Aaron is getting deployed to Africa...we found out 2 days ago, and he leave in 13 days :(
He will be gone until April 2012..:sigh:: I know I am not the first army wife and family to have to see a loved one leave, but its so hard. And yes, we have been apart so many times, while pregnant none-the-less (thank God I am not pregnant this time), and we are here in CO, so it shouldn't be any big deal, but it still hurts.
The good part? Aaron's pay nearly doubles...
I could live without it.
Lots to do before he leaves--family pictures tomorrow...idk why I picked up Sat/Sun night and next Saturday night...stupid. I was kind of afraid if I kept saying "no" then they would stop asking me, and i want to stay busy while Aaron is away...
Speaking of nursing, I went down to Evan Army Community Hospital on the other side of town, on post, to see if I could speak to the hiring manager for L&D and Mother/baby..well I got super lucky and she happened to be right there at the security desk, so I was able to hand her my resume and cover letter and speak with her and let her put a face to my papers. She said she would definitely consider me, and that they wouldn't be hiring until probably January, but to definitely contact her directly (she gave me her e-mail) and we would talk then! So, its actually better, because then I am off for the holidays (even though Aaron will be gone).
I don't even know what to think...so much anxiety related to all this....
So, any way, gotta make this Christmas extra special.
Oh man, 13 days :'(
So glad Aaron was here for my birthday, which he made so special, with a limo and friends and awesome Irish bar food and too many drinks...oy! I love my husband! <3
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
2 1/2 Kelly & 7 Month Layla
 | ||
| KELLY (2 1/2Y) & LAYLA (7M) |
Kelly Ruth turned 2 1/2 on Nov 18th. As with all Half-Birthdays, we celebrated with baked goods, this time we made fun-da-middle cupcakes, that didn't turn out perfect, but Kelly had a great time helping me. here are her stats:
Height: between 33-34 inches
Weight: 25-26.6lbs
Size: mostly 2T pants, 3T shirts
Diet: Everything, favorites are organic chocolate milk and anything candy lol!
Diaper size: Potty Trained! (excepttions--BM's...she had diarrhea last week, so things got messy, but she is better now, though, we are still working on poops)--2-3T panties :)
Kelly Loves: crafting! To celebrate Thanksgiving we make a turkey shirt!
Kelly interacts well with adults and children of all ages, and animals. We read together, build with legos and blocks, and she pretends to do anything anyone else is doing. She is so energetic and luckily still takes her naps more times than she skips it. She of course eats with a spoon and fork, and has been practicing with toddler sized butter knives.
Naps: 1x after lunch, no later than 1:30pm, for 2+ hours
Bedtime: Start the rituals around 7pm, with bath, then cuddle and read 3 books, I lay down with her in her bed, we pray and thank God for all our blessings, then cuddle for maybe 5mins, I fill her 2 waters, and then she falls asleep. Last night we could hear her on the monitor practicing Happy Birthday mommy over & over again until she fell asleep. She also still sucks her thumb.
Other: She knows most of her colors, and is starting to recognize letters. We will continue to work on it. She is still going to speech therapy 2x/week, so she doesn't know all the sounds quite yet, or rather cannot speak them, but she is getting there. We need to really work on shapes and counting too.
Height: 25.5in
Weight: 13lbs 6oz...(gained 300g since 6 months...still 3rd %tile, Dr says its ok)
Size: 6-9months, some 3-6 months onesies still fit
Diapers: size 2
 |
| First Thanksgiving |
Diet: still breastfed about 4-5 times/24hrs (early AM [4-5am], 9am, 12-1pm, 3-4pm, at bedtime usually) very occasionally a bottle of breast milk (I have so much frozen milk in the deep freezer, its ridiculous) anything we are eating I give her, either after I process into non-chokable size, or just give her and let her suck on it...she has had egg yoke and finally the whites and no allergies...still haven't given honey, but then again I never use honey for anything anyway. Still just has the 2 teeth, and still biting mommy, but I am over it.
Activities: She loves playing with anything, eating paper, sucking on everything, sitting up with toys, still enjoys her exercise saucer and sometimes her swing, loves baths & cuddling, loves-loves little rhymes and stories, loves watching her big sister and HoneyGirl, likes trying to pull self up to stand or holding onto our fingers so she can stand, babbles
 |
| looks like Daddy! |
 |
| Loves her Uncle Sam |
I love-love-love having my two babies! They are so wonderful, and even on the hard days, we have good times. I love them so much, I don't know what I would ever do without them! They are they light in my world! Thank you God for those girls!
 |
| Big Crawler |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Attempting to update on IPod at work
Not sure how this will work but let's try it!
Still teaching Kelly the basics of going potty on the toilet-I'd say she is learning new tricks and hints everyday and definitely seems interested and "ready". She has had many,many accidents, mostly of the poop variety, loose, she doesn't make it on the toilet in time, then ends up with it all over the bathroom :( oh well. She did really good for a full night and day, so the reward was going to target to buy new panties, and she got very into it and was so excited, it was all she talked about all day! The teaching continues.
Layl is a little bugaboo. She is so great. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth until she finally goes backwards. I don't think she's been able to go forward yet. And of course she does her down-dogs and up-dogs. I'd love it if she was crawling by my birthday, but we will see. She was letting me feed her stonyfeild farms organic yobaby. But is back refusing to be fed..instead I process whatever we are eating and let her try it. She has basically tried everything except straight up cow's milk, soy milk or honey. She doesnt seem allergic to anything.
I am the same as I was a few days ago, only even less motivated to run. Eh. I need something to train for or something. That plus the pain is really starting to take it's toll on me. Imam more moody and depressed. Maybe I need new or different dose of my Celexa? Idk. Oh but I did finally get an IUD. I went with the paragaurde, which is the copper one without hormones. it's just as effective, without having go have medicine. It's suppose to cause bleeding and cramping, but I've had absolutely none? Cramping yes, but hard to tell if it's my uterus or my stomach. Aa long as it will prevent me from getting pregnant, I'm not complaining! Aaron said the Other day, "well what if I want a boy later?" and I said "I would gladly try as long as he agreed to be a stay at home dad with him (or her!) and do everything. Otherwise forget it, I'm not doing it again." I don't think her was bengal totally serious, but who knows...probably won't be the last time we have that talk.
Hubby is the same as always. I wish we didn't argue about stupid things so much, we can both be so stubborn..I know I can, I take everything so personal and get very defensive, even when I have no reason too, it's my default..that and being passive-aggressive. I gotta work on this...it's going to be one of my birthday resolutions. My Golden Year will my year of change.
Other news, my mom got a job as a homecare & hospice CNA. Just parttime. I am really happy for her, now Colleen just needs to find somewhere to be a CNA. My brother Sean is at the house, I didn't realize how mch I missed him til he showed up last Friday. He is going with my mom, Ryan, and Dylan down to see Katie and her boys. For some reason I get jealous when my mom talks to her or makes plans like this. I don't know why I would feel this way about my sister and my nephews. I wish I could go! Idk. I hope they have fun. We are doing thanksgiving at Aarons parents' house after we run the turkey trot with Kendall, Brandon and their little baby Kennedy.
Ok it's now after 4, time to work :)
Still teaching Kelly the basics of going potty on the toilet-I'd say she is learning new tricks and hints everyday and definitely seems interested and "ready". She has had many,many accidents, mostly of the poop variety, loose, she doesn't make it on the toilet in time, then ends up with it all over the bathroom :( oh well. She did really good for a full night and day, so the reward was going to target to buy new panties, and she got very into it and was so excited, it was all she talked about all day! The teaching continues.
Layl is a little bugaboo. She is so great. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth until she finally goes backwards. I don't think she's been able to go forward yet. And of course she does her down-dogs and up-dogs. I'd love it if she was crawling by my birthday, but we will see. She was letting me feed her stonyfeild farms organic yobaby. But is back refusing to be fed..instead I process whatever we are eating and let her try it. She has basically tried everything except straight up cow's milk, soy milk or honey. She doesnt seem allergic to anything.
I am the same as I was a few days ago, only even less motivated to run. Eh. I need something to train for or something. That plus the pain is really starting to take it's toll on me. Imam more moody and depressed. Maybe I need new or different dose of my Celexa? Idk. Oh but I did finally get an IUD. I went with the paragaurde, which is the copper one without hormones. it's just as effective, without having go have medicine. It's suppose to cause bleeding and cramping, but I've had absolutely none? Cramping yes, but hard to tell if it's my uterus or my stomach. Aa long as it will prevent me from getting pregnant, I'm not complaining! Aaron said the Other day, "well what if I want a boy later?" and I said "I would gladly try as long as he agreed to be a stay at home dad with him (or her!) and do everything. Otherwise forget it, I'm not doing it again." I don't think her was bengal totally serious, but who knows...probably won't be the last time we have that talk.
Hubby is the same as always. I wish we didn't argue about stupid things so much, we can both be so stubborn..I know I can, I take everything so personal and get very defensive, even when I have no reason too, it's my default..that and being passive-aggressive. I gotta work on this...it's going to be one of my birthday resolutions. My Golden Year will my year of change.
Other news, my mom got a job as a homecare & hospice CNA. Just parttime. I am really happy for her, now Colleen just needs to find somewhere to be a CNA. My brother Sean is at the house, I didn't realize how mch I missed him til he showed up last Friday. He is going with my mom, Ryan, and Dylan down to see Katie and her boys. For some reason I get jealous when my mom talks to her or makes plans like this. I don't know why I would feel this way about my sister and my nephews. I wish I could go! Idk. I hope they have fun. We are doing thanksgiving at Aarons parents' house after we run the turkey trot with Kendall, Brandon and their little baby Kennedy.
Ok it's now after 4, time to work :)
Friday, November 18, 2011
November Post
Since I only seem to post monthly, I suppose now is the time. Layla is 7 months now (separate post to come), Kelly is 2 1/2 today :)
Aaron has been working a lot, he's gone out to the field once for a few days and nights and then came home, on Day 1 of potty teaching for Kelly.
Kelly woke up one day and said, "Mommy, I want this, I want panties." so I said, ok, now we start. She did so awesome! We were out most of the day and she would use the potties and pee a little and stay dry. Everyday we start out fresh. Its frustrating, time consuming, dirty, and hard, but so worth it in the end. This week I had or perhaps still have, some sort of stomach virus with diarrhea, and Kelly must have caught it, or maybe I caught it from her bc whoa did she make some gigantic poop messes in her panties! ew! LOL (this will be graphic) Kelly's poop used to be round, not hard per-say but solid. Recently, its loose and runny. So, although I completely disagree with going back and forth between diapers to pull ups to panties and back again, I put Kelly in a pull-up today. She said "mommy, pink panties, I wanna wear panties!" And I explained, if she could keep herself dry and pee and poo in the toilet, she could wear panties.
She kept her PU dry all day and earned panty privlages! I just get nervous for poop messes, ew! lol we will see what happens.
So my job search continues. I have a few good leads for L&D and Mother/Baby at Evan Army Community Hospital, just waiting to hear back from my contact there who told her nurse manager about me. Hopefully my awesome cover letter and revamped resume impresses her enough to at least agree to talk to me. Aaron's Parents bought me a very stylish power blazer from Banana Republic, and I also got the trouser pants (skirt didn't seem appropriate) and a cute lavender colored blouse. And I got some black pumps from Target that finish it off...sooo, I am ready when they call!!!
I am still running, nearly everyday, but not my usual 5-6 milers. I only manage about 3-4. ::sigh:: Pain is my problem. My pubic bone and S-I joint paint are awful. I had more X-rays done and the show "bone degeneration in the pubic bone and sacrum, with pubic bone separation" So I have been continuing with Physical Therapy (1 or 2x a week), Motrin 800mg QID. I am not approaching it in a more holistical and alternative approach. I am researching and writing up a Holistic Plan for Bone Degeneration...here is a preview:
------------------
There is still more I need to research, such as how glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate and fish oil can do. And I have already been getting my eating in line--less junk, no candy or ice cream in the month of November, trying to get down to everything organic, but that's expensive so I make sure the important ones are for sure organic (milk, eggs, cheese, meat/poultry, stock, yogurt, and food for the babes, most fruits and vegetables (any that are available))
Any way, I have no idea where this post is going. There are 3 adults in the other room, drinking and arguing and being louder than loud.
I have a post coming on Layla's BIRTH day <3
I just love that baby so freakin much!!!! and Kelly is so fun, yes 2 years old is HARD, but we have so many good times! And her speech is getting so much better too, I love my physical therapist and kelly's speech therapists---they are making our lives better!
ok more to come. I'm going to bed!
Aaron has been working a lot, he's gone out to the field once for a few days and nights and then came home, on Day 1 of potty teaching for Kelly.
Kelly woke up one day and said, "Mommy, I want this, I want panties." so I said, ok, now we start. She did so awesome! We were out most of the day and she would use the potties and pee a little and stay dry. Everyday we start out fresh. Its frustrating, time consuming, dirty, and hard, but so worth it in the end. This week I had or perhaps still have, some sort of stomach virus with diarrhea, and Kelly must have caught it, or maybe I caught it from her bc whoa did she make some gigantic poop messes in her panties! ew! LOL (this will be graphic) Kelly's poop used to be round, not hard per-say but solid. Recently, its loose and runny. So, although I completely disagree with going back and forth between diapers to pull ups to panties and back again, I put Kelly in a pull-up today. She said "mommy, pink panties, I wanna wear panties!" And I explained, if she could keep herself dry and pee and poo in the toilet, she could wear panties.
She kept her PU dry all day and earned panty privlages! I just get nervous for poop messes, ew! lol we will see what happens.
So my job search continues. I have a few good leads for L&D and Mother/Baby at Evan Army Community Hospital, just waiting to hear back from my contact there who told her nurse manager about me. Hopefully my awesome cover letter and revamped resume impresses her enough to at least agree to talk to me. Aaron's Parents bought me a very stylish power blazer from Banana Republic, and I also got the trouser pants (skirt didn't seem appropriate) and a cute lavender colored blouse. And I got some black pumps from Target that finish it off...sooo, I am ready when they call!!!
I am still running, nearly everyday, but not my usual 5-6 milers. I only manage about 3-4. ::sigh:: Pain is my problem. My pubic bone and S-I joint paint are awful. I had more X-rays done and the show "bone degeneration in the pubic bone and sacrum, with pubic bone separation" So I have been continuing with Physical Therapy (1 or 2x a week), Motrin 800mg QID. I am not approaching it in a more holistical and alternative approach. I am researching and writing up a Holistic Plan for Bone Degeneration...here is a preview:
Holistic Plan for Degenerative Bones
By Mouth
· Calcium: eating almonds, figs, dairy and soy products. Take a calcium supplement enriched with vitamin D for optimal calcium absorption. Additional bone benefits come from the plant estrogens contained in tofu.
· glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate
· fish oils
Body
· Exercise: building muscle tone with weight-bearing and strength-training
o Weight-bearing: Running
o Strength-training: bands & weight lifting
Pain Relief
· Alternating heat & cold
o Heat for 20mins or longer
o Cold for 20 mins or less
· Acupuncture is also thought to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins.
o Many acu-points are near nerves. When stimulated, these nerves cause a dull ache or feeling of fullness in the muscle.
o The stimulated muscle sends a message to the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), causing the release of endorphins (morphine-like chemicals produced in our own bodies during times of pain or stress).
o Endorphins, along with other neurotransmitters (body chemicals that modify nerve impulses), block the message of pain from being delivered up to the brain
· Massage
o reduces stress and relieve tension by enhancing blood flow
· Therapeutic touch and reiki healing
o Thought to help activate the self-healing processes of an individual and therefore reduce pain
o Healing touch is used to identify imbalances and correct a client's energy by a therapist passing his or her hands over the patient
· Visualization
o Try the following exercise: Close your eyes and try to call up a visual image of the pain, giving it shape, color, size, motion. Now try slowly altering this image, replacing it with a more harmonious, pleasing -- and smaller -- image.
There is still more I need to research, such as how glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate and fish oil can do. And I have already been getting my eating in line--less junk, no candy or ice cream in the month of November, trying to get down to everything organic, but that's expensive so I make sure the important ones are for sure organic (milk, eggs, cheese, meat/poultry, stock, yogurt, and food for the babes, most fruits and vegetables (any that are available))
Any way, I have no idea where this post is going. There are 3 adults in the other room, drinking and arguing and being louder than loud.
I have a post coming on Layla's BIRTH day <3
I just love that baby so freakin much!!!! and Kelly is so fun, yes 2 years old is HARD, but we have so many good times! And her speech is getting so much better too, I love my physical therapist and kelly's speech therapists---they are making our lives better!
ok more to come. I'm going to bed!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Layla 6 Months
Weight: 13lbs 3 oz (3rd %tile, I try not to worry about this, as my doctor does not, but she is so little!)
Height: 25.5 inches (21st %tile)
Head: 41.5 cm (17th %tile)
Size: 6-9 months for the most part. I still squeeze her into my favorite 3 month outfits, but its getting harder and harder to do that; size 2 diapers (prefer pampers swaddlers, huggies leak poop everywhere!)
Diet: still breastfed,, about every 3-4 hours during the day, will take bottles of breast milk, has tried organic baby oatmeal, bananas, apples, sweet peas, squash, dry toast, cherrios (and other random cereal). I think that's it
Sleeps: on her right side or belly (she rolls into position), wakes up around 7:30am, morning nap about 10am (35mins or 2.5 hours), up for another 3-5 hours, then if its early enough she will take another 35 min nap, or just stay up til bedtime around 6pm-7pm...still usually wakes up once or twice during the night to nurse. Now, instead of pumping before bed, I wake her a little and nurse her, and then she generally doesn't wake up to eat until 4:30 or 5:30 to nurse then goes back to bed for usually a couple more hours
Milestones: sits up by herself when put into a sitting position for at least a few mins at a time, rolls everywhere and attempts to get into crawling position but not able to move this way, still babbles and blows raspberries, turns well to voices and sounds and can spin self in exercise saucer, transfers objects between hands and can put objects directly into mouth, able to put paci directly into her mouth the correct way, gives me kisses and hugs, practices fine motor skills with cherrios, drinks from sippy cup (cannot hold by herself), drinks from large straws
Playtime: loves interactions with caregiver, sissy, and the environment, love going outside and on walks in snuggli, very friendly to to others, but gets very weary when strangers get too close
Other: First 2 bottom teeth cut through about a week ago!
I love this little girl so much I can hardly take it sometimes. I love to squeeze her and tickle or and make her laugh. She is so silly! I feel so blessed to have 2 healthy baby girls in my family <3
All the caffeine in the world won't help
I feel so tired all the time. I know my daily caffeine habit is getting worse, but when I don't indulge I feel like the walking dead. I am trying to cut back, and I don't drink any after 2pm, because I have a hard enough time sleeping.
Any ways, not too much new to say other than we are setting in the familiar routines and making headway in baby rearing fronts. Kelly has been back at Speech Therapy the past 4 weeks, and starting this week she will be going twice a week for 30 mins each, instead of 1. She is making very minimal progress, and its making me very nervous. She doesn't know her colors, other than purple and orange, doesn't know letters, won't even sing the ABC's, only knows the numbers 2, 6,7, &8, but cannot recognize them...and don't get me started with potty training. She will pee in the toilet anywhere but at home! She responds "No" to pretty much anything you ask her, even when she means yes, and everything is still "mine". I wouldn't call 2, terrible, because there is lots of good too. She is very loving to her family, she loves playing outside, playing hide-and-seak, and reading stories. She also loves helping me cook and trying new food while in that mode. ::sigh:: she is exhausting.
Layla is doing fine. I will write a seperate entry for her and about her 6 month well-baby appointment.
Right now I have a bad cold and cannot get my nose to stop running! Probably from working the other night. I picked up a shift at UPH, the overnight. As the only RN in the building, and on the floor (the other 2 floors have just 1 LPN and 2 CNA's), I was the house officer. Basically I think the night went really well, and though I only got a 2 hour nap the morning before, it was only an 8 hour shift, so I had no problem staying awake. Of course the large coffee and starbucks frapp I had while I was there sure helped too! After work I came home, found Layla and Aaron snuggling and joined them for about 2 mins before Layla woke up, nursed her, and then played until Kelly woke up. Then we all went to mass at St. Patricks. We had to leave right after communion however, because it was WAY longer than usual and I kept falling asleep! I ended up taking a 3-4 hours nap when we got home.
I was supposed to work Monday, a day shift, also at UPH, but on the 3rd floor, which I do not like, but was going to do it anyway, but I got canceled because one of the nurses picked up a double. I was kinda disappointed because I had my mind set and everything ready, and didn't get the call until about 4AM! Oh well, there will be others.
Speaking of the job front I finally got my phone interview scheduled for today, in about an hour and 20 mins. I am excited! It is for the Penrose ICU, not my dream job (that would be L&D), but a good alternative. I think its for at least part-time, but can't remember because I applied like 3 weeks ago and since then have applied for like 6 or 7 other jobs.
I have also been selected by my current employer to go full-time as a Case Manager for some place near Cheyenne Mountain, I can't remember the name. Its for full-time, Mon-Fri, 0800-5pm. Doesn't pay great, about $52k/yr, but I am considering it. They know I don't have experience win the area of case management, but are really in need and willing to train me. Basically I would interview, and if I like it and they like me I will be a temp-to-hire, then if it works out I will take it. I am thinking of doing it until at least something else better comes along, because at least then I would be guaranteed hours. I still need to go pick up the information on it today, but I am thinking I will do it. Who knows, maybe I will really like it? It would be good experience to put on a resume too.
wish me luck on my phone interview!
Any ways, not too much new to say other than we are setting in the familiar routines and making headway in baby rearing fronts. Kelly has been back at Speech Therapy the past 4 weeks, and starting this week she will be going twice a week for 30 mins each, instead of 1. She is making very minimal progress, and its making me very nervous. She doesn't know her colors, other than purple and orange, doesn't know letters, won't even sing the ABC's, only knows the numbers 2, 6,7, &8, but cannot recognize them...and don't get me started with potty training. She will pee in the toilet anywhere but at home! She responds "No" to pretty much anything you ask her, even when she means yes, and everything is still "mine". I wouldn't call 2, terrible, because there is lots of good too. She is very loving to her family, she loves playing outside, playing hide-and-seak, and reading stories. She also loves helping me cook and trying new food while in that mode. ::sigh:: she is exhausting.
Layla is doing fine. I will write a seperate entry for her and about her 6 month well-baby appointment.
Right now I have a bad cold and cannot get my nose to stop running! Probably from working the other night. I picked up a shift at UPH, the overnight. As the only RN in the building, and on the floor (the other 2 floors have just 1 LPN and 2 CNA's), I was the house officer. Basically I think the night went really well, and though I only got a 2 hour nap the morning before, it was only an 8 hour shift, so I had no problem staying awake. Of course the large coffee and starbucks frapp I had while I was there sure helped too! After work I came home, found Layla and Aaron snuggling and joined them for about 2 mins before Layla woke up, nursed her, and then played until Kelly woke up. Then we all went to mass at St. Patricks. We had to leave right after communion however, because it was WAY longer than usual and I kept falling asleep! I ended up taking a 3-4 hours nap when we got home.
I was supposed to work Monday, a day shift, also at UPH, but on the 3rd floor, which I do not like, but was going to do it anyway, but I got canceled because one of the nurses picked up a double. I was kinda disappointed because I had my mind set and everything ready, and didn't get the call until about 4AM! Oh well, there will be others.
Speaking of the job front I finally got my phone interview scheduled for today, in about an hour and 20 mins. I am excited! It is for the Penrose ICU, not my dream job (that would be L&D), but a good alternative. I think its for at least part-time, but can't remember because I applied like 3 weeks ago and since then have applied for like 6 or 7 other jobs.
I have also been selected by my current employer to go full-time as a Case Manager for some place near Cheyenne Mountain, I can't remember the name. Its for full-time, Mon-Fri, 0800-5pm. Doesn't pay great, about $52k/yr, but I am considering it. They know I don't have experience win the area of case management, but are really in need and willing to train me. Basically I would interview, and if I like it and they like me I will be a temp-to-hire, then if it works out I will take it. I am thinking of doing it until at least something else better comes along, because at least then I would be guaranteed hours. I still need to go pick up the information on it today, but I am thinking I will do it. Who knows, maybe I will really like it? It would be good experience to put on a resume too.
wish me luck on my phone interview!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
no rest for the weary
Things have been incredibly busy since we got here. We have been here about 2 1/2 weeks, and we have already settled in nicely. We just got our property Friday, and what a cluster that was. We still have a couple boxes to unpack. Our bedroom in nice and cozy though, and the girls room is coming together nicely! I got some blackout curtains for the girls room, and can't to hang them up! I also hung up some other pictures in their room. I put my glider up there and it looks great with the crib and Kelly's twin size bed.
The Thursday of this week my mom had the house re-carpeted with new, much nicer stuff. Though hardwood floors would have been a nice touch, having little babies calls for stain-master carpet, not to mention the cost of putting in hardwood. It looks so much better now though!
Everyday the girls and I pretty much go to the YMCA first thing in the morning after breakfast, so they can play and I can get my workout on. Aaron has been meeting me there, and I have been getting in some really good runs and I even started doing weights again. This week I ran about 26 miles, which is good for me. I think I am loosing weight too, not that I care either way. My clothes are just getting baggy on me again. I am sure in no time I will be up again, especially since Blue Bell ice cream was on sale at Kingsooper and I got my favorite, Happy Tracks!
We also got our first snow fall, and how pretty that was. Kelly really liked it and we even went shopping yesterday for some snowboots! Her winter coat from last winter still fits, actually she probably grew into since then, because now it does fit. Kelly is a petite, no doubt about it!
Also in the past couple weeks, I have worked an evening shift at a new place, Nameste, its an Alzheimer unit. I was Charge nurse, which I thought it would be easy since no med pass or treatments, however I was probably busier than everyone else! We had a fall and so lots of paperwork. But in all it was not bad, and good to put my nursepants on again for the first time in almost 6 months. I barely had time to pump, but managed to make some time and not on purpose but drew a lot of attention to myself. (I had to leave my pump out in the room I was pumping in, with the bottles filled with milk to deal with an issue, and when I came back the women were commending me for continuing with breast feeding while trying to go back to work). I got off almost an hour late, but since I got a raise, I was okay with it. Layla did really well without me being there, ate way more milk than I ever thought she would, luckily Aaron was there the whole time and stayed on top of it. She was also very happy to see me when I came home, but not very impressed that I pumped when I got home, not knowing she'd wake up minutes after finishing to eat. Eventually she accepted a bottle and went back to sleep, until we awoke again a couple hours later.
Lately she has been waking up a lot at night. Its pretty tiring. My milk supply finally resumed to the levels they were before I had started the orthotricycline birth control. I had been taking the minipill, but got really paranoid about getting pregnant again, so I started the low-dose orthotricycline. What a disaster! Within 2 weeks my milk supply had almost completely dried up, and we went through 2 large ziplocks of packed frozen breast milk (ever 90 ounces), kind of a bummer, since I only actually worked 1 shift and was therefore around the rest of the time. But, I restarted the minipill a week ago and my supply came back basically completely. I was almost in the clear! haha. No, I'm kidding, its better if I am still nursing, while I am not working full time and Layla is still waking up at night. But that brings me to the next thing.
I have applied for 4 nursing jobs at 3 different hospitals in the last week. I have a phone interview next week for Penrose Hospital. Unfortunately not the one that is 2 miles from my house, but rather the one downtown, like 10 miles away, but that's okay. It is for the ICU or Cardiac step-down unit. I am not sure which one they want to talk to me about. I really want to work in L&D, but am still waiting to hear on a possible contact at Evans hospitals, since the ones up near my house are not hiring. I would love to work at least part time, but would do 3 12s a weeks too. So far things at my mom's have been going great, and I think she is really looking forward to watching the girls. I really would like to pay her too, because then she can continue upgrading the house :)
Aaron goes back to work tomorrow. Sigh. It has been great having him off, though I think we do argue more, so its not a terrible thing per say. I love him though and we went on a fun little date last night after the babies went to bed, for drinks. It was like old times and I don't think we talked about the babes even once, other than when we ran into people we knew and they wanted to see pictures. Its a good thing, since they are all we ever talk about sometimes.
OK, I am starving! Time for a PB&J!
Oh yeah and Aaron and I went on a run together today, it was great. So nice having built in babysitters!!! LOL :) J/K. I love being back here, even crowded into my mom's house. Its like twice as big as our NC house, but also twice as many people. For the most part that is just fine though :)
More to come!
The Thursday of this week my mom had the house re-carpeted with new, much nicer stuff. Though hardwood floors would have been a nice touch, having little babies calls for stain-master carpet, not to mention the cost of putting in hardwood. It looks so much better now though!
Everyday the girls and I pretty much go to the YMCA first thing in the morning after breakfast, so they can play and I can get my workout on. Aaron has been meeting me there, and I have been getting in some really good runs and I even started doing weights again. This week I ran about 26 miles, which is good for me. I think I am loosing weight too, not that I care either way. My clothes are just getting baggy on me again. I am sure in no time I will be up again, especially since Blue Bell ice cream was on sale at Kingsooper and I got my favorite, Happy Tracks!
We also got our first snow fall, and how pretty that was. Kelly really liked it and we even went shopping yesterday for some snowboots! Her winter coat from last winter still fits, actually she probably grew into since then, because now it does fit. Kelly is a petite, no doubt about it!
Also in the past couple weeks, I have worked an evening shift at a new place, Nameste, its an Alzheimer unit. I was Charge nurse, which I thought it would be easy since no med pass or treatments, however I was probably busier than everyone else! We had a fall and so lots of paperwork. But in all it was not bad, and good to put my nursepants on again for the first time in almost 6 months. I barely had time to pump, but managed to make some time and not on purpose but drew a lot of attention to myself. (I had to leave my pump out in the room I was pumping in, with the bottles filled with milk to deal with an issue, and when I came back the women were commending me for continuing with breast feeding while trying to go back to work). I got off almost an hour late, but since I got a raise, I was okay with it. Layla did really well without me being there, ate way more milk than I ever thought she would, luckily Aaron was there the whole time and stayed on top of it. She was also very happy to see me when I came home, but not very impressed that I pumped when I got home, not knowing she'd wake up minutes after finishing to eat. Eventually she accepted a bottle and went back to sleep, until we awoke again a couple hours later.
Lately she has been waking up a lot at night. Its pretty tiring. My milk supply finally resumed to the levels they were before I had started the orthotricycline birth control. I had been taking the minipill, but got really paranoid about getting pregnant again, so I started the low-dose orthotricycline. What a disaster! Within 2 weeks my milk supply had almost completely dried up, and we went through 2 large ziplocks of packed frozen breast milk (ever 90 ounces), kind of a bummer, since I only actually worked 1 shift and was therefore around the rest of the time. But, I restarted the minipill a week ago and my supply came back basically completely. I was almost in the clear! haha. No, I'm kidding, its better if I am still nursing, while I am not working full time and Layla is still waking up at night. But that brings me to the next thing.
I have applied for 4 nursing jobs at 3 different hospitals in the last week. I have a phone interview next week for Penrose Hospital. Unfortunately not the one that is 2 miles from my house, but rather the one downtown, like 10 miles away, but that's okay. It is for the ICU or Cardiac step-down unit. I am not sure which one they want to talk to me about. I really want to work in L&D, but am still waiting to hear on a possible contact at Evans hospitals, since the ones up near my house are not hiring. I would love to work at least part time, but would do 3 12s a weeks too. So far things at my mom's have been going great, and I think she is really looking forward to watching the girls. I really would like to pay her too, because then she can continue upgrading the house :)
Aaron goes back to work tomorrow. Sigh. It has been great having him off, though I think we do argue more, so its not a terrible thing per say. I love him though and we went on a fun little date last night after the babies went to bed, for drinks. It was like old times and I don't think we talked about the babes even once, other than when we ran into people we knew and they wanted to see pictures. Its a good thing, since they are all we ever talk about sometimes.
OK, I am starving! Time for a PB&J!
Oh yeah and Aaron and I went on a run together today, it was great. So nice having built in babysitters!!! LOL :) J/K. I love being back here, even crowded into my mom's house. Its like twice as big as our NC house, but also twice as many people. For the most part that is just fine though :)
More to come!
Made it to Colorado!
Wow, I have not updated in a long time! I've had some time, but not really, ever since my last post at the beginning of September, its be go-go-go for the McIntires!
Basically, our last 2 weeks in Fayetteville went something like this:
Workout at the Y almost every morning. The girls got to play, and I got to run, but literally would spend less than an hour, sometimes less than 45 mins there, because then we would have to head home and have lunch, and put babies for their naps. Then I would find other things to do, i.e. Paint the kitchen, then paint and chalk both bathrooms. Meanwhile, Aaron did other things, like take donations to goodwill, replace bathroom facets and shower heads. We also had the house power washed, and placed nearly all our furniture on Craig's list. Before we left, we sold our washer/dryer, kitchen table, living room couch, bed/mattress from the spare bedroom and baby walker. Since we were moving into my mom's house, we obviously were not going to need these things. The best part was, none of it was picked up until the day the packers/mover came to move us, so we weren't living on the floor or anything, other than our last night in our house.
The movers came on a Friday morning (Sept 16th). The 2 packers and 3 movers, had everything loading into their gigantic truck within 6 hours. We didn't have to pack anything, other than what we would be bring in our cars. The last night in our Raeford house was bittersweet. We lived there over 2 years, and since we own it, at some point we may be going back to it. (Lucky for us, we had it rented out less than a week after we left it.) Our last meal there was at a delicious Mediterranean restaurant. The last night I spent mostly cleaning and taking care of sickies babies. Aaron was sick, Kelly got it that night, pretty much loosing her voice, and Layla had it by Saturday morning. None of that mattered though, we left by 0930 Saturday morning. Because we have 2 cars, Aaron and I would be driving solo, him with Kelly and me with Layla.
I would have thought after driving from upstate NY to NC in August that the drive to CO would have been an even bigger nightmare, especially with sick babies. However, I was indeed pleasantly surprised and grateful it was not. The first day we drove through NC, past beautiful Asheville and into Knoxville, TN. We drive about 300 miles that day, and stayed at a Marriot. Because the babies did so well in the cars, resting a lot and all, they were both ready to play all night! I don't think they went to bed until around 10pm or later!
The next day we got up early and I ran about 3.5 miles before we drove around 6 or more hours through beautiful TN (reminded me of upstate NY, because of all the trees--Smokey Mountains are smaller, but still very pretty! I am definitely a mountain girl! haha) to Memphis, having stopped in pretty Nashville for a delicious meal at a top notch Mexican Cantina. Memphis was kind of dumpy, but we stayed at the Marriott Downtown, which was a very nice hotel. We went to Beale Street for dinner, which was basically a tourist trap, because the BBQ was disgusting! We ended up getting most of our money back, because it was really that gross and couldn't even force it down. So we had a couple beers, and walked around all over the place. We probably walked at least 3 miles that night, each wearing a baby, I had Layla in the front carrier, and Aaron had Kelly on his back.
Monday morning we had to find a store to buy dry ice from. We had over a gallon of frozen breast milk we were transporting, and the dry ice only lasts about 24-48 hours. Also that morning, we both got up early and went running. Aaron ran through the city, and when he got back, I ran on the hotel treadmill for about 30 mins. With all the junk we had been eating, it was nice to get a couple workouts in. That morning was not good however. Right before we were about to walk out of the hotel room, Kelly puked allllll over herself and the bed. So I gave her a quick bath. It was mostly mucous, because she had been battling a productive cough and nasal congestion for several days at this point. Then we left the hotel and made our way further into town to find the Kroger we were getting the dry ice from. We all went in to the store, because we also were finding breakfast, and I really wanted fresh fruit. So we did that, got the BM repackaged, and were about to leave, babies in their car seats and all, when Kelly puked again! This time all stomach bile. So I sent Aaron into the store to get towels, while I attempted to strip her down and clean her off. Just as I had her standing in the parking lot in only her pull up, I look up and Layla is projectile vomiting! I look around for Daddy, but he was no where to be found.
I got the girls cleaned up, and re-clothed, and again we were on our way. I would have thought that this was going to be the worst day, but the only other bad time was when I started my PERIOD for the first time in like 3 years! That was shitty. But the rest of the day was uneventful. We drove through the boring state of Arkansas and through Oklahoma, and setting in at the Courtyard Marriott in OKC. By the time we got there, we had driven over 370 miles and about 7 hours of just driving, so I was pretty exhausted and grumpy. Plus I was also feeling sick too. That night was like all the rest, babies up late, mommy wanted sleep. But it wasn't too bad.
The next day we drove probably about 7 hours, to make it to Clovis, NM. That is where Aaron's brother Sam is stationed (Air Force). Clovis is basically a dump, but Sam lives in a cozy house that had a swing set in the back yard, and Kelly really liked that. We grilled out and then basically went to bed pretty early because we were exhausted and Sam had to work the next morning.
The next day, Wednesday, was our last day on the road. We took the back roads out of New Mexico, which offered really beautiful veiws from dinky little mountains, and platues, but it was interesting any ways. It was a little scary, because there was absolutely no cell phone service and from where we got gas until we found another gas station was well over 200 miles and my oldie but goodie Rav4, filled as it was, could barely get 250miles to the tank. We eventually stopped so I could feed Layla, somewhere I think still in NM, and then hit the road again. We managed to make it to Colorado within about 4 hours, and from that point, it was only another 3 or so to the place we would call home for the next few years, at least.
Everyone, especially me, was so happy to see us. We arrived here at my mom's house around 4:30pm. I was so mentally spent, I couldn't wait to go to bed! Kelly was insanely happy to see Uncle and Nonnie. She latched onto Dylan and was squeezing him and kissing him so hard, it was so cute! The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful. Aaron went and picked up some champagne and we toasted a safe journey back to the mountains.
All in all our road trip was not really bad at all. We drove 2,016miles over the course of 5 days and 4 nights. We spent an ungodly amount of money on gas and food, thanks to the U.S. Army. In fact we are set to make about $4,000 or more, just because we moved and were "displaced." Yes the babies were sick, and yes it was hard driving 2 separate cars with 2 babies aged 2 and under, but I am so grateful to be here, it never mattered how much it might have sucked for someone else. Because we were doing it, I think we blocked out the parts that could have been really bad, its the only way we could survive :) And now we are finally home!
Basically, our last 2 weeks in Fayetteville went something like this:
Workout at the Y almost every morning. The girls got to play, and I got to run, but literally would spend less than an hour, sometimes less than 45 mins there, because then we would have to head home and have lunch, and put babies for their naps. Then I would find other things to do, i.e. Paint the kitchen, then paint and chalk both bathrooms. Meanwhile, Aaron did other things, like take donations to goodwill, replace bathroom facets and shower heads. We also had the house power washed, and placed nearly all our furniture on Craig's list. Before we left, we sold our washer/dryer, kitchen table, living room couch, bed/mattress from the spare bedroom and baby walker. Since we were moving into my mom's house, we obviously were not going to need these things. The best part was, none of it was picked up until the day the packers/mover came to move us, so we weren't living on the floor or anything, other than our last night in our house.
The movers came on a Friday morning (Sept 16th). The 2 packers and 3 movers, had everything loading into their gigantic truck within 6 hours. We didn't have to pack anything, other than what we would be bring in our cars. The last night in our Raeford house was bittersweet. We lived there over 2 years, and since we own it, at some point we may be going back to it. (Lucky for us, we had it rented out less than a week after we left it.) Our last meal there was at a delicious Mediterranean restaurant. The last night I spent mostly cleaning and taking care of sickies babies. Aaron was sick, Kelly got it that night, pretty much loosing her voice, and Layla had it by Saturday morning. None of that mattered though, we left by 0930 Saturday morning. Because we have 2 cars, Aaron and I would be driving solo, him with Kelly and me with Layla.
I would have thought after driving from upstate NY to NC in August that the drive to CO would have been an even bigger nightmare, especially with sick babies. However, I was indeed pleasantly surprised and grateful it was not. The first day we drove through NC, past beautiful Asheville and into Knoxville, TN. We drive about 300 miles that day, and stayed at a Marriot. Because the babies did so well in the cars, resting a lot and all, they were both ready to play all night! I don't think they went to bed until around 10pm or later!
The next day we got up early and I ran about 3.5 miles before we drove around 6 or more hours through beautiful TN (reminded me of upstate NY, because of all the trees--Smokey Mountains are smaller, but still very pretty! I am definitely a mountain girl! haha) to Memphis, having stopped in pretty Nashville for a delicious meal at a top notch Mexican Cantina. Memphis was kind of dumpy, but we stayed at the Marriott Downtown, which was a very nice hotel. We went to Beale Street for dinner, which was basically a tourist trap, because the BBQ was disgusting! We ended up getting most of our money back, because it was really that gross and couldn't even force it down. So we had a couple beers, and walked around all over the place. We probably walked at least 3 miles that night, each wearing a baby, I had Layla in the front carrier, and Aaron had Kelly on his back.
Monday morning we had to find a store to buy dry ice from. We had over a gallon of frozen breast milk we were transporting, and the dry ice only lasts about 24-48 hours. Also that morning, we both got up early and went running. Aaron ran through the city, and when he got back, I ran on the hotel treadmill for about 30 mins. With all the junk we had been eating, it was nice to get a couple workouts in. That morning was not good however. Right before we were about to walk out of the hotel room, Kelly puked allllll over herself and the bed. So I gave her a quick bath. It was mostly mucous, because she had been battling a productive cough and nasal congestion for several days at this point. Then we left the hotel and made our way further into town to find the Kroger we were getting the dry ice from. We all went in to the store, because we also were finding breakfast, and I really wanted fresh fruit. So we did that, got the BM repackaged, and were about to leave, babies in their car seats and all, when Kelly puked again! This time all stomach bile. So I sent Aaron into the store to get towels, while I attempted to strip her down and clean her off. Just as I had her standing in the parking lot in only her pull up, I look up and Layla is projectile vomiting! I look around for Daddy, but he was no where to be found.
I got the girls cleaned up, and re-clothed, and again we were on our way. I would have thought that this was going to be the worst day, but the only other bad time was when I started my PERIOD for the first time in like 3 years! That was shitty. But the rest of the day was uneventful. We drove through the boring state of Arkansas and through Oklahoma, and setting in at the Courtyard Marriott in OKC. By the time we got there, we had driven over 370 miles and about 7 hours of just driving, so I was pretty exhausted and grumpy. Plus I was also feeling sick too. That night was like all the rest, babies up late, mommy wanted sleep. But it wasn't too bad.
The next day we drove probably about 7 hours, to make it to Clovis, NM. That is where Aaron's brother Sam is stationed (Air Force). Clovis is basically a dump, but Sam lives in a cozy house that had a swing set in the back yard, and Kelly really liked that. We grilled out and then basically went to bed pretty early because we were exhausted and Sam had to work the next morning.
The next day, Wednesday, was our last day on the road. We took the back roads out of New Mexico, which offered really beautiful veiws from dinky little mountains, and platues, but it was interesting any ways. It was a little scary, because there was absolutely no cell phone service and from where we got gas until we found another gas station was well over 200 miles and my oldie but goodie Rav4, filled as it was, could barely get 250miles to the tank. We eventually stopped so I could feed Layla, somewhere I think still in NM, and then hit the road again. We managed to make it to Colorado within about 4 hours, and from that point, it was only another 3 or so to the place we would call home for the next few years, at least.
Everyone, especially me, was so happy to see us. We arrived here at my mom's house around 4:30pm. I was so mentally spent, I couldn't wait to go to bed! Kelly was insanely happy to see Uncle and Nonnie. She latched onto Dylan and was squeezing him and kissing him so hard, it was so cute! The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful. Aaron went and picked up some champagne and we toasted a safe journey back to the mountains.
All in all our road trip was not really bad at all. We drove 2,016miles over the course of 5 days and 4 nights. We spent an ungodly amount of money on gas and food, thanks to the U.S. Army. In fact we are set to make about $4,000 or more, just because we moved and were "displaced." Yes the babies were sick, and yes it was hard driving 2 separate cars with 2 babies aged 2 and under, but I am so grateful to be here, it never mattered how much it might have sucked for someone else. Because we were doing it, I think we blocked out the parts that could have been really bad, its the only way we could survive :) And now we are finally home!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Change of plans!
The unthinkable has happened! Aaron's orderes were changed and we are now moving to Colorado!! Praise God! He still has the same report date, so everything is going to happen really quick from here on out. That gives us 40 days to get there, but obviously we want to just get there as soon as possible and not at the last minute.
The plan is to move into my mom's house. She is being really weird and wishy-washy about it though, so it may not work out. It will be a tight squeeze and I can almost gaurentee that it won't be a permenent thing unless things really change around there, and all I mean by that is that she really needs to get rid of junk and the boys need to pick up after themselves, and also Colleen will probably have to move out. My mom always said how great it would be if we moved in, because we could pay her rent and then she wouldn't loose her house,and then she would be able to finish fixing it up and then probably just eventually sell it, but now she is being totally weird about the whole thing.
At first she said we could take the master bedroom/bathroom and one of the other bedrooms, but then got all weird, so I said forget it, we will just take 2 rooms instead. We added up the mortgage, plus house bills (i.e power bill, cable/internet) and divided by 7 people total, then multipled by 4 for us, and it comes out to $1140, so that's what we offered to pay total per month. Hopefully she will see what a great deal she is getting. Yes its a good deal for us too, but we could easily find cheaper places to live, not in the ideallic Briargate community, but somewhere that is acceptable and near all the things I request (i.e. grocery stores, running trails, gym, job. She also always said she would be our nanny so I could go back to work and then just pay her, thus giving her more income, but even that she didn't sound thrilled about when I talked to her yesterday.. Its like, OK woman, wake up, what do you want!?! I am telling you we can really help you out and what, its not good enough now? And now her phone is turned off, probably because she doesn't want to talk to me, and I can't get a hold of her. I know I called her a lot yesterday but that's because we need to get this all figutred out now, something she is clearly trying to avoid.
::sigh: a lot of my sterss is gone, but a lot is still clearly there.
On top of it, we are trying to sellour cars and hopefully buy at least one new one before we leave, but Aaron is busy getting all this stuff on-post taken care of, that I am not sure it is going to happen or not. And then this weekend, for the 4-day, we are gong up to party in Virginia Beach with Aaron's parents and sister and her husband. They got us a room on the beach at the Marriot. How different his family is from mine, and yet some how we all get along.
The plan is to move into my mom's house. She is being really weird and wishy-washy about it though, so it may not work out. It will be a tight squeeze and I can almost gaurentee that it won't be a permenent thing unless things really change around there, and all I mean by that is that she really needs to get rid of junk and the boys need to pick up after themselves, and also Colleen will probably have to move out. My mom always said how great it would be if we moved in, because we could pay her rent and then she wouldn't loose her house,and then she would be able to finish fixing it up and then probably just eventually sell it, but now she is being totally weird about the whole thing.
At first she said we could take the master bedroom/bathroom and one of the other bedrooms, but then got all weird, so I said forget it, we will just take 2 rooms instead. We added up the mortgage, plus house bills (i.e power bill, cable/internet) and divided by 7 people total, then multipled by 4 for us, and it comes out to $1140, so that's what we offered to pay total per month. Hopefully she will see what a great deal she is getting. Yes its a good deal for us too, but we could easily find cheaper places to live, not in the ideallic Briargate community, but somewhere that is acceptable and near all the things I request (i.e. grocery stores, running trails, gym, job. She also always said she would be our nanny so I could go back to work and then just pay her, thus giving her more income, but even that she didn't sound thrilled about when I talked to her yesterday.. Its like, OK woman, wake up, what do you want!?! I am telling you we can really help you out and what, its not good enough now? And now her phone is turned off, probably because she doesn't want to talk to me, and I can't get a hold of her. I know I called her a lot yesterday but that's because we need to get this all figutred out now, something she is clearly trying to avoid.
::sigh: a lot of my sterss is gone, but a lot is still clearly there.
On top of it, we are trying to sellour cars and hopefully buy at least one new one before we leave, but Aaron is busy getting all this stuff on-post taken care of, that I am not sure it is going to happen or not. And then this weekend, for the 4-day, we are gong up to party in Virginia Beach with Aaron's parents and sister and her husband. They got us a room on the beach at the Marriot. How different his family is from mine, and yet some how we all get along.
Monday, August 29, 2011
42 days and counting
Well it has finally happened. Aaron’s orders got handed down, as they say. He checked online, but has not signed for them yet. He is still trying to have his assignment changed to 10th group and that will be a lot easier if he hasn’t actually gotten his orders in hand, because now those must be changed, if they so choose to change the assignment. It is incredibly doubtful that the Sergeant Major will change his orders, so I am totally not getting my hopes up about it. Hopefully we will have final word by the end of this week or at least the beginning of next week, so we can arrange for a place to live and the move out there. He must report to group at Fort Campbell no later than October 10th, 2011. That gives us 42 days from today to get there and be moved. Not unpacked, just moved.
Aaron is almost finished with the fence he started last week and it is looking great so far. I have no idea how we survived this long without it. It feels so much more safe and secure and not to mention the increase in privacy, praise God!…here is how it looks so far…
 |
| crappy picture taken through the window...setting the posts in cemet |
 |
| Man tools used to dig the holes for the posts |
 |
| Screwing in the pickets, 100s of them |
.JPG) |
| Thus far, the backyard part |
I have been staying busy with what I do best, cooking! I am considering starting a blog dedicated to just cooking/baking and getting more into the photography of things, and actually blogging they way one should. Not starting anything right now though, probably not till after we are settled in Tennessee…
I have also been running and trying to lift and remember to do 8-min abs. I am really serious about not having anymore babies, even though I love them so darn much!!! Everytime I look at Layla or Kelly my heart just melts… >!<
Today we went back to the Doctor, this time for me. I needed refills on my meds and wanted to get another referral to resume PT if we were going to be here a while. Since we are only staying another 6 weeks, I probably won’t start it, too much to do to get ready, especially since we are going up to VA beach for another Beach Fantastico! I am also having an X-ray of my pelvis and sacrum done, so we can finally hopefully shed some light into why I am in constant pain all the time. The doctor also prescribed Celerex and DC’d the Motrin. No refill for the good stuff that actually works, but oh well, I will try the celebrex and see what happens. I just want it to go away! I think if I had to say a #2 reason not to have anymore babies, the pain in my bones is probably it. I really can’t take this. Lately its been hurting while I run too. I hate admitting that, because I will not give up my running, it means more to me than all the pain poopla in the world. I will just deal with it.
Running just 5 days a week is not too much and just enough for now. I have found that when I run over 4.5mi in a single run I get quite dehydrated and make less milk, thus prompting a meltdown from Layla-bug. I have been supplementing her as it is with frozen breast milk as it is for the past several weeks, just after one feeding, I offer her a bottle of 2-4 ounces and she drinks what she wants and I either toss the rest or save it for later. Sometimes before bed we give her a whole bottle, like 4-5 ounces and she drinks until full or asleep. And she only wakes up once at night, so just pump every night, no matter what, before I go to bed. If its been at least 2 hours since I last nursed her, I can usually get anywhere between 4-5.5 ounces, maybe more if I was more patient. So, so far I Haven’t had to ask my mom to send my stash from her freezer. There is probably 3 or more gallons frozen just waiting. LOL, it makes me laugh when I think about it. I have done much better with staying ahead of the demand in that way, just too bad I don’t always have enough in there right when I need it.
Things have been going well. We have pretty much the same routine everyday.
Wake up around 7-730, go to the kitchen, Kelly eats breakfast (either cereal+fruit or eggs, sometimes both), I have my standard PG tips and toast or cereal; get Kelly dressed, by then Layla wakes up, get her clean and dressed, clean up, Layla plays on the floor, usually her gym, until she rolls away, Kelly plays in her kitchenor colors or both. Eventually Layla nurses, then we leave and go straight to the Y. They go to the childcare, I run/lift, pick them up, go home, sometimes run an errand on my way home. Usually Layla falls asleep in the car on the ride home, so I lay her down, feed Kelly lunch, clean her up, by now Layla wakes up, and is usually hungry, so I nurse her. The clean them up, let Kelly play for about 30-60 mins, lay her down for nap, then try my hardest to tire out Layla for nap, and if I am lucky I can have them both tandem napping at least for a while, so I can either nap or get stuff down around the house. They are both awake up 3pm, then we play and after Layla nurses again, usually by 4 or 5, we go run errands if we have any or make dinner. We eat around 6-630pm, clean up Kelly and either Aaron or I bathe Kelly while the other rocks Layla, and usually Layla is in bed by 7:30. Then its finish up Kelly’s bath, and start books and we read, the same 2-4 books every night, then lay Kelly down, say our prayers, and I always lay with her for 1 minute (I tell her its minute, sometimes longer, usually never shorter), then kiss her good night and she is lights-out by 8:00-8:30. Then, and only then can I truly relax. Usually with my love pants on the couch, eating ice cream and doing mindless TV watching or talking about our days.
I do enjoy things now, and look forward to what is in store for us in the future. I have already decided that when Aaron gets deployed one thing I am going to do is pick 1 or 2 recipes from my cooking magazines and make them, hopefully blogging it along the way. It will keep me busy and help freshen up my array of meals. I think it will be fun too! Something to do any ways J
Layla 4.5 months update
She is cuter than ever!
Stats:
Weight: 12lbs 4 ounces, 10th percentile
Heights: 24 inches, 27t percentile
Head circumference: 16 in 32nd percentile
Wears size 2 diaper (poops through the 1‘s, lol), wears 3-6 months cloths, some 0-3 months still fit too.
Diet: all momma’s milk, every 3-4 hours during the day, eats once during the night and sometimes first thing in the morning and will fall back to sleep for an hour or so
Bedtime: between 7-8pm, she lets us know when she’s ready ;)
Naps: 2x/day if they are longer,otherwise 3 short 45min or less ones
Awake: 3-5 hours at a time
She is very social, follows objects when moving, smiles at the sound of my voice and Kelly or Daddy, laughs her heart out at her wild-child big sissy, rolls, everywhere-everywhere, you put her in one place, leave the room for a min and she is 10 or more feet away! She loves sucking her fingers, grabbing for toys and putting them in her mouth. I let her hold veggies while I am cooking dinner and she tries to eat them, haha! She babbles and screeches, and is always smiling. When she does cry she is either wanting to cuddle, bored, hungry, or tired. She still enjoys her swing, and from time to time I let her nap in it, but usually I swaddle her (only her extra large blanket works) and she naps and sleeps in her crib. We still give her the paci when she gets feisty or is getting ready for a nap it helps to sooth her to sleep. I usually always rock her to sleep, during the day if we are home I do it before her nap, and always before bed. Cuddle time is my favorite time.
She also got her 4 month vaccines and took them like a champ. Kelly still talks about the "shots!". She cried a little, but developed no knots or bruises the way her sister used too. Just a couple more rounds and she will be done for a while.
Still no teeth yet (Praise God! she still tries to bite me while I nurse her anyway though!). I will be starting the cereal sometime next month at the earliest, maybe even wait until after we move, by then she will be six months and then its one less thing to worry about between now and then, we'll see how "satisfied" she stays.
I love this girl!
.JPG)
Stats:
Weight: 12lbs 4 ounces, 10th percentile
Heights: 24 inches, 27t percentile
Head circumference: 16 in 32nd percentile
Wears size 2 diaper (poops through the 1‘s, lol), wears 3-6 months cloths, some 0-3 months still fit too.
Diet: all momma’s milk, every 3-4 hours during the day, eats once during the night and sometimes first thing in the morning and will fall back to sleep for an hour or so
Bedtime: between 7-8pm, she lets us know when she’s ready ;)
Naps: 2x/day if they are longer,otherwise 3 short 45min or less ones
Awake: 3-5 hours at a time
She is very social, follows objects when moving, smiles at the sound of my voice and Kelly or Daddy, laughs her heart out at her wild-child big sissy, rolls, everywhere-everywhere, you put her in one place, leave the room for a min and she is 10 or more feet away! She loves sucking her fingers, grabbing for toys and putting them in her mouth. I let her hold veggies while I am cooking dinner and she tries to eat them, haha! She babbles and screeches, and is always smiling. When she does cry she is either wanting to cuddle, bored, hungry, or tired. She still enjoys her swing, and from time to time I let her nap in it, but usually I swaddle her (only her extra large blanket works) and she naps and sleeps in her crib. We still give her the paci when she gets feisty or is getting ready for a nap it helps to sooth her to sleep. I usually always rock her to sleep, during the day if we are home I do it before her nap, and always before bed. Cuddle time is my favorite time.
.JPG)
She also got her 4 month vaccines and took them like a champ. Kelly still talks about the "shots!". She cried a little, but developed no knots or bruises the way her sister used too. Just a couple more rounds and she will be done for a while.
Still no teeth yet (Praise God! she still tries to bite me while I nurse her anyway though!). I will be starting the cereal sometime next month at the earliest, maybe even wait until after we move, by then she will be six months and then its one less thing to worry about between now and then, we'll see how "satisfied" she stays.
I love this girl!
Friday, August 26, 2011
been busy
Still no word on when we will be moving, let alone the official where. Aaron wrote another letter requesting his assignment be changed to 10th group at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO so we could be closer to family and live in my mom's house, to help her out (she'd be able to afford the mortgage with our supplemental income to her from our BAH (basic allowance for housing) and she'd be able to help us out (nanny so I can go back to work and further my professional aspirations). We'll see what they decide.
If we end up moving to 5th group at Fort Campbell, KY, we will live in Clarksville, Tennessee. In a way, I almost wouldn't mind. Keep in mind I have never even been there, so who knows, but everyone says its way better than here, so it could be alright. We have been looking at housing options, and haven't made any final decisions yet, but it looks like living in a townhouse or condo is the way to go. And of course to rent. We found, online only, what appears to be a pretty nice place in downtown Clarksville. Its on Madison Street, brick, 2 bedroom townhouse with 3 or 4 bathrooms, formal dining room, living room, fire places, almost 2,000 sq ft, etc. It looks kinda fancy, lol. And it has a garage. Basically we need at least a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom with garage. Aaron was way too much army gear not too, and he still has a motorcycle he refuses to sell, despite the fact that he hasn't ridden it in over 6+ years. The crappy part is, our BAH is going down with a move to 5th group. Apparently the cost of living is lower, however, we have not found more than a handful of suitable living areas that meet our price range.
I am more than willing to go back to work if I have to, in order to live somewhere nice. We found one house that was gorgeous! And huge, and with a POOL in the backyard. It would probably require me to work, because the rent was about $350 too much per month, and farther from post. I would do it though! Seriously though, I actually have no desire to work right now. I am enjoying my time while I can. I know in a few months I will probably feel restless and bored and need to work to stay sane, so probably by Janurary...By then Kelly will be 2 years 8 months (and hopefully potty trained!!!), and Layla will be 9 months (and probably weaned!). I have to find the job thats right for me though.
I have always said I wanted to go into L&D or NICU since Kelly was born. Last job I chose, or that chose me, was not in either area, and I still learned a lot and enjoyed it, but I really think I would enjoy L&D so much more. I think we would try to get the girls a Nanny too, a live-out Nanny. Aaron is usually really busy with work stuff, especially when he gets to a team, he will probably be gone a lot, and with the hours nurses work (usually rotating or nights), it would probably make the most sense. If we end up in CO, then their Nanny will be Granny, if she wants. I feel like if we are going to spend an arm and a leg on childcare, it might as well be as close to home-life as possible, right? Though, Kelly will need some preschool time too...IDK, I don't have to think about it just yet.
In other news, we had a fantastic Beach weekend 2 weekends ago,out at Wrightsville Beach, NC. I will say that the second beach day was a bit of a disaster, having an over-tired, power-hungry 2 year old is no fun no matter where you are, but once rested, long 3+ hour nap, she was back to her usual, happy self.
As of now, with all of Aaron's free time, him and a couple battle buddies are building a fence around our property. Its come a long way, all the holes are dug, all the posts set, and now they are screwing in all the pickets. Its going to look fantastic. And since he is more or less doing it himself, or rather not paying anyone to do it, we will save like $2,000.00 or something. I love that he is this motivated to fix up our house. We are getting it renter-friendly for renters with children or pets. Next step is power-washing house, painting (more than likely we will have too), trimming front bushes, and then painting the kitchen and guest bathroom. There are some minor things to fix, my faucet in the master bath and the shower head in the guest bathroom, and then of course have the carpets deep cleaned after we move out, and then its just about ready. We already have a potential renter, Aaron's friend Jason, who is deployed right now in Afghanistan...but nothing is set in stone yet, so we are preparing as if we may have to impress someone into living here.
I need to post pictures, but first must load them onto the computer....
If we end up moving to 5th group at Fort Campbell, KY, we will live in Clarksville, Tennessee. In a way, I almost wouldn't mind. Keep in mind I have never even been there, so who knows, but everyone says its way better than here, so it could be alright. We have been looking at housing options, and haven't made any final decisions yet, but it looks like living in a townhouse or condo is the way to go. And of course to rent. We found, online only, what appears to be a pretty nice place in downtown Clarksville. Its on Madison Street, brick, 2 bedroom townhouse with 3 or 4 bathrooms, formal dining room, living room, fire places, almost 2,000 sq ft, etc. It looks kinda fancy, lol. And it has a garage. Basically we need at least a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom with garage. Aaron was way too much army gear not too, and he still has a motorcycle he refuses to sell, despite the fact that he hasn't ridden it in over 6+ years. The crappy part is, our BAH is going down with a move to 5th group. Apparently the cost of living is lower, however, we have not found more than a handful of suitable living areas that meet our price range.
I am more than willing to go back to work if I have to, in order to live somewhere nice. We found one house that was gorgeous! And huge, and with a POOL in the backyard. It would probably require me to work, because the rent was about $350 too much per month, and farther from post. I would do it though! Seriously though, I actually have no desire to work right now. I am enjoying my time while I can. I know in a few months I will probably feel restless and bored and need to work to stay sane, so probably by Janurary...By then Kelly will be 2 years 8 months (and hopefully potty trained!!!), and Layla will be 9 months (and probably weaned!). I have to find the job thats right for me though.
I have always said I wanted to go into L&D or NICU since Kelly was born. Last job I chose, or that chose me, was not in either area, and I still learned a lot and enjoyed it, but I really think I would enjoy L&D so much more. I think we would try to get the girls a Nanny too, a live-out Nanny. Aaron is usually really busy with work stuff, especially when he gets to a team, he will probably be gone a lot, and with the hours nurses work (usually rotating or nights), it would probably make the most sense. If we end up in CO, then their Nanny will be Granny, if she wants. I feel like if we are going to spend an arm and a leg on childcare, it might as well be as close to home-life as possible, right? Though, Kelly will need some preschool time too...IDK, I don't have to think about it just yet.
In other news, we had a fantastic Beach weekend 2 weekends ago,out at Wrightsville Beach, NC. I will say that the second beach day was a bit of a disaster, having an over-tired, power-hungry 2 year old is no fun no matter where you are, but once rested, long 3+ hour nap, she was back to her usual, happy self.
As of now, with all of Aaron's free time, him and a couple battle buddies are building a fence around our property. Its come a long way, all the holes are dug, all the posts set, and now they are screwing in all the pickets. Its going to look fantastic. And since he is more or less doing it himself, or rather not paying anyone to do it, we will save like $2,000.00 or something. I love that he is this motivated to fix up our house. We are getting it renter-friendly for renters with children or pets. Next step is power-washing house, painting (more than likely we will have too), trimming front bushes, and then painting the kitchen and guest bathroom. There are some minor things to fix, my faucet in the master bath and the shower head in the guest bathroom, and then of course have the carpets deep cleaned after we move out, and then its just about ready. We already have a potential renter, Aaron's friend Jason, who is deployed right now in Afghanistan...but nothing is set in stone yet, so we are preparing as if we may have to impress someone into living here.
I need to post pictures, but first must load them onto the computer....
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
much much to say
I REALLY HATE how this thing automatically saves, holy shit!!!!!!!!!
I just had the longest sum-up of events for the past 2 weeks, DELETED. ::sigh::
Alright I will re-write it later, I have much to do while the babies are in bed.
Basically our trip was great in New York, followed by really tough on our drive down to NC, but we survived.
Kelly really misses everyone, especially her UNCLE!
Aaron finished Sage, graduated top of his class and also received some special award that has a long name to it.
He also got his group assignment...its not to Germany, but its also not to Colorado (sad face). We got 5th group, to Fort Campbell, Kentucky! Boo. At first, for like an entire day, the first day Aaron was home, I was not happy,rather I was just super anxious, it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and suffocating me. He put into have it changed, but I highly doubt it will happen. I have pretty much accepted the fact that we are leaving here (no matter how much I hate it here, it is still familiar and I still have 3 girlfriends here, which is 3 more than I have in KY) and we need to plant new roots in at our next duty station. This is the life my husband signed up for and he only has 2 more years and 3 1/2 months left on his contract. So its not the end of the world. Yes, its going to be shitty when he gets deployed and leaves us there, but I will make it work. I already hate it less here because I have been taking their girls to the Y everyday, except when we go to the beach or otherwise hang out with my chicas. So I can make it work anywhere!!
So we are now landlords, we signed a contract with a property management company to rent out our house. Now we just need to get it ready to rent, i.e. paint kitchen & bathroom, new blinds, power wash outside, mow & landscape front and have carpets cleaned. We can do it. The goal is to have it rented out by November. We are probably leaving before that, but we won't be able to afford our mortgage and rent in KY for too long before I will be forced to go to back to work for too long.
Babies are doing great. I have Layla's 4 month update coming with pictures too. Let me just say she is so lovable. She rolls everywhere, but especially from back to belly and then gets angry when she can't get back to her back after she's had enough. I haven't started solid food, I can trying to hold out as long as possible. She still nurses and takes a bottle like a champ (YAY!). Kelly is very high energy and is always finding ways to make me laugh or want to scream, but I love her for it. Oh and we re-started cloth diapers on her. I have basically ran out of disposables and haven't made time to go to the store. Tomorrow I have to go though, Layla is nearly out of diapers too.
This was going to be an awesome post, but instead its only half interesting.
I just had the longest sum-up of events for the past 2 weeks, DELETED. ::sigh::
Alright I will re-write it later, I have much to do while the babies are in bed.
Basically our trip was great in New York, followed by really tough on our drive down to NC, but we survived.
Kelly really misses everyone, especially her UNCLE!
.JPG) |
| Wearing Uncle's shirt, just woke up in the morning. |
.JPG) |
| Sometimes I forget she is still a baby! |
.JPG) |
| Special Forces Hubby! |
.JPG) |
| His Mom Pat, Him, Kelly, Mac, his Dad |
.JPG) |
| Layla-Bug- her and kelly had matching dresses and hats, so adorable |
He also got his group assignment...its not to Germany, but its also not to Colorado (sad face). We got 5th group, to Fort Campbell, Kentucky! Boo. At first, for like an entire day, the first day Aaron was home, I was not happy,rather I was just super anxious, it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and suffocating me. He put into have it changed, but I highly doubt it will happen. I have pretty much accepted the fact that we are leaving here (no matter how much I hate it here, it is still familiar and I still have 3 girlfriends here, which is 3 more than I have in KY) and we need to plant new roots in at our next duty station. This is the life my husband signed up for and he only has 2 more years and 3 1/2 months left on his contract. So its not the end of the world. Yes, its going to be shitty when he gets deployed and leaves us there, but I will make it work. I already hate it less here because I have been taking their girls to the Y everyday, except when we go to the beach or otherwise hang out with my chicas. So I can make it work anywhere!!
So we are now landlords, we signed a contract with a property management company to rent out our house. Now we just need to get it ready to rent, i.e. paint kitchen & bathroom, new blinds, power wash outside, mow & landscape front and have carpets cleaned. We can do it. The goal is to have it rented out by November. We are probably leaving before that, but we won't be able to afford our mortgage and rent in KY for too long before I will be forced to go to back to work for too long.
Babies are doing great. I have Layla's 4 month update coming with pictures too. Let me just say she is so lovable. She rolls everywhere, but especially from back to belly and then gets angry when she can't get back to her back after she's had enough. I haven't started solid food, I can trying to hold out as long as possible. She still nurses and takes a bottle like a champ (YAY!). Kelly is very high energy and is always finding ways to make me laugh or want to scream, but I love her for it. Oh and we re-started cloth diapers on her. I have basically ran out of disposables and haven't made time to go to the store. Tomorrow I have to go though, Layla is nearly out of diapers too.
This was going to be an awesome post, but instead its only half interesting.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Jet-lagged
We made it to the north east, specifically my Grandmother's house in Rochester, NY. The journey here was exhausting! We left Colorado on a red-eye flight out of Denver at 1am. Kelly was pretty wound up at the airport and continued to terrorize her Uncle Dylan for the beginning of the flight. Layla and I sat in the row ahead of my Mom, Kelly and Dylan. I nursed Layla and she fell asleep, and then so did I until I heard the captain announce the decent into JFK airport, at which time I gently woke up Layla, nursed her again and waited to deplane the aircraft.
The entire 90min layover at JFK is a huge blur. I have no idea how we got to the next plane, but obviously we did. Then we landed in Rochester, on time and my Grandma and Aunt Liz picked us up. Once we got to my Grandma's house we ate some food, not sure what, and after One Life to Live, Layla and I took a nap. I expected her to do her usual 30 min catnap, but she surprised me and let me sleep about an hour and 20 mins. Then my mom took her nap and we eventually went to my Aunt Martha's for dinner and to visit with my cousins. Again, the whole thing is a blur, I was so tired.
Thursday my Mom and I went running through her old stomping grounds, passed her highschool Mercy, where we knelt down and said a prayer on the grotto, and continued our run. The best part is that I also lived here, at my Grandma's house, so I know the area really well too, and used to run through all the neighborhoods, so it was good. I like running with my mom, especially because it doesn't happen as often as I would like and won't be happening for a long time. The cool down we walked with my Aunt Liz, up to St. James and all around. Total it was over 7 miles!
Thursday night we went to my friend Kim's house for playtime and dinner. She has a daughter 6 weeks younger than Kelly and a son that is 6 months. It was delish! Salmon, salad, fresh fruit and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Kelly had a BLAST playing with Bre and all her awesome toys! And I had fun catching up with an old nursing buddy from Strong. She is the one who came out to visit us in North Carolina last summer.
Friday I ran with Layla in the phil&teds while Kelly played with my cousins (her second-cousins) Sarah and Caitlin. We had a good 4 miler. It is SO much easier only pushing one baby and at sea level, and with like no hills! Having Caitlin and Sarah around was nice because Kelly had lots of entertainment. They did her hair and nails too, things she does not like me doing. That night we (Aunt Martha, Megan, Amanda, my mom, Grandma, and my girls) went to dinner at the Wintonaire and listen to music on the jukebox and drank some beers. A good night.
Saturday I ran with both girls all around, probably 3-4 miles, then we got cleaned up , Kelly took her nap and Layla and I went to the Eastview mall to meet up with Aunt Martha and Megan and Amanda and I finally bought some cute outfits to wear to Aaron's graduation. I still need to get shoes though. We also had really delicious frozen yogurt. It was the first time trying it and I got a chocolate mint Froyo shake. Very Good!
Saturday evening we went to St. James Catholic Church for mass. It was really nice, the last time I had been there was for Kelly's baptism on her 4th day of life! Nothing has changed, except the Priest, which was a bummer, but they are all good. That night we went to dinner with Aunt Martha and her kids at Taka House for some of the best SUSHI. We love it!!! In fact I am craving it right now! Afterward we stopped off at my Great-Aunt Puggy's house for some chit chat.
Today (Sunday), my Mom and I went running with the girls, I needed to buy diapers, so we ran to the East Ave Wegmans ( I LOVE Wegmans), and then all around coming home. Probably 3.5-4 miles? Idk, it doesn't really matter. Then over to my Great-Aunt Jackie's to see her and my Great-Uncle Mike. My Great-Aunt Suzi and her hubby my Gerat-Uncle Jerry also stopped by, so that was fun to see them.
All in all, things are going well and I am really just trying to enjoy myself here. I kind of wish I was moving back here, instead of North Carolina...but I would miss my husband too much, so clearly that would never work, haha.
I didn't realize how much stuff I just left here when I moved out! There is crap in all the rooms I have to deal with before I leave, ugh! Unfortunately most of it is going to goodwill. The idea to hook a trailer-hitch thing to my Grandma's car is not going to work out apparently, so I can't bring my bed or her treadmill home with me :( I am totally bummed out about this, my bed is the-most-comfortable-bed I have ever slept in. I am making room for my grandma's sewing machine and one of her Kerby vacuums and probably her counter mixer (as long as it works)...and hopefully my mom's old vanity (she really wants me to have it, an Kelly would like it) and maybe a couple other things other than all the other stuff like our suitcases, jogging stroller, etc. She drives a 2006 Honda CRV so not an extreme amount of space or anything.
So, other crappy things. Layla has been giving me such a hard time when I nurse her! She is all gassed out or something??? It is so frustrating!!! A couple times I gave up and pumped and gave her a bottle. And when we go out I don't even bother trying to nurse her, I either feed her before we go, or try then end up pumping and taking a bottle. If we go to someone's house I will go through the fiasco of nursing her, otherwise if its to a restaurant, I bring a bottle (of breast milk). My stress level sky rockets! Which I know just makes it worse. I am hoping, once we are home in NC, after some R&R we can get back on track. The idea of just bottles won't fly for me because she is still waking up at least once, sometimes twice at night, so to warm up bm its just silly. When she is sleepy, she's doesn't care and just nurses no problem, but during the day, its nightmareish. She still isn't taking good naps, just short little 30, sometimes 45+ mins, and she stays awake between 2.5-3 hours at a stretch, so, idk. Maybe, hopefully, when we are back in NC and settled she can be on more of a schedule? ugh...
We are leaving to drive down on Aug 3rd (Wednesday) and hoping to be there on the 5th. Aaron gets home on the 6th, and the graduation is the 12th. My mom will probably leave to head back up to Rochester on the 10th or 11th. That is going to be a really hard good-bye. Everytime I think about it I cry :( Then the weekend of the graduation Aaron's parent's rented a condo on the beach in Wrightsville, NC and his brother Sam is flying in, so Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night, that's where we will be having fun. Then finally some down time, I think. I hope.
Alright, pictures are coming eventually, for now I must go to bed.
The entire 90min layover at JFK is a huge blur. I have no idea how we got to the next plane, but obviously we did. Then we landed in Rochester, on time and my Grandma and Aunt Liz picked us up. Once we got to my Grandma's house we ate some food, not sure what, and after One Life to Live, Layla and I took a nap. I expected her to do her usual 30 min catnap, but she surprised me and let me sleep about an hour and 20 mins. Then my mom took her nap and we eventually went to my Aunt Martha's for dinner and to visit with my cousins. Again, the whole thing is a blur, I was so tired.
Thursday my Mom and I went running through her old stomping grounds, passed her highschool Mercy, where we knelt down and said a prayer on the grotto, and continued our run. The best part is that I also lived here, at my Grandma's house, so I know the area really well too, and used to run through all the neighborhoods, so it was good. I like running with my mom, especially because it doesn't happen as often as I would like and won't be happening for a long time. The cool down we walked with my Aunt Liz, up to St. James and all around. Total it was over 7 miles!
Thursday night we went to my friend Kim's house for playtime and dinner. She has a daughter 6 weeks younger than Kelly and a son that is 6 months. It was delish! Salmon, salad, fresh fruit and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Kelly had a BLAST playing with Bre and all her awesome toys! And I had fun catching up with an old nursing buddy from Strong. She is the one who came out to visit us in North Carolina last summer.
Friday I ran with Layla in the phil&teds while Kelly played with my cousins (her second-cousins) Sarah and Caitlin. We had a good 4 miler. It is SO much easier only pushing one baby and at sea level, and with like no hills! Having Caitlin and Sarah around was nice because Kelly had lots of entertainment. They did her hair and nails too, things she does not like me doing. That night we (Aunt Martha, Megan, Amanda, my mom, Grandma, and my girls) went to dinner at the Wintonaire and listen to music on the jukebox and drank some beers. A good night.
Saturday I ran with both girls all around, probably 3-4 miles, then we got cleaned up , Kelly took her nap and Layla and I went to the Eastview mall to meet up with Aunt Martha and Megan and Amanda and I finally bought some cute outfits to wear to Aaron's graduation. I still need to get shoes though. We also had really delicious frozen yogurt. It was the first time trying it and I got a chocolate mint Froyo shake. Very Good!
Saturday evening we went to St. James Catholic Church for mass. It was really nice, the last time I had been there was for Kelly's baptism on her 4th day of life! Nothing has changed, except the Priest, which was a bummer, but they are all good. That night we went to dinner with Aunt Martha and her kids at Taka House for some of the best SUSHI. We love it!!! In fact I am craving it right now! Afterward we stopped off at my Great-Aunt Puggy's house for some chit chat.
Today (Sunday), my Mom and I went running with the girls, I needed to buy diapers, so we ran to the East Ave Wegmans ( I LOVE Wegmans), and then all around coming home. Probably 3.5-4 miles? Idk, it doesn't really matter. Then over to my Great-Aunt Jackie's to see her and my Great-Uncle Mike. My Great-Aunt Suzi and her hubby my Gerat-Uncle Jerry also stopped by, so that was fun to see them.
All in all, things are going well and I am really just trying to enjoy myself here. I kind of wish I was moving back here, instead of North Carolina...but I would miss my husband too much, so clearly that would never work, haha.
I didn't realize how much stuff I just left here when I moved out! There is crap in all the rooms I have to deal with before I leave, ugh! Unfortunately most of it is going to goodwill. The idea to hook a trailer-hitch thing to my Grandma's car is not going to work out apparently, so I can't bring my bed or her treadmill home with me :( I am totally bummed out about this, my bed is the-most-comfortable-bed I have ever slept in. I am making room for my grandma's sewing machine and one of her Kerby vacuums and probably her counter mixer (as long as it works)...and hopefully my mom's old vanity (she really wants me to have it, an Kelly would like it) and maybe a couple other things other than all the other stuff like our suitcases, jogging stroller, etc. She drives a 2006 Honda CRV so not an extreme amount of space or anything.
So, other crappy things. Layla has been giving me such a hard time when I nurse her! She is all gassed out or something??? It is so frustrating!!! A couple times I gave up and pumped and gave her a bottle. And when we go out I don't even bother trying to nurse her, I either feed her before we go, or try then end up pumping and taking a bottle. If we go to someone's house I will go through the fiasco of nursing her, otherwise if its to a restaurant, I bring a bottle (of breast milk). My stress level sky rockets! Which I know just makes it worse. I am hoping, once we are home in NC, after some R&R we can get back on track. The idea of just bottles won't fly for me because she is still waking up at least once, sometimes twice at night, so to warm up bm its just silly. When she is sleepy, she's doesn't care and just nurses no problem, but during the day, its nightmareish. She still isn't taking good naps, just short little 30, sometimes 45+ mins, and she stays awake between 2.5-3 hours at a stretch, so, idk. Maybe, hopefully, when we are back in NC and settled she can be on more of a schedule? ugh...
We are leaving to drive down on Aug 3rd (Wednesday) and hoping to be there on the 5th. Aaron gets home on the 6th, and the graduation is the 12th. My mom will probably leave to head back up to Rochester on the 10th or 11th. That is going to be a really hard good-bye. Everytime I think about it I cry :( Then the weekend of the graduation Aaron's parent's rented a condo on the beach in Wrightsville, NC and his brother Sam is flying in, so Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night, that's where we will be having fun. Then finally some down time, I think. I hope.
Alright, pictures are coming eventually, for now I must go to bed.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Leaving Colorado
Today is our last day in Colorado. I absolutely love it here. I am excited to see my grandmother and aunts, uncle and cousins, and Rochester girlfriends. BUT, I am sad to be leaving. I am sad for Kelly and Layla who have gotten to be around so much love and attention the past few months, but excited for them to embark on another phase of their lives and to be re-united with their daddy! So many emotions, so much anxiety, ugh.
Packing has been an absolute nightmare, because I have no idea if we are coming back here. The number Aaron gave me to find out his group assignment did not work, therefore I won't find out until he does, on Aug 6th. I have packed and donated as if we are not coming back. I gave Mac, Aaron's dad a very large suitcase packed to the brim with 50lbs of clothes, shoes, etc and he brought it with him to D.C. and will drive it down with him and Pat come in for the graduation. Then there are all the gallons of frozen breast milk down in the deep freezer and the plastic storage bin full of my winter clothes (i.e. wool Guess coat, Uggs, etc). That stuff will need to be shipped to us in NC if we are not moving back, the breast milk shipped on dry ice. I am also shipping 2 larger size boxes to our neighbors house today, and not looking forward to how much that is going to cost, they are HEAVY. Oh well, I'd rather pay to ship it than have to go shopping for new shite.
Bad news: my awesome Phil&Teds has 2 flat tires that were not there on Sunday!? I think I overfilled the tire in front when I took the girls on a run and visited Colleen at the gas station. I am going to attempt to fix it with fix-a-flat and deal with the repercussions later, and if that doesn't work I am going to have to locate 12" inner tubes. sighhhhhhhhh
Alright, gotta get going before Kelly wakes up and it starts raining again.
Packing has been an absolute nightmare, because I have no idea if we are coming back here. The number Aaron gave me to find out his group assignment did not work, therefore I won't find out until he does, on Aug 6th. I have packed and donated as if we are not coming back. I gave Mac, Aaron's dad a very large suitcase packed to the brim with 50lbs of clothes, shoes, etc and he brought it with him to D.C. and will drive it down with him and Pat come in for the graduation. Then there are all the gallons of frozen breast milk down in the deep freezer and the plastic storage bin full of my winter clothes (i.e. wool Guess coat, Uggs, etc). That stuff will need to be shipped to us in NC if we are not moving back, the breast milk shipped on dry ice. I am also shipping 2 larger size boxes to our neighbors house today, and not looking forward to how much that is going to cost, they are HEAVY. Oh well, I'd rather pay to ship it than have to go shopping for new shite.
Bad news: my awesome Phil&Teds has 2 flat tires that were not there on Sunday!? I think I overfilled the tire in front when I took the girls on a run and visited Colleen at the gas station. I am going to attempt to fix it with fix-a-flat and deal with the repercussions later, and if that doesn't work I am going to have to locate 12" inner tubes. sighhhhhhhhh
Alright, gotta get going before Kelly wakes up and it starts raining again.
Monday, July 18, 2011
1 down, 3 to go
I just wrote a long post, and then accidently deleted it, and the stupid auto-save ruined it! :`(
Basically, just saying that the first week of no contact is always the hardest, but now that its over, I should be fine. I really look forward to seeing Aaron and being a family again, in our own house, even in North Carolina. The best thing from yesterday, and really the whole weekend, was when David G. called me. He had just ran into Aaron at Camp McKall. He said Aaron was happy, doing very well, and that their first mission went off with no problems and that it was really easy. I guess this week they are out in lock-down for the planning for their major infield operation or whatever. I don't really remember all the terminology. Any way, and then they run the mission starting this weekend, and then finish and are done! He also said I could write him a personal letter and E-mail it to him and that he would show him if he runs into him again the following Sunday, so I will probably do that. I was so happy after I heard all the great news. The only not-so-great news was that guys that had graduated in May were still waiting for their orders, because they are back-logged...Basically that just means that even after Aaron graduates we will have an undetermined number of months of more waiting. Hopefully, we will at least be told where we can expect to be going, but who knows!
Sunday Collen and the babes and I went to McDonalds to meet up with Tony's wife Ann and their 2 kids. They have gotten SO big! Its been at least 5 years since I have seen any of them. Ann looked great as always, and their kids, Alina (age 7), and Ian (age 9) were really cute and funny! We just got some food, I ate my entire value meal, soda and fries and all! And I never did run yesterday either...but, heck I am still breastfeeding like a champ, so its actually not a bad thing to consume about 1000 calories in one sitting! haha.
As a side note, I was able to gain back a few pounds. I weight myself like twice a week, and I seem to fluctuate between 120-123. For now, I think that is fine. I mean, I wouldn't mind weighing less, but I think Layla would, since I wouldn't be making enough milk and she rarely takes a bottle. In fact, I don't know if she even still will? With my luck, probably not. Oh well, its not like I plan on going back to work anytime soon. I had my opportunity to do it here with free child care, and I couldn't care less.
Saturday we went to Mary's pool. We had fun, Kelly really hates the pool this summer. She just wears her life vest all day and refuses to get into the water. I kind of force her in and she holds onto me for dear life, never really so much as cracking a smile. I don't get it, she loves baths, and loved the ocean and the pool last summer? Probably just a toddler thing. I did hold her once and jump in and went under water, but I think she maybe slightly enjoyed it? haha...one day she will be a fish, like most kids are at the pool!
Its been a totally busy day already, walked to the YMCA, ran 6 miles whiles the babes played in child watch, took Kelly to Speech Therapy, went to pick up Ryan from summer school (he is taking chemistry to get ahead), came home. Meanwhile the painters are here painting the outside of the house (its going to look awesome!), and I have PT at 4:15. We leave a week from tomorrow, and we will have full-full days until we go!
Basically, just saying that the first week of no contact is always the hardest, but now that its over, I should be fine. I really look forward to seeing Aaron and being a family again, in our own house, even in North Carolina. The best thing from yesterday, and really the whole weekend, was when David G. called me. He had just ran into Aaron at Camp McKall. He said Aaron was happy, doing very well, and that their first mission went off with no problems and that it was really easy. I guess this week they are out in lock-down for the planning for their major infield operation or whatever. I don't really remember all the terminology. Any way, and then they run the mission starting this weekend, and then finish and are done! He also said I could write him a personal letter and E-mail it to him and that he would show him if he runs into him again the following Sunday, so I will probably do that. I was so happy after I heard all the great news. The only not-so-great news was that guys that had graduated in May were still waiting for their orders, because they are back-logged...Basically that just means that even after Aaron graduates we will have an undetermined number of months of more waiting. Hopefully, we will at least be told where we can expect to be going, but who knows!
Sunday Collen and the babes and I went to McDonalds to meet up with Tony's wife Ann and their 2 kids. They have gotten SO big! Its been at least 5 years since I have seen any of them. Ann looked great as always, and their kids, Alina (age 7), and Ian (age 9) were really cute and funny! We just got some food, I ate my entire value meal, soda and fries and all! And I never did run yesterday either...but, heck I am still breastfeeding like a champ, so its actually not a bad thing to consume about 1000 calories in one sitting! haha.
As a side note, I was able to gain back a few pounds. I weight myself like twice a week, and I seem to fluctuate between 120-123. For now, I think that is fine. I mean, I wouldn't mind weighing less, but I think Layla would, since I wouldn't be making enough milk and she rarely takes a bottle. In fact, I don't know if she even still will? With my luck, probably not. Oh well, its not like I plan on going back to work anytime soon. I had my opportunity to do it here with free child care, and I couldn't care less.
Saturday we went to Mary's pool. We had fun, Kelly really hates the pool this summer. She just wears her life vest all day and refuses to get into the water. I kind of force her in and she holds onto me for dear life, never really so much as cracking a smile. I don't get it, she loves baths, and loved the ocean and the pool last summer? Probably just a toddler thing. I did hold her once and jump in and went under water, but I think she maybe slightly enjoyed it? haha...one day she will be a fish, like most kids are at the pool!
Its been a totally busy day already, walked to the YMCA, ran 6 miles whiles the babes played in child watch, took Kelly to Speech Therapy, went to pick up Ryan from summer school (he is taking chemistry to get ahead), came home. Meanwhile the painters are here painting the outside of the house (its going to look awesome!), and I have PT at 4:15. We leave a week from tomorrow, and we will have full-full days until we go!
Friday, July 15, 2011
things I can't get enough of...
 |
| I drink a lot of water, and these seem to be my favorite, but I remove the straw |
 |
| We use the Soothie pacifiers and haven't had any recent problems with nipple confusion |
 | |
| The Medela Pump'n'Style is the best breast pump out there (in my opinion), worth the $350 price tag! |
 |
| I've been running in Mizuno WAVE RIDERS for years, by far my favorite, even though they really don't last past about 500 miles |
 |
| Phil & Teds Explorer with double kit, perfect for jogging and walking with my babes to the park or the YMCA, a must for families with more than one babe under 4! |
 |
| The Fischer Price Jungle theme swing; Layla loves this for fun and naps, the one we have in NC is a different theme, but same swing. I like this one because it runs on batteries or plugs in the wall |
 |
| Kelly's water bottle of choice; she learned to use a straw before age 1, thanks to the ease of the Camelbak when other sippies didn't work for Kelly |
 |
| I love, love, love, avocados!!! I eat them like everyday! |
 |
| Cilantro! I add this to everything from bagels, to tortillas, etc, I love it! |
 |
| PB goes with everything, especially my breakfast toast! |
 |
| The perfect end to any day, the Champagne Cocktail, its a once a week splurge! |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)