Support our Troops!

For all of you already there and those of you getting ready to leave, I will ALWAYS pray and support you!

*Turn up your volume*




You stay up for 16 hours.
He stays up for days on end.




You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.




You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.




You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.




You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.




You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.




You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.




You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.




You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.




Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.




You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.




You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.




You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.




You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.




You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.




You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.




You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.




You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.




You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.




You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.




You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.




If you support your troops, the click "reply to poster" copy all the codes, and repost the bulletin.

If you don't support your troops well, then don't re-post. You won't die in 7 days, your love life won't be affected, and you won't have the worst day ever. You don't have to repost. It's not like you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your rights.

A Sunday Evening

Tonight we decided to go outside after dinner. The kids all rode bikes while Jesse and I started cleaning out our cars (they both were due).

See Chris ride!? He does really well!

Check out Emma! She also does a wonderful job riding her bike.

Then there is little Matt. Before today he has only been riding the little car around the house. It has no peddles so those were very new for him. Needless to say, he didn't get it, but still did a great job at getting around, and loved it!

After awhile, the bikes got old and into the sprinklers they went. Chris of course was first. I'm hoping this works out, I'm going to try and attached a little video I made using our camera. Sorry if my voice when you hear it is kinda loud, you know since I was holding the camera and all.

Biggs Water Park

On Thursday this week I took the kids to the water park here on base. Well really it is on the air field, Biggs, still part of it all. Emma and Chris had so much fun. Matt had fun, so long as he was out of the water. I don't know what it was, maybe all the kids or the big mushroom in the middle that water sprays down from but he just didn't want to really be in the water.

I brought some of our floaties to play with. Never again will I forget the air pump though! Chris and Emma loved playing with theirs and Matt did ok for a little bit when he was in his. Needless to say, we will definitely be going back again soon!


Chris in his ring, wanting what Matt has.


Emma enjoying the sun!


The little bit I was able to get Matt in the water without holding him or him making a fuss.

Flash Flood!

I didn't even know we were expecting rain, let alone a giant downpour with hail none the less. See the above picture? I pulled that off a news site. The dark clouds looming over, lightening filling the sky. Let me tell you, they are not in anyway prepared for big rains down here. There is no place for the water to go so it just floods the streets.

I can tell you Jesse was safe at home. Now the kids and I, well we had driven a friend to a dr appt at the hospital (WBAMC). Out our way home, the rains hit, and they hit hard. Hail was bouncing off our car, I slowed to about 10 mpr, had my flashers & lights on as well my wipers on high. Yet for a big part I could barely see and even times it was just too thick of blanket I couldn't see at all. Once we got close to a gate (not the normal one I would go in), we entered the post. Even if we had to leave the car, I felt a lot better just being on base. But thankfully, we all made it home safe! Where the rains stopped shortly after.

7 Years!!!

July 8, 2000

On July 8 of this year, Jesse and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. It's amazing it has been that long already. Time flies so quickly. If someone told me 10 years ago, I would be married, to a solider no less, have 3 kids and living in Texas, I probably would have laughed at them.

We celebrated by having our own BBQ with our kids. Jesse made us wonderful steaks on the grill. The best part of it all, we were all together!

**I know this post is very delayed! I was hoping to add in a few more pics but wasn't able to get what I needed hooked up in a timely matter.

4th of July

While we didn't have our fireworks yet (the post is having them on Saturday) we still had some great fun. We had a friend over for a BBQ. After the guys washed and waxed their car and truck and the kids played in their pool. Here is a fun slide show I made of the fun!

I've been Tagged!

I was tagged by Lindsy (http://abeanabugandabird.blogspot.com/)

The Rules:So this is how it works. I must post the rules, 7 random things about me and then tag others to do the same. Sound fair enough, right? These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. I lived in and around 1 city in MI my whole life until now
2. I am a proud Army wife
3. I have 1 girl and 2 boys, all who mean the world to me
4. Myself and all 3 of my kids share the same middle initial, as does their dad's first name
5. I love scrapbooking! although I talk about it and shop for it more then I actually do it
6. I love the smell of rain (its also great to sleep to as well)
7. I'm a girly girl, I love pink, and my daughter is the same way

I'm tagging:

Shell (http://m2them.blogspot.com)
Ginny (http://scrappyd.blogspot.com)
Sabrina (http://rauchreport.blogspot.com)
Emily (http://adamemily.blogspot.com)
Pam (http://scrapbooksbypam.blogspot.com)
Rachel (http://joneschronicle.blogspot.com)
Carol (http://jonesfamilyjunction.blogspot.com)

One Expensive Sticker!

At least that is how it ended up for me. To normally get this little decal for your car, it will cost you just $26.50 ($12.50 if you are so lucky to have a very new vehicle or very old).


But little did I know when I bought the car, 2 little things didn't work. Thats right, just 2. The e-brake and the brights. Of course I just had to get a German car (thanks Jes, haha). No but really, they have everything down here for VWs just not Audis. So everything, was special order. Oh well, all is said and done now. I finally, have the other stickers I need to be able to get on and off the base. Yay!!

Wet-N-Wild

Ok so we really went some time ago but I thought everyone would love to see some pictures. Jesse's entire unit along with a couple others were all invited to go and were welcome to bring their families. All the soldiers were able to get in for free and their families for discounted rates. In total, we spent $16 to get in (the reg price of an adult ticket is $17.95 at the gate). We also received a bracelet that allowed us to get a free tube for the water. Yes there are some there to use that you don't have to pay for, but they are limited.


We mostly stuck to the wave pool and lazy river. Although Emma and Chris did go down a few slides. Emma was all done with that when she went down one not knowing it was a bit deeper at the bottom, the water ended up at chin level. Keep in mind you dry off quick just walking from one area to the next. So she was pretty much dry and being the water is somewhat cold, it adds an additional shock.

Yup, Matt fell asleep on the lazy river.
Lunch was provided as well. It really was a great day all doing something fun as a family!

Kid Update

So I thought you might like to read a little kid update.

Emma

I had to catch her off guard to get this picture. She just didn't want to smile for the camera yet she was the one that asked to have her picture taken. This past week Emma lost her 2nd tooth. In case you didn't know, she lost her 1st one the day before we were to leave to start our travels to Texas. She just loves it when the Tooth Fairy comes. As she would say, 'I got cash!'. She gets a $1 per tooth.
I took this picture a couple days before the tooth feel out. Can you see it pointing at you? It's the one right next to the open space, where in fact the next tooth has popped through the gum.

Christopher

Chris is still full of energy. Running around as free as can be. Yeah, that doesn't make me nervous at all, ha ha. Jesse undid and redressed his wound last night. It looks like it is healing, the glue is starting to flake a bit.

See, even the bruise is starting to fade. Yay! Potty training continues to go very well.

Matthew

Matty is doing well and full of energy. Starting to talk for himself more and more, instead of his brother and sister. He can be a little stinker though. Most of the time, when you put him down, nap or for night, he likes to get back up and play. Matt is still our little noodle though.

Test Week

No, not for school. This week with Jesse gone, I figured it to be kinda my test week to see how we/I do when he deploys. Of course we couldn't have an uneventful week (which to the testing aspect can be a good thing). Monday night, our first night without Jesse, I'm bathing the kids and Chris accidentally bumps his wound, and it bleeds a little. Now let me back up just a second. Since he came home Friday night, it was starting to look worse, I guess Sunday into Monday mostly. No matter what, it shouldn't bleed at all, not even a little, especially with a little bump. I made him sit on the couch while I called the nurse line at the hospital. They seemed to think it wasn't that big a deal (ok so it bleed for 30 sec. maybe) but did say it shouldn't do that. I put the kids down for the night. The next morning I even got a follow up call. Everything was still going fine. Although check out the picture I took of him Tuesday.



Tuesday night, the kids are playing and according to Chris as I was in the other room, Emma while playing, hit him in the head, of course on the wound. Again, it starts bleeding, in fact when he came to me the bandaid he had on was full and it was streaming down his face. I changed the bandaid, not once but twice. The second was just after a bit as I wanted him to have a fresh one when he went to bed. I could tell it was slowing down and I knew I would get the same advice if I called the nurse again. I check the bandaid a few times before I went to bed, making sure it didn't look worse and it didn't. Although by morning, it was full again but none on the face.

Knowing I still can't go off base without a lot of hassle to get back on I had got the number for the TMC from a friend of mine the night before. That's Troop Medical Clinic, which is located here on base. When I called, I got some of the same but a sure bring him in and we'll check. Then she decided to just give me an appt. So we went in at 10:20 to be seen. The Dr checked it out and applied butterfly bandages and then a regular bandaid. My new instructions are to leave the butterfly bandages on and change the bandaid every other day. People were saying the liquid stitches/glue isn't as good of a hold for kids. I'm so glad they did at least something.

I took this picture Wednesday.


I took a peek under the bandaid today. It looks like it bleed a tiny bit more onto the butterfly bandages but you can't tell otherwise and it isn't like it was.

Needless to say, we handled everything ok with Jesse gone but that doesn't mean we didn't miss him. In fact one thing I have learned this week, I'm really not complete without him. He is only in TX just away from us right now and I miss him so. It certainly isn't going to be easy when he is on the other side of the world.

No Stitches but...........

Friday night was kinda of eventful. The kids were all playing around with their dad. He would pretend he was asleep and they would try and wake him. Well Chris, being Chris ended up tripping, not sure if it was over his blanket or just himself but he fell into the side of the coffee table and hit one of the legs (rounded corners too). I immediately ran towards him as he shrieked out in pain although at the same time, Jes was going for him to pick him up. So instead I ran off to get something to help his head. Regardless I knew he would be bruise but at that same time, I could see he was bleeding.

I probably looked funny running off, going down the hallway, stepping towards the kitchen but going on to the bathroom where I grabbed a washcloth and wet it a bit with cold water. I ran that back to Chris who was in his daddy's arms calming down already. We pressed the cold washcloth to his head and I looked and Jesse and said "you need to take him in". My car was still sitting at the Firestone on base (thats a long story, for another day) so only Jes could go with him, then again he didn't have a child seat in the car. As he went out to ready his car, there happened to be a police car parked near by so Jesse decided to go over to him. Meanwhile I'm inside holding Chris and Matt and Emma are still running around. Moments later Jesse walks in the door with the police officer and states "an ambulance is on the way".

After awhile a fire truck arrives and the firemen assess Chris and take down information (the police officer did some of the same too). Soon after that the paramedics arrived and checked Chris out, took down information and then put him on the ambulance (well Jesse carried him out and then they strapped him in a car seat). I'm kinda now wishing I had grabbed the camera off the desk so I could show him a how he looked in the ambulance, after all, even though I couldn't go, I had to see him off (Emma and Matt too). Friends of ours even came over to make sure things were ok.

When Jesse got back with Chris (they were gone about 1.5-2 hrs), Jesse said he did really well. And when he got scared when the Dr's where cleaning his owie, Chris would ask to go back into the ambulance. I guess he really had a good time riding!

Chris with Daddy when they got home


Today - See the bruise next to the band-aid? Most likely from the same fall, but being Chris, he also walked into the door when he was coming out of the bathroom earlier in the day, so you never know.


Yeah, I'm sure he'll have a scar.

Potty Training Update

Well in deed Chris is potty training and actually doing quite well. Day 2 wasn't so hot and I wondered if it was really happening. Day 3 he did great! In fact we used the thick training undies for most of the day. He even did a #2 on the potty. Fall back, he finished doing his business at nap time in the pull up. Today was another great day. In fact, he ran in the bathroom once without me even saying anything. I usually try and tell him or remind him to go about every 20-30 mins. Sometimes a little less and usually not much more.

Chris is definitely on his way!! We are so very proud of him!!

Thomas the Train Recalls

I saw this on a yahoo group and am posting it here because I know so many of our family and friends own quite a bit of the Thomas sets. There are no incidents which is good, but the recall is because the paint contains lead. I have gone though the list (like 3x's to be sure) and we don't own any that are listed.

Thomas the Train Recalls

I also found additional information along with pictures when I went to yahoo's homepage.

Finally..........could it be??

That Christopher is actually potty training?? I thought we were there once before, but of course he only did his business on the toilet once (both #1 & #2) and that was just so he could have the shirt I promised him. I'm almost afraid to say it, as I know I will only jinx it. But today, although we have had the rewards now for awhile, today was the first time he ran to the bathroom more then once.

The first was before his nap. I believe he kept that pull up dry for at least an hour (I knew he wouldn't during the nap, but that is ok). Now for Chris, this is pretty huge. Then after he got up from his nap, he used the potty again and put on a new pull up. Between getting up from his nap and going to bed, he managed to keep his pull up dry for a good 2.5 hrs. All were #1's but hey, I am so very proud of him! And of course when I tucked him in to bed tonight, I made sure I told him how very proud I was of him!!

I haven't yet given him his prize, in fact I may see if we can do this again up until nap time tomorrow too before I give it to him. He'll be getting the little die cast car 'Sally' from "Cars". I guess we will just wait and see if he will continue. Crossing my fingers to have just one in diapers. Of course it makes me want to cry too at how fast they grow up when you really stop to think about it.

Before our stuff arrived...........

After the initial night of Jesse and I sleeping on an air mattress and the kids on little sleeping bags on the floor, we rented a bed for Jesse and I so the kids could have the air mattress.

Chris likes to roll around a lot in his sleep so more then once I woke up to Matt crying in the middle of the night because his brother knocked him off. But yet, they looked so sweet together while sleeping!





We also bought a section of carpet from the PX for the living room. Really helped cut down on the echo. It's also very easy to clean.

The Transportation Ball

Ok so this was a bit ago but I'm finally getting around to blogging it. Imagine if you will, we have only been in our home for a week and half. Our household goods have arrived only 4 days prior. Jesse's outfit is easy, after all, its his class A's. Mine, well I just couldn't find the right dress. I did end up settling on one I picked up from Sears down here. So much to do to get ready, and do you think I can find everything I need? No of course not.

While we were out picking up a couple things apparently Time Warner was told to come out and make sure the previous residents cable was turned off, only they turned off ours. We didn't find this out until Monday just knew we came home and had no internet and no phone. We didn't know where we were going nor did I really know how to get a hold of the gal that said she could babysit. I thought I remember her address (like right across the street) so I went over and yes it was her and she still could. I also borrowed her hair blow drier, something I needed and couldn't find. Meanwhile Jesse called and got directions (thank goodness for cell phones).

Finally we are ready (well as best we are going to be and in we I mean me). Get the kids dropped off and head out. Jesse found the place with no problem.


The event wasn't all it was supposed to be. In fact we even got an apology for the food. To give you an idea, you either had chicken or beef. The chicken ended up being turkey. But we still had fun anyway.








They did have free beer (gross) and a bottle of wine on the table (that was also really gross). They also had dancing at the end. I wish Jesse would dance with me. I still did a little to one of those don't need a partner songs.



May 18, 2007