toys to Thailand for our cousins over there. But of course, the lady decided that at 3:00 she would take lunch and just locked the door! HAAAA I am going to bring it up at the next CAC meeting. I don't know why the post office cant be like every other office on post and SET lunch hours! I understand that you are there by yourself and need a break, but it is really not fair to the customers to just randomly decide each day when you will be open and when you will close. We have work, plans, obligations too. I cant spend all day going back and forth to PO just to find out that you are not open! Sorry I just had to share that, lol.

We are having a fourth day of temps in the 40's! Kids are out playing and loving it! But, Housing maintenance are having fits! Several units on our street are flooding due to stopped up drains and fast melting snow! Our house is safe so far, but we are keeping an eye on the basement. Please remember all those affected people in your prayers and that ours stays DRY!! I'll keep ya posted.

Yesterday Jared went to play with his friend, Luke, down the street and I went to pick him up because it was dark and very slippery on the sidewalks. He has a history of falling and needing CT, so better not chance it.

They were playing outside so I parked the car and sat there for a few talking to Monica. Jadyn unbuckled and I got out to put her back. While was standing on a sheet of ice holding on to the car buckling her, the car started sliding down the drive way!!!!! The sliding door did not lock in place so I was trying to hold on to it as it moved back and forth. I just held on and slid down too. Thankfully I stayed upright! I would have gone under the car and been ran over. All I could see was me at the ER and losing the baby. Thankfully the kids were all buckled in safely and the car stopped at the end of the driveway.

Schools out again today. So we are just hanging out. I need to go to the commissary! We are out of milk, bread, eggs, cereal, toilet paper, toothpaste, . . . You get the picture? Need FOOD! Especially with kids hanging out in the house. They want to eat.

I was hoping to go to Gymboree today. I have $100 Gymbucks to spend. Guess Ill have to wait.

No School???

Unlike many schools in the lower 48, especially the south, Alaskan school rarely close. I mean one time we got close to 18 inches of snow in one day and still we had school. Well, we woke up this morning to WARM temperatures, LOL. It was 32 degrees! If you don't think that it warm, you should have been here the past two weeks when we had temps as low as -30. That's a 62 degree temp increase in a matter of days. It's HOT! he he

Anyway, schools are closed because all the snow is melting and then freezing back to ICE. So road conditions are horrible! Plus, we can have some pretty strong winds up here too. And with that temp increase they are strong!

The kids are in heaven! They rarely get a free day for weather. Plus I am sure they will be able to play outside later - when the sun comes up! Its 9:40 am now and still dark. However, I was suppose to go to Michael's and get craft stuff for MOPS today. Hopefully the roads will get a little bit better later on, but I really didn't plan to take three kids with me. I also need to do some cleaning. Kind of hard with everyone home, so maybe they will get to go out later.

Funny - I think Alabama is suppose to have record lows this week in the teens, so we are probably warmer than you guys, HAHAHAHA

Have a blessed day!

Kids Swimming

One of our friend's daughter had a birthday party today at the Elmendorf pool. I was in the pool most of the time with Jadyn, so I didn't get too many pics. But I got a few good ones and two video clips..

As a side note, my bathing suit just fit with my ever growing belly. I will probably have to get another one soon. I had a good time in the pool, but I am exhausted now. I need to go to bed!

My Little Blob

Had an ultra sound done Tuesday when I finally got to see a OB Doctor after 2 ER visits. Thankfully everything is great, and I have not had any more spotting in three days. I know the US just looks like a little blob, but the most important thing was the heart beating!! You can see the pattern at the bottom. I go back again Friday (16Th) for another US. I am confident now that everything will be good. Thanks for all the prayers this week.

Other than being really tired and big I have been feeling great. Not had any morning sickness at all, but I never had any with the other three either. Keep praying that all will go well. I am trying not to get too stressed. Jerome leaves in five weeks for Afghanistan. Just ready to get it over with!

Our 4th "J"

Well, I had a birthday on the 18Th. And I guess it was one of the best ones so far! It started the weekend before when my friend Candance kept all three kids for Jerome and I to have a night alone. We went to dinner and then we went bowling. We were gonna get a hotel, but decided that with no kids at home we could save the 100 bucks and just go home. We watched a movie and just hung out together on the couch. It was great!

The very next day I got another birthday SURPRISE! We are gonna have a baby. God has blessed us so far with three beautiful children and we could never have imagined that we would be parents of FOUR! I always said that I would like one more, but didn't really expect it to happen. Funny how that works.

On my actual birthday we started out by telling the kids. They are so excited. Justin was so happy that he started tearing up. I think he was a little embarrassed. Later that day The carpet guy showed up unexpected and said they are finally going to replace the steps that our puppy ate. Not only that, but he would replace the whole downstairs carpet! YEA!!! New carpet for Christmas. It was perfect timing because the next day the boys left for their trip and no one was around to get in the way. Later in the day I went to Arctic Oasis with Jadyn and some of our friends from PWOC. (Its and indoor playground and workout area. It also has video games, a rock wall, indoor put put, and snack bars.) It was a great birthday.

This pregnancy has already had its bumps however. Friday I had to go to the ER for some minor complications. The heart rate and hormone levels were good at the time. Unfortunately, if anything is going to happen at this stage (I'm 6 weeks) there is really nothing we can do. I talked to the doctor yesterday and since I am not cramping he said there is nothing to do but wait and see. I don't go back to the doctor until January 26Th, so that is a lot of time to worry. But I know that God is in control no matter what the outcome. Please continue to pray for us so that this baby will grow and be healthy like his/her siblings and that I will get plenty of rest and fluids and have no more problems. Also, pray that I will have peace and not be so stressed while I play the waiting game. Thankfully I have not had any morning sickness. I didn't with the other three, so maybe I will be as lucky this time too.

As you could probably see from the few pictures of me during Christmas I already look pregnant! Well, when you are already fat and then can't suck it in anymore that is what I get! LOL. Jerome told me that I look beautiful pregnant, so that makes me feel a little better anyway.

Hairbows

Jadyn has lots of hair bows. We have been keeping them in a box, but it is hard to dig through and find the ones we want and they often get lost. So I copied this idea from several bow companies that I have seen online. Yesterday I went to Michael's, bought the stuff, and walla! I think it turned out cute, and I saved a bunch! They sell for around $45.00 online. I need to buy a better hook, maybe one of those 3M ones. The nail that I used to hang it is not strong and I'm afraid the ribbon will just slide off.

I have left over ribbon and paint. If any of you local people want one I will help you make it, just get the wood and whatever other decoration you want on it. (name, flowers, crowns...)

Slide Shows

Anong had some pictures of our Thailand trip and Jadyn's trip to AL in October on her camera. I had not seen them so I made a slide show for everyone to view. Problem is I cant make it small enough to fit on the left side. So scroll all the way down to the bottom to view them.

Standing on a Frozen Lake

We drove out to Otter Lake so Khun Ya could see a frozen lake. She and Jerome decided to walk out on it. Well, first she sat down in the snow that came up above her knees then they walked out on it.

Standing out on the Lake for a nice mother and son picture.

Until Jerome noticed that it was not all ice under his feet.

"I feel water!"

I think these are the last of the pictures from our time with Khun Ya. She had to leave late Saturday night and only got to spend two and a half days here in Alaska. But I think we fit in as much as we could and she had a great time. We all did.

Hillburg

This is Jared going to get up the lift. Jerome, Khun Ya, Justin, and Jadyn are already going up. I think that is Jadyn in the yellow tube going up hill. She enjoyed Dyea the day before, so we thought she would have fun at Hillburg.

She went up all by herself and was doing fine.

Jerome, Khun Ya, and Jadyn are coming down hill.

Obviously Jadyn's idea of fun changed.

We spent the rest of the time in the lodge while everyone else kept tubing. Thankfully they gave us a refund for her.

It was a fun afternoon. I think Khun Ya had fun.

The video is of them coming down the hill. It is a bit shaky because this little boy tried to go around me and about knocked me over with his tube.

On the way to Hillburg

As we were going over to the air force base to Hillburg, Anong wanted to pull over on the side of the road to take a picture. This is what happened, LOL. She was wearing my friend Alicia's boots that she left at my house. They are a men's size 9 I think. Khun Ya is like a 5.

Dyea Sled Hill

Ready or Not

Going up the hill - Jadyn seems to be having the most fun.


Top of the hill with mom.

Khun Ya's first trip down the hill.

Justin just relaxing

Say Cheese!

We took Anong to Dyea sled hill on Fort Richardson. She enjoyed playing in the snow with the kids, but the hill was too hard to climb with so much powdery snow. Also, there was only one side that could get going fast, so we didn't stay there long. We decided to go to Elmendorf and go to Hillburg ski area. It has a lift and lanes to sled in. Unfortunately, they were sold out for the day. We planned to get up and go the next morning.

Wii

Jadyn and Ya playing American Idol

Guitar Hero Showdown

Jadyn was showing everyone how to do Yoga on My Wii Fit. She is so cute.

Pictures from the boys Seattle Trip

These are from Khun Ya's Camera, so there are not any from the football game. They all forgot their cameras, but I told the men to get disposable ones. I don't think they did. But I will post whatever I can get from them later.

They went to the fish market. Notice the guy on the left catching the bag of fish.

Walking back to the hotel because Seattle taxis wont carry 5 or 6 people.

My boys and Khun Ya.

Jacob adopted Khun Ya for the week.

They went to eat at the Crab Pot, and of course they called to BRAG!!!

How Rude.

I'm not sure why Justin is wearing the bib. He doesn't eat seafood at all.

I think he had a cheeseburger.