Hannah Faith

Finally, she's here, we're home and life is settling back into a routine! Hannah Faith arrived after a difficult and scary labor. Her arrival has tested and built our faith in so many different ways. I have never felt so lucky in all my life. My babies are perfect, and life is good!
It took my husband and I over a year to get pregnant. Just as I gave up, we were blessed to find out we had a baby on the way! Then, through the first trimester, I was on bed rest and constantly warned by my OB to take it easy for miscarriage was likely. After that were the twice weekly NSTs that lasted until the end of pregnancy. It was a long road. But we made it. September 20th we went to RACH to be induced. I was 1 cm dilated, so they gave me meds to get things going. After 13 hours at 1 cm, my body just basically erupted! I went from 1 to 10 in 2 hours and 36 minutes, and have never been in so much pain in all my life! Never! Towards the end, I developed a fever and just felt horribly. Finally, a nurse came in because our baby's heart rate was dropping substantially during each contraction. Once we commenced with delivery, the OB discovered her heart rate was dropping because the cord was wrapped around her neck, and was in a perfect knot further up! Thankfully, baby Hannah arrived and was healthy! So many scares, but such a blessing!

Waiting

Recently, many changes have come our way. Our baby girl is due September 23rd, but it has been predicted that she will arrive early (if we even make it to our induction date)...each day I wait. So many days I feel like she will be here any day now, and other days I am so lost in thought and the other daily challenges that I feel like we have the full two and a half weeks left! I know that's not the case, but life clouds our minds and keeps us unfocused (or overly focused).
Being finished with my degree program, but not pursuing employment or any other professional endeavors is so difficult for me. I feel lost. I've come to realize I have a passion for learning, and passion to continue my education, and to provide education to others. Thus, I have changed my degree focus from Social Work to Special Education. I found a graduate degree offered through Texas Tech in Special Education with a focus on Autism, which is perfect for me! Thus, I am studying to take my GRE so I can apply and hopefully get accepted. I am also STILL waiting on all of the audits to be completed for my undergraduate degree to be sent out...it's a long and arduous process obviously, but should not be much longer!
After over a year, we are finally making some headway with Caleb. It took us over a year to get him diagnosed fully, find a provider, and develop both an IEP and care plan for him. Now if only we could get the schools to work with us, and have a little extra patience to plan and make the bi-weekly trips to his therapist (which is quite a haul) and change our lives to fit his needs. It's not easy. It's trying, it's frustrating, and it's even nerve-wrecking. But it is for my son, and that means I will do anything...I am just optimistic that things will improve. Because as we go farther along into the school year and his adolescence, his symptoms are exacerbating.
And Army life is just as trying as ever...with appointment as the new UMO, TDY orders are tangible and many new changes are coming up. I am thankful he will be here for Hannah's arrival, but fear he is going to miss a great deal of her first years...I suppose that is what we signed up for, as I understand he must serve our nation, protect our country, and defend the freedoms of others as well...but it's not always an easy reality to swallow.

Turbulence

Well as the summer draws to an end, life is throwing curve ball after curve ball our way. First, Joe has finally joined his permanent unit. Thankfully there are no deployment talks that are immediate concerns. That is a huge relief, especially with everything coming our way! Next, Caleb's therapies begin tomorrow as we have our very first appointment since his diagnosis. I am anxious to see what comes our way and what remedies we can find, at least tools. No one seems to really understand high functioning forms of Autism, and this can leave one feeling rather isolated with little to no support at all. I am hopeful (at best) that things go well tomorrow, but I suppose we'll just have to play it by ear! And last, we found out today that our baby girl will not go the full 40 and will be here at least one week early!! Depending on the results of my labs, the doctor is looking to induce at least one week early, possibly two if the pre-eclampsia sets in heavier and if my other health issues do not improve. One thing after another it seems...perhaps that is life.

Hannah Faith

So with ten weeks left in this pregnancy, we can say definitely that we are naming our girl Hannah Faith. I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with Biblical passages, but our son's name is Biblical (Caleb) and Hannah seemed to fit our situation so perfectly. First, the story of Hannah is primarily about a woman who prayed and prayed for a baby and was smited by many community members for wanting a child. Needless to say, she was blessed with her baby. Although our stories are not entirely parallel, this baby girl took a lot of patience, prayer, and faith. Faith, her middle name, is symbolic to how we got through all the health struggles to finally be able to have her.

When we first found out she was a girl, Caleb instantly said "since I don't get a brother, do I get to name her?" I was apprehensive to proceed but asked him what name he had in mind...his response, Hannah. Perfect! After research for meanings (we stuck with the Hebrew meaning which is gracious) and so on, we've made it official (which means we've purchased items with her name on it lol). So, ten weeks left and our little family will be perfect. Of course, I've always thought of us as perfect (I suppose I have a bias).

In other news, Joe finally graduated from OBC and AOT, which means he is officially an Artillery Officer! OBC was so challenging for him, and for us. I've never seen him work so hard, and still be so exhausted, stressed, and far behind! The hours were intense, the homework was intense, and it seemed the harder he worked, the more they piled on him. But he made it! We made it! Now, after a short hiatus, he will be joining the 75th FAR, more specifically the 3-13 where he'll function as a PL. It's very nerve-wrecking at this point, as the 1st battalion is already in Afghanistan, the 2nd battalion is preparing to go to Korea...so we are very nervously waiting to hear what he'll be doing! I'm thankful we've gotten through all the training, but deep down a very small and somewhat selfish part of me misses the certainty that came with TRADOC. I knew he wasn't going to deploy until his training was finished. Now, that long-dreaded "D" word it tangible and scarier than ever. I suppose this is where strengthening our faith and our marriage will come in handy.

A bambino

Finally, after a little over one year...we are pregnant. I've been wanting to update my blog to share such joyous news, but have just been exhausted! There is no way to even describe it other than pure, overwhelming exhaustion! I am eleven weeks pregnant as of this past Monday, and currently I weigh 130.7 pounds (which is up three pounds from two weeks ago). My pants don't fit, my baby tees no longer fit, I have been battling the lack of digestion, and hormonal roller coasters. Can't seem to feel appealing during all this as I am always nauseous and always tired. I've been here before but really do not remember the nausea and fatigue being this bad. I always heard the first pregnancy was the worst...but honestly, I'm thinking thus far this one is way worse!
The hubs is nervous and on edge. I am telling you, he has spent hours upon hours over the last three weeks talking about the future, investment, and retirement. He is freaking out I think, but I am sure once things slow down and he realizes that I quite have a handle on this he will be able to breathe. Until then...well he certainly isn't getting any thicker up top! Ahh...but I love my balding paranoid provider husband. He's good to us. This is his first time of being around me pregnant. He wasn't around for the first one, so 8 years later, here he is freaking out. He is so funny...he wants to do all the vacuuming, all the dishes, all the grocery shopping, and any cleaning that involves super smelly chemicals. Silly guy, but a very thoughtful notion still. Part of me (the fatigued and nauseas side) wants to let him...but the rational side knows that he simply cannot do all that while working 50-60 hours a week! So, I do my very best to battle the challenges of the day, and get it done while he is gone. Considering we only get an average of ten hours a week together (not including weekends) this really isn't that difficult. The difficult part is moving period. But, in a week and a half we'll be entering the second trimester and all of this will hopefully be behind us, I should be able to muster more energy and less nausea. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to eat an entire meal. All I know is I am going to stop talking about food, as I can already feel the tummy yucks peeking their nasty head into my evening!

It's been a while...

Alright, so it's been a while since I've been on here...things have been crazy busy! We PCS'd and let me say, it was my first and worst PCS. About two weeks after we moved in, our mentor passed...it hit home hard. And one week later, my husband's training was pushed up three months! So, with a 20 something hour notice, he was off...and is still off. We have no idea when his next phase (OBC) will begin. I am fairly confident it'll be pushed up. Life would be too easy if it weren't.
But on a happier note, my sister just had her third baby! A beautiful baby girl! I cannot wait to go visit so I can hold her! I'm so happy for her! It's a torn sensation though, our infertility struggles really make baby fever kick into hyper drive when I see pictures of her. She is precious.
Tomorrow is going to be rough. The recent Ft. Hood tragedy has many things on my mind...as I am sure it has impacted many of us. This jidadist activity has me terrified. But it brings up a very valuable point that I hope the military and government take into account and correct: Hasan was investigated by the DoD before this happened, and the investigation was dropped! People have become paranoid of being labeled racist or being seen as a racial profiler, in addition there has been name slinging by those who can be seen as jihadi supporters! "Islamophobia" is a term they have used. Phobia, yes I would say it is fear of being politically incorrect that halted the investigation by the DoD. So it would be that same fear that cost us many lives. This hatred is breeding within our own military! The US military is one of the largest and most powerful militaries in the world. If we allow these terrorists, the supporters of "Islamofacism" to enter our military, our very foundation has been shaken! This conflict hits home on every level!! First, I am an American, and the Islamic extremists have waged war against America and all it's "kaffir" inhabitants, labeling us infidels. Secondly, my husband and I have been on our own religious quest-starting with Buddhism, Catholicism, all the way through Christianity...and we finally decided we want to convert to Judaism! Now, that is great, and I am happy; however, as usual, the Jewish community has also been targeted by the extremists (again). And, more importantly, my husband serves in the US Army. I cannot pray enough, I cannot find any comfort that does not come from scripture or the arms of my husband. Since he isn't here...scripture will have to do. This Islamic extremism has me scared, has me angry, and has me focused like I have never been focused before. I just wish the leadership of this nation would wake up and focus as well!

We've only just begun

August 27, 2009 my husband graduated OCS class 011-09 Echo company! Woo hoo! He became a 2LT within the United States Army and will begin his Field Artillery Officer training within the next year! I was so proud of him, words cannot illustrate the emotions that coursed through my body as the love of my life walked with pride and accomplishment across that stage to accept his commission. Wow...it was truly amazing! This entire journey so far has evoked so many different changes. One thing I can say is we have truly grown, as individuals and as a couple. What a great start to such a turbulent career path. I am so proud of my husband, of my LT. He is amazing, and I am confident he will prove an asset to the US Army, and to any FA PL he leads! Congrats hubby!



And two days before that, we were able to attend his company's formal, which served as a celebration for all 132 graduates for that class. It was so fun! I met some really great people, and had a blast talking to the new sgt's wife. She was such a doll! I was totally freaked out before the formal though. I have been taking hormonal supplements to help with fertility, and my weight and body mass fluctuates with each cycle of pills. Well, when I bought my dress for the formal, I hadn't taken any supplements, as I was out. But the day before I tried my dress on for my husband, and it wouldn't zip! Talk about major spaz mode!! Luckily, JCPenney took it back and had an even more adorable and form flattering dress for the same price! All-in-all this has proven to be an eventful and amazing journey...and we've only just begun