Growing Little H, part 2.

I know some of ya'll have had some laughs of me putting belly pics up, but laugh on......I'm still continuing (Shane and Rebekah).  :)  Here is weeks 14 and 15- I'm skipping a few weeks.  These last couple weeks we found out that our Baby is a little bigger, so our due date got moved up one week!  We are now due May 10th and will hopefully be finding out if Baby H is a boy or girl on Dec. 20th.

Before I post pictures, here are a few symptoms I've been experiencing:
-Nausea and vomiting (the worst and it's back!)
-Fatigue
-Runny nose this entire time
-Random hiccups I think they are funny


14 weeks

 15 weeks

Besides the sickness, I enjoy being pregnant.....and we are excited to meet Baby H!!!!  You should see how cute E is with baby already....

Baby Update

Okay, so E and I went to the doctor today.....and we were moved up!!!!  Yes, we are now 14 weeks today (instead of 13) and our new due date is May 10th.  All I can say is.....I knew it!  I knew that Baby was a big one.  And....he/she's heartbeat was 160....maybe a girl is in there???

Growing Little H.

So, if you don't want to see my stomach, then don't read this blog.  And.....if you think I'm weird for put these pictures up.....that's fine too. 

I mentioned in my last post that I have been taking pictures every week since we found out we were expecting.  Even though there isn't really a "bump" happening in these pictures, I still want to capture every week.  So, here it goes.....

 This was from our anniversary weekend and also the weekend we found out I was 3 weeks prego!

 4 weeks.....sorry for my lack of photo skills.

 5 weeks

 6 weeks

 7 weeks

 8 weeks

 9 weeks

 10 weeks.....finally feeling a little bulge here. 

Baby Train

Well, we are finally moved and I have time to sit down.  We are almost 10 weeks along!!!!!! Besides the nausea, tired spells, random cravings, vomiting......I'm happy!  I'm missing E right now, but I'm happy to be back in civilization.   I also have had the month off of work, which has been SUPER nice....not sure if I will be returning. 

Anywho, here is a picture of our little baby H.  Also, I've been taking pictures of my tummy since week 3 and even though I may not be showing, I still take pictures.  They will appear in my next post :).

Stalled....

So.....I have not hit my goal.....yet.  I've hit a little bit of a wall and I keep finding excuses not to get back on my plan.  I have gained about three pounds back, but I still feel much better.  The good news is, I've kept up my working out.  I'm up to 7.5 miles, and I feel great running these days.  I'm a bit spoiled though, as I run inside on the treadmill.  At least I'm still running, right?!


Here are a few recent pictures taken recently...I'm so happy to have FIVE beautiful and handsome nieces and nephews (Hint: I would like more pictures of them:))!!!

 E and E :)

 G-ma and Elsa....we love to dress her up!

 I got to hold Elsa the whole time we were in Best Buy....and she feel asleep on me.  Love this!

 This girl loves some TV! hah.

 Staying up!

Love giving Elsa kisses!

 The Kirkpatrick Family....:)

In Bend, Oregon with Momma H and Auntie Carolyn!  So much fun!

 Maria, a sweet girl I met here in MO.....left to go back to Washington state. Sad!

I'll get back on my goal plan soon.......just stalled for now.

Goal: 14 more pounds to go!

Yes, I had a minor setback with my appendix.....but I still have managed to lose a total of 16 pounds!!!  Now, Elijah says he can tell but.....I can only tell in my clothes.  Maybe he is trying to be sweet like usual???  I have to say I've become a little more lenient on myself and the weight is coming off slower, but it's coming off!

My summer favorites:
Avocados
Watermelon
Blueberries
Cherries


Pictures to come at 20 pounds!!!

What happened?

Whew......it's been a crazy past few weeks.  As soon as I got up to running 6 miles at 59 minutes, I'm on the floor the next morning in so much pain.  After hours of thinking I was terribly bloated and rolling on the bathroom floor in pain, it was time to visit the Emergency Room.  I called my neighbor (also my workout buddy/new girlfriend)....and she ran into our house only to find me on the bathroom floor crying.  Turns out, she can't drive a manual transmission.....so guess who drove to the ER......ME!  Eli was on a field trip that day and couldn't exactly rush home.  I also didn't want him to rush over and there be nothing wrong with me.  After almost being on the floor in the ER, having trouble breathing, and crying VERY loudly, they finally took me in- the wait seemed like FOREVER.  Bless my girlfriend's heart for being there for me through the whole process....she filled out paper work, helped me go to the bathroom, saw me shaking uncontrollably, walked with me, kept everyone updated, and sat for hours with me.  Elijah showed up right after I got a pleasant dose of pain meds.....so glad he missed the initial pain I went through.  After two ultrasounds and a cat-scan, it was my appendix....and it had to be removed immediately.   


Hours later, I wake up after surgery with Eli right there....holding my hand, like he seemed to do throughout this whole ordeal.  Almost an hour later, I'm throwing up while being transferred to my new recovery room.  The anesthesia made me sick and made the pain worse.  A combination of an uninterested nurse and pain meds that I kept losing.....I was in a ton of pain.  I had trouble breathing from the pain and to top if off.....they made all visitors leave for the night.  Eli was not happy about that (and I had to really talk him into leaving before he was escorted out).....but I was not happy being alone with crazy nurse all night.  A night of being alone and sick= not cool at all.  Needless to say I begged to go home the next day.


The day after surgery my mom came to help me while Eli worked...........thank God for her.  I feel so loved by my family and friends, but wow, my Mom is such a precious gift to me.  I just can't get over how selfless she has been throughout my life, while asking nothing in return.  It's crazy.....it reminds me of how God is with his children.  On a less important note, Eli and I ate so good that week!  We had fun even though I could not do much at all.....I love my Mom.


So, I started working out less than two weeks after surgery.  I'm now back up to 6 miles again and running it in less than 59 minutes.  Praise God for a full recovery.


Last but definitely not least, I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.  I am just so blessed to have a man that loves me much.....enough to even get in trouble to be with me......and one that stuck with me the whole time, being so patient and so caring.  I remember being in so much pain at times that I didn't even want to be touched, and he never got mad or upset, not once.  He got behind a bit and did not complain....He didn't eat much for a for those two days I was in the hospital and still did not say a word about it.  What an awesome man I have....my prince!


Thanks everyone for prayers and flowers and meals and love!!!!

Day 45!!!

Soooo....I bet you have been wondering if I quit my getting ripped in MO goal.   NOPE!!!!


I have officially lost 10 pounds and I feel great!!!!  I'm still working out five days a week I still write down everything I eat.  I'm in 45 days strong now.....and it's getting much easier to stay away from that SUGAR!!!!! OH, did I mention my new wardrobe budget is up to $200?!?

My new things:
I don't or try not to eat past 7pm. 
I go by the fist size rule and sometimes I cheat on this.
I'm doing cross-fit at least twice a week now and I'm letting E kick my tail in those workouts.
Watching Extreme Weight loss edition to get weekly motivation and I usually am in tears by the end of it.

Pictures to come once I pass the 20 pound mark.  

Day 20 and $20 a pound!

Okay......soooooo....I've decided to open up to everyone!!!!  I'm on day 20 of getting ripped in MO!  I've lost five pounds as of day 15 and I'm actually in the way to a total 30 pound weight loss goal- you do the math :). I'm working out five days a week along with a very specified eating plan.  My workouts range anywhere from running slow speeds for 30 minutes straight to swimming to hard core cross fit- fat burning workouts.  My workouts are coordinated my my biggest fan/personal trainer/favorite person- Elijah.  And, while I'm on the subject, I want you all to know that Elijah won't do anything but be super encouraging......so I could use some more accountability from friends and family.  Also, although Elijah thinks I'm perfect as I currently am (I know he is my true prince :)), he decided to give me $20 per pound lost for a new wardrobe since I told him I will need new clothes when I reach my goal (Yes, this is a big deal!).

Besides the fact that our last few date nights have been spent looking at tons of food labels in the grocery store, I have a few pictures of my favorite snacks/food choices (It's been fun for us though!).   

 LETTUCE WRAPS- ...this is a splurge meal to note- complete with grilled chicken, corn, rice, green peppers, onions, and mango- Eli wasn't going for this :)....soooo, he used a real wrap.

 FRESH FRUIT!!!  Cutties :) (not clementines, but mini oranges ;)), strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mango, cantaloupe and kiwi

AND!!!!.....sweets!  left to right...40 cal. fudge pop, 130 cal. cookies and cream pop when I really want to splurge, and 25 cal. splenda fruit bars. ....I eat all sparingly.

Here is just one day of eating....
Breakfast- 3 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt with a half cup of fresh fruit and 6 almonds
Lunch- half of a tuna wrap (whole grain wheat wrap) with a dab of regular cheese with a cup of fresh fruit
Snack- 5 wheat crackers with hummus
Dinner-1 meat, 1 vegetable, and a small salad

So, I bet you are wondering if I took before pictures.......I did!   But......not until I hit my goal....:)....cheers to being healthy!

Dinner with Garin and Lauren.

So, from the moment we move in to our new home, we are busy bees. We have already been to Columbia back and forth three times out of the 1.5 weeks we've been here. Twice to see E's brother and once to see my brother and sil. All in great fun!

We ate at a Japanese Steakhouse in Columbia, which is always fun. It's awesome how God works things out......G and L were in Kansas City for the week on business and we decided to meet half way! Love you G and L!

The Moving Adventures....#2

Good-bye Savannah.....this was actually really sad for me. I met so many wonderful people and went through a year-long deployment at this home. And......it was E and I's very first home together. God has other plans for us elsewhere.....and we are excited to be taking part in this new journey. Missouri here we come!

The Moving Adventures....#1

Living room all boxed up.....it's crazy realizing how much stuff you really have once you start packing everything up.
I love this kitchen......but not all boxed up :(
24 foot moving truck......completely full. Wow, that's a lot of stuff.

St. Patrick's Day

Here are some pictures of the fun we had in Savannah, GA from St. Patrick's Day. E and I watched the parade and spent a little time at my office party.....


Shane, this one's for you.....you make me a proud sister!
Me and E, he's home for our first St. Pat's ever being married!
HUGE horses....

Lollipops and Rainbows

So, yeah.....I've been really discouraged lately. It's called STRESS. House, move, relationships, work. The list goes on. And you know what doesn't help.....when the weather is so so bad. I'm praying that God will take me out of this storm, because I'm screaming on the inside. It's starting to blur my view of the "lollipops and rainbows".

So, yes....we are moving....in two weeks. "When did you find out?" Glad you asked.....exactly two weeks ago. Our house is on the market. We don't know where we will be living/staying in two weeks. We don't know the exact day we are moving out. We don't know how long we will be at the next post. I don't have time to hang out with all of my girlfriends before I leave....I barely see E. We just bought moving boxes two days ago. I'm quitting my job and remaining jobless for the time being. And....for the first time ever, I'm moving farther than 8 hours away from my precious mom and dad.

All of these things have me stressed....but then I think about how things could be MUCH worse. I have a great and happy life. Not only that, but God has been faithfully opening and closing doors for us so smoothly. I am a blessed woman and promise you I'm learning some things in this storm-it's called patience (something I don't think I'll ever learn enough of)......but God forgive me for blurring my own view of how good I actually have it.

Jumping ahead.....Military Ball 3/3/3011

Hi Everyone!

It's been months since I've posted. I will get better......I've just been super busy with getting situated again since E's been home, weekend traveling, working, working out, socializing.......whew.

Last night was our first Military Ball together as a married couple. Here are some pictures......we had fun!


Eli getting some cake.......hah.
Me and my hubs!
Again.....love him!

Muah!

Househusband update (guest post)

So, everyone knows what a housewife is - well, I've been playing at househusband lately. Yup, I got to take a whole month off of work (Meghan got two of the four weeks off, during which we traveled) and even now, I've been "working" this past week but am only working 4-day weeks and workdays are over at around 3pm. My first off week that Meghan was working I spent cleaning up around the house, organizing, running errands to Wal-Mart and Krogers, cooking dinner and cleaning up after - yes, a genuine househusband! This past week, and continuing into my first week back at work and this weekend - I've been working on building a fence for our backyard, a 6' tall privacy/security fence both for our use and for future resalability, that I've been nailing together board by board. I'm still home more than Meghan is, which is a bit weird, but good. I have other to-do list type things to work on after the fence is complete.

Block leave was busy - we always seem to schedule more traveling than we can quite handle - but it seems so worth it, once we've recovered and stabilized at home again. For the Christmas-New Years week we road tripped! Packed the car and drove from Savannah to New Orleans, LA (Meghan's parents and extended family; 3 days), then to Memphis, TN (my grandparents and extended family, and where I grew up for 18 yrs but Meghan had never seen; 5 days), to Birmingham, AL (my sis, bro-in-law, and their newborn son Little T; 2 days), then home. Pictures to follow, I suppose... it was a long trip but good, seeing new (to me, her, or us) family members, especially Little T...

After a transition week at home (Meghan working full time that week, she sacrificed a lot for us to travel during my month off), we flew to Colorado for 10 days of family, fun, snow, snowboarding, 2nd-Honeymoon, fun! Spent time with my parents, spent time just the two of us snowboarding and staying in a little mountain town B&B, spent time with my brother and his family (wife/3 kids) who sacrificed a lot to travel from Missouri to visit us (and Momo and Papa).... what a trip! I learned to snowboard quickly, which was good/fun, my parents were/are so generous with gifts and turning a 4-day trip to Frisco into our mini-second-Honeymoon, and Meghan made friends with our niece ("twins!" with braids in their hair). I, on the other hand, got more attention/time with our nephew, so-called Two Forks. We have a lot in common, he and I...

Well, we are a little more stabilized in Savannah now, a little more into life routines and less of the traveling craziness. We are trying to be good friends, having people over for dinner and being social with work-related friends/events; trying to coax people to come visit us in Savannah (it was 65 and sunny yesterday! in January! we almost went to the beach but ran out of time). I'm finishing the fence (pictures to follow), we're talking about upcoming trips (Charlotte in 3 weeks!) and starting to lean towards a new local church commitment.

So, God is good, Meghan & I are both happy and healthy and working out what a daily/weekly routine looks like, now that I'm back from Iraq (and back at work after a month off) and she's still working almost-full-time (proud of her). We're thankful for our family and friends and God's bountiful provision for us. He is good and is the touchstone and foundation of our marriage. I have an amazing wife whom I love and am so proud of and impressed by all that she does for me/us. All of life isn't always rainbows and lollipops, but today, I am happy.

-E