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Hi all! Brent and I are back from the Florida Keys! We had an awesome time. I posted a picture from the Key West Pier. Brent and I stopped for drinks ("virgin" ones for me) and to enjoy the clear blue-green water. Amazing water down there - so pretty. The camping was lots of fun and we stopped at four different camp sites in all. The first one was in Key Largo, the closest Key to the mainland. We kayaked there and enjoyed our first evening at camp...until it started raining. And it rained and rained. And thunder and lightening. Kept us up all night, except for maybe the two hours it was quiet. We were waterlogged by morning. The tent kept us mostly dry, but some water found its way in. We spent the morning drying out and then headed on to Long Key. Our campsite at Long Key was right on the Atlantic Ocean. We could not believe it - it was so cool. We were literally two feet from the ocean water when the tide was in. We kayaked and saw huge coral and a few fish. We really enjoyed Long Key for the views and solitude. Next on to Key West. So much fun! We didn't hang around the campsite very much and we spent a whole day and a half downtown Key West. Such a neat city with so much history. We walked and walked and by the end of the days I was waddling and I knew I had had enough! The sunsets were amazing and we watched street performers in the evenings. I had the best burger and fries of my life at Sloppy Joe's Bar and the best Key Lime pie in the world. After Key West, we drove back up to Bahia Honda. What a beautiful island, the only one with natural sandy beaches. We spent the afternoon on the beach and Brent went kayaking in the ocean. I didn't kayak here, too rocky and I was too tired by the end of the trip anyway. You all would be proud of this pregnant girl camping. I held up well and held my own! There were a couple of moments (like the rain) where I thought I was nuts. But overall, I did well and we really did have a great time. We headed home Saturday afternoon and I have to say I was glad to be back home. Jo-Jo and Cola were waiting for us with bells on.

Baby Hartsell turned 13 Weeks in the Keys. :o)

• Baby is 4 to 4 1/2 inches long.
• Rapid growth continues.
• Fine hair, called lanugo hair, covers the baby's body.
• Baby may be able to suck his/her thumb!

Other great news - my cousins Philip and Michelle are home safe from Afghanistan. They flew in last night around 1 AM. My Aunt Joan, Uncle Phil, and Denton were all waiting at the airport, along with Michelle's family. Jenna and Michelle's sister Jessica both could not make it due to college exams - darn school anyway. No one was sure if Michelle would be able to come home at the same time and the last they heard from her, she didn't think she would be able to. So what a wonderful surprise and blessing to have them both home together and safe. They all are in North Carolina near Fort Bragg, where Phil and Michelle have their home. Joan, Phil, and Denton are staying till Saturday. Philip was out buying a TV and a cell phone today - God bless America! Philip said he ate 5 biscuits for breakfast today and it was awesome - ha ha. I can't tell you how happy and thankful we all are that they are home. God is Good.

More great news - Brent has finished his Masters Degree program. He turned in his last paper last night. He's done! He did a great job - all A's and he worked hard for them. Very admirable all the effort he put into his classes and work - all while maintaining his own school classroom and doing lesson plans and projects for his students. I'm so proud of him! He will receive his degree in June. Since he was an on-line student, they do give him the option of going to commencement and walking for his degree, but he said he'd be fine with the degree in the mail at this point. He may change his mind, you never know. Way to go, Brent!!

We are talking, thinking, and working on our plans for the next school year for Brent. He has been looking at other jobs and more opportunities. Please say a prayer for us that what was meant to be will be - and we'll end up where we are meant to be, too. I trust the Lord will guide us.

I had a check-up appointment with my OB doctor today. I actually met another one of the doctors in the practice and she is very nice. We went over some of the labs I had drawn and everything is normal. I heard the baby's heart beat - heart rate of 147, right where it should be. Dr. Clennon said my weight is great - I gained 4 pounds in a month and a half and she said that's great. I was so thrilled about it that I decided I should treat myself to a piece of chocolate pie at lunch! Ha! Brent didn't come to this appointment, which was okay since it was just a check-up and I was only in there with the doctor for about 20 minutes. With vacation, we sort of forgot that the appointment was this Monday already and he wasn't able to take off work. He is jealous that I got to hear the heart beat, though!

That's all for now. Thinking of everyone ~

Love, Laura