Update

So things have been a bit hectic the past month or so and there won't be an end until mid-May when the semester is over. On top of my more than normal course load I have 60 hours of classroom observation that needs to be completed. I split my observation time between New Britain High School and a bilingual middle school just down the road from me. They are both very different schools and the more time I spend at them, the more I prefer the middle school. While most people I know don't prefer that age group, I like that they still have a bit of child left in them. I'm hoping that if I do a pretty good job there they might have a spot for me once I finish my certification.

On a more personal note we've started the journey into infertility testing. My husband doesn't seem to be the problem so I've met with an OB GYN and go in for a procedure next week where they shoot dye through my uterus and fallopian tubes while taking x-rays to see if I have any polyps or blockages. I know that the problem doesn't have to do with ovulation so I'm hoping that they find something and can fix it so we can move on. It's been really hard month after month seeing others get pregnant so easily while we've been trying to for a long time with no luck. While I'm not a fan of these invasive procedures, if it can get me to have a baby, then I'll do what I need to do. I just wish it would happen the old fashioned way.

I'm happy to report that I've lost 18 lbs. in a little over a month and am still going strong. I wanted to hit 20 lbs. by sub ball and it looks like I'll hit that goal. I'm excited that I'm looking and feeling better so hopefully I'll be a rocking a pretty smokin' bod by summer time :) I'll try updating more, but no promises, until after my semester of homework, classroom observation and doctor appointments is over.

Friday Fill-in

Got this off of another military spouse's blog. You can link up here.

This week’s questions are:

1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated? submitted by Married/Single Parent

This past deployment some of my friends from the boat and I decided to have something fun planned every month. One month we did a lobster bake at a local winery, another month it was Cocktails with the Whales at the aquarium, etc. It gave us something to look forward to. I am also busy with grad school. I think one of the best things that someone can do is to get a job/go to school/get a hobby. Something that will take you out of the house and will keep you busy.

2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to? submitted by Young but Not (Completely) Dumb
I have been to over 100 concerts and my husband has his count at over 300. We do these a lot when he isn't out to sea. My favorite, if I had to pick, would probably be either David Gilmour (from Pink Floyd) at Radio City Music Hall or Coldplay. David Gilmour is such a phenomenal musician and my husband and I were lying on the lawn of an amphitheater...just listening to Coldplay and looking up at the stars. It was a nice, mellow concert.

3. What do you miss most about your “hometown”? submitted by A Florida Girl and Her Soldier
I grew up near Lake George and Saratoga Springs, NY. I mostly miss being close to my friends from school. I also miss the insane amount of good food found in Saratoga. There are so many restaurants and the atmosphere in that town is great.

4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? submitted by Wookie & Co.

Something to support women's rights or bettering public education for children living in areas with little economic support,

5. You find out Willy Wonka is your father, what 3 course meal do you INSIST he create in that stick of gum? submitted by A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench

Appetizer: Baked brie with apple slices and crackers

Main Course: Roasted duck with fig compote and grilled vegetables

Dessert: Sweet potato pie

Show Us Your Rings :)

So I noticed that Briana posted this over on her blog and decided to join in myself. You can join up to over at Mrs. Yellow Ribbon's blog

Did you look at rings together?

We picked out my engagement ring right after we got married. Yep, you heard right. We eloped 9 days after he came home from deployment and while we picked out our band immediately, I couldn't find a ring that I liked. So after we did the deed we went to a lo

cal jeweler and low and behold, there was my ring

Do you like your ring? Did you from the beginning?...and be honest!

Of course :) We both saw it and went "ooooo". He told me that he would have picked something just like it out if he had gone by himself.

How often do you wear your rings?

My fingers, for some reason or other, feel the need to swell when I sleep or if I go to the gym. So I don't wear them at night and I take them off before I go to the gym. Other than that, they stay on.

Do you clean your rings?

I clean them myself about once a month. I hate it when it gets really gross and dirty.

What went through your mind the very first time you saw your ring?

I have never seen something sparkle so much before!

Spring is in the Air?!

Oh my goodness, the forecast for this week is fantastic! It's going to be in the forties all week and even the high fifties on Friday. Thank God! This winter has been rough so far, with so many snowstorms and some really cold days. It makes me long for sunshine and flip flops. My first two weeks of this semester saw three of my classes cancelled due to bad weather. I shouldn't complain but this is probably my busiest semester yet and I actually need some class time in order to figure out what the heck I need to do. I have 60 hours of classroom observation that I need to complete. I've already met my teacher that I'll be working with and was able to help proctor an ESL assessment exam the other day. The school I'm working in is in an urban area, which is much different than where I went to school and the school that I've substituted in. I'm really excited about it though because I feel that it is important for teachers to step outside their comfort zone in order to become great educators. I'm sure I'll have some great stories by the end of this semester.

Jimmy is out to sea...again. Yep, apparently being home for a month and a half is long enough before they send them out again. Luckily, this is the last underway for a long, long time. We need this time together to be married and have a semi-normal life. We've been arguing lately and I'd like to sit down and figure stuff out instead of communicating through emails. He's putting in for an officer program that I'm not really excited about. I was even less excited when I realized that by the time he would be done with the training, etc...he would go straight to a carrier. So, that's two more years of sea duty when we should be doing a shore tour. Yeah, um, no thanks. I have friends who are officer's wives and the life doesn't appeal to me. I understand that they get paid more but they move every 2 1/2 years and I'm not big on all of the forced Navy get-togethers. I can't have a career if I'm moving that often. So, we have a lot to discuss and I'm not really looking forward to it.

Other than that, things are moving along in the West household. I'm planning all sorts of things for this summer, including a mini-trip for Jimmy's 30th birthday. I can't believe he's turning 30, considering we met when he was 24. He is going to love his birthday surprise and will be counting his lucky stars that he has such an awesome wife.

I'll leave my readers with this lovely picture of Floyd, right after he came back in from frolicking through the snow :) He's pretty cute, isn't he?

A new year :)

So, as I'm sure you can tell due to the lack of updates, my husband has returned home. He just went back to work today after two weeks of leave. We've been so busy the past month that it has flown by and though we didn't get much accomplished around the house, we did get to see family on both sides and got to travel to some fun places. We just got back from visiting his family in CA and WA. We drove from Oakland, CA all the way up to Tacoma, WA. The drive up the coast was incredibly beautiful and we stopped in Napa, the Redwoods, and Portland, OR. We had a wonderful time visiting everyone but we're happy to be home in our little bubble. We left 50 degree weather to come home to about 3 feet of snow. Apparently the weather here has been a little crazy and I'm hoping it stops before school starts up for me next week. This will be my last full semester of classes (I'm taking two this summer, but I love summer classes so I don't count them) and I'm so excited to be done with that. I student teach in the fall (unless I get pregnant) and then I'll pretty much be done. It will be nice once I'm finally finished with everything.

So my hopes for this new year are to be happier and healthier, and to hopefully get pregnant. I've been off the pill for a year now but with my husband being gone for the majority of last year, we didn't get much of a chance to try. It's been a little hard seeing so many people I know get pregnant super easily and I'm on cycle 4 of trying. I'm hoping now that Jimmy is home things will happen but you never know. We're both headed to the doctors soon if it doesn't work. They say that couples our age should wait a year before seeing a doctor but with my husband's schedule of being gone all of the time, we never have an entire year to try. So, we'll fib a bit and make sure that nothing is wrong with either of us. I'm looking forward to a great 2011 and wish the same to all of you!

Deployment Recap- Week 29

Emotional: Umm..pretty good except for crying during White Christmas. Don't ask...I have no idea why.

Physical: Very good! I lost 3.2 pounds this past week...so hopefully I'll keep going in that direction

Communication: He's super, super busy right now so I got another quick email. I totally understand and i'm super busy now too so it's not big deal

What's something fun you did this week: I hung out with some fellow Navy wives and watched the Army/Navy football game. It was nice to take a much needed break from my end of semester workload!

What are you looking forward to next week: THE END...of this semester and this weekly update

What made you happy this week: Seeing friends and watching White Christmas. It's my favorite x-mas movie and I love how they show it back to back. It's been playing in the background while I type papers

What made you sad/mad this week: The crazy amount of work I've had to do for school. It's just bad timing. Right before Jimmy comes home. I have so much that I have to do for school and all I want to do is make sure the house is clean and there's food in the fridge.

What do you miss the most: I missed doing all of the Christmas-y stuff with him this year. I had fun getting our tree together and decorating the house last year

How's Floyd and Layla this week: Layla is recovering nicely and Floyd could really use a walk right about now but I'm a slave to my computer for the next couple of days

Pictures from this week: None, too busy...sorry

The 3's of Me

~Saw this on Jenn's blog and decided to procrastinate school work by filling it out myself

Three Jobs I've Had In My Life:

1. Nanny
2. Management Assistant for Enterprise (ugh)
3. Sales Associate

Three Places I've Lived:

1. Queensbury, NY
2. Wilmington, CA
3. Uncasville, CT

Three Favorite Drinks:

1. Water
2. Chai Lattes
3. Diet Pepsi (though I don't buy soda anymore...I still love it)

Three TV Shows I Watch Regularly:

1. The Vampire Diaries
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. True Blood

Three Places I Have Visited:

1. Dublin, Ireland
2. Rome, Italy
3. Athens, Greece

Three of My Favorite Foods:

1. The duck and brie sandwich from Maestro's in Saratoga Springs, NY
2. A good salad..preferably one that I didn't make myself
3. Anything from the ocean

Three Things I am Looking Forward To:

1. My husband coming home!
2. Being done with this freakin semester!
3. Exploring the west coast next month!

Three Things That Are Always By My Side:

1. My animals
2. My phone
3. Water

Three Things That Are In My Car Right Now:

1. Jumper Cables
2. Phone charger
3. CDs everywhere

Three Things I Did Today:

1. School work
2. Showered
3. Ate an egg sandwich


So what about you? What are the 3's of you?