Our lives are never dull, but we have been blessed and try to enjoy every minute!

Yes, I’m posting before 5 a.m.

Mar 15, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
As most of you know, I have the flu.  I went about 3 nights with very little sleep.  So, on Saturday, I called Joyce to come and sit with the kids so I could go to the ER.  After chest x-rays to rule out pneumonia and bronchitis, it was determined that I have the flu.  THE FLU!?  I got my flu shot!  But, the physician said it looks like it’s a new strain and it’s hit hard.  Lucky I did get the shot tho because I’m sure it would be a lot worse.  Upon being discharged from the ER, I started to feel really bad. Like, shaking nauseous bad.  I walked out, found a chair, sat, and then passed out completely.  I freaked everyone out in the waiting room, but then one of the medics took me back to check my stats.  Turns out, I was dehydrated and exhausted.  I couldn’t remember the last time I ate.  So, they made me take 3 tylenol and chug a bunch of water. Then, I got my meds (cough medicine with codeine, decongestant and some more tylenol). Pretty much, just to keep me comfortable and let me get some rest.

So, Joyce took the kids with her once I got home.  We packed their bags and loaded them up so I could get some rest.  I did get a nap, and then I slept from 10-4.  6 hours! That’s a huge improvement. My fever now hovers around 100 instead of 102.  So, I’m on the downhill slide.  Just gotta get back to normal.

I’m waiting for the medicine to kick in again, so until then, here are some photos. I tried watching t.v., but the only thing on at 4 a.m. are infomercials.

 At Charlie’s Safari with friends

 going down the slide with Lara

 (hard to see, but that’s Ethan climbing around)

 Lara’s first hair cut.  One of our awesome ladies from the FRG is a beautician, so she evened up Lara’s hair, trimmed her bangs (so that she just has light bangs in the front and not bangs that go all the way from the crown of her head!)
  She acted like she was dying!

 (the pinned up portion will be grown out and hopefully trained to grow a different way other than forward.)

I’ll have to take a photo once I feel better of her hair all fixed. It’s really cute.  She just got a little trim, but it makes it look so much fuller.

Where I sleep!!

Mar 14, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

This is where I sleep and for the most part spend my down time. Not too bad!

The half frig that First Sergeant and I got with the TV.  The TV is on the left of the frig on the bed rails.

I have been in a great mood…but as my family is suffering in the FLU and Cold season I do feel bad for them.  Well I have no much to say just that I wish you all good time and enjoy a great steak for me.

Signing off from the blus covered bed!!
Bryan

Ugh…that’s all I can say

Mar 14, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Ok, the “sickness” has hit and it’s not fun.  I was up at 2 a.m. wondering why under all the covers I was shivering.  So, I turned on the electric blanket, hauled my toosh downstairs, grabbed the thermometer, then found out why.  I was running a fever a little above 102, which makes you downright miserable. SO, I popped some motrin and tylenol, then headed back to bead.  Pretty much all night, I would sleep maybe 30-45 minutes, then be up for 15-20.  This has gone on for 2 nights, so to put it nicely, I am exhausted.

The fever has continued most of today.  I can get it down for a few hours before I get the chills and it creeps back up.  So, back to popping more pills.  I did get some food in me tonight, and I ate a corn dog for lunch (all of this is while the fever is gone).  Then, tonight, I was wishing I hadn’t eaten anything.  

The kids were in the bath and I was just sitting listening to them.  Then, I hear, “Ooooh…Ethan Monroe…yucky”.  That would be the sound of Lara telling me that Ethan had pooped in the bathtub.  So, on top of me feeling less than 50% (and that’s generous), I had to clean up poop out of the bathtub.  Believe me, I gagged and almost threw up at least 3 times during the process.  DISGUSTING!

So, here I am looking at the clock. It’s 6:45, the kids are bathed, in their jammies, and I’m counting down til 7:15 or so.  Lara did not take a nap today and Ethan slept for maybe 30 minutes.  They’re so kind to their mommy when she’s barely able to get out of bed!    But, hopefully, I’ll put them to bed, then drug myself up and get a good chunk of sleep tonight.  

It is times like these that It’s hard to not be angry over our circumstances.  Normally, when I’m sick, Bryan can take a child so I can rest, etc. But, deployments hinder that.  Yes, I have great friends out here, but honestly, I’m just waiting for the kids to come down with this, so I really don’t want to infest anyone else with our germs.  So, it’s just safer to put us in “lockdown”.  

I know I’ve been trying to keep myself so busy that I’m overdoing it.  Bryan warned me before he left to not over do it since I know what happens.  I’m hoping I will bounce back by tomorrow (I had hoped for afternoon today) so I can start to be normal again and get the kids out of the house.  Today was absolutely gorgeous and the poor kids were trapped inside with me.  I tried to send them out in the backyard, but they were more interested in curling up with me…hence the reason I’m thinking they’re on their way to catching this as well.

Fun times for our household. Don’t you wish you could join us??

1st sickness during deployment

Mar 12, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Well, it hit.  Ethan started it.  Luckily, after a few days, he looks like he’s on the mend. He did have a fever yesterday, so I got a referral to the urgent care center and took him in. It looks like just a cold.  He’s been fever free for awhile, so I’m thinking that means he’s in the clear.

Now the big problem. The doctor took one look at Lara and goes, “Well, looks like she’s next”.  But, I think she thought wrong.  I started to feel kinda crummy yesterday evening only to wake up this morning with very little voice.  I’ve already tried to talk to Ethan and got the response of “What Mommy?  Can’t hear you.”  So, when these two start fighting today, I will have to come up with a new way to get their attention.  We’ll see how this goes.  

I do have my first day of someone coming in to clean the house today. I am so excited.  I picked up a bit last night so it wasn’t so embarrassing.  Bad thing is we have been so busy that the house is being neglected. So, this will be good to get it nice and clean.  I think I’m going to be spoiled by this.

Hope everyone is doing well.  We leave for Tx in less than 2 weeks, so at least we’re getting sick now instead of next week when I have a ton to do with packing and such.  I’m so excited to get away from here for a bit.  The weather has been nice, but a change is always nice as well.

I will post photos once I feel better.

Life away from the family

Mar 11, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Well first this is Bryan…not Candice typing the blog!  Well I’m doing well and enjoying commanding a company.  My first sergeant and I have been able to get a TV and a small frig to help us enjoy a taste of freedom.  Changing the channel is a big deal for us guys!!

I hope that you all are enjoying life more than me right now.  I have had a few sand blasts in the last three weeks and have not forgotten the taste of sand from the last time.

Well I need to get some sleep before PT at 0500.

Sleep well and blog late to you!!
Bryan

Lovin’ the Daddy Dolls

Mar 7, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Here are the kiddos with their daddy dolls that arrived today.  They even went on our walk/jog with us and to the park.

Ok, so I must say, the weather has been pretty nice lately. We walked to music class on Thursday (luckily, I took the raincover for the stroller since it did start to rain on the way back), and then this afternoon we went out.  Today was GORGEOUS!!  We have totally been spoiled by this winter’s weather. Yes, we had some snow, but I’d take snow any day over rain.  We have had some rain this week, but I can take a few days of rain as long as I get some really pretty days as well.  I’m sure this won’t last much longer, but at least I can enjoy it while it does!!!  It is helping me stay sane with being able to ship the kiddos outside when they start to drive me nuts (which is pretty often!).

Other than that, we had a great pizza and movie night tonight.  We made homemade pizza (some of the pizza did get on Lara’s daddy-doll…he already needs a bath!) and watched Mulan for the kids’ first time. Ethan is so funny when he watches movies. He gets so into them. Lara just kinda messed around and watched parts of it, but sat next to me the whole time, so I had to remind her to be quiet while people watch movies.

I have more to post later, and I will. We went to Charlie’s Safari today (an indoor play area) and the kids really had fun.  I of course did get some photos. But for now, I’m tired and need to do my Friday night ritual of reading and a bubble bath.

Happy 7th Anniversary

Mar 3, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
March 2, 2002..Bryan and I were married!  That was 7 whole years ago.  

Then, we added some furry children to our family.

After 3 1/2 years of marriage, on October 13, 2005, we welcomed Ethan into our world:

Then, 13 months and 25 days later, Lara joined us:

We’ve been through 2 deployments and in our 3rd one now.  I have been present to pin every single rank on Bryan from his commissioning on up to his most current one in 2004.  We have moved cross-country two times (CA-VA and then VA to WA).  We are on cars 6 and 7 (buick, galant, jeep, tempo, pontiac and currently Tahoe and new pontiac).  We’ve lived in 5 different homes during our 3 different duty stations.  We still haven’t had that honeymoon…but we’re saving for a big trip when he gets back.  We’ve had 6 different pets (Val the cat, Charlie and Bosco the dogs, Kurt and Goldie the goldfish and Toby the cat).  

Life has definitely been busy these past 7 years, but they’ve been wonderful!!  I wouldn’t trade them for anything. 

I asked for patience…

Mar 3, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Ok, so it’s my mistake to pray for patience. I should know better.  But WOW!!  God has thrown me some whammies lately.

1st off- on Friday, they (my two adorable angels) got into my flowers that were given to me by my friend Lisa.  They poured the water on their plates from the vase (which then soaked the pizza on their plates!). Water was everywhere!  Before that, they had found the brand new band-aids I had bought.  They then had band-aids EVERYWHERE!!  We called Ethan the band-aid bandit.

Then, Lara found the sharpie that I use to mark her pull-ups and put a label on her clothes for hourly care.  She now has pretty markings up and down her legs.  This all happened on Friday.

And today, they flooded my upstairs bathroom (their bathroom). How? You might ask.  They (my two darling little angels) took an ENTIRE roll of toilet paper and flushed it down the toilet. Only, it didn’t flush. It backed it up. I got it cleared after it had subsided a bit and was able to clean it up.  Then, tonight, as I was working on folding some laundry, they did it to the bathroom again.  Only this time, they were in the bathtub and dumping water overboard and onto the floor.

What do these two occurrences have in common???  They were both while they had friends over. Ok, I know my two kids are very active and can get into things.  But normally, they will go and play quietly for hours (except for the occasional fight that I have to break up). But, they also have realized on Friday and today that I was trying to get some things done for the FRG and was not paying 100% attention to them.  So, they took full advantage.  

So yes,  I should not have prayed for God to give me the patience I needed to get through this deployment. It’s only been a week and I’m exhausted!!

Here are some photos to help finish my day off:

The morning Bryan left.

a typical day in the household…they strip down and run around like this. It’s a battle to get them to keep clothes on.

 (showing how strong he is)

 (showing off her muscles)

  dressed up and ready to go…to where, I don’t know!

Deployment #3 has started

Feb 25, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Yes, we are officially in deployment #3.  Bryan left on Sunday. I’ve gotten to talk to him twice…each time for possibly 2 minutes  (TOPS!), but at least I have heard from him. Luckily, some of the other wives have had better communication, so I’ve been able to hear from them what’s going on.  Downfall of him being part of the leadership, getting everything lined up, etc. I’m hoping to get regular communication with him by this weekend once they are hopefully settled into a more permanent spot.  No promises, tho.

Other than that, things are going ok. The kids have photos that they put in their rooms.  They tell Daddy goodnight and give him kisses, we say our prayers and always pray for all of the soldiers’ safety.  I’ve ordered Daddy-dolls for both kids, as well as a Hugg-a-planet to help show where Daddy works, as well as where everyone else lives, etc.

Here are a few photos:

Enjoying chocolate fondue Saturday night as a family.

We are slowly getting into a routine. I have only had one moment of almost completely losing it.  Last night, I went to the PX. I stood in line. I had my hands full of stuff.  I checked out, only to find that I did not have my debit card.  So, I’m searching frantically for my credit card. I pull it out, swipe it, and it’s declined.  IT EXPIRED IN JANUARY!!!  I was mortified.  Normally, this would not be a big deal, but seeing the huge emotional rollercoaster I have been on with being sick, little sleep, and then Bryan leaving, I just about lost it. The clerk looked at me and said, “It’s OK. Take a deep breath. It will be OK. I’ll put it on hold for you.”  So, I ran home, searched for the debit card, but then had to get to a meeting.  So, I never made it back to the PX to pick up my stuff.  Then, I had to pay for Schwan’s stuff this morning, only to not be able to find my debit card AGAIN!!  Luckily, I ran upstairs and grabbed a credit card.  Then, I found my debit card in the washer.  

Other than that, I’m being tested at nap time by two kiddos, but their bed times are also being moved up.  Hopefully I’ll have more photos soon.  I’ve taken some funny ones, but haven’t loaded them yet. 

Singing in the car

Feb 20, 2009 Author: Mommato2 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Since our children only seem to perform when in a moving vehicle, I finally got them last night as we were grabbing them some dinner on the way to church.  The lighting is horrible, but they are cute.

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