John's ENT appt.

 Well today we didn't do anything. I didn't think he would be having surgery today, but John kept telling me he was. Of course he didn't. It was just a consultation. I was like what doctor would operate with out looking at it first. And its not just a ruptured ear drum, it is more. When John was little he had a bunch of ear infections because of this "ear diseases". It caused one out of three bones in the ear to degrade and it is now gone. The second bone has now fused to the last bone. Then when the doctor blew his ear drum it caused a flap of it to hang. What can happen is that that piece will start to grow and it will grow into a big ball. Once it touches bone it will be to eat the bone and rot it away. If it is left for too long it can eat at the skull bone and the brain can drop down into the ear canal! Can you say malpractice? So he goes now Nov. 12 for surgery. They will fix both problems. It will be between 3-6 weeks recovery time. So basically he wont start flight school until after the new year. Which means we will be here for 2.5 years! I want out of this hell hole.

Monday

We drove up to Birmingham after Mommy and me. Easy drive as always, just long. We are staying at a nice hotel. It is so wired how hotels are so different. We stayed at one down the street once and it was the same price as this one, but no free breakfast or internet. Then the one we stayed in down town had no free internet and only two double beds. So this one is pretty good and it is right across from bread co.! 

Of course as soon as we find time, probably on the way home, we will call and let everyone know how it goes. 

going to bed since we have to turn everything off since Cade is in the same room as us. 

Sunday

This weekend turned out to be pretty good. We didn't really do much today. Went to my favorite store to get diapers and then came home. We leave tomorrow for Birmingham for John's surgery. Of course we will call every when we find time. It will probably be on our way home. 

Not much else is going on. Hope everyone is doing great.

You are getting sleepy....

So John went to bed about 30 minuets ago, but I am still up doing homework. I hate when there is a group assignment for online classes. At least in class you are able to judge other people on whether or not they will do the work and you wont be stuck doing all of it. I tried to start it this past week, but of course no one else was interested. So I finally posted what I did waiting for someone else to come up with the other half at least. Finally around 830pm someone posted something else. I mean I know the deadline is at midnight, but give me a break. We are all adults here. Do your freaking work. Because now I have to stay up late trying to figure out what to do. Luckily we will get to grade our other team mates and how they do and it will effect their grade. Guess what they will be getting... a big fat 0. Sucks because it is worth 5% of your class grade.

Anyways, I have been starting to think about Cade's first birthday party. We will be having it when we come home to MO this winter. Don't know where, but probably the 27th (the day before his baptism), otherwise it will have to be a weeknight. Maybe we can do it the 26th at night. We will have to see. Guess it depends on where we are having it. So I am trying to think of a theme though. It is harder than I thought. I think i think the Baby Einstein one though. He LOVES their videos and their toys (http://www.birthdayinabox.com/party-themes/boxbuilder.asp-tab_cat_id-1-cat_id-5-dept_id-184-lk-9416-id-1154).

Well I am off to do something about my home work. I just hope our teacher is smart enough to not let those who didn't participate be able to vote on their team mates.

Just another day in paradise.

Well at least close to it with the weather. It was so nice again today. 

I think the funniest thing that happened was John locked himself out of the house while Cade and I were in Dothan. He had to walk up to the housing office to get someone to let him in. Before he could leave our new neighbors (when I say new I mean newest) said hi. So he talked to them and they gave him the number to the office. So he wanted and talk to them, meeting the other new neighbors too. Finally when I got home, we walked over there and got to meet them. We ended going out to dinner with them tonight. They are pretty nice. The same couple as John and me. He is laid back and easy going. She is well.. not. They have a two year old son. Boy he was diffentaly going through the terrible twos. He was throwing food at dinner. Didn't really other us. They were pretty good about disciplining him. 

So tired long day!

Its fall!

It has been so nice here! For the past week and a half there has been no humidity and about 80 everyday. It was actually too cold this morning for John to go running even. I put pants on Cade, and LAV wants to spend all day outside. 

Tonight we went to a Lutheran/Episcopal service on base. For my first Lutheran service it wasn't too bad. Not as long as the Catholic ones. Cade did pretty well. Last week was the first service on base. Only two people showed up. I think it was because the utility meeting that we went too instead was going on. Tonight there was about 20 people. It is a conservative service. John and I were both hoping for a contemporary, but I guess we will take what we can.

Hopefully you are still reading this, if you are you will now know that we are getting Cade baptized on December 28, 2008 at Egypt Mills Lutheran Church in Cape Giraduea at 10A.M. Becky will be his Godmother and sponsor. We are very excited as we really wanted to do this before we even moved down to AL. 

Otherwise things are going alright. I have been feeling very sick for about two weeks. Headache, stomach, cramps, etc. I went to the doctor and nothing is wrong. There is a much longer story and how I hate the healthcare down here, but it is time for Cade's nighttime bottle. 

Please once you start knowing what you want for Christmas please let us know so we can start buying!

The Summer wind ...

Hello all. We are doing pretty well. John got home at 830 today. Then Cade and I went to Mommy and Me. It was good. I like it there. There were probably about 10 babies there along with their moms and one dad. A mom was there with her 11 month old triplets and 4 months pregnant with twins. Least to say, they weren't conceived naturally.  At least they are all healthy. 

After that Cade and I came home and had lunch with John. He went back to work and Cade and I laid down to take naps. I have been having some headaches recently. I think they are due to the changing weather here. The humidity has dropped and the days are so nice. We actually took a walk Sunday after lunch. 

Otherwise nothing much is going on. I am probably going this week to get my hair cut. Just a trim and something down with my browns and bangs. John's surgery is still next Tuesday. I'll post more information once we get it.

Spider!

I warned you!

She is a Banana Spider named Thor. She is actually the same size as the deck, but John was to afraid she would jump on him. 

Oh my gosh. Today was Cade's 9 month check. I love our doctor so much, but an hour and 15 minute wait is just killing me! it took us well over 2 hours to get his appt. done today. And we only were with the doctor for less than 15 min. We could complain and get a new doctor, but she is very through and listens to parents concerns, which is why it takes her so long. So I always figure in a hour wait time. It is sad though. When I went in to check him in today, Veda, Dr. Stinon's nurse (God love her. Cade would not be the way he is today with out her help. She is the one and only reason Cade got his referrals he needed.) and I were talking. I asked if she was backed up today, and Veda goes "you are Dr. Stinon's patient, right?!" I just walked away and laughed. I went back to check out and Veda was like "the other nurse got on to me for saying what I did. But she doesn't understand what we have been through". I hear that! That women is great.

But by the time we got into a room, I was laughing... for no reason. Well, I guess my reason is delirious. Cade woke up three times last night crying. We finally guessed it was teething and after I gave him teething tablets he was great. Then in between all that I hear water pouring out.... of the dogs bladder! I didn't realize it, but he went out side three times more yesterday than any day. I guess its the doggie drugs he is on. So we figure in all the sleeplessness of trying to calm Cade, the dog was trying to tell us he needed to go and we didn't pay attention. So I hear this and pop up out of bed. John is half way asleep and cant figure out what is wrong with me. So I'm like the dog is peeing! Sure enough, we go marching down the hall and right at the end, on the carpet no less, is this huge puddle. Now he was outside last night for an hour before we all went to bed. It has been so nice this week, not getting up past 80. Then John's alarm goes off at 5, I still wasnt back to sleep. So he turns it off and goes back to sleep. He leaves for work and of course Cade wakes up like 5 min later. So we are up. I need a shower desperately, but I dont have enough time because Cade is tired and crabby and need breakfast and attention this morning from not getting sleep and his teeth hurting. And to my rescue... John. He comes home at 830, work let him off until lunch. So I got my shower and we went to the doctors. Then he was late getting home, so he called his little dude and they said don't worry about coming in, there is nothing to do. So now John is off for the day. We just had Taco Hell and put Cade down, but of course I can still hear him. So I am waiting for him to go to sleep before I do.

Oh and just so you all know, I was told last year on Christmas it was 70 degrees! So no long sleeves! Also he is already in some 12 months because of his height. He will basically be wearing pants and a tee shirt until next spring. So sad, I gonna miss the snow. Better be some when we come home!

9 Month check:

Height - 29 inches; 75% (which neither of us think is right)

Weight - 2olbs 4 oz; 50%

Head - 18 inches; 60%

so everything looks good! 

Tuesday night

Cade and I had a pretty good day. Took the dog to the vet because he was coughing, found out he has kennel cough, left the baby at home with John and got to go to lunch with Charity, a new friend, then got to go to my favorite store and get things ALONE! The went and bought a used elliptical from a couple on base and finally went to dinner for my favorite food for the Tuesday night special. All in a days work. Also did laundry. 

So the dog had been coughing since Sunday and we thought it was just a thing he had. He has hacked before. But today for some wired reason as soon as I woke up it dawned on me what was wrong with him. So I called and got him in right away. $200 later we have doggie drugs. 

I had been looking on cragislist for a few weeks trying to find a used treadmill or elliptical. No way we were buying a new one and they don't have any second hand stores like second wind (http://www.2ndwindexercise.com/) like they do in STL. So finally I found one and it just happened to be from a couple on base who is moving to Germany. They also had 4 5 week old kittens! A stray (probably a cat someone left behind, they are all over base), just came to their door one day and had her babies. So the wife was trying to pawn one off on us. They turned out to be a really nice couple. He reminded me a lot of John. Very sweet. So he brought it over in his truck for us. I am putting it in our entryway since we don't use it. Everyone uses the side door. I might even use some old curtains and an old tension rod I have to make a "door" to hide it. 

Then before dinner we also has the Parent Advocacy Parternship (or something to that effect) come by. It used to be Parents as Teachers, but they did away with the program last year. It is basically the same program though.

On a final note, our neighbor had her baby. A little girl named Lily today. They are coming home tomorrow night so I get to see her! They are moving to WA the first week of Oct. She is one of my other friends I made. So the two friends I have now made are both moving in about a month. How nice!

Rubber Ducky your the one....

you make bath time so much fun. So John thought Cade had a massive assplosion when in all reality he only had a tiny "nugget" as he called it. So my theory is he is just taking after daddy with the silent but deadly gas attacks. So Cade went a few minutes with no diaper around the house before bath time. I was so worried he would pee everywhere. Luckily he didn't.

Today Cade and I went to Mommy and me on base today. We meet a few other mothers, about 5, with their kids ages 3 months to a year. It is every Monday and we plan on going next week too. I really enjoyed it and Cade did too. At he clingy to me, but not as much as I thought he would be. By the end he was chasing around a little chubby 8 month old girl there. It was really cute because they were actually following each other around. 

After that we came home, had lunch with John and then Cade took a nap while I was doing homework. 

Not much else is going on the rest of the week. Thursday is the utilities meeting which we are going too. They are going to start charging for utilities in the newly constructed and newly renovated homes. There will be a base line set and if you go above 5% you will have to pay the difference, but if you go below 5% you will get a refund (which I have heard of some families waiting 6 years for a refund!). We are concerned about our home. we have "newer windows and newer carpet", so are they defining us as newly renovated. They better not, or we will be moving off base with a bunch of other families. We are not paying this much to live in this crappy of a house when the fully remodeled or constructed are paying the same as us. We argue that we should actually be paying less since we live in the homes that are to be demolished before 2010. On other bases where they are redoing the homes, they actually lowered the rent because of construction. So we do not understand why they are not doing that for us. I love how people say that we are lucky having our housing payed for. Because we actually pay to live in crappy houses! 

up up and away

As you see from the picture, our little boy is growing up. Sorry they are a bit blurry, but it is hard to get him while he is standing for too long. He started to stand on his own today. He is a bit wobbly but if you just stand him up, he stays up! He also started to throw a tantrum tonight. We have a pen we keep him in the living room. I was sitting in it tonight with him and he wanted out (he likes to crawl around the house) but he kept pulling on it to try to squeeze through. I kept telling him "no" and he would instantly tear up and start crying making the sad face. It was sad and funny at the same time since I knew what he was doing. He did it for about 10 minutes until he found something else to occupy him. He is so funny, he thinks if he does something long enough it will change the outcome. He walks down the hall with his push cart and runs into doors and walls. He keep pushing on the cart thinking if he does it long enough the wall will move for him. The only thing that moves for his is the cart as it tips over. We have to laugh and he is fine, but it is just too funny.

Nothing much else going on. I really didn't feel good today. Woke up early with a stomach ache which turned into a massive headache for most of the day. We mostly stayed at home this weekend trying to conserve gas. Our neighbor went out Friday morning for something and said it was $3.49. We went out Friday night for Taco Hell and it was $4.79!!! So we decided to stay on base this weekend and try to wait out the gas gouging. Then I heard that 2 oil derks were adrift and like 14 were shut down because of Ike. So us waiting on the gas prices to drop doesn't look too good. So John went today to at least fill up the Mazda. There are only a few stations left in town with regular gas. At least on base we have two stations costing $3.89. Good thing we have access to them. I read on Friday where in the Dothan Eagle, they didn't have a single gas station with gas. There were lines for hours to fill up. Just crazyness! 

walka walka walka

Not too much going on. Last weekend at the garage sales I picked up Cade on of those walkers you push. At first he looked like an old man, I think I described it before. Now though, he is more like a pro. See the video to find out www.google.com/s2/sharing/stuff?user=106337362210074780655 .

Cade and I went for two walks today. Wore us out. He did not even wake up until 9, so he did not get a morning nap. But we had a pretty good day. John did not get to come home for lunch, but got off around 300. We went for a evening walk with our neighbors, the ones that will be moving soon. That was nice. I really like her a lot. 

Otherwise that was pretty much it. We really haven't done a lot in the past couple of days. I have just been trying to give Cade a little home time because I still want him to chill from Monday. 

Surgery

Today was Cade's surgery. Every thing went great. The pictures pretty much show everything. He had more writing under the band-aide though. 

His surgery time was for 730. He finally got taken back at 10. He was screaming his head off for at least 1.5 hours because he hadn't eaten since 830 last night. This lady across the hall from us came over and gave us a few books and some balloons to blow up for him (her daughter was having a shunt and tissue expanders put in. Her daughter wanted to hold balloons in her hands like they were putting in her skin. I thought giving her the balloons was a great idea from mom). So we played with those for awhile before they took us down the long hallway. They carry him from there to his surgery room. Then we waited. After the final doc. came out to tell us he was done and should be out "any minute", we waited 45. it freaked me out. Finally I hear him crying down the hall. hH was asleep when they picked up him and then woke up and started crying. 

So before they even got to our room another nurse ran and grabbed a warm blankie and pedilight. They gave him straight to me and I held him while I laid on my chest. I was holding on to him so tight and didnt realize it until John made the comment that no one was going to take him again. I was just so happy to have him back. 

I cried a few tears when they took him and was fine before we got back to the room. John rubbed my shoulders and kept repeating that he would be ok. John was pretty good today considered his past actions towards things like this. I was thankful that he was understanding and happy he decided to come along. He was able to go as the patient responsee, I think that is what they call it. This way he is on medical attendee leave and not using leave. 

Then we drove three hours home. I drove for about 30 min, then Cade and I slept the entire way and when we got home he was fine. I didn't get any sleep last night. Cade woke up four times crying and then John wasn't ready for bed so he kept fidgeting around. It took forever for me to fall asleep. But when he got home he was fine. He didn't want to be held, wanted to play. was laughing and giggling at John. 

John poured me a glass of wine got dinner ready and told me to finish my homework. I did. then Becky called from oki. and we talked for like 45 min.  It was a great day conisdering Cade had surgery. 

We wont have to go back to bham except for his gi now in oct. Then once a month. we will have to go sept 30. for Johns surgery on his ear. so i almost have both my boys heathly. 

We Made it

We got here in good time. We left earlier than planned so we could stop in Montgomery and eat at Panera Bread. Soo Good!!!

Then we left and Cade basically cried the entire time from Montgomery to Birmingham. He only stopped and feel asleep after John and I sang him Baby Beluga for 10 minutes. And of course then we got there.

Then we were about three blocks away from a hotel we were going to stop and and all a sudden a cop on a bike pulls in front of us at a stop light and blocked the lanes. We looked behind us and all we could see for miles were bikers. We waited about 10 minutes for a 9/11 Remembrance Ride to go through. We were so close! Then got to the hotel and learned that it was WAY to much. It was incredible. I about lost it. But we found another hotel only a few blocks away for cheaper. But they don't offer Internet in the room for free and only had double beds. So wasn't the best one we have stayed at yet. I think the first was the best.

Cade is now starting to self feed himself. We found some strawberry apple flavored puffs that he likes a bunch. Better than the banana ones. He does pretty well with them. Defiantly going to be a right harder this one.

I forget to tell everyone about what happened last night at dinner. They put us in the party room because the AL college games were on and we had kids and really didn't care to hear the dunks at the bar or other screaming. Well this guy comes in with a baby younger than Cade and a daughter, probably about 5. We notice he is the husband of a waitress. Anyways, we are all eating and sorta watching the games, because there happends to be tvs in there with us. All a sudden I here this older lady go "oh my God". I looked over and didn't see the car seat in the high chair anymore. So I stood up and saw the baby laying on the ground. The dad immediately picked him up and the baby started crying. I started to cry too, but I held it in. He walked his son around for a few minutes and he calmed down. But he never got the mom. But we were all upset and bothered by the baby falling so we left soon after. I just felt so bad for that dad. John later told me he saw the little girl kicking the bottom of the high chair tipping it over. Finally, John said he saw here go to far and that is when it fell. Sort of was like "why didn't you say anything?" John said he didn't because it wasn't his place. yikes.

6 Sept. 2008

Today I went to garage sales with my neighbor, Marci. I bought a few toys for Cade, a few study books for John and nothing for me. Oh well. I would rather buy something for those two rather than me. I found the push cart I wanted, that I have listed on his "wish list". 

I got my other paper turned in on time, however, discovered I will have an issue with the next one. We are suppose to watch "Shattered Glass" and talk about it for Tuesday, but Blockbuster here has no clue what that movie is nor do they carry it. I emailed my teacher so hopefully he will have other suggestions. I know he has to, as there is a girl in my class who is in the Army stationed in Iraq right now. I also explained to him about Cade's surgery. I am hoping since he has kids he might even let me turn it in Wednesday instead of Tuesday. But I first have to find a movie to watch!

Otherwise today was good. We went to the beach for a few hours and had to leave because Cade was getting angry because we couldn't let him crawl around on the ground (we did bring a sheet, but it doesn't contain him) because of the fire ants. So we left right after lunch. Then for dinner we went out with the Martian's and with Laura and Evan. Her husband, Jonathan, is on funeral detail (fun det.). We found out the now five people we know are expecting at the start of next year.

I guess we are leaving tomorrow after lunch for Bham. I am getting nervous about it. But know I will be fine. Please don't until we call you. I can't handle a whole bunch of phones calls. I promise we will call. If you call and we don't answer don' panic. We are just busy. 

Dun, Dun, Dun...

The doctor's office called today to tell us Cade's surgery is set for 0730 on Monday. We are going up Sunday sometime and spending the night. I asked and they said Cade is fine to drive home after the surgery. They said it will probably take around an hour for both his ear and eye, and he will be in recovery for an hour or so. Hopefully everything will go smoothy. 

Tomorrow morning my neighbor, Marci and I, are going garage saleing. They have a community one this time. They have one the first Saturday of the month always and this time they are having the other one as well where people who only have a few things can go and sell them at a booth. So I am getting up at 0630! That is earlier than Cade gets up! But I hope to find a few things I have been wanting to get but wouldn't mind it used. 

I hope everyone enjoyed the pictures of Cade from yesterday. They just make me smile every time I look at them. He is just so cute! Guess I am a little bias. 

Oh Bother....

Tomorrow we find out about the time for Cade's surgery. I am starting to get nervous about it, as John is not. I guess some one has to. 

Right now we are watching "Die Another Day". It for my class. I have to find things in it. So far it is pretty good, who can say seeing Pierce Brosnan with out his shirt on is bad? Hopefully I will be able to get this paper done tomorrow so I can pack.

As you can see from the pictures we did decide what to have Cade be for Halloween. My neighbor was at the Christian Mission in Enterprise when she texted me the picture. I just couldn't resist. It is so cute! Pooh dressed-up like a hunny bee. He was so cute in it. John and I couldn't stop laughing though. 

Family Time

It was so great having family in. It made me feel normal again. Like we were at home and could seem family any time we wanted too. I hate not having that feeling anymore. I hope John's parents get home safe. They will be leaving tomorrow morning and driving straight home. 

Nothing else really going on. Saturday I am going garage saleing as they are having a community wide event. Sunday we are going up to Birmingham. We might try to go to Unclaimed Baggage (http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/). I believe it is only an hour past Birmingham. 

Friday we will find out Cade's surgery time. I am getting very nervous about it. I am glad though that John is going with us. 

Gustav and teeth!

We faired pretty well. We all thought we were going to get some heavy rains and winds, but so far today it was sunny and a bit windy. But that did not stop us from going to Dothan.

We picked up a new GPS! So now I wont get lost in this stupid stated. Got a great price on it at circut city. It is the one my aunt has, the Garmin Nuvi 260. It is cool because it tells you the street names to turn on. The only thing we discovered is that Enterpise is apparntally growing because there were a few streets that the GPS did not regonize. So it makes me a bit weary. But we got the lowest price I think we would have ever got on it. You should check out circut city, as they had a great sale going on for them.

Then we went to Babies R US and got Cade some new sippy cups that I wanted to try and bowls that suction to his high chair. They are working alright, however, Cade got a top tooth in (making three) so he was a bit fussy to try everything out today. But he is so good. He hardly ever fusses.

After that we went to lunch and Target. He finally grew out of his 3-6 month shorts. And I only had two pair of 6-9. Luckily I knew they had their winter stuff out already and was able to pick up a few pair for $2 and a few for 18 months as well.

Later we came home so we all could rest awhile. I has some reading to catch up on and Cade needed a nap in his own bed.

We also watched a movice tonight, The List. Dont worry if you havent seen it, you are not missing anything. They hardly talked in the movie and when they did it was never talking directly about what was going on in the movie. So it never really explained...anything really. It was so stupid. Obvisouly they did not have a huge budget for actors either. We were laughing during some of the "sad" parts.

Last, but not least...I got a 98% on my first paper. Heres to more good grades!