Last night I had the brilliant idea that I would make a slide show.  I had pictures I wanted to share, and I had seen a couple people post these awesome slide shows that showcased LOTS of pictures.  Unfortunately, I'm not as smart as these people I've seen posting these slideshows, and for ALL my effort (I spent a long damn time uploading photos), I ended up posting nothing but impotent code.  It was late and I was tired so I decided "screw it" and I just deleted the article. ...

Ok, so I'm not pregnant again.  Not unless some heavenly miracle has occurred.  Which, being the good agnostic that I am, I strongly doubt. I went in to the Acute Care Clinic last Friday night for what felt like a pretty brutal UTI (I try not to make a habit of going into the ACC for routine concerns, but there were no appts. to be had until several days later, thanks to the cosmic aligning of New Year's Day and the funeral of a President).  I had been in pain all day, and ...

I was watching Big As Life: Obesity in America on Discovery Health last night, and it had repeated, extended scenes of fat people butt shots.  You know what I'm talking about, right?  The camera is set right at ass/abdomen level and it flips through various scenes of people walking, eating, and generally being merry and oblivious to the cameras around them. Every time I see something like this on a news broadcast or a health program, I think, "wow, it must really suck to be them".&n...

Isabella has been so blessed.  She had a wonderful baby shower.  She's received cards and emails and well wishes from people all over the globe. As you all know, I'm a terrible procrastinator, but I wanted to post a photo of little Izzy with what is sure to be one of her favorite childhood "friends".  Maso and his wife sent her the most unique and wonderful little cuddly pal...it's a flat koala bear made from sheepskin.  It has little eyes and a nose that make an adora...

There's an angry little rain cloud following me around. We watched Home Alone.  It wasn't funny. We listened to Christmas music.  It wasn't jolly. We ordered pizza.  It wasn't pizza-y. The boys are making gingerbread houses with assorted candies and graham crackers.  It isn't precious. Ok, it is precious, but it still doesn't feel right.  This is not my first Christmas without him, and not my last, either, I'm sure, but his absence numbs me to the exciteme...

Isabella is 2 weeks and 5 days old today, and she had her first professional photos done.  I'm obviously biased, but I think they turned out great. We won't tell daddy how much we spent!

Today is definitely a "down" day. I've had bad dreams about Adrian consistently for the past week.  It's strange how dreams can filter into our waking lives and leave us feeling scared or worried or paranoid or any other host of bad feelings.  The feelings can be so intense it's as if we've actually experienced our dreams. Each night my dream is different, but the theme is always that he manages to come home (he gets leave or the Army decides to send him home for the weekend, hah...

My apologies for taking so long posting this, but I have been crazy busy. Isabella Nohealani (pronounced No Hay Ah Lani, it means "beautiful girl from heaven") *Our Last Name* was born on Wednesday, November 29th at 3:43 am.  She weighed 8 lbs and 7.9 oz and was 20 and 3/4 inches long.  She has blondish-black hair (crazy, I know!) and blue eyes (for now).  I had a doctor's appt on the 27th (3 days overdue), and my doctor decided to induce me so that Adrian would be here for...

Ever since enduring an apt and generalized e-scolding about adhering STRICTLY (and then some) to OPSEC, I have had the hardest time bringing myself to blog. It seems that most of the things I'd want to share are too personal. I'm still pregnant.  I don't think that information jeopardizes any military missions.  My due date is November 24th (Black Friday), but I have no idea when this baby is going to come.  Last week at my appointment I was 2 cm dilated, 60% effaced, and sh...

THANK YOU, KELLY! I got your card in the mail yesterday, and it was such a nice surprise.  Thanks!  You guys amaze me.

I constantly feel guilty when it comes to my kids.  I feel like I don't do enough for them.  I feel like I let them down or disappoint them. Sometimes they will tell me about their disappointment.  I didn't put enough juice boxes in their lunch box.  I forgot to send them in their sneakers for P.E.  All those little details that I can't manage to keep a handle on despite calendars and schedules. I feel like there's this fine line between being there for my children...

Ok, so this is another mommy blog.  I'm a SAHM.  Being a mommy is my JOB.  So, technically, this is work-related.  Hehe. Yesterday we had our trip with CS to the Maritime Museum in Honolulu.  Before we left, the kids were asking me about the place and where it was.  We've walked past it a million times, but somehow they didn't remember it. So I told them it was near Hooters.  Because it is. Back at home last night my youngest looked me in the eye and d...

Anyone else notice the spelling errors on the "create a blog" page?  I guess it's easy to recognize the mistakes of others.  Not quite as easy to recognize our own. It's getting closer to baby time.  I have about a week until I'm full term, but I don't expect (or particularly WANT) her to come for another 3 to 4 weeks.  I had my first real OB appt yesterday (I've been seeing my PCP up until this point), and that was both nice and completely sucked.  The parking at...

My boys are very involved in Cub Scouts and are busy working toward earning badges (Bobcat for both, Tiger for Orian, and Bear for Xavier) and belt loops (Ultimate Frisbee and Map and Compass so far!).  We end up spending around 5-10 hours a week on scouting activities and scouting-related learning.  My kids have Scouting on the brain for sure.  (In fact, we can't make regular promises...we must make "Cub Scout" promises.) So today Orian sticks a shiny silver Subway sticker...

I had my 4D sonogram today. It was so fun! Sucker that I am, I ended up buying the biggest package, but now I have a DVD of the session to send to my husband. She is such a pretty baby! She definitely has her daddy's full lips! It is 100% confirmed that she IS a girl. Up close and personal. Hehe. She was so funny during the session. She's all scrunched up in there, with her head down in position and her feet curled up over her head. She smiled, put her thumb in her mouth, and...