Feeling better

Phew!!! This week has been so long. On Wednesday I woke up with severe chest pain and shortness of breath. Then Thursday, at 2 in the morning, I woke up to even worse pain and swelling in my feet. After much contemplation I decided that it was best to get it checked out and took myself to the InstaCare. They did an EKG, took 4 vials of blood and did a chest x-ray before they decided that I might have a blood clot and sent me to the hospital. So frustrating!!! I spent the next 5 hours inhaling radioactive gas and getting squirted in the heart with colorful dye for "baby-safe" scans before they decided that I had a "low probability of having a blood clot" and sent me home. The next day the pain had subsided but I had to go to another doctor, this one specifically for the baby, and had an ultrasound of my legs. Thank goodness they found nothing and the baby seems perfect. A blood clot would have been a showstopper for the home birth we've been gearing up for. Today I've felt no major pangs and feel less tired. What a crazy situation!!!!

OUR BABY!!!!!!!

Today Jammie and I drove to Salt Lake City for our first glimpse at our new little baby. In case you didn't figure out by the new color change to the blog.....

WE'RE HAVING A BABY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the first pictures of our little one. We should have a video posted soon as well.

She was a little camera shy at first and blocked her face with her hand.

She looks like she's sleeping but was kicking like crazy!!!

Cute button nose.



Does she look like her Daddy or Mommy?

"Hi Grandma!!"

Don't worry, that's just the umbilical cord between her legs.

Adorable profile... practicing her smooches already!

"See my foot!"

We counted - all 10 fingers and all 10 toes.

We're so excited to have seen our little baby girl that we couldn't wait to share these with you.

Play to hear our baby girl's heartbeat. 138 beats per minute

Jammie is so techno-savvy. He talked the technician into recording this special for us.

New Pictures

It's been a while since I've been able to post so I have quite a few photos to share.

Last Friday we went with our neighbors to the local production of The Nutcracker. It was an excuse to get dressed up and enjoy ourselves. Afterwards, we all went to Starbucks and enjoyed hot chocolate.

See how big my bump has grown!!

Jammie's new obsession is hunting. First it was pheasant season, and now it's duck season. After spending a few evenings out with his friend, Ashton, they came home with these: their prize ducks. Now the fever has really hit them! Sorry lady duck, your breasts are now in my freezer.

The proud hunters with their kills.

This Sunday I will be 5 months pregnant and half way through! WOW!! We have 8 days until our ultrasound!! We are both so excited to see our baby for the first time. (Not counting the ultrasound where it was still a yolk sack.) I can't wait to see that it has two arms and two legs and of course, what is between those legs! Last night we went to a loud action movie and the baby was jumping around during every fight scene. It has to be a boy! Jammie has also been able to feel the little kicks and punches. It makes me smile everytime he gets to experience it too. I've been getting bigger and bigger. During two days last week my belly grew an entire inch!!! This is the fun part.

It's getting bigger!!!!

We'll be sure to let everyone know the sex of the baby as soon as we have our ultrasound.

STAY TUNED!!!

Brrrrr!!!!

Winter seems to be here to stay. The temperature isn't climbing much further than the low 40's and there is snow in all of the canyons . After a particularly stressful day on Wednesday, Jammie and I took a drive through Green Canyon and I snapped a picture of Jammie being a guy, snowplowing with the car. After a frustrating two weeks, another job change may be in the works for Jammie. Keep him in your thoughts.


My job isn't going very well either. Since the economy is so bad, people are tipping horribly. I'm going to have to decide between weathering through this tough time serving or attempting to go elsewhere. On the bright side, I'm feeling much better and my energy has returned. I'm looking forward to our next appointment with the midwife on November 17. We'll be making an appointment soon with a doctor near Salt Lake City for an ultrasound to find out the sex. We can't wait!!! We'll be 16 weeks this Sunday.

Halloween

Carving Pumpkins with the neighbors.

Jammie carved a scary skull and cross bones.


Ashton carved Jack from "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

Meghan carved Ariel from "The Little Mermaid".
I don't have any pictures of my pumpkin. I carved a scary ghost.

Halloween is BIG here. Everyone and I mean everyone participates by dressing up, throwing parties, and passing out candy to the little beggers. Despite turning off nearly every light in the house I was harassed constantly by kids knocking on my door and ringing the bell. I guess the old "porch light out, leave me alone" doesn't hold true here.

Big News!!!

I am relieved to report that as of Thursday, Jammie and I are both employed!! We both want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this frustrating and stressful time. Jammie got a job working for a large retirement home here in Logan as a Sous Chef (the second chef in command). The corporate company owns over 300 homes all over the U.S. which will provide him with transfer opportunities once we move on. And he'll have a big corporate ladder to climb too.
Jammie and I have been fighting colds the last few weeks and despite being in my second trimester, I have still been experiencing morning sickness. (Grrrrr!!!)

As promised, here are the pictures from our little snow a few weekends ago.


We drove to Bear Lake (about an hours drive) on our Anniversary to see the snow but we also saw tons of deer out and about.

Logan Canyon- about 15 minutes from our house. The snow was still falling in the distance.
Beautiful Bear Lake. The mountains beyond the lake are in Idaho. The frightened deer are in Utah.


This scene made us excited to spend the winter here. I'm actually looking forward to the cold since, in Utah, cold weather means lots of snow! Although I won't be downhill snow skiing this winter, I'm looking forward to cross country skiing , snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
Back home in our little valley. The view of our mountains. Aren't they beautiful covered in snow??

Old pics, new-er pics

These are some pictures that I took in the canyon south of Logan two weeks ago. I need to go for another drive to update these pictures because last night and this morning it SNOWED. No snow "stuck" in the valley but the mountains are dusted and the snowing continues at the peaks. Snow in mid-October is disgusting.



These are pictures from our late August trip to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho. This is the place where astronauts practiced the first lunar landing since the lava is so fresh and "moon-like". The second picture is of us hiking through a hallow lava tube. Some of them were huge and long, others were short and filled with water or ice. Several volcano craters show exactly where the volcano coughed up the good stuff.

BABY, Oh BABY!!

Aside from our relentless job searching, the main thing on our minds is baby. This week I've begun to feel a bit better, although the waves of nausea still hit me from time to time, and have decided that I should join Jammie in hitting the pavement to find employment. On Friday, Jammie and I took the time off from job hunting to go to our first official obstetrical appointment. We were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time and learned that my due date was going to be one week sooner, on April 25. After meeting with the insurance lady we both agreed that a home birth would not only suit our preferences for a more homeopathic delivery but would be much more cost effective as well. So I immediately set up an appointment with our midwife for tomorrow. We are both excited to meet her since she will spend so much time with us over the next 6 months including long hours in our home for the birth. We both want to find out the sex of the baby so we are still planning on having one more ultrasound appointment at 20 weeks.
It's still hard for me to imagine that there is something growing in there except for the flu. My pregnancy book said that usually the baby can be felt by the 16th week and I'm anxious for that time.
We have met a few other neighbors in the past few weeks and have encouraged everyone to further meet each other. Jammie has suggested that we all meet for a bike ride or a picnic before winter begins. Everyone seems excited.....
Speaking of winter: This weekend marked the second snow fall on the peaks outside of city. Winter is certainly coming quickly!

Home at Last

We finally arrived in Logan one week ago today. The drive was more difficult than we imagined. The cats did not do well with the medication and the time crawled by. There was pee, poop, and a broken fang during a viscous temper-tantrum but we are here at last! The truck came on Thursday with all of our crap and we've been unpacking every since. Jammie and I've continued exploring the local eateries and towns. We are also on the lookout for jobs. We are considering the local ski resort but a winter drive time of over an hour might inhibit us. We're looking into the potential for a shuttle.
We have most of the house set up including the guest bedroom (READ: For guests wishing to travel to Utah...). For those interested, I was able to find at two way plane ticket out of Indianapolis to Salt Lake City for three months from now for $150. That's a steal! Just keep that in mind....
I will post pictures as soon as I have better access to a computer.

Onward March!

We are all set to leave -but not without looking over our shoulders at the people we are sad to leave behind in the fort. The truck has been packed and is on its way. The kitties will soon be medicated. Our adventure will soon begin- 1600 miles lays out before us. And (fingers crossed) an easy (no freaking out kitties) journey begins tonight.

Welcome!!

We developed this blog to stay in touch as much as possible with our friends and family during our big adventure. We'll do our best to keep up with pictures and new postings. Check back often and leave comments too. We'll miss you all!!! ~Jammie and Sasha