Unexpected news

Okay, I know it's been about a month, but life has so gotten in the way recently. I don't even remember the last thing I wrote about, so I should go check before I can too much farther. Be right back.....

Okay, that didn't take long. I guess it was when everyone was sick. Both the boys finally got over their ear infections and life finally seemed to be better until over President's Day weekend. Here is a quick run down of the weekend. We decided to go to Kansas City to help my Mom with her computer that weekend. Michael had a hearing test that morning at 8:30 am. Well we get there about 8:00am and the lady working registration is late. We were told we had to be registered at least 15 minutes prior to the appointment time...needless to say we were late.

We finally head down for the hearing test around 8:30am. And Patrick and Kaitlyn are just being obnoxious so Robert decides to take them back to the car and watch a movie, while Michael and I go to his appointment. Michael did GREAT! He does have what looks like some possible hearing loss or damage, but nothing that should affect his speech!!! WOOHOO, that is great news! We were told just to keep an eye on it and if we start having anymore problems to come back.

Great news, we got to breakfast and finally hi the road to Kansas City around 11am. So we spend the rest of the day in the car. When we are about an hour from KC, it starts to snow. Not to big a deal since we've dealt with that before, but it's coming down pretty good so we have to take it slow and it adds another half hour to the trip. Anyway, we finally get in and then weather is pretty good the rest of the time we are there. We got her computer up and working and everything.

Well everything went down hill Sunday morning. We were getting ready for church and the phone rings. We missed the call, but listened to the message and it doesn't sound good. It's one of my uncles and he sounds pretty upset. My Mom calls him back only to get the news that my cousin, 32 years old, has died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. We are all devastated.

It's so surreal. I mean you never expect it to happen to your family, and when it does you really don't know how to take it. Since this war on terrorism began we've been waiting for it to touch our family somehow and now it has. And while I know I can take comfort in the fact that the Lord doesn't make mistakes, it's still not easy to understand why he died so young. I mean his life was great. He got married like two years ago and just had a little girl in October! He will miss all of her life. And she loses out on one of the greatest blessing in life...her father raising her.

It really made me think about all the blessing God has given me in my life and how thankful I am for everyday I spend here. I hope we all remember to tell those we love, "I love you today". Because we never know when they might be taken from us.

Hug your little ones tight and give them extra hugs and kisses tonight.

Why can't I get a break???

Well we went to the Dr yesterday and guess what???? Patrick now has an ear infection. Big surprise there huh? It's just frustrating how ears can go from not infected one day to totally inflamed the next. Anyway, he's on antibiotics now for 10 days and seems to be feeling better already. You can always tell when he is really sick because he won't take meds or at least you have to fight with him to, but yesterday and today he wanted to take his "pink medicine". Anyway, they will all be back in school today. He's still coughing a lot, but the Dr said it's just a virus and what gave him the fever is the ear infection. Anyway, thank goodness they are all on the mend again.

We took the boys to their first basketball practice yesterday. They had so much fun once we got them into it. Patrick didn't want to do anything the first 30 minutes, but after I played with him a bit, he did great. He was trying to pass the ball, and really enjoyed shooting. I guess next week we will be working on proper technique for shooting and really starting to see where the kids are at to know how to help them better. Here is the only picture I got...



They seem to have fun...hopefully next week we won't have to fight Patrick so much.

Isn't that cute!

Kaitlyn is getting so big. I hope you enjoyed that little movie as much as we did last night.

Now for the not so fun part. We are dealing with the sickies again. I took Michael to the doctor on Monday due to drainage from his tubes, and guess what...He has an ear infection! ARRGH, this is frustrating. And now Patrick is complaining about his ears, so we are headed back to the Dr this afternoon. Patrick also has a REALLY bad cough, so hopefully this isn't anything too bad and he will be all better soon. He is on his 2ND day out of school, so hopefully it will get better quickly. Kaitlyn seems to be doing good, but has a cough so I'm just hoping no one else gets sick. We are in for another cold spell too, so I will be staying in the nice warm house with them all week/weekend to try and get them better for next week. I'll let everyone know what the Dr says today.

I'm off for now.

Kaitlyn's prayer

Update

I've been so busy with life. You might think a SAHM just sits around and does nothing, but that is so not true. We've been very busy in our house and it just going to get busier, LOL. I'm glad though because I hate just sitting around doing nothing.

We got our new washer and dryer as of Sunday morning, thank goodness as we NEEDED to do laundry. I love it and I will post some pictures of it soon.

The boys started Smart Start Basketball yesterday. It's a special program for 3 and 4 year olds to teach them the fundamentals of a sport. They can't wait to actually start trying to play. They each got two basketballs, a t-shirt, a scrimmage jersey, and a players manual. It will require us working with them at home, but I think they will really enjoy it. I was hoping they would get to play soccer this summer on a team, but it looks like they just miss the age cut off. I think they will be able to play in the fall. They keep telling me they want to play and I think this is a great time for them to start. It will also be good for them to be around other kids their own age and hopefully make some friends.

Michael started speech therapy again on Monday. He really seems to like it.

If it's not one thing it's another

Well as most people will say, if it's not one thing...it's another and so that' where we are today.

It all started yesterday when I decided to do laundry. I got everything loaded, like always, started the washer...heard water running left the room. Didn't think anything of it until lunch time. I remembered I had a load in and needed to switch it and get the next load going. I go into the laundry room, lift the lid to the washer, and do you know what I see?? A washer full of water!! It never finished cycling. So, I play with the dial, check the electricity in the room, everything I can think of and nothing works. It won't drain, cycle, or even start for that matter. So, I call Robert on his cell phone...he has no clue what I'm talking about. He comes home and looks at it and can't figure it out. We go out for the evening, and come home and he attempts to take it apart to no avail...couldn't get inside without a lot more work than he wanted to put in it at 9:00 pm, so he tried to turn it on. Guess what...it actually turns on and starts going. Okay, it's a little loud, but if it will drain I'll take it. We decide to stay up with it while it cycles to see if we can figure out what's going on. It went fine for about 10 minutes, when we hear it shut off. What is going on? We go look and it hasn't drained or anything. He said I think it's the motor, so I guess now we have to go look for a new washer at least. If I have to replace one I'm thinking we might be better off just to replace both, but I don't know right now...this just isn't something I want to deal with right now. I have no way to do laundry and we have a big winter storm coming in that is supposed to give us between 5-12 inches of snow. I don't want to have to deal with all of this at once!!!! And I know God won't give me more than I can handle and everything happens for a reason, but I have no clue where money for a new washer is coming from. I fell like every time we start to get ahead, we fall farther and farther behind...UGH! Thanks for listening...

One week and more expected

Well as of today the boys haven't gone to school in a week. I didn't realize how old they are really getting until having them home full time again. I will have to find them something to do this summer or I'm going to go nuts. Anyway, we did get ice and sleet, but not near as bad as the weathermen predicted. It might have been a couple inches total over the weekend. Anyway the boys were out of school Monday for Martin Luther King Jr Day, but then starting Tuesday they've been out because of the weather. They don't have the ability to clear roads here, so road conditions are hazardous for buses and such so we just cancel school. And while I agree that this is good for safety reasons, I'm beginning to wonder how many days of school they are planning on tacking on at the end of the year. They've already taken away 2 holidays...none of which affect the boys since they don't go to school on Fridays.

The other thing is, I'm going crazy!! I really need that time with them in school. That's when I can get the cleaning and housework done, and with them home it's a bear to find time for that. I finally got some of it done yesterday and Robert was very thoughtful when he got home, but I feel like I'm neglecting it during times like this. I wonder how this summer is going to go...I guess at least then I will be able to send them outside in the backyard.

The bad news of all of this is they are calling for another round of winter storms to hit us this weekend! We are being predicted to get 5-10 inches of snow, most of which will fall on Saturday. I hoping if won't be that bad, but I really don't think the boys will be going back to school next week either...only time will tell.

Is the world coming to an end??

Last night we went to Walmart couldn't find a parking space in the parking lot. Needless to say we didn't even try the store. Now I understand that we are having an ice storm coming in, but my goodness. People are acting like it is the end of the world and they won't be able to get out for at least a week. They are calling for it to be bad this weekend, starting today and ending on Sunday. Then we decided well we will go on base to the BX and Commissary. The BX was completely out of salt so that was a no go. And the Commissary was as bad as Walmart! The line wrapped around the whole store. Now mind you they have a queue for people that is two lanes, and it addition to that it wrapped around from the diary section to the produce, and this was less than an hour before closing. So imagine you local grocery store that bad and you will know what I'm talking about. The good thing for us was I was able to get everything I need in less than 15 items so we got to go through the express line. I was smart and went and got my WIC while the kids were in school, of course that is a totally different store since I ended up leaving my wallet there, but anyway...it was recovered and everything was in it...I only left it for about 5 minutes and the cashier had found it immediately.

I understand the weather is going to get bad, but I guess people don't keep anything on hand here, of well hopefully it won't be too bad.

Two posts in one day, WOW

I must be caught up on housework, LOL. These are the remaining pictures I promised...enjoy


These were taken at the OKC Science Center.




These are the OKC zoo.












And now Halloween, well apparetnly this is the only one I have actually form Halloween. The rest are form Boo at the Zoo, a few days prior.










Okay, I've put up too many as it is for now. Hope it didn't take too long to get through them.

Funny story...

Too bad I forgot to take pictures.

But anyway, last night I was giving the kids a bath. Kaitlyn had gotten a Christmas present from our friends in WA and it was a bath finger painting set. Anyway, they were all playing with it and I decided it was time to wash her and get her out. Well, that all went like it should, no problems. Got her out and sent her to her Daddy to get ready for bed. Well, I told the boys I'd be back in a minute I needed to go in the other room. So I go and I'm doing some stuff and I hear Mommy, Mommy, KK's in the bath. Well I thought they meant she was in the bathroom, but nope. After a couple more times of hearing that I hear Robert come upstairs. I guess he found Kaitlyn fully DRESSED in the bath tub plying with the boys!!! He brought her to me in the other room and she was soaking wet. Needless to say, she needed dry jammies and a new diaper.

Less learned, make sure the bathroom door is clicked closed before leaving the room with a toddler on the loose.

Life is back to normal...almost

I can't wait for the boys to return to school. I know that sounds bad, but it's not because they are bad or driving me crazy, but more because I feel like they don't get enough stimulation at home right now. I'm just so busy trying to keep up with the housework and Kailtyn, I feel like they get the short end of the stick, if you know what I mean.

I really came on here to share some of our Christmas photos...hopefully I can remember what I'm doing, LOL.

These are from Christmas...I'll post some from the time between WA and here in a separate post...

Okay, it's a little cheesy, but it's the best I could get.


This year's Santa picture


Our Family, taken Christmas Eve


The boys opening presents


Kaitlyn opening presents


Kaitlyn sitting in her new chair (Thanks Aunt Tina!)



I think that's all the Christmas ones I'm going to share. I have more, but I have laundry to do. I might be back later with another post with pictures from before Christmas...including Thanksgiving.

Another New Year

Okay so yes as usual this is late. I just don't know what id going on with time...is seems to be passing me by as usual...Let me update....Oh starting back just before we left WA!!!

On Oct. 20th, I got word that my Grandma had passed away. It was very unexpected and really took me off guard. If certain people, in personnel had done their job right we most likely would have made it for the funeral, unfortunately that did not happen. We got to Kansas City a couple days afterwards. I miss my Grandma, but I'm happy she isn't suffering anymore and I know I will see her again some day.

We were in Kansas City for Halloween and left there on Nov. 2nd and arrived in OK. We got here only to find out we didn't have a house for another month. Now living a month in a hotel with 3 children 3 and under is NOT fun. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but needless to say we lived and moved into our new house like I posted on Dec. 4th.

We are loving the new area. The boys are going to school 4 days a week, half a day. They are on winter break right now. They go back on Jan. 9th, and we are all looking forward to getting back on schedule.

I did find the camera, and I just need to load the pictures and I will post them. Hopefully I'll also get better at posting here too.

Until next time......

We are officially moving in!!

Well, I know it's been a while, and this post won't be much better, but here it goes. We are officially in our new home in OK. We moved in on Monday and got connectedback to cable, internet, and phone today. Now, we just have to get the boxes unpacked. Hopefully by the end of the weekend we will be completely box free and have our Christmas decorations up. I will load some pictures soon to share...just have to find the camera, LOL.

Am I really that horrible of a person????

Okay so today I resigned from a play group that I have been a member of since 2004. I started taking the boys so they would have others their age to play with and then about a year ago, when Robert left on one of his deployments, we stopped really participating because we moved back to MO to be with family. Well during this time there was a flurry of new members, which of course being out of state I never met, anyway there have been some problems, but I never thought it would get so bad I'd think about resigning.

For future reference this is the ticker I'm talking about...



This morning, I come across this email...

DOD WE OR DO WE NOT HAVE A NO NUDITY RULE ON THIS BOARD? Because, I got tell y'all, I am so sick of seeing Jennifer's naked little girl. We've got members with weirdo husbands and boyfriends and who knows who else on here and really, there's no problem posting a naked picture of your kid? UM, something AIN'T RIGHT here. It's offensive. Perhaps not to everyone, but to me, it is.

First off, I didn't even think about the picture being there. It's Kaitlyn's 12 month picture, and I don't see anything wrong with it. Second, I think that if she had a problem with it, it couldhave been handled differently. So I wrote this back because I was really frustrated...

I'm so sorry to have offended you. That has been on her ticker forever! I'm done! This is absolutely ridiculous. First we throw members out who are looking for support and now this. This group has become a place I no longer for comfortable and most of the members just aren't what I'm looking for for me kids. And since I'm moving no point in staying.

XXXXXX, you have my email if you want to contact me.

GOODBYE!
Jennifer

Okay so while I most likley would have resigned soon anyway, due to the move, this isn't the way I wanted it. I feel like it was benefitting the boys and I should have stuck it out longer, but I don't want to deal with people who think I'm a bad person. I honestly forgot the picture was on there...I had to physically go look for the picture so I knew what was being spoke of at the time.

So I get this back...

Actually, it was handled through a moderator. You were the reason for the no nudity rule. However, you apparently need to be smacked over the head with the obvious to catch a subtlety, so I did. I would say I'm sad to see you go, but I really thought you were a nuisance on the group anyway, what with the pecans in the graveyard crap that you pulled, so bye.

Then I wrote this and blocked her email because I don't want to deal with it anymore...

Well, I was never contacted by a moderator in response to my ticker and that should have been done if that was a problem. You are apparently one of those people that believe the rules only apply to others! I believe that nudity clause was placed due to another forward in the group of a little boy peeing in the backyard naked. If you want honesty, I didn't even know what picture you were talking about until I looked. That was a picture of my daughter from 12 months old, and I found nothing wrong with it. If it was something I wouldn't have displayed in my own home I wouldn't have it on my email. Sorry you think I am such a horrible person. I'm glad to be rid of you as well, apparently the feeling is mutual.

I just feel like this group has become so high schoolish, and why should I expse my kids to that. There have also been other problems in the group...I mean, just the other day theybanned another member who no one had ever met due to problems with her ex or soon to be ex-husband. This girl was just looking for support with her divorce and such and they just ban her becasue people don't want to be exposed to her ex. I've always been taught to get to know people before making a judgement, but apparently not everyone is raised like that.

Oh well, I guess I just feel like cliques were formed and I was pushed out. And it does kind of hurt, but such is life. I guess we will move on and be better off without this group in our lives.

Well it's finally official, we are moving to Oklahoma!!!! I can't wait to be closer to family and back in the Midwest. It seems like so long since I've lived within a days drive of home. Anyway, now the fun begins. We have our pre-inspection on Monday, so I have to get things cleaned up for that. Then we are packing out the 12th and 13th. My birthday is the 14th. Our final inspection on the house is the 18th, Robert finals out of the base on the 20th and then we are planning on leaving on the 23rd. It all seems to be happening so fast and I hope things go smoothly. Only time will tell if w can get everything done in time. Well, that's all I have for now...Hopefully I will have more updates soon, but we shall see...I need to post some more new pictures soon too.

Reenlistment Today!

Well like the title says today is the day Robert commits to another term in the AIr Force. Although this is sooner than we had planned on doing it, it all works out for the best, hopefully my next post will have something about our orders in it. We are very mcuh looking forward to moving, but nothing can get done until we have hard copy orders. Such is life in the Air Force.

SO anyway, our weekend...not much to tell really. Friday night Patrick was sent to the ER for his constipation. OUr ped wanted him to have a barium enema, but apparently they cna't do one after 5pm because that department goes home, so we spent 3+ hours in the ER waiting for Patrick to use the bathroom. After a babylax glycerin enema he finally did. We were released to go home with another enema for the morning and a new med for the weekend. On Saturday we went back for the barium enema. This is a test where they take a seris of xrays of your colon. I will spare the details, but it wasn't fun. He cried the entire time, and we were still left with no answers.

After that we went and did some Halloween shopping and got lunch and went home for pizza that they were supposed to get Friday but since we weren't home they didn't get it. We got the rest of the kids costumes and Robert's costume so I am now the only one without one. I think we will be getting mine this weekend..after payday.

Sunday we went to church, the kids went to Sunday school, and then we went to the local Corn Maze in ID. It was fun until the last of 3 mazes and then Patrick decided he didn't want to walk...needless to say Robert's back and shoulders weren't feeling too well when we left. The place also ran out of water, so I ended up with a slight case of heat exahustion...not fun. I was not geeling well last night, but thank goodness I am fine this morning. Here are some pictures from the maze.

Daddy and the kids.


Eating lunch.


Mommy and Kaitlyn.


The boys lead the way.

Well, I've got quite a bit I want to write about right now...

First, Patrick went to his ped yesterday for a follow up on his chronic constipation. And the news wasn't what we wanted to hear. She did an x-ray to see if he had been able to clear the stool out of his body, and it appears he is still very full. At this time we are going to try suppositories, milk of magnesia, and continue with his current dose of Miralax. Then he will have a follow up x-ray and appointment on Monday. Considering that his stools have been really loose, almost to the point of liquid is a concern to everyone. I really though we would go in and be told we could back up on his Miralax dose, but we re being told the opposite. Now just so everyone knows, this isn't just an issue that popped up. This is something we tried dealing with an home before ever taking him to the Dr. I've increased his fiber, given him apple juice, tired increasing his fruit and vegetable intake (which is hard since he's a picky eater), and that kind of stuff. He's been on this Miralax for a month now and it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I don't know what the next step is, but I have a feeling we will be finding out on Monday.

Also, we still don't have our orders to move!!! We are getting beyond frustrated at this point. We've known where we are going for almost 2 months and no one can seem to get us our orders. Robert has had to reenlist in order to get them. Not that this is a bad thing, but he was only able to reenlist for 4 years instead of the 6 that we had originally planned. Not that big a deal, but if we had been told sooner it could have been taken care of a while ago. Instead here we sit and wait. As far as we know we are still supposed to be at our new duty station by October 30th, and we still don't have a date and time set to pack our belongings. Again, I say I am beyond frustrated!

And last, but not least...for the first time since they started school, Michael didn't want to go to school. He thought his Daddy had left during the night for a long time again and didn't want to go to school without Daddy. Needless to say, Robert had to come home from work to see him get on the school bus. It was the first time I had realized how much him being in and out of the kids' lives had affected them. I'm so happy he is home and will be for a while.

Although that was a lot of random stuff it sure feels good to get it out. Thanks for reading it you made it this far.

Robert's HOMECOMING!!!

As I'm sure you have all guessed by now, Robert is HOME!!!! He came home on September 5th. It was wonderful for me and the kids and everyone loved seeing him again. The pictures aren't great since it was late due to airline problems, but here they are...

Waiting for Daddy to get off the plane.


The boys go right to Daddy!


Kaitlyn getting a Daddy kiss after 2.5 months.


Kaitlyn, it's late and some strange guy has me...Mommy help.


Well, he seems to like me.




I hope you all enjoy!

Just so everyone knows, Kaitlyn warmed up to Robert about a day later. Now she runs around the house going Daddy, are you?

Sorry

Sorry these took so long...I've got the pictures from the boys first day of school!!! They've been going to school for almost 2 weeks and they love it. That's most likel an understatment for them. Anyway, without further dlay, pictures from the first day of school...

Eating breakfast.


Michael and Patrick, all dressed and ready to go.


Michael, Mommy can we go yet!


Patrick, I'm ready now.


Outside of school ready to go in.


Michael hanging up his backpck.


Patrick hanging up his backpack.


Bye Mom, we are playing now.


I hope you all enjoy they are getting so big!!!

Michael & Patrick's First Day of school

I can't believe the boys went to school today. They even road the bus home! I can't believe they are old enough for all of this. And guess what THEY LOVED IT!!!! Patrick has already told me he wants to go back to school on the school bus. He was very upset when I told him not tommorrow, but hte next day. I'm sure he won't be too disappointed since he will get to go to the airport today and see his Daddy.

So, they loved school, but how did Mommy do? I did okay. I didn't think I would make it out without crying, but I did. It's kind of strange because for 3 years my life has revolved around them and now I can actually take some time for me. I went and ran a couple of errands with just me and Kaitlyn, came home, put Kaitlyn down for a nap. I didn't have to worry aboutthw boys waking her up. And then I got the counters clean and cleared, the dishes done, and the laundry started. All in about an hour. I have to say it was nice. I could definately get used to this.

I will post pictures in a bit...I have to get the loaded first. I'll be back soon.