18 Week Ultra Sound

Hello Mommy!

Today was our 18 week Ultra Sound! We were both very excited to get the chance to see our little boy wiggle around inside his mommies tummy. It's the cutest thing ever to see him kick his little feet. I can feel the kicks yet, but clearly he is kicking. I do, however, "think" that I am feeling his movements as I do not see how it is possible to eat and then have my tummy rumble at me like I hadn't eaten all day only an hour or so later. Doctor said that he is growing like he should and is measuring right where he needs to be. They found nothing to worry about with him or mommy. His heartbeat is nice and strong as well. He was breach but we have lots of time for flips.

I took my first belly picture at 17 weeks. My tummy is starting to get tighter by the day. We were unable to take our 18 week belly picture because we were out of town visiting my sister and the rest of my dad's side of the family. It was an AWESOME trip. My sister and a couple of our aunts planned a surprise baby shower for me! It's a little early but I may not be able to get back out there again so they splurged, just for me! ... or probably more for Baby Blob than for me, but regardless it was fun and so nice to see the whole family. She also took me maternity shopping for the first time. We also got to spend LOTS of time with my niece, ALYSSA! She is so adorable and boy does she LOVE grandma!!!! We got to watch her go trick or treating and at first she was scared and then she realized that she was getting candy and then she was running to the doors.

Big News !!!!!!!!!!!

Last time I posted, for one, was a very long time ago and also, we had stopped trying to get pregnant. We never did start up the fertility treatments again. The business was taking up a very large majority of my time and JC is deploying next spring. So, we were just not too worried about it. We figured that we would just wait until JC got back and then make a decision again at that time.

Well... I was finally able to take a day off and I literally slept the entire day and night. Then when I went to work I was still exhausted. My new Assistant told me that I probably slept too much and that was why I was still tired. But, it wasn't just tire or even exhausted, I was EXHAUSTED!!!!!!! I was more exhausted than I have ever been in my life. I thought to myself that the first thing a doctor would do is run a pregnancy test and just so happened to have one left from when we were still trying. So, I took it.... and it was POSITIVE!!!!!!!!! I was in such shock that I questioned my ability to read a pregnancy test. I had to get the directions out because I thought I must have done something wrong. The best that I have ever gotten before was an extremely faint line and this one was very clear, there were two lines for sure. I called my doctor and they ordered a blood draw and sure enough it came back positive too.

JC was away at his Annual Training and in a hard to reach location, so I texted him the news and it took forever for the texts to go through. He finally did get them and was very excited as well. I was also on my way out of town to WI to visit with my family. I had to wait till I got home to get an US. I don't normally ovulate regularly on my own so AF is not predictable and it is very common for me to not get AF for months at a time. Having no clue when I ovulate along the way. So, when I was asked when my last period was I had not a clue in the world. I wasn't traking my cycles anymore and it had been at least all summer. So, to date the pregnancy I needed an US and thus Baby Blob was seen for the first time measuring at 6 Weeks 5 Days.

So, we got pregnant literally out of nowhere and with no drugs or any intervention or planning of any sort. We couldn't be happier and more surprised. I do, also, consider myself lucky in the department of pregnancy symptoms as the biggest one was exhaustion. So, lots and lots of sleep. I did feel sick most days, however, for the most part it stayed down. I did get really sick for a couple days with some kind of stomach bug or food poisoning of some sort. The doctor gave me medicine for it and I slept through it. Then I felt GREAT for a day and cleaned and organized, but then I caught a cold and I was sleepy again... and sniffly. 

We did make it to 12 Weeks so the chances of a miscarriage have dropped to 1%. Then we hit 13 Weeks and had the pre diagnostic testing done for Down Syndrome and a few other chromosomal disorders. They all came back negative and also told us the sex of the baby, which actually looks like a baby now.... IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!! We are so excited to have a new little boy and can't wait to hold him and play with him and watch him grow. The pre diagnostic testing also had an US, so blow is Baby Blob at 13 Weeks, looking more like a baby than a blob now.

It truly AMAZES me at how things just work out in the perfect order to create such wonderful things in life. We did everything we could to get pregnant for over 2 years and had no such luck. I tracked my cycles, took my meds, went to my appointments... everything and all I ever got was disappointment. Then to do nothing at all and it just happens out of nowhere. Today we are 15 Weeks and doing great!! 

P.S. If you see or talk to the boys please do not mention it to them. They do not know yet. We plan to tell them in person when they come out for Thanksgiving.

BIG Life Changes

Well, I guess it is about time that I fill everyone in on our MAJOR life’s events. As you all know I had deployed to Kuwait and JC had deployed to Iraq. Both of us being deployed had caused us to rent out our home and thus upon our return we had to stay with my dad for about 4 months. It was a full house and stressful at times but worth the end result. JC and I are now proud new owners of Pine Ridge Pet Resort & Grooming Center. Just prior to leaving Kuwait I had initiated contact with a business broker who took me a lot more seriously once I made it back to the states and could talk to him in person. With the support of JC and my Dad I have become a small business owner and my life has changed in every sense of the word. This probably seems crazy to a lot of people but to JC and I it is very normal for our lives to change drastically and at a very fast rate. We now live in a new city, in a new home and with a new business. Crazy and busy are understatements for us.

Pine Ridge Pet Resort was built in 2001 by Lynn Berryman. She has spent countless hours to build this kennel into the wonderful kennel that it is today. The kennel is fully operational as it stands now and there is a very dedicated staff to include an assistant manager who aspires to be the full-time manager. The kennel is exceptionally clean and well kept. There is space for us to expand on the existing operations to include our many ideas and dreams; one of which is to sell dog treats and dog clothing made by my Aunts Marilyn and Joanne (Taz’ Pride). I can’t wait to get there products in our lobby for our customers to see and try. The next idea that is getting most of our attention is the addition of a dog park in the surrounding 10-12 acres. It is my goal to get this up and running by this summer. Customers have been responding well to the idea and I can’t wait to get started with it. We hope to open it with a grand opening party that everyone will be invited to. We want to set up booths for local shelters, pet stores and vet clinics to set up with their products. We basically want it to be a big party for all pet lovers alike.

The above was also posted to my business blog: King of Hearts, LLC

As far as the baby dreams go…. We did try two cycles while in the process of buying the kennel but neither succeeded and we decided to take a break while we got settled here. We are not sure when we will resume the baby dreams. For now our hands are full and space is limited. Our previous home was close to 4000 sq ft and the new one, which isn’t new at all (100 yrs +), is only 1500 sq ft!!!! So, it is quite the adjustment for us and a challenge to fit all of our belongings into such a small space. There are also only 2 bedrooms, so now Nathan and Brady already are back to sharing a room and we are unsure at the moment where we would even put a baby.

Closings are SET!!!!!!

Well, it looks like we are on the down hill track now! Finally!!!! We have a closing set for our home and another for the business and we are on our way to being small business owners. It sure has been rough but we made it happen.

Heather

Life Update

Well we are still living at my dads house waiting on the business, which is very close to being ours. We are hoping to close before Christmas but the start of January is the latest. We pick up the boys tomorrow! Prior to going to the airport we are meeting up with my cousin Katie, who is watching Devin for us, for lunch, and.... TO GET DEVIN BACK!!!!!! Now we will have the whole family together for Christmas. :) We are so excited. We decided to surprise the boys at the airport. so, we are not telling them. They will find out when they open the van door and Devin pops out. It will so much fun.

Before we meet up with Katie we are making a little stop at the hospital in Franklin to get a blood test done. This is to find out if our second cycle, since we have been back from our deployments, worked or not. The last cycle did not work at all. It was a bummer, but at the same time we have so much going on with the business that I really have not been thinking about it much at all. Even during this cycle I have been preoccupied with traveling and the business that I hardly think about the cycle.

Then after we pick up the boys we are going to take them to a Roller Derby Bout. My Cousin helps out with them and so we thought it would be nice to see her as well. The boys should like it and JC and I have never been to one. After that we will drive back to WI. All in all it should be a really good day, long but good.

Heather

Fertility Update

We have started our 1st cycle back at the baby making dream. I took femara CD 04-08. CD 15 I went in for my US to see if there are any follicles. There are 2!!!! One on the left side and one on the right side (18 & 19). So, the IUI is a go! That night JC gave me the HCG shot to make me ovulate within the next 24-48 hours. Today is CD 17, the day of our IUI. We are waiting for our appointment now and I am sure it will go well.

I am taking prenatal vitamins and baby aspirin daily. At 5 DPO I will start progesterone pills to help thicken the lining of my uterus and the Lovenox shot in my belly to thin my blood.

I should be able to test in about 14 days. We have so much going on that it will go by faster than normal. Usually I am thinking about it so much that time goes so slow. I did not notice any of the side effects of the femara. Probably because I was not thinking about it at all. We were too busy with everything else.

That is about all that I have for right now.

Heather

Happy Anniversary !!!

Today is our ANNIVERSARY !!! Three years ago today JC and were bound together forever by our vows. Funny how this is the first one that we have actually been together for and we didn't really do much. We started the day with my niece, Shawna, and I getting our hair did and JC and her husband, Michael, watching her son, Gavin. So, pretty much the entire morning was spent apart. LOL JC was pretty excited to visit with Michael and Gavin... really it was Gavin that he wanted to play with, sorry Michael. They had pizza waiting for us when we returned and we had a very nice visit.

We did both get a new iPhone so that was our gift to each other.

The family dinner on the previous Saturday was a BIG HIT! everyone was able to be there. We ate at Texas Roadhouse and they were able to move the tables around so that we could all sit together rather than at two tables. It was very nice to catch up with everyone especially since JC just got back.

Hopefully next month we will have a place to actually call home...

EXCITEMENT !!!!!!!!!!

JC should be back in the States by the end of next week!!!!! I am so excited!!!! I remember the day that I was asking myself how in the world I was going to get through this. I have told myself time and time again that it will all work out and that it will all be OK in the end. Now the end is near and I couldn't have been more right. We made it through probably one of the toughest years of our lives. We put our baby making dreams aside and got through it. In the end it did work out as it always does. Things really do happen for a reason and even in the worst of times good things happen. If we had never deployed we would not be trying to buy a business. If we had gotten pregnant we wouldn't have deployed or at least I wouldn't have and we would not be trying to buy a business. It HAD to happen this way and this was the only path that led to now... I happen to like now! :) Put all your faith in God and God will provide!!!!! It amazes me to no end how life just seems to fit EXACTLY as it should. It's like playing 52 card pick up and having all the cards fall in one little neat pile... PERFECTION!

Bad News... Or Is It Good News

On Wednesday morning our broker called to tell me that someone else had put in an offer and that we better put in a good offer. So, of course I was all stressed out the whole day. I did a little more looking online to see if another kennel might be for sale. There is another one but it was a really small one and it is in central Indy with no land. So, it really does not fit what we are looking for, however, it could be a stepping stone if we hit a brick wall with every other option that we have.

I requested to see a kennel on the south side of Indy a while back and was denied due to not having enough start up cash. Well for one you can move money around the right way and not need that much to start up, but we were looking at the north side property pretty heavily so it wasn't an issue at the time. I again requested to go see the property telling our broker that we now know that I can get financing and also that we have a little more cash options via family. Our broker was having an issue with contacting the listing agent and we did not know if we could see it or not.

We were going to leave around 4 am rather than 2 am like we had been on previous trips, but with all of this new information we decided we better leave at 2 am like we normally do. We had an appointment with the SBDC at noon, so we knew that we were going to have plenty of time prior to that to, hopefully, see the other property. Our broker finally was able to contact the listing agent and get all of the information on the property as well as set up an appointment to go see the property that afternoon. Well, I had my fertility appointment at 3:45 pm and so I decided I better cancel it so we could go see this property. So, our fertility is on hold, but that is ok because JC comes home very soon and we can go together.

The appointment with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) went really well and I do plan to stay in touch and use them whenever I need to. They were very friendly and also shared the same passion for animals as I do. They also offer a very neutral answer to questions as they have no benefit to my decisions. I suspect that we will be in touch.

Then on to the next property. Dad and I actually really did like the property, however, the cash flow was not as good as the north side property. Dad and I are very good with moving numbers around so we could find a way to make it work if we needed too.

Then we met at the broker's office to get an offer together for the north side property. We offered what they were asking for the business and then we offered what we thought the land was worth.

The next morning our broker calls and says that apparently the other offer was substantially higher so we were told no. Of course it was horrible, but at the same time the south property was really nice. So, if we can finagle it to make the numbers work then it is actually a better option for us. So, dad and I had to completely rearrange our thinking and see what we could come up with. Dad came up with an option that would be very beneficial to both sides. so, now we are going to put together an offer via e-mail with our broker and hopefully have that in by tomorrow or Tuesday.

Wish us luck... AGAIN!!!!!!

Heather

Back to LIFE !!!!

Finally, I am home!!!! Wow, I feels good to be a civilian. I am still not completely whole as my husband is still in Iraq. he should be back sometime next month... hopefully. Knowing the Military I wont hold my breath. Regardless I am home and starting new adventures for us to explore together soon. I have been really busy with one and the other will have to wait until JC gets home. Here are top two projects:

1) Buy or build a dog/pet care business - This one I have been working on... really, my whole life. My mother has always had dogs and pets throughout my entire life and my father so kindly gave me some blood with finance flowing through it. This business is a little bit mom, a little bit dad and a WHOLE LOTTA ME!!

So far we have found a couple of existing kennels/daycares that are available for sale and a very nice property if we were to build from the ground up. We have also talked to a couple banks, not USAA... they do not have business banking. Both banks have pre qualified us for the purchase of one of the kennels/daycares. So, now we need to work up an offer and see where it takes us.

2) The other big ticket item is to start back up with our fertility treatments and FINALLY start our family together. I know both of these items really are BIG ticket items and very time consuming. But, we are strong and God will never put something in front of us that we cannot handle, so if we cannot handle it... it wont happen regardless of what we do to try to make it happen.

I have my first fertility appointment on Thursday. Here is my agenda for the first appointment:

a) Let them know that I am back and that JC is on his way very shortly

b) Get a prescription for a good prenatal vitamin

c) Get a prescription to get AF going again (AF only showed 3 X while I was gone and was due the end of August... Still not here!)

d) Obviously I am still not ovulating on my own so, I want to take Femara for a couple months or so to get my body moving again prior to getting into the "hard stuff" and if it happens to work then great!

e) Possibly get a prescription for the "hard stuff" now while I am the primary insurance carrier on Tri Care rather than on JC's insurance as a family member. I still don't think that they will cover it but it is worth a shot.

f) Discuss the med cycle to refresh my memory


That about covers it. Busy Busy Busy!!! I will try to post more often and will put out links for the business once I am able.

Heather

Reconnect with Love

Last weekend I was able to go to Camp Beuhring to visit my husband before he went North to Iraq. It was a hassle to get it all set up. At one point my NCOIC told me that we would see how things were going. I might only be able to go over there for the day and then come right back. Well, I am pretty smart and any opening to let anyone higher up know that my husband was close and that I was planning a trip to go see him. Every one of them told me not to worry about and that they would see to it that I was able to go "work" over there for a few days or so. Had I of never said anything I may not have had the 4 days that I had with my husband.

.......You know, if you just try to make it happen, then in a lot of cases it will happen. So many times people just give up before they even try. I am a trier and I will try until I out of air and die.

So, back to visiting my husband. So, I was over that hurdle. My next hurdle was getting a room that we could both stay in. This is not the norm here at all, not even close. I spoke with housing at Camp Beuhring and the NCOIC told me that their married rooms were all full. I told him, "I swear to God if you don't give me a room that my husband can stay with me in, I will be sleeping on a barrior. I am not leaveing my husband's side." He was very nice and did find me an Officers room that we could stay in.

An NCO from Camp Beuhring was so nice and came to pick me up on Wednesday night. She loves dogs just as much as I do and she is also dual Military. So, we had plenty to talk about on the ride over. There was also an Officer with us who had about every theame song you can think of and was playing them all on his iPod. It was a nice ride. She also gave me a ride back on Sunday afternoon.

Another example of if you just try it might just work, is my NCOIC told me that there was no way that my husband's unit would let him have that time off. LOL boy was he wrong. They gave him all 4 days off!!!!! We watched a LOT of movies and cuddled.....and.....ahem......cuddled some more ;) I was alos able to go meet some of the people that my husband hangs out with, so now I can put faces to names when he mentions them.

It was an amazing 4 days!!!!! They went by way too fast. My husband is now safe at his camp in Iraq. He pretty much hates his job, but he should be relatively safe. He was able to get internet but is having a hard time getting to a real phone. That is ok though I can wait.

I didn't niss much at my job. But, it was pretty good timing. That next week we got in a big team that has crazy travel issues for me to work out. It will be fine though as DFAS will be creating a team for me to work directly with to insure that these vouchers are all taken care of. They were all O4 and above and they were all very greatful, so I am happy to help them anyway that I can. Thats the thing with the Military. It is hard to find people who will actually go out of their way to help you. Everyone just wants to keep pushing you along and tell you, "oh you do that over in Kuwait". What!?! No you don't!! But, I am one of those rare ones who actually helps even when it is not exactly my job.

Oh, and a civilian friend of mine has set up an interview for me with a contractor here in Kuwait. Right now I am trying to extend, but maybe I could the civilian route instead. We'll see. So many choices.

Only a Few Hours Away...........

Holy cow, JC is at Camp Beuhring and I am at Camp Arifjan. Man that is like 3 or 4 hours apart. I want to go hitch hike over there. I don't want to wait. I am a world away and now so is my husband. I cant wait to go see him later this week. I miss him so much!!!! It sure feels funny to both be in Kuwait though. With some luck maybe he will get to stay here. I have my fingers crossed. Being dual Military has it's perks at times.......I hope!

Extending!!!!

Well, the process is started. I am going to extend my stay here in Kuwait, pending orders. I will move possitions from Travel NCOIC to Budgeting. i am extreamly excited as this possition will give me real Accounting experience and will help progress any career path that I so choose. The SGM even said that there is a possibility that I could go TDY back to the states for year end and that would be amazing experience. I am all game for it, bring it all on!!! :)

So, my detachment is around 100 days now. Life is full of writing SOP's for our replacements to follow. It works out though because work has slowed down quite a bit to allow for this. We are having our Internal Control Inspection this week and they are wanting to take me to Afghanistan to brief the command team up there about Travel. Yikes...... Maybe I should stop being so smart for a little bit and let this pass. On the other hand I do feel that it would be beneficial for them and me in the long run. It is just scarry, I really never had the desire to go there. But, I guess if life calls then I shall answer as I always do.

Wish me luck!

MilSpouce Friday Fill-In # 38

This my first time participating in this MilSpouce Friday Fil-In at Wife of a Sailor and I am late. Ooooppps, this will probably be a habit for me but I am going to try it out.

1.How many pets do you have? And what type? submitted by Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl

Well, we have 4 dogs, 1 cat and a 75 gallon fish tank. Our 4 dogs are; Duke who is, a Black Lab mix, is stationed in Rio, WI (Grandpa's house). Osa who is a Schipperke and Kuma who is a chihuahua, both names mean bear and they are stationed in De Forrest, WI (Grandma's house). Last but not least is Devin who is a Huskey mix that is stationed in Cincinnati, OH (Cousin's house). Our cat is Chance because he was my last chance to have a cat. He made the cut and is now stationed in Lake Station, IN (Other Grandpa's house)The fish do not have names and were stationed back to the pet store and probably resold :( they were getting big too and now we have to start all over when we get home. So thats my zoo across 3 States. I miss them very much and I have pictures of them all in my Family and Photos tabs.

2.What are your favorite projects to do while hubby is away? submitted by my-inspired-nest

Well, so far when hubby is away so am I. We met on our last deployment and now we are both currently deployed again. Hopefully I will never know.

3.What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages? submitted by Christine’s Little Blog

When I send my husband something I try to find something that is special and unexpected. Something that will let him know that he is on my mind and that he is my top priority. Last time I went online and made him a photo book to take with him on his deployment. One our first deployment I made him a fleece blanket. I want him to know he is everything to me.

He sends me cards a lot and he is actually a very good writter and I always feel so special when I read them.

4.If you could star in any TV show, which would it be? submitted by Just a Girl

I would be on The Amazing Race!! I have applied twice with my dad and once with my husband but I guess we are not all that exciting.......no-one ever called us :( Oh well.

5.What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your/your significant other’s first deployment? submitted by The Pavlik Perspective

First deployment is when we met so it was all good. I didn't have much to miss. Just my parents, friends and the one dog (Osa) that I had at the time. This time I REALLY MISS my life. This is the hardest 2 years of my life and I am only half way through it. I miss my husband, my two stepsons, my pets, my belongings, my house, my van and I still miss my family and friends. Oh and there is the baby thing, but you will have to read 3 Appointments and Lots of Meds for that story. (It's Long) I have also missed the birth of my sisters first baby (girl), my nieces second baby (Missed the first on on my first deployment, both boys), my husbands sister's second baby (boy), and now a friends baby will be born in a month or so (surprize).

USAA ROCKS!!!!!

I swear USAA has got to be the best bank in the world. By far!!!!! The only accounts that I cannot see in my USAA home page are store credit cards and I bet I could get them added by using the credit card company rather than the store name. I think it is amazing and awesome to see all of my accounts right there and they up date on a regular basis. I just love it. I can even see investment accounts. Everything, I can see everything all at once.

Also, they are the best to work with. They are so polite and understanding and thankful to SM's. I would buy gas from them if they sold it. They are like the Wal-Mart of Finance. The only time we didn't have an exceptional experience with USAA was with our home loans. Neither was anything great but the second home loan was not smooth at all. But still the worst experience is still 100X better than most Banks best experience. We switched over a long time ago but when we went into our old bank to close our account we told them that USAA deposits our pay check the day before we get paid. haha They tried to tell me that was impossible. haha Well the impossible is possible because they do and they never hold any deposits.

I love USAA!!!! Now take over the cell phone and internet industry!!

Sand Showers

Check out the Mil Spouce Weekly Roundup hosted at Our Crazy Life Also, check out Riding the Roller Coaster who started the Mil Spouce Weekly Roundup.

I have been meaning to Blog about our recent sand storms here in Kuwait but I have not had the chance. So, I am a little late but it was a crazy day so I still want to share it with everyone.

A couple weeks ago we got hit with a huge wall of sand. It was by far the worst that I have seen. It was so bad that there was sand all over inside the buildings, everything was closed; the PX, DFAC, all resturants. I did not actually see the storm come in because I was in a movie. We have a free theatre here on camp, yes that is right I said free and it is awesome. We get to see all of the new movies on the big screen for free. Anyways, while in the movie I noticed that I could see the light for the movie shooting through the air to the screen. Then we could smell the dust in the air and it clicked. I could see the dust in the light of the movie going to the screen becasue there was a sand storm. Once the movie was over we went out to the lobby and the dust was everywhere. you could see it, smell it, taste it, and feel it!!!! Then we looked outside, OMG!!!! It was crazy!!!

So, the office is about a block away and I would much rather be stuck at the office than the at the movies. Alisha and I discussed it and decided to go for the office. Yeah, you can't open your eyes at all because the second that you do you get an eye full of sand. We had to squint every few steps to stay on the path but we kept our eyes closed for most of the walk back. We rinsed our face off with water as soon as we got to the office.

Once it died down we were able to get a ride back to our PCB's. I blew my nose and cleaned out my ears and it was nothing but a bunch of sand. Gross!!! Just had to deal with it until the next day because the showers are not in the same building. It would have been pointless to take a shower and then walk in the settleing sand back to our rooms with wet hair. We have had a couple more since then as well but none that were as bad as that one was.

Here are a few pictures, like I said I did not see the storm come in. It wasn't until I went to Facebook and saw all the pictures and videos of it that I realized why it was so bad. It was literally a big wall of sand!

Alpha to Zulu

I think I am coming at this from the wrong angle since I am currently Deployed, however, I am still a military spouce as my husband is on his way over. Regardless, here is my Alpha to Zulu.........Enjoy! Alpha Acronyms, Army, Active Duty, Air Force, ACU's, AAFES, Afghanistan, Army Regulation(AR), Airborne, APFT, Attention, Accountability, AIT, Appreciation, Aircraft, AKO Bravo Boots, Badges, Belt, Body Building, Brave, BAS, BAH, Basic Pay, Battle Buddy, Bonus, BCT, Benefits Charlie Combat Boots, Camo,Camels, Camel Spiders, Chapel, Cardio, Commander, Chow Hall, CONUS, COLA, Combat Zon Tax Exclusion, Care Packages, Civilians, Count Down, Convoy, Communication, Counseling, Commitment, Crazy, Cashier Delta Dog TAgs, Desert, Deployments, Detachment, Detachment Sergeant, DFAC, DD Form..., DA Form..., Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS), Dependents, Duty Roster, Disbursing Office Echo Emergency, E-mail, Escalation of Force (EOF), Equal Opportunity (EO), Extra Duty Foxtrot Financial Management Company (FMCO), Finance, Family Readiness Group (FRG), Family Separation Allowance (FSA), Family, Friends, Flag, Family Care Plan, Formation, Flights, Fun Runs Golf Government, Gear, GI Joe, Germany Hotel Hostile Fire Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay (HDP), History, Hot A's, HMMWV (Humvee), Home of Record, Helicopter India Immunizations, Invitational Travel Orders, Iraq, Internet Juliet Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR), Jump Pay, JAG Kilo Kuwait, Korea, Kitchen Patrol (KP), K-9 Unit Lima Love, Leave, Letters, Land Nav Mike Money, Member to Member, Magic Jack, MWR, Move, MOS, More Gear, MRE, Military Police (MP), Multi Purpose, Military, Mental Fitness, Medical, M16 November NCO, NCOIC, National Guard, Network, Night Vision Goggles (NOG), Navigation Oscar OCONUS, Operation Security (OPSEC), Officer in Charge (OIC), Orders Papa PCB, Phone Calls, PT, Pictures, Promotion, Pay Grade, PCS, Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS), Porta Potty Quebec Quality Time, Wuarters, Qualification Romeo Reserves, R&R, Retreat, Reveille, Rank, Resiliency, Retention, Recruiter, Roaming Guard Sierra Secret Security Clearance, Skype, Support, Sick Call, Salute, Sensitive Items, Spouse, SGLI, Savings Deposit Program 10% (SDP), Sand Storm, Space A Tango TMC, Tour, Training, TSP, Time in Service (TIS), Texting, Temporary Duty, TCS, Travel Vouchers, Targets Uniform Understanding, USAA, Uniforms, Unit, United We Stand, UCMJ Victor Visit, Vendors, Veteran, Vicoty, Vest, Vault Guard Whiskey Work, Warrior Leaders Course (WLC), Will, Weapons, War, Wet Weather Gear X-Ray X-Ray, X-Box, XXX Yankee Yellow Ribbon Events, Years in Service Zulu Zip Ties, Zero Range

3 Appointments And Lots Of Meds

........... My fertility story, or at least the start of it.

My husband and I started trying to get pregnant as soon as we were married. I stopped taking BCP 3 months prior to our wedding and for some reason AF stopped knocking at the door. I would like to say that I got pregnant right away but that is far from the truth. AF not showing up is not a good thing it can be a sign of no ovulation. No ovulation means no baby. Good things always come from bad things as my life has proven time and time again. Most couples seeking to get pregnant who don't get pregnant right away are told to try for at least 2 years before a doctor will start fertility testing, which would then lead to fertility treatments. We, however, started right away because I was not ovulating and AF stopped coming.

Another situation where good came from bad is when I finally tested positive. I remember taking the stick that I had just peed on to my husband, who was in bed, and asking; "Do you see a line? I think I see a line, but it is so faint." It was very faint. You see I can't wait till the doctor tells me to start testing I have to start testing as soon as I think it is possible to have a possitive test. So, I called the nurse and she said yes definately go get a blood test. I did and it was positive but very low, which was fine because it was way early. The nurse told me to wait two days and go test again. If the numbers go up I am pregnant if they go down I am misscarrying. Well, they went down. I don't think it set in well enough for me to be too upset. I cried but then that was it. As I stated in the begining something good came from the bad. The possitive test told the fertility specialist that we can in fact GET PREGNANT. They decided to run some blood tests on both myself and my husband. One of the tests was to see how thick my blood is. That was the doosey that did me in. I forget the what they called it but they wanted it to be like 3 and mine was like 9! I do not remember the exact numbers but it was that far off. Apparently my blood is too thick and clots off the baby before it can implant in my uterus. Yup, thats right.....it's all my fault. The fix: blood thinners by injection daily for pretty much the entire pregnancy.

We did try a cycle with the blood thinners and we made it to week 5, but then the numbers started going down again. 1 week later I started Pre MOB training for my deployment that I am currently on. Oh, and my husband just started MOB for his deployment. By the time we are all done we will have been seperated for 2 years. I do have to say here, though, that he may be coming to the same camp as me, so it is possible that we will be here together for the remainder of my time here and possibly here if I am able to extend for his remaining 6 months. But anyway, the from this bad is financial stability and a better possition for both of our civilian careers.

(Before I start let me just say that I am not a doctor at all, so this is not to take place of your own doctors. You should always seek a medical professional for advice concerning your health care)

For those of you out there trying to concieve here is how our cycle will go when we get home:

3 Appointments:

1) Baseline Ultrasound - At the appointment I will be given an ultrasound to check for cysts on my ovaries. If cysts are found the cycle will be canceled and if my ovaries are all clear then I will be given the go ahead to follow my medication schedule.

2) Follicle Examination - At this appointment I will be given another ultrasound, this time to see how big and how many follicles there are. If there are more than 5 follicles the cycle will be canceled. If they are too small then we will have to wait an extra day or two before continuing with the medication schedule. If there are 5 or less and they are a good size then we will go ahead with the Insemination. Also, at this appointment they will check the lining of my uterus and draw blood to check my hormone levels.

3) Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - At this appointment my husband and I both have to be present. First, my husband will go back and provide a "sample". Then they will spin his semen and I will go back. Note: Some fertility specialist can/will spin the sperm for a specific sex if you are wanting a specific sex. They will then proceed to put his sperm past my cervix through a catheter. I will then be instructed to lay flat for 10-15 minutes, to take it easy for the rest of the day and to act as if I were pregnant from this point forward.

Now for the Meds:
(Prenatal Vitamins, Baby Aspirin, Progesterone, Femara, Gonal, HCG, and Loenox)

Prenatal Vitamins and Baby Aspirin - These are taken daily at anytime for the duration of the cycle and are in pill form with no real side effects. The Baby Aspirin is to help thin my blood. Note: It is good to start taking a good prenatal vitamin 3 months or more prior to trying to concieve.

Progesterone - This is also a pill taken daily for the duration of the cycle usually right before bed time. The reason for this is because the most common side effect is nause. This will make the lining of my uterus thicker for implantation.

Femara - Again in pill form, however, it is taken twice daily about the same times each day, once in the morning and once at night. This medication aids in follicle growth and is taken for 5 days. It is a hormone so it can cause moodiness, hot flashes, nausea, headaches....ect. This medication is started about Cycle Day (CD) 3, 4, or 5.

Gonal - This is an injection into the abdomen. It must remain refrigerated at all times. It also must be administered at the same time each night for 6 nights and overlaps with the Femara. Gonal, like Femara, is a hormone and aids in follicle growth resulting in multiple follicles. Because it is also a hormone the side effects are simular to the Femara.

HCG - This is an injection given at night in the rear only one time. This is the hormone that will "force" or "trick" the ovaries into ovulating at a desired time, roughly 36-48 hours after injection is administered.

Lovenox - This is a blood thinner, it is an injection given in the abdomen daily. The main side effect of this medication is severe bruising at the injection site. Note: This is a blood thinner, cuts and scrapes will bleed easier and faster. Take causion while on any kind of blood thinner.

Well, thats it, thats my fertility story. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. My husband and I plan to pick this back up as soon as we get back home so keep checking back for our road to success.

I will post pics tomorrow or Saturday so check back for the pics. Sorry, I can't find the pics that I wanted so I will have to take new ones next time we try a cycle.

Finding Happiness In A Sea Of Sand

This is where the story of how I met my husband, JC, comes into play. I remember the first time that I met him and even then I said that he was marriage material. At the time, however, he was already married and was the first one at the poker table to pull out pictures of his family. So, we met playing poker on a deployment in Kuwait, CRAZY! Poker was an every night thing for me. JC had to work odd hours and was not able to play as often as I did. Over time, though, we did became friends and we would sit and talk about our relationships after the games. He would talk about his wife and I would talk about a guy that I was seeing back in the states. We would give each other advice, little did we know that we would eventually be a couple. I do have to admit though, wife or no wife I did think he was hot, but I kept my distance and was respectful not only to his wife but to him as well.

He played poker less and less because of his job and most times we only saw each other in passing. We both went home on R&R leave at different times. The next time we saw each other he told me that his wife had asked for a divorce while he was home on R&R. From that moment forward he was mine, he just didn't know know it. I did have to stop for a moment and gather my thoughts. Did I really want to deal with an Ex-wife and step kids? Wow, that is a lot to take on. My friend told me "girl, you better go get him before someone else does", and so I did. JC is an amazing guy who would do anything for his family.

I spent a lot of nights talking to him about his divorce and just simply being there for him to talk to. We grew closer and closer and before you knew it we were officially a couple. Then he went north to Iraq and soon after I redeployed home to WI. He would call me from time to time but I was going to break it off with him when he returned. I was living with my mom and was going back to school in Madison, WI. JC lives in Indiana, big move.

When he did finally redeploy back to IN I went down to visit him. That visit made me remember why I had liked him so much. Again, a leap of faith, because I have no idea why I stayed with him. Statistics show that in this situation they usually go back to their ex. Any normal girl would have went running but for some reason I stayed in all the chaos and hoped that he would not leave me stranded in IN and go back to his wife and mother of his two sons. It would have been understandable considering that is most peoples intent to stay together as a family. But, he was mine and I wasn't letting go and neither was he.

We were married on October 11, 2008 in South Bend, IN and have been happily married ever since.

Everything Leads To Now

In 2004 I enlisted in the US Army Reserves. Why? I have no idea!!! Yeah I was in college and could use the extra funding for school, but at the time my dad was reimbursing me for my classes. So, I really didn't NEED the help. I had a job and I am not into being tough. I am not a girly girl by any means, but I still do not go jumping into puddles and get all muddy on purpose. I think it was more the need to know that I can do something that no-one would ever expect me to do and to be proud of myself for accomplishing something that I never knew I could do.

Little did I know that this leap of faith that I so blindly took would lead me to where I am today. This decision that I made back then, if changed would have lead me down a completely different path and I would not be where I am today. It just amazes me that I jumped into the unknown, had no idea where it would take me and really had no real reason to jump, but I did and now I have everything. I am truely blessed even in the hardest two years of my life, also caused by my leap of faith, to have the husband, the kids, the pets, the houses, the family......the list goes on and on.

I was smart when I joined and any recriters dream. I walked into the recruiter's office and said, "I want to join the Army and I want to be in Finance". I was educated and could already pass my PT test. Needless to say I was swearing in, in no time. My dad told me to leave for Basic in the spring time to avoid both the extreme cold and the extreme heat, so I joined October 29, 2004 and left for Basic Combat Training March 28, 2005. It was good advice, thanks dad!!!! Since I didn't leave for Basic right away I started drilling with my unit, 376th Financial Management Company in Wausau, WI. At my first drill it was announced that we would be deploying to Kuwait later that year. So, I knew going into Basic that I was going to be deployed after graduation.

I was indifferent about the deployment. Kuwait is relatively safe and I knew when I joined that the possibility of a deployment was there. I wasn't married, no kids, and I had already quit my job. All I had was family, friends and my one dog, Osa. It was no different in Kuwait than it was back home. The only real difference is that Kuwait is nothing but sand and family and friends are back home. You get used to the sand and you make new friends who become your family. I was a cashier in the Fianance Office for the whole year and absolutely loved it. It was pretty much like working in a bank. After hours was normal we could go do things around camp; basketball, BINGO, fun runs, poker, ect.... Ultimately it was a successful year and by the end of it I had recieved two promotions, E-4 Specialist and then E-5 Sergeant.

To be continued...................