In a holding pattern...

Right now Addison and I are supposed to be on the road on the way to Orlando! The plan was to drive over with the Arkema's and meet Chuck and Dan because they were flying the jets over. (This whole trip is stemming from them having to take two jets over to Lakeland for the airshow this weekend. The jets are to be used for the demo team.) Now, the weather is bad not only here, but also there as well. The boys can't get take off out of here for now, but should be able to later. But Orlando/Lakeland is currently under a tornado warning and later in the day isn't looking so promising. UGH! I have one upset little girl! The phone is going crazy with Chuck calling every few minutes keeping us in the loop. It is the standard we are going, we aren't going, we are going, now we aren't. The jets HAVE to get there at some point before Saturday so worst case scenario is that the boys won't get there until tomorrow.

Currently, Kristin and I are still going today - getting a later start than planned, but still going. If the guys do make it over today, they won't get there until after 4 anyway. Not sure what she and I will do with the kids today if the guys aren't there and it's raining - pretty much rules out taking them to the pool to kill time. Major kink in the plans, but still hoping it will all work out in the end.

Since we bought a four day pass, we were planning on going tonight, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday to get our four days in. However with the change of plans, Kristin and I may take the kids to a "low" key, easy park together on Monday. I feel like we paid for four days and we HAVE to use all four. Oh, how I do not like plans changing like this! It makes me jumpy and apprehensive - not to mention my child does not understand what is going on. Only that she was supposed to see Mickey today and now we are just sitting around the house. How do I explain this to her? Hoping she will chill out when we get in the car!

Wish us luck!!!

Tyndall AFB Air Show

Over the weekend Tyndall held it's Air Show. They only do it every other year - sharing it with Eglin AFB the other years.

The plan was not to be there all day long, both days. But we were.

Saturday morning, Chuck actually flew. Addison and I went to watch him. We don't get the opportunity very often to see him fly - in fact, Addison has never seen him. He was supposed to do the fly over at the end of the national anthem, but the weather was bad so he wasn't able to do that. We did see him take off, do a fly over, and land. Addison wasn't as interested as I thought she would be, but it still pretty cool to see him in action, even if it does make me pretty nervous.

We ended up spending the whole day. We had passes to go into the Thunderbird VIP tent and even though there wasn't much going on there, we did run into another pilot we had been stationed with at Langley. We haven't seen him in a long time and it was great to catch up with him. Also very cool because he was there "interviewing" to become a Thunderbird.

Addison had been a real trooper all day - with no nap - but she had a great time. Lots and lots of other kids from the squadron to play with while I worked the wives booth selling souveniers to the masses. I thought she would be more interested in the planes than she was, but regardless she had a ball. She did have fun however while I was working and Charlie walked her around to see all the airplanes that were there.

There was an "after" party that night in the squadron, but it wasn't kid friendly. So Addison and I headed for home. However before we even got to the car we ran into another friend who was just here for the Air Show. (Her husband in the F-22 Demo pilot.) Since she had her kids too, she was not going to the after party either. Since our husbands were, we decided to take the kids out for dinner so we could chat. Even though we were all sweaty, sunburned and tired it was nice to get caught up with the Schantz crew.

Sunday, Addison and I did not spend the whole day at the Air Show. Unlike Charlie. Charlie stood at the static display of the jet for several hours and chatted up the people and answered questions. By the time Addison and I got there around 11:30, the weather was all ready looking like it wasn't going to cooperate. We had lunch with Charlie before I had to work the wives booth again. And again, he took her around to look at and sit in the airplanes on display. Once he came back - and they were gone a long time - it was clear Addison was not ready to go. So they hung out and while standing there, Charlie signed about a million autographs - which is a really weird thing to watch your husband do. Sadly, the weather really took a turn for the worst during the Thunderbird show and their act had to be cancelled. Since they are the last act of the day, we were able to go home earlier than the night before.

It was a really fun weekend, but I am glad it's over. Now we can focus on DISNEY World this weekend!

Week 14 check up

Last Friday was my 14 week ob check for baby peanut. Overall, it went well. Chuck wasn't able to go so it was just me by myself. And of course, he missed hearing the heartbeat for the first time.

Good news first - all of my standard lab work came back normal and looked really good. My weight was DOWN - which made me very happy because I know that won't always be the case.

Bad news is that my blood pressure was pretty high. Which is not at all normal for me, my blood pressusre is usually on the low side. Doctor isn't worried about it at this point, but if it is high again at the next appointment, she will schedule me for some lab work to see what is going on. However, because I don't have a history of high blood pressure, she is hoping it is a fluke! I had been cleaning, etc before my appointment, so I think I will blame it on that.

I am finally starting to get my energy back. And I am not sick all the time. I was sick with Addison for sure, but feel like it has been worse even this time around. I still have a little nausiousness, but overall it isn't bad. I have picked up a cough which isn't any fun - but luckily the doctor thinks it is just the pollen in the air, and there is a lot of it. Very happy to be passed the first trimester and feeling a bit more normal.

By the way, I swear I can feel little flutters in my tummy. Chuck is quick to reassure me that it is too early for baby peanut to be moving, but I am not so sure. I am pretty convinced this baby is all ready moving!

Next appointment is April 20th.

Ten Years Ago

Charlie has been working nights this week, so last night Addie and I climbed into my bed and turned on a movie. I had dvr'd "Dear John" a while ago and decided to watch that. At the beginning of the movie it is spring 2001. It dawned on me that ten years ago - about this time - Charlie flew to Baltimore on the first night of his spring break to move me out to Colorado. WOW! Ten years! Not only did I start to reminise about the trip and how much fun we actually had along the way - believe it or not, traveling that far in a uHaul was actually a lot of fun for us. But I also started thinking about how much our lives have changed. Summary below...

Charlie moved me to Colorado Springs; September 11; Academy graduation; move; wedding; honeymoon; move; pilot training; pilot training graduation; became dog parents to Luci; move; IFF; move; became dog parents to Coco; F 15C b course; move; Langley F 15C assignment; Coco died; became dog parents to Lily; got pregnant; recieved F 22 assignment; miscarried; bought house; move; F 22 tx course, Langley F 22 assignment; got pregnant; Addison born; move; Tyndall F 22 assignment; accepted into Weapons School; move; F 22 weapons school; WIC graduation; move; back to Tynall for second half of assingment; got pregnant; Jenne graduates from OSU.

Whew! What a whirlwind - and I can't believe it's been ten years since we made that cross country treck!

Japan and Tsunamis

What a terrible way to start a Friday morning! Chuck had to get up and go into work at 4:30 this morning and in true "Jenne" fashion, I couldn't fall back to sleep and logged onto facebook. Immediately, my facebook was flooded with things like "We are ok," "Don't worry about us." All from my friends who are stationed in Japan. After looking a little further, I discovered there had been a MAJOR earthquake - 8.9 on the scale - in Japan. I texted Charlie about it since I knew he wasn't at work yet, and decided to turn on the news. Of course he called and wanted to know all the details... As we were talking they began to show footage of the tsunami that was washing onshore in Japan. Heartwrenching!!!

Than they started talking about tsunami warnings for Hawaii and the West Coast of the US. Of course, my heart is breaking for those people in Japan. But now, my thoughts turn to the US. First of all, my best friend and her husband live in Hawaii. I immediatly texted her - I love her, but she is not good about paying attention to the news. I had to make sure she new she needed to evacuate if there house is in the low laying areas of Hawaii. (Barbara, I still haven't heard from you as I am writing this - cutting you some slack as I am hoping you don't have access to your phone or it has no service up on the mountain top you are standing on!!!) However, we know another family that just moved there - the Ensmingers. (He went to the Academy with Charlie and we got to know them well during pilot training.) I have heard from them and they are ok.

Of course, now the earthquake happened ten hours ago. Now the tsunami concern is turning to my beloved West Coast. The news is talking a lot about Crescent City, CA - Charlie has relatives in that area. They are expecting an 8 foot wave in Crescent City. SCARY! And I recently heard CNN mention Seaside, OR - an hour from my parents house. A little ocean town on the Oregon coast that I spent a lot of time growing up and hoping this event isn't what they are expecting it to be. If it is, my sweet little Seaside and beloved Cannon Beach will have some serious problems. The Washington Coast hasn't been mentioned but I can't help think they have to be in the line of fire as well. Hoping this isn't the case either - I have two aunts and numerous family friends who have homes at Long Beach and Oceanside, WA.

Overall this is hitting really close to home and I am here in FL, worrying my tale off! I literally cannot take my eyes off the tv. And I need to! I have a project due today for my (LAST) college class. My words to Charlie in the text I sent him this morning were "It's a shitty way to start the day."

My thoughts and prayers not only go out to those in Japan, but everyone who is effected by the devestating tsnuami's! If you are in the path of these tsnuami's get the heck off the beaches and move to high ground - there is plenty of high ground around the Northern Cali and Oregon Coast.

And by the way, at this point, most of my AF friends stationed in Japan have posted on facebook that they are fine. Whew! (Except for the Cappelli crew, you all ok??? Give me a shout!)

Stewart Family Reunion 2010

In August, my dad's family met up for a family reunion at Lake Chelan, WA. It was a weekend full of a lot of fun! A lot of laughs, food, and drinks were consumed! ALl of the kids had a great, great time playing together - something that doesn't happen all that often.

It was a great turn out! Almost everyone was there! Jake and Brandi couldn't make it because Jake had all ready started his cross country season. My cousin John and his wife Nicki and thier daughter Allison weren't there! And of course, Chuck wasn't there as he was right in the middle of weapons school!

Addison had an incredible time. On the day of the family picnic, she was up early! And started playing almost immediatly with cousins. We than spent the day on the lake - again more playtime. In the evening we went back to the hotel where most of the family was staying and the kids played in the pool. Addison literally went ALL day long with no nap. By the end of the night - around 10 or so that night - she was practically falling asleep on the side of the pool. But she handled is so well and had no breakdowns. Of course she passed out cold on the way home and slept like a champ that night. I think it is safe to say she, like us all, had a great great time.

My family had such a great time that they have decided to make it an annual event. Which is so exciting - this way I always know I will see EVERYONE when I get home. However, sadly, I don't think we will be making it to this year's event. It is the first weekend in August and I have all ready started looking at airfare! It is ungodly expensive, not to mention having to kennel the dogs, etc. Chuck also won't be able to go again and it gets depressing for me to go to event after event without him. And to be honest, the idea of traveling all the way across the country THAT pregnant with a three year old is not something I am very eager to entertain! In fact, that sounds about as exciting as stabbing myself in the eye with a spoon. Guess we will just bypass it this year and see everyone next summer! Sad, but just how it goes sometimes!

11 weeks...

Almost through the 11th week and am very much looking forward to the end of the first trimester. I was sick with Addison, but I can't remember if this is worse than the last time - I certainly feel like it is. I know one thing for certain - I am whole lot grumpier than I was the first time! My poor family is suffering the consequences!

I have the normal yucks! I feel nausious most of the time, especially in the evening. I still have the metallic taste in my mouth which makes me drink water all the time because that makes me feel somewhat better - which in turn, makes me run to the bathroom every few minutes. ANNOYING! I am extremly tired and chasing an almost three year old doesn't help! Thankfully, she has returned to napping in the afternoon!

Let's just say this about the first trimester... Chuck and I have been going back and forth on whether Baby Peanut will be the last Schuck baby or not. With the way I am constantly feeling, I am NOT very eager to do this again. (Don't tell my husband though, because he will think he is winning the "Two Baby Battle" and I very well could change my mind after our little angel graces us with his/her presence!

Over the weekend, we had to purchase a new computer. And of course, the new computer is not compatible with our current printer/scanner. So I obviously haven't posted or sent out our ultrasound pictures yet. Not sure if a new one is in the works - I hope so. I certainly want to add those pics for you all to see!

I feel like, and felt like with Addie, that 11 weeks is a milestone in our pregnancy. We miscarried in 2006 at this point in our first pregnancy so I feel like I can (sort of) breath a sigh of relief now. I know things can still happen, God forbid, but with each passing day I feel better about the prospect of carrying to full term.

Pregnancy to date...

At this point, we are ten weeks along. (Almost 11.) It has been pretty standard to this point, hence the lack of updates. But the biggest thing, is that we have now gone public - so for those of you who all ready knew, feel free to chat it up.

The first trimester is never a picnic, and this time is no exception. With Addie, I was sick - but I was sick every afternoon. I knew that, so I never made plans in the afternoon. This time, I am sick at random times throughout the day - which makes doing things really tough. Of course I am tired, and chasing an almost three year old, doesn't help that much. However, the worst part of the first trimester for me is ALWAYS the metallic taste in my mouth! I feel like I am thirsty all the time and even drinking doesn't help. This is the worst part of being pregnant for me. Last week, I had a good week so I was starting to think we were over the worst - but this week, we are right back to the yucks! My only comfort is knowing that the end is near and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And I will admit, I am not nice to my poor hubby right now! He is such a trooper though and I feel so bad when I snap at him. Love you, honey!!!

We had our first doctor appointment yesterday. That is always such a nerve racking one. And I felt such relief to get in there, see the midwife and have her tell me things are going along fine so far. We had an ultrasound and got to see our little peanut - which is amazing to me. We have lots of pics to share, but are having some technical difficulties getting them scanned. Hopefully this weekend, we will get them out for you all to see.

We aren't really sure if Addison gets it or not. She likes to talk about the baby. She has been playing with her baby dolls a lot. She likes to talk to my belly to, which I have to admit, I LOVE! It is just precious to me. Every morning she lifts up my shirt, presses her face to my belly and says "Good morning, baby! What you doing in there?" It may seem like she understands what is going on, but I am not conviced she truly gets it. And of course, I am so worried about her and her reaction to when the baby is here and comes home. This is normal right and will all be fine?