Week 31

           I have not been able to sleep lately. I will fall asleep at a decent hour and wake up like 2 hrs later wide awake. Tonight I fell asleep for like 15 min and have been wide awake since then! It is weird because I was SOOO TIRED before I fell asleep too! So here it is almost 4  in the morning and I am awake! But I am going to try and see if I can go to sleep after I write in this.
           Little Andrew has been moving so much inside of me. Sometimes there will just be a big pop, like he is kicking me with all of his might and my stomach moves so much in that one area! It is really cool though! I cannot believe that there is a little baby inside of me! And that he is going to be mine! It is like the coolest thing in the world to have him moving inside of me! When I feel the movements start I lift my shirt so my stomach shows and just sit there to watch it.
           I am just so glad that Drew will be able to be here with me for the birth of our son. He will be able to be here with us until Little Andrew is 5 months old, then Drew will have to leave for 6 months. I am so lucky that I will be able to have Little Andrew to be by my side until Drew returns! He will make it to where its not so lonely. I am just scared of shutting myself away from the world while he is gone. I don't even know if I will be able to go back to the United States to visit family while he is gone. Thats such a long way to go all by myself with a little baby.
         I only have like two  months left until I am 40 weeks and the baby can even come before then. Its exciting and kind of scary at the same time!
         Well I need to get going to bed! It is soo late! But I just wanted to type a little in here tonight and just say how awesome it is to have a precious little baby moving inside of me! And one day I will get to hold that little baby in my arms! I just hope I am a good mother and give him everything that he needs in life.

Week 30

           Okay, I am way past due to write a blog! I figured I needed to hurry up and do it before I forget what I want to write in here! :)
           My last OBGYN appointment was on December 14, 2009, like 10 days ago. I went in and the Doctor asked how everything was. And here in Germany it is a bit different, I guess you are expected to tell the doc if something is wrong because they don't like examine you every appointment. But I told him about the pains I was having and how they were bothering me. So he checked me out and said that I need to be put on house rest because the baby's head was so low. He said I am at high risk for premature labor. And after he checked me out he wrote a slip for Drew to take to work to turn in so he could get temporary use of his liscense since the Dr wants me off of my feet as much as possible. After that we went into the ultra sound room and there I got my first 3D ultra sound! It was amazing! I thought the pictures of the baby were clear and really cool, but the Dr said they weren't the best pictures because the baby is so far down that he could barely get a good enough view of him. So the Dr said that he wants to do another 3D ultra sound during the next appointment! And that is TOTALLY FINE WITH ME! That just means that I will get to see baby Andrew again! Well, I mean more clearly. The 3D ultra sounds are AMAZING! I am going to try and post the 3D pictures to this blog if I am able to figure it out.
           I had a scare last Thursday, exactly a week ago. I was on my way to the bathroom to go pee and once I sat on the toilet I noticed that my underwear were completely soaked, although it did not go through to my pants. So I called my mom just to make double sure that it wasn't my water that had broke. Because I have read online from other women who have only had small leaks and it turns out it was thier water that had broke!
           It is after midnight now so when I post this it is probably going to have the date December 25th on it. Although I am writing in here because I cannot fall asleep and I did start before Midnight.
           On Wednesday, December 23,2009 (yesterday evening) I got a phone call from this lady named Maria and she said she was on her way over with a Secret Santa Gift for me! I asked her, "Are you sure you have the right number?" And she said, " Yes, I think so. You are on bed rest right?" Then I answered and said, "Well house rest, but yes." But she said that it is from a Secret Santa and that she was just delivering it to me.
           I could not believe it! So I hurried and titied the house a little before they got there. I was so excited that I couldn't help but look out the window and watch for them to get here, her and her husband! I saw them pull up and park and I saw that she pulled a mattress out of the trunk of their Jeep/Expedition! I was so surprised and grateful that I almost started to cry! But I like did a little happy dance to let the excitement out and I calmed down and opened the door for them. It is a 3 in 1 Sliegh Crib! Exactly like the ones online that I was wishing I could get! They even set it up in the baby's room for me! I was SOOO EXCITED!! And gave them both a hug when they were leaving and wished them both a Merry Christmas! Later that night before I went to bed I set the crib up with the Noah's Ark Bedroom suit that Mama had gotten me for Little Andrew. I didn't get the bumper set up quiet the right way but I will get it figured out.
            I am just so thankful for such a blessing! I had been stressing about how we were going to be able to get one, and now we will not have to worry about it! Now we will be able to get other stuff that we are in need of for the baby!
             Little Andrew sure did enjoy what I had eaten for Christmas dinner tonight! After I had eaten it seemed like he was doing flips inside of me! We had Lasonia, green beans, yams and rolls. I am so excited about Christmas tomorrow! Not because of the gifts, there is just something about Christmas that I just love! Tonight Drew finally got the rest of his Christmas wrapping done and he braught the mattress in the living room so we could sleep in here and listen to the 2009 Christmas Devotional. I was able to stay up and listen to the whole thing, it was about an hour long. Right now I am listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Chior on YouTube. All of their Christmas songs that they have on YouTube. It is such beautiful music!
             I am trying to make this Christmas memorable. I am trying to take lots of nice pictures so I can put together a slide show or something like that. Next Christmas Drew and I will not be together. He will be deployed for 6 months. But he should be returning mid-January. So Little Andrew and I will hold off on celebrating Christmas until he gets back. I am just trying so hard to make as many ways for Little Andrew and I to be able to look back at something and feel Drew close to us, although he will be far away.
             Drew is going to try and get a digital picture frame for me so I can upload pictures of us as a family and pictures of the two of them so we can always see him. I also thought it would be nice to video tape Drew reading a story to Little Andrew so the baby would remember his Daddy's voice. I am going to miss Drew alot but I have to be strong! And I am thankful that we will have a child to keep me company (and busy) so it will help time go by.
             Niether of our families (besides probably Drew's sister and husband and son) would have seen Little Andrew yet. And I would love to go and visit the United States while Drew is gone! But I don't know if I could handle it. I wish I wouldn't stress about stuff like traveling so bad! But we will see what happens. Little Andrew will be 5 months when Drew leaves. But like I said, "We will see what happens."
              Wow! It is almost 1 AM! I guess I better get off of here and get my butt in bed! But I just had to write a blog before I forgot everything that I needed to put in here. So until next time, Buh BYE!

Emily

    

Not Much, Just A Little Update

            I have not typed a blog in a while! I have not had the energy to do much lately besides SLEEP! I am tired like all of the time. Last Friday I turned 28 weeks, so I reached my 7 month mark. In two days I will be 29 weeks, it sure is flying by! It like hurts to walk alot of the time and go down the stairs!
           As for cravings, it is still the Marsh Mellow cereal by Malt-O-Meal! I went like a week and a half without any so I walked to the grocery store yesterday and grabbed two bags of it! And another craving I have is for Granny Smith Apples! They are so good! And who ever the person is that invented that circle apple slicer thing is a genious! And I am always craving milk! Besides that, thats all that I really crave.
           Sorry this blog is not going to be too big or interesting. 5 more days til my next appointment! And we should be getting a 3D ultrasound done then also!!!

Middle of Week 27

           I do not like feeling the way that I do right now. Someone from church called and asked how I was doing, and what did I do? Cry! I cried like the whole time I talked to them. Now everyone is going to think I am a crazy nut! It did feel good to cry and talk to someone though. This evening I started crying while I was sitting on the couch with my husband watching tv so I just went and layed in bed, because I didn't really have a reason to be crying! And when he came in and asked what was the matter I couldn't really give him an answer besides, "I can't help it." And I cried again this evening because I had a craving but couldn't figure out what I wanted. How funny is that?!! And it wasn't like I was hungry or anything like that, I had just eaten dinner and my stomach was satisfied! After it was all over though, I realized my mind was worried or whatever because I did not buy what I crave at the grocery store.
          Okay enough about the crying! Now a new topic.
          I haven't really had any cravings at all in my pregnancy until this past month! And I crave that MarshMellow Cereal! (the cheap brand of Lucky Charms) And I LOVE milk! If I measured it out, I drink about 4 cups of milk a day! And I have been craving like water also this week. And its not like I am not getting enough water everyday. Thats one thing that I make sure to get in is the water!
         There has been like an art project that I have been wanting to try/do. Well its not really art, just a project I guess you could say. Well you get those cloth diapers and get some fabric and sew a rectangle of the fabric down the middle, the thicker part. Then you have a decorated burp cloth I guess you could say. I am not explaining it too well... I tried to find a video on youtube with step by step instructions on how to make them, but I had no luck with it! So I will have to see if I can pull it off on my own. I have only seen the finished project before, not someone actually showing me how to make it. Anyways, I am hoping to get to try it this week! I will try and let you know how it went!

27 Weeks

           I just wrote a nice long blog on here, and it decided not to save it! So here I am typing it AGAIN! I thought the one before was perfect and said everything that I wanted to say! So hopefully this one covers everything. ;P
           Today was one of the biggest shopping days for America, Black Friday. Sadly to say, the only place we have American here in Germany that does Black Friday sales is the BX on base. And our BX is rather small. But I woke up this morning at 9:30 and got ready and walked to the sale. It didn't really surprise me that there was nothing really on sale. I baught one thing that was though, because we were in desperate need of it! A 10 piece Pot and Pan Set! Drew was going to get me one for Christmas anyways, I just figured I would get one while I was there and they had such a good deal since he wasn't with me. It was only $20! I ended up walking to the BX twice today though, so I got my exercise in for the day!
           I have been thinking about how I felt when Drew told me he was getting his liscense taken away about 3 or 4 months ago. I was so upset because I was pregnant and didn't know how I was going to get through 6 months with him not having a liscense. But now that I look at it, I see it more as a blessing in disguise. I mean, if we want to go anywhere then we have to walk there. To get our groceries, to go to church, to the hospital for OBGYN appointments, anywhere... We have to walk. And I am so thankful for it! Because otherwise I would have been such a lazy bum during the pregnancy! I lost 11 pounds during the first couple of months and recently went to my WIC appointment and they told me I have only gained .23 pounds from when I started my pregnancy! And considering that the baby weighs 1&2/3 pounds thats pretty cool. And I know that this would not be the case if Drew had his liscense throughout my pregnancy. We are excited for when he gets it back though, so we can travel and see places! But he won't be getting it til sometime in February, and I am due on the 26th of that month! So we will see.
          Today my friend Robyn found some baby furniture online that a guy was selling nearby. So she took me to get and get it! Two pieces for only $20! So I feel that has been a HUGE blessing for us! I was able to purchase a beautiful bassinet from a lady this past week! So all that I really need is a crib and a few other bigger items.

27 Weeks

           Today has been a pretty cool day if you ask me! I woke up at 9:30 to go to the Black Friday Sale at the BX and was able to buy a 10 piece pot and pan set for $20! We were in desperate need of it!!! But thats about all that I got from the sale! There seriously was like NOTHING on sale! I wanted to try and get Drew an MP3 player or something because I figured they would be on sale, but they weren't. But at least I got my exercise in for the day. I walked to the BX twice today! 
          I have been thinking about how Drew's liscense got taken away during the pregnancy and how I thought it was going to be so miserable. But I have come to realize that it is more like a blessing in disguise. I mean, we have to walk to the grocery store to get our groceries and carry them home. We have to walk to church. If we want to go anywhere, then we have to walk. We walk to the hospital for the appointments every month also. Otherwise I would probably be a lazy bum! But I seriously have not gained any more weight than what I started out with in the pregnancy! I lost like 11 pounds during the first couple of months. But at my WIC appointment when they weighed me they said that I am on like .23 more pounds than what I started with! Thats pretty good if you ask me, considering that they told me at the last appointment the baby was 1 2/3 pounds! So I look at it as more of a blessing than anything else. And he is not going to get his liscense back til sometime in February, and I am due on the 26th of that month.
           So today after walking up all of the stairs to get into our apartment on the fourth floor I was kind of tired! So I layed on the couch for a little bit to take a break. Well, I could feel the baby moving inside of me and I had never looked at my tummy to see if my stomach moved any, so I pulled my shirt up and the maternity pants down a little and watched. I could see little thump movements and when I saw a bigger movement I called Drew in to see if he could see it. And when he came in and knelt down next to me, Little Andrew started doing bigger thumps! It was crazy! But I was entertained by laying there watching my belly dance around so I watched it for about 15 minutes or so before I got up.
            My friend Robyn called and said that she found a dresser and changing table on the YardSale Site online for where we lived. So I called the guy that was selling it and he only wanted $20 for the two! So she offered to take me to go and pick it up. I just think today things just really worked out for us! I am going to have to paint the dresser and changing table, but that should be a fun thing to do! :)
           Well, I better get going. I need to try and get some rest. Drew and I are leaving at 6 am tomorrow morning with the ITT group to go to a Christmas Market in a bigger town here in Germany. We will be away from home for 18 hrs! I am just going to leave Spanky here alone, he should be just fine.

           This evening I am going to meet up with several women from our church and we are all going to see New Moon, the new Twilight movie. The theatre we are going to see it in is in Luxemburg so our car group is going to go to McDonalds before hand to get something to eat. I am going to try and eat at home before I leave so I won't have to eat out. I am going to bring some apple slices with me to snack on during the two movies and some water. I will go by the store sometime today and go and see if there is anything else I would like to take with me. I am just seriously trying to stay away from fast food and soda. I may even bring a little bottle of juice to have something a little sweeter to drink.
           I went to my Dr's appointment on Monday and I did the diabetes testing. The results for that came back negative! I was so happy! But they told me that even if you eat healthy it can still come back neg. due to stress that you may be going thru. So its not saying that you've been unhealthy, it could be because you've been going thru alot.
          I wasn't aloud to eat that morning before the testing. So after the testing was done Drew went and got me a veggie and cheese sandwhich from across the street while I waited for my ultra sound appointment. Although I ate, the baby was not that active! So during the ultra sound we did not have the best picture. My Dr. did give me two prints to take home though! I had explained to him that the last time the lady did not give me any pictures at all! So he gave me two this time! Although niether of the pictures are that clear, you can sort of make out the eyes nose and mouth in one picture. And the baby is doing like a bashful type grin in the picture, its cute!
          I have been feeling down in the dumps lately. So I took charge this week of the lesson for our Family Home Evening. I gave both Drew and I several slips of paper that I had cut and a cup and pen. We had to write 1 reason on each slip of why we love the other person. I always wonder how he feels about me on the inside. I know he loves me and all, but what does he really think about me... So with this I was able to see that. And we are going to decorate jars eventually and put the papers in the jars. So I can look back at them when I am feeling down.

3RD OBGYN Appointment

           Today was my third appointment with the OBGYN. I wasn't able to eat anything this morning because I was going to do the diabetes testing thing at the hospital. I had to drink this grape drink and wait an hour and then get my finger pricked again. Well the good news is that the test came back negative! So I don't have to worry about that.
           I then went up to the third floor for my appointment where they do the ultra sound and what not. Well I had to wait in the hall until the Dr was ready to see me so while we were waiting Drew went and got me a sandwhich to eat before the appointment. Well, I finally got called in and got ready for the ultra sound. The ultra sound picture did not come thru very clearly but he was able to comfirm that we are having a boy, so that was good. (Especially since we already baught all of the boy clothes and what not!) And I told him how the lady that did the ultra sound the previous month did not give me any pictures or anything! So he made sure to give me two pictures this time around! The pictures are not very clear, but in one you can make out the baby's face, the eyes, nose, and lips. In the other picture you can't really tell what you are looking at. But he said the baby's weight is 1 pound 12 ounces. And he said everything is fine and the baby is healthy, and thats all that matters!

Time For Me

           Today was a LONG DAY! I know I already posted a blog earlier today when I was dead tired and was not in the best mood in the world. But I finally allowed myself to lay down and take a nap at 4 pm! I was awakened by my husband who was coming home from work. I still was not in the best mood though. So I layed in the dark bedroom for about 15 more minutes to try and let myself wake up some more before we spent the evening together as a family, the two of us and the dog. But the evening went well and we watched, "King Of Queens" together for the three episodes they normally show every weekday. And then we watched the classic "Rudolf The Red Nosed Riendeer" The claymation one. We've been watching one Christmas Classic before we go to bed everynight to help to get us in the mood for Christmas. Now I know that we are a little early because it is not even ThanksGiving yet. But I just want this Christmas to be a special one since it is our last one as just a couple.
           I walked to the WIC Office today for my appointment but when I got there I noticed that I did not have my "Mutter Pass" with me. And that was something that they needed in order to give me my next three months. So we had to reschedule the appointment for next Tuesday at noon. I did go in and talk with the dieticain though and she was pleased with how I have been eating. I did tell her about how when we went to visit family in the United States that I ate ALOT of fast food but that has been the only time I have messed up my diet. It was just hard being in the US with all of those food places there in front of you, tempting you! That is why I am glad that we are in Germany for the pregnancy and not in the United States! Here I can walk places and not be tempted with these fast food places all of the time! The only thing they really have in our town is a McDonald's and a Burger King, and niether of those sound the least bit appealing to me! Yack!
            I have had trouble with waking up and making it to church on Sundays! It was easier to do when we were home visiting family because of the time difference. But even before we left for the States I had missed a couple of Sundays at church here. Sleep and waking up is just starting to give me problems. I just need to try and start getting all of the sleep that I can! I am just trying to connect with my body... if that makes any since. I mean I don't even feel like I am pregnant! And I think that if I just stop and listen to my body then I would be able to know what is going on with it. Sounds crazy, I know! But thats the only way I can explain it.
           

25 Weeks Today

           It sure is getting harder for me to get a good night's sleep! Last night I think I slept for a total of 4 hrs. My husband kept flipping the lights on and off as he was trying to get everything ready for work and I was unable to sleep. So I just got up and tried to lay back down once he left, but was still unable to do so. Its almost 10 in the morning now and I have been up for about 4 hours already. I am tired and probably could fall asleep if I would just let myself try, but I have an appointment at 1 and I do not want to miss it. If there are any appointments for the next day or anything that I am looking forward to then I can kiss a good night's rest good bye. My mind likes to wonder when I lay down. I think about anything and everything! I worry because of stuff I haven't gotten yet for the baby and I worry about if we will be good parents.
            I have so much stuff that I need to get done around the house! I am like overwhelmed with stuff that needs to be done. I am already taking out Christmas decorations, not setting them up but having them in sight so I could have something to keep me focused on getting the cleaning done! Its just frustrating because I have larger items that need to be thrown away but here in Germany you have to wait til bulk trash day to throw away larger items. And come to find out, we just missed one that they had just a few days ago! I have so many clothes that need to be gone through and see what we don't need anymore! And I have lots of clothes that need to be folded. We found out who our building manager was and I talked to him about our storage being locked and he said that he will get that fixed for us! So we will FINALLY be able to put stuff away that we may only need a few times a year. I think it will help with giving us room around here!
             I should probably get off of here. But I will try and write another time.

Christmas Wish List

           I meant to write something last night, just so I don't get out of habbit. This is so much easier than keeping a journal! I know that I still should though. My hand just cramps up so bad while writing! And it seems that it gets worse as I get older.
           So, what is new? Well last night I went to a activities commitee meeting for Relief Society and we were planning the Christmas Party that we will be having in just 3 weeks. Its going to be ALOT of fun! They are even going to have the auction like they did last year. We were supposed to sign up for stuff and help with the decorating and what not. I tried to stay quiet and not sign up for too many things, just because thats 3 weeks away and I have no idea on how I will be feeling then! And I get stressed easily if too much is handed to me it seems. Anyways, I think it will be really fun when it gets here!
            Drew keeps asking me what I want for Christmas. And I just don't know! :D Right now I am just trying to focus on getting all of the baby's stuff. And when I do tell him something, its more like stuff that we need instead of something that I would enjoy having. Like new pots and pans, thats just something we so totally NEED! I haven't told him, but I think it would be cool to get the cheap blender they have at the BX. But I don't know if I should get that one or just hold off for a couple of years and just get a nice Kitchen Aid Mixer. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep I thought of something that I would LOVE to have! A Glider Rocking Chair with the foot stool! We have a full size bed and since we struggle with having room on there already, I am going to need somewhere to be able to feed Little Drew. And I think one of those would be perfect! It will be near the bed and they are comfortable and it would be nice to have even when Little Drew gets older to rock him to sleep.
           Well there was more that I wanted to write but things are not coming to mind right now. So I will go and maybe write more later this evening.
          
          

Leg Pains

            Last night was rough! I woke up in the middle of the night cold because I guess I kicked the blanket off or something. I sat up and was going to try and pull the blanket up back over me but my body would not allow it! My right leg was in such pain! My husband must of heard me either cry or yell because of the pain, because he woke up and I told him what I needed and he covered me up. My leg hurt so bad that I couldn't even get up that night to pee, I just had to hold it til morning! Don't ask me how I even managed that one! But my leg was feeling ok when morning came.
           I am going to try and go to bed somewhat early tonight. Hopefully I can get back on schedule with the German time soon! I will try and write more another time.

24 Week Pregnancy Update

         Holy Cow! I have not done this in a while! Well let me just start off by saying as of yesterday I am 24 weeks pregnant! I know this is weird, or so I have been told, I still do not feel pregnant. Lets see, about October 18 when I was in the USA, I could feel the baby kick hard enough to where my husband could feel it with his hand on the outside of my stomach!
        We were in the USA from about October 12- November 2. And oh my goodness! It was so nice! I was kind of dis-appointed with Wal-Mart though! They stopped selling maternity clothes and they stopped selling fabric! And the prices have gone up so bad! Luckily I was able to find maternity clothes at K-Mart and they were all on clearance! Good thing I got them while they still had them because when it came time for us to leave I went back by there and they also no longer had maternity clothes! I did get one pair of maternity jeans at the store MotherHood in the mall. I had heard that they had really good deals on clothes in there, but I will never recommend them to anyone! For one pair of pants it was $30! When at K-Mart I was able to get them for $6 or $7 each! I could not return the pants to MotherHood though, because they only give store credit or exchanges for their items. Yeah sure, they had good deals in the maternity clothes for smaller women but once you get to like size 12 or higher the prices totally went up!
         The trip was good and we were able to see everyone that we planned on seeing. Well everyone but Kevin Edderly. I really wanted to go and see him! But time just would not allow. We did not get to say good bye to "everyone" that we wanted to, just another thing that time would not allow. And we have been reminded of the fact after we got home with people being mad at us. Well if thats how it is going to be then why should I go through so much to go and visit if people are just going to be mad at us in the end?
         My last appointment was on September 28th I think. And I was 18 weeks then. They were able to find out the sex of the baby! We are having a baby boy! He will be named after Drew, Andrew Bird Allen 3rd. He is due on February 26th. We are not completely certain of the due date and all, but thats just what the doctor said. And my doctor was in a C-Section so a lady doctor took his place and she said the sex of the baby isn't for complete sure so wait on buying stuff til the next appointment. Well with us being in the USA I had to buy as much baby stuff as I could so I just baught boy stuff anyways. I lucked up at some yardsales and we were able to get alot of stuff! My next doctor's appointment is on November 16th, they are going to do the diabetes testing on me. Hopefully that comes up negative!
         Now that we're home, I have been trying to find a crib to buy. I found one on SpangYS for only $35 but it makes it difficult for us to get since niether of us can drive right now. I found something on WalMart.com that I really want for the baby! It is a play pen. But it has a bassinet on it for when the baby is younger and it also has a changing table on it! But it is $115. I try to look at it this way, it is a 3 in 1 deal! I found a nice changing table on SpangYS for $50 alone and a play pen by itself is like 80 bucks online! And it is like a jungle type theme which would kind of go with the Noah's Ark theme and it can be for either boy or girl so I could also use it for the next baby. Its just kind of stressful being so far from family and friends that we grew up with, because I mean if we had a baby shower at either of our homes I know it would help out a ton! I don't know if I will have one here and I don't know how many people would attend with it being so close to Christmas.
         Well I don't know if we will be able to make it to church tomorrow, or at least me. We have to walk to church, well I want us to walk to church so I can get exercise, and my left leg (from the knee down) is pretty swollen. My toes are pretty much touching! But my right foot/leg looks perfectly fine. So I think I am going to stay off of it for a while. I haven't been drinking any soda since we got back and I haven't had any fast food or salty foods so I don't know why it is the way it is...
         I need to get off of here! I will try and write alot sooner the next time though!
         Oh, I forgot to say, I am so excited for the Christmas Season!!! I know it is a bit early but I already set our Nativity set out before we left for the States so I wouldn't have to worry about it once we got back. But I LOVE Christmas time!
        

My First OB/GYN Appointment

This was my first time having an appointment in the Bitburg Germany Hospital! And yes, it is an off base hospital. The doctor is so awesome! We thought I was 16 weeks along, because according to the people on base thats what they thought I was. But turns out I was more like 14 weeks. So my new week starts every Friday.
We got to see the baby! The baby's arm and legs were kicking and moving about! And we got a print out of the baby. You can see the baby's brain, eyes, nose, and mouth in the face. And you can see the baby's ribs! And by the baby's neck you could see the baby's hand pointing at you. Its pretty cool!
As I was getting on the table/bed at the doctor's office, the doctor noticed my pink/purple toe. So I told him as much a I knew about it and he set up an appointment for me on the surgery floor on September 7th. He said a doctor will check it out for me and see what the problem is with it. I am going to walk to the appointment at the hospital so he can see how bad it gets when I am on it too long or how it looks after walking a while.
But the pregnancy has been going pretty well! Morning sickness has given me a break, although I will see it when I don't eat when I am supposed to or experience an aweful smell. And I haven't been nearly as tired as what I was in the beginning! I sleep like 10- 12 hrs a night though, then usually I won't have to take a nap during the day. And I am trying to get up earlier on the weekends so I can start going to church more often.
As far as my weight during the pregnancy, I am still down about 8.4 pounds. But the Nutrionist said that is ok. And she said I will probably start gaining soon. They don't want me gaining anymore than 15-20 pounds. As far of exercise, I like to walk. Some days I do alot of walking and somedays I may only get to take the dog around the block. I am going to try and find some workout videos on YouTube for pregnant women to help my back out some. I have horrible lower back pains! And it runs all the way down my legs to my knees! It mainly hurts when I am laying down or getting up from a sitting position. But it does bother me sometimes while walking. But I am going to try and find my own solutions to my problems and see what I can do for myself.
My next appointment is on September 28th. And the doc is hoping then to be able to tell whether or not I will be having a boy or a girl.

Looking Back At My Trip To London

It sure has been a while! I need to write on a regular basis in here! But tonight I will just write about my trip to London that I went on about two weeks ago with my friend Robyn and her son Max. We flew there through RyanAir. Our tickets were about 20 Euro each which is AWESOME!
My friend Robyn and I went on a three day trip together to London, England! (August 20, 21, & 22) It was fun. We did ALOT of walking while there! But we got to see and do alot of really cool stuff! I can't remember alot from the trip but I will try my best to explain some of what we did.
We went to the Buckingham Palace for the Changing of The Gaurds and we got there like 2 hours early and it was already packed so we just took some pictures and didn't stay for the show. Instead we took off and got a start on our day of sight seeing.
We then went to the British Museum where we saw alot of really amazing stuff! They have things on display from all around the world there! It kind of reminded me of the movie, "Night At The Museum". Stuff you learn about in history books was there, like the Rosetta Stone. If I can, I will post as many pictures from the museum on here. It was pretty amazing stuff.
Next we went to the Tower Of London. It was huge! It was more of what I think of when I was a kid when I thought of a castle. They also had a room there where they kept the crown jewels. They were beautiful! I didn't know that you were not aloud to take pictures of them, oops! But it was a beautiful place to visit.
Later that evening we went to The Globe Theatre! It was amazing! We saw the play Helen there. It was a BIG circular building with an open roof for lighting. It had three stories for seating, lots of people could fit. And they even had a big open area in front of the stage for people to stand and watch the play. I am so glad that we didn't have to stand and watch it! We had been on our feet all day and it was nice to take a break!
That night on our walk to the train station to go back to our hotel, we saw "Bobbies" and got our picture taken with them. They are what the English call thier police.
We went to the WestMinister Abbey the following day. It cost 18 pounds to take a tour of the church. But we noticed a sign outside the gate of the church that said they had a survice that evening at 5. So we went back to that and got to go in for free. It was beautiful in there! That is one of my favorite things to do, is to go inside all of these churches.
Here are some of the other smaller things we did. We saw the Eye Of London, a huge Ferris Wheel. But did not go on it mainly because I heard that it cost ALOT of money. And we saw Big Ben, a huge clock. And we went in a church to a Crypt Museum that they had on the lower level. And I was able to stop at a telephone booth and get my picture taken in it. We stopped by the train station in London where the movie Harry Potter was filmed. I am not a fan of Harry Potter but Robyn is so we stopped and checked it out. I had seen the movie with her before though so it was cool to see where they filmed part of it at. We got our picture taken by the wall that was in the movie, where they ran through it with thier carts. And one of the last things that we did was go to Portobello Rd where the antique market is. Everything was SO EXPENSIVE! But they had some cheap clothing stores just outside of Portobello Rd.
The trip was fun but boy was I glad to get home! It wasn't really what I thought it would be, London had alot of litter. And ALOT of smokers who would just blow smoke on you as you were walking by. It was like walking through an ash tray. But the train and bus system was awesome! I wish they had more in America!

Life's Journeys

Okay well, I have not done this in a while. So I guess I need to get with the program. I really need to keep a journal! I just can't make myself write in one for some reason! But right now I am going through something in life right now though that I should be keeping track of... so I can remember it later in life. So I may print this off or something and then stick it in a journal, I don't know.
Well, I am now 13 weeks pregnant! As exciting as it sounds, it still has not hit me. I had morning sickness for like 3-4 weeks before I took the test. I knew that I was pregnant, but I just wanted to take the test to show it to my husband... he didn't really believe me. lol. So I found out from the test on a Sunday morning before church, it was 9 am here. And both of our parents live on the east coast of the USA so they are 6 hours behind us in time, so it was 3 am there. I thought it would be awesome to call them right when we found out! Its totally something that I would do! LOL! My mom answered the phone and said, "You better have a pretty good reason for calling this early!" And I told her and she totally had a change of attitude. It was so funny! And I let Drew call his parents and tell them. It was GREAT!
Well, I went to the little doctor's office on the base that we live on to go and take a pee test so the doc's could have proof that I was pregnant. And it came up positive. So, they signed me up to go to this class, pretty much telling you how to take care of yourself while being pregnant, it was pretty dumb if you ask me. Anyways, before I get to rambling a ton... I had to take another test, pee & blood test and the results take 3 weeks to get back. I should get it this week. And then I can make my first oppointment. I will be going to see a German doctor who is off base, the hospital is like 1/2 a mile or so away. I hear the doctor is really good! Lots of ladies from church have used him. Speaking of church, its just me and another lady who are pregnant right now, and so far I am the first one having a baby in 2010 from church. Its so funny! This Spring/Summer there were like 15 women from church who had thier babies! A ton!
So I am due in mid February according to the first doc that I went to. I don't totally understand how I can be that far, but I guess they know more of what they are talking about than I do. Whether we have a boy or girl, I do not care. I just want a healthy baby! If we do have a boy then he is going to be named after Drew, he'll be a third. And if we have a girl I get to pick the name. I still do not know what to pick though. I have always wanted to name my first girl Elizabeth and I like McKay for the second name but my Dad suggested naming her after his mom who past away a couple of years ago, Dorothy Amanda. But I will have to think and pray about it, if the baby is a girl.
Anyways, I guess I have run my mouth enough for now. I will have to write more later. So til next time, Buh bye! :D

It is Sunday night/Monday morning right now. About 1 AM. I must say that I have had a great weekend! I mean, nothing extra-ordinary happened but for some reason it was just great! It rained all weekend. And we couldn't use our car, because the people that were supposed to fix it this past week didn't even start on it. So we were at home all weekend. Maybe that was it. We got to spend the weekend together doing nothing. Well we watched like 4 movies together on Saturday and we watched a few on Sunday. We walked to the comissary together on Saturday and we walked to church together on Sunday. It was just nice to spend time together and just talk to each other!
Last Monday I started keeping track of my water intake and my daily exercise. I have been doing pretty good at drinking my water, and I have only missed one day with no exercise but thats because I had to babysit all day that day. I looked over my weight in diary this past week and I noticed that since January I have only lost 5 pounds. I have just been working hard at staying on track and it seems NOTHING is helping me out! And in December I lost 10 pounds and I wasn't really "watching" what I ate. So I don't understand it. I mean, because of me losing that weight in December it got me wanting to really work at losing more. And I just don't understand, its so frustrating! I mean I want to get pregnant sometime soon and I was hoping to be able to lose some weight before it happened and its just frustrating! I mean, my husband talked to me about how much I have lost and he said, "At least you lost 5 pounds and didn't gain 5 pounds." I guess that is true. I am just trying to change my habits and see if I can do anything that helps me out.
Anyways, I don't really have much else to say. I am trying to clean the house this week. (We'll see how long it stays that way!) ;P

Become A Better Me!

I am the seventh of nine children, four boys and five girls. I was raised in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, and I am still an active member. As for childhood memories, even through now, I could not tell you much. I try to keep journals and make scrapbooks to help me remember things better.
My earliest childhood memories were from the hospital that I stayed in when I was six years old. I had been hit by a car and received traumatic brain damage and was in a coma. The doctors had told my parents that if I lived that I wouldn't be able to do everything that I used to. I had been in the coma for sixteen days before I had come out of it. They transferred me to another hospital where I could begin my occupational and physical therapy. The people in charge of me at this hospital told my parents it could be anywhere from six to eight months before I would be able to return to live at home. I had lost all of my memory and ALOT of my strength, especially in the left side of my body. Physical therapy was painful and hard to do but I stuck with it and gave it my all! Went through alot of tears and alot of getting back up and trying again! I remember being in a wheel chair and not being able to walk. (I remember once I got to go home and spend one night with my family and I sat on the couch while my four brothers would take turns doing tricks in the wheel chair!) Eventually I was able to walk with lots and lots of physical therapy. Once when I was having therapy in the indoor pool I remember a camera crew coming in and rehersing with me and my therapist what to say. We were put on Good Morning America! They got to choose one patient to put on tv and they chose me! The hospital crew that worked with me were amazed at how well I was doing! I ended up only having to stay at the hospital for three and a half months before I was able to return home to live with my family.
I was able to return to school the next year! But I still had to return to the hospital three times a week for therapy. I couldn't even get myself dressed for school in the morning, I was always had to have others help me. I was put into resource classes to help me out a bit. School was tuff! Kids were always making fun of me and leaving me out, so I had always thought that there was SOMETHING wrong with me. I have never felt like a normal kid, always being told by peers and teachers, "No you can't do this! No you can't do that!" So I started telling myself that. And I still do! I don't know how to let myself just try something! And its frustrating!
This year, 2009, I am taking a stand and trying to, "Become A Better Me!" I am working hard at losing weight and I will succeed at this! I am not going to let ANYONE hold me back!
There is another story to tell about my life but this has taken up ALOT of space! So I will tell my next story another time. All of these things that I have written are true and have happened to me! And it has taught me a lesson in life! NEVER GIVE UP! KEEP ON TRYING!

Tuesday May 5, 2009

Okay, so I have not posted a blog for a LONG TIME! With so much going on I figured it was time to do so, so here I go...
Alot has happened since I last posted a blog. Robyn Christensen and I are pretty much best friends now! Which is what we both needed, a best friend! We go just about everyday to try and find a new adventure here in Germany! We have so much fun!
This month will be Drew & my 3rd wedding anniversery. We talked about it tonight and I think that we are just going to stay around town for it. We have done alot of traveling while we have been here for the short 6 months so far! Already we have been to Amsterdam, Paris, Belium, Berlin, Luxemburg, Switzerland, & Germany (of corse). Thats all that I can think of right now. I LOVE living here!!! I even got to go and tour the very house that Anne Frank went away and hid in with her family and a few others before they were taken to concentration camps! I love reading about her! She was a very strong young lady! Well besides the fact of Europe not having ANY WalMarts ANYWHERE! But we manage to get by without them. I do miss seeing people that I grew up with though. And I really miss seeing family! I call family EVERYDAY! Good thing we have free calls to the USA! And we set it up to where people with a 706 number can call us for free too! Otherwise people will just get charged with a regular long distance call.
I have lost 13 pounds since I have last posted a blog on here! I have been working HARD at losing weight! And it is finally paying off! I go with Robyn during the weekdays to a workout class here on base, it totally kicks your butt! I have heard women that are taking the class now say they have already lost like 7 pounds just from taking this class! I am glad that I found this workout class because it seemed like nothing was helping me anymore with the weight, I have even started to gain some back! I did lose 17 pounds but had already gained like 4 back! And I don't want to gain anymore so I am going to step up the working out!
I have a dog! We drove to Ramstein to get him! Which is two hours from here. The people we got him from adopted him and his brother in Tennissee but the apartment they are living in will only allow them to have one pet so he gave me his other dog. He is a Puggle... Half Pug... Half Beagle Mix. He is a beautiful dog! He is about 21 months old now. We named him Spanky. We think that he has been abused! He is very skiddish and very afraid of people, especially men! But he has been getting better about it. I take him out as often as I can so he can be around different people. He loves going outside and playing with the kids that also live on base!
Well I need to go and get ready for bed! Hopefully I will be on here sooner than 5 months the next time! lol
Take Care!
Em