Sickness

When they tell you a child will be sick for the first year they're in daycare- they aren't exaggerating. And don't you just love snooty comments from stay at home moms like "that's why my child isn't in daycare." No it's not. It's because you don't have a job. And one day your child will go to school where they will be constantly sick for the first year and miss out on valuable education time whereas my child will not only be advanced from being in "school" his whole life but he will also have a strong immune system. So there! Bah. People should keep their comments to themselves unless asked for them.

Roman has had this awful cough the last few nights. Saturday it started as a throat tickle cough. Sunday at nap time it progressed to rough cough. Sunday night he was coughing so hard he was gagging and turning colors and screaming in between which didn't help with the whole breathing thing. I tried 2 different german cough syrups (all natural) and a german balm safe for kids and then said screw it and used Vicks even though it's not recommended for kids under 2. I also gave him a dose of tylenol because there's no WAY his throat didn't hurt after all that hacking. He still coughed for about an hour after all this but finally we got some sleep. But not good sleep. I woke him up the next AM and he was NOT happy with me and tried to roll over and go back to sleep as I changed him. He's never done that! He had a very cranky day at school and home.

That night (which was last night) he did much better since we started right off with the cough syrup and vicks. Oh and he has a humidifier and his bed is propped up! Coughing didn't start until 5am. I gave him so meds and more vicks but he still coughed until I woke him up at 6:30. And me? Yeah I never got back to sleep. Blegh!

Even with the lack of sleep my kids at school have been awesome. Mostly. They're anxious, like we all are, but still sweet. I received an apology letter from a girl who had a rough day yesterday, a picture from another girl, and a note from a boy saying I was the best teacher in the world and he liked me. :-) Kids rock.

Read more »

Smartest Kid Award goes to...

Roman is 15months and 3 weeks old and he can now sort the colored shapes into his sorting ball!!! He received this white ball with the cut out shapes and plastic shapes to fit in them for his birthday. The ball is "self checking" because the color of the plastic shape matches the color outline of the shape cut out in the ball. Does that make sense?! Anyways it just shows that Roman can recognize colors and similarities in things which (not bragging or anything) is an 18 month milestone! ;-) My kid's awesome. I know this. He also can say nose and point to it (or mine) and now he grabs his belly when you ask him. Gah he's just so darn cute!

Read more »

Sadness

I love that I have the first 6 months or so of Roman's life documented so well and then nada.Well one quickie 8mo post. Seriously?! I realize how much I LOVE reading my older posts so I WILL get better. I love to write so why don't I more often?? Maybe it's because lately (well since I was pregnant actually) I have struggled with severe fatigue. My dad claims I'm just lazy but nope not the case. I YEARN to do things and cry because I'm just too stinking tired too. Then when bruising and joint pains became an issue I had some bloodwork done and basically I'm not anemic nor do I have luekemia (THANK GOD!) but I may be in the early stages of arthritis or lupus. They will repeat the tests in 3 months to know more. In the mean time I'm just supposed to caffinate up? Jen asked if working out gives me more energy and maybe it would if I stuck with it but after a week I am then physically exhausted and not just mentally.

I can finally say with confidence that my mental health is back to normal. Thanks to counseling and medication this Mama is no longer struggling with depression! I will be on medicine the rest of my life since depression is a recurring thing with me but I don't care. I get mad at myself when I think about the first few months of Roman's life and how I wasted time being miserable when I should have just gotten help.

Roman, oh Roman. He is not 15.5 months old and already hitting terrible twos! Maybe that means he'll grow out of it faster-ha! He's about 26lbs (probably more now) and I don't know how tall. He is very smart and pretty vocal- even if I'm the only one that truly understands that "shish" means "fish." He LOVES books which makes this Mama EXCSTATIC!!! He has even memorized his favorite book ("oos" by David Shannon) and can "read" it to himself in his crib. How crazy is that?! Some other words he can say (I just "tested" him last night with his flashcards!):
mama
dada
dog
woof woof
milk (nik)
fish (shish)
apple
banana (nana)
tractor
car
vroom vroom
choo choo
*snorts* for pig
shoes
bye bye
MUAH and blows a kiss
ball
mooo for cow
teef (teef teef! when he wants to brush them)
night night (ni ni- this also means pacifier)
more (mo)
please (pees)
thank you (tank chu)
uh oh
*puts hands on head* for oh no
*holds hands out palms up* for what happened?
no no
eat
nose
baby (buhbuh)
up
down
oo-oo-aa-aa (monkey sound!)

I think that's it... We are so proud of him!

Matt is still in Afghanistan but we can say he'll be home before presents! His deployment was shortened PTL! He's had a rough time with this deployment. I hope we transition back to normal fairly easy.

We're headed to London for a few days over Christmas break!! We're traveling with Matt's friend/bunk mate and his family who I've never met but feel like I know thanks to Facebook!

School has been 100% better this year. It still has it's kinks but a) having a curriculum makes ALL the difference and b) I know (mostly) what works! Currently I'm on day 2 of parent conferences. They've all gone very well! I have one more left...Here we go!

Read more »

Happy 8mo Roman!!

Roman "crawled" (more like belly flopped/scooted) for the first time today- on his 8month birthday! Just after getting off the phone with Daddy (who's in Afghanistan) and telling him "Nope no crawlin yet!" Lil booger.

Read more »

Had to share

I know I haven't finished updating but still had to share these (especially for my wonderful "Sister" who is expecting)! :-)

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Read more »

Berlin Trip

Well to say that this was not the best vacation would be an understatement. We decided to do 2 nights and 3 days in Berlin over Matt's block leave then go to Ramstein for another 2 days. We wanted to do so many things! Walk along the wall, visit Checkpoint Charlie, the parliament building, the zoo and aquarium, etc etc etc. Well we did two of those things. Why? Because the entire trip Roman was sick. Sick with what we don't know but he just felt crappy. As in screaming every hour of the night then crying any moment you weren't moving with him during the day. Not eating any baby food (but still drinking thank goodness). He would vomit when you tried to feed him. We were so exhausted from our horrible nights that we ended up taking naps all morning long and not leaving our hotel til early afternoon! The first day we did make it to Hard Rock for dinner and the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium. Both are fabulous but not so much in the dead of winter. But it was cool how close you got to the animals! Roman snoozed in his stroller through most of it (until we had to eat lunch and then of course he screamed because we weren't moving). That night we were tired so we ordered in room service and just laid in bed!

The next day we slept all morning again and then went to Checkpoint Charlie. Not as exciting as I was expecting but that's how a lot of things in Europe have been. We did get pictures and went to the museum but learned that museums and sick babies don't mix. So much for learning some history! It's ok Roman...we still love you!
That evening we walked up the main street outside our hotel and into this HUGE 7 story department store KaDeWe which had every famous designer imaginable aka nothing we could ever in our lives afford! But still fun to wonder around. And drool at. Then back to our hotel early again.

We were so tired of not sleeping that we decided to skip Ramstein and get home. At least at home Roman is in his own room and we can shut the door and get some sleep! So that's what we did. Only the very minute we got home the stinkin booger perked right up! Slept through the night and woke up ready for his baby food. Kids...

(Pix to come!)

Read more »

March already??

I can't believe it. The month I have been dreading has arrived. But none of that right now. I have SO much to catch up on! Here's the list of things to come...

Our Berlin Trip
Roman

• his horrible sicknesses
• crawling (or lack of)
• Matt and Roman's amazing bond
• Saying Mama!
• Finger foods

Matt and I

• D-Day...
• My new job (and the love/hate that comes with it)
• our illnesses

Guess we'll start from the farthest thing back...

Read more »