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First off, congrats!
For the next part I personally don't have any experience with this but I have seen Victoria Stilwell deal with it.
What she tells people to do is to get one of those baby dolls that makes the actual noises and start to go through the day as if the doll was real. See how she does with that and you'll be able to get a pretty good estimate on how she'll react to a real baby. Hope this helps!

I had my son 16 years ago but i had a red smooth dachshund at the time and he was like my child loved him to death but he was not very nice to anyone but hubby and i ... I worried all the time about what he would do so when i was in the hospital i would have my husband take home a blanket or something that had the smell of my son on it and let my Ted smell it .He was fine he was always nice to my son even when my son learned to crawl and walk
As for the being away so much i cant help there i just went to hospital and was home 2 days later ...I hope everything works out for you
Robin Brueggeman

Good idea Jami My dog did cry every time my son did LOL!!!
Robin Brueggeman