Stacia is Six Weeks Old!

This week marked Stacia’s sixth week with us. We wanted to be sure to post a picture for BreAnne and Krista to see. She is finally starting to grow eyebrows…very faint. She also has continued to grow eyelashes and we think they may be long like Josiah and Nolan’s.

Earlier this week I decided it would be a good distraction to trim Arielle's hair. I was carrying Stacia, Zander was following along behind. I asked him, "Do you want a hair cut"? He assumed I was talking to Stacia and replied in panic. "No, Mom, NOT STACIA! STACIA NEEDS HAIR"! Yes, she does need hair. She is still bald, except for the back. A couple have told us she is going to have beautiful auburn/red hair. One even said it would be "just like her mother's". This prompted a wise- mouthed, nameless husband to reply "Oh, you mean whatever the color of the week is at the new salon?" ::::snort::: 

Stacia does have hydronephrosis and will be having another test (a VCUG) on 12 October. They say that this is very treatable and will most likely do no lasting kidney damage.

I received good news from the doctor this week. She decided that I could quit taking my blood pressure meds. I’ll continue to monitor my blood pressure and go in to see the base doc if my readings begin to go high. Otherwise…I have finally been given that elusive “clean bill of health”.

ARIELLE'S MILESTONES

BreAnne and Krista, Arielle wants to be sure you see her missing tooth. She also is very excited to tell you that she ate HALF a HAMBURGER (meat, bun, ketchup, mustard et al) today at Burger King. We'll put the news here and I'm sure she'll tell you next time she gets you on the phone.

Arielle has also gone to being the oldest girl in the household. She takes this seriously and has been diligent to help me with all sorts of new tasks. She's watching over Stacia who now sleeps in the new crib in "Arielle's room".

Missing our Girls

This scene met me at 4 a.m. one day last week. I heard Zander crying and went to find him. He had dragged his pillow and comforter in where Krista’s bed usually is. Arielle was sleeping with a picture of the girls. Zander told me, "I want Wicsa". No doubt about it girls....we miss you.

*ODE TO THE HALIBUT OR *TASTE OF HOME*

Thanks to Summer; who stored our halibut, packaged it and shipped it overnight to Texas.

The halibut arrived the week the girls left and it was a bright point in a dreary week. We have safely given the halibut a new home and have begun to enjoy a *taste of home* here in TX....halibut salad, halibut tacos, fish and chips, lazibut (Halibut Lasagna).....

Our reunion with the halibut has prompted Jared to write the following poem:

Two eyes it has on both sides it does
It is a Halibut, fishing for it is fun
When on hook up, up it comes
Chop, chop, chop, tasty it is when cooked!

Thanks to Krista, the fisherwoman who caught most of this Halibut.

Nearly Perfect Day

17 September 2005

We’ve been focusing the last few weeks on getting the girls ready to leave home. In the midst of this Mike turned to me one day and asked, “Why are we working so hard to make something we don’t want to happen – happen?” Good question. As the last week dawned we turned our attention to making pleasant memories in an attempt to stave off the onset of emotions…..we refused to spend our last week in tears. Saturday, 17 September was a “nearly perfect day”. We had been unable to celebrate the girl’s birthdays this year due to our PCS move. We decided to have a big birthday/farewell party on Saturday.

Our perfect day got off to a slow start when we needed to go make a duplicate key for the girls’ Honda. We had tried this earlier but were told that there was a chip in the key and we’d have to go to the dealer. Imagine our sticker shock when ONE key was $43. Mike and I staggered from the dealers and headed for Wal-mart. We picked up a card and flowers and headed for the hospital to visit a Chaplains’ wife who had been blessed with a new baby. While we had been running errands, the boys told the girls to disappear and had decorated the house. We had balloons, streamers, bright colors, home made signs “happy birthday ya’ all” and “wellllll…..so long”. Bre has made signs for each of our celebrations for years. We needed some signs but none of us have the “touch” that Bre does. Josiah just made these in a giant font with no graphics and we had another laugh. We chose a Care Bear theme for the party and the girls immediately understood why we’d done that. 20 years ago we had decorated their nursery with Care Bears….guess I should have held onto those wall hangings. With everything on our daily list accomplished we switched to the party mode.

We had been blessed by the Solomon family with a very generous baby gift – a nice gift certificate to the Italian restaurant in town - Johnny Carrinos. I met this family “online” through the homeschool email list that I co-own. They had gone to the trouble to contact another member who lives here to find out what restaurant I may be interested in. Janet had visited Stacia and I in the hospital and I had told her I was craving Italian and asked if there was an Italian restaurant in town….the two of them joined up resources…the manager drove over and delivered the gift card. Wow….what a blessing. It was enough to feed our entire family a very nice dinner. We loved the meal, the atmosphere and the staff. They had one table big enough for all of us….up front and center. I was worried about Zander and Stacia but both behaved very well. We had a great time laughing, talking and enjoying a very good meal – with no clean up. At one point Arielle cracked up the waitress, our table and a nice elderly couple by an “Arielle exchange”. She had ordered cheese pizza and evidently thought the wait was a bit long. She popped up with, “I’m getting the idea that you don’t just take the pizza out of the freezer and pop it in the oven here?”

Back at home we passed around gifts. The birthday gifts were great. “THE” gift of the day however was a charm bracelet for each of them that we had been secretly working on for weeks. This was PART of their farewell gift. We couldn’t finish the other part while they were here because they were always underfoot. We told them we’d mail it to WA. Each family member had chosen a charm for each girl’s bracelet. It was touching to listen and watch as each explained why they’d chosen the particular charm for the recipient. “She always reads bed time stories to me”, “She taught me how to sew”, “She always helped me with math”, “We learned to fly together”, “She always put me to bed each night”, “She got me kicked out of the pool” “she hates outhouses and tent camping”, “My heart is going with you”….the girls loved the bracelets. We were thrilled to have been able to surprise them.

No party would be complete without party games and so we played pin the tail on the donkey. The younger ones had never done that and were totally impressed. Krista cracked us all up by heading for the photographer (Josiah) with the tail. The piñata was next and provided enough sugar to keep us all going through our difficult leave taking week. Ice cream cake completed our party.

Our nearly perfect day ended with another chapter out of the Hobbit during our family reading time. As I watched Bre embroider on the Thanksgiving Tablecloth and Krista rock and soothe Stacia, I wondered when the next nearly perfect day would come around. I’m learning so very much in this one short week....understanding “older” Moms so much more…like WHY do they count the days until Christmas, why do they clear the calendar of fluff when the older kids visit, why do they send packages of cookies that the child could easily buy to college, why do they say “they grow up so fast” every time the see a baby and why do they say “I love you” so often to the kids remaining at home? I’m gaining a new perspective. It was sad to realize that we’d finish the Hobbit without Bre and Krista – but they will be enjoying some incredible new adventures at Master Commission. We’ll get to enjoy those along with them – from a bit of a distance. I’m suspecting the next nearly perfect day will arrive for our family in December when we make a visit to the local airport.

A Day

We managed to fill our “empty” day with lots of activity. I can’t count the number of times one of the children said, “I can’t believe it is Thursday already”. I think the counting down of days until the girls leave is on all of our minds.


Krista filled the day washing their car with the little ones. She also is literally plowing through every Nero Wolfe and Louis L’Amour book in the house. I think her goal is to read all that SA has to offer before she moves. I’m suspecting she will succeed.

Josiah, Jamin and Jared valiantly continue with school.

I spent the a.m. digging out my “normal clothes” and packing away maternity clothes. I ended up putting the fat clothes in the closet and the skinny clothes back in storage for a few more months. Hey – at least 4 weeks out I’m into the FAT CLOTHES I could still be in maternity clothes.

The cheap theater is showing Madagascar, a movie that the younger ones and I had not yet seen. We splurged and after we dropped Jamin at his pep rally the rest of us headed to the movies. I’m not sure the movie will ever be a classic but it was o.k. for the cheap theater. It did provide a cool spot for some mindless diversion.

Mike was able to get off work on time and join us for Jamin’s game tonight. We packed a picnic and headed for Water Valley. NO water in sight, BTW. Jamin’s team won 27 – 0. The game was called with 5 minutes left…due to lightening. We all noted that we’d seen no lightening. The team is really excited. They were last in their division last year….OK tied for last but they insist that they had more yards than the other team so the other team was REALLY LAST….but this year they are NUMBER ONE in their division (a division for private and small public schools). Jamin studiously ignored us in the stands as he waved last week and the coach asked him if he’d rather be sitting in the stands with us. Why I NEVER. We are all very proud of our newest little Texan who attended her first football game before she was a month old (one day before). I think that is a requirement to be a TRUE Texan…football in the blood and all.

I promptly fell asleep in the recliner while trying to get Stacia to fall asleep. Bre woke me up and took her and sent me to bed. She told me that Stacia was cooing and wide awake and I was sound asleep (think that means I was snoring?). I realize again how much different things like movies, football games, mall trips and even sleeping will be when the girls leave…they are jewels. We are all feeling more and more ready for the transition as it approaches.

Josiah and Stacia reach an “understanding”

Josiah continues to delight us with his wry sense of humor. For instance, just this past week he was heard explaining the family facts of life to Stacia.

“Yes, Stacia, these 16 years I’ve lived have been preparing me just to be your servant.”

Stacia grunted.

He then told us that he’d tried to reach an understanding with her that “it isn’t always about her – maybe it should be about me!”

She just grunted.

Josiah and Stacia make faces at each other

Awakened by Alex

In the wee hours of this morning (no later than 5 a.m.) Alex struck. He raced into the girls' room, flipped the light on, threw back Krista's covers, grabbed her, began pulling her out of bed and said, "Stacia needs bottle! Stacia needs a bottle. Hurry!!" and raced out of the room to grab a bottle. Stacia was sleeping - finally.

He's a bit protective and it's very, very charming....except to the girls blinded by the early a.m. awakening.

Crystals, Hairstyles & Packing

I suppose I should say something educational since we ARE a homeschooling family.

We’ve been doing “light” school this week and last. Knowing this was the girls’ last week home and that last week was a Holiday week, I told the younger two that we would begin “full school” on 19 Sept. The older three boys were given one week’s worth of work to finish in both weeks. Believe me, that’s an accomplishment since we’ve had doctor’s appointments in both weeks, holidays, family outings and lots of activity.

We’ve enrolled Josiah and Jamin in North Atlantic Regional High School. This is an accredited private school in Maine that will take our transcripts from AK, will monitor our work at home and will award the boys’ credits. When they graduate they will be receive an official diploma from the school district in Maine. This was important to them. We have to run our curriculum by them, track our hours, save work to send them and PAY. The only real differences between them and the charter schools in AK is that 1. We pay THEM (they don’t pay us), 2. They allow us to work year round and 3. Though we have to send MORE work – we can send it all at the end of the year and don’t have the 9 week deadline crunches. When they called they were unfamiliar with Tapestry of Grace, the curriculum we use. I explained and then sent a list of credits and a web link for them to explore. They called back today to say that TOG looks excellent and that it will be a wonderful program for us to use. We don’t have to count hours if we do the program “as written”. I need to write out exactly what we ARE doing because I’m sure I won’t be doing it as written….I told them not to expect anything from me until the end of next week. I refuse to stress this week as we play with the girls.

The younger ones have occupied themselves this week with play dough, coloring and games….lots of games. One project we’ve been working on is growing crystals. Actually, this was Krista’s project with them. Their weeks of patience have produced some great looking purple crystals.

Bre, Krista, and I went and got haircuts yesterday. I asked for her to fix the gray that was showing up in my roots. She painted it – a new procedure for me. The funny thing is that she painted the roots a “mocha” color which looks an awful lot like red to me….so now I have red roots and such, with blonde and burgundy streaks….I’m telling you I won’t know what color my hair is by the time we move. I told the girls I was going to have to come up with better instructions for her than “cover the gray”. Purple and burgundy last time, red this time….meanwhile the sun continues to bleach it all lighter and lighter. The girls got very cute hair cuts. Krista got some flip up style in the back and they smoothed it all behind her ears but I’m not sure she is going to wear it that way. (I’ll try to add a picture or two when I upload this).

The girls (BreAnne and Krista) are spending lots of time loving on the little ones. We went and bought presents to have a big birthday/farewell party for the girls on either Saturday or Sunday. Shhh…don’t tell them but we are going to have a care bear theme…which is what their nursery was decorated in oh those many years ago. It’s true what they say…wait long enough and ANYTHING will come back into vogue.

Last night was a Protestant Women of the Chapel kickoff. We had 6 present. I did a little talk, we had a potato bar and sundaes and brownies. It sure made me miss friends in AK. It was fun to get out with a few ladies. Our median age was probably 50+ so those of you from Elmendorf can guess that we are a bit more sedate than ya’ all….no kidnapping at all…. I heard of the kick off at Holloman where you all line danced…..

Alex continues to amuse (and challenge) us. He likes to tell us to “be nice to him”…..but he doesn’t seem to quite understand the reciprocal nature of these things. Today when we got home from picking Jamin up from practice, he ran to the door to open it for us. Now, Alex is an escape artist and so we have a host of locking devices on the front door. The screen door has a lock, which he’s not discovered. The door has a deadbolt and a flip like lock at the top of it. When we rang the doorbell Alex came running. “I’ll let you in” and he began to make his way through all the fortifications. The silly lock on the screen door is the one that finally stopped him. I told him to go get a big boy…and he didn’t think that was needed at all. I began to laugh and he said, “Mom – you don’t think I’m funny”. He has a real thing about others laughing at him.

The girls are STILL packing. I’m doing much better than I expected to be doing at this point. We know that this is a natural transition but I must say it is our least favorite part of parenting to date.

The rest of the day has been filled with a trip to the Oral Surgeon for Krista. Her wisdom teeth have healed fine and she is set for the trip – teeth wise. We’ve also made our weekly trip to the Post Office, I’m really thinking of buying a postal scale and printing my postage off online. We are also scoping out the costumes in all the stores at this time of the year. We don’t celebrate Halloween but the younger kids love to play dress up. We’ve noted that we are very short on BOY costumes so have already decided to frequent the costume sales this year. Nothing real exciting...but that’s our day.

FAMILY FLAG FOOTBALL

5 SEPT 2005

This Labor Day the family took to the fields….all but Stacia and myself (still on bed rest).

We are always looking for fun games that the entire family can play. We’ve found kickball, frisby baseball and flag football to fit the bill and provide exercise as well.

Below are some pictures from the day; I did hear that one of the teams was “overly competitive” and the other one may have had “skewed perspectives”.

*NOTE I'm having trouble uploaing photos so I'll post the text of a couple of entries and try to edit them to add photos on another day. There are lots of family photos to upload to this entry. They are in my journal and look great.

De’Etta’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

8 September 2005

I went to sleep with a baby in my arms and woke up shaped like a pretzel with cramps in my neck and shoulder. I stumbled into the bedroom at 5 a.m. hoping to catch a few winks and stubbed my toe on my antique hope chest. I gave up and took a shower...I hung my one pair of jeans that currently fit (my fat jeans) beside the shower, climbed in and didn't notice I'd left the curtain cracked open. Water sprayed all over my jeans and the floor. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

At breakfast I was reminded that I had to take Krista to get 4 wisdom teeth pulled. I would not be able to make Jamin's football game (and I've been on bed rest and not made any) because I needed to observe Krista's recovery. Need I say more? It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I think I'll move to Australia.

I went to get a straw for Krista to sip fluid and we were OUT of straws. I went to make Jello and we were OUT of Jello. I went to make pudding and we were OUT of pudding. I had to go to Wal-mart. I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

As I pulled away from the curb I realized I needed to get gas before the boys drove to Garden City for the football game. I passed two gas stations selling gas at 2.89 because Wal-mart's gas is ALWAYS cheaper. Wal-mart was NOT cheaper today. The line was long, and the day was hot. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I wonder what the price of gas is in Australia?

I arrived back home to discover that Krista's teeth had continued to bleed and she was now vomiting. Ugh. I hate vomit. Alex deleted the entry I was working on for the blog...all those lovely pictures GONE. At dinner time I burned the french fries.....a nice crispy charcoal state. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

I checked the prices for tickets to Australia and then I realized....it's all in your perspective. I'd not known I was having a bad day until one of the children informed me of this. Really, it had been a great day!

A friend that I'd known a couple of moves ago called...and what a treat it was to laugh together again. Email just doesn't quite fill the need on some days.

Being on modified bed rest, I was able to get up and go on an early morning walk. The stars were still out, Stacia enjoyed the stroller, it was a great time for prayer and exercise.

I've got a healthy three week old daughter. My blood pressure has stablilzed enough to allow me to be up and out of the house.

I got my china out of hawk - off of layaway and it is as pretty as I remembered. What a deal it was! I look forward to making enough friends in SA to be able to have a tea party with real CHINA by Christmas time.

I made Rice Krispy treats with Arielle and Nolan - thus becoming "mom of the year" in their eyes. They were so impressed this summer that Grandma Jan can MAKE Rice Krispy treats. I informed them that we could make them at home too....but trying to unpack etc I'd taken to buying them. You should have seen their eyes when I came home with cereal and marshmallows and told them we were going to MAKE some treats. It was even better when we got to send some to friends far away.

We were able to mail three packages to friends that are sure to bring a smile to THEIR faces.

When Bre accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, we didn't zoom into anything or anyone.

I was able to check out three current, hot of the press, latest volumes in three different cozy mystery series that I'm following.

Josiah melted my heart when he asked for Stacia and proceeded to feed, cuddle and chat with her. They've reached some interesting conclusions about life together.

The last of our school books arrived today.

We had an awesome family night tonight....

When you think of it - I don't think there is any place I'd rather be than West TX with this group of people.

It was an amazing, wonderful, awesome, very good day...and I think I'll stay right here where the Shepherd has led. (Phil 4:8; Ps 23)

Josiah’s Clean Bill of Health

Today, Sept 12, 2005, Josiah has FINALLY received a clean bill of health. He broke his wrist back in May while rough housing with his brother. This turned into quite an ordeal and we are all thrilled that he is finally completely released from the orthopedics’ care.

We celebrated by having his dinner of choice: Shepherd’s Pie, Garlic Bread, Salad, Pudding and Brownies/Cookies. Krista has taken to making homemade ice cream so we enjoyed that as well. We couldn’t find the celebration plate but will look for that before the next big shindig…..

Our Weekend in Brief

Saturday was the Parish Volunteer Appreciation/Kick off Picnic. It was a lot of fun. Krista was signed up to help with all the kids’ games, but had her wisdom teeth pulled on Thursday and so was not able to attend. Breanne and Jared went early to help set up with Mike and the rest of us followed. We had a rough start on this, Stacia’s first family outing. We ended up having to drive to our storage unit and pay for a month because they are near impossible to reach. When we got out to the lake I realized I’d packed the bottle, water, formula, Stacia’s diapers, a spare outfit…but I’d forgotten diapers for Zander. I dropped the kids off with Mike and headed back home to pick up diapers. I’d kept Stacia with me and she decided it was time to eat. I pulled up to the picnic a full hour late. They were into the “preaching” as Nolan calls it but they were really just talking about all the various volunteers from the services and the Crossroads Student Center. There was still a lot of good food left.

Stacia was a hit and made the rounds from woman to woman. The kids enjoyed the face painting and games…complete with a water fight that left no one suffering from hyperthermia….there are certainly some nice benefits to living in TX.

Sundays are always full. This one was especially full as it was the kick off of the Religious Education year. Military chapels almost always (I’ve never seen it differently) take off the summer from Sunday School. It’s always exciting to begin up again. Our program is fairly small as this isn’t a family centered base/mission….this worked out nice for our kids, who are the new kids on the block. There were two of them in each class. I’m not sure Zander is really ready for Sunday School but they take him anyway.

Mike and the kids had discovered Golden Coral during my bed rest and took me there after church. Wow. That place does a brisk business. Bre has been scoping out a set of elderly twins that come each week…..matching clothes, hair and make up…she’s very impressed.

The girls have been busy packing and organizing for their upcoming trip to Spokane. It’s been strange to watch them prepare to leave….they’ve never even been to camp (though they have gone on quite a few youth retreats) . I already shared about our shopping trip under “Ariellisms”. Today we plan to go to the storage unit and pull out the boxes that they had planned to take to Spokane. Now that they can see the size of the trunk they have to work with, they’ll have to make a few more cut backs.

Mike and I are keeping busy and trying not to think too much about the upcoming goodbyes….knowing that it is good thing but finding it to be our least favorite part of parenting to date.

Ariellisms

We’ve been busy getting Breanne and Krista ready to go off to Spokane. They’ll be entering Master’s Commission. Today the girls began pulling things out of the closet they share with Arielle and packing bags. It was inadvertent that we’d find things we still needed to buy. This led to an impromptu Wal-mart and Target run for the “older girls” (meaning all but Stacia).

We bought blow dryers, sleeping bags, luggage, shampoo, shorts, “unmentionables”, watches, cargo pants, other pants and on and on. We were looking for one piece swim suits and never found them. I found some umbrellas and said, “You know girls, it rains a lot in WA….maybe we should buy these or do you want to buy them in Spokane?” Arielle, popped up with another Ariellism. She said, “Well you know girls….it’s time to face the cold hard facts. You’re leaving home and you can buy things in WA. You need to make sure there is enough money left here for us”! :::snort::::

This was as good as a few weeks ago when she asked Jamin “Just what makes you think I want to watch another football game”…we’re working diligently on graciousness for this little one.

Let's Go Fly a Kite!!!

On our trip to TX from AK...the younger set, the girls and I spent time with my family in OR and in Seattle, WA. My cousin, Launnie (I spell his name different every time and I'm still not getting it right!!), gave the kids a kite.

Fast forward to our weeks in TLF (Temporary Lodging Facility) in TX...hot days...over 100* days....in cramped quarters....toys packed....but WAIT we have a kite! We quickly discovered that West TX is a great spot for kite flying. We always seem to have a gentle breeze and we've got lots of wide open fields to in which to play. Everyone had fun with the kite but the younger boys were really captivated. The kite is wonderful, Launnie! We are totally impressed and plan to spend many more lazy days flying a kite.

Does this make anyone else break into Mary Poppins style singing????

Below are pictures of the outing....beginnng with a critter we met for the first time in the field outside the TLF where we were flying our kite....We don't have these in Alaska!

Our first tarantula - I've been assured they are not poisionous

Sometimes an independent guy just needs Dad's hand

We can do it, Dad!

Nolan with our cool kite!

Zander's turn....

Reconnecting with Buddies!

The best thing (so far) about moving back to TX has been reconnecting with past friends. We first met Brad and Brenda through the homeschool list that I co-own. We became fast family friends during our previous tour in TX. They even opened their house for us to housesit for them when we moved to TX 6 years ago.

As "fate" would have it, Jamin's first football game was in San Antonio, the day after I came home from the hospital. I came home, got settled and then the family (minus myself, Bre and Stacia) left for San Antonio. They LOVED the chance to reconnect with dear friends.....though the younger two were not impressed with their introduction to chiggers. Alex was impressed with the pretty chickens (peacocks).

A couple of pictures....Brenda just seeing the picture of you made me smile this a.m. and I LOVE what you did in your living room.

The whole crew (ours and theirs)

At the game (notice how much Arielle - back row pink shirt- loves the game)

Brad, Brenda and family

De'Etta's Doctor Update

I entered the doc's office upbeat and chipper. There was one new nurse so Ginger, the regular nurse, was explaining that I have pre-eclampsia.

"Yes, we are aware that she's not pregnant but she got it after delivery."

I told them I was ready to have the diagnosis lifted.

They did the blood pressure reading and told me that they wanted me to sit and relax a bit....I did...they took it again....I sat some more and took some deep breaths and thought "happy thoughts".....finally on the third try it was 138/82.....they kept that one. The doc came in and said that it was much, much better but that they want it at 135/85 or lower consistently. It isn't.

This is where I began my begging, pleading and whimpering. "I cannot survive three more weeks of bed rest." "My babies are leaving for WA in two weeks...don't make me stay in bed." The upshot is that I'm on "modified" bed rest for three more weeks. I have to take the meds for at least three more weeks (they thought I'd be off of them today). If, at the end of the 6 week post-partum period, my blood pressure remains high it will no longer be considered a "pregnancy condition" and will be diagnosed as "hypertension" (is that the right word?). They will then send me back to the base to see if they want to keep me on meds or if they'll take me off.

I asked if I could begin going to the gym now and she said "absolutely not". I asked if I could begin WALKING and she said, "Wellll....o.k. but check your blood pressure readings." I'm not sure what "modified" means medically but I'm sure I can "modify" bed rest.

This is how *I* modified "bed rest" today. I started by going and making the final payment on my china. They did NOT have it wrapped and ready to go so I have to pick it up tomorrow. Since I was in the area I HAD to check out my favorite antique/thrift store - Grammy's Attic, and another antique store.....looking for a china hutch that is cheaper than the one that has caught my eye. I did find a pre-WWII Bavarian cupboard/sideboard.....for 1/3 the price of the china hutch.....Krista and I then went to lunch, the post office and finally to buy groceries at the commissary. It was so fun to be driving again!!!!!

I also went to the base to get my meds filled. They said they didn't have the med that the doc prescribed but they could give me another one that was "just as good". The more I thought about it they more it didn't sound right. I told them I'd like them to call my doc. They couldn't get her right away (she was at the hospital) so I told them that I'd take it to the clinic's pharmacy tomorrow rather than get their new and improved medicine. By the time I reached home my docs office had called twice...and the phone was ringing. I am absolutely NOT to switch meds. The one she prescribed is a time release and it is a better drug than the one the base wanted to substitute. We are lucky that we CAN get our meds at other pharmacies and just pay a $3 co-pay. I should have just got it there this a.m.

That's my big day so far. I still plan to feed Stacia, make Rice Krispy treats with Arielle, cook dinner MYSELF, go for a walk to see the deer, and then see what the evening holds.

Thus I "modify"....

MY BABY

 Whatever happened???? WHEN did he become a high school student??



Football update: Jamin is playing with TLC Academy this year. We've discovered football is a serious business down here. I've not been able to go to any games as I've been busy having a baby and being on bed rest....but Mike and the family have faithfully attended.

So far the Eagles have played two games. They won the first one 51- 24 and the second game 91-54. Jamin has been the kicker and has stopped several touch downs. So far he has not been seriously injured and I keep praying that he survives the season. I don't make a good Texas Football Mom.

Alexander's Charming Way

I know that Alex (Zander) has found a special place in many's hearts and so I'll share the answer to the question that all keep asking me "how is Alex handling a new baby"?

Alex is smitten: pure and simple. This little girl has wrapped her big brother around her finger and it took less than a day to accomplish.

Alex's big deal lately is NAMES. One day he told us all "I'm not Alex". "I'm Zander". That lasted a few days. I think he was tired of hearing "Alllllleeeexxx" and thought being Zander would take care of the problem. He discovered that "ZZZZAAAAANNNNDDDERRR" had the same results as "ALEXXXX". Then he began to tell us he was not Alex or Zander "I am ALEXANDER".....we never know who the little guy is. This fascination with names has carried over into reading - where he stops us to point to characters and ask us their name; into every day life where he finally calls Breanne BREANNE instead of Krista;and he's even corrected us. In a silly moment I called Mike a "stud muffin" and Alex looked alarmed and quickly said, "Mom - that's not a Stewed Muffin - that's MIKE". :::snort:::


Alex's new love is computer games. He plays them by the hours. We have to watch his time as he gets to involved. We have no idea HOW but he will get up in the a.m, boot up the computer, ENTER THE PASSWORD, insert the cabella hunting game and go bear or moose hunting. It would appear that this love of hunting is warring with his responsibility and love of Stacia. He is very attentive. Runs when she peeps and lets us know that WE need to run as well. I was watching one day when Stacia began to whimper....yep...here came our streak of energy....direct from hunting bears....he ran up to Stacia, got down in her face and said, "Sorry STECIA.....I'm BIZZZY".

We still haven't convinced him that he needs to be potty trained...but it will come.

STACIA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY

The kids made a ladybug cake...never knowing Rose would call Staica "ladybug" immediately after her birth...a nickname in the making....
Who would have guessed Jared would one day be our "middle child"?
Jamin & Stacia
Josiah notices she's a bit more wobbly than a football.

Cool cars - how did she know?

It's our family tradition to welcome each new baby with a birthday party at the hospital. The kids spend the day while I'm in labor baking a cake and such. They then bring the cake, the sparkling cider and THEMSELVES to meet the new baby and celebrate the very first birthday. We are create quite a stir but we've never had a nurse complain. The kids are always so cute filing cautiously into the room....we sing happy birthday, we enjoy the juice and cake, the kids meet the new little one and THEN....our babies are so very smart!!!! They always have the perfect gift to give each of their older siblings at the party.

Above are pictures from Stacia's birthday party! She gave the girls silver picture frames to fill with a picture of her and take with them. She gave Josiah and Jamin gift cards to the movie theater; Jared a computer game where he gets to create an amusement park and then watch how much money he can make; Arielle received a REAL silver charm bracelet complete with BIG SISTER charm; and Nolan and Alex each got a radio control car. She also gave us a family gift of a movie night to watch Narnia when it comes out. What a very thoughtful girl. Oh yes.....and a very special gift for Mike and I but I'll share that along with pictures in the next day or so.

STACIA'S FIRST TWO WEEKS AT HOME

Mike with the younger set

3 days old



Alex, Arielle & Nolan watch over Stacia

Krista combines her two favorite pastimes....reading a Nero Wolfe mystery and holding Stacia.

I KNOW you hear this all the time but Stacia has been smiling since minutes after she was born....here she is at 2 weeks. They are hard to catch.

I'm not so sure about THIS!!!!

Shew - survived the dreaded bath

Arielle LOVES to be a big sister (Stacia - 2 1/2 wks)

Stacia's Birth Story

There are many things I could begin with...photos of our move, stories of moving in a new home, deer sightings, trips to visit friends and more....but many are asking for pictures and details of Anastacia's birth...so here you go....

The picture to the left....though not great...will give you the low down...16 August at 5 a.m. and I'm very ready to have a baby. We head to the hospital. Shortly after 6 a.m. they begin an iv of pitocin. Dr. Adams was due in to break my water at 9 a.m. She came in and was told they were ready to give me an Epidural and so she went across the street to her practice and I got an Epidural. This prolonged labor by many hours as she was not able to get back to the hospital until shortly after noon to break my water. Of course, who cares if labor is prolonged when you have an Epidural. After 7 au natural labors Mike and I spent the hours laughing, chatting, catching up on chapel news and discussing how strange it was not to be breathing, giving back rubs etc. Dr. Adams came back at 12:15 to break my water. She apologized for the wait but said she wanted to be sure I had the Epidural as she was convinced that when they broke my water things would go fast. They did. At one point Rose, the labor nurse, decided to do a check or some such thing and I heard her say something that sounded alarmingly like a curse. She said, "Your complete" and went to get Dr. Adams back to the room. By the time Dr. Adams arrived the contraction was over and evidently Stacia had moved back up the birth canal. Dr. Adams said (in a voice that made clear she expected this to take a bit longer), "well why don't you go ahead and push through the next contraction and we'll see what happens".

The next contraction began, I pushed, Dr. Adams said "Oh my," as Mike and Rose began to laugh. I asked if I'd done something wrong and was told that I'd delivered a baby girl. One push and Stacia was born....if we do this again it may take a hiccup!

Stacia - minutes after birth

It didn't take long to see that Stacia doesn't have Downs and has a "perfectly, beautiful" heart. She'll have a renal ultrasound in a month to be "completely sure" her kidneys are fine. A highlight of this birth experience is that Krista spent both nights in the hospital with Stacia and I. I was a bit nervous about the cockroaches I saw in the shower....and they do all rooming in and I was a bit tipsy that first night. The second night we just watched chick flicks and ate chocolate. Ah girls night out.

I have tons of pictures to add here but I can't seem to get them to work right with the text. I think I'll go try another one with just photos....oy vey!

Testing....Testing

This Labor Day we aren't doing a lot of typical family fun things....hopefully this is the last day of my bed rest and we can enjoy the rest of the "summer". There is talk of Mike and the kids going to the lake or finishing the big flag football game that they began last night. Stacia and I will stay home and enjoy reading the latest "Hannah Swenson" mystery....at least bed rest has been good for catching up on reading.

I'll probably come back on and play with this while they are gone....try to get some recent pictures of Stacia up and out.

The picture to the right is of our family in front of Mt Denali - obviously, not this Labor Day. Though TX is wonderful, we've not seen this type of scenry down here yet.