Thankful Thursday

So I know it's been awhile since I've done one of these, but we're gonna give 'er a shot!

Today, I am thankful for:

*Granola & Fiber One yogurt.  My first weight goal is still 13 pounds away, same as it was 2 months ago.  Time to hop on that wagon and get going!

*A car that can fit in my garage finally.  The leather in it is black, so it isn't scorching when we get in to go somewhere.

*A downstairs bathroom fan that is broken.  So when we turn it on, instead of going off in the allotted time, it stays on all night long giving Petey white noise. 

*Off brand Apple Jacks cereal-- in the big bag.  The kids are loving them.  And I'm loving how much you get for the price I paid.

*Healthy children.  I've recently been reminded how fragile life is, and that you need to live in the moment, especially with your children.  Every minute that passes is a memory that could be made.  Soak them up.  You never know when your days, or theirs, could end.

*Memories, pieces from my Grandpa.  I'm still having a really hard time with his passing, but just looking up and seeing all the wooden signs that he made for me and my family, somehow makes it a little easier.

*Infant Tylenol-- for a teething little girl.  She is getting 5, I repeat, FIVE back teeth in.  Can we say OUCH?!

Last but not least, you know I have to mention this:

*WHITE CHOCOLATE LATTES!!!!  Thank the good Lord that I have my own maker and can make them myself.... or we'd be flat broke!

xoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday & more pictures

Austin showing off his gun & holster while talking to Gramps

Sydney at bathtime. She's learned how to pull herself up to her knees...uh oh.

Watching Petey lick up all the water that she splashed over

My handsome little man

The kiddos. And Sydney eating a big girl lunch!

Mama and my baby girl

Daddy and Austin... I love this picture.... such a sweet moment

My little man again... look at those eyelashes. Aren't they to die for?!

Nom Nom... this grass is delish!

Mama's toes are so fun to play with

Racing around the backyard

Playing fetch with Petey (Read: teasing Petey)

My baby. Look at that bed head=)

Now, on to Thankful Thursday:

*I am thankful for 2 new packages of Bandaides- Spiderman & Cars- to keep my son entertained for 4.2 minutes today. He had a lot of "ouchies."

*I am thankful I have been able to put my daughter on the floor to play for the past week for more than a mere 10 seconds before screaming for momma.

*I am thankful for a handy husband who knows how to do things. Like drop Sydney's crib mattress down to the lowest level so she wasn't konked out on her head when I went to get her from naptime today. She was sitting up happily playing. For sure she would have been on her head today. I just have that feeling.

*I am thankful that Austin has such a silly personality. Funny at times to me, not so much to him. Like yesterday, when we were getting into the car, he tripped over the garden hose and skinned his knees. He of course, crying big fat crocodile tears. Me, shoving a granola bar in his hands after large amounts of crying to quiet him down. He told me, "I can't eat this right now, I'm crying at the moment." Ooooookay.

*I am thankful that Sydney seems to be hitting her milestones. She's finally scooting across the floor on her belly, pulling herself with her hands. She's going from a laying to sitting position all on her own. She's eating big girl foods & small amounts of whole milk, all with no issues.

*I am thankful for Cash -N- Carry in Boise. This is the wonderful place that I can buy my 10 pound box of white chocolate powder for my morning 32oz (yes, I said 32oz) latte.

and sometimes I have two.

xoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

I am in such dire need of a Thankful Thursday post that it's ridiculous. This has been a hard week for me, so just a little time to reflect on what I am thankful for in my life will do me some good.

Today, I am thankful for....

...my kids. As I always am, but time and time again I'm reminded at how fast life goes, and how quickly one can be taken from you. I will cherish every day I am given to spend with them.
... my husband, for the exact reason listed above.
...Weight Watchers... it's already working. I know it does, it has before, I just need to get my will power in check and stay on it this time and really change our eating habits. This weight roller coaster is just not healthy.
... coffee. Without it this past month, I would have been complete mush.
... tax returns. They were deposited into our bank account today. We have a lot of things that need to be paid, and a few things around the house that are much needed, so I'm happy to be able to do it.
... a napping daughter. (haha... who actually JUST started fussing as soon as I typed that...)
... base housing. While, in a way, it's a false sense of security, it still makes me feel like my children are just a little bit safer.
... being close to family. I've been so homesick the past 4 months that it's been crazy. I'm thankful that home is only 8 hours away right now, and happy that I am able to go home.
...my mom. We are best friends, and it's a relationship that I cherish and treasure. I don't know what I would do without her. She's my rock.
...my family. I have such a good relationship with everyone in my family and I am so incredibly thankful for that. Family is THE most important thing in my life, and not being able to have the closeness and comfort of them in my life, I don't know what I would do. ALL of you.

xoxo
k.

Whew!

It's been a long couple weeks, I'll tell ya what! Bryant escaped the sickies, but Austin, Sydney and I all caught it. Sydney the worst of all. She's had such a tough few days, I feel so bad for her. It started with just a little runny nose one day, and the next day she was all sick. By that evening, she was running a 103.1 fever, so I took her into the Urgent Care right away. She'd been getting Tylenol & Motrin since the night before, so it scared us that her fever was so high, even with that in her system. I'm glad I took her in, because she ended up having a double ear infection. She was given Amoxicillin and the go ahead to continue the Tylenol and Motrin. I guess Amoxicillin and Sydney don't get along very well, because the next couple days were pretty messy.... she got quite a few baths in two days. =) Yay for mommy! She wasn't sleeping, so neither was I. We were both exhausted. Then Tuesday night, she started throwing up all the sudden. I looked at the printout the doctor gave me of side effects of the antibiotic, and that was considered a "serious" side effect. So I called Urgent Care again, and they told me to bring her in. So back we went. They took her off of her Amoxicillin and instead gave her a shot of antibiotic. I felt awful, it was such a thick mixture, they had to mix it with Lidocaine in order to numb her leg so it wouldn't hurt so bad. She wasn't a fan. At all! We waited around for about a half hour to make sure she wouldn't have an allergic reaction to it, and then we were sent home. That night, she slept like a champ. Probably all the crying and throwing up really took it out of her. None the less, she slept from 10pm to 5:30am, and I was very thankful! =) Yesterday she seemed to be doing better, was still a little fussy, but acting significantly better than the previous day, and her "messy" situations were better. Today she's doing great, still not feeling GOOD, but doing so much better. And so much happier. I missed that smiley girl! So hopefully by this weekend, we will be past all this, and back to normal!

On another note, Austin has his annual check-up for his kidney February 5th. Back history for those that've forgotten, he was born with only 1 functioning kidney. They caught it when I was 21 weeks pregnant with him. After he was born, we had to go in monthly, then every three months, and eventually each year for an ultrasound. Early on, he had to get cathaters and dye tests to track the function of his kidney, and the flow of urine. But now, with his yearly check-ups, he only has to have an ultrasound done, and measurments taken. The thought of the doctors was that his non-functioning kidney would eventually involute and dissolve into the body. That should have happened a little over a year ago. His kidney is not getting any smaller, in fact staying the same size; which poses a higher danger for kidney infection. Last year, his Urologist thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and go in and remove his kidney, but wanted to wait at least another year so Austin could get bigger so his organs would be larger, and easier to see, and operate on. Having only one kidney should not really affect him, since he was born with this condition, called Hydronephrosis, his right kidney has grown to almost double it's intended size to compensate for only having one kidney. So anyhow, Austin's Ultrasound and review will be February 5th starting at 8:30am. If his kidney has not changed significantly from last review, it sounds like we will be schedualing surgery to remove his left kidney. PRAYERS will definitely be needed, as this is going to be extremely hard for Bryant and I to go through. Even though it will not be extremely invasive, it's still a very scary thing to think about and have to go through. Strength will definitely be needed. Ok enough of that before I completely turn into a blubbering baby!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!!!!

Today... I am thankful for:

... TODAY!

... my babies getting healthy

... Bryant...'nuff said

... the excitement of tax returns... (Even though we get to pay bills... haha)

... a puppy who is doing FABULOUS at potty training! Been DAYS without an accident!

... medical insurance. We'd be SOL after the couple ER visits with Sydney this week

... Sugar Free coffee creamer so I can still have my coffee while on Weight Watchers

... the ability to cook so we can eat good meals =)

... DVR... I am so spoiled with it! Never have to watch commercials, and records my shows when I can't watch them... heaven!

xoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am Thankful for...

...friends. I don't know what I'd do without them... seriously.

...Tri Care insurance. I know, I know. I complain so much about them, and they really are a piece of work, but it covers what we need it to.

...a puppy that understands when it's "bed time." I put him in his crate at night and tell him, "Go to bed." And he goes in, and goes to sleep. Sometimes he will whine, but so far, the whining hasn't exceeded 5 minutes. AWESOME!

...internet. Sometimes I wonder what I did before we had it... haha! Isn't that sad?!

...Lysol wipes. They come in handy when potty training a puppy on hardwoods =) I didn't need them today, which is another thing I'm thankful for... no accidents today... but yesterday they came in handy ;o)

...living on base. In doing so, we get housing and fees automatically deducted from our paycheck, so we never see it anyways... in doing so, we don't have to pay for electricity, water, trash, etc. I am SO GLAD because it seems like I have been doing load after load after load of laundry this week!

...Wal-Mart. We really don't go there often anymore, once every week and a half for diapers and wipes and that's about it... but I just had to put this on here for my Dad =)

xoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

It's THURSDAY! And I'm actually doing it on the right day... sooo on that note:

• I'm thankful that I remembered it was Thursday, so I could post my blog on the right day =)
• I'm thankful that my husband got free concert tickets for Monday night, and then asked me to come with him.... a night without kids... WHAT?!
• I'm thankful for having a great friend that offered to watch the kids for us so we can go... (Thanks Amanda)
• I'm thankful for Facebook. Yes, I am. It keeps me in touch with sooooo many people that I otherwise probably wouldn't be... and it's nice
• I'm thankful that the H1N1 vaccine that I got Monday hasn't made me sick. It hasn't made Sydney sick either... but she IS sleeping a ton... right on!
• I'm thankful that my whole house is healthy... this doesn't happen often... knock on wood...
• I'm thankful that my Christmas Tree is in front of our big window this year. I've always wanted to put our Christmas Tree in front of a window so I an open the blinds and people can see it all pretty when they drive by.... and now it is
• I'm thankful for the Video I saw yesterday online that made me laugh hysterically. A couple was getting married, and before the Officiant could pronounce them husband and wife, the groom pulled his phone out to update his Facebook Status. Then handed his wife her phone to do the same... priceless
• ......and I'm thankful it's Thursday!

xoxoxo

k.

'Tis the Season

Thanksgiving went wonderfully. Without a hitch. I was very proud of myself... I cooked the whole Thanksgiving dinner by myself, and it turned out amazing. It's the first time I've ever done that without any help, and I felt validated afterwards. =) It made me feel like a real mom and a real wife. Weird? Yeah probably... but true! Anyhow, with Thanksgiving being on Thursday... I didn't have time to post my Thankful Thursday blog, which I was bound to do since it was so fitting. So I will do it in this blog.

I am thankful for:

...my healthy, happy children. They bring endless happYness and smiles to my every day. A constant source of joy.

...my husband who is the bread winner in the family. He makes it possible for me to stay home with our children. He supports me, puts up with me, is a great father, husband and friend, and he loves me...what more could I ask for?

...my dishwasher. Yup! I had sooo many dishes Thursday it was nuts. I ran my dishwasher twice Thursday and still had quite a bit to do by hand. I do NOT miss my SC house with no dishwasher!

...the ability to feed and nourish my baby for FREE... the human body is miraculous.

...my friends and family. They keep me sane and grounded, especially when life gets chaotic.

...a warm cozy house to live in. We've been provided great housing here now, and it's a comfortable place to live while we're here.

...being stationed so close to home. It's so easy to take it for granted, but I know someday the military will move us away, so I need to be thankful we've gotten the opportunity to be so close. Especially with having the kids, they've gotten to know most of their family pretty well.

...this moment. Because in the end, that's what matters... living in this moment. It's all we've got. Live in the now, not in the then. The past is the past.

Well, yesterday we pulled out Christmas decorations and got them put up. Austin has been loving it all, and really starting to get the whole Santa Claus hype. It's amazing to see it through his eyes. The look on both their faces when they saw the tree light up, it's one you wish you could file away in a memory bank to keep forever.

The holiday season is about us, and I hope this finds everyone well! Remember, just smile, and enjoy this moment.

xoxoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thankful Thursday! I added in a couple pictures, bittersweet =)

Today I am thankful for:

...today's medicine technology. I got my injections into my back yesterday, and can't wait until they kick in. 10, 15 years ago, I doubt this would have even been an option.

...my mom and Grandma making a trip down for a little over a week. We are going to have such a good time. On the agenda: Taking my Grandma to my church, Anderson Apple Ranch, a Pumpkin Patch, Darius Rucker Concert, shopping in Boise. Can't wait!

...My family. I shouldn't even have to put this on my list... they are always a constant source of joy to me. I am so incredibly blessed with my immediate and extended family.

...internet. If it wasn't for this great invention, I wouldn't be in contact with so many of my friends that I am now. I'm not a big phone person, but typing, I can do!

...the job that my husband has. There are the good and bad that come along with it, but he is able to take time off when he needs it to help me out, like now.

...sleeping babies. I am having a nice, peace and quiet time right now while Sydney is napping in her swing, and Austin is upstairs napping with daddy.

...a healthy family. The H1N1 virus, also known as the Swine Flu is running rampant on this base. So far, none of us have picked it up anywhere. I am glad that Austin isn't school age yet, because supposedly that's where most of it is coming from, and then just runs it's course through each family member.

...changing seasons. I love living in a place where, for the most part, we get at least a little taste of each season. Mainly winter and summer, but there are a couple weeks of Fall, and a couple weeks of Spring each year. Granted brought on with an insane amount of wind, but at least they come! Of course, the two shortest seasons here are both my favorite, go figure!

Hope this finds you all well! I have attached a couple pictures for you to look at! The Then and Now.

Austin. This was taken October of 2006. He was 2 months old. It's the earliest picture that I have on my laptop of him. The rest are on the desktop.

October 2009. He's 3 years and 2 weeks old. He's changed so much, and such a handsome, sweet, loving, and funny boy!

Sydney. Taken May 2009. She was 1 day old!

Sydney. Taken September 2009. She was a few days shy of 4 months old.

Time really flies. We are truly, truly blessed. I wouldn't change it for the world.

xoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

With life's recent events, I am more thankful than ever for so many things. I thought that today was a MORE than fitting day to start back blogging since I am now home.

• I am thankful for my parents. They're raised me, supported me, and loved me through thick and thin... I wouldn't be who I am today without them.
• I am thankful for my Brother... he may not know it, but I think I'd be lost without him.
• I am thankful for my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins... all of my family... I love them all.
• I am so thankful for the husband I have, and my two wonderful, amazing children that God has blessed me with.
• I am thankful to have friends to lean on when the going gets tough. And Lord knows it has been lately.
• I am thankful that my relationship with the Lord allowed me to grow stronger as a person, and stronger with Him, rather than resent and be angry at him throughout this past month.
• I am thankful that I live so close to home that I was able to be with my family for 3 weeks.
• I am thankful that my travels with the kids, and Bryant's travels back to Idaho both ended safe and sound.
• I am now thankful when I get where I'm going.
• I was thankful to hear my baby girls cry last night.... it meant she was alive and well.
• I was thankful that I could come home, after my son was in bed, and be able to go in and kiss his head. He was home, safe and sound.
• I am thankful for the Power of Prayer.

That's all for today. I will start my blogging back up... we will be back home until Christmas this time! Seems like we're always on the run. =) I'm not complaning... it might get tiring... but I'm just thankful that we get to see our loved ones when we can.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for.....

.... a roof that's over my head, and a stomach that's full of food. Others are not so fortunate.

.... a safe place for my children to call home.

.... friends to call my own, and there when I need them.

.... a husband who goes to work every day to provide us with what we have.

.... my laundry basket that is absolutely overflowing with folded clothes. It means I have clothes.

.... parents that love me and my family unconditionally.

.... happy, healthy and thriving children

.... all the jet noise over head that sometimes keeps me up at night. It means I can hear.

xoxoxo
k.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

• Egg beaters. Yes, that's right, Egg beaters. I had a delishious lunch, made with egg beaters, which is super low in points, that I wouldn't have been able to have as much of it if I'd used real eggs!
• Bag Balm. I know it's used for Cows udders in any normal ranch scenario, but it's the PERFECT diaper rash cream. When we had Austin, he ended up with awful, painful diaper rash. Our friends turned us to Bag Balm, and so we've been using it on Sydney when she gets even the least bit red. So far, NO diaper rash. AH-MAZING!
• Our new couches. We absolutely love them. They are practical, and very very comfortable. Austin has already spilled yogurt on part of one. It wiped right up. (I put the leather protectant on them before bed on the 1st night like advised as well.) But we do love them. They match our other furniture in here, and they are a very modern look.
• A potty trained boy. It's so wonderful when I'm sitting here feeding Sydney, and Austin has to go potty, he can run back and do it all by himself. Makes life a little easier! Plus, MUCH easier on the wallet. =)
• Payday. Grocery shopping needs to be done, and the tabs on my Edge are due at the end of the month. We saved half out of the last paycheck, so only need to draw the other half out of this paycheck. Makes it a little easier to swallow when you split it up like that.
• Hardwood floors. Yeah, they are cold, and my feet are normally freezing, BUT when I dry mop them every day and see all the crap that I get up... I just think about that being embedded into carpet and how bad our allergies would be if we had carpet still.
• My Camelbak water bottle. I just LOVE it!
• 100 Calorie snacks. I love that they keep coming out with more and more varieties of these. I saw that they had 100 Calorie packs of Milano cookies at Wal-Mart and will definitely be trying those this payday!
• Weight Watcher Brownies. Granted, they're kind of spendy, and only come 4 per box.... they are actually REALLY good! They even have mini little chocolate chips in there. And when paired with f/f, s/f vanilla pudding---AH-MAZING again!

Ok, that's it for today! =) Hope everyone is having a great Thursday!

xoxoxo

k.

It's time.....

.....for Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful for....

• The Pediatric nurse who called me back so I could get Sydney seen about her spreading "rash." Turns out, it's eczema. We got some steroid cream to put on her 2x a day for 10 days for when she has bad flare ups (like now) and a HUUUUGE tub of Eucerin cream to use on her multiple times daily. Now that I think about it, and remember, what she's got going on now, looks exactly like what Austin had at 3 weeks of age. So I'm praying she quickly grows out of this!!
• Oodles and gobs of money in the bank, so when my HUGE bottle of wine explodes in the car due to the 100+ degree weather, I can just drive to Boise and buy another one. NOT.
• A [almost] 3 year old who still takes naps.
• A mom who happened to buy two HUGE bottles of the exact same wine, so I can mooch off hers. =)
• Having a liquor store on base, so I can just go pick up some Malibu and bring with me to make up for it. (on Vacation to the lake that is....)
• Mini cupcakes on sale at Wal-Mart for 1.50=happy Austin
• Being able to qualify for WIC so I can share the wealth and bring some of the food up to the lake. Less to buy!
• Furniture Row people not arguing with us when we went to exchange our furniture. (Pictures below)
• Wal-Mart brand diapers working on Sydney... don't have to buy expensive Pampers or Huggies. Her cloth diapers are still enormous on her.
• Having two vehicles so we had the ability to loan ours to a troop in Bryant's shop when he was in need. An extra couch too.

That's all for now! Here's some pictures of our new furniture set. We talked with the manager while exchanging our stuff, and he highly recommended this set. Told us that leather over fabric, with children, is definitely the way to go. Plus, we always buy warranty, and the warranty on leather ROCKS. So, pray that THIS set works for us and isn't so cheaply made!

The love seat
The Ottoman/Storage

The couch

Now all I'd love to get is an area rug for our living room. Gotta save up for that one though- those things are SPENDY!!!!

xoxoxo

k.

Thankful Thursday

I picked this up from my friend Jess' blog. I'm not sure how to do her name in blue so you can click on it and see her blog.... maybe if she reads this she will tell me how :)

I do a "Ten for Tuesday" and saw Thankful Thursday and decided to pick it up as well. Even though I don't keep up on Ten for Tuesday too often.... you've got to cut me some slack... I just; I repeat JUST had a baby! :)

So a few things I am thankful for.

~Bryant made TSgt. I am soooooo proud of him. It took awhile, but he got there, and that's what matters!

~My children. They are really the light of my life. I feel so complete with them.... like our family is finished. That's a great feeling.

~Our parents. Bryant and I were talking about this the other day. Talking about how we really have the greatest parents. When I went into labor with Sydney and we found out that we were having her a month earlier than planned, we called our parents. His dad and my parents both drove down here at the drop of a hat. We are so blessed.

~The Air Force. I look at my life and where I am today, and I really have to realize that we wouldn't have half the things we do, or the security that we do if Bryant wasn't in the Air Force. We are provided for so well. We live in an absolutely beautiful house, have medical (albeit not the BEST medical, but it does it's job...) we have great cars that can get us all over to see our family or whatever else we decide to do, it provides a great life for us and our children. Yeah, he might have to deploy, or go on TDY's, and make us be away from our families, but in the end, it's pro's heavily outweigh the cons of military life.


That's all for now :)

xoxoxo
k.