6 month appointment

My appointment went well today. My uterus is measuring on schedule and the baby's heartbeat was in the 140s or 150s. Luckily I've finally gained some weight.
She approved me to travel back to the states. I will see her one more time before I leave and she'll give me a letter to show the airline if I need it. International travel is approved until 35 weeks so I can still leave to come home on the 31st of July like I planned.
In two weeks I'll have my glucose test. They usually do it at 28 weeks, but the midwife wants to have my results before I leave.
Anyway, everything is going fine and I'm taking care of myself.
As always, I'm sure I forgot something and I can add it later.

Childbirth song

Saw this video on YouTube and had to share it. Anyone who is pregnant or ever had kids will find it funny.

Childbirth Song
If you need the lyrics, just click "more info" to the right of the added date.

Health Update

I've been going through a lot of stuff trying to renew my overseas screening. I know I'm already overseas, but the Navy is requiring that I do everything all over again because Danny extended. Dumb, but what can I do? Yesterday I had a quick screening at dental. There wasn't much they could do because I can't have x-rays, but I gave them the old ones from my last screening. He signed off on it and had me schedule a cleaning for next week. Woohoo.
I went into the clinic this morning and got my PPD skin test done. I go back in on Friday to have it read and to have the doctor sign off on my medical portion. Tuesday I'll turn all the paperwork in and I should be done.
So Tuesday I have a dentist appointment at 1 and an appointment with my midwife at 2:20. I'm starting to think I should just live at the hospital.
When I was down there yesterday I got a tour of Labor and Delivery. A nurse showed me the rooms and answered some of my questions. All in all, the facility is pretty nice. Just like you'd expect a maternity ward to be. Curiosity got the better of me so I had to see what to expect. I'd say the best part is that the babies stay in the room with mom, instead of in an actual nursery.

So, as far as my health goes... I am doing well. I'm gaining a few pounds, but pregnancy is starting to take its toll. I walk like a pregnant woman because my back muscles hurt (called PGP) and I get uncomfortable sitting still for more than a few minutes no matter what position I'm sitting in. Night time is completely unbearable. Its hard to sleep because I wake up every time I move from pain. Plus sometimes I have to get up at 3 am to use the bathroom. Not much else to say... I'm never full. Its unbelievable how much I can eat; sometimes two of every meal. As far as the rest of me goes, I'll spare you the details!

The latest update

I'm passing on my latest update from the ship.

Mustin Families~

Good afternoon, as you may have already read in the news there have been talks of the U.S. Ships offering assistance to the Burmese people in their hour of need. The USS Mustin is operating with the ESSEX Expeditionary Strike Group in support of the possible humanitarian relief efforts for BURMA.

I have attached the newsletter forwarded from our XO, as you know they are great about getting us any releasable updates and I will forward as soon as they come in.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask~

Amy

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Marines, Sailors Prepare for Possible Operations in Burma By Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Wicks Special to American Forces Press Service

ABOARD USS ESSEX, At Sea , May 11, 2008 – Marines and sailors with the Essex Amphibious Readiness Group are preparing for possible humanitarian assistance operations to aid cyclone-stricken Burma. The Essex Amphibious Ready Group, along with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is steaming to support potential humanitarian-assistance operations in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which struck Burma May 1 and 2. Some estimates have put the death toll at more than 100,000. So far, the Burmese military government has allowed only one U.S. shipment of relief supplies. “This is what we are here for,” Navy Chief Petty Officer Andres Carillo, of the USS Essex, said. “It’s our mission to help those in need.” The amphibious readiness group includes the forward-deployed amphibious ships USS Essex, USS Juneau, USS Harpers Ferry and USS Mustin. Theservicemembers are working to fill more than 14,000 5-gallon plastic water bladders with fresh water. In the event of humanitarian operations, the water could be loaded onto landing craft and helicopters to be distributed to those affected by the cyclone. “We are capitalizing on the excess water the ship has to support the victims who need it,” said Marine Capt. Ray Howard, embark officer for 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. “We want to be able have the water distributed by the quickest means possible and be on call for help so that when within reach we can send the water via helicopter and boat to the disaster areas.” The process of filling up the bladders requires a great deal of manpower and hard work, Carillo said. Marines and sailors set up shop before filling the water bladders. The Essex’s Repair Division manufactured a fresh water distribution system that mirrored a miniature farming irrigation system. Afterward,both Marines and sailors prepared large boxes to store the water bladders for transport. During the filling process, they check the pipes of the water distribution system to ensure no leakage occurs. After each bag is filled, Marines and sailors pack the clear plastic water bladders into the boxes. “It’s great to see the Marines and sailors working together to accomplish the mission,” Howard said. “It’s a great show of joint-service camaraderie.”

Ever have a day like this?

I could help but laugh. And then share.

Myanmar

I am sure all of you have heard the news from Myanmar. Here is the most recent update I have. I wasn't at all surprised to get similar news from Danny this morning. Although I'm still not sure how I feel about them putting the actual names of the ships all over the media, at least not until they were already there or already left.



US ships head for Myanmar as officials decry delay
Thu May 08 21:04:14 UTC 2008

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - Four U.S. Navy ships steamed toward cyclone-stricken Myanmar on Thursday as the Bush administration stepped up pressure on the country's military junta to open the door to outside humanitarian assistance.

Navy helicopters and Air Force cargo planes loaded with supplies and personnel also began arriving in nearby Thailand, where U.S. officials established a staging point for possible humanitarian operations.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice phoned her Chinese counterpart to ask Beijing to persuade Myanmar to accept international aid for an estimated 1.5 million people believed to be severely affected by the Cyclone Nargis disaster. The storm is feared to have killed 100,000 people in the country.

The U.S. government believes existing stocks of relief supplies in Myanmar might be enough for about 10,000 people.

In New York, U.S. envoy to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad said Washington was "outraged" by the Myanmar government's delays in allowing relief workers and aid shipments.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates also spoke out forcefully, saying the Pentagon was preparing the same kind of assistance it provided after other disasters in the region, including the 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

"There is an opportunity here to save a lot of lives and we are fully prepared to help and to help right away, and it would be a tragedy if these assets -- if people didn't take advantage of them," Gates told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

The United States and Myanmar have long been estranged. President George W. Bush imposed a new round of sanctions on the country's military leaders just last week to pressure them on human rights and political reform.

'OUR INTEREST IS NONPOLITICAL'

Gates rejected a suggestion that suspicions among Myanmar's leaders about U.S. military intentions could help explain their reluctance to accept outside help.

"I'd be surprised if they misinterpreted our intentions that badly," he said. "Our interest here is totally nonpolitical."

Gates said the Bush administration is determined to see aid reach disaster sufferers and might accept another country as an intermediary if direct assistance proved unfeasible.

"My belief would be that if we cannot get in directly, that we would be prepared to work creatively with others in any way we could to help. And if that involves using an intermediary, perhaps we would do that," he said.

In the meantime, the Pentagon moved aircraft and ships toward Myanmar to be ready should aid be allowed to commence.

Four ships, including the destroyer USS Mustin and the three-vessel Essex Expeditionary Strike Force, began heading for the Myanmar coast from the Gulf of Thailand after deploying helicopters into Thailand for possible relief work.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the ships, which carry 1,800 U.S. Marines, would be off the Myanmar coast in roughly five days.

Mullen emphasized that the U.S. military would not undertake humanitarian operations without Yangon's permission.

"It's sovereign air space and you'd need their permission to fly in that air space," Mullen said.

Two Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo planes arrived at a staging point near Utaphao in southern Thailand on Thursday with 46 military personnel who were ready to establish an airstrip inside Myanmar for relief airlift if Yangon gave its permission. A third C-130 was expected.

A C-17 Globemaster cargo plane laden with water purification systems and U.S. military meals-ready-to-eat also landed at the same location. (Additional reporting by Sue Pleming and Susan Cornwell in Washington and Louis Charbonneau in New York, editing by David Alexander)