Stress relief...

The words "head down" have never been so exciting and relieving to me. On Friday I had an appointment with my Doc and the ultrasound revealed that good ole Henry is in the launching position. I have been in fear of a cesarean since the OB told me nearly five weeks ago and then two weeks ago that stubborn #4 was not only head up but completely stretched out. The stretched out part is just as important as the head's up because my torso is relatively short if everyone recalls correctly. I'm stubby, not much room to expand up and down so everything has been poking out. Waaaay out.

I cannot imagine how women not only give birth but have c-sections... major abdominal surgery! Cheers to them because for me it is heightened fear. I have no desire to be gashed open when my body has a perfectly working launching system. Ok, I'll say this (my disclaimer): if anything were to become emergent of course I would go into surgery. That's over. Seriously, I will be upset if I have knife marks on me. Anywhere.

On a happier note, I tour the OB floor at the delivery hospital tomorrow. It should be interesting to see the place. I think that I'm a bit more nervous this go around. There will be a lot out of my comfort zone. That is a funny statement; what about child birth is within a comfort zone? I make it sound like this is my tenth birth rather than the fourth. I'm just used to me and Erik. This will be a great practice in spreading my wings.

The close of a season...

The end of the football season was on November 6. Wesley scored a touchdown and had a few tackles that night, which of course completed the season on the right note. He's really had a great time this year and worked hard. His coach was great and I think his style was really great for Wes especially since Erik wasn't here to be in on the practices and all that jazz they do with football. It is lost on me, I just know when a hit is weak. My child can crunch when he hits and I believe all of his tackles should make lots of noise. I have to admit it is likely I've frightened some other mothers at the games with my calls for harder hits. It amazes me, this is already Wes' third year of football and he continues to get stronger and faster... and he loves the accolades given to him with his sports accomplishments. One thing that is a constant this season is when Wesley checks in with me, "would Dad like that game?" Just to hear, "Dad would've loved that game."

Small updates from abroad...

Taken from several emails, Erik has been sending some pictures into his time in Kuwait and Iraq thus far...

Here are 4 pictures. The first is of my bags in the army lodging facility in Alaska prior to leaving. I took 4 duffle bags, an assault bag, my computer bag, and a rucksack for my deployment. The other 2 are of the pie/cake area at the DFAC at Camp Beurhing in Kuwait. Right next to this which I don't have a picture of is the Baskin Robbins ice cream area. 31 flavors weren't available, but we were able to choose from about 6. The last is of me on my first day in Kuwait just after we got off the buses which took us from the airport to Camp Beuhring. Calling this area a theatre and seeing that decorated concrete barrier made me realize that I was entering a warzone.

One photo is of the Hooter's aid station sign that one of the medics from West Palm Beach, FL got and threw in one of the connexes. It is up with the PA and 4 other male medics. Would've been nice to have here, but given the sole female medic remained at Caldwell thought it would be better served up north. The other is of the non-alcoholic beer selection at one of the PXs in Kuwait at Camp Beuhring.


Here is a picture of me and the PA in front of a mosque in Balad, Iraq. You can see my pistol in it, so I hope this satisfies your request of a picture of me with my pistol.

Attached you will find a picture of a donkey that I saw on my way from our FOB to the nearby Iraqi Army Medical Clinic, a couple of frogs sunbathing on a nice day in the drainage ditch, SPC Petty and his buckets catching some rainwater as it drips through our porous roof, and a face that was carved out of a watermelon by the Indian workers. They dressed up in witches' hats and decorated the DFAC for Halloween. It was very nice of them to celebrate this American Holiday with us.