Hello to all!!!!

Just wanted to update and say hi to everyone. Everything is great out here. We have been out for 3 days now since leaving Australia. Our inport time was great. I had a really good time. I hope that everyone is well. The pictures that are attached are from Australia. I am going to try to add a post once a week. My birthday out here was pretty good. We had a birthday dinner on the 20th for everyone that had a birthday in January. We ate steak, shrimp, lobster, baked potatoes and corn. I was so stuffed afterwards. The weather has been very kind to us out here. Starting today we are supposed to have some rough seas because of a cyclone that is out here. We had some rain out here a few weeks ago, but it only lasted for about an hour. It's kind of weird to see rain out here in the middle of the ocean.
Wog day was fun. We did that on my birthday. We crossed at the international date line at the equator so that makes us "golden shellbacks".
I hope that everything is well on the home front. I know that it must still be cold back there. I wish that I could say the same. it is getting a little cooler though. It was really hot and muggy there for about a week or so. You wouldn't believe the size of the mosquitos there in Australia. That's about it for now. Until next time.........

THE FIRST PORT WAS AUSTRALIA

Well it's that time again to update. As you all know mike was in his 1st port for 4 days which was the beautiful Australia. The 1st day he was there he had duty and was unable to get off, by the 2nd day he and Jason took a tour and seemed to have lots of fun.After a long day they went and relaxed somewhere and ate dinner and had a few beers. Then the 3rd day he had duty again and wasn't able to do much. He said that he drove around down town on a bus making sure everyone did what they were told and that no one got sick. lol Finally the 4th day he was supposed to go to the zoo, but due to his having duty and hardly any sleep the night before he decided to get caught up on his sleep. Finally last night, the last night there he went out to dinner again with some friends and had a really great time. He said chineese food and had a few drinks. By morning he was back on the boat and they were getting ready for things to get back underway. Now they are back out again and on their way to their next port. Its should take a few weeks and then he will be to the 2nd port. He mentioned that they will be only there a short time and then finally heading to the gulf.. Not much other then that, he has been working long hours and finally seemed to get a break. We keep him in our thoughts and prayers always.. we love and miss him more then he knowns. I am attaching pictures of while he was there, I hope you all enjoy and remember we are almost down 1 month WOO HOO!!!!!! Love you all and god bless.....

THE NEW BABY DRESSER/CHANGING TABLE

Just to show everyone I drove up north about an hour today to get this. I got a really great deal on it so I wanted to get it. The only downfall was you had to pick it up. So it's a dresser and a changing table. So I am planning on buying another dresser and so there will be about 8 drawers, 3 here and 5 on the other dresser.. I thought it was very cute and I figured Daddy would like it too. No I didn't unload myself, my friend Molly and Brianna did it so that I didn't lift anything myself. Thanks guys! So when you get a chance let me know what you think.....

WOO HOO WE ARE OUT OF THE 1ST TRIMESTER!!!!!

Hello Everyone, just thought that I would give another update. We are finally 12 weeks and still counting. We are finally out of the 1st trimester and into the 2nd. I am still having some cramps and still throwing up a lot, but I am hoping that now it will start to get much better. The babies are growing a lot and are still doing very well. We are still not sure about the fluid in the one sac ,but we should be getting some news on the 30th when I go back .I have lost 20 pounds total now, but as you can see I have already started my first few stretch marks. My mother in law made sure to tell me about the cocoa butter and I made sure to buy some yesterday.. THANKS MOM! It looks like I will be needing much of that, lol.... We are doing lots of praying and letting the Lord decide what is best for us. We have decided that its in His hands now and what ever plan He has for us, we just ask him to show us the way. As for Mike he is good, working very very hard and many long hours. For those of you who have emailed him, I know that he is doing his very best to email back. I have come to the conclusion that it makes me our 3-4 to his 1 but that's ok. Just so he knows that he is in our hearts always! A matter of fact he is now 19 hours ahead of us here in CA and 22 ahead of the family is PA but also a day ahead. For example it is 4pm here on Sunday and its 10 am there on Monday. He will be pulling into his first port today. I can't say what that is over the net, but I am sure most of you already know... He will be there 4 days and then off again to the 2nd port. He is very excited about the tours and just being able to get off the boat with a break. Have fun baby!!!! I will keep you all up to date as things happen, and of course the Dr visit on the 30th.. We love you all and miss you more than you know....

HELLO EVERYONE HERE IS THE MOMMIE UPDATE! HERE ARE SOME CURRENT PICTURES OF ME AND MY BELLY.I AM NOW 12 WEEKS AND A BIT BEHIND WIT H THE UPDATE. BUT WITH ME NOT FEELING WELL AND SUCH I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO POST AND FOR THAT I AM SORRY.AS FOR THE BABIES THEY ARE GROWING BIG AND HOPEFULLY SOON WE WILL BE OUT OF THE WOODS. AS OF RIGHT NOW I AM ON LIGHT DUTY AT WORK, PRETTY MUCH SITTING ALL DAY AND DOING DESK WORK.(WHEN THEY ARE NOT BUSY) LOL THEN I AM ON MY FEET ALL DAY.. I THINK THAT SOON I WILL BE ON BED REST DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING SO MANY CRAMPS,SPOTTING, AND MY BACK REALLY HURTING. BUT WE SHALL PRAY THAT I CAN HANG IN THERE A WHILE LONGER.MY NEXT CHECK UP IS ON THE 30TH OF JAN. THEN MY OBGYN WILL BE DOING ANOTHER SONO AND CHECKING THE FLUID FOR BABY B. KEEP US IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYS THAT EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT. ALL WE ASK IS THAT THE LORD BLESS US WITH TWO BEAUTIFUL,HEALTHY BABIES, BUT OF COURSE THAT DADDY MAKES IT HOME IN TIME TO SEE THEIR ARRIVAL....I WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE AND I PROMISE T GET A CURRENT PIC THIS WEEKEND...LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

UPDATE ON MIKE AND WOG DAY OUT TO SEA! THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE ON MICHAEL BEING OUT TO SEA. HE IS ALMOST AT HIS FIRST PORT AND WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MANY EXCITING THINGS AND PLANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MANY TOURS AND SUCH. AS YOU CAN SEE I ASKED HIM TO SEND ME A CURRENT PICTURE, AND EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK A WHILE I MANGED TO GET US ALL ONE. THE OTHER PICTURE IS OF THE WOG CERAMONY THAT TOOK PLACE A FEW DAYS AGO. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT KNOW WHAT THAT IS, WHEN YOU FIRST JOIN THE NAVY YOU ARE CONSIDERED A POLY WOG, ONCE YOU CROSS OVER THE EQUATOR YOU ARE A SHELL BACK. SO THEY ALWAYS HAVE A BIG CERAMONY. BUT IN THIS CASE THEY CROSSED THE EQUATOR AT ZERO ZERO SO THAT MAKES THEM ALL A GOLDEN SHELL BACK. HARDLY EVER DO YOU GET TO CROSS AT THATPOINT,SO ITS A PRETTY BIG DEAL AND WE ARE VERY PROUD. AS YOU ALL KNOW MIKE HAS BEEN GONE 2 WEEKS TODAY AND EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE A MONTH BRENDEN AND I ARE TRYING TO GET OURSELFS IN A ROUTINE WITHOUT DADDY. BRENDEN WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TUES AND IS HAVING A BLAST WITH ALL HIS FRIENDS. HE SAYS THAT HE MISSED THEM VERY MUCH. AS FOR ME I AM STILL HAVING GOOD AND BAD DAYS WITH THE PREG BUT I AM AT WORK STILL, JUST ON VERY LIGHT DUTY. PRETTY MUCH THEY HAVE ME ON A DESK JOB FOR NOW..I GO BACK ON THE 30TH AND WILL BE SURE TO KEEP EVERYONE UP TO DATE ON WHAT THEY SAY. LOVE YOU ALL

ER VISIT LAST NIGHT!

Well last night I had to go to the hospital. I had been having alot of cramping and a some spotting for almost two days, I was starting to get really worried. when I got there they did a bunch of tests and did some ultrasounds. The doctor said that he wants me to come in every two week from this point on. I am considered a hight risk preg and he needs to monitor me. As for the babies, the baby on the bottom, which we are calling baby B is doing great and is 11 weeks in growth right where it needs to be. the heart beat is 172 bpm which is wonderful and it seems as though that baby is very photogentic. He or she was waiving at the camera. As for the top baby, which we are calling baby A isn't doing so well. That baby is good in growth also, they are measured at 11 week also. theyir heart beat is 168 bpm. The not so good news is that the baby has hardly any fluid in the sac. They are not sure if at this point the baby will make it or not. There is nothing that they can do. We have to sit back and hope and pray for the best. I cried for many hours last night, and stayed up most of the night. Then today I realized that the lord is watching over me and either way I know in my heart he will only give me what he thinks I can handle. We often dont know what he has in store for us, but I truley believe that he has a plan and even thought I may not know what that is. In time he will show me. I pray that my husband is safe out there where ever he may be. Also that the lord brings his home to us safe to us to his wonderful family that awaits him. So I ask all of you to please keep us in your prayers and know that we love you all so much and without you by oursides we would be so lost. We love you all very much and will keep you up to date and the weeks go by. My next appt in 1/30 and 2/13 so I will be sure to post...

Hello to all from being u/w (underway). Well, this is my first time posting something on this site. I am sure that everyone will be happy that I finally did this. The first day is finally done and over with. It was hard at first, but now that we are getting back into the swing of things, it's making it easier. I still miss everyone at home, but when you are busy, it makes time go by so much faster. I am still working on my recruiting orders. I was told I have to make a few calls and send some emails to some people and see if there are some openings. I have decided to start going to the gym on Monday. My goal is to lose 20 pounds before I get back home. Also, starting tonight, I will be attending a baptist fellowship bible study session. I would really like to start my walk with the lord. Other than that, nothing has really happened since we left. I will be trying to post something on here at least once or twice a week. I love you all and miss you guys already. Stay in touch with me and I hope to hear from you all soon.

THE DAY DADDY LEFT FOR THE GULF!

Well today was the day, Mike finally left for the gulf and I must say it was one of the hardest days ever for Brenden and I. First off we spent most of last night calling around and saying goodbye to all our family and freinds. He had a hard time just doing that, it seemed as though every phone call got harder. Then about 8 pm Daddy went to put Brenden into bed and I could just hear them both crying in the bedroom and its just torn my heart apart. But Mike made Brenden promise to be the man of the house and take care of the family, and as you all know Brenden and the funny things that he says. He said ok Daddy I wont let you down. It just really brough tears to my eyes. Then after we put Brenden to bed, I helped Mike pack up last min things and just get everything together by the front door. Finally about midnight we went to bed, and before we knew it 3 am was already here. So we got up and headed to the pier, boy was that hard. After Brenden woke up and noticed that we were at the boat all he could do was cry.Why does he have to go and why is the navy sending him away.Mike held him in his arms for a while and talked with him. I think after that he felt a bit better. Then about 5am after sitting in the car, it was that time to say goodbye. Mike and I both cried so much, but like he said to me, its finally here and now by leaving its just that much cloer to comming home. We are so truley blessed and have so much to be thankful for that I cant even begin to complaine. In the past month Mike was promoted,we were able to go see our family back east at thanksgiving, and best of all we are exspecting our twins! I just pray that the lord keeps Mike safe and brings him home to us soon. I hope that once you all read this you will see just how much we love and miss all of you! Mike is really counting on support from his family and friends, and I know that together we will all be here for him every step of the way! I am attaching some pictures from this morning and just to let you know, mike and I know that everyone was here in heart!

Wanting to send care packages or just mail?

I just thought that for those of you who would like to send mail, or even a few small care packages over the next few months for Mike while he is out in the gulf here is his ship's address.

SK2 Heffren, Michael
Supply/ S-6
USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76
FPO AP 96616-2876

Or you can always send an email his way: heffrenm@cvn76.navy.mil

We love you all, and hope that you will keep all of us in your prayers....

DADDY AND HIS DECORATIONS!
Hey everyone just an update on what's been going on here. As everyone knows Daddy is leaving very very soon and things here are sad here for Brenden and I. We just can't believe that the time has truly come. We are trying to get that last minute time in before he goes, so we are doing lots of family things together. The good thing is that once he goes, he will be just that much closer to coming home and thats the positive side. Daddy did take time this weekend to put wall border up in the babies' room; he is so excited and I figured this way it would make him part of the process too. He had a blast and was trying to be so creative lol... We think that he did a great job! As for Brenden he is still out on winter break. He has this week and then one more to go. He is really starting to get excited about going back. He said that he misses his friends. As for me, I am doing much better than I was a week ago. I am actually starting to be able to hold some soups and such down. I was really starting to worry because I had lost 17 pounds in 8 days. It looks like we are on an upside for now so that is great. The babies are good and growing very fast..I can't believe that I am almost out of my first trimester already. I only have about three weeks to go. Oh speaking of that I have my first appt with my OB doctor on Jan 26th and I will hopefully have a much better update, due to the fact that they will be almost 12 weeks old. I will be sure to keep everyone posted on what they say and with new and exciting pictures. We love you all and please keep us in your prayers always!