Thursday, July 29, 2010

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.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Time is flying.

I swear 'time' has wings.  I remember when Bryant first got his orders to Greenland, it seemed like it was light years away.  In reality, only 7 months.  I remember us talking about how "It's still 7 months away, that's tons of time."  But now, today, it's exactly 3 months away.  I think it's really starting to settle in for both of us that he will be gone for an entire year.  A whole year with no husband, no father, no companion, no sidekick, no texts, no cuddles on the couch, no warm body in bed.  A year.  We are trying to busy our minds by trying to think of things that he will need over there, material things, that will make the time pass a little faster.  A computer, movies, digital picture frame, camera, games, nice comfy sheets.  It's so much different this time, than it was when he deployed.  When he deployed, I knew, God willing, that he would be home in 4-6 months.  But this time.  This time, he will be home in 6 months, but he has to leave again.  A quick jaunt to Washington, and he'll be back on that jet plane to the middle of no where. 

I can't imagine what is going through his head.  What he thinks about.  I don't think I could do what he does.  I don't think I'm strong enough.  I have so much respect for him, it's unreal.  Being away from my spouse and kids for a year; to be somewhere with no one familiar, somewhere so desolate.  I can't even imagine.  I am so thankful that there are a lot of things to do where he's going to keep him busy.  To keep him going.  I am also insanely thankful that there is Skype, and telephones, and Internet.  I have started brainstorming millions of things that the kids and I can do for him and send over so he gets things in the mail often.  Something to look forward to, something to make him smile, and feel wanted and loved.  And thought about. 

Anyways, just had to vent.  My brain hasn't shut off for a day now, and things are starting to feel really intense.  Bryant always makes fun of me for missing something before it's gone, but I already miss him.

xoxo,
k.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Our wait is over!



Are we excited yet??



Picture of a village where we will be....


YUP!  We've finally got our orders for our next assignment!!  Bryant will return from Greenland November of 2011, and we will head tooooooo..............


Ramstein AFB, Germany!

The above are a few pictures over there..... we are excited!  It's a little bittersweet for me.  Being so near family these past few years has been SO amazing, and I wouldn't change it for the world.  It will be so hard to leave, so far away.  But what an experience and journey this will be for our family!  To be able to travel Europe, to see the sights.  And can you imagine the photo opportunities I will have over there?!  We are excited, and can't wait for you all to visit us in Germany!

xoxo
k.

Sydney's all ears!

Sydney finally went in on the 14th to get her tubes.  Just wanted to update everyone, and let you know that she did wonderfully.  From the time the doctor took her back to the OR to the time they brought her back to us was about 7 minutes total.  Her breath reeked of the gas mask, so that was weird.  She cried and cried and cried- but they warned us that was going to happen, and completely normal.  Once she fully woke up, and had some to drink, and we were out of the building, she did great.  She slept some on the way home, ate some cereal, and was smiling when she woke up. 

Since she got her tubes in, she's done great.  You wouldn't even know that she had anything done, except for the dry blood/drainage around her ears!  She's normal, happy Sydney.  She is listening better, and really paying attention to what we say... she seems to be understanding better- so I'm thankful for that.  I don't think she was hearing too well before she got her tubes in with the constant fluid she had built up in her ears. 

Anyways- Sydney is doing GREAT!

xoxo,
k.

Vacation to Oregon!

We went to Oregon over the 4th of July to see Mike and Nancy.  We also got to head to Sheridan to see Nane and Pa Hines--- so that was special of course!  Jeremy & Jenn drove down for a few days as well while we were there- so it was a family affair!

The drive was a long one- 11 hours, with two kids.  I don't recommend it!  We did get to stop at Multnomah falls on the way- such a beautiful place.  Wish we had longer to make the hike up- Austin wanted to so bad.  But at that point, we just wanted to be to Eugene. 

We went to Saturday Market, Sheridan, and just around Eugene.  Nancy and I went up to our favorite winery and had a glass of wine, and took in the view.  It's beautiful up there.  I wish I would have had my DSLR, I could have gotten some amazing shots. 

Another bit of news, that I am now able to share, is that Bryant and I will be an Aunt and Uncle!  Bry's brother Jeremy & his wife Jenn are expecting their first baby!  If I remember right, it will be the end of January!

All in all, we had a great trip to Eugene, lots of hippies seen, lots of memories made.  Austin stayed an extra week with his Gramps and Grammie and got spoiled rotten; and Bry and I got to live in the past and remember what it was like to have one kid again!  It was a nice break, but we missed the little bugger like crazy!  He's home now and already back to his usual antics. 

I have a couple more posts to make, so keep checking today- have some news coming up!

Here are just a few quick pictures of our trip- I took a zillion as usual- so will hopefully load a few more this next week.



xoxo
k.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Little update

Whirlwind, whirlwind.  Time seems to be passing a little too quickly lately for my liking.  The kids are growing too fast, and it's hard for me to think that it's already July. 

First things first.  Sydney was diagnosed with a kidney infection last week.  She had started having high fevers again, so I took her in thinking she had another ear infection.  Turns out, her ears were fine.  They didn't know what was going on, and why she kept running fevers non stop.  So they did some blood work, and had to give her a catheter to check her urine.  They didn't get enough urine for an analysis, but it was enough for a culture.  So they put a bag on her and sent us home after a couple hours.  She woke from her nap and pee'd, so I took the urine in right away for her culture.  We got a call that night from the doctor about 9:30 saying she in fact had a kidney infection.  He asked if she'd ever had a UTI before, and I said no.  He thinks that it's very very possible that she's been getting them frequently with how high her fevers have been, but because her ears have always been infected, they didn't look any further.  He said UTI's almost always have a fever accompany them as high as 103.  Sydney's fevers have been 103 and beyond many times in the past few months.  Every time I have taken her in, it's an ear infection.  She's been put on antibiotics each time, which has fought whatever it obviously needed to, but she always gets sick again shortly after her meds are completed.  So anyways, she was put on a strong antibiotic, which also fights skin infections.  (She had a bite on her leg that he has been watching, and to cover his bases, used a med that would fight a skin infection if it got to that point, which it didn't.)  Anyhow, she's to be on this med for 10 days, twice a day, and then once per day until further testing is completed.  We have another appointment today to recheck her urine and schedule follow up testing of her kidney's if possible.  We were told that the condition that Austin has is usually an isolated event, and non-hereditary, so I'm just praying that she isn't going to have to go through the same ordeal Austin did.  So that's that, and I will keep you posted on that.  Oh, and her tubes also had to be rescheduled for July 14th, as we were not comfortable putting her under with an infection in her little body.

Sydney is crawling all over.  ALL OVER.  I was walking her around the house the other day, and we got to the point where she was holding on to one finger on each hand.  I wasn't having to hold onto her.  She then stopped, balanced herself, and completely let go of my fingers.  And stood there.  STOOD THERE, by herself!  She's going to be walking in no time!  We are headed to Oregon, and while there we will see Grandma and Grandpa Hines.... Austin took his first steps at their house, and we think it would be just cool if Sydney did the same!

Austin is almost FOUR.  Can you believe that?  FOUR YEARS OLD!  I want to freeze them both right now.  I don't want them to get any bigger, I don't want them to go anywhere.  I want them to stay just like they are.  I don't know how all you older parents have done it, having to say goodbye to your babies when they leave the nest.  I have years and years left before that, and I'm already sad about it.  I can see why there are families out there with 9 million babies... so they always have one to cuddle on, always have one in the home. 
Anyways, back to Austin.  Yes, he's almost 4 years old.  He's got an attitude as big as a house, and he's funnier than any kid I've ever met. The things he comes up with to say keep me laughing all day long.  He's in a stage right now, where he's afraid of the dark, even with his nightlight on in his room, he gets scared.  He's been camping out often on our bedroom floor.  He came in the room this morning about 2:30 scared, so he went to bed on his "make shift" bed on the floor next to our bed. 
He's also in dire need of a haircut.  Just thought you'd like to know that.

This afternoon, after Sydney's appointment, we'll be headed off to Oregon to visit Bryant's dad and step mom.  Also will get to see Grandma and Grandpa Hines, his brother Jeremy and wife Jenn, and Aunt Connie and Uncle Paul.  For those wanting to keep up with Paul's progress, click here .  So we should have a great time, and we can't wait to get there.  It's a LONG drive.... 11 hours.  So we are not looking forward to that, but we get to stay about 10 days, so we ARE looking forward to that.  I am really hoping to get to spend a couple days with Connie and Paul, instead of a quick visit... it's been so long since we have seen them, and they haven't really gotten to know Sydney.  Connie saw her for a day when she was first born, and that's been it.  It's been a year.  Waaaaaaay too long in my book.  Paul's gotten to come here a couple times with Mike though!  Okay, Okay, I'm rambling now.  My apologies. 

We are leaving Petey with a couple of our dear friends here.  They are seriously saints for watching him for us.  We couldn't be more thankful to them!  With all we do while we're in Oregon, it will be so nice not to have to worry about leaving Petey in his kennel all the time.  And not to mention- Dad's backyard is INSANE.... perfect I mean.  I do not want to be responsible for Petey ruining that. =)  Not to mention all the allergies we'll have going on in that house with everyone there.  Better all around.  Plus, Petey will get to play with his buddy Otis, so they'll have a blast.  Hopefully Jen and Anthony won't be insane by the time we get home. =)

Still no orders yet, as far as our follow on goes after Greenland.  We are suppose to find out the first couple weeks of this month, so we will see how that pans out.  I'm hoping and praying we find out sooner than later because it's making me nuts waiting.  NUTS I tell you!

Ok, I gotta jet and get some laundry done & packing.  I still have to pack Bry and I... oops.  I am not, I repeat, NOT a procrastinator.  I just like to do things a little...... last minute.

xoxo
k.