16 Weeks and Man How Things are Changing

We are 16 weeks pregnant today, "Praise God". I have been feeling so good, that sometime I look down at my little tummy and ask "Are you still in there?". Of course the little one does not answer yet, but I am sure in the near future the time will come to feel a flutter or two. Javier and I have really cherished this special time in our lives. Javier especially appreciates that when he hugs me the baby (my tummy) touches him first! It is all so majical, and still a bit sureal when you have been through so much trying to get to this point. Of course everyone is wants to know boy or girl. We won't know until the last Monday of April, unless I can sweet talk our doctor to give us an ultrasound tomorroe. Don't hold your breath on that one, but it doesn't hurt to try...Right?

The next big thing happening in our lives, yes God has been very busy, is that Javier has received a flying assignment. For non military people an assignment is the next place we will move. The place makes most people flinch, but really it is the best case scenario for our family & for Javier's career. Sooooooo for now Javier has a one year assignment to Osan Korea. I say for now because this one year will be without me & the babe; but before you panic, we have applied for command sponsorship (non military people that means we have applied for me & babe to go along). Now if this pans out we are looking at living in Korea for two or three years. During these one, two, or three years Javier will be back in the F-16 doing what he loves....so we all feel very blessed.

The best part, making it apparent that God's hand is in the middle of our lives constantly, is that He will go back to Phoenix to re-train in the F-16 for July and August. I will be dropped off at my mom's house in NM, because I simply don't think the heat in AZ is the best thing for later pregnancy, nor does my doctor encourage excessive travel during the last two months. After his training he will return to NM with me, the baby being due September 10.....and the military is so fabulous....he wouldn't have to report to Korea until the beginning of October. So he will be here for the birth of our first babe & get to stay awhile and help out mommy!

In October, Javier will head to Korea, for his much anticipated flying assignment. Depending on the military's decision to include baby and I in the assignment we will either spend a year hanging at my mom's house & periodically visiting Javier....or we will follow him to Korea when the doctor says it is okay and safe to travel with a newborn.

So, as you can see there are many changes on the horizon for the Antuna family & we couldn't be more excited that God is leading us through such amazing opportunites. We continue to give him the glory for all the blessings in our lives, and ask that you pray for our future momentary chaos until we all are settled again together! Be blessed, JoRie

2nd Trimester & I'm feeling fine!

I am really not so good at this whole blog thing. But, I figured I might need to update my little diddy before my sister demanded a new blog! LOL

I am feeling so blessed to feel amazing during what is now our 15 week of pregnancy. We see the doctor again next Monday for a standard check up & then end of April we will know if we have a girl or boy. We don't care either way and are crazy excited about either, but it seems our families have differing views. On Javier's side of the family there are pretty much all boys...and on my side of the family there is pretty much all girls. To make things even trickier Javier's side of the family are born with tons of dark hair...and my side of the family, we are pretty much bald until we are three and even then super blond. So my mom is wishing for a little boy with lots of dark hair. Javier's dad is wishing for a girl, and his mom wants a bald blond baby.

So as I sit in my recliner dreaming of holding this little one in my arms, I simply put my hand on my tummy & say it doesn't matter if you are a girl or a boy, bald or tons of hair....I have a feeling there is going to be alot of love in your life little one.

Feeling more blessed by the day! JoRie

God is so Good!!!!!

Javier and I are pleased to finally announce that God has graciously given us a baby. We are three months pregnant at a little over 12 weeks! We have gone through so much to get here, but we want to make sure and give God the glory for this little miracle.

I am feeling great, but having horrible back pain the last few weeks. We found out yesterday that the pain is being caused by a tilted uterus. The doctor says this will correct itself in the next few weeks. Other than that I have been feeling great!

The baby gave us quite a scare yesterday as we went in to hear the heartbeat on the doppler, but because of my uterus position the baby couldn't get close enough to hear the heartbeat. I stayed pretty calm considering. They quickly shuffled us to ultrasound & there was our beautiful baby with a strong heartbeat! Sigh of relief.

I can not express how extremely blessed I feel. God blessed me with an amazing Godly man in my husband, and now he has blessed us with a baby. So our lives are about to change in so many ways & we both say bring it on....we have God on our side!!!

Thanks to everyone who has followed my sparatic blog and I will try to keep it updated as we have appointments. Once a month for now and closer together once we get further along! We appreciate your support and prayers more than anyone could know!

Ciao, JoRie

Damn Groundhog!!!

I am sooooooo sick of winter weather! Spring come & come quickly! I neeeeeed shorts and flip flops soon! I know I am really boring lately but don't have much to update about! We are still patiently waiting on our assignment! Awwww military life!

We do; however, get to go to Miami for a week in March, that is if we don't get our assignment by then...if we do we might be doing some house hunting. Anyway, father in law got the motors rebuilt on his boat & the hub is really anxious to get down there & try those motors out...maybe it will bring them some luck with the fish catching attempts! I also can't wait to get my twin nephew fix. They are beginning to pull themselves up and crawl around....so Aunt JoRie needs to get down there and chase those rug rats around.

We are also hoping for a visit from my sis, bro-in-law, and beautiful niece in April. We will see if that all pans out, if so Mommy Kay will join us! Always a great time when we are all together. Cohen is so entertaining and I love chasing her around although she runs much faster now! LOL! She loves her Uncle Javier to chase her....it is much cooler than Aunt JoRie!

Anyway, we are definitely cherishing any time we get to spend with family considering we don't know where we will be next year.....

Enjoy the Superbowl...commericals have been lame so far!!!

Ciao, Ciao!

Soooo it has been awhile!!

Since a few of my friends on facebook say they keep track of my life through this blog, I thought I might better get on it & post a new blog. We had the most amazing Christmas in Indiana with my sister, brother in law, niece, mom, and grandma Vick (a friend of the family). It is so awesome to be able to spend time with family during the holidays and this year we were blessed to be with both our families on at least one holiday.

Javier is back in school, and studying really hard. I am really hoping to move forward with my dissertation. My proposal is in the hands of my two committee members after being approved by my mentor. Once the entire committee approves the proposal, I will then submit the IRB application which lawfully gives me the permission to move forward with my research. I really hope to complete the IRB application this quarter & get my research done and written next quarter. My goal is to be completely done with my dissertation by the summer.

Speaking of summer....we are anxiously awaiting our new assignment (the place we move next). We should find out end of Feb or sometime in March. We are so gracious for what God has provided so far, that we completely trust he will put us in a great place where our family can prosper through the Glory of God.

As for the fertility stuff....well we are still working on that, but continue to put it completely in God's hands. Thank you for all your prayers and support through the process, it really means the world to us.

For now that get's you updated. Happy Late New Year & Happy early Valentines Day! LOL

It's Christmas Time!!!

I have just delivered my last Santa gift & wrapped the few presents that my hubby purchased. Now all I have to do is get this house clean & get us packed! We will take off at some point on Friday....and I can not wait to hug my niece, and then share an adult beverage with my sis! Oh and seeing my bro-in law is cool too! LOL! It is going to be a great Christmas! Mommy Kay & Grandma Vick will join us middle of next week. Oh how I love the holidays & how blessed we are to get to spend them together this year!

Merry Christmas Everyone, JoRie

Brickle Cookies

Hello blogger pals: Our family lost a really special person a little over a year ago. Grandaddy passed away while my mom was visiting us in Italy. So we changed everyones plane tickets and flew the long trip home to NM. Although it was such a sad occasion, we were all there together which was joyous. My grandmother remains in a nursing home for alzheimers patients, and it depends on the day if she remembers us or not but we go visit her each time we are there...just in case!

Anyway, this brings me to some of my favorite holiday things....mostly cooked from the loving hands of my grandmother, mom, or Aunt Linda. This year I decided to give my favorite cookie recipe a try, these are the cookies that Grandmother & Grandaddy always made & they were so yummy. I always thought they were difficult for some strange reason. Anyway, tried them yesterday & seriously the easiest recipe ever. I have to admit that I got a little emotional when I took the first bite. It made me think of the warmth and love that came from my grandparents as I remember them. I am so thankful to have so many wonderful memories of two amazing people, one in heaven looking down on me, and one that occasional remembers me.

Anyway, here is the recipe...it is great for Christmas parties or gifts as it makes three dozen medium cookies or six dozen small cookies...

1 Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix (or any yellow cake mix brand)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 package brickle or almond toffee

Mix and roll in Large balls (3 dozen cookies) or small/medium balls (6 dozen cookies). Bake @ 350 for 8-9 minutes. Cook until barely brown around edges.

ROLL: You can use a small or medium cookie scoop to make this process super easy and takes the guessing game out of how big to make them. It also makes them a more uniform size if you are taking them to a party or giving them as a gift.

EXTRA: You don't have to use brickle, my mom uses white chocolate chips & macadamian nuts, or really any mixture of items. Depends on your taste.

I have provided pictures of the brickle (Heath English Toffee Bits). This stuff is hard to come by & is typically only out during the holidays. I found mine at Walmart in the middle aisle with all the Holiday ingredients. There were only four bags so I of course bought them all....and will probably take a look around to see if I can't find more at other grocery stores, as this treat is nice even out of the holiday season.




This is what the bits look like out of the bag...



This is the cake mix I used, and it worked beautifully!



Ta Da....soooo easy!



I hope that you try them out & enjoy! Because they are my absolute favorite, with special memories attached to every decadent bite!