5 weeks

Your pregnancy: 5 weeks

How your baby's growing:Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.

So now that I have calmed down a bit, here's how it went. The line for security was INSANELY long at the airport so we stood and waited with them. Gave hugs wen they reach the roped area. And we went to the escalator and I lost it. And I cried all the way home. When I had to move my seat back, cuz I always had to move it up for Amelia and I wasnt going to ever have to do that again (melodramatic, I know) and then all the places we went to... and driving the road we always drove after the hockey game... All of these brought on their own little mini break down in the middle of the larger one. And then we got to the gate, and somehow it looked darker. And I knew that nothing would be the same again. Cue next break down. Then we past their road and I saw their house, all empty. No candles burning, no air fresheners making you choke for oxygen... and I lost whatever omposure I had managed to find. So by the time we got home I was a blubbering, snotty mess.

I miss them so much already. But 70 weeks and we will be together again. Matthew figured up that he will have 52 week of terminal leave so that means we will be out by January 8th. So after the holidays I'll come home (hopefully someone will come to help me, hints to anyone who wants to see Alaska in the winter) with the cats and the baby. And then Matthew will be home about five days or so after the 8th. However long it will take to drive from Washington.

Good-bye

We just dropped Marcus and Amelia off at the airport. It was really hard. Even harder coming back to the base cuz everything reminds me of them. I cried all the way from the airport to the house. I am pretty sure some of that was hormones, but a lot of it was sadness too. It was just really hard.

Our Last day with Marcus and Amelia

We drove up to Flattop Mountain in the Chugach State Park.

This is from the Anchorage Overlook

Got a spare $5 million? You to can have a mansion with location and a view.

Me and Matthew (and the baby) at the Overlook

Marcus, Amelia, Me and Matthew

The tall buildings are the Downtown Area

Matthew posing

Hamming it up

Marcus and Matthew

Amelia's appropriate shirt

Matthew and Marcus at the Alaska Zoo

The dead polar bear...again

Matthew at the Eagle Cage

The pregnant lady had to get some food...

So did everyone else. Is this sympathy eating?

Snow Leopard

Later that night at the Rosso's

Grilling supper

Trying to play PlayStation outside on the Dumpster TV

Its not working?!? Maybe that's why it was out at the dumpster.

Marcus and Amelia

Delise and Dana

They brought out a new TV, and the outside PlayStation went as scheduled... until the rain.

Worrying

I am trying so hard not to worry about this. So hard. But everything little ache or pain, or weird feeling freaks me out. I wish I was further along! That way I had less time till the 2nd trimester. But I know that I am going to be considered high risk, because of my MS and my weight. I just thought I would have more time before I got pregnant. I was doing so goo. I had lost two inches off mt hipsand two off my stomach and one off my chest. SO I was on my way... And now I am pregnant. I dont want ot eat too much and then I am afraid that I am not eating enough... I just cant wit till my first dr's appt. Then I can talk to someone and get some good guidelines for me. I am crying at everything so I know that my hormones are definately kicking in. (Shut up, you! I mean more than usual!) I just want this so much. And I have had so much shit happen to me in my life, that I want something wonderful. Something that I deserve. I love this baby so much. So much. And I have prayed that God would give me this blessing. And He saw it fit to allow me to have this child, and I know that this is in His hands. Thats where I have to leave it or I will drive myself crazy with this worrying.

Nothing really new...

to report today. I am way hungrier today. And I havent really had heartburn yet today. A little this morning. I had a job interview today. I think it went ok. Not super well, but ok. Of course, Matthew was devistated that I didnt get the job right off the bat. I knew he would, which made me feel gulty for no reason. I hate when he does that. So I am not sure about htis. I am trying though. Maybe I will just have to work at UPS until I find a real job. That would get Matthew off my back... Whatever. I need to take a nap. I am pretty tired today. We're going to supper with Marcus and Amelia and Ronnie and Shelley tonight. Should be interesting. 3 guys and two pregnant woman. Heehee sounds like a set up to a bad joke.

4 weeks

Your pregnancy: 4 weeks

How your baby's growing:This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until ten weeks, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. As a result, this is the time when she'll be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with her development.Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed, consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all of her organs and body parts will develop.The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow so that the developed placenta will be able to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby when it starts to function at the end of this week.Also present now are the amniotic sac, which will house your baby; the amniotic fluid, which will cushion her as she grows; and the yolk sac, which produces your baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to her until the placenta has developed and is ready to take over this duty.

Yoga

When I had an inkling that I may be preggo I got a prenatal Yoga DVD, and I have been doing it for a week or so... Anyay, I LOVE it. It is so relaxing and I didnt realize that my muscles were so tight. No wonder I need a masage all the time. Anyway,I love it. I have yet to try my Denise Austin one. I think I'm gonna stick with the yoga for a couple months. But I like it cuz they demonstrate all three trimesters so even now I switch between the first and the third since I am not that flexible yet.

Oh yeah, and anhything citrus-y not only gives me the worst heartburn but also makes me want to blow chunks.

Scared

Ok, so I thought that I would be able to postpone the fear, but it showed up in full force this morning at 3 am, which seems to be Cricket's favorite time of day. (I have taken to calling the baby Cricket) I am just so scared that I am going to lose her. (Matthew decided it was a girl, even though its just a blastocyte, or aomething like that!) Especially since we told people. But I wanted to, cuz I'll need my family if something DOES happen. It just happened so fast and it was so easy... That maybe I dont deserve her, because we didnt have to work very hard for her. But I love her so much already. And I am going to do everything to keep her as safe as I can. So of course, there was NO way I was going to be able to get back to sleep after that! 3 am. Always 3 am. I am sure all of this is normal. And in a way, I am sure that it is going to make me more aware of what I am and am not doing to my body and my Cricket. (Matthew thinks the baby has made me wierd cuz I am calling her Cricket, be he refers to her as "The Pea" and of course since I pee 9 times a day, that what brings to my mind.)

News

I guess this is going to be a baby update site now. So lets see, I have MAJOR heartburn. Everything I eat gives me heartburn. Milk, cereal, meat, bread... everything. Mylanta is my friend now. I've been waking up at 3 in the morning with dizziness. Tenderness. Cramps as of today. But so far it has been pretty mild except for the heartburn. As far as I can tell, it'll be around the end of April. We are VERY excited. And a little scared, but I'm trying to postpone that little emotion for awhile. I just want my baby to know how much we wanted it. How much we already love it and its just a ball of cells right now. LOL.

Yep, its gone!

:(

TMO came yesterday and packed up their house. We went grocery shopping n their kitchen. I just have this heavy weight in my stomach, like I want to cry, but its too soon for that. If I start now... I have to take them to the airport... How am I going to turn my back to them and walk away?

Camping Update

Well, its official, Matthew is not onl working this weekend, but he is working 12 hour days. And he wont get off work tonight until 7-7:30. But we are still going to go camping. We're just going to go on base here, so he can come out after work and just go to work from the campground. But its not the same. I am so bummed. And he is so upset. You can just hear it in his voice. I almost dont even want to go, it wont be the same without him. This just sucks. We have been looking forward for this for at least a month. And what happens? The AF has to ruin it. And I cant help make him feel better. There is really no way to cheer him up. Maybe we will go later, after they leave...

Stupid Russia

Now Matthew might have to work this weekend cuz stupid Russia has to start actin' up and bein all dumb so now we ahevto run jets all weekend, so Matthew might have to work. Figures, right? I am looking forward to this. We all were. And it takes a fight with Russia to ruin it. This was supposed to be our weekend. I cant wait till we are free to go camping whenever we want, and impending millitary action can't ruin it.

Camping!!!

I am so excited!! Today is camping day. And the truck is already packed. I had to take it in to get the chasis lubed, but its otherwise ready to go. I still have to pack the cooler, but I dont think I should do it yet! I am just ready to go. I am ready for some quiet, I am ready for some camping. I am NOT ready for mosquitos though.

Practice your Salute

Its offical, Matthew passed his NCO test and will be sewing on his Staff Sgt stripe in Dec/Jen/Feb. Now I will call him Sir just to bug him! He wants to pretend that it doesnt matter, but it does. I am very proud of him. I guess now I have to learn how to spell Sergeant. LOL.

Cuttin' Wood: Where Men can be Men

Time is running out

So we had Marcus and Amelia's going away party on Saturday. Which means that day is getting so much closer. This weekend is camping. We invited their neighbors too. Dana and Delise Roso (I think, or its Rosa, which is Rose in Spanish, hahaha). Yep, the Ga's have trouble remembering names, LOL. Anyway... Then its one more weekend... I am afraid for Matthew when Marcus leaves. I hope that knowing that we'll see them in a year will help. But we went to cut wood yesterday, me and Matt and Marcus (Amelia had to stay and clean). And they were having so much fun... It breaks my heart... But hopefully this next year goes by as fast as this last year went. We have less than 60 days till hockey starts, and that will help pass the winter... And then mom and dad are talking about coming up again, so that gives me something to look forward to. And Jim and Laurie might come in September next year, so I have all these things to look forward to, which helps pass the time along. Welp, Ihave some errands to run today so I had better go. I have to keep myself busy too. I dont like thinking about them leaving either. But we have Shelley and Ronnie, and now Dana and Delise, but its not the same... Without them, it wont be the same again...

Planning the fun

We have decided that once we go home, probably after Disney World, the four of us (us and the Ga's) are going to go to the Dells. I am almost as excited about that as I am about going to WDW. Almost. Just thinking about the Dells brings back so many great memories. I'm trying to talk them into going to Baraboo while we are there. Maybe I can get a train picture where I DONT look like I'm about to lose my luch. (Thanks mom) But anyway, just thinking about the Ducks, Noah's Ark, Tommy Bartlett, the boat tour, those rocks (you know which ones I'm talking about i pictures where something is jumping between them), Cheese curds and fudge. I almost want to go now. I've been looking at www.dells.com and it is just like a flood of my childhood. The campgrounds. And I think we stayed at the Mayflower Motel, cuz it looks REALLY familiar. Anyway. Just thought I would share.

yay

So AT & T bought Dobson Communications which owns Cellular One (our cell company). So we are now AT&T which I am VERY excited about for the following reasons:

• Fewest dropped calls*
• Unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling
• Rollover® Minutes
• Great web-only offers
• Exclusive phones

So YAY. At least it came while we still have time up here. If we were leaving in a couple of months, I'd be bummed. ANyway, Hurray for big companies.

Our Poor Little Baby...

We finally got Grizzly declawed (in the front). Our legs, our couch, our rugs and our carpet are already thanking us, but my poor little baby... It breaks my heart to see her in pain. She has a pain patch, but I'm sure it only takes the edge off. And whats more, Jackie is being a bitch, hissing and growling at Griz cuz she smells like the vet. And Jackie turns into a totally different, almost wild and rabid acting, kitty when she goes/smells the vet. And Griz doesnt need to be worked up right now, so we have to shut Jackie up in the basement until she either chills out, or Griz is healed enough so that we can give her a bath, but that is a least a week away, so Jackie just needs to chill out. But Grizzly has white paws so you cn se all the dried blood and it just makes my heart hurt. I know its for the best, but when I see that blood... I just want to wash her little paws, but I cant, or I risk infection...

Shhhhh...

I hate jts. I am SO sick of listening to those damn things fly. SICK OF IT!!!!! I am sick of having to pause whatever I am watching for 10 minutes while they fly over and over and over head. I CANNOT wait till I dont have to listen to it anymore. I cannot wait! I want the quiet. I want the peace. I am SOOO sick of these stupid loud jets!

Trading Spaces is NOT the same without Paige. I hated her when I watched it, but now that she's gone, its not the same. Frank is still fabulous though.

Heart stopping panic

So I got home today and I couldnt find Jackie anywhere. And the maintaince men came cuz the lock was fixed. So I paniced. AND she wouldnt come to treats. Which made me absolutely panic cuz they ALWAYS come to treats. Always. I had to go through the WHOLE house calling "Treats" until she finally came. I was crying and two seconds from calling Matthew... and then I heard a second bell (cuz Griz had been following me, pissed I hadnt acted upon my treats call) It was the greatest sound ever. i thought she had gotten out... I was so scared. But she's here and good. She probably just didnt like strangers in her house and hid.