"Until We Meet Again Soldier"

It sure is a wonder how things work in this world. This picture was taken 9 months ago of my sister Melissa and her husband Kimble at their wedding reception.

This is 9 months later.

Army Specialist Kimble A. Han

August 17, 1979 - October 23, 2009

Army

569th Mobility Augmentation Company

4th Engineer Battalion

Fort Carson, Colorado

Deployed in May '09 to Kandahar, Afghanistan

Kimble was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

If a funeral can be called amazing, this was it. I have always felt like I have been very patriotic, that is how we were raised. But patriotism holds a brand new meaning for me. I have a new found respect for those who serve our country. It is a selfless act that they stand there at the front line while we are at home enjoying our time, our families, and our freedoms. I heard many times this past weekend how war is a "necessary evil" and I could not agree more.

Thursday, we drove to Hills Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, UT for the ramp ceremony of the body being flown in. The only word to describe this event was "chills." We all loaded up in a small bus and drove the 2 mile road to the runway. With the Patriot Guard in attendance, there was a very quiet ceremony. Our journey back was timeless. Every man or woman in uniform that day lined the streets, saluting as we passed with the hearst. No traffic was in movement. Men and women stopped their cars and stood outside with their hands on their hearts. The bus was silenced even with children aboard and not a dry eye present. Saturday, the funeral went all too well. The burial was another chilling moment. With the Honor Guard, the 21 Gun Salute, the trumpet being played, the Patriot Guards surrounding us with flags, its almost overwhelming.

This was a great moment. Kimble's favortie candy was Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, we all ate one together and we laughed. But, this will be our attitude: Life goes on here and we remember the good times, we will see you again Soldier! And like Kimble's brother Jarod said, "He served his country in the United States Army and has now been redeployed and is now serving God's Army."


To read more or see more pictures:

http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_88ad398c-7da6-5745-83a4-f724486c192e.html?mode=story

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705341153/Soldier-remembered-as-patriot.html

*Also, my prayers go out to the SPC Eric N. Lembke's family. He also lost his life on the same mission. He was 25 years old and leaves behind a wife, a daughter and a son.*

(Pictures taken by Deseret News and http://afghanistan.pigstye.net/images/articles/KimbleAHan_5_original.jpg)

My Random Thoughts and Opinions #1

I started thinking of something I could blog about because the life of bed rest is rather lame. So, these are some random thoughts and opinions of mine. They are in no special order. Agree or disagree?

1. Reality Shows> Over done, over played, too dramatic, too many!
2. VMAs> What a joke! What a sad world of entertainment. We turned it off.
3. Country is the coolest, but I like all different kinds of music.
4. I like Kelly Clarkson and Pink, I think she is pretty in such an odd way.
5. Most women are desperate and EVIL and some men are weak!
6. I like Sportscenter, ESPN, college sports before Pro sports, and can't stand when women complain about their man watching sports. Do you realize the other crap they could be watching?
7. Firefighters are always the heros of the story.
8. Port of Subs is better than Subway.
9. Jewelery is over rated and just gets in the way.
10. Cleaning is actually something I really enjoy to do.
11. Bed rest is not as cool as most men think it is.
12. I am not big on meeting new people and hate going to new places.
13. A Famous Star from Carl's Jr. is just as good as any $10 cheeseburger elsewhere.
14. The Office is about the coolest show on TV.
15. High maintenance and materialistic people need to get a life because they will never be happy.
16. UFC is awesome.
17. I would rather have hot weather than cold.
18. If you are from Vegas and went to UNLV, you should be a Rebel fan, not BYU just because your LDS.
19. It is possible to put too much time and effort into a church calling and work. Just because you get paid to work does not mean it makes it ok to be away from your family more.
20. Spanking is not abuse, some kids really need it.
21. Baby gadgets are getting out of control. Bumps and bruises are from learning and exploring, germs are a fact of life and help build the immune system.
22. America is over medicated. You have a runny nose, OH WELL. You have a fever, OH WELL, its your body trying to fight whatever it is, off itself.
23. Diets don't work ladies. Get that through your thick skulls. EXERCISE! Don't be lazy, quit shoveling crap down your throat all day and quit drinking soda.
24. Women hold grudges, tell secrets, gossip, afraid to hurt others feelings and its annoying (I'm telling myself this too), men just tell it how it really is and its done.
25. If your gay, ok, but do you really need to parade around and put it on display like you have something to prove to others?
26. When your kid(s) enters the same room as you, you should ALWAYS give them a smile. (Maya Angelou)

Congrats Chris!

On September 3, Chris graduated from Metro Police Academy! It was such an exciting day. This was something Chris (well, the whole class) really had to work hard for. The academy was no joke but the stories were great to listen to. (Especially the days they got beat down, bruised, and bloody.) They started out with 40 in the class and only graduated with 15 from the original 40. Granted it was a long 6 months, but honestly I could not be more proud of him as well as his family and friends. What a great guy! You don't even know how excited and proud he is to wear that badge. (And to be "packin" when and wherever he wants to... watch out, he got the Top Gun award!) Thank you to so many family members and friends who were right there with us through this whole ordeal and then put on a great congratulations party for him. Your awesome! (If your wondering why I am in the photos from grad, you guessed it, I went and it felt awesome!)



Proud Mom & Dad

Surrounded by friends with badges... oh boy!

Updates... Jordan's vaca and my bed rest...

BORING! Yes, that pretty much sums it all up. (Especially my laptop going wack-o and not working right.) But I know this little girl will be well worth every long minute of it. I have finished 4 out of 16 weeks of bed rest, only 12 more to go. The goal here is to get to at least 32 weeks, if I go anytime before that, my next prenancy I will automatically get stitched up and put on bed rest. No thanks. I did get put on meds to stop my contractions <--- yes contractions, that I do not even feel, awkward! If I make it to 36 weeks they will unstitch me and I can be FREEEEE! (That will happen the day before my birthday, can't wait!) I am the only girl out of the family who does NOT get sick, (my sisters love to inform me that they only gained a couple of pounds because they threw up every time they moved.) I on the other hand swallow and digest every single calorie that goes in my mouth. So it does please me that now at 6 months of pregnancy and having to lay on my back I have only gained 15 pounds... shut your mouths if you think its a lot BUT I CANT MOVE! (No shame here.) I will own a jogger. The saddest part of bed rest is, Jordan starting kindergarten. He is going to the private school I worked at for years and I know how great it will be. I have this fascination with school shopping, I love it. I don't get to do it, Daddy does. I also don't get to take him to his first day of school either, Grandma does. Chris will be graduating from the police academy Sept. 3rd, can't go to that... that one really hurts. BUT, this little girl is our focus and if this it what it takes, so be it. None of this could be running so smoothly if it were not for my Mom. She runs all my errands, cares for Jordan when Chris is at work, she does everything and never complains. Chris has had to step up in a major way as well and not be as spoiled as before but is taking it in strides and like always is amazing. Sometimes it is a pretty helpless feeling watching everyone around you doing your responsibilities... 12 more weeks is what I keep telling myself. But, right now life is good and in good hands.

Here are some pictures of Jordan on the vacation Chris and I had to stay home from. <-- Only a little bit of bitterness there. He had a blast at the Montana cabin with his cousins. It is beautiful up there and we can't wait to go back.




Jordan and Jett

The Face!

Jordan and Ryan

Missing Jordan!

It is that time of the year when the family packs up and heads for the Montana cabin. And yet, here I lay, on my couch in Las Vegas with doctor's orders while they are in beautiful Montana. My little sister flew in from Texas and drove my car and she took Jordan with her. You know, the first night was nice. The second night it was still pretty cool being alone. Now, I just cannot wait for him to come home. Being away for 9 days is killing me. Granted he wouldn't have much to do with his bed ridden mother and I can only entertain him for so long so I am glad that he went. BUT, I miss him and I cannot wait for him to come home on Sunday!

Bed Rest + Anniversary = Not So Cool

YES I am on bed rest and YES it was my 7th anniversary yesterday. Me, bed rest? That was the biggest joke I heard when I went to my doc app last Wednesday. I went to a specialist for something completely different than to find out I would be on bed rest. After a 45 minute ultrasound, and finding out that the baby looks great, the ultrasound tech wanted to measure me. That is where things got complicated. My cervix is supposed to be at 39, and I am only at 19. They call it a short cervix. Basically, I am already opening up. (Gross I know, sorry.) So, my doc walks in, looks up at the screen, looks at me and says,"Do you work?" Yes. "Well you don't anymore." WHAT! "And you will be going in for surgery tonight, yes in 5 hours." So, he stitched me up at the hospital, had 3 days of 24 hour bed rest, and now I am allowed to get up for 30 minutes every 2 hours. Holy Crap! The doc said if I make it to 36 weeks they will take the stitches out and I can be normal until I have the baby. 16 WEEKS, of bed rest! I can only hope I stay at 19 and get more leeway on this bed rest stuff. Yes, I am so grateful that the Ultrasound tech found this, I could have miscarried or had a preterm delivery... such a blessing. But, this will be interesting.

My hubby is so awesome BUT, when I say Bed Rest + 7th Anniversay = Not So Cool... I really mean it. On my 30 minute break Chris and I were able to go to Arby's, eat, and come home...exciting. Better yet, I'm stitched up...think about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Months

Here, all of you that wanted to know what I looked like pregnant. Mind you people, I have one photo of me pregnant with Jordan, this is NOT my forte and I do not love this. But, read my shirt... I do love that. (Thanks to my friend Crystal!)

Exciting News and Jerk News

Jerk News...
We went to a fun UFC fight night, despites Mir's loss. Came home to a solid cinder block thrown at the back of my car. WHAT! Whatever happened to eggs? Why did it have to be a freaken brick!? So, now I have a dent and scratches on the top of my car and a shattered back window. UGH! Punk drive by losers with nothing else to do! It does stink that our drive way sits on Gowan road and over the past four years we have had eggs, paint balls, slashed tires, and now I can add BRICKS! It hurt my feelings and Chris wishes he was home at the time with his gun.

Exciting News...
We found out we are having a GIRL! Chris is absolutely thrilled and is already acting all mushy, so I kicked him for it. You could have fooled me, I really was not sure what this one was going to be. Both pregnancies have pretty much been the same. It took a long time for the doctor to find out the gender, she would not move those legs. Jordan was spread eagle baby, letting the world know! These were a couple of pictures, top left if you can see is her legs and an arrow pointing to nothing. Now I have to start thinking pink, yikes!

It's Official!

Well, actually it has been official since the first pregnancy test I took. I didn't really need any hints when it came to wondering if I was pregnant or not, but now that I have actually been to the doctors and had an ultra sound... its official. I am 14 1/2 weeks, and your probably wondering why it took so long for me to go to the doctors huh? What were they going to tell me, congrats your pregnant. I already knew that. It has been so long since I have been through the whole pregnant thing, seeing the ultra sound and the baby moving around and all the little fingers was really neat. And of course we are going to find out what it is, Chris and I could not handle that. Chris would really like a girl, Jordan wants a boy, me... not sure. (Girls can get on my nerves.) The due date is supposed to be December 9th, but I am really hoping I go early like I did with Jordan and maybe have a Thanksgiving baby. So, YAY for the Hall family!... (Finally, only 5 and a half years after Jordan.)

Losing Pets Stinks

On Tuesday, April 21st, I had to put my best dog down. Yes, it has taken me this long to write about it. Wow, that was about the uncoolest situation to be in. It is amazing how we humans can become so attached to our animals. I got Bruno when I was 16 and he was one huge puff ball of a puppy. He was such a chilled out, lazy, 150 pounds of pure awesomeness whose howl sounded like a dying cow... but I miss that howl right now. He stopped eating, hardly moved, stopped drinking and my vet was just honest with me (he was 10 years old), and I really appreciated that. Thank goodness for GOOD friends, Kendall I owe you one. I am pretty good at keeping myself composed around others and I know with time, anything can get easier and will, but right now this one really hurts. Even my little man Jordan has sobbed over this, thats really hard. But, I had a great explanation for him about where and what he is doing.