Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

I know, I know, I am not keeping up as much as I promised, but you must believe me when I say that the last couple weeks have been a whirlwind of holiday hustle and bustle. So the last time we left Peanut was waving "Hello" to the world. Peanut is still growing, as am I. I am trying to remember to send Jay picture messages of my progress. The last one I sent was only appropriate for Jay: His wife preggo in a wifebeater. I have now realized why he wears them so much. They are soooo comfortable. I mean, I am wearing them as undershirts, to bed, around the house, and I believe I have even made a short appearance in public to get the mail. Good lord...I guess it was only a matter of time before I would take on his ways. (Jay your plan is working)

I guess I will start with the 5 day Christmas marathon. This spaztastic blizzard blew into Arlington first and hit the von der Heydt's for a quick dinner and gift exchange Friday night. Then traveled down to Mansfield to visit the Gudgell house for a quick breakfast and gift exchange. Made a trip back up to Arlington to celebrate with Mike over lunch and more presents :) , and finally settled over Mansfield for the evening to catch dinner and a dance party.

Oh but this blizzard had some strength and was just getting started...That next morning she made her way down 35 blowing past the 10 thousand cops on the road, with nothing better to do than ruin traveler's holiday, to the good old community of Seguin. They hadn't seen a spaztastic anything hit their town in a long time. None the less, they were willing and waiting at Debbie and Donnie's house along with the entire Magin family. We had an afternoon of my favorite Magin Christmas tradition, spaghetti and meatballs, laughter, and yes that's right, another gift exchange! woohoo. Gift giving is so much fun!

Well it wasn't until the next mornig, Christmas Eve, that the blizzard started making its move again; her sight set on Buda, Texas and the Colonnetta Christmas (My mom's side of the family) where a wonderful new tradition was started: BRUNCH in PJs. Its fun, exciting, and relaxing all at the same time, what we all need during each of our own Christmas marathons. The Colonnetta family is always known to bring laughter loud enough for the next town to hear, fun, food, and most of all games! Yeah that's right, Jay and Scott you are reading it correctly...DOTS!

It was time for this hyper, indecisive weather system to make a move again back to Seguin...it was Christmas Eve and carols were needed to be sung at Christmas Eve service. Fortunatley, St. James had a children's choir to muffle my beautiful voice. And goodness, we can't not have a picture in front of the tree...this year it was actually my idea, not mom's.

Finally the blizzard began to lose steam and settled in Seguin for the two days just in time for Christmas morning with the 'rents, ang, and nick. (everyone missed you Jay at each gathering) I think it would be an understatement to say that this year was the year of technology. So many gifts were exchanged that required downloading, an hour long introductory course, installation cds, and too many power cords to count. GPS Devices, IPODs, Digital frames, Digital books, Video baby monitors, Irobots, and a new found love for high speed internet at the Magin house thanks to a 50 foot tower and a quick course on Itunes given to the 'rents given by Angie and Lauren Lea.

There was just enough time for a stop at El Ranchito before the weakening blizzard traveled east and would no doubt fizzle out. So my 12 days of Christmas wrapped up in a hectic but fun-filled 5 days left me excited to get back to Texas to see all those friends and family members again.

I hope everyone's Christmas was as exciting, exillerating, and exhausting as mine. It just wouldn't be the holidays if you didn't need a vacation afterwards. Unfortunately, Augusta did not have one waiting for me...it looks like we might actually be selling our house by the end of the year. Yeah you read it right...THE END OF THE YEAR!

I found a buyer the day I signed with the realtor, great luck...but I am actually glad that I have her because I would have been lost and this entire process would have taken a lot longer. Anyway the buyer is military and will be getting a VA loan which lends to some difficulty and much anticiption. We had agreed on our terms but the deal seemed to weigh on the appraisal of the house. Long story short, the appraisal came through (12/27) as did the inspection (12/29) and it looks like we are closing on 12/31/07. Jay and I have managed to get out of the sell a little better than we expected. We thought we might lose his whole bonus to pay out our home loan, but the cards played in our favor. We should be able to make the money back by the time he gets back from the stan.

I have to be out of the house by Jan. 14th....those details are to come. I haven't quite figured all that out yet. I just found out everything would go through yesterday! But it is looking like we are driving back MLK weekend and should be in town that Monday or Tuesday. I hope you are all keeping up with our pace of life. I know I am struggling to. Thank you all for being there through all of this. I feel like I can't say it enough. I may need a little more shoulder to lean on in the next several months, but we have almost made it through the first hard part. The second hard part doesn't come for another 5-6 months. However, its the good hard part. The pitter patter of tiny feet and combat boots will be music to my ears!

Hello Again!

Angie and I left for the ultrasound appointment this morning. I had to chug 32 oz of water in 20 minutes so that my bladder was nice and plump. However, the chugging was totally worth it when I got on the table and the technician turned on the monitor. I couldn't wait to see Peanut again!



It took a while for the technician to finish all of the initial pictures of the cervix and other boring stuff before she actually got to what, or should I say who, we came to see. Once she finally found Peanut hiding away in there it was all oohs and awws from the peanut gallery. IT WAS AMAZING!


The jest of what the tecnician had to say was that Peanut is doing well. All the bones are forming (those are represented in white on the pictures). Peanut is sort of a skeleton right now since it hasn't developed very much fat and skin yet. It helps to think of that when trying to make out the pictures. I find it easier to stand back a little and then you can see Peanut's bright smiling face in one, Peanut waving "Hello" in another, Peanut pondering with a fist under the chin, and Peanut's long body as seen from a side view.


The best part of the whole experience was when Peanut decided to wake up and all of the sudden started moving! It was great, Angie and I freaked out a little because we weren't expecting it. There was kicking legs and dangling feet, even an arm moved up toward the head. We could see and hear the heart beating again at approximately 168 beats per minute. The ultrasound also confirmed that I am 13 weeks and 2 days. They didn't allow me to get a video tape of everything, but I will get one on the 19th at my next appointment with the High-Risk Specialist. So look for more information coming soon.

In all, this utlrasound was enough to keep me smiling and gitty for days! Jay we do good work! I can't wait to see our Peanut again!

Peanut Will Be a Texas Baby

I thought I would update everyone with my decision to move back to Texas for the duration of the birth. Jay and I talked about it a lot before he left, and we both decided that our peanut and I needed family, friends, and the state of Texas surrounding us throughout this pregnancy. I think we all understand why...I didn't think mailing the Texas soil to the hospital in Georgia would have been good enough.

Then came the decision of where to stay in Texas. Family and friends are spread all over Texas and if I could I would choose to stay in each city for a month, but unfortunately traveling after March or April may not be allowed. This was a really hard decision for me, but I did finally come to one. I began to realize that the maternal instincts I was beginning to feel were not just for our peanut, but instincts that I wanted to be mothered myself.

So with those motherly cravings, I have decided to move this ever-growing belly back to Seguin to live with my parents. It was a shocking revelation, but one I am truly looking forward to. It has been many many years since I have lived near my parents, family, and hometown friends. I feel I should take advantage of this opportunity God gave me to reconnect with all of them and that old town of Seguin that raised me so well.

Now, don't think I have forgotten about those other towns, family, and friends that are so close to my heart. I will be visiting you all while I am in Texas. I will be making my rounds to H-town, A-town, and D-town hopefully through April. You know I have to take peanut to his/her first baseball game, hopefully opening day! Don't worry Jay, you and I are still going to take him/her to their real first game where he/she can actually smell the roasted peanuts and hot dogs.

I hope you all are as excited about my decision as I am. I can't wait to get there. I should be driving in around mid January. It is really depending on the schedule of doctor's appointments. So I will know more after the next couple of weeks. Peanut should be making another appearance soon, so keep an eye out.

P.S. Thought you all might like to see my progress. On my way to being large and in charge!

Update from Jay

Ok so I know you all are astonished that this is two blog entries in less than 15 hours, but I Thought you guys would like to hear an update on Jay from Jay. (P.S. You may want to scroll down and read the previous entry first.) Here is his most recent email:

Spaz-
Nick and Angie are amazing. I don't know how to thank them but pleaselet them know they are greatly appreciated and I am very sorry Ididn't do my part. I love them. Please thank Jim as well. That is ahuge lifesaver.
We are still at Bagram AF. We might be leaving within a week but thatobviously is no guarantee. We are very antsy, only one mission in themonth we have been here. Very frustrating. I see SSG Blair everyday,he lives in the same B-Hut as me (that is a plywood shack that eightpeople share). Gardner's wife is doing well. She is due at the endof July. I think Gardner is freaking out.
VIDEO TELECONFERENCE onDecember 16th!!! If I am here we will be able to participate. I willlet you know when I fing out if I am going to be at Bagram orelsewhere.
I truly am sorry I am not there to help with the house and that I leftit in such disarray. I am horrible. I never meant to dump all thaton you guys. Once again you Magin's show what great people you are.I love you guys.I hope you are doing alright.
Second trimester. Super exciting! Ican't wait to see you and the little peanut again. I love you all somuch. Please take good care of yourself while I am away. Give Killermy love. I'll try and call soon. And yes I will check out theRogue...
All my love, J

So there you have it...more evidence of the Army's motto: Hurry Up and Wait.

Busy Bee

So sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you all. I have had so much on my plate the last week and still haven't been able to clean it yet. You know I have to clean my plate.

Last week was my last five days at the Doubletree. I was ready to move on to a new endeavor which was finalizing a deal with a realtor and getting the house on the market, which I did early in the week. She sounds good; I heard really great reviews about her marketing abilities and that is what I was looking for. Plus she is from Texas so we hit it off really well. Unfortunately with the worst housing market in ages, we are going to have to pay out the wazoo to get rid of this house. Jay and I decided to just get rid of it now because there is no telling what the market will be like in the next year. So the realtor gave me the task of tidying up the house and desensitizing it so potential buyers don't think about who is currently living in the house, only about them living in the house. The deadline for this task is Dec. 5th (Jay's Birthday).

Angie and Nick joined in the fun of cleaning and packing up the house this weekend. They were life savors to say the least! They both worked their butts off inside and outside the house. Well lets be honest, neither of them have much to work off, haha just kidding, but they exhausted themselves none-the-less. We had several disheartening surprises which tore at my already sensitive emotions, but we made it through them.

God is testing me now...I can feel it. I am trying so hard to keep my spirits high and stay positive. I have to to make it to Wednesday. I have more cleaning to tackle, but all day to do it now since I am not working. I hope that with my new freedom I will have a new energy to get this house in proper order for selling.

A week from Monday (12/10) I have another doctor's appointment to follow up with my thyroid levels and then another ultrasound the Thursday after that (12/13). Keep on the look out for another picture of "Peanut Warren". Oh I am two days away from completing my first trimester. WooHoo!

Oh Turkey Day!

Well friends and family my favorite holiday has come and gone yet another year. I have such fond memories of waking up early Thursday morning at my parents house to wonderful aromas drifting back from the kitchen my mother had no doubt been slaving in for several hours. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is always first on the agenda, then I would get dressed because so many family members and friends would be arriving soon. Grandma Austin, Betty to some, was always first to arrive toting her famous pumpkin pie...one for the family and always one for ME!

Once dressed, I would catch up with old G-Ma while I did my notorius duty of creating or dressing the pickled vegetable tray. It was a work of art that I had mastered right down to 10 black olive tipped fingers. They tasted better that way, right Jay.

Once the large extended family, including friends, had arrived the house was filled with laughter, "howdy do"s, hugs and kisses, and screaming and running kids. Oh and of course me tasting and nibbling everything in the kitchen that was on its way to completion. It was amazing how my mom was, and is, always able to hold up interesting conversation, probably more than one at a time, all the while orchestrating her Thanksgiving feast production. The lady could do it with her eyes closed.

After everyone had stuffed themselves to the point of exhaustion, it was time to rest our heads back for the Cowboys game. Oh and by the way...you wouldn't find mom resting right next to us...the dishes just weren't going to do themselves...don't think she had stopped the multiple conversations either.

Every year, Thanksgiving Day was a blessing in itself for me. When Jay entered my life, I began to notice more and more that I had to be thankful for. He brings that out in people. He called yesterday and he told me about his pumpkin pie experience as well. He emailed a great photo of him and his soldiers I thought I would share. I am so happy we could talk on this special, and my very favorite, holiday.

I also told him of my holiday...which included Angie, Nick, KoKo, Molly, Killer, and I. Angie and I cooked like dueling chefs Wendesday night and Thursday morning. We had a great meal, great desserts and great football. Oh and one other similarity to the many Thanksgivings past, our "Killer" Cowboys' fan needed a nap too.

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for in our lives. Jay and I are so happy to have all of you in our life. You bring us great love and support whenever we need it. We hope that we provide that blessing to you as well.

And so now on to the next festivity...I hear the faint sound of Jingle Bells in the air...oh wait that is the radio stations already playing the music.

One Week Down!

So we have made it one week! Congratulations to everyone; you all are doing great! I spoke to Jay several times over the last week and it looks like he has finally made it to his final destination. I made out, through some groggy, slightly half asleep converstation from Jay, that he has finally landed safely at Bogram. I guess the pilot was feeling the jet lag as well because Jay said he was sure they were headed for a tailspin a few times. He is now 9 1/2 hours ahead of me, 10 1/2 ahead of you guys.

I mailed my first care package this morning. I discoverd I could use the online "Click & Ship" on USPS.gov even with an APO address. So excited I could avoid those annoying lines at the post office. It was only about $12 to send the package, not bad. I am crossing my fingers it actually gets there. If anyone would like Jay's address, I will be happy to email it to you with the few rules we have to follow when sending items.

I hope everyone is well. I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for in life, and what a great time to focus on all of those wonderful blessings. Health, Happiness, Family, Friends, and Pumpkin Pie!

He's Off and Running

So 3:30pm Saturday finally arrived and we said our goodbyes for now. No tears were shed. We had prepared ourselves very well for that moment. Also, I think we were both ready for the process to get started. That is one big step out of the way, and now we are closer to his homecoming.

He has made it to Maine, Ireland, and some central Asian Nation ending with "stan" I am sure. He has been able to call twice now. Sunday morning and this morning. He is 11 hours ahead of me right now (12 hours to most of you). So he managed to actually get all the way on the other side of the world. Imagine the sites he will see. I will definitely try to send out or post as many appropriate pictures as I can.

As you can see, Jay does look a little out of it in this first photo, but chalk it up to 10 hours of jet lag. I am sure we will see some more interesting poses and views in the future, but we can be assured they will all be priceless. So far so good in "Stan Land".

We're having a PEANUT!

Sooooo.... Lauren Lea and I went to our ultrasound this afternoon and found out this so-called baby is actually shaped like a roasted peanut. Obviously honey-roasted. The little tyke had a crazy strobe light going off in the middle of its shell (the heartbeat come to find out). Then the doc played the heartbeat for us and Lauren Lea lost it. She started boohooing and what not. I might be exaggerating a little. We were obviously glowing though. We got a few printed versions of the pics (see attached photo). I personally showed our child's first "school pic" to everyone I passed in the hospital (including the entire staff of Starbucks). Please take the time to notice the kiddo is clearly going to look like me with a noggin that big. See ya'll soon! JBird

Jay's Exit Ceremony

This morning I attended Jay's Exit Ceremony which recognized the 202nd MI Battalion Delta Company among others in lieu of their upcoming deployment. The ceremony was held outside on Barton Field in which many fellow MI soldiers, distinguished guests, family members and friends attended to acknowledge our brave soldiers. The Signal Corp Band provided the music, the Battalion Commander provided the speech, and the perfectly aligned soldiers in formation saluting the American Flag provided the undeniable fact that this was really happening. Jay is deploying in a couple of days along with many other soldiers, brothers, husbands, fathers, and sons. It is something I never thought I would be a part of, but I am so proud to say that is my good-lookin', brave, caring and strong husband leading the way.

It was a short ceremony, but a powerful one. It brought reality to light.

Go forth, go strong Jay. We are behind you 100%. Hurry Home!

Welcome!

As you all know Jay and I have our own dramatic style to life. Keeping everyone on their toes is essential to living life to the fullest, and we hope we have kept up our end of the bargain.

As with other monumental choices in our life, we left it up to God and figured he would send the gift of a child to us when he felt we were ready. But Jay and I couldn't just get pregnant and blindly lead each other through 40 weeks of gestation, discovering the difference between my water breaking and Braxton Hicks contractions together. We some how slid a pregnancy in just weeks before Jay deploys to the other side of the world for a "convenient” nine months and created a much more thrilling route to birth. What would life be if we didn’t have stories like these to tell our children and grandchildren?

So I dedicate this blog to the countdown until we all hear the pitter patter of tiny foot steps echoing among the long strides of combat boots.