And then I realized that I have not been on here in FOREVER it seems like it anyway! I am doing good so far though the last few weeks have been difficult! We had some friends move back out here at the end of May and they stayed with us here until they got their house (which I am blessed is only 2 houses down from me!!) And since they got here all of our children have had a variety of run ins with the sickies! Cami started with a viral cold that was supposed to go away within a few days (a week tops the doc said) that lasted 3 weeks and at the 3.5 week mark she started spike 103+ degree fevers! I took her back in and he once again tried to tell me it was viral and I let him know in my expert mommyness that I strongly disagreed and so he agreed to consider it was a sinus infection! So after putting her on a round of Antibiotics it has completely cleared up and we are almost done with them! But now she is complaining of an Earache! Addi got to experience her first ever trip to the ER and I am pleased to say it was about as good as any trip to the ER could be! (Especially at a Military Hospital!) She had the Croup (for those who don't know what that is it is a virus of sorts that sets up in the airway and causes a barking kind of cough sounds really similar to a seal!) Before I took her in I thought that was what it was so I started trying to treat it at home by sitting in steam and rubbing vicks on her chest and such but then it took an odd turn and it wasn't so much coming out as a cough! She was making the same sound but it was as she inhaled so that freaked me right out and I took her in! 2.5hours a breathing treatment and a round of oral steroids and home again we went with out another issue! (My friends have a boy and a girl so until I take the time to ask said friends if they mind me mentioning their names these two will be refered to by the gender that they represent!) So Boy Started out with just a cold and a week later had an ear infection and then 3 weeks later has now had a go with the sinus infection! Girl (who is 22days younger than Addi) has had a go around with the sinus infection! So now that gets to the me part! I now (almost positive without having gone to see the Doc yet!) believe that I have a little if not all of what all said above children have had! I have a sinus infection definitely the pressure is unbearable and the mucus (sorry if this is a bit TMI) is green and gross! My chest though it is tight is not yet wheezing (which for me being an Asthmatic is a miracle in itself) I have a whooping bark of a cough that has the power to bring me to my knees and make me pee my pants (i should probably do more of those Kegal things my momma kept on me about while i was pregnant LOL) if I am not careful! I feel like my head is constantly underwater! Unless I know you are directly talking to me I can't hear you so don't try and holler to me from a different room especially if there is a lot of other stuff going on! I have alos come to realize because of all of this that even though I know I hate being sick and I know I make a lousy patient (my momma will atest to that one!) My husband takes the best care of me when I am sick (not nearly as good as my momma but a close 2nd) It is times like these when I need to sleep in or take a nap so I can get back to 100% quickly he looks afer me! He fetches me OJ and soup (even if he has to get someone else to make it LOL) He is an AWESOME man and I hate that he is gone I miss him so much!
So today I am having a slightly rough slightly productive day! I have done really awesome at catching up on the laundry that I have been neglecting til I ran out of onsies for the baby LOL! (Bad mom I know!) But All of the baby and kid laundry is put away and I am working on mine (by working on it I mean the washing and drying are taking place and the putting away may commence when it is all clean and dry LOL) I got my kitchen and living room cleaned and the toy room looks like the cleaning fairy did her job the only thing I did not get done is sweeping and mopping and the backyard (which would probably be a good idea to do while I can't smell anything LOL!!!) It is rough cause I miss him and I just wanna lay on the couch and be sick with him here to take care of the things I don't feel like taking care of because I am sick! To just be able to sleep and not have to wake up at the butt crack o dawn because Addi pooped in her sleep and it woke her up (my kid is weird!!!) and now she wants to kick at 3am! Ugghhh I just want life to be simple and normal again! I detest seeing happy couples all around me cause it makes me ridiculously jealous and I wanna SCREAM!!!!!!! Please Just send him home safely and make this deployment go faster!
Even through all of the sickies miss Cam was still able to attend her weekly swim lessons and has flourished! She is doing so good at it as soon as I can I will post her swimming pictures (cause of course I have taken a bunch!) But for now since I have dosed myself with some Tylenol Sinus and Robitussin I am taking my sickly self to bed! I will update again soon!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
An update and new family pictures!!
Well Ernie is on the airplane heading back to MS and then he will go from there to the final destination till he comes back home to me! I am super sad and Cami went to drop him off with me (Addi stayed at home with a friend) that was horrible... she was not happy about him leaving! Heading off to bed though (hopefully sleep will come easy) Here are some pictures from our portrait session! 
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday at the table!!
It has been a really long time since I posted one of these but the problem is I haven't found anything spectacular that I deamed worthy of sharing! But then I found this wonderful recipe for some healthy lasagna on the foodnetwork.com. Let me just say that I LOVE that website!!
Better Beef Lasagna
12 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles (15 noodles)
8 ounces lean ground beef (90 percent lean or higher)
2 teaspoons olive oil
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, diced (about 3 large mushroom caps)
4 cups good quality store-bought marinara sauce
1 (15 ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3 ounces grated part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 2/3 cup)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook the noodles al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain them well then lay out on waxed paper to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate, discarding any fat remaining in the pan.
Add the oil to the same pan and heat over a medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has evaporated and they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan. Stir in 2 cups of the tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, the salt, the pepper and nutmeg.
Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top, touching but not overlapping. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles. Add another layer of noodles. Top with half the beef-mushroom mixture. Repeat with another layer of noodles, then remaining cheese mixture, more noodles, then remaining beef mixture and finally 1 more layer of noodles. Top the final layer of noodles with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the grated cheeses. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.
12 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles (15 noodles)
8 ounces lean ground beef (90 percent lean or higher)
2 teaspoons olive oil
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, diced (about 3 large mushroom caps)
4 cups good quality store-bought marinara sauce
1 (15 ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3 ounces grated part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 2/3 cup)
DirectionsPreheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook the noodles al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain them well then lay out on waxed paper to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate, discarding any fat remaining in the pan.
Add the oil to the same pan and heat over a medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has evaporated and they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan. Stir in 2 cups of the tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, the salt, the pepper and nutmeg.
Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top, touching but not overlapping. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles. Add another layer of noodles. Top with half the beef-mushroom mixture. Repeat with another layer of noodles, then remaining cheese mixture, more noodles, then remaining beef mixture and finally 1 more layer of noodles. Top the final layer of noodles with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the grated cheeses. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
He is home...
He has made it home safe and sound from his IA training! We have 10days and then he will be gone again so I will try to post some while He is home but I make no promises! I thought I would share the video of him being OC Sprayed (pepper spray) with the rest of his battalion. This video is of Ernie only but I have another compilation video I will add later that has everyone in his battalion being sprayed and it is dubbed to some music by Disturbed!
Looking all cute in the New Easter outfit The Bunny brought her!!
Addi Playing outside in the pooh walker 
Yummy squash! I love the expressions she makes while she eats! They are priceless!
And since I am adding the video of my love I figure some of you would love to see some new pics of my munchkins! 
Living in Hawaii if we don't wash out the trashcan regularly year round it will start to REEK!! So Cam wanted to be a big girl and help me with the yucky chore! 
Looking all cute in the New Easter outfit The Bunny brought her!!
Addi Playing outside in the pooh walker Yummy squash! I love the expressions she makes while she eats! They are priceless!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
UGH Life at it's best!
So I know I keep telling everyone that I will post more and then I am still at the same point I was and if anything have gotten worse about Posting! I have a couple of awards out there to pass on but to be honest right now I am not going to pass them on tonight! I am sorry to those who have awarded me but I am just not able to pass them at this point! I have probably been the worst blogger friend in the whole wide world recently! I apologize to all of you for not stopping by to comment I haven't even been reading my google reader (which is bad since I get that on my cell phone!)
These past few weeks i have been struggling with my role as mommy! I have not had the energy to do much of anything and I feel horrible! I feel as if I have been neglecting my duties as a mom because I have been neglecting myself! I have not allowed myself any me time! If I have ventured anywhere outside of my home it is with the girls and I feel the stress building! The sad thing is I have offers of people who are willing to watch my fussy, teething 6month old and my whinny not listening to anyone, think I can do as I please 3yr old! I am just afraid to let them and be embarrassed if she is as horrible there as she has been at home!
I am just glad that the first leg of this thing is almost over and he will be home again soon if even for only a few days! I think it is the pick me up that I need! I have missed him terribly and I think it may have shown via my blog and I am sorry for that friends! I apreciate all of the help and support you have all provided for me please don't give up hope on me yet!
So this summer I am planning on enrolling Cami in a couple of outdoor activities that I think will help her at home as well as getting the energy out! Swim Lessons start soon and I am planning on being the first one in the door that day! I want to take a Mommy and me class with Addisyn and miss no fear herself needs the lessons so if she ever decides (again) to just jump in unsupervised I can have a little bit of sanity knowing that she knows how to swim! I swear she will be the death of me if we don't find a positive oulet for all of her energy! And I want to encourage her to continue to be athletic. I never really was struggle with weight and self confidence issues now!
Addisyn is doing good she is almost 7months now and I can't beleive it! We are trying to cut in our bottom two teeth and they don't seem to wanna come through! We are having an issue with weight gain and the Dr and I are on top of it! The Dr is thinking that I am just not making enough breastmilk to sustain her so I have been on Reglan and pumping between feedings to help increase my milk supply and it is seeming to work a little but it doesn't seem to be as well as we were expecting! I am kinda close to excepting that I may have to supplement with formula I am just trying to hold on to nursing for as long as possible! My goal was atleast 1 year but if she self weaned before that I would be ok with it! As long as she is happy and developmentally on track I will try not to worry to much!It helps a little that we go back to the Dr. in the morning for a weight check so hopefully things will be looking up!
I will try to keep everyone up to date on how things are going but once again I will make no promises and I will try to get those Awards passed on soon!!! Thanks everyone for bearing with me!!
These past few weeks i have been struggling with my role as mommy! I have not had the energy to do much of anything and I feel horrible! I feel as if I have been neglecting my duties as a mom because I have been neglecting myself! I have not allowed myself any me time! If I have ventured anywhere outside of my home it is with the girls and I feel the stress building! The sad thing is I have offers of people who are willing to watch my fussy, teething 6month old and my whinny not listening to anyone, think I can do as I please 3yr old! I am just afraid to let them and be embarrassed if she is as horrible there as she has been at home!
I am just glad that the first leg of this thing is almost over and he will be home again soon if even for only a few days! I think it is the pick me up that I need! I have missed him terribly and I think it may have shown via my blog and I am sorry for that friends! I apreciate all of the help and support you have all provided for me please don't give up hope on me yet!
So this summer I am planning on enrolling Cami in a couple of outdoor activities that I think will help her at home as well as getting the energy out! Swim Lessons start soon and I am planning on being the first one in the door that day! I want to take a Mommy and me class with Addisyn and miss no fear herself needs the lessons so if she ever decides (again) to just jump in unsupervised I can have a little bit of sanity knowing that she knows how to swim! I swear she will be the death of me if we don't find a positive oulet for all of her energy! And I want to encourage her to continue to be athletic. I never really was struggle with weight and self confidence issues now!
Addisyn is doing good she is almost 7months now and I can't beleive it! We are trying to cut in our bottom two teeth and they don't seem to wanna come through! We are having an issue with weight gain and the Dr and I are on top of it! The Dr is thinking that I am just not making enough breastmilk to sustain her so I have been on Reglan and pumping between feedings to help increase my milk supply and it is seeming to work a little but it doesn't seem to be as well as we were expecting! I am kinda close to excepting that I may have to supplement with formula I am just trying to hold on to nursing for as long as possible! My goal was atleast 1 year but if she self weaned before that I would be ok with it! As long as she is happy and developmentally on track I will try not to worry to much!It helps a little that we go back to the Dr. in the morning for a weight check so hopefully things will be looking up!
I will try to keep everyone up to date on how things are going but once again I will make no promises and I will try to get those Awards passed on soon!!! Thanks everyone for bearing with me!!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Slack...
Slack
The best word to describe my blogging habits lately!! I promise I will be working on it but I have been working on my house instead! So as soon as I get my house back into shape and at a maintainable level I will have a little more time on my hands to do things such as blog and peruse the Internet for fabulous items! But for now I will be keeping my postings to a bare minimum so that those who know and love me and my family will know that we are OK and still alive! These postings will probably be coming with an accompanyment of a Tuesday @ the table and/ or my photography entries!
So other than us being alive their has been nothing fabulous or interesting to report this week! Ernie is doing well in MS and learning lots of fun new things! Cami has been a great big pill of a three year old this past week! Everything she has done has been whiney, disruptive, and destructive!! Needless to say she has spent a lot of time in her room and has had her butt popped a few times these past few weeks! I am at a loss for what to do with her anymore! She is stressing me out! And try as I may I can't seem to bring myself to take her out to do fun things if she can not behave at home!
Addisyn on the other hand is doing very well so far i can not beleive she is turning 6 months old already! She has started eatin baby food and cereal. Her diet now consists of ...
Boob Juice (lol)
rice cereal
Oatmeal cereal
Green beans
Sweet potatoes
And we are going to keep gradually adding to it! She loves her food no matter what it is! I am just hoping that when we go into her 6month Well check she has gained a little bit of weight because that was a concern at our last appt! I myself am not overly concerned with it because at this point with Cami weight gain was very little! Her growth didn't kick it up till after she hit a year old! So we will see how things go!!
I am doing ok! I developed a Stye under my left eyelid at the beginning of the week so I have had a swollen eye all week! And it is finally going away! As far as how I am feeling it is a little bit better I have gotten out of the house a couple of times with the children and then I have been able to escape for shorter amounts of time with out them! I will survive this is all I keep telling myself! I know I can it is just a matter of finding my groove! Once I find that I think I will be ok! Any advice on how to find it? Ugh I hate to keep asking that question I just am having trouble this time! Though I was thinking about it and maybe I am having trouble finding it because I know the rollercoaster will just be starting all over again when he leaves after his I-stop! Thanks everyone for listening and being there for me! It really means a lot to me!!
( This is a post that I have been working on for a week and thought I posted LOL! So expect another one soon LOL)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Another week down
Things are OK on the home front here just seeming a little tedious! I feel like everything is piled against the door and I can't push through! Nothing is really wrong, matter of fact minus the housework that I can't seem to get the energy to get behind and get done, everything is going great! I just can't seem to shake that feeling that my world is about to collapse around me! I know part of it is a depression trying to settle in and i am fighting it hard! The thing is I have a history of depression and am not proud to say that at 14 I hit an all time low! I tried to kill myself! Since then I have been on many different medications and only a couple of them have worked! Unfortunately when treating "mental" issues it is a trial and error when it comes to finding the right medication (or a combination of!) Well before I found out I was pregnant with Cami we had finally found the perfect combination to keep my issues in check and unfortunately it was not safe to continue taking while i was pregnant and nursing! Needless to say I did not go back on the medications after Cami's first year (we were trying for Addisyn) and have not been on any stabilizers since! Some days I wish for the even keel that I had before I had Cami! Now it is an emotional roller coaster and though I am no where near that place I was at 14, there are many days where I just don't want to even get out of bed! I know it would probably help me to go back on something but i enjoy nursing my child! The bond that I have with both of my girls is amazing and a lot of that is (IMHO) attributed to the fact that I nurse(d) them! And unfortunately the only mood stabilizer that is "safe" for pregnancy and nursing is Prozac and that has been tried on many different levels and just is not the right choice for me! I am at a loss of where I want to/ need to go with this! Please everyone know that I am truly OK (I have just hit this part of the deployment cycle and am trying to climb out) and I know where my point of breaking is and I will never allow myself to get there again!! I just wish there were an answer that could help with out me feeling like I am depriving my child of the healthiest thing for her! Monday Morning I will be calling to talk to my PCM about getting my referral to go back to counseling and maybe there is some new break through medication that is safe to take! If anyone has any suggestions for natural mood stabilizers please feel free to suggest! I have used St. John's Wort in the past and am not sure if it is safe while nursing or not so I haven't tried and I need to do some more research on things! Thank you all for all of the support that has been given over the past few weeks it means sooo much to me and my family!
So ok onto better things!! Addisyn is almost 6months old already and it truly seems like just yesterday I was going into surgery to give birth!!! We have started using a sippy cup (just water for now!) She loves to sit in her exersaucer and play! She still has beautiful blue eyes (I am totally jealous) and a smile that (even behind a binky) lights up my world (and anyone else who is privlidged enough to see it!) She is rolling over constantly and trying to get her knees up under her i feel she may start crawling before Cami did! though Cami was an Army crawl baby!
Cami is doing well she is getting better with the discipline issues that we had been having! Implementing a more routine focused schedule is helping quite a bit! But we still have a long way to go til she is back on the schedule she was in VA! Man I wish I could go back to that time with her! She has quickly become a speed demon on her bicycle and a daredevil as well! She has started standing and peddleing like the big kids do! She scares me and I do beleive I need to get her in some sort of sport as soon as I can so that i can encourage that constant scheduled activity! She needs it and I think she will excel at sports with how advanced she is in her motor skills!
Ernie is doing ok in MS! We are both realizing that this isn't going to be as easy as we thought it was going to be! By no means did we think it was going to be a cake walk but it hurts to be away from him knowing that it is for such an extended period of time! The most difficult thing so far has been the time change and the time constraints that we each have! With me here with 2 small children to care for I can't drop everything when he calls! And he is in training all day so he doesn't have the liberty of calling when it is convinent for me! So we pretty much are trying to figure that out! though watch as soon as we figure it out he will be coming home for his I stop LOL!!!
So in a nutshell that is our lives at this point! Keep an Eye out for this weeks I <3 faces week 11 post as I attempt to compare with some of the amazing photographers on this site in their weekly contest this week the theme is NO FLASH!! If you are interested check them out and give it a whirl!
So ok onto better things!! Addisyn is almost 6months old already and it truly seems like just yesterday I was going into surgery to give birth!!! We have started using a sippy cup (just water for now!) She loves to sit in her exersaucer and play! She still has beautiful blue eyes (I am totally jealous) and a smile that (even behind a binky) lights up my world (and anyone else who is privlidged enough to see it!) She is rolling over constantly and trying to get her knees up under her i feel she may start crawling before Cami did! though Cami was an Army crawl baby!
Cami is doing well she is getting better with the discipline issues that we had been having! Implementing a more routine focused schedule is helping quite a bit! But we still have a long way to go til she is back on the schedule she was in VA! Man I wish I could go back to that time with her! She has quickly become a speed demon on her bicycle and a daredevil as well! She has started standing and peddleing like the big kids do! She scares me and I do beleive I need to get her in some sort of sport as soon as I can so that i can encourage that constant scheduled activity! She needs it and I think she will excel at sports with how advanced she is in her motor skills!
Ernie is doing ok in MS! We are both realizing that this isn't going to be as easy as we thought it was going to be! By no means did we think it was going to be a cake walk but it hurts to be away from him knowing that it is for such an extended period of time! The most difficult thing so far has been the time change and the time constraints that we each have! With me here with 2 small children to care for I can't drop everything when he calls! And he is in training all day so he doesn't have the liberty of calling when it is convinent for me! So we pretty much are trying to figure that out! though watch as soon as we figure it out he will be coming home for his I stop LOL!!!
So in a nutshell that is our lives at this point! Keep an Eye out for this weeks I <3 faces week 11 post as I attempt to compare with some of the amazing photographers on this site in their weekly contest this week the theme is NO FLASH!! If you are interested check them out and give it a whirl!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A great weekend
For once I really don't have much to say (though I am sure I will find more to say LOL), this weekend was pretty chill around here!
A quick update on my neighbor...
His surgery went well they were able to remove the entirety of the mass in his bladder, though it took a little longer and was a little more intricate than the doctors had anticipated! He had some small issues after and wound up having to go back in to repair some small areas that were still bleeding! but is now in full recovery mode from the surgery! They released him from the hospital today and as far as I know he is on the road to recovery but only time will tell so please no matter what your religion or beliefs please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers, as they are going to need many as he battles through this!!
Ernie is doing well in Mississippi! He has had some great accomplishments this past week. And even though I would love to share those with everyone but I don't think it is good for me to share them with the Internet considering the job he is going to do!! I know I say this a lot but the pride that I feel for the man I married is indescribable!! My sun, my moon and my eternity!!
Addisyn had an ultrasound this past week Tuesday on a knot that developed after she was born on the back of her head! I had taken her in for her 4month well baby and addressed it and was told that it was a lymph node. That diagnoses was not sat in my book it just seemed like the dr was giving me a quick answer to get rid of me (I HATE when a Doctor does that!!! HELLO we are mom for a reason Listen to us when we have a concern!!) Well of course I didn't take that answer and 2 days later at Cami's 3 year check up I addressed the issue with her (Cami's) PCM (Primary Care Manager for those non military types reading). He was AWESOME He totally agreed that the feel of it was wrong for it to be a lymph node and immediatly suggested taking a look with and ultrasound! Well the radiologist came in and informed me that it is not a lymph node but a Subdermal Syst that is creating a scalloped indention on the plate of her skull! So now the next step is to have an MRI done and a consult with Neuro surgery! So I will keep everyone posted on the happenings of that! though I have already been told that it is going to have to be removed. How much truth was behind that I am unsure of so we will see!
Cami is beginning to handle Ernie being gone a lot better we got the Deployment DVD from Militaryonesource and it has been a godsend!! Though the whining has yet to be curbed so I am asking for some help here any advice that can be offered I am open too!! Though she has hit another fabulous childhood Milestone and I am so proud of her!! for her 3rd birthday one of her big momy and daddy gifts was a new bike (just a little 12in) and My baby girl can now ride...
WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS!!!!
It took about an hour but she can do it with absolutely no help whatsoever and I couldn't be more proud!! She is now the youngest in our neighborhood riding without them and it took her about an hour to completely get it! Though she has already given me a mild heart attack with it LOL!! She is so advanced when it comes to stuff like this and I can't wait to tell her Doctor about this LOL!! I will post some pictures soon but I gota couple of new toys last week that I am working on getting completely figured out so bear with me and keep checking back to this post and I will get them up ASAP!!
I am the proud new owner of my first lap top!!! snf I sm committing all of my pictures and music to an external drive so it will take me a bit to figure out what I am in need of doing!
Well Addisyn is awake and hungry so I need to assist her and get some rest myself! TTFN!!
Keri*Alane
A quick update on my neighbor...
His surgery went well they were able to remove the entirety of the mass in his bladder, though it took a little longer and was a little more intricate than the doctors had anticipated! He had some small issues after and wound up having to go back in to repair some small areas that were still bleeding! but is now in full recovery mode from the surgery! They released him from the hospital today and as far as I know he is on the road to recovery but only time will tell so please no matter what your religion or beliefs please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers, as they are going to need many as he battles through this!!
Ernie is doing well in Mississippi! He has had some great accomplishments this past week. And even though I would love to share those with everyone but I don't think it is good for me to share them with the Internet considering the job he is going to do!! I know I say this a lot but the pride that I feel for the man I married is indescribable!! My sun, my moon and my eternity!!
Addisyn had an ultrasound this past week Tuesday on a knot that developed after she was born on the back of her head! I had taken her in for her 4month well baby and addressed it and was told that it was a lymph node. That diagnoses was not sat in my book it just seemed like the dr was giving me a quick answer to get rid of me (I HATE when a Doctor does that!!! HELLO we are mom for a reason Listen to us when we have a concern!!) Well of course I didn't take that answer and 2 days later at Cami's 3 year check up I addressed the issue with her (Cami's) PCM (Primary Care Manager for those non military types reading). He was AWESOME He totally agreed that the feel of it was wrong for it to be a lymph node and immediatly suggested taking a look with and ultrasound! Well the radiologist came in and informed me that it is not a lymph node but a Subdermal Syst that is creating a scalloped indention on the plate of her skull! So now the next step is to have an MRI done and a consult with Neuro surgery! So I will keep everyone posted on the happenings of that! though I have already been told that it is going to have to be removed. How much truth was behind that I am unsure of so we will see!
Cami is beginning to handle Ernie being gone a lot better we got the Deployment DVD from Militaryonesource and it has been a godsend!! Though the whining has yet to be curbed so I am asking for some help here any advice that can be offered I am open too!! Though she has hit another fabulous childhood Milestone and I am so proud of her!! for her 3rd birthday one of her big momy and daddy gifts was a new bike (just a little 12in) and My baby girl can now ride...
WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS!!!!
It took about an hour but she can do it with absolutely no help whatsoever and I couldn't be more proud!! She is now the youngest in our neighborhood riding without them and it took her about an hour to completely get it! Though she has already given me a mild heart attack with it LOL!! She is so advanced when it comes to stuff like this and I can't wait to tell her Doctor about this LOL!! I will post some pictures soon but I gota couple of new toys last week that I am working on getting completely figured out so bear with me and keep checking back to this post and I will get them up ASAP!!
I am the proud new owner of my first lap top!!! snf I sm committing all of my pictures and music to an external drive so it will take me a bit to figure out what I am in need of doing!
Well Addisyn is awake and hungry so I need to assist her and get some rest myself! TTFN!!
Keri*Alane
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A lot and nothing!
Well there has been a lot and nothing all at the same time going on here in paradise, one may just say a lot of nothing!!! This past week I have just been reflecting on things and wondering where life will take us next and what it will throw at us next!!
We have mad many new friends (and retained some old ones) when we returned to Hawaii and by far the ones I am closest too are going through heartache right now and I don't know how to fix it! Last Monday he was not feeling very well (urinating Blood) and so he went into the ER. They did the routine checks and then they dug deeper (thank god for those who are willing to dig deeper!!) and found a mass in his bladder! 2days and a biopsy later he has a diagnosis of bladder cancer! The youngest documented case! Well he had surgery on Tuesday and is doing ok from it but doesn't wish to have any visitors (completely understandable considering the situation)! In all honestly I know there is nothing I can do except be a shoulder and make some food and stuff but I want to do more!!! And it hurts not to be able to help them the way I want to be able to!!
We have mad many new friends (and retained some old ones) when we returned to Hawaii and by far the ones I am closest too are going through heartache right now and I don't know how to fix it! Last Monday he was not feeling very well (urinating Blood) and so he went into the ER. They did the routine checks and then they dug deeper (thank god for those who are willing to dig deeper!!) and found a mass in his bladder! 2days and a biopsy later he has a diagnosis of bladder cancer! The youngest documented case! Well he had surgery on Tuesday and is doing ok from it but doesn't wish to have any visitors (completely understandable considering the situation)! In all honestly I know there is nothing I can do except be a shoulder and make some food and stuff but I want to do more!!! And it hurts not to be able to help them the way I want to be able to!!
Last Monday I got a very special package at the airport, our dog Rambo! The adjustment phase with Princess isn't going as well as I would like it to but it is a slow process! they can be out together for short amounts of time but then they get a little rambunctious! He was very missed in his transition from Virginia to Hawaii!!
So some exciting news! I got another award from an awesome bloggy friend!
The Tea Cup blogger award from USS Retired!!
"This award may be passed to ONLY ONE! We all have that ONE blog that we look forward to every single day whether it's updated every day or not; that ONE blog that reaches to the depths of our soul; this is the ONE deserving of the "Tea Cup Blogger" Award. So -- because your blogging warms my soul like a hot cup of tea, you are deserving of this very special honor ... "
I have quite a few blogs that I follow and it was hard to choose! But I wanted to pick someone who hasn't yet received it and has always been a great bloggy friend!! One day we will totally have to get some tea (from starbucks of course) together!!
Andrea over at My chihuahua Bites!!
So I am heading off to bed and will be back around (hopefully) tomorrow!
Monday, March 9, 2009
I <3 Faces Week 9
So I totally enjoyed last weeks contest at I <3 Faces and am very proud to say that my first time up I was able to place in the top ten for the adults contest!!! Check upcoming update posts to hear more about me raving about this blog!!!! And everyone please I am totally open to constructive criticism!!! Comment comment comment!!!
This photo was creatively cropped in the picture taking phase! My husband relaxing after a long day watching our daughter play with the kids in the neighborhood! I cleaned it up a little (with the best of my ability at this point) using photoshop 7!
This is the original! My baby girl Addisyn loves the Peanut shell sling I have and I was trying to capture her comfort in it (though she doesn't look very happy at the moment!) I took it utilizing a common method (the mirror effect LOL!!) and it turned out kinda cute! It needed some clean up and a creative cropping but I am quite happy with the after product! I just wish I knew how to make her blue eyes pop!!
This photo was creatively cropped in the picture taking phase! My husband relaxing after a long day watching our daughter play with the kids in the neighborhood! I cleaned it up a little (with the best of my ability at this point) using photoshop 7!
This is the original! My baby girl Addisyn loves the Peanut shell sling I have and I was trying to capture her comfort in it (though she doesn't look very happy at the moment!) I took it utilizing a common method (the mirror effect LOL!!) and it turned out kinda cute! It needed some clean up and a creative cropping but I am quite happy with the after product! I just wish I knew how to make her blue eyes pop!!
The after!! My creative cropping was to highlight her beautiful face! After cleaning up the image I am quite happy with the end result she looks so fresh. The only other thing I would love to do with this picture is make her beautiful blue eyes stand out because unfortunately the pictures I take do her eyes no justice!!
Well all who want to know I will have an update coming soon I promise I have not fallen off of the blogging wagon!! I have just been kinda busy and my computer just doesn't seem to like me!!! Hopefully I will have a fabulous new one very very soon!!!
Well all who want to know I will have an update coming soon I promise I have not fallen off of the blogging wagon!! I have just been kinda busy and my computer just doesn't seem to like me!!! Hopefully I will have a fabulous new one very very soon!!!
Monday, March 2, 2009
I <3 Faces
My first photography contest ever!!
This weeks theme is...
Messy Faces!!
At the last minute here I have decided to add and Adult entry as well!! One of my good friends Also known as "Uncle M" to my girls did a fabulous team thing on the Marine corps Base this past weekend called a "SWAMP ROMP" He came how a HOT mess and I was happy to snap so great pictures but this one is my FAVE!!
Messy Faces!!At the last minute here I have decided to add and Adult entry as well!! One of my good friends Also known as "Uncle M" to my girls did a fabulous team thing on the Marine corps Base this past weekend called a "SWAMP ROMP" He came how a HOT mess and I was happy to snap so great pictures but this one is my FAVE!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
1 Week down...51 to go!!!
Well I am not going to say that this week has been easy (cause it hasn't ) but I have had far worse!! I think many things have helped me through! The support of some of my fellow Blogger friends, some actual true blue friends and mainly the love and need of strength for my children. I have pulled it together like no other (IMO) I have not cried since leaving the airport last Sunday and I acknowledge that those will not be the last of my tears! In all honesty I will actually welcome them when they come because the feeling of being numb is not one I prefer!
Ernie is on the second leg of his journey and at this point he is still excited about what is to come! Though he is not thrilled with the fact that he feels like he is in boot camp again! His new accommodations in Mississippi are not what he expected...Open Bay Barracks! For those who know, know that almost all of the time in all branches open bay barracks are only used (most of the time) in boot camp! It is one thing having to share a barracks room with some one but a completely different thing all together having no privacy whatsoever! Can you imagine having to go to the bathroom and anyone walking in and doing there business at the same time?! IMO it is like having to go at a department store!! I give my husband and his new friends props because I don't think (actually I know hence why I am a civilian!!!) I could survive what they are about to do!! So I just want them to know that I am thankful and I respect what they are doing!! They are all Hero's and will always be in my eyes and the eyes of my children!!!
I am super excited because some of my favorite people are soon moving out here to beautiful (but currently on the chilly side) Hawaii!! The last command that we were with is doing a change of home port and I can't wait I am actually counting the days till I can see them again! To all my girls be prepared for a card night and a few play dates with the kids when you get here cause I have missed you all bunches!!! Nothing could be better than having the girls I loved in Virgina in one of my favorite places in the world with me!!
One of my small indulgences is going to the salon and getting pedicures! There is nothing more blissful to me than sitting in that chair and relaxing while someone else cleans, softens and decorates my feet! I went today (a small gift to myself for our anniversary!) and left there as I always do feeling slightly prettier! I am one of those girls who likes to keep my hands pretty basic (typically a french manicure or clear coat), but on my toes I like to go a little crazy! Wild vivid colors! and most of the time some sort of design! Well this time I went for a watermelon pink and cute little bright green shamrocks! I LOVE Saint Patrick's day and try to always wear something green!! I am a small part Irish and embrace that part of my heritage full on!
Nothing really exciting has been going on here in "Paradise" lately (with the exception of the weekend before Ernie's departure) though Cami has said some pretty cute things!! Tonight we ran some neighbors to the airport and hit the sub base mini mart on the way back to the house. Most know when visiting or frequenting any base there are "artifacts" (for lack of a better word) all over the base most days the small (actually quite large) torpedo's catch her eyes and we try to explain what these are in a way a small child will understand most times with little success. Well there is a very large black and white missile (at least that is what I think it is) on the way off base that caught her eye this evening! and our conversation goes as follows...
Cami~ what's that mommy?
Me~ That is a missile
Cami~ A whistle?!!! (wheels turning as she is trying to figure out how to make it make noise LOL)
Me~ No a mm-missile (sounding it out so she can work on pronunciation)
Cami~ What's a mm-missile?
Me~ something the sailors and soldiers used a long time ago to make sure the bad guys didn't hurt anyone!
Cami~ how?
Me~ (contemplating how to explain this) Well the bad guys were hurting people, like the ones daddy is going to go help, so they would send them to the moon with the missiles! (hoping this doesn't open another can of worms with her!)
Cami~ Ohh...(wheels turning again) So daddy is gonna send the bad guys to the moon with a whistle!!?!!
Me~ yes baby daddy is going to send them to the moon with a whistle (giving up at this point)
Cami~ WOW!! that's cool mommy!!~~
Why are children's questions so complicated even when it seems like the most simple of answers to an adult?! Even though we live in a military community I am trying to somewhat shelter my children from the harsh truth that lies within! I don't want them to know what a war is at 3 or that there daddy is fighting it! Maybe I should just tell the truth about it but I don't want her worrying about it! The explanation of why he was leaving when he was on ship was so much easier because she knew daddy works on a boat and the boat has to go out in the ocean! When daddy is out in the ocean he is doing his job to help the people! Other than continuing that with out the boat hoe do you explain to a 3yr old why her daddy had/has to leave her? To me that is the hardest part of the whole situation! **SIGH** Suggestions are welcome! If you have been through this and have had to explain something like this to a young child how did you do it? Cause I am at a loss!
and on that note I am off to bed!
Ernie is on the second leg of his journey and at this point he is still excited about what is to come! Though he is not thrilled with the fact that he feels like he is in boot camp again! His new accommodations in Mississippi are not what he expected...Open Bay Barracks! For those who know, know that almost all of the time in all branches open bay barracks are only used (most of the time) in boot camp! It is one thing having to share a barracks room with some one but a completely different thing all together having no privacy whatsoever! Can you imagine having to go to the bathroom and anyone walking in and doing there business at the same time?! IMO it is like having to go at a department store!! I give my husband and his new friends props because I don't think (actually I know hence why I am a civilian!!!) I could survive what they are about to do!! So I just want them to know that I am thankful and I respect what they are doing!! They are all Hero's and will always be in my eyes and the eyes of my children!!!
I am super excited because some of my favorite people are soon moving out here to beautiful (but currently on the chilly side) Hawaii!! The last command that we were with is doing a change of home port and I can't wait I am actually counting the days till I can see them again! To all my girls be prepared for a card night and a few play dates with the kids when you get here cause I have missed you all bunches!!! Nothing could be better than having the girls I loved in Virgina in one of my favorite places in the world with me!!
One of my small indulgences is going to the salon and getting pedicures! There is nothing more blissful to me than sitting in that chair and relaxing while someone else cleans, softens and decorates my feet! I went today (a small gift to myself for our anniversary!) and left there as I always do feeling slightly prettier! I am one of those girls who likes to keep my hands pretty basic (typically a french manicure or clear coat), but on my toes I like to go a little crazy! Wild vivid colors! and most of the time some sort of design! Well this time I went for a watermelon pink and cute little bright green shamrocks! I LOVE Saint Patrick's day and try to always wear something green!! I am a small part Irish and embrace that part of my heritage full on!
Nothing really exciting has been going on here in "Paradise" lately (with the exception of the weekend before Ernie's departure) though Cami has said some pretty cute things!! Tonight we ran some neighbors to the airport and hit the sub base mini mart on the way back to the house. Most know when visiting or frequenting any base there are "artifacts" (for lack of a better word) all over the base most days the small (actually quite large) torpedo's catch her eyes and we try to explain what these are in a way a small child will understand most times with little success. Well there is a very large black and white missile (at least that is what I think it is) on the way off base that caught her eye this evening! and our conversation goes as follows...
Cami~ what's that mommy?
Me~ That is a missile
Cami~ A whistle?!!! (wheels turning as she is trying to figure out how to make it make noise LOL)
Me~ No a mm-missile (sounding it out so she can work on pronunciation)
Cami~ What's a mm-missile?
Me~ something the sailors and soldiers used a long time ago to make sure the bad guys didn't hurt anyone!
Cami~ how?
Me~ (contemplating how to explain this) Well the bad guys were hurting people, like the ones daddy is going to go help, so they would send them to the moon with the missiles! (hoping this doesn't open another can of worms with her!)
Cami~ Ohh...(wheels turning again) So daddy is gonna send the bad guys to the moon with a whistle!!?!!
Me~ yes baby daddy is going to send them to the moon with a whistle (giving up at this point)
Cami~ WOW!! that's cool mommy!!~~
Why are children's questions so complicated even when it seems like the most simple of answers to an adult?! Even though we live in a military community I am trying to somewhat shelter my children from the harsh truth that lies within! I don't want them to know what a war is at 3 or that there daddy is fighting it! Maybe I should just tell the truth about it but I don't want her worrying about it! The explanation of why he was leaving when he was on ship was so much easier because she knew daddy works on a boat and the boat has to go out in the ocean! When daddy is out in the ocean he is doing his job to help the people! Other than continuing that with out the boat hoe do you explain to a 3yr old why her daddy had/has to leave her? To me that is the hardest part of the whole situation! **SIGH** Suggestions are welcome! If you have been through this and have had to explain something like this to a young child how did you do it? Cause I am at a loss!
and on that note I am off to bed!
An updated look
Well Spring is in the air and even though I feel like I am freezing (laugh if you will my mother does cause she is in Alaska!!) my tush off, I know there are others out there who really are in need of a touch of spring! So I paid another visit to Cutest Blog on the Block (the ladies there are so creative and have some cute DIY tutorials on how to fashion there creativity into your own!) I am so not disappointed! One day I will have someone (probably Miss Becca) make me my own layout but for now till I can muster the creative energy to figure out what I want, these will ave to do! I would love to learn how to completely make my own but I would need someone standing beside me taking me step by step through how to do everything! Let me know what every one thinks of the new look!!! I am off to bed!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
A funny email
I have received this a couple of times over but never really paid it any attention til Ernie printed it out and brought it home one day!
28 Ways to Simulate Being in the Navy While at Home
1. Lock all friends and family outside. Your only means of communication should be with letters that your neighbors have held for atleast 3 weeks and have discarded 2 of the 5.
2. Surround yourself with 200 people that you don't really know or like: people who smoke, snore like Mac trucks going uphill, ad use foul language like a child uses sugar on cereal.
3.Unplug all radio's and TV's to completely cut yourself off from the outside world. Have a neighbor bring you a Time, Newsweek, or Proceedings from 5 years ago to keep you abreast on current events.
4.Monitor all home appliances hourly recording all vital information (IE: plugged in, lights come on when doors open, etc...)
5. Do not flush the toilet for 5days to simulate the smell of 40 people using one toilet.
6. Lock the bathroom twice a day for a four hour period.
7. Wear only military uniforms. Even though nobody cares, clean and press one dress uniform and wear it for 20 minutes.
8. Cut your hair weekly, making it shorter each time, until you look either bald or like you lost a fight with a demented sheep.
9. Work in 19 hour cycles, sleeping only 4 hours at a time, to ensure that the body does not know or even care if it is night or day.
10. Listen to your favorite CD 6 times a day for 2 weeks then play music that causes acute nausea until you are glad to listen to your favorite CD again
11. Cut a twin mattress in half and enclose 3sides of your bed. Add a roof that prevents you from sitting up (about 10 inches is a good distance) then place it on a platform that is 4feet off of the floor. Place a small dead animal uder the bed to simulate the smell of your bunkmates socks.
12. Set your alarm to go off at 10 minte intervals for the first hour of sleep to simulate the various times the watch standers and nightcrew bump around and wake you up. Place your bed on a rocking table to ensure you are tossed around the remaining 3 hours. Make use of a custom clock that randomly simulates fire alarms, police sirens, helicopter crash and a new wave rock band.
13. Have week old fruit and vegetables delivered to your garage and wait 2 weeks before eating them.
14. Prepare all meals blindfolded using all of the spices you can grope for, or none at all. Remove the blind fold and eat everything in 3 minutes.
15. Periodically, shut off all power at the main breaker and run around shouting "Fire, Fire, Fire" and then restore power.
16. At least once a month, force the commode to overflow to simulate a "black water system" boo-boo.
17. Buy a gas mask and smear it with rancid animal fat. scrub the face shield with steel wool until you can no longer see out of it. Wear this for 2hours every fifth day especially when you are in the bathroom.
18. Study the owner's manual for all household appliances. Routinely take appliances apart and put it back together.
19. Remove all plants, pictures, and decorations. Paint everything gray, white,or the shade of hospital smocks.
20. Buy 50 cases of toilet paper and lock up all but 2 rolls. ensure that 1 of these 2 is wet at all times.
21. Smash your forehead or shins with a hammer every 2 days to simulate collision injuries sustained on board Navy ships.
22. When making sandwiches, leave the bread out for 6 days, or until it is hard and stale.
23. Every 10 weeks simulate a visit to another port. Go directly to the slums of the city wearing your best clothes. Find the worst looking place and ask for the most expensive beer, drink as many as you can in 4 hours. Take a cab home, taking the longest route possible. Tip the cabby after he charges you double because you dress funny and don't speak right.
24. Use fresh milk for only 2 days after you leave port.
25. Keep the bedroom thermostat at 2 deg C and use only a thin blanket for warmth.
26.Ensure that the water heater is connected to a device that provides water at a flow rate that varies from a fast drip to a weak trickle, with temperature alternating from -2 to 95 deg C.
27. Use only spoons that hold a minimum of 1/2cup at a time.
28. Repaint the interior of your home every month whether it needs it or not.
28 Ways to Simulate Being in the Navy While at Home
1. Lock all friends and family outside. Your only means of communication should be with letters that your neighbors have held for atleast 3 weeks and have discarded 2 of the 5.
2. Surround yourself with 200 people that you don't really know or like: people who smoke, snore like Mac trucks going uphill, ad use foul language like a child uses sugar on cereal.
3.Unplug all radio's and TV's to completely cut yourself off from the outside world. Have a neighbor bring you a Time, Newsweek, or Proceedings from 5 years ago to keep you abreast on current events.
4.Monitor all home appliances hourly recording all vital information (IE: plugged in, lights come on when doors open, etc...)
5. Do not flush the toilet for 5days to simulate the smell of 40 people using one toilet.
6. Lock the bathroom twice a day for a four hour period.
7. Wear only military uniforms. Even though nobody cares, clean and press one dress uniform and wear it for 20 minutes.
8. Cut your hair weekly, making it shorter each time, until you look either bald or like you lost a fight with a demented sheep.
9. Work in 19 hour cycles, sleeping only 4 hours at a time, to ensure that the body does not know or even care if it is night or day.
10. Listen to your favorite CD 6 times a day for 2 weeks then play music that causes acute nausea until you are glad to listen to your favorite CD again
11. Cut a twin mattress in half and enclose 3sides of your bed. Add a roof that prevents you from sitting up (about 10 inches is a good distance) then place it on a platform that is 4feet off of the floor. Place a small dead animal uder the bed to simulate the smell of your bunkmates socks.
12. Set your alarm to go off at 10 minte intervals for the first hour of sleep to simulate the various times the watch standers and nightcrew bump around and wake you up. Place your bed on a rocking table to ensure you are tossed around the remaining 3 hours. Make use of a custom clock that randomly simulates fire alarms, police sirens, helicopter crash and a new wave rock band.
13. Have week old fruit and vegetables delivered to your garage and wait 2 weeks before eating them.
14. Prepare all meals blindfolded using all of the spices you can grope for, or none at all. Remove the blind fold and eat everything in 3 minutes.
15. Periodically, shut off all power at the main breaker and run around shouting "Fire, Fire, Fire" and then restore power.
16. At least once a month, force the commode to overflow to simulate a "black water system" boo-boo.
17. Buy a gas mask and smear it with rancid animal fat. scrub the face shield with steel wool until you can no longer see out of it. Wear this for 2hours every fifth day especially when you are in the bathroom.
18. Study the owner's manual for all household appliances. Routinely take appliances apart and put it back together.
19. Remove all plants, pictures, and decorations. Paint everything gray, white,or the shade of hospital smocks.
20. Buy 50 cases of toilet paper and lock up all but 2 rolls. ensure that 1 of these 2 is wet at all times.
21. Smash your forehead or shins with a hammer every 2 days to simulate collision injuries sustained on board Navy ships.
22. When making sandwiches, leave the bread out for 6 days, or until it is hard and stale.
23. Every 10 weeks simulate a visit to another port. Go directly to the slums of the city wearing your best clothes. Find the worst looking place and ask for the most expensive beer, drink as many as you can in 4 hours. Take a cab home, taking the longest route possible. Tip the cabby after he charges you double because you dress funny and don't speak right.
24. Use fresh milk for only 2 days after you leave port.
25. Keep the bedroom thermostat at 2 deg C and use only a thin blanket for warmth.
26.Ensure that the water heater is connected to a device that provides water at a flow rate that varies from a fast drip to a weak trickle, with temperature alternating from -2 to 95 deg C.
27. Use only spoons that hold a minimum of 1/2cup at a time.
28. Repaint the interior of your home every month whether it needs it or not.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Well he is gone...
And I am sad (of course who else saw that coming)! I miss him horribly and I know things will get easier as I fall in to routine but right now I am avoiding bed because I don't wanna go with out him (eventually I will have to but right this minute isn't the time LOL). He arrived at his destination and I was able to talk to him on the phone and via web cam, which is more than most get and I am blessed but it was heartbreaking! He is not holding very well! He is very sad and upset because of leaving us! I don't think he expected it to hit him this badly and I understand that but it hurts to know that he is second guessing the decision that "we" made! His motives for this are right! This is a move that will potentially help to forward his career and better himself! He is doing right by his country and most of all his family! In my eyes and more importantly his girls eyes he is and always will be a hero! He is doing this to help protect our country from those who want to dictate what we do and what we stand for as Americans!!! I have told him this and I think he is doing better I just wish I could send him some sort of motivational thing to make him see that what he is doing is ok!! **SIGH**
To see him hurt makes me hurt even more!
This deployment is greatly unknown territory for us! For those that know he is on a Submarine (typically, technically we are on what the Navy calls shore duty right now) A deployment on a sub is no easy feat I am sure! Imagine being on a boat under the water with the same 150people for 6mnths with minimal contact with the real world! I got a really funny email a while back I will have to see if I can find it and share LOL! We were lucky to have email and I know some wives who are seasoned enough to know what a submarine deployment was like with out email! (And a lot of the times the lesser seasoned of us can tell you what it is like also!) I know a deployment is a deployment know matter what branch of the military you are in, but as much as they are the same they are all so different (even one to another). I guess what I am trying to say is that I just don't know what to expect anymore this is ground we have never covered! At least with a regular (submarine) deployment I know what to expect! Unknown territory for me (and I am pretty much sure anyone else out there) is extremely scary and I don't care for the unexpected!
He and I as a couple a this point are fine and holding steady (no unexpected real fights have emerged before he left). Individually we are holding, not great but not horrible, as best as xan be expected at less than 24hours really! The one I was most worried about wsa Cami! And She is a TROOPER let me tell you as I walked through the airport shoulders shaking people staring sobbing my little momma was trying to tell me it would be ok from the front of the stretch limo (aka double stroller) as we walked past complete strangers she would tell them it is ok my mommy is just sad right now! I felt so proud and even more depressed at the same time! It is, in my opinion, my job to keep her strong! Not the other way around how did my precious baby girl become so incredable right before my eyes and me never even see it coming! **SIGH**
OK so my eyes are starting to fail me and as much as I am not ready to go to bed alone I am headed there!! Another **SIGH** and I will sign off for the evening (morning actually!) Stay tuned for a post later on about my Super awesome Valentines Swap package and how my baby girl's 3rd birthday goes!
To see him hurt makes me hurt even more!
This deployment is greatly unknown territory for us! For those that know he is on a Submarine (typically, technically we are on what the Navy calls shore duty right now) A deployment on a sub is no easy feat I am sure! Imagine being on a boat under the water with the same 150people for 6mnths with minimal contact with the real world! I got a really funny email a while back I will have to see if I can find it and share LOL! We were lucky to have email and I know some wives who are seasoned enough to know what a submarine deployment was like with out email! (And a lot of the times the lesser seasoned of us can tell you what it is like also!) I know a deployment is a deployment know matter what branch of the military you are in, but as much as they are the same they are all so different (even one to another). I guess what I am trying to say is that I just don't know what to expect anymore this is ground we have never covered! At least with a regular (submarine) deployment I know what to expect! Unknown territory for me (and I am pretty much sure anyone else out there) is extremely scary and I don't care for the unexpected!
He and I as a couple a this point are fine and holding steady (no unexpected real fights have emerged before he left). Individually we are holding, not great but not horrible, as best as xan be expected at less than 24hours really! The one I was most worried about wsa Cami! And She is a TROOPER let me tell you as I walked through the airport shoulders shaking people staring sobbing my little momma was trying to tell me it would be ok from the front of the stretch limo (aka double stroller) as we walked past complete strangers she would tell them it is ok my mommy is just sad right now! I felt so proud and even more depressed at the same time! It is, in my opinion, my job to keep her strong! Not the other way around how did my precious baby girl become so incredable right before my eyes and me never even see it coming! **SIGH**
OK so my eyes are starting to fail me and as much as I am not ready to go to bed alone I am headed there!! Another **SIGH** and I will sign off for the evening (morning actually!) Stay tuned for a post later on about my Super awesome Valentines Swap package and how my baby girl's 3rd birthday goes!
Friday, February 20, 2009
I got my Valentine's Swap Box!!!
And It is fabulous! Ashley over at Chris Bliss did a great Job and I loved it! This girl is CRAFTY!! She sent me a small version of her DIY Project and it is SUPER cute I really needed something to dress up my desk a bit! She also sent super super cute bows for the girls! And one of my favorite movies is hers as well!! So here are the pictures of my package and all of it's goodies!!! Thank you Ashley and Andrea for a great swap!! It was so much fun I can't wait to do it again!!!
What I saw when I opened the box!
What I saw when I opened the box!
I Officially LOVE big Sunglasses!!!
I have never found any of the Jackie O style that I thought looked good on me and Ashley found the best pair ever! (Thank you!)
While I am at it I need to say Thank you to USS Retired over at Spilt Milk 'n Mood Swings for giving me my first Bloggy Award
"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."
1. Andrea at My Chihuahua Bites~ Not only is she a fellow Subbie wife but she is down to earth and a sincere person. Her blog has everything from food and crafty ideas to fashion insight and makeup tips for those of us who are make up illiterate! Add in some down home and adorable fur babies and I just can't get enough!! Andrea you and your awesome blog ROCK!!
2. Hope from the Edge~ A fellow Sub wife and mom who has been there and done that just trying to document the lives of her family so that one day they can print it out to publish her memoirs! A true southern lady who's blog tugs at my heart strings and makes me wish for my roots on a regular basis! Thank you Miss Hope you Rock!
3. Miss Ashley over at Chris Bliss~ I have just recently started reading this blog when I was "introduced" to Miss Ashley via a bloggy Valentines Swap Hosted by Andrea! We both had a fabulous time putting together things for the other! She is recently married and full of life!! Miss Ashlee is so crafty and a little random at times (in such a good way) I never know what to expect to pop up on her blog but I love the suspense of it!
4. 'K' for Life With the Rowlands~ A fabulous friend in the Bloggy world as well as in real life she helped me through many tough tiimes!!
5. Becca over at Lovely yellow Ribbons~ Her whimsical submarine and military art are beautiful! She is such a wonderful mother and person!
6. Katie of Pass the Chopsticks~ An adorable sub family and there pursuit of random flavored Kit Kats in Japan! I love finding out what new flavors and the cool things they see and do there!
7. Shelia at A Simple Life~ A very Crafty blogger with one of the cutest little girls! Her beautiful bows and craftiness amaze me she has more talent with sewing in her little finger than I will ever have and that amazes me I love to see what kind of adorable outfits she makes for her daughter! I think her Halloween costume was my favorite!!
8. My SIL Alicia or the Lewis Family blog~ I absolutely adore seeing the pictures of our niece Savannah!!!
So I have some pictures of Ernie with the girls before he left! A very sad day it was but we have almost made it through our first week (the first week seems to be the hardest on all! Thankfully before he left I bought myself a web cam and we have discovered the wonderful world of SKYPE! We video call atleast once a day and it really helps Cami to see her Daddy! We understand that there is going to be some times that he isn't going to be able to but thankfully for this first week he has been able too!
We miss him terribly but he is there with good intentions!
BRAVO ZULU Honey!!!
I have never found any of the Jackie O style that I thought looked good on me and Ashley found the best pair ever! (Thank you!)
While I am at it I need to say Thank you to USS Retired over at Spilt Milk 'n Mood Swings for giving me my first Bloggy Award
"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."1. Andrea at My Chihuahua Bites~ Not only is she a fellow Subbie wife but she is down to earth and a sincere person. Her blog has everything from food and crafty ideas to fashion insight and makeup tips for those of us who are make up illiterate! Add in some down home and adorable fur babies and I just can't get enough!! Andrea you and your awesome blog ROCK!!
2. Hope from the Edge~ A fellow Sub wife and mom who has been there and done that just trying to document the lives of her family so that one day they can print it out to publish her memoirs! A true southern lady who's blog tugs at my heart strings and makes me wish for my roots on a regular basis! Thank you Miss Hope you Rock!
3. Miss Ashley over at Chris Bliss~ I have just recently started reading this blog when I was "introduced" to Miss Ashley via a bloggy Valentines Swap Hosted by Andrea! We both had a fabulous time putting together things for the other! She is recently married and full of life!! Miss Ashlee is so crafty and a little random at times (in such a good way) I never know what to expect to pop up on her blog but I love the suspense of it!
4. 'K' for Life With the Rowlands~ A fabulous friend in the Bloggy world as well as in real life she helped me through many tough tiimes!!
5. Becca over at Lovely yellow Ribbons~ Her whimsical submarine and military art are beautiful! She is such a wonderful mother and person!
6. Katie of Pass the Chopsticks~ An adorable sub family and there pursuit of random flavored Kit Kats in Japan! I love finding out what new flavors and the cool things they see and do there!
7. Shelia at A Simple Life~ A very Crafty blogger with one of the cutest little girls! Her beautiful bows and craftiness amaze me she has more talent with sewing in her little finger than I will ever have and that amazes me I love to see what kind of adorable outfits she makes for her daughter! I think her Halloween costume was my favorite!!
8. My SIL Alicia or the Lewis Family blog~ I absolutely adore seeing the pictures of our niece Savannah!!!
So I have some pictures of Ernie with the girls before he left! A very sad day it was but we have almost made it through our first week (the first week seems to be the hardest on all! Thankfully before he left I bought myself a web cam and we have discovered the wonderful world of SKYPE! We video call atleast once a day and it really helps Cami to see her Daddy! We understand that there is going to be some times that he isn't going to be able to but thankfully for this first week he has been able too!
We miss him terribly but he is there with good intentions!BRAVO ZULU Honey!!!
Monday, February 16, 2009
A Long weekend (plus some)
So this has been an Incredible weekend! Long but extremely fun filled weekend! Friday we enjoyed having Ernie home and tried to finish up a few last minute things for Cami's birthday party! Not much really just hung out and had a good time with friends!
Saturday was fun filled!! We got up early and packed the cars along with 4 of our neighbors and headed out to Wailua, HI to watch a few of the guys jump out of an airplane!! It was fun to watch but I still would not do it! They kept trying to talk Ernie in to it and but sometimes I have a smart cookie for a husband and he wouldn't cave! The thing is that if he had done it and somehow gotten hurt he could have gotten in some pretty big trouble that would have cost him his career! I don't think my heart could handle my husband jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Heck it palpitated watching everyone else's husbands do it LOL!! But I got some fabulous pictures with my new camera! It is a Sony Cybershot and I am totally thrilled with it and got it for an awesome deal!! Original price 170...Sale Price 107....I love to get things that I need for such an awesome price!! Well after the skydiving excitement we went to the beach (where else would you go to BBQ with friends in Hawaii?) Good food with lots of friends in my opinion is a great way to spend a holiday that is about love!
The Plane taking off With the boys in it!
The Boys...
Robert, Brandon, and Mike
Brandon
Robert
Mike 
Sometimes I forget how fabulous this place is!! Not man places in the world your children can swim and play in the ocean in the middle of February!! The children having a blast
Sunday we had Cami's 3rd birthday party and she loved it! We did a small craft project and had a pinata but for the most part the all enjoyed just running around with friends and it was great to just be a little lazy and watch the kids play! I was so proud of the polite little girl she has/ is beome(ing) as she nicely opened all of her gifts and made sure to tell the guests that she was thankful for the things she received! The children played so hard and had so much fun it was everything I could have asked for plus some! We wrapped up the party at around 5ish and transfered things to the house it was really cool that we all as neighbors gathered (some drank a little) and continued just having a good time because no one wanted the weekend to end! Thankfully no one had to work on Monday so things carried on into the early hours of the morning! (I think things finally wrapped up around 12 or 1 in the morning!!!
A nice game of touch football that ensued!
That is so my child barefoot and enoying her new life as a 3yr old!!! 
Such the ham for the camera! With mom as a papparazzi children shall never be camera shy LOL!!
I do believe this is my favorite picture of her! In my honest (slightly biased) opinion this picture captures the mischievous, tomboyish, angel that I love oh so much! The one thing I don't see anymore though is that sweet innocence of a baby face! Oh how I am forever going to miss that when I look at her! Time flies when you are having fun!
I think the thing that I cherish most about the time we live in housing and have in the Navy is that the people we met and become close with become a family of a different kind we share heartaches and joy and the security of always knowing that when we need something (anything from a cup of milk to a friend to watch your child) they are and will be there until the military (no matter what branch) dictates where they need to go next! Unfortunately the majority of the neighbors who surround me are leaving (almost all of them within the next 6 months) it it is a really sad thing for me knowing that next year only 2 of the 6 families that we enjoyed the long weekend with will still be here! All I ask for is that the families who come in to "replace" them are as friendly and loving as the ones who preceded them!
Well I will have another post hopefully tomorrow if not at some point on Sunday after Ernie leaves:( Though expect non coherence as I go through the motions for a little bit!) I may actually just not post much of anything! The cruel cycle has begun and now I am going into that ridiculous cry at the drop of a hat phase! Those that no me and love me if you haven't heard from me or seen me in 2 weeks drag me out please!!!!!!!
Saturday was fun filled!! We got up early and packed the cars along with 4 of our neighbors and headed out to Wailua, HI to watch a few of the guys jump out of an airplane!! It was fun to watch but I still would not do it! They kept trying to talk Ernie in to it and but sometimes I have a smart cookie for a husband and he wouldn't cave! The thing is that if he had done it and somehow gotten hurt he could have gotten in some pretty big trouble that would have cost him his career! I don't think my heart could handle my husband jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Heck it palpitated watching everyone else's husbands do it LOL!! But I got some fabulous pictures with my new camera! It is a Sony Cybershot and I am totally thrilled with it and got it for an awesome deal!! Original price 170...Sale Price 107....I love to get things that I need for such an awesome price!! Well after the skydiving excitement we went to the beach (where else would you go to BBQ with friends in Hawaii?) Good food with lots of friends in my opinion is a great way to spend a holiday that is about love!
The Plane taking off With the boys in it!
The Boys...Robert, Brandon, and Mike
Brandon
Robert
Mike 
Sometimes I forget how fabulous this place is!! Not man places in the world your children can swim and play in the ocean in the middle of February!! The children having a blast
Sunday we had Cami's 3rd birthday party and she loved it! We did a small craft project and had a pinata but for the most part the all enjoyed just running around with friends and it was great to just be a little lazy and watch the kids play! I was so proud of the polite little girl she has/ is beome(ing) as she nicely opened all of her gifts and made sure to tell the guests that she was thankful for the things she received! The children played so hard and had so much fun it was everything I could have asked for plus some! We wrapped up the party at around 5ish and transfered things to the house it was really cool that we all as neighbors gathered (some drank a little) and continued just having a good time because no one wanted the weekend to end! Thankfully no one had to work on Monday so things carried on into the early hours of the morning! (I think things finally wrapped up around 12 or 1 in the morning!!!
The Tinkerbell Theme was terrific and her favorite thing by far! And her "Cake" consisted of about 48 individual cupcakes! Makes for simple serving! And it added a very cute scallop to the edges!
A nice game of touch football that ensued!
That is so my child barefoot and enoying her new life as a 3yr old!!! 
Such the ham for the camera! With mom as a papparazzi children shall never be camera shy LOL!!
I do believe this is my favorite picture of her! In my honest (slightly biased) opinion this picture captures the mischievous, tomboyish, angel that I love oh so much! The one thing I don't see anymore though is that sweet innocence of a baby face! Oh how I am forever going to miss that when I look at her! Time flies when you are having fun!I think the thing that I cherish most about the time we live in housing and have in the Navy is that the people we met and become close with become a family of a different kind we share heartaches and joy and the security of always knowing that when we need something (anything from a cup of milk to a friend to watch your child) they are and will be there until the military (no matter what branch) dictates where they need to go next! Unfortunately the majority of the neighbors who surround me are leaving (almost all of them within the next 6 months) it it is a really sad thing for me knowing that next year only 2 of the 6 families that we enjoyed the long weekend with will still be here! All I ask for is that the families who come in to "replace" them are as friendly and loving as the ones who preceded them!
Well I will have another post hopefully tomorrow if not at some point on Sunday after Ernie leaves:( Though expect non coherence as I go through the motions for a little bit!) I may actually just not post much of anything! The cruel cycle has begun and now I am going into that ridiculous cry at the drop of a hat phase! Those that no me and love me if you haven't heard from me or seen me in 2 weeks drag me out please!!!!!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
A few pictures and a short blog!
So I realize that my pictures have been few and far between because of the lack of a real camera lately so I have been trying to be better about taking pics with my phone since (as far as camera phones go) it has a decent capability to it! So here are a few if you are interested in seeing more pics of the girls give me your email address and I will grant you access to there blogs! I had to set them to a private setting because some weird gut started following Cami's and I wasn't comfy with that!
Addisyn and I in the Car getting ready to pick up my neighbors kids from school! Isn't my sling so cute?! And she absolutely loves it!!! Sleep is a given when she is snuggled in this!!! For those who need to know it is a Peanut Shell!!
Our Visit to the Honolulu Zoo a couple of weeks ago!! Proved to be a great time! We all had a great time checking out all of the animals and I got some awesome pictures of Cami and Ernie interacting together! Also while we were there we got to see the Sumatran Tiger Cubs were playing! It was incredible and they were super adorable! They were born on September 15, 2008 to Chrissie and Berani They were allowed out in the main habitat around mid December! Honestly I think I could have sat there all day and watched them play!! But Cami was hell bent on seeing the giraffes and (Z) eebras! Crazy girl had a blast and slept so well!
So in a previous post I told all about our decision to do homeschooling! Well I have found a super awesome free online program that seems super easy not only for me to learn how to better teach my child but to incorporate her learning into everyday situations, which in my opinion will better prepare her for real life! How many of you readers out there thought in high school (or any time in your school age years) thought man how will I ever need to know this in real life?! I know I myself thought it many times over that course of time! OK so anyway I will throw a link out there for those who may be interested in checking out the program! Keep in mind what works for one may not necessarily work for someone else! But anyway one of the suggestions that the creator of the site gave was that a "Learning Poster was a great way to keep the weekly lessons constantly in the child/rens minds! So I created my own! And I was so proud I showed it off to everyone! (Now everyone includes you guys) and then the demon side of my child came out and she ruined it! So I will be making a new one very soon (We start our first official week March 2nd! Wish me Luck LOL)
I had mentioned the new do in a previous post so I thought I would post a litte before and after! The first pic is the before (oviously back in October when I had Addisyn LOL that is the last time I was captured in a photo because I am always behind the camera LOL I kinda Like it that way!)
And the after! Just a little wind blown but you get the general idea! The bangs come to the end of my chin and the layers are allover (since I started growing out my hair I have only done long layers in the front but I am totally digging the whole all over layer thing!)
Kind of a sad story but true none the less! One of my Best friends mothers (Who I am actually very close with) Was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in October of 2008! She had surgery just under 3 weeks after the initial diagnosis and shortly after that began undergoing radiation! What makes this story so sad (at least to me) is the fact that she has been going every October in the past with her elderly mother and never had any issues! In between Oct. 2007 and October 2008 Her mother passed away! A lot of people expected her not to continue with the regularly schedule exam but she persevered through the grief! This is one of the strongest women I know and I love her as if she were my own mother! My children call her Grandma! She is, has been, and always will be a part of our lives! Well my friend and I decided that to honor her and other fighters, survivors and those who have fought there hardest and lost the battle that we would get the support ribbon tattooed upon us! A constant reminder that a cure has not been found and there are people still suffering through with out due to it! My friend actually got hers at the begingin of the radiation cycle and I just got mine Thursday evening, Which this week commiserates the final session of Radiation! And hopefully between the surgery and radiation that all is and will remain extremely well! So here is the Pic of the Tattoo, which I placed just above my right wrist. My friend got hers just beow the back of her right ear! Painful but no where near what Mom was going through!
Well internetland I am off to watch a few idiots jump out of a perfectly good airplane!!
Addisyn and I in the Car getting ready to pick up my neighbors kids from school! Isn't my sling so cute?! And she absolutely loves it!!! Sleep is a given when she is snuggled in this!!! For those who need to know it is a Peanut Shell!!Our Visit to the Honolulu Zoo a couple of weeks ago!! Proved to be a great time! We all had a great time checking out all of the animals and I got some awesome pictures of Cami and Ernie interacting together! Also while we were there we got to see the Sumatran Tiger Cubs were playing! It was incredible and they were super adorable! They were born on September 15, 2008 to Chrissie and Berani They were allowed out in the main habitat around mid December! Honestly I think I could have sat there all day and watched them play!! But Cami was hell bent on seeing the giraffes and (Z) eebras! Crazy girl had a blast and slept so well!
So in a previous post I told all about our decision to do homeschooling! Well I have found a super awesome free online program that seems super easy not only for me to learn how to better teach my child but to incorporate her learning into everyday situations, which in my opinion will better prepare her for real life! How many of you readers out there thought in high school (or any time in your school age years) thought man how will I ever need to know this in real life?! I know I myself thought it many times over that course of time! OK so anyway I will throw a link out there for those who may be interested in checking out the program! Keep in mind what works for one may not necessarily work for someone else! But anyway one of the suggestions that the creator of the site gave was that a "Learning Poster was a great way to keep the weekly lessons constantly in the child/rens minds! So I created my own! And I was so proud I showed it off to everyone! (Now everyone includes you guys) and then the demon side of my child came out and she ruined it! So I will be making a new one very soon (We start our first official week March 2nd! Wish me Luck LOL)
I had mentioned the new do in a previous post so I thought I would post a litte before and after! The first pic is the before (oviously back in October when I had Addisyn LOL that is the last time I was captured in a photo because I am always behind the camera LOL I kinda Like it that way!)
And the after! Just a little wind blown but you get the general idea! The bangs come to the end of my chin and the layers are allover (since I started growing out my hair I have only done long layers in the front but I am totally digging the whole all over layer thing!)
Kind of a sad story but true none the less! One of my Best friends mothers (Who I am actually very close with) Was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in October of 2008! She had surgery just under 3 weeks after the initial diagnosis and shortly after that began undergoing radiation! What makes this story so sad (at least to me) is the fact that she has been going every October in the past with her elderly mother and never had any issues! In between Oct. 2007 and October 2008 Her mother passed away! A lot of people expected her not to continue with the regularly schedule exam but she persevered through the grief! This is one of the strongest women I know and I love her as if she were my own mother! My children call her Grandma! She is, has been, and always will be a part of our lives! Well my friend and I decided that to honor her and other fighters, survivors and those who have fought there hardest and lost the battle that we would get the support ribbon tattooed upon us! A constant reminder that a cure has not been found and there are people still suffering through with out due to it! My friend actually got hers at the begingin of the radiation cycle and I just got mine Thursday evening, Which this week commiserates the final session of Radiation! And hopefully between the surgery and radiation that all is and will remain extremely well! So here is the Pic of the Tattoo, which I placed just above my right wrist. My friend got hers just beow the back of her right ear! Painful but no where near what Mom was going through!
Well internetland I am off to watch a few idiots jump out of a perfectly good airplane!!
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