Nolan's New Look

We have no clue what motivated the change...but this afternoon Nolan shaved his beard off. If you've not seen a recent photo check the last photo of yesterday's blog post.

 

Just like that he looks 16 again. 

 

He's still helpful way beyond his years!

 

The other happenings of the day include chapel. We were so happy to see Angel and Jeremy. Angel was at our very first assignment, Malmstrom AFB,  as a 5 - 7 year old girl. She is now here with her husband and baby. Full circle. 

 

We grabbed lunch at Panda Express.

 

We have a HUGE box of water bottles we wanted to recycle. They would only let us turn 50 in at a time. We'll just be taking 50 at a time over - it's mad money for our trailer repairs.

 

Arielle seems to be feeling a bit better this afternoon. She can still barely open her mouth.

 

We took some measurements on the trailer (Caboose) and took it back to the storage lot.

 

That's about it.....the highlight of the day is certainly Nolan's new look - and the Gin Rummy the others are playing. 

Minimalizing (Yes, it's a word - I checked.)

Fridge on the market

While we readily admit there are many details up in the air at this point in our saga, one thing is sure, we will be moving out of our home in 5 - 6 weeks.

We are going through our house with an eye to 1. donate or give to the kids, 2. store or 3. take into
the trailer.  The Store/Give decisions are a bit tricky. We want some basics when/if  we decide to settle down somewhere in America. That could be in a  year or two or 10 - 15 years down the road. It will depend on if we end up being able to go to Japan. Obviously - storing a couch for 15 years is hardly worth it. Storing sentimental things for 15 years is necessary.  If we are not allowed to go overseas and need to set up a home in a year or so - we'll want to have basic furniture. We are keeping more than we originally thought to keep. Our goal is  "basic furniture to outfit a home." In order to be good stewards, we'll also keep "expensive tools" of housekeeping. I think Michael will be keeping way more "expensive tools" than I am, but I have the same option.   It sort of looks like this - we'll keep one couch and get rid of the other couch, the futon and the two recliners.  We won't keep major appliances. We'll get rid of plates, mixing bowls and baking sheets (taking our favorite essentials to the trailer), but we'll keep the Bosch mixer and the grain grinder.

We aren't going to have a garage sale. We love to bless people as we move and God has always taken care of us in a new location. I've created a  photo album of things for elder Gherkins to decide if they want. I may open it up in a bit to anyone local who wants to come get things. What friends don't take - we'll donate. We'll probably figure out how to post a few big items if no one wants them.

 

We spent the day continuing on in the process  the kids and I had started earlier.  Do games MULITIPLY in anyone else's home? We got rid of a LOT of games when we left TX for Japan. We did the same when we left Japan.  The huge box above (the perspective is off) are games the kids decided we could donate.  Below are two more boxes of "educational games" looking for new homes.

You would be wrong to assume these actions make our children game deprived.  Oh.so.wrong.


Games the kids would like in the trailer

Games Arielle is taking to college

 WHAT? Another stash of games. Nolan's games - um not sure what the plan is with these. I've heard  some will be stored with Arielle with the understanding he gets them back when he leaves home/trailer.  He may line his bed with games and put a mattress on top. ::snort::

We all went through our closets. Our first goal was to remove things which don't fit, are stained or not worn. We will have to do another pass through to decide which 7 - 10 outfits make it into the trailer and I would guess 98% of the rest will be donated.

At some point in the day I got a bit miffed at a popular Christian author who teaches about getting rid of excess and minimalizing - while living in a big house. This minimalizing is HARD if you take it seriously. LOL  I have no clue how I'll decide which pair or two will go into the trailer.

 

I nearly cried when I opened a closet and found this....the old SLR....and rolls of undeveloped film. Which reminded me I have tubs and tubs of photos to scrapbook.....ACK I also found four camera bags and a Nikon D70....decisions ahead.

 

I found THESE  - which reminded me I've not made up monthly staff baskets for a year. ::blush:: I've decided they'll make great retirement ceremony decorations.

It would appear "spouse B" purchased this while "spouse A" was in Afghanistan. It WAS the highlight of my day when sand from Momoishi beach fell on my toes.  Once Michael realized it's UV shade for the beach and we loved it and bought it in Japan - he decided it needed to go into the trailer and could be useful at the beach here.

 

We put this up to make sure all the pieces are there - two room tent.....It will find a new home with one of the Gherkins - or maybe someone local would like it. We have another 3 room tent which folds into a smaller package for the trailer.

 

 

People kept finding Applebee cards. ::snort:: That and about 50 Starbuck cards.  Arielle wasn't feeling well and stayed home. The rest of us went out for dinner.  $4  dinner. SCORE!

 

Michael will start leave on Wed. We were scheduled to fly to Japan. Instead, we'll work heartily.  The kids and I need to tackle the homeschool room - I'm at a loss!!!!!

 

I also have a couple of projects that will make storage easier. 1. I want to make a t-shirt quilt with favorites t-shirts, and  2. Get all those photos into an album somehow. I'm fully digital now but don't want to lose these....or I may just put the boxes in storage and work on it when I'm 70 or 80 and life has maybe slowed down.

 

As so many of you commented (on FB) how you appreciated specific prayer requests - here are a few more.

 

Praise:

• Michael was able to talk with Mr. Sacramento on base. Turns out he isn't a VSO, but was a wealth of info.
• Michael also talked to the VSO at Travis AFB. Both recommend he wait and submit his claim on the day after his retirement is official (you usually do this 4 - 6 months early) so that any late breaking diagnosis can be entered in the original claim.
• Michael was given a referral to a Movement Disorder Specialist
• We're getting things done

Prayer Requests:

• Continuing search for answers for Michael's health issues
• Michael as he works through his records preparing to submit a VA claim
• Details for the retirement ceremony
• DECISIONS - basically we've discovered our trailer needs a lot of repair and we think it may be beyond us - but maybe not. 
• Best use of the upcoming two weeks of leave time for Michael
• Josiah is moving to WA Sunday/tomorrow
• Arielle will be moving to OR "soon"  - continued healing of her jaw from this week's wisdom teeth removal

Chocolate Crazy Cake

(No Eggs, Milk, Butter, Mixers or Bowls)

Notes: Grams used to call this Depression cake as she made it often during the depression. I thought of this recipe when thinking of easy things for RV cooking. Stacia made three of these to give away with dinners tomorrow. I found this version at Sweet Little Bluebird. She has various flavors and mug versions listed as well. Some versions call for a Tablespoon rather than a teaspoon of vinegar but the tsp worked just fine.

I was preoccupied and this is the only photo I took. LOL

Ingredients
1 1/2 Cups flour (can use GF)

3 Tbsp. cocoa (unsweetened)
1 Cup sugar (I use Rapadura)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp.  salt

1 tsp. white vinegar
1 tsp.  pure vanilla extract
5 Tbsp. vegetable oil 
1 Cup water 

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix first 5 dry ingredients in a greased 8" square baking pan. (Double for 9x13)

Make 3 depressions in dry ingredients - two small, one larger Pour vinegar in one depression, vanilla in the other and the vegetable oil in third larger depression.

Pour water over all. 

Mix well until smooth.

Bake on middle rack of oven for 30 minutes.  Check with toothpick to make sure it comes out clean.

Cool.  Top with your favorite frosting or sprinkle with Powdered Sugar.

 

Referrals and Marathons

We got a referral in the system today for Michael to see a Neurologist who specializes in "movement disorders."  We do NOT want him diagnosed with Parkinson's Disorder, but given a few oddities with our current neurologist, we've lost confidence in him. We would like ideas on what IS going on.  They are looking for one at UC Davis or Sacramento....so we shall see. It will be a while.

Michael had an appointment with a man who works in the VA. This is going to take a long time. Everyone has told us to rush on the claim, but the man today said NOT to turn it in until 1 Nov (day after Michael's official retirement date) so that EVERYTHING from active duty is in the claim.  This makes sense - just means we'll be in the area longer than we wanted to be. I wanted to be in Vermont in the fall. We will touch base with a VSO at Travis to be sure we've covered our bases.

I walked by the Japanese food in the commissary and teared  up. It's apparent  I'm sad about not being in Japan in July or in the near future.

In other news  Arielle and Yuuki slept. The girls and I watched a "Princess Diaries" marathon.

Stacia made three Crazy Cakes (Depression Cakes)....one for us and two for meals we're delivering tomorrow.

I helped by dumping flour all over the flour - I have the touch these days.

I continue to research states to decide which one we want to establish as our legal domicile. We think we've narrowed it to three - possibly two. LOL

Update on Michael

While Arielle and I had our adventure at the oral surgeon - Michael was in another town seeing the neurologist.

You may remember two weeks ago he told us Michael does NOT have Parkinson's. He ran a bunch of labs for toxic metals, thyroid, vitamin deficiencies and ordered an MRI on  Michael's brain.  All came back normal. Praise God - and yet - Michael is still stumbling into things and off balance. He would never pass a test if stopped by the highway patrol.

Two weeks ago the neurologist was determined the shaking and loss of balance was "atypical essential tremors." This does not run in Michael's family. He started him on a med and told him, "If it is essential tremors this will alleviate the symptoms by the next time I see you."

It hasn't. He said, "We just need to up the dosage."

Meanwhile, we found out Michael's father was diagnosed with Parkinson's by one neurologist - they chose to ignore the diagnosis. Michael's dad struggled with loss of balance...but Parkinson's isn't thought to be genetic.

We're clueless. We see the base doctor again tomorrow and will discuss all this. We would like a second opinion to feel more settled. We'd like a neurologist to have ideas of what the problem could be rather than simply clinging to an "atypical" diagnosis - even while the drugs aren't working.  Our research seems to show  many docs would have started him on Levodopo (Parkinson's drug) to see if he responded to THAT drug - but this doc is 100% in favor of the DAT SCAN as the definitive tool for diagnosing.

To be clear - we are fine saying it's not Parkinson's. We'd just hope for a doctor who would have a clue as to what it may be.

Prayer Requests:

• Michael has been unable to make contact with the VSO on base. This is the agent who walks a claim through the VA system. This should have begun months ago; was delayed due to outstanding referrals and now we simply can't reach this man and have tried for 3 weeks....in a variety of ways.
• We've decided it will be a better bet to drive to Travis AFB; rather than  keep waiting on this office. 
• MANY details need to be put in place for the retirement ceremony.
• Arielle needs to be moved.
• We still have quite a few decisions hanging in the balance right now - prayers for clear direction are always appreciated.
• Yes - we crave answers as to why Michael walks like a drunk.

Arielle's Big Day

I have never had my wisdom teeth removed.

Everything is better with Winnie

I have taken 5 older Gherkins to have their wisdom teeth removed. They all were groggy and slept the rest of the day.  Silent. Arielle is ALWAYS silent- and her love language is "not touch."  Imagine my surprise at today's developments.

They called me back while she was in recovery because she was demanding they "Get my mommy!"  She was in tears...not a few....a lot.  She was clinging like she did as a preschooler, holding my hand and sobbing, "Mommy, mommy." She was SURE they had taken ALL her teeth. She was sure they had taken her tongue. I'm very impressed with this doctor. This is the first time I was sent home with LOTS of  "post op" stuff....gloves, gauze, ice packs and such. It is also the first time they demonstrated how to change the gauze.

In any event....Arielle was getting more and more agitated with THEM. She was talking NON-STOP - which is not Arielle. She let them all know she loves her Mommy and Daddy too and she did NOT want to move away from us. This was quite moving and assuring to hear as she's quite ready and confident that it's time to move out.

On the way home, amongst all the tears and talk about missing tongues, she decided we were in an airplane. ON A BRIDGE she said, "O.K. Daddy, let's jump!" I told her no. Calm down. She kept it up and kept trying to grab the steering wheel. "Be fun with us Mommy." Ye gads.

She was sure I was crashing when I went over the little lip into our driveway.

She's quite perturbed about them taking ALL her teeth. "It's gross," and that bothers her. She's upset  they gave her an UGLY band-aide on her "owie" and insists she needs pink. I found some Hello Kitty band-aide and we are fine.  She was quite worried the evil mafia who took all her teeth had taken Winnie the Pooh too - I eased that fear.

She keeps holding my hand and saying such sweet nothings - reminds me of her pre-school self. "I love you mommy. I love everyone, but you're the best," and "You're beautiful mommy."  It's making me cry as I know getting her teeth removed today means in a week she is "cleared" to leave home.

This is like a bad drug trip and caught me by surprise. She is quite funny.   I'm glad we insisted she do this before she moved to Eugene.

Stacia is full of quips  - "I'd say they took her WISDOM teeth." I reminded her she is scheduled to have a tooth pulled in a week and should be careful about what she says. I'm so glad they called Arielle in early and they aren't both in pain at the same time.

Prayers for an easy recovery appreciated.

Note  - Arielle is now about 90% back to normal. She approved this post.  She would appreciate prayers - it hurts.

We Met Eliana

 We were heading out to M&M when we realized, in the bustle of getting kids yesterday, we forgot the CARSEATS.  ::grin::

Not to worry, Arielle and Zander stayed home with all the kids here....and Nolan and Stacia came to help with kids at M&Ms.  Arielle has learned how to use the camera....couldn't figure out WHY my battery was dead this evening..... ::snort::

At M&Ms we discussed situations which are likely to make us impatient and how to walk out the patience and kindness God shows us in our homes.

We clearly do not have experience dealing with curly hair.  Postpartum emotions being what they are, I was very relieved when Rachel and Matt laughed instead of cried when they saw her tonight.

While we took care of business on base, the kids at home made cards (oops forgot to give them to Matt and Rachel when they came).....

Joy

 

Played Games

Zack

 

I see you Seth!

Seth

 

Bubbles - reminds me this needs to find a new home. LOL

Nathan

We spent the afternoon with a bit of a rest time, more games, dinner and waiting.....until finally....they MADE IT.

All afternoon Joy kept asking me, "Is Eliana OUT now?" I assured her she really and truly was.



The moment finally arrived.

Hey Sweet Girl, get used to it - big sister LOVES you!!!

SCORE - I got to hold Eliana before Michael, he who is KNOWN for stalking newborns at the chapel.

I unintentionally alarmed joy when Rachel gave Eliana to me.

"She's OURS."

 I shot back, "I think I'll keep her."

 "No! She's MINE." ::snort::

And that she is....the start of a wonderful sister relationship, I'm sure of it.

Michael and I, being advanced in this parenting thing, couldn't help think of Bre and Krista....when we brought Krista home....ah such fun memories. Exhausting  - but fun.....and the kids had fun thinking back to when Stacia was born....

Note there is no doubt Michael would have been in these photos but he had to leave about 15 minutes before they arrived to spend the night at a sleep clinic.