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"....