A Couple of Warm Days

This winter has done it's best to be kind to us this year and given us a few breaks of warm weather. To me it is just a tease and I wish it would just stay, but it comes just to melt the snow and within a day or two more cold and snow arrives. Yesterday was in the 70's, crazy warm around here. I decided I just had to take the kids to the zoo and take advantage of the weather. We went after Avalyn's Mother's Day Out was over at 2:30. The weather was perfect and there weren't any crowds. I wish Cambria had been excited about it, she wasn't too happy and very fussy. I think she just needed to poop- all my kids have always waited to poop when they got home (for some crazy reason). Not pooping in your diaper in public isn't a bad thing, unless you are fussy and for several hours she was fussy. After 15 fussy min. in the car on the way home she finally just went and was happy the rest of the night. Oh well, at least the other 2 were happy and enjoyed there time at the zoo (sorry they weren't in the mood for pictures, I tried). It was a nice break and I can't wait till spring arrives to stay!

Just make it a few hours, it is the zoo and you love playing with spoons.

A moment of happiness with mommy

The hit of the day- the Orangutans! The baby was quite fond of the kids and was following and playing with them, swinging and making faces and trying to touch them.

A good time at the zoo!

MARCH 18!

Okay, so it took some tears and permission from the Dr. in radiology on base, but I will be having the ultrasound to find out the sex of baby #4 on March 18. I was so excited after my OB appointment today when she told me I could have my ultrasound at 18 weeks. The reason I was so excited is that my sisters and mom will be here the week I am 18 weeks. I really didn't want to go in there alone and they will not let me take Gavin without someone to watch him. They are picky on base on how they do ultrasounds- I wish I could just do it at my OB (who is non military), but insurance likes to send us to base for it (it is hard to argue with free health care). My excitement soon diminished after I got to the base hospital to make the appointment. The lady helping me didn't seem to care about the date, but the lady next to her would not stop saying I had to wait till 20 weeks and kept saying no earlier than April 3. I tried to hold back and kept moving around to not show my frustration, but I finally just said my husband is gone, I didn't want to do it alone, my family would only be around for a few weeks, and my OB said 18 weeks was fine. They got quiet (when they saw me crying) and the lady helping my said she could ask the radiologist and he said it was fine. They said I might have to come back if they can't tell, but I am not too worried about that- we saw Cambria and knew she was a girl at 17 weeks. So I am relieved and happy to see our little one in just 2 weeks- and not having to find more people to watch my kids (I feel like it is never ending- I am so thankful to all my friends who have helped me since Kyle's been gone, you can all sit out on the 18th!).

I am nervous and could use some prayer for this ultrasound. It all seems so shallow, but Gavin really wants a brother. Kyle and I just want a healthy baby and are totally expecting another girl. We have been trying to prepare Gavin in every way and we know in the end he will be just fine, he loves his sisters and is sure to love another. I will probably have a hard time, knowing I will not be able to give him something he wants so much. There will probably be tears and I am just praying for a peace for Gavin and I. Of course pray for the health of the baby and that the baby has developed enough for us to see the sex of the baby.

Thanks for all your prayers. I look forward to sharing the news with all of you!!!

A good Week

Best Friends!

The most difficult child to photograph, but I keep trying- someday she will smile when we try to get her to (maybe her new glasses will help)

The only one I got with all 3

Last week was a good week. I felt like a lot was done and the kids are still doing well.

My car was fixed by Fri.- I was so happy to get rid of the rental car, too small and reeked of smoke. My car looks great and they cleaned all of it, including vacuuming the inside (this probably hasn't been done in a year.

Our shower door was fixed- no more leaking! Grout re-done and know onto the mold and ruined trim (the contractor came today and said he should be done by Thur.). It is so nice to be able to shower in the master bath.

Somehow I fixed the garage door. I have no clue how, I pulled the rope, opened and closed it and the next day when I pushed the button it opened! Just in time for 6 in. of snow to fall!

Tax refund in the bank= credit card payed off! Yea!!!

What More...

Of course when Kyle leaves so many things seem to just happen at the same time. What more could go wrong...

1. My car is in the shop for body work (Kyle was hit in a parking lot on the day he left)

2. The other car has no tail light and stuck in the drive way. (Kyle was rear ended a week before he left)

3. The rental car isn't big enough for the 3 car seats I use and that is all insurance will cover (hoping one of our smaller car seats will work for Avalyn)

4. Living life around contractors schedules- fixing our shower and the mold damage from all the leaking

5. Still no pack-n-play- Avalyn needs a nap

6. Can't find my cell phone- Kyle's doesn't work

7. I broke the automatic garage door and have no clue how to fix it- I miss being able to put the kids in the car without going outside)

8. Still so cold outside

On a good note...

1. Insurance is covering all the damage and it should be fixed by Fri.!

2. Kyle is going to fix the tail light when he returns and the $ we got from the damage paid of our other car- yea for no car payments!

3. I am sure I can make it work- Avalyn might even be able to sit in Gavin booster seat with the back on, if his new booster seat comes in the mail soon- not to mention help from my wonderful friend taking Gavin to school today!

4. I will hopefully be able to take a shower without going upstairs to the kids bathroom- we haven't used ours in 8 months! No more Mold!!!

5. Pack-n-play should be here today or tomorrow!!!

6. Surely I will find my cell phone, I had it this morning- the car place just called and I left it in my car! God is good!

7. Oh well, who needs a automatic garage door- I didn't have one growing up and at least there isn't snow right now

8. There is sun, no snow and what's 20 degrees when there isn't too much wind

And most importantly we are healthy, safe, managing thanks to all our wonderful friends and God is watching over us and keeping Kyle safe. I even get a night out with the girls tonight thanks to a friend who is coming over to put the kids to bed so I can go buy milk and eat with some church friends.

Yes, I cut all his hair off again. I am not good at triming and what 4 year old boy wants to have his hair done so it doesn't look like a mess- so it's gone.

Gavin doing math on his Star Wars leapster! His favorite toy and he is actually pretty good at adding and subtracting because of it, now if he could work on his coloring (not his favorite thing to do).

Our new gate to the basement! Yea! for a door- Gavin can open it and I don't have to keep moving the other one so the kids can play in the basement.

Avalyn wearing one of Daddy's uniform sashes (I don't know what they are called) in her hair.

Avalyn just had to play outside, so I said sure despite the fact it may have been 30 degrees out. She didn't last long, but at least she got some fresh air.

Doing Well

Things are going pretty well around here. I haven't taken too many pictures, but will try to get to that. So far we have adjusted well, but I don't think reality has really hit. It has been a while since he's been gone (longer than 5 weeks) so I think it will take a little bit longer for it to hit us- probably a good thing. I have been so thankful for all the support I have felt here in Omaha. I continue to feel better, there are still times when I don't feel so well and watch out if I haven't had enough sleep (I am either out of it or moody).

The kids have been great. It is such a hard thing for Avalyn to understand, but I think Gavin has a decent idea. Of course there are always those off the wall comments- such as Avalyn comment that "Daddy was with Barack Obama" and of course to her Daddy is always on an airplane when he is gone (not worth arguing about, so we usually just say sure) and the sad comments that just breaks your heart like when Gavin said today that he forgot to ask Daddy to stay, because if he had Daddy might have not gone.

The room sharing is still a little bumpy, but thankfully Avalyn continues to sleep right through most of the random moments of screaming at night. I have discovered that if Cambria gets her 2 naps, she is sleeping better at night- I thought for a while she might be trying to go to 1 nap. The new pack-n-play is on order, thanks to Albeebaby.com I got a great deal on a Graco (not crazy about the color, but couldn't beat the price). I am ready for it to be here so Cambria can go back to napping in the closet and Avalyn can have her nap back (she needs it). I am still going to keep them together at night and hopefully by the time baby #4 is sleeping in our closet Avalyn will be done with naps.

We are happy and doing well! Thanks for all your love and support and of course prayer!

Feeling better

I am glad to report that around 5pm today my cramps started to go away. My stomach was so tight and since 9:30 am yesterday (even through the night) the pain didn't go away. The Tylenol started to help this afternoon and thanks to my great kids I was able to rest. Thanks for all your calls and willingness to help, despite the 7"of snow falling. It meant a lot to know I have support around me. Now, if Cambria would just sleep- I don't know what is wrong, but I will have to get out and buy a new pack-n-play so she can go back in our closet for a little while longer. I better go get her, she probably has a dirty diaper and poor Avalyn has now begun to sleep with the blanket over her head. Thanks for all your prayers! Kyle did call earlier and he is there, the phone didn't work for long so hopefully he will be able to call again tomorrow! Happy Valentines Day Everyone. We Love you all!!!

He's Gone, Please pray...

Daddy left today. So sad, but what's 120 days. It was a long day, but reality hasn't hit the kids so not too bad. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about these next 4 and a half months, but what good is worrying. I know God is taking care of all of us and we will make it through this time apart. God has blessed us with some nice weather the past few days, but of course the day after Kyle leaves we are supposed to get 7" of snow. So the fun begins and life as a "single" mommy starts again.

I know it looks like Avalyn was screaming, but she was actually jumping up and down and laughing. Oh well, at least I remembered to take a picture right before he had to leave.

I am not feeling so well. The last few days have been particularly bad and today I had painful cramps all day. This hasn't been the easiest pregnancy and I am just praying that I begin feeling better soon. I am 13 weeks along and I am still feeling tired, quessy (all day), crampy, and migraines on occasion. Please pray for the health of this little baby and for me as I am trying to take care of all my babies.