Deployment Blog

I just wanted to post a quick update: No baby yet! Amy is now 8 days late (past her due date). I'm still waiting to go into labor. I had one contraction over the weekend, but that was it. I'm definitely uncomfortable, but both Amy and I seem healthy (I feel her move on a regular basis).

I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday (later today) around noontime. I hope to find out more from my doctor about how I've progressed and if I am any closer to labor. We'll also discuss possible days/times when I might have labor induced. My doctor said she won't let me go later than three weeks past the due date, so I expect that if we schedule an induction, it will be for sometime next week. One way or another (and whether she likes it or not), Amy will be born before June 12! For now, we're still waiting...

From Kelly | Posted at 2:06 AM | Permalink

This week, I received some photos from Josh. He sent me prints through the mail and asked me to scan some of them into the computer so that I could share them with family and friends. Because they were taken with a disposable camera and I had to scan them in from prints (they were not digital to start with), they are not the best resolution or quality, but they should still give you an idea of what Josh has been up to nonetheless. These photos were taken between January and April 2006:

(Feb 2006) Hanging out down at Camp Shelby

(Mar 2006) Civil Assistance in Iraq: Soldiers passing out candy to kids near an Iraqi school.

(Mar 2006) Civil Assistance in Iraq: Josh tried to take a photo of the shy girl on the wall who was watching everything going on near the school where the Army was distributing humanitarian aid. (There are some children in the foreground.) Josh wondered what she was dreaming of and whether she's going to have a chance to achieve those dreams.

(Mar 2006) Iraq: Here is an NCO who accompanied Josh on one of the missions. The Iraqi boy next to him loved taking and being in photographs (he took the three photos following this one).

(Mar 2006) Iraq: The Iraqi boy took this photo of Josh and the NCO.

(Mar 2006) Iraq: Another photo of Josh and the NCO.

(Mar 2006) Iraq: This is Josh asking the Iraqi boy to give the camera back. (The boy REALLY enjoyed taking photos.)

From Josh , From Kelly | Posted at 9:08 PM | Permalink

Stone Cold the Polar Bear (who is deployed with Josh) has started his own blog. You can check it out here:

The Iceblog: The Journal of a Polar Bear in Iraq

From Kelly | Posted at 9:05 PM | Permalink

Josh sent me a photo via email today. It seems that a few weeks ago, he had the opportunity to visit the Ziggurat of Ur and the supposed birthplace of Abraham. It is an ancient site in southern Iraq. Here is a photo of him standing on top of the Ziggurat with desert in the background:

For photos that show the Ziggurat of Ur (the structure Josh is standing on), check out these pages:
Steps of the Ziggurat
and
Military Vehicles in Front of the Ziggurat

Three weeks ago, the Charlie Daniels Band performed for the troops near Josh's camp. Josh reported that Charlie's hit, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" got an especially enthusiastic response from the Georgia National Guard members in attendance. Josh said it was a pretty good concert.

The temperatures in Iraq are now over 100 degrees, but luckily his living quarters and office both have AC. Josh continues to communicate with me regularly, which has been great - much more often than I expected. He reads a lot and he also found the time to catch a NASCAR race on the Armed Forces Network channel a couple weeks ago. So as you can tell, although his work days are long, Josh tries to find ways to make the most of his free time.

As for me, the pregnancy is going well. Yes, I am still pregnant - for the moment. Monday will mark 39 weeks (due date is May 22), so not much longer to go. I found out Thursday that I've dilated 1 centimeter. That doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot - as women have been known to walk around for weeks at 1 centimeter, but at least it does indicate that my body might know what it needs to do and that our baby is heading in the right direction. One way or another, I think I'll be meeting her soon - hopefully in time to get her help in picking out a Father's Day card for her Dad. Hee hee hee.

From Kelly | Posted at 9:02 AM | Permalink