The One Where I Whine a Little {Or a Lot}

So. We've been in Georgia for 4 months now. I know the same amount of people now as I did when we first moved here. A friend from Joe's unit in Hawaii, and lovely fellow blogger, Amanda. I am grateful that I know at least a couple people here, (and I always have Skype dates with my bestie!) but....

I'm starting to get lonely.

Both of the ladies I mentioned above work. It's great for them - especially if they want to - but kinda sucks for me since I'm home with the bean all day. I love the church we go to, but they forego small groups during the summer because everyone travels. And since we never found one prior to the summer.... No small groups {or friends} for us until they start up again. Boo. And apparently the FRG for this unit is severely slacking, so no luck meeting people there. Though, that hasn't really worked out well for me in the past. Not like finding church-related friends, anyway.

Did I mention I'm carless, too? I mean, I could get Joe to find a ride to work so that I could have the car. Even then, the only things I would do would be with/for Charlotte. It's not like I can go shopping all the time. Still, it would be nice to be able to go somewhere during the day. We live within driving distance of so many things! Oh, what I wouldn't give for a second car... Except money, of course, because we do not have enough for that. {Unless a miracle were to happen and we were either given money or a car. I don't really see that happening anytime soon. Or ever.}

Ugh. Really, I think I'm missing Mrs. C. We talked for the first time in a while this weekend, and I think it made me realize how much I miss her and the things we were able to do in Hawaii. Mainly, hang out at each other's houses and just chat. What can I say? I'm pretty easy to please. I especially miss having friends who just come over and make themselves at home, while ignoring the mess that my house usually is. 

Making new friends is definitely the hardest part of PCSing. *sigh*

Thirty Three and More Frustration

How far along: 33 weeks!

Weight gain/loss: Since starting the GD diet, I've actually lost 2 pounds. It's really weird to me. I know that I made a big change, so I shouldn't be surprised but I am. It's weird to think about losing weight in the 3rd trimester. So overall, I've gained 29 pounds.

Body changes: Just more stretch marks as my belly gets bigger.

I find it crazy that I still have to get bigger before she gets here! Look at that belly!

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Movement: Allll the time! She kicks and punches pretty frequently. I know people say that hiccups don't bother babies, but she moves so much when she has them. Even more if she's had them for a long time. If hers are anything like mine, I really can't blame her for being so irritated!

Sleep: About the same. I get up a few times a night for a bathroom run {more like waddle}, but it's not so bad. =)

What I'm looking forward to: Baby shower in 2 weeks!!! =D Finishing her room, getting her crib bedding from my bestie... All kinds of fun stuff. =)

What I miss: Um, let's see... Good - okay, bad food. ;-) I get plenty of good food. I miss not waddling... Being able to see my feet... Sleeping on my stomach... And not feeling exhausted.

Cravings: Pretty much everything I can't have. I think that comes with the territory, though. I did find some sugar free candy and cookies last week, and those definitely help. It's just that I can't have as much of them as I'd like!

Symptoms: Back and hip pain when I get out of bed in the mornings. Heart burn here and there, even with Zantac. I really don't want to know what it'd be like if I wasn't taking it! Had a couple Braxton Hicks last week, but none so far this week.

Best moment this week: Joe playing with baby girl via my belly. =) We were laying on the couch and she started really moving and kicking. So I had him put his hand on my belly to feel her. Her kicks and punches are so much more defined now and he's not always around when she's moving. Anyway. She would kick and then he would poke or press on my belly to see what she would do. Well, she just kept kicking him back! It was so cute. =) Well, it was cute until she started kicking my ribs anyway.

Oh, we also picked up {and put together} the carseat and stroller my mom got for us this weekend!

And when I say "we," clearly I mean Joe. ;-)

Side view.

Front/baby view!

We went with gender neutral since we're planning on having more than one kiddo. =) And I really like this set! The carseat should last us a while too... It'll hold her up to 35 pounds!

This brings us to the not-so-fun stuff.

I had another OB appointment today, and I thought it went really well. I noticed my blood pressure was a little bit high, but no one said anything about it so I didn't worry. Charlotte's heart rate was great and normal, I'm measuring pretty close to normal and that was that.

Then, TWO HOURS LATER... The doctor I saw today called me. "I just now noticed that your blood pressure was elevated this afternoon. I want to repeat the labs you had last week and monitor you in L&D again."

I wanted to scream!!! He seriously didn't even take a look at my chart while I was there! Thankfully, I had the presence of mind to inform him 1) that I was already home and 2) I had done the 24 hr urine collection and dropped it off this afternoon. That bought me 30 minutes because the results hadn't come back yet.

Almost exactly 30 minutes later, he calls back. Turns out I'm not preeclamptic. {Already knew that, but thanks.} However, I apparently "fit the bill" for hypertension. And this is where the suck comes in. He wants to add NSTs to my weekly visits and do a growth scan. He actually wants me to do two NSTs a week. Sadly I don't think well on my feet and didn't think to tell him that, no, I won't actually be able to drive to Tripler twice a week. I know they're worried about me and her, but I really just can't do that. We only have one freakin' car and since I don't work, Joe kind of needs it. And I don't even want to throw in the gas prices and travel time. It's ridiculous. They can do what they need to once a week, when I'm already going. It's not going to hurt anyone, least of all them. So, I guess I'm going to be a bad patient, but there's just no way...

At the moment, I'm just really frustrated. I'm frustrated with my body for sucking and I'm frustrated with Dr. Doesn't Look at the Chart. I just... I don't even really know how to put into words how I really feel. I hate this. I hate that there's something else wrong with me. I feel like I'm never, ever, ever going to be healthy - not even for my baby girl. I can't even do this properly. I know there's nothing I can really do, and nothing I could have done to prevent it, but that doesn't help. I just don't understand why on earth all this is happening.

I'm really trying to remember that God has a plan in all this, but it's hard. I'm not going to lie, I've had issues talking to God about all this health stuff lately. I guess I'm just so upset that I don't even want to try... But at the same time I'm praying He'll help me. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? =P It's really hard to explain. Hopefully some of you have been there before and understand what I'm getting at. I know I need to talk to Him about the GD and now this hypertension stuff, and all my frustrations but I just can't. get. there. There's so much other stuff going on with Joe and the Army, that I'm kind of overwhelmed with it all.

I know this post is super long now, so I'm just gonna say this: Please say some prayers for me. I'm really, really struggling...even though I may seem like I have it together and I'm perfectly happy. That's me trying to do this on my own and obviously it's not doing the trick.

Seriously?!

You know how they say "when it rains, it pours?" Well... I'm pretty sure that's accurate, at least it feels that way lately.

Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest

First, I fail the glucose test. Then my aunt gets put in the hospital. Then I fail the second glucose test and get diagnosed with GD. Then my aunt passed away... Somewhere in there, we found out about the longer shifts Joe's going to be working and that he's going to WLC. Then last week I have the high blood pressure issue, get sent to L&D, and home to do a 24 hr urine collection {which I'm doing today and loathe...super yuck}.

That brings us to today. Apparently the entire Army stationed on this island participated in the Great Aloha Run this year. Because thousands of people participate in this 8 mile run, you have to get there early. And groups have to get there even earlier. Busses left the post at like 2am today... So Joe got up at midnight in order to get ready and get there for accountability and all that stuff. Bleh. Because I'm me, I worried about him not eating, then running with thousands of other people. Seriously, I was terrified he'd fall during the run or something.

He called me at like 11 this morning {after they'd gotten back to post and everything}, telling me he was getting his shoulder looked at. Geesh. To be honest, I wasn't so worried. Turns out he can put on a pretty good "face" for me over the phone. {And of course now I'm wondering how often that happened while he was deployed...} They gave him some pretty heavy painkillers and one of his friends brought him home. It wasn't until he walked in the door in a sling, with ice packs and glassed over eyes that I really grasped the fact that something was actually wrong.

We're still not sure what the heck happened with his shoulder. They took X-rays, but won't have the results until tomorrow morning. They sent him home with some pain meds to take because, holy wow was he in pain. You really have to know my husband - he doesn't go to the doctor or ask for pain meds unless he's REALLY in pain. So, to have him come home all drugged up with 3 different prescriptions... Yeah, I was a little freaked out. Fortunately, he took a nap and woke up more like himself. {Read: not nearly as drugged. =P}

I feel so bad for him... He has no clue if he did something while running or if it's a weird, random muscle spasm. The really not-so-great part about this is that I'm kind of large. =P It's not easy for me to do things around the house, and sometimes I need help! Shoot, half the time I need help getting off the couch! And, being pregnant, I don't always feel normal. I felt crummy all afternoon. Couldn't tell you exactly what was wrong, but I just couldn't keep going. From laundry to dishes, to taking care of my injured hubby... It was a lot.

I guess I'm just worried that he's actually injured and won't be back to normal for a while. If that's the case, my house may be looking like a wreck pretty soon. And really, did we need something else to worry about right now!? GD, possible {but not really likely - at least I think so} preeclampsia, and a hurt hubby. *sigh*

Here's hoping for nothing eventful between now and the end of March.

Why I'm Losing My Mind

Oh, there are so many reasons. One being deployment. I'm pretty sure that's a given by now. I really hate my deployment brain. Although, my MIL had a pretty good comment on me and my brain... I live in Hawaii, which is usually a vacay spot. Not exactly somewhere you live. So, even though I've moved in, found a church, made friends, and sent my hubby off to war away, my brain doesn't think I live here yet. I shouldn't be making schedules, keeping them, and making plans. I should be hitting the beach, soaking in the sun, reading, playing and relaxing. Maybe that's a better explanation than "deployment brain." Maybe.

The last 3 days have consisted of me driving back and forth to Honolulu. In case you didn't know this, I do not live anywhere near Honolulu. {Ok, in the grand scheme of things I really do. It's on the same island... Oh, if you only knew though...} On a good day, it takes me about 45 minutes to get there. On a really good day. On a normal day....let's call it an hour. So, why did I torture myself go to Honolulu? My beloved MacBook decided to act up. I did what any Mac owner near an Apple Store would do. I took it to the Genuises. They know what's best. They're like computer doctors. I dropped my beloved connection to my husband and the world computer off, praying it would be done that night because I wanted to Skype with Joe. No luck. The diagnosis was that there was nothing wrong with the hard drive {thank you, Lord!} and they decided to just reload the OS. In essence, wiping the computer clean. Apparently, this takes 24 hours. Whatever. After my interview Saturday morning {more on that in a minute}, I drove to Honolulu again to pick up my computer. Then, I drove to Miranda's house to hang out for a while.

Everything seemed all fine and dandy until I tried to restore the backup of my computer on my external hard drive to my computer. *sigh* It wouldn't work. So, I decided that I didn't really need ALL of the files on the external hard drive on my laptop. I picked the "vital" ones and copied those. 20 minutes later, it was done. Wooo! Wait. Where are all my files? Miranda and I both searched my computer for the files. Nowhere to be found. Not wanting to drive back to the Apple Store {which is insanely crowded on a daily basis thanks to tourists...ugh}, I called Apple. Sorry, we can't help you unless you pay $50 for 30 day help over the phone. Or you can make an appointment at a local Apple Store. Gee, thanks for NOTHING! So, I went back. They had no idea what to do except to wipe it clean AGAIN and this time reload the computer with the backup on my external hard drive. {Confused yet?}

Even though I begged them to finish it that night, they didn't. I ended up staying at Miranda's and borrowing her computer to Skype with my husband. Thanks again, Miranda!!! After church this morning, I went back. By this point, I was beyond frustrated. I was tired, hungry and I did NOT want to deal with the traffic that comes with driving to downtown Honolulu. I got to the parking lot of the mall and received a phone call that my computer was done. Yay. I went in, spoke to someone and was told they'd be out with my computer in a minute. Then, this huge Hawaiian and by huge I mean super tall and stocky guy came out with a computer. Not my computer. I told him this and he said, "This isn't your computer?" Uh, didn't I just say that? No, that's not my computer. "Is this your name? *holds out paperwork*" Yes.


The man disappeared. Then, he came back and told me it would be ten more minutes. I swear to you, if I hadn't been around a gazillion people, I would have yelled and then cried. After 3 other employees asking me if I needed help and 1 really sweet girl telling me to be patient with them, dude brought my computer AND my external hard drive out. Whew. I turned it on and it was magic. All my stuff was there!!!!!! =D I wanted to run out of there yelling, " FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOM!!!" But, I celebrated silently as I ran out of there. I think the problem with the whole thing was that I took it to the Apple Store in the mall instead of the Apple Store that's downtown near the Royal Hawaiian. That's the one I usually go to, but you have to pay for parking there. I didn't want to pay for parking, so I went to the mall. I won't make that mistake again.

Moral of the story: Don't be cheap if you want your computer fixed correctly the first time.

I've also had some issues with getting Jasper here. Again. =( I thought we were pretty much home-free, but I guess not. I transferred moneys to my SIL, but apparently they're in limbo and she doesn't have it yet. Which translates as they may not have enough to pay for his flight and extra charges, if there are any. On top of that, the address we were given for the cargo drop-off area is either wrong or bogus. I offered to check on it, but with my computer out of commission [until 3 hours ago], it's not like I could really help. After talking to her husband, I felt a little more calm... But, I still felt like I was losing my mind. Anything else we could add to the pile?!

Now for the interview issue. =)

Thursday night, I was sitting at home relaxing and watching TV. Around 2000, I realized I'd left my phone in my purse and on vibrate. Woops. I glanced at it to see if I had any missed calls or texts, and sure enough I'd missed a call and. I received a voicemail from the owner of a local tutoring company, asking me if I was still interested in the job [which I'd applied for 4 months ago]. I called him back and we set up a time for an interview. At first, I was really excited. Then I thought about it. A job means responsibility. It means getting there on time, doing certain duties, filling out paperwork, driving to work, etc., etc. Did I really want that? Did I really want to be tied down? What about when Joe comes home on R&R? What about going to see my family? What about Jasper? I don't want to leave him home alone all day.  In the end, I realized that God had brought me this opportunity. It's not like it would hurt to do the interview.

By the time I got up on Saturday morning, I had convinced myself that I wasn't even going to be offered a job. Boy was I ever wrong. Friday night, I prayed that God would show me the way very clearly. I was confused and needed help. Before I left my car for the interview, I prayed again. I asked my bestie to pray for me. God is seriously awesome and has the best sense of humor ever. I feel pretty certain that the interview was NOT my best ever. Despite my cooky answers to questions and my inability to tutor kids in anything other than history, language arts and basic math, I was offered the job. The best part: I accepted.


I am now a tutor!!! I will be tutoring - probably only a few kids - a few days a week around where I live. The company gives tutors students based on their location. For instance, I wouldn't have to drive to Honolulu to tutor because it's too far and really unreasonable. My [now] supervisor/boss/person said that some people have 10-15 students, but I don't want to be that busy. I think I'm going to try to keep it at a reasonable level so I'm not stressing myself out. Plus, I would really like to keep volunteering at the museum. They need all the help they can get, and I don't want to leave them empty-handed. He seemed to be very understanding about Joe being in the Army, the R&R situation and traveling. Honestly, I think he realized I wouldn't take the position if he wasn't flexible. =) It seemed that way to me, anyway.

It may seem weird, but now I'm thinking of all the school-related supplies I need/want to buy! =D I love, love, love buying school supplies!!! I honestly think that was one of the many reasons I wanted to be a teacher. Lol! I'm thinking I will definitely need a planner, pencils, pens, paper, a binder?,  folders?, sticky notes.... Anything I'm forgetting? Help, please! Oh, and business cards. Since I go to students' homes, I'm required to swap info with the parents. The easiest way to do this is to get business cards. I'm having a hard time finding good ones because I don't want to put all of my info on there. I mean, do I really want them knowing where I live? Eh, not really. But the cards look funny without the address! So, I need your help!

My favorite business card WITH all of my info:

{Oops. I think I cut the bottom off when I did the screen shot.}

Same card WITHOUT all of my info:

See what I mean? It looks weird.

P.S. These came from VistaPrint.com

What do you think? Should I put my whole address or should I just put the city that I live in? Would that solve the "awkward space" problem? {And obviously, I'll be using a different email address. I just don't want to put that one on my blog.} Help, please! Oh, and if you can think of any other fun school supplies I might need, let me know!

I should be back on a regular basis, now that I have my computer back. The blogging hiatus was NOT my idea! I will most likely be back tomorrow with pictures of my puppy's arrival!!!! =D

Hope y'all had a good weekend!

Where's My Gun?!

Warning: This post contains anger, frustration and confusion.

There, you've been warned. Don't say I didn't tell you.

After what feels like a half a bazillion phone calls, I feel like I need to go shoot something or someone. Though, I'm not sure who I'd shoot. Maybe the people who are "in charge" and are supposed to coordinate things. I'm new at this Army wife thing, but I'd always assumed {and yes, I know what that means...} that the military was - wait for it - organized! You'd think that an organization that has the ability to deploy X number of troops overseas at the same time would have the brains to be able to coordinate a simple, smooth OCONUS PCS. Alas, I am mistaken. Why? Because apparently, the military like to contract civilians for PCS-related things. And this is where my problems are.

Two completely different moving/storage companies are responsible for my HHG and Unaccompanied Baggage. And Lord knows how many different companies were responsible for them on their trek out here. I called transportation to ask about our unaccompanied baggage being delivered. Wanna know what I got? "Ok ma'am, let me give you the number to the moving company who is in charge of your goods. While I'm here, I'll give you the number for the other company that has your HHG." Um, what? What she should have said was "Ok, I have no idea where your goods are even though that's supposedly my job, so I'm going to give you the number for people that can actually help you." Grrrr. So, I called. Our unaccompanied baggage has been here for 2 weeks. 2 weeks. When can they deliver it? A week from today. WHAT?! So, I asked if there was any way we could get them delivered sooner because not only was his brother coming to visit, but I have no sheets, no towels, no pots and pans - nothing. And what's the best she can come up with? "Well, I can put you down for owner pick up..." *sigh* That's all fine and dandy, but I don't freakin' know if my car is going to be here or if it's going to be a rental!!!

Now for the car story. I called the VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) to see if they could tell me when our car will be here. I keep checking it online, and all it says is that the car is in the Honolulu Port. Well, that's awesome but that doesn't tell me much. When I called today, I got the same. dang. answer. "Well, your car is in the port but it hasn't been released to us from the carrier yet." Any idea when it will be released? "No. You should call back tomorrow."  Thanks for nothing!!!! So, I have a rental booked for tomorrow, but I don't know if we're actually going to need it! I certainly don't want to rent the car in the morning only to get a call later that our car has finally been released. Ugh.

I'm so irritated. I just want some definitive answers so I can make a decision or at least know what to expect. I suppose that, if nothing else, I will be in my own home tomorrow, free from the wacko housekeeping ladies and loud traffic. We are borrowing furniture from the Lending Closet until our HHG gets here [who knows when that will be]. I'm just ready for everything to be here so I can get situated.

I may not be posting for a few days because the cable guy isn't coming to set up the internet at our house until Tuesday. I'm hoping one of our neighbors has unprotected internet that we can "borrow" until we get our own, but if not don't worry about me, I'll just be busy getting situated!

Say some prayers for me! ♥ you guys!!! Thanks for letting me vent. =)

Happy Thursday! 

Anyone else freaking out about Grey's Anatomy's finale?!

[mis]Adventures of a Wanna-be Baker

So, trial number 2 of baking and decorating cookies. Ugh.

I bought an in-oven thermometer to see if that would help the burning cookies issue. It did! =D Although, I did find that my oven likes to pick its own temperature. I preheated the oven before the first batch, and set the thermometer in there. I had high hopes. When I opened the oven to check it about 5 minutes later, what did the temp read? 400 like I had set it? Ooooh no, my dear friends, it read 500!!!!! I was shocked. So, I went back to rolling dough out after turning the temp down to see if that would help. Checked it again...600!!! What on earth?! I don't get it. It just kept getting hotter and hotter. Which helps explain the charred cookies from last weekend. But still, what the crap?! Monday, I think I'm gonna go have a talk with management.  I can't, no I refuse to live with an oven like this. I cook almost every day of the week! I cannot have an oven that sets its own temp, and then refuses to work after an hour.

Good news? I have cookies that are not, I repeat, NOT burnt!!! Some a little more brown than others, but not burnt!

More bad news. Icing. Ugh. First, I tried a plain "jane" icing recipe. It looked good, tasted great...until I added food coloring. It was like the icing just wouldn't hold the coloring. I even beat it with the mixer...and it was a no go. I even enlisted the help of my hubby with this, poor guy. I love him so much...he puts up with me through so much of my supposed "bright" ideas. So, we trashed the crappy icing only after decorating about 12 cookies with it. Oh well. Back to square one. I decided to try out the royal icing recipe* again. I finally figured out how to get 'flooding' icing along with the stiff kind so that the cookies look better. But, before I could decorate with the new icing, we had to wash my decorating bags (gross. I don't like the feel of icing on my hands. bleh.), and then I had to take Joe back to the barracks. More on this irritating fact later. Before we left, I was able to outline the cookies in the stiff icing. When I got back, I put the 'flooding' icing in the decorating bag. When she says 'flooding', trust me she means flooding. I had icing everywhere! On my hands, all over the counters, on parchment paper, on my iPhone cover...yeah. Not good. After having Melissa calm me down, I went and grabbed a hair tie (no time to search for a rubber band when icing is going all over the kitchen) and made sure that icing wasn't getting out of the bag. Gah.

What a night. I did get all of the cookies decorated. The ones with royal icing look very cute! =) The others, not so much. Trial and error, my friends. I do have pictures of them looking very cute sitting on top of their respective Valentine's Day bags. I'm just too tired to post them right now. Sorry. It's been a rough night. After decorating the cookies, and cleaning up the kitchen a little, I took a 2nd shower. I rarely do this, but I was extremely worked up. Once I got in front of a mirror, I realized that I had pink icing in my hair, on my forearms, and on my shirt. Awesome.

Oh, right, I was going to tell you the Joe story. Today, he (along with the rest of the IET students at Fort Gordon) was supposed to be released after evening formation for the 4 day weekend.  Supposed to be released. Apparently, his 1st SGT and Commander ( or something) decided that they would be the only IET company to adhere to the TRADOC policy that says Soldiers should get a full night's rest before being released on a 4 day weekend. What.The.Heck?! Thanks for the notice!!! Not like we didn't have plans or anything!!!! Us? Go to NC for the weekend and want to leave early? Never. Us? Want to sleep in the same bed for more than 2 nights a week? No, we'll sacrifice that. We're only married. They act like all Soldiers in the company didn't have plans, or wives, or families to do things with. Talk about inconsiderate, unprofessional, and irresponsible! You know, if you're going to randomly decide to follow the rule book (which, from what I've seen rarely happens anyway), a day's notice would have been appreciated. Jerks.

With that said, I'm off to bed! You know you're up too late when Letterman is on. =) Hope you all have a good weekend. I'll try to be back to regular programming on Monday!

*I can't find the actual recipe on Confections of a Bake-A-Holic, but I did get it from her. =)