And another week (almost). . .

Wednesday we had brass band rehearsal again and I got all my stuff cleaned out of my admin office and into supply.  For now it’s still in a corner, but eventually I’ll have my own desk.  No hurry on that, though.  After work I headed home and made dinner and crocheted for a while before getting a little bit of sleep before heading back to work in the middle of the night.  We played for a Troop Return Ceremony.  We had to be at the gym at 0145, but the ceremony didn’t actually start until a little after 0330.  Thank goodness for my Kindle so I was able to get some reading done.

Thursday I slept some after the gig and then I got up to get Robert to school (Ryan had been up even longer than I had been – he rode with the Patriot Guard Riders to escort the Soldiers and do a flag line.  K spent the night to "babysit".).  After Robert was at school, I went back to bed for a few more hours.  Then I had to be at the theater on post for rehearsal for Friday morning.  We basically found out where each awardee would be sitting and then we practiced going across the stage.  One time through all the awards took an hour.  Very disorganized, and they do this kind of award ceremony once a quarter.  After I was done with that rehearsal, I headed to the band hall for the rest of the brass band rehearsal.  I was off on Thursday, by the way, but we still had to rehearse because our gig is coming up and we’re one of the featured groups.  After rehearsal was done, I headed home and got Robert.  We went to McDonald’s for dinner after Ryan got home from class.

Friday morning I got enrolled in Pregnancy PT – yay.  I’ll make the most of my time there – get what workout I can out of morning "PT" and then go for a good run after work for a real workout.  More on that after I can actually tell you what we do for our "workouts" at PT.  I didn’t stay for PT as I had to be at the theater at 0830 for the award ceremony.  I received my German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge in gold!!  Nothing like standing on stage in front of everyone from the Garrison and receiving my GAFPB – while wearing my maternity ACUs!!  LOL  After the award ceremony was over, I headed home to change into civies and finish getting my potato salad ready.  Then Ryan and I headed back to the band hall for a band cookout.  They were already eating when we got there, but it was ok, and most of my potato salad went despite getting there a little late.  It was fun, but it would have been nicer if it hadn’t been soooooo windy.  After that was done, we were done for the day.  I came home and took a much needed nap – and actually felt refreshed after I woke up.  

Yesterday morning, K and I went for a 3 mile run to start the day.  Ryan left just after we got home on a day-long motorcycle ride.  Robert and I had a nice relaxing mommy/son day.  We had oranges and banana bread for breakfast.  I got a ton of cross stitching done throughout the day (after a late morning nap) and we played outside for a while as well.  Ryan was home in time for dinner and we had an early-to-bed night.  Ryan fell asleep on the couch about 7:30 and Robert went to bed shortly after that.  After I woke Ryan up and sent him to bed, I went to bed as well.

This morning was Sunday School and Church.  After church, we went out to post and the guys got hair cuts and then we ate lunch at Jeannie’s.  Then we did the little bit of grocery shopping we had to do at the commissary.  After we got home, we watched the NASCAR race that we had Tivo’ed and I got some cross stitching done before dinner.  I made my weekly phone call home to Mom & Dad and then I got some more stitching done during and after that.

Today’s high:  73
Current:  60

Spring Break with my Parents!

Mom and Dad came to visit for a week and with all the fun we had, by the time evening came each night, I was too tired to write.  So now I’m going to give a brief synopsis of what we did.

Saturday we went to breakfast at the Legion, and Robert was wearing his "I’m a Big Brother" t-shirt to announce our news.  We’re due on 20 September!  The rest of the day was relaxing.  Ryan fixed K’s brakes, Dad and Robert played Wii, and Mom and I went grocery shopping at the commissary.  Ryan grilled burgers for dinner.

Sunday morning was church and then lunch after.  Then we drove to Montezuma Pass and Robert and I hiked the .4 miles to the top of Coronado Peak.  There was a great view from up there.  I have some pictures, but they’re still on my camera so you’ll have to wait for them.  I made meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner.

Monday we went to Bisbee and Tombstone and saw the sights at both places.  We had lunch at Big Nose Kate’s in Tombstone.  After K got home from work, she and I went for a 2.09 mile run for my birthday.  Then the whole family (K included!) went to Applebees for dinner.  We had gone to a steak place first, but it was SUPER expense and not really that menu choices.  Applebees was much better, and we were able to have dessert as well.

Tuesday morning we left fairly early and headed to the zoo in Tucson.  A lot of the animals were out and about since it was a little cooler with it being morning.  Then we headed to the hospital where my midwife is and I had my first baby appointment, and we even got to see our little peanut and hear his/her heartbeat.  That’s always so cool!  After my appointment we went a few other places that we needed to go and then headed home.  We went to Golden Corral for dinner.

Wednesday we went to the museums on post and walked through all three of them.  Always very interesting!  We had lunch at Jeannie’s Diner and then we went to the band hall and Mom & Dad got to meet my Commander and First Sergeant and a few of my friends.  Then we headed home and made pasties for dinner.  K helped us make and eat them.

Thursday morning started off with the "Neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day 5K".  There were 2 participants – me and K.  We had a good little run to start off the day.  Later in the morning, Mom and I went and got manicures and pedicures and the guys went shopping and then to the park.  Ryan bought Robert a kite, but they didn’t have steady enough wind to get it flying very well.  Mom and I met up with them at the park just as they were finishing and we all went to McDonald’s for lunch.  Then it was back to our house after a few errands here and there.  I made spaghetti for dinner.  We said our goodbyes before mom and dad headed back to their hotel for the evening as they were leaving for Tucson fairly early in the morning for their flight home.

Friday we got going a little later than we wanted, but it was ok.  We went back to Tucson for me to get my lab work done at the hospital.  It wasn’t bad, especially since I have my new Kindle and I was able to read while I waited.  After I was done at the lab, we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch (and I was STARVING since it was fasting lab work).  Then we went shopping at a few places in town before heading back home for a BBQ at one of my coworkers houses to celebrate his birthday and for him and his wife to get to know other families.  It was a good time with lots of good food.

Saturday we slept in and just relaxed.  I got laundry done.  I don’t remember what else we did.

Sunday was early church as that’s when the choir was singing, and I was also the lector so I read the lessons.  Then Robert went to Sunday School and while he was there, Ryan and I went and did our grocery shopping for the week.  The rest of the day was spent with more laundry and Ryan did a great job organizing in the garage.  There’s still more to do, but it looks a lot better in there now.

Yesterday (Monday) was back to work after being on leave for a week (that’s how I spent all the time with the family!), but it was a super short day.  There were a lot of people on pass or in classes and First Sergeant cut those of us that were there loose before lunch.  I came home and got a lot done on my alumni newsletter for Delta Omicron.

Today was a full day at work, but it went by pretty quickly.  I had brass band rehearsal all morning, and that was a good rehearsal getting ready for our major gig in a week and a half.  Then after lunch I played around in my admin office – I don’t have any work to do in there since I’m done and moving to supply tomorrow.  I left to go home about 3 since the batteries on my mouse died and I couldn’t do anything without a mouse.  Once home, i got changed into my running clothes and went for a 3.21 mile run.  That was a nice way to end the day and start the evening.  I went and picked Robert up from Child Time and then came home and made supper.  After supper I made banana bread.

Today’s high:  66
Current:  48

Sick week and GAFPB Gold!

Monday of last week, I was trying to cough up a lung or something.  But I did manage to get through the track and field events of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competition.  I completed the 100m dash in 16 seconds (needed 17 or less) and cleared 3’4" on the high jump.  It was my first-ever time doing the high jump, so my form was oh-so-wonderful.  But I did it.

Tuesday morning I went to sick call and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and put on quarters for 3 days.  So I spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at home, sleeping quite a bit, stitching some, and not eating a whole lot until Thursday when I was finally starting to feel better.

Back to work on Friday for a whole couple of hours.  Gotta love half days on Fridays!  I don’t remember what I did Friday afternoon, but I probably napped some more.

Saturday, K and I went for a 2.6 mile run, and 1/4 mile in, I had a coughing fit so hard I thought I was going to die.  I managed to overcome that and we finished our run.  It felt good to be back out running, even though I still wasn’t back to 100%.

Sunday was church and grocery shopping.  Then in the evening, the 3 of us and K headed to Tucson for a BBQ for our relay team.  It was a lot of fun and everyone was there except one girl.  Most of our team had their spouses and there were a few other kids there as well.  Lots of good food that everyone brought and C & C provided the burgers and hot dogs.  It was really nice seeing everyone again.

Monday was back to work – I spent some time training my replacement in admin (I’ll be moving to supply) and then we had Brass Band rehearsal in the afternoon.  It was a really good rehearsal.

Tuesday morning came REALLY early.  I had to be at the MP building at 0530 for weigh-in of rucksacks.  And then the GAFPB road march began.  I needed 33.1 pounds and I had 34.1.  Not bad – just one pound extra.  The first half of the road march went really well, and I was well ahead of the pace I needed to finish on time.  Well, then it got hard, and there was more uphill than I expected.  And my pace started slowing down more and more.  I’m soooooooo thankful that K did the road march with me – she really kept me going.  Then when we were coming up the last big hill, CPT M came over to help the last 2 of us along.  She was really helpful and then JS joined us and between K and CPT M and JS, they got me across the finish line just in time.  I had to complete the 7.5 miles in 2 hours or less, and I finished with 20 seconds to spare.  But according to my Garmin, it was 7.83 miles, so I definitely finished 7.5 in time.  The road march was the final event of the GAFPB, and I managed to qualify GOLD!!!  When I crossed the finish line, I was DONE.  Nothing left.  Several of the others got my ruck off my back and helped me sit down.  JS had some powerade for me.  After I sat for a little bit, I managed to hobble to my car and head home.  The 5 of us from the band had been given the rest of the day off, and that was very welcomed.  

Once home, I got out of my soggy uniform and checked out my feet – they weren’t as bad as they felt when I had my boots on.  I only had a quarter sized blister on the ball of each foot and a tiny blister on my 4th toe of my left foot.  But I had sore muscles in places I didn’t remember having muscles.  Once I got changed, I took Shadow to the vet.  She had been crying a really pained cry since I was getting ready and she couldn’t support her weight on her legs.  The vet checked everything out and did blood work and x-rays.  Shadow’s temperature was low and her heart was beating really fast.  The x-rays showed some fluid around her heart and a bit of arthritis in her hips.   The vet is thinking she maybe had a blood clot and had a small stroke because it was only Shadow’s left side legs that weren’t working.  The vet gave me some blood pressure medicine for Shadow, and we have a follow up appointment next Monday.  I got her home and nice and comfy on some folded towels.  When I got back from closing the garage door, she was gone.  She had managed to get herself into my closet and was napping on an old backpack.  I put a dish of food and a dish of water near her and just let her sleep and went and got a much-needed manicure.  After the manicure, I came home and took a nap.

Today we had a short rehearsal after formation, and then after going through my e-mails I headed home to get ready for our job.  It was in Class A uniform, so I had to put my dress shoes on my sore, blistered feet.  OW!   The gig went really well, and then afterward, we were done for the day.  I stopped at Clothing Sales and ordered new shoes (my current ones are too tight) and then I headed home to get out of uniform.  I relaxed for a while before going to get Robert from Child Time.  After a quick stop at home for some food for him, we headed to church for choir practice.  Rehearsal went well and then we got our robes on and headed into the church.  Ryan and K were there and I passed Robert off to them for the Ash Wednesday service.  It was a good service, and Robert was evening singing and doing some of the prayers and stuff!  Then we headed home and got Robert to bed.  I crocheted for a little bit and now I’m heading to bed as well.  Shadow seems to be doing better – she’s been out and about around the house a little bit today.  She’s still struggling to walk, but it’s definitely better than yesterday.

Today’s high:  73
Current:  53