The Odyssey Ends

The pea is no more, or at least we think it is no more. The doctor couldn't really tell because of J's cold but we figure since there is no sign of it that it's more than likely not there.

On one other quick note, it's been just about three months since I started Weight Watchers and I'm proud to announce that I've lost 20 lbs! Too bad I don't have before and after pictures. Besides my clothes not really fitting right I don't think I can really tell by looking in the mirror though...E says he can. I don't know, I guess I'll just have to trust him. LOL

Christmas 2009

O's body rash is gone, it was either new unwashed clothes or baby oil, her bum rash I think was from teething. Here are a few Christmas pictures...

So this isn't a Christmas picture, but look she standing!

This is J's reacting to seeing the slide outside for the first time.

We have an appointment to check on the pea on Wed. but after a cold with runny nose and sneezing I think it's gone...it has to be, right? I think that's all for now. Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and are planning a fun and safe New Year!

A December Pea Update

Sorry it's been a while, I was waiting for J's next doctors appointment about the pea before reporting anything. And the verdict is...it's still there. Well sort of, it's there but all mashed up and mixed with other nose guck. The doctor said it should now work it self out but to come back in three weeks to make sure. So the pea odyssey continues.

O is having some sort of issues. She has her nine month well check next week so that's good. The first one is that she has a very nasty diaper rash (day 3), she also has strange bumps all over her torso. They aren't bothering her as far as I can tell but they are strange. E and I think it may be from unwashed new clothes. The last issue that is really getting on me is that she isn't sleeping. She has supper short naps (2 normally) and only a few hours here and there through the night. This is a new thing, she used to sleep for about 2 hours both in the morning and afternoon and most of the night through. She's been getting very grumpy and fighting because of it and so have I because I can't sleep at night. Poor J, who shares a room, is having a hard time sleeping through it too. He is such a trooper though and really tries.

So far E's new classes are going well, we pray that it'll continue. And so for me, it's been about 2 and half months since I joined Weight Watchers and I'm down 18.8 pounds!! YAY me.

The Pea Continues

Today J had a doctors appointment for his pea. It was been just shy of two weeks and it is still there! The doctor just told me to do the same thing with saline and time and to try and mash it out once in awhile. We have a follow up on the 10th to see how it's going.

On another note, our camera is having flash issues and is "in the shop" so there will be no pictures for awhile, sorry.

Snow!

Yes, you read right, snow! This morning we awoke to a wet yard, it had rained over night. As we drove to church this morning we noticed that most of the tall peaks of the mountains along the way had snow on them! YAY. Of course it was still about 72F (23C) at church this morning. There was a 20F difference between church on home though (we were much cooler here then there). I guess that it is fitting since we put up our Christmas Tree on Saturday.

Today is J's 2 1/2 year birthday. To celebrate we measured him on his Veggie Tales Growth Chart. He is now three feet two inches tall. He also has a doctors appointment tomorrow to check for the pea.

Yes, it's short but I had to share the sighting of the SNOW!

The Adventure of the Pea

It all began with J eating supper...well eating isn't really the right word I guess. I was cleaning up O's supper and E was reading something. The next thing I know J is coughing oddly. I come over and find him putting peas up his nose. Well, I stopped that right away and squeezed out two and could see a third still there. E got the tweezers and aspirator and after a lot of crying and fighting we were able to get #3 out only to find #4 too high for us to reach. So at 6 pm (on the 18th) we load everyone into the car and off to the base ER. We were able to get in right away and after another hour of looking and prodding, this time with out too much fuss for J, they were able to get #4 out only to find that #5 was way to high for them to even try to reach. We got home around 8 pm and were off again to the ER at 6 am the next morning hoping it worked it's way down and out. It didn't. It was higher up there still and we were referred to a ENT in La Quinta (1 1/2 hours away). We were able to get in the same day and drove down there around noon only to sit there for five minutes have him tell us there was nothing to do but wait and see. We stopped for lunch and back home again. J has a follow up appointment next week with his regular doctor so hopefully the pea is gone.
The worst case would be that it is still there and begins to rot. Then they will have to take it out one way or other...which would mean putting J under and digging for it. Lord willing it won't come to that and so far everything seams to be normal with him, that's a good sign at least.

A California Visit

My sister M and her fiance T came for a visit this past weekend. Here are a few pictures of their stay.

Auntie M and O on base playing at the play ground.Uncle T and J on the slide...J thought it was so great having Uncle T around he wouldn't let Uncle T do too much with out him.Daddy and J and the San Diego Zoo. Now that was a long day. Fun but a long day. It's a three hour drive and then three hours back with four hours of walking around in between!

J loves elephants, so we made sure we saw them first.Uncle T playing with the kiddies at home again. J thought it would be nice to take notes on of the event. LOL

News

I've lost weight!! YAY for me. I joined Weight Watchers not really expecting too much but I was wrong. In the last three weeks I have lost 8.6 pounds! I'm so excited. I don't see it, E says he does though. Again, YAY for me.

J did something today that he has never done before. We were watching a kiddie show where a cartoon kitten nearly fell into a rive from a piece of drift wood. J jumped up screaming and crying. He ran over to me, sat in my lap balling until the kitten the rescued. Then he laughed and pointed happily at the t.v. He then got down and resumed playing with an entirely different toy. Poor boy was so concerned for that poor kitten. It scared me at first, I thought he had hurt himself somehow! Such a sensitive soul. Awe...

I take the kids to base a couple of times a week to play at the play ground. The other day we were the only ones there for a while. Then I very pregnant lady and her son came. It was the first time since we've been here that I've seen J play with another kid. He has tried with others but they are playing with someone else, they are too old or too young or some other reason. It was so great to see him have that much fun with another kid his age. I didn't want to take him away when it was time to go. Thankfully they needed to leave too so we all left at the same time.

Just to say...

I finally did it, I joined Weight Watchers. It's been something I've been wanting to do for sometime and I finally did it. It's been just a week now and I've already lost some weight, YAY me! I can't really tell though...I've signed up for three months to begin with, we'll see how it goes.

Here are some up to date pictures of the kiddies.

Thanks Giving

Happy Thanks Giving to all my Canadian family and friends! Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Can you believe that it has been eight years for us already! Time flies the older you get. LOL Happy Anniversary to us.

O is now starting to pull herself up onto her feet. I found her this morning standing in her crib. This led to the lowering of the mattress.

J is eating and sleeping great once again. The sores in and around his mouth can still be seems but they are healing nicely.

This picture is of him after his dentist visit last week. The dentist gave him gloves and a mask to play with. How nice was that?

J update

Well J's mouth is still sore and he is still having problems eating and sleeping. The ointment is helping and J is willing to open his mouth for me to put it on his gums so that is good. Some of the sores are going away, the outside ones are drying up but still bother him. He now has a couple on his tongue. He is eating better though and drinking isn't a problem now. Hopefully his attitude will get better and I can get some sleep tonight! I need a nap!

J's Mouth

First J's mouth is coming up with so many new words lately and a awesome willingness to copy anything we said, it's really amazing.

J's mouth is also the cause for some concern. He has a bad infection of the lips and gums that is causing sores (in and out) and swelling. The dentist gave me some ointment to numb the pain but we just have to let it run its course before he'll feel better. He has been sleeping well because of it therefore neither has Mommy and he has been eating well...hopefully it will pass quickly.

Little Girl

O is growing too fast for my own good! She is six and half months now and crawling. She is cutting four new upper teeth and has discovered the cat's tail.

The temperature has dropped this week from 99F (37C) to 81F (27C). The last two mornings it has been 66F (19C)! J loves it because he can go outside in the middle of the day. O wants to get down the play too but with a dirt yard I haven't allowed that.

Yesterday J had a fun experience. We had just gotten home and were still getting out of the car when the garbage truck picked up the garbage across the street. I took my time getting O from the car so it would be back to our side before we headed in for lunch. We watched it pick up the can and toss the content into the back then the driver waved at J and blew the horn! J thought that was great...O didn't, she didn't stop crying until we got into the house.

We went to the park on base this morning...O was cold and I was chilled. (Can you believe that?) There was a group of moms there from the YMCA on base. I got to talking to one of them and I think I may head over there next week to see what they have for J's age. I think he would love it and it would be great interaction for him with other kids and for myself with adults.

Heading into Fall

No new pictures but I thought I would give a little update about life in CA.

J has been so bored, poor little guy. It's been in the 90-100s (mid 30+) since we've gotten here. I've tried to get him outside in the morning if it's cool but it hasn't been easy. This last week we had a few days that it didn't hit 90 until after 10am so I took J and O to the park on base, they both really enjoyed the outings. I've even gotten some adult conversation in with other mothers at the park. And to think that park has only been there for about a year (maybe a little more). Yesterday I was even to open the windows in the house until around 11am. Nice to be some fresh air. I think the cats liked it too.

How do you potty train? J is almost scared of the potty, especially if he has to go. I'm not sure what to but to keep asking him.

J has stopped getting into O's crib but now I keep finding him on the floor. It's like he prefers to sleep on the floor. I figure it's not a big deal to move him back so I haven't done anything to stop him...but it is a little odd.

E has moved on from math to electronics in his school. What they covered in just a couple weeks in normally covered in two months at other schools...I guess they figure they got to stuff as much in as they can while they are here.

We bought an elliptical machine last weekend. We couldn't really afford it but we couldn't really afford not to too. I have been really feeling like I need to do something. Now with sister M getting married I really need to do something! LOL I hope to also join Weight Watchers or something to help out too.

I had planned to say more, but other little ones just woke up so I'd better tend to them.

Movies

What can I say? J loves Cars.

O's anticipation of lunch.

Oh, the excitement. He loves The Penguins of Madagascar too.

Rain?

The dry thunder storm that came through wasn't so dry, it rained for about 10 minutes so hard that a small lake formed in the front yard. And the smell, it's not that wet lawn, freshness smell. It's a fresh, beer like smell...it's really hard to explain but it's very unique for sure.

Finally met some of the other wives last night too. We have a play date on Friday on base. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out. Hope J has some fun, no matter what.

29 What?

No pictures this time just a small note of an update. I've gotten some emails asking about Twentynine Palms and the High Desert area. Well...if there was anything good to say I can't figure out what it would be. The largest store that I've found in town in the Rite Aid (it's almost like a mini WalMart). There is no WalMart or really any other stores around, just a bunch of fast food places, hair cut, tattoo, dry cleaning, and a few other small stores that line the down town. Even the grocery store in tiny! I do love the Commissary though! Yay, I save so much money on groceries there, it's great.

Our house in a single story, three bedroom, two bathroom house. Air conditioning is a must, but there is also Swamp Coolers. They sit on the roof and use condensation to cool the house. Now that may not sound like it really works, but it does really save of the electric bill and does work. Today was the first day with week that it didn't reach 100F (38C) by 9am. I'll take the air. We had to buy a fridge though, for some reason the place didn't have one...had everything else though. We even have an out building that is cooled and completely finished. We're planning to use it for any guests that may venture out this way.

We have found a church to attend with the help of friends in NC. It's an hour away but they are a wonderful group of people. In fact the minister wife's family is from MN! We would like something closer, but like I said before, there just isn't much here.

E told me the other day that the city hall turned down a Super WalMart and indoor play ground because they want to keep the community for retirees...okay I understand that but how do they expect to fly with a Marine Base right down the road? Which has play grounds, splash pads, pools, ect...

Okay...I hear thunder out side! I think they call them dry storms because they don't drop a lot of rain, if any. It's always windy here too.

As for settling, I think we are doing okay. E is going into "work" everyday but classes down start until the 11th. O is doing fine, maybe a little mixed up with times but not too bad. Now J on the other hand is driving me nuts some days. His time is fine but we've found him in O's crib just about every night and morning. Last night he came out of his room a bunch of times. Then around midnight I found him sleeping right in front of his door and this morning half way into the hallway. I'm not sure what his problem is with sleeping at night in his own bed, but it's really frustrating. O finds it funny for the most part though. Besides all that they just isn't much for him too do either. Too hot to go out side besides early morning and no where to go, no one to play with.

As for me...if it weren't for the kids, I'd be counting the stucco on the ceiling by now...

Here are just a few pictures on the kids in their new place.

J and O. This is cute yes, but now is a bit of a problem...

We finally gave J the Tonka truck my aunte bought him when he was born.

The first day in the new house it was 97F (36C) in the house. Took all day to get the temperature down to 80F (27C).

No furniture ment lawn chairs and take out...did you know you can get sick of take out even when it's Subway?

Just because he's too cute.

O first tast of "solid" food.

O trying out big brother's truck.

Mommy and kids.

I've managed to unpack just about everything that we'll need for the next year. We've decided not to unpack everything...no point putting holes in the walls for only a year.

This is our house, a rental but it's still home...
The moving truck and our stuff...yes it is all ours on the back.J supervising.J and O's new room, we used the third bed room as an office.A desert neighbour. Wow can they ever move fast!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I figured that, in the last eight years we have moved around a bit and have collected friends around the county, emailing everyone doesn't always work out so I'll blog. This way if you haven't heard from me you can just look online and find out what's going on where ever we are. I am not using our full names for safety reasons but I'm sure you'll figure out who is who.

First up is our move from MN to CA. It went really well actually. Most evenings were when the crying began but every morning J was ready for the truck once again. The first few days here in Twentynine Palms were confusing to him because we didn't get into the vehicle right away and spend hour on end driving. The cats did great, Jinx meowed a bit at first but then they both just slept the entire way. Even the hotels stays were good for the cats...J on the other hand wouldn't sleep until I did.

We were blessed with finding a house right away and were able to move in two days later and even getting our things delivered was quick. What a blessing. We were getting quite tired of take out every night.

So here are a few pictures of our cross country trip. Feel free to laugh at my spelling.

This is J over looking the Badlands of North Dakota.

The view of the road in Montana.

I know not all of the state is like this but most of what we saw was.

Alberta, home sweet home.

Grandma and J playing with toys that I played with when I was his age.

Grandpa and O, she had a blast with his mustache.

The pool was a great hit.

With both of them.

J in the car again not wanting to be disturbed from his reading.

This is all I saw of Arizona, we drove through just a corner of it...took about two hours I think.