art May 15, 2008

Here is some “Serena Art.”  She won’t color for long, but she likes to do it from time to time.  Its a good way to get her in a better mood or stop her from getting into things.  Grammy is now the proud owner of this artwork, would you like the next?

Scott came home from PT today and told me there was some picknick type thing going on “by the lake” and he was allowed to come home, change and head over there.  When he asked his boss when he wanted him back he said to take the day off and have a good time.  We got there at almost eleven.  I hadn’t been over to that part of the base before.  There is an okay sized lake with a path around it.  Lots of wildlife for Serena to point and grunt at.  Sometimes she says “that” but usually its just a grunt.  We played on the swings for a while, then went and walked around the path.  It took quite a while since Serena wanted to stop every time she saw an animal (duck, goose or squirel) and walk toward it then scream when we made her stop.  She sure has a mind of her own.  After we made it full circle we got in the food line.  After a minute I took Serena and walked back to the playground.  Five minutes later Scott got out of line because it hadn’t moved.  We played a bit more and then got in the car and headed over to subway.  After that we drove down to my parent’s house so I could go with my dad to a doctors appointment.  Serena had a good time with the kids.  She is always happy to see them.  We went to Loredos for dinner where Serena proved that taking a toddler out to eat isn’t always a good idea.  Now we are home and Serena is waiting on me to tuck her in.  She wants her before bed “snack”

 

my monkey May 15, 2008

 

shotgun rules May 14, 2008

I saw this in a magazine when I was waiting for my car to get inspected today.

Okay, listen up, because we’re only going to say it once. These are the rules of calling shotgun, which is to reserve the front passenger seat of the car.

1.  The driver decides when shotgun rules are in effect.
2.  You must be outdoors to call shotgun.
3.  Privileges are in effect until the driver turns off the ignition and exits the vehicle.
4.  The person who calls shotgun can trade or give away front-seat privileges.
5.  The driver has the final word on variations involving when shotgun can be called, and it is up to the passengers to know these variations in advance.
6.  The driver is the final arbiter in all disputes.
7.  If someone ignores the shotgun rules and takes the front seat by force, all subsequent shotgun calling will be disregarded until the offender buys the aggravated party a Slurpee (or equivalent compensation).
8.  Anyone calling for “permanent shotgun” is a jerk.
9.  Yes, playing shotgun is childish.

 

crap…it all adds up May 14, 2008

So a bit ago Scott got a speeding ticket.  Its going to be high enough that it takes all of our tax relief check, but its good that we have it.  Yesterday I went to the dentist to replace a filling that fell out and they told me I need a root canal.  Sucky thing is they don’t take our dental insurance anymore.  I paid for what I had done, but she told me I should look around.  The thing is the clinic on base in Germany did one for Scott and they did it wrong and he had to have the tooth pulled.  My family has been going to this dentist for years and my sister even worked there for a while.  I know they do good work.  It scares me a little to go somewhere I don’t know about.  What if they screw me up or tell me I need a whole bunch more work than I really do?  Its going to be about $800 all said and done if I get it done without the insurance.  Thats a lot of money.  Then today I went to register the car.  It didn’t pass inspection, it needs a few things.  Wiper blades, okay I got that.  A front parking light, again easy one.  A new front right tire.  Could be big, but I have a full size spare in the shed for it, so just the $15 to put it on.  So whats the issue you ask? It also needs a new windshield.  So what about $300 for that?  Its also going to cost about $300 for the tags/title/registration for two years.  So thats about $2500 worth of stuff I wasn’t expecting.  To top the car off I have to wait for the title from CA to be mailed her to register it here.  Chase said that it could and most likely will take 21 days to get to me.  If it does then I go past the 60 days where I don’t have to pay full tax to register the car.  I can maybe write a letter saying I started the process before the 60 days were up and hope they accept that.  If I were to pay the car off today I would save a little on interest and then they would mail the title out within 10 days.  What to do…I guess we really don’t have the money for that right now, I mean we only owe a little over $1500 on the car, so its possible I guess.  We are going go wait to pay the ticket until Scott goes to court.  I’m sure the cop will show, but maybe he can get a reduced sentence for the fine and the points, or do some community service.  Plus that gives us some time to save up for that.  Every time I think we are getting a little ahead something comes along to show just how far behind we can fall.  Anyway I guess I should get dressed and hit the commissary.  I need some basic stuff and dinner tonight. 

loud May 12, 2008

So right this minute Scott is giving Serena a bath.  He learned that if you wash her hair right after you put her in she is much happier.  She is standing up stomping her feet.  Its super loud.  I’m guessing I now understand what its like to have a kit in the apartment above you.  She can make this crazy loud noise.  The chinchillas are getting in the spirit too banging around their cage.  Patch likes to dig all the food out of the dish just for fun.

She had a pretty good first full day at the house.  She has been here before of course but today was the first day she woke up and took a nap here.  She took a good nap, about two hours.  We went to Golden Corral for dinner.  It wasn’t bad, its usually a safe bet because you can spend 20 minutes there and everyone gets to eat without having Serena get tired of it.  The food is usually pretty good too.  After that we went over to the mall, which turned out to not be a good idea.  She started having one of those toddler times when she doesn’t want anything she wants.  Up, down, stroller, out, on the floor, up, down, running, laughing, crying, on the floor, up… it was a bit crazy.  She has a backpack buddy and we have had really good luck with it before, but today wasn’t one of those days either.  She just doesn’t want to be out sometimes.  It seems like she is worse if its both Scott and I. 

Oh well I have about five minutes before House comes on.  We do have this WONDERFUL thing called a DVR and wow that is so worth the extra money a month.  To be able to pause something, get up and do something and come back to it is so great.  Its also nice when you set it to record something because I’m one of those people that remembers I want to watch something that comes on at 8 at 8:30.  Anyway I can hear Serena at the top of the stairs, which means she will be down here ready for trouble in a minute.

Here is a picture of her in her new chair.  She can more or less get in and out of it herself. 

eh… May 11, 2008

We spent most of today at the house.  We went to super walmart for a little while.  Returned the crazy keyboard and ended up spending a lot more than we expected to.  I have been spending a lot of money the past little while.  Each year we get some money back on taxes and I will put some of it away and then end up spending it.  I was going through our bank account trying to figure out why the balance was a little less than it should be.  After double and tripple checking I found that Scott didn’t get paid on the first.  Usually I would know right away, but there is still some extra money floating around so it didn’t hit me right away.  We also got our tax rebate, or whatever they are calling it now.  I guess I just figured, oh there is money there so it must be pay, but nope.  He has to wait until Monday to go ask someone about it.  I’m glad this isn’t one of those times when we are waiting for the money to pay bills.  It came at a good time because we need to put some money away to pay a speeding ticket Scott got a few days ago.  I will not say how much it was, but it was really bad.  Usually I would say just pay it and get over it, but they could suspend his licence and I’m sure our insurance will go up.  I hope he can go to court and work off the points.  Even if we have to pay the full amount (oh please no!)

So Scott just went to let Gizmo in and saw that he had gotten out of our temp. fence.  Crazy dog.  I guess its good its night time and he doesn’t want to run and play.  I have found that when he is loose and I want him to come to me its best to just tell him to sit and go pick him up.  It works better than calling him.  Crazy animal. 

Serena didn’t cry but for maybe two minutes tonight before she went to sleep.  I’m really glad for that.  Her new room is set up almost like her old one was.  Its a bigger room and all of her toys are in there rather than being in the living room too.  I guess we should open her door up tonight because I’m not sure if we will hear her calling us in the morning or not.  When we were sharing a room with her sometimes I would wake up to see her standing there looking at me.  That is a picture of her in her easter basket.  She has a thing for getting inside of things.  She likes baskets and boxes.  Today she was sitting in Gizmo’s dog bed.  She fell back out of it and then got up and right back in it.  Gizmo and Yummy like to lay on pillows in the bottom of a small book shelf.  She thinks its fun to kick them out and get under there herself.  She is quite the character. 

Well Scott just turned on the TV and before he gets hooked on anything I want to go to bed.  Becca, thanks for the birthday card (and thanks Nate for the picture) it really reminds me of us.  I got the little letter from Jackie too, hehe.  Scott says ”thats all that was in there?” haha it was cute.  Aunt Linda I will get online in the morning before we go to Mom’s and send you some pictures!  Here is one to tide you over.  Nite!

 

internet down May 10, 2008

So I have been MIA for a few days now.  On the 6th my parents Internet went down. After a lot of calling, getting cut off and transfers I found out that something was wrong, they couldn’t fix it so they had to cancel and re order the service, which means it won’t be back up until maybe Friday.  Some of the people I talked to were really nice and others were not at all.  We came up to the house today and are moved in.  We are going back to my parents to have a mothers day dinner tomorrow but coming back up tomorrow night.  I’ll write some more later, maybe after I go to target and walmart, I need to return this sucky keyboard, its so crappy.  Gizmo is barking like crazy outside, jack ass.

home coming May 5, 2008

Sammy and baby Caitlyn came home from the hospital today.  They are both doing really well.  Sammy’s milk is coming in great already, much faster than mine did even.  Here she is all dressed and ready to come home.  She loves to hold her hand on or by her binky.  She is wearing a NB size and she still “swims” in it.  She was tiny in the car seat too.  We thought they would inspect the carseat but they didn’t.  Just pushed Sammy out and that was about it. 

 

She eats really well, for just about everyone!  Serena picked up the bottle and put it in her mouth all by herself, it was really adorable.

   

Caitlyn Elizabeth May 4, 2008

So Sammy delivered.  I was going to wait until she was home to explain everything but she said it was okay to do it now.  She went to the doctor on Friday and he told her that he didn’t like her swelling and the fact that she gained five pounds in five days.  He also said the baby was a good 8 pounds maybe low 9.  So he sent her to the hospital.  When she got there they hooked her up to induce and told her she was at 3 cm.  This was about noon on the 2nd.  Then a few hours later they put the epidural in.  It was a trainee doing it and she said it felt off to the right but the main person said no it looked okay.  So for a few hours she was okay.  Then she started having terrible pain on the left side.  Our nice nurse left and the new one was hot and cold.  One minute really nice and the next a super bitch.  They did a few things but the new nurse told her that most likely the epidural wouldn’t take a second time or wouldn’t help.  So she just rode it out.  She got to 5 cm and stayed there forever.  At 11 they checked her again and she had gotten to 7 cm.  Her doctor said he would give her a little more time.  When he checked her again after midnight she was still at 7 cm so he said he wanted to go ahead and get the baby out.  Mom went back with her since they only let one person.  Caitlyn Elizabeth was born at 1:33 am on 5/3/08 (mom says 5 plus 3 is 8! …haha)  She was not 9…or 8…or even 7… she was 6 pounds 14.9 ounces and 21 inches long.  She was healthy.  They came out right after and I got to take a couple pictures and hold her before they went to clean her off and everything.  Sammy is doing good, but not sleeping well at all.  Her doctor wants to get her home asap, but she could be there as late as Tuesday.  She says she can’t sleep with out Caitlyn but they keep coming in and telling her to get some rest they will keep the baby.  They also said something silly, to give her a bottle first then try to nurse her…total opposite of what it should be.  But that’s okay if she really wants to Mom and I can help her when she gets home.  We did get to take Serena into the hospital to see her.  I will post some of those pictures a little later.  Serena had a fever last night (101.6) and then it was the same after she had been up for over an hour.  I gave her some meds and we will see if that takes it down.  She seems to be in a good mood.  I called tri-care to see if we could take her to an after hours place rather than the ER.  I remember in Cali when we had prime if I went somewhere without a referral I just paid 20%.  This lady was rather rude to me telling me I could just take her to the ER.  I really don’t want to sit in the ER for four or five hours, which is always the shortest time.  I think we are going to just suck it up and pay out of pocket to take her to the after hours place.  They open at noon so we are leaving in about 20 minutes so we can try to be there before they open.  Hopefully she is okay, just want to make sure.   

motherhood May 1, 2008

Over at 5 Minutes for Mom they are having a contest where Your Picture is Worth a Thousand Dollars!  I posted a very short blog about it before.  Go on over there and take a look around.  It took me a while to pick a picture, and I know I could look for hours longer.  I picked this picture because it is motherhood to me.  It was one of those times when Serena did something new for her and for me.  She is growing up so fast yet there are so many new things for her to experience.  Its wonderful to watch her do something new, or something I have never seen her do before.  If you look up motherhood in the dictionary, here is what you will find.

moth-er-hood    

noun

1. the state of being a mother; maternity.
2. the qualities or spirit of a mother.
3. mothers collectively

This is just an example of what motherhood is for me.  Its something that you really can’t explain to anyone else because its so personal.