New ultrasound

I had another ultrasound today, just a checkup to make sure my ovary is back to normal. Thankfully it is. I went to the ER in December and my right ovary was ridiculously big and so this was just a follow-up. The ultrasound tech sent me home with 5 new ultrasound pics of our baby. It's weird, every time I see the little one on the screen, I tear up. The heartbeat sounds great, baby looks great, so I am pretty happy about that. I am 14 weeks on Sunday, only 6 weeks until we find out the baby's gender! I'm not really showing yet, just look a bit fatter LOL. Oh well, I guess that's to be expected.

 

First OB Appointment!

We had our first OB appointment today! Brian and I were able to see our baby for the first time. I cried.....and I am not ashamed to admit that! It was so weird and cool to see the baby and hear the heartbeat and really know that we are going to be parents this year. The heartbeat sounds like a "woosh woosh woosh" noise, it was pretty neat. My due date has been bumped up to August 2nd, so we'll see what happens. I'm feeling ok, just really tired. I've been fighting a headcold from hell and I hope it passes soon.

We're Pregnant!

So on November 30th I woke up to discover something was missing......my period.  I decided to take a home pregnancy test because they've always come back negative so I really wasn't expecting anything different.  SURPRISE!  That HPT turned bright pink and had 2 lines.....totally preggo!  So, Brian and I did the only logical thing....we took more tests (like 4 of them).  I was freaked; I never expected this to happen so soon.  Well we went to the clinic and it was confirmed with the military, still preggo.  I've started feeling some of the symptoms for example fatigue, a little nausea, breast tenderness, and Brian's favorite: GIANT boobs.  They're huge, it's ridiculous.  I try to work out but I can't run non stop.  It just hurts too much!  I take Cujo and Hank with me for a jog/walk and we do about 3 miles.  I feel better because I'm getting the exercise and they just love to be outside.  I've been sleeping a lot more lately, which I'm trying to monitor because if I nap for too long in the afternoon, I can't sleep at night.  That part stinks.  Anyhow, we went to my OB Registration today and they gave us an estimated due date of August 12th.  I actually think my EDD is August 7th because I ovulated on the 14th of November.....the nurse didn't care what I said.  Oh well, we'll know for sure during the big ultrasound during my 20th week appointment.  The nurse gave me my laundry list of foods I can't have, and as I expected (and still to my dismay) no sushi.  What a bummer! Japanese women eat sushi when they're pregnant, and I lived in Japan for 4 years so I have to be accustomed to it, right?  Doesn't matter, NO SUSHI.  If you have ever seen the movie "knocked up" Seth Rogen describes pregnancy pretty well "a list of stuff you can't do". LOL  Oh well, I know it is worth it in the end......but I can whine a little if I want to.  

We bought a turkey

Brian and I went to the commissary today to buy our very first Thanksgiving turkey. I know it i early, but we're on an island so the commissary does not have the best track record of keeping a healthy stock of anything. Therefore, home with a 21lb turkey. It's an exciting feeling to know we're having a normal holiday together in our home. We're having friends over to share a feast and that will be a blast. Things are getting better, learning to be an actual couple versus a couple of married people who don't live together. I know that sounds weird, but there is a huge difference. I do have to admit that this year has been full of ups and downs. Hopefully there are more ups to come.
We're still figuring out our Thanksgiving Day menu but looking forward to all the fun foods!!

Catching up

Brian and I have been in Hawaii for about 3 months and we're pretty much settled in our new home. We still have some boxes to unpack but overall things are great. Our 2nd puppy, Hank, arrived almost 2 weeks ago and he and Cujo have quickly become best friends. He's 8 weeks old and full of energy! Since we've been here we've done some sight-seeing with our visiting family, to include hiking Diamond Head and seeing turtles at Turtle Beach. We love our new home and we're looking forward to these 3 years here in Hawaii!

T minus 75 days and counting

Yes, in 75 days I am leaving Japan for good, or at least 3 years. The process has begun. My packout dates are set; Brian's packout dates are set; the ball is rolling! In just 19 days I'll be in Saint Louis for the holidays visiting with Brian and his family and then off to Maine for another 10 days. When I get back to Japan on Jan 10th, I'll only have 34 days left until it's time to go. It's hard to believe that I'm finally moving in with my husband and we are both so excited the time has finally arrived! We're busy trying to decide what kind of car to purchase in Hawaii. Right now the frontrunner is the Toyota Prius. We are also trying to figure out what to send out in what shipment. It takes 45 days for Brian's stuff to get to Hawaii from Maine and it takes up to 70 days for my stuff to get there from Japan, so crazy. My stuff has to go to Los Angeles first before it can go to Hawaii, something about inspections and quarantines, etc. LAME. Anyhow, so we'll be using loaner furniture for the first month or 2 at our new house. Oh well, at least we'll be in the same house. Well, so much to think about, so much to get done. It's no wonder I can't sleep, my brain is on and won't relax!

Thank God it does not get like this in Hawaii!!!!!

This is my car after 3 hours at my friend's house. I went outside and found it buried in snow. Today is the first snowfall of the season here and I am less than thrilled. I had to open my trunk to get my ice scraper/snow brush out and a bunch of snow dumped inside the trunk.....just great. I guess this is the official start of winter here, wonderful.